St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-04


tenance and operation Of the pension
bureau during that period were S. 262.-
| 574.67, making the entire expenditures
of the bureau $50, 05s, 1861, being 2l5
per cent of the total expenditures OF the
government during the year.
am thoroughly convinced that our
general pension laws should be revised
and adjusted. to meet as far as possible
i'll the light of orr experience all merl-
torious cases. The fact that 102 different
rates of pensions are paid cannot in my
opinion be made consistent with justice
to the pensioner, or to the government;
and the numerous private pension billSt
that are passed. predicated upon the I'M
perfection OF general laws. while they
increase in many cases existing inequal-
ity and injustice. lend additional force
to the recommendation for revision or
the general laws on this subject.
UNJUST TO ALL CONCERNED.
The laXity of ideas prevailing among
large number of our people regarding
pensions is becoming every day more
marked. The principles upon which
they should be granted are in danger OF
being altogether ignored, aud already
pensions are often claimed because the
applicants are as much entitled as other
successful applicants. rather than upon
any disability reasonably attributable to
military service. If the establishment
OF various precedentS be continued ii the
granting of pensions be not divorced
from partisan and other unworthy and
irrelevant considerations, and If the hon.
orable name of veteran unfairly be-
comes-by these means but another term
for one who constantly clamorS for the
aid of the government, there is danger
hot mi 40 IN m
patriotism of many whom our citizens
all delight to honor, and that preju-
dice will be aroused unjust to merItori-
Gus applicants for pensions.
AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS.
Uncle Sam Aims to Benefit the
Noble Yeomanry.
The department of agriculture has
continued, with good measure of sue
cess, its efforts to develop the proc
esses, enlarge the results and augment
the profits of American husbandry. 1t
has collected and distributed practical
information, introduced and tested new
plants, checked the spread of conta-
gious disease of farm animals, resisted
the advance of noXiOuS insects and de-
structiye fungus growth. and sought to
secure to agricultural labor the highest
reward of effort, and the fullest immu-
nifty from loss. Its record of the year
shows that the season of 1855 has been
one of medium production. A generous
supply of the demands of consumption
has been assured. and a surplus for eX-
portaton, moderate i'll certain products
and bountiful in others, will prove
benefacticn alike to buyer and grower.
Four years ago it was found that the
great cattle industry of the
country was endangered, and those
engaged in it were alarmed at
| the rapid extension Of the European
| lung plague of pleuro-pheumOnia. Sc
rious outbreaks existed in Illinois, Mis-
souri, aud Kentucky, and in Tennessee
ANIMALS afflicted were held in quaran-
tine. Five counties in New York, and
| from one to four counties in each of the
states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware and Maryland were almost
equally affected. With this great dam
| ger upon us, and with the cOntagiOn al
| ready in the channels of commerce,
| with the enormous direct and lndirect
| losses already being caused by it. and
! when only prompt and energetic action
| could be successful, there were in none
| Of these states any laws authorizing this
| department to eradicate the malady, or
| giving the state officials power to COZ
| operate with it for this purpose. The,
| department even lacked both the requi-
site appropriation and authority.
BY securing state cooperation in con-
| the work of eradication has beef
pressed successfully, and this dreaded
| disease has been eXtirpated from the
| Western states. and also from the East
| ern states, with the exception of a few.
! restricted areas. which are still UNDER
/ supervision. The danger has thus been
| removed. and trade and commerce
| have been freed from the veXatioGs
| state restrictions which were deemed
necessary for time.
| SUGAR FROM SORGHUM.
| During the past four years the proc
esS of diffusion, as applied to the manu-
| facture Of sugar from sorghum and
| sugar cane, has been introduced into
| this country and fully perfected by the
experiments carried Oh by the depart
| now universally considered to be the
| best economical one, and it is through
it that the sorghum sugar industry has
been established upon firm basis and
| the road to its future success opened.
The adoption of this diffusion process
| is also extending in Louisiana and
other reproducing parts of the
| country, and will doubtless soon
be the only method employed for the
| extraction of sugar from the cane.
An exhaustive study has also within the
| same period been undertaken of the
subject of food adulteration and the best
| analytical methods for detecting it. A
part of the results of this work has al
ready been published by the depart
ment. which, with the matter in course
of preparation, will make the most com
plete treatise on that subject that has
ever been published in any country
| The department seeks progressive de-
| Velopment. 1t would combine the dis
| coveries of science with the economies
and amelioration of rural practice. A SUI
pervision of the endowed experimental
Station system. recently provided for. is
a proper function of the department,
| and is now in operation. This super
| vision is very important, and should be
| wisely and vigiIantly directed to the end
| that the pecuniary aid OF the govern
ment in favor of Intelligent agriculture
should be so applied as to result in the
| general good and to the benefit of all
our people, thus justifying the appro-
priation made from the public treasury.
| PACIFIC RAILROADS.
The adjustment of the relations be-
tween the government and the railroad
| companies which have received land
| grants and the guaranty of the public
credit in aid of the construction of the
railroads, should receive early atten-
ton.
The report of majority Of the COM
missioners appointed to examine the
affairs and indebtedness of these roads,
in which they favor an extension of the
| time for the payment of such indebted
/ ness in at least one case where the cor
| poration appears to be able to comply