Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-12-03

greater or less IN any yenr depending
upon the volume of receipts. The post
master general states that this deficiency
is unnecessary and might be obviated at
once, if the laws regu. ating rates upon
mail matter of the second class were
modif fed. The rate received for the trans
mission of this second class matter ia
cent per pound, while the cost of such
transmission to the government is eight
times that. In the general terms of the
law this rate covers newspapers and
periodicals.. The extensions of the mean
ing of these terms from time to time have
admitted to the privileges intended for
legitimate newspapers and periodicals u
surprising range of publications and
created abuses, the costs of which amount
in the aggregate to the total deficiency of
the postoffice department. The pretend
cd newspapers are started by business
hoases for the purpose of advertising
goods, complying with the law in the
form only and disseminating the publica.
ton as soon as the period of advertising
is over. Sample copies of pretended
newspapers ara issued in great numbers
for like purpose only. The result is q
great loss of revenue to the government,
besides its humiliation on account of its
use as an agency to aid in carrying out
the scheme of a business house to adver-
tisa its goods by means of trick upon
both its rival houses and the regular and
legitimate newspaper. Paper covered
literature consisting mainly of trashy
novels, to the extent of many thousands
of tons, is sent through the mails at
wi ho f,f
standard works are required to pay eight
times that amount in sending their pub
locations. Another abuse consists in the
free carriage through the mails of hun
dreds OF tons of seed and grain uselessly
distributed through the department of
agriculture. The postmaster general pre-
diets that if the law Ia 50 amended rs to
eradicate these abuses, not only will the
! postotfice department. show no deficiency,
but the postmaster general believes that in
| the near future all legitimate wspapers
and periodicals and magazines might be
properly transmitted through tho mails
to their subscribers free of cost. In
yite your prompt consideration of this
ubject and fully endorse the views of the
postmaster general. The
TOTAL NUMBER OF PosToFTIcgs
in the United States on the 30th day of
June, 1894, was 69,so5, an increase of
LAOS over the preceding year. Of these
3,423 were presidential, an increase in
that class of sixty-eight over the pre-
cediug year. Six hundred and ten cities
and towns are provided with free delivery.
Ninety three other cities and towns, on
titled to this service under the law, have
not been accorded it on account of in
sufficient funds. The expense of free de-
livery for the current fiscal year will be
more than $12.300,O0O, and under exist.
ing legislation this item of expense is
ubject to constant increase. The esti-
mated cost of rural free delivery gener-
ally is so very large that it ought not be
considered in the present condition of
affairs. During the year, $50 additional
domestic money order offices were es-
tablished. The total number of these
offices at the close of the year was 19,2G4
There were 14,304, O41 money orders is
sued during the year, being an increase
over the preceding year Of 994,30G. The
value of these orders amounted to $685.
794, 559.49, an increase of $11,217.245o6.
There were issued during the year
postal notes amounting to $12,669, O94O5
During the year 218 international money
order offices were added to those already
established, making total of 1925 such
Offices in operation June 30, 1894. The
number of international money orders
issued during the year was 917,828, de.
| in Of kbair
value was $l3,792, 455.31, a decrease in
of orders paid was 6l,l80, an increase
over the preceding year of 6O,265 and
their value was $G,563, 1876, an increase
of $112,Sl5,1l From the foregoing
statement it appears that the total is
rsuauce of money orders and postal notes
for the year amounted to $l65 245, 129.35
The number of letters and packages
mailed daring the year for special de
livery was 3,436,970. The special de
livery stamps used upon these letters ant
packages amounted to $342,657. Th
messengers fees paid for this deliver,
amounted to 1851 ,2067O, leaving bal
ancs 10 favor of the government of $82,
1890. The report shows most crafty
ing results in the way of economic
worked ont without affecting the efficlenc
of the postal service. These consist ii
the abrogation of steamship subsidy con
tracts, relctting of mail transportation
contracts, cost and amount of supple
usod in the service amounting IN all t.
| Sl6,669, 477.42.
OUR NAVY.
We have not to day a single gun tina
could be put upon the ships, Paris Q
New York, of the International Naviga
ton com pany, or on any other ship Q
our reserve navy. The manufacture 0
guns at the Washington navy yard il
proceeding satisfactorily and none of gu
new ships will be required to wait 70
their guns or ordnance equipment.
An important order has been i-sued b,
the secretary of tho navy co-ordinatin1
the duties of the several bureaus con
cerned in the construction of ships. Thi
order, it is believed, will secure to
greater extent than has heretofore beer
possible, the harmonious action of tn,
several bureaus and make the attachments
of the best results more certain. Durips
the past fiscal year there has been an I'M
usual and pressing demand III many
quarters of the world for the presence O
vessels to guard American interests. II
4 January last, during the Brazilian insur
rection, a large feet was concentrated II
the harbor of Rio de Janeiro.
The vigorous action of Rear Admira
Benham in protecting the personal ant
commercial rights of our citizens during
the disturbed conditions, afforded results
which will, it is believed, have far-reach
ing and wholesome influence whenever
in like circumstance, it may become nee
essnry for our naval commanders to in
terfere in behalf of Our people in foreign
ports. The war now in progress between
China and japan has rendered it neces
sary or expedient to dispatch eight yes
sells to those waters. Both the secretary
of the navy and the secretary of thl
treasury recommend the transfer of tn,
work of the coast survey proper to th,
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