Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-12-06

IS
cheney Is greater or less in any year
depending upon the volume of receipts The
postmaSter-general states that this deficiency
IS unnecessary and might be obviated at once
II the laws regulating rates upon mail matter
Of the second class was modified. The rate re-
ceived for the transmission of this second-class
matter IS cent per pound, while the cost OF
such transportation to the government is eight
times that amount. In the general terms of
the law this rate covers newspapers and peri
odlcaiS. The extensions of the meaning of
these terms from time to time have admitted
TO the privileges intended for legitimate news
papers and periodicals a surprising range OF
publication, and created abuses the cost of
which amounts in the aggregate to the total
deficiency of the post office department. Pre-
tended newspapers are started by business
houses for the purpose of advertising goods
complying with the law in form only, and dis
continuing the publications as soon as the Pc
Rod OF advertising is over. Another abuse con-
sists in the free carriage through the mails of
hundreds OF tons of seed and grain, uselessly
distributed through the department of
agriculture. The postmaSter-general pre-
diets that if the law is so amended
as to eradicate these abuses, not only will
the post Office department show no deficiency,
but he believes that in the near future all
legitimate news papers, periodicals and maya
zines might be properly transmitted through
the mails to their subscribers free of cost.
invite your prompt consideration of this sub
ject and fully indorse the views of the postmas-
tef-generaI- The total mum Der OF post OfficeS
in the United States on the 30th day of June.
1894, was 69S05. an increase of ,403 over the
preceding year; of these 3.42S were presiden-
tial, an increase of sixty-eight over the proceed
ing year Six hundred and ten cities and towns
are provided with free delivery, ninety-three
other cities and towns entitled to this service
under the law have not been accorded it on az
count of insufficient funds The expense of
free delivery for the current fiscal year will be
more than S123O0.090, and under existing legiS-
lation this item of expenditure Is subject to
constant increase. The estimated cost of rural
free delivery generally is so very large that it
ought not to be considered in the present con-,
dition Of affairs. During the year $50 addi-
tional domestic money order offices were es-
tablished- The total number of these offices
at the close of the year was 1924 There were
14,S04,0n money orders issued during the year,
being an increase over the preceding year Of
994,3O6. The value OF these ort1es amounted
to $685. 793,579 49, an increase OF SI1, 217,2 4584
There were also issued during the year postal
notes amounting to Sl2,649. 03495. During the
year 21S international money order Offices were
added to those already established making
total Of 2,625 such offices in operation June 80,
1894. The number Of international money or
ders issued during the year was 917,S2S, q de-
crease in number of 1916, and their value
was SI3, 1872 49, 81, decrease in amount of ST.
$40, 3S2.95. The number of orders paid was $751;
100, an increase over the preceding year of co.
263, and their value was $6,563, .7S, an in
crease Of S11 285, 1895. From the foregoing
statements it appears that the total issue of
money orders and postal notes for the year
tiers and packages mailed during the year for
special delivery was 3,4S6.970 The special de-
livery stamps used upon these letters and
packages amounted to 1913, 657. The mesSen-
gers fees paid for their delivery amounted to
1851 ,2O67O, leaving a balance in favor of the
government of $50, 1870. The report shows
most gratifying results in the way of economies
in the cost and amount of supplies used in the
service, amounting in all to S16,6l9047.42.
The report also contains valuable contri-
button to the history of the universal postal
union, an arrangement which amounts prac-
tically to the establishment of one postal sys-
tenn for the entire civilized world.
There are now connected with the post office
establishment 1851 employees who are in the
classified service. This includes many who
have been classified upon the suggestion OF
the postmaster general He states that
other years experience at the head of the de-
partment serves only to strengthen the con-
viction to the excellent working of the civil
service law in this branch OF the public serv-
ice.
Our Navy.
Attention is called to the report OF the sec
tary of the navy, which shows very gratifying
progress in the construction of ships for our
navy. All the vessels now building, including
the three torpedo boats authorized at the last
session of congress, and excepting the first
class battleShfp Iowa, will probably be COM
pleted during the coming fiscal year. The eS-
Inmates for the increase OF the navy for the
year ending June 3d. 1896, are large, but they
include practically the entire sum necessary to
complete and equip all the new ships now in
commission that, unless new ships are au-
thorized the appropriation for the naval serv-
ice for the fiscal year ending June 3d. 1897.
should fall below the eStima ties for the coming
year by at least S12, 900 900.
The secretary presents with much earnest
ness plea for the authorization of three ad-
ditional battleshipS and twelve torpedo boats.
If we are to have a navy for warlilke operations.
offensive and defensive, we certainly ought to
increase both the number Of battleShipS and
torpedo boats.
The Interior Department.
The report of the secretary OF the interior
exhibits the situation Of the numerous and in
teresting branches Of the public service con-
nected with his department. Recommend this
report and the valuable recommendations of
the secretary to careful attention Of congress.
The public land disposed of during the
year amounted to 10.4e0,1000 acres,
including 2,8S7.605 of Indian lands.
It is estimated that the public domain still re-
naming amounts to a little more than 600 ,0O0,
900 acres, excluding, however, about $50 100000
acres in Alaska as we'll as military reservations
and railroad and other selections Of lands I'M
adjudicated.
An exceedingly important recommendation
of the secretary relates to the manner in which
contests and htigated cases growing out of eff
termined. concur in the opinion that the
commissioner of the general land ONCE should
be relieved of this duty of deciding Htigated
land cases; that non-partiSan court should be
created to pass such cases and that deciS-
ions of this court should be final, at least far
as the decisions OF the department are final
am convinced that the proper solution OF
the Indian problem and the success of every
step taken in that direction depends. to a very