Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1905 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

The report of the Commissioner of Pensions shows that during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1005, the total number of pensioners on the roll was I, G 27, and the number remaining on the roll at the end of the year wag 1)98,4*11, a net gain of 3,070 over the previous year. The gains to the roll during the year were 49,859 new pensioners, and 2,006 restorations and renewals, a total of 51,865; of this number 188 were pensioned by special acta of Congress. The losses to the roll during the same time by death were 43,883, and from other causes 4,303, a total of 48,180, a net gain for the year of 3,079. The pension roll at the close of the year contained the names of 717,158 soldiers and sailors, 280,080 widows and dependents, and 603 army nurses. The disbursements for pensions by the United States from July 1, 1790, to June 30, 1865, were $96,445,444.23. During the year 164 Indictments were found and 113 convictions secured on account of violations of the pension laws. The report shows that of the persons convicted only 16 are believed to have had any military service. The names of 5 pensioners of the Revolutionary War are still on the roll—l widow and 4 daughters. The only surviving pensioned soldier of the War of 1812 died May 13, 1905, but the roll contains the names of 776 widows of soldiers of that war. The work of the life-saving service for the last fiscal year Is summed up In a report of General Superintendent Kimball to the Secretary of the Treasury. The life-saving crews saved and assisted In saving 464 Imperiled vessels nnd their cargoes, beside affording assistance of more or less Importance to 667 other vessels, including craft of all kinds, making a total of 1,141 vessels to which aid was furnished. No less than 3G5 disasters to documented vessels occurred during the period stated, Involving the lives of 4,089 persons, of whom twenty-seven were lost. The estimated value of vessels and cargoes affected was $10,320,660, of which $7,917,385 was saved. Sixty-three vessels were totally lost. The report of the Commissioner of Education contains much interesting and valuable statistical Information relative to education In the United States: “The number of pupils enrolled in the common schools during the year,” the report says, “was 16,256,038, the same being 20.01 per cent of toe entire population as estimated by the census bureau —viz.: 81,241,246. The average dally attendance for 1904 was 11, the same being 69.6 per cent of the total number enrolled. This is the largest average attendance in proportion to the number enrolled,ever reported In the United States. The average monthly wages of teachers was $50.96 for males and $41.54 for females.” “If customs receipts continue to come In at the rate which has prevail, ed since June 30, the total for this fiscal year will be the greatest in the customs business of the country,” declares Assistant Secretary Reynolds of the Treasury Department “Up to this time the largest customs returns were in 1903 —more than $284,000,000.” To the end of last month they were $124,906,109, against $110,278,603 on Nov. 30, 1901. Mr. Reynolds further pointed out that not only would the present deficit be entirely wiped out by the end of next June, but there would bo a surplus, if customs receipts kept coming In at the present rate. Tjje forestry service of the Department of Agriculture has begun an Investigation of wood distillation as a method of utilizing woods In logging and at the mill. The forestry service announces that the appllcatioirof wood distillation to the utilization of waste material both from the lumber mills and from the cut-over coniferous forests of the South is beyond question, and that any mill waste which is rich In resinous products can be used. In many cases even the roots ns well as the stumps may be used for distillation, thus lowering the cost of clearing land for agricultural purposes. The Keep commission In Its Investigations has reached the crop-reporting bureau of the Agricultural Department, of which no new chief has been appointed since John Hyde’s departure. The proposal will be urged that the bureau be done away with. Its 150 clerks transferred under tbs civil service to other bureaus In the department, and Ita work assigned to the weather bureau and cenaus office Both of these iterform a service now which. If properly combined, practically would duplicate that of the croprejiortlng bureau. Commissioner Warner has made recommendations to Secretary Hitchcock for the promotion of about 100 clerks in thepenslon bureau and the reduction in salary of about twenty-five others. The employes who are to be reduced are generally old persons, who are claimed to be not so efficient as formerly and yet who have rendered such faithful service that it la not consMsr* ed just to separate titans from Uta vina-