The advocate., 1896-12-09

lnVOIVeu IN carrying ~ tn6 uOnlnhA rhCe OF one
cent pound the serial libraries, sometimes
including trashy and even harmful literature
and other matter, which under the loose inter-
probation Of loose statute has beeN gradually
given seoond-claSs rates. thus absorbing oil
profitable returns derived from frSt-ClaSS
matter, which pays three or four times more
than its cost, and producing a large annual
loss to be paid by general taxation.
Experience and observation have demon
strated that certain improvements In the Or
ganization Of the post Oflce department must
be served before we can gain the full benefit OF
the immense sums expended in its administra-
tion. This involves the following reforms
which earnestly recommend: There should
be q small addition to the existing inspector
service, to be em mplOyed in the supervision Of
the carrier force, which now numbers 1900
men and performs its service practically
without the surveillance exercised over oil
other branches OF the postal or public service
There should also be appointed a few inspect
Ors who would assist the central ONCE In nec-
esSary investigation concerning matters Of
post office leases, post office Sites allowance
for rent fuel and lights, and in organizing and
securing the best results from the work Of the
l4,OO) clerks now employed in first and second
class Offices
The Navy Department.
The work of the navy department and Its
present conditions are fully exhibited in the
report Of the secretary The construction of
vessels for our navy has been energetiCally
prosecuted by the present administration upon
the sc neral lines previously adopted the de-
partment having seen no necessity for radical
changes In prior methods under which the
work was found to be progressing in manner
highly satisfactory. 1t hos been decided,
however, TO provide In every ship building con-
tract that the builder should pay all trial ex
penseS, and 1t has also been determined to
pay no speed premiums in future contracts
On March /, 1893, there were in commission but
two armOred vessels, the double-turreted
monitors MiantonOmoh and Monterey. Since
that date, OF vessels Heretofore authorized,
there have been placed in their first Commls-
sion three frst-class and two second"class bat
tle8hips, two armored cruisers one harbOr de-
tense ram and five dOuble-turTeted monitors,
including Maine and Puritan, just completed.
Eight new unarmOred cruisers and two new
gunboatS have also been commissioned The
Iowa, another battleship, will be completed
about March /, and at least four more gunboats
will be ready for sea in the early spring
The war college has developed into an instia
tuition which 1t Is believed will be Of great
value to the navy in teaching the science OF
war, as well as In stimulating professional
zeal In the navy, and it will be especially use-
full in the deVising OF plans for the utilization,
in case Of necessity, Of all the naval resources
Of the United States.
The naval militia, which was authorized
few years ago, as an experiment has now de-
veloped into body OF enterprising young men,
active and energetic In the discharge OK
their duties and promising great Usefulness.
This establishment has nearly the same relation
to our navy as the national guard in the differ
ent states bears to our army, and constitutes
source OF supply to our naval forces, the im@
portance Of which is Immediately apparent
The Interior Department..
The report OF the SECRETARY OF the interior
presents o comprehensive and interesting ex-
hibit Of the numerous and important affairs
committed to his supervision 1t is impossible
in this communication to do more than briefly
refer to a few OF the subjects concerning which
the secretary gives full and instructive infOr-
maeien Our public lands, originally amount
ing 10 $780, 900 900 acres have been so reduced
that only about 900, 100000 acres still remain in
government control excluding Alaska The
balance, being by far the most valuable por-
ton, has been given away to suttlers, TO new
states and to rallroa ds, or sold at compare
lively nominal sum.
The total Indian population Of the United
States is l77,2S5, according to q census made In
1895, exclusive Of those within the state Of New
York and those comprising the fVe civilized
tribes. OF this number there are approx
mately $4,000 children OF school age. During
the year 23,398 Of these were enrolled in
schools. The progress which has attended re-
cent efforts to extend Indian school facilities
and the snticipatlan OF continued liberal ap-
propriations 10 that end, cannot fail TO afford
the Utmost satisfaction to those who
believe that the education OF In
dian children is a prime factor In the
accomplishment OF Indian civilization.
The condition Of AFFAIRS among the ave civilized
tribes, who occupy large tracts OF land in the
Indian territory and who have governments OF
their own, has assumed such an aspect as to
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