Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-12-19

siJutEs upon Tue roll on Ole jCu uay o. j una,
1891, was $40 l6). There were ailow.i dut.-
ing the fiscal year en1in, at tlls tius 2Jl,-
565 cases OF this number, 105. 3ST ware al
lowed un Ter the law o. june 27 1872 Tue
issuing OF certificates has been procae ling at
the rats OF about 1900 per IN 1nth. about
seventy-five per cant. Of these being casas
under the new law. The Com missioner ex-
presses the opinion that he will be able 70
carefully a1iu iicate and allow 359, 900 claims
during the present fisch year. Inc aDpro-
ipration for the payment of pensions for t lie
Iiscal year 1S9J-9l was 1927, 65j, 79} 80, and
the amount expended Sis, $50 1925 leavin :
an unexpended surplus of 50, 10, l4h4
The estimate for pension expenditures for
the fiscal year ending June 81, 1898, is Sl4i, :
$1,000, which. after careful examination of
the subject, the Com nisSion9r is of the o1in-
ion viii be sufficient. While these disburse
ments to the disabled soldiers OF the great
civil war are large, they do not realiz3 the
exaggeratel estimates OF those who oppose
this benedcaut legislation. The Secretary of
the Interior shows with great fulness the
care that is taken to exclu lie frau iulent
claims, and also the gratifying fact that the
persons to whom these pensions are going
are men who rendered, not slight, but SUD
stantial war service.
THE ELEVENTH CENSUS
The WORK OF the Census Bureau is now far
in advance and the great bulk OF the enor-
nous labor involved completed. 1t viii be
more strictly statistical exhibit aud less
encumbersd by essays than its immsiiats
predecessors The methods pursued have
been fair, careful and intelligent and have
secured the approval OF the statisticaus who
have followed them with a scientific and non
partisan interest. The appropriations necas-
sary TO the early completion aud publication
Of the authorized volumes should be given in
time to secure against delays which increase
the cost and at the same time diminish the
value of the work.
AGRICULTURE.
If the establishment OF the Department of
Agriculture was regar led by any one as a
mere concession to the unenlightsned de-
mand of a worthy class of people that i'm
preston has been most efectually removed
by the great results alrea iy ATTAINED. It's
home influence has bsen very great in dis
ssminating agricultural AMI horticultural
information; in stimulating and directing a
further diversifcatlon OF crops: in detect
ing and eradiclting diseases of domestic
animals; and. more than all in the close and
informal contact which it has established
an maintains with the farmers and stock
raisers of the whole country. Every request
Cor information has hal prompt atteuoiou
and every suggestion merite1 consideration.
The scientific corps of the Department is of
high or Ter and is pushing its investi cations
with method and enthusiasm.
The inspection by this Department OF cat
tie and pork products intended for shipment
abroad has been the basis of the success
which has attended our efforts to secure the
removal of the restrictions maintained by
the European Governments.
For ten years protests and petitions upon
this subject from the packers and stock
raisers of the United States have been di-
rectei against these restrictions which so
seriously limited car market and curtailed
the profits of the farm. lisa source of gem
eral congr atulatiol that success has at last
been attainel for the effects OF an enlarged
foreign market for thu meats will b9 felt
not only by the farmer. but in oar pub ic
finances and in every brancI OF trIie. 1t is
particularly fortunate that the iacreassl
demand for fool pro luc5s resulting from
the removal of the restrictions upon our
means and from the reciprocal trade ar
rangements to which have refeyrs 1, should
have co ne at time Wien the agricultural
surplus is 50 large. Without the help thus
derive lower prices would nave prevajle 1.
The Secretary OF Agriculture estim tllt
thu restrictions upoa tle importation o. ouc
pork pro luets into Z lrops lost US m tr695
foc S30,0)10JJ worth o. tles3 pro ldc55 an
nuaHy.
The gain crop Of this year was the largest
Al Jul lisotl - p7A NSiV S-hsS VI 80 20 ~
OF last year, an1 yet the nav markets that
have b7eu opene AMI the lar ger denlnl re-
sulting from short crops in Europe have sus-
taine1 prices to sucI an extent that the
enormous surplus of meats AMI brea istu Is
will be marketed at gooi prices, brin ging
re iet and prosperity to an Industry that was
much depressed. The value Of the grain crop
OF the United States is estimlto by the See-
rstarv TO be this year 500, 010, 01) more tnau
last. IF m ar ~ IA t~a ii tt9r M l.
10 Is mora AMI OF all pro iu,5s Of the far IL,
seven hun irei millions more. 1t Is not in-
appropriate, | think, hers to suggest tt 1T
our satisfaction in tls c)lt3 npatio OF this
marvellous addition to the natioltl wealth
is mcouied by any suspicion of the cur
rency by whicl 1t is me- isurei AMI in which
the farmer is pail for the pro lu;5 OF his
fields.
PROTECTING RAILROAD EMPLOYEES,
have twice before rgelGly cblle TIL at
tention of Congress t. the necessity OF le yis-
latjOn for the protection of thu lives of rail-
road employees but nothing has yet been
done. Daring the year ending June 30 1871
36t brakemen were killed AM 13tl maime1
while engage in coupling cars. The total
number OF railroad employees killel during
the year was 245i, AMI the number Injured
y, 80. This is cru,l aul largely a nee less
sacrifice. The Governmeu t is Spen ling n early
one million dollars annually to save t1e lives
OF shipwrecSe | selmen; every steam vessel
is rightly inspected and required to ADOPT the
most approved sa- ety appliances. All this
is good but how Shall " ex ,uSe tia lack OF
interest ami effort in behalf of tlis army OF
brave young men, wno in our land commerce
are being slcriicel every year by the con-
timed us9 of antqIate1 and dangerous APP
pli4nceS2 A law requiring of every railroa
engaged in interstate commerce the equip
ment each year OF "A given per cent. OK its
freight cars with auto nstic cou 1lers AMI air
brakes woali compel an agreement betwean
the roads as to the Sin OF brakes an /
couplers to be used, aud would very soon
and very greatly relu,e the present fearful
de tth rate among rallrOa enylOyss.
ELECTION Of PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
The method of appointment by the States
of electors OF President AMI Nice Presi lent
has recently attracted renewed interest by
reason of departure by the StIt4 of MlcAi-
gan from the method which had become uni
form in all the States. Prior u 1873! various
methods had been uSet by the different State,
an even by the same State. In some the
choice was made by the Legisl tture; il
others electors were chosen by districts. but
more generally by the voters OF the whole
State upon a general ticket. The move
meut towards the adoption of the last
named method had an early be ginning, an
went steadily forwIrl among the States,
until in 1892 there remained but n singi
State, South Carolina, that had not ad0o5a
it. That State ulHl tde civil war, col
tinued to choose its e'ecs0rs By a vote OF
the Legislature, but after the war cha se |
its method an cOnfurnei to the practice o :
the other States For nearly sixty years all
the States save ons have apoiltsi their
electors by popular vote upol general
ticket, anl for nearly thirty years this
method was universal
After full test OF other methods without
important division or dissent in any Sta 2
and without any purpose OF party aivan-
tage as we must believe, but solely ool tle
considerations that unitor nifty wac desirable
and that a general election in territorial
divisions not subject to clange was
most consistent with thu popIla' ch1r3c-
ter of our institutions, best praserveI
the equality of the voters, and per
fectly removed the choice of Pres,
dent from the beua al influence of taa
"gerrymanler" the practice OF all the State
was brought into hlrnoly. That this con
currence should nov b. broken l. | tnil6,
an unfortunate and even threatening eps
sode and one that may well sugg Isl whether
the States that still give their approval Il
the old and prevailing metho | CHI
not to secure. by a constitutional amend
insnt a practice whicA has ha / the approval
OF all. The recent Michigan legisla
ton provides for choosing what are popu
larly known as the Congressional elector 70.
President by Congressional districts aud tbs
two Senatorial electors by districts ereatec
for that purpose. This legislation was o,
course. accompanied by q new Congressional
apporJionment, aud the tvs statues bring
ths electoral vote Of the State Gader the in
huence of the ''serrymsnder'
These gerrymandecs fer Congressional pur
poses are in most cas:s buttrAsssi by a gerry
mander of the legislative districts, thus max
ing it impossibe for majority Of thu lag gal
voters OF the State to correct th4 aoportion-
ment ami equlilze the Congressional dis
a rr,irac.ritr mi Ii