The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1896-12-17

ment Investigation shows these troops TO 10 I
we'll drilled and inspired with muci
military interest, and in many instances they
are so deficient in proper arms and equipment
that a sud len call to active duty wouli md
them inadequately prepared for field service.
l therefore recommend that prompt measures
be taken TO remedy this condition and that
every encouragement be given to this deserv-
ing body OF unpaid and voluntary citizen sol
diers upon whose assistance we must largely
RELY in time of trouble
During the past year rapid prog e IS has been
made toward the completion OF the scheme
adopted for the erection and armament OF for
tiieations along our sea coast. while equal
progress has been maSe 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 re Sponse OF congress
to the recommendations OF the war department
The Attorney GENERALS Department.
The attorney ey-general presents a 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 penttenliarles tor 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-
tion OF the abandoned military prison at Fort
Leavenworth as United States penitentiary.
This is certainly movement in the right di-
rection; but it ought to be at once supple
mented by the rebuilding or extensive enlarge
ment of this improvsed 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 ut
n per capita rate upon the number OF prisoners
1t can accommodate does not make as econom-
ioal exhibit as it would IL 1t were
larger and better adapted TO prison
m M
vinced that economy. humanity and proper
sense OF responsibility 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 aprears that since the transfer OF the Fort
Leavenworth mi,itary 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 1t is exceedingly desirable that the
convicts confined in this pcnitentiary bo al
lowed to resume work of this desert ption-
The Post ONCE Department.
Our post office department is in good condi-
tion 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!499, e0s 40
The total expenditures were S9).6!6, 296 81, ex-
elusive of al, o59, ,SgS %, 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 S5.5lG,tS.2l, or I'll per cent, and an increase
of expenditures of s3,s35,taL0! or q per cent.
The deficit was S1,679956.l9 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 ofhce supplies and star service
which are not regulated by statute.
The average revenue from each pound OF
flrst-class matter was 90 cents From each
pound OF second-class, ss mills (of the second
class 81, ,34s, 81 was county free matter). From
each pound OF third-class, 1871 cents. From
each pound of fourth-class. 1916 cents. The
growth in weight of second-class matter has
been from 2g9,0O,0W pounds in 1894 to 32 ,00O,-
100 In 1895 and to almost $40, O0,O00 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 direct charge upon
them so light as perhaps to exclude the idea OF
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 ant
even the policy of carrying a
| less than one-tetnh OF their cost
other bona flde newspapers and periodicals
| there can be no excuse for subjecting the serv
! ice TO the further immense and increasing lost
| involved in carrying at the nominal rate of on'
cent a 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 al
| profitable returns derived from first -clas,
matter, which pays three or four times NOR,
than its cost and producing large annua
| loss to be paid by general taxation.
| Experience and observation have demon
| strated that certain improvements in the or
ganization of the post Office department mus
| be served before we can gain the full benefit o
| the immense sums expended in its adm nistra
| tion. This involves the following reforms
| which Iearnestly recommend: There SHOULD
| be a small addition to the existing inspecto
| service, to be EN- ployed in the supervision o
| the carrier force which now numbers 1900
men and performs its service PRACTICAL,
|
other branches OF the postal OF public service
There should also be appointed few inspect
| ors who would assist the central office in nee
essary investigation concerning matters o
| post Office leases, post office Sites allowance
| for rent, fuel and lights, and in organizing AM
| securing the best results from the work OF tn
| ls,J0) clerks now employed in first and second
| class Offices
| The Navy Department.
The work OF the navy department and IT
present conditions are fully exhibited in tn
report of the secretary. The construction o
vessels for our navy has been energeticall!
| prosecuted by the present administration upol
| the general lines previously adopted, the de
| partment having seen no necessity for radica
changes in prior methods under which thu
work was found to he progressing in a name
highly satisfactory. 1t has been decided
however, TO provide in every ship building con
tract that the builder should pay all trial e&
| penses, and IL has also been determined 4
pay no speed premiums in future contracts
On March 1, 1898 there were in commission bu
two armored vessels, the double-turrete
| monitors Mantonomoh and Monterey. Sine
| that date, OF vessels heretofore authorized
there have been placed in their first commits
sion three hrst-elass 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 ney
| gunboats have also been commissioned Tn
Iowa, another battleship- will be completes
| about March /, and at least four more gunboat
will be ready for sea in the early spring
The war college has developed into an jnsti
tuition which it is believed will be OF grea
value to the navy in teaching the science O
war, as we'll as in stimulating professions
zeal In the navy, and IL will be especially uso
f,,l sff of fla