The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-12-11


01.OOl.
The total coinage at the minis OF the United
States during the fiscal year ended June 80,
1885,. amounted TO s7!.Iss. IS 3. OF which 3d.
s7S.I9' was ia gold coin and sI6.s s9'a99 in
standard silver dollars and minor coins The
number Of national banks organized from the
time the law authorizing their creation was
passed up to October II, 1896. was 1,J5l and OF
this number 3.679 were at the date last men,
toned in active operation. having au-
thorized capital stock of S6'0,0li.S95,
held by 2ss.9O2 shareholders, and cir
culating notes amounting to s2ll.i12,620
The total outstanding circulat NJ notes of all
national hanks on the 3lst OF October. 1895
amounted to 1894. 5S.S7, including unredeemed.
but fully secured notes Of banks insolvent and
in process of liquidation. The increase in ma
tional bank circulation during the year ended
on that day was f21.u99, 400 On October. ls96,
when the condition Of national banks was last
reported, the total resources of the 3,G79 active
institutions was 81, 2G3. 81. 3I3s3. which in
cluded II .s932 PCS, 81 in loans and discounts
and sS6..16', 732s5 in money of all kinds on
hand or their liabilities sl.597.s .OIs was due
to individual depoSitors and S909 94i,Ol9 con-
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
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 organiza-
tion. With the exception of delicate duties in
the suppression Of slight Indian disturbances
along our southwestern boundary in which the
Mexican troops co-operat and the compul-
sorry, but peaceful return with the consent of
Great Britain of a band OF Cree In ians from
Montana TO the British possessions, no active
operation have been required of the army dur
ing the past year.
The organized militia numbers ll2,S-e men.
The appropriations for It's support b. the sew
eral states approximate S2SOl.OS annually and
$4,000 is contributed by the general govern
ment Investigation shows these troops to be
unusually well drilled and inspire with much
military interest, and in many instances they
are so deficient In proper arms and equipment
that a sud len call to active duty wouli find
them inadeQuately preOared for Held service.
1 therefore recommend tn It prompt measures
he taken to remedy this condition and that
eye-y encouragement be given TO this deserv-
irg body of unpaid anil voluntary citizen SOL
diers upon whose assistance we must largely
relv in time of trouble
During the past year rapid prog-e $ has been
made toward the completion Of the scheme
adop ed for the erection ard armament of for
tifcations along our SCI coast. while equal
rial for subma defense in come ;tion with
these works. This i'm ,rovel situation is largely
d.e to the zee 1t generous re 'o1se OF congress
10 the recon Il eldationS OF the war department
The Attorney .eneraTs Department.
The encouragement presents a detailed and
interesting statement Of :he important work
done under his supervision during the last
fiscal year. The ownership and management
by the government OF penitentiaries for the
confinement of the convicted in the United
States courts OF violations of federal laws,
which for many years has been a subject OF
executive recommendation, has at last to
a slight extent been realized by the utiliZa-
ton OF the abandoned military prison at Fort
Leavenworth as United States penitentiary.
This is certainly movement in the right d.
rection: but it ought to be at once supple
menied by the rebuilding or extensive enlarge
ment of this improviSed prison and the con-
Struction of at least one more. to be located in
the southern states The capacity OF the
LeavenwOrth penitentiary is so limited that
the expense of its maintenance, calculated at
per capita rate upon the number of prisoners
it can accommodate does not make as econom-
ical an exhibit as 1t would il it were
larger and better adapted to prison
purposes but 1 am thoroughly con-
WINGED that economy, humanity and proper
sense OF responsibility and duty toward those
whom we punish for violation of federal law
entire control and management Of the peniten-
tiarieS where convicted violators are confined.
1t 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 machin-
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 exceeding desirable that the
convictS confined in this penitentiary be al
lowed to resume work Of this description.
The Post Omos Department.
Our post ONCE department is in good condi-
ton and the exhibit made OF its operations
during the fiscal year ended June 80, 1896, IL
allowance is made for imperfections in the
laws applicable to it. is very satisfactory. The
total receipts during the year were S. 4e9 S0a 10
The total expenditures were geo. 636 29ds4. ex-
elusive Of 81 $50 sea 81, which was'earned 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 S, ,0en2l. or IL per cent, and an Increase
OF expenditures OF s., 1885, l240I, or 43 per cent
The deficit was 81 ,679 ESQ 10 less than that Of
the preceding year. The chief expenditures
| of the postal service are regulated by law and
are not in control Of the acknowledgement
All that he can accomplish by the most watch
| full administration and economy Is TO enforce
prompt and thorough collection and account
| in small expenditures and in letting those con-
tracts for post ONCE supplies and star service
which are not regulated by statute
The average revenue from each pound Of
frst-class matter was SO cents From each
pound of seconi-clasS. 81 mills (of the second
class 81, S4s. 81 was county free matter). From
each pound OF third-class, 1871 cents. From
each pound of fourth-class. 1i.6 cents The
growth in weight Of second-class matter has
been from 2e9, 0JO,OO pounds in 1894 to 3I2,OOO,
600 in 1895, and to almost 3I9,0)0,O00 in
1895, and it is quite evident this in
creasing drawback is far outstripping
any possible growth Of postal revenues
Our mail service should, Of course, be such
as to meet the wants and even the conven-
fences of the people. at a direct charge upon
| them so light as perhaps to exclude the idea Of
our post office department being o money
| making concern but in the face OF constantly
recurring deficiencies In its revenue and in view
of the fact that we supply the best mail serv-
| ice in the world, il seems to me it is quite
time to correct the abuses that swell enor-
rpously our annual deficit II we concede the
public policy OF carrying weekly newspapers
! free in the county OF publication and
| even the policy Of carrying at
| less than one-tetnh OF their cost
| other bona fide newspapers and periodicals.
there can be no excuse for subjecting the serv-
! f.a ~ ha Furthar immense and inrrpa lOSS