Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-12-05

are confined simply desire to again urge my
particularly call the attention of the congress
to that part of the report of the secretary of
at Fort Leavenworth, Kas., can be turned over
to the government us prison for federal con-
victs without the least difficulty, and with
an actual saving of money from every point of
view.
Pending more complete reform, hope that
by the adoption of the suggestion of the secre-
tary Of war, this easy step may be taken in the
direction of the proper care of its convicts by
the government of the United States.
The PostOfice Department..
The report of the postmaster general presents
a comprehensive statement of the operations of
the Postotice department for the last fiscal
the year amounted to SIS oSo 40 o., and the the
tions of the postal service indicate with baro-
metric certainty the fluctuations in the bust
business complications continued to exist
throughout the last year to an unforeseen
tent. it is surprising that the deficiency of
revenue to meet the expenditures of the Post
office department 60 Which hd Zoo was estimated in ad;
by nearly $1,250,OOO. The ascertafned rev
enues Of the last year, which were. the basis of
estimated, the deficiency for the current year
will be correspondingly greater though the
postmaster general states that the latest ind-
cations cations are so favorable that he confidently
predicts pre- an increase of at least per cent in
the the revenues Of the current year over those of
steadily and necessarily with the growth and
greater or less in any year depending upon the
volume +b Of receipts The
might be obviated at once if the law regulating
was modoed The rate received for the trans
mission OF this second-class matter is cent
to the government is eight times that amount.
In the general terms of the law this rate covers
newspapers Ie and periodicals The extensions of
have admitted to the privileges Intended for
prising range of publications and created abuses
the cost OF which amount in the aggregate to
'@ are ssped 6e
houses for the mere purpose of advertising
and disseminating the publications as soon as
the period of advertising is over. Sample
great numbers for a like purpose only. The
result is great loss of revenue to the govern
to aid in carrying out the scheme of a bust
ness, house to advertise its goods by means of
regular and legitimate newspapers. Paper
covered literature, consisting mainly of trashy
tons is sent through the mails at / cent a
pound, while the publishers of standard works
sending their. publications. Another abuse con
sists in the free carriage through the mails of
distributed through the department of agri-
culture. The postmaster general predicts that if
abuses not only will the Postofice department
show no deficiency but he believes that in the
periodical magazines might be properly trans
mltted through the mails to their subscribers
of this subject and fully indorse the views Of
The total number of postofices in the United
States on the Both day of June, 1894, Co.
800. an increase Of 1,4O3 over the preceding
crease in that class of sixty-eight over the pre-
ceding year. Six hundred and ten cities and
towns are provided with free delivery. Ninety
three other cities and towns entitled to the serv
ice under the law have not been accorded it on
account of insufficient funds. The exDCase of
free delivery for the current fiscal year will be
more than $12 100000 and under existing leg
itpn Of turo 10 CJ1hio 70
constant increase. The estimated cost of rural
free delivery generally is so very large that it
ought not to be considered in the present
dition of affairs.
During the year $50 additional domestic money
order offices were established. The total number
19,264. There were 1890. Oh money orders is
the preceding year Of 994, BOG. The value of
these orders an amo unit to SIPS, 1857 40, an
issued during the year postal notes amounting
offices were added to those already established.
making total of 2625 such offices in operation
money orders issued during the year was OH
S23, decrease of 13S, 176, and their value was
$50. SO. The number of orders paid was 361
$50. an increase over the preceding year of
increase of $1,2S5, 11S.0S From the foregoing
statements it appears that the total issue of
amounted toT IS, a85, 129 So H0'eS io' 'ne year
The number of letters and packets mailed
Oh
800 The special delivery stamps used on these
letters and packages amounted to $343, 637.
amounted to S261, 2O9.70, leaving a balance in
favor of the government of $50 4S7 80.
the way Of economies Worked out is without an
fecting the efficiency of the postal service. These
consist in the abrogation Of steamship subsidy
tracts: and in the cost and amount of supplies
T6s report also Contains a T 70 iG
contribution to the history of the Universal
Postal union, an arrangement which amounts
practically to the establishment of one postal
system for the entire civilized world SPECIAL at
tention is 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
direction of perfecting preparations for that
event.
In the postmaster-general's suggestion made
in a previous report that the department organ
ization be increased to the extent of creating a
direct district supervision IF all postal affairs,
There are connected with the postoffice
establishment 80, 661 employees who are in the
classified service. This includes many who have
been classified upon the suggestion of the post
master general He states that another years
experience at the head of the department serves
only to strengthen the conviction to the
cellent working of the Civil Service law in this
branch of tAe public service.
Gratifying Progress Made by Navy.
Attention is called to the report of the secre-
tary of the navy, which shows very gratifying
progress in the constrl ction of ships for our
new navy. All the vessels now building, in
Guiding the three torpedo boats authorized at
the last session of congress, and excepting the
first class battleship Iowa, will probably be
completed during the coming fiscal year.
The estimates for the increase of the navy for
the year ending June 80, 1896, are large, but
they include practically the entire sum necessary
to complete and equip all the ships not
in commission that unless new ships are
authorized, the appropriations for the navy serv-
ice for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1897,
should fall below the estimates for the coming
year by at least $12, 600, 900. The secretary pre-
sents with much earnestness a plea for the
authorizatio of three additional battleships and
ten or twelve torpedo boats While the
a1mored vessels heretofore authorized, including
those now nearing completion, will constitute
fleet which it is believed is sufficient for ordin-
airy cruising purposes in time of peace, we have
now completed and in process of construction
but four frst-class battlesh1ps and but few tor
pedo boats. If to have navy for war
like operations, offensive and defensive we GER
batteships and torpedo boats.
The manufacture of armor requires expensive
plants and the aggregation of many skilled work
men. All the armor necessary to complete the
vessels now building will be delivered before
the LIST of June next. If contracts are
given out, contractors must disband their work
men and their plants must lie idle. Battleships
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 compile
tion. The secretary states that no more than
10 per cent of the cost of such ships need be in
Guided in the aDDrODriat iOnS for coming wear.