Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-03-18

GOSSIP
Witffsa ten years there viii be reduc-
tioa OF 80 per cent in the expenditures
Of the government for pensions, accord
ing 10 the predictions of an official of the
pelsion bureau. Taking as a basis the
ngares for last year, when the expendi-
lures for pensions amounted to $i3S,0O0.-
Oop this MEANS a saving of $69,o0OOO0
for the government. not including the re-
duction IN the cost of clerk hire in the
pehsion office as a result of the lack OF
woSk. During the next year there will
pc decrease in pension payments Of &c.
00O,OOO, as the pension appropriation bill
lusI passed by the House carried only
Slfo, 100000. as'againSt $i3S, 100000 last
year. There axe now approximately Co.,
0O0 pensioners on the rolls, and about
100000 claims pending. Many OF these
claims are DUPLICATES and will not be al
lowed. Almost half the claimants have
tilei two CLAIMS, one under each law, SO
rs to be sure 3f getting a pension under
one OF them. About 10000 pensioners
die each year. aud from this time ON the
rate of deaths will be much higher. as
many of the veterans and their widows
Nave long since passed the average length
II human life At the rate of 10000
deaths each year there would be 100000
deaths in the next ten years, thus reduc-
ing. the number of pensioners TO 100000
if 40 more pensions are granted. 1t is
estimated, however, that enough claims
viii be allowed during the decade to keep
the number at the 100000 point.
Speaker Henderson will at the end OF
his career as Speaker be able to estab-
lisk a museum with the gifts that have
come to him from all parts of the world.
This latest addition to his collection, a
present from his loyal and admiring con-
stituency, is a cane of curious workman
ship. Its handle is formed from a deer's
fool killed ne,,r Buena Vista, in the
Speakers district, long before he was
elected to Congress. The stick was cut
from a dogwood tree at Mount Vernon,
and is deliberately carved by hand with
three scrolls. Che first bears the inscrip-
SioH: II defend the flag with the sword
and justice with the gavel," Under this
appear four Masonic emblems and a min
iature of the capitol. The second scroll
is ornamented with, a likeness OF Daniel
Cox. provisional grand master of New
York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in
the middle of the eighteenth century. The
last scroll is inscribed: Col. d. II. Hem
dersoa vas wounded in the battles II
Fort Donelson and Corinth was elected
to ae NLYIIIth Congress; made Speak
er & the LVIth and with Congresses"
49,
President Roosevelt has no intention of
sani!ing special message 10 Congress on
the Cuban reciprocity question He has
made his recommendations and will leave
the question with Congress. This was
the PRESIDENT reply to the report that
he had ready a message Speaker Hen
dergon and Congressman Cannon, chair
mar of the Republican caucus, called mp
on the President and had a lengthy con
ference, at which the President told them
the report about a special message was
false. The President expressed the most
earpest solicitude that satisfactory adj
justsnent be reached by Congress, saying
that this was ain inherited problem"
meaning that ii had come to him from
the Mckinley administration Further
more, the President, it is asserted, indi-
Gated no positive determination in favor
of any particular idea, but rather a de-
sire ithat Congress should deal with the
subject according to its best lights
-:-:-
All indications point to large increase
in the navy at this session of Congress.
The naval committee is considering the
appropriation biu which provides for an
increase of the naval force both in ships
and men, There is scarcely any doubt
that the committee will authorize the
increase recommended by the Secretary
OF tlse Navy. If this is done there will
be three new battleships Of the first class,
two armored cruisers Of the first class,
three gunboats of 1000 tons displaee-
mcnt three gunboats of 200 tons displace-
ment. three steel sailing trimming ships
Of ., 900 tons displacement, one collier OF
10 900 tons displacement and four tug
boats. 1t is also highly important that
the number of scamen and marines be
incrdsed as well as the officers. The bill
is liEely to provide for an increase OF
3.0O0 seamen, 100 marines, as well as adj
ditiohs to the cGrps Of constructors and
civil Engineers.
-:-:-
Goe. Taft told the House committee on
insul,r affairs THAT slavery in the Phil
ippinS Islands WIS so thoroughly ingram
ed that il would require much time and
care TO eradicate it. 4 majority OF the
slaves are held for debt. Until they can
buy their liberty The obligation runs from
generation TO generation. The greatest
in the way of solution OF the
problem was the attitude Of the slaves.
who 10 not appear to desire freedom. Ef-
forts to free them by force, he said.
would probably result in All Of them TAX
ing up arms against the Unitetd States.
Gov Taft estimates the number OF slaves
at 100000. all Of them to be found in
the southern Moro Islands. The authori-
ties we're very anxious TO assist in any
way so eradicate the system In c5mpli-
ance with the desires Of the United
Staten.
Within short time the Attorney Gem
erai will file a bill in some court Of equity
not yet designated for the purpose OF de-
teriniRing whether certain railways
which persistently violate the interstate
commerce law cannot be restrained by
process Of injunction. The determination
TO 90 This is due partly to representations
made by the Interstate Commerce Com
misyioaers, who have for long time been
rognzant " the fact that the
law IS frequently being violated by some
OF the railroads. The offenses particular
ly complained OF are rate-cutiing and re-
bate. The action 10 be taken b. the At
torney General probably will attempt TO.
brc&k ~ freight and passei ger rate pool
ing. ard. in fact. enforce strictly the en-
tire Interstate commerce iaw ia all its
bearings.
-.-.-
Messrs. Vessels and Wolmarans. tho
Boef Representatives. called upon PresI-
dent Roosevelt and Secretary Hay as pFf-
yate citizens. Their principal object was