The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-12-07


for the confinement of United States convicts.
The business of the United States mails iDdi-
Gates with absolute certainty the condition OF
the business of the country, and depression In
financial affairs inevitably and quickly reduces
the postal revenues Therefore a larger dis
crepancy than usual between the Postotfice
receipts and expenditures is the expected and
unavoidable result.
PENSIONS.
or pensions the President says:
The Secretary of the Interior has the supervision
of many important subjects that his report is OF
especial value and Interest
On the 30lh day of June, 1893. there were on the
pension-rolls 966 OH names, an increase OF ossi4
over tho number the rolls June SO, 1897 vi
these there were IL widows and daughters OF Revo-
lutionary soldiers Sc survivors of the of 1872
5425 widows ofsoders of that war; q 5lS survivors
and widows the Mexican war, 3Ss2 survivors and
widows OF Indians wars. 2S4 Army Nurses. aud 4Io-
6I5 survivors. and widows and children OF deceased
soldiers and sailors ofthe OF the rebellion. The
count of disabilities death resulting from army
aud navy service. The number of persons remain.
ing on the rolls June so, 1898 who were pensioned
under the act of June %, 1890. which allows PEN
sious on account of death and disability not charge
able TO army service, was 459, l55.
The number added to the rolls during the year
1913 63I, and the number dropped was 33,tJO
The first payment on pensions allowed during the
year amoune ed to S33 900, 5i99S. This includes ar
rears, 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 10 military service, yet as n
requisite its benefits disability must exist i'll
capacilating applicants from the performance of
manual labor TO such degree as 10 render them
unable to earn a support" The execution of this
law in lite early stages does not seem to have been
in accord with its true intention; but toward The
close of the last Administration an authoritative
construction given to The statute, ana since
that Time this construction has been followed
This has had the effect of imiiug the operation o
The law 10 its intended purpose. The discovery
having been made that IN names hal been put
upon the pension-rol by means of wholesale and
gigantic frauds the Commis sioner suspended pay
nents upon number of pensions which seemed
TO he fraudulent or unauthorized pending a com
pete examination, giving notice TO the pensioners
in order that they might have m opportunity 10
establish. if possible. the justice OF their claims
notwithstanding apparent invaldty.
This. | understand, is the practice which has for
"A long time prevailed in the Pension bureau; but
after entering upon these recent Investigations The
Commissioner modified this rule as not 10 allow.
until after Il complete examination, interference
with the payment of pension apparently not alto
gether void, but which merely had been fixed nj a
rate higher than that authorized 10y law.
/ am unable to understand why frauds in the
pension-roS should not be exposed and corrected
with thoroughness and vigor. Every name fraud
ulently put upon these rolls is wicked imposition
upon the kiadly sentiment in which pensions have
their origin; every fraudulent pensioner has be-
a bad citizen; every false oath in support OF
n pension has made perjury more common. and
false and nHCieseTying pensioners rob the peope
only of Iieir nouey, but of the patriotic senii
ment which she survivors of 81 war, fought for the
preservation OF The DuiOn, To inspire.
sands of neighburhoods have their well-known
fraudulent pensioners. and recent developments
by the Bureau establish appalling coIspirHcies TO
accomplish pension frauds. By 40 means tile least
wrong done is to brave and deserving pensioners,
who certainly ought not TO be condemned TO such
association.
Those who attempt In the line OF duty 10 reciify
these wrongs should not be accused of enmity or
indifference to the claims of honest veterans.
The sum expended on account OF pensions for
the year ended June 80. 1885, was sl56,7io 1914.
The Commissioner estimates that SlG5, 100000 Will
be required to pay pensions during The year end
ing June 80, 1894.
THE INDIANS.
The solution of the Indian problem depends
very largely upon good administration. The
personal fitness of agents and their adaptabilty
to the peculiar duty of caring for their wards
is of the utmost Importance.
Secular education and moral and religious
teaching must be important factors in any
effort TO save the Indian aud lead him 10 civil
ization. The REIMBURSEMENT of tribal rela-
tions aud the holding of land in severaty may,
in favorable conditions, aid this contamination.
The vast area of land which, but short
time ago, constituted the public domain is
rapidly falling into private hands. But it is
certain that in the transfer the benefcent in
tentiOn of the Government TO supply from its
domain homes to the industrious and worthy
hOme-seekers is often frustrated. The Presi-
dent deplores this. and calls attention to the
Secretary of Interiors recommendations.
The time has come when efficient measures
should lie taken for the preserv walton of our
forests from indiscriminate and remediless de-
struction.
AGRICULTURE
The President reviews the report of the Sec
Rotary of Agriculture. The exports of agri-
cultural products from the United States for
the fiscal year ending June 3. 1892, attained
the enormous figure of 100000 600 in round
numbers. being 1877 per cent. of our total ex-
ports. In the last fiscal year this aggregate
was greatly reduced. but nevertheless reached
SGl5. 900 000 being 75.l per cent. of all American
commodities exported.
In each State and Territory an Agricultural
Experiment Station has been established These
stations. by their very character and name, are
the proper agencies to experiment with and
test new varieties of Seeds and yet there is an
indiscriminate and wasteful distribution by
legislation and legislators, answering no pnr-
pose unless it be TO remind constituents that
their representatives willing to remember
them with gratuities at public cost. SO lie ad-
vises the stoppage Of prOmiseuous lree-seed dis
trbution.
CIVIL SERVICE.
As to civil s,rvice the President says:
The continued intelligent execution OF the Civil
Service law and the Increasing approval b. the
people OF its operation mo-t gratifying. The
recent extension OF its limitations and regulations
TO the employees at freedelivery postoliice- which
has been honestly snd promptly accomplished by
the Commission with the hearty corporation of
the Postmaster General is an immensely import
ant advance in the usefulness of the system.
AM, II possible more than ever convinced OF the
incalcuahie benefits conferred by the Civil Service
law. not only IN its fleet upon the public service.
but also, what is important, in its effect
Ia elevating the tone Of political life generally.
THE TARIFF
On the subject of tariff reform the President
says:
After hard struggle tariff reform Is directly be-
fore Nothing 80 mppriHigt claims attention
aud nothing clearly presents Itself as both an
opportunity and a duty--au opportunity TO deserve
tbe gratitude Oi our fellow ciiZsns and duty i'm
posed upon US by our of repeated professions aud
by tie emphatic mandate of the people. After full
discussion our countTymcn have spoken in favor
of this reform and they have contided the work Of
lis accomp iishucut to the hands OF those who are
solenny pledged to H..
Hthere IS anything in the theory OF a represen-
taIiOn Ia public places OF the people and their
fires, II public officers really the servants of
the people, aud n political promises aud profess
sons have any binding force, our failure to give
The relief 20 long awaited viii he sheer recreancv.
Nothing should intervene distract our attention
or disturb fort until This reform is accom- pIish-
ed 10y wise aud careful Legislation.
While we should staHchly adhere TO the pr!nci-
pie that only the necessity of iuaifes the
imposition Of tariff dulles aud other Federal tax
alton, aud that they should be limited by strict
economy, we caunot close eyes The fact that
conditions have grown up among US which in
the distribution Of such duties and taxation the
emergencies of our Government actually demand
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