Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1905 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

If the scandals lately unveiled in the federal printing office have the effect of calling attention generally to the magnitude of the business carried orf'by this branch of" the government and the need of putting it on a business basis, they will have served a useful purpose. Like other branches of the administration, the printing office, starting as a modest enterprise, has expanded beyond all expectation, until it now constitutes a business as gre&t as that carried on by some of the larger corporations. The figures presented by W. S. Rossiter, of the Census Bureau, in the current number of the Atlantic show in detail this surprising growth. In the nation’s printing bill was $8,785. Government publications were few and comparatively rude. Last year the amount expended for printing was $7,080,900, and this expenditure,, is increasing. If Mr. Rossiter’s estimate is correct, the .government printing done in the present decade will cost more than $60,000,000. The need or utility of so vast an outlay is open to question. There is good ground for the su3picion that many of the ponderous tomes turned out of the nation's printery, to be stowed away on top shelves, are of little service to anyone. The tendency to regard this branch of the government as legitimately educational, 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 greater than ever.

The assembling of 15,000 veterans In Denver at the Grand Army encampment was a big thing in itself. Only a 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 a few fell out on account of fatigue. Thousands of them past 70 marched with erect carriage and firm step, to the wonder and delight of the 300,000 spectators, who kept up a fusillade of cheers and handclapping as long as there was an old soldier to applaud. Yet the internecine conflict closed forty years ago. What other nation has anything to compare with this soldierly longevity? What one could turn out 15,000 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 campaigning from 1801 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 it comes to vigor in national defenders, the world takes off its hat to the irrepressible Yankee.

The pension roll reached the maximum in Its history on Jan. 21 last, the number being 1,001,196. The roll passed the million mark In September of last year and gradually Increased for the next four months. The decline began with the first of last February, and by the following May had dropped below the million mark. These facts are developed In a synopsis of the annual report of Pension Commissioner Warner, covering the operations of his office for the fiscal year ending June 30 last. At the end of the year the number of pensioners had declined to 998,441, net Increase for the year of 3,679. The report the following additional facts: During the year the bureau issued 185,242 pension certificates, of which number over 50,000 were originals. The annual value of the pension roll on June 30, 1905, was $136,745,295. By the term “annual value” Is meant the amount of money required to pay the pensioners then on the roll for one year. Fifty thousand applications were filed by men and women seeking positions In the government service during a period of six months, said an official of the Civil Service Commission the other day. These applications were made between Jan. 1 and June 30 of this year. Of this number about 45,000 took the examination. As a rule, something like 10 per cent of the people who file applications fall to take the examination. The Idea some people have that there is but a small chance to get Into the government service through the medium of n competitive examination Is contrary to statistics. Thirty-five per cent of the applicants who pass the exaniTnatlons are appointed. Last year 120,000 applicants appeared for examination. One hundred thousand of them passed and 48,000 of these were appointed. The average age of those appointed was 28 years.