Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1893-12-07
ThE MESSAGE.


1ws u Indian wars; - army nurses. and 80.
"a survivors and widows aud children % de-
ceased soldiers and sailo~ OF the war Of the
neneliion. The latter number represents those
-penSioned on account % disabilities or death
resulting from army and navy service. The
number Of persons remaining on the rolls June
June =. 1870. which allows pensions on account
OF death and disability. not chargeabIe to army
service. VA. $50 ia5.
II number added to the rolls dur
ing the Yea- was gas3&. and the number
dropped was 81 SBl. The FIRST payments on pen
sions allowed during the year amounted 70 sEA
slAbtpa- This Includes arrears or the accu-
mutation between the time from which allow
ance Of pension dates and the time of actually
granting the certificates. Although the law Of
i-90 permits pensions for disantiittey not re-
lated % military service, yet ~ q requisit to
rs benefits q disability must exist iurapacf-
tatinK applicants from the performance OF
manual labor to such a degree as 70 render
thsm enable 70 earn a support
Execution OF the law In its early stages does
not seem TO have been in accord with its true
Intention. hut toward the close OF the last al
mintstration an authoritative construction was
given to the statute. and since that time this
construction has been followed. This has had
the effect OF limiting the operation Of the law
30 its intended purposes.
PENSION FRAUDS.
The discovery having Oeen made that many
names had been put upon the pension roll by
means Of wholesale AMI gigantic frauds. the
commission suspended PAYMENTS upon "A num-
or unauthorized pending a complete exsmina-
tion. giving notice TO the pensioners in order
that they might have an opportunity
10 establish. n possible. the Justice OF their
claims Notwithstanding apparent invalidity.
This. I understand. is the practice which has
for a long time prevailed In the pension bu-
rean, but after entering upon these recent in
vestigatiuus the commissioner modified this
rule 50 as not TO allow until after a complete
examination Interference with the payment
OF a pension apparently not altogether void.
but which merely had been hSed at q rate
higher than that authorized by law. | am I'M
able to understand why frauds in the pension
rolls should not be exposed and corrected with
thnroughnes. and yigor. Every name fraudu-
lentiy put upon these rolls is q wicked imposi-
ton upon the kindly sentiment In which pen
sions have their origin.
Those who attempt in the line Of duty to
rectifY these wrongs should not be accused OF
enmity or Indifference to the claims OF
honest veterans.
PENSION E-xPKSDTTUREs.
The sum expended on account OF pensions
for the year ending June 20. 1879. was tI5s. 7su.-
t67 ~ The commissioner estimates that si65.-
10000 will be required to pay pensions during
the year ending June 30. i-s4.
THE INDIANS.
The condition OF the Indians and their uiti-
mate fate are subjects which are related TO n
sacred duty Of the government, and which
strongly appeal to the sense OF justice
and the sympathy OF our people
Our Indians number about sIs !. Most OF
them are located on 1871 reservations. contain
ing -s.ild5st acres OF land. About 1909 %
these Indians have, 10 a large degree. adopted
civilized customs. Lands in scveraitv have
ments have been made to laO10 individuals dur.
ing the Last fiscal year. embracing about Lt01.-
90 acres. The number OF Indian government
schools open during the year were 49,. an in
total im we're on reservations. OF which 3 were
boarding school. aud ~ were dav schools.