Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-12-15

cut IN narrow STRIPS lew rods Wlue upon
a stream and running back 10 the hills
for pastlrage and timber. Provisions
should be made for numbering these tracts
as lots ana for patenting them by such
numbers and without reference to section
lines,
Pensions.
The administration of the pension bl
reau has been characterized during the
year by great diligence. The total mum
Der of pensioners upon the roll on the Sofa
day of June, 1891 was $40, 100. There were
allowed during the fiscal year ending at
that time csc. 565 cases. OF this number
,3S7 were allowed under the law OF june
81, 1890. The issuing of certificates has
been proceeding at the rate of about So
600 per month, about rs per cent. OF these
being cash under the new law. The com
missioner expresses the opinion that he
will be able to carefully adjudicate and
allow 5000 claims during the present lis.
cal year The appropriation for the fiscal
year lS90-9l, was s127, 6S5, 1889. and the
amount expended Sis, $3.50, 649.20, leaving
an uncXpended surplus of 50, 155, 44.64
The commissioner isquite confident that
there Will be no call this year for a de
Tendency appropriation. The mistake
which mas been made by many in their eX-
aggerated estimates of the cost of pen
sons. is in not taking account of the
diminished value of first payments, under
the recent legislation These payments
under the laws. have been for many years,
very large, as the pensions, when allowed,
dated from the time of filing the claim,
and most of these claims had been pend
ing for years.
The first payments under the law of
june 1890, are relatively small, and as
the per cent. Of these cases increases, and
that Of the old cases diminishes the an
largely reduced. The average first pay
.nent during the four months was S131. 50,
while the average first payments upon
cases allowed during the year ending June
80, 1891, wa %233. 30 being reduction LII
The average first payments during these
four months OF $l01.48. The estimate for
pension expenditures for the fiscal year
ending June 50, 1923, IS 1855, GOO, when,
after careful examination of the SUBJECT,
the commissioner is OF the opinion will be
sufficient.
Subsidized Railroads.
The report of the commissioner Of rail-
roads shows that the total debu of the
subsidized railroads to the United States
was on Dec 81 $lt2, 512, 613.06 A large
liarU OF the debt is now fast approaching
maturity. with 10 adequate provision for
its payment Some policy for dealing
with the debt, With a view to it's ultimate
collection, should be at once adopted. 1t
is very difficult, well nigh impossible, for
80 large n body rs the congress to conduct
necessary negOi iatiOns and Investigators.
/, therefore. recommend that provision
be made Tor the appointment OF com
mission to agree npon and report plan
TOR dealing with this debt.
The Work OF the Census Bureau
is now in far advance and the great bulk
of the enormous iabOrinyolved completed.
1T will be more strictly q statistical ex-
hitit aud less encountered by essays than
its immediate predecessors
Irrigation.
The United States should part with its
ownership OF the water courses and the
sites for reservoirs, whether TO the states
and territories, or TO individuals or cor
pOrations, only upon cold itiOns that Will
Insure 30 the settlers their proper water
supply upon equal and reasonable terms
in tue territories this whole subject is I'M
der the full control OF congress, and in the
states it is practically so as long It's the
government holds the title to the reservoir
sites and water sources, and can grant
Them upon such conditions as it choOseSto
impose The imprOvident granting OF
franchises OF enOrm GUS value, without
pecompense 10 the state or municipality to
when they proceed and without proper
protection OF the public interests, is the
most noticeable and crying evil OF presc't
legislation. This fault should not be col.A-
mitted in dealing with IL subject that will
before many years affect SO vitality thou
sands OF or people. The legislation of
congress ior
The Repression of Polygamy
has after years of resistance on the part of
the Mormons, at least brought theLi TO
the conclusion that resistance is unprofit-
able and unlvailing The power of con-
sress over this subject should not be sur
rendered until we have satisfactory evil
.ranra fpaf tba r,ao,,ie of fine SraTa IN he