New-York tribune., 1896-12-08

expense.
The average revenue from each pound a. ..n,.
Of hrst-s,ass ouns ma os ,scond class. s mills
lOf the second class ~ was co"h'S'''''
From each pound Of third class. .ni cents
From each pound OF fourth class. 100 ce''.
The growth In weight Of second-ciass ,un. na'.a :.
has been from o090O0.O00 pounds in ~ dSSI Nch 10
si2. .000. 600 in 1895 and to almost $40 ooOOT IN
1900 and II r. quite evident TINS lhcreas,1s
drawback is far outstripping any possible
growth Of postal revenues.
ABUSES TO BE CORRECTED.
our mail service should. OF course. be such as
TO meet the wants and even the convenences VI
our people. at a direct charge upon them so
lisht as perhaps to exclude the idea OF our POST
ONCE Department being a money making coh-
cern: but In the face Of constantly recurIihs
deficiency In it's revenues. and IN view OF 'he
fact that we supply the best mail service IN 'he
world IT seems to me 1t is quite ,ihe 80 10 unnsi
the abuses that swell enormously our aniuai n.,,
deficit II we concede the public poncy Oh carr!
ing weekly newspapers free In the county ot
publication and even the policy or carrying at
less than one tenth Of their cost other bona noe
newspapers and periodicals. there can be no eX
cuse for subjecting the service 10 tne 1urtner
immense and increasing loss invoNeo II, oaith ~
ing at the nominal rate of cent pouho 'hs
serial libraries, sometimes including trashy anu
even harmful literature. and otner matter
which, under the loose Interpretation OF l3ose 1
statute has been gradually given second-ciass
rates thus absorbing all profitable returns ue-
rived from first-class matter, wnich pays thIee
or four times more than its cost. anu prooue.ne
a large annual loss 10 be paid by general TAXA
zion II such second-class matter paid merely
the cost of its handling our dei,cit would as
appear and a surplus result wnich mignt ~, DC
,saA IN give the people still better mall 1aclll-
tics or cheaper rates Of letter postage. recon-
mend that legislation be at once enacted 10 cor
rect these abuses and introduce better business
IDEAS in the regulation OF our postal rates
.tratsd that cettain Improvements in the or
ranization Of the Postoffice Department must oe
snrured before we can gain the full benefit or
She Immense sums expended in its administra-
t;nn This involves the following reforms which
I earnestly recommeho: ,,, A., ,.,
There should be a small addition TO the existing
,nsnsctor service to be employed in the super
vision of the carrier force. which now numbers
"a mn men and performs Its service practically
without the surveillance eNercisea over an o''e.
rourse such lack OF supervision and freedom
from wholesome disciplinary restraints must IN
evitably lead TO imperfect service. There should
also be appointed few inspectors VINO ,n. couo as
sist the central office In necessary investigation
concerning matters of postoffice leases postorice
sites allowances for rent, fuel and lights and IN
organizing and securing the best results from the
work OF the 1000 clerks now employed In hrst
and second class offices.
am convinced that the small expense attend
,ro the inauguration of these reforms would act
ually be a profitable investment
7 especially recommend such a recasting or
the anpropriations by Congress for the Postofiice
Department as will permit the Postmaster-Gen-
erai TO proceed with the work OF consolidating
nostohices This work has already been entered
,,non sufficently to fully demonstrate. by expert
nent and experience. that such consolidation Is
productive of better service. larger revenues and
less expenditures. to say nothing Of the further
advantage Of gradually Witndrawins poStomceS
from the spoils system
THE POSTAL UNION CONVENTION.
The Universal Postal Union, which now en-
braces all the civilized world and whose dele
gates will represent 100OOOOO00 people, will
ho,a It's fifth congress in the City of Washington
in May. 1897. The United States may be said TO
have taken the initiative which led to the first
rnsst;nr of this congress Berne in 1874, and the
formation of the Universal Postal Union, which
brings the postal service Of all countries to every
mans neghborhood and has wrought marveis
,r cheapening postal rates and securing absolute
lv safe mail communication throughout the
world Previous congresses have met In Berne.
paris Lisbon and Vienna. and the respective
countries in which they have assembled nave
made generous provision for their accommoda-
tion and for the reception and entertainment OF
the delegates.
In view of the importance of this assemblage
and Of its deliberations and Of the honors ana
hospitalites accorded to our representatives by
other countries on similar occasions, earnestly
hope that such an appropriation VIII De mace LOT
the expenses necessarily attendant upon tne
worthy Of our National hospitality and indicative
Of our appreciation of the event.
VESSELS FOR THE NEW NAVY.
The work OF the Navy Department and its
nresent condition are fully exhibited in the report
of the Secretary.
The construction of vessels for our new Navy
has been energetically prosecuted by the present
Administration upon the general lines previously
adopted. the Department having seen no neces-
s,tv for radical changes in prior methods under
xyhch the work was found to be progressing In
a manner highly satisfactory. IT has peen oe
cided however to provide In ever! shPpuIuine
contract that the builder should pay an - ia' - ~
penses and 1t has also been deternheo " pa!
no speed premiums in future contracts Inc
premiums recently earned and some YET 10 pe ue
cided are features Of the contracts ihaue oei''e
this conclusion was was reached. l., commission
On March 4, 1893. there were IN coi,,nao ,.nnatoa
tut two armored vessels. the douDie-luiIe'eu
monitors Miantonomoh and monterey. ,s SIN.
that date, CT vessels theretoIore oiss;on
there have been placed in their first commission
three first-cass and two second-ciass os..ie
ships two armored cruisers. one harpor ueienIe
ram and ive dou6e-tu -turretea h1msto 1,st comnleted
Ei1ht new unarmored cruisers ana TWO new new
TuIiboats have also been Commissioners. Ia od
Iowa, another battle-ship. VIII s ne ,eorn rnn-
boats will be ready for sea In the early sPrIhs.
II IL gratifying to state tnat our SHIPS anu .n
their outfits are believed TO be equai " aS .ns
hest that can be manufactured elsew here. ana
mai such notable reductions have been maoe
IN their cost as to Justify the statement @ tna'
quite q number Of vessels are now pems sou on ~
etructed at rates as low as those '''o' ~ e' "
European shipyards , ..,. .,,,.
Our manufacturing facilities are at TINS III .me
ample for all possible naval contingencies, Inree
~ pur Government Navy Yards those at Mare
ys,srd cal. Norfolk, Va. and Brooklyn. n. T.,
are equipped for shipbuilding' our ordnance nee
plant in Washington is equal to any IN une
A.
c~ssS,,,v making the highest grades OF smoke
less powder Three frst-class private snip
yards. at Newport News. Philadelphia and san
Trsnc,sco are building battle-shps: eleven con-
xrsctorr situated in the States Of Maine. Rhode
isisnd' Pennsylvania. New-Jersey Maryland.
Virrinia and the State of Washington are con-