Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-12-18
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| length. the President turns to other matters.
! He repeats his Recommendation ''ln favor OF
| providing at public expense official resi-
| dences for our ambassadors and ministers at
foreign capitals.
Figures are given showing that the Gov.
ernment's receipts last year were s4O9 47S,-
I 403.79 while expenditures In the same time
were s.434, ,678, ,65k4S, the expenditures over
receipts thus amounting to $25, ,2O3, 245. 10:
| The number OF Immigrants arriving In the
| United States during the fiscal year wts
| 343, ,267. OF whom $40, ,468 were permitted to
! land, and 2799 We're debalred on various
grounds prescribed by law, and returned to
| the countries whence they came, at the ex-
| pense of the steamship companies by which
| they were broughtf In. The increase In i'm
migration over the preceding year amounted
| to S4,731.
The report of the Secretary OF War exhib-
| its satisfactory conditions IN the several
/ branches OF the public service intrusted to
The Post O1ice Department IS in good
| condition. and the exhibit made OF its oper-
alton during the fiscal year ended June 30,
| 1896, IL allowance is made for imperfections
In the laws applicable to 1t, is very satistao|
| tory.
HThe construction Of vessels for our new
| navy has been energetically prosecuted by
the present Administration upon the general
line previously adopted, tho Department
having seen no necessity for radical changes
in prior methods under which the work was
found to be progressing In manner highly
satisfactory"
There have been authorized by Congress
since March, 1893, five battleshps, six light
draft gunboats. sixteen torpeeo boats and
one submarine torpedo boat. Contracts for
the building Of all Of them have been let.
The Secretary expresses the opinion that we
have for the present sufficient supply OF
cruisers and gunboats, and that hereafter
the construction Of battleships and torpedo
boats will supply our needs.
The President endorses "the recommenda-
ton made by the present Secretary OF the
Interior, as we'll as his predecessor, that
permanent commission, consisting OF three
members one Of whom shall be an army Of
flcer be created to perform the duties now
devolving upon the Commissioner and AS
sstant Commissioner Of Indian Affairs.
The management of the Bureau involves
such numerous and diverse details, and tha
advantages OF an uninterrupted policy are g.,
apparent that l hope the change suggested
will meet the approval of the Congress.
Pensions.
The diminution OF our enormous pension
roll and the decrease OF pension expendl+
ture, which have been 80 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 970,678. This is the largest ever report
Ell. The amount paid exclusively for PEN
sons during the year was S13S, ,214. .76l.94, a
slight decrease from that Of the preceding
year, while the total expenditures on
account Of pensions, including the
cost OF maintaining the Depart
ment and expenses attending pen
sion distribution, amounted to $142, 2O6,-
55O.59, or within a very small fraction OF
one-third OF the entire expense OF support
ing the Government during the same year.
The number OF new pension certificates
issued was 9D,640. OF these 40, ,S74 represent
original allowances OF claims and 1888 in
creases 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 fiscal
year was 37S1, and the amount paid to them
during the year was 1882, 1858.
The sum appropriated for the payment OF
pensions for the current fiscal year ending
June so, 1897, Is $140, 900 900, and for the
succeeding year It Is estimated that tho same
amount will be necessary.
The Commissioner of Pensions reports
that during the last fiscal year 330 indict-
Inents were found against vio!ators OF the
pension laws Upon these indictments 16f
annvicfinna 1tad
In my opinion, passed upon such state
ments as these and much other information
and observation, the abuses which have been
allowed to creep into our pension system
have done incalculabe harm In demoralle-
ing our people and undermining good eiti-
zenship. have endeRvored within my
sphere Of official duty to protect our pension
roll and MAKE 1t what 1t should be, roll OF
honor, containing the names OF those
disabled in their country's Sci
vice and worthy Of their soun-
trv's affectionate remembrance. WheE l
have seen those who pose as tho soldiers
friends, active and alert in urging greater
laxity and more reckless pension expendi-
ture, while nursing selfish schemes, have
deprecated the approach Of situation when
necessary retrenchment and enforced econ
omy may lead to an attack upon pension
abuses, 50 determined rs to overlook the
discrimination due to those who, worthy OF
"a nations care, ought to live and die under
the protection OF a nations gratitude.
Agriculture.
Under the present management Of the De,
partment of Agriculture its usefulness has
been enhanced in every direction, and at tha |
samo time strict economy has been enforced |
to the utmost extent permitted by Congres.
sional action. From the report OF the Secre-
tary it appears that through careful and |
prudent financial management he has an
nually saved large sum from his appropria- |
tions, aggregatlng during his incumbency |
and up 20 the close OF the present fiscal year |
nearly one-ffth of the entire amonnt ap- |
proprlated. These results have been accom-
plished by q conscientious study of the real |
needs OF the farmer and such regard for |
economy as the genuine farmer ought 10 ap- |
preelate, supplemented by q rigid adherence /
TO civil service methods in Department |
which should be conducted In the interest oil
agriculture instead OF partisan politics.
The Secretary reports that the value Of our
exports Of farm products during the last fls.
cal year amountedto to $57O, ,000, 900, an increase
Of 81, ,000. 900 over those of lhe year lmmedi-
ately preceding. This statement is not the
less welcome because OF tho fact that, not
withstanding such increase, the proportion
OF exported agricultural products to our
total exports OF all descriptions fell of Cur
ing the year. The benefits Of an increase in
agricultural exports being assured. the de-
crease In its proportion to our total exports
Is the more gratifying when we consider that
it is owing to the fact that such total exports
for the year increased more than $75, ,000, 900.
The large and increasing expectation OF
our agricultural products suggests the great
usefulness OF the organization lately estab-
lished in the Department for the purpose of
giving to those engaged in farming pursuits
reliable information concerning the condl-
tion, needs and advantages Of different
foreign markets. Inasmuch as the success
of the farmer depends upon the advantageous
sale OF his products, and inasmuch as foreign
markets must largely be the destination
of such products, it is quite apparent that
n knOwladOa Of fha conditions M IVA nfe th at