Morning journal and courier., 1893-12-05

The silver dollars that have been coined
under the act Of July II, 1890, number
3d. ,2S5. The ssignora9s arising from
such coinage was S6 977 099 SO. leaving on
hand In the mints 10. COS. zoo ane ounoes
Of silver which cost sl26, 75s 2is.
THE SILVER REPEAL.
The recent repeal of the provision of law
requiring the purchase of silver bullion by
the government as feature of our none
tary scheme has made an entire chance In
the complexion of our currency affairs I
do mos doubt that the ultimate result Of
this action will be most sAlutsry and far
reaching. In the nature of things. how
ever, IL is impossible to know At this time
preci'ely what condition will Be brought
about by the change, or what, If any. sun
plementsry legislation may, In the light OF
such conditions, appear to be essential or
expedienE- OF course, after the racent
financial perturbation, time is necessary
for the establishment of business conf.
dence. When, however, through this re-
stored confidence the money which has
been frightened into boarding places is re-
turned 70 trade and enterprises, q survey of
the situation will probably disclose q safe
pain leading to permanently sound cur
reney, abundantly sufficient to meet every
requirement. of our increasing population
and business
In the pursuit of this object we should
resolutely turn away from .sIluring and
temporary expedients, determined 10 be
content with nothing less than q lasting
and comprehensive financial plan, IN
these circumstances / au convinced that a
reasonable delay In dealing with this SUBJ
1ect, instead os being injurious, will in
crease the probability of wfse sotton.
Inc monetary conference which assem-
oled at Brussels upon our invitation WAS
adjourned to the 30th day of November ip
the present year. The considerations inst
stated and the fact that a definite proposi-
tlon from us seemed to be expected upon
the reassembling of the conference 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 q conferences
at any time when there should be a fair
prospect of accomplishing sn international
agreement or 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 lie
not as clear as It should be, and the bonds
authorized are disadvsntsgeous to the
government, both as to the time of their
maturity and rate of interest
THE PENSION ROLLS.
On the S0th day of June. 1898, there
were on the pension rolls 966, ,0l2 names.
an increase of SO. 944 over the number on
the rolls June so, 1892. OF these there
were II widows and daughters of rsvolu-
tionsry soldiers, Sc survivors of the war of
1872, B, 425 widows of soldiers of the war,
81, ,5lS survivors and widows of the Mexi-
can war, 3,SS2 survivors and widows of
Indian wars, 2S4 army nurses, and 475, ,645
survivors and widows and children of de-
ceased soldiers and sailors Of the war of
the rebellion. The latter number repre-
sents those pensioned on account of dis
abilities or death resulting from army and
navy service.
The number Of persons remaining on the
rolls June 80, 1898, who were pensioned
under the act of June %, 1890, which al
lows pensions on account { death aud die
ability not chsrgesble to army service, Was
459, ,155.
The number sdded to the rolls during
during the year was l23. .6S4, and the mum
ber dropped 80. $50. The first payments
on pensions allowed during the year
amounted TO s33. 756, $40 9s This included
arrears, or the accumulation between the
time from which the allowance of pension
dates to the time of actually granting the
certificate.
Although the law of 1890 permits pen
sions for disabilities not related to military
service, yet as a requisite TO its benefits 9
disability must exist incspEcitatiug spph-
osnts "from the performance of manual
labor to such q degree rs TO render them
unsble to earn a support"
The execution of this law in its early
stages does not seem to have been In &C
cord with it's true Intention; bat toward
the close of the last administration sn au-
th0ritstive construction was given TO the
statute, and since that time the construc
ton 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 had
been put upon the pension roll by means
of wholesale and gigantic frauds, the com
miesioner suspended payments upon q
number of psnsions which seemed TO he
fraudulent and unAuI horiz ID. pending a
complete examination, giving noiics 20 the
pensioners, in order that they might have
an opportunity to establish, If possible,
the justice of their claims notwithstsnd-
ing apparent invAlidlty.
This, l understand, is the practice which
has for a long time prevailed in ths pen
sion buresn; but after entering upon these
recent Investigations the commissioner
modified this rule so not 10 allow. until
after q compleis examination, interference
with the payment of q pension apparently
not void, bat which merely had been hTed
at q rate higher than that authorized by
law.
am unable to understand why frauds
In the psnsion rolls should not be exposed
and corrected with thoroughness and vigor.
Every name frsudulently put upon these
rplla "a q .-Hrk-aA F-,v.anfHsu., ia
ly sentiment In which pensions have their
origin, every fraudulent pensioner has
become bad citizen; every false
oath In support of q 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 surviy-
ors of q war, fought for the preservation
of the union, ought to inspire. Thousands
of neighborhoods have their wellknown
fraudulent pensioners and recent devel-
opments by the bureau establish appalling
oonspiraciss to accomplish pension frauds
brave and deserving pensioners, who GER
tsinly ought not to be condemned to such
association. Those who attempt in the
line of duty to rectify these wrongs should
not be accused of emnity or indifference to
the claims of honest veterans. The sum
expended on account of pensions for the
year ending June 80, 1898, wac $l56, 740,-
467.14. The commissioner estimates that
$l65, ,000. 900 win be required to pay PEN
sions during the year ending June 80, 1894.
INDIANS AND THEIR ULTIMATE FATE.
The condition of the Indians and their
ultimate fate are subjects which are related
to q sacred duty Of the government, and
which strongly appeal to the sense of JUS
tice and the sympathy of our people.
Our Indians number about PAS, 900.
TcoNIINUED ON FOURTH PAGE.