Griggs courier., 1895-11-15

~@AssA S~~~s>1
ing the year for treatment was $780,
s73, decrease of 781,171.
He recommends the order recently
promulgated by the president providing
for the consolidation of fourth-class
post Offices, and says the only positions
at first-class post Offices that are now
excepted from civil service examination
are assistant postmaster, private secre-
tary and stenographer, cashier and as
sistant cashier; at second-class offices,
assistant postmaster, under whatever
legal designation known.
Mr.. Jones does not favor maintaining
experimental free delivery service in
towns and villages, but states that if
the people still demand it he assumes
congress will pass the necessary appro-
priation to establish the service. In
view of the great saving effected and
the general improvement in the service,
especially in the large cities, Mr.. Jones
recommends the employment Of a num-
ber of men in the larger offices whose
regular duty it shall be to inspect the
work of carriers, make suggestions as
to extensions and changes of routes,
and, in fact, to have a general super.
vision of the work of carriers outside of
post Offices.
Mr.. Jones says that besides the &C.
tual saving effected, the improved eff
cheney in the service in the offices in.
vestigated must be credited to the Sc
cret service. At every Office the dis
cipline of the force and efficiency of
the service have been much improved,
the work more equally distributed
among the letter carriers, and at many
Offices extensions made and facilities
increased without additional cost.
The assistant postmaster general rec
should be called to the advisability of
providing a penalty for the use of the
postmarking stamp for unlawful pur-
poses, or for counterfeiting it, or for
placing an impression thereof upon an
envelope or postal card for the purpose
of deception. He says some penalty for
the unlawful use of the franking privi-
lege should be imposed.
Mr.. Jones renews several recommen-
dations made in his last report, such as
more stringent legislation against OBJ
scene mail matter; the power to sus-
pend employees; the employment Of
temporary and substitute clerks; care
for disabled employees; the better class
itication of salaries of clerks in larger
offices, and the employment of substi-
tute carriers.
Washington, Nov. 11.-An important
exposition of the defenseless condition
Of the coasts of the United States is
made by Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles. COM
manding the army, in his annual report
10 the secretary of war. 1t has been
estimated that to fortify all our coasts
would cost in the neighborhood of $685.
100000. To put the Pacific coast in a
proper condition of defense would re-
quire in the neighborhood of 375 mod
ern guns and mortars, with their proper
carriages and munitions. 1t has also
been estimated that their cost would be
something like $31,0O0,000. Gen.
Miles has recommended in the past that
$25o,oOo be appropriated to perfect
titles to strategic points neces-
sary to be occupied for the
defense of the Pacific coast; that
81 ,Ooo, 200 be appropriated for the estab-
lishment of plant to be constructed
under the direction of board of officers
Of the army and navy to be ordered by
the president for the construction of ef-
fective guns and war materials for both
army and navy on the western coast,
and that $25.OoO,O00, or such portion of
it as could be utilized in four years, be
authorized to be expended for the con-
struction of the most improved and ef-
fective guns and war materials as will
be required on the coast. 1t is believed
that Gen. Miles makes recommends
tions of a somewhat similar character
in the annual report. He also urged the
appropriation of large sum for the
erection of Notifications for the protec-
tion of the Atlantic coast. Suggestions
are also made with reference to the
great lakes.