The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-02-16
MAIL TRANSACTIONS.
A Bill Sent to Congressional Com
mittees by Postmaster General.
THE FIRE At THE BROOKLYN YARD.
A Large Number of Valuable Records De-
stroyed-More Men for the Philippines
covered into the Conscience Fund
Post ONCE Receipts.

-OoNeEtu lntO INC
Post Once Receipts.
Washington, Feb. 13.-The postmas-
ter general has forwarded to the post
office committee of congress draft
of a bill designed to facilitate com
mercial transactions by mail. In II
letter accompanying the bill the post
master general says that lat present
many persons, in order to secure pa
tronage and replies by mail, send to
prospective patrons and correspond
ents prepaid cards and envelopes.
Practical experience, he says, shows
that only about ten per cent. of these
are returned, entailing a loss to the
senders of 80 per cent. of the postage
value of the cards and envelopes dis
tributed. The bill provides that ar
engagements may be made with pri-
vate persons, firms and corporations
for the issue to them of a supply of
reply envelopes and reply cards adj
dressed TO themselves, and for their
transmission through the mails with
out prepayment of postage. The post
age is to be collected from the adj
dressee, the same as postage due un-
der present conditions. A deposit
will be required in advance from per-
sons applying for this privilege in
such amount as shall in the judgment
of the postmaster general seem prop
er. The privileges Of the registry
system, by the terms of the bill, shall
be extended to these reply envelopes
and cards, the registry fee to be col
lected from the addressee upon de-
livery.
The Fire at the brooklyn Navy Yard
Washington, Feb. 13.-Civil Engi-
neer Asserson, of the Brooklyn navy
yard, has reported to the chief of
the bureau of yards and docks that
the fire in building No. at the yard
early Saturday morning was heavy
blow, owing to the large number of
historical and valuable records de.
stroyed. The building was practi-
cally new, occupying the site of the
one destroyed by fire about ten years
ago, and was used for the electrical
department of the equipment bureau
and for the records of the bureau of
yards and docks. Mr.. Asserson es.
Inmates the cost of reconstructing
the building on "A fireproof basis at
$S5 ,000 but that sum does not in
clude the replacement of the stock
destroyed belonging to the equip
ment bureau. An estimate for the
replacement Of the building will be
transmitted to congress at once as
there is pressing need for the struct-
ure.
More Men for tho Philippines.
Washington, Feb. 13.-What is viz
tually n new regiment is being or
ganized at Fort Slocum, New York
harbor, for service in the Philippines
The men are all new recruits and are
intended to supply deficiencies in the
regular regiments in the Philippines
caused by death, discharge or other
causes. The number, which is about
LOO, includes infantrymen, cavalry
men and members of the hospital
corps. Commanded by about 80 Off
GERS, they will go to Manila by the
Suez route on the transport Sumner
That vessel is now undergoing eX
tensive repairs at the Norfolk navy
yard and will start on her long triI
soon after the LIST of March.
Covered Into the Conscience Fund
Washington, Feb. 13.-Secretary
Gage yesterday directed that there
be covered into the treasury to the
credit of the conscience fund 500
This amount was received in an Ell
velope unaccompanied by letter an5
was postmarled Toledo, o., January
| %. The amount has been held al
| the treasury for several weeks pend
ing the possible arrival of some in
formation concerning it, but as this
has not come II is supposed to be q
conscience contribution and is sc
J treated.
Increase In Post ONCE Receipts.
Washington, Feb. ia statement
prepared at the post Office depart
ment of the gross postal receipts fol-
January, 1900, as compared with the
receipts for the same month of the
preceding year, shows an unusually
large per centage of increase. The
total receipts were $4,O37,o19, an in
crease of $3s9,653, or 10.6 per cent.
Investigation OF Senator Clark'a. Election
Washington, Feb. 13.-Four wit
nesses testified before the senate com
mittee on elections and privileges il
| it's investigation of the election o
Senator Clark, of Montana, yester
day. They were d. r. Reeler, 1
banker of Kalspell, whose evidence
related to the bank account of Sena
tor Geiger; w. II. Cochran, of Butte
who was called by the defense, bu
who, before he concluded, was stigma
tiled by them as a witness for thu
| prosecutions; State Senator c. w