Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-12-07

, Temporary expedients, determined to be
content with nothing less than a lasting
and comprehensive financial plan. In
these circumstances l am convinced that
a reasonable delay in dealing with this
subject, instead Of being injurious, will
increase the probability of wise action.
The monetary conference which assem-
bled at Brussels upon our invitation was
adjourned to the Both day of Novem ber in
the present year. The considerations
| just stated and the fact that definite
| proposition from us seemed to be expec.
ted upon the reassembling OF the confer
ence led me to express a willingness to
have the meeting still further postponed.
1t seems to me that 1t would be wise to
give general authority to the president to
invite other nations to such conference
at any time when there should be fair
prospect of accomplishing an International
agreement on the subject OF coinage.
desire also to earnestly suggest the
wisdom of amending the existing statutes
in regard to the issuance of government
| bonds. The authority now vested in the
secretary of the treasury to issue bonds is
not as clear as it should be, and the bonds
authorized are disadvantageous to the
government both as to the time of their
maturity and rate of interest.
Pension Bureau.
Although the law of 1890 permits pen
sions for disabilities not related to military
service, yet as requisite to its benefits
disability must exist incapacitatinR appli-
cants from the performance of manual
labor to such degree as to render them
unable to earn 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
administration an authoritative construc-
| tion was given to the statute, and since
that time this construction has been fol-
lowed This has had the effect OF limit
ing the operation Of the law to its intended
purpose. The discovery having been made
that many names had been put upon the
pension roll by means of wholesale and
gigantic frauds, the commissioner sus-
pended payments upon number of pen
sions which seemed to be fraudulent OF
unauthorized pending complete exami-
, nation, giving notice to the pensioners in
order that they might have an opportunity y
to establish, II possible, the justice of thei r
claims notwithstanding apparent inva-
I lidity.
a This, / understand, Is the practice
s which has fer long time prevailed in the
, pension bureau but after entering upon
[ these recent Investigations the commits
sioner modified this rule so as not to allow,
until after complete examination, inter
ference with the payment Of pension ap-
parently not altogether void, but which
merely had been fixed at a rate higher
than that authorized by law
l 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 a wicked imposition upon the
( kindly sentiment In which pensions have
their origin; every fraudulent pensioner
has become a bad citizen every false oath
in support of pension 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 in
spire.
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.
Civil Service
The continued Intelligent execution OF
the civil service law and the increasing ap-
proval by the people Of its operation are
most gratifying The recent extension of
its limitations and regulations to the en-
ployes at free delivery postoffices, which
has been honestly and promptly accom-
plished by the commission, with the
hearty cooperation Of the postmaster gen.
eral, is an immensely important advan CO
in the usefulness of the system.
l am, II possible, more than ever con-
vinced Of the incalculable benefits con-
ferred by the civil service law, not only In
its effect upon the public service, but also,
what is even more important. In its effect
In elevating the tone of political life gen
orally.
1t seems to me to be entirely inconsist-
ent with the character Of this reform, as
well as with Its best enforcement, to oblige
the commission to rely for clerical assist
ance upon clerks detailed from other de-
partments There ought not to be such
condition In any department that clerks
hired to do work there can be spared to
habitually work at another place; and it
does not accord with a sensible view Of
civil service reform that persons should be
employed on the theory that their labor is
necessary In one department when In point
OF fact their services are devoted to en-
tlrely different work In another depart
ment.
l earnestly urge that the clerks neces-
sary to carry on the work of the commits
sion be regularly put upon its roster, and
that the system of obliging the commits
sioners to rely upon the services of clerks
belonging to other departments be discon-
tinued.
Tariff Reform.
After hard struggle tariff reform Is
directly before us. Nothing 80 important
claims our attention and nothing so
clearly presents itself as both an oppor-
tunity and duty-an opportunity to de.
serve the gratitude of our fellow tlzens
and duty imposed upon us by oft.re-
peated professions and by the emphatic
mandate Of the people. After full discus
sion our countrymen have spoken in favor
Of this reform, and they have confided the
work of It's accomplishment to the hands
of those who are solemnly pledged to It.
If there is anything In the theory of
representation In public places of the peo
pie and their desires, II public officers are
really the servants Of the people, and II
political promises and professions have
any binding force, our failure to give the
| IRlief az lnpu taJ xx,tl1 Ha