The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-02
SMITH AND THE PENSIONS.
The Subject Taken Up in His An
lual Report.

Survey, Education and Pacific Rail-
way Reviewsd-Important Recon-
mendations Made.
Washington, Dec. 1.-The annual re-
port of Secretary Holxe Smith shows an
intimate knowledge of the workings of
the bureaus under his charge, and keen
judicial comprehension of the important
questions involved in their administra-
ton.
The operations of the general land Of
fee, the pension bureau, the census
Office, the bureau of Indian affairs, pat
ents geological survey, education and
a Pacific railroads are all reviewed, and a
number of important recommendations
made.
In discussing the subject of pensions,
the secretary calls attention to the frauds
discovered by the special examiners at
Norfolk, Va, in New Mexico and in
Iowa He states that the pensions in the
first two instances had been allowed upon
testimony manufactured and forged by
the claim agents.
THE EXAMINING BOARD TAMPERED WITH
in Iowa the examining board had been
claim agents. The report shows that the
stoppage of these illegal pensions in the
three places has saved to the government
an amount equal to the expense of
the entire force of special exam
iners. When it is remembered that
the work of the examiners has
been in progress for but six months, and
that payment of pensions would have con-
tnued for an average of nearly twenty
years, the enormous saving to the govern
ment can be realized 1t adds: BE
sides. these pensions were being obtained
through fraud, and how can public money
be better spent than to prevent dis
honesty2"
Referring to the act of June 81. 1890
the report revives the decision of Assis-
tant Secretary Bussey in the Weike case,
and also the decision rendered May %, in
the Bennett case.
REVOCATION OF RULE 1874.
Referring to the order revoking Rule
l6f, the report says:
In pursuance of this order as board of revi.
sion was formed of the ablest and most expe-
rienced men of the pension bureau, with in
StructiOns to examine the cases allowed under
the act OF June 27 1890, and to call out such as
had no legal basis to rest upon. In cases
where it was believed that a pension could
not be sustained and another medical eXami-
nation was necessary, the payment of the pen
sion was ordered to be suspended pending in
sloner OF pensions in pursuance OF the uniform
practice of the bureau, as it had existed al
most from the organization thereof. Tine pen
sioner was not dropped from the rolls
Il but the payment of his pension was sus-
pended, and the usual sixty days notice was
given to the pepsioner in which he could ask
Tor medical examination, or supply further
evidence OF his right to a pension. The eX
animation OF his proof having disclosed that
he was not entitled to a pension, he was told
that the payment OF his pension was suS-
I0lQe0 HOll1 MI
which would authorize payment according to
the terms Of the act of congress.
1t was found that many thus suspended
were able TO supply the proof, when notice
was given that proof was required; and this
payment was at once resumedf The former
practice in regard to suspension was also
closed the fact that the. pensioner was en-
titled to some rating, although not the same
rating that had been allowed him.
The report treats the matter of suspen-
slons and revision in calm, judicial man
ner. 1t denies that the purpose has ever
existed of adopting an extreme and un-
reasonable manner of suspending pensions
and also denies that any abandonment
has taken place of the policy of removing
from the pension rolls those who are not
legally thereon.
THE CENSUS.
With reference to the census, the re-
port shows that until the resignation Of
Mr.. Porter, on July 81, the secretary sup
posed that the census would be closed
Dec. 81, but conference with the chiefs
OF the various divisions satisfied him
That radical change was necessary to
improve the census and bring it to a
81 completion The secretary states that
he did not discover any purpose upon
M the part of those connected with the
census to bring it to a conclusion
at all. He refers to the selection of
I al ~ paf mi inn H.
cation, to determine who was best suited
lor the work and says that he nowfeels con-
ndent that every effort is consCientiOusly
oelng made to bring the census to a close,
ana to render it as useful as possible. The
report indicates that the census will be
practically closed by July /, 1894, and that
SoUo, 900 will be needed TO complate it and
10 0lnd and otherwise prepare its volumes
IOr distribution
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
IN treating the subject of public lands
ana the lessons taught by experience in
opening the Cherokee strip and other In
ulah reservations to settlement, the sec
Ietary states that number of small, brt
valuable, tracts of land will be ready for
settlement within the next two years,
ana that il is impossible for the depart
ment to prevent trouble without addi-
uonal legislation. 1t recommends the
5uoptlon of plan which by auction un-
DER proper restrictions, or otherwise,
may determine in advance the ownership
OF each particular section, as a substitute
4or the present system.
INDIAN AFFAIRS
The report states that fair examina-
llon of the work of the Indian bureau
FINISHES proof in support of the wisdom
uL the policy which controls the admins
ration of Indian affairs. Slowly, but
steadily, the wards of the nation are
pe!hg advanced to a condition suitable for
Ctuzenshlp, 1t is mistake to suppose
mat the Indians are decreasing in num-
Der. Ilibal'wars and wars with the
whites having ceased, they are increas-
ing rather than decreasing. The allot-
lutht OF lands and the school house
are having a marked effect upon this
ldye' During the past fiscal year
o'ef Il 900 children have been carefully
framed in the habits and customs of civ
lIIled life as well as instructed in those
Tr9Hches taught in the common schools.
T. ~ Is not to be expected that all these
inulan children will retain, when return
aug TO their savage parents, the habits
ana manner of life which they were re
yulfed to adopt while attending school,
uul Jhe education and influence which
sIIS carry to their homes is having a
NHN