Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-05

Of review in cases of felony punishabl
J only by line and Imprisonment 10 the Gin
cult Court Of Appeals, and making speed
provision for the construction of sue
prisons and reformatories as may be neces
sary for the confinement Of United State
Convicts.
CONCERNING POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The report Of the Postmaster Genera
contains a detailed statement Of the opera
tions Of the postofice department durinl
the last fiscal year and much interesting
information touching this important branch
OF the public service.
The business Of the mails indicates witt
absolute certainty the condition OF the
business Of the country and depression il
financial affairs inevitably and quickly re-
duces the postal revenues. Therefore 8
larger discrepancy than usual between the
pOstoffice receipts and expenditures is the
expected and unavoidable result of the
distressing stringency which has prevailed
throughout the country during
much Of the time covered by
the Postmaster Generals report.
AS date when better times were antici-
pated, il was estimated by his predecessor
that the deficiency on the thirtieth day of
June, 1898, would be but little over q
million and half dollars. 1t amounted,
however, TO more than i've millions. At
the same time, and 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 SS72, 245.7l; but now,
in view of the actual receipts aud expendi.
lures during that part Of the current fiscal
year already expired. the present PoStmaS-
er-General estimates that at its close in
stead OF a surplus there will be deficiency
Of nearly eight million dollars.
The postotfice receipts for the last fiscal
year amounted to S76,S96, 933, 10 and its ex-
pendltures 10 $Sl, 074, l04 80. This postoffice
deficiency would disappear or be immense
" decreased if less matter was carried free
through the mails. An item of which is
upward Of three hundred tons Of seeds
and grain from the agricultural depart
ment The total number of postoffices in
the United States on the 30th day of June.
1893, was Us, 403, an increase of 1854 over
the preceding year. OF these 1850 were
an increase in that class of
404 over the preceding yU~-
FOrty-two free delivery offices were added
during the year n those already existing,
making total OF ST. SSslHdarfa end ten cities
June 80, 1898 Ninety-three other ciyilee s
and towns are now entitled r. This service
under the law, but it has III been accorded
them on account of ir'umolent ,fgCSt II
meet the expense Of us eSIa ls.l'9iuS
am decidedly of 'le opinion the provisions
o. the nrese1t iaw permit as general intro
duction of tAis feature OF mail service as is
necesearv or justified, and that 1t
100 not to be extended to smaller
cornmunities than are now designated.
Tbe expense Of free delivery for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1894, will be more than
Sl1, OJO, OOO, and under legislation now exist
inc there must be constant increase Ia
this item Of expenditure.
There were 6,401 additions to the do
nestle mopey-order offices during the last
fscaI wear. being the largest increase in
any wear since the Inauguration Of the
svstem. The total number Of these offices
al the close OF the year was Is, 434 There
were l3, 800, 735 money orders issued IRON
these offices, being an increase over the
preceding year Of l,24O, 29S, and the value
Of these orders amounted to Sl21, $40, 1880,
an increase of $500, 632.5S. There
we're also issued during tue yeaf
postal notes amounting 10 tl2,9O3,Oo.t3
during the year 1876 international money
o,der offices were added 10 those already
nr0vided. making q total Of 2, 407 in opera
lion on June 80, 1898. The number Of in
ternational money orders issued during
the wear was Loss, 1899, an increase over
the preceding year Of T2,525, and their
value was Sl6, 341, s37S6, an increase OF
81 %. 5O6.91 The number of orders paid
was 800. OH, an increase over the preceding
wear of 13. 500, and their value was S5,2S3,
S75 20. an increase Of S94, O94o3.
From the foregoing statement it appears
that the total issue of money orders and
postal notes for the year amounted to Sl56,-
S2l, 34S24.
The railway mail service not only adds
70 the promptness of mail delivery az al
offices. butt is the alinstrumentsllty
which puts the smaller aud way places IN
the service on an equality in that regard
with the larges and terminal offices. This
branch of the mail service has heretofore
received much attention from the Post
master General, and though II IS graufy
inc to know that il is in a condition Of hiSt
eficieucv and great usefulness / am Led Z
agree with the Postmaster General that
there ia room for It's further Improvement
Tbere are now connected with the postonict
establishment q. S24 employees who are II
the classified service. The head OF this
crest department gives conclusive evidence
of the value OF civil service reform wher
after an experience that renders his ludg
msnt on the subject absolutely reliable M
eynresses the opinion that without the ben
eft OF this system 1t would be lmposslol'
to conduct tbs vast business lntrusted u
desire TO recommend as especiall.
worthy of prompt attention the Suggestion
of me Postmaster General relating TO
more seusib and businessllke orgenizatio
and better distribution Of responsibility
in mis- department.
TUE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary Of the Nav
contains a history of the operations OF 81
department during the past year and exhlt
/ its a most gratifying condition Of the pei
/ sonnet of our navy. He presents Sati
! factory account Of the progress which ha
| haen made in the construction OF vessel!
and makes q number Of recommendation
! 70 which attention is especially invited.
/ During the past SIX mouths the o.
napds for cruising vessels have bee
| many and urgent. There have been rev
lutjons calling for vessels to protect Ame
Icsn interests in Nicaragua, Guatamal
Costa Rica, Honduras, Argentine an
| Brazil. while the condition OF aHalrs
| Honolulu has required the constant pre-
| ence Of one or more ships. Win ali the:
calls upon our navy, 1t became necessal
in order to make up sufficient feet
natrol the Behring Sea under the modl
yiyendi agreed upon with Great Brita
n detail TO that service one vessel tro
the hsh commission and three from II
revenue marine.
progress in the construction Of new We
seIshss not been as rapid rs was antlclp
red. There have been delays in the compl
ton of unarmored vessels, but for the mo
part they have been such as are constant
occurring, even in countries having q
Iargeat experience in naval ship bulldln
me anost serious delays. however ha