Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-04

From the foregoing statements 1t appears
that the total issue of money orders and
postal notes for the year amounted to
S156, 81 34S2i
The number of letters and packages
mailed during the year for special delivery
was 1855 an increase over the preced-
ing year Of nearly % per cent The spec
ial-delivery stamps used upon these let
tiers and packages amounted to 1897 $780, 80.
and the messengers fees paid for their de-
livery amounted to $685. 592.7 Il. leaving q
profit to the Government Of $SO.976.59.
The Railway Mail Service not only adds
to the promptness Of mail delivery at all
offices. but it is the especial Instrumental
ity which puts the smaller and way places
in the service on an equality in that re-
gard with the larger and terminal offices.
This branch Of the postal service has there
fore received much attention from the
Postmaster-Generala and though 1t is graf
flying to know that 1t is in a condition of
high efficiency and great usefulness. I am
led to agree with the Postmaster-General
that there is room for its further improve
ment
There are now connected to the Post
Office establishment 2s,324 employees who
are in the classified service. The head of
this great Department gives conclusive evil
dence Of the value of civil service reform
when, after an experience that renders
his judgment on the subject absolutely re-
liable. he expresses the opinion that with
out the benefit of this system 1t would be
impossible to conduct the vast business
intrusted to him.
l desire to commend as especially worthy
of prompt attention the suggestions Of the
Pcstmaster-General relating to a more
sensible and business-like organization and
a better distribution Of responsibility In his
Department
The Navy.
The report Of the Secretary OF the Navy
contains history of the operations Of his
Department during the past year. and ex-
hibits most gratifying condition OF the
personnel Of our Navy. He presents a salts
factory account OF the progress which has
been made in the construction of vessels,
and makes a number Of recommendations
to which attention Is especially 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, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Hon
duras, Argentina, and Brazil while the con-
the constant presence of one or more ships.
With all these calls upon our Navy, 1t be-
came necessary. in order to make up a
sufficient fleet to patrol the Behring Sea
under the modus vivendi agreed upon with
Great Britain. to detail to that service one
vessel from the Fish Commission and three
from the Revenue Marine.
Progress in the construction Of new ves-
sells has not been as rapid as was antici-
pated. There have been delays in the COM
pletion Of unarmored vessels. but for the
most part they have been such as are con-
stantly occurring even in countries having
the largest experience in naval ship-build-
ing. 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. The
difficulties seem now, however. to have been
all overcome. and armor is being delivered
with satisfactory promptness. As q result
Of the experience acquired by ship builders
and designers and material men. II is be-
lieved that the dates when vessels will be
completed can now be estimated with rea-
sonable accuracy. Great guns. rapid-fire
guns. torpedoes. and powder are being
promptly supplied.
New Ships.
The following vessels Of the new Navy
have been completed and are now ready FOR
service:
The double-turreted coast-defense monitor
Miantonomoh, the ble-turreted coast
defense monitor Monterey, the armored
cruiser New York. the protected cruisers
Baltimore. Chicago, Philadelphia Newark,
San Francisco. Charleston. Atlanta. and
Boston. the cruiser Detroit, the gunboats
Yorktown, Concord. Bennington, Machias,
Castine. and PetreL the dispatch vessel Dol
phin. the practice vessel Bancroft, and the
dynamite gunboat Vesuvius. or these the
Bancroft. Machias, Detroit and Castine
have been placed in commission during the
current calendar year.
The following vessels are in process Of
construction: The second-class battle ships
Maine and Texas, the cruisers Montgomery
and Marblehead, and the coast-defense
monitors Terror. Puritan. Amphitrite. and
Monadnock. all Of which will be completed
with in one year; the harbor-defense ram
Katahdin and the protected cruisers Co.
lumbia, Minneapolis. Olympia, Cincinnati
and Raleigh. all of which will be COM
pleted prior to July /, 1898; the first-class
battle ships Iowa, Indiana, Massachusetts,
and Oregon, which will be completed Feb
ruary /, 1896. and the armored cruiser
Brooklyn, which will be completed by
August 1 of that year. 1t is also expect
ed that the three gunboats authorized by
the last Congress will be completed in less
than two years.
Since 1856 Congress has at each session
authorized the building of one or more
vessels, and the Secretary of the avy pre-
sents an earnest plea for the continuance
OF this plan. He recommends the author
ization of at least one battle ship and six
torpedo boats.
While / am distinctly in favor Of con-
sistently pursuing the policy we have in
augurated of building up a thorough and
efficient Navy. 1 can not refrain from the
suggestion that the Congress should care
fully take into account the number of I'M
finished vessels on our hands and the de-
pleted condition Of our Treasury in con-
sidering the propriety of an appropriation
at this time to begin new work.
The method of employing mechanical la
Dor at navy-yards through boards Of labor,
and making efficiency the sole test by
which laborers are employed and contin-
ued, is producing the best results, and the
Secretary is earnestly devoting himself to
its development Attention is invited to the
statements of his report in regard to the
workings of the system.
The Interior Department..
The Secretary Of the Interior has the
supervision of so many important subjects