Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-12-11

year, while the total expenditure on
the account of pensions, including tn,
cost OF maintaining the department
and expenses attending the distribu-
ton of pensions amounted to $143, BOG.
$3.50, or within a very small fraction
of one-third of the entire amount OF
supporting the government during the
same year. The number of new pen
sion certificates issued was 90,G4O. Oh
these, 40,370 represent original allow
ance of claims, and 1878 increase OF
existing pensions. The number of per-
sons receiving pensions from the Uni
ted States but residing in foreign
countries at the close of the last fiscal
year was 1871, and the amount paid to
them during the was $5S6,73S.38. The
sum appropriated for the payment of
pensions for the current fiscal year
ending June 30, 1897, is $l4O,OO0,O0O
and for the succeeding year it is esti-
mated that the same amount will be
necessary.
The Commissioner of Pensions re-
port that during the last fiscal year
339 indictments were found against vi
Olators of the pension laws. Upon
these indictments 167 convictions re-
suited.
In my opinion, based upon such
statemente as these, and much other
information and observation, the
abuses which have been allowed to
creep into our pensions have done in
calculable harm in dcmOralizing our
people and undermining good citizen
ship. | have endeavored, within my
sphere of official duty, to protect our
pensions and make it what it should
be-a roll of honor, containing the
names of those disabled in the coun-
try's service and worthy of their coun-
try's affectionate remembrance. When
| have seen those who pose as the SOL
diers' friends active and alert in urging
great laxity and more reckless pension
while nursing selfish
schemes, | have deprecated the ap-
proach Of Il situation when necessary
and enforced economy
may lead to an attack upon pension
abuses so determined as to overcome
the discrimination due to those who,
worthy nations care, ought to die
under the protection OF nations graf
itude.
The President says that the Vene.
zuelan boundary question has ceased
to be q matter OF difference between
Great Britain and the United States,
their respective governments having
agreed upon the substantial provisions
of a treaty between Great Britain and
Venezuela, submitting the whole con.
troversy to arbitration. The provi-
sions OF the treaty are so eminently
just and fair that the assent OF Vene-
zuela thereto may confidently be an
ticipated.
He further says that negotiations
by treaty of general arbitration for
all differences between Great Britain
and the United States are far ad-
vanced and promise to reach success
ful contamination at an early date.
THE TARIFF.
/ desire to refer to the statement
elsewhere made concerning the gov
eminent receipts and expenditures,
for the purpose of venturing upon
some suggestions touching our present
tariff law and its operations. This
statute took effect on the 2Sth of Aug
ust, 1894. Whatever may be its short
as complete measure OF tariff |
reform, it must be conceded that it
has opened the way to Il freer and
greater exchange of commodities be-
tween the United States and other
and thus furnishes a wider
market for our products and manufac-
turing. The only entire fiscal year
during which this law has been in
force ended on the 30th day of June,
1896. In that year our imports in
creased over the previ GUS year more
than $500, 900, while the value of the
domestic products exported and which
found markets abroad, was nearly &c.,
DOC, 900 more than during the preced-
ing year. Those who insist that the
cost to the people of articles coming
to them from abroad for their needful
use, should only be increased through
tariff changes to an extent necessary
to meet the expenses OF the govern
ment, as we'll as those who claim that
tariff changes may be laid upon such
articles beyond the necessities of the
government revenue, and with the adj
purpose of 50 increasing their
price in our markets as to give Amer
lean manufacturers and produces bet
ter and more profitable opportunities,
must agree that our tariff laws are
only primarily justified as sources of
revenue to enable the government to
meet the necessary expenses of its
Considered as to its
in this respect, the present
law can by no means fall under just
condemnation. During the only COM
plete fiscal year of its operation, it has
yielded nearly $S,0O0,OOO more rev.
enue than was received from tariff du-
ties in the preceding year. There was,
nevertheless, deficit between our re-
ceipts and expenditures of little
more than $25,OO0,O0O. Some of this,
however, was not unexpected.
The situation was such in December,
seven months before the close of the
fiscal year, that the Secretary of the
Treasury foretold a deficiency of ST.
100000. The great and increasing ap-
prehension and timidity in business
circles and the depression in all activ-
tiles intervening since that time, re-
suited from causes perfectly well under
stood and entirely disconnected with
our tariff law or its operation, seriously
checked the imports we would have
otherwise received and readily account
for the difference between this estimate
of the Secretary and the actual def
cheney, as well as for continued def
icit. Indeed, it must be confessed
that we could hardly have had more
period than the last two
years for the collection of a revenue
tariff. We cannot reasonably hope
that our recuperation from this bus
mess depression will be sudden, but it
has already set in, with q promise of
accelerate On and continuance no.