The Advocate and news., 1898-12-07

L
1875 over the sum which the reOrgani-
cation committee originally agreed to
bid for the joint property, the govern
ment receiving its whole claim, pTinci-
pal and interest, on the Union Pacific and,
the principal Of its debt on the Kansas
Pacific railway.
Steps have been taken to fOreclose the
governments lien upon the Central Pa
cific Railroad Company, but before ac-
ton was commenced, Congress passed
an act, approved July 7, 1898, creating a
commission consisting Of the Secretary
OF the Treasury, the Attorney General
and the Secretary Of the Interior and
their successors in Office, with full power
to settle the Indebtedness to the govern
ment growing out of the issue Of bonds,
In aid Of construction OF the Central Pa
ciic and Western Pacific bOnd-aided rail-
roads, subject to the approval Of the
President.
No report has yet been made to me
by the commission thus created. What
ever action is had looking to settlement
OF the Indebtedness in accordance with
the act referred to will be duly submitted
to Congress.
= :.
The postal service Of the country ad-
vances with extraordinary growth.
Within twenty years both the revenues
and the expenditures Of the posoffice de-
Dartment have multiplied threefold. In
the last ten years they have nearly
doubled Our postal business grows more
ra nidIv than oryp rOD,y1o%gop Tk v,ov,v a.
wolves an expenditure of S1O0.OOO.OOO a
wear, numbers 73 600 postoffices and en-
rolls 100000 employees. This remarkable
extension Of service which Is an accu-
rate index of the public conditions pre-
sents gratifying evidence Of the advance
ment Of education. of the increase of
communication and business activity
and Of the improvement of mail Gacili-
ties, leading to their constantly aug
lnentipg use.
The war with Spain laid new and ex-
ceDtiODal duties uDOn the POstofice De-
Dartment. The mastering Of the military
and naval forces of the Tinted States
required special mail arrangements for
every camp and every campaign. The
communication between home and camp
was naturally eager and expectant. In
some OF the larger places of rendezvous
as many as IN O00 letters a dav required
handling, This necessity was met by the
nromDt detail Of experienced men from
the established torce and by directing all
the nstrnmenta'it'es Of the railway mail
and postal service. so far as necessary, to
this new need. Congress passed an act
emnowering the Postmaster General to
establish Offices or branches at every
military camp or station. ard under this
authority the postal machinery was
speedily put into effective operation.
The following recommendations of the
Secretary of the Navy relative to the in
crease of the navy have my earnest ap-
proval:
First-Three seagoing sheathed and
coppered battleships Of about 13,5OO tons
trial displacement carrying the heaviest
armOr and most powerful ordnance for
vessels OF their class and to have the
highest practicable speed and the great
est radius Of action. Estimated cost, ex-
elusive of armor and armament, $780,
900 each
Second-Three sheathed and Coppered
armored cruisers of about $4,000 tons
trial displacement, carrying the heaviest
armor and most powerful ordnance for
vessels of their class and to have the
highest practicable speed and greatest
radius of action. Estimated cost, exclu-
slve of armor and armament, $4,OOO,OOO
each
Third-Three sheathed and coppered
protected cruisers Of about 5000 tons to-
tai displacement to have the highest
practicable speed and the greatest radius
OF action and to carry the most powerful
ordnance suitable for vessels Of their
class. Estimated cost, exclusive Of ar
NOR and armament, $2,15O,O00 each.
Fourth-Six sheathed and coOpered
n - N - Ian