the Republican Administration since the return of the Republican party to power, the Pension Office under Commissioner H. Clay Evans has alowed 71 claims per day more than were allowed under the former Administration, while it has rejected 97 less per day.

This proves beyond any controversy whatever that while the Pension Bureau has been a little slower in adjudicating pension claims since March 4, 1897, than prior to that date, the work done has inured wholly to the benefit of the old soldier and of his widow and orphan. Every day for the nine months covered by these figures in 71 cases more than under the last Administration has happiness been carried to the family of some old soldier. The rates allowed have been much larger also.

Those who complain of tardiness at the Bureau and who are inclined to suggest that the Administration is against the old soldier should study the figures well before indulging in such unwarranted and undeserved criticism.

Our Democratic friends who, now they are out of power, would pose as the soldier's friend, when in power and when they had an opportunity to do something for the needy old soldier and his widow and orphan, were slow to act in Congress and granted pensions and increases with a hesitating and niggardly hand, as we have seen.

At the Pension Bureau they struck from the rolls the names of thousands of needy and deserving pensioners. In passing on claims they were swift to adjudicate unfavorably but exceedingly slow to allow pensions. Let the old soldiers remember the few bills passed; the many vetoed; the fact that at the Bureau of Pensions in 1894 and 1895 the Democratic Administration allowed 34 per cent of the claims examined and rejected 66 per cent; that in 1896, when it did its best, trying to influence the election, it only allowed 42 per cent and rejected 58 per cent.

During the entire year since H. Clay Evans became Commissioner of Pensions, 154,445 pension claims have been finally adjudicated, and of these 79,298, or 52 per cent, have been allowed, and 75,147, or 48 per cent, have been rejected or held for further evidence. The Bureau has proceeded with great care, and in thousands of the cases not allowed the Bureau has held and is holding them for additional necessary evidence. There has been no veto of a special pension bill, and every patriotic citizen knows that I'resident McKinley, himself an old soldier, will not tolerate an illiberal pension policy or an injustice to an old comrade in arms. During the first nine months of the present fiscal year the pension roll was increased by the addition of 15,000 more names than were lost by death, remarriage, and the arrival of minors at the

age of 16 years. During the year ending April 1, 1898, the loss to the roll was as follows:

During the year ending June 30, 1895, 37,060 original claims were filed. For the year 1896, 33,749 such claims were filed, while for the year ending April 1, 1898, 61,613 original claims and 164,438 claims for increase-a total of 226,051-were filed. It is easy to see how impossible it has been for the Commissioner to examine and adjudicate all these claims, and when we consider the rejections and failure to reach claims, and the consequent disappointments, in connection with the misrepresentations made by politicians of the opposing political party for partisan purposes, it is not difficult to understand how undeserved is the criticism to which the Pension Bureau has been subjected.

This large amount of money to meet the just claims of our pensioners will be required but a few years longer. Year by year the soldiers and sailors and marines and their widows are answering to the last roll call. In a very few years the last survivor of the Mexican and Indian wars will be in his grave, and fifty years hence the last survivor of the war of the rebellion will have passed over the river to his eternal rest under the shade of the trees on the evergreen shores.

Nearly all who incurred pensionable disabilities in the service are now on the rolls and the main additions by reason of past service will come in under the act of June 27, 1890, where the maximum allowed is $12 per month.

During the last five years pensioners have died as follows:

As only two-thirds of the survivors are on the rolls, it is safe to say that at least 25,000 of the comrades of the war of the rebellion die each year.

By reason of deaths and other causes the decrease in pension payments in 1897 was $5,684,081. The increase in the figures before given was caused by the addition of new names and the granting of increase applications. It will be seen that when the addition of new names in considerable numbers ceases the decrease in the amount of pension payments will be very rapid.-From the speech of Hon. George W. Ray, in the House, July 7, 1898.

WHO ARE ENTITLED TO PENSION UNDER EXISTING LAWS. Revolutionary War.-The act of March 18, 1818, thirty-five years after the termination of the Revolutionary War, was the first general act passed granting a pension for service only. Its beneficiaries were required to be in indigent circumstances and in need of assistance.

Alarm Act.-About 1820 Congress became "alarmed" at the large number of applicants for pensions under this act (there were about 8,000) and, on May 1, 1820, passed what has been known as the "alarm act," which required all pensioners then on the roll to furnish a schedule of the amount of property then in their possession. Many of the pensioners whose schedules showed they possessed too much property were dropped from the rolls Pensioners were dropped who owned as small an amount as $150 worth of property.

On May 15, 1828, or forty-five years after the war, service pension was granted to those who served to the end of the War of the Revolution.

On June 7, 1832, or forty-nine years after the close of the war, a general law was enacted pensioning all survivors who served not less than six months in said war.

On July 4, 1836, fifty-three years after the termination of the war, an act was passed granting pensions for five years to Revolutionary War widows, provided they were married to the soldier or sailor before the close of his last service, and that his service was not less than six months.

On July 7, 1838, or fifty-five years after the close of the war, the above act was amended so as to provide where the marriage took place before January 1, 1794.

On July 29, 1840, or sixty-five years after the war, the above laws were amended to include those who were married prior to January 1, 1800.

On February 3, 1853, or seventy years after the war, an act was passed striking out the limitation as to date of marriage.

War of 1812.-The first law granting pension for service in the War of 1812 was passed February 14, 1871, fifty-six years after the close of the war. This act required sixty days' service, and widows were not entitled, unless they were married to soldier or sailor prior to the treaty of peace, February 17, 1815.

The act of March 9, 1878, sixty-three years after the close of the war, reduced the period of service to fourteen days, and made no limitation as to date of marriage in case of widows.

War with Mexico.-On January 29, 1887, thirty-nine years after

the war closed, an act was passed providing for soldiers and sailors (and their widows), for service of sixty days, if 62 years of age, or disabled or dependent.

Indian Wars.-On July 27, 1892, fifty years after period included in the act, pension was provided for those who served thirty days in the Black Hawk, Creek, Cherokee, and Florida war with Seminole Indians, from 1832 to 1842, and to their widows.

War of the Rebellion.-Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873. Any officer, soldier, sailor or marine disabled by reason of wound received or disease contracted in the service of the United States, and in the line of duty, may be pensioned for such disability during its continuance.

In case of his death from causes originating as above set forth, his widow (or his child or children under 16 years of age), becomes entitled to pension. If he left no widow or child under 16 his dependent mother, father, or orphan sisters and brothers are entitled in the order named.

Act of June 27, 1890.-Any officer, soldier, sailor or marine who served ninety days or more in the military or naval service of the United States during the late war of the rebellion, who has been honorably discharged therefrom, and who is suffering from disability of a permanent character, not the result of his own vicious habits, which incapacitates him from the performance of manual labor in such a degree as to render him unable to earn a support, is entitled to pension under this act of not less than $6 per month, nor more than $12 per month.

In case of the death of any person named above, his widow becomes entitled to pension, provided she married him prior to June 27, 1890, and that she is without other means of support than her daily labor. If she remarries or dies, the child or children of such soldier or sailor, under the age of sixteen years, become entitled.

Act of August 5, 1892.-All women employed by the SurgeonGeneral of the Army as nurses during the late war of the rebellion for a period of six months or more, and who were honorably relieved from such service, are granted a pension provided they are unable to earn a support.

Service Pensions.-There is no law granting service pension to any person for service rendered since the war with Mexico.

There has never been any law pensioning widows of soldiers whose death was due to service in time of peace prior to March 4,

1861.

No provision has ever been made for mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters, if the death of the soldier or sailor resulted from service prior to March 4, 1861.

The laws relating to pensions have been infinitely more liberal since 1861 than they were prior to that date.

To make it plainer, as an illustration of the fact, let us cite the case of a sailor who lost both arms in the service and line of duty prior to March 4, 1861. He would be entitled to a rating, beginning at $3.50 per month, and to the various rates provided from time to time, to February 12, 1889, when he would receive $100 per month.

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

Our Commerce with the Former Spanish Possessions in the Far

East.

The total amount of our imports from the Philippine Islands is shown by years in the following table:

1893, total imports of merchandise..

1894, total imports of merchandise.

1895, total imports of merchandise.

1896, total imports of merchandise..

1897, total imports of merchandise..

For the same periods our exports were as follows:

1893, total exports of merchandise..

1894, total exports of merchandise.

.$9,159,857

7,008,342

4,731,366

4,982,857

4,383,740

$154,378

145,466

119,255

162,446

1895, total exports of merchandise. 1896, total exports of merchandise. 1897, total exports of merchandise..

94,597

The principal articles of import from the Philippines consisted of textile grasses, manila, etc., amounting to $2,701,651, non-dutiable, and sugar, dutiable, amounting to $1,199,202. Our principal exports were refined mineral oils, to the value of $15,908, cotton manufactures, $2,164 and varnish, $2,239. All other articles exported amounted to $44,286. It is apparent that the Philippine Islands offer tempting opportunities for the extension of American

commerce.

AREA, IMPORTS AND EXPORTS AT THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

Local and European authorities estimate the area of the Philippine Islands at 150,000 square miles, and their population at 8,000,000 to 10,000,000. The island of Luzon, on which the city of Manila is situated, is larger than New York and Massachusetts, and has a population of 5,000,000; and the island of Mindanao is nearly, if not quite, as large. There are scores of other islands, large and very populous. An idea of the extent of the Philippines may be formed, when it is stated that the six New England States, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware have 10 per cent less area.