New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-02
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
ANNUAL REPORT OF SECRETARY HITCH
COCK

PENSION LEGISLATION NORTHUMBERLAND
TINE CANAL CoMPANY's AFFAIRs-THD IND
IANs-IRRIGAT1oN OF ARID LANDS.
Washington. Dec. 1.-The annual report Of the
Secretary of the Interior. Ethan a. Hitchcock,
made public tonight. while summing up the
work in all the bureaus is Of special interest
by reason of its statements regarding pension
policjes. At the close Of the fiscal year there
were 991 $40 pensioners, a decrease Of 219o In
the year The average annual value of all pen
sions was S132 "A. The Spanish war probably
will increase the pension roll in the current
fiscal year. The Secretary cOncurs In the rec
concentrations for legislation providing that no
pension be granted to begin prior to the date OF
filing the claim; for an early revision and codi-
fcation OF the pension laws, as the numerous
amendatory laws and decisions have made the
whole system a labyrinth Of laws and legal
opinions Secretary Hitchcock urges legisla-
ton TO construe definitely the act Of June u,
1890. relating to pensions Of Widows Regard
ing this he says:
In order more exactly to define the words
means Of support" 1 approve the recommended
ton OF the Commissioner OF Pensions that the
act of June 81, 1890, be so amended that a pen
sionable 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 legislative author
iy for biennial examinations Of pensioners; legis-
lation prohibiting the payment Of amy compen-
sation whatever to pension attorneys and agents
for any service in connection with any claim or
proceeding under the pension laws, except such
as may within certain limits fixed by Congress-
be allowed by The Commissioner Of Pensions and
paid from the pension money as now provided
with respect to oIalHs for pension, and for
the delivery free Of any part paid letter or packet
addressed to a pension agency.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL
Secretary Hitcbeoqk makes public an advance
report of the Maritime Canal Company of Mica
ragua dated December next. setting forth
that since the Organization Of the company
| 1O145 shares OF the capital stock have Deen
| subscribed for at par amounting in the aSSre-
gate to $1,O14,JO0. of which SlOOse3o has been
| paid into the treasury In cash; that there mas
| been paid into the treasury from other sources
| S15j T78 81 making the total amount OF cash
| received 81 164.G06 81. The company has PAID
| for property, work and labor done and materials
| furnished in the work Of construction ana IN
administration expenses S1,1O1, ~ 80 in CASH
! 81 900 shares OF the full paid capital stock or
| the company Of the par value OF 9@Io5oCo
| Sl5OOOO of its first mortgage bonds, ana It's
! obligations for SGT05 900 of the first mortgage
! bonds 1t has also issued 10000 shares OF It's
| capital stock of the par value OF Slc,pouooV III
!
! franchises and other property, The liabilities oil
| the company consist of the amounts sun due
under the concessions granted to the company,
| Of the Sc 1O3 GOO of bonds before mentioned, the
! said bonds being due TO the assiSnees OF the
| Nicaragua Canal Construction Company Tor
| work done and materials furnished IN the work
! of constructing the interoceanic canal, ana OF
"a sh liabilities outstanding unpaid to an amount
! rot exceeding S2OO.UOO.
The assets Of the company consist or It's uil
! issued capital stock Of the $51S.50O first mort
! gage bonds and the 2420 shares of capltal
! stock received in liquidation as aforesaid, the
! concessions rights privileges ana FRANCHISES
| which Il now owns and Of the plant, equip
| ment and other property in central America,
The Congressional assertion or its right 10 de-
| termine the line of the canal through Nicaragua
| and Costa Rica under the concession or the
! COMPANY caused uncertainty as 10 final location
! OF the route and with other causes has MADE
the resumption OF construction impossible the
company nGoses t%S h dtSsT ssntem
! her s 1898 to Secretary Hay against the agree
! ment by the Nicaraguan Government for an
other canal concession in violation OF the right
! not only Of the company, put OF the Chlteu
! States and Costa Rica.
! OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED.
The report estimates the irrIgable area OF the
! arid region Of the United States at 74O0OOOO
| acres capable Of comfortably supporting under
a proper irrigation system oOwoo0 people;
| Reasonable expenditures both by the Federal
! and State governments looking TO a we'll defined
| irrigation system are urged Nearly nfty pro-
posed new forest reserves or ADDITIONS TO those
| already established are under consideration
The Dawes Commission reports that the time
has not yet arrived for the installation N Ter
| ritorial or State government in indian Terri
! tory owing mainly to lack Of uniform land
/ tenuTes
! Attention is called TO the phenomenal increase
in railway traffic in the last two years amount
| ing approximately In increased earnings In
! 1890 over 1898 to 100000. and the previous
wear to S23 OO0, 600 the increase being only lin
tied by the lack Of cars to carry products