The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-04

nlgEcst Importance. II Is housed In a build
ing which is the orgest and most MAJ.
nihceut yet erected for library uses ~.
sotices are now being provided which viii
develop the col'ectiCn properly, equip 1t
with the apparatus and service necessary
to its effective use, render It's photograph,
work widely available, and enable IL to he.
come, not merely a center Of research, but
the chief factor in great cooperative OF
forts for the diffusion % knowledge and
IT, advancement of learning.
CENSUS BUREAU
SHOULD BE PERMANENT.
For the sake of good administration sound
economy aud the advancement Of science
the census office as now constituted should
be made IA permanent government bureau
This would insure better cheaper and mo- q
satisfactory work, in the interest not only
of our business, but Of statistic, economic
and social science.
ABUSES IN THE
POSTAL SERVICE.
The remarkable growth Of the postal
service is shown In the fact that its rev
enres have doubled and its expenditures
have nearly doubled within twelve years,
Its progressive Development compels con
stantly Increasing outlay, but in this period
of business energy and prosperity its re-
celpts grow so much faster than its ex-
penses that the annual dehclt has been
steadily reduced from S11,411,779 in 1877
to $3,923,127 in 1891. Among recent postal
advances the success OF rural free delivery
wherever established has been so marked
and actual experience has made It's benefits
so plain that the demand for its extension
is general and urgent.
1t is just that the great agricultural pop.
ularion should share In tho Improvement
I of hp GO %
now IN operation Is 500. practically all
/ established within three years and there
/ are 5000 applications awaiting action. IT
/ Is expected thar the number in operation
| at the close of the current fiscal year will
/ reach $500. The mail will then he daily
! carried to the doors of 100000 of our PEG
/ pie who have heretofore been Dependent
/ upon distant Offices and One-thlrd Of that
/ portion Of the country which is adapted To
| 1t will be covered by this kind OF service. ,
The full measure Of postal progress which
might he realized has long been hampereI
and ohstructed by the heavy burden imposed
| on the government through the intrencIed
| and MISUNDERSTOOD abuses which nave
| grown up in connection with second-cin's
| mai matter. The extent Of this burden
! appears when 1T is stated that while the
/ secoud-claSs matter makes nearly three.
| tfths of the weight of all the mail, IT paid
! for the last fiscal year only S4.2A4 i45 of
the agErega. e postal revenue Of Slll,63l.
! 1873 If the pound rate Of postage. which
produces the large loss thus ontailed, a21
which was fixed by the congress with the
purpose of encouraging the dissemination of
public information, were limited 10 the
legitimate newspapers and periodicals ne
tually contemplated by the law no Jusl
exception could he taken. That expense
I would be the recognized and accepted cos
of a liberal policy deliberately adopted fol
n unsuitable end. But much Of the mattel
which enjoys the privileged rate is WHO'LL
outside of the intent of the law, and has
secured admission only through nm evasion
of Its requirements or through lax construc
tion. The proportion OF such wrongly III
Guided matter is estimated by postal eX
perts to be one-half of the whole volume o
second class mail II 1t he only one thli {
or Une-quarter, the magnitude of the burden
is apparent. The poStoffice department ma
Low undertaken to remove the abuses so IA
ms is possible by a stricter application o
the law: and 1t should be sustained In II
effort.
THE "oPEN DOOR"
TO CHINA.
Owing to the rapid growth of our powe
and our interests on the Pacific whateve
happens in China must be of the keenes
National concern to us
The general terms of the settlement o
the question growing out OF the anti.foreisi
uprisings in China Of 1900 having been for
INFLATED In a Joint note addressed to Chin
| by the representatives of the injured pow
ers in December last, were promptly ac
cepted by the Chinese government Ate
protracted conferences the plenipotentarie
Of the several powers were able to sign
final protocol with the Chinese plenipoter
tiaries on the Tth Of last September sci
! ting forth the measures taken by China
, compliance with the demands Of the join
J note. and expressing their satsfactio
I herewith. 1t will be laid before the COZ
= gress with a report OF the p!enipotenuar
y on behalf of the United states, MT "
= liam WOodvllle Roc6hill, to whom mig
I praise is due for the tact, good Judsmel
@ and energy he has displayed IN periormHi
Z. an exceptionally difficult ana delicate tas.
q The agreement reached disposes IN MAJ
II ner satisfactory to the, powers OF l4g WI
l. ous grounds OF complaint, and WIZ co.
y tribute materially 10 better future relatiQl
between China and the powers; hepaIhuS
4, has been made By China for the murder
n foreigners during the uprising ana puIlS
n 1nent has been inflicted on the ofhclal
! however high In rank recognized as tesPO
Ie sible for or having participated IN tne ga
n break Official examinations nav -
/ forbidden for a period OF I'VE years AZ I
m cities In whi,h foreigners have Deen hlu
70 dnred or cruelty treated, ana edlcts M
'e been issued making all othclas a!tg.Ji, me
: spousible for the future satetY o. lu' a,
H. and for the suppression VI NiV''"N
al Provisions have been made for insnrt !
m | tho future safety of the foreign fepl So
TO yves ~ r ee'" \ auarter Of the city viii
~ Ne nowers can make defensible ana
which they can II necessary MAINTAIN an ~
10 manent military guards by disinanti,aaIIs a,
NJ military works between the eapi. 49,
~ ~ ea. and by allowing the telnpoia
"a meiptenance Of foreign military posts u, ai4 /,
no. his inc An edict has been issued ~ 80 !
NJ empcror II CHINA prohibiting i"l .MH,n,,ifi
lu ~ t,nnortation al arms and anmunlll
q ITO C'bina China has agreed 10 pay .,
n. nrote indemnities to The states, InaI
~ and indiriduals for the losses ~ wilma
er them aud for the expenses Oh '"e N'-'''