The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-10

domain for use OF those WHO desired to
secure free homes under our hcncticicnt
laws, Ills difficult TO estimate the In.
crease OF wealth which will result from
tho conversion OF these waste lands into
farms but its more difficult TO
estimates tho bettorncnt which will 70.
suit TO tho families that have found re-.
moved hope and courage In the owner
ship Of n home and the assurance OF Il
comfortable subsistence under FREQ and
llcalthiul conditions. II Is also crafty.
ing TO BIO able to feel, as We may, that
this work has proceeded upon tho lines
OF justice towards tho Indian, and that
llo may now, il le will, secure to him.
self tho good influences OF 4 settled ilab.
i~tation, tho fruits OF industry, and tho
security OF citizenship.
PENSIONS.
Tho administration OF tho pension
bureau has been characterized during
tho year by great diligence. Tho total
number OF pensioners upon the rolls on
the both day OF June, 1891, was &c, 100.
There were allowed during tho fiscal
year ending ut that timo 25O,5G5 casos.
OF this number l02, 1887 wcro allowed
under the law Of juno q, 1890.
Tho issuing OF certificates has boon
proceeding ut the rate Of about 10000
per month, about IS per cent OF these
being cases under the new law.
The commissioner expresses the
opinion that no will DO able to care.
fully adjudiCatG and allow 1900 claims
during tho present fiscal year. The APP
preparation Tor tho payment OF pensions
for the fiscal year lS90-Ol was $l27 .GS5,.
703 50, aud the amount expended SllS,.
530,Gl0 %, leaving m uncxpendod sur
plus Of S9.lj5,l44 II. The commits.
sioner is quite confident that there will
be no call this year for 4 deficiency up.
preparation, Notwithstanding the cX.
pcdity with which tho work is being
pushed. The mistake which has been
made by many in their exaggerated csti-
mate of the cost OF pensions Ia in not
taking account OF the diminished value
OF first payments under the recent lcgis.
lation. Thase payments under the gen.
erul law have been for many years very
large, as the pensions, when allowed,
dated from tho time OF filing the claim
and most OF these claims had been
pending for years. Tho first payments
under the law Of June, 1890, are rcla.
lively small, and as the per cent OF
these cases increases and that OF the
old cases diminishes, the anuua! agcrc-
gate OF first payments is largely re-
duccd.
The commissioner, under date OF no.
vcmber u, furnishes me with the state
ment that during the past four months
1910 certificates were issued, 1885
under the general law and Sj,2S2 under
the act OF June 81, 1880. The average
first payment during these four months
was $l3l s., while the average first pay
mcnt upon cases allowed during the
year ending June so, 1891, was 1899 80,
being n reduction in the average first
payments during these four months OF
SlO1 is. Tho estimate for pension cx-
penditures for tho fiscal year ending
juno 80, 1898, is $l44, SO, 900, which,
after 4 careful examination OF the sub
ject, the commissioners OF the opinion
will be sufficient. While these dis.
burscments TO the disabled soldiers OF
the great civil wal arc large, they do
not realize the exaggerated estimates OF
those. who oppose this beno!iccnt leg!s-
latlon. The secretary OF the interior
shows with great iullnCss the arc that
is taken to exclude fraudulent claims,
and also the gratifying fact that the
persons to whom these pensions arc
going are men who rendered not slight
but substantial service.
RAILROADS Sor READY TO PAY.
The report Of the commissioner o.
railroads shows that the total debt oil
the subsidized railroads 10 tho United
States was, on December 81, 1890, Sllo,.
5lo,Gl3 06. 4 large part OF this debt is
now fast approaching maturity with no
adequate provision for its payment.
Some policy for dealing with this debt
with avicw to its ultimate collection
should be at once adopted. 1t is very
difficult, well nigh impossible, for SO
large 4 body rs the Congress to conduct
tho necessary negotiations and invcsti-
cations. therefore recommend that
provision be'made for the appointment
OF u commission to agree upon and re-
port 4 plan fol. dealing with this debt.
CENsus WORK.
The work oil the census bureau is now
far in advance and the great bulk OF the
enormous labor involved completed. II
will be moro strictly 4 statistical cx.
hlblt and less encountered by essays
than its immediate predecessors. The
n,nthnlc ,,,,rc,,n1 have hoo, f,;c a. .ot.l
and intelligent, and have secured ap.
proval OF the statisticians who have iol.
lowed them with q scientific and non.
partisan interest. The appropriations
necessary to early completion and pub.
LEGATION OF the authorized volumes
should be given i'll time tosecurc against
delays which increase the cost and at
the same time disminish tho value Of
the work.
IRRIGATION IN THE TERRITORIES.
Tho report OF the secretary exhibits
with interesting i~ullncss tho condition
OF tho territories. They have shared
with the statcs the great increase in
products and arc bringing early areas
into cultivation by extending their irri.
eating iaTilitics. This work is being
done by individuals or local corpora
tons, and without that system which q
full preliminary survey OF the water
supply and OF the irrigable lands would
enable them to adopt. The future OF
the territories OF New Mexico, Arizona
and Utah is their material growth and
in The increase, Independence and hap
pincss OF their people is very largely de.
pendent upon wise and timely lcgisla.
ton, either by Congress or their own
legislatures, regulating the distribution
OF the water supply furnished by their
streams. II this matter is much longer