The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-12-13
maturity and rsie of interest.

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the War Of 1912, 5,425 widows of soldiers
of that War, 2l,5ls survivors and wild
owsof the Mexican War, 5 $50 survivors
and widows of Indian Wars. 2s4 army
nurses, and 475.545 survivors, 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 PEN
sions remaining on rolls
June so, 1898, who were pensioned under
the act Of June p, 1890, which allows
pensions on account ofdeath and disabil-
ity no; chargeable to Army service, was
459, 9,155.
The number added to the rolls during
the year was 123,634, and the number
dropped was $500. The first payments
on pensions allowed during the year
amounted to SIS, ,756549 90. This includes
arrears, or the accumulation between the
time from which the allowance of pen
sion dates and the time of actually
granting the certificate.
Although the law of 1890 permits pen
sions for disabilities not related to mill
tary service, yet, as a requisite to its
benefits, a disability must exist ineapaei-
tating applicant for the performance of
manual labor to such degree as to rem
der them incapable of self-support.
The execution Of this Law in its early
stages does not seem TO have been in se-
cord with its true intention, but toward
the close OF the last Administration an
authoritative construction was given to
the statute, and since that time this con-
struction 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 pension
roll by means Of wholesale and gigantic
frauds, the Commissioner suspended pay
ments upon a number Of pensions which
seemed 20 be fraudulent or unauthorized
pending a complete examination, giving
notice TO the pensioners, in order that
they might have an opportunity to es-
tablish, If possible, the justice Of their
claims, notwithstanding appaTentinvalid-
ty. This, / understand, is the practice
which has for long time prevailed in
the Pension Bureau, but, after entering
Commissioner modified this rule so as
not to allow, until after complete ex-
animation, interference with the pay
ment of q pension apparently not alto
gether void, but which merely had been
fixed at rate higher than that author
lied by law.
/ am unable to understand why frauds
on the pension rolls should not be ex-
posed and corrected with thoroughness
and vigor. Every name fraudulently put
upon these rolls is wicked imposition
upon the kindly sentiments in which
pensions have their origin every fraud
ulent pens:oner has become a bad citi
zen every false oath in support of pen
sion has made perjury more common and
false, and undeserying pensioners rob
the people, not only Of their money, but
Of the patriotic sentiment which the sur
yiyors Of war fought for the preserya-
ton of the Union ought to inspire.
Thousands Of fneighborhoods have their
well-known fraudulent pensioners, and
recent developments by the bureau es-
tablish appalling eonspiracies to accom-
plish pension frauds; by no means the
least wrong done is 10 brave and deserv-
ing pensioners, who certainly ought not
to be condemned to such association.
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. The sum ex-
pended on account of pensions for the
year ending June so, 1898. was Sl56.740,- :
i67 Il. The Commissioner estimates that
sl65, 100000 will be required to pay pen
sions during the year ending June 80,
1894.
THE TARIFF.
After hard struggle, Tariff Reform is
directly before US. Nothing so import
ant claims our attention and nothing so
clearly presents itself as both an oppor-
tlnity and a duty-an opportunity to
deserve the gratitude of our fellow-citi-
zens, and duty imposed upon us,by our
oft-repeated professions and by the en-
phatic mandate of the people. After full
discussion, our countrymen have spoken
in favor Of this reform. and they have
confided the work Of rs accomplishment
to the hands of these who are solemnly
pledged to it.
If there is anything in the theory Of a
representation in the public places Of the
people and their desires; ifpublic officers
are really the servants Of the people and
if political promises and professions have
any binding force, our failure to give the
relief 80 long awaited will be sheer
recreancy. Nothing should intervene to
distract our attention o. disturb our
effort until this reform is accomplished
by wise and careful legislation.
While We should stauuchly adhere to
the principle that only the necessity OF
revenue ejustities the imposition Of Tariff
duties and other Federal taxation, and
that they should be limited by strict
economy, we cannot close our eyes to the
fact that industries have grown up among
us which, in justice and fairness, call for
discriminating care in the distribution of
such duties and taxation as the emergen-
cies Of our Government actually demand.
Manifestly, if we are to aid the people
directly, through Tariff Reform, one of
its most obvious features should be re-
duetion in present Tariff charges upon
the neceses Of life. The benefitsofsucL a
reduction would be palpable and substan-
tial, seen and felt by thousand who
would be better fed, and better clothed.
and better sheltered. These gifts should
be the willing benefactions OF Govern
ment whose highest function is the pro-
motion ofthe welfare ofthe people.
Not less closely related TO our peoples
prosperity and well-being is the removal
of restrictions upon the importation of