New-York tribune., 1893-12-05

cruiser Brooklyn which will be completed by
August / OF that year. Ii Is also expected that
the three gunboats authorized by the last Con
gress will be completed in less than TWO years.
Since 1856 Congress has at each session au-
and the Secretary Of the Navy presents an earn
est plea .Or the continuance Of this plan lie
recommends the authorization & oi a' 'eaS' OH
battleship and six torpedo-Doats.
While | am distinctly in favor OF consistently
pursuing the policy we have lnauguTateu oI
building up n thorough ana elncieh' Navy,
cannot refrain from The suggestion that the
Congress should carefully take ln'o aCcount
the number OF unfinished vessels on our hands
and the depleted condition of our Treasury in
considering the propriety OF an appropriation at
this time to begin new work.
The method OF employing mechanical labor
at navy wards through boards Of labor, and
making efficiency the sole test by which laborers
are employed and continued, Is producing the
best results. and the Secretary is earnestly ue,
js invited to the statements Of his report in re-
gard to the workings of the system
THE BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
The Secretary of the Interior has the SUPER
vision of so many important subjects that his
report is of especial value and interest.
On the 3Oth day of June, 1898, there were on
the pension rolls 966,012 names, an increase of
So 944 over the number on the rolls June 30. 1892.
OF these there were II widows and daughters
Of Revolutionary soldiers. Sc survivors Of the
war of 1912, 5,425 widows Of soldiers of that war,
War 1852 survivors and widows of Indian wars.
2s4 army nurses and 475,645 survivors, and
widows and children Of deceased soldiers and
sailors of the War of the Rebellion The latter
number represent those pensioned ac-
count of disabilities or death resulting
from army and navy service. The mum.
ber OF persons remaining the rolls
June sO 1923 who We're pensoned under the
act Of June q, 1890, which allows pensions
account of death and disa biity not chargeable
to Army service. was 4J9.l35.
The number added TO the rolls during the year
was 123,634. and the number dropped was 35,69D
The first payments on pensions allowed during
the year amounted to $33.756.549 9s. This in
cludes arrears. or the accumulation between the
time from which the allowance of pension dates
and the time of actually granting the certificate.
Although the law of 1890 permits pensions for
disabilities not related TO military service. yet
as a requisite to its benefits disability must
exist incapacitating applicants from the per-
formance of manual labor TO such degree as
to render them unable to earn support" The
execution of this law in its early stages does not
seem to have been in accord with its true in
tention; but toward the close of the last Admin
istration 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 purpose 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
seemed to be fraudulent or unauthorized pend
ing a complete examination. giving notice to the
pensioners, in order that they might have an
opportunity to establish, if possible the justice
Of their claims Notwithstanding apparent in
validity.
This, understand is the practice which has
for long time prevailed in the Pension Bureau
bot after entering upon these recent investi-
cations the Commissioner modified this rule
SO as not to allow until after complete ex-
animation interference with the payment OF
pension apparently not altogether void, but
which merely had been fixed at rate higher
than that authorized by law.
am unable 20 understand why frauds in the
pension rolls should not be exposed and cor
rected with thoroughnesS and vigoc Every
name fraudulertly put upon these rolls is a
wicked imposition upon the kindly sentiment in
which pensions have their origin every fradu-
lent pensioner has become a bad citizen; every
false cath in support OF pension mas mace
perjury more common, and false and undeserv-
ing pensioners rob the people not only Of their
money. but of the patriotic sentiment when
the survivors OF the war fought for the preser-
vation OF the Union ought to inspire. Thou
sands Of neghborhoods have their well-known
fraudulent pensioners and recent developments
by the Bureau establish appalling conspiracles
to accomplish pension frauds. BY no means the
least wrong done is to brave and deserving
pensioners VINO certainly ought not 10 be con-
demned to such association.
Those who attempt in the line OF duty TO
rectify these wrongs should not be accused or
enuity or indifference to the claims OF honest
veterans
The sum expended on account Of pensions for
the year ending June 60 1893 was sl56,74O,467 IA.
The Commissioner estimates that sl650OOooO
will be required to pay pensions during the year |
ending June so, 1894.
THE INDIANS.
The condition of the Indians and their ulti- |
mate fate are subjects which are related to !
sacred duty of the Government, and which |
strongly appeal TO the sense of justice and the |
sympathy of our people.
Our Indians number about 24S,0 900. Most Of |
them located on 1Gi reservations containing |
6,ll6,531 acres Of land About 10000 Of these |
Indians have to a large degree adopted civilized
customs. Lands in severalty have been allotted
to many Of them. Such allotments have been |
made to 700 individuals during the last fiscal |
year. embracing about 100000 acres. The num-
Der of Indian Government schools open during |
the year was 1s5, an increase OF twelve over
the preceding year. or this total 10 were on
reservations. of which 73 were boarding schools
and 81 were day schools. Twenty boarding
schools and five day schools supported by the
Government were not located on reservations.
The total number of Indian children enrolled
during the year as attendants of all schools was
21.138. an increase Of 1881 over the enrolment
for the previous yeSc.
I am sure that secular education and moral
and religious teaching must be important fac
tors in any effort to the Indian and lead
him to civilization believe. too. that the re-
linquishment of tribai relations and the holding
Of land in severalty may. in favorable condi-
that allotmentS Of land in severalty
ought to be made with great care and circum-
spection. If hastily done, before the Indian
knows it's meaning, while yet he has little or no
dea of ting farm and no conception OF
thrift, there is great danger that reservation
lie in tribal relations may be exchanged for the
Of civilization, instead Of its inde-
pendence and elevation.
The solution Of the Indian problem depends
very largely upon good administration The
personal fitness of agents and their adaptability
10 the peculiar duty Of caring for their wards
s OF the utmost Importance.
The law providing that. except in especial
Eases, Army officers shall be detailed as Indian
agents. it is hoped will prove successful eX-
pertinent.
There is danger Of great abuses creeping into
he prosecution of claims for Indian depreda-
ions. and 1 recommend that every possible
afeguard be provided against the enforcement
4 unjust and fictitious claims Of this descrip- |
ion. L
The appropriations on account or the lndian
bureau for the year ending June 30. 1894.
mount to s7.954,962 99. a decrease as compared {
ixt. III infr nf l.