Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-12-14

10 protect American interests in Nicaragua,
Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras Argentine
and Brazil, while the condition OF affairs in
Honolulu has required tho constant presence OF
ono or moro ships. With all those calls upon
our navy II became necessary in ordor TO make
up sufficient fleet, 10 patrol tho Bohring sea UNI
der tho modus yivondi agreed upon with Great
Britain, TO detail to that service vessel from
tho fish commission and three from the revenue
marine.
Since 1885, congress has at each session au-
thorized the building of one or more vessels
and the secretary OF the navy presents an earn
est pl0a for the continuance of this plan. He
recommends the authorization OF at least one
battle ship and six torpedo boats While am
distinctly in favor OF consistently pursuing the
policy wehaye OF building up thorough and oiii-
Client navy, cannot refrain from tho suRgos-
ton that congress should carefully take into
account the number, OF unfinished vessels on
our hands and tho depleted condition OF our
treasury In considering the propriety OF an APP
preparation at this time 10 begin new work,
The method OF employing mechanical labor
at the navy yards through boards Of labor and
making efficiency tho solo test by which labor
ers are employed and continued 10 producing
the boet results and the secretary 10 earnestly
deVoting himself 10 Its development.
PENSIONS.
Although the law OF 1890 permits pensions for
disability not related to military service, yet 40
requisite to its benefits disability must ex-
ISL lncapacitating applicants from the per-
iormance OF manual labor to such degree as
70 render them unable to earn support
The discovery having been made that many
names had been put upon tho pension roll by
means Of Wholesale and gigantic frauds, the
commissioner suspended payments upon a
number OF pensions which seemed TO be fraudu-
lent or unauthorized, pending a complete eK-
giving notice to the pensioners in
order that they might have an opportunity to
establish, If possible, the Justice Of their claims
apparent invalidity.
This, understand, is the practice which has
Tor long timo prevailed in the pension bureau
but after ontening upon these Investigations,
the commissioner modified this rule 80 as not
TO allow until after a complete examination,
interference with tho payment of pension APP
parently MOB altogether void but which merely
had been Fixed at a higher rate than that
authorized by law. am unable to understand,
why frauds in the pension rolls should not BIO
exposed and corrected with thoroughness and
vigou, every name fraudulently put upon these
rolls is a wicked imposition upon the kindly
sentiment in which pensions have their origin.
Every fraudulent pensioner has become q bad
ctthnon; every false support of pension has
made perjury moro common and false, and un-
deserving pensioners rob the people not only of
their money but the patriotic sentiment which
the survivors of war fought for tho preserva-
tion OF tho union ought to inspire. Thousands
OF neigeborhoods have their well known fraudu-
lent pensioners and recent developments by tho
bureau established appalling conspiracies to
establish pension frauds. By no means tho
least wrong done is to brave and deserving pom
sioners, who ought not to be condemned to such
associations. These who attempt in the line OF
duty TO rectlfy these wrongs should not be &C.
cused of enmity or indifference to the claims Of
honest veterans,
PUBLIC LANDS.
The vast area of land which but short time
ago constituted the public domain is rapidly
falling into private hands. 1t is cetrain that in
the transfer the benehcent intention OF the gov
eminent to supply from its domain homes to
IuUuStfiOnq and worthy lOma 10
often frustrated, through the Spectator who
stands with an extortionate purpose between
the land office and those who, with their fami-
lies, are invited by the government to settle on
the public lands. He is a despicable character
who ought not to be tolerated. yot it is difficult
to thwart his schemes.
TIE CHEROKEE STRIP.
The recent opening to settlement Of the lands
in IL 0 Cherokee outlet embracing an area of
6,5OO,OOO acres, notwithstanding the utmost
care in framing the regulations governing the
selection OF locations, and Notwithstanding the
presence of United States troops, furnished an
exhibition, though perhaps In a modified de-
gree, of the mad scramble the violence and the
fraudulent occupation which have accompanied
previous openings OF public lands. l concur
with the secretary in the belief that these out
rageous incidents cannot DO entirely prevented
without change in the laws on tho subject,
and hope this recommendation in that direc-
ton will he favorably cosidered.
FORESTRY.
especially commend to the attention Of the
congress the statements contained in the score
tary's report on forestry. The time has come
when efficient measures should DO taken for the
preservation of our forests from indiscriminate
destruction.
DISEASES OF CATTLE.
While contagious pleuro-pneumonia in cattle
has been eradicated, animal tuberculosis, dis
ease widespread and more dangerous to human
life than pleuro-pneumonla, IS still prevalent.
Investigations have been made during the past
years as to the means of its communication and
the method of its correct diagnosis. Much
progress has been made in this direction by the
studies of the division of animal pathology, but
work ought to he extended in cooperation with
local authorities, until the danger TO human
life arising from this cause is reduced to q min
imum.
The work of the statistical division of the de-
partment of agriculture deals with all that re-
lates to the economies of farming The main
purpose of its monthly reports are to keep the
farmers informed, as fully as possible, on all
matters having any influence upon the world of
markets in which their products have found
sale. It's publications relate especially to the
commercial side of farming 1t is, therefore,
of profound Importance and vital concern to
the farmers of the United States who represent
nearly one-half of our population, and also of
direct interest TO the whole country, that the
work of this division be efficiently performed
and that the information 1t has gathered be
promptly diifused.
CIVIL SERVICE.
am, II possible, more than ever convinced of
tho incalculable benefits conferred by the civil
service law, not only in its effect upon the pub
lie service, but also what is even more inn
portant in its effect in elevating the tone OF po-
itcal life generally. The course Of civil service
in this country is instructive and interesting
and illustrates how strong hold a movement
gains upon our people which has underlying it
a sentiment of Justice and right, and which at
the same time promises a better administration
of their government. / earnestly urge that the
clerks necessary to carry on the work of the
commission DO regularly put upon its roster and
that the system of obligng the commissioners
to rely upon tho services Of clerks belonging to
other departments be discontinued.
ECONOMY.
Economy in public expenditure is duty that
cannot innocently be neglected by those in
trusted with the control of money drawn from
the people for public uses. 1t must be confessed
that our apparently endless resources, the ia
miliarity of our people with immense accu-
mutations of wealth, the growing sentiment
among them that the expenditure Of public
money should in some manner be to their inn
mediate and personal advantage, the Indirect
and almost stealthy manner in which a larger
part of our taxes are exacted, and degener.
ated sense OF official accountability, have led to
growing extravaganza in governmental ap-
preparations.
After hard struggle tariff reform Is directly
before us. Nothing so important claims atten-
ton and nothing so clearly presents itself as
both an opportunity and duty imposed upon
us by our oft repeated professions and by the
emphatic mandate Of the people. After. full
discussion our cOuntryman have spoken IN
favor of this reform and they have confded the
work of its accomplishment to the hands OF
those who are solemnly pledged to it. If there
is anything in the theory OF representation IN