The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-04

the Indians in an orderly way and AT
fixed prices to be determined by its loca- |
ton and desirability and that the proceeds |
less expenses should be held in trust for
the benefit of the Indian proprietors.
The Pension Department.
At the close of the last fiscal year on
the thirtieth of June. 1894, there were &c.,
5l4 persons on our pension rolls, being
net increase of 1852 over the number re-
ported at the end of the previous year
These pensioners may be classified as
follows: Soldiers and sailors, survivors
of all wars, 1853, 96S; widows and relatives
of deceased soldiers 2l5, 1872; army nurses
in the war of the rebellion, Ala OF these
pensioners 2,039 are surviving soldiers of
Indian and other wars prior to the late
civil war, and the widows or relatives or
such soldiers The remainder numbering
9SI505 are receiving pensions on account
of the war of the rebellion, and OF these
469, 3l4 are on the rolls under the author
ity of the act of June q, 1890 sometimes
called the dependent pension law. The to-
tai amount expended for pensions during
the year was $lS9, S0i, ,46l 90, leaving an un-
expended balance from the sum appro-
priated of 25205, 1926. This sum for the
year ending June 80, 1896. is estimated at
$l400O0,000. The commissionerofp pensionsis
of the opinion that the year 1879, being the
thirtieth after the close OF the war OF the
rebellion, must, according TO all sensible
human calculation, see the highest limit
of the pension roll and that after that
year 1t must begin to decline. The, bare
faced and extensive pension frauds eX-
posed under the direction of the courage
Gus and generous veteran soldier now at
the head of he bureau leave no room Tor
the claim that no purgation OF our PEN
sion rolls was needed or that continued
vigilance and prompt action are not nee
essary to the same end. The accusations
that an effort to detect pension frauds Is
evidence of unfriendliness toward our
worthy veterans and a denial of their
claims to the generosity Of the govern
ment suggests an unfortunate indlffer-
ence to the commission of any offenSe
which has for it's motive the securing of a
pension and indicates Willingness to
be blind to the existence of mean and
treacherous crimes which play upon dem
agogic fears and make sport of the pa
triotic impulse of a grateful people.
The secretary of agriculture IN his re-
port reviews the operations of his depart
ment for the last fiscal year and makes
recommendations for the further extern
sion of its usefulness. He reports saw
ing in expenditures during the year of
100000, which is conveyed back into the
treasury. This sum is % per cent. of the
entire appropriation, as special study has
been made of the demand for American
farm products in all foreign markets, es-
pecially Great Britain. That country re-
ceived from the United states during the
nine months ended Sept. SO 1884, 3b,9lO
live beef cattle valued at $26,50O 900 as
against 1851 cattle valued at $l6,63i,N 900
during the same period for 1893. During
the first six months of 1894 the United
Kingdom took IL, 900 pounds of dressed
beef from the United States valued at
nearly $lO,OOO,OOO. The report shows that
during the nine months Immediately pre-
! ceding Sept 30 1891, the United States
exported to Great Britain 222,676,O 900 pounds
of pork, of apples 1,9OO,0 900 bushels valued
at $500 600, and of hores 2,Sll at an aver
age value of S139 per head. There was
| falling off in American wheat exports of
! l3500,000 bushels and the secretary is in
| clined to believe that wheat may not in
| the future be the staple export cereal pro-
! duct of our country, but that corn will
| continue to advance In Importance as an
| export on account of the new uses TO
! which it is continually being appropriated.
| The exports of agricultural products
| from the United States for the fiscal
year ended June 80, 1894, amounted to
| $G2S 1863 03S, being 1928 per cent. of Amer-
can exports of every description, and the
| United Kingdom of Great Britain took
more than 81 per cent. of all farm pro-
ducts finding foreign markets. The
amount appropriated for the weather bu
reau was 1851 100. OF that sum $l3S5OO or
n per cent. has been saved and is re-
/ turned to the treasury. As illustrating
the usefulness of this service it may be
here stated that the warnings which were
generally given of the tropical storms
occurring In September and october of
/ the present year resulted In OBTAINING
safely in port 2,305 vessels valued at $685.
2S39l3, laden with cargoes of probably
still greater value. What Is much more
important and gratifying, many human
| lives on these ships were also undoubtedly
saved. The appropriation to the bureau
of animal industry was $S5O,OOO and the
expenditures for the year were only $l95,-
1924 thus leaving uneXpended $354,j7O rs.
The inspection of beef animals for
export and interstate trade has
been continued. Cattle We're inspect
ed during the year at q cost
of IA cents per head against Az cents for
1893. The amount of pork microscopically
examined was 35,iS7,9S pounds against
20,G77,i10 pounds in the preceding year
The cost of this inspection has been dim
inished from So cents per head In 1893 to
6is cents in 1894. The secretary also again
recommends that the gratuitous distribu-
tion of seeds cease and that no money be
appropriated for that purpose ex-
cept to experiment stations. He reiter-
atCs the reasons given in his report for
1893 for disseminating this unjustifable
gratuity and fully concur in the conclu-
sions which he has reached.
On Civil Service Reform.
The advantages to the public service of
an adherence to the principles of civil
service reform are constantly more ap-
parent and nothing is so encouraging to
those in official life who honestly desire
good government as the increasing ap-
preparation by our people of these advant-
ages. | am entirely convinced that we
ought not be longer without a national
board of health or national officer charged
with no other duties than such as per-
tain to the protection of our country from
the invasion of pestilence and disease.
This would involve the establishment by
such board or officer of proper quaran-
tine precautions or the necessary aid and
counsel to local authorities on the sub
ject.
BY virtue of statute of the United
States passed in 1883 | appointed in July
last Hon. John ID. Kernan of the state
of New York, and Hon, Nicholas II,
Worthington, of Illinois, TO form with
Hon. Carroll ID. Wright, commissioner of
labor, who was designated by said statute
a commission for the purpose of making
careful inquiry into the causes of the con-
troVerSieS between certain railroads and
their employees which had resulted in an
extensive and destructive strike accom-
panied by much violence and dangerous
disturbance. with considerable loss of life
and great destruction of property. The
report of the commissioners has been sub
mtted to me and will be transmitted TO
the congress with the evidence taken
upon their investigation. Their work has
been well done and their standing and in
telligence give assurance that the report
and suggestions they make are worthy of
careful consideration
Iron and Coal Free. d..
The tariff act passed at the last session
of the congress needs important amend
ments If II Is to be executed effectively
and with certainty. In addition to such
necessary amendments as will not change
rates of duty am still very decidedly In
favor of putting coal and iron upon the
free list. So far as the sugar schedule Is
/ concerned / would like gladly, under ex.
listing aggravations, to see every particle
, of differentlal duty in favor of refined
sugar stricken out of our tariff law. II
with all the favor now accorded the
sugar refining interest In our tariff Law
II still languishes to the extent of CLOSED
> reiineries and thousands of discharged
10