The Holly chieftain., 1901-11-08
WASHINGTON GOSSIP,

fiscal year beginning next July aggre-
gate $4,000, 600, Of which $142, l61,-
200 is asked for pensions and the ad-
ministrative work Of THE pension bu-
reau. ="
On the 29th 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 q tree. Assistant Secretary
Alee performed like ceremony.
Ellis H. 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 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 1sl, ,96o 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
fice. 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 n total of 125, 5,T3O
pages of text. YNr
Chief Greedy, chief signal officer, in
his annual report says: The opera
tions of signal corps have been CO.
existent with the operations of the
theoretically. but on broad lines
practically the entire area, not only of
the United States proper, but also of
Alaska, Cuba, Porto Rico the Philip
pines and IL portion of China.' Gen
eral Greely says the corps should be
'hNiSNSSu ~ lhVtI ptCc'ht
There have been constructed 336 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 1862 miles during the year.
The operations of the corps in the Phil
ippines have been very extensive,
there having been 1851 miles of tele-
graph line. ~, Increase Of 2,054 miles
during the vphr. The military. edible
lines in the Philippines connect with
Mindoro. Martinique, Masbate, Sa-
mar, Leyte. Cebu, Negros, Aiindanao,
Jo1o and Siasi.
In his annual report upon the condi-
tion and services of the United States
marine corps for the past year, Brig
adier 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 recommends
tion, 1t 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, G,062 men,
rank of major general MS the army
regulations provide that the appro-
pirate command for major general
is four regiments. and 1890 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 at the various sta
tions in the far East
There is strong probability that the
Forthcoming message Of President
Roosevelt to Congress will contain n
recommendation in favor of irrigation
legislation. Such recommendation
would be of decided Importance and
influence. Professor Elwood Mead of
Wyoming is very confident of such a
result. He had an extended interview
with the President recently on the gen
eral subject of irrigation, and found
him much interested in the subject.
The Washington Star says of this in
terview: "Elwood Mead had talk
with President Roosevelt and natural
ly the matter under discussion was
that of the Irrigation of the great arid
lands of the West. Mr.. Mead has sew
eral plans for Irrigation and will sub