Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-10-28

~S(@DIgSgSgIlY"
II the scandals lately unveiled IN
the federal printing Office have the
effect of calling attention generally to
the magnitude Of the business carried
on by this branch Of the government
and the need of putting it on a BUSH
ness basis, they will have served a
useful purpose. Like other branches
of the administration, the printing Of
fee, starting as n modest enterprise,
has expanded beyond all expectation,
until it now constitutes n business as
great as that carried on by some OF
the larger corporations. The figures
presented by w. S. Rossiter, Of the
Census Bureau, I'm the current num-
Der OF the Atlantic show in detail this
surprising growth. In 1890 the ma
tons printing bin was SS,7S5. Gov
eminent publications were few and
comparatively rude. Last year the
amount expended for printing was ST.
0S0 1900, and this expenditure Is in
creasing If Mr.. Rosslters estimate
is correct, the government printing
done I'm the present decade will cost
more than SGOOOO,OOO. The need or
utility of so vast an outlay Is open to
question. There is good ground for the
suspicion that many Of the ponderous
tones turned out Of the nations print
cry, to be slowed away on top shelves,
are Of little service TO anyone. The
tendency to regard this branch Of the
government as legitlmately education
al, however, seems to be growing, and
the demand for elaborate reports on all
manner Of subjects. from the forests
and fisheries to insect pests and the
pedigrees Of Indian tribes, seems great
er than ever.
-
The assembling of $1,000 veterans
in Denver at the Grand Army encamp-
ment was a big thing in itself. Only
few live within the shadow Of the
Rocky Mountains, and nine-tenths OF
them had to travel long distances by
rail, steamer and stage to reach the
leading town Of Colorado. Then the
wearers Of the blue had a line OF
march which required nearly four
hours to cover. Only few fell out on
account OF fatigue. Thousands Of
them past 20 marched with erect car
rlage and firm step, to the wonder and
delight Of the 100000 spectators, who
kept up a fusillade of cheers and hand
elapping as long as there was an old
soldier to applaud. Yet the interneclne
conflict closed forty years ago. What
other nation has anything to compare
with this soldierly longevity? What
one could turn out $1,000 to march in
a hot sun-men who had quit fighting
twoscore years before? None! The
American soldier is the most robust
that ever trod the earth. When we
consider the hardships of campaign
ing from 1861 to 1865, the marvel Is
that any of Its participants are alive,
still less able to endure a long and
fatiguing march in old age. When II
comes to vigor in national defenders
the world takes off It's hat TO the ire
pressible Yankee.
-
The pension roll reached the maxi
mum in its history on Jan. 81 last, the
number being 1904, 1866 The rol
passed the million mark In September
Of last year and gradually increased
for the next four months. The declin,
began with the first of last February
and by the following May had dropped
below the million mark. These fact
are developed in a synopsis of the an
nual report of Pension COMMISSIONS
Warner, covering the operations Of hi
office for the fiscal year ending Jun,
so last. At the end Of the year thu
number Of pensioners had declined I,
o9S,441, net increase for the year o
S,679. The report shows the following
additional facts: During the year tn
bureau issued 1922 pension certin
Gates, Of which number over 5000,
were originals. The annual value o
the pension roll on June 80, 1908, wa
S136. ,205. BY the term "annua
NuAut 10 ulCAlAl AAlt NllNuAl VI ulbut,
required to pay the pensioners thei
ON the roll for one year.
-
Fifty thousand applications wer
fled by men and women seeking pc
sitions In the government service dun
ing a period of six months, said a
official Of the Civil Service Commis
sion the other day. These application
were made between Jan l and Jun
80 Of this year. OF this number abou
$4,000 took the examination As
rule, something like 10 per cent c
the people who file applications IA
to take the examination. The Idle
some people have that there is but
small chance to get into the govern
ment service through the medium OF
competitive examination is contrary {
statistics. Thirty-fve per cent OF IL
applicants who pass the examination
are appointed. Last year 10000 a
plicants appeared for examination Or
hundred thousand Of them passed an
$4,000 Of these were appointed. II
average age Of those appointed W,
% years.
-
POstmasters throughout the cOu
try must pay their debts or retire fro