, 1901-12-05

The remarkable growth OF the pos,,, :
vice is shown In the fact that its revenr''
have doubled and us expenditures have nss,
" doubled within twelve years. Its pro,,s,
siye development compels constantly inrs.a
ing outlay, but in this period of business as
ergy and prosperity its receipts grow so mge,
bcIt has been steadily reduced from Si ~,
7e in 1897 to 81. 1923, 12I In 1901. Among rsss..
postal advances the success of rural n.
delivery wherever established has been ~
marked, and actual experience has mad y
dement's so plain. that the demand for its Y. vs.
tension Is general and urgent.
Growth of Postal Service.
at is lust that the great agricultural noe,
lation should share In the improvement of,,
service. The number of rural routes nov /,
operation is 5000. practically all establs.,,
within three years, and there are 5000 absf''
cations awaiting action. 1t is expected H.,
the number in operation at the close Of N.
current fiscal year will reach 5000. The man
will then be daily carried to the doors 1,
zoo, 600 of our people who have heretofo,.
been dependent upon distant offices, and one.
third of all that portion OF the country WIS
is adapted to it will be covered by this kt5
Of service.
second-Class Mali Matter.
The full measure of postal progress Will,
might be realized has long been hamperA
and INSTRUCTED by the heavy burden impDsd
ON the government through the intrepcbi
and well-understOod abuses which haze
grown up in connection with second elias,
mail matter ne tAlfhA VI MS burden r..
pears when It Is stated that while the S..
ond-class matter makes nearly three-ffths q
the weight of all the mail, II paid for The
last fiscal year only A,294, $40 of the aggrt.
pate nostai revenue of Sill. 63l, 1873. II tts
hound rate of postage, which produces the
large loss thus entailed, and which was fixed
by the Congress with the purpose OF encout.
aging the dissemination OF public inf1rua.
ton, were limited to the legitimate news
papers and periodicals actually contemplate
by the law, no Just exception could be taken
1Tt..4 ,.,.nr tr,t1l ha the TnrnPntB.T -
accepted cost of a liberal public policy de-
lberately adopted for a tustihable end. Rot
much OF the matter which enjoys the prvj-
legged rate is wholly outside OF the intent o.
the law, and has secured admission only
through an evasion of its Requirements or
through lax construction. The proportion Of
such wrongly Included matter is estimated
by postal experts to be one-hnlf of the whole
volume of second-class mail II 1t be only
one-third or one-quarter, the magnitude O,
the burden is apparent. The Postofice De-
partment has now undertaken to remove the
abuses so far as is possible by a stricter ap-
plication of the law: and 1t should be sus-
tanned in its effort"
We view with lively interest and ke.,
hopes Of beneficial results the proceedings o.,
the P~an-American Congress. convoked at the
| invitation OF Mexico. and now sitting at the
| Mexican capital. The delegates of the United
| states are under the most liberal instructions
to co operate with their colleagues in all
matters promising advantage to the grea,
family of American commonwealths as well
in their relations among themselves as Ia
their domestic advancement and in their
Intercourse with the world at large.
The occurrences arising from the "RoIsr7
outbreak in China are reviewed in detail. and
the steps taken to secure TO the United States
its share of the trade OF the Orient are eN
planned. The message concludes:
The death OF Queen Victoria caused tht
people Of the United States deep and heart.
felt sorrow, to which the government gave
fun expression. when President Mckiule,
died. our nation in turn received from ever
quarter OF the British empire expressions o.
grief and sympathy no less sincere. TIT
death OF the Empress Dowager Frederick o
Germany also aroused the genuine sympath
CT the American people; and this sympathy
was cordially reciprocated by Germany whei
the President was assassinated, Indeed. from
every quarter OF the civilized world We re
ceived, at the time Of the Presidents death
assurances such grief and regard as t.
touch the hearts OF our people. In the mids
OF our anliction we revereutly thank the Al
mighty that we are at peace with the nation
OF mankind: and We firmly intend that gu
policy shall be such as TO continue unbrOke
these international relations of mutual re
spect and good will.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
White House. December 3. 1901,