The Portland daily press., 1896-12-08

ernment should have the entire control
and management of the penitentiarleH
where convicted violaters are confined. 1t
appears that since the traosfer nf the
Fort Leavenworth military prison TO its
new uses the work previously done by
prisoners confined there and for which
expensive machinery has been provided
has heen discontinued. This work con-
sisted of the manufacture of articles for
many use, now done elsewhe On all
grounds it is desirable that the oonvicfs
confined in this pecitentiery be allowed
to resume work of this description. -
SALARIES AND FEES.
II is most gratifying to note the satis-
factory results that have followed ths
Inauguration of the new system prov d d
for by the act Of May 2S, 1896, under
which certain federal officials are COM
psnsateu by salaries instead of fees, / he
last day of July, 1896, aud already the
great economy it enfOrces; prevention
of abuses, and its tendency to b9tter
enforcement of the laws, are strlkingiy
apparent. Detailed evidence of the use
fulress of this long delayed but now
happily accomplished reform will be
found clearly set forth in the attorney
generals report.
THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT..
Our post office department. is in good
condition, and the exhibit made Of its
operations during the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1896. if allowance is made for
imperfaotions in the laws applicable to
it, is very satisfactory. The total re-
oeipts during the year were 49,, 499 EOS. 30.
The total expenditures were $50, 62b,
s9f 81, exclusive of 81, o59, SNS ~. which
was earned by the Pacific railroads for
transportation and credited on theii debt
to the government. There was an IN
crease OF receipts over the previous year
of S5, SIG, 0S02l or IL per cent, ami al ln-
crease of expenditures of So, S36, U2, or
4. 43 per cent.
The dsticir was 81, cry, s5619 less than
that of the precefsing year. The chief ex-
penaitures of the pc stal service aye regu-
latsd by law snd are not in the control
of the postmaster general. All that he
can accomplish by tho most wntohfal
admil istraton and economy is to enforce
promrt and thorough collection and Ac-
counting for public moneys and su9h
minor savings in small exUendiiures and
in tletting those contracts for post ofnee
supplies aud star service, Wh1ce are
not re1unted by statute.
An effective eo1neration EetWe cen the
auditors Office and the pest nif1oe depart
meut and the making aud erforcsuent of
orders by ths department requiring I'M
mediats notification to their suretlts af
all daIinQuencies on the naft OF post
masters and compelling such pCstmasters
to make more frequent deposits Of postal
funds have resulteG in a prompter audit
ing of their accounts and much less de-
fault to the government than heretofore.
Yhe Years report shows largo exten-
siors OF both STIR rcute service and rail-
way mai service With Increased postal
facilities. Mrch higher accuracy in
handling mnils has also teen reached, MS
arrears hy the decrease OF errors in the
railway mail service and TIE reduction of
mail matter returned to tho dead letter
off ce.
pbe deficit for the last year, although
much less than shat of the pre-
oedina years, emphaaizes the necessity for
legislation to correct the CROWN abns,
of second class rates, to which the
deficiency is mainly attributable