The age-herald., 1901-12-04

service IS shown in the fact that it's rev enues have doubled and it's expenditures have nearly doubled within twelve years. It's progressive development compels con stantly increasing outlays, but in this period of bushes energy and prosperity it's receipts grow so muc faster than its expenses that the annual deficit has been steadily reduced from S11, 411, 779 in 1897 to 8. 923 727 in 1901. Among recent postal ad- vances the success of rural free delivery wherever established has been so marked and actual experience has made it's ben efits so plain that the demand for It's ex- tension Is general and urgent.
 It is just that the great agricultural population should share in the improve ment of the sevice. The number of rural routes now in operation is coos, practically all established within three years and there are 5000 applications awaiting &C., ton. It is expected that the number in operation at the close of the current fis- 1 cal year will reach $500. The mail will then be daily carried to the doors of o,70O.o00 of our people who have heretofore been dependent upon distant offices, and one-third of all that portion of the coun- l try which Is adapted to it will be cov- cred by this kindo service.
 l The full measure of postal progress which might be realized has long been l hampered and obstructed by the heavy | through the entrenched and well under stood abuses which have grown up in connection with second-class mail matter. l The extent of this burden appears when l it is stated that while the second-class matter makes nearly three-flfths of the l weight of all the mail 1t paid for the | last fiscal year only s4,294, 445 of the az gregate postal revenue of $111, ,631 193 If the pound rate of postage which pro- duces the large loss thus entailed, and which was fixed by the Congress for the purpose of encouraging the dissemination of public information, were limited to the | legitimate newspapers and periodicals ac- tually contemplated by the law no just | exception could be taken. That expense would be the recognized and accepted cost of a liberal public policy deliberately adopted for a justihable end But much I of the matter which enjoys the privileged rate is wholly outside of the intent of the law, and has secured admission only through an evasion of its requirements or through lax construction. The pro- portion of such wrongly included matter is estimated by postal experts to be one half of the whole volume of second-class n all. If 1t be only one-third or one-quar- ter. the magnitude of the burden is ap- parent The Postoffice Department has now undertaken to remove the abuses | so far Is possible by a stricter appli-
 
 tained in its effort.
 China.
 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 of the settlement of the questions growing out of the anti foreign uprisings in China of 1900 having been formulated in a joint note addressed to China by the representatives of the injured powers in December last were promptly accepted by the Chinese gov ernment. After protracted conferences the plenipotentiaries of the several pow CTS were able to sign final protocol with the Chinese plenipotentiaries on the 7th of last September, setting forth the meas ures taken by China In compliance with the demands of hte joint note and ex- pressing their satisfaction herewith. It will be laid before the Congress, with a report of the plenipotentiary on behalf of the United States. MT. William Wood vile Rockhill to whom high praise is due for the act, good judgment and en- | ergy he has displayed in performing an exceptionally difficult and delicate task l The agreement reached disposes in a | manner satisfactory to the powers of the l various grounds of complaint, and will | contribute materially to better future re- | lations between China and the powers | Preparation has been made by China for the murder of foreigners during the up- rising and punishment has been inflicted on the officials, however high in rank. 1 recognized as responsible for or having participated in the outbreak. Official ex l aminations have been forbidden for a