Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1894-12-06
WOODBURY., n J, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1894


The number Of letters and packages
mailed during the year for special deliv-
cry was 3. 436, 970 The special delivery
stamps used upon these letters and pack
ages amounted to $343, 697. The mes
sengers foes paid for their delivery
amounted to 1881, 209. 70, leaving bal
anoe In favor OF the government OF $50, y.
| 487. 30. There are now connected with the
postoffice establishment 80, 661 employees
who are in the classified service This In
ciudes many who have been classified up
on the suggestion Of the postmaster gen
eral. He states that another years expe
rience at the head or the department serves
only to strengthen the conviction as 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 new navy All the vessels
now building. including the three torpedo
| boats authorized at the last session Of
congress. and excepting the first class
battleship Iowa, will probably be com
pleted during the coming fiscal year
The estimates for the increase of the
navy for the year ending June 30 1896,
are large, but they include practically ths
entire sum necessary to complete and
equip all the new ships not now in com
mission so that, unless new ships are au-
thorized, the appropriations for the naval
service for the fiscal year ending June 80.
1897 should fall below the estimates for
the coming year by at least S12, 600, 900.
The secretary presents with much ear
nestness a plea for the authorization OF
three additional battleships and 10 or 12
torpedo boats. While the unarmored yes
sells heretofore authorized, including those
now nearing completion, will constitute
feet which. 1t is believed, is sufficient
for ordinary cruising purposes in time of
peace, we have now completed and in
process of construction but four first class
battleships and but few torpedo boats II
we are to have navy for warlike opera
tions offensive and defensive we certain
ly ought to increase both the number of
battleships and torpedo boats
The manufacture of arInor requires ex-
pensive plant and the aggregation Of
many skilled workmen All the armor
necessary to complete the vessels now
building will be delivered before the 1st
of June next. If no new contracts are
given out, contractors must disbani their
workmen. and their plants must lie idle.
not be we'll under way until late in the
coming fiscal year. and at least 31S wears
from the date of the contract would be
required for their completion. The seore-
tary states that not more than I5 per cent
of the cost of such ships need be included
in the appropriations for the coming year
l recommend that provision be made
for the construction of additional battle
ships and torpedo boats
The secretary recommends the manu-
faoture not only of a reserve supply of
ordnance and ordnance material for ships
of the navy, but also supply for the aux
Hilary fleet.
Guns and their eppurtenances should be
provided and kept on hand for both these
purposes. We have not today a single
gun that could be put upon the ships
Paris or New York of the International
| Navigation company or any other ship of
our reserve navy
| feel it my imperative duty to call at
| tention to the Recommendation of the sec
retary in regard to the personnel of the
line of the navy. The stagnation OF pro
motion in this, the vital branch of the
service. is SO great as to seriously impair
| its efficiency.
! consider 1t Of the utmost Importance
should, before the eve Of retirement, be
permitted to reach a grade emitting them
to active and important duty.
The Interior Department.
The report of the secretary of the int
rior exhibits the situation of the numerous
and interesting branches of the public
service connected with his department
l commend this report and the valuable
recommendations Of the secretary to tho
careful attention OF the congress.
The public land disposed of during the
year amounted to 10. 406 l00 ~ acres, In
eluding IS, $40. 05 of Indian lands
1t is estimated that the public domain
] still remaining amounts to little more
than 900. 600, 600 acres, excluding. how
ever, about $50. 900, 900 acres in Alaska as
well as military reservations and railroad
and other selections OF lands yet unad ;udi-
Gated.
THE FORESTS. IL fully indorse the rec
,mmendation Of the secretary that ade
| Slate protection be provided for our for
est reserves aud that q comprehensive for
estry system be inaugurated Such keep
ers and superintendents as are necessary
to protect the forests already reserved
should be provided. 1 am of the opinion
| bDdb b00r6 SOOulQ D6 an dDdQQO0m6nb OIL
the policy sanctioned by present laws un
der which the government for a very
small consideration is rapidly losing title
to immense tracts of land covered with
timber which should be properly reserved
as permanent sources of timber supply.
THE INDIANS. Though the condition Of
the Indians shows a steady and healthy
progress, their situation is not satisfac-
tory at all points. Some of them to
! whom alotments of land have been made
are found to be unable or disinclined to
follow agricultural pursuits or to other
wise beneficially manage their land. This
Is especially true of the Cbeyennes and
Arapahoes, who, as it appears bv reports
of their agent have in many instances
never been located upon their allotments,
and in some cases do not even know
where their allotments are.
| PENsIoNs.=At the close Of the last fis
cal year. on the 3Oth day Of June. 1894
there were 969, 544 persons on our pension
rolls, being net increase of 3,532 over
the number reported at the end of the
previous year.
The total amount expended for pen
sions during the year was $l39, S04, 46l o.
Own Service Reform.
The advantages to The public service Of
an adherence to the principles of civil
service reform are constantly more ap-
parent and nothing is so encouraging to
those in official life who honestly desire
good government as tho increasing appre
citation by our people of these advantages.
| A vast majority of the voters of the land
are ready to insist that the time and at
tention Of those they select to perform for
them important public duties should not
be distracted by doing out minor offices,
and they are growing to be unanimous in
regarding party organization as some
thing that should be used in establishing
party principles instead of debating the
distribution of public places as rewards of
partisan activity.
/ am entirely convinced that we ought
not to be longer without a national board
Of health or national health officer charged
with no other duties than such as pertain
to the protection of our country from the
invasion of pestilence and disease
Tariff Amendments
The tariff act passed at the last session
of the congress needs important amend
nents if it is to be executed effectively
and with certainty. In addition to such
necessary amendments as will not change
rates of duty am still very decidedly in
favor of putting coal and iron upon the
/ free list.
So far as the sugar schedule is con-
cerned, would be glad. under existing
| agQravations to see every rlartfcse of dif