Evening star., 1900-05-10
President Approves the Grand Army
Pension Bill.
PREPARATIONS MADE TO ENFORCE IT
Pressure for the New Judgeship in
New York.
BANQUET TO OTIS

President Mckinley has signed the bill
making changes in the pension laws. This
is the bill which has been followed with
much interest by the G. A. r., and which
was recommended by that organization dur
ing its last encampment in Philadelphia
The organization IS now chiefly interested
in having the amended law enforced and
construed as the old soldiers desire that it
should be. Gen. Sickles and George Ii.
Patrick conferred with the President yes
terday and again today regarding the eX-
eCution of the amended law.
Pension Commissioner Evans is making
preparations to carry out the law. He says
that a rough estimate is that the law viii
cost the government 100000 or $3oon,oa0
additional each year.
Gen. Sickles said today that he does not
believe the amended law will add sl.ooooo0
to the pension disbursements during the
next fiscal year. owing TO slowness in ad-
judicating claims. He thinks that S2opo00
will cover the extra cost during any fiscal
year.
The New York Judgeship.
Representative O'Grady of Rochester was
at the White House this morning with ex-
Representative Van Noorh:s. The latters
son. Eugene Van Voorhis of Rochester, is
a candidate for judge of the new western
district of New York.
A delegation from Rochester is expected
here in few days to invite the President
to Rochester to attend a banquet TO DE
given there in honor of Gen. Otis who is a
resident of that city. Gen. Otis family
live in Rochester and that has been their
home for many years. The demonstration
will be an important one and VIII be at
tended by many eminent men.
Nearly 400 delegates to the A NJ. T. Zion
conference. now in session here, were re-
ceived by President Mckinley in the east
room this morning.
Senators Fairbanks and Spooner and KEEP
reSentative Kahn saw the President.
Judge Springer Calls.
Ex-Judge Springer was at the White
House today on business, but not In con-
nection with the mention Of his name as the
probable successor of Judge Culberson on
the codifying commission. 1t is stated on
good authority that If there should be
general revision of the laws of the country
the task would not he an indefinite one. IL
is estimated that with the. progress already
made the commission could do the work in
two years
Senator'S Platt and Depew.
Senators Plat and Depew and Represen-
tative Alexander talked with the President
this afternoon about the appointments for
the new judicial district in New York. The
judge district attorney and marshal,
well as other officials of the old district
will not be disturbed, although il will be
necessary to reappoint them
For the new judgeship Messrs. Plat, De-
pew and Alexander have Joined in recon-
mending the nomination of John r. Hazel
of Buffalo. The Recommendation is unani-
nous. 1t is said that the anti-Platt ma
chine in Buffalo will not fight the nomina-
ton, and will be content with one of the
new places. Mr.. HaZel's nomination has
been foreshadowed in The Star. He has
long been the regular republican leader in
Buffalo, and his qualifications are declared
to be of the best.