The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-12-08


stantly operating by preventive means TO
shield our country from the invasion Of dis
ease, and Mt the same time having due regard
to the rights and duties Of local agencies
would, believe, add greatly to the safety OF
or peOI le.
The Army.
The secretary of war reports that the
strength of the army on Sept. 81 last was 25,-
us enlisted men and 214i officers. The total
expenditures of the department for the year
ending June 81, 1893, amounted to $5l ,965,MtS9
OF this sum 81 ,992, Sl.95 was for salaries and
contingent expenses, 81, SssS 81 for the sup
pert of the military es ablishment, S6,T7,-
O33l9 for miscellaneous objects, and SN5lS,-
t31.4l for public WORKS. This latter sum in
cludes Sl5, 296, $40 IS for river and harbor i'm
provements and $685. 20 for Notifications
and other works Of defense.
The total enrolment of the militia Of the
several states was on the 3lst of October of the
current year 1887 officers and enlisted men.
The officers Of the army detailed for the in
spection and instruction of this reserve of our
military force report that increased interest
and marked progress are apparent in the dis
cipline and efficiency of the organization.
Neither Indian outbreaks nor domestic vio-
Ience have called the army into service dur
ing the year, and the only active military
duty required of it has been in the depart
ment of TeXas, where violations of the neu-
trality laws of the United States and Mexico
were promptly and efficiently dealt with by
the troops, eliciting the warm approval of the
civil and military authorities Of both coun-
tries.
1t is gratifyi9g to note that we have begun
to attain completed results in the comprehen-
sive scheme OF sea coast defense and fortifca-
tion entered upon eight years ago. A large
sum has been already expended, but the cost
of maintenance will I've inconsderable as COM
pared with the expense Of construction and
ordnance.
The manufacture of heavy ordnance keeps
pace with current needs; but to render these
guns available for the purposes they are de-
signed to meet, emplacements must be pre-
pared for them. Progress has been made in
this direction, and it Is desirable that congress
by aquedate appropriations should provide
for the uninterrupted prosecution of this
necessary work.
The work on the projected Chickamauga
and Chattanooga military park has been pros
ecuted with Zeal and Judgment, and its open.
ing will be celebrated during the coming year.
Over nine square miles of the Chickamauga
battlefield have been acqui red, % miles of
roadway have been constructed, and perma-
nent tablets have been placed at many histor-
ical points, while the Invita- on to the states
to mark the pc itions Of their troops partiG-
patng in the battle has been very generally
ing lines Of battle at the Gettysburg battle
field is making satisfactory progress on the
plans directed by the last congress.
Department Of Justice.
The report of the attorney general contains
the usual summary of the affairs and pro-
ceedings of the department of justice for the
past year. | cannot too heartily indorse the
proposition that the fee system as applicable
to the compensation of United States at
torneys, marshals, clerks of federal courts
and United States commissioners, should be
abolished with as little delay as possible.
If in addition to this reform another was
inaugurated which would give to United
States commissioners the final disposition of
petty offenses within the grade of INSIDE
meanors, especially these coming under the
internal revenue laws, a great advance would
be made toward a moro decent administration
of the criminal laws
heartily join the attorney general in rec
ommending legislation fixing degrees Of the
crime of 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 sufficiency of an indict-
dictment or against the government upon any
other question arising before actual trial;
limiting the ght Of review in cases Of felony
punishable only by fine and Imprisonment to
speedy provision for the construction of such
prisons and reformatories as may be necessary
for the confinement of United States convicts.
The Postal Service.
The report of the postmaster general con,
tains de allied statement of the operations OF
the postoficv during the last fiscal year and
much interesting information touching this
important branch Of the public service. The
business of the mails indicates with absolute
certainty the condition Of the business of the
country and depression in financial affairs in
evitably and quickly reduces the postal reven-
ues
At a date when better times were antic-
pated it was estimated by his predecessor
that the deficiency on June 90, 1893, would be
but a little over 81, $4,000. 1t amounted, how
ever, to more than $5,0OO,DOl. At the same
time, and under the influence of like antici-
pations, estimates were made for the current
fiscal year ending June 80, 1894, which exhib-
tied a surplus of revenue over expenditures Of
SS72, 2457l but now, in view of the actual re-
ceipts and expenditures during that part of
the current fiscal year already expired, Il
present postmaster general estimate that at
its close, instead Of q surplus, there will be
deficiency Of nearly 100000.
The total number OF postoffices in the United
States on the 3Oth day Of June, 1893, was g.
IO3, an increase of 1884 over the preceding
year OF these 1850 are presidential, an in
crease In that class of 20i over the preceding
year Forty-two free delivery offices were
added during the year to those already exist
ing, making a total of $40 cities and towns pro-
yided with free delivery on June 80 1893.
Ninety-Ihree other cities and towns are now
entitled to this service under the law, but il
has not been accorded them on account of in
sufficient funds to meet the expense of its es-
adjustment
There were 6i01 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 1S,43i. There were 1890 ,735 money orders
issued from these offices, being an increase
over the preceding year Of 1,2I0,293, and the
value of these orders amounted to $l%i.576,-
1896, an increase of S7,5O9,6S2. There were
also issued during the year postal notes
amounting to l2,9O3,076.
The total issue Of money orders and postal
notes for the year amounted to Sl56, S2l ,34S.24
The number of letters and packages mailed
during the year for special delivery was
8,375,693, an increase over the preceding year
of nearly % per cent. The special delivery
stamps used upon these letters and packages
amounted to $685., 5693L and the messengers
fees paid for their delivery amounted to
S256, 592.7l leaving . profit to the government
Of SSO,976.59
The railway mail service not only adds to
the promptness of mail delivery at all offices,
but It is the especial fundamentally which
puts the smaller and way places in the service
on an equality in that regard with the larger
and terminal offices.
MI .-...ou. - a.. .aoratarv nf the navy ron