The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1896-12-10

! aANFAA AAt u+ak Mihl service IN the
world, Il seems Il is quite time 70 correct
the abuses that swell enormously our
annual deficit n we conc-de the pub
llc policy of carrying weekly newspa-
pers free IN the county or publication,
and even the policy of carrying less
than one tenth IN their cost other bora
nie newspapsfs and periodicals.. there
can he no * use for subjecting the SER
vice n the further Immense and Incr. as
lng loss involved in carrying at the
nominal rate cf one cent a pound the
serial llbrarics. sometimes including
trashy and evel harmfll literature and
other matter, which under the loose in-
terpreiat.on II q loose statute has grad
uaily been given second class rates
thus alsJriing an profitable returns de-
rived from FIRST class matter. which
pays three or four times more than its
cost and production and leaves large
annual less 10 ba raii BY general taxa
tion. IL such second class matter pad
merely the cost n It's handling, our de-
fcil would disappear and a surplus RE-
suit. which might be used to give The
people sHil better NAL facilities or
cheaper letter postage. recommend
that legislation be al once enacted 10
correct these abuses and introduce bet
ter business ideas insthe regulation n
our POSTAL rates. Expert nee and otser-
walton heEe demonstrated that certain
I improvements ii the organization 90
/ the post ofiea department must De SCI
cured b for- we can gain the fun bere-
fit II the Immense sums Cxrcnd q IN its
administration. This Involves the fell
loving reforms. which 7 would earnest
4 ly recamm end. There should be q small
addition 10 the existing raDa tors ker-
vice n be employed ln the supervision
81 tile carrier force. which now num-
/ bers 1900 mcn, and performs its SER
vice practically without tie surveillance
i'observed over other branches Of the pes
/ al or public service. Of course such
lack ~ supervision and freedom from
wholesome disciplinary restrictions
must inevitably lead 70 imperfect SER
vice. There should also b. appointed
few inspectors who could assist the
central oiice IN necessary investigation
concerning ma tes Of pos rftice leases,
postofiee Fit s. allowances fer rent icel
and lights and in organizing and secur-
. irg the bst suits from the work q
I the l4.C00 clerks row employed in first
ana second class Offices. I am convinc-
"a that the small exp nse attending the
I inauguration cf these reforms would
actually Re q profitable inve1.msnt.
7 espectfuilv recsmmen nd such fecastirg
of the appropriations By congress for
lthe post Office department. as viii per-
NIT the postmaster general 70 proceed
lvlfh the work of consolidating post0f-
fees. This work has already been en-
tered upon sufficiently 10 fully demon-
strate by experiment and experience
that such consolidation IS productive cf
better service. larger revenue ana less
i expenditure. 20 say nothing of the iur-
4 ther advantage of gradually Withdraw
4 ing possoGiccs from the spoils system.
THE NAVY.
The work OF the navy department and
II its present condition are fully exhibited
4 IN the report of the. secretary. The
construction Of vessels Tor our new navy
has been energetica1ly prosecuted by
the present administration upon the
genral lines previously adopted, the de-
partment having seen no necessity for
/ radical changes in prior methods under
which the work was found 70 be pro-
Y crossing in a. manner highly satisfac-
tory.
It Is gratifying 70 state that oyr ship
ping and their output are believed 10 be
equal % the best that can be manufae-
4 turcd elsewhere and that such notable
! reductions have been made in their
cost az 70 justify the statement that
quite a number or vessels are now being
constructed az rates as low as those
1 that prevail IN Europe In shipyards.
Our manufacturing facilities are al this
/ time ample for an possible naval con-
\ tingenc.es. Three Of our government
navy yards, those al Mare Island. Cal T.,
Norfolk. va. and Br. okiyn, N. y, are
equipped for shipbuiiding. Our ord-
nance plant in Washington Is equal 70
any in the world and at the torpedo
station we are successfully making the
highest grads Of sm ksless powder.
Three frat class private shlpyards. az
Newp rt. Philadelphia ard san Fran
cisco are building Rattle ships.
THE NAVAL MILITIA.
The naval militia which was authorized
n few years ago ns an experiment has now
developed into q body ol tntcrpflslng young
I men, active and energetic. They bear the
\ same relations 20 our navy as the national
II EMUEM AM AifN NlAtANMA NNNftM NINNN 10 NNA
army, aud Il constitutes a supply Tor our
naval forces, the Importance Of which is
\ Immediately apparent
TIE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Tho report or the secretary of the Interior
presents a comprehensive and Interesting
exhibit OF numerous and important affairs
4 committed % his supervision. IL Is impus-
sible in this communication 10 do more
than briefly refer % a few Of the subjects
i concerning which the secretary gives full
and instructive information. Money appro-
priatlons, on account of this department
and for its disbursement for the fiscal year
ended june 30th, 1890. amounted 20 more
was appropriated Tor the entire main-
tenance Of the government for the two
hscal years ended June 30. 1896. Our pub
lic lands, originally amounting 70. $780,
u o000o0, acres have been 80 reduced that
only about o00.O0O.00O acres remain in gov
7 ernmcnt control. excluding Alaska. The
\ balance, being the most valuable portion,
has been given away 10 settlers, TO new
n States and 10 railroads, or sold al n COM
paratiyely nominal sum. The execution Cf
railroad grants has progressed rapidly dur
II ing the year, and since the 9TH day OF
March, 1893, about 250O00.000 acres have
been conveyed TO the corporations ] agree
with the secretary that lie remainder II
our public lands should be more carefully
dealt with and their alienation guarded by
better economy and greater prudence.
The total indian population Of the Uni
ted States la 1925. according 20 a ccnsus
made ID 1896. exclusive Of those within the
State of New York and these comprising
the Eve civilized tribes. or this number
n there are approximately $1,000 children II
school age. During the year 21 303 81 these
were enrolled In schools. The progress
which has attended recent efforts 10
extend Indians school facilities aud the
anticipation o. continued liberal npprorria.
tlons 10 that end cannot fan 90 anogd ihe
utmost satisfaction % those who believe
that the education ~ Indian children is q
prime factor in tie accomplishment q lu.
dian civilization. Ii may hc sali in general
terms in every particular the improvement
Of tile Indians under government care has
been most marked and encouraging.
PENSIONS.
The dimlnuflon Of cur enormous pension
roll and The decrease of pension txpendi.
lures. which have been 80 often confidently
loreloId. SIN falI IA matnrInl rlaIIlaLIon