The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

land to the Fifty third Congress is a
comprehensive and able document
1t abounds in suggestions the wisdom
and practical common-sense of which
ought to commend themselves to Con-
gress as they undoubtedly will to the
people of the country in general.
The message opens with a reference
in detail to our relations with foreign
countries, especially with the South
American republics the Chinese de-
portatioll law recommends active CO.
operation with other counties i'll the
suppression of the slave trade, &c.
No new light is thrown on the Ha-
waiian trouble, brief sketch being
given of the action of the government
in the matter.
The President refers with gratitica
ton to the movement in favor of the
peaceable settlement of international
troubles by arbitration.
The facts he gives concerning the
national banks of the country demon
strate their general soundness and
safety.
In President Cleveland's opinion
the ultimate result of the repeal of the
silver law will be most salutary and
far-reaching. He advocates reason
able delay in dealing further with the
silver problem, in the hope that there
by lasting and comprehensive finan-
cial plan may be evolved.
President Cleveland favors none
tary conference with other nations,
with view of accomplishing an inter
national agreement on the subject
The Superintendent of immigration,
through the Secretary of the Treasury,
reports that during the last fiscal year
there arrived at our ports 440, 1893 i'm
migrants. Of these 1868 were not per-
mitted to land under the limitation of
law and SIT were returned to the coun-
tries from whence they came, by rea-
son of their having become public
charges. The total arrivals were
14,O34 less than for the previous year.
PLACE TO ECoNOMIZE.
The President says that the fee sys
tenn, which makes the compensation
of the United States attorneys, mar
shals, clerks of Federal courts and
commissioners depend upon the vol
ume of business they can create is
wrong.
PoSToFFICE MATTERS.
The receipts in the Postoffice De-
partment, in consequence of hard
times, have fallen below the expenses.
The President says the expenses are
enormously increased by the vast
amount of matter carried free through
the mails, chief among which are
800 tons of seeds and grain from the
Agricultural Department. The sale
of special delivery stamps yielded the
government a profit of 0,976.59 last
year.
ECONOMY IN NAVAL EXPENDITURES.
The President is in favor of building
up navy but thinks Congress should
consider the number of unfinished
vessels and the depleted treasury be-
fore contracting for additional vessels.
THE PENSION LAWS.
The President says that on the Both
of last June there were on the pension
rolls 966,012 names, an increase of 3d.
GA over the number on the rolls June
80, 1892. 1t is interesting to note that
included in the list are II widows and
daughters of revolutionary soldiers,
sc survivors of the war of 1912, 5,425
widows of soldiers of that war, 81 ,51S
survivors and widows of the Mexican
war, 1882 survivors and widows of In
dian wars, 2Sf army nurses, and 49,
645 survivors and widows and children
of deceased soldiers and sailors of the
late war The number added to the
rolls during the year was 1913, 1874 and
the number dropped 800.
PENSION FRAUDS.
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 payments upon
number Of pensions which seemed to be fraud
ulent or unauthorized, pending a complete eX-
animation, giving notice to the pensioners, in
order that they might have an opportunity to
establish, if possible, the justice Of their
claims, notwithstanding apparent invaidity.
/ am unable to understand why frauds in
the pension rolls should not be exposed and
corrected with thoroughness and vigor
Every name fraudulently put upon these rolls
is wicked imposition upon the kindly senti-
ment 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 undeserving pensioners rob the PEG.
pie not only of their money, but of the pa
triotic sentiment which the survivors OF a war,
fought for the preservation OF the Union,
ought to inspire. Thousands of neighbor
hoods have their ell-known fraudulent pen
sioners, and recent developments by the bureau
establish appalling conspiracies 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 association.
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.
The sum expended on account of pensions
for the year ending June 30, 1893, was $780,
740, 467. IA.
The Commissioner estimates that $l65, 0O0,-
900 will be required to pay pensions during
the year ending June &c. 1894.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The President refers, with evident
approval, to the excellent work done
by Hon. J. Sterling Morton, Secretary
of Agriculture. In view of the depict
ed treasury he has reduced the force
in his department without impairing
the efficiency of work done, the saving
amounting to about $57, 900 during the
first quarter of the present year.
The Importance of the agricultural
interests of the United States is clear
ly shown by the statement that our
agricultural exports for the year end
ing June 30, 1899, were $500, 900, or
more than three-fourths of our total
exports. For the year ending June
80, 1893, our agricultural products ex-
ported were $615, OO0, 900, or 75.1 of all
American commodities exported
Great Britain and Ireland absorb
by far the largest proportion of our
exported agricultural products.
OF cattle the total exports aggregat
ed in value for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1898, $26,OOO,OOO, of which
Great Britain took considerably over
$25,OOO,OOO. Of beef products of all