River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-12-07
Sow KIns for the Armx.

I
/ a magazine rifle OF modern type, with which 10
replace the Obsolete Springfield rife OF the in
/ last year. and the WORK d manufacture is now
I In progress at the natiCnal arInOry at Spring
/ neld II IS confidently expected that ~ the
Il end OF the current year our infantry vii be
supplied with weapon eual 10 that Of the
most progressive armies OF he world
National Military Park.
The work on the projected Chick amauga and
Chattanooga national military park has
| been prosecuted with zeal snd judg-
GRATED during the coming year over nine
Il square miles OF the ChicBamauga battlefield
have been acquired. twenty-five miles Of road
way have been constructed and permanent tab
lets have been placed al many historical points,
while the invitation TO the states 10 mark the
/ Positions OF their troops participating in the
work OF locating and preserving The lines of
battle at the Gettysburg battlefield is making
| satisfactory progress on the plans directed by
tie last congress
The Military Schools.
/ The reports Of the Military academy at West
/ structions OF officers show marked advance in
| education OF the army and commendable am
oition among its Officers to excel in the mill.
/ tary profession and to ht themselves for the |
I highest service 10 the country
Under the supervision Of Adjt Gen. Robert
\ Williams. lately retired, the bureau OF military
/ Information has become well established and Is
/ performing service that VIII put in possession |
/ OF the government in time OF war most valuable
Il Information aud at all times serve purpose OF
great utility In keeping the army advised OF the
I WORLDS progress IN all matters pertaining 70
/ the art Of war
The judiciary Department.
The report q the attorney general contains the
usual summary Of the affairs and proceedings
| OF the depar tment OF justice for the past year
together with certain recommendations as 10
needed legislation on various subjects can
not too heartily indorse the proposition that the
fee system applicable TO the compensation |
/ Of United States attorneys, marshals clerks |
/ OF federal courts and United States commits |
/ siooers, should be abolished with as little de.
/ lay possible 1t is clearly in the interest OF
/ the community that the business Of the courts,
I both civil aud criminal, shall be as small ana
| as ineXpensively transacted as the ends |
| OF justice will allow The system
! is therefore thoroughly vicious which |
makes the compensation OF court onicials de
/ pend upon the volume OF such business, and
| thus creates conflict between proper execu- |
/ tion OF the law aud private gain which cannot |
| fan to be dangerous 10 the rights and free
| dOm OF citizens anu lrrisls1lole Temp
| OF public funds II in addition 10 this re
form another was inaugurated which would
/ tho final disposition OF petty offenses within /
Tue grade OK misdemeanors, especially those |
! great advance would ba male toward a more
| decent administration 81 the criminal law.
! la my first meNsec 10 congress, dated De
/ cember { 1885. / strongly recommended these.
changes and referred some hat at length to
the evils OF the present systeHL since that
time the criminal business OF The federal courts
| and the expense attending II have enormously
| Increased. The number OF criminal prosecu
lions pending in the circuit aud district courts
OF the United States on the lst day OF July /
1855. was Ss)s. OF which LISA were for yio-
! latiOns OF the internal revenue laws
| while the number OF such prosecutions pending
1 on the LIST day OF July 1888 was 3, o., Of which
400 we're for violation OF the internal revenue
I laws. The expense Of The United States courts, /
exclusive OF Judges salaries, for the year ending
July 1885 was 81 s7i, 73s II and for The year
| ending July /, 1898, "a oss. 676 81 IL is. there
fore apparent that the reasons given In 1855 for
! change in the manner Of enforcing the federal
criminal Law have gained cogoucy and gained
| strength in lapse OF time.
Endorses the Attorney General.
1 also heartily Join the attorney general in
| recommending legislation liking degrees OF the
| has been done in many OF the states; authoriZ-
ing wrts Of errors in behalf OF The government
against the sum cheney OF in
dietment or against the government
| tpou any Other question arising before
actual trial. limiting the right o. review in
cases OF felony punishable only by fine and inn
! prisonment 20 the circuit court OF appeals, and
OF sneh prisons and reforIuatories as may be
necessary for the confinement OF United States
/ cOnYictS.
The report OF the postmaster general CON
tains detailed statement OF the operations Of
year and much interesting informa zion touch
ing this important branch Of the public
| Indicates with absolute certainty the con
dition OF the business OF the country,
aB5 depression in financial affairs inevitably
and quickly reduces the postal revenues
! Therefore larger discrepancy tnHn usual be-
tween the post office receipts and expendi lures
! is The expected and unavoidable result OF the
1 distressing stringency which has prevailed
| throughout the country during much OF the
time covered b. the postmaster generals re-
Enormous Deficiency.
Alta date when better times were anticipated
| 1t was estimated by his predecessor that The
deficiency on the Slth day OF J'na 1894, would
be but little over al, 500VUl IL amounted, /
| however TO more than 100000 Al the same
time, and under the influence OF like anticipa-
! tions, estimates were made FOR the current
bC"si year ending June 20. 1894, which exhibited
surplus Of reyeI ne over expenditures OF sS12,s
Par II; but now. in view Of the actual receipts
and expenditures auring that part OF lhe cur
rent Asc3l year alreauy expired the present
! postmaster general estimates that at IS close
instead of surplus there will be deficiency
The post once receipts for the last fiscal year
amounted TO 10. 500 93B l6 ana its expend lures
10 tsl.074,OO4 o. This post ONCE deficiency
would disappear or be immensely decreased IL
! less matter was carried free through the nails
an item OF which is upyy ard OF $40 ions OF seeds
| and grain from the agricultural department
The total number OF post Offices in the United |
States on the 3Oth day Of June, 1898 was S.
year or these $500 were presidential, an In
crease in that class of 204 over the preceding
The Free Delivery System.
Forty-two free delivery Offices were added
during the year 20 those already existing, max,
ing total OF $40 cities and towns provided
with free delivery on June 30, 1893. Ninety
three other cities and towns are row entitled /
TO this service under the law, but II has not
been accorded them account OF in
sufficient funds to meet The expense of
Its establishment l decidedly of the
opinion that the provisions OF the present
/ law permit as general an Introduction or this
feature OF mail service as is necessary or ,us III
fable, ana that II not be extended TO smaller
communities than are now designated Ihc
expense OF free delivery for the fiscal year end
ing June ~. 1894. will be more than sli,OOlOOJ,
and under legislation now existing there must
be a constant increase in this item Of expendi-
Money order business.
There 6. 40i additions to the domestic
money order Offices during the last fiscal year.
Inauguration Of the s. TEN. The total number
OF these Offices at the close OF the year was
1884 There were 1900 5S5 money orders is
sued from these Offices, icing an increase over
the preceding year of i24O,2s3 and the
value of these orders amounted to tl27,57c,-
433 60, an increase of 1850 6s25 81 There were
also issued during tue year postal notes
amounting to sl290a 0T67a During the year
added 10 those already provided, making 70.
tai OF 2lF 10 operation on June 30 1893
The number OF international money orders is
sued during the year was Loss ~ an increase
over the preceding year Of ,529. and their
value was Sld3il, s57 50. an increase of si22l,-
BOD ~. The number Of orders paid was 3JJglT
an increase over the preceding year OF 10 oJS,
and their value was S5sS,515! 20 an Increase Of
s9Iv94 50 From the foregoing statements II
appears that the total issue OF money orders
sl55 SCI 9ia2 "a
The number OF letters ana packages mailed
during tue year for special delivery was 1870
6s3. an Increase over the preceding year OF
used upon these letters ana packages amounted
TO 1887. 500 80 and tbs messengers fees paid for
| their delivery amounted TO s25d 592 II, leaving
! profit of 80 e5o So
Tile Hallway Service
The railway mail service not only adds to the
promptness OF mail delivery at all Offices but
IL IS the especial instrumeutality which puts
the smaller and 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 II Is
gratifying 10 know that 1t is in a condition OF
high efficiency ami great usefulness, am led
TO agree with the postmaster general that
there is room Tor its further improvement
Value of CIVIL Service Reform.
There are now connected with the post once
/ establishment 3 Ss4 employees who are In the
classified service the head OF this great de-
pargment gives conclusive evidence Of the
value Of civil service reform when. after an eX-
perience that renders his Judgment on the sub
.ect absolutely reliable, he expresses the
/ opinion that without the benefit OF this system
/ u would be impossible 10 conduct the vast BUSH
ness intrusted 10 him
/ l l~sire TO commend especially worthy
+ 81 prompt attention the suggestions OF the
/ postmaster general relating TO a more sensible
and business-like organization and better dis
ttibution Of responsibility in his department
The Navy.
The report OF the secretary OF the navy con-
tains history OF the opera tiOns OF his depart
ment during the past year, and exhibits a most
/ gratifying condition OF the personnel OF our
/ navy. He presents satisfactory account OF
the progress which has been made IA the con-