Gilpin observer., 1901-11-07
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

secretary of state has accepted the
tender of the Louisiana exposition
management. the post of European
director of that enterprise.
At recent meeting of the executive
committee of the William Mckinley
National Memorial Arch Association,
it was determined to attefnpt to raise
81, 100000 for constructing the propos-
ed arch.
The estimates for the expenditures
of the interior department during the
fiscal year beginning next July aggre-
gate $17O,OO0,O0O, of which $142, 161,-
200 Is asked for pensions and the ad-
ministrative work of the pension bu-
reau.
On the Doth ult.. in accordance with
an old custom among officials of the
government, Secretary Hay went out
on the plaza south of the State, War
and Navy Department building, and
planted tree. Assistant Secretary
Adee performed like ceremony.
Ellis II. Roberts, treasurer of the
United States, in his report of the
transactions of his office during the
last fiscal year. says the treasury was
never stronger than at the close of
that period The operations, which
were of the first order. both in variety
and magnitude, resulted in noteworthy
changes in the paper currency, as well
as a steady and healthful growth of
gold in the treasury and in the general
stock.
Brigadier General Fred G. Aims
worth, chief of the record and pension
office, in his annual report to the secre-
tary of war, shows that 1S1,962 cases
were received and disposed of during
the fiscal year. His report relates main
ly to records of officers and soldiers
kept for the army and the pension of
flee. 1t also deals with medals Of
honor, as the record of soldiers receiv-
ing medals are furnished the proper
officers through General Ainsworth's
bureau. He reviews at some length
the subject of medals of honor, and
the laws under which they are
granted. General Ainsworth says the
past year has witnessed the practical
completion of the work, so many
years in progress, of the publication
of the official records of the Union and
Confederate armies during the civil
war. They make a total of 125,730
pages of text.
Chief Greely, chief signal officer, in
his annual report says: THE opera
tions of signal corps have been CO.
existent with the operations of the
army of the United States, not
theoretically, but on broad lines
and activities which have comprised
practically the entire area, not only of
the United States proper, but also of
Alaska, Cuba, Porto Rico. the Philip
pines and a portion of China" Cen
eral Greedy says the corps should be
increased to meet present demands.
There have been constructed 1886 miles
Of telegraph line in Alaska, and ar
rangements have been made with the
Canadian government to use its lines
to Alaska. The signal corps operates
3,34S miles of telegraph in Cuba, an in
crease of 1852 miles during the year.
The operations of the corps in the Phil
ippines have been very extensive,
there having been ASH miles of tele-
graph line, an increase of 2.O54 miles
during the year. The military cable
lines in the Philippines connect with
Mindoro. Martinique, Masbate, Sa-
mar, Leyte, Cebu, Negros, Mindanao,
Jolo and Siasi.
In his annual report upon the condi-
tion and services of the United States
adler General Charles Haywood re-
news former recommendation that
Congress shall make the rank OF the
commandant of the marine corps that
of major general. This recommenda-
ton, it Is stated, is embarrassing to
the general, inasmuch as action would
result in his own promotion, but he
points out that the present authorized
strength of the corps, 6,O62 men,
should entitle the cOmmandant to the
rank of major general, as the army
regulations provide that the appro-
pirate command for major general
is four regiments, and 4,SO0 men. Gen.
eral Haywood strongly recommends
that the law providing that officers of
the navy who served with honor dur
ing the civil war may retire with the
next highest rank be extended to the
marine corps. The total number of
casualties in the enlisted force of the
corps during the past year caused by
discharges, desertions, deaths and re-
tirements was $3.50. At the date Of
the report, October 1, there were sew
enty-two officers and 2,11S enlisted
men of the corps ut the various sta
tions in the far East.
The estimates for the entire postal
service for the fiscal year ending June
30. 1903. aggregate $135. .596. This
Is inclusive of S1,O37,3IO for depart
mental salaries and $216.650 for con-
tingent expenses. The total for rural
free delivery Is $6,25O,O0O, an increase
of S2,75O.OOO over the current year.
The compensation for the postmasters
amounts to S20,O0O,O0O; letter carriers
and substitute and temporary carriers,
ST. ,43O.45O; star route service, $6715.-
900 railroad transportation, railway
postal car service and railway mail
service. $50. .463,45 The grand total
for inland mail transportation is $685.
O10,956 and for foreign mails $2,542,-
900. The total manufacture of postage