The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-12-13

elBnC years ago. "A large sum has been
already expended, but the cost of main
tenance will be inconsiderable as COM
pared with the expense of construction
and ordnance. at the end of the cur
rent calendar year, the war department
Will have 8 twelve-inch guns, 20 teu-
inch and "a eight-inch guns ready to be
mountee on gun lifts and carriages, and
75 twclve-inch mortars. In addition to
the product of the army gun factory,
now completed at Watervilet, the gov
ernment has contracted with private
parties for the purchase of one hundred
guns of these calibers, the first of which
should be delivered TO the department
for test before July L, 1894.
The reports of the military academy
at West Point and the several schools
for the special instruction of Off
GERS, showed marked advance in the
education in the army and commend
able ambition to fit themselves for the
highest service of the country.
THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT..
The report Of the encouragement
contains the usual summary of the
affairs and proceedings of the depart
ment of justice for the past year, to-
gether with certain recommendations
as to needed legislation on various
/ subjects.
l cannot too heartily endorse the
proposition that the fee system as APP
/ plicable to the compensation of United
States attorneys, marshals, clerks of
federal courts and United States conf
missioners should be abolished with
as little delay as possible. 1t is clearly
in the interest of the community that
/ the business of the courts, both civil
and criminal, shall be as email and
/ ineXpensively transacted as the ends
of justice will allow.
| also heartily join the attorney
general in recommending legislation
fixing the degrees pf the crime of muir
der within the federal jurisdiction, as
has been done in many of the states,
authorizing writs of error on behalf of
the government in cases where final
judgement is rendered against the suf-
tciency of an Indictment or against
the government upon any other ques-
tion arising before actual trial; limit
ing the right of review of cases of fell
ony punishable only by fine and i'm
prisonment to the circuit court of APP
peals and making speedy provision for
the construction OF such prisons and
reformatorics as may be necessary tor
the confinement of United States con-
victs.
IN THE PosToFFICE.
The report of the postmaster gen
eral contains detailed statement of
the operation of the postoffice depart
ment during the last fiscal year and
much inseresting information touch
ing this imbortant branch of the pub
lie service.
The business of the mails indicates
with absolute certainty the condition
of the business of the country, and de-
preston in financial affairs inevitably
and quickly reduces the postal reye-
nues. Therefore, Il larger discre-
pancY than usual between the post
Office receipts and expenditures is the
expected and unavoidable result Of
the distressing stringency which has
! prevailed throughout the country dur
Jug much of tee time covered by the
postmaster generals report.
The postotlice receipts for the last
fiscal year amounted to static, ,033.
and it's expenditure to $s1 ,O74, ola. 90.
/ This postotlice deficiency would
disappear if less matter was carried
! free through tho mails, an item of
which is upward of three hundred
tons of seeds and grain from the agri-
cultural department..
The total number of postoffices in
| the United States on the 3Oth of Juno,
1892, was GS,402, in increase of 1884
over the preceding year. OF these
$500 were presidential, an increase
in that class of 2O4 over the preceding
| year.
There are now connected to the post
Office establishment 20, 324 employees who
are in the classified service.
VALUE OF TIE CIVIL SERVICE.
The head of this department gives
! conclusive evidence of the value of civil
service reform, when, after an experience
that renders his conclusion reliable, he
! expresses the opinion that without the
, benefit OF this system would be impossi-
bic to conduct the vast business en-
| trusted to him.
| desire to commend as especially
worthy of prompt attention, the sugges
ton of the postmaster general relating
to more sensible and business-lil1e or.
ganization and better distribution Of
responsibility in his department.
OUR GROWING NAVY.
The report of the secretary of the navy
contains history of the operations Of
and exhibits n most gratifying condition
Of the personnel of our navy. He pre-
sents a satisfactory account of the pro-
gress which has been made in the con-
struction of vessels and makes number
of recommendations to which attention
is especially invited.
While 7 am distinctly in favor of con.
Sistcntly pursuing the policy we have
inaugurated of building up Il thorough
and efficient navy, cannot refrain from
the suggestion that congress- should
| carefully take into account the unln-
ished vessels on our hands and the de-
plctcd condition of our treasury in con-
Sidcring the propricty of an appropria-
tion at this time to begin new work.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The continued intelligent execution
of the civil service law and 3he increas-
ing approval by the people by it's opcr-
ations are most gratifying.
| am, if possible, more than ever con-
vinced of the ancalculable benefits con-
fcrrcd by the civil service law, not
only in its effect upon the public SER
! vice, but also what is even more inn
portant in its effect in elevating the
tone of political life generally.
FOR TARIFF REFORM.
After hard struggle, tariff reform
is directly before us. Nothing so i'm
portart claims our attention and moth.
ing so clearly presents itself as both
an opportunity and a duty, an oppor-
tunty to deserve the gratitude of our
follow citizens and II duty imposed
upon us by our oft-rcpeated profcs.
sions and by the emphatic mandate OF
the people.
After full discussion, our country.
men have spoken in favor Of this re.
form, and they have confidcd the work
of its accomplishment to the hands OF
those who are solcmnly pledged to it,
Nothing should intervene to distract