Evening star., 1899-12-05

an important influence in dtfrustng just
understanding of the true spirit and char
acter of American administration
The domestic postal service continues to
grow with extraordinary rapidity- The ex-
penditurtS and the revenues will each eX-
Cecd 500 aOOp. 900 during the current year.
Fortunately, since the revival of prosper
Gus times the revenues have grown much
faster than the expenditures, and there Is
every indication that a short period VIII
witness the obliteration of the annual de-
felt. In this connection the report of the
POstmaster-Genera embodies a statement
of some evils which have grown UP outside
of the contemplation of law in the treat
ment of some classes of mail matter which
wrongly exercise the privilege of the pound
rate, aud shows that If this matter had
been properly classified and had paid the
rate which 1t should have paid, instead of
postal deficit for the last fiscal year of
$B,6lo,Vp. there would have been on one
basis a surplus of S1I. .637.J7O and on an
other of $5.II3, S28. The reform thus sug-
geSted in the opinion of the Postmaster
General. would rot only put the postal
service at once on a self-sustaining basis,
but would permit great and valuable i'm
provements. and I recommend the subject
to the consideration of the Congress.
THE NAVY.
The Navy has maintained the spirit and
high efficiency which have always charac-
terized that service, and has lost none of
signalized 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 interested in the continued preparation
and prestige of the Navy and will justify
liberal appropriations for It's maintenance
and Improvement. The officers have shown
peculiar adaptation for the performance of
new ard delicate duties which our recent
wa- has imposed.
1t can not be doubted that Congress will
at once make necessary provision for the
armor plate for the vessels now under con-
tract and building. Its attention is respect
fully called to the report of the Secretary
of the Navy, in which the subject Is fully
presented. | unite in his recommendation
that the Congress enact such special legis-
lation may be necessary to enable the
Department to make contracts early In the
coming year Tor armor of the best quality
that can be obtained in this country for the
Maine Ohio and Missouri. and that the
provisions of the act of March 3 1899 linn
iting the price of armor to $500 per ton be
removed.
In the matter of naval construction 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 construction. l heartily concur In
the recommendations for the increase of
the Navy, as suggested by the Secretary.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
our future progress and prosperity de-
pend upon our ability TO equal. If not sur
pass. other nations in the enla argement and
advance of science industry and commerce.
To Invention we must turn as one of the
most powerful aids tn tho accn,,,,I,sb,,,.n+
,f ,,,oL %, ~. ri ~
ne dI'ehlioh OF lhe Con-
NreSS Is directed 10 the report of the Com
mis-
found valuable suggestions and recommen-
iati.us
a. ,.,
''ii VI JUNE 1871 the pension roll
II the United states numbered 991,J ,Jle.
These include che pensioners of the Army
and NAVY In all 1,tr ,,-ar- --r, ,,,,t
,5d.J - +h u ,.
% g4I -rL> ,,,,,i - NuiI,S !S 'He year was
5.ath ,.,,,..-.5., - -'t''Tu DE itaSol OF
lion fafIiIr S .Ts3l Lilltd-
~ ~, -. ''~s't'iI ~ "i,i'!H IHFtt years
~ ~ ; as f''lo' anu me num-
M, tho - S1 80 80! ''e7 l"l'.t'' DUr-
t-5,,,i - !@-i.SI"h 'FFtiiitateS We're
.fi,1 ~ "il-." "t,V'' We're Tor new or
r',r ~, i ne amount olSours+d
r-a., - 81 - &c pItII!iLS uufIls the
~ ~ - -, '1'',', N'CH was Sih1l,-
-, '77 It'd" 'ile sum oL lhe appFopr1a-
~ C,,
- nv, >,i i an" AIhHE OF the Republfc at its
~ ii't -. 'I43I eA'dIlpment held in Phil
Ia tbat e u pGs ~ 10 my attention ana
ri,...
. - &" ih"tAtcaIlpn "i the third Sec
II toit VI tIIe dot 81 Jun" ~ lS!O, which pro-
- PsH9lpiiS ior lht WIDOWS Of officers
>l-u I'M 90 IitrH VINO served ninety days
- NOR curing the War OF the Rebellion
.I- .I-4u MtIe Ao!loFapiy discharged. provided
1ttat sum WIDOWS are without other means
u support tLlah fhelr daily labor and were
married 10 the soldier, sailor, or marine on
tIcouht oi whose service the claim pen
SION prior 10 the date of the act
Inc present holding of the Department is
that /, the widow 5 income aside from her
Ially labor does not exceed in amount what
i-er pension would be, to wit. $96 per an
mum, she would be deemed to be without
"tEer means of support than her daily la
"or, and would be entitled to a pension
Under this act; while If the widows in
come independent of the amount received
py ner as the result of her daily labor ex-
ceeds S~i she would not be pensionable
Under the act. | am advised by the Com
missioner Of Pensions that the amount of
the income allowed before title to pension
would be barred has varied widely under
d.nerent administrations OF the Pension
Oince, as we'll as during different periods of
the same administration. and has been the
cause or just complaint and criticism
With the approval OF the Secretary of
the interior the Commissioner OF Pensions
Tt4f.t tIY1lIp and Ha-