The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-12-08

10 Porto RICO ana the Phl1pplneS anu
those We're instructed to supply it so far
as practicable in the employment of the
natives as minor postmasters and
clerks.
POSTAL SYSTEM IN CUBA.
The postal system in cuba, though
remaining under the general guidance
of the postmaster general vas made
essentially independent. 1t WAS felt
that it should not be burden upon
the postal service of the U. s. and
provision was made that any deficit in
the postal revenue should be charge
upon the general revenues of the
island.
Though Porto Rico aud the Philip
pines hold different relation to the u.
S., yet for convenience of administra-
tion the same principle of an autono-
nous system has been extended to them.
The development of the service in all
of the islands has been rapid and sue.
cessful 1t has moved forward on
American lines, with free delivery
money order, and registry system. and
has given the people mail facilities
far greater and more reliable than any
they have ever before enjoyed. It is
thus not only a vital agency of industri-
al, social and business progress, but
an important influence in diffusing n
just understanding of the Crue spirit and
character of American administration
DOMESTIC POSTAL SERVICE.
The domestic postal service continues
to grow with extraordinary rapidity.
The expenditures and the revenue will
each exceed 800, 200, ,OOC during the cur
rent year. Fortunately, since the re-
vival of prosperous times, the revenues
have grown much faster than the cx-
penditures, and there Is every indication
that a short period will witness the
obliteration of the annual deficit. In
this connection the report of the post
master general embodies a statement
OF some evils which have grown up out
side of the contemplation OF law in the
treatment of some classes of mail mat
ter which wrongly exercise the privilege
of the pound rate and shows that IL this
matter had been properly classified and
had paid the rate which 1t should have
paid, instead of a postal deficit for the
last fiscal year Of 1910, 900, there would
have been on one basis a surplus of
$17637570, and on another of $5.732, 1886.
The reform thus suggested, in the opin-
ion of the postmaster general would not
only put the postal service at once on
self-sustaining basis but would per-
NIT great and valuable improvements
and commend the subject to the con
sideration of the congress.
OUR NAVY--SPIRIT-EF
The navy has maintained the spirit
and high efficiency which have al
ways characterized that service, an1
has lost none Of the gallantry in heroic
| action which has signalized it's brilliant
and glorious past. The nation has euuaI
| pride in it's earlier and later achieve
ments. It's habitual readiness for every
| emergency has won the confidence and
admiration of the country The people
are interested in the continued prepare.
ton and prestige of the navy and will
| justify liberal appropriations for Its
maintenance and improvement. The
officers have shown peculiar adaptation
for the performance of new and delicate
| duties which our recent war has i'm.
| posed.
1t cannot be doubted that congress
will at once make necessary provision
| for the armor plate for the vessels now
under contract and building. It's at
tention is respectfully called to the re
port of the secretary of the navy, IL
| which the subject is fully presented
l unite in his recommendation that the
| congress enact such special Legislation
as may be necessary to enable the de-
| partment to make contracts early il
the coming year for armor of the bes
| quality that can be obtained in thi.
country for the Maine, Ohio and Miss
ouri, and that the provisions of the ac
of March 8. 1899, limiting the price o.
armor to $500 per ton be removed.
In the matter of naval construction
Italy and Japan of the great powers
I laid down less tonnage in the year 1899
than this country, and Italy alone ha!
less tonnage under construction.
heartily concur in the recommendation
for the increase of the navy as suggest
ed by the secretary.
THE PENSION ROLL.
| On the Goth Of June, 1899, the pension
roll of the y. S. numbered 991 ,519. Thes,
include the pensioners of the army anC
navy in all our wars. The number ad
ded to the rolls during the year wa!
40,991. The number dropped by reason
of death, remarriage, minors by lega
limitation, failure to claim within thre,
years, and other causes, was 43, 1856 ant
number of claims disallowed was 107,
| 80. During the year S9,054 pension
certificates were issued, of which 49,,
or were for new or original pensions
The amount disbursed for army ant
navy pensions during the year wa.
$13S, 355, ,05295, which was 81, ,651, ,461. 81 les.
than the sum of the appropriations
The Grand Army of the Republic, al
its recent national encampment, helt
in Philadelphia, has brought to my at.
tention and to that of congress the
wisdom and the justice of modification
of the third section of the act Of June
27, 1890, which provides 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 widow.
are without other means of support
,than their daily labor and were mar.
FRIED TO the soldier. sailor, or marine
on account of whose service they claim
pension 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 ir
amount what her pension would be, to.
lxnyif s.l.o 4,