The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-02
HITCHCOCK URGES
PENSION REFORMS
Would Drive Lawyers
Out of the Field.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
ARID LAND QUESTION GIVEN
CONSIDERATION.
Head Of the Interior Department Rec
ommends That the Government
Provide a System Of
Irrigation.
ARID LAND QUESTION GIVEN
CONSIDERATION.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-The annual
report of Secretary of the Interior Hitch
cock, made public tonight, while sum-
ming up the work in all the bureaus, IS
of especial interest by reason of its state
ments regarding pension policies. AT the
close of the fiscal year there were l,5l9
pensioners, a decrease Of 2l95 during the
year. The average annual value Of all
pensions was s132 "a. The Spanish war
probably will increase the pensions dur
ing the coming fiscal year. The Secretary
concurs in the recommendations provid-
ing that no pension be granted to COM
mence prior TO the date Of filing the
claim, and urges legislation to definitely
construe the act Of June q, 1880, relating
TO widows pensions Regarding this he
says:
In order to more exactly define the
words means Of support. / approve the rec
ommendation OF the Commissioner OF Pensions
that the act OF June q. 1890. be amepded
that a pensionable status be granted TO widows
their daily labor. is not in excess OF $3.50 per
annum
The report recommends legislative au-
thority for biennial examinations of pen
sioners; legislation prohibiting the 0ay-
ment Of amy compensation whatever 10
pension attorneys and agents for any
service In connection with any claim Ut
proceedings under the pension laws, ex-
cept as such may within certain limits be
liked by Congress"
Secretary Hitchcock makes public an
advance report of the Maritime Canal
next. setting forth that since the or
ganization Of the company 0,l45 shares of
the capital stock have been subscribed
TO the sum of sl.Ol4.5c0. OF which amount
81 00S $50 has been paid into the treasury
in cash; that there has been paid into the
treasury from other sources $3.50 ,T76 81.
making the total amount of cash received
81 ISL 500 Of. The company has paid for
property, work and labor done and ma
terials furnished in the construction Of
772 10 in cash, 81 800 shares of the full paid
capital stock of the company of the par
value of 50. 900. $l5O000 of its first mort
gage bonds and its obligations for s6,703,-
900 of the said first mortgage bonds. II
has also issued $50 900 shares of its capital
stock of the par value of sls,0OOoOO in pay
ment for cnncessinnary- rights, privileges.
franchises and other property.
The liabilities of the company consist OF
amounts still due under the concessions
granted 10 the company or the SbDo,O0D
of bonds before mentioned, the said bonds
being due TO the assignee OF the Near
aqua Canal Construction Company for
nshed in the execution of the work Of
constructing the canal, and other such la
bilities outstanding and unpaid. 10 an
amount not exceeding 500 900,
The assets Of the company consist Of its
unused capital stock the $jl5.500 first
mortgage bonds and the 2420 shares OF
CaDltai STOCK received IN HQuludllOn rs
aforesaid, the concession, rights, privi-
leges and franchises which IL now owns.
and the plant, equipment and other prop
erty in Central America.
The Congressional assertion OF its right
to determine the line OF canal through
Nicaragua and Costa Rica under the con-
cession OF the company. according 10 the
company, caused uncertainty as TO the
final location of the route and, with other
causes. has made the resumption Of the
work OF construction impossible. The
pnm ny In fyVn
dated December 2 1898, and the other Sep
TENDER s. 1899. to Secretary Hay, against
the agreement by the Nicaraguan Govern
ment for another canal concession. in vio-
lation Of the rights of not only the COM
pany but OF the United States and Costa
Rica.
The report estimates the irrigable area
OF the arid region of the United States at
IA. 900 900 acres, capable OF comfortably
supporting under proper Irrigation sys-
TEN, 50. 900 900 people. Reasonable expend-
lures by both the Federal and State Gov
ernments looking TO a well-defined irriga-
ton system are urged. Nearly fifty pro-
posed new forest reserves or additions to
those already established are under con-
sideration.
The Dawes commission reports that the
time has not yet arrived for the installa-
tion of a Territorial or State Government
Of uniform land tenures.
Attention Is called to the phenomenal
increase In railway traffic in the last two
years, amounting approximately to an in
crease of earnings in 1899, over 1898 OF
80 600 900. and Of the previous year TO s23,-
000, 900. the increase being only limited by
the lack or cars 10 carry products.