Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1901 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

The expenditures of the government of the United States for the current year were never before exceeded except in 38G3-4-5, during the Civil \Var. The greatest expenditures of any year in the history of the country were - $1,297,555,224 in 1865; in 1864 the total was $865,822,614; in 1863 it was $714,740,725, and then comes 1901 with a total of $710,150,862, which will be exceeded by nearly twenty millions in 1902, as the appropriations at the last session of Congress amount to- the enormous sum of $720,911,683, and if Senator Carter had not beaten the river and harbor bill they would have reached nearly eight hundred millions. Low tide in national expenses was touched in 1878, when the total was only $236,864,327. and the amount per capita of population was $4.98. The most economical year, however, was 1886, when the total expenditures were $242,483,138, a per capita of $4.22. Expenses have been rapidly increasing since the Civil War, and ten years ago, in 1889, we passed the three huudrejd million, mark. In 1898 we passed the four hundred million dollar mark, and in 1899 the half billion mark. * The census office has received through the State Department a consular report on the population of the German empire and its changes in the lajst century. The population is now about 56,000,000, being larger than that of any other country in Europe except Russia, which has in Europe alone over 106,000,000 subjects. In 1789 the whole German empire had a population of about 26,000,000, and at the close of the Napoleonic wars in 1815 Germany, although somewhat reduced in size, had a, population of something more than 30,000,000. In 1845, since which date the area has remained almost constant, Germany had 34,000,000; in 1865, 40.000,000; in 1885. 47,000,000, and in 1900 about 55,500,000, an increase in the century of nearly 30,000,000. The Germans feel a natural pride in the rapid growth of their population compared with that of their rival across the Rhine. In 1815 France had about 36,000,000 inhabitants and Germany 34,000,000. Now France has 38,000,000, or only two-thirds the number of Germany. The engagement of Miss Martha Hichborn, daughter of Rear Admiral Hichborn, to James G. Blaine, Jr., while not

formally announced, is well understood. Miss Hiehborn is considered the most beautiful woman in Washington. Miss Hiehborn's most intimate friends declare it to be a prohational engagement, inasmuch as the admiral’s beautiful young daughter does not hesitate to affirm to her

intimates that she has placed James G. Blaine. Jr., upon a year's probation of good behavior. If, during that time, he entirely abjures those serious failiugs which have heretofore mitigated so seriously against his standing in society and advancement in life, she will marry him. Satisfactory progress is being made with the wireless telegraphy experiments under the direction of Willis Moore of the weather bureau.- Messages have been repeatedly transmitted a-distance of fifty miles overland. Towers and apparatus have been erectyd at points along the, Virginia and North Carolina coast to command a wide expanse of ocean. Those in charge are confident that one hundred miles can be covered without the use of a wire and are hopeful that even a greater distance will he mastered. The methods and mechanism in operation are distinct from those used elsewhere, and are being patented ns fast as perfected. Under the arrangement with Secretary Wilson, made with the experts in charge, the government will share the benefits of all inventions and discoveries that may result from the tests, those employed binding themselves to give them without royalty.

The following table shows the growth of the pension list during the last twenty years, the number of pensioners, the disbursements on account of pensions and the number of new claims filed: No. of Disburse. Appll■\pensloners inents for cations oil roll. pensions. Hied. 1879 242,783 |23,«<14,428.82 57,118 1880 230,802 r>«.«IS!l, 220.08 1-11,408 1881..., .208,830 30,383,403.33 31,110 1882 283,007 34.313,172.03 40,930 1883 303,038 00.427.573.81 48.770 1884 332.730 57,912.387.47 41.783 1883 345,125 03.171.937.12 40,018 1880 303,783 04.001,142.00 40,805 1887 400.007 73,752,007.08 72,403 1888 452.557 78,930,501.07 75,720 1889 480.725 88,842,720.58 81,220 1800 537,044 1(10.004,230.39 105,044 1801 (170,100 117.312,000.50 006,941 1,892 870,008 130.304.147.11 240,038 1803 000.012 150.000.087.94 119,301 1804 900,544 130,080,7211.17 57,141 1805 070,524 139.807,788.78 45,301 18! Ml 070.078 138,215,174.08 42,244 1807 070,014 130,940.717.35 50,385 1808 003.711 144,051.870.80 48,732 1800. .'...001,510 138,355,052.05 53,881 1000 003,529 138.403,130,05 51,004 Chief Wilkie of the secret service is not aware that United States silver dollars are being coined in Mexico. He says that if they are being made there and put in circulation in this country the operation** have escaped the vigilance of -his agents, who are constantly on the watch for such violations of the law, and have hitherto shown marked efficiency in the discharge of their duties.' Senator Frye has decided to resign the chuitmausbip of the committee on commerce and accept the chairmanship of the committee on foreign relations of the Senate, which was made vacant by the death of the late Mr. Davis of Minnesota. This leaves .Mr. McMillan of Michigan at the head of the commerce committee, hut he will yield the chairmanship to Mr. Elkins, who stands third, liecause Mr. McMillan prefers to remain where he has been for six years, as chairman of the committee on the District of Columbia.

MSSS HICHBORN.