The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1893-12-08
nURgAu or arffrAnr t.FoRMAr1es

Robert Williams. lately retired, the bureau OF
military Information has become well estab-
lished, and Is performing service that will put
in possession of the government In time OF war
most valuable Information; and at all times
serve a purpose Of great utility In keeping the
army advised of the worlds progress in all mat
ters pertaining to the art OF war.
Department of Justice.
The report or the attorney-general contains
ings OF the department of justice for the past
rear together with certain recommendations
as to needed legislation on various subjects. I
can not too heartily indorse the proposition
that the fee SYSTEM as applicable TO the COM
pensation Of United States attorneys mar
shals. s.clerks Of federal courts and United States
commissioners should be abolished with as
little delay as possible.
/ also heartily join the attorney general IN
recommending legislation fixing 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
sufficiency Of an Indictment or against the gov
srnment upon any other question arising be-
fore actual trial; limiting the right of review
in case of felony punishable only by fine and
Imprisonment to the circuit court OF appeals,
and making speedy provisions for the construc-
tion of such prisons and reformatories as may
be necessary for the confinement OF United
States convicts
Post once Department.
The report of the postmester-general con-
tains detailed statement OF the operations OF
the post ONCE department during the last fiscal
year and much interesting information touch
ing this important branch of the public Serv-
ice. The business OF the mails Indicate with abb
Solute certainty the condition OF the business
of the country. and depression In financial az
fairs inevitably and quickly reduces the postal
revenues. Therefore,a larger discrepancy than
usual between the post ONCE receipts and ex-
penditures Is the expected and unavoidable re-
suit of the distressing stringency which has
prevailed throughout the country during much
of the time covered by the postmaster-gener-
ais report.
HEAVY DEFICIENCIES.
AT a date when better times we're anticipated
it was estimated by his predecessor that the
deficiency on the 30th day of June, 1893, would
be but little over 81 100000. 1t amounted. how
ever to more than S5OOO,0O0 At the same
time, under the influence of like anticipationS,
estimates were made for the current fiscal year
ending June 80, 1894. which exhibited a surplus
of revenue over expenditures of $872.254.7l, but
now, in view OF the actual receipts and ex-
penditures during that part of the current
fiscal year already expired, the present post
master-general estimates that at its close, in
stead of surplus, there will be deficiency OF
nearly SS,000,000
FREE DELIVERY OFFICE ADDITIONS.
Fortytwo free delivery ofices were added
during the year to those already existing,
making total of go cities and towns provided
with free delivery June 30 1893. Ninety
three other cities and towns are now entitled
been accorded them on account OF insufficient
funds to meet the expense oflts establishment
/ am decidedly OF the opinion that the provt-
sions of the present law permit as general an
introduction of this feature of mail service as
is necessary or justihable, and that 1t ought
not to be extended to smaller communities
than are now designated.
EXPENSE OF FREE DELIVERY.
The expense of free delivery for the fiscal
$1I 900, 600 and underlthe administration now
existing there must be q constant increase in
this item of expenditures. There were 6,40l
additions to the domestic money order ofhoes
during the last fiscal year. being the largest in
crease in any year since the inauguration or
the system. The total number of these offices
Mt ho Ql lnSo nf fhp uaa
RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE.
The railway mail service not only adds to
the promptness of mail delivery at all offices,
but it is the especial inStrumentality which
puts the smaller and way places in the service
on an equality in that regard with the larger
and terminal offices. This branch OF the postal
service has therefore received much attention
from the pos ostp1aster-general. and though it is
gratifying to know that it is in a condition of
high efficiency and great usefulness, am led
to agree with the postmaster-general that
there is room for it's further Improvement
THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE
There are now connected to the post ONCE
establishment 28, 324 employees who are in the
classified service. The head of this great de-
partment gives conclusive evidence of the
value of civil service reform when after an
perience that renders his judgment on the sub
ject absolutely reliable he expresses the opin-
ion that without the benefit of this system 1t
would be impossible to conduct the vast bust
ness intrusted to him. 1 desire TO commend
especially worthy of prompt attention the
suggestions of the postmaster general relating
to a more sensible and business-like organiZa-
tion and better distribution of responsib bility
in his department.
Navy Department.
The report OF the secretary of the navy con-
tains history of the operations of his depart
ment during the past year. and exhibits most
gratifying condition of the personnel of our
navy. He presents q satisfactory account OF
the press which has been made in the con-
struction of vessels. and makes number of
recommendations to which attention is espe-
cially invited
DELAY IN CONSTRUCTION
Progress in the construction of new vessels
has not been as rapid as was anticipated.
There have been delays in the completion of
unarmored vessels, but for the most part they
have been such as are constantly occurring
even in countries having the largest experience
in naval snip building. The most serious de-
lays. however. have been in the work upon
armored ships. The trouble has been the
failure of contractors to deliver armor
agreed The dificulties seem now however
to have been all overcome. and armor is being
delivered with satisfactory promptness.
RESULTS OF EXPERIENCE
AS result of the experience acquired by
ship builders and designers and material
men IL is believed that the dates when vessels
will be completed can now be estimated with
reasonable accuracy. Great guns. rapfd-fre
guns, torpedoes and powder are being prompt
ly supplied.
THE NEW NAVY
The following vessels of the new navy have
been completed and are now ready for service:
The double-turreted coast-defense monitor Mi
antonomoh: the double-turreted coast-defense
monitor Monterey; the armored cruiser New
York: the protected cruisers Baltimore, Chicago,
Philadelphia. Newark. San Francisco. Charles
ton Atlanta and Boston; the cruiser Detroit
the gunboats Yorktown. Concord, Bennington.
Machias. Castine and Petrol: the dispatch YES
sci Dolphin, the practice vessel bancroft, and
the dynamite gun boat Vesuvius. OF these the
Bancroft Machias, Detroit ard Castine have
been placed in commission during the current
calendar year.
IN PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION.
The following vessels are in process of con-
struction: The second class battleships Maine
and Texas; the cruisers Montgomery and Mar
tors Terror, Puritan, Amphitrite and
Nonadnock. all OF which will be
completed within one year; the harbor-defensc
Iumbia, Minneapolis, Olympia, Cincinnati and
Raleigh. all of which will be completed prior
indiana. Massachusetts and Oregon. which will
be completed February !. 1896 and the armored
cruiser Brooklyn, which will be completed by
August OF that year. 1t is also expected that
the three gunboats authorized by the last con-
gress will be completed in less than two years.
PLEA FOR MORE SHIPS.
Since 1885 congress has at each session
thorized the building OF one or more vessels,
and the secretary OF the navy presents an
earnest plea for the continuance of this plan.
He recommends the authorization of at least
one battle-ship and six torpedo boats While
/ am distinctly in favor of consistently pursu-
ing the policy we have OF building up thor
ough and efficient navy, can not refrain from
the suggestion that congress should carefully
take into account the number of unfinished
vessels on our hands and the depleted condi-
tion OF our treasury IN considering the
propriety of appropriation at this time to
begin new work.
LABOR AT NAVY YARDS.
The method OF en- ployinz mechanical labor
at navy-yards through boards of labor and
making efficiency the sole test by which labor
ers are employed and continued is producing
the best results, and the secretary is earnestly
devoting himself TO its development. Atten-
tion is invited to the statements Of his report
in regard TO the working Of the system