davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
The Pension Burden.

rom the New YORK Herald
A deficit OF forty-four millions in govern
ment revenue during the four and half
months of the new fiscal year lends sig
nificance to the report of Secretary Bliss
touching the tremendous growth of the PEN
sion list
At the end of June the number of pen
sioners on the roll lacked only 1900 of
being round million. That even this fig
ure Will soon be exceeded is evident from
the fact that about 100000 claims were
awaiting adjudication, of which it is est
mated about one-half would be finally ad-
mtted
One year after the close of the war the
list amounted to l26,000; in ten years it
had grown to 23i,O0O; in 1SS9-a quarter of
a century after the war had ended-it had
swollen to nearly half million, and in the
past eight years this has been doubled.
The figures are simply stunning. The
fees for examining surgeons and expenses
of dispensing the moneys have amounted
to seventy-two million dollars. and the
pensions distributed reach the astounding
total of more than $2,107 100000. AS we
get further away from the period of the
war the pension list, instead of dwindling
IS increased in a geometrical ratio. The
patriotic spirit of the American people
CLOVIS with desire to honor all who served
in defense of the Union and to provide for
them and theirs. But pension list which
a generation after the close of the war
has doubled in eight years and is still
swelling, which already calls for nearly
as much money as Is spent for the entire
ordinary expenses of the government GER
tainly includes many who are not entitled
to draw upon the hard earnings of the
masses who are heavily taxed to provide
these enormous sums.
With a constant deficit in the government
income it is the duty of Congress to reduce
the outgo and when it starts to economic
ing in expenses this matter of pension
abuses should engage its early and earnest
attention
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
The Districts Legislative Interest.

The extra session of Congress held last
spring served good purpose as far the
District of Columbia is concerned 1t en-
ahled tine Speaker to reorganiZe the District
committee. and it gave opportunity to rep
resentatives and senators to introduce
Thus the forthcoming session will not lie
marked by the preliminaries in the way
OF organization that delay action on the
local measures The calendar is already
well filled with worthy measures. rs was
Indicated by the summary given in yester-
days Star. and 1t ought not to be difficult
Tor the fifteen representatives to get down
TO active work within very short time
after Congress has convened. The Senate
has already passed some bills, three of
which are OF general Importance and re-
late Intimately to the public health The
House committee calendar includes some
of the stock propositions that have been
pending for several sessions, and some new
ones Among both classes are measures
that deserve speedy passage. The ap-
preparation bill is already drafted in the
rough, ard IL seems likely that 1t NAV be
put upon its passage In the House early
In the session so that ii can be sent to
the Senate in such season that it NAV not
suffer. as ii has On several previous &C.
easiols. from the crowding process incl
dental TO the closing hours of the sitting.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
Professional Bon.is,neu.

Some time ago a movement started
among the judges of the District Supreme
Court in the direction of a reform in the
matter OF accepting bondsmen. 1t had
Teen discovered that much straw bail"
was being offered by prisoners and ac-
cepted inadvertently by the courts. and II
was announced by at least one of the
Judges that thenceforth care should be
taken to avoid. as far as possible the pro-
fess.onal bondsmen who are known to
haunt the courts. both of the upper and
lower Jurisdictions. Yesterday Chief JUS
tice Bingham gave this movement a de-
cided impulse by his ruling that person
Offering himself as bondsman shall not be
accepted IL against his name there stands
record Of a forfeited and unsatlsfied re-
cosn:zance. This decision is eminently fair
to the public interests. which are first to
be considered in all such cases. The main
danger from the system of professional
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
Secretary Gage In New York.

As was to be expected. Secretary Gage.
in his address before the New York Cham
Der of Commerce last night, spoke only OF
the necessity and the timeliness of cur
rency reform. His views as to the method
will appear in his annual report to Con-
gress. The country has not long to wait
for that The document will appear proba-
bly, this day two weeks
Mr. Gage reasons with both clearness and
courage. He points first to the fact that
the currency needs a readjustment- This
need is so generally conceded that any
number of plans have been suggested and
discussed bearing the subject. He then
conclusively shows that now is the time to
take the matter up. He turns the argu-
ment of the et-weIl-enough-alone advo-
Gates shrewdly on them. and insists that.
instead of it being permitted to operate as
reason for inaction, the fact that bust
ness has revived and that the party in
power insures at least four years of securi-
ty from dangerous financial experiments
should operate as a reason for bringing
forward the reform desired. In other words,
Mr.. Gage believes that the proper time for
Uncle Sam to put the roof of his cabin in
order is while the weather is fair. The
sun is shining. the material is at hand, and
Uncle Sam should go to work and stop the
leak.
Mr.. Gage is right. The country recog-
nizes the difficulties existing in our cur
rency system, it expects a simplification of
the problem, and the republican party is in
power charged among other things with
the duty of taking some action in the prem
ises. Nothing radical is possible. What
ever Is attempted must he squared to the
situation in Congress, which is well under
stood.
The people like courage and faith-keeping
in their public servants. The game of
timidity and evasion is. in the political
field as elsewhere. a losing one in the long
run. party, like an Individual. must toe
the mark in order to inspire confidence and
accomplish anything. Who shall say there
fore, that difficult the problem Is, diff
cult as the congressional situation is, earn
est as the opposition may be. an intelligent
presentation of the currency question
backed by an earnest support of the admin
istration. may not accomplish at this COM
ing session of Congress, if not all that is
necessary, much from which the country
may profit and for which it may be thank
full?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
The sagastn Program.

There seems reasonable basis for the
belief that the Sagasta reforms" for
Cuba are destined to fail at both ends of
the line. In Cuba the insurgents reject
them or the ground that they are both
insI1cere and insufficient. In Spain they
are being criticised on the ground that
they 60 too far Thus the Spanish premier.
playing politics in desperate straits, would
appear to be nearing the end of his row.
The Sagasta program makes plain the
whole Cuban case-summarizes It, as one
may say. What Cuba long desired and
petitioned for was the right to a voice in
her own affairs; as to how much money
should be required of her and how It should
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
An Impertinent Inquiry.

The Lowering Hammond case now pend
Ing before an army court-martial at Chica-
go may provoke public discussion on
question somewhat apart from the mooted
proposition that an officer may employ any
means at his disposal to enforce his COM
mands. This side topic, which came to the
front for a few moments at yesterdays
session of the court, relates to he right of
an army officer to use profane language
The question was asked whether Capt. Low
er1ng swore while dealing with Private
Hammond, as the latter was lying on the
ground and being dragged to his trial A
member of the court objected to the ques-
ton, though 1t was asked for the purpose of
disclosing the frame of mind of the captain
at the time. 1t was thought by the prosecu-
ton that If Captain Lowering swore it
might be presumed that he was in bad
temper. If so. it might be assumed that he
was acting rather in the vent of a fit of re-
sentiment against the PROSTATE Hammond
and not in pursuit of his duties in maintain
ing the discipline of the United States
army. Soldiers unquestionably have been
more or less profane since the world began
Shakespeare's soldier in exemplification of
the fourth of the seven ages is full of
SIT ange oaths." Profanity and military
genius seem to have been coupled together
ever since there was fighting on earth.
The Chicago court-martial may pass judg-
ment upon the dragging of the soldier upon
his sword jabs, his bayonet thrusts. his
torn clothing and his wounded feelings, but
it will not nor could it reasonably be ex-
pected to hold a captain accountable for
few oaths. The public must be content with
an inquiry into things that concern it and
must not expect to pillory an officer for ex-
eIcising his natural preroSative of swear
ing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

bafling is that the bondsman viii in the
course of his business incur liabilities to
the court amounting to several times his
capital or real estate holdings, and the
chances of the governments recovery OF
the sums due it when bonds are forfeited
are proportionateiy diminished as this Enc
OF the bondsman's assets is approached and
and passed. The fact that a bondsman
has once defaulted should bar him forever
from participation in the proceedings of
the court in the same capacity. even
though the court may have finally sue
ceeded in recovering the amounts due from
him to the community.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

be expended. and the right to trade where
1t would profit her most. In word. she
wanted real autonomy, and had that been
granted her. as it should have been under
q fair Interpretation of the promises which
brought the ten years war to a close. the
present war would never have been begun.
AT this late day, wnen Cuba. is in arms
against Spain and Independence is far more
than a hope, SeDor Sagasta brings for
ward a scheme of autonomy. The insurg-
ents compare it with independence, which
they feel Is near at hand, and reject 1t.
The people of Spain, and especially the
manufacturers, compare it with the con-
oItions which for SO long made Cuba SO
rich possession for them and see in it
surrender of a really good thing. Neither
side. therefore, is in favor of the project,
and Senior Sagasta's slender chance of
realizing on his maneuver is to hurry Cen
era1 Blanco in the field against the insurg-
en:s ard manage himself to keep down
the snow OF discomfort at home.
Genuine autonomy under Spanish rule If
established IN Cuba would not be permitted
to last very long. The Spanish people are
opposed to it. 1t is against both their
traditions and their material interests The
Cubans il permitted a controlling voice in
their own affairs would not manage them
In SPANS interests. Their trade goes to
Spain only under compulsion. If left un-
restrained it would come here. The United
States is the proper market for Cuba's
products and in turn can sell to Cuba what
Cuba needs on terms more advantageous
than Il is in the power of any other coun-
try to offer. So that such autonomy as
would open any part of the markets of
Cuba to American goods would raise
storm in Spain such as any Spanish states
man in power would have to reckon with.
Bogus autonomy would fail of it's own
spuriousness.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
4 Matter of TaStc.

He doesn't care for foot ball;
He doesn't ride a wheel;
He doesn't like the foolish songs
That serio-comics squeal.
He cannot name the players
Upon the football ground.
He never grabs for gossip
That's Being passed around.
And people pity and are glad
They haven't his distress:
They say he ought to have a lodge
In some vast wilderness.
And, somehow. he is happy, too.
He says his life will trace
A lucid interval in
Delirious human race.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
A Reminder.

Are you the person who had so much
to say about me and my methods last sum-
mer?' inquired the man who used to drive
an ice wagon
Yes" replied the householder, deflantly,
II am
We'll, I merely desired to call your at
tention to the fact that a lump of anthra-
cite costs almost as much as one of the
Jumps of ice 1 used to leave and isn't nearly
as big
de turkey hab heap O. human nature
in i'm said Uncle Eben. He likes ter
strut; but he ain much real good tell cir
cumstances takes an ak to i'm an makes
i'm stop it."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
The Foot to Put the Shoe On.
rom the PhiladelDhia Telepranb

The Havana newspapers are again COM
planning because the United States does
not prevent the departure from our shores
of filbustering expeditions. If these jour-
mails would turn their attention to the
patrol work of their own ships better
cause of complaint could be found If the.
Spanish cannot prevent the landing of
these expeditions, with only the compare
lively small coast line of Cuba to guard
what is the use of our government ex-
pending thousands of dollars in patroll.ng
the Atlantic seaboard?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
A Commendation.

How barbarous!' she exclaimed, as she
looked at picture Of a tattooed woman.
Well, remarked her father, thought
ruily. the idea has its advantages as a
mode OF feminine decoration. 1t doesn't
opstruct the view Of those who happen to
sit behind her at the theater."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

My wife is very lucky" remarked Mr..
Bidders. Very lucky, indeed''
Has she inherited fortune?''
mo. But she bought several things at
auction YESTERDAY, and didn't pay a cent
more than the marked price for any of
them
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
He Never Gets n Sent.
From the New York World.

The statement that the elevated roads of
New York at present carry only Il per cent
OF their seating capacity, made yesterday
before the appellate division of the supreme
court, is incomplete and misleading. Dur
ing certain hours of the day they carry
about 200 per cent of their seating capacity
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
A Rule.

OF all our modern maxims,
This Is the first we boast;
The man who has no office
Cries for reform the most.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

Mr.. Bryan is reported to have said that
he would have been foot ball player If
he had had the opportunity. 1t is more
evident than ever that Destiny meant him
to have his picture in all the papers,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

The news from India that jute is to be
very cheap will not bring the joy it might
have caused by arriving before the demand
Cor summer clothes departed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

A large number of colored voters in
Plainfield, N. j.. were dissatisfied with the
recognition they had received, and bolted
the republican party. Mr.. c. II. ]. Taylor
has evidently succeeded in making poll
tics of board and keep a general war cry
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
One by One the Pleasures Fly.

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Georgia Legislature is going to put
stop to foot ball and bicycle scorchng.
At this rate there will be no amusement
left for young men down there but the
lynching bee.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

Judge Gary fears that the second trial OF
Luetgert may injure his health. Luetgert
has similar apprehensions on his own ac-
count.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

Mr.. Gage did not tell all he had to say
in his New York speech. 1t is a wise
statesman who knows just when to insert
Ito be continued in our next
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

Mr.. Weyler seems to have subordinated
lis career as military general to his
ambition to be Napoleon of finance.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

Mr.. Yerkes may discover that it is not as
easy to make people read a newspaper as
1t is to corrall them in street cars.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

Possibly England begins to fear that
seal Killing is TO be the only industry in
which she is to be recognized as an i'm
pc rtant competitor with this country
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

Boston will now undertake to show New
York how a mayor ought to be elected.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

Mr.. Hanna and Mr.. Foraker agree that
they are not giving thanks this year for
the same thing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24
SHOOTING STARS.

DR.. Parkhurst cannot complain Of being
a politician without emp1oymen
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-24

DIn order to avoid delays. ON nc
count of personal absence, letters to
THE STAR should not be addressed
to any individual connected with the
Office. hut .sinnply to THE STAR. or tn
the Editorial or Business DEPART
ments. according to tenor or purpose.
The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1897-07-09

the seat and cooked it. I've no doubt
Patterson was watching him from the
corner of his eye, but he did. not turn
his head from the two men he was talk
ing to. Like fash his pistol came out
and cracked, and the man went down
across the wagon tongue, with the gun
under him, aud lay there till they took
him up to bury him. Patterson's eye
never left the two men. who stood pale
and shaking. afraid to draw their guns.
Shifting his pistol to his left hand. he
reached up to THE wagon box and took
down the whip. With its heavy leather
braided lash he cut each of the two men
across the face with all his force.
".Take those horses back to the own
err he commanded. And the two men
led the horses back to the old mans
wagon. Patterson followed, flashing
them with THE whip at every step. It
was great sight the way Those fell
lows jumped and writhed and yelled
and begged for mercy. the great welts
rising on their heads and faces where
the whip fell. The horses, frightened
at the swish of the whip, were rearing
The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1897-07-09


ION View. gekflnR srsldI . hlFnes4 the
stolen horses into their wagon 9sad
laughing IN high giee anopg them
selves.
II didn't like 70 leave the efnsgzAuts
in that plight, and I had no crowd with
me. and I couldn't very wen 90 up
against three men. particularly IN sl-
other party's quarrel. But I talked with
the family a little to cheer them mp. and
hrd Just handed the old woman i've
dollar gold piece, when Fred Patter-
son came riding up. having stopped to
water his horse at the well. He nod-
ded to me. and was going to ride on. but
I stopped him. and told him what had
happened to the emigrnnts.
Fred I said. I'm not equal TO tack
ling three men like those. but you are.
Can't you do something TO make them
give the old hishorses back again 2
ale listened to al had to say with
out word or change in his face.
When had got through speaking he
gathered up his bride rein and started
on. He won't Interfere said to my
self. IT'S all up with the old mans
horses Butin minute more he turned
off the trail, dismounted, threw his
bride rein over part of the corral. and
walked back TO where we were as de-
libernte and calm as mnn could be.
".Are those the men, and are those
horses yours?' he asked the old man.
looking over to where the three men
were.
".They be-before God.' said the old
man.
with the same GOODNESS and deliber-
alton ns before Patterson walked over
to where the men were. Two of them
were just going to lead the horses to the
wagon to hitch them up; the third one
was fixing some packages under the
seat. All of them were tough-looking
customers, well-hecled with firearms.
"'What are you doing with those
horses 2 said Patterson. He spoke quiet
ly, but there was something in his tone
that made the two men by the horses
stop and look at him as II they had
been shocked by electricity.
"'What have you got to say about
ftp said one of The men. But. bold as
he tried to be, his voice fell and trem-
bled before the look in Patterson's eye.
The man by the wagon was fumbling
under the seat.
".You sto:e them from that old mnn!
Take them back to him. said Patter-
son, and us he spoke the man by the
wagon pulled a shotR"n t-arn ',-der
The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1897-07-09

I'm the mortal shot. He was q bury
through and through. Yet he was
capable of being magnanimous. On
one occasion man fired at him, the bull
let striking him fairly in the forehead.
Instead Of dropping, as any other man
would have done, he grappled with the
man, threw him, and took away his
pistol
cried.
paterson let him up. Run for
doctor he commanded. IF ! die, I'll
haunt you
"rhe story that particularly wanted
to tell when began to Talk about Pat
terson shows his character in its best
light. tt in Montana and there had
been a mining town started in the re-
gion then known as the Bill McGowan
country. People were fiocking there
and the roads were strung with all sorts
of outfits hustling along to be first on
the ground. 1 was on my way there to
start a faro bank and had stopped Tor
dinner at roadside place where man
had q sort of hotel. Among the dozen
or more wagon outfits drawn up before
the corral was rickety, canvas-topped
concern, belonging to an old man VINO
was coming out with his farcily to be-
Gin life anew in new country. There
we're the old woman and half dozen
girls, but only one son. weak-look1ng
STRIPPING perhaps IS years old, who
didn't count in what took place. It
was pretty poor looking outfit. but
they had pair Of good horses, whlch
was about all they had in the world. for
+be rest of their equipment couldn't
have been auctioned off for $50. ] had
nassed them on THE road, and now,
when came out doors after dinner.
found them in q peck of trouble. the
women CRYING and the old man looking
forlorn and helpless. In place OF .ne
two horses hal seen them drivins
bnck on the trail, there stood TWO
broken-down plugs that had been next
a. worthless to start with, and had been
driven nearly to death besides
"Thev were good sort of people. 50
asked them what the trouble was, and
tbey told me. They had made their
aoon;nsy Mt the we'll, and were just
hitch,ne the horses to the wagons
ready to start on again. when three
,,en who had arrived in a wagon about
the same time with them. came over
leading the two plugs, and had LEFT their
t,rolan-down horses and taken away
the s two good ones. When the old man
protested against being robbed, one OF
them drew pistol and Threatened %
smash him over the head with u II ne
didn,t shut up. This was their story.
aa : bod only to look ut them TO know
am. +hsv told the truth. There was no
, ina N The country then, they had no
friends t,S and they we're not strong
aroaeS to defend themselves; 80 there
thsy were. plundered and the same as
~, snss asoos Not, on the trail, with no help for
: = lel ., sss tbev could zee. As they told
Is t,,s ~. story: there were tho THREE men, Y