The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-08

1888 The sum appropriated for the
payment of pensions for the current fis-
cal year ending June 20 1897, Is $40, 000,-
900 and for the succeeding year 1t Is es-
timated that the same amour will be
necessary. The Commissioner OF Pen
sions reports that during the last flscal
year 339 indictments were found against
v!olators of the pension laws. Upon
these indictments 1877 convictions result
ed. In my opinion, based upon such
statements as these and much other in
/ formation and observation, the abuses
which have been allowed to creep into
cur pension System have done lncalcu-
liable hirm In demoraliz!ng our people
and undermining good citizenship. 1
, have endeavored within my sphere OF
official duty to protect our pension roll
and make it what 1t should be, roll of
honor, containing the names Of those
disabled In their country's service and
worthy of thei! country's affectionate re-
membrance. 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, I have
deprecated the approach of a situation
when necessary tetrenchment and en-
forced economy may lead TO an attack
upon pension abuses, so determined as to
overlook the d :crimination due to those
who, worthy OF "a nations care, ought to
live and die under the protection of a
nations gratitude.
The Secretary of the Interior calls
attention to The public Interests involved
in an adjustment OF the obligations OF
the Pacific railroads to the COVE; nment.
l deem Ii 10 be an important duty to eS-
pecally present this subject 10 the con-
sideration of the Congress On January
!, 1887, with the amount already ma
tured, more than $4,000 900 Of the prin-
cipal of the subsidy bonds issued by the
United States in aid of the construction
of the Union Pacific railway, including
Its Kansas line. and more than $4,000. 900
OF Ike bonds. Issued In aid of the Central
Pacific railroad. including those issued
to the Western Pacific railroad COM
pany, will have fallen due and been paid
or must on that day be paid by the
government. without any reference TO
the application of the sinking fund now
in the treasury. this will create such a
deficit on the part of these compan!e:
to the government as will give II the
right TO a. once institute proceedings to
! foreclose It's mortgage lien.
DEPARTMENT. OF AGRICULTURE.
TCRE.
The Department of Agriculture is SO
intimately related to the welfare of our
people and the prosperity OF our nation
that 1t should constantly receive the
care and encouragement of the govern
ment. From small beginnings II has
tclli"enCe nrd TIE source of aid and en-
couragement to agricultural efforts
Large sums of money are annually ap-
propriated for the maintenance of this
department, and 1t must be confessed
that the legislation relating to 1t has
not always been directly In the interest
of practical farming or properly guarded
against waste and extravaganza. So
far however, as public money has been
appropriated fairly and sensibly to heir
these who actually till the soil no cX-
penditurc has been more profitably made
and more generally approved by the
people.
Under the present management Of the
department It's usefulness has been ell.
HANGED in every direction. and at thu
same time strict economy has been en-
forced to the utmost extent permitted
by congressional action. From the re-
port of the Secretary 1t appears that
through careful and prudent financial
management he has annually saved q
large sum from his appropriation, ag-
gregating during his incumbency and
up Ia the close of the present fiscal yea,
nearly one fifth of the entire amount ap.
propriated. These results have been APP.
complished by conscientious study OF
the real needs of the farmer and such q
rcwH"d for economy as the genuine far
mer ought TO appreciate supplemented
by rigid adherence to civil service
methods in department which should
he conducted in the interest of agricul-
ture instead of partisan politics.
FARM PRODUCTS EXPORTED.
The Secretary reports that the value
OF our exports of farm products during
the last fiscal year amounted to $570.-
100000 an increase of 1000. 900 over
those Of the year Immediately preceding
This statement is not the less welcome
because of the fact that. nothwithstand.
ing such Increase. the proportion of eX-
ported agricultural products to our tota
exports of all descriptions fell of DURING
the year. The benefits of an increase In
AGRICULTURAL exports being assured. thu
exports Is the more gratifying when we
consider that 1t Is owing to the fact tina
such total exports for the year increased
more than s75.000.n0o. The large and
increasing expectation of our agricul-
tural products suggests the great use
fulness OF the organization lately es.
tahlished In the department for the pur.
pose of giving to those engaged In farm
ing pursuits, reliable information con-
corning the condition. needs and ad-
vantaEes of different foreign markets
1nasmuch as the success of the farmer
depends upon the advanta geous sale OF
his products. and inasmuch as foreign
markets must largely be the destination
of such products. II Is quite apparent
that knowledge of the conditions and
wants that affect those markets ought
TO result in sowing i~pre intelligently
and roaming with better promise OF
profit. Such information points out the
way to q prudent foresight in the selec-
ton and cultivation OF crops and to q