The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-27
FREDERICK C.. STEVENS

this session; but the committee may
act favorably on some such minor
matters. In common with the other
members of the Minnesota delegation,
he expects to continue the fight for
the free homes" amendment, believ-
ing that the matter will again come
before the house after disagreement
in conference.
AS for local private claims, whose
name like their frequent parent is
Legion, Mr.. Stevens has them all we'll
in hand-and some Of them by the
throat. When one thinks Of the con-
slant, ever increasing rush Of these
and thought, one recalls Dickens de-
scription of the infinite number and
variety of the exactions upon which
John RokeSmith, in Our Mutual
Friend" had to pass every day. Uncle
Sam Is a golden dust-man, as simple,
as generous as Noddy Boffin, and full
as much in need of discriminating care
In worthy cases Mr.. Stevens has been
successful in obtaining justice or re-
dress, especially so in the matter Of
pension claims.
Mr.. Stevens does not grumble over
| the committees-public lands and pen
sions-to which he was appointed. If
they are not especially important, they
| are at least practical, affording plenty
| diction of the public lands committee
has lately been extended over Alaska,
| thus opening a new and fascinating
| field for one Of a judicial temperament.
| There, too, has been considered the
| homestead bill.
Two committees have Jurisdiction
| over penslonS-the casual observer
might judge there were need of 200
one called pensions and the other
invalid pensions The one considers
| all pension claims, except those grow
ing out Of the Civil war; which go to
| the other. 1t is of the former COM
| mittee that Mr. Stevens is a member.
AS direct refutation of the adage
that the good die young. he says that
there are still more than 100 Revolu-
| tionary claims pending. These are on
behalf of the widows-the Mays to the
| patriotic Januarys-and form another
instance of what is known in literature
a s the eternal woman" A matter
that keeps forcing itself on the COM
| mittee Is the pensioning of direct de-
! scendants of Revolutionary soldiers.
While Mr.. Stevens believes that there
| may be special cases deserving Of con-
| sideration, he is unalterably opposed to
any measure looking to general relief.
1t is to be hoped that hts counsels may
| prevail, otherwise there will be more
| to follow in the shape of children of
the War of 1872, of the Seminole war,
of the Mexican war, to say nothing of
the aspiring posterity of the Fenian In
| vasion.
Rather Taciturn.
Mr.. Stevens is retiring and rather
taciturn; yet he has convictions re-
garding questions and the courage to
maintain them. For instance, he be-
lieves firmly in the annexation of Ha-
| wall, as a commercial and political
necessity. These islands, he argues, are
outposts to Alaska on the north and
| Nicaragua on the south, the natural
harbor for our shipping, If we ever
have any, though he didn't say this,
and rendezvous for our navy. But
| while they should be owned, they need
not be Incorporated. Statehood is q
point to be reserved; possession the
true object. Perhaps in his minds eye
he sees Kanaka members bowling down
and worshipping the awful presence in
| the speakers chair as good enough
God for them, and shudders at the
consequences of such a cult. But an
nexation, pure and simple, he thinks,
will come this session, by a bill passed
by both houses, or joint resolution,
| as in the case Of Texas
Mr.. Stevens favors a strong navy
and a thorough fortifying Of our lit
toral. Though he did not Join, last
December, with the sons Of Aeolus,
who rushed from the cave of winds
proclaiming their eagerness to sacrifice