davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1899-12-14
WHY 1T WAS DISAPPOINTING.

In the hurry of going to press lastweek
we could only say of the reference to PEN
sions in the Presidents Message that it
was distinctly disappointing"
Now we shall say why it was SO.
The bitter discomfort of the veterans and
their friends with the maladministration of
the Pension Bureau is now more than six
years old. 1t began in 1893 when Cleve-
land, Hoke Smith, and VIM. Lochren
began their cruel work of disemboweling
the pension laws. and particularly the act
of June q, 1880. The bitterness increased
as these men perfected their work, and by
1896 became an overwhelming sentiment,
which expressed itself most vigorously
at the polls. President Mckinley, and
that year, sympathized with the discon-
tent, and promised sweeping reforms if
entrusted with power. They were sue
cessful at the polls and Henry Clay Evans
was made Commissioner of Pensions,
presumably to carry out the prediction
promises, "obliterate every vestige of
Clevelandism, Hoke-Smithism, and Loch-
renism," and restore the administration
of the pension laws to what it had been
under President Harrison, Secretary Noble
and Commissioner Raum. Instead of
tually every obnoxious rule, regulation,
and practice of Lochren, and in many
instances intensified and harshened them.
1t has been made even harder to get justice
under Evans than it was under Lochren,
though the veterans and their widows are
now six years older and therefore incom-
parably more deserving of speedy action
on their claims.
Naturally, therefore, the bitterness oil
discomfort has gone on increasing. and
been sharpened by the feeling that the
victims Of ingratitude and deceit.
Out of the multitude of well-sustained
allegations and charges against the ad.
ministration of the Pension Bureau the
President selected but one for discussion
and recommendation, and that one fan
from the most important. How much
income widow may have before it dis
qualities her for pension is, after all, OF
much less consequence than the determine.
ton not to allow her a pension at all, if il
can be avoided, and the quibbling about
income is but one of the many devices EN-
ployed TO defeat her claim. Still further
this is not matter for Presidential or Con
gressional action, but for the Secretary oi
| the Interior or the Commissioner of Pen
sions. Evans has been claiming that he
| could not depart from the limitation, be-
cause it was "a Departmental rule" that
| is, the work of his official superior, the
Secretary of the Interior. This was a
cunning evasion, because Commissioner
Raum, very able lawyer, and who had
been the best Commissioner of Internal
Revenue we ever had, saw no difficulty
in granting a pension to widow, though
she might have an income of S4OO or $500
year. At most the rule Of 500 was laid
down by Assistant Secretary Reynolds,
presumably on the recommendation Of
Commissioner Lochren, and if there had
The National tribune., 1899-12-14
GUESSING CONTEST.

We shall distribute $500 in cash prizes
as an extra premium to club-raisers. The
competition consists in guessing match
as to the receipts Of the United States
Treasury Jan. 81 next. Guesses must
be received by Jan. 49, and every club
raiser is entitled to one guess for each sub
scription sent in.
Full particulars will be found on page 8
of this issue.
Some have already sent in their guesses,
and the record will be kept, although they
need not hurry about putting in the guesses,
because any time will do for their reception
by us up TO the date mentioned above.
No opportunity should be lost, however,
to send in subscribers in order to have
as many chances to guess as possible
when the time comes.
The receipts for the United States Treas
tIry for last week were as follows: Monday.
s2,917, 7,31S; Tuesday, s1,4i9, 135; Wednes-
day, s1.955, 700; Thursday, S14,167;
Friday, 81, S23, $50; Saturday, 81, ,965, 800.
The National tribune., 1899-12-14
Corp'l Bob's Christmas Gift
TO HIS
Old Missus, and How the Com
pliment Was Returned.
BY CAPT. FREE S. BOWLEY.

We shall publish. next week, a
very interesting Christmas story.
written expressly for THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE by Capt. Free
S. Bowley. goth U. S. c. T.,
author of the boy Lieutenant
in a Black Regiment" The
scene is laid in Virginia, with
the Union troops besieging
Petersburg, in December, 1864,
and the hero is Corpl Bob
Bowen.
The National tribune., 1899-12-14
THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.
The Omaha Bee says, editorially:

The widespread dissatisfaction respect
ing the regulations of the Pension Office
it has been very clearly shown the Com
missioner is not responsible for. That
official has invited the most thorough in
vestigation of the regulations and has
shown in a way that should convince all
fair-minded men that the greatest care
has been taken to fulfill the requirements
of the laws as they have been construed
by the Department and to deal justly with
deserving applicants for pensions. That
there has been delay in passing upon ap-
plications is unquestionably true, but this
was necessary for the protection of the
Government The Commissioner of PEN
sions is called upon TO consider the interests
of the Government as well as those of the
claimants for pensions, and in order that no
wrong be done the Government thorough
investigation of all claims is necessary.
That here has been any delay except as
required by such investigation has not been
shown and probably cannot be.
This is absolutely incorrect. The Com
missioner of Pensions is distinctly and
Enthusiastically responsible for all the OBJ
structive regulations in the Pension Bureau.
They are the work of William Lochren con-
tinued and improved on by Henry Clay
Evans. This has been shown up thou
sand times in the most convincing way.
The GAR. Committee on Pensions have
found it so, and so reported to each of the
three National Encampments held since
Mr.. Evans entered office. The report to the
Philadelphia National Encampment was
crushing arragnment of Evans's mall
administration.
Nor is it true that the Committees in
vestigation exonerated Mr.. Evans. 1t was
Just the reverse. The Committee at its last
visit found abundant testimony to sustain
all the allegations made against the Com
missioner, and laid this before the Presi-
dent
The National tribune., 1899-12-14
A STARTLING ANNOUNCEMENT.

There is SO much bluff" and insincerity
about European diplomacy that every
utterance Of a statesman or politician has
to be carefully scrutinized to understand
what it really means. But English states
men usually keep much closer to the actual
Naturally, therefore, Joseph Chamberlain
startled the world with an announcement
last week Of an alliance of the United
States, Great Britain, and Germany. In
the presence of such league everybody
else would have to take back seat and
sing small. Resistance to what it desired
would be simply out Of the question. With
their wealth. limitiess resources. intel
lectual. moral. and physical. and their
power to concentrate all of these upon a
given object. no one country or combina-
ton of countries would think of seriously
opposing them. The world would be al
their feet to do with as they pleased. Nat
urally. such a statement provoked a flood
of comment and criticism. The French,
Austrian. and Italian papers were very
much excited. as they had reason to be.
The German and English papers were
divided. some approving and the others
disappearing. The American journals
were more Indifferent Few of them be-
lieved it. There is little need or use for
such an alliance on our part. With a
strong and efficient navy we can take care
Of ourselves and all that concerns us,
without any assistance from ANYBODY,
We have no business with anything that
goes on in Europe. and with the Nicaragua
Canal dug, and enough ships to take care
of our communications with our island
possessions we can let the rest of the world
struggle out as best it can. Mr.. Chamber.
lain has since modified his statement to a
mutual understanding" instead Of alli-
ance. No one in the three great Nations
can object to that. They all stand for the
highest development of true civilization.
and anything that they agree ought to be
done in the promotion of that civi.iza-
ton will be accomplished.
WOULD Aguinaldo have ever succeeded
in organizing a raal Stand' np armvo
The National tribune., 1899-12-14

THE Pension Bureau has no excuse for
delay in the difficulty OF obtaining claim
ants military record from the War Depart
ment. According 10 the report Of Gen.
Ainsworth. the Chief of the Record and
Pension Office of the War Department. to
which those inquiries are referred. SO per
cent. Of the calls received during the year
were answered within "a hours of their
receipt, and at the close of business at the
end OF the year not one remained unan-
sWered.
The National tribune., 1899-12-14

INDIAN fighting in the Far West seems
TO have been pretty good schooling for work
in the Philippines. Otis, Bates, Wheaton,
Lawton, Macarthur, Schwan, and every
other officer who has gained any promi-
nence are all veteran Indian fighters who
made good records fighting, chasing and
overcoming far more dangerous foes than
the Filipinos. If, for example. Sitting
Bull had been able to rally around him one
tenth as many Sioux as Aguinaldo had of
Fflipinos, the Regular Army would have
had to be increased to 1000 men.
The National tribune., 1899-12-14

pered Brice. "Yes. thar he is" he con.
tinued, with the light of vengeance in his
eyes. Thar he is. Jest as | thought. I
was half-afeared I'd dreamed hit I'd
dreamed hit so often afore | WAS able ter do
hit. that was afeared I'd dreamed hit agin.
Lay me down agin. Good-by."
CTo be eontinued)
The National tribune., 1899-12-14

THE Macabebes promise well TO become
useful citizens of the Philippines. They
fight well, are amenable to discipline, and
can be trusted. They are tribe which
seems to have a future
The National tribune., 1899-12-14

THE way our officers are gathering in
cannon, ammunition, muskets, and pris-
oners in the Philippines has far-off re-
semblance to events Immediately after
Appomattox
The National tribune., 1899-12-14

THE Espdna Moderna of Madrid sweetly
expects that american civilization, whisky
and wholesale slaughter" will solve tho
Cuban question by killing off the urte-
sirable elements.
The National tribune., 1899-12-14

Send in your clubs now. You
have u chance at that $500 for
every name sent in. See page ;.
The National tribune., 1899-12-14

THE way the people iocked to Nashville
= welcome the Tennessee regiment seems a
" good indication as to the Southern
sLl ~ Expansion.
The National tribune., 1899-12-14

WOULD Aguinaldo have ever succeeded
n organizing a real standing army?
The record-union., 1899-07-13
WAS DREYFus ILL-TREATED7
Minister Of Colonies Lebon Denies
Charges Of Louis Havet.

PARIS. July -. - NJ. Lebon, the
former Minister of the Colonies, has
addressed long letter to the Govern
ment, in reply to the charges of Louis
Havet, member of the French Insti-
tute, who accompanied Madame Drey-
fus to Rennes, who alleges that Drey-
fus was cruelty treated in his island
prison.
The former Minister says no one in
1896 questioned the justice of the ver-
dict of the Dreyfus court-martial; that
in September, 1896, it was reported
that an American vessel was about
to rescue the prisoner, and there was
some talk among the wardens as to
the possibility of his escape. Hence
NJ Lebon became solicitous for the
safety of the prisoner, and ordered
Dreyfus to be confined in his hut with
double-locked doors, but with senti-
mel inside until the hut was surround
ed by a palisade, when the hut might
be opened The building of the pal
isade occupied longer than was ex-
pected, but no harm to the health Of
the prisoner was reported.
NJ Lebon denies interfering with the
correspondence of Dreyfus.
1t was reported this afternoon that
NJ. Deroulede and Marcel-Habert had
been arrested, but the report was sub
sequently denied at the Ministry of
the Interior.
The record-union., 1899-07-13
HATTIE WALTHAM.
Found Unconscious in q Canyon
Eighteen Miles From Town.

COVELO- (Cal), July 12.-The finding
of the unconscious body of the beauti-
full Hattie Waltham, eighteen miles
from home in lonely canyon, bruised,
scratched, barefooted and nearly nude,
but alive, is the welcome news brought
into the affrighted parents by one of
the rescuing party from the mountains
to-day.
Hattie was found early this morning
before daybreak exhausted from ex-
posure and hunger in deep canyon
After restoratives were administered
she revived but slightly, and not suffi-
ciently to make any statement that
would account for her bruised and bat
tered condition. 1t is the general opin-
ion that she wandered from home, and
as night came on became bewildered
and lost her home landmarks, and that
as darkness approached she became
frantic with fear of wild animals that
prowl about at night. Her bruises We're
attributed to falling over precipitous
points.
The searching party headed by SAM
uel Maks have the glory of the rescue.
1t is difficult to get any definite state
ment from the attending physician at
this hour as to the extent of her in
juries and the probable cause The
unconscious girl was borne out of the
mountains on a hurriedly improvised
stretcher constructed of pines and ever
green's. The aggregate number of
mounted searchers reached 200.
The record-union., 1899-07-13
IDAHO RIOT CASES.
One Witness Sent to Jail for Con-
tempt Of Court.

WALLACE Qdaho), July 12.-The de-
fense to-day in the Corcoran trial made
attempts in a number of forms to- Sc
cure the evidence taken before the Cor
oner's jury, but all failed. Burch was
on the stand undergoing cross-examina-
ton, but little was gained.
In moving for continuance of the
case, the defense had offered the affida-
Wit of one SinpkinS, alleging that
Burch had attempted to frighten him
into giving evidence tending to convict
certain men, abusing affiant at the
same time by the aid of soldiers. Burch
denied every material allegation in it.
This afternoon J. W. Taylor, J. Z.
McCullon, F. M. Sutherland, Mrs. Black,
Bertha Banard and E. F. Orr testified
their stories all being confined to mat
ters connected with the turning back
of the Bunker Hill men on April Doth.
Miss Barnard recognized seven Con-
yon Creek men in the crowd that day
That morning the Bunker Hill men 60
ing to work were turned back at the
Last Chance mill. Edward Boyle, Pres
ident of the Wardner Union, invited
them to join the union, saying the mine
was never working non-union men un-
less guarded by soldiers. When the
men refused to join they were told that
any one remaining four minutes would
be killed. Several guns were drawn.
At Mrs. Blacks boarding house
mob stopped on its return, taking five
or six men out of the house, driving
them down the street. One of them
told Mrs. Black that they We're dy-
namiters.'
L. G. johnson was called, but de-
clined to be sworn until he had con-
suited his attorney. Finally at the or
der of the Judge he took the oath, but
refused to answer questions. until re-
peated several times and peremptorily
ordered by the Court He was finally
sent to Jail for contempt
The record-union., 1899-07-13
VESSELS IN COLLISION.
The Steamer Weeott Narrowly
Escapes Being Sunk.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 12-The
steamers Weeott and Aloha collided
last night off Fort Ross. and the for
mer was almost sunk as result. She
is now returning to port in tow of the
Aloha.
The Weeott was due here to-day from
the north and the Aloha left last night
for Mendocino. The only reports re-
ceived here are those telephoned by the
lookout at Point Reyes, who reports
that the men on the Weeott are at
work on the pumps, and that a large
piece of canvas has been stretched
across the bow of the Weeott to keep
the water out.
1t is supposed that the vessels col
lided during the heavy fog which pre-
vailed along the coast last night. The
vessels will arrive here some time to-
night. Tugs have gone to their as
sistance.
Last evening the steamer Washtenaw
came near sinking the schooner Free
Trade. Both vessels were outbound
The Washtenaw struck the schooner
breaking her main bow and injuring
one of her crew. Captain Thorsen Of
the Free Trade put about for San
Francisco and the Washtenaw proceed
ed on her voyage.
The record-union., 1899-07-13
WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Temperature Nearly Stationary
Over the Entire Coast.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 12.-Weath-
er conditions and general forecast:
The following maximum tempera-
lures were reported from stations in
California to-day: Eureka 80, Fresno
"a, Los Angeles so, Red Bluff 81, San
Luis Obispo 20, San Diego 6S, Sacra-
mento 50, Independence 80, Yuma JOG.
San Francisco data: Maximum tenn
perature 81. minimum 80, mean 56.
The pressure has risen slowly over
the northern half of the Pacific Slope.
The usual summer low overlies Ari-
Zona and Southern Utah.
The temperature has remained nearly
stationary over the entire coast. In
the great valleys the temperatures are
about normal.
In the vicinity of San Francisco
there is vertical thermal gradient
of / degree rise for each 160 feet. AT
an elevation of $500 above sea level
the temperature was 10 degrees higher
than at sea level.
A maximum wind velocity of 81
miles per hour from the southwest is
reported at Pocatello.
The record-union., 1899-07-13
the State Board of Equalization are
here also,
A SCANDAL AT AGNEws.
The Board Of Managers Making an
Investixa alton.


SAN JOSE, July 1.-THE Board of
Managers of Agnews State Hospital
was in session at Agnews to-day, and
the important business on is an IN
vestigation of scandal which has
arisen at the institution. In addition
to the managers, the State Lunacy
Commissioners were also present.
1t will be remembered that an in
mate, Mrs. Choffers, is said to be
enciente Rumors of her condition were
af1oat some time ago, but more than a
fortnight ago the charge was freely
circulated. There was some denial for
a while, as it was stated that medical
men differed in opinion as to the cause
of her apparent condition. More re-
Gently it semes that all doubt was dis
PEELED, and the physicians stated that
there could be no doubt. The publica-
ton of the affair then led to this in
vestigatiOn.
The investigation, which began
shortly before noon to-day, is directed
TO ascertaining, if possible, the man
who is responsible for the wOman's
condition. So far no evidence has been
given which shows this. There is evil
dence which shows that a certain en-
ploye had control of the ward in which
the woman was located and was the
one who had the duty to perform of
taking her out for exercise But so far
there have been no developments in
the testimony to further connect him
with the unfortunate woman's de-
plorable condition. The investigation
is still on, and no one as yet can say
when it will end.
Mrs. Choffers has been an inmate of
the institution, and is still a good look
ing woman. When she first came here,
for she was committed from this place,
she was a strikingly handsome bru-
nette
The record-union., 1899-07-13
COMMERCIAL CONGRESS.
Council of Representatives Con-
vene at Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES, July 12.-The first
regular session, of the Southwestern
Commercial Congress convened at the
Chamber of Commerce soon after IL
o'clock to-day, a preliminary meeting
having been held in this city for the
purpose of organization on April 2Sth.
There were present to-day delegates
from San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa
Ana, Arizona and New Mexico.
The Executive Committee suggested
to the congress the appointment of a
Committee on Order of Business, Com
mittee on Resolutions. Nominating
Committee and Committee on Promo
ton of a Permanent Organization, each
of these committees to consist of five
persons.
Permanent committees on commerce,
agriculture and horticulture, manufac-
turing and mining We're appointed
1t was deemed proper to submit the
following subjects: THE Nicaragua
Canal salt Lake Railroad" Trade
with the Orient and Southern Califor-
MIA Ports" "The Improvement of the
Inner Harbor of San Pedro" Mining
Development of the Southwest" and
Federal Irrigation"
President J. Ross Clark then deliv-
cred the opening address.
The record-union., 1899-07-13
SANTA FE ASSESSMENT.
Representatives Of Boards Of Su-
visors to Consider the Matter.

LOS ANGELES, July ia meeting
was held in this city to-day at which
We're present representatives of the
Boards of Supervisors of the various
counties in Arizona and California,
through which the Santa Fe Pacific
Railway passes. The object of the
meeting is to arrive at some conclu-
sion in regard to the tax levy of the
several counties imposed on the rail-
road, and which is not paid, and has
not been paid for years.
A great deal of litigation is in sight
over the matter, and the meeting was
called by P. A. Maginnis. the tax
agent of the Santa Fe road, for the
purpose of learning the views of the
different Boards of Supervisors and
District Attorneys. to the end that
some adjustment may be made.
The meeting will not conclude until
tomorrow. and SO far nothing def
mite has been done. The members of
The record-union., 1899-07-13
Some Regiments Said to Have Less Than a
Third Of Their Numbers on Duty.
The Nebraskans Suffered the
Worst, Returning From San
Fernando With Less Than Two
Hundred Men in the Ranks
South Dakota, Montana, Kansas
and Washington Regiments
Also Badly Crippled Through
Sickness.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 12.-Advices
received to-day by the transport New.
port, dated Manila, June 11th, are as
follows:
The volunteers are greatly debilitated
in consequence of their hard cam
paigning through three months Of
trOpic weather. Since the middle of
May no volunteer regiment had had
q sick list of less than 20 per cent.
Most of them at the present date had
70 per cent. i'll, and a few regiments
have less than one-third of their num-
Der on duty
The Nebraska Regiment has suffered
the worst. 1t came in from San Fer
nando a few days ago with less than
2OO men in the ranks. Some of it's
companies have only two sets of fours
The South Dakota followed yesterday
with 20 men on duty. The Montana
and Kansas Regiments, at San Fer
nando, have not more than 2SO avail
able men EACH
The morning after the Washington
troops took Morong, a week ago, only
263 men responded to roll call. The
Washington men have been engaged
since March 18th in preventing the in
surgent armies of the north and south
from forming junction in the region
OF LaSuna de Bay, often being engaged
at the same time with the enemy in
opposite directions
Twentyfour of the Nebraska officers
are on the sick list and the Montana,
Kansas, Washington and South Da-
kota Regiments show 20 or more Off
GERS in the hospitals or sick in their
quarters. These regiments have borne
the brunt of the fighting. Their losses
in killed and wounded range from 100
in the Montana Regiment to go Ne
braskan men.
The Kansas Regiment is second to
that of Nebraska. The Washington and
South Dakota Regiments follow closely,
each with losses of about 200. The
Oregon Regiment also suffered SEVERE
ly. OF the regulars the Third Artillery
is the heaviest loser, it's killed and
wounded numbering 123.