The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-12-05

At the close OF the last fiscal year. on the 30th
lay OF June, 1894, there were 900,5A persons on
our pension rolls, being net increase Of 1852
over the number reported at the end Of the pre-
Vious year.
These pensioners may be classified as follows:
Soldiers and sailors, survivors Of all wars, 75S,-
)s8; widows and relatives Of deceased soldiers,
slb,162; army nurses in the war OF the
rebellion, Ala OF these pensioners 81
OS9 are surviving soldiers of Indian
and other wars prior to the late civil war,
and the widows are relatives Of such soldiers.
The remainder, numbering 9S75O5, are receiv-
Ing pensions on account OF the war OF the re-
bellion, andof these 469 344 are on the rolls un-
der the authority Of the act OF Juue "a 1890,
sometimes called the dependent pension law
The total amount expended for pensions during
the year was Sl39,S0i .05, leaving an unex-
pended balance from the sum appropriated OF
BE, POS, 7l2,65. The sum necessary to meet PEN
sion expenditures for the year ending June ~,
1896, is estimated at S140,000,0O0.
The commissioner OF pensions is Of the opin-
ion that the year 1895, being the thirtieth after
the close Of the war Of the rebellion, must ac-
cording to all sensible human calculation, see
the highest limit OF the pension roll, and that
after that year 1t must begin to decline
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 those now on the rolls.
The number Of certificates issued was SO,2l3
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-fve survivors OF the war of 1872.
The barefaced and extensive pension frauds
exposed under the direction OF the courageous
and generous veteran soldier now at the head
Of the bureau leave no room for the claim that
no purgation Of our pension rolls was needed
or that continued vigilance and prompt action
are not necessary to the same end.
The accusation that an effort to detect PEN
sion frauds is evidence OF unfriendliness to-
wards our worthy veterans and u denial OF
their claims to the generosity OF the govern
ment suggests an unfortunate indifference
to the commission of any offenso which
has for its motive the securing Of
pension and indicates o willingness to be
blind to the existence of mean and treacherous
crimes which play upon demagogic fears and
make sport of the patriotic impulse Of grate-
full people.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The secretary Of agriculture in his report re-
views the operations Of his department for the
last fiscal year, and makes recommendations
for the further extension OF its usefulness. He
reports saving in expenditures during the
year OF S6O0,0OO which is covered back into the
treasury. This sum is % per cent. OF the entire
appropriation. A special study has been made
OF the demand for American farm products
in all foreign markets, especially Great Britain.
That country received from the United States
during the nine months ending September 30,
1894, 905 90 live beef cattle valued at $2650O0OO
as against 1851 cattle valued at Sl6,63i,OOO
during the same period for 1893 During the
first six months Of 1894 the United Kingdom
took also ll2000,0O0 pounds Of dressed beef
from the United States, valued at nearly S10,-
0000O0 The report shows that during the nine
months Immediately preceding September 80,
1894, the United States exported to Great Brit
ain 222 SIC, 900 pounds OF pork Of apples 100000
bushels, valued at g. 800 900; and OF horses 28ll,
at an average value Of Sl39 per head There
was falling of In American wheat exports of
1880 600 bushels, and the secretary is inclined
to believe that wheat may not, In the future, be
the staple export cereal product OF our coun-
try, but that corn will continue to advance in
importance as an export on account Of the new
| uses to which 1t Is constantly being appropri-
ated.
CIVIL SERVICE 3EFoRM.
The advantages to the public service Of an
adherence TO the principles OF civil service re-
form are constantly more apparent; and moth
ing Is so encouraging to those In offlcial life
who honestly desire good government as the
increasing appreciation by our people of these
advantages A vast majority OF the voters OF
the land are ready to insist that the time and
attention of those they select TO perform fol-
them important public duties should not be
distracted by dolfng out minor offces, and they
| are growing to be unanimous In regarding party
| organization as something that should be used
in establishing party principles instead Of die
tating the distribution Of public places as re-
wards Of partisan activity.
THE NEW TARIFF ACT.
| The tariff act passed at the last session Of
congress needs important amendments II 1t 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,
wonld be glad under existing aggravations to
| see every particle of differential 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 laws, II still lam
| guishes to the extent Of closing refineries and
| the discharging Of thousands ofsworkmen, it
! would seem to present hopeless case for rea-
| sonable legislative aid.
Whatever else is done or omitted, earnestly
repeat here the recommendation have made
in another portion Of this communication that
the additional duty OF one-tenth of a cent per
pound laid upon sugar imported from countries
paying bounty on its export be abrogated. 1t
seems to me that exceedingly important con-
siderations point to the propriety Of this
amendment
With the advent of the new tariff policy, not
| oil IN hn oOn ORG nf OIlr
land In the cost Of their daily life, butto invite
better development OF American thrift
and create for us closer and more profit
able commercial relations with the rest
Of the world, 1t follows as log
ical and imperative necessity that we should
at once remove the chief II not the only obsta-
Gle which has so long prevented our participa-
tion in the foreign carrying trade Of the sea- A
tariff built upon the theory that 1t is well to
check imports and that home market should
bound the industry and effort OF American pro-
ducers, was ftly supplemented by refusal to
allow American registry tovessels built abroad
though owned and navlgated by our people
thus exhibiting q willingness 10 abandon all
contest for the advantages OF American
trans-oceanlc carriage, Our new tarin pol
Icy, built upon tho theory that it Is
we'll to encourage such importations as
our people need, and that our products and
manufactures should nnd markets In every
part Of the habitable globe, Is consistently
supplemented by the greatest possible liberty
to our citizens in the ownership and navigation
Of ships In which our products and manu-
features may be transported The millions
! now paid to foreigners for carrying American
passengers and products across the sea should
be turned into American hands Ship building
which has been protected TO strangula.
| uhn hn hV Nhn
I Of profitable employment for ships Whel
! built and the American sailor should be resur
rected and again take his place-a sturdy an,
, Industrious citizen In time Of peace and
patriotic and safe defender Of American In
terests In the day Of conflict.
) The ancient provision Of our law denyinl
Z American registry to ships built abroad an