The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-04

Stituleu SHoulu ne Hlaue permanent
| Government bureau. This would insure
better cheaper and more satisfactory
work. in the interest not only of our
business but of statistic economic and
social science.
The Postal Service.
The remarkable growth of the postal
service is shown in the fact that it's
revenues have doubled and it's expendi-
| lures have nearly doubled within twelve
years. Its progressive development COM
pels constantly increasing outlay but
in this period of business energy and
prosperity its receipts grow so much
| faster than its expenses that the annual
deficit has been steadily reduced from
81, 779 in 1897 TO $3,923, 1877 in 1901.
Among recent postal advances the sue
cess of rural free delivery wherever es-
tablished has been so marked and ac-
tual expenses has made it's benefits so
plain, that the demand for it's extension
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.
practically all established within three
years, and there are 5000 applications
| awaiting action. 1t is expected that the
number in operation at the close of
the current fiscal year will reach 5000
The mail w.. t-1en be daily carried to
the doors of $1,000 of our people who
have heretofore been dependent upon dis
tant offices, and one third of all that
portion of the country which is adapted
to it will be covered by this kind of SER
vice.
The full measure of postal progress
which might be realized has long been
hampered and INSTRUCTED by the heavy
burden imposed on the Government
through the intrenched and well-under-
stood abuses which have grown up in
connection with seeond-class mail nat
ter The extent of this burden 1Do ar )
when it is stated that while the second
class matter makes nearly three ffths
of the weight of all the mail, it paid for
the last fiscal year only S4,294, 445 of the
aggregate postal revenue of Sill, 631, 1893
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 dissemina-
ton of public information, were limited
icals actually contemplated by the law.
no just exception could be taken. That
expense would be the recognized and
accepted cost OF liberal public policy
deliberately adopted for a justifable end.
But much of the matter which enjoys the
privileged rate is wholly outside of the
intent OF the law, and has secured adj
mission only through an evasion of it's
requirements or through lax construc-
ton. The proportion of such wrongly
Included matter is estimated by postal
experts to be one-half of the whole vol
ume of second class mail. If it be only
one-third or quarter, the magnitude
of the burden is apparent The Post
office Department has now undertaken to
remove the abuses so far as is possible
by stricter application of the law; and
it should be sustained in it's effort.
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 joint note
addressed to China by the representa-
tives of the injured powers in December
last. were promptly accepted by the Chi
nese Government. After protracted con-
ference the plenipotentiaries of the sew
eral powers were able to sign a final
protocol with the Chinese plenipoten-
tiaries on the 7th of last September,
setting forth the measures taken by
China in compliance with the demands
of the joint note, and expressing their
satisfaction Herewith. 1t will be laid
before the Congress. with a report of the
plenipotentiary on behalf of the United
States, Mr.. William Woodville Rockhill,
to whom high praise is due for the tact,
good Judgment and energy he has dis
played in performing an exceptionally
difficult and delicate task.
Relations With China.
Tha