The morning call., 1891-02-07
EDITORIAL NOTES.

Postmaster General Wanamaker, who believes
the postal service requires number of changes
to make it an efficient one, says the Postmaster
General should be relieved from all clerical
work, SO that he might study postal subjects,
improve upon old methods aud devise plans for
the enlargement and expansion Of the service.
He should be an ex-OfficIO member Of the Senat Re
and House Committees on POstGfices and Post
roads, with the privilege of going upon the floors
OF Congress to explain postal legislation when
under consideration He believes it would be
good policy for the Government 10 pick out the
best trained business man 10 the postal service
and make him the permanent Secretary of the
department, who would always have mastery
OF routine work. He should be good business
manager. All POstoffices where the rental is
$500 year and upward ought to be located in
Government buildings, costing $4,000 and up
ward, according 10 the population OF the town.
In the larger cities the POstofices should be con-
nected with their sub-Statipns by pneumatic
tubes, telephones and telegraphs, and the smaller
cities should be connected by telephones with
PostOffices having telegraph stations. The Post
master-General also believes that postal teIe-
graph and postal savings Office ought to be To-
Gated in the PostOffiees within walking ditance
OF every home and that a free delivery should be
made al least once day from every Office that
receives forty letters and newspapers per day
Again the United States should be divided Into
postal districts, with a Superintendent of Post
offices for each district, who might be the best
Postmaster in the group. All Posmasters should
be graded and employees should have a fixed ten
ure OF office with scale OF promotion according
to merit. While there Is no doubt the adoption
OF number of the Postmaster-GeneraPs sugges.
tions would result in increased efficiency. it is
safe to assert that we are long way of from the
realization Of his ideal.
Why many natives of Europe long for general
disarmament may be seen from The fact that the
total period OF liability TO service Including the
iandstrum. is in Germany rs years. in Austria
%. In Italy 10. In France 25, and In Russia %
Men may be grandfa;hers before the expiration
OF their full terms of serylce. Some idea of the
hghting strength OF the five great nations NAV be
gathered from the annexed figures: Germany
mas 1,ooO,OOO men In line and reserves, $40, 600
militia OF the first call. 100000 militia OF the
second call total without substitute reserves OF
100000. Austro- Hungary has $685. 900 10 line
and reserves, and ABB 900 militia a total of
1880 Italy has $4,000 in line and re-
serves, and $4,000 militia. a total OF l ,22O 600.
France has 10000 In line and reserves,
100000 in the territorial army, force OF
5000, 600 men altogether. Russia has 100 600
field troops, 1888, 600 reserves and substitutes
$4,000 troops for occupation, Id, 900 Cossacks
and Sc. 600 militia and border guards a total OF
2,392,0oo. These figures show Russia and
France can place $500. 900 men 10 the field
against 4.997 900 for the Triple Alliance In
Germany and Russia the landstrum, the militia
OF the very last call, has not been counted In
Austro- Hungary IL numbers 445 900, In Italy
100000, in France 100000. A moderate mil
itary estimate gives total of 100000 men
enrolled altogether In the various arms Of the
service OF the live great nations the active serv-
ice in Austro Hungary, Germany, France and
Italy lasting three years and in Russia five.
The appointment of Colonel FIagler as Chief
OF Ordnance Is considered a guarantee Of a pro-
gressive administration. During the war he was
rewarded with promotions for gallant and meri-
forious services participating In such battles as
Gettysburg, South Mountain. Autietam, Fred
ericksburg aud Chancellorve. The great work
OF bis early army life was performed at the Rock
Island arsenal which lie may be said to have
built. He subsequently took charge OF the
arsenals at Frankfort and WATERFOWL 1t is
calculated that his administration Will be marked
by revivlheation OF the ordnance OF tue army
The GOOD work OF the Fish Commission Is being
noted in all directions Three times as MANY
trout are being distributed this year over the
United States as were propagated last year. For
this purpose Two new trout stations were started
at Neosho, Mo. and Leadyille. During the past
twelvemoDth about 100000 lake and brook
trout were distributed in the shape of eggs and
young fly. OF shad the commission last year
placed about 100000 young fry In waters all
over the Union. The greatest number were