Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-12-09

eating 1858 tons. The Philippine feet
consists.'of, ihnety-tlree' vessels of 1896
tons, but Porto Rico is practically. with
out shipping. The. total number of all
kinds of merchant ships. under the United
States flag on the Both Of June. 1898, was
y. 1O5. This. was d slight increase from
the 29;G33 reported for the previous year.
andfa falling off from the 22.90S reported
for 1896. The tonnage of all these ves-
sells amounted in 1896 to 4,7O3,SS 8 tons;.
in 1897, 4,T69,02O tons, and in 1898 to
4,749, 73S tons. The geographical distri-
button of our merchant marine is as fol-
lows:
Number. Tonnage.
Pacific coast ............. 1,754 490,167
Great lakes .............. 3,256 1,437,0OO
Rivers .................. 1903 26l,t.O
.:-:-
Hawaii will become a full-dedged ter.
ritory Of the United States on July 4,
1899, IL Congress follows the recommen-
dations Of the Hawaiian commission. The
congressional members of that body, Sem
ators Cullom and Morgan and Representa-
tive Hit, together with Justice Frear of
the Hawaiian Supreme Court, who, with
President. Dole. represented the islands
on the commission, have been meeting in a
semi-formal manner ut the capitol, putting
the finishing touches upon their report.
Their conclusion will be embodied in a bill
establishing a territorial form of govern
ment for the islands, with a delegate in
Congress, a local Legislature, and other
features of territorial organization con-
siderably different: from those which have
obtained in the oldterritories of the Unit.
ed States.
With the signing Of the treatS of peace
$4,000 to 100000 a month in wages
alone, paid to enlisted men in the army.
The pay Of a private soldier in time Of
war is $3.50 a month, but in time of
peace it is only $40. The pay of a first
sergeant is $50 in time of war and $25 in
time Of peace, and the number of other
non-commissioned officers will decrease in
about the same proportion as o as
peace is declared. There are in the com.
bined volunteer and regular armies about
10000 men, whose pay at present
amounts to about $2,6OO,OO 0 a month.
.:-:.
Illinois continues to be the largest con-
tributor to the internal revenues Of the
Government, the five highest States being
as follows: Illinois, $30,65S,6S8; New
York, $21,05S,569; Kentucky, $1S,226,-
618; Ohio, $16,436,008, and Pennsylvania,
$13,846,790. This covers the taxes on
whisky, tobacco, beer, oleomargarine and
other articles. The banner district Of the
United States is the Fifth Illinois (Pe.
oria), which paid $22,S37,5 54 out of a total
Of $170,868,819 collected by the Govern.
ment during the year.
.:-:.
Reports received from officers engaged
in recruiting service for the regular army
show that some difficulty is being experi-
enced in securing recruits, and that the
greater number Of the applicants are. OBJ,
viously not fitted for military service. The
reluctance Of the most desirable class Of
men to enlist is ascribed to the %hardships
Of the Spanish war, and the reports, some.
times exaggerated, regarding the deadly
|'disease certain to be encountered By
troops stationed in tropical climates"
|. .:-:.
Chief Justice Fuller is to- add another
'son-in-law to his already long list, the en-.
'gagement being announced Of his young.
est daughter, Jane, to Mr.. Francis Of Bos.
ton. This latest marriage in the Fuller
family is scheduled to take place in the
early spring. The chief justice already
has six sons-in-law and with seven ON his
hands in the spring he will still have q
chance to gain another, as one daughter
still remains unmarried.
.:-:-
There are 200 appointments Of presideu.
tial postmasters awaiting confirmation BY
the Senate. This number represents pres.
idential Offices filed during the recess. All
these appointees assumed their postofica
functions at once, but their continuance In
Office depends on the action Of the Senate.
In addition to these four others were an.
pointed. but their commissions were sub.
The widow Of Captain Charles Gridley.
who commanded Admiral. Dewey's flag
ship, the Olympia, at the battle Of Ma.
Mia, is to have a pension. Her formal
application has bccn filed with Pension
Commissioner Evans. Captain Gridley
died on his way homo n few days after
the memorable battle. His home was IL
A bill has-bcen dsGnl16.a and will be intro
duced in Congress providing for. appro-
priating Of $l.QO200O, to be used In per.
fecting Il thorough voter and sewerage
system for Chickatiadsia Ped.
.:-:SffFf
Secretary of the Nayys 4lh1sD. Lona
has ordered that the eight-holf Inv shall
be enforced in all navy ydfdS.s and that
90 per cent additional be paid for all over.
time. -:-:- =
An attempt will. be made to have til,
peace treaty considered in open session al
the Senate, which would be entirely mo,
per, Is there are. no secrets involved IN il
There will be several resolutions intro.
duced in both houses Of Congress for A
Investigation of the recent FACE riots il
J North Carolina. !