The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-06
THE MESSAGE.
Ccontinued from Page Nine.l

fereSt
In the postoffiee department the ser
vice has increased in efficiency, and
conditions as to revenue and expendi-
ture continue satisfactory. The in
So, 35S, 1910 or So per cent. the total re-
ceipts amounting to $143, 49,, 624-34. The
expenditure were $152,362, 1870, an in
crease of about per cent over the pre-
vious year, being thus $S,9T9, 1926 in
excess of the current revenue 1nclud-
ed in these expenditures was total
appropriation of 81, 1856, 637.35 for the
continuation and extension OF the ru-
raj free delivery service, which was an
increase of 81, 902 237. IS over the amount
expended for this purpose in the pre-
ceding fiscal year. Large as this ex-
penditure has been the benefcent re-
suits attained in extending the free
distribution of mails to the residents or
rural districts have justified the WIS
dom of the outlay. Statistics brought
down to the 1st of October, 1904, show
that on that date there were 27,13S ru-
raj routes established, serving approx
mately 1900. 900 of people in rural dis
trfcts remote from postofhces, and that
there were pending at that time $500
petitions for the establishment of new
rural routes. PROFESSIONALLY some
part of the general increase in receipts
Is due to the increased postal facilities
which the rural service has afforded:
The revenues have also been aided
greatly by amendments in the classln-
cation of mail matter. and the curtain
mailing privilege. The average in
Grease in the volume of mail matter for
the period beginning with 1907 ana END
ing June, 1905 chat portion Tor 1SO0 pc
ing estimated), is 40.47 per cent, as COM
pared with 25.46 per cent for the period
Immediately preceding, and 1882 for the
1our-year period Immediately preceding
that.
Our consular system needs improve
rnent Salaries should be substituted
for fees, and the proper classlhcatlon'
grading, and transfer or consular OIL
ficers should be provided am pre-
pared to say that a competitive sys-
tenn of examinations for appointment
would work well; but by law it should
be provided that consuls should be
tSlblinIl''l they apply, with the French,
German, or Spanish languages, and
should possess acquaintance with the
resources of the United States.
National Gallery of Art.
The collection of objects of art con-
vised statutes should be designated
and established as a National Gallery
of Art; and the Smithsonian lnsutu-
ton should be authorized to accept
any additions to said collection that
may be received by gift, bequest. or
devise.
National Quarantine Law.
tt is desirable to enact a proper ma
tional quarantine law. 1t is most un-
desirable that a state should on It's
own initiative enforce quarantine
regulations which are in effect re-
striction upon interstate and interna-
tional commerce. The question should
properly be assumed by the govern
the national public health and marine
hospital service has repeatedly and
convincingly set forth the need for
such legislation.
Extravaganza in Printing.
call your attention to the great
extravagance in printing and binding
government publications, and especial
" to the fact that altogether too many
of these publications are printed.
There is a constant tendency TO IN
crease their number and their volume.
1t is an underStatement to say that no
appreciable harm would be caused by,
and substantial benefit would accrue
from. decreasing the amount Of print
Probably the great majority of the
government reports and the like now
printed are never read at all, and
furthermore the printing of much of
the material contained in many of the
remaining ones serves no useful pur-
pose whatever
Currency.
The attention of the congress should
be especially given to the currency
question, and that the standing COM
rnittees on the matter in the two
houses charged with the duty, take up
the matter of our currency and see
whether it is not possible to secure an
agreement in the business world for
bettering the system; the committees
should consider the question of the re-
tirement of the greenbacks and the
problem of securing in our currency
such elasticity as is consistent with
safety Every silver dollar should be
made by law redeemab1e in gold at the
option of the holder.
Merchant Marine.
I especially commend to your immed-
tate attention the encouragement of our
merchant marine by appropriate legis-
lation.
The growing Importance of the Orient
as a field for American exports drew
from my predecessor, President Nc
Kinley, an urgent request for its spec
ial consideration by the congress- In
his message of 1898 he stated:
Oriental Markets.
I'm this relation, as showing the pc
culiar volume and value Of our trade
able conditions which exist for their
expansion in the normal course of trade,
refer to the communication addressed
to the speaker of the house of repre-
sentatives by the secretary of the
treasury on the 14th of last June, with
its accompanying letter of the secre-
tary of state, recommending an appro-
alton for commission to study the in
anu CONDITIONS III
the Chinese empire and to report as to
the opportunities for and the obstacles
to the enlargement of markets in
China for the raw products and manu-
features of the United States. Action
was not taken thereon during the last
session. I cordially urge that the rec
ommendation receive at your hands the
consideration which its Importance and
timeliness merit
In his annual message of 1899 he
again called attention to this recon-
mendation, quoting it, and stated fur
Their:
Il now renew this recommendation, as
the fmnortance of the Suhiect has