Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-12-10


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
fences of the people. at direct charge upon
them so light as perhaps to exclude the idea of
our post Office department being 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, it seems to me it Is quite
time to correct the abuses that swell enor-
mously 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
other bona f1de newspapers and periodicals,
there can be no excuse for subjecting the serv-
Ice to the further immense and increasing loss
Involved IN carrying at the nominal rate o. one
cent q 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 hrst-claSS
matter. which pays three or four times more
than its cost. and producing Q large annual
loss to be paid by general taxation.
Experience and observation have demon
strated that certain improvements in the
ganization OF the post office department must
be served before we can gain the full benefit of
the immense sums expended in its administra-
ton This involves he following reforms,
which 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 public service.
There should also be appointed few inspect
ors who would assist the central office in nee
esSary 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
I4t0) clerks now employed in first and second
class Offices
The Navy Department..
The work Of the navy department and its
present conditions fully exhibited in the
report of the secretary. The construction of
vessels for our navy has been energetically
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 he progressing in q 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 to
pay speed premiums in future contracts
On March ]. 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 frst-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
gunboats have also been commissioned The
Iowa. another battleship. will be completed
about March ]. and at least four more gunboatS
will be ioady for sea in the early spring.
The Interior Department.
The report OF the secretary of the interior
presents comprehensive and interesting ex-
hibit OF the numerous and important affairs
committed to his supervision It is impossible
In this communication to do more than briefly
refer to q few of the subjects concerning which
the secretary gives full and instructive infor-
nation Our public lands. originally amount
ing to 1.s4O. O30, O0O acres have been so reduced
that only about 0.oOe.OOJ acres still remain in
government control, excluding Alaska The
balance. being by far the most valuable por-
ton. has been given away TO suffers, to new
states and to railroa dS, sold at u compare
lively nominal sum
The total Indian population of the United
States is lT7,235. according to a census made in
1895, exclusive of those within the state OF New
York and those comprising the five civilized
tribes. OF this number there are approx
mately $4,000 children OF school age During
the year e3, 1913 of these were enrolled in
schools. The progress which has attended re-
sent efforts to extend Indian school facilities
and the anticipation Of CONT nued liberal ap-
preparations to that end. cannot fail to afford
believe that the education of In
dian children is a prime factor in the
accomplishment OF Indian civilization
The condition of affairs among the five civilized
Indian territory and who have governments OF
their own, has assumed such an aspect to
render it almost indispensable that there
should be entire change in the relations of
these Indians to the general government This
seems to be necessary in furtherance OF their
own interests well for the protection OF
non-Indian residents in their territory. a
commission organized and empowered under
several recent laws is now negotiating with
these Indians for the relinQuiShment Of their
courts and the division Of their common lands
in severalty.
The Pension Roll.
The diminution of our enormous PENSION
roll and the decrease of pension expenditures
which have been often foretold still fail in
realization The number OF pension
ers the rolls at the close Of the fiscal year
ended June 81, 1895, 970,6Ts. This is the
largest number ever reported The amount
paid exclusively for pensions during the year
was sI3s, 2I4.76I-e slight decrease from that
OF the preceding year, while the total expend-
lures on account OF pensions, including the
cost OF maintainence OF the department
and expenses attending pension distribution
amounted to S142.206. a50-59. within a very
small fraction of one-third of the entire ex-
pense of supporting the government during the
Gates issued was. 9o.6io- OF these 30 37i repre-
sent original allowances of claims and I5,sTS
increases OF existing pensions The number OF
persons receiving pensions from the United
States but residing in foreign countries at the
close of the last fiscal year was 3,7Si, and the
amount paid to them during the year was