The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-06

and registry systems, and has given The
people mail facilities far greater and more
reliable than any they have ever before
enjoyed.
1t IS thus not only vital agency of in
dustrial, social and business progress, but
an important influence in diffuslng a just
understanding of the true spirit and CHAR
acter of American administration. The
domestic postal service continues to grow
with extraordinary rapidly. The expen-
ditures and the revenues will each exceed
S100, 100000 during the current year. Fortu-
nately, since the revival of prosperous
times. the revenues have grown much fas-
ter than the expenditures and there is
every Indication that a short period will
witness the obliteration of the annual de-
felt.
Report of Postmaster General
In this connection the report of the post
master general embodies a statement of
some evils which have grown up outside of
the contemplation of the law in the treat
ment 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 1t should have paid instead of a pos
tai deficit for the last fiscal year of S.
10000 there would have been on one basis
a surplus of $l7,637,570, and on another S9,-
1888 S36. The reform thus suggested in the
opinion of the postmaster general would
not only put the postal service on a SELF
SUSTAINING pass out WOulu pSTIll SiCdl
and valuable Improvements, and l recon-
mend 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
the gallantry in heroic action which has
signahzed its brilliant and glorious past:
The nation has equal pride in its early ana
latter achievements. Its habitual readi-
ness for every emergency has won the con-
fidence and administrat of the country.
The people are interested in the continued
preparation and prestige of the navy, and
will justify liberal appropriations for its
maintainence and improvement. The Of
ficers have shown peculiar adaptation for
the performance of new 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 con-
tract and building. Its attention is re-
spectfully called to the report of the seere-
tary of the navy, in which the subject IS
fully presented. l unite in his recommended
ton that congress enact such special legfs-
lation as may he necessary to enable the
department 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 Missouri, and that the
provision of the act of March 8, 1892 limit
ing the price of armor to $500 per ton he re-
moved.
In the matter of naval construction, Italy
and Japan, of the greater powers, laid
down less tonnage in the year 1899 than this
country, and Italy alone has less tonnage
under construction. I heartily concur in
the recommendation of the increase in the
navy as suggested by the secretary.
Our future progress and prosperity de-
pend upon our ability to equal, If not sur
pass other nations in the enlargement and
q of science. industry and COM
merce To invention we must turn as one
of the most powerful aids to the accom-
plishments of such a result. The attention
of congress is directed to the report of the
commissioner of patents. in which will be
found valuable suggestions and recommen-
dations.
Pensions
On the 3Oth of June, 1899, the pension role
of the United States numbered 991 ,519.
These include the pensioners of the army
and navy in all of our wars. The number
added to the rolls during the year was 49,
991. The number dropped by reason of death,
remarriage, minors by legal limitation,
failure to claim within three years and
other causes was a., 1856, and the number
of claims disallowed was 1898. During the
year 1904 pension certificates were issued,
of which S7C77 were fer new or original
pensions The amount discussed for army
and navy pensions during the year was
$13S, 355, 50, which was $1,651,451 less
than the sum of the appropria tons
The Grand Army of the Republic, at its
recent national encampment, held at Phil
adelphia, has brought to my attention, and
to that Of the congress, the wisdom and
justice of a modification of the third sec
tion of the act of June p, 1890, which pro-
vides pensions for the widows of officers
and enlisted men who served ninety days
or more during the war Of the rebellion
and were honorably discharged, provided
that such widows are without other means
of support than their daily labor and were
married to the soldier, sailor or marine on
account of whose service they claim pen
siens prior to the date of the act.
The present holding of the department Is
that if the widows income aside from her
daily labor does not exceed in amount what
her pension would be, towit: $50 per an
num- she would be deemed to be without
other means of support than her daily la
Dor and would be entitled to a pension UNI
der this act but if the widow becomes in
dependent of the amount received by her
daily labor she would not be pensionable
under the act. / am advised by the COM
missloners of pensions that the amount of
income allowed before title to pension
would be barred, has varied widely under
different administrations Of the pension
office, as we'll as during different periods
of the same administration, and has BEEN
the cause and just complaint and criticism.
With the approval of the secretary of the
interior the commissioner of pensions re-
commends that in order to make practice
at all times uniform and to do justice to the
dependent widow, the amount of income al
lowed independent of the proceeds of her
daily labor should be not less than $3.50 per
annum, and he urges that the congress
shall so amend the act as to permit the
pension office to grant reasonable statutes
to widows under terms of the third sec
ton of the act of June 81, 1890, whose in
come aside from the proceeds of daily Ia
Dor is not in excess of $3.50 per annum.
believe this to be simple act OF justice,
and heartily recommend it,
The Dawes commission
The Dawes commission reports that graft
living progress has been made in it's work
during the preceding year. The field work
of enrolment of four of the nations has
been completed. I recommend that con-
gress al an early day make liberal appro-
priation for educational purposes in the
Indian territory.
In accordance with the act of congress,
approved March 5, 1899, the preliminary
work in connection with the twelfth CEN
sus is now fully under way. The officers