The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1893-12-07


s4s. -. The number Of letters and packages
mailed during the year for special delivery
was 3.s75.69s an increase over the preceding
year OF nearly % per cent. The special deliv-
cry stamps used upon these letters and pack
ages amounted to 1897 80 and the messen-
gers fees paid for their delivery amounted to
$3.50 $50. Il, leaving profit to the Government
Of $50, S.65a.
l desire to commend as especially worthy OF
master General relating to a more sensible ana
business.like organization and better distrl-
button OF responsibility i'll his department.
Navy Department..
During he past six months the demands for /
cruising vessels have been many and urgent. |
Progress in the construction OF new yes |
sells has not been as rapid as was antlcl- !
pated. There have been delays in the COM |
pletion of unarmored vessels, but for the |
most part they have been such as are con- /!
stantly occurring even in countries having |
ing The most serious delays, however. have |
been III the work upon armOred ships. The !
trouble has been the failure of contractors
to deliver arnor as agreed. The DIM
culties seem now. however. to have been
all overcome. and armor is being dellv-
cred with satisfactory promptness. The Sec
rotary OF the Navy recommends the authorize
ton of at least one battleshlp and six torpedo
boats. While am distinctly in favor of con-
rated OF building up thorough and efficient
navy can not refrain from the suggestion
that the Congress should carefully take into
account the number OF unfinished vessels On
our hands and the depleted condition or our
Treasury in considering the propriety OF an
appropriation at this time 10 begin new work.
On the Pension Rolls.
On the seth day of June. 1928. there were
on the pension rolls SCOOP names, an in
crease of s9."i4 over the number on the
rolls June 30. 1872. OF these there were
soldier, Sc survivors of the war of 1872.
80 widows of soldiers of that war, 2l.3lS
survivors and widows of the Mexican war,
1852 survivors and widows OF Indian wars,
2>4 army nurses. and 4.5..45 survivors and
widows and children of deceased soldiers and
sailors of the war of the rebellion The lat
ter number represents those pensloned on
account of disabilities or death resulting
from army and navy service. The number
OF persons remaining on tue rolls Jun. 81,
June -. ls.U. which allows pensions OH &C
count Of death and disability not chargeable
to any service was 49, 1,. The number added
to the rolls during the year was 1868. and the
number dropped was $3.50 The first pay
ments pensions allowed during the year
amounted to So: 136. 3493S. This includes ar
rears the accumulation between the time
from which the allowance of the pension dates
and the time Of actually granting the certih
cate. Although the law OF $50 permits pensions
for disabilities not related to military ser
vice, vet. as a requisite to its benefits, a dis
ability must exist incapacitating applicants
from the performance OF manual labor to
such dt gree As to renGcr them unable to
earn a support" The execution of this
law in its early stages does not seem
to have been in accord with its true intention;
but toward the close OF the last administra
ton 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 operations OF the law to
its intended purpose.
The discovery having been made that many
names have been put upon the pension roll by
means of wholesale and gigantic frauds the
Commissioner suspended payments upon
number of pensions which seemed to be FRAUD
ulent or unauthorized pending complete ex-
animal ion, giving notice to the pensioners in
order that they might have an opportunity to
establish, if possible, the Justice of their
claims notwii hist andinc apparent invalidity.
This. understand. i : the practice which has
for long time prevailed i'll the Pension Blu
reau. But after entering upon these recent
invest igations, the Commissioner modified this
rule 80 as not to allow, until after complete
examination interference with the payment
of a pension apparently not altogether void,
but which merely had been fixed at rate
higher than that authorized by law. ]
am unable to understand why frauds in
the pension rolls should not be exposed and
corrected with thoroughne,s and ,igor. Every
name fraudulently put upon these rolls is
wicked imposition upon the kindly sentiment
in which pensions have their origin. Every
fraudulent pensioner has become a bad citi-
zen: every false oath in support of pen
sion has made perjury more common. and
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 preservation Of the
Union, ought to inspire. Thousands of neigh
bOrhOOdS have their well-knOwn fraudulent
pensioners. and recent developments by the
bureau establish appalling cOnspiracies to a =
compli-h pension frauds. BY no means the
least wrong done is to brave and deserving
pensioners who cert ainly ought not to be con-
dernned to such association. Those who at
tempt 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 expended on account OF pensions for
the year ending June 81 1888. was S156, IA.
The Commissioner estimates that slt5, "o,ooo
will be required to pay pensions during the
year ending June, 30. 1891.
Indians and Their Fate.
am sure that secular education and moral
and religious teaching must he important fac
| tors in any effort TO save the Indian and lead
| him to civilization | believe. too: that the
the oans of land seve1ay
In favorable conditions aid this con-
summation. 1t seems To me- however that
| allotments OF land in Soveralty ought to be
| made with great care and circumspection. II
| hastily done. before the Indian knows its
| meaning. while yet he has little or no idea
| of tilling farm and no conception of thrift.
| there is great danger that reservation life in
| tribal relations may be exchanged for the pau
| perism of civilization. instead of its indepen-
| problem depends very largely upon good admin
istration. The personal fitness of agents and
! their adartablllty to the pecUfiarities of car
! ing for their wards is OF the utmost impor-
tance. There is danger Of great abuses creep
! ing into the prosecution OF claims for Indiar
! depredations, and l recommend that every
| pos sible safeguard De provided against The
| enforcement OF I'M Just and fictitious claims
! OF this description.
| The vast area of land which but shor,
| time ago constituted the public domain is ap
! Idly falling into private hands. 1t is certain
| that in he transfer the beneticent purpose OF
! the Government to supply from its domain
. homes to the Industrious and worthy home
| seekers is often frustrated l con
| cur with the Secretary in the belief
that these outrages can not be entirely pre-
! vented without change in the laws on tn.
! subject. and / hope his recommendations il
| that direction will he favorablv considered.
| especially commend 70 the attention of ii.
| Congress the statements cont aimed in the Sec
| -euary's report concerning forestry
Department o: Agriculture.
| The report OF the Secretary of Agricultur,
will be found exceedingly interesting. Durin;
, the first quarter OF the present year the ex
penses of the department aggregated So $50. :,
as against Si0t,ul2.42 for the corresponding pc
Rod OF the fiscal year ending June "a, ISIS
| Tae Secretary makes apparent his intention I,
| continue this rate of reduction by sub,nittin,
, estimates for the next fiscal year less b,
| sea-, :sa than those for the present year. Tn
regulations Of lS.t. concerning Texas fever hav
| been enforced during the last year. Will
! contagious pleuro- pneumonia in cattle Ia
| been eradicated and animal tuberculosis
disease widespread anc more danger