The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-20

the country during much OF the time covered
by the Postmaster Generals report.
I desire to commend as especially worthy
OF prompt attention the suggestion OF the
Postmaster General relating to more sensi.
BILE and business-like organization and q
better distribution OF responsibility In his
department..
TIE NAVY.
The report OF the Secretary Of the Navy
contains q history OF the operations OF his
department during the past year. and ex.
hibits most gratifying condition of the per
sonnel Of our navy. He presents sutisfac-
tory account of the progress which has been
made in the construction OF vessels, and
makes q number OF recommendations to
which attention Is especially invited.
Progress in the construction Of new vessels
has not been as rapid as was anticipated.
There have been delays in the completion OF
unarmored vessels, but for the most part they
have been such as are constantly occurring
even in countries having the largest expert
ence in naval ship-building. The most serious
delays, however, have been in the work upon
armored ships The trouble has been the fail
ure of contractors to deliver armor as agreed.
The difficulties seem now, however, to have
been all overcome, and armor is being deliv-
cred with satisfactory promptness. As re-
suit uf the experience acquired by ship
builders and designers and material men. 1t 1s
believed that the dates when vessels will be
completed can now be estimated with reason.
able accuracy. Great guns, rapid-hre guns,
torpedoes and powder are being promptly
supplied.
While am distinctly in favor Of consis.
tently pursuing the policy we have inaugu-
rated Of building up thorough and efficient
navy, cannot refrain from the suggestion
that the Congress should carefully take into
account the number Of unfinished vessels on
our hands and the depleted condition of our
Treasury in considering the propriety OF an
appropriation at this time to begin new work.
PENSIONS.
The Secretary OF the Interior has the sup
ervision of 80 many important subjects that
his report Is of especial value and interest.
On the Soth day OF June, 1898, there were
on the pension rolls 966, ,012 names, an in
crease Of 80, 9,9A over the number on the rolls
June 80, 1892. Ofthese there were seventeen
widows and daughters of Revolutionary
soldiers, eighty-six survivors OF the War OF
1912, 5425 widows of soldiers Of that war,
21,5iS survivors and widows OF the
Mexican war, 1882 survivors and
widowr of Indian wars, 284 army
nurses, and 475, ,645 survivors, and widows
and children OF deceased soldiers and
sailors Of the Rebellion. The latter number
represents those pensioned on account OF
disabilities or death resulting from army
and navy service. The number OF persons
remaining on the rolls June 80, 1888, who
were pensioned under the act of June 27,
1890, which allows pensions on account OF
death and disability not chargeable TO army
service, was 459, 1876.
The number added to the rolls during the
year was 123.634, and the number dropped
was $3.50. The first payments on pensions
allowed during the year amounted to S33,
756,549.98. This includes arrears, 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 to military service,
vet as a requisite to it's benefits q disability
must exist incapaeitating applicants IRON
the performance of manual labor to such q
degree as to render them unable to earn a
support" The execution OF this law In Its
early stages does not seem to have been IN
accord with its true intention but towards
the close of the last administration an autho-
ritative construction was given to the statute,
and since that time this construction has been
followed. This hiss had the effect OF limiting
the operation OF the law to its intended pur-
pose. The discovery having been made that
many names had been put upon the pension
roll by means OF wholesale and gigantic
frauds, the Commissioner suspended pay
ments upon a number OF pensions which
seemed to be fraudulent or unauthorized
pending a complete examination, giving no
tice to the pensioners, in order that they
might have an opportunity to establish, II
possible, the justice Of their claims notwith-
standing apparent invalfdity.
This, I understand, is the prrctice which
has FOR a long time prevailed In the Pension
Bureau but after entering upon these recent
investigations the Commissioner modified
this rule 80 as not to allow, until aftera COM
plete examination, interference with the pay
ment of a pension apparently not altogether
void, but which merely had been fixed at
rate higher than that authorized by law.
lam unable to understand why frauds in
the pension rolls should not be exposed and
corrected with thoroughness and vigor.
Every name fraudently put upon these rolls
is a wicked imposition upon the kindly sem
timent in which pensions have their origin
every fraudulent pensioner has become bad
citizen every false oath in support OF pen
sion has made perjury more common and
false and undeservlng pensioners rob the
people not only Of their money, but
Of the patriotic sentiment which the sur
yivors OF war, fought for the preservation
OF the Union, ought to inspire. Thousands
of neighborhoods have their well-known
fraudulent pensioners, and recent develop
ments by the bureau establish appalling con-
spiracies to accomplish pension frauds. BY
no means the least wrong done Is to brave
and deserving pensioners, who certainly
ought not to be condemned to such associa-
ton.
Those who attempt in the line Of duty to
rectify these wrongs should not be accused
of enmity or indifference TO tho claims OF
honest veterans.
The sum expended on account OF pensions
for the year ending June 80, 1888, was 1885,
740. .467.14
The Commissioner estimates that $685.
000, 900 will be required to pay pensions
during the year ending June 30. 1894. '.'-
THE INDIANS.
The condition of the Indians and their ul-
innate fute are subjects 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 248, 900. Most oil
them are located on ISL reservations, con-
tanning Sc, 116, ISL acres OF land. About ITO,
900 of these Indians have, to large degree.
adopted civilized customs. Lands In sew
crafty have been allotted to many Of them.
Such allottments have been made to 10000
individuals during the last fiscal year, en-
bracing about 1, ZOO, 900 acres.
The solution Of the Indian problem de-
pends very largely upon good administra-
tion. The personal fitness of agents and
their adaptability to the peculiar dutyof car
ing for their wants, is Of the utmost import
ance.
The law providing that, except in especial
cases, army officers shall be detailed as In
dian agents, 1t is hoped will prove success
full experiment. -
There is danger OF great abuses creeping
into the prosecution OF claims for Indian de-
precautions, and I recommend that every
possible safeguard be provided against the