Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-12-14
'rnal revenue s1s, $50, 5s9. 81 less than in

1893
The to'al tax collected from distilled spirits
was S85. 259, $50. 25 on manufactured &C DaccC
S2S, GIT 1893. go, and on fermented liquors, S3I ;,
4l4.783O4
Our exports of merchandise domestic and
foreign, amounted during the year to 1892, :
140, 572, being an increase over the p-eced-
ing year of $44 1865 78.
The total amount OF gold exported during
| the fiscal year was S76, So, 061, against S103,-
$50, IA during the fiscal year 1893. The
amount imported was so, 449, 113, as against
| $21. 174 ,391 during the previous year.
The imports of silver were S13, go, 552
and the exports were $50, 451, 2G3.
THE Army.
The execution Of the policy OF concentrat-
ing the army at important centers OF popuia
ton AMI transportation, foreshadowed In
the last annual report OF the Secretary, has
resulted in the abandonment OF fifteen o.
the smaller posts, which was effected under
| plan which assemblies organizations Of tbs
| same regiments hitherto widely separated J.
| This renders our small forces more
readily effective for any service they may be
called upon 10 perform, Increases the extent
Of the territory under protection without
diminishing the security heretofore afforded
to any locality. improves the discipline, train
ing and esprit de corps Of the army, besides
considerably decreasing the cost OF lis main
tenancc.
Though the forces of the Department OF
the East have been somewhat increased,
more than three-fourths OF the army are still
stationed west Of the Mississippi. This care
fully maturei policy, which secures the best
and greatest service in the interest OF the
general welfare from tho small force COM
prising our regular army, should not De
thouGhtlessly embarrassed by the creation OF
new and unnecessary posts through acts OF
Congress 10 crafty the ambitions or interests
| of localities.
1t is hardly necessary to recall the fact
that in obedience to the commands OF the
Constitution and laws. AMI for the purpose
| OF projecting the property OF the United
States, aiding the process o. Federal courts
| and removing Iawess Instructions to the
performance by the Government OF its iegiti-
nate functions, it became necessary
in various localities during the year
| to employ a considerable portion OF the
regular troops. The duty was discharged
promptly, courageously and with marked
| discretion by the officers and men, and the
most gratifying proof was thus afforded that
the army deserves that complete confden 20
in its efficiency and discipline which the
country has at all times manifested.
The year has been free from -urbances
by Indians and the chances of further dep
rotations on their part are constantly becom-
ing moro remote and improbable.
The condition of the Apache Indians,
held as prisoners by tho Government for
eight years at a cost of halt million dol
lars, has been changed during the year rom
captivity to one which gives them an oppOr-
tunity to demonstrate their capacity for self
| support and at least partiG' civilization.
Legislation enacted at the late session OF
Congress gave the War Department au-
thorify to transfer the survivors,
numbering 346, from Mount Vernon
Barracks, in Alabama, to any suitable reser-
walton. The department selected as their
future home the military lands near Fort
-
| surveillance, the former prisoners have been
established in agriculture under conditions
| favorable to their advancement.
| In recognition of the long and distin-
| gushed military services and faithful dis
| charge OF delicate and responsible civil
duties by Major-General John NJ. Schofield,
now the General commanding the Army, it
| is suggested to Congress that the temporary
revival of the grade of Lieutenant-General
| in his behalf would be a just and gracious
act, and would permit his retirement, now
near at hand, with rank betting his merits.
| DEFICIENCY IN THE POSTAL SERVICE.
| The transactions ofthe postal service indi-
| cate with barOmetic certainty the fluctuations
| in the business or tue country. 1naSmuch,
| therefore, as business complications con-
| tinued to exist throughout the last year to an
| unforeseen extent it is not surprising that the
| deficiency of revenue to meet the Cxpendi-
| lures OF the POstOtfica Department, which
|
| million dollars, should be exceeded by
| nearly one and a quarter million dollars.
! The asCertalned revenues OF the last year,
which were the basis of calculation fer the
| current year. being less than estimated, the
! deficiency for the current year will be cor
respondingly greater, though the Postmas-
| ter-Genera states that the latest indications
are so favorable that he cOntidentially pre-
diets an increase of at least eight per cent.
in the revenues OF the current year over
| those of the last year.
The expenditures increase steadily and
necessarily with the growth and needs ftho
country, 50 that the deficiency is greater or
| less in any, year depending upon tho volume
| of receipts.
The Postmaster-General says that this
| deficiency is unnecessary and might be
O5viated at once if the law regulating rates
upon mail matter of the second-class was
! modified. The rate received for the trans
mission of this second-class matter is one
| cent per pound, while the cost OF such trans
! mission to the Government is eight times
| that amount 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 sur
| prising range of publications and created
| abuses the cost of which amount in the ag
gregate to the total deficiency Of the Post
| office Department. Pretended newspapers
| are started by business houses for the mere
| purpose Of advertising goods. complying
! with the law in form only and discount
| ing the publications as soon rs the period
| of advertising is over. sample C&UIes" OF
pretended newspapers are issued 10 gre''
numbers for like purpose only. Inc
| result is a great loss or revenue to tne
| Government, besides its humiliating u55
| as an agency to aid in carrying out the
! scheme of a business house to advertise its
| frNO1s w Nf a
rival houses and the e5ular and legIi1mdt7
newspapers. Paper-cOvered literature, Con-
SiStinG mainly OF trashy novels, to the eX-
tent of many thousand tons Is sent through
the mails at one cent per pound, while the
publishers of standard works are required
to pay eight times that amount in sending
their publications. AnOtherabuse consists in
the free carriage through the mails Of hum
GredS of tons Of seed and grain uselessly dis
tributcd through the Department of Agricul-
ture. The Postmaster-Generalp predicts that
if the law be SO amended as to eradicate
these abuses not only will the PostOfflc De-
partment show no denciency but he believes
that in the near future all legitimate nows
papers and periodical magazines might be
properly transmitted through the mails TO
their subscribers free Of cost. l invite your
prompt consideration of this subject, and
fully indorse the views Of the Postmaster
General.
0us EAII
Attention is called to ne report Of the Sec
rotary of the Navy, which shows very graft
flying progress in the construction of ships
for our new navy. All the vessels now build
ing, including the three torpedo boats au-
thorized at the last session OF Congress an3
excepting the flrst-class ship Iowa, will
probably be completed during the coming
fiscal year.
The estimates for the increase of the navy
Tor the year ending June 80, 1898, are large,
but they include practically the entire sum
necessary to complete and equip ali the new
ships not now in commission, so that unless
new ships are authorized the appropriations
for the naval service for the fiscal year end
ing juno so, 1897, should fall below the esti-
mates for the coming year b. at least $12,-
600, 900.
The Secretary presents WITH much earn
estness plea for the authoriz tion OF three
additional battle ships and ten or twelve
torpedo boats. Whiio the unarmored vessels
heretofore authorized, including those now
p0nDiaTi0n II n