The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-06

grows much more rapidly han our
population. II now involves an expend-
1ture of 500. 900. 900 a year. 10 To-
600 postofhces. and enrolis zo0.vse en-
ployes. This remarkable extension OF
a service which Is an accurate INDEX OF
the public conditions. presents gratify-
ing evidence OF the advancement, edu-
cation of the increase of communication
and business activity. and OF the i'm
provement of mai facilities. leading 70
their constantly augmenting use.
The war with Spain laid new and
exceptional labors on the postoff1ce. The
mastering of the military and naya
forces Of the United states required
special mail arrangements Tor every
camp and every campaign The com
m~unication between home ana camp
was naturally eager and expectant- In
some OF the larger places OF rendezvous
as many as 80. 600 letters a day required
handling. This necessity was met by
the prompt detail Of experienced men
from the established force and by d.
recting all the Observation-Disclosures OF the
railway mail n postoff1ce service 30
far as necessary to this new need. Con-
gress passed an act the
postmaster general to establish an OF
flee or branch at every military camp
or station and under this authority the
postal machinery was speedily put into
effective operation.
,HdtT ne SafUt dulHViiNys "hN ~
forces advanced upon Cuba, Porto Rico
and the Philippines. they were at
tended and followed by the postal SER
vice. Through the act OF congress au-
thorizing the appointment OF post
masters where necessary. IL was early
determined that the public interests
would be best subserved not by new
designations, but by the detail or ex-
p~erienced men familiar with every
branch Of the service. and this policy
was steadily followed. When the ter
ritory which was the theatre or con-
came necessary to re-establish mail
facilities for the resident popula-
tion as well as to provide them for
our forces OF occupation. and the FORM
err requirement was met through the
extension and application OF the lat
ter obligation. 1 gave the requis tie
authority. and the same general prin-
ciple was applied to this as to other
branches of civil administration under
military occupation. The details are
more particularly given In the report
of the postmaster general, n while
the work is only just begun, 1t is pleas
ing to be able to say that the service
in the territory which has come under
our control is already materially i'm
proved.
Naval Recommendations.
The following recommendations OF
the secretary of the navy relative TO
the increase Of the navy have my earn
est approval:
First-Three sea-going sheathed and
coppered battleshins Of about 13,5O0
tons trial displacement. carrying the
heaviest armor and the most powerful
ordnance for vessels of their class. and
to have the highest practicable speed.
and great radius of action.
cost. exclusive of armor and arma-
ment. S3.6 600. 900 each.
Second-Three sheathed and coppered
armored cruisers of about 1900 tons
trial displacement, carrying the heav-
Jest armor and most powerful ordnance
for vessels of their class, and to have
the highest practicable speed and great
radius Of action. Estimated cost, eX-
elusive of armor and armament, $1,000
900 each. =.
Third-Three sheathed and coppered
protected cruisers of about 5000 tons
trial displacement, to have the highest
practicable speed and great radius OF
action and to carry the most powerful
ordnance suitable for vessels of their
class. Estimated cost. exclusive OF
armor and armament. s., $4,000 each.
Fourth-Six sheathed and coppered
cruisers of about $500 tons trial dis
placement to have the highest speed
compatible with good cruising qualities,
great radius of action and to carry the
most powerful ordnance of vessels or
their class. Estimated cost, exclusive
OF armament 81. 141, 800 each.
l Join with the secretary of the ma
Wy i'm recommending that the grades
of admiral and vice-admiral be tem-
porarfly revived. to he filled by officers
who have especially distinguished
themselves in the var with Spain.
I earnestly urge upon congress the
importance of early legislation provid-
ing for the taking of the 18th census.
This is necessary i'm view OF the large
amount of work which must be per-
formed in the preparation of the sched-
ules preparatory to the enumeration of
the population.
The Pension List.
There were on the pension rolls on
June 30, 1898, 1893. ia names, an increase
of nearly 5000 over the number or the
roll on the same day of the preceding
year. The amount appropriated by the
act OF December %, 1896, for III pay
ment Of pens ons for the fiscal year,
1895, was Sl4O. 900, 900. Eight million
seventy thousand eight hundred and
seyenty-two dollars and forty-six cents
were appropriated by tbs act OF March
81, 1898. to cover deficiencies in army
pensions and repayments in the sum OF
Si2. O62. 33, making a total of $l4s,cs2,s92.
10 available for the payment OF pensions
during the fiscal year 1898. The amount
, dfsbursed from that sum was Sl44.65l,-
$3.50. leaving a balance OF S3,iSl,Ol2.ss
unexpended on the 3oth of June. 1898,
which was covered into the treasury.
] The total receipts of the patent office
during the past year were s1,253,sis.i4
The expenditures were H,0Sl, $685. ~
leaving a surplus of s172,Sl4.65.
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