The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1893-12-16

the statute and since that time this con-
struetion has been followed. This has
had the effect OF limiting the operation OF
the law to its intended purpose.
The discovery having been made that
many names had been put upon the pen
sion roll by means Of wholesale and
gigantic frauds, the commissioner sus-
pended payments upon a number OF pen
sions which seemed to be fraudulent or
unauthorized, pending a complete exami-
nation, giving notice to the pensioners, in
order that they might have an opportu-
nifty to establish, IL possible, the justice of
their claims, Notwithstanding apparent
invalidity.
This, understand, is the practice which
has for long time prevailed in the pen
sion bureau: but after entering upon these
recent Investigations the commissioner
modified this rule, so as not to allow, until
after complete examination, interference
with the payment of pension apparently
not altogether void, but which merely had
been fixed at a rate higher than thnt au-
thorized by law. / am unable to under
stand why frauds in the pension rolls
should not be exposed and corrected with
thoroughness and vigor. Every name
fraudulently put upon these rolls is a
wicked imposition upon the kindly sen IL
ment in which pensions have their origin;
bad citizen; every false oath in support of
pension HIS made perjury more common.
False and undeserving pensioners rob
the people not only of their money, but OF
the patriotic sentiment which the survi-
yors of q war fought for the preservation
of the Union ought to inspire. Thou
sands of neighborhoods have their we'll
known fraudulent pensioners, and recent
developments by the bureau establish APP
palling 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 reetify these wrongs,
should not be accused of enmity or indif-
ference to the claims of honest veterans.
The sum expended on account of pen
sions for the year ending June 80. 1898,
was 1856, 74n 467 IA The commissioner
estimates that siG5, 000, 600 will be required
to pay pensions during the year ending
June 80, 1884
Condition of the Indians.
The condition of the Indians and their
ultimate future are subjects which are re-
lated to a sacred duty Of the government,
and which strongly appeal to the sense OF
justice and the sympathy of our people.
Our Indians number about 24S, 900. Most
of them are located ON 161 reservations,
containing SO, 1861 acres Of land. About
10000 of these Indians have, to a large
degree, adopted civilized customs. Lands
in severalty have been allotted to many
of them. Such allotments have been
made to 10000 individuals during the last
fiscal year, embracing about 100000
acres. The number of Indian government
schools open during the year was 1876, an
increase of IL over the preceding year.
OF this total 10 were on reservations, of
which 70 were boarding schools and 81
were day schools
Lam sure that secular education and
moral and religious teaching must be inn
portant factors in any effort to save the
Indian and lead him to civilization.
The report of the secretary of agricult-
ure will be found exceedingly interesting,
especially to that large part of our citizens
intimately concerned in agricultural &C.
equations On the 9TH day of March, 1898,
there were upon its payrolls 2.430 en-
ployes. This number has been reduced to
/ $40 persons In view of depleted public
treasury, and the imperative demand of
the people for economy in the administra-
ton OF their government, their secretary
has entered upon the task of nationally re-
ducing expenditures by the elimination
from the payrolls of all persons not needed
for an efficient conducting of the affairs
of the department
The president finds fault with the ex-
travagance of that division of the agricult
ural department which has charge of the
distribution of seeds. The sum of S66,54s
was expended for the purchase of seeds,
while the remainder of total appropra-
ton of sl35, 900 was expended in distribut-
ing the seeds.
Export of Agricultural Products.
The exports of agricultural products
from the United States for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1892 attained the encr-
nous figure of $500, 900, 900 in round num-
beers, being 1917 per cent Of our total ex-
ports
In the last fiscal year this aggregate was
greatly reduced, but, nevertheless, reached
s615, 100000, being Isl per cent Of all
American commodities exported. A re-
view of our agricultural exports with spe-
cial reference to their destination will
show that in almost every line the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
absorbs by far the largest proportion. OF
cattle the total exports aggregated in
value for the fiscal year ending june 80,
1893, $26000,000, of which Great Britain
took considerably over S25 100000. OF
beef products of all kinds our total ex-
ports were S2s 100000, of which Great
Britain took ga. 100000 OF pork prod.
ucts the total exports were SS4.000000, of
which Great Britain took $4,000, 900. In
breadstuffs, cotton and minor products
like proportions sent to the same destina-
tion are shown.
In each state and territory an agricultu-
raj experiment station has been estab- |
lished. These stations by their very char
acter and name are the proper agencies to
experiment with and test the varieties of
Seeds; and yet this indiscriminate and
wasteful distribution of legislations and
legislators continue, answering no pur-
pose, unless it be to remind constituents |
that their representatives are willing to
remember them with gratuites at the |
public cost. Under the sanction of exist |
ing legislation there was sent out from !
the agricultural department during the
last fiscal year enough of cabbage seed to
plant 1920 acres of land, a sufficient
quantity of beans to plant 1900 acres,
beet seed enough to plant 1850 acres, |
sweet corn enough to plant 1880 acres,
sufficient cucumber seed to cover 2,025
acres with vines and enough musk and |
watermelon seed to plant 2,675 acres.
The Civil Service Question.
The continued intelligent execution of ]
the civil service law, and the increasing
approval by the people of its operation, are
most gratifying. The recent extension
of its limitations and regulations to the 4
employees at free delivery postoffices, which |
has been honestly and promptly accom- |
plished by the commission with the hearty |
cooperation of the postmaster general, is !
an immensely important advance in the
usefulness of the system. l am, if possi-
Bile, more than ever convinced of the in
calculable benefits conferred by the civil |
service law, not only in its effect upon the |
public service, but also what is even more |
important, in its effect in elevating the |
tone of political life generally.
At this time when a depleted public |
treasury confronts us, when many OF our
people are engaged in hard struggle for |
necessaries of life and when enforced |
economy is pressing upon the great mass
of our countrymen, | desire to urge with |
all the earnestness at my command, that |
congressional legislation be SO limited by |
strict economy as to exhibit an apprecia-
ton of the condition of the treasury and |
a sympathy with the straitened circum-
stances of our fellow citizens. The duty |
of public economy is also of immense i'm
portance in its intimate and necessary re-
lation to the task now in hand of provid-
ing revenue to meet government expendi-
lures, and yet reducing the peoples bur
den of federal taxation.
After hard struggle tariff reform is
directly before us. Nothing so important
claims our attention and nothing so clear
ly presents itself as both an opportunity |
and duty-an opportunity to deserve the
gratitude of our fellow citizens and duty |
imposedsupon us by our oft-repeated pro-