The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-04

that the deficiency On June a.. 1859. would be
but little over tl,DuO,00. II amounted. how
ever, TO more than $5O0,m0. At the Same
time. and under the influence of like antici-
pations, estimates were made for the current
fiscal year ending June 30. 1894. which exhib-
tied surplus OF revenue over expenditures of
Ss12,245.1l; but now. In view OF the actual re-
ceipts and expenditures during that part of
the current fscal year already expired, the
present postmaster general estimates that at
its close, instead OF a surplus, there will be
deficiency OF nearly SS,0OO0O.
The total number of postofiices In the United
States on the 3oth day OF June, 1893, was 6s-
4d8, an increase OF 1884 over the preceding
year. or these $500 are presidential, an In
crease IA that class Of ooi over the preceding
year Forty-two free delivery offices were
added during the year 20 those already exist
ing making total OF 6l0 cities and towns pro-
vided with free delivery on June 81. 1893.
Nincty-thrce other cities and towns are now
entitled TO this service under the law, but It
has not been accorded them on account OF In
sufficient funds TO meet the expense OF its es-
tabIishment.
There were 6iol additions TO the domestic
money order Offices during the last fiscal year,
being the largest increase in any year since
the Inauguration OF the system. The total
number of these Offices at the close Of the year
was 1891. There were Ia, ,30o, ,735 money orders
issued from these oAices, being an increase
over the preceding year Of l,S40 co3, and tho
value Of these orders amounted to slss.S'e,-
also issued during the year postal notes
amounting TO Sle90o,o7o.
The total issue Of money orders and postal
notes for the year amounted 70 $l56,s2l ,3ls. "a
The number of letters and packages mailed
during the year for special delivery was
3.375C93. an increase over the preceding year
OF nearly ~ per cent. The special delivery
stamps used upon these letters and packages
amounted TO S337 .669.3p, and the messengers'
fees paid for their delivery amounted to
s256, ,5s2.7l. leaving a profit TO the government
OF $sO.9.6.5e.
the promptness Of mail delivery AZ all Offices,
but it is the especial instrumcntality which
puts the smaller and way places in the service
on an equality in that regard with the larger
and terminal Offices.
.er The Navy.
The report of the secretary OF the navy con-
tains a history of tho operations of his de-
partment during the past year, and exhibits a
most gratifying condition OF the personnel Of
our navy. He presents n satisfactory account
Of the progress which has been made In the
construction OF vessels, and makes a number
OF recommendations to which attention is es-
pecially invited.
During the past six months the demands for
cruising vessels have been many and urgent.
There have been revolutions calling for yes
sells TO protect American interests in Nicar-
aqua. Guatemala, Costa Rica. Honduras. Ar
gentine and Brazil, whilo the condition OF
affairs in Honolulu has required the con-
slant presence Of one or more ships. With all
these calls upon our navy, IL became neces-
sary, in order to make up q sufficient fleet to
patrol the Behring sea under the modus
vivendi agreed upon with Great Britain, to de-
tail TO that service one vessel from the fish
commission and three from the revenue ma
rine.
Progress In the construction Of new vessels
has not been as rapid as was anticipated.
There have tseen delays In the completion of
unarmored vessels, but for the meet part they
have been such as as constantly occurring
even in countries having the largest ex-
perience in naval shipbuiding. The most
serious delays. however, have been In the
work upon armorcd ships. The trouble has
been the failure of contractors to deliver
armor as agreed. The difficulties seem now,
however, to have been all overcome, and
armor Is being delivered with satisfactory
promptness.
While am distinctly in favor of consist
emily pursuing the policy we have inaugur.
ated of building up thorough and efficient
navy. i cannot refrain from the suggestion
that the congress should carefully take into
account the number OF unfinished vessels on
our hands and the depleted condition OF our
treasury in considering the propriety Of an
appropriation az tulb tiIne 10 DeBlu new Woihs
Pensions.
The secretary OF the interior has the super
vision of so many important subjects that his
report is of especial value and interest. On
June 30, 1853 there were on the pension rolls
e56,0l2 names. an increase Of se,eA over the
number on the rolls June 80, 1892.
OF these there were l. widows and daugh-
ters Of revolutionary soldiers, 80 survivors Of
the war of lsle, 542j widows of soldiers Of the
md NJ he
can war, 3Ses survivors and widows OF Indian
wars, 2e4 army nurses, and 475,845 survivors
and widows and children Of deceased soldiers
ard sailors Of the war Of the rebellion. The
latter number represents those pensioned on
account Of disabilities or death resulting from
army and navy service. The number of per-
sons remaining on the rolls June 20, 1898, who
were psnsioned under the act Of June n, 1890,
which allows pensions on account OF death
and disability not chargeable to army service
was 459,l55.
The number added TO the rolls during the
year was l23,63i and the number dropped was
5000. The first payments on pensions al
lowed during the year amounted TO SSs,7S,-
1898. This includes arrears, or the accumu-
lation between the time from which the al
lowance of pension dates and the time Of ac-
tually grantin: the certificate.
Although the law Of 1880 permits pensions
for disabilitic, not related to military service,
yet as a requisite 10 its benefits a disability
must exist incapacitating applicants from
the performance Of manual labor to such
degree as to render them unable to earn sup
port"
The execution of this law In its early stages
does not seem to have been In accord with its
true intention; but toward the close Of the
last administration an authoritative eonstruc-
ton was given to The statute, and since that
time this construction has been followed. This
has had the effect of limiting the operation of
the law TO its intended purpose.
l am unable to understand why frauds In
the pension rolls should not be exposed and
corrected with thorpughncss and yigor.
Every name iraudulcntly put upon these
rolls is q wicked imposition upon the kindly
sentiment in which pensions have their origin.
The sum expended on account of pensions
for the year ending June 30. 1919 was Sl55,s4o.-
s67lL The commissioner estimates that $780,
0J00o0 will be required to pay pensions during
the year ending June 90. 1894.
Our Red brethren.
Our Indians number about $4,000. Most of
them are located on l0l reservations, contain
ing S6,ll053l acres OF land. About 10000 OF