Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-12-15
re by no means YAskinx IN KING confederation

path have heretofore been actually guilty OF
attrocious murder, but OF their kindred and
friends who while they remained upon their
reservation furnished aid and comfort to
those absent with bloody intent. These
prisoners should be treated kindly and kept
In restraint far from the locality OF their for
mer reservations. They should be subjected
to efforts calculated to lead to their improve
ment and to the softeulng OF their savage
and cruel instincts, hut their return 10 their
Old home should be persistently resisted.
The secretary In his report gives a graphic
history OF these Indians and recites with
painful ylvtdnees th~ir bloody deeds and the
unhappy failure OF the government to man
age them by peaceful means. 1t will be
amazing II a perusal OF this history will allow
the survival Of a desire for the return OF these
prisoners 10 their reservation upon septi-
mental or any other grounds.
THE Nav
The report Of the secretary OF the navy
demonstrates very intelligent management III
that important department and discloses the
most satisfactory progress ia the work of re-
constructing the navy during the past year.
OF the ships In course Of construction, five,
viz. the Charleston, Baltimore, Yorktown,
Vesuvius aud The Petrol have in that time
been launched and are rapidly approaching
completion, and Ia addition to the above the
Philadelphia, The San Francisco, the Newark,
the Bennington, the Concord aud the HERES
shot torpedo boat, are all under contract for
delivery 20 the department during the next
year. The progress already being made gives
good grounds for the expectation that these
eleven vessels will be incorporated rs a part
OF the American navy Within the next twelve
months. The report shows that notwith-
standing the large Expenditure for new CON
structiOn and additional labor they involve,
the total ordinary or current expenditure of
the department for the three years ending
June 80, lSSS, are less by more than 20 per
anHt flan .fr.I 80 -nl 10 10. g.. aI. fIr4a
years ending June 80, 1854. The various
steps which have been taken 10 improve the
business methods OF the department are re
viewed by the secretary. The purchasing of
supplies mas been consolidated and placed
under a responsible bureau head. This has
resulted IN tue curtailmcnt of open purchases,
which in the years 1854 and lSs5 amounted TO
over 30 per cent. Of all purchases OF the de-
partneut, - the loss OF ii per cent, 20 that
at the present tune about 80 per cent. OF the
total departmental purchases are made by
contract, and after competition, as Tie cXpend-
lures on that account saved on an average
$2,0Od,Uo0 annually and II IS evident that an
important improvement IN the system has
been inauGa.a)cd and eubstantantisl econ
Omies introduced.
THE PosrofFICrs.
The report OF the postmaster general shows
n marked increase Of business in every
branch Of the postal service. The number
Va l'VHN'AllHN0 VIZ tuiN - 4NnDs was bfBDsDs al
increase of &, IA In three years and Of 2,2l9
for the last fiscal year. The latter men
toned increase is classified As follows: New
England states, ;; middle states, ISL;
southern states and Indian Territory, 1905;
the states and territories OF the Pacific coast,
1872; the ten states ard territories Of the west
and northwest, 43J; District Of Columbia. p;
total 2,2l9. The tree delivery offices have
increased lS9 in the fiscal year ended june
30, 1857 10 35S I'm the year ended June 30,
lsss. Ia the railway mail service there has
been an average increase in one year Of GS
routes and in the number Of miles travelled
per annum, an increase Of 100, 19J,
The estimated increase 81 the railroad SER
vice for the year Is COO miles, but the amount
OF new railroad service actually put on was
1,216,450 miles.
The volume q business I'm the money order
division inclu ling "a transaction in postal
notes. reached the sum Of upwards OF Sl4',-
600 600 FOR the year. During the past year
parcel post conventions have been concluded
with Inc Barbados, the Bahamas, British
Honduras and Mexico, ard are now under
negotiations with all he Central and South
American states. The increase OF cores
pOndcuCe with foreign countries during the
past three years Is gratifying ard 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 Is commercial In
character, this increase Is evidence Of the
improved business relations with them. The
practical operation Of the parcel post con
v%entiOn, so far as negotiated, has served to
fulfil the most favorable predictions as TO
their benefits. In January last a general
post convention was negotiated with the domin
ton Of Canada, which went into operation on
March ! and which practically makes one
postal territory OF the United States and
Canada. Under il merchandise parcels may
now be transmitted through the meils at fourth
class rates Of postage. II is not possible mere
to touch even the leading heads OF the gov
eminent postal establishment to illustrate the
enormou and rapid growth OK ite business
and the needs for legislative REIMBURSEMENT Of
much OF its machinery that 1t has Outgrown.
For these and valuable recommendations Of
our postmaster general attention il earnestly
invited to his report. tn revenues in this
department have increased from $40, 172, 1000
IN 1870 to S52, 200, 600 in 1SSS, despite the re-
ducttOn Of postage which has enormously re-
duced the receipts Of revenue, while greatly
increasing its business demands. The care
full consideration or the congress as TO all
matters suggested by those familiar with ;ts
operation and wnWe are calculated 10 Increase
80 efficiency and usefulness is suggested.
A bill proposed by the postmaster general
was introduced at the last session Of congress
by which a uniform STANDARD in the amount
OF gross receipts would fix the right OF q COM
munity to a public building ID be erected 10y
the government for postoflice purposes. 1t
was demonstrated tnht ASIDE from the puOllc
convenience and the promotion OF harmony
among citizens, invariably disturbed by the
change and leasing OF a site, it was a measure
Of highest economy and of sound business
Judgment. IL was found that the govern
ment was paying in rents at the rate of from
to 10 per cent. per annum on what tie cost
of such public buildings would be. A very
great advantage resulting from such law
would be the prevention OF a large number Of
bills constantly introduced for the erection Of
public buildings at places and involving ex-
penditure not justified by public necessity. /
trust that this measure will become a law n
the present session of congress. OF the total
number Of postmasters, ~, S14 are Of the
fourth class. These Of course receive no al
lowances whatever for expenses In the service
and their compensation is fixed 10y percentage
on receipts of their respective Offices. This rate
Of compensation may have been and probably
wae, 81 some time just, but the standard hss
remained unchanged through the
several reductions in the rates Of postage.
Such reductions have necessarily cut
the compensation of these officials, while It
undoubtedly increased the business per-
formed by them. Simple justice requires
attention 10 this subject, to the END that
fourth class 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-