The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-12-16

preparations FOR barracks and quartafs
should more strictly conform 10 the needs
of the service as Judged by the department
rather than respond to the wishes and I'm.
postunities of localities.
1t is imperative that much Of the money
provided for such construction should now
be allotted to the erection Of necessary
quarters for the garrlsons assigned to the
coast defenses, where many men will be
needed to properly care for end operate
modern guns. II IL essential, too, that
early provision be made to supply the nee
essary force OF artillery to meet the de-
mands of this service.
The entire army has now been equipped
With new magazine arms, aud wise policy
demands that all available public AID and
private resources should be so employed ~
Gent number to supply the state Mills
with these modern weapons, and provide
an ample reserve for any emergency.
The organized militia numbers 1l2,e7y
men. The appropriations for ita suppt 81
by the several states approximate $780,
90 annually and s4G0, 0o0i is constituted by
the general government. Investigation
shows these troops to be usually we'll
drilled and inspired with much military
interest, but in many instances they arc 80
deficient In proper arms and equipments
tktaP q o00t&Su ttkiA w ttStdtV uuty VIVA"
find them inadequately prepared for 6eld
service. therefore recommend that
prompt measures be taken to remedy this
condition and that every encouragement
be given TO this deserving body OF unpaid
and voluntary citizen soldiers, upon whose
assistance We must largely rely In time OF
trouble
In the hope that the work will be pros~,
cuted with no less v1gor In the future, the
secretary Of war has submitted an es.i.
mate which, X allowed, there will be pHo-
videi and either built and building by TIA
end 0! the next fiscal year, such additional
guns, mortars, gun carriages and cor,-
placements as will represent not far tre. i,
one third Of the total work to be doaa
under the plan adopted for our coast de.
fences, thus afTording a prospect that the
entire work will be substantially cou.
pletcd within six years In less time th q
that, however, we shall have attained a
marked degree OF security
Postal Department.
Our postoflice department Is in GOOD con.
dition and the exhibit made Of It's opera
lions during the fiscal year ended June 81,
1896, If allowance Ia made for imperfections
in the laws applicable to It, is very salts
factory. Ire total receipts during the
year were S., +99. 203. 40. The total expendi.
lures were sc. 0e28, 2eB "a exclusive 81 d..
$50, S98. 81 which was earned by the Pacific
on their debt to the government. There
was an increase of receipts over tho pr 4.
GUS year of $3.50. oS0.2l, or IL perosIt,
and m increase Of expenditures OF k,6S3,.
l2402, or 40 percent The deficit was
LOTS, 855. 10 less bhan that Of the preceding
year.
The years report shows large extensions
Of both star route service anu railway mail
service with increased postal facilities.
Much higher accuracy tn handling mails
has also been reached. The deficit for the
the last pr 'eding years. emphasizes tho
necessity for legislation 10 correct the
growing abuse OF second class rates, to
which the deficiency Is mainly attributed.
1t appears that though the second olAN
matter constituted more than two-thirds
Of the total that was carried, the revenue
derived from It WAS less than oue-thirtteth
Of the total expense The average revenue
from each pound Of firstrclsss matter was
9s cents: From each pound Of second. class,
s l-2 mills, (of the second -class 8, 84s, et
pound Of t;iird-class, 1871 cents. From
each pound Of fourth-class, 1875 ceats
recommend that legislation be Of once
enacted to correct these abuses and intzv-
duce better business ideas In the regulation
Of our postal rates.
Experience and observation have demon
strated that certain improvements in the
organization Of the postofice department
must be served before we can gain the full
benefit Of the immense sums expended
its administration. This involves the 10
lowing reforms. which ] earnestly recon-.
mend:
There should be a small addition to the
existing inspector service, to be employed
in the supervision of the carrier force,
which now numbers Is 600 men, and per
forms its service practically without the
surveillance exercised over all other
branches Of the postal or public service,
OF course, such lack Of supervision and
freedom from wholesome disciplinary re-
straints must inevitably lead TO imperfect
service,
inspectors. who would assist the central
office in necessary investigation coacerning
matters Of postoffice leases, postoffice sites,
allowance for rent, fuel and lights, and In
organizing and securing the best results
from the work Of the II, go clerks now en-
ployed in first and second class offices.
ESPECIALLY recommend such recastina
of the appropriations by congress for the
postoffice department as will permit the
p0stmaster-general TO proceed with the
work Of consolidating postoffices. This
work has already been entered upon prof.
GENTLY TO fully demonstrate by expe
ment that such consolidation Is productive
of better service larger revenues and lev.
expenditure, to say nothing OF the further
advantage Of gradually withdrawing post
Offices from the spoils system.
The Navy.
The work Of tho navy department and
its present conditions are fully exhibited
in the report of the secretary. The con.
struction Of vessels for our new has been
energetically prosecuted by the present
administration upon the general lines pre-
viously adop+ed, the department having
seen no nee .ssity for radical changes Ii
prier method: under which the work va,
found to be iogressing in a manner high
ly satisfactory. It has been decided, how
ever, to provide in every shipbuildipg con
tract that the builder should pay all tria
CTontjpued mn fourth f,spe |