The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-12-11

| In the supervision of the carrier force
| which now numbers 1900 men, and per
forms its se~vice practically without the
! surveillance exercised ovsr all other
branches OF the postal or public service.
! or course, such q lack OF supervision and
freedom from wholesome disciplinary re-
straints must Inevitably lead TO imperfect
service. There should also be appointed
few inspectors who could assist the CEN
~ % aGy investigation
/ office sites, allowances for rent, fuel and
: lights. and in organizing and securing the
clerks now employed in first and second
! class offices. / am convinced that the small
| expense attending the Inauguration of these
reforms would actually be profitable In
vestment.
1 especially recommend that such a re-
| casting of the appropriations by congress
| for the post Office department as will per
| NIT the postmaster general to proceed with
| the work of consolidating post offices. This
| work has already been entered upon sufil-
| GENTLY to fully demonstrate, by expert
ment and experience, that such consolida-
| ton Is productive of better service, larger
| revenues and less expenditures, to say
nothing of the further advantage OF gradu-
ally Withdrawing post offices from the
spells system.
The Postal Union.
The universal postal union, which now
embraces all the civilized world and whose
delegates will represent ], 600, COO people,
will hold it's fifth congress in the city OF
Washington in May, 1897 The United
States may. be said to have taken the In.
tiative which Led to the first meeting of
this congress at Berne in 1874, and the
formation of the universal postal union,
which brings the postal service Of all coun-
tries to every mans neighborhood and has
wrought marvels in cheapening postal
rates and securing absolutely safe mail
communication throughout the world
Previous congresses have met in Berne,
Paris, Lisbon and Vienna, and the re-
spective countries in which they have as
sembled have made generous provision for
10 fffaVa hos emf nFN
and entertainment of the delegates. In
view of the Importance of this assemblage
and of its deliberations. and of the honors
and Inequalities accorded to our repre-
sentatives by other countries on similar be-
casionS, | earnestly hope that such an ap-
preparation will be made for the expenses
necessarily attendant upon the coming
meeting in our capital city, as will be
worthy OF our national hospitality and in
dicatiVe OF our appreciation of the event.
The Navy.
The work of the navy department and it's
present condition are fully exhibited in the
report Of the secretary. The construction
OF vessels for our new navy has been ener-
getically prosecuted by the present admin
istration upon the general lines previously
adopted, the department having seen no
necessity for radical change in prior meth
obs, under which the work was found to be
progressing In manner highly satisfac-
tory. IL has been decided, however, TO pro-
vide in every shipbuilding contract that the
builder should pay all trial expen3cs, and
It has also been determined to pay 10 speed
premiums in future contracts. The pre-
miums recently earned and some yet to be
decided are features of the contracts made
before this conclusion was reached
On March 4, 1893. there were in commits
sion but two armored vessels, the double
turreted monitors Miantonomah and Mon
terey. Since that date, of vessels thereto
FORE authorized, there have been placed in
their first commission three frst-class and
two second-claS5 battle ships, two armored
cruisers, one harbor defense ram and five
double-turreted monitors, including the |
Maine and the Puritan, just completed. |
Eight new armored cruisers and two new
bunboatS have also been commissioned |
The iowa, another battle ship, will be COM |
pleted about March /, and at least four |
early spring.
Equal to the Best.
1t is gratifying to state that our ships |
and their outfits are believed to be equal |
10 the best that can be manufactured else |
where, and that such notable reductions |
Lave been made in their cost as to Justify |
the statement that quite number of ves-
sells are now being constructed at rates as
low as those that prevail in European ship
yards.
our manufacturing facilities are at this
lime ample for all possible naval contin-
gencies. Three of our government navy
Yards, those at Mare Island, Cal, Norfolk,
' a., and Brooklyn, n. Y, are equipped for
InGton is equal to any in the world, and at
the torpedo station we are successfully
making the highest grades of smokeless
yards, at Newport News, Philadelphia and
san Francisco, are building battle ships;
Maine, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and the state
Of Washington, are constructing gun
boats or torpedo boats; two plants are
large quantities of first
class armor, and American factories are
producing automobile torpedoeS, powder,
)rojectiles, rapid-fire guns and everything
Use necessary for the complete outfit OF
naval vessels
There have been authorized by congress
since March, 1898, five battle ships, six
ight-draft gunboats. 16 torpedo boats and
)ne submarine torpedo boat Contracts
or the building of all of them have been
ct. The secretary expresses the opinion
hat we have for the present a sufficient
supply of cruisers and gunboats, and that
lereafter the construction of battle ships
md torpedo boats will supply our needs.
Business Methods Improved.
Much attention has been given to the
Methods OF carrying on departmental busi- |
ess. Important notifications in the reg
Ilations have been made, tending to unity
70 under the bureau of construction and
epair and also to improve the mode OF
supplies for the navy by the
under recent acts or con-
,ress, of a supply fund, with which to pur-
md &c other h notifications Of methods, have,
ended materially to their cheapening and
etter quality.
The War College.
The war college has developed into an in |
ttution which 1t Is believed will be of |
reat value to the navy in teaching the
cience of war as well as in stimulating
zeal in the navy and 1t will
e especially useful in the devising of
lans for the utilization, in case of neces- |
ity, of all the naval resources of the United
tateS.
The secretary has persistently adhered to
he plan he found in operation for secur-
lg labor at navy yards, Though boards .
labor employment, and has done much to
lake 1t more complete and efficient. The
avail officers who are familiar with this !
ystem and Of Its operation, express the
ecided opinion that its results have been
D vastly improve the character of the y
Iork done at our yards, and greatly reduce
s cost.
Discipline among the officers and men of !
ne navy has been maintained to high |
and the percentage of American
itizens enlisted has been very much In
reased.
Reserve Ships. Il
The secretary is considering and will /
)rmulate during the coming winter a plan J
Or laying up ships In reserve, thereby | v
lrgely reducing the cost of maintain o
g our vessels afioat. This plan contem- )
ates that battle ships and torpedo boats 4
nd such of the cruisers as are not needed Y
,r active service at sea shall be kept In a
sserve, with skeleton crews to keep them |
condition, cruising only enough to in
ia off nf ha oh nd |