Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-05-21

Agriculture are not yet prepared to SAY
whether the introduction of Belgian hareS
into the United States will be a nuisance
or blessing In Australia the introdne
ton of ordinary rabbits proved so disas-
trous that the government was eonpelAen
to take the matter in hand and use the
army to eXterminate them. The aulmafs
bred so rapidly that they overran the
farms and the pastures and destroyed the
forage and vegetables as effectually ass
the locusts of Egypt or the grasshoppersE
of the West. A bounty was offered fox
rabbit skins, and everybody went 10 kill-
ing On his own hook, but they Increased
so much faster that it seemed for time
the whole continent would have to be
abandoned by its human inhabitants.
Then the government ordered out the mi
litia, and for months thousands of men
were engaged in the determination of the
pest Some fear has been felt lest the
introduction of the Belgian hare shOuiS
result in a similar danger TO this country
and the government biologists are now
making anxious observations
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4 serious condition of affairs is report
ed in Alaska in letters which come FROM
army officers on duty in that territory
Fort Davis. The forage at last accounts
was nearly exhausted, and it was evident
that there would soon be entire DEEPEN
dence upon the animals of the vicinity
A correspondent, writing to the War De
partment, says that it is surprising to
see some of the stuff sent to Fort Davis
The canned cream supplied by the sub
sistence department was exhausted long
4 Of the SmnnlipS fur
nished has been condemned, and wiz
probably be of no use as army subsist-
ence" There was sufficient coal at Fort
Davis; to last through the winter With
economy, but at ST. Michael's it is report
ed there was no fuel worth mentioning
The price of supplies, which must be-
shared by civilians as well as the army
has greatly increased, and there was eV-
cry indication that those who had mad$
money in Alaska would have every oppor-
tunity to spend it for the necessities Oh
life Coal, for instance, brought Az
much as $50 ton.
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The national homes for disabled voluB-
teer soldiers are open to regulars and vol
unteers alike who have served in any
war, the board of management. in the
discretion allowed by law, constituting ser
vice in the Philippines as equivalent TO
service in war. The proposition has
been several times advanced to throw the
volunteer homes open to regulars without
regard to war service, and an amendment
was offered during the last session OF
Congress with that object in view. But
it was defeated because of strong oppo-
sition to endangering the rights of the
volunteers, and also because the regulars
have national home at Washington, sur
rounded by beautiful grounds, an ideas
place, which is in part supported by CON
trbutions of ID cents deducted from the
monthly pay. There are in addition TO
these thirty State homes where the vol
unteers of the various States may tnG
shelter in their old age.
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Commissioner Powderly wants the
head tax on immigrants coming into this
country increased to not less than 81. AT
present this tax is 81. He has recon-
mended to Congress that the increase be
made not with a view to imposing hard
ships upon the newcomers, but really to-
help them. He says the increase i'm
poses no severe burden upon those seek
ing homes in this country, and 1t would
insure the accumulation of a fund sutli-
cient to construct suitable and comf0rta-
BILE buildings whenever needed for the
comfort and safety of those awaiting in
spectiOn, as well as for the administTa-
ton of the law relating to Immigration
The tax of 81 on each immigrant makes
up a fund used in administering the i'm
migration laws. Last year this amounteG
to $576,GSS.
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The State Department was informed in
a cable dispatch from Special Commits
sioner Rockhill that the Chinese pence
plenipotentiaries had informed the for
eign ministers at Pekin that the Chinese
government would assume the obligations
to pay the indemnity of 1897 100000 de
manded by the powers, but desired thlr-
ty years in which to do it, as the re-
sources of the empire would not permit
better arrangements. Acting Secretary
Hill sent instructions to Mr.. Rockhill 80
continue to use his influence with his dip
lomatic colleagues to secure a still fur
Their reduction in the aggregate amount
Of the indemnity. This government adj
heres to its assertion that China is NOS
able to pay more than 00000000.
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Admiral Dewey fayors neutral istb~
ton. In discussing this subject he said>
More than year ago ! said that the
canal should be neutral | am more con
WINGED to-day of the necessity of gueb
action. Erection of Notifications would
make the canal one Of the prime objee-
tives of our enemy's operations in time of
war. Besides, their construction wSuld
entail enormous expense and necessitNte
constant expenditure to keep them man
ned and in proper condition. The neu-
trality Of the canal can be guaranteed
by our fleet. The canal is to be a COM
mercial waterway, and NATURALIZATION
therefore, will mean its preservation
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Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont, widow Of
the Pathfinder" has a claim against the
United States government for lands tax
en- from her in California. These lands
were appropriated as far back as 1863
for military purposes. They had cost ber
more than $4,000, to say nothing Of tiaR
interest since, and she has never bean
PAD for them. Gen. Miles made an in
vestigatiOn, and ne prOnOHnces her right
to restitution 10 be unquest0nable.
j.
p. c. Knox is the eighth Attorney Cen
eral If the United States taken from
PENNSYLVANIA, his predecessors being Wiz
liam Bradford, Richard Rush, II. II. Gil
pin. Jeremiah S. Black, Il. NJ. Stanton,
Wayne McVeagh, Benjamin H. Brew
ster, Justice McKenna, President Nc
Kinley's first Attorney General, appoint
ed from California, was born ia Penusyi-
vania.
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At the communion service in one Of the
PRESBYTERIAN churches in Washington baSt
Sunday the bread and wine were passed
by two admirals. general, two Supreme
Court Justices and a former Secretary az
STATE.
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The private letter-bOoks Of Robert Nor
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