Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-14

are BY NO means lacking IN kind confederation
for the ln0ans. number Of these nrhon.
ers have forfeited their lives TO outrs1sa Ia
and humanity. Experience has provsd thai
they are dangeroue and cannot 30 trusted.
This 70 true not only Of those Who on the var
path have heretofore been Actually sniItv ;. =,
attrecioas murder, but OF their Kindred md
fri.uds who while they remained nnon tha;r
reservation furniahed aid and comfort ~
those absent with bloody Intent These
prisoners should be treated kindly and keot
in rsstrslnt Isr from the locality Of their for
to efforts calculdted to lead to their improvs-
ment and to the softening OF their ssvs~a
and cruel instincts, hut their return IN ths;r
old home should be persistently resisted.
The secretary In his report gives. 4 erephic
history OF !aess Indians and recites WITH
unhappy failure Of the government to man.
age them BY peaceful means. It vtu be
amsz ng II . perusal OF this history viii ALLOW
the survival OF desire for the return Of these
prisoners to their reservation upon senti-
mental or any other grounds.
THE NAVY.
The report Of the secretary OF the navv
demonstrates very intelligent MANAGEMENT Il,
that important department and dtscioses the
1870. PASSAVD A0 luc WOfk OF re.
constructing the navy during the past, year.
VI the ships Ia course Of construction, five.
viz: the Charleston, Baltimore. Yorktown'
vesuvius and The Petrol have In that time
oeen launched and are rapidly approaching
eompletion. and In addition to the shove the
the Bennington, the Concord and the Heres.
ehot torpedo boat, are all under contract for
delivery to the department during the next
yeef: The progress already being made gives
eoed grounus Tor the expectation that these
esey r vessels VIII be Incorporated a. part
monthe. The report shows that notwith-
standing the large expenditures for new con-
stfuction and additional labor they involve,
tne sosal ordinary or current expenditure OF
the department. for the three years ending
ssns ssss sss ny more than 70
years ending June 30, 1884. The various
steps which have been taken to improve the
business methods Of the department are re
viewed BY the secretary. The purchasing Of
supplies has been consolidated and placed
under responsible bureau head. This has
resulted In the curtailment Of open purchases.
which In the years 1884 and 1885 amounted to
over 50 per cen s.sof all purchases Of the de-
partment, to the loss Of II per cent, 60 that
at the present time about 90 per cent. of the
total departmental purchases are made by
contract, and after competition, as the expend-
ttures on that account saved on an average
81, OO0,O 900 annually aud it is evident that an
important improvement In the system has
been inaugurated and substantantial econ,
omies introduced
THE pOsTOFFICEs.
The report of the postmaster general shows
. marked increase of business In every
branch Of the postal service. The number
increase OF 9, 124 in three years and Of 2,219
for the last fiscal year. The latter men
toned increase is classified Is follows: New
England states, S; middle states, 1871;
southern states and Indian Territory, 1,4O6;
the states and territories Of the Pacific coast,
l9c; the ten states and territories Of the west
and northwest, 1876; District Of Columbia, Q;
total 2, 219. The free delivery Offices have
increased 1879 in the fiscal year ended June
so. 1887; to 1853 in the year ended June 80,
1888. In the railway mail service there has
been An average increase in one year of l6S
routes and In the number Of miles Travelled
per annum, an increase of $50, 195, .48.
The estimated increase Of the railroad ser
vice for the year IL 600 miles, but the amount
Of new railroad service actually put on was
1,276, $50 miles.
The volume Of business in the money order
division inclu ling q transaction in postal
notes, reached the sum of upwards of $l4t,-
O00, 600 for the year. During the past year
parcel post conventions have been concluded
with the Barbados, the Bahamas, British
negotiations with all the Central and South
American states. The increase of cores
pondence with foreign countries during the
past three years is gratifying and is especially
notable and exceptionable with the Central
and South American states and with Mexico.
As the greater part of mail matter exchanged
with these countries 10 commercial in
character, this increase is evidence of the
improved business relations with them. The
practical operation Of the parcel post con-
vention, SO far as negotiated, has served to
ful6ll the most favorable predictions as to
postconvention was negotiated with the domfn
ton of Canada, which went into operation on
March l, and which practically makes one
postal territory of the United States and
Canada. Under 1t merchandise parcels may
now be transmitted through the mails atfourth
class rates of postage. II is not possible here
to touch even the leading heads of the gov
eminent postal establishment to illustrate the
enormous and rapid growth OF ts business
and the needs for legislative adjustment OF
much of its machinery that it has outgrown:
For these and valuable recommendations OF
our postmaster general attention is earnestly
invited to his report. The revenues in this
department have increased from S10, az, GOO
In 1870 to $52, 200, QUO in 1885, despite the re-
ducti0n Of postage which has enormously re-
duced the receipts OF revenue, while greatly
increasing its business demands. The care.
full consi Iteration of the congress as to all
matters suggested by those familiar with its
operation and which are calculated to increase
It's efficiency and Usefulness is suggested.
A bill proposed BY the postmaster general
was introduced at the last session OF congress
by which . uniform standard In the amount
OF gross receipts would fix the right OF COM
munity to public building to be erected By
the government for postotace purposes. ,a It
was demonstrated that aside from the public
convenience and the promotion Of harmony
among citizens, invariably disturbed BY tn, the
Of highest economy and Of sound business
Judgment. It was found that the govern
ment was paying in rents At the rate OF from rom
of such public bulldogs would be. A very
great advantage resulting from such lay y.
would be the prevention Of large number 9.
bills constantly introduced for the erection OF
public buildings at places and involving e1;
psndtture not justided BY public necessity ,s :.
the nresent session of congress. OF the total
number Of postmasters, ASA are OF the =,
fourth class These Of course receive NO al
for in the service