Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-07-20
A PENSION INQUIRY.
A G. A. R. Committee Examines
the Working Of the Bureau.
STATENEy1OFINPORTS ANDEyPORTS
The Navy Department Orders Valua-
tion Put on Everything Captured
from Spain--The War Revenue
Act to BE Changed.

Washington, July 1.-THE pension
committee Of the G. A. r. finished Its
inquiry here yesterday afternoon and
most Of its members left the city last
night. The committee has been here
three days. and during most Of the
time has been accompanied by Com
mander-in-Chief johnson. Commits
sioner of Pensions Evans and corps
of the most experienced employees OF
the bureau have given the most thor
ough cooperation to the committee,
placing themselves and all the official
files at its disposal. Headed by Chair
man Brown, the committee called at
the white house yesterday, and for an
hour and a half were engaged in con-
ference with President Mckinley.
During that time they threshed
over the whole pension policy,
the discussion comprehending the
laws governing the system, the
rulings made both by the interior
department and the pension bureau for
their execution and changes desired in
the interest of the government and of
the pensioners. The president paid
unusual attention to the delegation
and gave free expression to his views
on the subject. Later the body re-
turned to the pension bureau, where
they spent most Of the afternoon talk
ing over matters informally with the
commissioner. All the old soldiers
widows employed in the office were
called together to meet the committee,
before whom they passed in line and
exchanged friendly salutations. Late
in the afternoon a final meeting of the
committee was held in the hotel
quarters, when individual views
and recommendations were pre-
sented and an informal consulta-
ton held as to the nature of
the report to be made. This document
will be presented at the Philadelphia
annual encampment Of the G. A. r. in
September. Pending the report, Col.
johnson, the committees spokesman,
and his colleagues declined absolutely
to discuss their work or the results OF
their inquiry. 1t was admitted, how
ever, that much that has been printed
concerning the action of the bureau
has been found untrue. The examine
tion Of the files has shown lack of
foundation for many complaints that
have formed the basis of criticism. 1t
was learned, before the committees
departure, that when 1t arrived here it
had memorandum of about 80 cases
in which the rulings had been criti-
cised. The papers in these cases were
sent for in regular order, and it Is un-
derstood disclosed substantially no
foundation for the attacks on the Off
Ciul uNtlol WI liltll.
STATEMENT OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
Washington, July 1.-THE monthly
statement of the imports and exports
of the United States shows that during
June the imports of merchandise into
the United States amounted to SOL
CSC, 9OS, of which S25, SSl, SSl was free of
duty. For the year the total imports
of merchandise amounted to SG07, OIL.
Sss, of which over $500, OOOO 900 was free
of duty. The exports of domes-
tic merchandise during June ag-
S94, S2S,73S, a gain of
about S2,OO0,OO0. For the year
the exports amounted to Sl997, 43S, 1875,
a decrease from last year of 81, OBS, 0O5.
The chief reduction in the value of ex-
ports during the year is in grain, of
which the supply abroad in 1898 was
short. The average price
per bushel of wheat exported in the
fiscal year 1893 was 9S. 80 cents, against
an average of 74.77 cents in the fiscal
war just ended.
PRIZES TO DE APPRAISED.
Washington, July IA. The navy de-
partment has ordered an appraisal of
the captured Spanish cruiser Maria
Teresa and of the war material recoy- ,
cred from the other ships engaged in
the battle of Santiago bay. This step
is due to a question raised as to the
right of prize money growing out of
the capture of this ship. The Teresa
was the one cruiser raised, and
although she went adrift while on her
way to this country and is an aban-
doned hulk on Cat island, it is claimed
in some quarters that the raising was
sufficient to warrant the payment of
prize money,
THE WAR REVENUE ACT.
Washington, July Alt is altogcth-
err probable that the next annual re.
port Of the internal revenue bu.
reau will recommend number Of
changes In the war revenue act. In
the main the law has worked salts.
factorily and has produced almost ex-
actly the amount estimated by the com
missioner. This, however, was some.
thing less than the estimate generally
accepted by well informed members OF
congress,
No., lIna.tv A..a. n...tt...