Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-12-14
THE MESSAGE.
From second page.

larger and better adapted to prison pur-
poses; but L thoroughly convinced
that economy, humanity and a proper
sense of responsibility and duty toward
those whom we punish for violations of
federal law dictate that the federal gov
eminent should have the entire control
and management of the penitentiary
where convicted viOlators are confined.
Postoffice DepaI tment.
Our postofTice department is in good con-
dition, and the exhibit made of it's Oper-
atoms during the fiscal year ended June
20, 1896, if allowance is made for imper-
fections in the laws applicable to it, is
very satisfactory. The total receipts dur
ing the year were sS2 49a, POS 40 The total
expenditures were 800 626, 1864, exclusive
OF 81, 559, 1927 which was earned by the
Pacific railroad for transportation and
credited their debt to the government.
There was an increase of receipts over
the previous year of S., SIG 0S0.21, or IL
per cent, and an increase of expenditures
OF So, S36, 124.O2, or 442 per cent.
The deficit was s., 679 956.19 less than that
of the preceding year. The chief expen-
ditures of the postal service are regu-
lated by law and are not in the control OF
the postmaster general. All that ne can
accomplish by the most watchful admin
istration and economy is to force prompt
and thorough collection and accounting
for public moneys and such minor savings
in small expenditures and in letting those
contracts for postoffice supplies and star
SCANACS WHICH are iIOl les ~ $780,
ute
The transmission at the rate of l cent
pound of serial libraries, advertising
sheets, "house organs" periodicals adj
vertising some particular house or instl-
tution), sample copies and the like ought
certainly ought to be discontinued
The growth in weight of second-class
matter has been from 299,000,00O pounds in
1894 to 312 0O0, 600 in 1895, and to almost
349. 900 in 1885, and it is quite evident
this increasing drawback is far outstrip-
ping any possible growth of postal reve-
nueS
Our mail service should of course be
such to meet the wants and even the
conveniences of our people, at a direct
charge upon them as light perhaps to
exclude the idea of our postoffice de-
partment being a money-making concern;
but in the face OF constantly recurring
deficiency in its revenues and in view
of the fact that we supply the best mail
services in the world, it seems to me it
Is quite time to correct the abuses that
swell enormously our annual deficit.
If such second-class matter paid merely
the cost of it's handling, our deficit would
disappear and a surplus result which
might be used to give the people still bet
ter mail facilities cheaper rates of let
ter postage. ~
The work of the navy department and
its present condition are fully exhibited
in the report of the secretary. The con-
struction of vessels for our new navy has
been theoretically prosecuted by the
present administration upon the general
lines previously adopted, the department
having seen no necessity for radical
changes, in prior methods under which
the work found to be progressing in
q manner highly satisfactory 1t has
been decided however. to, provide in
every ship-building contract y that the
builder should pay all trial expenses, and
it has also been determined to pay no
speed premiums in future contracts.
1t is gratifying to state that our ships
and their outfits are believed to be equal
to the best that can be manufactured
elsewhere, and that such. notable reduc-
lions have been made in their cost to
justify the statement that quite num-
Der of vessels are now being constructed
at rates as low as those that prevail in
European shipyards
There have been authorized by congress
since March, 1898, five battleships, six
Hght-draft gunboats, 16 torpedo boats and
one submarine torpedo boat. Contracts
for the building of all of them have been
let The secretary expresses the opinion
that we have for the present a sufficient
supply of cruisers and gunboats. and that
hereafter the construction of battleships
and torpedo boats will supply our needs.
The naval militia, which was authorized
a few years ago as an experiment, has
now developed into body of enterprising
young men, active and energetic in the
discharge of their duties and promising
great usefulness. This establishment has
nearly the same relation to our. navy as
the national guard in the different states
bears to our army; and it constitutes a
source of supply for our naval forces, the
Importance of which is Immediately ap-
parent.
The Interior Department
The report of the secretary of the inter-
Tor presents a comprehensive and inter-
esting exhibit of the numerous and i'm
portant affairs committed to his super
vision. 1t is impossible in this communf-
cation to do more than briefly refer to a
few of the subjects concerning which the
secretary gives full and instructive infor-
nation.
The money appropriated on account of
this department and for its disbursement
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896,
amounted to more than $157 900, 000 a
greater sum than was appropriated for
the entire maintenance of the govern
ment for the two fiscal years ended June
80, 1861
Our public lands, originally amounting
to 1S40 600 900 acres, have been so re-
duced that only about 600, 600 acres still
remain in government control excluding
Alaska. The balance, being by far the
most valuable portion, has been given
away to settlers, to new states and to
railroads, or sold at a comparatively
nominal sum.
The total Indian population of the
United States is III, 235, according to a
census made in 1895, exclusive of those
within the state of New York and those
comprising the five civilized tribes. VI
this number there are approximately 49,
boo children of school age. During the year
q 1893 of these were enrolled in schools.
The progress which has attended recent
efforts to extend Indian school facilities,
and the anticipation of continued liberal
appropriations to that end, can not fail
to afford the utmost satisfaction to those
who believe that the education of In
dian children is a prime factor in the
accomplishment of Indian civilization
1t may be said in general terms that
in every particular the Improvement Of
the Indians under government care has
been most marked and encouraging. The