Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-12-06

ing the year for various car sss and at the close
| OF the year the number Cf persons Of all classes
receiving pensions was 452 $50 OF these there
were 9)6 survivors of the OF 1912; 1O,7S7 wild
ows OF those who 3;ved in that war; 060 sol
diers OF the Mexican war; and 5,1A widows OF
One hundred and two different rates Of PEN
sions are paid to these b: nshciaries, ranging
from - to S4l666 per month The amount paid
Tor pensions during the fiscal year was S7o775,-
t6l.92, being an increase over the preceding year
OF So Os,2SO2l The expenses attending the
maintenance and operation OF the Pension
Bureau during that period was 50, ,262 52467,
making the entire expenses OF the bureau S82.-
Oss,Ssi.57, being 21R per cent. OF thg total ex-
penditures OF the Government during the year.
am thoroughly convinced that our general
pension laws should DO revised ami adjusted to
meet far possible I'm the light OF our expert
| ence all melitorious cases. The fact that one
hundred and two different rates OF pensions arc
l ad can not in my opinion be made consistent
with justice to the pensioners or TO the Gov
ernment, and tho numerous private pension
bills that are passed prediC ated upon the inn
perfection of general laws, while they increase
in many cases existing inequality and injus-
tice lend additional force TO the recommends
tion for revision of the general laws ON this
The iaxity of ideas prevailing among a large
number OF our people regarding pensions IL be-
coming every day more marked. The principles
upon which they should be granted in
| danger OF being altogether ignored, and al
ready pensions are often claimed because the
applicants much entitled as other sue
cessful apple ants, rather than upon any dis
! ability reasonably attributable TO military
service. II the establishment Of vicious prece-
sons bo not divorced from partisan and
other unworthy and RELEVANT consider
veteran unfairly becomes by these means
but anoth term for who constantly
clamors for the aid Of the Government there
is danger that injury will be done to the fame
| and patriotism Of many whom our citizens all
delight to honor and that O prejudice win be
aroused unjust to meritorious application for
pensions.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The Department OF Agriculture has con-
iorts TO develop the processes, enlarge the
suits and augment tho profits OF Ameri,
cen esl! husbandry 1t has collected and
and tested nav plants che :ked the
| spread Of contagious disease Of farm animals,
| resisted the dyance OF noxious insec.s and de-
structive fungu growths and sought to secure
to agrcult ural la Dor the highest reward OF effort,
| and the fullest immunity from loss Its rec
ords OF the year show that the season OF 1858
has been one of medium production. gener-
GUS supply Of the demands of consumption
nus nus Doen US anu surplus Ior eAPor sntion.
moderate in certain products and bounttful in
others, will prove benefaction alike to buyer
and grower. Four years ago it was found that the
great cattle industry OF the country was endan-
gered, and those engaged in 1t were alarmed mt
the rapid extension OF the European Lima
plague OF pieurG,pnenImIonIia II,oI = Serious out;
| Kentucky, and in Tennessee animals af-
fected We're held in quarantine. Five counties
|
each of the States OF New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
| Delaware and Maryland were almost equally
| affected.
With this great danger upon u.s. and with the
contagon already in the channels Of commerce,
with the enormous direct and indirect losses al
| ready being caused by il, and when only
prompt and energetic ction could be successful
| there wero in of these states any laws
authorizing this department to eradicate the
| malady, or giving the State officials power to
| cooperate with 1t for this purpose. The
department. oven lacked both the requisite
appropria ion and authority. BY securing
State cooperation in connection with author
ity from Con 5ress, the work OF eradica-
tion has been pressed successfully and
this dreaded disease has been extirpated from
the We tern States and also from the Eastern
States with the exception OF n few restricted
areas which are still under supervision. The
danger has thus been removed, AMI trade and
commerce have on 1reCd from tho vexatious
State restrictions which were deemed necessary
for time
During the past four years the process Of diff
fusion as applied 10 the manufacture OF sugar
from sorghum aud sugar-cano has been in
troduced into this country, and fully per-
fected by the experiments carried on by
the Department OF Agriculture This pro-
cess is now universe ly considered to be
tho 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 extended in Lousi-
ana and other sugar-producing parts OF the
country and will doub less 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
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The report Of the Commissioners Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia with its accompanying docu-
ments, gives in detail the operations Of the sew
eral departments of the District Government and
furnishes evidence that the financial affairs of
the District are ut Present in such satisfactory
conditi IN as to Justify the Commissioners in
submitting to the Congress estimates for desir-
able and needed improvements. This Commits :
sioners recommend certain legislation which, in
their opinion, is necessary to advance the inter-
invite your special attention to their re-
quest for such legislation as will enable the
! Commissioners without delay to collect, digest,
and properly arrange the laws by which the
District is goveme and, and which aI,Iu.,on nrs
making fbf available oeS Tith rpes
difficulty and lal or. The suggestions they mako
| touching desirable amendments to the laws re-
lating to licenses granted for carrying on the
retail traffic in spirtuous liquors to the observ-
ance OF Sunday to the proper a3sessm snt and
collection of taxes to the speedy punishment OF
minor offenders and to the management and
control of the re ormatory and charitable instf-
tutions supported by Congressional appropria-
tions, are commended to your care and consid-
again call attention to the present incon-
vonience and the danger TO life and property
attending the operation OF steam railroads
through and across the public streets and roads
of the District The popriety OF such logisla-
tion as will pre- perly guard the Of these rail-
roads and better secure the convenience and
| 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 fear that
| anything omitted Is not known and appreciated,
by the Congress upon whom rests the response
bility of intelligent legislation in behalf Of q
great nation and conhding people. As public
| servants we shall do duty well IL we con-
stanty guard the rectitude OF our intentions,
maintain unsullied oar love OF country and,
| with unselhsh purpose strive for the public
good. GROVER CLEVELAND.
| WASHINGTON, Dec 3, 1885,
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| Landau Rridpe