The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19

favorable to their advancement.
In recognition Of the long and disttn
guished military services and faithful dis
charge OF delicate and responsible civt
duties by Maior-General John NJ. Schofield
now the General commanding the Army, Il
Is suggested to Congress that the temporary
revival of the grade of Lieutenant-G General
In his behalf would be just and gracious
act. and would permit his retirement, now
near at hand, with rank beatting his merits.
DEFICIENCY IN TIE POSTAL SERVICE.
The transactions ofthe postal service indt.
cate with barometic certainty the eductuation'
IN the business Of the country. Inasmuch,
therefore, as business complications CON
tinued to exist throughout the last year to ar
unforeseen extent It Is not surprising that the
deficiency OF revenue to meet the expendi
lures Of the Postoflce Department, whiot
million dollars, should be exceeded BY
nearly one and q quarter million dollars.
The ascertained revenues OF the last year,
which were the basis OF calculation for the
current year, being less than estimated, the
deficiency for the current year will be cor.
respondingly greater, though the Postmas.
ter-General states that the latest indications
are so favorable that he confldentially 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 otthe
country, SO that the deficiency is greater OF
less in any year depending upon the volume
of receipts. ..s.g-,
The Postmaster General says that this
deficiency Is unnecessary and might be
obvlafed at once II the lay regulating rates
upon mail matter OF the second-clas9 was
modified. The rate received for the trans
mission ofthis seeond-elass matter ts one
cen. 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.
prsing range of publications and created
abuses the cost Of which amount In the ag-
ereeate 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 as the period
of advertising is over. "Sample copies" OF
pretended newspapers are issued IN great
numbers for like purpose only. The
result Is a great loss OF revenue to the
Government, besides its humiliating use
as an agency to aid In carrying out the
scheme Of q business house to advertise Its
goods by means Of trick upon both Its
rival houses and the regular and Legitimate
newspapers. Paper-covered literature, con-
sisting mainly oftrashy 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. Another abuse consists In
the free carriage through the mails OF hun
dreds OF tons OF seed aud grain uselessly dis
tributed through the Department OF Agrtoul-
ture. The Postmaster-G General predicts that
II the law be 30 amended as to eradicate
these abuses not only will the Postof1ce De-
partment show no deficiency, but he believes
that in the near future all legitimate news
papers and periodical magazines might be
properly transmitted through the mails to
their subscribers free OF cost. Invite your
prompt consideration OF this subject, and
fully indorss the views Of the Postmaster
General.
oUR NAVY.
Attention Is called to the report OF the Sec
retary Of the Navy, which shows very graft
fylng 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 and
excepting the f1rst-class ship Iowa, WILL
probably be completed during the coming
fiscal year. =
The Secretary presents with much earn
estness plea for the authorization OF three
additional battle ships and ten or twelve
torpedo boats. While the unnrmored vessels
heretofore authorized, including those now
nearing completion, will constitute q
feet, which 1t Is believed Is sufficient for Or
dinarv cruising purposes in time OF peace,
We have now completed and In process OF
construction but four 1rst-class battle ships
and but few torpedo boats. II we are to
have navy for warlike operations, offensive
and defensive, we certainly ought to In
crease both the number of battle ships and
torpedo boats. ~.
The manufacture OF armor requires expen-
siye plant and the aggregation OF many
skilled workmen. All the armor necessary
to complete the vessels now building will be
delivered before the first Of June next. II
no new contracts are given out, contractors
must disband their workmen and their plants
must lie idle. Battle ships authorized at this
time would not be well under way until late
In the coming fiscal year, and at least three
years and a half from the date OF the con-
tract would be required for their compile
tion. The Secretary states that not more
than fifteen per cent. ofthe cost otsuch ships
need be included In the appropriations for
the coming year.
Irecommend that provision be made for
the construction OF additional battle ships
and torpedo boats.
The war now In progress between China
and japan has rendered It necessary or ex-
pedient to despatch eight vessels to those
waters. 81 g..
PUBLIC LANDS.
The public land disposed Of during the
ing 28, ,S76. 05 of Indian lands.
fully indprse the recommendation OF the
Secretary that adequate protection be pro-
yided for our forest reserves and that COM
prehensive forestry system bs inaugurated.
Such keepers and superintendents as are
necessary to protect the forest already re-
served should be provided. am OF the
opinion that there should be an abandon
ment Of the policy sanctioned BY present
laws under which the Government, for very
small consideration, Is rapidly losing title
to immense tracts Of land covered with tim.
Der which should be properly reserved as
permanent sources of timber supply.
concur In the opinion that the Commts-
SlOner OLtne Gtue1al Lauu OWco suOuAo ue
relieved from the duty OF deciding litigated
land cases, that a nonpartisan court
should be created to pass on such cases,
and that the decisions Of this court should
be final, at least so far as the decisions OF
the department are now final. The
proposed court might be given author
y IN matters no s'f'ef oi especial Importance
to the Supreme Court OF the United States
or the Court Of Appeals for the District OF
Columbia for decision. The creation OF such
tribunal would expedite the disposal OF
cases and insure decisions OF more sat1s-
factory character. The registers and receiv-
ers who originally hear and decide these
disputes should NOT bs invested with author
fly to compel witness to attend and testify