San Saba County news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1874-19??, 1893-12-15

SssIon Of so many important Tubjeets thst his
report il of especial value and interest On the
soth day of June, 1898, there were on the pension
rolls Q66 0l2 names an increase ofS99 45 over the
snmber on the rolls on June 30 1922.
OF these there were seventeen widows and
daughters OF revolutionary soldiers, the sur
hvors OF the war of 1872, 5425 widows OF
holders OF that war. 2l5lS survivors and
F,idow- 81 the Mexican war. 3Ss2 survivors and
Widows OF the Indian wars, 2Si army nurses
and 1889 survivors and widows aud children
Of deceased soldiers and sailors OF the war OF
the rebellion. The latter number represents
those pansioned on account OF disabilities,
death resulting from army and navy services.
The number OF persons remaining on the rolls
June 81 1898. who were pensiOned under the
act OF June q, 1880, which allows pensions on
account OF death and disablement not
,hargeable 10 army service was 452 I55.
The number added TO the rolls during the
rear was l2S,6S4 and the number dropped was
The first payments on pensions allowed dur
Ing the year amounted TO Sj3 $50 $40 IS This
includes arrears or the accumulation between
the time from which the allowance OF pension
dates and the time of actually granting the
certificates. Although the laNS Of 1870 permits
pensions for disability not related to military
service, yet as a requisite to il! benefits disa-
billy must exist lncap1citating applications
from the performance Of manual labor TO such
= degree as TO render them unable TO earn sup
port The execution OF this law in its early stage
does not seem to have been IN accord with It's
true intention. But toward the close OF the
last administration an authoritative construc-
lion given to the statute and since that
time this construction has been 10 lowed This
bias had the effect OF limiting the operation of
the law 10 its intend purpose. The dlscoY-
sry having been made that many names had
been put upon the pension roll by means OF
wholesale and gigantic frauds, the commits
ioner suspended payments unon y number Of
pensions which seemed 10 be fraudulent or I'M
authorized pending q complete examination,
giving notice TO the pensiOuer in order that
they might have an opportunity 10 establish II
possible he justice OF their claims, notwith-
standing apparent iuyGlidity
This, understand. is the practice which has
tor a long time prevailed IN the pension bureau
but after entering upon these recent investiga-
tons the commissioner modified THIS rule so as
TO not allow until after complete eXamina-
ton interference vi h the payment OF pen
-slOn apparently not altogether void but which
merely had been fixed at rate higher than
that authorized by law. 1 am unable 10 under
stand why frauds in the pension rolls should
lot be exposed and corrected with thorough
mess and vig0r- Every name frauduiently put
upon the kindly sentiment in which
pensions have their origin. Every
fraudulent pensioner has become a bad citizen,
every false oath in support of a pension has
been perjury more common and false. AID I'M
deserving pensioners rob the people not only OF
their money. but OF the patriotic sentiment
which the survivors oil the war who fought Tor
the preservation OF the Union ought to inspire.
Thousands of neighborhOOds have their well
known fraudulent pensioners and recent devel-
opments by the bureau establish appalling con-
means the least wrong done is TO brave and de-
serving pensioners who utterly ought not 10 be
condemned to such associations.
Those who attempt In the line OF duty 10 rectify
these wrongs should not be accused OF enmity or
Indifference TO the claims OF honest veterans. The
sum expended on uccouut OF pensions for the year
ending June 30 1885 was Sl-6,I4a 467 "a. The Com
missioner estimates that Sl 900 COZ will be required
TO pay pensions durb-g the year ending June 80,
THK INDIANS.
The condition Of the Indians and their Intimate
state objects 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 2isOO0- Most OF
them are located on lbl feSerN atoms contain
ing So 1851 acres Of land, About 10000 OF
these Indians have 10 a large degree adopted
civilized customs. Lands in seyeralty have
been allotted TO them. Such ailotmeuts have
been made to 10000 individuals during the last
fiscal year, embracing about 100000 acres. The
number Of Indians government schools open
during the year WaS 1873 an increase OF twelve
over the preceding year. OF this totsl TO were
on reservations. OF which seventy three were
boarding schools and nine y-Seven day schools.
Twenty boarding SCHOOLS and nVe day schools
supported by the government were not located
en- reservations. The total number OF Indian
children enrolled during the year as attendants
OF all schools was 2ll3S. an increase Of 1881
over the enrolment for the previous year l
am sure that tbs ceculEr education and moral
and religious teaching must be important fac
tors in any e1ort 70 save the Indian and lead
him to civilization believe also that rein
ouishment OF tribal relations and the holding
Of land in seYeralty may, in favorable condi-
tons, aid this contamination IL seems u me
that allotment OF land in severalty ought to 10
made with great care and ctrcumspectiOn
II hastily done before the Indian knows its
meaning, while yet he has little or no idea o.
tilling a farm and no conception Of thrift. there
Is great danger that i reservation hteln tribal
relations may be exchanged for the pauperism
Of civilization Instead OF its independence and
elevation
The solution Of the Indian problem depends
very largely on a good administI alton. The
personal fitness Of agents and their adapta-
bility to their peculiar duty of caring for their
wards Is of the utmost Importance.
The law providing that except in especial
cases army officers shall be detailed Az Indian
agents, It is hoped, will prove successful eX-
pertinent There is danger OF great abuses
creeping into the prosecution of claims for In
dian depredatiOns and recommend that every
possible safeguard be provided against the en-
iorcement Of unjust and fictitious claims of this
description. The appropriations on account OF
the Indian bureau Tor the year ending June 80,
1895 amount TO q, s5i s62 20, decrease as com
pared with the year preceding Of {3s7, l3l.93.
The vast area OF land which but a short time
ago constituted the public domain is rapidly
falling into privaIe hands. II is certain that
in the tran Ter the beuehcent intention OF the
government to supply fIom its domain homes
to the industrious and worthy homeseeAers,
is often frustrated. Through the spectators,
who stand with eNtOrtiOnate purpose between
the land ONCE and those who with their fami-
lies are invited by the government 10 settle on
the public lands, IS a despicEhle character who
ought not 10 De tolerated. vel II Is UlulCulL 70
thwart his schemes The recent opening
10 settlement OF the lands in the Cher
okee outlet, embracing an area OF
6.500O00 acres, Notwithstanding the utmost care Ia
framing the regulations governing the selection Of
locations. and Notwithstanding the presence Of
United States troops, furnished an exhibition,
though perhaps in a modified degree OF the mad
scramble, the violence and the fraudulent Occupz-
ton which have accompanied previous openings of
public lands. l concur with the Secretary 10 the
belief that these outrageous Incidents cannot be
entirely prevented without change in laws on the
subject. and hope his recommendations In that
direction will be favOrably considered.
I especially commend to the attention OF the
congress the statements cOuta in the secretarys
report concerning forestry. The time has come
when the efficient measures should be taken for
the preservation Of the forests from indiscrmnate
and Temediless destruction.
Department of Agriculture.
The report Of the secretary of agriculture
will be found exceedingly interesting especial
" to that large part OF our citizens intimately
concerned in agricultural occupations. On
the 7th day Of March, 1892. they had upon It's