The leader., 1889-12-07
WASHINGTON, d. c., SATURDAY, DECEMBER I, 1889.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
a Synopsis of Secretary Mobiles An
nual Report-The Pension Question.

l.
The annual report of John w. Noble, Sec
retary of the Interior, begins by calling at
tention to the consummation of the follow
ing important events that have taken place
during this Administration. namely: The
opening of Oklahoma, the successful nego-
tiation of treaty with the Sioux Indians OF
Dakota, and the advent into the Union of
the four new States North Dakota, South
Dakota, Washington and Montana, none
having entered previously for thirteen years.
The Secretary calls attention to the want
of Territorial Government in Oklahoma and
urges speedy action by Congress.
The eleventh census, while comprising all
the investigations undertaken In the tenth,
will include two additional and important
features: an inquiry in relation to the re-
corded Indebtedness of private corporations
and individuals, and list of the names, or
carnations and length of service of surviv-
ing soldiers, sailors and marines, and Their
widows.
1t is recommended that the Census Office
be made permanent bureau. On the sub
ject of pensions the report says:
1.-THE estimates for pensions made Tor the
fiscal year beginning July l, 1889, were not
only inadequate but must have been known
to be so when recommended to Congress. The
estimate FOR the previous year was SS0,-
OO0,OO0 But before this estimate for
the present year was completed it was ap-
parent that deficiency would be incurred.
as it was incurred, for the previous year, tc
the amount of at least SIS, 100000, and that
this added to the original eighty millions
would not be enough to meet the obhga-
tions accruing before the end of even that
fiscal year.
'It is recommended that a pension be
granted to every soldier and sailor who did
substantial service during the war in the
nd w hnnOrq
charged therefrom, and who, being de
pendent on his daily labor for his
support is now, or may hereafter be,
disabled from procuring his subsistence
by such labor. A due regard to its own
dignity and character should prevent the
Government from allowing any OF the men
who fought to maintain the Union to suffer
from want. when they have become
so incapacitated. 1t is well known to
all our people that many who were
never disabled in the fight or the service
were yet those who met the greatest dam
gers of the war and who served continuously
and faithfully That Providence saved them
from wounds or disease, and that their strong
constitutions withstood the hardshipS OF the
field, give no reason why they should be left
disregarded and unsupported now. The pen
sion is paid by the Government III reward Tor
past services to those who fought to mann
tain it's existence. 1t has the SancJlon
wv
Government in the treatment of its veterans
can safely ignore. The preservation OF OF the
nation, for which these men fought and en-
dured SO much to secure, has given to all our
people a wonderful degree of prosperity and
an unlimited ability to pay any obligations
honor imposes 1 am not disposed TO con-
fer upon all who may ask the money of the
people and would have confined to well-as-
certained limits the claims OF those who de-
mand a pension Nevertheless, disregard
of those of the service named whose disabll-
ity has become since the war so great as to
make them dependent would be both unjust
to them and unworthy of our country
The Secretary reviews the system OF rerat-
inc and the payment of large sums OF money
as back pensions under the rerating and the
work of the Committee appointed TO investi-
gate it, He makes an extended legal argu-
ment on the question, with the following con-
clusion:
Increased pensions cannot be ordered at
the mere will of the Commissioner; 1T re
o11ires a claim, an examination and certii-
cate: such increase is not a matter OF sentl-
ment it is a question of law"