Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-12-12
NO. %,


constructing the navy made during the past
year OF the ships in course OF construction,
five, viz: The Charleston the Baltimore, the
York, the Vesuvius and the Petrol have in that
time been launched and are rapidly approach
ing completion. The Philadelphia, the San
Francisco, the Newark, the Bennington, the
Concord and the Herreshoff torpedo boats are
all under contract for delivery to the depart
menl during the next year.
The progress already made and being made
gives good ground for the expectation that
these eleven vessels will be Incorporated as
part of the American navy within the next
twelve months.
The report shows that Notwithstanding the
large expenditures for new construction, and
the additional labor they involve, the total
ordinary or current expenditures of the de-
partment for the three years ended June 80
1SSS, are less by more than 20 per cent. than
such expenditures for the three years ended
June 30, 1884. The various steps which have
been taken to improve the business methods
OF the Depat tment are reviewed bv the Secre-
tary. The purchasing Of supplies. has been con-
solidated and placed under responsible bu-
reau head. This has resulted the curtai-
ment OF open purchases, which in the years 1884
and 1885 amounted to over so per cent OF all the
purchases of the department, to less than per
cent. so that at the present time about 90 per
cent. of the total departmental purchases are
made by contract and after competition. AS
the expenditures on this account exceed on an
aNtTd26 Oh annually, IL is eNluenL tnaG
an important improvement on the system has
been inaugurated and substantial economies
introduced.
THE PoST-oFFICE.
The report of the Postmaster General shows
a marked increase of business in every branch
OF the postal service. The number of post-offices
on July J. 1888 $3.50 an increase of G, l24 in
three years and OF 2,210 for the last fiscal year.
Free delivery offices have increased from lS9 in
the fiscal year ended June 30. 1887, to 35' in the
year ended June 80, 1888. In the railway mail
service there has been increase in one year of
l6S routes, and in the number of miles travelled
per annum increase OF 150,795, ,917 AS The
estimated increase of railroad service for the
year was 6,060 miles. but the amount of new
railroad service actually put was 12, 76450
miles.
The volume OF business in the money order
division including transactions in postal notes.
reached the sum OF upwards of 143 millions for
the year. During the past year parcel post con-
yentions have been concluded with Barbados
the Bahamas, British Honduras and Mexico
and are now under negotiation with all the
Central and South American States. The in
crease for correspondence with foreign
countries during the past three years is crafty
ing and is especially notable and exceptional
with the Central and South American States
and Mexico. AS the greater part of mail
matter exchanged with these countries is COM
merclal IN its character this increase is evil
dence of the increased business relations with
them.
The practical operation of the parcel post
convention so far as negotiated has served to
fulfil the most favorable prediction as to their
benefits. In January last a general postal con-
vention was negotiated with the Dominion OF
Canada, which went into operation March and
which practically makes one postal territory of
the United States and Canada Under il mer-
chandise parcels may now be transmitted
through the mails at fourth class rates of post
age.
1t IS not possible here to touch even the lead
ing heads OF the great postal establishment to
Illustrate the enormous and rapid growth of the
business and the needs for legislative readjust-
ment OF much of its machinery that ii has out
grown. For these and valuable recommends
tons of the Postma ter General attention is
invited To his report. department whose
revenues have increased from i9T72, O o in 1870
to S527 OOOO in 1885, despite reduction of post
age which have enormously reduced rates of
revenue while daily increasing its business de-
mands the careful consideration of the Congress
rs to all matters suggested by those familiar
with its operations and which are calculated
to increase its efficiency and usefulness.
or the total number of postmasters 54,S74 are
of the fourth class These. of course receive
no allowances whatever for expenses in the SER
vice, and their compensation is fixed by per-
centaG@s on receipts at their respective Offices
This rate OF compensation NAV have been and
probably was, at one time, just but the stand
mas TtHldlneu unchanged through the
erai reductions in the rates OF postage. Such
reductions have necessarily cut down the COM
pensation of these officials while il undoubtedly
increased the business performed by them
Simple justice requires mention OF this sub.
1ect to the end that fourth-oass postmasters
may receive at least an equivalent to that
which the law itself fixing the rate intended for
them.
Another class OF postal employees whose con-
ditIon seems TO demand legislation is that of
clerks in post-offices, and call especial atten-
uon to the repeated recommendations of the
Postmaster-General for their classification.
Proper legislation OF this character for the
relief OF carriers in the free delivery service has
been frequent. Provision is made for their
promotion for substitutes for them on yaca-
ton; for substitutes for holidays and limiting
their hours of labor. Seven million dollars has
peen appropriated for the current year to pro-
vide Tor them, though the total number of Of
fees where they are employed is but 35s for the
past fiscal year, with an estimated increase for
the current year of but forty, while the total
appropriation for all clerks in Offices through
out the United States is IS. $4,000
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
The transactions OF the Department OF Jus
tice for the fiscal year ended June a. 1890 ara
contained in the report OF the Attorney Cen
eral, as well as a number of valuable recon-
mendations, the most of which are repetitions
OF those previously made and ought to receive
SSN''NCiobiOh- IL iS SLuJcu IN THIS reDOrt that
though judgments in civil suits amounting To
s'Ss0Sl.' were recovered in favor OF the Gov
eminent during the year, only the sum of S132
93l was collected thereon; and that thoupb
fines, penalties and forfeitures were imposed
amounting to S54l sGS -, only 81 9,64s42 of that
sum was paid on account thereof
These facts may furnish an illustration of the
sentiment which extensively prevails that a
debt due the Government should cause no in
convenience 10 the citizen
IL also appears from this report that though
PRIOR TO March, 1885, there had been but six
convictions in the Ter itories of Utah and
ldaho under the laws OF 1862 and 1882, punish
ing polygamy ard unlawful cohabitation as
crimes there have been since that date nearly
SIX hundred Convictions under the laws aud
statutes of 1897 aad the opinion is expressed
tha: paaer such firm and vigilant execution of
these laws and the advance Of ideas opposed TO
the forbidden practices, polYgamy within the
United States is virtually at end.
Suits instituted by the Government under
the provisions Of the act of March 3. 1857, for
the termination OF the corporations known as
the perpetual Emigrating Fund Company and
the Church OF Jesus Christ OF Latter Day Saints
have resulted, in q degree, favorable to the
Government, declaring the charters Of these
corporations forfeited and escheating their
property. Such property, amounting in value
10 more than $4,000 is in the hands OF a re-
ceiVer, pending fUrther proceedings. an appeal
having been taken TO the Supreme Court OF the
United States
PUBLIC LAND MAf9BRs
In the report OF the Secretary of the Interior.
which vii 10 LAID before you the condition of
the various branches Of our domestic affairs
connected with that Department and its opera
tions during the past year are fully exhihitcd.
But a brief reference TO some Of the subjects
discussed in this ablo and interesting report
can be here made, but recommend the entire
report 10 the attention OF Congress and trust
that the sensible and valuable recommenda.
tons it contains viii secure careful considera-
ton.
can not too strenuously insist on the i'm
poTtance OF proper measures to insure a right
disposition OF our public lands. not only as a
matter OF present justice but in forecast OF the
consequences TO future generations. The
broad, rich acres Of our agricultural plains have
been long preserved by nature 70 become her