The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-31
MULTIPLYING THE LAWS.

pcuSiOu llHo is didTiuluS W CfSi ehocO
| who are far outside of the sphere of
their actual operation. 1t shows how
completely the country is at the mercy
of those who get into position to inter
pref and administer the laws. This was
something of danger not completely
foreseen and guarded against by the
trainers of our Government,
The theory is that this country is gov
erned by Congress. Practically, it seems
to be ruled by those who temporarily
hold the offices. Congress can pass what
laws it pleases, but those charged with
their execution-the subordinates and
agents of Congress to be able to
do practically what they please, by CIV
ing the acts of Congress such interpre-
tation as suits them, and ignoring what
they cannot make subservient to their
own purposes. This is the most danger
GUS tendency in our institutions-the one
that gives most alarm to every patriot,
and the one that should be most sterniy
rebuked. IF one officer can nullify and
abrogate one set of laws at his pleasure,
what is to prevent others from doing
likewise, and our whole law-making sys-
TEN being made wretched farce?
To make an illustration: After most
exhaustive consideration, lasting over q
long series of years, Congress passed GER
tain pension laws. 1t was the public
wish, and the clear intention of Congress,
that pensions should be given certain
carefully-designated persons. 1t was a
work of little difficulty to ascertain who
these persons were, as the public records
contain most of the proof necessary.
There never was more deliberate ex-
preston of the will of Congress. nor
simpler and easier course of carrying
out that will. Given a real desire to
execute the laws, and using with hon
esty, ability, and earHestness the means
supplied for that purpose, every man
and woman entitled to the justice con-
templated should hage been put ON the
pension-rolls long ago, and the work
practically finished. o.
But how disappointing has been the
result. The laws stand on the books
precisely as when enacted, but their adj
ministration seems to have been studied
effort to warp, Ithwart and practically
nullify them. Practically they are dead
letters-they are Dead Sea fruits, which
turn to ashes ON the lips of those they
were intended to benefit. To say that
to-day there are over 100000 unsettled
cases in the Pension Bureau-many of
which have been pending during the
lifetime Of a generation, and there
should not be 100--is to state the whole
case.
Think of it. The laws are still on the
statute books-not letter or syllable of
them changed, there are 5000 employees
of the Pension Bureau receiving salaries
for executing them, and there are over
100000 unsettled cases lying Enacted
upon in the Pension Bureau.
Can more fragrant usurpation of the
powers of Congress and defeat of its will
be imagined than this?
Can anyone conceive Of a more mon
strous subversion of the principles of a
free Government Duly-enacted laws
are treated as utilities, to be obeyed and
executed simply as the officials see fit,
and any mandate in conflict with their
wishes is coolly disregarded. Every day
that claimant is kept out of the pension
to which he or she is entitled is fresh
ofense against the law, and everyone who
is denied the justice that the laws granted
him or her is the victim of crime not
only against him or her, but against the
sacred spirit Of our institutions There
has been an abundance of time since the
passage of the laws to have executed
them fully and fairly, and ample means
were provided for the purpose. That
this has not been done is simply and
solely due to the fact that those charged
with the work did not propose to do it
as Congress intended.