The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-12-06

lie be a charge upon the general revenues
l. of the island.
Though Porto Rico and the Philip
l. pines hold a different relation to thu
q United States, yet, for convenience Of
# Administration the same principle OF
/. an autonomous system has been ex-
: tended by them The development OF
: the service in all of the islands has
: been rapid and successful. 1t has NOV
Il ed forward on American lines with free
: delivery, money order and registry
: systems, and has given the people mail
, facilities far greater and more reliable
than any they have ever before enjoy
ed. IT is thus not only vital agency
of Industrial, social, and business pro-
, gress. but an important influence in
/, diffusng a Just understanding of the
true spirit and character of American
] administration.
The domestic postal service continues
to grow with extraordinary rapidly.
The expenditures and the revenues will
each exceed Sl00,0O0,000 during the cur
rent year. Fortunately since the re-
vival of prosperous times, the revenues
have grown much faster than the. ex-
penditures and there is every indication
that a short period will witness the
obIiteration of the annual deficit. In
this connection the report of the Post
master General embOdies statement
of some evils which have grown up
outside of the contemplation of law In
the treatment of some classes of mail
matter which wrongly exercise the
privilege of the pound rate, and shows
that If this matter had been properly
| classified and had paid the rate which
it should have paid, instead Of postal
| deficit for the last fiscal year of $780,
| 900, there would have been on one basis
surplus of $17637,670, and on another
of $5,733,S36. The reform thus suggest
| ed, in the opinion Of the Postmaster
| General, would not only put the Postal
service at once on self-susta1ning
basis, but would perlnih great and
valuable improvements, and / COM
mend the subject to the consideration
of the Congress. The Navy has main
tanned the spirit and high efficiency
which have always characterized that
service and has lost none o. the gal
lantry in heroic action which has sig
nalized its brilliant and glorious past.
The nation has equal pride in its early
and later achievements. Its habitual
readiness for every emergency has Won
the confidence and admiration of the
country. The people are inserested II.
the continued preparation and prestige
of the navy and will Justify liberal APP
propriations for it's maintenance and
Improvement The officers have shown
peculiar adaptation for the perform
ance of now and delicate duties which
our recent war has imposed.
1t cannot be doubted that Congress
will at once make necessary provision
for the armor plate for the vessels now
under contract and building. Its at
tention is respectfully called to the re-
port of the Secretary of the Navy, in
which the subject is fully presented
unite in his recommendation that the
Congress enact such special legisla-
ton as may be necessary to enable the
to make contracts early in
the coming year for armor of the best
quality that can be obtained In this
country for the Maine. Ohio and Mis-
souri, and that the provision Of the act
of March 8, 1892 limiting the price Of
armor to $500 per ION be renew
ed. In the matter @of Naval coii-
struction Italy and Japan, Of the
great Powers. laid down less tonnage
IN the year 1899 than this country, and
italy alone has less tonnage under con-
ytruction. heartily concur in the rec
for the increase of the
Navy as suggested by the Secretary.
Our future progress and prosperity 1
depend upon our ability to equal, II not
,urpass, other nations in the enlarge
nent and advance of science, industry
ind commerce To invention we must
of "a ncf
o the accomplishment of such re-
ult The attention of the Congress is
directed to the report of the Commits
ioner Of Patents in which will be
ound valuable suggestions and recon-
nendations.
On the Goth of June. 1899. the PEN
ion roll of the United States numbered
91,519 These include the pensioners
{ the Army and Navy in all our wars.
he number added to the rolls during
he wear was 40,a91. The number drop
ed by reason Of death. remarriags,
minors by legal limitation. failure to
lain within three years, and other
arses, was 43,1S6, and the number of
laims disallowed was 107alS. During
,e wear 80, O54 pension certificates were
ssued, of which S7,O77 We're for new
r Original pcISlOHn. AiC oAtoNAtN
ursed for Army and Navy pensions
uring the year was $l3S,35e, O52.9o,
yhich was s1,651, 461.61 less than the
am Of the appropriations.
The Grand Army of the Republic at
s recent National Encampment held
Philadelphia, has brought to my at
ntion and to that of the Congress, the
isdom and justice OF modification Of
lie third section of the act of June x,
70, which provides pensions for the
idows of officers and enlisted men
no served ninety days or more dur
g the war of the rebellion and were
discharged, provided that
lch widows are without other means
support than their daily labor and
ere married to the soldier, sailor, or
arine on account of whose service
ey claim pension, prior to the date of
q act
The present holding of the Depart
emit is that of the widows income
ide from her daily labor does not ex-
ed in amount what her pension would
to Wit, $96 per annum, she would be
emed to be without other means Of
pport than her daily labor, and
ould be entitled to a pension under