The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-09

enough to fully reach the case, there
can be no doubt of the power of the
| several states TO act effectively in the
premises. and there should be no rea-
son to doubt their willingness to judic-
iously exercise such power.
REFERS TO VARIOUS SUBJECTS
Some Remarks ON Pensions, the Navy,
Qualifications, Etc.
| The diminution of our enormous pen
| sion roll and the decrease of pension ex-
| penditure which have been so often
| confidently foretold, still fail in ma
terial realization. The number of pen
| sioners on the rolls at the close of the
| fiscal year ended June 80, 1896. was
970.67S. This is the largest number ever
reported. The amount paid exclusive
! ly for the pensions during the year was
| $13S,214, 761.94, slight decrease from
that of the preceding year, while the
| total expenditures on account of pen
sions, including the cost of maintain
| ing the department and expenses at
tending pension distribution amounted
to SAP. 206, 5000. or within a very small
| fraction of one-third Of the entire ex-
| pense of supporting the government
| during the same year. The number. of
new pension certificates issued was co.
GAO. OF these, 1924 represent original
allowances of claims and 1888 increase
| OF existing pensions.
The number of persons receiving
| pensions from the United States, but
residing in foreign countries at the
close of the last fiscal year was 1871,
| and the amount paid to them during
| the year was 1882, 1888. The sum ap-
propriated for the payment Of pensions
| for the current fiscal year ending June
| 80, 1897, is $140,000,000 and for the sue
| ceeding year it is estimated that the
| same amount will be necessary. The
commissioner of pensions reports that
| during the last fiscal year 1893 indict-
ments were found against violators Of
| the pension laws. Upon these indict-
| ments 157 convictions resulted
In my opinion based upon such state
| ments as these and much other infor-
nation and observation, the abuses
| which have been allowed to creep into
our pension system have done incalcu-
| liable harm in demoralizing our people
| and rendering good citizenship.
| have endeavored within my sphere Of
| official duty to protect our pension roll
| and make 1t what it should be, 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 reck-
| less pension expenditure, while nursing
| approach of a situation when necess-
airy retrenchment and enforced econ
omy may lead to an attack upon PEN
| sion abuses, so determined as to over
| look the discrimination due to those
who. worthy of nations care, ought
| to live and die under the protection Of
nations gratitude. The secretary
! calls attention to the public interests
| involved in an adjustment of the obli-
cations of the Pacific railroads to the
| government. i deem ii to be an i'm
portant duty to especially present this
subject to the consideration of the con-
| gress.
The organized militia numbers 112S79
men. The appropriations for its sup
| port by the several states approximate
| $2,600.000 annually and 100000 is con-
| tributed by the federal government.
| Investigation shows these troops to be
| usually drilled and inspired with much
| military interest, but in many in
| stances they are so deficient in proper
| arms and equipment that sudden call
| to active duty would find them made
| quately prepared for field service. I
| therefore recommend that prompt
| measures be taken to remedy this con-
dtion and that every announcement
| be given to this deserving body of I'M
paid and voluntary citizen soldiers,
| upon wohse assistance we must largely
| rely i'm time of trouble.
| during the past year Tdplu pTOBTeSS
| has been made toward the compile
ton of the scheme adopted for the
erection and armament of Notifications
| along our seacoast while equal prog
ress has been made in providing the
| material for submarine defense in con-
nection with these works. The
| experience and results of the past year
demonstrates that with a continuation
| of present careful methods the cost Of
| the remaining work will be much less
| than the original estimate.
The construction of vessels for our
| new navy has been energetically pros
| ecuted by the present administration
| upon the general lines previously
| adopted the department having seen no
necessity for radical changes in prior
| methods under which the work was
| found to be progressing in manner
| highly satisfactory. 1t has been de-
| cided however, to provide in every ship
| building contract. that the builder
should pay all trial expenses and It
| has also been determined to pay no
| speed premiums In the future contracts.
Eight new unarmored cruisers and two
new gunboats have also been commis-
| stoned. The Iowa, another battleship,
| will be completed about March 1, and
| at least four more gunboats will be
ready for sea in the early spring.
| 1t Is gratifying to state that our ships
and their outfits are believed to be
equal to the best that can be manu-
| featured elsewhere, and that such not
| able reductions have been made in
their cost, as to justify the statement
that quite a number of vessels are now
being constructed at rates as low as
those that prevail in European ship
| yards.
1t Is most gratifying to note the sat
isfactory results that have followed the
Inauguration of the new system provid-
| ed for by the act of May %, 1898, under
which certain federal officials are COM
| pensated by salaries instead of fees.
The new plan was put in operation on
the 1st day of July 1896, and already
the great economy 1t enforces, its pre-
vention of abuses, and its tendency to
better enforcement of the laws, are
strikingly apparent. Detailed evidence