Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-26

matter than it does now, since the
claim is made that $4,000, 200 can be
saved each year.
The total appropriation for the haul
ing.ofithe mails is $45, 900, 900 annually,
quitesan item jim the earnings of the
railroads. The basis for this enormous
outlay is the average daily weight of
the mails, but it is declared by some
representatives who have investigated
the matter, that such an average is a
false one and that if payment was made
on a true average, the saving would
amount to the four millions, perhaps
more.
1t is likely resolution will shortly
be.introduced in the house calling on
the postoffice department for complete
and detailed information, with refer
ence as to how the mails are weighed,
where the money appropriated by con-
gress goes, and various other phases of
the subject. The railroad interests are
already worried over the prospects and
now have lobby here to prevent any
cut in their compensation.
1t is expected that early considera-
ton will be given by the senate to the
general service pension bill, if the plans
of the committee on pensions go
through. The bill has already been
passed Iby the house but parts of it did
not meet with the approval of the SEN
ate, which amended it in several par
ticulars, one amendment providing that
any soldier of the Civil war who has
served for ninety days, has been hon.
orably discharged, and who shall have
reached the age of sixty-two years,
shall receive pension of $12 month,
to be increased to SIS month when he
shall have reached the age of seventy
five years. 1t is estimated that an ad-
ditional appropriation of $40, ia, 900
annually would be required to pay the
increased rate provided by the bill to
the soldiers now on the pension rolls.
1t is probable that the bill as amended
will come up shortly after the Christ
mas recess, and if indications count for
anything, favorable action will result.
When the bill passes, the pension office
is in excellent condition to handle the
work promptly, which would mean that
all soldiers coming under the provision
of the amendment would derive benefit
without delay.
| One by one the old landmarks around
Washington are giving way to the
march of progress. The latest to go,
or one nearly gone, is the old long
bridge, that famous structure across
the Potomac which for years has served
as the gateway to the south" Built
in 1872. it was fired by the British when
they attacked the Capital in 1914. Dur
ing the COS it figured in the Civil war,
and in '98 several companies of soldiers
in the Spanish war crossed it to reach
Washington from their camps in the
south. When the federal troops in
1861 set out to invade Virginia they
crossed the Potomac by means of this
bridge, and after the battle of Bull
Run they re-crossed it in panic. The
name of the Long bridge become ma
tionally familiar in connection with that
disaster. During recent years this
bridge has been menace to Washing
ton, its reinforced tiers choking the
the channel in times of flood, and it's
low-lying superstructure checking the
outflow of ice and drift-wood. 1t has
been replaced by two iron bridges, one
for railways and the other for ordinary
traffic. The old bridge is historic
relic that will not be mourned.
The United States has ceased paying
the expenses of the American troops
now stationed in Cuba, the government
authorities deciding that the present
costs be paid directly out of the Cuban
treasury. Such is the information given
to congress by the secretary of war.
Congress is keeping close watch on
the Cuban financial situation with the
idea of curtailing further expenses in
that direction. Already something
more than S2,0O0,000 has been spent
and the time is drawing near when
steps will be taken to secure reim-
bursement of this amount. An item
lied account has been kept of all en-
penditures, and while the claim is not
to be pressed at present, it is believed
that an order may shortly be made by
the president to the provisional COVER
nor of the island to transfer monthly
sum from the Cuban to the United
States treasury as payment on this
claim. 1t is the idea of the committee
on appropriations of the house to
square things financially with the Gu
bans and do it as quickly as the rev.
enues of the island will permit
When the president was away the
past summer and the changes were
made in and around the White House,
the tile roofing of the building connect
ing the White House proper to the ex-
eclltiye Offices was replaced nv a cop