Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-12-15

s,rated danger o' the Introduction OF con-
tapious diseases from foreign ports have in
1ested The subject Of National quarantine
with increased interest. A NOR. ge1sfal an
Harmonious system than now exists, actin,
nromr tly and directly everywhere, ami con
stantly operating by preventive means TO
shield our country from the invasion OF dis
BASE, AMI ut the same time having due re-
gard to the rights All duties Of local agen-
cies. would; I believe; add greatly to the
safety Of our people,
WNoRk OF The ARMY.
the Secretary OF War reports that the
strength Of the army on the 30th day o; Sep
tember last was 25,77S enlisted men and 214l
officers.
Neither Indian outbreaks nor domestic yio-
jence have called the army into service dur
Ing the year and tho only active military
dutv required OF it has been in the Depart
ment of Texas, where violations OF the neu-
tralitv laws Of the United States and Mexico
were promptly and efficiently dealt with by
tne troops, elcting tho warm approval OF
the civil and military authorities OF both
countries
PosToEF1cE DEPARTMENT.
The feport # the Postmaster General con-
tains detailed statemehtd The Operations
of the Postoffce Department. duriug the last
fiscal year and much interesting information
touching this important branch OF tie p10-
The Business al the mails indicates With
Absolute certainty the condition o. the bus!-
| hess Of the country, and depression in fnan-
cial affairs inevitably and quickly reduces
the postal revenues. Therefore a, larger
discrepancy than usual between the postoulee
| Ia
aud Unavoidable result Of the DISTRESSING
stringency Which has prevailed throughout
the country during much OF ofthetime covered
| by the Postmaster Generals report.
| desire 10 commend as especially worthy
of prompt attention the suggestion OF tho
Postmaster General relating to more sensl-
bic and business-like organization and
better distribution OF responsibility in his
department.
rrr NAVY.
The report of the Secretary OF the Navy
contains a history of the operations ot his
department during the past year, and ex-
hlbits most gratifying condition OF the per-
sonnel of our navy. He presents satisfac-
tory account of the progress which has been
made in the construction OF vessels. ana
makes a number of recommendations to
which attention is especially invited
Progress in the construction of new vessels
has hot been as fapil as was Anticipated.
There have been delays In the completion OF
tnarmored vessels; but for the most part they
have been such as are constantly occurring
even i'll cotintrles having the largest expert
ence in naval ship-building. The most serious
DELAYS: however. have been in the work upon
armored ships. The trouble has been the fail
ure of contractors to deliver armor as agreed.
The difficulties seem ndwj hOWeveri to have
been all overcome; and armor IS being deliv-
cred with satisfactory prompfness: AS re-
suit of the experience acquired by snip
builders and designers and material men, it is
believed that the dates when vessels Will be
completed can now be estimated with reason
able accuracy. Great guns, rapid-flre guns,
torpedoes and powder are being promptly
supplied.
While am distinctly in favor of consis-
tenty pursuing the policy we nave lnaugu-
rated of building up thorough and efncieht
navy, cannot refrain from the suggestion
that the Congress should carefully take INTO
account the number of unfinished vessels on
our hands and the depleted condition OF our
Treasury in considering the proprieiy OF an
appropriation at this time to begin new work.
fENsroNs.
The Secretary OF the Interior has the sup
ervlsion Of so many important subjects that
his report Is OF especial value and interest.
On the 30th day of June, 1898, there were
on tha pension rolls 966,012 names. an IN
crease Of SO, 944 over the number on the roiis
June 80, 1892. OF these there we're seventeen
widows and daughters OF Revolutionary
soldiers. eighty-six survivors OF the war OF
1912. 5425 widows Of soldiers OF that war,
21 .5l8 survivors ani widows OF the
Mexican war; 1882 survivors and
widows of Indian wars, 2Sl army
nurses. and 1854 survivors. and widows
and children of deceased soldiers AMI
sailors of the Rebellion. the latter number
represents those pensionsd on account oi
disabilities or death resulting fron army
and navy service. The number Of persons
remaining on the rolls June 30, 1898 VINO
were pensioned under the act OF June ~,
1890, which allows pensions on account OF
death and disability not char5eaole 10 arny
service, was 459 155.
The number added to the rolls during tho
wear was 123, ,634, and the number dropped
was 9969O. The first payments on pensions
allowed during the year amounted 10 S33, =
756. $40. 9S. This includes arrears, or the
accumulation between the time from wnlch
the allowance of pension dates and the tims
of actually granting this certificate.
Although the law Of 1890 permits pensions
for disabilities not related to military service,
=
must exist incapacitating applicants IRON
the performance of manual labor to such a
degree as to render them unable TO earn a
support" The execution Of this law In It's
early stages does not seem to have been III
accord with its true intention but towards
the close of the last administration an autho'
ritative construction was given 10 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. 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 pay
ments upon number of pensions whcn
seemed TO be fraudulent or unauthorized
pending a complete examination, giving no
tice 10 the pensioners, In order that the,
might have an opportunity to establish, l
nossible. the Justice of their claims notwlth
standing apparent inyalidity.
This. understand is the prrctice which
has for long time prevailed In the Penslol
Bureau but after entering upon these recen
investigations the Commissioners mod'he'
1 this rule so as not to allow, until after com
plete examination, interference with the pay
ment of pension apparently not altogetne
void. but which merely had been fixed at
rate higher than that authorized by law.
lam unable to understand why frauds II
the pension rolls should not be exposed an
corrected with thoroughness and vigor
Every name fraudenty put upon these roll
is wicked imposition upon the kindly sen
timent in which pensions have their origin
every fraudulent pensioner has become pa
citizen every false oath in support OF pen
, sion has made perjury more common an
false and undeserving pensioners rob tn
, people not only of their money, bu
Of the patriotic sentiment which the SUI
vivors OF war, fought for the preservatio,
of the Union, ought to inspire. Thousand