Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-01-02
>olK--L
Interesting News From Our Special Cor.
respondent at the Nations
Capital.

the Government is paying exhorbi
tant sums annually to the railroads
for the handling of the mails. Judging
from the pressure that is being brought
to bear on Congress to investigate the
cost of transportation. Strange to say,
Congress has very listle knowledge OF
how the money for this purpose il
spent but it proposes to know more
about the matter than it does now
since the claim is made that "a, 600, 00C
can be saved each year. The total APP.
preparation for the hauling of the
mails is $40, 200, 600 annually, quite
an item in the earnings of the rail.
roads. The basis for this enormous
outlay is the average daily weight of
the mails but it is declared by some
Representatives who have investi-
gated the matter, that such an average
is false one and that if payment
was made on true average, the saw.
ing would amount to the four millions,
perhaps more. 1t is likely a resolu-
ton will shortly be introduced in the
House calling on the Postoffice De-
partment for complete and detailed
| information, with reference as to how
the mails are weighed, where the
money appropriated by Congress goes,
and various other phases of the SUBJ
| lott Tho ilrna1 int 30 II
ready 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 by the house but parts of
it did not meet with the approval of
the Senate which amended it in sever
al particulars, one amendment provid-
ing that any soldier Of the civil war
who has served for ninety days, has
been honorably discharged. and who
shall have reached the age of sixty
two years, shall receive q pension of
Sl2 month, TO be increased to SIS a
month when he shall ave reached the
age of seventy years, and to $40 a
month after he has reached the age
of seventy-five years. 1t is estimated
that an additional appropriation of
$40, ia, 600 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 Christmas recess
and il indications count for anything
favorable action will result. When
the bill passes. the Pension Office is in
excellent condition to handle the de-
tails of the work promptly. which
would mean that all soldi ers coming
under the provision of the amendment
would derive benefit with out delay.
The United States has ceased paying
the expenses of the American troops
now stationed in Cuba, the Govern
ment authorities deciding that the
present costs be paid directly out of
the Cuban treasury. Such is the in
formation given to Congress by the
Secretary of War. Congress is keep.
ing a close watch on the Cuban finan.
cial Situation with the idea of cur
failing further expenses in that direc-
ton. Already something more than
So, 600, 900 has been spent and the time
is draw ing near when steps will be
taken to secure a reimbursement of
this amount. An itemized account has
been kept of all expenditures and
while the claim is not to be pressed at
present, it is believed that an order
may shortly be issued by the President
to the provisional governor of the is
land to transfer monthly sum from
the Cuban to the United States trea.
sury as payment on this claim. 1t is
the idea of the Committee on Appro-
priations of the House to square things
financially with the Cubans and to
do it as quickly as the revenues of
the island will permit.