Beverly banner., 1890-02-22

to the fact that the bill had been in
reality reported unfavorably, and the
measure was taken back and killed,
after which the busy mill wheel went
blithely on its way.
The laws delay was never more
strikingly exemplifed than in the case
of the starving Indians of the Devil
Lake agency. The Secretary referred
the papers to Congress and the House
referred them to a committee, and the
committee will in good time report
bill for their relief In the meantime,
if the good Indian can retain life in
his body he may be happy yet. Some
discretion in these cases should be al
lowed the proper officers, for a man
starving is not exactly in favorable
circumstances for awaiting future
legislation" He wishes to eat in the
present tense.
Apropos of Indians, the bureau will
probably revoke the order allowing
Indians to travel with shows. The In
dians who are thus employed return to
the tribes with a galaxy of new vices
and are lazier than Incidence itself
The Indian agents all report adversely
as to the custom.
The SEVENTEEN birthday of that sur
prising woman, Susan B. Anthony,
was celebrated Saturday by dinner
at the Riggs House, given by her adj
mirers. Two hundred and fifty covers
were laid and the flow of wit and
humor was said to be simply stunning.
Miss Anthony has aged very little in
the last decade and it seems hard to
realize that she has reached her seven
tieth year. In this she resembles the
greater number of people who are con-
tinuallv before Congress with bills that
they entertain no reasonable hope of
having passed. They rarely show the
approach of old age. AS in mad
houses, the victims are kept youthful
by their lmaginations Miss Anthony
speaks as quickly and uncompromis-
ingly as ever and the eyes between the
wide-rimmed glasses fash with the de
fant light that has grown so familiar
to everyone.
Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt
has been about the House for two or
three days trying to find out why the
committee appointed to investigate the
Civil Service Commission does not
commence its labors. The committee
promise to go to work but thus far
have only decided one question, and
that would seem to be one requiring
no particular mental exertion, being
only as to taking up the charges against
the present commission first, which was
decided in the affirmative. There can
be no doubt of Mr.. Roosevelts anxiety
to have the investigation begin at once.
He is naturally an impetuous man and
delay is to him bugbear. He says
that he wants no white-washing report.
Commissioner Lyman does not say
what he wants, but it is presumed that
he desires to get out of the trouble as
easily as possible, for his skirts are
blackened with the mud of two ad-
ministrations.
Preparation for an urgent deficiency
bill has been begun by the House
Committee on appropriations. The
largest item in this deficiency bill will
be $21 100000 on account of pensions.
This large deficiency, however, does not
indicate such a great increase in eX-
penditures for pensions as would seem
apparent, the expenditures for the
present fiscal year with this deficiency
including about ninety-seven million,
while that of last year included only
two millions less. After the appropria-
ton for the present year was made it
was found necessary to make defci-
ency appropriation of about eight
millions for the previous year, and
even this proving inadequate the Com
missioner of Pensions drew upon the
appropriation for this year for nearly
seven millions more, leaving that
amount short in this years account.
No one can tell in advance how much
the Pension Bureau will need in a
year, within dozen millions.