New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-10

10 section lines
The administration of the Pension Bureau has
been characterized during the year by great dili-
cencc. The total number Of pensioners upon the
roll on the 30th day of June. 1891, was 676,l6O
There were allowed during the fiscal year choihs
at that time ESQ, 800 cases. OF this number ie@.-
3s7 were allowed under the law of June %, 1890.
The issuing of certificates has been proceeding at
the rate of about 80 900 per month, about 10 per
cent of these being cases under the new law. me
Commsso ner expresses the opinion tnat ne WIN ne
able to carefully adjudicatc ana ailo" 2oo'ovV
claims during the present fiscal year. Inc APP
| preparation for the payment OF pensions lor ihe
fiscal year 1S9O-'9l was Sl21 1922 81 ana ,ne
amount expended 81 ls,5S0.G49 20; leaving an un-
expended surplus of S9,1 DBL "A 81;
The commissioner is quite confident that there
will be no call this year for deficiency appr3pri'-
ton, notwithstanding the rapldly WIN wlaGh Sis
been made by many IN tneir exaggerated esu-
mates of the cost of pensions Is III not taxing
account Of the diminished value or hrst paymeh,s
under the recent legislation. These payments,
under the general law, have been for many wears
very large, as the pensions, when allowed, aa'eI
from the time of filing the clam ana most TIL Ga
these claims had been pending for years Inc
| first payments under the law OF June, lsvo, are
relatively small, and, as the per cent OF these
increases and that OF the Old cases dmihlse,
the annual aggregate Of first payments is largely
reduced The Commissioner under date OF NO.
| vember l3, furnishes me with the statement lnit
during the last four months 1879 certllca,ess
were issued, 1883 under the general law aiu
s52S2 under the act Of June ~ lSSo. Inc
average first payment during these four months
| was 1871 So, while the average hrst payneht
| upon cases allowed during the year ending June
| 30, 1891. was $3.50 80, being a reduction in the
average first payments during these four moh'ais
| of SlO7 as. - o.. A.,
| The estimate for pension expenditures for the
fiscal wear ending June 80, 1898, is Sl44,956,oO0.
which, after careful examination OF the suDlecSi
the Commissioner is, of the opinion w sha
| be sufficient While these disbursements 70 the
disabled soldiers of the great Civil War are large
they do not realize the exaggerated estimates oI
those who oppose this benefcent legislation - Inc
Secretary Of the Interior shows with great Iulness
tho care that is taken to exclude fraudulent claims.
and also the gratifying fact that the persons 10
whom these pensions are going are men VINO rem
dered, not slight, but substantial war service
| RAILROADS
[ The report of the Commissioner OF Railroads
shows that the total debt of the subsidized rail-
roads to the United States was, on December 81.
| 1890. S1I2512,6I3 O6. A large part of this debt
is now fast approaching maturity with no adequate
provision for its payment. SoIoe policy for deal
ing with this debt, with a view Of its ultimate
collection, should be at once adopted 1t Is very
difficult, well-nigh impossible, for so large apody
as the Congress to conduct the necessary negotla-
tons and Investigations. 1 therefore feconim na
| that provision be made for the appointment OF a
commission to agree upon and report plan for
dealing with this debt.
THE CENSUS.
| The work of the Census Bureau is now far IN
advance and the great bulk Of the enormous
labor involved completed. 1t will be more strictly
statistical exhibit and less encountered by essays
| than its immediate predecessors The methods
pursued have been fair, careful, and intelligent
and have secured the approval of the statsticians,
who have followed them with a scientific ana NON
/ nrri ia
| to the early completion and publication OF Tine
authorized volumes should be given In time 10
secure against delays, which increase the cost ana
| at the same time diminish the value oil The Work.
| THE TERRITORIES.
| The report OF the Secretary exhibits, with in
| teresting fullness, the condition Of the Ierrl-
| tories They have shared with the States the
great increase in farm products and are bringing
yearly large areas into cultivation by extending
their irrigation canals. This work is being done
| by individuals or local corporations aud without
that system which full preliminary survey of
the water supply and of the irrigable lands would
enable them to adopt The future of the Terri
tories of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah in their
material growth and in the increase, independence
and happiness of their people Is very largely de-
pendent upon wise and timely legislation, either
by Congress or their own Legislatures, regulating
the distribution of the water supply furnished by
| their streams If this matter is much longer
neglected private corporations will have unre-
stricted control of one of the elements OF life
and the patentees of the arid lands Will be tenants
| at will of the water companies.
| The United States should part with its owner
ship of the water and the sites Tor resef-
voirs whether to the States and Territories or 10
individuals or corporations, only upon conditions
that will insure to the settlers their proper water
supply upon equal and reasonable terms. In the
Territories this whole subject is under the full
control of Congress, and in the States 1t Is prac-
ticay SO as long as the Government holds the
title 10 the reservoir sites and water sources ana
can grant them upon such conditions as IL chooses
to impose The imprOvldent granting OF iran
chises of enormous value, without recompense to
the State OF municipality from which they proceed
and without proper protection OF the public In
terests is the most noticeable and fragrant evil OF
modern legislation This fault should not be com
mitted in dealing with a subject that will, before
many years, affect so vitality THOUSANDS oil oui
people.
| POLYGAMY IN UTAH.
The legislation of Congress for the repression OF
polygamy has, after years Of resistance on the
part of the Mormons, at least brought them to the
conclusion that resistance is improbable and IN
availing The power of Congress over this sub
ect should not be surrendered until we have
satisfactory evidence that the people of the State
| TO be created would exercise the exclusive power
+ of the State over this subject in the same way
The question is not whether these people now obey
the laws Of Congress against polygamy, but rather
would they make, enforce and maintain sucl
laws themselves if absolutely free to regulate the
subject, We cannot afford to experiment witt
this subject, for when State is once CONSTITUTED
the act is final and any mistake irretrievable
No compact in the enabling act could. in my opln
ion, be binding or effective.
i recommend that provision be made for thu
ID organization of simple form OF town government
n in Alaska with power TO regulate such matters a.
are usually in the States under municipal control
, These local civil organizations will give bette
protection in some matters than the present skele
ton Territorial organization. Proper restrictions
as TO the power to levy taxes and TO create deb
! should be imposed
, AGRICULTURE.
If the establishment Of the Department OF Agri
| culture was regarded by any one as a mere con
cesson to the unenlightened demand of worthy
: ala, 90 roonle that immersion has been mos