The Portland daily press., 1893-12-05

500 533 Dut now in view of the actual
receipts and expenditures during that
part OF the current fiscal year already eX-
pred the present postmaster general
estimates That at its close instead OF
surplus there will be deficiency of near
ly eight million dollars.
The post office receipts Tor the last
fiscal year amounted to SIS, SIG, 50. 10,
and its expenditures to S81, 074, 1880.
This post office deficiency would disap-
pear or be immensely decreased II less
matter was carried free through the
mails, an item OF which is upwards OF
three hundred tons of seeds and grain
from the agricultural department.. The
total number of post offices in the United
States on the Goth day of June. 1873, was
6S, 403, an increase OF /, 2s4 over the pre-
ceding year. OF these $500 were Presi
DENTAL, an increase in that class OF 204
over the preceding year. Forty-two free
offices were added during the year to
those already existing, making total Of
six hundred and ten cities and towns
provided with free delivery on June 80,
1898. NineJy-three other cities and towns
are now entitled to this service under the
law, but it has not been accorded them
on account of insufficient funds to meet
the expenses of its establishment. | am
decidedly OF the opinion that the pro-
visions OF the present law permit as gen
eral an introduction of this feature OF
mail service as is necessary or justiiable,
and that it ought not to be extended to
smaller communities than are now desig-
mated. The expense of free delivery for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1894, will
be more than ST.. 600, 600, and under the
legislation now existing there must be a
constant increase in this item of expendi
ture. There were 6401 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 Is, 434.
There were13, 800, 1855 money orders issued
the preceding year of !, 240, 2s3, and the
value of these orders amounted to $780,,
SIG, 433. IS, an increase of 81, 500, 632. There
were also issued during the year postal
notes amounting to S12, 903, 076 During
the year 1876 international money order
offices were added to those already pro-
vided, making a total of 2,407 in opera
international money orders issued during
the year was ], 1855, 999 an increase over
the preceding year of ", 525, and their
value was SIG, 341 ,S37. Sc an increase of
81, 221, 500 81. The total number of orders
paid was 300,9 17, an increase over the
preceding year of Is, SOB and their value
was IS, 2S3, $3.50, an increase Of 1884,
O94 49,
From the foregoing statement, it ap-
pears that che total issue of money orders
and postal notes for the year amounted
to 81 Sc, S21, 34S. a. The number of letters
and packages mailed during the year for
special delivery was 1915, 693, an increase
over the preceding year of nearly % per
cent. The special delivery stamps used
upon these letters and packages amounted
to 1881, 500. 80, and the messengers fees
paid for their delivery amounted to $685.,
592. II, leaving profit to the government
of $50, 976. SO. The railway mail service
not only adds to the promptness of mail
delivery at all offices, but it is the special
instrumentality which puts the smaller
and way places in the service on an
and terminal offices. This branch of the
postal service has therefore received
much attention from the postmaster
general and though it is gratifying to
know that it is in condition of high
efficiency and great usefulness am led
to agree with the postmaster general that
there is room for it's further improve
ment. There are now connected with the
postal esta blishment 2S, 1874 employeswho
are in the classified service. The head
of this great Departmental conclusive
evidence of the value of civil service re-
form, when after an experience which
renders his judgment on the subject
absolutely reliable he expresses the
opinion that without the benefit of this
system it would be impossible to conduct
the vast business.
/ desire to commend as especially
worthy of prompt attention the sugges-
tion of the postmaster general relating to
a more sensible and business-like organi-
cation and better distribution of re-
sponsibility in his department.
The Navy.
1.-THE report of the secretary of the navy
contains a history of the operations of
his department during the past year and
exhibits most gratifying condition to
the personnel of our navy. He presents
a satisfactory account of the progress
which has been made in the construction
of vessels, and makes number of recon-
mendations to which attention is especial
ly invited. During the past six months
the demands for cruising vessels have
been many and urgent 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
sufficient fieetsto patrol the Behring sea
under the modus vivendi agreed upon
with Great Britain to detail to that
service one vessel from the fish commits
sion and three from the revenue marine.
Progressin the construction of new vessels
has not been as rapid as was anticipated.
There have been delays in the completion
of unarmored vessels, but for the most
part they have been such as are constant
ly occurring even in countries having the
largest experience in naval shipbuilding.
The most serious delays, however, have
been in the work upon armored ships.
The trouble has been the failure of con-
tractors to deliver armor as agreed. This
difficulty seems now, however, to ha We
been all overcome and armor is bein
delivered with satisfactory promptness.
AS result of the experience acquired by
shipbuilde-s and designers and material
men, it is believed that the dates when
vessels will be completed can now be
estimated with reasonable accuracy.
Great guns, rapid firing guns. torpedoes
and powder are being promptly supplied.
The following vessels of thenew navy have
been completed and are now ready for
service: The double turreted coast de-
fence monitor Miantonomoh, the double
turreted coast defence monitor Monterey,
the armored cruiser New York, the pro-
tnctad cruisers Baltimore ChicaCo phil