The herald., 1893-12-04

W QtCu GtiOMo DcublO45 OA @NNooAe ~
death and disabilities not chargeable to
the army service was 4 .59l, ,555.
The number added to the rolls during
the year was 123,634 and the number
dropped was $1,000. The first payments
on payments allowed during the year
amounted to $50, ,576, ,549.9S. This in
cludes the areas of sccumulations be-
tween the time from which the allow
ance OF pension dates and the time OF
actually granting the certificate.
Although the law OF 1890 permits PEN
sions Tor disability not relating to the
military service, yet, as requisite to
its benefit, disability must exist in
cspacitsting applicants from the
performance of manual labor to
such degree IS to render
them unable to earn support.
The execution of this law in it's early
stages does not eeem to have been IN
accord with its true intention, but to-
ward the close OF the last administra-
ton 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 its intended pur-
pose.
SUSPENDED PENSIONS.
The discovery having been made that
many names had been put upon the
pension roll by means OF wholesale and
gigantic frauds. The commissioner
Suspended payments upon number OF
pensions which seem to be fraudulent,
or unauthorized, pending complete
plete examination, giving notice 10 the
pensioners in order that they might
have an opportunity to establish, if
possible, the justice of their clsims,
Notwithstanding their apparent invsl-
idity. This, | understand, is a practice
which has for long time prevailed in
the pension bureau. But after enter
ing upon these recent Investigations
the commissioner modified this rule
30 as not to allow until after COM
plete examination into the case, inter
ference with the payment of PEN
sion apparently not altogether void,
but which merely had been fixed at a
rate higher than authorized by the
law. 1 am unable to understand why
frauds in the pension rolls should not
be exposed and corrected with thor
oughness and vigor. Every name
fraudulently put upon these rolls is a
wicked imposition upon the kindly
sentiment in which pensions have
their origin. A fraudulent PEN
sioner has become bad citizen;
every false oath in support OF a
pension has made perjury more common
and false, and undeserving pensioners
rob the people, not only of their
money, but OF the patriotic sentiment
which the survivors OF the war who
fought for the preservation OF the union
ought to inspire. Thousands of neigh
borhoods have their well-known fradu-
lent pensioners, and recent develop
ments by the bureau establish appalling
conepiracies to accomplish pension
frauds. By no means the least wrong
done is to brave and deserving pension
ers who certainly ought not to be con-
demned to such association. Those who
attempt in the line OF duty to rectiiy
these wronge should not be accused OF
emnity or Indifference to the claims on
honest veterans.
The sum expended on account of pen
sions for the year ending June 80, 1898,
was $156, 740, ,467. IA. The commissioner
estimates that $165, 100000 will be re-
quired to pay pensions during the year
ending June 30, 1894.
CONDITION OF THE INDIANS.
The condition of the Indians and their
ultimate fate are subjects which are
related to q sacred duty OF the govern
menu aud which sJrongry appoaa W unO
ssnse OF justice and sympathy OF our
people. Our Indians number about
l4S, 900, most OF them located on 1Ol
reservations, containing SO, l15, ,53l
acres of land. About 10000 of these
Indians have, to a large degree, adopted
civilized customs. Land in several ter
ritories has been allotted to many OF
them. Such allotments have been
made to 10000 individuals during the
last fiscal year, embracing about l,OOO,-
acres.
The number of Indian schools opened
during the year was 1876, an increase oi
II over the preceding year. Of this to-
tai IL were on reservations, of which Is
were boarding schools and 81 were day
schools. Twenty boarding schools and
dsv schools supported by the govern
ment were not located on reservations
The total number of Indian childrer
enrolled during the year, as the attend
snce of all schools, 81, 318, an increase o
1921 over the enrolment for the previou
wear. am sure that secular education
and moral and religious teaching mus
he important factors in any effort t
save the Indian and lead him to civil
ization. believe too that the relin
ouishment of tribal relations and tn
holding of land in severalty may i
favorable conditions to aid this con
summation. 1t seems to me, however
that aliotments of land in severalt
ought to be made with great circum
spection.
The law providing that. except il
special cases, army officers shall be de
tailed as Indian agents, it is hoped Will
prove a successful experiment. Their
is danger of great abuses creeping int
the prosecution OF claims for India
depredations, and l recommend this
every possible safeguard be provide
against the enforcement OF unjust an
fictitious claims OF this description. IN
appropriations on account oi India
claims before the wear ending June 3
1894, amount to 81 1854, ,962.99, decreaf
az compared with the year preceding
OF 1887 1919.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
The vast area of land which but
short time ago constituted the publ
domain is rapidly falling into priva
hands. 1t ia certain that in that tran
fer the benefcent intention of the go
ernment to supply from it's donna
J homes to the industrious and worti
homestesders is often frustrated. III
speculator who stands with an exto
tionate purpose between the land OH