Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-12-16

We should at least see that the facili
ties of customs entry and transporta
tion across our territory are not such
IS to make the Canadian route ia
vored one, and that the discrimination
as to duties, to which / have referred
is met by a like dissemination as to the
importation OF these articles from
Canada.
have felt that | would not be JUS
tilted in noting without some new ex.
preston of the legislative will the re-
port of the Commissioner on Pensions
to which the extended notices given
by the Secretary of the Interior in his
report will attract attention. Judged
by the aggregate amount of work
done, the last year has been one of the
greatest in the history OF the office. l
believe that the organization OF the Of.
fee is efficient and that the work has
been done with fidelity. The passage
of what is now known az the debility
clause has, as was foreseen, very large
ly increased the annual disbursements
to the disabled veterans of the civil
war. The estimate for this fiscal year
was $l44, ,956.000, and that amount
was appropriated. A deficiency
amounting to $10,05S,62l must be
provided for at this session.
The estimates for the pensions Of
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1898,
is $l65, 100000. The Commissioner oi
Pensions believes that if the present
legislation and methods are main
tanned and further additions to the
pensions are not made the maximum
for expenditure for pensions will be
reached June 80, 1894, and will be at
the highest point, $1SS, ,000OOO per an
mum. / adhere to the views expressed
in previOns messages that care OF the
disabled soldiers OF the war of the re-
belliOn is matter of national concern
aud duty. Perhaps no emotion cools
sooner than that of gratitude, but
cannot believe that this process has
yet reached point with our people
that would sustain the policy OF relin-
gushing the care of these disabled
veterans to the inadequate agencies
provided by local laws. The parade OF
the Goth of September last upon the
streets of this capital of 100000 of the
surviving Union veterans of the war OF
the rebellion was most touching and
thrilling episode, and the rich and gra-
cious welcome extended to them by
the District OF Columbia and the ap-
plause that greeted their progress for
tens OF thousands of people from all
the States brought back the recollec-
ton Of the grand review when these
men and many thousand others, now
in their graves, were welcomed with
greatful joy as victors in struggle in
which the national unity, honor and
wealth were at issne.
THE UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY.
In my last annual message l called
attention to the fact that some execu-
tive action was necessary in order 10
protect the interests OF the government
in the relations with the Union Pacific
railway. The Commissioner OF Rail-
roads has submitted very full report
giving exact information as to the
debt, the liens upon the company's
property and its resources. We must
deal with the question as we find it
and take that course which will, under
existing conditions, best secure the in
terests of the United States. recon-
mended in my last annual message
that a commission be appointed to
deal with this question, and l now re-
new that recommendation and sug.
gest that the commission be given full
power.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRI-
CULTURE.
The report of the Secretary of Agri-
culture contains not only most in
teresting statement of the progress
and valuable work done under the ad-
ministration of Secretary Rusk, but
many suggestions.
THE ARMY AND NAVY.
The President thinks the frontier is
gone and that the army should be To-
Gated in the West, the North and in
part of the southern boundary, instead
OF being scattered in small parts. The
work of building heavy guns and the
construction Of coast defenses should
be carried on without check. He
thinks both the army and navy should
be kept in high state OF efficiency.
UNIFORM TINE ALLOWANCE.
1t is suggested that uniform time
allowance be given to United States
prisoners confined in the several State
penitentiaries. for the reason that the
time allowance for good conduct is diff.
ferent in the different States.
FREE BALLOT.
In conclusion he reviews the work
of the Postoffice Department, Indian
Office and other divisions OF the gov
ernment, and closes by calling the at
tention of Congress to the need of leg
islation in the line Of free and fair
elections, and asks els it not time
for the great parties to come together
upon the high plane of patriotism
while we devise methods that shall
secure the right of every man quail.
fled by law to cast a free ballot, and
give to every such ballot an equal
value in choosing our public officers
and in directing the policy of the gov
ernment?"
THE largest Thanksgiving plum
pudding yet heard from is one weigh
ing 27l pounds, made at Richmond