The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-04

Ou Uue OVttt udy VI OuuN. 1880 tuoEf
were GU the pension rolls g6s. OLE names,
an increase of SO. 944 over rhe number on
the rolls June 80. 1892. OF these there
were II widows aud daughters of Revolu-
tionary soldiers. S6 survivors OF the war
of 1872, 5,425 survivors aud widows OF the
Mexican war. 1852 survivors and widows
OF Indian wars. 2S4 army nurses, and
AIS, 6i5 survivors, and widows aud chill
dren of deceased soldiers and sailors OF
the war of the rebellion. The latter
number represents those pensioued on
account of disabilities or death resulting
from army aud NAVY service. The nuns
Der of persons remaining on the rolls
June 80, 1893. who were peusioned under
the acs of January 81, 1890, which allows
pensions on account of death aud disabil-
itv not charKeable to army service, was
45o, 155.
The number added to the rolls during
the year was 12S.634. and the number
dropped was SO, 1890. The first payments
on pensions allowed during the year
amounted to $S3. 100, 549.eS. This In
cludes arrears, or the accumulation be-
tween the time from which the allow
ance OF pension dates and the time OF
actually granting the certificate.
THE DISABILITY CLAUSE
Although the law OF 1891 permits peu-
sions for disabilities not related to milf
tary service, yet rs a requisite to It's bene-
fits a disability must exist incapacitating
applicants from the performance of
manual labor" The execution of this
law In its early stages does not seem to
have been in accord with its true inten-
ton; but toward the close OF the last adj
ministration an authoritative construci ion
was given to the statute, and since that
time this construction has been fol-
lowed. This has had the effect
of limiting the operation of the
law to its Intended purpose. The dis
covery having been made that many
pames had been put upon the pension roll
by means OF wholesale aud gigantic
frauds, the Commissioner suspended pay
ments upon a number of pensions which
seemed 70 be fraudulent or unauthorized
pending a complete examination. giving
notice to the pensioners, In order that
they might have an opportunity to estab-
lish, If possible. the justice OF their
claims. Notwithstanding apparent in
validity.
This, I understand, is tha practice
which has for a long time prevailed in
the Pension Bureau: but after entering
upon these regent Investigations the Com
missioner modified this rule SO as not TO
allow. until after q complete examination,
interf erence with the payment of a pens
sion apparently not altogether void, but
which merely had been liked at q rate
higher than that authorized by law.
EXPOSE FRAUDS
am unable to understand why frauds
in the pension rolls should not be exposed
and corrected with t~horoughness and
viRor. Every name fradulentIy put
upon these rolls is q wicked imposition
upon the kindly sentiment in which pel =
sions have their origin; every fraudulent
pensioner has become a bad citizsu;
every false oath In support OF q pension
has made perjury more common, and
false and undeserving pensioners rob tine
people not only of their money. but of
the patriotic sentiment which the SUR
vivors of a war, fought for the pressrva-
ton OF the Union. ought to inspire. Thor.
sands of neighborhoods. have their well
known fraudulent pensioners 8, and receu6
DEVELOPMENTS by the BIrsau establish
appalling conspiraciss to acc 1mpiish oen-
sion frauds. By no means the least
wrong done ia to brave and deserving
pensioners. who certainly ought not Go bs
condemned to such ASSOCIATE on.
Those who attempt in the line OF duty
to rectify these wrongs should not BIS
accused of enmity or Indifference to the
claims of honest We terans.
The sum expended on account of PEN
sions for the year ending June 80, 1893,
was $l56. TAO. 467. IA.
The Commissioner estimates that $685.
600. 600 viii be required Co pay pensions
during the yer ending June 80. 1894.
THE DUTY OF ECONOMY.
Toward the conclusion OF the Message
the President says
Economy in public expenditure is q
duty that cannut ~innocently BIS neglected
by those entrusted vita rne control of
money drawn from the people for public
uses. It must be confessed tina our ap-
parently endless resources, the famlliar-
ity of our people with immense u
lations of wealth, the growing sentiment
among them that the expenditure of
public money should In some manner
be to their immediate aud personal adj
vantage, the Indirect and almost stealthy
manner i'll which a large part OF our taxes
are exacted. and a degenerated sense of
official accountability have led to grow
ing extravaganza in governmental appro-
prfations.
At this time, when a depleted public
Treasury confronts us, whsn many of
" people are engaged In n hard strug-
gle for she necersAries OF life. ana when
enforced ecoaony is pressing upon the
great mass of e1r countrymea. | dasire to
urge with all the earaestneFs at my SOM
maad that Congressional legislation be
so linited by strict econom as TO oxaibis
an appreciation of the condition OF the
Treasury and y sympathy with the STRAIT:
ensd circumstances Of our fellow citi-
gems.
The duty of public economy Is also of
immense Importance In Its intimate and
necessary relation 90 tina task now in
hand of providing revenue to meet Gov
M expenditures. and yes reducing
the D ecple'e burden of Federal taxation.
TARIFF REFORM BEFORE Us.
After = hard s~truGEie tariff reform 10
directly before as. Nothing SO important
claims our attention aud nothing pre-
sents itself as both an opportunity aud q
duty-an opportunity TO deserve the
gratitude of our fellow citizens and a
duty imposed upon US bV our OFT repeated
professions and by the emphatic man.
date of the people. After full discussion
our countrymen have spoken iu favor of
this reform. and they have confidei the
work of it's ACCOMPLISHMENTS to the lands
OF those who are solemnly pledged to 1t.
II there is anything In the theory OF a
representation in public plac % of the
people and their desires, il public officers
are re lily the servants of the people, and
il political promises and professions have
any binding force, our failure 10 give the
relief 80 long awaited Will be sheer
recreancv. Nothing should intervene to
distract our attention or disturb our ef-
fort until this reform is accoinp lishsd by
wise aud careful legislation.
While we should ~staunchly adhere to
the principle that only the necessity of
revenue justffies the imposition of tariff
duties u other Federal taxation, and
that they should be limited By strict
economy. we cannot close our ayes to tue
fact that co ,ditions lave grown up
among Us which in BUSINESS and farm ess
call for discriminating care in the distri-
button of such duties and taxation as the
emergencies of our Government actua lily
demand.