Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-12-07

uer D.llis p4Oinpliy supplleu.
Since 1886 congress has, at each session.
authorized the building of one or more
vessels, and . secretary, of the navy pre-
sents an earnest plea for the continuance of
this plan. He recommends the authoriza-
tion Of at least one battle ship and six tor
| pedo boats
While am distinctly in favor of con-
sistently pursuing the policy we have in.
augurated of building up thorough and
| efilclent navy, cannot refrain from the
| suggestion tTAt the congress should care
| fully take into account the number Of un-
finished vessels on our hands and the de-
pleted condition Of our treasury In consid-
ering the propriety of an appropriation at
this time TO begin new work.
| The method of employing mechanical
labor at pavyyards through boards of labor
and making efficiency the sole test by
which laborers are employed and continued
] is producing the best results and the secre-
tary is earnestly devoting himself to its de-
velopment. Attention is invited to the
statements of his report in regard to the
workings of the system.
| Pensions.
The secretary Of the interior has the
supervision of so many important subjects
that his report is of especial value and in
terest. On the 3Oth day Of June, 1893,
there were on the pension rolls 966,0l2
names, an increase of S9,944 over the num-
Der on the rolls June so, 1892. OF these
there were II widows and daughters of
revolutionary soldiers, the survivors of the
war of 1912, 5,425 widows of soldiers of that
war, 81 ,516 survivors and widows of the
Mexican war, 3,6S2 survivors and widows
OF Indian wars, 2S4 army nurses and 415,-
GAS survivors and widows and children OF
deceased soldiers and sailors of the war of
the rebellion. The latter number repre-
| 70 has Of oaA of Aiga.
bilities or death resulting from army and
navy service The number of persons re-
naming on the rolls June 30, 1893, who
were pensioned under the act of June 81,
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 l23,d84, and the number
dropped was $500. The first payments on
pensions allowed during the year amount
ed to $50, ,756 $40 95. This includes arrears,
or the accumulation between the time from
which the allowance of pensions dates and
{ the time Of actually granting the certifi-
Gates
Although the law of 1890 permits pen
! sions for disability not related to military
service, yet as requisite TO its benefits u
! disability must exist incapacitating appli-
cants 'from the performance of manual
labor to such degree as to render them
unable to earn support"
: The execution of this law in its early
stages does not seem to have been in ac-
cord with its true intention, but toward
/ the close of the last administration an
authoritative construction was given to the
e statute, and since that time this construc-
+ ton has been followed This has had the the
: effect of limiting the operation of the law
: to it's intended purpose. The discovery
f having been made that many names had
{ been put upon the pension roll by means of
: wholesale and gigantic frauds, the com
i missioner suspended payments upon a
number of pensions which seemed to be
C. fraudulent or unauthorized pending a
e complete examination giving notice to the
i pensioners in order that they might have
> an opportunity to establish, if possible, the
G Justice Of their claims notwithstanding an
d parent invalidity.
Ii This, understand, is practice which
J. hes for a long time prevailed in the pension
s bureau; but after entering upon these re.
cent iaveS::iip .svione, tie commissioner mod.
: ified this rul, 50 s. not to ttlow, rutil after
l. a complete examination, intel ference with
d the payment of pension apparently not
}. altogether void, but which had merely been
|, fixed at a rate higher than that authorized
l. by law. am unable to understand why
# frauds in the pension rolls should not b,
exposed and corrected with thoroughnes;
e and vigor. Every name fraudulently put
r. on the kindly sentiment in which
E. pensions have their origin; every
D. fraudulent pensioner has become a bad cit
d iZen: every false oath in support of pen
% sion has made perjury more common, apt
J. false and undeserVi1g pensioners rob the
y people not only of their money, but Of the
patriotic sentiment which the survivors ol
\ q war, fougnt for the preservation Of tn
e. Union, ought to inspire, Thousands Q
o neighbo9loo(,s hare their WI know
b fraudulent persioners, end rnCc.2t develop
d ments of the bureau establish appalling
is conspiracies to accomplish pension frauds
k By no means the least wrong done is tt
le brave and deserving pensioners, who car
l. tainly ought not to be condemned to sucl
le association.
d Those who attempt, in the line Of duty
st to rectify these wrongs should not be &C
cused of enmity or indifference to thu
70 claims of honest veterans. The sum ex
"A pended on account of pensions for the yea
z ending June 30 1893 was $l56, ,740, ,467 IA
d The commissioner estimates that S165, ,0C0,
900 will be required TO pay pensions during
1t the year ending June 80, 1894.
,r The condition of the Indians and thei1
ID ultimate fate are subjects which are re
ID lated to a sacred duty of the government
rs and which strongly appeal to the sense o
to justice and the sympathy of our people
le Our Indians number about 24S,00O,
NSfIculture.
The report Of The secretary of agricul
rs ture will be found exceedingly interesting
s. especially to that large part of our citizens
r intimately concerned in agricultural oc
a. equations.
20 The exports of agricultural product.
ie from the United States for the fiscal yea
D. ending June 80, 1852, attained the enor
S, nous figureof 5000, 100000, in round mum
ls bers being iS.7. per cent of our total ex
n ports. In the last fiscal year this aggre
gate was greatly reduced, but nevertheless
al reached $6l5 100000, being ISL per cent o
a. all American commodities exported
g A review of our agricultural export
= with special reference to their destination
1t will show that in almost every line th
, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire
IL land absorbs by far the largest proportion
n value for the fiscal year ending June 80
G. 1893, s26, ,o00, 900, of which Great Britain
took considerably over $25, 100000. OF bee
le products of all kinds, our total export
le were $28,00O,000, of which Great Britain
s. took $24, 100000 OF products the total ex
q ports were SS4, coo, 900, of which Breat Brit
d ain took $53,O00,000. In breadstuffs, cot
r ton and minor products like proportions
st sent to the same destination are shown.
The work Of the statistical division O
le the department of agriculture deals will
s. all that relates to the economies of farming
e The main purpose Of its monthly reports i
l. to keep the farmers informed as fully a
sr possible of all matters having any infuenc,
upon the worlds markets in which thei
y products find sale Its publications relat,
is especially to the commercial side of farm
< ing.
he 1t is therefore Of profound importanc,
s. and vital concern to the farmers Of the
IS United States, who represent nearly one
8, half of our population, and also of direc
Is interest to the whole country that the
work of this division he efficiently per
s. formed and tie information it has gathered
IL he nrnmntlY diffnsnd