The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-04
THE POSTAL SERVICE.


tional government should be represented
by full and complete set of exhibits.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The remarkable growth of the postal
service Is shown in the fact that it's rev.
enues have doubled and its expenditures
have nearly doubled within twelve wears
Its progressive development compels con-
stantly increasing outlay, but in this PEI
Rod of business energy and property its
receipts grow so much faster than it's ex-
penses that the annual deficit has been
steadily reduced from $11 Al ,779 in 1897 to
s., 1923, 727 in 1901 Among recent postal adj
vanceS the success of rural free delivery
wherever established has been SO marked
and actual experience has made its bene-
fits so plain that the demand for it's ex-
tension is general and urgent.
1t Is just that the great agricultural
population should share in the improve
ment of the service. The number of rural
routes now in operation is 5000, practical
ly all established within three years, and
there are 5000 applications awaiting ac-
ton. 1t is expected that the number in
operation at the close of the current fiscal
year will reach $500. The mail will then
be daily carried to the doors of 100000 of
our people who have heretofore been de-
pendent upon distant offices, and one
third of all that portion of the country
which is adapted to it will be covered
by this kind of service.
The full measure of postal progress
which might be realized has long been
hampered and obstructed by the heavy
through the intrenched and well under
stood abuses which have grown up In
connection with second class mail matter
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 81, 294, AS of the ag-
gregate postal revenue of $11l,631 ,193 If
the pound rate of postage, which pro-
duces the large loss thus entailed and
which was fixed by the congress with
the purpose of encouraging the dissent
nation of public information, We're limit
ed to the legitimate newspapers and
periodicals actually contemplated by the
law, no just exception could be taken.
That expense would be the recognized
and accepted cost of a liberal public pol
icy deliberately adopted for justifiable
end. But much of the matter which en-
joys the privileged rate is wholly OUT
side of the intent of the law and has Sc
cured admission only through an evasion
of its requirements or through lax con-
Struction. The proportion of such wrong
ly included matter is estimated by postal
experts to be one-half of the whole vol
une of second class mail.
THE CHINESE SITUATION.
Owing to the rapid growth of our power
and our interests on the Pacific what
ever happens in China must be of the
The general terms of the settlement of
the questions growing out of the anti.
foreign uprisingS in China of 1900, having
been formulated in joint note addressed
to China by the representatives of the
injured powers in December last, were
promptly accepted by the Chinese gov
eminent. After protracted conferences
the plenipotentiaries of the several pow
ers were able to sign a 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 the joint note and ex-
pressing their satisfaction Herewith 1t
will be laid before congress, With re-
port of the plenipotentiary on behalf OF
the United States, Mr.. William Wood
vile Rockhill, to whom high praise -
due for the TACT good Judgment and en-
ergy he has displayed in performing an
exceptionally difficult and delicate task.
The agreement reached disposes In a
manner satisfactory to the powers of the
various grounds of complaint and will
contribute materially to better future re-
lations between China and the powers.
Provisions have been made for insuring
the future safety of the foreign repre-
sentatives in Peldn by setting aside for
their exclusive use quarter OF the city
which the powers can make defensible
and in which they can if necessary main
tain permanent military guards, by dis
mantling the military works between the
capital and the sea and by allowing the
temporary maintenance of foreign mill
tary posts along this line. An edlct has
been issued by the emperor of China pro-
hibiting for two years the Importation of
arms and ammunition into China. China
has agreed to pay adequate 1ndemnitieS
| to the states. societies and individuals
for the losses sustained by them ana
| for the expenses of the military expedi-
| lions sent by the various powers to pro-
tect life and restore order.
| WHAT CHINA HAS PROMISED.
| Under the provisions of the joint noe
| of December, $780, China has agreed TO
| revise the treaties of commerce and nav
igation and to take such other steps for
tie purpose of facilitating foreign trade
as the foreign powers may decide to be
needed.
The Chinese government has agreed t,
participate financially in the work OF
lettering the water approaches to Shang-
hal and to Tientsin, the centerS of for
eign trade in Central and Northern China,
and an international conservatory board,
in which the Chinese. government is
largely represented, has been provided for
the improvement of the Shanghai river
and the control of its navigation. In the
same line of commercial advantages q
revision of the present tariff on imports
has been assented to for the purpose or
substituting specific for ad yalorem du-
ties and an expert has been sent abroad
on the part of the United States to assist
main free of duty, including -four, cereals
and rice, gold and silver coin and bullion.
has also been agreed upon in the settle
ment.
CONCLUSION.
The death of Queen Victoria caused the
people of the United States deep and
heartfelt sorrow, to which the govern
ment gave full expression. When .Presi-
dent Mckinley died, our nation in turn
received from every quarter of the Brit
ish empire expressions of grief and SYM
pathy no less sincere. The death of the
Empress Dowager Frederick of Germany
also aroused the genuine sympathy of the
American people. and this sympathy was
cordially reciprocated by Germany when
the president was assasSinated. Indeed
from every quarter of the civilized world
we received, at the time of the presidents
death, assurances of such grief and re-
gard as to touch the hearts Of our peo-
pie. In the midst of our affection we
reverently thank the Almighty that we
are at peace with the nations of mari
kind, and we firmly intend that our poll
icy shall be such as to continue unbro-
ken these international relations of mu-
tual respect and good will.
Theodore Roosevelt
White House, Dec. 8, 1901.
STATE OF MINNESOTA, COUNTY OF