Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1893-12-14

-,
coils oCG ,0lgInmeL nm increase ofaq1i over the /
humber on the rolls on June 20 1899.
OF these there were seventeen widows and /
daughters OF revolutionary soldiers, the sur.
vlyors OF the war OF 1872, 5i!5 widows OF
soldiers of that war 2l.5lS survivors and .
widows OF the Mexican war, 3ss2 survivors and /
widows OF the Indian wars 25i urmy nurses .
anu 40 $40 survivors md widows aud children .
" deceased soldiers and sailors OF tho war OF .
the rebellion. Tho latter number represents .
those pensloned on account OF disabilities, .
death Resulting from army aud navy services.
The number OF persons remaining on the rolls
act u June "a, 1880, which allows pensions on
account OF death and disab'ement not
chargeaole TO army service was lJ9, 10 /
The number added to the rolls during the
$3.50" 80 ''''''' "''N WV '''''''''' - '''-.'
The frat payments on pensions SLOWED dur
ing the year amounted TO s33, i56 QS This |
includes arrears or the accumulation between
.he time from which tho 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 q requisite to its benefits a disa-
billy must exist incapacitatiug applications
from tho performance Of manual labor to such
degree as to render them unable to earn sup
po.t The execution of this law Units early stage
does not seem to have been in accord with its
true Intention But toward the close OF the
last administration m authoritative cOusttuS-
ton was given to the statute and since this
time this construction has been followed. rms
has h,t the effect of limiting the operation OF
the law 10 its intended purpose. The dIscov-
cry having bpeIi made that many names had
been put 10 - the pension roll by means OF
wholesale and gigantic frauds, the commits.
IOuer suspended payments upon Number Of
pensions which seemed TO be fraudulent or UNI
authorized, pending complete examination,
giving notice to the pensioner in order that
possible ME Justice OF their claims, notwith-
standing apparent invRlidity.
This understand, is the practice which has
Tor 4 long time prevailed IN the pension bureau
but after entering upon these recent investiga.
lions the commissioner modified tins rule SO as
10 not allow until after complete eNaminu'
tlon interference with the payment OF n pen
sion apparently not altogether void, but which
merely had been fixed at a rate higher than
that authorized by law am unable to under
stand why frauds in the pension rolls should
not be exposed and corrected with thorough
ness and vigor Every name irauduently put
upon tho kindly sentiment in which
pensions have their origin. Every
fraudulent pensiOner haJ become bad citizen
svcfy false oath in support OF pension has
been perjury more common and false, and un.
deserving pensioners rob the people not only OF
which the survivors Of the war who fought for
the preservation OF the Union ought to inspire
Thousands OF neighborhoods have their well
Known fraudulent pensioners and recent devel-
Opmeuts by the bureau establish appalling con
spiracies TO accomplish pension frauds. BY no
means the least wrong done is TO brave and de
serving pensioners who utterly ought not TO be
condemned to such associations.
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 Tho
sadSs June &c. o %as S1 iO The v Com
missioner estimates that Slj 900 600 will be required
ISL '' pensions during tho year 'nu'n' june o.
THE INDIANS.
Tue condition of the Indians and their ultimate
state objects which Hrc related to a sacred duty
otthc government and which strongly appeal to the
Our Indians number about 2iS 900, Most OF
them are located oh 1911 reservations, contain;
iug 81 1861 acres OF land, About 10000 OF
tlese Indians have TO large degree adopted
CIVILIZED customs; Lands in seyeIalty have
been made to 10000 individuals during the last
fiscal year, embracing about 1000 acres. The
number of Indians government schools open
during the year was 100, an increase Of twelve
over the preceding year: OF this total 10 were
on reservations, Of which seyenty.three were
boarding. schools and nety-seven day schools.
Twenty boarding SCHOOLS and ave day schools
supported by the governments were not located
children enrolled during the year as attendants
OF all schools was PLIES, an increase OF 1881
over the enrolment for the previous year. l
ain sure that this secular education and moral
and religious teaching must be important fac
tors in any effort TO save the Indian and lead
him to civilization. believe also that relin.
uushment OF tribal relations and the holding
OF land in severalty may, in favorable COndi
tons aid this contamination. II seems to me
that allotment Of land in severalty ought to DO
made with great care and circumspectlon 9.
II hastily done before the Indian knowB its
Speaningi while yet he has little or no idea of
filling farm and no conception of thrift, there
Is great danger that reservation life In tribal
relations may be exchanged for tho pauperism
elevation.
The solution of the Indian problem depends
personal fitness Of agents and their adapta.
bilty to their peculiar duty of caring for their
wards y of the utmost Importance
Tho law providing that except in especial
caseB army onacers shall be detailed as Indian
agents - Is hoped, will prove o successful eR.
pertinent; There Is danger of greaS abuses
creeping into the prosecution OF claims for In
dian derTedations and recommend mat every
pOsslbl safeguard be provided against the en-.
lOrnemant Of uuiuRt md tntitiOua r m Of
the Indian bureau Tor the year ending Jula So
1894, amount to a1,95i969. 90, decrease as tAul-
pared with the year preceding of 1857, 1875
The vast area OF land which but a short fms
age construed the public domain Is ra 1dly
In the transfer the benefcent intention OF the
government to supply from It's domain htmes
TO the industrious and worthy homeseekers
Is often frustrated. Through the spectators,
who stand with extortonate purpose between
the land ONCE and those who with their fami.
lies are invited by the government to settle on
the phblic lands, is Il despicable character who
ought not to be tolerated, yet It is di1icult 10
10 settlement OF the lands 10 the Cher.
oiiee outlet, embracing an area OF
framing tho regulations governing the selection OF
locations. and notwithstanding the presence Of
though perhaps in modified degree OF the mad
scramble the violence and tho fraudulent ocoupa-
public lands, concur with the Secretary In the
belle that these ouraseous Incidents cannot be
entirely prevented without n change In laws the
subject. and hope his recommendations Ia that
direction Will be fayorRbly considered
l especially commend to the attention OF the
COHRIess the statements contained In the secretary
report concerning forestry. The time has come
when the efficient measures should be taken for
tue preservation Of the forests from iudscrimnate
aud Iemediles destruction.
Department of Agriculture.
The .epOrt OF the secretary Of agriculture
'ill be found exceedingly interesting especial
ly to that large part OF our citizens intimately
CONCERNED IN agricultural occupations, On
she It'll day of March, 1882, they had upon It's
pay rolla $50 employees. This number has
been reduced to 1850 persons In view OF de-
peted treasury and the imperative demands OF
OeOple for economy .in the administration Of