The herald., 1894-12-04

% to eradicate these abuses not only will
the postoffice department show no de-
heiency. but hs believes. that in the
near future oil legitimate newspapers
and periodical magazines might bs prop
erly trausmitted through the mails to
their subscri bers free OF cost. | invite
your prompt consideration OF this SUBJ
jsot, and fully jndorse the views of the
postmaster general.
The tntal numbe OF postolices in the
United States on the Both day OF June,
1894, was, 30. sos. an increase OF ], ,40S
over the preceding year. OF these 342o
were presidential, an increase in that
elass oil 6S over the preceding year. Six
hundred and ten cities and towns are
provided with free delivery, 93 other
cities and towns entitled to this
service under the law have not
been accorded II on account OF
insufficient fuuds. The expense OF free
delivery for the current fiscal year will
be moro than slz, 200, 900, and under ex.
isting legislation this item OF expendi-
turs 10 subJect to constant increase. The
estimated cost OF rural FREQ delivery
generally 10 80 very large that it ought not
to be considered in the present condition
OF affairs.
During the year $50 additional domss-
tic money order Offices we're established.
The total number Of these Offices at the
close OF the year was 10, ,226. There were
IA. .4OS,04l money orders issued during
the year, being an increase over the pre-.
esding year OF 994, ,3c6. The value OF
these orders amounted to $l38, 793,570. 40,
an increase OF sll, III, las "a.
There were also issued during the year
n n - q ovS,n unit - y x
During the year 2l6 International
money order Offices were added to those
already established, making . total OF
1926 such Offices in operation June 80,
1894. The number OF international
money orders issued during the year
WAS Oil, 1928, . decrease in number 1885,.
178. and their value was $l3. 792, 455. 81,
. decrease in amount OF $2,649, 1882. SIS.
The number OF orders paid was S6l ,180,
an increase over the preceding year OF
CO. 1858 and their value was 81, ,566, ,493. 78.
an increase of 81. 1856. ll8.08. From the
foregoing statsment it appears that the
total Issue OF money orders and postal
notss for the year amounted to
3l65, ,235, ,124. .35.
The number OF letters and packages
mailed during the year for special de-
livery Was 8. 1865 The special deliv-
cry stamps used upon these letters and
packages amounted to $343, ,697. The
messenger fees paid for their delivery
amounted $26l. .294 70, leaving q balance
In favor Of the government OF $82,-
1870.
The report shows most gratifying re.
suits in the way OF economies worked
out without affecting the efficiency OF
the postal service. These consist in the
abrogation of steamship subsidy con.
tracts, re-letting Of mail transportation
contracts, and In the cost and amount
ofsuppliss used in the service, amount
ing in oil to $l8,6l9. .047. AZ.
This report also contains 4 vxluable
contribution to the history OF the uni.
versal postal union. an arrangement
which amounts practically to the estab-
lishment Of one postal system for the
entire civilized world. Special attention
10 directed to this subject at
this time, in view OF the fact that the
next congress of the union will meet in
Washington in 1897, and it is hoped that
timely action will be taken In the direc-
tion OF periscting preparations for that
event.
The postmaster general rsnews the
suggestion made in q previous report
that the department organization be in.
creased to the extent OF creating q
direct district supervision of all postal
affairs, and in this suggestion l fully
concur. t'e.tsst
There are connected with the postof-
fee establishment 80. .66l employees who
are in the classified service. This in
cludes many who nave been classified
on the suggestion of the postmaster
general. He states that another years
experience at the head OF tho depart
ment serves only to strengthen the con-
viction - to the excellent working OF
the civil service law in this branch OF
the public service.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Attention is called to the report Of the
secretary Of the navy, which shows very
gratifying progress In the construction
OF ships for our navy. All
the vessels now building, including the
torpedo DO ate authorized at the last see.
sion OF congress, and excepting the
frst.clsss battlsship Iowa. will probably
be completed during the coming fiscal
year. The estimates for the increase OF
the navy for the year ending June 80,
1895, are large but they include practi
cally the entire sum necessary to COM
plets and equip all the new ships now
In commission. 90 that unless new ships
are authorized the appropria tions for the
naval service for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1896, should fall below the o..
timates for the coming year by at least
el2. 100000.
The secretary presents with much
Barnestness plea for the authorization
Of three additional battle.ships and ten
or twelve torpedo boats. While the
anarmored vessels heretofore uuthor-
lied. including those now nearing COM
pletion, will constitute a fleet which 1t
10 believed 10 sufficient tor ordinary
cruising purposes in time OF peace, we
have now completed and in process of
construction, but four fret class battle.
ships and but few torpedo boats. II we
are to have q navy for warlike opera
lions, offensive aud defensive, we Ger.
tainly ought to increase both the mum.
ber of battle.ships and torpedo boats.
The manufacture of Rrmor requires
expensive plants and the aggregation OF
many skilled workmen. All the armor
necessary to complete the weasel now
building will be delivered before the let
bf June next. II no new contracts are
Eiven out, contractors must disband
their work. men and their plants must lie
idle.
Battlsships authorized at this time
would not be well under way, until late
in the coming fiscal year, and at least
three years and half from the date OF
The contract would be required for their
lomplstion. The secretary states that