Middletown transcript., 1898-07-16
WAR ITEMS.

Whatever may be the result of the
present war with Spain, and there car
be but one outcome of the struggle
and that the triumph of American
armies, another heavy pension list
will present itself to the people fol
payment. AS the volunteers, how
ever, who may be killed or who may
die from disease have been in service
such short time, the expense in this
case will not be as heavy as in that of
the regulars. The pensions to de-
pendent families will range about as
follows: Colonel, $50 per month; lieu
tenant colonel, $25; major, $22. SO; cap
tain, $40; lieutenant, 7.50; second
lieutenant, S15; sergeants, corporals.
priyates, $S.to $40.
Something over 5000, 900 will be paid
by this Government as ''head moneys
to the brave officers and sailors who
destroyed Cervera's feet. This is ac-
cording to law which provides payment
Of 500 head for every man on the
ships of an enemy when these ships are
destroyed.
War has had the effect of raising
the price of many edibles, but very few
people know that the Irish potato is
already higher than in years past at
the same season. This is not due to
shortage in crop. for report coming
from various sections show that is
about normal, but entirely to an
increase in demand. The war with
Spain has been largely responsible
for this increased demand, for United
States Government is buying every
thing in the way Of old potatoes to
forward to the troops encamped in
various parts of the country, and those
engaged in the invasion of Cuba and
the Philippines. For several months
past the government agents have been
securing vast stores of old potatoes.
The gap in the regular demaud caused
by this drain has been filled with orders
for new potatoes, and they have con-
sequently, risin in price somewhat, and
should the war continue much longer,
are liable to go still higher.
Our navy destroyed Spain's Philip
pine squadron and ruined the fortifca-
tions of Manila without the loss of
ship or man. Our navy bombarded
San Juan for three hours and would
have taken it had orders of recall been
delayed. Not ship disabled, only two
lives lost. Our navy smashed the forts
at Santiago without loss of man or
ship. Then our navy pulverized Ger
vera's superb feet without the loss of
a ship and with the loss of one man.
1t is no wonder the world looks on in
amusement at our navy. Who dreamed
before we had this practice at target
shooting that we had such expert gun
ners2 The world looks at our navy to-
day through different glasses from what
she did three months ago.
The poverty and low state of social
life and civilization of the Spaniards
are indexed by their wage rates. For
instance, the average weekly pay for
bricklayer in Spain (Malaga) is $3.50.
in the United States S21. IS; of mason
$3.50, in spain, $21 in United States:
of carpenter, $3.50 in Spain, S15.2 .25 in
the United States; of a blacksmith
$3 80 in Spain, $40, ,02 in United States;
of tinsmith So in Spain, S14.3 35 in the
United States; of painters $3.50 in
Spain, $16.42 in the United States; of
laborers, porters, etc., $2.75 in Spain,
$S.SS in United States. While rents
and possibly prices of a few native
products are lower in Spain than in
United States, the difference comes no.
where equaliziug the wide disparity in
wages.
The present war loan now bsing ne
gotiated is emphatic evidence of the
fact that the United States government
need never apply to syndicates of capi-
talists and bankers when it is in need
OF money for any such purpose. The
people have responded nobly to the ap-
peal and show they have as much
confidence in the administration as the
present Congress had when it gave Mr..
Mckinley $50, 0,00o, 900 with no stipula-
tion save that the money was to be
used for defensive and offensive pur-
poses. This method of securing ready
funds was long ago adopted by France
and to-da y her people are her heaviest
creditors.