The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-12-12

10 secure from the established lines an i'm |
proved service as q condition Of giving 20 |
them the benefits OF tho law. This, In all IN /
stances, has been attained. The posmaster |
general estimates that an expenditure In Amer |
lean shipyards Of about Sl0,000O00 will be nee |
essary 70 enable the bidders 10 construct the |
ships called for BY the service which they have |
accepted.
lido not think there Is any reason for dlsoOur- |
agement or for any turning back from the pol |
icy Of this legislation. Indeed a good begin |
ming has been made, and M the subject is |
further considered and Understood by capital |
lists and shipping people, new lines will be ready
to meet future proposals, and We may date |
from the passage OF this law the revival Of |
American shipping interests and the recovery |
of fair share Of the carrying trade OF the |
world. We were receiving for foreign poctage |
nearly S2,0000O0 under the old system and the |
outlay for ocean mail service did not exceed |
SG00,0OO per annum. Il Is estimated by the
postmaster general that, n all the contracts |
proposed are completed, Il will require S2i7. .354
for this year in addition to the appropriation
for sea and inland postage already In tho esti-
mates, and that for the next fiscal year, ending
June 30, 1893, there would probably be needed
about s5OO0O.
The New Navy.
The report Of the secretary Of the navy shows
gratifying increase Of new naval vessels In
commission The Newark, Concord, Benning-
ton and Miantonomoh have been added during
tho year, with an aggregate Of something more
than II, 600 tons. Twenty-four warships Of all
classes are now under construction in the navy
yards and private shops, but, while the work
upon them Is going forward satisfactorily, the
completion Of the more important vessels will
yet require about a years time. Some OF the
vessels now under construction, It Is beloved,
will be trlumphs Of naval engineering.
When It is recollected that the work Of
building modern navy was only initiated in
the year 1885, that our naval constructors and
shipbuilders were practically without expert
ence In the construction Of large iron or steel
ships, that our engine shops were unfamiliar
with great marine engines, and that the manu-
faoturo Of steel forgings for guns and plates was
almost wholly foreign industry, the progress
that has been made Is not only highly satisfac-
tory, but furnishes the assurance that the
United States will before long attain, in the
construction Of such vessels, with their engines
and armameuts, the same pre-eminence which
1t attained when the best instrument Of ocean
commerce was the clipper ship and the most
impressive exhibit OF naval power the old
wooden three decker man-of-war.
The officers of the navy and the proprietors
and engineers Of our great private shops have
responded with wonderful intelligence and
professional zeal to the confidence expressed
| by congress In It's liberal legislation. We have
now at Washington n gun shop, organized and
conducted by naval officers, that in its system,
economy and product is unexcelled. Experi-
ments with armor plate have been conducted
during the year with most important results.
It is now believed that plate Of higher resist
ing power than any in use has been found, and
that tho tests have demonstrated that cheaper
methods of manufacture than those heretofore
! thought necessary can be used.
l commend TO your favorable consideration
the recommendations of the secretary, who
has, am sure, given to them the most consci-
entious study.
The Department of the Interior.
The report OF the secretary of the interior
! ah hnt n M
made in all Of the bureaus which make up that
| complex and difficult department.
1.-THE presidents remarks on the work Of the
| bureau Of Indian affairs and on the general In
dian situation are lengthy. Several recon-
mendatlons are made therein to congress.l
The Pension Bureau.
The administration Of the pension bureau
| has been characterized during the year by
| great diligence. The total number Of pension
ers upon the roll on the 3Oth day Of June, 1891,
| was 670,l60. There were allowed during the
! fiscal year ending at that time 2jO565
| cases. OF this number l02,3S7 were allowed
under the law of June q, 1890. The issuing of
certificates has been proceeding at the rate OF
| about $1,000 per month, about 20 per cent. of
| these being cases under the new law. The
commissioner expresses the opinion that he
will be able 10 carefully adjudicate and allow
! $4,000 claims during the present fiscal year.
| The appropriation for the payment Of pensions
for the fiscal year 1901 was Si27 6S5, $3.50, and
!
unexpended surplus Of S9,l55,ll64
The commissioner is quite confident that
| there will be no call this year for a deficiency
| appropriation, Notwithstanding the rapidity
with which the work is being pushed. The
! mistake which has been made by many In
their exaggerated estimates Of the cost Of pom
sions is in not taking account of the dimin-
| ished value of first payments under the recent
legislation. These payments, under the gem
ernl law, have been for many years very large
as the pensions, when allowed, dated from the
time of filing the claim, and most of these
| claims had been pending for years. The first
payments under the law of June, 1890, are rela-
lively small, and, the per cent. of these
cases increases and that Of the old cases dimin.
ishes, the annual aggregate of first payments
Is largely reduced.
The commissioner, under date of Nov. 49,
furnishes me with the statement that during
the last four months 1910 certificates were
Issued, q ,S93 under the general law and IS ,2S2
under the act OF June q, 1890. The average
first payment during these four months was
Sl3l.s5, while the average first payment upon
cases allowed during the year ending June 30,
1891, was s23933, being a reduction in the aver
age first payments during these four months
Of Sl07.4S.
The estimate for pension expenditures for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, is s144, ,9j8
900, which, after a careful examination Of the
subject, the commissioner is Of the opinion
will be sufficient. While these disbursements
| 70 tne disabled bOlulers OF Lne great civil war
are large, they do not realize the exaggerated
estimates of those who oppose this benehcent
Legislation. The secretary of the interior
shows with great tullness the care that Is taken
10 exclude 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.
| THE president here refers briefly to the rail-
roads, the census, the territories, repression Of
| polygamy and town government in Alaska.l
The Department Of Agriculture.
If the establishment Of the department Of
agriculture was regarded by any one as a mere
concession to the unenlightened demand Of a
worthy class Of people, that impression has
, been most effectually removed by the great re-
suits already attained. Its home influence has
been very great In disseminating agricultural
and horticultural information; in stimulating
and directing a further diyersinCation Of crops;
IN ueteotlhg anu e5halcatlhg diseases OF 10
nestle animals; and, more than all, in the close
and informal contact which II has established
and maintains with the farmers and stock
for information has had prompt attention and
every suggestion merited consideration. The
order and Is pushing its investigations with
method and enthusiasm.
J The inspection by this department Of cattle
( and pork products intended for shipment
abroad has boon the basis of the success which
has attended our efforts TO secure the removal
OF the restrictions maintained by the European
For ten years protests and petitions upon
this subject from the packer and stock raisers
OF the United States have been directed against
these restrictions, which seriously limited
our markets and curtailed the profits of the
larm. Il is a source Of general eongratulation
that success has at last been attained, for the
effects Of an enlarged foreign market for these
e meats will be felt, not only by the farmer, but
: IN our public finances and in every branch OF
p trade,
E Il is particularly fortunate that the increased
demand for food products, resulting from the
removal Of the restrictions upon our meats
and from the reciprocal trade arrangements 10
e which have referred, should have come at a
I time whom the agricultural surplus is so large.
) would have prevailed. The secretary Of agri-
culture estimates that the restrictions upon
the importation OF cur pork products into Eu-
{ rope lost US market for S0,O00OO worth Of
lhese products annually
! The grain crop Of this year was the largest in
/ pur history, and yet the new markets and tho
b larger demand resulting from short crops in
! Europe have sustained prices, bringing relief
5na ana prosperity to an Industry that was much
, The value Of the grain crop of the United
states Is estimated 10y the secretary 20 be this
] year S5OUOOO more than last, and OF all
4 products Of the farm sl00O0O,O0O more. IL is
I not Inappropriate TO suggest that our sat
lstactlon is unclpuded by any suspicion of the
e product Of his fields.
The Civil Service Commission.
The civil service commission invites a per-
e sonal inspection by senators and represent
!, auyes Of its records and methods. Il Is not
= claimed that the system orits administration
1 q perfect, but believe that the law Is being
! executed with impartiality and that the sys-
: tem II incomparably better and faiTer than
thht OF appointments upon favor. / have dur
ing the year extended the classified service to
2 lheiuqe superinteudcuts, teachers, matrons
= and physicians in tho Indian service.
"A 1he heads Of the several executive depart
ments have been directed 10 establish at once
an eihclency record as the basis of a compare
= i've rating Of the clerks within the classified
o service with a view 20 placing promotions
a therein upon the basis OF merit,
= recommend that the appropriations for the
a clFil service commission be made adequate 10
the Increased work of the next fiscal year.
8 A Protest Against the Gerrymander.
4 | Ihe meth0d of annointnent by Lha statas of