The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-05

MESSAGE BEFORE CONGRESS.
Continued from page 1.

After commenting upon tho rec ent
Brussels monetary conference, tho
President says: 1t seems to me that IT
would be wise to give general au-
thority to the President to invite other
nations to such conference at any
,ime when there should BIO fair pros
pect of accomplishing an international
agreement on tho subject OF coinage.
desire also to earnestly suggest the
wisdom of amending the existing
statutes in regard to the issuance OF
Government bonds.
The SUPERINTENDENT of immigration,
through the Secretary Of tho Treasury,
reports that, during the last fiscal year,
there arrived at our ports 440,7 immi-
grants. OF these 1,O63 were not per-
mitted to land under the limitations of
the law, and SIT were returned to the
countries from whence they came by
reason of their having become public
charges. The total arrivals were
141, 900 less than for the previous year.
Attorney Generals Report.
Upon the report OF the Attorney Gen
ersl the President says: cannot too
heartily endorse the proposition that
the fee system as applicable to the COM
pensation Of United States attorneys,
marshals, clerks of Federal courts, and
United States commissioners. should be
abolished with as little delay as posi-
BILE. 1t is clearly in the interest of the
community that the business of the
courts, both civil and criminal, shall be
as small and as inexpensively trans
acted as the ends of justice will allow.
In commenting upon the report OF the
Postmaster General, the president says
that in view of the actual receipts and
expenditures during that part of the
current fiscal year already expired, the
present Postmaster General estimates
that at its close, instead OF a surplus,
there will be deficiency of nearly
So, 900, 900.
The report Of the Secretary of the
Navy contains history of the opera.
lions Of his department during the past
year, ann exhibits a most gratifying
condition of the personnel OF our Navy
He presents a satisfactory account of
the progress which has been made
in the construction Of vessels and
makes number of Accommodations to
which attention is specially invited.
The Secretary of the Interior has
supervision of so many important sub
ject that his report is OF especial value
and interest On the 30th of June,
1898. there were on the pension rolls
966,012 names. an increase of 50, 944 over
the number on the rolls Juno 30, 1892.
OF these there were II widows and
daughters OF revolutionary soldiers; Sc
survivors of the war of 1912; 5,425
widows OF soldiers of that war; 2I,51S
survivors of the Mexican war; 3,SS2 sur
vivors and widows OF Indian wars 3S4
army nurses and 49, 45 survivors and
widows and children of deceased soldiers
and sailors of tho war of the rebellion
The number added to the rolls during
the year was 1864, and the number
dropped was $4,000. The first payments
on pensions allowed during the year
amounted to $40, 1856 $40 9S. This in
cludes arrears or the accumulation
between the time from which the allow
ance Of pension dates and the time OF
actually granting the certificate.
Pension Fraud Sized Up.
The discovery having been made that
many names had been put upon the
pension rolls by means of Wholesale
and gigantic frauds, the commissioner
suspended payments upon mum Der of
pensions which seemed to be fraudulent
or unauthorized pending a complete ex-
animation, giving notice to the pension
erS, in order that they might have an
opportunity to establish, il possible, the
justice Of their claims, notwithstanding
apparent invalidity.
Every name fraudulently put upon
these rolls is a wicked imposition upon
the kindly sentime mt in which pensions
have their origin. Every fraudulent
pepsioner has become q bad citizen;
every false oath in support of pension
has made perjury more Common, AID
false and undeserving pensioners rob
the people not only Of their money, but
of the patriotic sentiment which the
survivors OF a war, fought for The pro-
servation of the union, ought to inspire
Those who attempt in the line of duty
to rectify these wrongs should not be
accused of enmity g. Indifference to the
claims Of honest veterans. The sum
expended on accounC OF pensions.for the
year ending June 50, 1898, was Sl56,-
730, 467.l4. The Jmmissioner esti-
mates that Sl65. 900, 600 will be required
to pay pensions during the year ending
June 80, 1894.
The vast area OF land which but