The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-12-05

ing the year fcr various causes and 81 the close
of the wear the number Of persons Of all classes
receiving pensions was s52 5J9. ~ these there
we're SO survivors d the war OF 1872; 10.76 wild
7 ows OF those who ervod In that war; 900 sol
dirrs OF the Mexican war; and s.io4 widows OF
said so ldiers.
One hundred and two dife-en rates Of pen
sions are paid TO these b n siiciaxios. ranging
from % to S4l6.66 per month. The amount paid
for pensions during the fiscal year was s75Iio.-
s6ig2 being an increase over the preceding year
OF S.. 0S 2SO.2l. The expenses attending tho
maintenance and operation OF the PENSION
Bureau during that period was S3,a'z o2f.oi,
making the entire expenses OF the bureau S52.-
OIs 1901. being 2il6 per cent OF the total ex-
penditures of the Governments during the year;
am thoroughly convinced that our general
pension laws should be revised eni adjusted 10
meet as far possible in the light Of our expert
ence all me itorious cases. Tbs fact that one
hundred and two different rates OF pensions arc
raid can not In my opinion DO rlade consistent
with Justice TO the pensioners or 10 the Gov
eminent, and the numerous private pension
Deriectjon OF general laws. while they increase
In many cases existing ine4ua ity ana MUS
tice lend additional force TO the recommenda-
tion for revision of tho general laws on tins
subject.
The Iaxity of ideas prevailing among large
number of our people re hriing pensions Is pc
coming every day more marked The princiIses
upon which they should DO granted are M
danger of being altogether nored, and al
ready pensions are OF EN- claimed because Inc
applicants much entitled as other sue
cessul apple ants, rather than upon any dis
ability reasonably attributable 10 military
service. IL the establishments OF vicious prece-
dents he continued. l. O., the granting OF pen.
sons be not divorced from partisan end
other unworthy and Irrelevant consider,
ations, and IL the honorable name OF
veteran unfairly becomes by those means
but anoth term for ono who constantly
clamors fJr the aid OF the Government there
is danger that injury will he done to the fame
and patriotism OF many whom our citizens AL
delight TO honor, and that q prejudice viii be
aroused unjust to meritorious application FOR
DEPARTMENT OF AoRrcuLrUBE.
The Department OF Agriculture has con-
forts to develop the processes. enl rye the re-
suits and augment tho prohts OF Amer,
esn husbandy. 1t has collected and
and tested plants. che ked the
spread OF contagious disease OF farm animals.
resisted the I'D vance OF noxious insec and de-
structiye fun us growths and sought 70 secure
TO agrcult ura la Dor the highest ard OF effort.
and the fullest immunity from loss. It's rec
ords OF the year show that g season OF 1888
has been one of medium oduction. gener-
GUS supply OF the demands of consumption
has been assured, aud a surplus for expor tation.
moderate in certain produc and bountiful IN
others. will prove benefaction alike 70 buyer
and grower. Four years ago It WIS found that tho
great cattle industry Of the country was endan-
gered and those engaged in it were alarmed Mt
the rapid extension OF he European Lima
plague OF pleuro-pneumonia Serious out
Kentucky. and in tennessee s animals al.
fectsd were held in quarantine Five counties
in New York; and from one to four counties in
each Of the Sta OF New Jersey. Pennsylvania,
Delaware and Maryland were almost equally
affected.
With this great danger upon us, and with the
contagion already in the channels OF commerce.
with the enormou3 direct and a iirect losses al
ready being caused by it, and when only
prompt aud energetic 6ction could he successful.
there were in none OF these Sttes any laws
authorizing this department TO eradicate tho
malady. or giving the State officials power To
co operate with IL for this purpose The
pertinent even lacked both the requisite
appropria ion and authority. by securing
state cooperation in conn ect on with aul hor-
ity from Con ress. the work o. eradica-
ton has been pressed success lully. and
this dreaded disease has been eXtirpated from
States, with the exception OF few restricted
areas which still und supervision Tho
danger has thus been remov d. an trade and
commerce have b on fre' from the vexatious
State restrictions which wore deemed necessary
for time.
During the past four years the process of dir
from sorghum and sugar-cane has been in
troduced into this country, and fully per-
fected by the eXpcrm ents carried ON by
the Department of Agriculture This pro-
is universe ly considered TO DO
the best economical one, and It La throughI
il that the sorghum sugar industry has been
established upon firm basis and the road TO it's
future success opened The adoption Of this
diffusion process Is also extended in Louisi-
ana and other sugar producing parts of tho
country and will doub loss so N be the only
method employed for the extraction OF sugar
An exhaustive study has also within the same
period been undertaken of the bjeot of food
adulteration and the best analytical methods
Of detecting 1t.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA o.
The report of the Commissioners OF the Dis
trict of Columbia with its accompanying docu-
ments gives in detail the operations Of the SOW
eral departments OF the District Gov eminent and !
furnishes evidence that the financial affairs OF
the District are at present In such satisfactory
condition as TO Justify the Commissioners in I
submit Ting to tho Congress estimates for desir-
able and needed impro vements. Tbs Commits
sioners recommend certain legislation which, in
their opinion. 10 nece ssary to advance the inter-
ests OF the Dis rici.
/ invite your special attention to their re-
quest for such | gislation wi enable the
Commissioners without delay to collect digest.
and properly arrange the laws by. which the
now embraced in several collections,
making them available only with great
difficulty aud labor. The suggestons they make
touching desirable am n lnentB to the avs re-
latirg to licenses granted for lying on the
retail traffic in spirituous liquors. to the observ
ance of Sunday, to the proper aIsessm mt and I
minor offenders and to the ma agemt Mt and
control Of the re olmatory and charitable insti-
tutons supported bv Congressional appropria-
tions aro commended to your care and consid-
GRAFTON.
again call attention to the present incon-
venence and the danger TO life anc property
attending the operation of steam rail Dads
through and across the public streets ana roads
OF the District The p 'oprie5y OF such legisla-
tion will properly guard the use of these rail-
roads and better secure the convenience ana
safety OF citizens is manifest.
CONCLUSION.
The consciousness that have presented but
an imperfect statement OF the condition of our
country and its wants occasions no foar that
anything omitted Is not known md appreciated
by the Con2rsss upon whom rests the RESPONSE
bility of intelligent legislation in behalf Of =
great alton and a conhding people AS public
8 wants shall do uuty well IL we
stantly guard the rectitude OF our intentions,
mainta unsullied OR love OF country, and,
with unselfsh purpose, strive for tue public
good. GROVER CLEvELASD.
WASHINGTON, Dec 3, 1883.
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