Inguinal hernia, which passes through the external ring.. Inguinal hernia, which does not pass through the external ring. Double inguinal hernia, each of which passes through the external ring 17.00 2.00 4.00 10.00 6.00 14.00 12.00 Double inguinal hernia, one of which passes through the external ring and Double inguinal hernia, neither of which passes through the external ring.. 8.00 10.00 NOTE.-Section 4699, Revised Statutes, provides that the rate of eighteen dollars per month may be proportionately divided for any degree of disability established for which section forty-six hundred and ninety-five makes no provision, thus fixing the highest rating provided by existing laws which can be allowed by considering disabilities separately and compounding so as to allow the full amount which the disabilities, so considered, would aggregate. The act of March 2, 1895, provides that all pensioners now on the rolls, who are pensioned at less than six dollars per month, for any degree of pensionable disability, shall have their pensions increased to six dollars per month; and that, hereafter, whenever any applicant for pension would, under existing rates, be entitled to less than six dollars for any single disability or several combined disabilities, such pensioner shall be rated at not less than six dollars per month: Provided, also, That the provisions hereof shall not be held to cover any pensionable period prior to the passage of this act, nor authorize a rerating of any claim for any part of such period, nor prevent the allowance of lower rates than six dollars per month, according to the existing practice in the Pension Office in pending cases covering any pensionable period prior to the passage of this act. WIDOWS. The widow of a soldier or sailor who died of a disability incurred while in the service and in line of duty is, under the provisions of section 4702, Revised Statutes, entitled to the rating to which he would have been entitled for a simple total disability, as shown in Table I; and, under the provisions of section 4696, Revised Statutes, the rank of the soldier is determined by the rank held by him when death cause was incurred, without regard to subsequent promotions. From and after March 19, 1886, by the act approved on that date, the widow of a private or noncommissioned officer is entitled to $12 per month, provided that she married deceased soldier or sailor prior to March 19, 1886, or thereafter married him prior to or during his term of service. WIDOW'S INCREASE. From and after July 25, 1866, a widow is entitled to $2 per month increase for each legitimate minor child of the soldier or sailor in her care and custody. MINOR'S PENSION. Same rates and increase as in widows' claims, except that in cases of children of fathers below the rank of a commissioned officer the rate is increased to $12 per month from March 19, 1886, without regard to date of soldier's or sailor's marriage. MOTHERS, FATHERS, AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS. Same rates as provided in minors' and widows' claims in cases of commissioned officers, and $8 per month to March 19, 1886, and $12 thereafter in other cases. PENSIONS BASED UPON SERVICE PERFORMED SINCE MARCH 4, 1861. ACT OF JUNE To widow's and minor's rate add $2 per month increase for each legitimate minor child of soldier or sailor under the age of 16. Female nurses ACT OF AUGUST 5, 1892. ACT OF MARCH 2, 1867 (NAVY ONLY). $12.00 For twenty years' naval service, entitled to one-half the pay he was receiving at date of discharge. Ten years' service, whatever rate may be allowed by a board of officers appointed by the Secretary of the Navy, not to exceed rate for total disability. If in addition to service pension sailor is pensioned for disability, the service pension covering the same time shall not exceed one-fourth the rate allowed for disability. NOTE. Claims under this act should be filed with the Secretary of the Navy. PENSIONS BASED UPON SERVICE PERFORMED PRIOR TO MARCH 4, 1861. Revolutionary war. There are no survivors of this war. Widows, from March 9, 1878, $8, and from March 19, 1886.. War of 1812. $12.00 (Sections 4736 and 4740, Revised Statutes, and acts of March 9, 1878, and March 19, 1886.) Survivors.. $8.00 Widows, from March 9, 1878, $8, and from March 19, 1886.. 12.00 Act of January 5, 1893, provides, under certain conditions, for increase of survivors' pension only to. 12.00 Widows.... 8.00 PROVIDING A MINIMUM RATE OF $6 FOR ALL INVALID PENSIONS. SEE ACT MARCH 2, 1895, p. 94. REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF RAILROADS. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, D. C., November 1, 1899. SIR: In compliance with the provisions of the act of Congress creating this Bureau, approved June 19, 1878 (20 Stat., 169, sec. 3), I have the honor to submit the following report for the year ended June 30, 1899, on the physical and financial condition of the property and affairs of the several railroad companies which have received subsidies from the United States, and which have submitted such reports as have been called for under the law. The phenomenal increase of railroad traffic last year over all former years has continued in an increasing ratio during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1899, and has been limited only by lack of cars to carry the product, although the companies have bent every energy to bring up the supply to equal the demand. The large increase of net earnings and expenses for 1899 over 1898 is a complete reason for the advance of wages and largely increased labor rolls; all the industries of our country seem to be worked to the limit of even their increased capacities, yet the demand largely exceeds their power to supply. This is prosperity. The physical conditions of our land-grant and bond-aided roads improve in fully equal ratio with their improved financial betterment. During the ten months of this calendar year 2,700 miles of new track have been laid in the United States; more would have been built, but it was impossible to secure the labor or the rails and track supplies. Owing to the reduction in the appropriation for traveling expenses of this Bureau, it has not been possible for me, or those acting under me, to inspect the physical condition of the various lines of railroad coming under the jurisdiction of the Bureau. However, during the months of July and August I personally inspected the properties of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company, the Northern Pacific Railway Company, the Southern Pacific Railroad Company of California, the Central Pacific Railroad Company, and several other subsidized roads. Substantial improvements have been made in the main lines, heavy steel rails have taken the place of iron rails, wooden bridges have been replaced by iron and steel, and the ballasting has been much improved. All railway companies should make reports to this office at the end of the fiscal year of their increase of mileage during the year and of mileage discontinued, in order that these reports may be compiled and laid on the desks of the Senators and Representatives at their meeting in December of each year. GOVERNMENT LINE TO THE PACIFIC COAST. We have every reason to believe that we are about to enter in the near future into new trade relations with our new possessions and through them, thus promising a continued and growing prosperity for our people for many years to come. Accordingly I beg leave to renew the suggestions of my last report, urging the air-line railway from Kansas City to San Diego, Cal. Such route should be on the shortest line between the cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore to the Pacific coast, where, on the parallel of the Sandwich Islands and the Philippines, it would find the shortest route to these possessions and to their commercial and military relations. Similar routes should be opened between the cities of Chicago and San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle, and Galveston and San Diego, to draw a great part of the world's commerce over our wilderness possessions and transfer it to the heart of the universe. The nation's manifest destiny to become one of the greatest commercial powers of the earth, strengthening and increasing our merchant marine with the spread of commerce, calls for generous and prompt recognition and encouragement. All of these lines would probably not cost more than the three or four hundred millions that will be needed for the construction and equipment of the isthmian canal. They would give us healthful latitudes that are not to be found on the Isthmus, keep our money at home, furnish rapid transit for all kinds of trade, and command a large portion of the vast commerce of the world. The increasing traffic over the transcontinental routes warrants the assumption that there will be an abundance of traffic for all routes, while the moderate rates of the Government system will hold all to reasonable charges, thus protecting the people in the transit of their travel and traffic. The system extended by steamers to our new possessions will add life and spirit to all lines of commerce and labor until employment will be at hand for all who prefer it to idleness. These possessions, with those of the West Indies, are grand gifts of Providence to be improved and developed in pursuance of His great designs. Woe must be the end of a people who reject and the munificence of a generous God. The increase of surplus-assets over liabilities—for 1899 over 1000, for the twenty-six land-grant and bond-aided roads, is $45,230,089.28. Attention is invited to the following statement, showing the increase of the net earnings of the different railroad companies for the last two fiscal years: Attention is also invited to the following statement, showing the increase of earnings and expenses for 1899 over 1898: |