Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-12-19
our Agents.
TContiuued from first page.l

All. POSTMASCERS ARE ~
ACT AS AGENTS. -
TContinued from first page.I
report of the secretary of the navy, in
which the humilitatlng weakness OF
the present organization OF this depart
ment is exhibited, and the startling
abuses and wastes OF Its present
methods are expressed, the conVictlon
is forced upon US with certainty Vi
mathematical demonstration mat oe-
lore we proceed further on the restora-
ton of a navy we need a
organized navy department. Inc TACT
that within seventeen years more thah
$50. OOO. $50 have been spent IN construc-
ton, repair, equipment II armament
of vessels, and the further fact that IN
stead of an effective and credltaDle
feet we have only the discomfort ana
annreheus,on of a nation u%ndefended
nv war vessels, and disclosures now
made do not Lermit us to doubt That
every attempt to revive our navy mas
TINS far for the most part been misul-
rected, and all our efforts Ill that dlrec-
tion have been little better than pima
groupings and expensive, aimless follles.
Unuuestionably, if we are content with
the maintenance of a navy department
simply as Il shabby ornament o the
government, a constant Watchfulness
NAV prevent some of the scandal n
obnsc which found their way into the
present organization and its lncurable
waste NAV be reduced to the minimum,
but if we desire to build ships for pres
--co,, ;,etaaH nf naval remind.
ers of the days that are past, we must
have the department organized n the
works supplied with all the talent IN
Ingenuity our country affords, pfepar-
ed to take advantage OF the experience
of other nations, systematlzed SO ina
all efforts shall unite and lead IN one
direction and fully imbued with the
conviction that war vessels now are
nseless unless they combine all h a
man has, up to this day brought forth
relating to their constru ction.
earnestly commend the portion OF
the secretary's report devoted to this
subject to the action of congress, In the
hope that his suggestions touching the
reorganization of his department may
be adopted as the first step toward the
reconstruction of our navy.
POSTAL SERVICE.
The affairs of the postal service are
exhibited by the report of the post
master general which will be laid be-
fore you The postal revenue, whose
rate of gain upon the rising prosperity
OF 1882 and 1888 Outstripped the IN
~creasing expenses of our growing
service, was checked by the reduction
i'm the rate of letter postage, which
took effect with the beginning OF
October of the latter year, and it
diminished during the past two fiscal
wears 80, 100, 900, in about the proper
ton of 81, 27O, 900 in 1884 to S52O,OO0 Id
1885.
Natural growth and development
have meantime increased expenditures
resulting in a deficiency in the revenue
to meet the expenses Of the department
of five and a quarter million dollars for
the year of 1884, and eight and one
third millions i'll the last fiscal year
The anticipated and natural revival OF
the e has been opposed m re-
tarded bv the uutavorable business
condition of the country OF which the
postal service is a faithful Indicator.
Inc gratifying fact is shown, however,
by the report that our returning pros
perity is marked by a gain OF $3.50, UoO
in the evenue OF the latter halt of the
last wear. The change in weight OF
first class matter, which may be carried
for a single rate of postage from
a nait ounce to all ounce, and the re-
durJiou oi one hall cent on newspaper
Dosage, hlun, under recent Legislation
began with the current year, viii
Operate to restrain the augmentation OF
receipts, which otherwise might have
been expected to such : degree thai
the expense may gain upon the
revenue and cause al increased de-
tiency to be shown at its close; yet,
after go long a period of reawakeneo
prosperity, by proper economy 1t Is
confidently anticipated that even the
present low rates, as favorable as an!
country affords, will be adequate t.
sustain the cost of the service. The
operation of the postoffice department
IS for the convenience and benefit o
the people, and the method by which
they pay the charges OF this usefu
branch OF their public service so that l
NAV be lust and impartial is OF less i'm
pc-auce to them tnan the economical
expenditure of mean provided for 1T
maintenance and the improvement o
its ayency SO that it may enjoy 1t
inquest usefulness. Proper attention
has been iii 5Gtcd to the prevention o
waste or tAtravagance and good re
suits appea fro.u the reports, to hay
al.eady Deel accomplished.
THE MokMONs.
In the territory of Utah the law O
the United states, passed for the sup
preston of polygamy, has been ener
~getically and faithfully executed dur
ing the past year with m~easurably goo
success. A number of convictions hav
been secured for unlawful Capitalization
In some cases pleas of guilty have bee
entered and slight punishment impose
upon the promise by the accused tina
they would not again offend against tn
law, nor advise, council, aid or abet i
any way its violation by others.
The Utah commissioners express tn
opinion, based upon such infOrmatio
as they are able to obtain, that but fey
polygamous marriages have taken plac
in the territory during the last yea
They further report that while ther
may not be found upon the registratio
lists OF voters the name of a man actr
ally guilty of %polygamy and while non
of that class are holding office, yet {
the last election i'll the territory all til
officers elected, except in one county
we're men who, though not actual
living III the practice OF polygamy, SUI
scribe to the doctrine OF revelation an
a law unto all higher and more bint
ing uppn the conscience than any lit
man Jaw, local ~ na, iOnal. Thus is II
strange spectacle presented OF a con
muuily protected by a republican for
of government to which they owe a
l~egiance sustaining by their suffrages
principle and a belief whieh sets
naughtt that obligation of absolute ODE
fence to the law OF the land which Ii
at the foundation of their republics
institutions. The strength, the perp
tuity and the destiny of the nation re
upon our homes, established by t
law of God. guarded by parental Cal
regulated by parental authority a.
sanctitied by parental love.
These are not the homes of polygam
Ftc II uners II ii land. WHO rule I
- .r - .I.t Jtu'tl .he clliracti
..t . .--s- e.! tI+!T -
ia r,i- g" "rdiua
cr.. al - "a SECURE Il al happ, Iii
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