The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1893-12-07

all overcome and arnor is being delivered
with satisfactory promptness-
The following vessels Of the new navy
have been completed and are now ready for
service:
The double turreted coast defense moni-
tor Miantonomah, the double turreted coast
defense monitor Monterey, The armored
cruiser New York, the protected cruisers
Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, New
ark, San Francisco, Charleston, Atlanta
and Boston, the cruiser Detroit, the gun-
boats Yorktown, Concord, Bennington,
Machias, Costine and Petrol, the dispatch
vessel Dolphin, the practice vessel Bancroft
and the dynamite gunboat Vesuevius, Of
these the Bancroft, Machias, Detroit and
Costine have been placed in commission
during the current calendar year.
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
has the supervision Of so many important
subjects that his report is Of especial value
and interest. On the goth day of June,
1893, there were on the pension rolls 900,
oI2 names, an increase Of So,o44 over the
number on the rolls June 80, 1892. OF
these there were seventeen widows and
daughters Of revolutionary soldiers, the
survivors Of the war Of 1872; 5,425 widows
of soldiers Of that war, FL, SIS survivors and
widows of the Mexican war. 1882 survivors
and widows OF Indian wars 2S4 army
nurses and 475,S45 survivors and widows
and children OF deceased soldiers and sailors
of the war OF the rebellion. The latter
number represents those pensioned on ac-
count OF disabilities or death resulting from
army and navy service The number OF
persons remaining on the rolls June 90,
1893, who were pensoned under the act OF
June ~, 1890, which allows pensions on ac-
count Of death and disability, not chargea-
BILE TO army service was 459,I55.
The number added to the rolls during the
year was I24,233, and the number dropped
was $4,000. The first payments on pen
sions allowed during the year amounted to
$33756,54o. 90. This includes arrears. or
the accumulation between the time from
which the allowance OF pension dates and
the time Of actually granting the certificates.
Although the law of 1890 permits pensions
for disability not related to military service,
yet as requisite to its benefits, disability
must exist ncapacitating applicants from the
performance of manual labor to such degree
as to render them unable to earn support.
Execution of this law, in its early stages,
does not seem TO have been in accord with
its true intention, but toward the close Of
the last administration, an authoritative con-
struetion was given to the statute, and since
that time this construction has been followed.
This has had the effect of limiting the oper-
alton of the law to its intended purposes.
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
fraudulent or unauthorized, pending COM
plete examination, giving notice TO the PEN
sioners, in order that they might have an OPP
portunity to establish, if possible, the justice
Of their claims, Notwithstanding apparent
inyalidity.
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 a wicked
imposition upon the kindly sentiment in
which pensions have there origin; every
fraudulent pensioner has become a bad
citizen; very false evidence with support Of
pension has become perjury more common;
and false and undeserving pensioners rob
the people not only OF their money but OF
the patriotic sentiment which the survivors
OF war fought for the preservation of the
union ought to inspire. Thousands of
neighborheods have their we'll known fraud
ulent pensioners and recent developments
by the bureau establish appalling eonspira-
acies TO accomplish pension frauds. BY no
means the least wrong done is to brave and
deserving pensioners, who utterly ouget not
TO be condemned TO such associations
Those who attempt in the line of duty to
Fectify these writings should not be accused
on enmity or indifference to the claims of
honest veterans. The sum expended on
account OF pensions for the year ending
June 80, 1893, was $I56,74o, ,467.I4. The
commissioner estimates that $I65 1000 600
will be required to pay pensions during the
year ending June 80, 1894.
OUR INDIANS
number about 24S. 600. Most of them are
located on I6I reservations, containing 86,
II6,53I acres of land. About 10000 of
these Indians have, TO large degree,
adopted civilized customs. Lands in sever
atty have been allotted 10 many of them
Such allotments have been made to 10000
individuals during the last fiscal year, em-
bracing about 100000 acres. The number
OF Indian government schools opened during
the year was I9s, an increase Of twelve over
the preceding year. OF this total I7o were
on reservations, Of which 73 were boarding
schools, and 81 were day schools.
The appropriations on account OF the Indian
bureau for the year ending June 80, 1894,
amounts to $1e54,o62. 90, a decrease as COM
pared with the year before Of $3S7,l3I9s.
The recent opening to settlement OF the
lands in the Cherokee outlet embracing an
area OF g., SOC, 900 acres, Notwithstanding the
utmost care in framing the regulations gov
erning the selection OF locations and not
withstanding the presence of United States
troops, furnished an exhibition, though,
perhaps, in a modified degree, OF the mad
scramble, the violence, and the fraudulent
occupation which have accompanied previous
openings Of public lands.
The time has come when efficient meas
ures should be taken for the preservation OF
our forests from indiscriminate and remed-
less destruction.
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY or AGRI-
CULTURE
will be found exceedingly interesting, espec-
tally to that large part OF our citizens int-
mately concerned in agricultural occupations
On the 9TH day Of March, 1898, they had
upon its payrolls 243o employees. This
number has been reduced 10 1880 persons.
In view Of a depleted public treasury and
the imperative demand OF the people for
economy in the administration OF their gov
ernment, the secretary has entered upon the
task Of nationally reducing expenditures by
the elimination from the payrolls OF all per-
sons not needed for an efficient conduct Of
the affairs Of the department During the
first quarter Of the present yearth expenses
OF the department aggregated SS4s, $40 70
as against $4o2 ,oI2.42 for the corresponding
period Of the fiscal year ending June 80,
1893. The secretary makes apparent his
intention to continue this rate Of reduction
by submitting estimates for the next fiscal
year less by S9o4 2So than those for the
present year.
The amount appropriated for the bureau
~ .1.a..,al .n.lllslrr fnr The lrrenl .cal uaar