The herald., 1893-12-04

l3, ,OU3, ana t0oir Vaiue WAS 20, 2oO, NOW,
an increase of $9i ,094.SS. From the
foregoing statements it 2ppears that the
total issue OF money order and postal
notes for the year amounted to Sl56. .S2l,-
S4S "a.
The number of letters and packages
mailed during the year for special deliv-
cry was 3, 375, ,603, an increase over the
preceding year of nearly % per cent,
the special delivery stamps used upon
these letters and packages amounted to
S,37. .559. 80, and the messengers fees
paid for their delivery amounted to
$256, ,592.7l, leaving profit to the gov
ernment of $50, 1859.
The railway mail service not only adds
to the promptness of mail delivery at
sll offices, but it ia the especial instru-
mentality which puts the smaller and
way places in the service on an equality
in that regard with the larger and term
inal Offices. This branch OF the postal
service has received more attention from
the postmaster general, and though it is
gratifying to know that n is in condi-
tion of high efficiency and great useful
ness. am led to agree with the post
master general that there.is room for its
further Improvement.
There are now connected with the
po5soffice establishment 2S,324 en-
ployes who are III the classified service.
The head of this great department gives
conclusive evidences of the value of civil
service reform, when after an experience
that renders his Judgment on the sub
iect absolutely reliable, he expresses
the opinion that without the benefit OF
this system it would be impossible to
conduct the vast business entrusted to
him.
l desire to commend as especially
worthy of prompt attention the sug-
gestons of the postmaster-general rela-
tive to more sensible and business
like organization and better distribu-
tion of responsibility in his department.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT..
The report of the secretary of the
navy contains history OF the operations
of bis department during tine past year
and exhibits q most gratifying condition
of tbs personnel of our navy. He
points to the satisfactory account of the
progress which has beeE made in the
construction OF vessels, and makes a
number of reconmendAtions, to which
attention is especially invited.
During the past six months the de-
mands for securing vessels have been
many and frequent. There have been
revolutions calling for vessels to protect
American interests in Nicaragua, Guate-
mala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Argentine
and Brazil, while the condition of affairs
in Honolulu has required the constant
presence of one or more ships. With all
these calls upon our navy, it became
necessary in order to make up a suffi-
cient fleet to patrol the Bering sea under
the modus vivendi agreed upon with
Great Britain, to detail to that service
one vessel from the fish commission and
three from the revenue marine.
Progress in the construction OF new
vessels has not been as rapid as was an
ticipated. There have been delays in
the completion of unarmed vessels, but
for the most part they have been such
ss are constantly occurring, even in the
countries having the largest experience
in naval ship building. The most seri-
GUS delay, however, has bean the work
upon armored ships. The trouble has
been the failure of contractors to de-
liver the armor as agreed. The Difficult
ties seem now, however, to have been
all overcome and armor is being deliv-
cred with satisfactory promptness.
As result of the experience acquired
by shipbuilders, designers and material
men, it is believed that the, dates when
vessels will be comrleted can now ba
estimated with Iessonable' accuracy.
Great guns, rapid firing guns- torpedoes
and powder are being prompt
lv supplied. The following ves-
sells OF the new navy have been COM
pleted and are now ready for service: {:
The double turretted coast defense moni-
tor Miantonomah, the double turretted
coast defense monitor Monterey, the
armored cruiser New York, the pro-
tected cruisers Baltimore, Chicago,
Philadelphia, Newark, San Francisco,
Charleston, Atlanta and Boston. the
cruiser Detroit, the gun boats Yorktown,
Concord, Bennington, Machias. Castine
and Petrol, the dispatch vessel Dolphin.
the practice vessel Bancroft and the
dynamite gunboat Vesuvius. OF these
the Bancroft, Machias, Detroit and Cas-
tine have been placed in commission
during the current calendar year.
The following vessels are in progress
of construction: The fret class battle
ships Maine and Texas, the cruisers
Montgomery and Marblehead, and the
coast defese monitors Terror, Puritan
Amphitrite and Monadnock, which viii
be completed within year, the harbo
defense ram Katahdin, the protected
cruisers Columbia, Minneapolis, Olym
pia, Cincinnati and Raleigh, all OF whicl
will be completed prior to July l, 1890
the first class battleships Iowa, Indiana
Massachusetts and Oregon, which vii
be completed February l, 1896. and tn
armored cruiser Brooklyn which will b
completed by August l of that year.
is also expected that the three gnnboat
authorized by the last congress will b
completed within two yeare.
Since 1886 congress has at each ses
sion authorized the building of one o
more vessels, and the secretary OF tn
navy presents an earnest plea for tn
continuance OF the plan. lie recon
mends the authorization of at least on
battle ship and six torpedo boats.
While am distinctly in favor OF cor
sistently pursuing the policy we hav
inaugurated of building up a thoroug
and efficient navy, | cannot refral
from the suggestion that congrel
should carefully take into account th
! number of unfinished vessels on OF
hands and the depleted condition OF OF
treasury in considering the propriety
. an appropriation at this time to begi
new work.
The method OF employing mechanics
labor at the navy yards through board
of labor and making efficiency the so
test by which laborers are employe
and continued is producing the be-
results. and the secretary is earnestl