The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-12-07
rected to represent our Governmet at the

funeral ceremonies.
The sealing interests Of Russia In the
Behring Sea are second only TO our own.
A modus vivendi has therefore been
concluded with the imperial government
restrictive of poaching on the Russian
rookeries 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 or
treatment for our great life-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 fairs.
The reports of the American Secre-
taries are reviewed In practically the
same shape as they have already APP
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, II is believed,
overcome the 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 as rapidly as Congress may
determine. With supply OF finished
guns Of large calibre already on hand,
to which additions should now rapidly
follow, the wisdom Of providing carriages
and emplacements for their mount can
not be too strongly urged. The secre-
tary presents with much earnestness a
plea for the authorization of three addi-
tional battleships and ten or twelve tor
pedo boats. If we are to have a navy
for warlike operations, offensive and de-
fensive, we certainly ought to increase
both the number of battleships and tor
pedo boats. The Secretary states that
not more than 10 per cent Of the cost OF
such ships need be included in the ap-
preparations for the coming year. L rec
ommend that provision be made for the
construction of additional battleships and
torpedo boats.
Reserve Supplies Necessary.
The Secretary recommends the manu-
facture not only of n reserve supply OF
ordnance and ordnance material for ships
Of the navy, but also a supply for the
auxiliary feet. Guns and their appur-
tenances should be provided and kept on
hand for both these purposes. We have
not to-day q single gun that could be put
upon the Paris or New York. Of the In
ternational Navigation Company, or any
other ship Of our reserve navy. The man.
ufacture of guns at 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 has
been an unusual and pressing demand In
many quarters of the world for the pres
ence of vessels to guard American inter
csts. In January last during the Brazil
instruction a large feet was concentrate
cd in the harbor Of Rio de Janeiro. The
vigorous action of Rear Admiral Ben
ham in protecting the personal and COM
mercial rights of our citizens during the
disturbed conditions afforded results
which will, it is believed, have a far
reaching and wholesome influence when
ever in like circumstances ii may become
necessary for our naval commanders to
interfere on behalf of our people In for
eign ports. The war now in progress
between China and japan has rendered
it necessary or expedient to dispatch
eight vessels TO those waters.
the Secretary of the Treasury recommend
the transfer of the work of the Coast
Survey proper to the Navy Department.
l heartily concur in this recommends
ton.
Tho need of national prisons Is urged;
also the appointment of special agents
for the protection of public lands and the
timber thereon, and the appointment
&c ~ ny 20 l.
in land cases The President thinks 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, and the
extension of Indian schools.
On the Pension Rolls.
At the close of the last fiscal year, on
the Both day Of June, 1894, there were
969,544 persons on our pension rolls, be-
ing net increase of 1852 over the num-
Der reported at the end of the previous
year. OF these pensioners 80 ,039 are sur
vivng soldiers of Indian and other wars
prior TO the late civil war, and the wild
ows who are relatives of such soldiers
The remainder, numbering 037, sos, are
receiving pensions on account of the war
of the rebellion, and Of these 469, 344 are
on the rolls under the authority of the
| act of June 81, 1890, sometimes called
the dependent pension law.
The total amount expended for pensions
during the year was $139, S04, 461. O5,
leaving an unexpended balance from the
sum appropriated of $25, 205, 712.65. The
sum necessary to meet pension expendi-
lures for the year ending Juno 30, 1895,
is estimated at $140,000,000.
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 tho bureau have de-
creased more than 10000 during the
year. A large proportion of the new
claims filed are for increase of pension
by those now on the rolls. The number
of certificates issued was S0.213. Tho
names dropped from the rolls for all
causes during the year numbered 81, 951.
Among our pensioners are nine widows
and three daughters of soldiers of the
revolution, and forty-fve survivors of the
war of 1872.
The barefaced and extensive pension
frauds exposed under the direction of the