The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-04
PENSION DECISION.
A Soldier Who Rode Horse for Pleasure
and Got Hurt.

WASHINGTON, April Assistant Sec
rotary Reynolds of the interior de-
partment has overruled the decision of
the last administration as to the line of
duty of soldiers, holding that soldier
being engaged in private business and
not in the performance of those
things which the law required of him
as military duty, cannot be con-
sidered in the line of duty. The last
administration held very broadly in
the matter in the line of duty and in
jury received by a soldier while in the
army was generally considered pen
sionable. The case decided by As
sistant Secretary Reynolds is that of
Henry A Hilmer, EighthAJndiana vol
unteers. The claim was first rejected
March 2, 1885, and just at the close of
President Cleveland's former admins
tration the action was affirmed, the de-
partment deciding: ''In this case, un-
der former decisions, the statement in
the certificate that the injury COM
planned of was received by claimant
while in line of his duty, was a mis-
taken conclusion on the part of the
certifying surgeon. Riding a horse
for personal pleasure against the pro-
test of his captain, who warned him of
his danger in attempting to ride a frac-
tious animal with whose habits claim
ant was already well acquainted, can
not be regarded as in any manner con-
nected with the claimants military
duty" A few months later the case
was recOnsidered and the claim al
lowed. This is now in turn overruled
and the commissioner is directed to
drop the claimants name from the
rolls.
A COMMON CAUSE AGAINST SPAIN.
WASHINGTON, April At is stated
by officials that the reported firing by
a Spanish gunboat on the British ship
Ethelred, bound from Boston to jana
lea, if confirmed, will give the United
States and Great Britain a common
cause in demanding explanations and
indemnities from Spain. Official con-
frmation of the indignity on the Ethel
red has not yet been received here either
at the state department or at the
British embassy. It is said that the
usual course would be for the com
mander of the steamer to report the
fact to the London foreign office AS
he was bound for Jamaica he may first
report to the governor-general of that
A1A4O4oA CO1Ouy5 WnO. III buTA WOulQ
present the case to the foreign office
Great Britain is quick to take cog
nizance of any interference with her
merchant marine, and it is not doubted
that if the facts are as reported the
foreign office will speedily ask of
Spain, first, an explanation, and second
compensation. The circumstances APP
pear to be almost identical with the
firing on the Alliance.
THE NICARAGUAN CANAL.
WASHINGTON, April 4. The president
has selected, under the provisions of
the sunGry civil appropriation bill, the
following persons as a board to inves-
tigate and report upon the feasibility,
permanenee and expense of the Nicara-
qua canal on the route proposed by
the construction company: From the
army, Maj. William Ludlow, corps of
engineers; from the navy, Commander
U. T. Endicott, civil engineer; from
civil life, Alfred Noble, of Chicago,
member of the American Society of
Civil Engineers.