The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-08
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The Subject of Pensions.

The secretary of the interior has the
supervision OF so many Important sub
jects that his report is of especial value
and interest. On the 30th day of June,
1898, there were on the pension rolls 966, 012
names, an increase of SO, 944 over the num-
Der on the rolls June 80, 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, 81, 518 survivors and widows of
the Mexican wal, 1852 survivors and wild
ows of Indian wars, 2S4 army nurses, and
475, 645 survivors and widows and children
of deceased soldiers and sailors of the war
of the rebellion. The number of persons
remaining or the rolls June 80, 1893, who
were ~pensioned under the act of June 81,
1890, which allows pensions on account of
death md disabilities not chargeable to
army service was 1881, sos.
The number added to the rolls during
the year was 1913, 1874 and the number
dropped was $500. The first payments
on pensions allowed during the year
amounted to $685. SIC, 549. 98. This includes
arrears or accumulation between the time
from which the allowance of the pension
dates and the time of actually granting
1890 permits pensions for disabilities not
related to military service yet as a re-
quisite 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
support.
stages does not seem to nave been in &C
cord with its true intention, but toward
tbs close of the last administration an
authoritative construction was given to
the statute and since that time this con-
struction has been followed. The dis
covery having been made that many
-, bod hnnn mi r1nnn tho ,ancIND
roll by means of Wholesale and gig tnuic
frauds, the commissioner suspended pay
ments Upon a numDer of pensions which
seem to be fraudulent or unauthorized
penuing a complete examination. This I
Understand is the practice which has for a
long time prevailed in the pension bureau.
am Unable to understand why frauds
in the pension rolls should not be exposed
and corrected with th%oroughness and
vigor. Every name f~raudulently put upon
these rolls is u wicked imposition upon
the kindly sentiment in which pensions
have their origin. Every fraudulent pen
sipuer has tr.rome a bad citizen, every
false oath i'll support of a pension has
N lie perjury more common, and false
al undeserviuS pensioners rob the peo-
pl not only of tileir money, but OF the
p: riotic sentiment which the survivors of
II, war, who fought for the pres"rvation
of ne union, ought to inspire. Thousands
OF eighborhoods have heir we'll known
fir dulent pensioners, I'D recent oevel-
or snts by the bureau established appall-
in conspiracies to acco2, plish pension
fir is. By no means tn, least wrou-
dc is to brave and deservin- pensioners,
wi. certainly ought not to be 'ondemned
to such association.
Those who attempt in the line of duty
to rectify these wrongs SHOULD n, be ac-
cused of enmity or Indifference 10 the
claims of honest veterans. The sum ex-
pended on account of pensions for the
year ending June 80, 1893, was s156, ~
467. IA. The commissioner estimates tn i
1856, 900, 600 will be required to pay pen
sions during the year ending June 80, 1894.
Our Indians number about 24S,0O0 anu
most of them are located on 16l reserva-
tions, containing Sc, lie, 531 acres of land,
about 40, 900 of these Indians have, to a
large degree, adopted civilized customs.
Lands in several territories have been al
loted to many of them. The law pro-
viding, that except in especial cases, army
officers shall be detailed as Indian agents,
it is hoped, will prove a successful expert
ment.
The Public Domain.
The vast area of land which, but a short
time ago constituted the public domain, is
rapidly falling into private hands. 1t is
certain that the intention of the govern
the Industrious and worthy homeseeker5
is often frustrated through spectators.
Yet it is difficult to thwart their schemes.
The recent opening to settlement of the
lands in th9 Cherokee outlet, embracing
an area of Q. SOC, 900 acres, notwithstanding
the utmost care in framing the regula-
tiops O~oyaruinO the solacti0D Of locations