New-York tribune., 1910-03-10
THE EDAyINWASHINGTON

ROOT OPPOSES PENSIONS. - That
Senator Root believes the time has come
when halt should be called on the whole
sale pension system which has so long been
practised was made manifest to-day when
Mr. Root made inquiries regarding bill
on the calendar, explaining that when the
Curtis bill granting pensions to widows OF
veterans whose marriages occurred subse-
auent to June &c. 1890 should come up he
desired 10 be heard. According to the estt-
mate Of the Pension Bureau, the passage
of the Curtis bill would add twenty thousand
widows of veterans to the pension rolls the
first year. IL that estimate is correct. the
cost would be S2,Ss0,000 year. The limita-
ton OF June %, 1890 was made to prevent
women who married old veterans from ell
joyinS pensions as the result Of their mar
riage. Mr.. Root indicated to-day that hc
would oppose the measure when IT came
before the Senate.
SUBMARINE SIGNALS.-Senat tor Lodge
secured the adoption by the Senate to-day
of q bill authorizing the construction or
submarine signal bells at such places along
the coast and In the Great Lakes as may
be deemed necessary by the Lighthouse
Board. These signals consist Of bell suo-
merged fifteen to twenty feet and sounded
by small engine on shore ard an electric
cable. The bell can be made to sound
given signal. bS' which il can be recognized
by the masters of vessels equipped with the
proper receiving apparatus. 1t was by
means Of the submarine signal sent out
from the light vessel stationed at Nantucket
that the White Star liner Baltic was ena-
bled to find the Republic which had been
in collision with the Florida off Nantucket
81,
wireless was useless at any considerable
distance, but when the Republic reported
that she had picked up the Nantucket sub
marine bell, bearing north-northeast and
sounding thirty-flve fathoms" the Baltic
able to go Immediately to her assist
ance.
NEW YORK STREAMS.-Sena Root
secured INC passage to-day Of the bill re-
ported by Senator Depew, giving the city
Of New York control over such streams as
are wholly within the city limits. General
Marshall, chief of engineers reported that
there would be no injury 10 navigation from
permitting New York City to appropriate
these streams and to make such improve
ments as were contemplated. and Senator
Root briefly explained the necessity OF the
measure 20 the Senate. after which it was
passed without division.
STANDARD APPLES-A hearing before
the Agricultural Committee Of the House
to-day on Representative I.afean's bill pro-
viding for the ,grading and standardization
Of apples brought out the fact that since
Canada has adopted this plan her apples
have brought higher prices than those of
New York. j. +. Hale. secretary Of the
Horticultural Society of Connecticut, IA
Vored the bin. and said that before Canada
adopted grading system her apples
brought % cents a bushel less than those
from New York, but that in recent years
the situation was almost reversed. He said
that foreign countries were suspicious of
American apples because, while they are
good on top of the barrel, those on the bot
tom are ''nubbins." Apple producers from
Oregon and Washington spoke against the
bill. g. G.. II.