Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-12-08

-
siderable temptation to the unjustifiable
expenditure of public funds. II in addi-
ton to this reform another was inaugu~
rated which would give TO United States
commissioners the final disposition OF
msdemeanors, especially those coming
under the internal revenue laws great
advance would be made toward the more
decent administration Of the criminal
law
also heartily join the attorney-gsn-
eral in recommending 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 suiiiciency of an Indictment
or against the government upon any
other question arising before actual trial;
limiting the right of review in cases OF
felony punishable only by fine and inn
prisonment TO the circuit court of ap-
the construction of such prisons and re-
formatorieS as may be necessary for the
confinement Of United States convicts.
POstoGice Department..
The report Of the postmaster general
contains a detailed statement of the
operations of the postonlce department
during the last fiscal year and much
interesting information touching this i'm
portant 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 inevitably and quickly
reduces the postal revenues. Therefore
a larger discrepancy than usual between
the poStOiilCe receipts and expenditures
is the expected and unavoidable result
OF the distressing strinsency which has
prevailed throughout the country during
much OF the time covered by the post
mastcr-general 5 report. For this reason
instead OF there being surplus there Will
be "a deficiency OF nearly $6.pJJ,OOO
The pOStomCe receipts Tor the last fiscal
year amounted TO ai5,6yG,93j 10, and its
expenditures to $AOi4,lOi 80. The total
number OF pCstofiices in the United States
on the Both day OF June, 1885 was 6s, 4O3
an increase OF l,2S4 over the preceding
year. Forty-two free delivery offices
were added during the year 10 those al
ready existing, making lotal OF olO
cities and towns provided with free de-
livery on June 30, 1898. NInety-three other
cities and towns are now entitled 10 TINS
service under the law, but 1t has not
been accorded them on account or IN
sufficient funos 10 meet the expense OF
its establishment. / am decidedly OF the
opinion that the provisions OF the pres
ent law permit as general an tntrOduc-
ton OF this feature Of mai service as
is necessary or justified, ana that II ought
not to be extended 70 smaller communl-
ties than are now designated.
The expense of free delivery for the
year ending June so, 1893, viii be more
than $ll,OUO,O0O, and under legislation now
crease in this item of expenditure. There
were G,40l additions to the domestic money
order Offices during the last lScdl 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 1881. Iotal num-
Der of international money order Offices
2,i57
The number Of letters and packages
mailed during the year for special de-
livery was 33ij, 6Y3, an increase over the
preceding year of nearly p per cent. Inc
special delivery stamps used upon these
letters and packages amounted 10 $751;
ob9 30; expenses, S2Gj,JJ2 a, leaving
profit to the government of $SD,9io -
The railway mail service has received
mucn attention from the postmaSter-Gen-
cral. and though IL is gratifying 70 know
nat IL is in a condition OF high efii-
cheney and great usefulness, am ied 70
agree with the acknowledgement tnat
there is room for its further improve
ment. There are now connected with the
pOstOfIice establishment 3.32l employees
who are il the classified service. The
head Of this great department gives con
elusive evidence of tHe value OF cNll
service reform, which, after an expert
anCe which renders judgment ON the sub
ject absolutely reliable, ne expresses tne
opinion that without the bcucnt or TINS
system il would be impossible 70 conduct
the vast business intrusted TO him.
Navy Department.
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
Of the personnel OF our navy. He pre-
sents a satisfactory report OF the prog
ress which has been made in the con-
structiOn OF vessels, and makes num-
her of recommendation to which atten-
ton is especially invited. During the past
six months the demands for cruising yes
sells have been many and urgent There
have been revolutions calling for vessels
TO protect American interests IN costa
Rica, Honduras, Argentine ana BraZh,
while the condition of affairs in Homo
1t4lrt hos ltraI
of one or more SHIPS.
Progress in the construction OF new
vessels has not been as rapid as was an
ticipated. There have been delays In the
completion of vessels, but for the most
part they have been such as are con-
stautly occurring, even I'm countries nav
ing the largest experience in naval ship
building. Since 1856. congress has at each
session authorized the building OF one
or more vessels. and the secretary or
the navy presents an earnest plea Tor the
continuation of this plan. He recon-
mends the authorization of at least one
battleship and six torpedo boats. While
1 am distinctly in favor OF consistently
pursuing the policy we have inaugurated
of building up thorough and efficient
navy, l cannot refrain from the SugSes-
ton that the congress should carefully
take into account the number of un-
finished vessels on our hands ana the de-
pleted condition of our treasury in con-
sidering the propriety or an apprCpfla-
tion at this time to begin new work.
Fraudulent Pensions, Etc.
The secretary OF the interior has the
supervision of so many important sub
iects that his report is of especial value
and interest on the 30th day Of June,
1898, there were on the pension rolls
gOO,O12 names, an increase Of S9,9H over
the number on the rolls June 3d. 1892 The
sum expended on account of pensions for
the year ending June 20, 1893, was Sl56-
740. 474 "a. The commissioners estimates
that Sl65, 0O00 600 will be required to pay
pensions during the year ending June
90, 1894
OF the pensioners there were II widows
and daughters Of revolutionary soldiers, SO
survivors of the war OF ISL, 5.425 widows
of soldiers of that war, 2l,5lS survivors
and widows of the Mexican war, 36S2
survivors and widows Of Indian wars,
28i army nurses, and 4l56A5, SURVIVORS and
widows and children of deceased soldiers
and sailors of the war OF the rebellion.
The latter number represents those pen
stoned on account of disabilities or d ath
resulting from army and navy service.
The number of pensions remaining on the
rolls June 30 1893, who were pensioned
under the act of June II, 1890, which al
lows pensions on account of daath and
disability not chargeable TO army serV-
ice was 459 1915. The number added TO
the rolls durng the year was 125,b3i and
the number dropped was $500. Although
the law of 1890 permits pensions Tor dis-
abilities not related TO military service,
yet as q requisite to it's benefits dis