The National tribune., 1894-12-06
PRESIDENT'SWESSAGE
An Immensely Long, Detailed DOcu-
mint.

Tho Presidents message is q very long docu-
ment making IL columns of small type. 1t is
mostly detailed aud very dry recital oil the
history OF the past II months, with pcriunctory
and formal recommendations.
1t beg ins with over three columns OF n labored
review of our foreign relations. The Hawaiian
matter is dism issed with the statement that the
Republic has been recognized, and an entire
withdrawal from Samoa is recommended
An increase Of the Army 10 the statutory
limit of 10000 men is recommended, and the
officers ana soldiers arc complimented Tor their
conduct during the strike.
More battle. ships. torpedo boats and men are
strongly needed for the Navy.
PENSIONS.
The following are the paragraphs devoted 10
PENSIONS:
AT the close Of the last fiscal year on the
Both day of June, 1894. there were 969, 544 per
sons on our pension rolls, being net increase
OF 1882 over the number reported at the END
OF the previous year.
These pensioners may be classified as follows:
Soldiers and sailors. survivors Of all wars, 753-
96S: widows aud relatives of deceased soldiers,
2l5,l62; army nurses in the war OF the rebel
lion, ala. OF these pensioners 2,03a are sur
viving soldiers OF Indian and other wars prlor
TO the late civil and the widows or rela-
tipes of such soldiers The remainder, mum.
herring 937. 505 are receiving pensions on ac-
count OF the war OF the rebellion, and OF these
469. 344 are on the rolls under the authority of
the act Of June q, 1880, sometimes called the
dependent pension law.
The total amount expended for pensions dur
ing he year was $3.50, S04 46i.05, leaving an I'M
expended balance from the sum appropriated OF
$25. 205. 1926.
The sum necessary to meet pensions ex-
penditu res for the year ending June 30, 1896
is estimated at $l40000,000.
The Commissioner of Pensions is of the opin-
ion that the year 1895 being the Both after
the close OF the war of the rebellion, must
according to all sensible human calculations,
see the highest limit of the pension roll, and
that after that year il must begin TO decline.
The claims pending in the Bureau have de-
creased more than 10000 during the year A
large proportion of the new claims filed are
for increase of pensions by those now on the
rolls The number of certificates issued was
S02l3.
Tho names dropped from the rolls for all
causes during the year numbered 1851.
Among pensioners are nine widows and
three daughters of soldiers of the Revolution
and 40 survivors Of the war Of 1S12.
PENSION FRAUDS
The baTefaced aud extensive pension frauds
exposed under the direction of the courageous
snd generous veteran soldier now at the head
of the Bureau leave no room for the claim
that no purgation of our pensien-rolls was
needed 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 nnfriendlness toward
our worthy veterans, and denial OF their
claims to the generosity of the Government,
suggests an unfortunate Indifference TO the
commission of any ofiense which has for its
motive the securing OF pension, and indi-
xxfllf 10 ind 30 I'm icf
ence of and treacherous crimes which
play upon demagogic fears and make sport Of
the patriotic impulse of grateful people.
HIS IDEAS ON FINANCE.
During the last month he gold reserved in the
Treasury for the purpose Of redeeming the notes
Of the Government circulating as money in the
hands of the people became reduced, and its
further depletion in the near future seemed so
PERTAIN that in the exercise OF proper care for
the public welfare ii became necessary to re-
plenish this reserve. and thus maintain popu-
lar faith in the ability and determination of
the Government to meet, as agreed, its pecuni-
ery obligations.
IL would have been well IL in this emer-
gency authority had existed to issue the bonds
of the Government bearing low rate of in
terest, and maturing within short period. but,
the Congress having failed 10 confer such
authority, resort was necessarily had TO the
provisions bonds were issued, drawing interest
ut the rate of per cent. per annum, and
maturing 10 years after their ISSUE that being
abe shortest time authorized by the act. j am
glad TO say. however, that on the sale Of these
bonds the premium received operated to reduce
the rate of interest 10 be paid by the Govern
rnent TO less than 3 per cent.
Nothing could be worse or further removed
from sensible fuance than the relations exist
ing between the currency the Government has
Issued, the gold held for its redemption, and
The means which must be resorted to for the
purpose of replenishiug such redemption fund
when impaired. Even if the claims upon this
fund were confined 10 the obligations originally
Intended. and If the redemption of these obli-
cations meant their cancellation, the fund
would be very small. But these obligations
when received and redeemed in gold, are not
cancelled. but are reissued. and may do duty
many times by way Of drawing gold from the
Treasury. Thus we have an endless chain in
operation, constantly depicting the Treasury's
gold. aud never near a final rest As If this
was not bad enough, we have by a statutory
declaration that il Is the policy of the Govern
oent 10 maintain the parity between gold and
silver aided the force and momentum Of this
exhausting process and added largely to the
currency obligations claiming this peculiar
gold redemption. Our small gold reserve is
thus subject 10 drain from every side. The de-
Dands that increase our danger also increase
the necessity Of protecting this reserve against
depletion. and il is most unsatisfactory to know
that the protection afforded is only temporary
palliation.
COHGRTss HELD BLAMEwoRTHY.
il is perfectly and palpably plain that the
only way under present conditions by which
this reserve, when dangerously depleted, can
be- repienishcd is through the issue and sale Of
the bonds OF the Government for gold: and vet
Congress has not only thus far declined to au-
thorize the issue of bonds best suited TO such a
purpose. but there seems disposition in some
quarters to deny both be necessity and power
for the issue OF bonds az all.
cannot Tor moment believe that any of
our citizens are deliberately willing that their
Government should default in its pecuniary OBJ
legations or that its financial operations should
be reduced 10 silver basis. At any rate,
should not feel that my duty was done if /
omitted any effort could make to avert such
acalamity. As long therefore, as no provision
he made for the final redemption or the putting