The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-12-05

trial: litnitinr the right oil review in
cases OF felony punishable only by. line
and IMPRISONMENT to the circuit court
OF appeals, and making speedy pro-
vision for the construction oil such
prisons and reiormatories as NAV be
necessary for the confinement oil United
States convlcts.
THE POSTAL SERVICE
The report of the postmaster general
contains n detailed statement Of the
operations of the postoilico department
during the last fiscal year and much in
teresting information touching tins I'M
portant branch OF the public service.
The business OF the mails indicates
with absolute certainty the condition oil
the business Of the country and depEes-
sion in financial affairs inevitably and
quickly reduces the postal revenues.
therefore large: discrepancy than
usual between tho postofiiro receipts
and expenditures is the expected aud
unavoidable result 1t tue, distressing
stringency which has prevailed through
out the country during much OF the
time covered by the postmaster gene
RAILS report.
At a date when better times were an
ticipated it was estimated by his prede-
cesso- that the deficiency OH the 3Oth
dav OF June, 1898 would DO but u little
over n million and y hall dollars. 1t
amounted, however, to more than lve
millions. At the same time, aud under
the influences OF like anticipations, est,
mates were made for the current fiscal
wear ending June 30, 1891, which eS-
hibited surplus OF revenue over eX-
pendituro OF SS72,245 II; but now, IN
view OF the actual receipts aud eEpehdi-
lures during that part OF the current
fi.cal wear already expired, the present
postmaster general estimates that az It's
close. instead oil surplus, there VIII De
deficiency OF nearly SS,OOOOOo.
The postoilico receipts Tor the last
fiscal year amounted 10 SI0,S9G,9S3 IL,
and its expenditures SSl,OI4,lO4 %.
This postofIice deficiency would disnp-
pear or be immensely decreased ii less
matter was carried free through tho
mails, an item OF which is upward OF
three hundred tons OF seeds aud grain
from the agricultural department. l
am decidedly OF the opinion tnat the
present law permit rs general an intro
duction OF FREQ delivery rs is necessary
or justifable, and that it ought not be
extended to smaller communities than
are now designated.
Tho railway mail service not only
adds TO tine promptness OF mail delivery
at all offices but it is the especial IN
strumentalitv which puts tho smaller
aud 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 postmaster
general, and though it is gratifying 10
know that it is in condition oil hlSh
efficiency and great usefulness, am led
10 agree with the postmaster general
that there is room for its further i'm
proyement. There are now connected
TO the postofiice establishment 2S,S24
employees who are in the classified SER
vice. The head OF this great depart
ment gives conclusive evidence OF the
value Of civil service reform when,
after an experience that renders his
Judgment on the subject absolutely re-
liable, he expresses the opinion that
without the benefit OF this system it
would be impossible TO conduct the
vast business intrusted to him.
l desire to commend as especially
worthy OF prompt attention, the sug-
gestions OF tho postmaster general rela-
ting TO more sensible and business
like organization and II better distribu-
ton OF responsibility in his department.
NAVAL AFFAIRS.
The report OF the secretary of the
navy contains history OF the opera
tons OF his department during the past
year and exhibits most gratifying con-
dition of our own navy. He presents
satisfactory account OF the progress
which has been made in the construct
ion OF vessels and makes number OF
recommendations to which attention is
especially invited.
During the past six months the de-
mQuds for cruising vessels have been
many and urgent. There have been
revolutions calling for vessels to protect
American interests in Nicaragua, Guate-
mala, Costa RIGA, Honduras, Argentine
and Brazil, while the condition OF affairs
in Honolulu has required the constant
presence OF one or moro ships. With
all these calls upon our navy, it became
necessary in order to make up sutlici-
ent feet to patrol the Beriug sea upder
modus viyendi 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 now
vessels has not been as rapid as was an
ticipated. There have been delays in
the completion OF unarmored vessels,
but Tor the most part they have been
such us are constantly ACQUIRING even
in countries having the largest eXper-
fence in naval ship building. The most
serious delays, however, have been in
tho work upon unarmored ships. The
trouble has been the failure of con-
tractors to deliver armor as agreed.
The difficulties seem now, however, to
have been all overcome, and armor is
being delivered with satisfactory prompt
ness. As result OF the experience ac-
auired by ship builders and designers
and material men, it is believed that the
dated when vessels will be completed
can now be estimated with reasonable
accuracy. Great guns, rapid fire guns.
torpedoes, aud powder arc being
promptly supplied. The following YES
sells of the new navy have been COM
pleted and are now ready for service:
The double.turreted coast defense
monitor, Miantonomah; tho double
turreted coast defense monitor, Mon
terey; the armored cruiser, New York;
the protected cruisers, Baltimore, Chi