The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-12-09

The number added to the rolls during the
year was 1873 534 and the number dropped
was 3B,690. The first payments on pen-
sions allowed during the year amounted
accumulation between the time from
which the allowance of pension dates and
the time of actually granting the certif-
cate. Although the law of 1890 permits
pensions for disabilities related to mill
tary service, yet as requisite to its ben
the applicant from the perform
ance of manual labor to such degree as
to render him unable to earn support
The execution of this law in ~ is early
stages does not seem to have been III ac.
cord with Its true intention, but toward
the close OF the last administration an au-
thoritative construction was given to the
statute and since that time this construc-
tion has been followed. This has had the
effect OF limiting the operation of the law
to its intended purpose.
Pension Frauds.
The discovery having been made TINT
many names had been put upon the pen-
sion roll bv means of Wholesale and gigan-
tic frauds, the commissioner suspended
payments upon n number of pensions which
seem to be fraudulent or unauthorized
pending complete examination, giving
notice to the pensioners. in order that
they might have an opportunity to cstab-
lish If possible the Justice OF their claims
Notwithstanding apparent invalidity.
This understand is the practice which
has for long time prevailed in the PEN
sion bureau. But after entering upon
these Investigations the commissioner
modified this rule SO us not to allow until
after complete examination interference
with the payment of q pension apparently
not altogether void, but which merely had
been fixed at rate higher than that uu-
thorized by law. am unable to under
stand why frauds i'll the pension rolls
should not be exposed and corrected with
thoroughness and vigor. Every name
fraudulently put upon these rolls is u
wicked imposition. upon the kind
ly ntiment in which PEN
sions have their origin. Every
fraudulent pensioner has become n bad
citizen; every false oath in support OF n
pension has made perjury more common,
and false and uEdeserving pensioners rob
the people not only OF their money. bat
OF the patriotic sentiment which the sur
vivors of the war who fought for the
preservation OF the union ought to in
spire. Thousands of neighborhoods have
their we'll known fraudulent pensioners
and recent developments by the bureau
establish appalling conspiracies to ac-
complish pension frauds, BY no means
the least wrong done Is to the brave and
pensioners who certainly ought
Ii.
Those who attempt in the line of duty to
rectify these wrongs should not be ac-
cused OF enmity or Indifference to the
claims of honest veterans.
The sum expended on account OF pen
sions for the year ending June 80, 1898,
was Slb6, FAC, ,467. ID. The commissioner es-
Inmates that sl65, 100000 will be required
to pay pensions during the year ending
June 80, 1884
The Public Lands.
Tho vast area OF land which but short
time ago constituted the public domain is
rapidly falling into private hands 1t Is
certain that in the transfer the beneficent
intention OF the government to supply
from Its domains homes to the industrious
and worthy homeseekers Is often frus-
trated through the speeulator who stands
with extortionate purpose between the
land office and those who with their fam
lilies are invited by tho government to set
tie on the public lands He is u despica-
BILE character who ought not to be toler-
nted, yet it is difficult to thwart his
settlement of the lands in the
Cherokee outlet, embracing an area of
6,500t0) acres, notwithstanding the ut
most care in framing regulations govern
ing the selection of locations and notwith-
standing the presence of United States
troops, furnished on exhibition though
perhaps in modified degree, of the mad
scramble the violence and the fraudulent
occupation which have accompanied pre-
vions openings of public lands concur
with the secretary in the belief that these
outrageous incidents cannot be entirely
prevented without n change in the lnws
on the subject. and l hope his recon-
mendations in that direction will be favor
ably considered.