Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-10-06

OCi Va Lie IuCA huO w lie
above is apropos the recent protest sent
up by the western farmer at the ridicu-
lous figure he is made to cut in a recent
magazine article. and generally in eastern
publications. Whatever he may be in
other respects, the farmer does not have
to take off his hat 30 city legislators A
few examples will illustrate. The Speak
er of the House (the man who will be)
is from a country district, uncle Joe"
Cannon of Danville; he takes pride in
his farmerisms, and all his talk and per
sonal habits SAVIOR of an upbrnging
among cultivators of the soil He is
the most powerful single personality in
the popular branch of the national legis-
lature. The average country Congress-
man is better informed on all public mat
ters than is the average city member
He voices a greater and more intelligent
interest in Such matters than is found in
the great municipalities. The city Con-
gresham is ephemereal. Sc comes and
goes, and even if he is an intelligent man
and able to make an impression, he is not
often kept in Congress long enough to
more than serve an apprenticeship. The
country districts know the value to them
selves of Congressman who has been
in Washington long enough to learn the
ropes and TO work up to a position in the
legislative Organization where he has
some power. The cities, passing around
the honor as reward to members of
political machines" are practically not
represented; no man is allowed to remain
long enough, even if he has the ability,
and it must be admitted that, in the ma
jorsty of instances, the city member is
no match for his rural colleague in edu-
cation or native ability. The best intel
ligenee of cities is not represented by
the men who are picked out by the poll
ticians to do the representing. Generally
the city member wishes he had not come.
and is glad enough to quit after one or
two terms. To use the yernacular, he
has not 'beea in it, at any stage of the
game.
Commissioner of Pensions Ware, in his
annual report, predicts that the pension
roll is not likely to again cross the mill
ion mark, as the highest point was made
q year ago. Ee suggests that men con-
victed of an infamous crime be deprived
of the right to a pension and recon-
mends cutting off the pensions of women
who marry soldiers after the men have
become pensioners. He places the total
number of pensioners now on the rolls
at 906,545, of which 72S,356 are soldiers
and 267 ,1S9 are widows and dependents
The cost of the pension system per cap
tia of population for 1908, is given as
$1.75. The system was the greatest as
burden to the people of the United
States in 1898, since which time it has
shrunk from 1924 to $132 per $1,000
of taxable wealth, and in ten years. he
says, the burden will cease to be noticed
Mr.. Ware estimates that the unpension-
ed survivors of the Civil War, exclusive
of deser5ers, is in round numbers 200,-
600. The great bulk Of the roll is as fol-
lows: Civil War, invalids 703, 456, wild
ows PAS, 800; Spanish war, invalids 5000
widows 1862; regular establishment, in
valids 9,170 widows 2,93S. The roll
shows a net loss of 2,901 pensioners dur
ing the year. Out of total of 304, 800
applications on hand during the year
1870, 100 were admitted and 1874 re-
jected. The average annual value of
each pension is now $133. The annual
value of the Spanish war pension roll
has reached S1,765,310.
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The Pan-American conference of the
Episcopal bishops, which will convene
in Washington Oct. 10, promises to be
the most important gathering of the
churchmen of that denomination ever
held in the United States. More than
fifty bishops of the American church
will be present and participate in the
discussions. Twelve of the Canadian
bishops have accepted invitations to at
tend, and there will be in addition bish-
ops of several of the South American ma
tons. notably Brazil Missionary bish-
ops from China, Japan, Hawaii, the Phil
ippine Islands, Africa and the West In
dies will also be present. One of the
subjects most likely to come before the
conference is the union of the Christian
churches of the world. Churchmen are
looking forward to a noteworthy advance
in this direction to be taken by this con-
ference.
The interests of the old soldiers are
always well cared for by Congress, but
they are certain not to be neglected in
the Fifty-eighth Congress. Although the
Civil Wav ended over 80 years ago there
will be II men in Congress who fought
in it. Forty-seven fought on the Union
side and 80 served in the Confederate
army. In the Senate there are IL Union
soldiers and IS ex-Confederates. But
in the House, where the representation
is more fairly apportioned, there are "a
Union veterans and IL ex-Confederates.
The Grand Army. has declared in favor
of uhe service pension for all Union vet
Grams over 81 years old, and an effort
will be made to pass such a bill. But
as any veteran who needs help gets 1t
now, regardless of age, there is thought
to be poor prospect of the success of such
q measure.
When President Roosevelt jumped to
the wharf at Ellis island from the immi-
grafton cutter II. B. Chamberlain the
other day powerful gust caught the
skirts of his frock coat and whirled them
against the back of his head. Those
standing behind the President saw stick
ing out of his right hip pocket the handle
Of n revolver. One of the secret service
men has explained that the President in
varisbly carries a revolver when he goes
TO a public place. The President has
carried a pistol ever since he took the
oath of Office after the assassination of
Mckinley. He has the greatest faith
in the ability of the dozen or more secret
service agents who guard him, but pre-
fers to be armed himself in case of emer-
geney.
Formal announcement is made that
REPRESENTATIVE John II. ketcham of New
York is to succeed Eugene F. Loud as
chairman Of the postofice committee of
the House. This committee is expected
to be one of the most important during
the next Congress, as it viii conduct the
investigation of the postal scandals which
il is generally understood Congress viii
order.
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An offers of silver bullion for the Phil
ippine coinage were rejected BY tie
Treasury Department on account Of The