Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-08


RECOMMENDATION
Experience and observation have de-
monstrated that certain improvements In
the organization OF the Post-Of1ce De
partment must be secured before we can
gain the full benefit OF the immense sums
expended in It's administration. rms III,
wolves the following reforms, when 1
earnestly recommend:
There should be a small addition 10 lne
existing inspector service, to De empioyeu
in the supervision OF the carrier forcS'
which now numbers 1900 men. and per-
forms its service practically without the
surveillance exercised over all o'h'f
branches of the postal or pubic serves.
OF course. such lack Of supervision anu
freedom from wholesome disciplinary re-
straints must inevitably lead to Imperfect
service There should also be apYoihteu
few inspectors who could ASSIST tne
central Office in necessary lnves'isatioi
concerning matters OF post-oftce leases
post-office sites. allowances for rent, tuei'
and lights. and In organizing and securing
the hest results from the work OF lhe
1900 clerks now employed In nrst- anu
second-class offices.
am convinced that the small expense
attending the inauguration OF these re-
forms would actually be a prohtaDie III
vestment.
| gEUeClHllX
OF the appropriations by Congress TOT the
Post-Ofice Department as will permit the
Postmaster-Genera TO proceed with the
work Of consolidating post-oflces. inns
work has already been entered upon
sufficiently to fully demonstrate py eN-
pariment and experience, that SUI" -
solldation IS productive OF better selHi1',
larger revenues, and less expenditures "
say nothing Of the further advahlase u
l. f-nf
the spells system.
UNIVERSAL. POSTAL UNION.
The Universal Postal Union, which now
embraces all the civilized world, ana
whose delegates will represent l'WV'VVo'-
600 peopie. will hold its fifth congress III
tho city OF Washington in May, 1871.
The limited States may be said to nave
taken the initiative which led to the ms
meeting of this Congress at Berne' III
1874 and the formation OF the universal
Postal Union, which brings the poslal
service of all countries TO every man
ueighborhood, and has wrought marVeiS
i'm cheapening postal rates ana securing
absolutely safe mail communication
throughout the world. Previous CON
crosses have met i'm Berne. PARIS LIS
bon, and Vienna, and the respective Gun,
tries In which they have assemDleu
have made generous provision Tor ther
accommodation. and for the reception
and entertainment Of the delegates
In view Of the Importance Of this as
semblage. and Of it's deliberations, ana OF
the honors and Inequalities accorded 10
OH. representatives by other countries on
similar occasions. I earnestly hope that
such an appropriation will be made TOP
the expenses necessarily attendent upon
the coming meeting In our capital CITY
as will be worthy Of our national hospl-
tally and indicative Of our appreciation
of the event.
THE NAVY.
The work Of the Navy Department. and
its present condition. are fully exhibited
In the report Of the Secretary.
The construction Of vessels for our
new navy has been theoretically prose-
cuted by the present administration. upon
the general lines previously adopted. the
department having seen no necessity for
radical changes in prior methods, under
which the work was found TO be pro-
crossing in a manner highly satisfactory.
1t has been decided. however, to pro-
vide IN every ship-bullding contract that
the builder should pay all trial expenses
and II has also been determined 10 pay
no speed premiums In future contracts.
The premiums recently earned, and some
vet TO be decided. are features OF con-
tracts made before this conclusion was
reached.
on March 4. 1898, there were In COM
mission but two armored vessels-the
double-turreted monitors Miantor oman
and Monterey. Since that date Of YES
sells Heretofore authorized. there have
been placed in their first commission three
irst-class and two second-class bat
tleships. two armored cruisers, one har-
bor-defence ram. and five double-turreted
monitors. including the Maine and the
Puritan. Just completed. Eight new un-
armored cruisers and two new gunbOats
have also been commissioned. The Iowa,
another battleshp, will be completed
about March 1st, and at least four more
eunboats will be ready for sea in the
early spring.
II is gratifying to state that our ships
and their outfits are believed 10 be equal
10 the best that can be manufactured
elsewhere. and that such notable reduc-
tions have been made in their cost as
10 Justify the statement that quite a
number OF vessels are now being con-
structed at rates as low as those that
prevail in European ship-yards.
Our manufacturing facilities are at mi.
time ample for all possible naval contin-
gencies Three Of our government navy
yards-those at Mare Island, Cal, Nor
folk. Va. and Brooklyn, n. Y.-are
equipped for ship-building our ordnance
plant in Washington Is equal to any in
the world and at the torpedo-staton we
are successfully making the highest
grades OF smokeless powder. Three first
class private ship-yards-at Newport
News Philadelphia, and San Francisco
are building battleships; eleven contrac-
tors-stuated I'm the States of Maine.
Rhode Island. Pennsylvania, New Jer-
sey, Maryland, Virginia. and the state
OF Washington-are constructing gum
boats or torpedo-boats; two plants are
manufacturing large quantities OF lDt-
class armor, and American factories are
producing automobile torpedoes, powder
projectiles, rapid-hre guns. and every
thing else necessary for the complete out
ct OF naval vessels.
There have been authorized by Congress
since March. 1898. five battleships. six
iigrr-draft gunboats. sixteen torpedo
boats, and one submarine torpedo-boat
Contracts for the building OF all of them
have been let. The Secretary expresses
the opinion that we have for the present
a sufficient supply Of cruisers and gum
boats. and that hereafter the construc-
ton of battleships and torpedo-boats will
supply our needs
Much attention has been given TO the
methods of carrying on departmental
business. Important notifications in the
regulations have been made. tending TO
unity the control OF shiD-building, as far
a may be, under the Bureau Of Construc-
ton and Repair. and also TO improve
the mode OF purchasing supplies for the
navy by the Bureau of Supplies and Ac-
counts. The establishment. under recent
acts Of Congress, OF a supplyfund. with
which 10 purchase these supplies in large
quantities. and other notifications OF
methods. have tended materially to their
cheapening and better quality.
The War College has developed into
an institution which II Is believed will