The evening times., 1899-12-05
THE NAVY.
Liberal Appropriations for ships and
Armor Recommended

hFmOr HecOmme en0eu.
The Navy has maintained the spirit and
| high efficiency which have always charac-
| terized that service, and has lost none OF
| the gallantry in heroic action which has
| signalized its brilliant and glorious past.
| The Nation has equal pride in its early
and later achievements. Its habitual read
| iness for every emergency has won the
confidence and admiration Of the country.
The people are interested in the continued
preparation and prestige OF the Navy and
| will justify liberal appropriations for its
maintenance and improvement. The Off
GERS have shown peculiar adaptation for the
performance of new and delicate duties
which our recent war has imposed.
1t cannot be doubted that Congress will
at once make necessary provision for the
tract and building. Its attention is re-
spectfully called to the report OF the Sec
retary Of the Navy. In which the subject is
fully presented. / unite in his recon-
mendation that the Congress enact such
special legislation as may be necessary TO
enable the department to make contracts
early in the coming year for armory of the,
best quality that can be obtained in this
country for the Maine, Ohio. and Mis-
souri,, and that the provision of the act of
March 3, 1899. limiting the price of armor
to $500 per ton be removed.
In the matter of naval construction Italy
and Japan. Of the great powers, laid down
less tonnage in the year 1899 than this
country, and Italy alone has less tonnage
under construction. l heartily concur in
the recommendations for the increase of
the Navy as suggested by the Secretary.
Our future progress and prosperity de-
pend upon our ability to equal. if not sur
pass, other nations in the enlargement and
advance of science. industry, and COM
merce To invention we must turn as one
of the most powerful aids to the accom-
plishment of such a result. The attention
of the Congress is directed to the report of
the Commissioner Of Patents. in which will
be found valuable suggestions and recon-
mendations.
The Pension Roll.
On the Both of June. 1899, the pension
roll of the United States numbered 991, ,519.
These include the pensioners Of the Army
and Navy in all our wars. The number
added to the rolls during the year was
1891. The number dropped by reason Of
death. remarriage minors by legal limi
tation, failure to claim within three years,
and other causes, was 43 1856, and the num-
ing the year S9.054 pension certificates
were issued, of which. 37,077 were for new
or original pensions. The amount dis
bursed for army and navy pensions during
the year was $13s. .355, ,052.95, which was
81, ,651 ,461 81 less than the sum of the ap-
The Grand Army of the Republic at its
recent national encampment held in Phila-
delphfa has brought to my attention and
10 hot ,H Hka tod .-ay,H n
Justice Of a modification Of the third sec
ton Of the act of June 81, 1890, which
provides pensions for the widows Of off,
GERS and enlisted men who served ninety
days or more during the War of the Re-
belllion and were honorably discharged,
provided that such widows are without
other means Of support than their daily
labor and were married to the soldier,
sailor. or marine on account Of whose ser
vice they claim pension prior to the date
of the act.
The present holding of the department
is that If the widows income aside from
her daily labor does not exceed in amount
what her pension would be, to wit, 500
per annum, she would be deemed to be
without other means OF support than her
daily labor, and would be entitled to
pension under this act; while il the
widows income independent of the amount
fcCclNcu Nv ucT dS Tue result Ol ueT Udliy
labor exceeds 500. she would not be pen
sionable under the act. I 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 Office. as well as during diff
ferent 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 rec
that. In order to make the prac-
tice at all times uniform and to do Justice
tice to the dependent widow, the amount |
Of income allowed Independent of the pro-
ceeds Of her daily labor should be not |
less than $3.50 per annum, and he urges
that the Congress shall SO amend the act |
as to permit the Pension Office to grant |
status to widows under the |
terms Of the third section Of the act of |
June n. 1890. whose income aside from |
the proceeds Of daily labor is not in ex-
cess Of $3.50 per annum. / believe this to |
be Q simple act Of justice and heartily |
recommend II. -
The Dawes Commission reports that graf
Tying progress has been made in its |
work during the preceding year. The |
aeldwork Of enrolment of four Of the |
nations has been completed. l recommend