Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-05-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. May Is, 1891.


WASHINGTON, May Is, 1891.
Another oft repeated Democratic false
hood has gone home to roost. During the
first session OF the last congress, in the
campaign of last fall, and during the clos
ing session OF congress Democrats were con-
tinually saying that at the end OF the pres
ent fiscal year there would be a deficiency
in the payment of pensions amounting. ae-
cording to the Imagination OF the speaker,
to from ten to fifty millions Of dollars.
The Republican commissioner OF pensions
and chairman OF the house and senate pen
sion committees were greeted with Demo
cratic jeers when they stated their belief
that there would he a surplus instead OF "a
deficiency.
Now the proof is in sight, but if the peo-
pie depended upon the Democratic press
for their news they would never know it.
Commissioner Raum has sent an official
communication to Secretary Noble stating
that he has made careful approximation OF
the probabl pension payments up to June
30, the end of the fiscal year, and that not
witbstanding he has instructed pension
agents to make as many payments as pos
sible between this and that time he is sat
isfied that a surplus will remain OF the pen
sion appropriation for the current fiscal
year amounting to at least S9,769, 900.
The cause of the large surplus is, just as
Republicans in congress stated that it
would be. the allowance OF the large num-
ber of claims under the new pension law,
which did not carry with them such large
first payments as those allowed under the
older laws. When one considers that the
pension bureau will have to wrestle with a
Democratic house for it's next appropria-
tion it almost becomes matter OF regret
that Gen. Raum cannot fix some way to
pay out that nearly $4,000, 900 of sur
| plus instead of turning it back into the
treasury, as he will, OF course, do.
| Naval officials are delighted with the test
of armour plates made several Gays ago MT
Annapolis, because we are Just il the con-
dition to benefit thereby, having a number
OF vessels almost ready to be armored.
| Further tests are to be made of the armor
which resisted all attempts to penetrate it
the other day, and if it stands it, AS the
naval officers are confident it will, all the
vessels now being built for the government
will he armoured with it. which will give us
| a fleet, though small i'm number, will con-
| sist of the most formidable war vessels
afloat, as the heavy guns which we are
now making right here in Washington with
which our new ships provided, are SUI
perior to any in existence and easily cap
able of breaking up the armor by which
4 Al. - y. Il
| at present protected, all of which adds an
| additional sw a gger to the strut fyour Uncle
Samuel, az with thumbs in the armholes oil
| his vest he takes in the situation and tips
| a wink to the poteutates OF Europe while
| he ad vises them in friendly way to be-
| ware OF Attempting to interfere with his
plans for the commercial unification Of the
American continent.
The president returned to Washington
| to-day from his nine-thousandmile tour
| looking somewhat better than he did when
| he left here and feeling splendidly, and
greatly pleased with the cordial reception
| he everywhere met with, we'll as what he
saw. He will pitch right in to work on the
| important business which has accumulated
| during his absence, with the determination
| to clear his desk as soon as possible. II
\ will be a great drawback well as n dis
appointment to him in dealing with foreign
matters, OF which there are number
| awaiting his attention, If Secretary
Blaines health shall be such as to prevent
his actively assisting as Mr.. Blaine has al
the points in all these more less compli
Gated cases at his fingers end, and no ont
else has. He has taken n special pride il
personally mastering every question thai
has come up since he became secretary o
state.
1t is believed that the president has al
ready selected the men who will occupy th
bench of the new United States circui
court and that their names will be an
nounced in a few days.
| 1t is stated that Associate Justice Brad
ley, OF the United States supreme court
who is well past the age of legal retirement
will retire some time during the next eight
cen months and that the vacancy will b
rendered to Senator Edmunds, who ha
already twice declined a seat upon tn
bench Of our highest court, and whose az
ceptance would be doubtful now.