The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-12-07

stitution to the national legislature.
One of these objects, and one which
is of paramount Importance, is de-
clared by our fundamental law to be
be provision for common defense"
Surely nothing is more essential to
the defense of the United States
and of all our people than the
efficiency of our navy. We
have for many years maintained
with foreign governments relations
of honorable peace, and that such
relations may be permanent is de.
sired by every patriotic citizen OF
the republic. But if we read the
teaching of history, we shall not
forget that in the life of every ma
ton emergencies may arise, when q
resort to arms can only save it from
dishonor. No danger from abroad
threatens this people, nor have we
any cause to distrust the friendly pro-
LESSONS Of other governments, but
for avoiding as we'll as repelling
dangers that may threaten in future
we must be prepared to face any
| policy which we think wise to adopt.
We must be ready to defend our
harbors against aggression, to pro-
tect by the distribution Of our ships
of war over the highways of COM
merce, the various interests of our
foreign trade, and the person and
property of our citizens abroad, to
maintain everywhere the honor of
our flag.
POSTAL SERVICE.
The report of the postmaster gen.
eral is gratifying exhibit of the
growth and efficiency of the postal
service. The receipts from postal
and other ordinary sources during
the past fiscal year were $36,4S9,-
S16.5S. The receipts from the
money order business were $780,
$3.50, making a total of $50, 49,, 1891, :
81. The expenditures for the fiscal
year were $39,251, 736.46. The deficit
supplied out Of the general treasury
was $2,4S1, 129.35, or per cent. of
amount. The receipts were $3,464,-
91S.63 in excess of those of the pre-
Vious year, and $4,575, 397.97 in
excess of the estimate made two
years ago, before the present period
of business prosperity had fairly
began. The whole number Of let
tiers mailed in this country in The
last fiscal year exceeded 100000
The registry system is reported to
be in excellent condition, having
been remodeled during the past
four years with good results. The
amount of registration fees col
lected during the last fiscal year was
| $712,SS2.20, an increase over the fis-
cal year ending June 30th, 1877, of
$345,443.40. The entire number of
letters and packages registered
during the year was S,SSS,919, of
which only 2,061 were de-
stroyed or lost in transit. The
operations of the money order
system are multiplying. yearly
under the impu lse of immigration
of the rapid development of the
newer states and territories, and the
consequent demand for additional
means of communication and eX-
change. During the past year 33S
additional money order offices have
been established, making q total of
| j,499 in operation at the date Of this
report. During the year the dOmes-
tic money orders aggregated in
value S1O5, 1895. a modifca-
tiOn of the system is suggested, re-
ducing the fees for money orders
not exceeding s. from 1Oc. to &C.,
and making the maximum limit
500, in place of $50. Legislation
for the disposition of unclaimed
money orders in the possession of
| the postOffice department is recon-
mended, in view of the fact that
their total value exceeds $1,0O0,OOO.
| The attention Of Congress is again
pointed to the subject of establishing
a system of savings repositories,
in connection with the postOffice
department. The statistics Of mail
transportation show that during the
past year railroad routes have been
increased in length 6,249 miles and
in cost S1,114,382 while steamboat
routes have been increased in length
2,1S2 miles and in cost S134,O54.
The so called star routes have been
decreased in length 3,949 miles and
in cost $364.144. Nearly all of the
more expensive routes have been
supercededIby railroad service. The
cost Of the star service must there
fore rapidly decrease in the west
ern states and territories.
The postmaster general, however,
calls attention to the constantly in
creasing cost of the railroad mail
service, as a serious difficulty in the
way of making the department self
sustaining. Our postal intercourse
with foreign countries has kept
pace with the growth of the do
nestle service. Within the past
year several countries and colonies
have declared their adhesion to the
postal union. 1t now includes all
those who have an organized postal
service except Bolivia Costa RIGA.
New Zealand and the British colo
MES in Australia.
STAR ROUTE FRAUDS.
As has been already stated, great
reductions have recently been made
in the expense of the star route SER
vice. The investigation of the de-
partment of justice and of the post
Office have resulted in the presenta-
ton of indictments against persons
formerly connected with that SER
vice, accusing them of offenses