The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-06

OF the secretary OF the navy, in which
| the subject e fully presented. unite
In his recommendation that the Cons
l gress enact such special legislation as
may be necessary to enable the depart
ment 10 make contracts early in the
coming year for aTmor Of the best quail
ity that can be obtained IN this coun-
Try for the Maine. Ohio and Missouri.
and that the provision OF the act OF
March 5, 1853, limiting the price Of mr.
NOR to $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.
heartily concur in the recommendations
for the increase Of the navy, as suggest
ed by the secretary.
Our future progress and prosperity
depend upon our ability to equal II not
BurpaRs other nations in the enlarBes
ment and advance Of science. industry
and commerce. To invention we must
turn as one Of the most powerful aids
to the accomplishment OF such result.
The attention OF the Congress Is di-
rected to the report Of the commission
er Of patents in which Will be found
valuable suggestions and recommends
tons.
Pensions.
On the SOth of June. 1899, the pension
roll Of the United States numbered
9s1,5l9. These include the pensioners of
the army and navy in all our wars. The
number added to the rolls during the
year was 1881. The number dropped
by reason Of death, re-marriage, MI
n6rs by legal Limitation, failure to claim
within three ears, and other causes,
was 1876, ell the number Of claims
dIsallowed was 1O7,919. During the
year $685. pension certificates were Is
sued, OF which 37,071 were for new or
original pensions. The amount dis
bursed for army and navy pensions
during the year was SfSS, S66,0h2 %,
which was $l,e51,4s1 81 less than the
sum of the appropriations.
The Grand Army Of the Republic NJ
its recent national encampmcnt, held At
Philadelphia, has brought to my at
tentIon and TO that OF the Congress the
wisdom and justice Of modification OF
the third section of the act OF June q,
1890, which provides pensions for the
widows OF officers. and enlisted men
who served ninety days or more during
the war of the Rebellion and were
honorably discharged. provided that
such widows are without other means
Of support than their daily labor ard
were married to the soldier, sailor or
marine on account Of whose service
they claim pension prior to the date OF,
the act,
The present holding of the depart
ment Is that II the Widows income
aside from her daily labor does not ex-
coed in amount what her pension
would be, to-wIt: sos per annum, she
would be deemed to be without other
means Of support than her daily labor.
and would be entitled to O pension un-
der this act; while, II the Widows In
come independent OF the amount re-
celyed. by her rs the result Of her daily
labor exceeds $96, she would not be
pensIonable under the act. am ad-
vised by the commissioner OF pensions,
that the amount Of the income allowed
before title to pension would be barred,
Ens varied widely under different Cd
minIstrations of the pension office, MS
well as during different periods OF the
same administration and has been the
cause Of Just complaint and criticism.
With the approval Of the secretary Of
the Interior the commissioner Of pen
slons recommends that, in order to
make the practice at all times Uniform
and to do Justice to the dependent Wild
ow, the amount Of income allowed indie
pendent Of the proceeds of her daily
labor should not be less than $3.50 per
annum, and he urges that the Congress
shall SO amend the act as to permit
the pension office to grant pensionaple
status to widows under the terms OF the
third section OF the act Of June "a, 1880,
whose income aside from the proceeds
Of daily labor is not in excess Of $3.50
per annum. / believe this to be SIM
pie act Of justice and heartily recon-
mend It.
The Dawes commission reports that
gratifying progress has been made In
It's work during the preceding year
The field work OF enrolment Of four Of
the nations has been COM
pleted. recommend that Congress
at an early day make liberal nppropria-
tlon for educational purposes in the
Indian Territory.
In accordance with the act OF Con-
gress approved March 3. 1899. the pre-
llmInary work in connection with the
twelfth census Is now fully under way.
The officers required for the proper
administration Of the duties imposed
have been selected. The provision for
securing a proper enumeration OF the
population, as well as to secure EVIL
dence Of the Industrial growth Of the
nation, Is broader and more compre-
hensiVe than any similar legIslation In
the past. The director advises that
every needful effort Is being made to
push this great work to completion In
the time limited by the statute. 1t Is
believed that the twelfth census Hln
emphasize our remarkable advance in
all that pertains to national progress.
Under the authority Of the act Of
Congress approved July Z, 1893, the
commission, consisting OF the secretary
Of the treasury, the attorney-genernl
and secretary OF interior has made IN
agreement OF settlement which hns
had my approval. Of the indebtedness
to the government growing out OF tile
Issue OF bonds TO aid In the construction
Of the Central Pacific and Western Pa
eIflc railroads. The agreement secures
to the government the principal und
interest Of said bonds. amounting to
$6t, SETS q. There has been paid
thereon, $ll,762,543 IL. which has been
covered into the treasury, and the re-
mnlnder, payable within ten years,
with interest at the rate Of per cent
per annum, payable semi-annually. Is
secured by the deposit OF an equal
amount Of first mortgage bonds Of the
Pacific railway companies.
The amounts paid and secured TO be
paid to the government on account OF
the Pacific railroad subsidy claims are:
Union Pacific, cash ....& 5S.4lS,2 23 as |
Kansns Pacific. cash.. 6,30S,OOO "
Central and Western Paci
fic, cash ..,..,,......... 1l,7sS,3l+14
Notes, secured ........... 4EO5O,lfa SO
Kansas Pacific. dividends
for deficiency due the
United States, cash.. S2l,%7 20
--~-
Making a total OF. .... .Sl24, 421, COZ 95
THE whole indebtedness WINS nhOut