The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-04

| J
 awaiting action. It is expected tha
 the number in operation at the close O. the current fiscal year will reach $500
 The mail will then be daily carried tt
 the. doors of 5,700,O00 of our people who
 have heretofore been dependent upor
 distant offices and one-third of all that
 portion of the country which is adapt
 ed to it will be covered by this kind o1
 service
 The full measure of postal progress
 which might be realized has long been
 hampered and obstructed by the heavy
 burden imposed on the government
 through the intrenched and well-under-
 stood abuses which have grown up in
 connection with second-class mail mat
 ter. The extent of this burden appears
 when it is stated that while the second
 class matter makes nearly three-fifths
 of the weight of all the mail, it paid for
 the last fiscal year only $4,294,4 ,445 of the
 aggregate postal revenue of sill ,631, ,193.
 If the pound rate of postage, which
 prodtu IS the large loss thus entailed,
 and which was fixed by the congress
 with the purpose of encouraging the
 dissemination of public information,
 were limited to the legitimate newspa-
 pers and periodicals actually contem-
 plated by the law, no just exception
 could be taken. That expense would be
 the recognized and accepted cost of a | liberal public policy deliberately adopt
 ed for a justifiable end. But much of
 the matter which enjoys the privileged
 rate is wholly outside of the intent of l Tho Ia and ho oHn1iGSiOn
 only through an evasion of it's require
 ments or through lax construction, ] The proportion of such wrongly inclu
 ded matter is estimated by postal ex-
 perts to be one-half of the whole vol [ ume of second class mail. If it be only one-third or one-quarter, the magnitude of the burden is apparent The Post Office Department has now undertaken to remove the abuses so far as Is possi- ble by a stricter application of the law; and it should be sustained in its effort Chi"n.
 Owing to the rapid growth of our power and our interests on the Pacific, whatever happens in China must be of the keenest national concern to Us.
 The general terms O. the settlement of the questions growing out of the anti-foreign uprisngs in China of 1900, having been formulated in 8 joint note addressed to China by the representa- tives of the injured powers in Decem- Der last, were promptly accepted by the Chinese government. After protracted conferences the plenipotentlaries of the several powers were able to sign final protocol with the Chinese plenipotenti- aries on the 7th of last September, set ting forth the measures taken by China in compliance with the demands of the joint note. and expressing their satis- faction herewith It will be laid be- fore the congress, with a report of the plenipotentiary on behalf of the United States, MT. William Woodvile Rock hill, to whom high praise is due for the tact. good judgment and energy he has displayed in performing an exception ally difficult and delicate task.
 The agreement reached disposes in manner satisfactory to the powers of the various grounds of complaint, and will contribute materially to better ru- ture relations between China and the powers. Preparation has been made by China for the murder of foreigners during the uprising and punishment has been inflicted on the officials, how ever high in rank, recognized as respon- sible for or having participated in the outbreak Official examinations have been forbidden for period of five years in all cities in which foreigners have been murdered or cruelty treated and edicts have been issued making all of | ;.,1 It ture safety of foreigners and for the suppression of violence against them.
 Provisions have been made for insur- ing the future safety of the foreign rep in Picking by setting aside for their exclusive use a quarter of the city which the powers can make de- feasible and in which they can if ne- cessary maintain permanent military guards; by dismantling the military works between the capital and the sea; and by allowing the temporary mainte- nance of foreign military posts along this line. An edict has been issued by the Emperor of China prohibiting for two years the importation of arms and into China. China has agreed to pay adequate indemnities to the states, societies and individuals for the losses sustained by them and for he expenses of the milit ary expeditions sent by the various powers to protect fife and restore order. Under the provisions of the joint note Of December, 1900, China has agreed to revise the treaties of com nerce and navigation and to take such ; ,ther steps for the purpose of facilita- ( ing foreign trade as the foreign powers ] nay decide to be needed. The Chinese government has agreed o participate financially in the work of !, ,ettering the water approaches to Shanghai and to Tientsin, the centers ,, f foreign trade in central and northern 1hina, and an international conservan- !. y board, in which the Chinese govern . nent is largely represented, has been provided for the improvement of the Shanghai river and the control of it's avigation. In the same line of com nercia advantages revision of the resent tariff on imports has been as- ented to for the purpose of substitu- ing specific for ad valorem duties, and II expert has been sent abroad on the art of the United States to assist in his work A list Of articles to remain