The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-12-07

NOT be given the War Department.
1iuring tho past vear We have reduced or
force IN cuba aud Puerto Rico In Cubs
we now have 334 officers and 1905 enliste'
men: IN Puerto Rico. - officers anl 2.S5.
enlisted men and battalion OF 400 mel
composed " natiTe Puerto Rlcans. whil'
stationed throughout tho United States ar
$40 officers ard lT.?lT men, and In Hawai-
II officers and 453 enlisted men.
In restoring peaceful conditions. orderly
rule and civic progress IN Cuba. Puerto RE,
ana. so Tar as practicable. In the Philip
pines. the rehabilitation ~ the postal ser
part OF the work u iocamc necessary l.
provide mall facilities both FOR our force
cf occupation and for the native population
tn meet this requirement has involved 9
substantial reconstruction. The existing
systems were 80 fragmentary. defective and
inadequate that now and comprehensive
organization had 70 DO created American
trained officials have been assigned 70 thf
directing and executive positions. while ma
tives have been chiefly employed In making
up the body OF the force. In working out
this plan the merit rulc has been rigorous
ly and faithfully applied.
OUR POSTAL SERVICE AT HOME AND
ABROAD.
Though Puerto Rico and tho PHILIPPINES
hold different relation to tho United
States. yet FOR convenience Of administra-
tion the same principle NJ an autonomous
system has been extended to them. The
development Of the postal service I'm all n
the islands has bccn rapid and successful.
II has moved forward on American lines.
with free delivery. money order and regis.
try systems. and has given the people mail
facilities far greater aud more reliable than
any they have ever before enjoyed. II Is
thus not only vital agency Of Industrial.
social and business nrogrcSs. hut m linnor-
tant influence In di1uslng just under
OF the trne sDirlt and character Of
American administration.
The domestic postal service continues to
grow with extraordinary rapiditv. The ey-
nendtu-es ard tho revenues will each ey-
coed 100000 600 during the current year.
Fortunately. since tho revival ~ prosper
ous times. the revenues have grown nuch
faster than tho expenditures. aud there Is
every indication that n short period Will
witness the Ohlitcration NJ tho annual def
cit In this connection the report of tho
Post master General embodics n statement
Of some evils which nave grown m
outside ~ the contemplation OF tho law In
the treatment of some classes OF mail mat
ter which wrongly exercise the privilege of
The pound rate. and shows that II this see
nnd-claSS matter had been properly classi-
fed. and had paid tho rate which N should
have paid. instead of postal deficit for
tho last fiscal year. there would have been
4 surplus. Tho reform thus suggested. IN
the opinion 81 tho Postmaster General
would not only nut tho postnl service 1T
Dnce on self-srstaininr basis hut would
permit great and valuable improvements
md commend the subject To the consld-
nration Of the Congress.
HIGH EFFICIENCY or THE NAvY.
The navy has maintained tho spirit and
high efficiency which have always charac-
erZod that service. and has lost none Of
he gallantry I'm heroic action which has
,ignalizcd its brilliant and glorious past.
The nation has equal pride In It's early and
.1....s
peculiar adaptation for tho performance NJ
lew and delicate duties which our recent
war hns imposed.
II can not be doubted that Congress will
II once make necessary provision for tho
lrmor plate for the vessels now under con
ract and huildng. I recommend that tho
congress enact such special legislation as
nav he necessary to enable the department.
n make contracts carlv In the coming wear
or armor Of the hest quality that can he
obtained In this country for the Maine.
)hlo aud Missouri. and that tho provision
VI the act of March 2. 1880. limiting the
,rlce OF armor 10 500 per ton he revoked.
rHE PENSION ROLLS DECREASING.
ON the Goth Of June. 1900 the pension
oil Of the United States numbered n9l. .hl9.
Those include the pensioners ~ the army
md navy I'm all our wars. Tho number
dded to the rolls during the year was 40.
l9i. The number dropped hy reason ~
leath, remArrlage. minors by legal llmlta-
ion fniure TO claim within three years.
nd other causes. was 43.ISG and tho num-
,er Of claims disallowed was 101.ol9. Dur
NC the wear 50. 634 pension certificates were
ssued. OF which 3I.077 were FOR new or
rlginal pensions. The amount diShurscd
or army and navy pensions during the wear
vas S133 80, ,052 %. which was 81. .65l. iGl 81
pss than the sum OF the appropriation.
The Grand Army Of the Republic. nj It's
ecent national cncainpment. held at Phil
dephia. has brought TO my attention and
o that Of the Congress the wisdom and
ustIcc Of a modification Of the third sec
ion Of the act OF June II. 1890 which pro-
ides pensions for the widows OF officers
nd enlisted men who served ninety davs
r moro during the War of the Rebellion.
nd were honorably discharged. provided
hat such widows are without other means
Z support than their daily labor. and were
larrfed to the soldier. sailor or marine on
ccount Of whose service they claim pen
lon. prior to the date or the act: The
resent holding Of the department Is that
the widows Income. aside from her daily
,bor. does not exceed In amount what her
cnslon would be. to-wit. S6 per annum.
he would he deemed 10 be without other
lcanS Of support than her daily labor. ana
'Ould he entitled 10 pension under ms
ct, while if the widows income. independ-
nj Of the amount received by her aS the
esult Of her daily labor. does exceed in
mount what her pension would be- she
-ould not be penslonable under the act
m advised by the Commissioners Of Pen
Ions that the amount Of the Income al-
,wed before title 10 pension would be
AIRED has varied widely under different nd-
of the Pension Office. as well
$ dursig different periods OF tho same ad-
and has been the cause or Just
Dmplaint and criticism.
With the approval Of the Secretary OF the
1terlor the commissioner Of Pensions rec
IL hot N orHa fn
&c at all times uniform. and 10 do JUS
CO TO the dependent widows. the amount
: income allowed. independent OF the pro-
,eds Of her daily labor. should he not less
IAN 800 per annum: and he urges that the
onsress Shall 50 amend the act as 10 per-
IL the Pension Office 10 grant pensionable
atus to widows under the terms OF the
lird section OF thc act OF June -. lS'O:
hose income aside from the proceeds OF
lilv labor. Is not In excess Of $50 per an.
nm. | believe this 10 he simple act or
stice, and heartily recommend IT,
WELFTH CENSUS NOW UNDER WAY.
In accordance with the act OF Congress
1nroved M March 3. 1899, the preliminary
ork In connection with the twelfth cen
IS is now fully under way. The officers
ouired for the proper administration ~
10 duties imposed have been selected. It
believed that the twelfth census will EN-
IN size our remarkable advance IN all thdt
,rtains to national progress.
RESERVATION OF FOREST LANDS.
Protection Of the national forests. inau-
rated by the Department Of the Interior
1897. has been continued during The past
ar. and much has been accomplished In
@ way Of preventing forest fires ana the
otcction OF timber. There are now large
acts covered by forests which VIII event
lily be reserved and set apart for forest
es. Until that can he done. Congress
onld increase the appropriations Tor the
ork OF protecting the forests
DEPARTMENT DOING
GOOD WORK.
The Department Of Agriculture Is con-
antly consulting the needs Of producers
all the States and Territories. II Is p-
jduclng seeds and "lants OF great value.
4 promoting fuller diverslficaiion or crops.
aims, grasses, fruits. legumes and yege-
bIes are Imported for all parts of the
lited States Under this encouragement.
@ sugar-bcct factory multiplies In the |