Thomas County cat., 1889-12-05

and friendly consideration Of his case.
But where there IL reason to believe that
the claimant is the mere agent OF another
who il seeking to evade q law intended TO
promote small holdings and to secure.
by fraudulent methods, large tracts
of timber and other lands. both
principal and agent should not only be
thwarted in their fraudulent purpose but
should be made to feel the full penalties OF
our criminal statutes The laws should be SO
administered as not to cOnfOund these two
classes and to visit penalties only upon the
latter.
The unsettled state of the titles to large
bodies of lands in the territories of New
Mexico and Arizona has greatly retarded the
development OF these Territories. Pro-
vision should be made by law for the
prompt trial and final adjustment. before
a judicial tribunal or commission. of all
claims based upon Mexican grants. 1t
is not just to an intelligent and enter
prising people that their peace should be
disturbed and their prosperity retarded by
these old contentious. ] express the hope
that differences OF opinion rs to methods
may yield to the urgency OF the case.
PENSIONS.
The law now provide pension for every
soldier and sailor who was mustered into the
service of the United States during the civil
disease having an origin in the service and
the line OF duty. Two of three necessary
facts-muster and disability--are usually
susceptible of easy proof, but the third
origin i'm the service-is often difficult and,
in many deserving cases. impossible to
establish.
That very many of those who endured the
hardships OF our most bloody and arduous
campaigns are now disabled from diseases
that had a real, il not a traceable, origin in
service we do not doubt. Besides there il
another class, composed of men, many of
whom served an enlistment OF the three full
years, and OF re enlisted veterans who add
ed Il fourth year of service, who escaped the
casualties of battles and the assaults of dis
ease, who were in every battle line of their
command, and were mustered out in sound
health and have, since the close of the war,
while fighting with the same indomitablc
and independent spirit the contests of civil
life. been overcome by disease or casualty.
am not unaware that the pension roll al
ready involves a very large annual expendi-
ture, neither am deferred by that fact from
recommending that Congress grant pension
to such honorably discharged soldiers and
sailors OF the war as, having rendered sub
stantial service during the war, are now de-
pendent upon their own labor for q main
tenance and by disease or casualty are inca
pacitated from earning it. Many of the men
who would be included in this form of relief
are now dependent upon public aid and it
does not, in my judgment, consist with the
National honor that they shall continue to
subsst on the local relief given indscrim-
inatcly to paupers, instead of upon the
special and generous provision of the Nation
they served SO gallantly and unselfshly
Our people will, am sure, very generally
approve such legislation, and am equally
sure that the survivors of the Union army
and navy will feel a sense of relief when this
worthy and suffering class of their comrades
Is fairly cared for.
There are some manifest inequalities in
the existing law that should be remedied
To some OF these the Secretary OF Interior
has called attention.
1t is gratifying to be able to state that by
the adoption of new and better methods in
the War Department, the calls of the pension
office for information as to the military and
hospital records of pension claimants are
now promptly answered and the injurious
and vexatious delays that have heretofore
occurred are entirely avoided. This will
greatly facilitate the adjustment Of all pend
ing claims.
The advent of four new States, South Da-
kOta, North Dakota, Montana and Washing
ton, into the Union under the Constitution,
in the same month, and the admission of
their duly chosen representatives in our
National Congress at the same session, is an
event AS unexampled as it is interesting.
THE WORLDS FAIR.
The proposition to observe the 4OOth anni-
versary of the discovery of America by the
opening of Worlds Fair or Exposition in
some one of our great cities will be present
ed for the consideration Of Congress. The
value and interest of such an Exposition
may well claim the promotion of the General
Government.
CIVIL SERVICE.
On the 9Th of March last the Civil-Service
Commission held but Il single member. The
vacancies were filled ON the 7th day of May,
and since then the Commissioners have been
industriously, though with an inadequate
force, engaged in executing the law.
They were assured by me that a cordial
support would be given them in the faithful
and impartial enforcement of the statutes
and of the rules and regulations adopted in
aid of it.
The reform Of the civil service will make
no safe or satisfactory advance until the
present law and its equal administration are
we'll established in the confidence of the peo-
pie.
1t will be my pleasure, as it is my duty, to
see that the law is executed with firm.
ness and impartiality. II some of
its provisions have been fraudulently
evaded by appointing officers our re-
sentiment snOuiu not suggest the repeal
OF the law, but reform in its administration.
We should have one view of the matter and
hold it with sincerity that is not affected by
the consideration that the party to which we
belong is for u time In power.
THE NEGRO QUESTION.
The colored people did not intrude them.
selves upon us; they were brought here in
chains and held in the communities where
they arc now chiefly found by a cruel slave
code. Happily for both races, they are now
free. They have, from a standpoint of ignor-
ance and poverty, which was our shame not
theirs, made remarkable advances in educa.
tion and in the acquisition Of property
They have as people shown them.
selves to be friendly and faithful toward the
white race under temptations of tremendous
strength. They have their representatives
in the National cemeteries where a grateful
Government has gathered the ashes Of those
who died in its defense. They have fur.
nished to our regular army regiments that
have won high praise for their commanding
officers for their courage and sOldierly qua
lities and for fidelity the enlistment oath.
They do not desire to quit their homes and
their employers resent the interference of
the emigration agents who IN .<E,n,,o&.