The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-12-11


mept Investigation shows these troops to b.
unusually well drilled and inspired with mucl
military interest and in many instances they
are so deficient in proper arms and equipment
that sud Ten call to active duty would find
them inadeQuately prepared for field service.
1 therefore recommend that prompt measures
be taken to remedy this condition and that
every announcement be given to this deserv-
ing body of unpaid and voluntary citizen SOL
diers upon whose assistance We must largely
relv in time Of trouble
During the past year rapid prog-e s has been
made toward the completion OF the scheme
adop: ed for the erection and armament of for
tifcations along our coast. while equal
progress has been made in providing the mate
rial for submarine defense in connection with
these works. This i'm proved situation is largely
due to the recent generous response of congress
TO the recomm e1dations OF the war department
The AttOrney-Generars Department.
The attorney-general presents detailed and
interesting statement Of the 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 CT violations OF federal laws,
which for many years has been subject OF
executive recommendation, has at last to
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.
recton: but it ought to be at once supple
mented 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
q per capita rate upon the number OF prisoners
it can accommodate does not make as econom-
ical exhibit it would II 1t were
larger and better adapted to prison
purposes: but 1 am thoroughly con-
vinced that economy. humanity and a proper
sense OF res possibility and duty toward those
whom we punish for violation of federal law
dictate that the federal government have the
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 exceedingly desirable that the
convicts confined in this penitentiary bs al
| lowed to resume work OF this description.
The Post ONCE Department.
| Our post office department is in good condi-
| ton and the exhibit made Of its operations
| during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1896, if
| allowance is made for imperfections in the
laws applicable to 1t, is very satisfactory. The
total receipts during the year were ss.499 20s 40
The total expenditures were 800. 6.6, 296 81, ex-
elusive OF 81 $50 500 %, which wasearned 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 S5.5l6,t or IL per cent, and an increase
Of expenditures Of s3,s35,1240,, or l. 43 per cent
| The deficit was s1,e73.956. 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 poStmaSter-general.
All that he can accomplish by the most watch
full administration and economy is to enforce
prompt and thorough collection and account
| ing for public moneys and such minor savings
| 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 % cents. From each
pound of second class. 81 mills (of the second
| class 81, 348 81 was county free matter). From
| each pound OF third-class, 1871 cents. From
| each pound OF fourth-clasS. 1876 cents The
| growth in weight of second-clasS matter has
| been from 200, 0O,0N pounds in 1894 to 32, 0D0,-
| 600 in 1895. and to almost 3is.0OO,'O0 in
1895, and 1t 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 o direct charge upon
them SO light as perhaps to exclude the idea OF
| our post office department being a money
making concern. but in the face Of constantly
recurring deficiencies in it's revenue, and in view
| OF the fact that we supply the best mail serv-
ice in the world, it seems to me it Is quite
| time to correct the abuses that swell enor-
| mouSly our annual deficit If we concede the
| public policy Of carrying weekly newspapers
| free in the county of publication and
even the policy OF carrying a,
less than one-tetnh Of their cost
| other bona dde newspapers and periodicals.
| ice TO the further immense and increasing loss
| involved in carrying at the nominal rate of one
cent pound the serial libraries. sometimes
including trashy and even harmful literature
and other matter, which under the loose inter-
probation Of a loose statute has been gradually
given second-claSs rates. thus absorbing all
| profitable returns derived from first-class
matter, which pays three or four times more
than its cost and producing large annual
loss to be paid by general taxation.
Experience and observation have demon
| STRAIT ed that certain improvements in the Or
ganization OF the post office department must
| be served before we can gain the full benefit OF
/ the immense sums expended in its adm.niStra-
ton. This involves the following reforms
| which 1 earnestly recommend There should
be small addition to the existing inspector
| service, to be EN- ployed in the supervision OF
| the carrier force. which now numbers 1900
| men and performs its service practically
| without the surveillance exercised over all
| other branches OF the postal or public service.
| There should also be appointed few inspect
ors who would assist the central Office in nec-
| essnry investigation concerning matters OF
post office leases, post office sites. allowance
for rent, fuel and lights, and in organizing and
| securing the best results from the work Of the
| l4,tOo clerks now employed in first and second
| class ofhces.
The Navy Department.
| The work of the navy department and its
| present conditions are fully exhibited in the
| report OF the secretary The construction of
| vessels for our navy has been theoretically
| prosecuted by the present administration upon
| the general lines previously adopted the de-
| partment having seen no necessity for radical
| changes in prior methods under which the
| work was found to be progressing in a manner
| highly satisfactory. 1t has been decided,
| however. to provide in every ship building con-
| tract that the builder should pay all trial ex-
| penses. and it has also been determined &c
| pay no speed premiums in future contracts.
On March 4. 1893. there were in commission but
| two armored vessels, the double-turreted
monitors Miantonomoh and Monterey Since
| that date OF vessels heretofore authorized,
| there have been placed in their first commits
| sion three 6rst-class and two second-class bat
| tleShips. two armored cruisers. one harbor de-
| Tense ram and five double-turreted monitors,
| including Maine and Puritan just completed.
| Eight new unarmored cruisers and two new
| gunboats have also been commissioned The
Iowa. another battleship, will be completed
| about March !. and at least four more gunboats
| will be ready for sea in the early spring.
The war college has developed into an insti-
| tuition which 1t is believed will be of great
| value to the navy in teaching the science OF
war, as we'll as in stimulating professional
zeal in the navy, and 1t will be especially USE
! full in the devising Of plans for the utilization
| in case Of necessity, of all the naval resources
I Of the United States.
| The naval militia which was authorized 4,