The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-12-08

pOftatlOn OF the new troops 10 tuke tnef plnce
have been a work Of great magnitude well and
ably done, for which too much credit cannot be
given the war department.
During the past year we have reduced our
force In Cuba and Porto Rico In Cuba we now
have 1874 officers and 1906 men in Porto Rico,
81 officers and 1855 enlisted men and battalion
Of 400 men, composed Of native Porto Rcans,
while stationed throughout the United States
are $40 officers and 1877 men and IN Hawaii, -
officers and $50 enlisted men
The operations of the army are fully present.
ed in the report of the secretary Of war. can
not withhold from officers and men the highest
commentator for their soldierly conduct in
trying situations, their willing sacrifices for
their country and the interest and ability with
which they performed unusual and difficult du-
ties in our island possessions.
In the organization of the volunteer regiments
authorized by the act Of March ., 1899. It was
found that no provision had been made for
chaplains. This omission was doubtless from
inadvertence. | recommended the early au-
thorization for the appointment Of one chap
lain for each of said regiments. These regi-
ments are IN the Philippines and 1t is important
that immediate action be taken.
Postal Affairs in the Colonies
In restoring peaceful conditions orderly rule,
and civic progress in Cuba. Porto Rico, and so
far practicable, in the Philippines, the re-
Mobilization Of postal service has been an inn
portant part of the work IT became necessary
to provide mail facilities both for our forces of
occupation and for the native population To
meet this requirement has involved sub
stantial reconstruction. The existing systems
we're so fragmentary, defective and inadeq uate
that a new and comprehensive organization had
to be created. American trained officials have
been assigned to the directing and executive
possessions while natives have been chiefly
employed in making up the body of the force.
In working out this plan the merit rule has
been vigorously and faithfully applied.
Domestic Postal Service.
The domestic postal service continues togrow
with extraordinary rapdity. The expenditures
and the revenues will each exceed $40 i,OOO,OOO
during the current year Fortunately, since the
revival OF prosperous times the revenues have
grown much faster than the expenditures and
there is every indication that short period will
witness oblteruton OF the annual deficit In
this connection the report of the postmaster
general embodies statement Of some evils
which have grown up outside OF the contempla-
tion OF law in the treatment OF some classes of
mail matter which wrongly exercises the privi-
lege OF pound rate. and shows that II this mat
ter had been properly classified and had paid
the rate which 1t should have paid, instead OF a
postal deficit the last fiscal year OF s6,6li,OOO
there would have been on one basis a surplus of
Si7 637 $40, and another OF g. 753, 1896 The re-
form thus suggested in the opinion Of the
postmaster general, would not only put the
postal service at once on self-sustainng
/
able improvements, and | commend the sub
| jet TO the consideration OF congress.
The Question of Pensions.
| On the Both Of June, 1899, the pension roll OF
| the United States numbered 9ai $40. These in
| clude the pensioners Of the army and navy in
all our wars The number added to the rolls
| during the year was 40, gal. The number dropped
by reason OF death. rcnarrage, minors by legal
limitations, failure to claim within three years
| and other causes was 49, 1856, and the number Of
| claims disallowed was lO79l7. During the year
So lb4 pension certificates were issued, Of which
| 1907 were for new or original pensions, The
| amount diSbursed for army and navy pensions
| during the year tl3s3jb ~ gi, which was
| 1851, 45l6l less than the sum Of the appropria-
| tons
The Grand Army of the Republic at It's re-
cent national encampment held At Philadelphia
| has brought TO my attention and to that Of con-
greSs the wisdom and justice OF a modification
OF the third section of the act of June "a, 1890,
which provides pensions for the widows of
| officers and enlisted men who served % days or
| more during the war OF the rebellion and were
| honorably discharged provided that such
widows are without other means Of support
| than their daily labor and were remarked to
whose service they claim pension prior 10 the
| date OF the act.
The present holding of the department is that
| II the widows income aside from her daily labor
| does not exceed in amount what her pension
| would be, To wit: 500 per anuum, She would be
| deemed to be without other means of support
| than her daily labor, and would be entitled to a
| pension under this act, while II the widows in
| come, Independent of the amount received by
her rs the result Of her daily labor exceeds 800,
She would not be pensionable under the act |
! am advised by the commissioner OF pensions
| that the amount Of the income allowed before
| title to pension would be barred has varied
| widely under different administrations Of the
pension ofiicc as well as during different periods
Of the same administration, and has been the
cause Of just complaint and criticism. With the
| approval OF the secretary OF the interior, the
commissioner Of pensions recommends that. in
| order 10 make the practice at all times uniform
| and to do justice to the dependent widow, the
amount OF income allowed independent Of the
| proceeds Of her daily labor should be not less
| than $3.50 per annum and he urges that congress
shall so amend the act as 10 permit the pension
onice to grant pensionable status to widows
under the text OF the third section of the act OF
June q, 1890. whose income aside from the pro-
ceeds OF daily labor is not in excess OF s25l per
annum. / believe this to be "a simple act OF JUS
tice and heartily recommend II.
FavOrs Larger Navy.
| l heartily concur In the recommendations fol
the increase of the navy, as suggested by the
secretary.
Protecting the Forests.
| Protection OF the national forests, inaugu'
rated by the department Of the interior in 1897
has been caused during the past year and much
has been accomplished in the way Of preventing
forest fires and the protection Of the timber
| There are now large tracts covered by forests
which will eventually be reserved and set apart
for forest uses. Until that can be done con-
| Rress should increase the appropriations for the
work Of protecting the forests.
| Markets for Farm Products.
Markets are being sought and opened up FOL
surplus farm and factory products in EUROPE
| ana IN ASIA, the outlook for the education OF
young farmers through .grcultural college ex.
| pc, inenJ stations with opportunities given to
| specialize in the department Of agriculture, is
very promising, The people of Hawaii, Porto
| Rico and the Philippine islands have been
! helped by the establishment OF experiment sta =
| tons to n more scientific knowledge OF the pro-
| duction OF coffee, India rubber and other trop-
| ical products, for which there is demand In
the United States.
There is widespread interest in the improve
ment OF our public highways at the present
time, and the department of agriculture is COS
operating with the people in each locality IN
making the best possible roads from the Local
| material and in experimenting with steel