Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-12-06

Of $4902, ,237.35 over the amount ex-
pended for this purpose in the preced- |
ing fiscal year. Large as this expendi- |
ture has been, the benefcent results at |
tanned in extending the free distribu |
tion Of mails to the residents of rural |
have justified the wisdom Of
the outlay. Statistics brought down to
the LIST of October, 1904, show that on
that date there were 27 7,13S rural routes
serving approximately H.
100000 of people in rural districts re-
mote from postoffices, and that there
were pending at that time 1850 petit
tions for the establishment of now rural
routes. Unquestionably some part Of
the general increase in receipts is due
to the increased postal facilities which
the rural service has afforded. The rev.
enues have also been aided greatly by
amendments in the classification of mail
matter, and the curtailment of abuses
of the second-class mailing privilege,
The average increase in the volume of
mail matter for the period beginning
with 1902 and ending June, 1905 Chat
portion for 1905 being estimated), is
40.47 per cent, as compared with 2O.46
per cent for the period immediately pre-
ceding, and 1892 for the four-year pc
riod Immediately preceding that.
Consular Service.
Our consular service needs improve
ment. Salaries should be substituted
for fees, and the proper classification,
grading and transfer of consular officers
should be provided l am not prepared
TO say that a competitive system Of
examinations for appointment would
work well, but by law it should be pro-
vided that consuls should be familiar,
according to places for which they APP
ply, with the French, German or Span
ish languages, and should possess ac-
ouaintanee with the resources of the
| United States.
National Gallery of Art.
The collection of objects of art con-
ltemplated in section $3.50 of the revised
statutes should be designated and es-
tablished as a national gallery Of art,
and the Smithsonian Institution should
be authorized to accept any additions
to said collection that may be received
by gift, bequest or devise.
National Quarantine Law.
1t is desirable to enact a national
Quarantine law. It is most undesira
Bile that q state should on it's own ini
tiative enforce quarantine regulation
(which are in effect a restriction upoI
Interstate and international commerce
The question should properly be as
sumed by the government alone. Th'
surgeon-general of the national public
Health and marine hospital service ha
repeatedly and eonvincingly set tortl
1.-THE need of such legislation.
Extravagance in Printing.
call your attention TO the great ex
travagance in printing and binding gov
ernment publications, and especially t
the fact that altogether too many o
these publications are printed. Ther
is constant tendency to increase thei
number and their volume. 1t IS an IN
= der statement to say that no appreeii
BILE harm would be caused by, and sui
stantial benefit would accrue from, d'
} creasing the amount of printing no'
. ldone bv at least one-half. Probably tn
/ great majority of the government II
2 ports and the like now printed are nevt
0 read at all. and, furthermore, the prin
a ling of much of the material containe
z in many Of the remaining ones serV'
no useful purpose whatever.
O Currency.
:, The attention of the congress shodi
= be especially given to the eurrene
Y question, and that the standing con
/ mittees on the matter in the two hous'
G charged with the duty, take up the ma
4 ter of our currency and see wheth'
/ lii is not possible TO secure an agre
lment in the business world for bette
D ling the system; the committees shoul
y consider the question of the retiremeI
, of the greenbacks and the problem
j securing in our currency such elastielt
[ as is consistent with safety. Every 81
Q YER dollar should be made by law r
y deemable in gold at the option OF q
e holder.
i Merchant Marine.
s / especially commend to your imm
a Idiate attention the encouragement
d our merchant marine by appropria'
e legislation.
d Oriental Markets.
n The growing importance of the orieI
h az field for American exports Dire
d from my predecessor, President Mchi
G ley, an urgent request for its specn
eonsideration by the congress. In n
e message of 1898 he stated;
n "In this relation, as showing the p
a eulinr volume and value of our tra'
l. with China and the peculiarly favorao
o conditions which exist for their expa
Il sion in the normal course of trade,
y refer TO the communication Address
l. TO the speaker of the house Of rePr
o sentatiyes by the secretary OF q
!. treasury on the l4th of last June, wa
}. it's accompanying letter OF the secretsI
). of state, recommending an appropril
n tion for a commission TO study the
Is dustrial and commercial conditions
d the Chinese empire and to report as
p the opportunities for and the obstaci
/. TO the enlargement Of markets in Ohh
B. for the raw products and manufaetur
# Of the United States. Astion was "a
d taken thereon during the last sessio
D. / cordially urge that the recommend
d tim receive at your hands the eonsi
70 eratiou which It's Importance and tim
v liness merit" oo
c. In his annual message OF loSS
again called attention to this feeoi
anA II