Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-12-14
.ecs4d 70 represent our Governmet 9: the

t1neral ceremonies.
Thcssealing interests Of Russia in the
Brhring Sea IRE second only to our own.
A. modus vivendi has therefore been
concluded with tho imperial government
restrictive Of poaching on the Russian
sookeries and Of sealing In waters which
are not comprehended in the protected
area defined in the Paris award.
Occasion has been found to urge upon
the Russian Government equality of
treatment for great l~ife-insurance
companies whose operations have been
extended throughout Europe. Admit
ting, as we do, foreign corporations to
transact business In the United States,
We naturally expect no less tolerance for
our own in the ample fields of competition
abroad.
Domestic AGairc.
The reports of tho American Secre-
taries are reviewed In practically the
same shape as they have already up
peared In the news dispatches given in
these columns. Speaking of military and
naval equipment, the President says:
The skill and industry of our ordnance
officers and inventors have, 1t is believed,
overcome tho mechanical Obstacles which
have heretofore delayed the armament of
our COASTS, and this great national under
taking upon which we have entered may
now proceed us rapidly rs Congress may
determine. With n supply of finished
guns of large calibre already on hand,
to which additions should now rapidly
follow, the wisdom of providing carriages
and emplncemcnts for their mount Gun
not be too strongly urged. The Secre-
tnry presents with much enrnestness a
plea for the authorization of three addi-
tional bnttleships and ten or twelve tor
pedo bonts. If we are to hive IL navy
for warlikc operations, offensive ind de-
f~cnsiye, we certainly ought to increase
both the number of battleships and tor
pcdo boats. The Secretary states that
not more than 10 per rent Of the cost of
such ships need be included In the APP
prorrintions for the coming year. 1 zee
ommend that provision be made for the
construction of additional bnttlcships End
torpedo boats.
Reserve Supplies Necessary.
The Secretary recommends the manu-
faeture not only of a reserve supply of
ordnance and ordnance material for ships
of the navy, but also n supply for the
auxiliary fleet. Guns and their apDur-
tennnces should be provided and kepr on
halid for both these purposes. We lave
no. to-day n single gun that could be put
upon the Paris or New York, of the In
te.national Navigation Company, or any
other ship of our reserve navy. Thu man.
ufncture of guns Mt the Washington Navy
Yard is proceeding satisfactorily, and
none of our new ships will be required
to wait for their guns or ordnance equip
ment.
During the past fiscal year there haa
been III unusual and pressing demand in
many quarters of the world for the Ircs-
eSce of vessels to guard American liter
ests. In January last during tho Bfazil
insurrection a large fleet was c~oncentrat-
ed in the harbor of Rio de Janeiro. The
| vigorous action Of Rear Admiral len
hstm in protecting the personal and COM
ncrcial rights of our citizens during tho
| disturbed conditions afforded refults
| which will, it Is believed, have a far.
reaching and wholesome influence wAen>
ever in like circumstances it may become
necessary for our naval commanders to
interfere or behalf of our people in for
eign ports. The war now in proposes
between China and Japan has rendered
it necessary or cxpedicnt to dispatch
eight vessels to those waters.
Both the Secretary of the Navy and
tie Secretary of the Treasury recommend
TIE transfer of the work of the Coast
Survey proper to the Navy Department.
I henrtily concur in this recommends
ton.
Tho need Of national prisons Is urged;
also the appointment of special agents
fer the protection of public lands and the
timber thereon, and the appointment
Of n non-partisan court to hear appenls
in land cases. The President thinkp the
Indians should be allotted their lands in
severalty, and more stringent measures
adopted to make them self-supporting.
He also presses the necessity of ~stricter
surveillance of Indian agents, iii the
extension of Indian schools.
On the Pension Rolls,
At the close of the last fiscal yea, on
the Both day of June, 1894, there were
9G9,544 persons on our pension rolls, be-
ing a net increase of 1852 over the num-
Der reported ut the end of the previous
year. OF these pensioners 32,O30 are sur
viving soldiers of Indian and other wars
prior to the late civil war, md the wild
ows who IRE relatives of such solGiers.
The remainder, numbering 037,5O5, IRE
receiving pensions on account of the war
of the rebellion, and of these 469, 344 are
OH the rolls under the authority Of the
l ASs VI OuAAS sss 1COO, oOAuCllllGS Culleu
the dependent pension law.
The total amount expended for pensions
during the year was $139,S O4, 4G1. O5.
leaving an %unexpended balance from the
sum appropriated of $25,205, 712.65. The
sum necessary to meet pension exI,cndi-
lures for the year ending June 30, 1896,
is estimated at $14O, 100000. ?,
The Commissioner of Pensions is of the
opinion that the year 1895 must, accord
ing to all sensible human calculation, see
the highest limit of the pension roll. The
Claims pending in the bureau have de-
c.cased more than 10000 during the
year. A large proportion of the new
Gains filed are for increase of pension
by those now On the rolls. The nllmber
OF certificates issued was SO,213. Tho
names dropped from the rolls for all
causes during the year numbered JsS,,051.
Among our pensioners are nine widows
and three daughters of soldiers Of the
revolution, and forty-ive survivors of the
wnr of 1872.
The barefaced and extensive pension
fynuds exposed under the direction of the
courageous and generous veteran soldier
now ut the head of the bureau leave no
| MON for tho claim thok No o,,,roS:,,. sc