The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-08


for the payment OF pensions for the cur
rent fiscal year cding June 80 1897, Is
$40 COO. 600 and for the succeeding year 1t
is estimated that the same amount will
be necessary.
The commissioner o. pensions reports
that during the last fiscal year $50 iudict.
rients were found against vioiators OF the
pension laws. Upon these Indictments l67
convictions resulted In my opinion. based
upon such statements MS these and much
other information and observations. the
abuses which have been allowed To creep
into our pension system have done teal.
culahlo harm In demora!izing our people
and undermining good citizenship J have
cndcnvorod In my sphere OF Official duty
to protect our pension roll and make Il
what It should be. roll OF honor. contain
ing the names OF those disabled In their
country's service and worthy Of their couu-
try's affection and remembrance.
When | have seen those who pose us the
soldiers friends active and alert In urs-
ing greater laxity and more reckless pcu-
sion expenditure while nursing selfish
schemes. | have deprecated the approach
OF situation when necessary rttrcnch-
mcnt and enforced economy may lead 10
an attack upon pension abuse. also deter
mined as to overlook the Decentralization
due to those who. worthy Of Nations
| care, ough, to live and die under thu pro.
| lection OF a Nations gratitude.
PACIFIC RAILROADS..
The secretary calls attention 20 the
public interests involved In an adjustment
OF the obligations OF the Pacific railroads
to tho government. ! deem 1t to be an Inn
por,ant duty TO especially present this sub
/ Too, az no,
On January /. 1897. with the amount al
ready maturcd moro than $40 600. 900 Of
the principal OF the subsidy bonds issued
| by the United States in aid OF the con-
s,ructlon of the Union Pacific railway. tn
Guiding its Kansas line, and more than
| SO 600 zoo CT like bonds issued In aid OF the
| Central Pacific railroad. including those
issuCd to the Western Pacific Railway
company. will have fallen due aud 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 default on the part of these compnn-
| les to the government an will give 1t tire
| right to at once institute proceedings TO
| turrcloso It's mirtgege lien. In addition 10
| this Indebtedness. which will be due Jauu-
airy l. 1897, there will mature between that
date and January l. 1S39 the remaining
| principal OF such subsidy bonds. which
must also be met by the govcrpmcnt Those
amount to more than $2o,00o,00o on account
OF the Union Pacific limos and exceeds ST.
| 900 0On on account OF the Central Pacific
| lines.
Tho situation of these roads and the
condition OF their indebtedness To the gov
crnmen, have been fully sot forth IN the
teports ~ various committees 70 the pres
ent and prior congresses and as early MS
| 1887 thty were thoroughly examined by
gpccml commission appointed pursuant TO
an act Of congress The nsiderah lus re-
! during an adjustment OF the government
relations 20 the companies have been clear.
! Is presented and the conclusion reached
with practical uniformity that II these
relations are not terminated they should
! he revised upon basis securing their safe
| continuance.
Under section OF the act Of congress-
passed March 2. 1887, the president -
CHARGED with The duty, IN the pyent tina,
any mortgage or other ineumpranco para
mount to the Interest OF the United states
in tho property Of the Pacific railroad
shall exist. and shall be lawfully liable TO
forced sale TO direct the action of the de-
partmCnIs Of the treasury and Of !uauc" IN
! tho protection of the interest OF the uii"l
states by redemption or through Judiem'
proceedings including for~ losuro3 81 the
| government lien, In view OF the iavi thNt
tho congress has for n numhpr Of years al
most constantly had under consolidation
various plans for dcaIng with the cond r.
lions existing between those roads ana the
goyerumcnt | have thus for felt Justified
IN Withholding action under tho Htatut,
nhovc mentioned. In the crse Of the Union
Pacific company. however, the situation
has become especially and Immediately ur'
gent Proceedings have been instituted I,
forcclosc d first mortgage upon the sni'
parts of thC main line upon Witch IN" GOV
eminent holds second and subordinate
mortgage lien. in consequence Of these
PROCEEDINGS Increasing complications. ahdc
TO the default occurring on January /
1897. condition VIII b. presented NJ Tim
date. 30 far as this company is concerned
tina, must emphasize the mandate Of Tin
act Of 1851 and give to executive duty un
der rs provisions a moro imperative aspect
Therefore, unless cGncrcis should other
Wise direct or shall have previously dotcr
mined uron dinrrcnt soluuun Of the prob
lem. there will hardly appear 10 exist am
reason for delaying beyond the date Of ih'
default above mentioned such executive az
tlon MS viii promise TO subaervc the publ
interests and savo the government from
the loss threatened by further inaction.