The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-25
LAWTON MORTGAGE.
ny JANUARY i THE SUM IS EXPECT
ED TO REACH sSO,OcO.
This Will More Than Pay the In
debtedness-Twcn Thous-
ana Applications Have Been Filed
by Volunteers in War with Spain

Special Dispatch to the Observation-Disclosures
WASHINGTON, Dec. A.-Subscriptions
for the purpose of raising the mortgage
on the home of Gen. Lawton, at Red
lands. Cal, amount to more than $4,000.
1t was the purpose of those who started
the fund originally to cable to Mrs. Law
ton In Manila on Christmas day what
friends and admirers of her husband
were doing in memory of his services for
his country, but as the subscriptions are
coming in SO fast 1t Is believed that by
January the fund win amount to $4,000,
and 1t Is thought best to defer communi-
eating with Mrs. Lawton until that time.
AS the mortgage on the Lawton home
amounts to only $4,000 enough money 10
on hand to liquidate the indebtedness.
Further contributions will be invested to
return an annual income.
Nearly $1,000 applications for pensions
have been filed because of deaths or
wounds received since the war with Spain
was declared. This Is ABOUT one In
twelve Of all enlistments. Commissioners
Evans is preparing statement showing
that the increase on the pension rolls 10
likely to more than offset the decrease
of the year by reason Of the death OF
civil war veterans.
An average of SO per month to each
applicant would add $3.0 900 annually to
the pension fund. A startling fact IL
that claims come in greatest numbers
from regiments that never left the coun-
try. Volunteer regiments are far ahead
of the regulars SO far as applications are
concerned.
The Nicaragua canal bill will have d
hard and bitter fight this session. Sena-
tor Morgan and Representative Hepburn
both declare there is no need waiting for
further investigation of routes. and will
push the bills In their respective houses
Nj. ksxx.
have been encouraged by the presidents
referring to the urgent necessity of con-
structing a canal across the isthmus.
Some of them, however, believe and say
that certain men whose names are prom
inently connected with the measure are
acting with more energy than they would
If they were certain the bill could be
carried through this congress.
1t is extremity unlikly that, the rivers
and harbors bill will be passed at this
session, and that alone is reason enough
to believe no large appropriations will be
made for new undertaking involving an
expenditure of more than a hundred mil
lion dollars for improvements outside the
boundaries of this country.
The Walker commission will leave New
York for Greytown January 8, and Will
spend the greater part of the year investi-
eating possible routes. Already ten SUR
veying parties are in the field and COL
lecting a vast amount of data. Friends
of the isthmian canal have never hesi-
tated to say that this commission was APP
pointed for the sole purpose OF delaying
the construction, and no one doubts that
it was creation of enemies OF the pro-
ject.
The rivers and harbors bill passed at
the last session contained a provision APP
propriating $1,00000O for the expenses OF
the Walker commission, and the survey
ing parties of the commission are well
along with their work. II the matter
should come UP at the present session,
Huntington and other foes of the canal
will plead that It would be folly to throw
away work done and undertake Immediate
construction, without regard to the data
collected by this commission. They laid
groundwork for this when their argu-
ments secured the appointment Of the
commission, and are sure to use this to
block all legislation that they consider
hostile to their personal interests