The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19

war OF tno heOelIiou, 2I4s VI tueSo Peus!on'
ers 81, ,0S9 are surviving soldiers Of Indian
and other wars prior to the OWL War, and
the widows and relatives Of such soldiers.
The remainder, numbering 997, 800, are re-
ceivtng pensions on account of the War OF
the Rebellion, and Of these 1894 are on
the rolls under the authority Of the not o.
June a, 1890, sometimes called the depend
ent pension law.
The total amount expended for pensions
during the year was S139, 804, 4SL05, leaving
an unexpected balance from the sum appro-
pri ated Of s25, ,205, 1895.
The sum necessary to meet pension expen-
ditures for the year ending June 80, 1888, Is
estimated at 9140, ZOO, 900.
The Commissioner OF Pensions is OF the
opinion that the year 1895. being the thlr-
tieth after the close Of the War 81 the Rebel
lion, must, according to all sensible human
calculation, see the highest limit Of the pen.
sion roll, and that after that yearit must be-
gin to decline.
The claims pending In the bureau have
decreased more than go, 900 during the year.
A large proportion OF the new claims filed
are for increase Of pension by those now on
the rolls.
The number of certificates issued was s0,
213. The names dropped from the rolls fol
all causes during the year numbered 81, 95l
Among our pensioners are nine widows
and three daughters Of soldiers OF the Revo'
luton and forty-ave survivors OF the War o.
1912.
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 pen.
sion rolls was needed, or that continued
vigilance and prompt action are not neces-
sary to the same end.
pension frauds Is evidence OF unfrlendltness
towards our worthy veterans and a denial OF
their claims to the generosity OF the Govern
ment, suggests an unfortunate indifference
to the commission Of any offense which has
for its motive the securing OF apension, and
indicates willingness to be blind to the ex.
istence of mean and treacherous crimes
which play upon demagoglc fears and make
sport OF the patriotic impulse OF grateful
people. -
AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS.
The Secretary OF Agriculture In his report
reviews the operations Of his department for
the last fiscal year, and makes recommends
tions for the further extension OF Its useful
ness. He reports saving In expenditures
during the year Of se00, ,000, which Is covered
back into the Treasury. This sum tstwenty.
three per cent. of the entire appropriation.
Aspecial study has been made Of the de-
mand for American farm products IN all for
eign markets, especially Great Britain. That
country received from the United States dur
ing the nine months ending September 80,
1894, 905, $40 live beef cattle, valued at S26,-
SOC, 900, as against 1872, 2,81l cattle, valued at
GIG, 1884, 900, during the same period for 1893.
During the first six months Of 1894 the
United Kingdom took, also, $4,000, 600
pounds of dressed beef from the United
States, valued at nearly s10, 600, 900.
The report shows that during the nine
months Immediately preceding September
80, 1894, the United States exported to Great
Britain 222.676. 900 pounds Of pork; OF ap-
Piles, 10000 bushels, valued at %, 6GO, 600
and of horses, 2811, at an average value Of
s199 per head. There was falling of In
American wheat exports OF Is, 505, 600 bush
els, and the Secretary Is inclined TO believe
that wheat may not, In the future, be the
staple export cereal product Of our country,
but that corn will continue to advance In i'm.
portance as an export on account OF the new
uses to which 1t Is constantly being appro.
priated. .,.. ~ .f-: ...-
The exports OF agricultural products from
the United States for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1894, amounted to 1926, 1868, ,03s, be-.
ing 72.28 per cent. OF American exports OF
every description, and the United Kingdom
of Great Britain took more than ffty-four
per cent. Of all farm products finding for
eign markets. -, -g.
The Department OF Agriculture has un-
dertaken during the year two new and I'M
portant lines OF research. The first relates
to grasses and forage plants, with the pur-
pose OF instructing and familarlztng the
people as to the distinctive grasses Of the
United States. and teaching them how to
intro luce valuable foreign forage plants
which may be adapted to this country.
The second relates to agricultural soil
and crop production, involving the
analyses of samples of soils from all
sections Of the American Union. to demon
strate their adaptabillty to particular plants
and crops. Mechanical analyses OF soils
may be Of such inestimable utility that 1t Is
foremost In the new lines Of agricultural re-
search, and the Secretary therefore recon-
mends that division having 1t IN charge be
permanently established in the department.
The accommodation contained In the re-
port OF the Secretary for 1893, that the
vicious system OF free distribution OF Its O.
partment documents BE- abandoned is again
urged. These publications may we'll be fur
nished without cost to public libraries, edu-
cational institutions and the officers and IL
braries OF States and Of the Federal Govern
ment. But from oil individuals applying
for them price covering the cost OF the
document asked for should be required.
Thus the publications and doc
uments would be secured by those
who really desire them for proper purposes.
Halt million OF copies otthe report OF the
Secretary Of Agriculture are printed for dis
tribution at an annual cost Of about $500,
900. Large numbers OF them are cum
berlng store rooms at the Capitol and the
shelves OF secondhand book stores through
out the country. All this labor and waste
might be avoided If the recommendations of
the Secretary were adopted.
The Secretary also again recommends that
the gratuitous distribution OF seeds cease
and that no money be appropriated for that
purpose, except to experiment stations. He
reiterates the reasons given IN his report for
1893 for discontinuing this unjustiaable grs-
tutty, and fully concur in the conclusions
which he has reached.
Il is deemed possible that an agricultural
census may be taken each year through the
agents OF tho statistical division OF the de-
partment. Such course is commended for
trial by the chief of that division. Its scope
would be,
% The area under each Of the more I'M
porant crops.
ca The aggregate products Of each OF
such crops.
(S) The quantity OF wheat and corn In the
hands Of farmers at a date after the spring
sowings and paintings and before the begin
ming Of harvest and also the quantity OF
cotton and tobacco remaining In the hands
Of planters, either at the same date or at
some other designated time.
The cost Of the work Is estimated at $780,
900.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The advantages to the public service OF an
adherence to the principles OF civil service
reform are constantly more apparent, and
nothing is 30 encouraging to those in off,
cial life who honestly desire good govern
ment as the increasing appr eciation by, our