Warren sheaf., 1891-12-17
every slbiect % .fl.ti consideration. The ,ci
>entifo corps Of thu department. is CT q hieh
order and is pushing its investigations with
1nethCG and enthusiasm "A'n

] every slbjecs % .fl.ei consideration. The sci
fsentifio corps Of thu department is CT a hieh
Eorder and Is pushing its Investigations with
j$methoG and enthusiasm ~
Our Great Grain Crop
The grain crop OF this year was the largest
IN our hlstory % per cent greater than that Of
last year. and yet the new markets that have
been been opened ne and and the large demand resulting
| from short crops in Europe have sustained
prices to. such an. extent that the enormous
| surplus OF meats and breadstufs will he mar
tt Rerea At gooa PRICES, bringing relief and
pressed. The value Of the grain cron of the
| United States Is Is estimated bv the secretary to
be this year $5OO,OoOOO0 more than last: Of
meats $50 100000 more and Of all products M of
the farm $50 100000 more. 1t is not inappro
pirate, think, here to suggest that our salts
addition to the national wea tn is,unclouded
| by any suspicion OF the currency by which it is
measured and in which the farmer Is paid for
the product OF his fields.
~ The Postal Service.
In the report Of the postmaster general some
! very gratifying results are exhibited and MANY
betterments OF the service suggested ne
rusal OF the report gives. abundant evidence
that the supervision and direction of the postal
system nave been characterized by an inte H.
| gent and conscientious desire to improve the
seryce Iae revenues Of the department show
mate for the year 1893 shows surplus of re-
| ceipts over expenditures. Ocean mail post
ocGs ,b has th peen essaolished upon the steamers
lines. saving, by the distribution on shipboard
| from two to fourteen hours time in the delivery
more than this in the delivery at to interior Ge
| places. So thoroughly has this system, initi-
Jana ated ny Germany ;t and the United States
before 1t is Installed upon all the great ocean
ma1l-carrylng steamships. #5
Eight thousand miles Of new postal service
| nave been established upon railroads, the car
distribution to SUBJ stations in the great cities
has been increased about 19 per cent, while
| the percentage OF errors in distribution has,
during the past year, been reduced over one
! haf. -
Rural Free Delivery.
An appropriation was given by the last con.
ments in free delivery in the smaller cities and
towns. The results Of these experimen have
| been SO satisfactory that the postmaster gen.
eral recommends. and / concur in the recon.
| mendation that the free delivery system be at
! once extended to towns OF 5000 population.
Ocean Mail Post Offices.
Reference is made to the gratifying success
Of the ocean mail post offices established upon
| the steamships OF the North German LLOYD
| and Hamburg lines by which letters are de.
| livered, upon their arrival in port. from two
fourteen hours earlier than under the ola
Iservice have been established upon railroads
and the car distribution to sub-stati MS in
great cities has been increased twelve per
cent The president hopes to see American
vessels carrying the mails in the near future.
Extension of the Money Order System.
1t is stated that over 81, 600 neighhorhoods are
under the present system, receiving mail at
| notes are not issued. The extension of this
| system to these communities is especially de-
sirable, as the patrons OF such Offices are not
possessed of the other facilities offered in more
pOpulous communities for the transmission of
small sums of money.
| 1 have, in a message to the preceding con-
! gress, expressed my views as to the modified
| use OF the telegraph in connection with the
| postal service.
! - New Warships.
| The report OF the secretary of the navy shows
| commission. The Newark, Concord Benning.
ton and Miantonomoh have been added during
the year and an aggregate OF something more
| classes are now under construction in the navy
yards and private shops but while the work
| upon them is going forward satisfactorily the
| yetrequire about years time. Some of the
vessels now under construction 1t is believed,
will be triumphs OF naval engineering. When
it is recollected that the work of building a
| modern navy was only initiated in the year
| 1885, that our naval constructors and ship
builders were practically without experience
| in the construction Of layge iron steel ships,
! that our engine shops were unfamiliar with
| great marine engines and that the manufacture
OF steel fSrglngs for g guns and plates was al
| that has been made is not only highly satisfac-
tory,re but furnishes the assurance that the
United States will before long attain, in the
|
and armamentS, the aeme preeminence
which it attained when ths best tnstrument OF
most impressive exhibit OF naval power the old
wooden three decker man CT war.
Il commend to your favorable consideration
! the recommendation of the secretary who has
I AN sure, given to them the most conscientious
study. There should be no hesitation in prompt
ly completing navy Of the best modern type,
large enough to enable this country to display
it's flag in all seas for the protection Of it's cit
lzens and its extending commerce.
The Indian Question.
Indian affairs are referred to as great length.
The president declares that the provision of
school facilities for Indian children and the
settlement OF Indian adults upon farms are the
two factors which will settle the entire Indian
/ question: He believes that the Sioux had
some cause for their outbreak last winter in
the way OF insufficient rations and the delay OF
| the government in fulfilling its engagements
with them 1t was necessary to reduce them
! to submission, however, and Gen. Miles is
| given high praise for the manner in which he
performed this duty. The president strongly
disapproves of the continuance. of the inde-
| pendent governments of the civilized tribes in
| the Indian territory. and believes that the al
] lottment of lands in severalty should be COM
, menced as soon as possible.
| Pensions.
TIE administration of the. pension bureau
has been characterized during the year by
I great diligence. The total nuInber of pension
/ ers upon the roll on the 30th day of June, 1891,
vas s5e le There were allowed a. during the
I
! OF this number lU2, 3S7 were allowed under the
! law of June 81, 1890. The issuing of certificates
has been proceeding at the rate of about 30, 600
i per month about = per cent. of these being
! cases under the new law. TEe commissioner
! expresses the opinion that he will Le able to
/ carefully adjudcate and allow 350,OO0 claims
\ during the present fiscal year The appropria
/ tion for the payment Of pensions for the fiscal
4 year 1890 81 was Sl27 6S5, 389 and the amount
surplus OF 50, 1885, l44.64. The Commissioner is
quite confident that there VITA be no call this
year for a deficiency appropiaM n notwith-
4 being pushed The mistake which has been
made by many in their exaggerated estimates
OF the cost OF pensions is in not taking account
| under recent legislation. These payments
under the general law have been Tor many
years very cry large, as the penaions;;, ;;,. when al
claim, and most of these claims had
been pending for years: The first payments
under the law Of June 3d. 1899. are relatively
| small, and, as the per cent of these cases in.
| creases and that of the old cases diminishes.
the annual aggregate OF first payments Is
date Of November 49, furnished me with the
statement that during the last four months 49,
| IT'S certificates were issued, 1883 under the
general law and Is, ,sS2 under the act Of June 81,
1889. The average first payment during these
four months was .85, while the average first
payment upon cases allowed during the year
ena9g enat June IN ~ 5 lSsl was eeng re-
these four months Of $1O7.4s. The estimate
for pension expenditures for the fiscal
year ending June 3O 1898. is $144, ,956, COO;
which. after careful examination OF the sub.
ject, the commissioners is OF the opinion will be
suficient. Whi.e these disbursements to the
disabled soldiers OF the great civil war are
large they do not realize tho exaggerated esti-
mates of those who oppose this beneficent leg
islation The secretary of the interior shows
with great fullness the care that is taken to ex-
clude fraudulent claims and also the gratifying
fact that the persons to whom these pensions
are going are men who rendered, not slight,
but substantial. war service.
\ Safety Appliances for Railways.
ton OF congress to the necessity Of legislation
for the projection of the lives Of railroad en-
! ployes but nothing has vet been done. During
the year ending June 80, $780, 1863 brakemen
were killed and 7S41 MANNED while engaged in
coupling cars. The total number of railroad
j employees killed during the year was 2,451, and
| the number injured q, 800. This is cruel and
largely needless sacrifice. The government is
spending nearly S1,Oo0,OOO annually to save
the lives of shipwrecked seamen; every
vessel Is rigidly inspected and re.