Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-12-08

| Tor the current year Will DO COrTBSpOnulu8ly
greater, though the postmaster general states
that the latest indications are so favorable that
he confidently Y predicts an increase OF at least
| 8 per cent. in the revenue of the current year
| over those of the last year
The expenditures increase steadily and nec-
oasarily with the growth and needs of the coun-
try that the deficiency Is greater or less In
any year depending upon the volume OF re-
ceipts. The postmaster general states that
| this deficiency is unnecessary and might be OBJ
Waited at once IL the law regulating rates upon
mail matter of the second class was modified
Tho rate received for the transmission of this
| second GLASS matter is one cent per pound,
while tho cost OF such transmission to the gov
| ernment is eight times that amount In vne
general terms OF the law this rate covers news
papers and periodicals. The extensions Of tho
meaning OF these terms from time to time have
| admitted to the privileges intended for legiti-
mate newspapers and periodicals rs O surpris-
ing range OF publications and created abuses
the cost of which amount in the aggregate to
the total deficiency OF the post offlcc depart
| ment Pretended newspapers are started by
business houses for the mere purpose of adver-
tising goods, complying with the law in form
| only and disseminating 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 q great loss OF revenue
| to the government, besides its humiliating
| use as an agency to aid in carrying out the
| scheme OF n business house TO advertise its
| goods by means of trick upon both its rival
| houses and the regular and legitimate news
papers Paper-covered literature consisting
mainly OF trash novels, to the extent Of many
| thousands of tons, is sent through the mails at
one cent per podnd, 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 hundreds of tons OF seed
and grain uselessly distributed through the de-
partment Of agriculture. The postmaster gem
| eral predicts that il the law be so amended
| as to eradicate these abuses, not only will
| the poStofice department show no deficiency,
but he believes that in the near future all le-
| gitlmste newspapers and periodical magazines
| might be properly transmitted through the
| mails to their subscribers free OF cost In
vite your prompt consideration to this subject
| and fully indorse the views Of the postmaster
| general.
| THE NAVAL DEPARTMENT
| Attention is called to the report OF the secre-
| tary of the navy, which shows very gratifying
progress in the construction of ships for our
new navy. All the vessels now building In
cluding the three torpedo boats authorized at
| the last session of congress and excepting the
| firSt-class battle ship Iowa will probably be
completed during the coming fiscal year.
The estimates for the increase of the navy
| for the year ending June 3o 1896 are large, but
| they include practically the entire sum neces-
| sary to complete and equip all the new ships
| not now in commission, so that unless new
ships are authorized the appropriations for the
| naval service for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1897, should fall below the estimates for the
coming year by Mt least S2oeO,OOO
| The manufacture of armor requires an expen-
sive plant and the aggregation OF many skilled
| workmen. All the armor necessary to COM
plete the vessels now building will be delivered
| before the 1st OF June next. II no new con-
tracts are given out, contractors must disband
| THAR fhair nlnnfS lie idle
Battle ships authorized at this time would not
be we'll 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 fol
their completion. The secretary states that
not more than fifteen per cent. OF the cost o
such ships need be included In the 'appropria'
tions for the coming year
The secretary presents with much earnest
ness plea for the authorization of three addi'
tional battle ships and ten or twelve torpedo
boats. While the unarmored vessels hereto
fore authorized, including those now nearing
| completion, will constitute O feet which 1t Il
believed is sufficient for ordinary cruising pur
poses in time of peace, We have now completed
and in process Of construction but four frs
class battle ships and but few torpedo boats
II we are to have a navy for warlike opera
tions, offensive and defensive, we certainl.
ought to increase both the number OF battl,
ships and torpedo boats. recommend tina
provision be made for the construction OF addi
tional battle ships and torpedo boats.
In January last during the Brazilian insur
| rection, large feet was concentrated in tn,
harbor OF Rio De Janeiro. The vigorous acttol
OF Rear Admiral Benham in protecting the per
sonal and commercial rights OF our citizens
during the disturbed conditions afforded re
suits which will, it is believed, have a far
| reaching and wholesome influence whenever II
Hike circumstances it may become necessar,
for our naval commanders to interfere on be
half OF our people in foreign ports
The war now in progress between China an
Japan has rendered it necessary or expedien
| to dispatch eight vessels TO those waters.
feel it my imperative duty to call attention
| to the recommendation OF the secretary in re
| gard to the personnel OF the line OF the navy
, The stagnation Of promotion in this, the vita
branch Of the service, is great as to SER
, ously impair its efficiency
consider it OF the utmost importance tina
the young and middfe-aged officers should, be
fore the eve OF retirement, be permitted t
= reach grade emitting them to active and in
portant duty,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
The report OF the secretary OF the interior ex
hibitS the situation of the numerous and inter
esting branches of the public service connecte
with his department 1 Commend this repor
: and the valuable recommendations OF the sec
retary to the careful attention OF the oongres:
: The public land disposed OF during she yea
amounted to 10, ,406 100T acres, including %
public domain still remaining amounts to o littl
more than 600 100000, excluding however abou
26o, 900 900 ares acres in Alaska as well asnili
tary reservations and railroad and other seleC
tions of lands yet unadjudicated. The total cas-
receipts from sale OF lands amounted to s2,674
2S5.T9, including S91 ,9S1 03 received for India
t lands Thirty-ive thousand patents were is
0 sued for agricultural lands and thirty-one huI
: dred patents were issued to Indians on allot
a ments OF their holdings in severalty, tho Ian
= so allotted being inalienable by the Indian a
= lottees for period OF twenty-five years afte
\, patent
I There were certified and patented on acoour
t of railroad and wagon-road grants during th
year S65 $50 45 OF land. and at the close
r the year 20 100000 acres were embraced In II
t lists OF selections made by railroad and wagoI
d road companies and awaited settlement
i An exceedingly important recommendatio
S OF the secretary relates to the manner In whiC
contests and litigated cases growing out of of
d orts TO obtain government land are determine
: The entire testimony up on which these cor
n troversies depend in all their stages is take
: before the local registers and receivers and VI