Evening star., 1901-12-03
Interest not only OF our business bus q
statistic, economic. and social science.
The Postal Service

The remarkable growth Of the postal SER
vice Is shown IN the fact that Its revenues
| have doubled and fits expenditures have
| nearly doubled within twelve years IT'S
| progressive development compels constant
| iy increasing outlay. but In this period of
business energy and prosperity It's receipts
| grow so much faster than It's expenses that
| the annual deficit has been steadily re-
duced from 1.41i.779 in 1897 to s2a2sT1
In 1901. Among recent postal advances the
| success of rural free delivery wherever e.
| tablished has been so marked. and actuai
| experience has made its benefits so plain.
that the demand for its 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 6.ooa practically
all established within three years. and there
| are 5000 applications awaiting action. Il
| is expected that the number In operation
/ at the close OF the current fiscal wear win
! reach S,6o0. The mail Will then be daily
carried to the doors OF 5. 10000 OF our peo-
| pie who have heretofore been dependent
| upon distant offices, and one-third OF all
that portion OF the country which is adapt
| ed to ii Will be covered by this kind of SER
| vice
might be realized has long been hampered
| and obstructed by the heavy burden inn
posed on the Government through the in
| trenched and weH-understood abuses which
| nave grown up in connection with second
class mail matter. The extent OF this bur-
| den appears when II is stated that while
| the second-class matter makes nearly
\ three-fifths OF the weight OF all the mail II
paid for the last fiscal year only 81 2g4. AS
OF the aggregate postal revenue OF Sill GIL
| 193 II the pound rate of postage. which
produces the large loss thus entafIed, ana
! which was fixed by the Congress with the
purpose Of encouraging the dissemination
| OF public Information, were limited to the
| les1timate newspapers and periodicals ac-
tually contemplated by the law. no Just ex-
| ception could be taken. That expense
would be the recognized and accepted cost
OF liberal public policy deliberately adopt-
ed for a justinable end. But much Of tn.
matter which enjoys the privileged rate is
wholly outside OF the intent Of the law. ana
| mas secured admission only through an eva
sion or It's requirements or through lax
| construction. The proportion of such
| wrongly included matter is estimated bv
| postai experts to be one-half of the whole
| volume OF second-class mail II It be only
| one-third or one-quarter, the magnftude NJ
the burden is apparent. The Post-Of,ce
Department has now undertaken TO remov.
the abuses so far as is possible by a stricter
| application Of the law; and It should h
sustained in its effort.
The Condition of 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-for-
eign uprtsings in China Of 1890 having
| been formulated in joint note addressed
TO emma by the representatives of the m
]ured powers In December last were
promptly accepted by the Chinese Govern
| ment. After protracted conferences the
pienipotentfaries OF the several powers
were able to sign final protocol with the
Chinese plenipotentiaries on the 7th of last
September. setting forth the measures
taken by China in compliance with the de-
mands OF the Joint note, and expressing
their satisfaction Herewith. 1t will be
laid before the Congress- with a report Ct
the plenipotentiary on behalf Of the United
States, Mr.. William Woodville Rockhfil 20
whom high praise Is due for the tact. good
Judgment, and energy he has displayed n
performing an exceptionally difficult and
delicate task
The agreement reached disposes In n
| manner satisfactory to the powers of the
| various grounds Of complaint and will con-
| tribute materially to better future reIa-
| tfons between China and the powers Rep
aration has been made by China for the
murder Of foreigners during the uprising
and punishment has been inflicted on the
officials. however high In rank recognized
as responsible for or having participated I'm
! the outbreak Official examinations haye
| been forbidden for a period Of five years in
| all cities in which foreigners have been
murdered or cruelty treated and edicts
/ have been issued making all ofncials direct
ly responsible for the future safety OF for
eigners and for the suppression Of violence
against them.
Provisions have been made for insurfnG
| the future safety OF the foreign repre-
sentatives In Peking by setting aside for
| their exclusive use a quarter of the city
| which the powers can make defensible and
| in which they can IL necessary maintain
permanent military guards: by dismantlin8
| the military works between the capital and
| the sea; and by allowing the temporary
maintenance Of foreign military posts along
| this line. An edict has been issued by the
Emperor Of China prohibiting for two years
1
into China China has agreed to pay ade-
Quate fndemnities to the states, societies.
| and individuals for the losses sustained by
| them and for the expenses Of the military
expeditions sent by the various powers to
protect life and restore order.
| Under the provisions of the joint note OF
December. 1900. China has agreed to revise
the treaties Of commerce and navigation
and to take such other steps for the pur-
| pose OF facilitating foreign trade as the for
| eign powers may decide to be needed
The Chinese Government has agreed to
participate financially in the work OF bet
| tering the water approaches OF Shanghai
and to Tfentstn. the centers Of foreign
| trade In central and northern China, and
an international conservancy board In
which the Chinese Government is largely
represented has been provided for the i'm
provement Of the Shanghai River and the
of na pay vi Tn he