The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-11-15

DeTlenC6 IN naval SnlpDullllnBs lnb Ilbsl
serious delays, however, have been in tho
work upon armored ships. The trouble has
been the failure of contractors to deliver
armor as agreed. The difficulties seem now,
however, to have been all overcome, and
armor is being delivered with satisfactory
promptness.
While | am distinctly in favor of consist
emily pursuing the policy we have inaugur-
ated of building up u thorough and efficient
navy, | cannot refrain from the suggestion
that the congress should carefully take into
account the number of unfinished vessels on
our hands and the depleted condition of our
treasury in considering the propriety of an
appropriation at this time to begin new work.
Pensions.
The secretary of the interior has the super
vision of so many important subjects that his
report is of especial value and interest. On
June 30, 1893, there were on the pension rolls
p56,Ol2 names, an increase of S9,9H over the
number on the rolls June 30, 1892.
OF these there were II widows and daugh-
tors of evolutionary soldiers, 80 survivors Of
the war of 1912, 542j widows of soldiers of the
war, q ,51s survivors and widows of the Next
can war, 1852 survivors and widows of Indian
wars, 2S4 army nurses, and 1865 survivors
and widows and children of deceased soldiers
and sailors of the war of the rebellion. The
latter number represents those pensioned on
account of disabilities or death resulting from
army and navy service. The number of per-
sons remaining on the rolls June 30, 1893, who
were pensioned under the act of June y, 1890,
which allows pensions on account of death
and disability not chargeable TO army service
was 459, l55.
The number added to the rolls during the
year was 2 1884,, and the number dropped was
1900. The first payments on pensions al
lowed during the year amounted to S3S, 1885,
1893. This includes arrears, or the accumu-
lation between the time from which the al
lowance of pension dates and the time of &C
tually granting the certificate.
Although the law of 1890 permits pensions
for disabilities not related to military service,
yet as a requisite to it's benefits a disability
must exist incapacitating applicants from
the performance of manual labor to such a
degree as to render them unable to earn a sup
port"
The execution of this law in its early stages
does not seem to have been in accord with its
true intentions; but toward the close Of the
last administration an authoritative construc-
ton was given to the statute, and since that
time this construction has been followed. This
has had the effect of limiting the operation of
the law to its intended purpose.
l 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 their origin.
The sum expended on account of pensions
for the year ending June 30. 1893, was $l56, 140,-
467.14. The commissioner estimates that Sl65,-
100000 will be required to pay pensions during
the year ending June 30, 1894.
Our Red Brethren.
Our Indians number about $4,000. Most of
them are located on l6l reservations, contain
ing 81, 1861 acres of land. About ITO, 0OJ of
these Indians have, to a large degree, adopted
civilized customs. Lands in severalty have
been allotted to many of them. Such allot-
$500 4. fn No III Ill.
the last fiscal year, embracing about 1000, 900
acres.
The number Of Indian government schools
open during the year was 1876, an increase OF
II over the preceding year. OF this total 1(
were on reservations, of which 70 were board.
ing schools and 81 were day schools.
The law providing that, except in especial
cases, army officers shall be detailed as In.
dian agents, it is hoped, will prove a success
full experiment. There is danger of great
abuses creeping into the protecution Of claim:
for Indian depredations, and / recommend
that every possible safeguard be provided
against the enforcement of unjust and icti
tious claims of this description. The ap
preparations on account of the Indian bureau
for the year ending June 30, 1894, amount to
1884, 5000, a decrease as compared will. thu
year preceding it of S3S7 1915.
Agriculture.
The report of the secretary of agriculture
shows that on March 7, 1898, there were upol
upon its pay rolls 243l employees. This mum
Der has been reduced to 1850 persons. In view
of a depleted public treasury, and the i'm
perative demand of the people for econom.
in the administration of their government
the secretary has entered upon the task OF
nationally reducing expenditures by the elimi
nation from the pay rolls of all persons no
needed for an efficient conduct of the affair
of the department.
During the first quarter of the present yeal
the expenses of the department aggregat,
S345, s76. 70, as against SiO2,0l2.R for the cor
responding period of the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1858. The secretary makes apparent
his intention to continue this rate of reduction
by submitting estimate for the next fisca
year less by 1894, go than for the present year
The regulations of 1892 concerning Texa
fever have been enforced during the last veal
and the large stock yards of the country hav
been kept free from infection. Occasions
local outbreaks have been largely such a
could have been effectually guarded agains
by the owners of the affected cattle.
While contagious pleuro-pneumonia in cal
tie has been er%adicated, animal tuberculosi,
q disease widespread and more dangerous I
human life than pleuro-pneumonia, is sti
prevalent. Investigations have been mad
during the past year as to the means of II
communication and the method of its correC
diagnosis.
The exports of agricultural products fror
the United States for the fiscal year endin
June 80, 1892, attained the enormous figures {
$SO0,OOO,0 DO in round numbers, being 1871 pc
cent of our total exports. In the last fisca
year this aggregate was greatly reduced, bu
nevertheless, reached S6l5, 100000 being 70
per cent of all American commodities o.
ported.
The continued intelligent execution of til
!, civil service law and the increasing approvi
by the people of its operation are most graf
, flying. The recent extension of its limit,
tons and regulations to the employees at fire.
delivery postoffices, which has been honestl
| and promptly accomplished by the commits
4. sion, with the hearty cooperation of the pos
| master general, is an immensely importar
5 advance in the usefulness of the system.
r The course of civil service reform in tn
: country instructively and Interestingly illu
5 trates how strong O. hold n movement gail
' upon our people which has underlying it
D sentiment of justice and right, and which
the same time promises better administratiC
of their government, The law embodyir
this reform found its way to our statute boz
more from fear of the popular sentiment e
4 listing in its favor than from any love f
Q the reform itself on the part of Legislators, al
r it has lived and grown and flourished in spi
of the covert as well as open hostility
spoilsmen, and Notwithstanding querelot
impracticability of many self-constitut
guardians.
Beneath all the v%agaries and sublimati
4 theories which are attracted to ii, there u
: derlies this reform a sturdy common sen
principle, not only suited TO this munda,
sphere, but whose application people a