San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-12-05


| is returned TO trade and enterpriSea sur
vey of the situation will probably dis
close a safe path leading to permanent
Iy sound currency abundantly sutfi-
clenJ TO meet every requirement OF our
increasing population and business.
Reference is made to the Brussels
monetary conference and reasons advanc-
ed for It's pOStponment; and greater
authority on the issue of bonds asked for
from Congress.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Army statistics were presented cover
ing the ground OF the report, some days
since published, and giving information
as to progress made n selecting a suit
able arm for infantry troops. The work
of the Military academy at West Point
is commended, and the statement
appended as TO the condition of work on
the National military parks, and the pre-
ServatiOn of the Gettysburg battle lines.
No recommendations are made under this
head.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
The fee system is denounced, and the
enlargement of the powers of [. S. COM
missioner recommended, as also legisla-
ton fixing the degrees of murder within
Federal Jurisdiction, as has been done in
many of the states, authorizing writS of
error on behalf of the government in
cases where final Judgment is rendered
against the sufficiency of an indictment or
against the government upon any other
question arising before actual trial, limit
ing the right of review in case of felony
punishable only by fine and imprisonment,
to the Circuit Court of Appeals, and max
ing speedy provision for the construction
of such prisons and reformatOrieS as may
he nPcess arv for the confinement of United
States c0nvictS.
-~-y1 POSTOFFICES.
The postoffice receipts for the last ts-
cal year amounted to S15 S96. 1888 46 and its
expenditures TO SSl, OH, 1049O. This post
office deficiency would disappear or be
immensely decreased if less matter was
carried free through the mails, an item of
which is upward of 300 tons of seeds and
grain from the agricultural department.
The total number of pOStofficeS in the
United States on June 80 1893, was 90 403.
an increase of l,2Si over the preced.
ing wear. or those 1850. were preS-
Dental: increases in that class of 204 over
the preceding year. FOrty-twO free de-
liv, ry offices were added during the year
IN hose already existing, making a total
Of Go cities ana towns provided with free
delivery on June 30, 1893. Ninety-thr7e
other cities and towns are now entitled TO
this service under the law, but it has not
been accorded them on account of insult
tat liShment.
am of the opinion that the provisions
of the present law permit as general an
introduction of this feature of mail ser
vice as is necessary to. or juStiliable, and
that il is not to be extended to smaller
communities than are now designated
The expense of free delivery for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1894. will be more
than ST. 100000 and under the adminiStra
ton now existing there must be a con-
slant increase in this item Of eXpendi-
lures"
Recommendations cOuched in terms of
glttering generality are appended.
NAVAL MATTERS.
The work of creating a navy Is COM
mended. progress noted, the vessels
named that are already in commission and
those that are under construction. and
the opinion expressed that Congress should
60 slow in making appropriations for
new vessels at this time. He cOmmendS
an examination into the plan Of supply
ing works at the Navy yards through
boards of labor.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
The Indian absorption into the mass of
the people. breaking up tribal relations.
etc. is approved and great confidence ana
qualification expressed as TO what is be-
ing accomplished.
The pension department is ripped up
the back and down the middle, but while
all his elOquence is expended in dpnounC
ing pensions business not one
word is spoken in favor of needy and
dependent body of men whose disabilities
arise from their devotion to country.
The report of the Secretary of Agricul-
ture closes the list Of CatalOgued depart
mPntS, but no recommendation as to any
legislation is made except this:
Il join the Secretary in recommending
that hereafter each applicant for the pO-
SltiOn OF inspector or assistant inspector
eff the bureau of animal industry be re-
Quired as a condition precedent TO his
appointment to exhibit to the United
States civil service commission his diUl0-
ma from an established regular and repu-
table veterinary college and thai this be
supplemented by such an examination in
veterinary science as the commission may
prescribe
The usual buncOme upon civil service
reform (, llows recommendations for econ
Omy of course, and the wind-up is
TARIFF AND REFORM.
Under this head the message outlines
tariff proceedings as they are approved
by the President. This, according to u e
document, is as nearly upon the lines of
free trade as is practicable, even TO
large reduction OF revenue which must
be supplied by internal taxation, and the
whole concludes as follows:
I'm my great desire for the success Of
this measure. | cannot restrain the Sug
geStiOn that its success can only be at
tanned by means of unSelfish counsel on
the part of the friends Of tariff reform and
their willingness to subordinate per
SOnal desires and am billions to the general
good. The local interests affected by the
proposed reforms are so numerous and so
varied that fall are insisted upon the
/ inevitably fail.
In conclusion my intense feeling of re-
Sponsibilfty impels me to invoke for the
manifold interests of a generous and con-
fidinp DeODle the most ScruDulOuS care