The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-12-10
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The Remainder Of Our Public Land
Should be Carefully Guarded

Should be Carefully Guarded.
The report of the secretary of the interi-
or presents q comprehensive and Interesting
exhibit Of the numerous and important
affairs committed to his SUPERVISION. It is
Impossible In this communication to do
more than briefly refer to few Of the sub
jects concerning which the seer ,tary gives
full and instructive information. The mon
ey appropriated on account of this depart
ment for its disbursement for the fiscal
year ended June 30. 1896, amounted to
more than $157, 0O0O 600, or Ii greater sum
than was appropriated for the entire main
tenace of the government for the two fiscal
years ended June 80 1861.
Our public lands, originally amounting to
], $40, 600, COO acres, have been reduced that
only about GOO, DOC, 900 acres still remain in
government control excluding Alaska the
balance being by far the most valuable
portion, has been given away to settlers, TO
new states and to railroads, or sold at a
cor paratively nominal sum. The patent.
ing of land in execution of railroad grants
has progressed rapidly during the year, and
since the 4th day of March, 1895, about
25,O00,OO0 acres have thus been conveyed
to- these corporations agree with the sec
rotary that the remainder of our public
lands should be more carefully dealt with,
and their alienation guarded by better
economy and greater prudence.
Pensions.
roll and the decrease Of pension expendi-
ture which have been SO often confidently
foretold, still fail in material realization
The number of pensioners on the rolls at
the close of the fiscal year ended June 80,
1896, was 97O,67S. This is the largest num-
Der ever reported. The amount paid ex-
clusiyely for the pensions during the year
was S13S,14,761.94, a slight decrease from
that of the preceding year, while the total
expenditures on account of pensions, in
Guiding the cost of maintaining the depart
ment and expenses attending pensions dis
tribution amounted to S142, 2o6. 550.53, or
within very small fraction of one-third
Of the entire expense of supporting the gov
eminent during the same year. The num-
Der Of new pension certificates issued was
0O,64O. OF these 4O,374 represent original
allowances of claims and Il, S7S increase of
existing pensions.
The number of persons receiving pensions
from the United States, but residing in for
eign countries at the close of the last ifs
cal year was 3,7S1, and the amount paid to
them during the year was $5S2. 735 80. The
sum appropriated for the payment of PEN
sions for the current fiscal year ending June
80, 1897, is $14O 1000. OOO and for the sue
ceeding year it is estimated that the same
amount will be necessary. The commits
soner of pensions reports that during the
last fiscal year 335 indictments were found
against violations of the pension laws.
Upon these indictments 167 convictions re-
suited.
In my opinion such statements as these
and such other informa ton and observation
show that the abuses which have been al
lowed to creep into our pension system have
done incalculable harm in demoralizing our
people and undertaking good citizenship I
have endeayored within my sphere of off,
cial duty to protect our pension roll and
make it what it should be, a roll of honor,
containing the names of those disabled in
their country's service and worthy of their
country's affectionate remembrance
When have seen those who pose as the
soldiers friends, active and alert in urging
greater laxity and more reckless pension
expenditure, while nursing selfish schemes,
have deprecated the approach of situa-
tion when necessary retrenchment and en-
forced economy may lead to an attack upon
pension abuses, so determined as to over
look the discrimination due to those who,
worthy of a nations care, ought to live
and die under the protection Of nations
81; t.tude.