The gold leaf., 1893-12-07


and Improvement OF the service.
Progress in the construction OF new
vessels has not been as rapid as was
anticipated The trouble has been the
failure OF contractors to deliver armor
as agreed. The difficulties seem now,
however, to have been all overcome, and
armor is being delivered with satisfactory
prOmptness. Great guns, rapid-fire guns,
torpedoes and powder are being
promptly supplied. The Secretary of the
Navy recommends the authorization of
at least one battle-shp and six torpedo
boats. Congress should, however, care
fully take into account the number of
unfinished vessels on our hands and the
depleted condition of our treasury.
On the 3Oth day of June, 1898, there
were on thepension rolls 96G, ,O12 names,
an increase of So over the number
on the rolls June 30, 1892.
OF these there We're II widows and
daughters of revolutionary soldiers, sc
survivors of the war of 1912, 1926
widows OF soldiers OF that war, ,51S
survivors and widows of the Mexican
war, 1882 survivors and widows of
Indian wars, 2S4 army nurses. and 49,
645 survivors and widows and children
of deceased soldiers and sailors of the
civil war.
Although the law of 1890 permits
pensions for disabilities not related to
military service, yet as a requisite to its
benefits a disability must exist incapaci-
tating applicants from the performance
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
| Il
covery has been made that many names
had been put upon the pension roll by
means of wholesale and gigantic frauds.
Frauds on the pension rolls should be
| exposed and corrected with thorough
ness and vigor. Every name fraudulently
put upon these rolls is wicked imposi-
tion upon the kindly sentiment in which
pensions have their origin.
Our Indians number about 24S.OOO;
most of them are located on 261 reserva-
tions, containing S6,116,531 acres of
| land. About l 900 of these Indians
have to a large degree adopted civilized
| customs.
The continued intelligent execution OF
the civil service law and the increasing
approval by the people of it's operation
are most gratifying. The recent exten-
sion OF its limitations and regulations to
the employees at free delivery postOffices,
which has been honestly and promptly
accomplished by the commission with
the hearty cooperation of the Post
| master-General, is an immensely I'M
portant advance in the usefulness Of the
system. The civil-service law is found to
be beneficial not only in it's effect upon
the public service, but also what is even
more important in its effect in elevating
the tone OF political life generally.
The civil-service law has grown in
favor, notwithstanding the querulous
impracticability OF many self-constituteG
guardians. Beneath all the vagaries anC
sublimated theories which are attracted
to it there underlies this reform a sturdy
cOmmOn-sense principle not only suiteC
to this mundane sphere, but whose ap
plicatiOn our people are more and more
recognizing to be absolutely essential t.
the most successful operation of thei
government, If not to its perpetuity.
Congress is urged to so limit by stric
economy its appropriations as t.
, exhibit an appreciation of the condition
of the treasury and sympathy witt
: the Strengthened circumstances of on
fellow-citizens. The duty of publ
economy is also OF immense importanc
in its intimate and necessary relation t.
) the task now in hand of providing
: revenue tOmeet government expenditure
and yet reducing the peoples burden c
federal taxation. After hard struggl
tariff reform is directly before us
, Nothing so important claims Ou
attention and nothing SO clearly present
itself as both an opportunity and
2 duty. After full discussion our country
: men have spoken in favor CT this re
' form, and they have contided the wor
} Of it's accomplishment to the hands {
those who are solemnly pledged to it.
! Manfestly, if we are to aid the peopl
l directly through tariff reform, one Of il
: most obvious features should be r.
: duction in present tariff charges upo
4 the necessaries of life. The benefits
a such reduction would be palpable all
r substantial, seen and felt by thousand
: who would be better fed and bette
I clothed and better sheltered. These gift
: should be the willing benefactions of
y government whose highest function is tt
8 promotion of the welfare Of the peopl
e Not less closely related to our people
9 prosperity and well-being is the remOv;
of restrictions upon the importation
Il the raw materials necessary to our mai
/ ufactures. A measure has been prepare
- Dt tlle appropriate congressional COl
+. mittee embodying tariff reform on tt
e lines herein suggested. 1t is the resu
a of much patriotic and unselfsh wor
: and it is believed that it deals with i
: subject consistently and as thorough
s as existing conditions permit.
:, To provide against Temporal
: deficiency which may exist before tt
e business of the country adjusts itself
G the new tariff SchpdulpS the commit T.
r has wisely embraced in their plan fe
e additional internal revenue taxes, i
> Guiding small tax upon incomes derive
from certain corporate Investment
u These new assessments are not on
u absolutely just and easily borne, bl
e they have the further merit of being SUI
q as can be RENTED without unfavOrab
> business disturbance whenever tt
}. necessity of their imposition no long
e exists.