Mexico weekly ledger., 1893-12-07
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The Subject of Pensions,


The secretary of the interior has the
supervision OF so many important sub
jects that his report is OF especial value
and interest. On the Both day OF June.
1893, there were on the pension rolls 9i5. UIl
names, an increase of S3,9i4 over the mum
Der on the rolls June 30, 1899. Of these,
there were Il widows and daughters OF
revolutionary soldiers, Sc survivors of the
war of 1912, 5,435 widows of soldiers OF
that war, p, 51S survivors and widows OF
the Mexican war, 1852 survivors II VII
ows of Indian wars, PSI army nurses. and
1868 survivors and widows and children
of deceased soldiers and sailors of the war
of the rebellion. The number of persons
remaining Oh the rolls June 80, 1873, whG
were pensioned under the act of June p.
1890, which allows pensions on account OF
death and disabilities not chirgeabie tt
army service was 4. 59l 500.
The number added to the rolls during
the Year Was l2J, 63i ana the number
dropped was 1868. The first payments
on pensions above during the ycar
amounted to S33, SIT, 5l9.9S. This incIaaes
arrears or accumulation between the time
from which the allowance OF the pension
dates and the time of actually grantin.
the certificates. Although the law OF
1890 permits pensions for disabilities not
related to military service yet as Il re-
qulsite to its benefits n disability must
exist lncapacItatlng applicants from the
performance of manual labor to such a
degree as to render them unable to earn a
support.
The execution of this law in it's early
stages does not seem to have been in &C
cord with its true intention, but towar!
the close of the last administration an
authoritative construction was given tn
the statute and since that time this CON
struction has been followed. The dis
covery having been made that many
names had been put upon the pension
roll by means of whole sale and gig IN tic
frauds, the commissioners suspcndeI paw
mentS Upon Il number of pensions which
seem to be fraudulent or unauthorized
penGing a complete examination. This
understand is the practice which has for a
long time prevailed in the pension bureau.
| am unable to understand why frauds
In the pension rolls should not be exposed
and corrected with thoroughuess and
vigor. Every name fraudulentiy pat upuu
these rolls Is a wicked imposition unon
the kindly sentiment in which pensions
have their origin. Every fraudulent pen
sloner has become a IA citizen. every
false oath in support of a pension has
made perjury more common, and false
and undeserving pensioners rob the peo-
pie not only of their money, but OF the
patriotic sentiment which the survivors Of
the war, who fought for the preservation
OF the union, ought to inspire. Thousands
or nelghborhoOdS nave their we'll known
fraudulent pensioners, and recent deyeI-
opments by the bureau established appaIi-
ing conspiracies to accomplish pension
u By no means the 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
to rectify these wrongs should not be ac-
cused Of enmity or indifference TO the
claims of honest veterans. The sum ex-
pended on account of pensions for the
year ending June 30, 1893, was $50, 740,-
461. IA. The commissioner estimates that
Sl85, 900 900 will be required to pay pen
sions during the year ending June 81, isg4
Our indians number about 24S 600 and
most Of them are located on 16l reserya-
tions, containing SO. 49, 31 acres of land.
about 10, 050 OF these Indians have, to q
large degree, adopted civilized customs.
Lands in several territories have been al
loted to many of them. The law pro-
viding, that except in especial cases, army
officers shall be detailed as Indian agents.
it is hoped, will prove a successful expert
ment.
The Public Domain
The vast area of land which, but IA short
time ago constituted the public domain, is
rapidly falling into private hands. L. is
certain that the intention of the govern
ment to supply from its domain homes to
the industrious and worthy honneseekers