The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-12-11


passed up 20 October 81, 1876. was k,o5l, and Of
this number 1873 we're st the date last mem
TONED in setiye operation, having au-
/ thoFi2ed capital sl65k Of ees0iO1isS95
held by S5s,902 shareholders, and cir
/ eulating notes amounting TO s2il,4i2,620
The total outstanding circulating notes Of all
national banks on the Sist Of October, 1895
amounted to 1924, SO so, including unredeemed,
but fully secured notes Of banks insolvent and
In process Of liquidation. The increase in na-
tional bank circulation during the year ended
on that day was 32t ,oe9,42d. On Oetdbef 1885
when the condition Of national banks was last
reported. the total resources Of the 3ef9 active
institutions was 1926, 6sS. 3l3sS, which in
Guided 81 ,s93. 25S e3aSi in loans and discounts
and S35}l65 7S2 50 in money Of all kinds on
hand OF their liabilities 1851, sci ,0j8 was due
TO individual depositOFs and s209,e4l,0i9 eon-
sisted Of outstanding circulating notes
The War Department,
| The report Of the secretary Of war exhibits
! satisfactory conditions In the several branches
| Of the public service intrusted TO his charge.
I The limit Of our artillery force as fixed by law
| is constantly and readily maintained. The
present discipline and morals Of the army are
excellent and marked progress and efficiency
| are apparent throughout its entire Orgaui8a-
! the suppression Of slight Indian disturbances
| along our southwestern boundary in which the
| Mexican troops cO-opeTatsd and the compul-
| sorry, but peaceful return with the consent Of
! Great Britain Of a band Of Cree Indians from
Montana to the British possessions, no active
| operation have been required Of the army dur
| ing the past year
The organized militia numbers ii2iS79 men,
The appropriations for It's support by the sew
eral states Approximate S2,60O,0D annually and
100000 is contributed by the general govern
m5nt Investigation shows these troops to be
Unusually we'll drilled and inspired with much
military interest, ana In many instances they
are so deficient Ia proper arms and equipment
that q sudden call To active duty would find
| them inadequately prepared for field service
l therefore recommend that prompt measures
be taken to remedy this condition and that
every encouragement be given to this deSerV-
ing body Of unpaid and voluntary citizen SOL
dieTs upon whose assistance we must largely
rely il time Of tToub5,
During the past year rapid progress has bBen
made toward the completion Of the scheme
adopted for The erection and armament Of for
ti6cations along our sea coast. while equal
progress has been made in providing the mate
rial for submarine defense in connection with
| due to the recent generous response Of congress
10 the reCOmm endatiens Of the WaE department
The Attorneys ehefaI's Department.
The encouragement presents detailed and
interesting statement OF the important work
done under his supervision during the last
fiscal year, The ownership ana management
by the government OF penitentiaTieS for the
confinement Of the convicted in the United
States courts Of violations Of federal laws
which for many years has been subject Of
executive recommendation, has at last to
a slight extent been realized by the utiliza-
ton Of the abandoned military prison at Fort
LeaYenWorth as a United States penitentiary.
This is certainly a movement in the right de
Fection: but it ought to be at once supple
menLed by the rebuilding or extensive enlarge
ment Of this ithprOVissd prison and the cone
stfuction of at least one more, to be located IN
the southern states. The capacity Of the
LeavenWorth peuitentiary is so limited that
the expense Of its maintenance, calculated at
per capita rate upon the number OF prisoners
1t can accommodate does not make as econom-
iUal an exhibit as it would If it were
larger and better adapted to prison
purposes; but / am thoroughly con-
WINGED that economy, humanity and q proper
sense OF responsibility and duty toward those
dictate that the federal government have the
entire control and management Of the peniten-
tiaries where convicted YiOlators are confined,
It appears that since the transfer Of the Fort
LeavenWorth military prison to its new uses
the work previously done by the prisoners con-
fined there, and for which expensive machln-
cry has been provided, has been discontinued.
This work consisted Of the manufacture OF
articles for army use, now done elsewhere. On
all grounds it is exceedingly desirable that the
convicts confined in this penitentlary be al
lowed to resume work Of this description.
The Post Once Department.
Our post ONCE department is in good condi-
ton and the exhibit made Of its operations
during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1895, il
allowance is made for impeTfectiOns in the
laws applicable to 1t. is very satisfactory. The
total receipts during year were SS2 499, 2Oa 40
The total expenditures were $685. r29iS4, ex-
elusive OF 81, ,S95 q, which WasearBed by the
Pacific railroad for transportation and credit
on their debt to the government There Was
an increase Of receipts over the previous year
Of $685. 8l2I, or T. per cent, and an increase
Of expenditures Of s},sSi,124 or 4 4S per cent
The deficit was Il ,6799i6.l9 less than that Of
the preceding year. The chief expenditures
Of the postal service are regulated By law and
a
All that he can accomplish by the most watch
ful administration and economy is to enforce
prompt and thorough collection and account
ing for public moneys ana such minor savings
in small expenditures ana IL letting those con-
tracts for post Office supplies and star service
which are not regulated BY statute
The average revenue from each pound OF
frst-class matter was 90 cents. From each
pound OF seeOnd-cIsss, s1k mills (Oi the second
class 81, S43, 81 was county free matter). From
each pound Of third-clSss 1871 cents. From
each pound OF fourth-elass, 1916 cents The
growth in weight Of second-class matter has
been from 100000 pounds in 1891 TO sl2,00O.-
coo IN 1885, and TO almost SI90)0,000 in
1895, and it is quite evident this in
Creasing drawback is far Outstrtpping
any possible growth Of postal revenues.
Our mail service should, Of course. be such
as 60 meet the wants aud even the cOnYen-
fences Of the people, at direct charge upon
them SO light as perhaps to exclude the idea OF
our post ONCE department being money
making concern, but il the face OF constantly
recurring deficiencies in its revenue, and 10 view
Of the fact that we supply the best mail seTV-
ice in the world, it seems to me il Is quite
time to correct the abuses that swell eRor-
mously our annual deficit If We eoncede the
free in the county Of publication and
even the policy Of carrying at
less than one-tetnh Of their cost
other bona fde newspapers and periodicals,
there can be no excuse for subiecting the sery-
Ice to the further immense and increasing loss
involved in carrying at the nominal rate OF one
cent pound tie 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 second-elass rates, thus absorbing al
profitable returns derived from fTst-elas5
matter which pays three or four times more
than its cost and producing a large annual
loss t6 be paid by general taxation
Experience and observation haTe demon
stFated that eertsin Improvements in the Or
gsnizatien Of the post once department must
be served before We can gain the full bensht Of
the immense sums expended III its sdmiRistra-
ton. Fhis involves he following reforms,
which / earnestly recommend: There should
be g snail addition 70 the existing inspector
service, TO BE- en- pioygd in TIE supervision OF
tho carrier f0fse WhicA nov lumbera 1909
men aBd performs its service pTactieailg
without shs suFEaLIlaase exercised over eli