The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-18
NO LIMITATION.
Secretary of the Interior Makes
a Pension Ruling
On the Rights of Children Under
Sixteen Years.
COVERS MANY CLAIMS
Which Have Been Pend ing a
Long Time.
COVERS MANY CLAIMS

WASHINGTON, April 1s.-A decision
has been rendered by the secretary Of
the interior involving the right to
pension on claims fled by persons
after attaining their 10th year for or
on account of whom no claim had been
made during the period of their pen
sionable minority as children of a
soldier who had died from causes
originating in the service and the
line of duty. This decision is
of great Importance in solv-
ing great number of pend
ing or rejected claims, and is based on
a construction giving to the prOviso in
the limitation of an act of March 3,
1879, in which it is. in substance, pro-
vided that pensions shall commence
from the date of application, unless
the application be filed prior to the
first day of July, 1880, but that its linn
itation shall not apply to claims by or
in behalf of insane persons and chill
dren under 16 years OF age.
The secretary in his decision holds
that the clause children under 1e
years of age'' is descriptive of class
of claims, the title to which accrues to
the claimant by reason of being under
the age of 16 at the death of the father
from causes originating in the service
and line of duty, and the claims of
that class are excepted from the limi-
tation act of March 3, 1879, and are not
forfeited by neglect to file the applica-
ton during the period of pensionable
minority.
HIGH BEEF PRICES UNwARRANTED.
WASHINGTON, April 18.-Referring to
the letter addressed to him by Secre-
tary Morton under date of April IL,
directing an investigation into the
causes of the rise in the price of beef,
DIR. Salmon, chief of the bureau of
animal industry, has presented to the
secretary brief statement as to the
prices in the Chicago market of dressed
beef and shipping steers since January
1, 1895.
This statement shows the extremes
of prices for this class of cattle to have
been for January, $500 to $5.25; for
February, 81. 10 to S.. so; For March,
$4.6O to ST. 20; for April first half, 81 rs
to So. 90. Commenting on these figures,
DIR. Salmon says: These prices show
that cattle on foot are approaching
paying figures for growers and feeders.
But they do not warrant any such SEN
sational rise in the price of dressed
beef to butchers by the great slaugh-
tering Establishments, nor an advance
such as has been reported on the part
of the retail dealers in meat to con-
sumers. A normal rise in the whole
sale price of dressed beef and in the re-
tail prices should be only in proportion
to the rise indicated for beef on foot
MAY DEMAND WALLER s RELEASE
WASHINGTON, April 18.-The state de-
partment has by no means abandoned
the case of ex-ConsuI Waller, who is
now imprisoned in Madagascar under
sentence of a French court martial,
and as soon as it has completed the
preparation of data, supplied by the
United States consuls at Tamatave and
Port Lou is, the case will be brought to
the attention of the French govern
ment by Ambassador Eustis, the release
of the prisoner will be requested and
an explanation sought. The facts in
which the department expects to prove
as a basis for this action are, first, that
Waller is an American citizen; second,
that he was not guilty of any improper
interference between the French and
the Hovas; third, that even if he were,
he had not been accorded the fair trial
to which he was entitled, the court
martial proceedings being obnoxious
in every respect; and lastly, that Wal
Ter has been harshly treated and has
been the object of persecution because
he stood in the way of other holders of
concessions