The Forrest City times., 1893-12-08

shalS clerks of federal courts. and United states comm issionsrs should be abolished with as little delay as possible
 also heartily join the attorney general in recommending legislation fixing degrees or 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 suffciency of an indictment or against the gov ernment 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, tion of such prisons and reformatories as may be necessary for the confinement of United States convicts
 Post Ofice Department.
 The report of the postmaster general con tains detailed statement of the operations of the post office department during the last fiscal year. and much interesting information touch ing this important branch Of the public serv- ice. The busi mess of the mails indicate with b. solute certainty the condition of the business of the country and depression in financial af- fairs inevitably and quickly reduces the postal revenues Therefore.a larger discrepancy than usual between the post office 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- al s report
 HEAVY DEFICIENCIES.
 At a date when better times were anticipated it was estimated by his predecessor that the
  te but little over Sl ,5O) 000. It amounted. how ever, to more than S5.000000. At the same time. under the influence of like anticipations estimates were made for the current fiscal year ending June 30. 1891. which exhibited q surplus of revenue over expenditures Of Ss72."o4 1i. nut now. in view Of the actual receipts and ex- penditures during that part Of the current fiscal year already expired the present post estimates that at it's close, in- stead of a surplus, there will be deiciency of nearly Ss, ,0)0000
 FREE DELIVERY OFFICE ADDITIONS.
 Forty two free delivery offices were added during the year 10 those already existing. making q total of e10 cities and towns provided with free delivery on June 90. 1883 Ninety three other cities and towns are now entitled to this service under the law. but it has not been act orded them on account of insufficient funds to meet the expense ofits establishment am decidedly of the opinion that the provi introduction of this feature of mail service is necessary or justhahle. and that it ought not to be extended to smaller communities than are now designated.
 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 terinina. offices This branch Of the postal service has therefore received much attention from the postmaster-general and though it is gratifying to know that 1t Is In condition Of high efficiency and great usefulness. 1 am led to agree with the postmaster-general that there is room for its further improvement.
 Navy Department.
 The report of the secretary of the navy con tains a history of the operations of hls depart ment during the past year. and exhibits most gratifying condition of the personnel of our navy. He presents satisfactory account of the press which has been made in the con struction of vessels. and makes number of to which attention is espe- cially invited.
 DELAY IN CONSTRUCTION.
 Progress in the construction of new vessels has not leen as rapid as was anticipated There have been delays in the completion Of vessels, but for the most part they nave 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 as agreed. The difficulties seem now, however to have been all overcome. and armor is being delivered with satisfactory promptness.
 RESULTS OF EXPERIENCE.
 As a result of the experience acquired by ship builders and designers and material men it is believed that the dates when vessels will be completed can now be estimated with accuracy Great guns. rapid fire guns. torpedoes and powder are being prompt ly supplied
 LABOR AT NAVY YARDS.
 The method of eu ploying mechanical labor at navyyards through boards of labor and making efficiency the sole test by which labor CTS are employed and continued, is producing the best results, and the secretary is earnestly devoting himself to it's development Atten. tion is invited to the statements of his report in regard to the working Of the system.
 Interior Department.
 The secretary of the interior has the super vision of so many important subjects that his report is of especial value and interest
 THE PENSION ROLL.
 On the 30th day of June 1893 there were on he of s9 944 over the number the rolls, June 20 1892 or these there were seventeen widows and daughters of the revolutionary soldiers; sur vivors of the war of 1872. 5 425 widows of sol diers of that war; 21 SIS survivors and widows of the Mexican war: 3.SS2 survivors and wid ows of Indian wars: 2si army nurses. and 475 s45 survivors and widows and children of de- ceased soldiers and sailors of the war of the rebellion. The latter number represents those on account of disabilities death resulting from army and navy service. The numher of persons remaining on the rolls June 30 1893 who were pensioned under the act of June 27. 1890, which allows pensions on account of death and disability. not chargeable to army service, was 459, l55
 The number added to the rolls dur ing the year was l23 634. and the number dropped was B 96o. The first payments on pen sions allowed during the year amounted to S33. 756 9S This includes arrears or the accu- mutation between the time from which allow ance of pension dates and the time of actually granting the certificates. Although the law of 1890 permits pensions for ,disabilitiey not lated to military service. yet as a requisit to it's benefits disability must exist incapaci tatinR applicants from the performance of labor to such a degree as to render them enable to earn a support"
 Execution of the law in it's early stages does not seem to have been in accord with its true intention but toward the close of the last ad an authoritative construction was given to the statute. and since that time this has been followed This has had the effect of limiting the operation of the law to it's intended purposes.
 PENSION FRAUDS.
 The discovery having been made that many names had been put upon the pension roll by means of wholesale and gigantic frauds, the suspended payments upon a num- Der of pensions whi, seemed to be fraudulent or unauthorized pending a complete examina- tion, giving notice to the pensioners in order that they might have an opportunity O establish If nnssi Lle iha imsticn of thei z