Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-12-10
BRISTOW'S REPORT.
me Fourth Assistant Postmaster
Generals Recommendation.
ANNUAL REPORT OF ADMIRAL TAYLOR


G0uOrD D01oft- nAkhlor httAhUAAvMb
Of Oniosrs Urged.
Washington, Dec. 3.--The annual re-
port of Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow for the fiscal year
ended June 80 last makes the follow
ing recommendations An appropria-
tion to construct inspectors lookouts
In post offices wherever necessary In
che opinion Of the postmaster general;
that the interstate commerce law be
amended so as to prohibit common car
rlers from aiding and abetting In the
green goods, lottery or any other
scheme carried on partly by mail and
partly by common carriers In violation
Of the postal laws; that special agents
and post Office inspectors be hereafter
designated rural agents: that the pro-
vision that rural carriers shall not be
prohibited from doing an express pack
age business be repealed; that the
maximum pay Of O rural carrier be In
creased to $3.50 per annum for route
Of rs miles or more In length and the
enactment Of law requiring assistant
postmasters, cashiers and other en-
ployes to give bonds to postmasters
direct and holding postmasters respon-
sible under their own bonds The es-
timated expenditure for both city and
rural free delivery service during the
fiscal year beginning July / next will
aggregate about s47,000,000. There
we're 1901 appointments Of postmas-
tiers during the year, and the removals
OF postmasters for cause showed de-
crease. There were 4,462 post Offices
discontinued, Of which 2.16S resulted
from the extension Of rural free de-
livery, the salaries of the postmasters
of the latter Offices aggregating $121,-
332. There are now In operation 49,
800 rural free delivery routes. II Is
estimated that 1880 additional routes
can be established out Of the appropria-
tion now available, making 22,678
which will be In operation or ordered
established by March l, 1904.
Mr.. Bristow's report further says:
"An investigation which is still In
progress has shown that for number
Of years supplies for the free delivery
service have not been purchased with
an eye single to the public interests.
Both in the matter Of quality and the
cost Of equipment, the ruling has been
individual gain. This applies to arti-
cIes furnished under regular contract,
such as street collection boxes and car
riers' satchels, as well as to those
bought in the open market under ext
gency privilege, which has been much
abused. Favored contractors, abetted
by a trusted but unfaithful official,
have corrupted the public service. An
early and thorough reformation will
be undertaken along the line of serv-
Ice equipment with the prospect of Inn
proved service at reduced cost.
Fraudulent contracts have been abro-
gated. In the reletting Of contracts
honest competition will have fair and
free play"
Report Of the Chief of Navigation Bureau.
\ washington, Dec. 3.-The annual
report Of Admiral H. G. Taylor, chief
Of the bureau Of navigation, made pub
lic yesterday, recommends the crea-
tion Of general STAFF in the navy, the
appointment of two vice admirals, one |
for the Asiatic station and one for |
the north Atlantic station, material
increase In the number Of officers and
the addition Of number Of ships to
the navy.
Admiral Taylor treats at great
length the subject Of desertions. show
ing that for the year 1908 the PERCENT
age was iz.o.~ Among the various rea-
SONS assigned by officers, az well as
the men themselves, he says, are dis
content with the food. discomforts a.
10 sleeping accommodations, conflne-
ment on board ship without frequent
liberty to visit shore, harshness In
language and bearing on the part Of
officers toward the crew, the disap-
polntment Of the recruit who believed
that sea service was a pleasant and '
easy thing and the restless spirit ex-
isting among some Of the men.
As affecting the personnel Of the
navy. Admiral Taylor refers to the
need Of more officers as engineers At
tention also is called to defect which
Admiral Taylor says is common to
most military services, whether at sea
o. on land, namely, the advanced age
nf which officers reach the more impor-
tant commands. The duty Of COM
manding a battleship and fleets Of bat
tIeships. he says, is one which re-
qulres. together with a large expert
ence and ability. the energy and nerv-
Gus endurance which Is found as rule
among men much younger than those
who will command our battleships and
fleets for some years to come. As q
remedy for the present defect he urges
the retirement Of oficers when they
have reached certain age In certain
grade.