The times., 1899-12-06
THE NAVY.
Liberal Appropriations for ships and
Armor Recommended.

high efficiency which have always charac-
terized that service and has lost none Of
the gallantry in heroic action which has
signalized its brilliant and glorious past.
The Nation has equal pride in it's early
and later achievements. It's habitual read
mess for every emergency has won the
confidence and admiration of the country.
The people are interested in the continued
preparation and prestige of the Navy and
Will justify liberal appropriations for its
maintenance and Improvement. The Off
GERS have shown peculiar adaptation for the
performance of new and delicate duties
which our recent war has imposed.
Il cannot be doubted that Congress viii
at once make necessary provision for the
armor plate for the vessels now under con-
tract and building. It's attention is re-
spectfuliy called to the report of the Sec
retary Of The Navy. in which the subject is
fully presented. l unite in his recon
mend3iion that the Congress enact such
special legislation as may be necessary 10
enable the department to make contracts
early in the coming year for armor Of the
best quality that can be obtained in this
country for the Maine, Ohio. and Mis-
souri,. and hat the provision of the act OF
March 3, 1899, limiting the price OF armOr
10 $500 per ton be removed.
In the matter of naval construction Italy
and Japan Of the great powers, laid down
less tonnage in the year 1899 than this
country and Italy alone has less tonnage
under construction. l heartily concur in
the recommendations for the Increase OF
the Navy, as suggested by the Secretary.
Our future progress and prosperity de-
pend upon our ability to equal, il not sur
pass. other nations in the enlargement and
advance OF science industry. and cCm-
mCrce. To invention we must turn as one
of the mcst powerful aids to the accom-
plishment OF such a result The attention
Of the Congress is directed 10 the report Of
the Commissioner OF Patents in which will
be found valuable suggestions and recon-
mendauOns
The Pension Roll.
On the Seth of June 1899, the pension
roll of the United States numbered 991 .519
These include the pensioners of the Army
and Navy in all our wars. The number
added TO the rolls during the year was
1891. The number dropped by reason Of
death remarriage, minors by legal limi-
tatiOn, failure to claim within three years.
and other causes. was 43.1S5, and the mum
Der of claims disallowed was 10LGf9. Dur
ing the year S9,dJ4 pension certificates
were issued, of which &T.07I were for new
or original pensions. The amount dis
bursed for army and navy pensions during
the year was Si2S 355 .G52 So which was
81, Sol, ,4GI6I less than the sum OF the ap-
propriations
The Grand Army of the Republic at IS
recent national eucampmeut held in Phila-
delphia has brought TO my attention and
to that of the Congress the wisdom and
justice Of a modification of the third sec
ton OF the act Of June 27, 1890 which
provides pensions for the widows of 1iii-
GERS and enlisted men who served ninety
days or more during the War OF ne Re
bellion and were hOnorabiy discharged.
provided that such widows are without
other means of support than their daily
labor and were married to the soldier,
sailor or marine on account of whose ser
vice they claim pension prior to the date
OF the act
The present holding Of the department
is that if the widow income aside from
her daily labor does not exceed in auouat
what her pension would he to wit. SOC
per dunum, she would be deemed 20 be
without other means OF support than her
daily labor. and would be entitled to a
pension under this ae-, while il the
widows income independent of The amount
received by her as the result OF her daily
labor exceeds $40. she would not be pen
siCnabie under the act. / am advised by
the Commissioner OF Pensions tha5 The
amount Of the income allowed before tltfr
to pension would be barred has varied
widely under different administrations II
the Pension OlICe. as well as during Gif-
fereut periods of the same administration
and has been the cause Of just compl3ine
and criticism.
With the approval Of tue Secretary Of the
Interior the Commissioner of Pensions rec
ommends that in order to make the prac-
tice at all times uniform and 10 do justice
lice TO the dependent widow. the amount
Of income allowed Independent Of the pro
ceeds Of her daily labor should be not
less than $50 per annum. and ne urges
that the Congress shall SO amend the act
as 10 permit the Pension Office To grant
Densionablc status TO widows under The
terms Of the third section of the act of
June - 1920 whose income aside from
the proceeds OF daily labor is not in ex-
cess OF $3.50 per aunum. ] believe this 10
be a simple Get of Justice and heartily
recommend IT,
The Dawes Commission reports TIA graf
flying progress has been made in its
work during the preceding year. The
feldwOrk Of enrolment of four of tha
nations has been comp!e ed l recommend
that Congress at an early day make liberal
appropriation for educational purposes in
the Indian Territory.
The Twelfth Census.
In accordance with the act OF Congress
approved March 8 1889 the preliminary
work IN connection with the Twelfth Cen
sus is now fully under way. The officers
required for the proper admin stratioa of
the duties imposed have been selected.
The provision for securing proper
enumeration of the population, as well as
to secure evidence of The industrial growth
Of the nation is broader and more com
prehensive than any similar legislation
in the past. The Director advises thai
every needful effort is being made to push
this great work to completion in the time
limited by the statute. It is believed that
the Twelfth Census will emphasize our
remarkable advance Ill all that pertains
to national progress.
Under the authority Of the act of Con-
gress approved July Z. 1895. the cOmmis-
sion, consisting OF the Secretary of the
Treasury. the Attorney General and TIE
Secretary of the Interior, has made an
agreement of settlement which has had
nv approval of the Indebtedness OF the
Government growing out OF the issue
Of bonds 10 aid in the construction of the
Central Pacific and Western Pacific rail-
roads TIE agreement secures to the Gov
ernmcnt the principal and interest Of said
bonds. amounting to $5S.Sl2. .7l54S There
has been paid thereon Sill 762. .5i3.12 viii
he remainder payable Within ten years.