Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-08


ton with the postal service. and have
specially requested that their reports Of ap-
pretended danger should not be made pub
lie. lest it should result in the loss Of their
lives. But no positive testimony Of inter-
ference has been submitted. except in the
case Of the mail messenger at Spartauburg.
in South Carolina, who reported that he
bad been violently driven away while in
charge of the mails on account OF his po-
litical affiliations. An assistant superin-
tendent Of railway mail service investigated
this case and reported that the messenger
had disappeared from his post, leav-
ing his work to be performed by
an incompetent substitute. The post
master general thinks this case is sufficient
" suggestive to justify him in recommend
ing that a more severe punishment should
be provided for the offerce of assaulting any
person in charge of the mails or of retard-
ing or otherwise obstructing them by
threats OF personal injury.
REDUCED DEFICIENCY.
A very gratifying result is presented in
the fact that the deficiency of this depart
ment during the last fiscal year was reduced
to "a 0Sl ,760.lS, as against S6.l69, 1913 SO
of the preceding year. The difference can
be traced to large increase in its ordinary
receipts (Which greatly exceeded the esti-
mates therefor) and slight decrease In its
expenditures. The ordinary receipts OF the
postofhce department for the past seven IFS
cal years have increased on an average
over per cent per annum, while the In
crease of expenditures for the same period
has been about 5 so per cent per annum and
| the decrease of deficiency in the revenues has
been at the rate of nearly per cent per
annum.
THE REPORT OF THE coMM1ssIc zR OF AGRI-
CULTURE.
accompanying this message. i be found
one OF great interest, markin- Is 1t does,
| the great progress of the last C. 1tury In the
variety Of the products of the oil, and IN
creased knowledge and skill II the labor
| eff producing, saving and man pulating the
same to prepare them for the use Of man ::
| in the improvements in machinery to aid
the agriculturist in his labors, and in a
| knowledge of those scientific subjects neces-
sary TO thorough system in agri-
culture namely, chemistry, botany
| entomology, AID 50 forth. \ study OF this
report by those interested IL agriculture
and deriving their support from 1t Will be
| found Of value in pointing out those articles
which are raised in greater quantity than
| the needs Of the world require, and must
| sell, therefore. for less than the cost Of pro-
| duc.ion, ard those that command 4
premium over the cost of production,
! because there IS not an over-prO-
! duction. | call special attention to the
| need OF the department for a new gallery
/ for the reception OF exhibits returned from
| the centennial exhibition, including the
exhibits donated by very many Foreign
nations. and to the recommendations OF the
commissioner of agriculture generally.
the DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The rcnorts of the district commissioners
and The board Of health are just received
too late to read them and to make recon-
mendations thereon and are herewith sub
mitted.
TIE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
held in Philadelphia, this year, IN Com
memoration of tho one hundredth annlyer-
sary of American Independence, has
proven a great success and will, no doubt,
DC of enduring advantage to the country.
1t has shown the great progress in the arts,
the sciences and in mechanical inventions
made in a single century. and demonstrated
that We are but little behind older nations
in any one branch. while in some We scarce
" have rival. Il has served not only to
bring the people and the products Of toll
and labor from all points Of the world to-
gether, bot to bring together people from all
sections of our own country, which must
prove great benefit in Information lmpaTt-
Cd and pride OF country engendered. IL has
been suggested by scientists interested in and
connected with the Smithsonian Institution,
in q communication herewith, what the
government exhibit be removed to the ca
pital and suitable building be erected or
purchased for Its accommodation a. per
mauent exhibition. | earnestly recommend
this and believing that Congress would sec
ond this view directed that all the govern
ment exhibits at The Centennial Exhibition
should remain where they are. except such
as nigh; be injured by remaining in build
ings not intonied as protection against
Indictment weather, OF such as may be want
ed by the department furnishing them,
until the question Of a permanent
exhibition Is acted on. Although the
moneys Appropriated By Congress to enable
the participation Of the several executive
departments on the International exhibition
OF 1916 were not sufficient 10 carry out the
Undertaking to the iuil extent at first con
templated, It gives me pleasure to refer 70
the very efficient and Creditable manner In
which the board appointed from the several
Departments q provide an exhibition on the
part Of the government have discharged
their dltie, with the funds placed at their
command without a precedent u guide
them in the preparation of such a display.
Tue success Of their 10 boIs was amply re-
pad oy the sustained attention which the
contents Of the government bnuding
attracted during the period Of tbs
exhibition, from both foreign and
native visitors. am strongly impressed with
the value Of the collection made bY the Gov
eminent Tor the purposes Of the TX
hIbltion, illustrating a. II does the
mineral resources OF the country,
the statistical and practical evidences OF
our growth a. a nation, and the uses Of the
mechanical arts and the applications o; ap-
pied sciences To- the administration Of the
affairs ot the Government. Many nations
have Voluntarily contributed their exhibits
TO the United States - increase the IN
teres; in any permanent exhibition Congress
may provide for. For this act Of generosity
they should receive the thanks OF the people
and | respectfully suggest that a resolution
OF Congress TO that ,h-ct be adopted.
THE CHOICE or PRESIDENT - COMPULSORY
EDUCATION.
The attention of Congress cannot be too
earnestly called to the necessity Of throw
ing some greater safeguard over the method
OF choosing and declaring the election of a
president Under the present system there
seems to be no provided remedy for contest
ing the election in any one state Tao rem
edy Is partially, no doubt, IN the cnlight-
eminent Of electors and the compulsory sup
port Cf the free school. The di>iranchse-
ment If all who cannot read and write the
English language after a fixed probation
would meet my hearty approval. would |
not make this apply, however. to those al !
ltt. I h..
50 after the expiration OF tie probation |
fixed upon. Foreigners coming to this |
country to become citizens who ara edu |
Gated IN their own language would |
acquire the requisite knowledge Of ours |
during the necessary residence TO obtain /
naturalization. Ii they did not take |
interest enough IN cur language to acquire |
q sufficient knowledge OF It 10 enable them /
TO study the Institutions sui laws of the /
country intelligently, would not confer |
upon them the right 10 make such laws nor |
to select those who DO
ADMINISTRATIVE EVENTS AND REC NNENDA-
TONS.
! append to this message for convenient
reference a synopsis of administrative !
events. ard of all recommendations to Con-
gress made by me during the last seven |
years. Time may show some of these |
recommendations not TO have been wisely |
conceived, but believe the larger part will |
be no discredit to the administration. One of
these recommendations met with the united
opposition Of one political party in the
Senate and with a strong opposition from the
other : namely, the treaty for
THE ANIMATION OF sASTo DOMINGO
to the United States. to which | shall
specially refer, maintaining. a. do, that