The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-12-06
rected to represent our Govcrnmet at the


restrictive of poachiug on the Russian
rookcries and Of sealing in waters which
are not co,aprehended in the protected
area defined in the Paris award.
Occasion has been found to urge upon
the Russian Government equality OF
treatment for our great Efe-insurance
companies whose operations have been
extended throughout Europe. Admit
ting. as we do. foreign corporations 10
transact business in the United States.
we naturally expect no less tolerance tor
our own in the ample fields Of competition
abroad
Domestic Affairs.
The reports of the American Secre-
,aries are reviewed in practically the
same shape as they have already APP
pearo:. in the news dispatches given III
these columns. Speaking of military ana
naval equipment. the President says:
The skill and industry of our ordnance
officers and inventors have. 1t is beileved.
overcome the mechanical obstacles which
have heretofore delayed the armament OF
our COASTS and this great national under
taking upon which we have entered may
| now proceed as rapidly as Congress may
determine. With Il supply Of finished
guns Of large calibre already on hand.
to which additions should now rapidly
follow. the wisdom of providing carriages
and emplacemcuts for their mount can
| not be too strongly urged. The Secre-
tary presents with much carnestn"sS
plea for the authorization OF three adnl-
tional battlcships and ten or twelve tor
pclr boats. If Wc are to have IL navy
| for wariike operations. offensive and de-
| fcnsiyc. we certainly ought I" increase
| both the number of battleships and tor
pedo boats. The Secretary states that
not more than H. per cent of the cost OF
such ships need be included in the APP
preparations for the coming year. l rec
| ommend that provision be made for tn"
| construction of additional battleships and
| torpedo boats.
Reserve Supplies Necessary.
The Secretary recommends the manu-
| tactu.c not only of a reserve supply of
| ordnance and ordnance material for ships
of the navy. but also a supply for the
auxiliary fleet Guns and their appur-
| tenances should be provided and kept on
hand for both these purposes. We have
not to-day 4 single gun that could be put
| upon the Paris or New York, of the In
| ternational Navigation Company. or any
other ship of our reserve navy. The man
u
Yard is proceeding satisfactorily, and
none of our new ships will be required
to wait for their guns or ordnance equip
ment
During the past fiscal year there has
been an unusual and pressing demand in
many quarters of the world for the pres
cnce of vessels to guard American inter-
ests. In January last during the Brazil
inSurrection Il large fleet was concentrate:
ed in the harbOr of Rio de .Janeiro. The
vigorous action of Rear Admiral Ben
ham in protecting the personal and COM
ncrcial rights of our citizens during the
disturbed conditions afforded results
which will. it is believed. have Il far
reaching and wholesome influence When>
ever in like circumstances it may become
necessary for our naval commanders to
interfere on behalf of our people in for
cign ports. The war now in progress
between China and Japan has rendered
it necessary or expeIient to dispatch
eight vessels to those waters.
Both the Secretary of the Navy and
the Secretary of the Treasury recommend
the transfer of the work of the Coast
Survey proper to the Navy Department.
| heartily concur in this recommended
ton.
The need of national prisons is urged ::
also the appointment of special agents
for the protection of public lands and the
timber thereon. and the appointment
of Il non partisan court to hear appeals
in land cases The President thinks the
Indians should be allotted their lands in
seyeralty. and more stringent measures
adopted to make them self-supporting.
| He also presses the necessity of strcter
surveillance of indian agents, and the
! extension of Indian schools.
On the Pension Rolls.
At the close of the last fiscal year. on
! the Both day of June 1894. there were
ot;o.144 persons on our pension rolls, be-
] in. net increase of 3.5o:,2 over the num-
| Der reported at the end of the previous
| year. OF these pensioners :;;22.o33 are sur
! yiying soldiers of Indian and other wars
! prior to the late civil war. and the wild
| owS who are relatives Of such soldiers.
| The remainder. numbering o3I 800. are
receiving pensions on account of the war
! of the rebellion. and of these 469.344 are
on the rolls under the authority of the
| act of June ~. 1890. sometimes called
the dependent pension law.
TIL. total amount expended for pensions
| during the year was $50. Sn4 .4il %.
| leaving an untNpcHutI palalct from the
sum appropriated of So. 200. 71.6o. The
sum necessary to meet pension cXpendi-
| lures fer the year ending June 80, 1896.
| is estimated at S14o,oup.NO.
| The Commissioner of Pensions is Of the
| opinion that the year 1S:'., must. accord
| in. to all sensible human calculation. see
| the highest limit of the pension roll. The
| claims pending in the bureau have de-
| creased more than 10000 during the
! year. \ large proportion of the new
| claims filed are for increase of pension
| by these now on the rolls. The number
| of certificates issued was Sp.o1S. The
| names dropped from the rolls for all
causes during the year numbered 1881
| Among our pensioners are nine widows
! and three daughters of soldiers of the
| revolution. and forty five survivors of til,
| war Of ISL.
The barefaced and extensive pension
| frauds exposed under the direction Of the
| courage and generous veteran soldier
Il II.