The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-05

| also expected that the three gun ooh'
authorized by the last congress WEI b
completed in less than two years.
since 1885 Congress has at each session
authorized the building OF one OF NOR
vessels and the Secretary OF the Navj
presents an earnest plea for the continu
ance OF this plan He recommends tn
authorization OF at least one battle-shii
and six torpedo boats. While / am dis
tinctiy In favor OF consistently pursuing
the policy we have inaugurated OF build
ing up a thorough and efficient navy
cannot refrain from the suggestion that
Congress should carefully take into ac-
count the number OF unfinished vessels
on our hands and the depleted condition ol
our treasury in considering the propriety
Of an appropriation at this time TO begin
| new work.
Interior Department.
The Secretary OF the Interior has SUI
| pcrvlsion Of so many important subjects
that his report is OF especial value and
| interest. On the 3Oth day of June 1893.
| there were on the pension rolls yo5'OlZ
names, an Increase OF 1924 over the nudl-
Der on the rolls June 20. 1922.
OF these, there were II widows and
/ daughters of Revolutionary soldiers. 80
survivors OF the war of 1872, 5,iZS widows
OF soldiers OF that war. 2l,5i2 survivors
survivors and widows OF Indian wars. pa
army nurses and 1864 survivors and
widows and children of deceased soldiers
and sailors of the war OF the rebellion.
The latter number represents those pen
sions on account of disabilities or death
resulting from army and navy service.
The number Of persons remaining on the
rolls June 30. 1895. who were pensioned
under the act Of June q. 1890, which al
lows pensions on account Of death and
disability not chargeable 10 army service,
was 459 1855.
The number added to the rolls during
the year was 1854. and the number
dropped was 1880. The first payments
on pensions allowed during the year
amounted to $685. 80. This includes
arrears. or the accumulation between the
time from which the allowance Of pen
sion dates and the time of actually grant
ing the certificate. Although the law Of
1880 permits pensions for disabilities not
related 10 military service. yet as a requi-
site 10 its benefits a disability must exist
incapacitsting applicants from the per
Torrance Of manual labor 10 such a de-
gree as to render them unable to earn a
support"
Gigantic Pension Frauds.
The execution Of this law in its early
stages does not seem to have been in
accord with its true intentions, but to-
ward the close OF the last administration
an authoritative construction was given
TO the statute, and since that time this
construction has been followed This has
had the effect Of limiting the operation OF
the law TO It's intended purpose The dis
covery having been made that many
names had been put upon the pension
rolls by means Of Wholesale and gigantic
frauds, the Commissioner suspended pay
ments upon number Of pensions which
seemed 10 be fraudulent or unauthorized
pending n complete examination. giving
notice to the pensioners in order that they
might have an opportunity 10 establish.
II possible, the justice OF their claims.
notwithstanding apparent invalidity.
ms, 1 understand, is the practice which
mas for a long time prevailed in the Pen
sion Bureau, but after entering upon the
recent investigation the Commissioner
modihed this rule so as not to allow, I'M
III after complete examination. inter-
ference with the payment of n pension
apparently not altogether void, but which
merely had been fixed at rate higher
than that authorized by law. / am unable
10 understand why frauds in the pension
rolls should not be exposed and corrected
win thoroughness and vigor. Every
name 1rauduienty put upon these rolls
Is wicked imposition upon the kindly
sentiment in which pensions have their
origin EVERY fraudulent pensioner has
become a bad citizen: every false oath in
support or a pension has made perjury
more common, and false and undeserv-
ing pensioners robs the people not only Of
tneir money, but OF their patriotic honor
"hich the survivors of a war fought for
the preservation Of the Union ought 10
inspire ''e'' u
thousands OF neighborhoods have their
Weil-hhown fraudulent pensioners ana
recent developments by the bureau es-
laDish appalling conspiracies TO accom-
push pension frauds. BY no means tho
ieast wrong done is to brave ana deserv-
re PenSiChers' VINO certainly ought not
10 De condemned to such association
THOSE who attempt in the line of dutv
to rectify these wrongs should not ~
accused OF enmity or Indifference to the
Claims OF honest veterans.
Inc sum expended on account of nan
9Iohs Tor the year ending June go 1Sqs
was N36,7iJ 4e7i4 'e ''' 1880
,od ne me commissioner estimates that S1e5-
1oo'oVo VIII be required 10 nav nensions
auflhs the year ending June 30 1891
Condition of the Indians
The condition Of the Indians and tboiu
ultimate fate are subjects which arc ~
ated 10 a sacred duty of the government,
ana which strongly appeal to the sense
u justice and the sympathy of orr neonle
CuI lluiahs number about 2lS. 900. Most
u thein are located on 16l reservatIons
'ontalning S6'll6'53l acres OF land.
Apout llVoO Of these Indians have. IN q
aIse degree adopted civilized customs
--t1nos ~ severaity have been allotted IN
haa' vi theh' such allotments have
oeeh made 10 10000 individuals drrtre
lhe last fiscal year, embracing ! ooo ooo
acreS' The number of Indian go,,an,,
me schools open during the veor ma,
100 an increase of IL over the nrocodt,e
year vi this total 10 were on ,aso,'l-Is
lions, OF which 70 were BOARDING scho va
ana " were day schools S1'ioois
t"vn'y boarding schools and five da,.
.'Ol. supported by the governr1.I,, |
49, hot located on reservations IT.
dur,oo. i",iIDer Oh indian children enrolled |
schnr4. ~ year as attendants of an |
over a. -i,ioS' an increase Of 221 !
49, ine enrolment for the nrevio,,s
year l am sure that secular oS,, oe.ous
anu moral and religious teacbin,s 80.
De important factors I'm anv - ','Ns'
save the indian and lead him IN oi,,,,.
III oeleve, too. that the reIinorieb
80 - =, ilodi relations. and the boldine
VI Isnd In severalty may. In faVoraiie
Se enua.iohs' ana this contamination. II
oTeils TO me. however. that allotma,ts
- anu IN severalty ought 10 be rnade
Win great care and circumspection 10
hasuly done. before the Indian knows Sc
meaning, while yet he has little or NO |
iuea OF tiiling a farm and no concentIon
OF thrlft' there is great danger mat
reservation life In tribal relations ,na,
De exchanged for the pauperism of civil.
zdtlOn instead of its indnnnnho.... -,