The Dolores star., 1901-07-26
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

Commissioner Evans, Of the pension
bureau, In his report Of pension busi-
ness transacted for the fiscal year end
ing June 3Oth last, says 1t compared
with 1900 as follows: "The appropria-
tion for the two years was the same,
$144.OOO.OOO for each year. The eN-
penditure for 1901 was S13S 631 .494. an
excess over 1900 Of S69,354. During
the year the pension roll was increased
to the extent of 1905 names. making Il
total of 997 .S33. The deaths among
pensioners numbered 3s.OS2 in 1901, or
2215 more than in 1900. For the year
1910 claims were filed on account of
the Spanish-American war. OF these
I.S0G We're allowed and 1901 were ad-
judicated and rejected"
Secretary Long has given out the ma
jority report of the Naval Board of
Construction on the design of the sen
going battlcship of which plans are to
be submitted to Congress next Deccm-
Der. The plan of the battleship as
submitted follows: Length. 45O feet:
beam, 16 feet: mean draft, ~ feet. d
inches; displacement. 15,5tD tons. This
displacement will give n ship consider
ably larger than anything in the pres
cnt navy. The speed will be nineteen
knots. and an indicated horsepower
of 10000. The battery recommended
by the majority is 10 consist of four
twelve-inch guns, two ten-inch arnor-
ed turrets, twenty seven-inch guns in
easements and twenty three-inch guns.
The machinery is protected by a ten
inch arnor belt.
A comparison of conditions before
and after the passage of the anti-can
teen law by Congress will be tabulat-
cd by the United States army statisti-
clans after September 1st. At the end
Of this month General Merriam will.
through Colonel Varnum, adjutant
general of the Department of the Colo
RADIO, have the commanders at the
army posts in this department report
the number of new saloons and drug
stores established near the posts since
the new law Went into effect, the num-
Der of cases of drunkenness. absence
without leave and other Irregularities
which can be directly charged TO liQ-
our. These will be compared with sta
tictics prepared just previous to the
time the anti-canteen law went into eff
feet Many of the army officers think
that intemperancc has increased under
the new system and that the inquiry
will result in the re-esiablishment of
the canteen.
The Postofiice Department, thinking
that the general public has not become
thoroughly appraised of the fact that
postage stamps are now being issued
in bound books. has directed all post
masters IN the United States to exhibit
at Il conspicuous place in their offices
large notices announcing this fact. In
the larger cities these stamp books
have become well known. and are al
ready in great demand, because be-
tween each sheet is an oiled which pre-
vents one stamp sticking to another.
Moreover. the books are of II vest pock-
ct size, and are readily carried about
But there is desire to spread these
books in the country districts, as well
as in cities. and to this end, all rural
free delivery carriers are to hereafter
keep an ample stock of stamp books on
hand. in order to supply all customers
In like manner, they have been direct
ed to fully acquaint the patrons of
their routes with the fact that stamps
are sold in this form. This innovation
is highly meritoriOus, and affords a
great convenience to users of stamps.
hence the extra desire on the part Of
the department to widen the field of
their usefulness.