The Parsons weekly blade., 1900-01-26
A PENSION COURT.
A Committee of the Grand Armv
Calls on the President.
SURVEYS OF OUR NEW COLONIES.
Conference of Census suPsrvIsora Held at
WashingtOn-MsetinK of Regents of
Smithsonian Institution - Cen
Brooke SaSs the PronIdcnt.

Washington, Jan. 25.-The COM
mander-in-chief and national pension
committee of the Grand Army of the
Republic called on the president yes
terday and presented a plan for the
establishment of a court of appeals
in pension cases to sit in Washington
and hear cases of appeal from the de-
cisions of the pension bureau. These
appeals heretofore have been heard
by board composed of clerks in the
interior department, detailed by the
secretary of the interior for this duty.
1t is believed by the committee that
an independent judicial tribunal,
made up of judges of high character
and standing in the legal profession,
brought together from different parts
of the country and sitting in Wash
ington with well-defned jurisdiction
and powers, like the United States
circuit court of appeals or the court
of claims, would remove in a large
measure the dissatisfaction felt by a
large class of people with the system
which has prevailed for many years.
The president received the sug-
gestions of the committee with favor
and promised to give his careful con-
sideration to the draft of bill which
the committee in due time will pre-
sent to him.
Surveys of Our New Colonies.
Washington, Jan. 25.-In reply to a
resolution of. the senate, the secre-
tary of the interior has sent to that
Douy an estimate for Typographical
and geological surveys of Cuba,
Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the Philip
pines. The report shows that there
is great necessity for this work, ow-
ing to the imperfect maps and differ
ent data on hand, most of which is of
Spanish origin. The surveys of Ha-
waii are much more satisfactory. The
geological work proposed to be done,
it is said, will promote agricultural
conditions in many instances and
show whether or not the Philippines
contain gold or other valuable miner
ais in paying quantities. The most
difficult part of the work will be
found in the Philippines, where the
Typographical survey under the pres
ent plans will extend over IL or Is
years. It is recommended that the
work be placed under the supervision
of the director of the geological sur
vey. The estimates for the surveys
are as follows, using the employees of
the geological survey for the work:
Puerto Rico, $4,000; Hawaii, $4,000;
Philippines, $4,000, and Cuba, $4,000.
Cnnferenoa of Census Supervisors.
Washington, Jan. 25.-A meeting
was held Yesterday at the census bu-
reau of enumeration supervisors OF
"a of the largest cities of the coun-
trv. Assistant Director Wines made
an address explaining the purpose OF
the conference. 1t was suggested that
she large enumeration districts be
sub-divided and placed in charge OF
minor supervisors who shall daily eH-
anime the returns made by enumer-
ators. Heretofore these returns have
been made directly to the supervisor
in charge of the entire district. This
and similar subjects will be discussed
at the present meeting which will
continue several days. The session
Yesterday was devoted to preliminary
discussion.
The smithsonian Institution.