Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-05
1NrER1oR pErARrMENr.
The Subject of Pensions and Other Mat
tors of the Department. Reviewed.


On the soth Of June. 1893. the pension roll
Of the United States numbered 99l, 519
These include the pensioners of the army
and navy in all our wars. The number
1881. The number dropped BY reason Of
death, re-marriage. minors by legal limita-
ton, failure to claim within three years.
Der of claims disallowed was l079I9. Dur
ing the year 1854 pension certificates were
issued, of which S7,0T We're for new or orig
army psnsons ks
was $lss.s55, ob2s5, which was tl.65l, isl.6l
less than the sum of the appropriations.
The Grand Army of the Republic at Its
delphia has brought to my attention and
to that of the congress. the wisdom and JUS
tee Of m1dlic q a. Of the third section Of
sions for the widows OF officers and enlist
ed men who served 90 days or more during
the war Of the rebsioa and were hsnor
are without other means of support than
their daily labor and 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 department is
that II the widows income aside from her
daily labor does not exceed In amount what
her pension would be, to-wit: s96 per an
mum, she would be deemed to be without
other means Of support than her daily Ia
Dor, and would be entitled to pension I'M
der this act; while If the widows income
independent Of the amount received by her
as the result Of her daily labor exceeds $780,
she would not be pensionable under the
act. I am advised by the commissioner of
pensions that the amount Of the income al
oe9re yaes s t. psn slider be
administrations OF the pension office, as
well as during different periods Of the same
administration, and has been the cause
Of just complaint and criticism.
Pension Recommendations,
Ylxt. A., ~.
interior, the commissioner Of pensions
recommends that, in order to make the
practice at all times uniform and to do
Of Income allowed independent Of the
proceeds of her daily labor should be not
less than $3.50 per annum. and he urges that
to permit the pension ~ once to grant III pens
sionable status to widows under the terms
q the third section q June g. 1880, whose
IS a not eam h Of aa
believe this to be simple act Of Justice
and heartily recommend 1t.
The Dawes commission reports that
gratifying progress has been made in Its
work during the preceding year. The field
work OF enrolment of four of the ma
tons has been completed. recommend ,1I en-
eral appropriation for educational pur-
poses In the Indian territory.
Tho Census.
In accordance with the act OF congress
approved March 3. 1888. the preliminary
sus is now fully under way. The officers
required for the proper administration Of
the duties imposed have been selected
enumeration of the population, as well as
to secure evidence Of the Industrial growth
Of the nation, is broader and more COM
the past. The director advises that every
needful effort is being made to push this
great work to completion IN the time linn.
the twelfth census VIII emphasize our re-
markable advance in all that pertains to
national progress.
The Pacific Railroads.
Under the authority Of the act Of con-
Consisting of the secretary of, the treas
ury. the attorney general and secretary
of interior. has made an agreement Of
Of the indebtedness to the government
growing out of the issue Of bonds to aid
In the CONSTRUCTION Of the Central Pacific
ment secures TO the government tho
sa}S sss,soS vasS has SssS
covered into the treasury. and the re-
mainder. payable within ten years. with
interest at the rate Of three per cent. per
by the deposit Of an equal amount Of first
mortgage bonds of the Pacific railway COM
panies.
uo dIAOuhIs pdl0 dHu bcSuEt0 IL 10
paid to the government on account of the
Pacific railroad subsidy claims are:
Union Pacific, cash. 3d. AS, 223. rs
Kansas Pacific, cash............ 5000, 900 90
cash. 49,. ::........ .........:. 11,7ss,sl4.l!
Notes. secured ..::..,........... 47050, .3S
Kansas Pacific dividends for
deficiency due United States,
4 cash ........ ................. S2l, Y.70
Making total Of. ............ .S124 421, so7 s5
The whole indebtedness was about $780,
100000. more than half OF which consisted
OF accrued interest, for which sum the
government has realized the entire amount
less about se,ooo.ooo within period OF two
years.
Forest Reservations.
On June 80, 1893, there were 80 forest
reservations exclusive Of the Afegnak for
est and fish culture reservation In Alaska),
embracing an estimated area OF 40.719.4H
acres. During the past year two OF the