Arizona silver belt., 1900-12-20
GENERAL NEWS.
Brief Mention of Events of Interest
 Throughout the world.

It seems that the widow of General John NJ Palmer is to be pensioned by the government, notwithstanding the fact that Gen. Palmer steadiastly re- fused to accept pension while he was alive.
 The Topeka Journal says that nine million dollars Il year expended upon the reclamation of arid lands might prove a vastly better investment than donating the same amount to sbip owners.
 A judicial decision rendered in Eng land gives the government S6, 250. 000 of legacy tax against Baron Hirsch' : estate. No wonder rich men live long in Great Britain They can't afford to die.
 The Brussels Soir publishes an alarm ing telegram from St. Petersburg an nouncing that the czar is consumptive, and that his physicians will insist on his living outside of Russia in n warm climate
 All through our difficulties with China, Minister Wu has so conducted himself as to be generally recognized as about the most popular of all the representatives of foreign governments Ill thls country.
 It looks as if the investigation of the death of Cadet BooZ might develop some of the features of the Dryfus in- cidrnt, thouRh 1t isn't likely to be shown that the prejudices against the Jews in army circles here is anything like what it Is in France
 Last Monday week was pay day at the offices of the Copper Queen, Ari- zona & South Eastern railroad. and the Review says something like Sl20, 900 was paid by these several branches of MesDrs. Phelps, Dodge Company iu Blsbee.
 President Mckinley expects to make n trip to San Francisco In the spring, probably in April or May to attend tue launching of the battleship, Ohio, which Is being built by the Union iron works at San Francisco Vice Presi dent Stubbs, of the Southern Pacific, has invited President Mckinley to make the trip over the Southern Pa cltic, and has offered him special train for himself and party.
 The senate has amended the Hay Paunceiote treaty by inserting pro- vision permitting the United States to defend aud protect the Nicaragua ca nal. The vote was overwhelming in favor of the amendment, three repub licans and fourteen democIats only m the negative. The three republicans were Bev eridge of Indiana, Bard of California and Piatt of Connecticut.
 Armed with passports sig ned by President Diaz of Mexico and with n single American companion, Prof. Frederick Starr, anthropologist of the University of Chicago, Is about to in- wade for the twelfth time the Indian country of southern Mexico for the purpose of measuring, photographing and making husts of typical Indians of some of the crudest and tercest tribes on tue American continent.
 When the Rock Island begins build ing its big ut-off to the southwest from Liberal. Kas, to Fl Paso, Tex, this 1t means, says the Albuquerque Citizen, that within a very few months the Rock Island will begin laying steel rails from Fairbury, Neb., to Herring ton, Kas It is part of the same gen eral plan to get the shortest line yet built from all parts of the Rock Island system to Los Angeles and to all parts of Mexico.
 That is very taking proposition of Postmaster General Smith touching the subject of rural free delivery of the mails. According to his calculation. .o extend this service to every door in ,he band would require an additional outlay of only SIP, 1000, GOO annually while the abuses iu second class matter | cost the government S20, 900, 900. To | .ut off even II part of those abuses would meet the entire cost of extend | ng free delivery everywhere.
 There's n tremendous demand for ents. The Philadelphia mint has lever experienced anything like it lltherto. It has all its coining presses 'orking overtime, trying to keep mp with the calls for the com of the small