Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-07

W IA NhS -
steel is a question which, il seemsn necessary
TO settle at an carly day if the armored
war vessels are to be completed with those
materials of home manufacture This mas
been the subject of Investigation by two
boards and by two committees of Congress
within the last three years, The report
of
THE GUN FOUNDRY BOARD
in 1884, of the board on Notifications made
in January last, and the reports OF the Sc
lect committees of the two Houses, made
at the last session of Congress, have en-
tirely exhausted the subject so far as pre-
liminary investigation is involved, and IN
their recommendations they are substan-
TALLY agreed.
In the event that the present invitation
of the department forbids to furnish such
Of this material as is now authorized, shall
fail to induce domestic manufacturers TO
undertake the large expenditures required
to prepare for this new manufacture and
no other steps are taken by Congress at Its
coming session, the Secretary contemplates
with dissatisfaction the necessity OF OBJ
tanning abroad the armOr and the gun
steel for the authorized ships. 1t would
seem desirable that the wants of the army
and the navy i'll this regard should he
reasonably met and that by uniting their
contracts, such inducement might be Of
fered rs would result in the demonstrating
of these important interests.
THE Affairs OF THE POSTAL SERVICE
Show marked and gratifying improvement
during past year. A particular account OF
it's transaction and condition is given in
the report of the Postmaster General,
which will be laid before you. The reduc-
ton of the rate of letter postage in 1853,
rendering the postal eyenues Inadequate
to sustain the expenditures, and business
depression also contributing, resulted in
an excess of cost for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1885, of eight
and one-third millions of dollars;
an additional check upon receipts by doub-
ling the measure OF weight in rating
sealed correspOndenccand diminiShingone-
half the charge for newspaper carriage, was
imposed by legislation which took effect
with the beginning of the past fiscal year,
while constant demand of our territorial
utNClOpIltu bliu SiONluS poPuh'''Oh w
the extension and increase of mail tacill-
ties and machinery necessities, and the
steady annual advice in outlay, and the
careful estimate of Il year ago, upon the
rates of expenditure then existing cOntem-
plated the unavoidable augmentation of
the deficiency in the last fiscal year, by
nearly two millions of dollars. The an
ticipated revenue for the last year failed of
realization about S64, 600, but proper meas
ures of economy have so satisfactorily
limited the growth OF expenditure,
fell below that Of 1885.
and at this time increase of revenue is i'll a
gaining ratio over the increase of cash
demonstrating the suficienCy of the present
rates of postage ultimately to sustain the
service. This is the more pleasing be-
cause our people enjoy now, both cheaper
postage prOpOrtiOnately to distances and Il
vastcr and more costly service than any
otherupon the globe.
INFRINGEMENT
has been effected in the cost Of supplies,
some expenditures unwarrantcd by law
have closed and the OUTLAWS for mail car
riage have been subjected to bcne-
fetal scrutiny. At the close Of the
last fiscal year the expense OF
TRANSFORMATION on star routes stood ut an
annual rate of cost less by over $500, 600
than at the close of the previous year and
steamboat ana mail messenger service AT
nearly $500, 600 less. The service has been
in the meantime enlarged and extended by
the establishment Ofnew offices, increase
of rents, of carriages, expansion OF carrier
delivery, cOnvenicnces and additions to
the railway mail facilities i'll accordance
with the growing eXigencieS of the country
and the long established policy of the gov
eminent. The Postmaster Cen
eral calls attention to the exist
ing law for cOmpenSating railroads
aud expresses the opinion that a method
may be devised which will prove more Just
to the carriers and beneficial to the Gov
eminent, and the subject appears worthy
off vour early consideration. The differ
ences which arose during the year with
certain Of the ocean steamship companies
have terminated by the acquieScence Of all
in the policy of the Government, approved
by Congress in the postal appropriations ut
its last session, aud the department DOW
enjoys the utmost service afforded by all
vessels which sail from our ports on
either ocean, service generally
adequate TO the needs of our
intercourse. Petitions have, however,
been presented to the department by nu-
merOus merchants and manufacturers for
the establishment of Il direct service to
the Argentine Republic, and for semi
monthly dispatches to the Empire of
of Brazil, and the subject is commended
To your consideration. 1t is an obvious
duty to provide the means of postal com
municatiOn which IL commerce requires
and with prudent forecast of results the
wise extension of il may lead to Stimulat-
ing intercourse and become the harbinger
of a profitable traffic which will open new
avenues for the disposition of the products
of Il industry. The circumstance of the
countries at the far south of our continent
is such rs to invite our enterprise and at
ford the promise Of sufficient advantages
to Justify an unusual effort to bring about
the closer relations which greater freedom
of communication would lend To eStab-
lish.
| suggest that rs distinguished from a
grant or subsidy for the mere benefit of
any line of trade or travel or whatever out
lay may he required to secure additional
postal service necessary and proper, and
not otherwise attainable should be regard
ed9 neither the limit Of legitimate COM
penSatiOn for such service.
The extension of the free delivery SER
vice as suggested by the Postmaster Cen
eral has heretofore received my sanction
and it is to be hoped a suitable enactment
soon he agreed upon. The request
for an appropriation sufficient to enable the
general inspection Of fourth class offices
has my appreciation. | renew my approval
ofthe recommendation of the Postmaster
General that another assistant be provided
for the POStofice Department, and invite
your attention to the several other recon-
mendations in his report.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The conduct of the Department OF JUS
tice for the last fiscal year is fully detailed
in the report of the Attorney General, and
| invite the earnest attention of Congress
to the same and due consideration of the
recommendations therein contained. In
Tho ror,rt Sr,hpittnI nv thiS nfirar IN tha