The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-12-08
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The subieet d Pensions.

The SUbJecS OF PENSIONS
The secretary of the interior has the
supervision OF so many important sub
iects that his report Is of especial value
and interest On the 30th day of June,
1898, there were on the pension rolls $50, OH
names, an increase of SO, 944 over the num-
Der on the rolls June 30, 1892. OF these,
there were IL widows and daughters of
revolutionary soldiers, Sc survivors of the
war of 1872, 3, 425 widows of soldiers of
that war, q, 51S survivors and widows Of
the Mexican war, 1889 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 on the rolls June 81, 1888, who
were pensioned under the act of June %,
1890, which allows pensions on account of
death and disabilities not chargeable to
army service was 1851 ,555
The number added to the rolls during
the year was 123, 1874 and the number
dropped was 80, 600. The first payments
on pensions allowed during the year
amounted to $33, SIC, 549.96. This includes
arrears or accumulation between the time
from which the allowance of the pension
dates and the time of actually granting
the certificates. Although the law of
1890 permits pensions for disabilities not
related to military service yet as a
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.
The execution of this law in its early
stages does not seem to have been in ac-
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. The dis
covery having been made that many
names had been put upon the pension
roll by means of Wholesale and gigantic
frauds, the commissioner suspended pay
Of
seem to be fraudulent or unauthorized
pending complete examination. This l
understand is the practice which has for
long time prevailed in the pension bureau.
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 wicked imposition upon
the kindly sentiment in which pensions
have their origin. Every fraudulent pen
sioner has become bad citizen, every
false oath in support Of pension has
made perjury more common, and false
and undeserving pensioners rob the PEG
pie not only of their money, but of the
patriotic sentiment which the survivors of
the war, who fought for the preservation
of the union, ought to inspire. Thousands
of neighborhoods have their well known
fraudulent pensioners, and recent deVel-
opments by the bureau established appall-
ing conspiracies to accomplish pension
frauds. BY no means the least wrong
done is to brave and deserving 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 &C
cused of enmity or indifference to the
claims of honest veterans. The sum eX-
pended on account of pensions for the
year ending June 3d. 1893 was $156, 49,
467.14 The commissioner estimates that
s165, 100000 will be required to pay pen
sions during the year ending June 80, 1894.
Our Indians number about 24S, 600 and
most of them are located on 161 reserVa-
lions, containing st, 116, 531 acres of land,
about 10, 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 vast area of land which, but short
time ago constituted the public domain, is
rapidly falling into private hands. 1t is
certain that the intention of the govern
ment to supply from its domain homes to
the industrious and worthy homeseekers
is often frustrated through spectators.
Yet it is difficult to thwart their schemes
The recent opening to settlement of the
lands in the Cherokee outlet, embracing
an area of 6, 500, 600 acres, notwithstanding
the utmost care in framing the regula
tions governing the selection Of location
and Notwithstanding the presence of
United States troops furnished an exhibit
tion, though perhaps in modified degree,
of the mad scramble, the violence, and the
fraudulent occupation which have ac-
eompanied previous openings of public
lands.
concur with the secretary in the belief
that these outrageous incidents cannot be
entirely prevented without change III the
laws on the subject and l hope his recon-
mendations in that direction will be favor
ably considered.