The record-union., 1899-12-02
Summing up fhs Work In All the Bureaus
Under His Charge.
Makes Some Interesting State
ments Regarding Pension Pol
icies, and Urges Legislation to
Definitely Construe the Act Re-
1ating to widows Pensions
Other Subjects Touched Upon.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The annual
report of Secretary of the interior
Hitchcock, made public tonight, Whlle
summing up the work in all the pu-
reaus, is of special interest by reasons
of it's statements regarding pension pol
icies. At the close of the fiscal year
there ware 991 $40 p nsioners, a decrease
of 2,195 during the year. The average
annual value of all pensions was
$132. IA. The Spanish war probably Will
increase the pension list during the
coming fiscal year.
The Secretary concurS in the recon-
mendation providing that no pension
be granted to commence prior TO the
date of filing the claim, and urges leg
islation to definitely construe the ACT
of June p, 1890, relating to widows
pensions. Regarding this he says:
In order to more exactly define the
words means of support, l approve the
recommendation of the Commissioner OF
Pensions that the Act of June u, lS9O,
be so amended that a pensionable
status be granted to widows whose in
come, independent of the proceeds of
their daily labor, is not in excess Of
$3.50 per annum.''
The report also recommends leglsla-
tive authority for biennial examlna-
lions of pensioners; legislation prohib-
iting the payment of ANY compenSa-
ton whatever to pension attorneys and
agents for any service in connection
with any claim or proceedings under the
pension laws, except as such may with
in certain limits be fixed by Congress.
Secretary Hitchcock makes public an
advanced report of the Maritime Canal
Company of Nicaragua, dated Decem-
Der 4th next, setting forth that since the
organization of the company 1O,145
shares of the capital stock have been
subscribed for at par, amounting in
the aggregate to the sum of 81, Ola, 800,
of which amount $1,00S,S30 has been
paid into the treasury in cash: that
there has been paid into the treasury
from other sources $155, 1851, making
the total amount of cash received ST.
164 ,c00.51. The company has paid for
property, work and labor done and ma
terialS furnished in the construction of
the canal and in administration 81 ,601,
77210 in cash, 81 800 shares of the full
paid capital .tock of the company of
the par value of So, 10000; $15O,OOO of
its first mortgage bonds and it's obli-
cations for $6705,00O of the said first
mortgage bonds. 1t has also issued
10000 shares of its capital stock of the
par value of $1S,0O0,0OO in payment for
concessionary rights, privileges, fran
chises and other property.
| The liabilities Of the company consist
of amounts still due under the conces-
/ sions granted to the company, of the
ST, 10000 of bonds before mentioned,
the said bonds being due to the assig-
nee of the Nicaragua Canal Construc-
ton Company for work and labor done
and materials furnished in the execu-
ton of the work of constructing the
canal, and other such liabilities out
standing and unpaid to an amount not
exceeding 100000.
The assets of the company consist OF
its unused capital stock, of the S51S,-
5OO first mortgage bonds, and of the
/ 2,42O shares Of capital stock received In
liquidation as aforesaid, the concessions,
rights, privileges and franchises which
1t now owns and of the plant, equipment
and other property in Central America.
The Congressional assertion of its
| right to determine the lire of canal
through Nicaragua and Costa Rica
| under the concession of the company
according to the company, caused I'M
certainty as to final location Of the
route, and with other causes has made
the resumption of the work of construc-
ton impossible.
The report incloses two formal pro-
tests, one dated December 2, 1898, and
the other September Sx1S99, to Secre-
tary Hay, against the agreement against
the Nicaraguan Government for another
canal concession in violations of the
rights of not only the company, but OF
the United States and Costa Rica.
The report estimates the irrigabIe
area OF the arid region of the United
States at 100000 acres, capable of
comfortably supporting under a proper
irrigation system 100000 people
Reasonable expenditures both in the
Federal and State Governments look
ing to well defined irrigation system
are urged.
Nearly fifty proposed new forest re.
serves or additions to those already es-
tabllshed are under consideration.
CONGRESSMAN ROBERTS.