The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-12-04

per cent. in the revenues of the cur rent year over those of the last year. The expenditures increase steadily and necessarily with the growth and needs Of the country. % that the deficiency Is greater or less In any year depending upon the volume of receipts. The Post master-General states that this defi- ciency is unnecessary and might be ob- viated at once if the law regulating rates upon mail matter of the second- class was modified. The rate received for the transmission of this secopd- class matter Is one cent per pound, while the cost Of such transmission 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 meaning Of these terms from time to time have admitted to the privileges intended for legitimate newspapers and periodicals a surprising range of publications and created abuses the cost of which amount in the aggregate to the total deficiency of the post of- flee department. Pretended newspa- pers are started by business houses for the mere purpose. of advertising goods, complying with the law in form only and discontinuing the publications as soon as the period of advertising Is over. Sample copies" of pretended newspapers are issued In great num- bers for a like purpose only. The re- suit Is great less of revenue to the government, besides It's humilIating use as an agency to aid In carrying out the scheme of business house to ad- vertise It's goods by means of trick upon both its rival houses and the reg ular and legitimate newspapers. Paper covered literature consisting mainly of trashy novels. to the extent of many thousands of tons is sent through the mails at one cent per pound, while the publishers of stand- ard 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 post master-general predicts that if the law be so amended as to eradicate these abuses not only will the post office de- partment show no deficiency, but he believes that in the near future all le- gitlmate newspapers and periodical magazines might be properly trans mitted through the mails to their sub- scribers free of cost. I invite your prompt consideration of this subject and fully indorse the views of the post master-general.
 The total number of post-offices in the United States on the SOth day of June, 1884, was 69,805, an increase of 1,4O3 over the preceding year. Of these 3,42S were presidential, an in crease in that class of 6S over the pre- ceding year. Six hundred and ten cit es and towns are provided with free delivery. Ninety-three other cities and towns entitled to this service un- der the law have not been accorded it on account of insufficient funds
 THE NAVY.
 recommend that provision be made for the construction of additional bat tie ships and torpedo boats. The sec- retary recommends the manufacture not only the reserve supply of ord- nance and ordnance material for ships of the navy, but also supply for the auxiliary fleet. Guns and their appur- tenances should be provided and kept on hand for both these purposes. We have not to-day single gun that could be put upon the ships Paris or New York of the international navigation company or any other ship of our re- serve navy. The manufacture of guns at the Washington navy yard is pro- ceeding satisfactorily and none of our new ships will be required to wait for their guns or ordnance for equipment.