Morning journal and courier., 1883-08-24

lic is to make 1t as public as possible. The commissioner is preparing to answer all crit ics. Whenever the statement of the nature of the disability will not embarrass pension CT, the character of his disease OF wound will be set forth in the published list of pension CTS. Where Guch statement cannot be pub- hshed without embarrassment to the pen sioner, the critics will have to ask the pension office for information. Abstracts of each case are in preparation, se that all questions can be quickly and inteJligently answered
 Commissioner Dudley says he does not fear the machinations of the pension claim agents. Every claim presented must pass the scrutiny of the pension ofisss, and he thinks his tests will disclose It's trua character.
 New Hampshire Harmers are much dis..urb- ed by woodchuckk and the legislature. some time ago appointta n committee oi one from each county to investigate and report upon the woodchucks. The report has been made, and there is pro bably more information in it about woodchu cks than is anywhere else ob- tainable. Following is an extract from the report: The body, even in very young woodchucks, is Iaclined to be gray-a very significant ircumstance, in the mind of your committee, when the total depravity of the animal is considered. The predatory habits of the ar GEaal make it the common foe of mankin 4 for it is sneak thief, first, last, and all the tRzne. Like thieves in all chimes, the wood Ghuck remains securely concealed in its hole for great part of the day. Its only purpose in venturing forth during the day t'ns is to get s-good lay of the land. The 'Roodchuck devours corn, vegetables of all kinds, even pumpkins, and it just dotes on nice grass. Your committee was very much impressed with the similarity existing be-
 tween the woodchuck and the ofaceholders. They both prefer to live in clover. Your committee does not, however, regard this
 peculiarly in any way as an extenuation or
 palliation, either for the woodchuck or
 for the postmasters The woodchuck,
 despite it's deformities both of mind and of body, possesses some of the
 amenities of higher civilization. It cleans it's face after the manner of the squirrel, and licks it's fur after the manner of the eat.
 Your committee is too wise, however, to be deceived by this purely superficial observ- ance of better habits. Contemporaneous with the ark, the woodchuck has not made any material progress in social science. and 1t is nov too late to attempt to reform the way ward sinner. While your committee does not wssh to advance any startling theory re- latiEe to the Information of the woodchuck, it begs leave to say that it has strong impres-
 saen that it is 8 hibernating animal. Experi- nents concerning this particular feature have
 been tried in various parts of the world and it is almost the unanimous testimony of scientific men that such is the fact. The ani-
 nal, so they say, takes it's bed about October
 l, and becomes torpid and to all appearance dead. Unfortunately for the farmers, this Interesting habit only goes into effect at that season of the year when nobody cares snap about the woodchuck or the clover crop.
 Year committee believes that this torpidity
 has nothing to do with smitten conscience.