The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-08

nAl ! Ills with Hoods Sarsaparllia.
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the central Office in necessary investiga-
tien cone ernsEg matters o. pos totIics
leases pos offlce sites. allowances for rent.
Iaei ana lights, afd IN organizing ang DE.
the Il co clerks now employed IN hrst and
sScond-ciaSs offices.
/ am CONVINCED that the small expense
attending the Inauguration OF these re-
forms would actually be profitable IN
Vestment | especially recommend such
recast!ng OF the appropriations BY con-
gress Tor the postoffiee department as VIII
permit the postmaster general 10 proceed
with the work OF consolidating possibilities.
This work has already been entered upon
sufficiently to fully demonstrate by expert
ment and experience that such conso.-da-
revenues ard less expenditures TO say
nothing of the further advantage OF grad
uaay Withdrawing postoihces from the
spells system
Fifth Postal Congress.
The Universal Postal Union, which now
embraces all the civilized world and whose
delegates VIII represent i.00O, oeV,V00 people,
WEI hold It's h4th congress IN the city Of
States may De said 10 have taken the inl-
tiatiye which led TO the hrst meeting OK
this congress in Berne IN ls'4, and me Tor
nation OF the Universal Postal Union,
which brings the poStal service OF al Coan-
tries 70 every mans neshoorhood and has
wrought marvels in chSapenlns postal
communication throughout the world. Pre-
vious congresses nave met in Berne, Paris.
Lisbon and Vienna, and the respective
countries in which they nave assembled
have made generous provision Tor tnesr ac-
cOmmodation and entertainment ana re-
ception of the delegates, In view OF me
Importance of this assem- Di.tgs, ana OF Us
deliberations, and OF the honors and nos
d talitleS accorded 10 our repFesenl lives
by other countries on similar occasions, l
earnestly hope that sucn an appFopflA Ion
wiz be made for the expenses necessarily
attendant upon the coming session ~ our
capitaA city as Wal be worthy or our hs-
tional hospitality and an Indication OF our
appreciation of the event.
Navy in Excellent Condition.
The work OF the navy department and
its present condition are fully eXhloittu IN
the report of the secretary. Ihe con-
struetion OF vessels for our nave mas oeeh
en,rgeticany prosecuted by the ffesent
administration upon the general hnss pls-
viousiv adopted the department haV'Alg
seen no necessity for radical changes m
prior methods under which the Work was
found TO De progressing In manner
highly satisfactory. 1t has been deciCed,
however. TO provide in every snip building
contract that the builder shall pay al
trial expenses, and IL has also been deter
mined 10 pay no speed premiums In flu
ture contracts. The premiums recently
earned and some yet to be decided are
fea lures OF the contracts made before TINS
&C EXCLUSION was 1ached.
on March 4, 1888, there were In commis-
sion but two armored vessels, the dot be
turretcd monitors Mlantonomah ana
Monterey. Since that date. of vessels
heretofore authorized there have been
placed In their first commission three
first-class and TWO second-class battle
ships two armored cruisers, one har0or
defer SO ram and hve double-turreted
monitors, including the Maine and PGri-
tan just completed Eight unarmored
cruisers and two new gpnb3ats have also
battleship, viii be completed about
March l, and at least four more gunboats
IN be for o sea IN 5ae o sar sn spT aad
their outfits are believed to be equal 10
the best that can b. manufactured else
iere. and that such notable reductions
have been made in their cost as TO iusti-
fy the statement that quite q number OF
vessels are now being constructed at rates
as low "a those that prevail in European
shipyards.
Washington Among the shipbuiIders
Our manufacturing facilities are at this
time ample for all possible naval con-
irgencies Theree of our government
navy yards, those al Mare island, Cal,
Norfolk. ' a, and Brooklyn, are equipped
for shipbullding. our ordnance plant In
Washington ts equal 70 any in the world.
and At the torpedo station We are success
fully making the highest grade OF smoke
les, powder. Three frst-cass shipys rds.
and eleven contractors situated in the
states Of Maine, Rhode Island, Pennsvl-
Vania, New Jersey. Maryland. Virginia
and the state Of Washington are con-
structing gunboats and torpedo boats.
Two plants are manufacturing large
Quantities OF hrst-class arm0r, and
American factories are producing auto
mobile torpedoes and other pro1ectiies.
rapid-fring guns and everything else nee
essary for the complete outfit OF naval
vessels.
There have been authorized by congress
since March, 1889, FIVE battieships. six
light-draft gunboats. sixteen torpedo
boats and the submarine torpedo boat.
Contracts for the building OF all of them
have been let The secretary expresses
the opinion that we have Tor the present
sufficient supply OF cruisers and gun
boats. and that hereafter the construc-
ton OF hattleships ana torpedo boats
viii supply our needs.
methods Of carrying on departmental
business Important notifications In the
regulations have been made. tending TO
unity the control Of s1ipOailding as far as
may b under the bureau OF construction
and repair and also 20 Improve the mode
OF purchasing supplies for the navy by the
bureau 81 supplies and accounts The
establishment under q recent act OF con-
gress OF a supply fund WITH which 70 pur-
chase these supplies In large quantities
and other modlncations OF methods tend
ed materially 10 their Better quality
War College and Naval Militia.
The var college has developed into an
institution which Il Is believed viii De OF
great value TO the navy Ia teaching the
science OF war as well as IN stimulating
professional zeal IN the navy, and IL wiil
be especially useful In the devtsing OF
y
sity, o. aIl the naval resources OF the
United States The secretary has per-
slstentiy adhered 20 the pan ne found In
operation for securing Ia Dor at the navy
Yards through boards OK labor employ
meas and mas done much 70 make 81 more
complete and efficient. The naval officers
who are fami lar with this system and lts
operation express their decided opinion
t5ar is results have been to vastly IN
prove the character Of the work done a.
our navy yaras and greatly reduce It's
cost.
Dlscip!las among officers and men OF the
ravy has been maintained a. high
standard and tho percentage 81 American
citizens enlisted has been very much in
TIE secretary IS .ns9aerIaz and viii
formulate during the coming winter a
by largely red HcinE tae cost q maintain
Ing oar vessels afioat. Tafs pan con-
templates saaE Dattsesaips. torpedo boats
ard saGh OF the cruisers are not need
ga fer Act{ve service AZ ssa sinai Be kept
ia reserve with skeleton crews on boar1
70 keep them In condition. cruising Only
snough 20 insure the efficiency % the
e1lns an1 fheir crews ga ttTle Of activity.
The economy TO result from this system
Is too obvious to need comment
The naval militia which wss authorized
q few years ago as an experiment has
now developed TITO e BODY or eutsypFfs-
ing v0uug men. active and energetic IA
TIE DISCHARGE Of thetr dutlgs and prom -
ing CREST usefulness. tbs establishment
mas nearly rhs same "a ton 10 cur navy
as the National guard ia Ire different
states bears 20 our army, and * cons IT,
tntes A source % supDsy fer cur naval
forces. the Importance q which IL iEEne-
9l&ss3y apparent
The Interlor Department.
TIE reoort o. the secretary OF TIE ia