The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-12-15

peaditure continue satisfactory. The
increase OF revenue during the year
was S9,3JS.1Sl10, or 60 per cent. the
total receipts amounting to S143,3S2,-
624Si The expenditures were Slo2,-
362 1850. an increase OF about . per
cent over the previous year, being
thus sS,979. 1926 in excess OF the
current revenue. Included IN these
expenditures was total appropriation
OF Sle.956, ,637.35 for the continuation
and extension Of the rural free-deilv'
cry service. which was an increase
Of S4,902 231.35 over the amount eX-
pended for this purpose in the pre-
ceding fiscal year. Large as this eS-
penditure has been the benefcent re-
suits attained in extending the free
distribution of mails to the residents
of rural districts have justified the
wisdom of the outlay. Statistics
brought down to the 1st Of October.
1904, show that on that daee there
were 21,13S rural routes established,
serving approximately 12,000,OOO on
people in rural districts remote from
postofiices, and that there were pend
ing at that time $3.50 petitions for the
establishment Of new rural routes.
Unquestionably some part Of the gen.
eral increase in receipts is due to the
increased postal facilities which the
rural service has afforded. The reve-
nues have also been aided greatly by
amendments in the classification OF
mail matter, and the cartallment OF
abuses OF the second-c1ass mailing
privilege. The average increase IN
the volume of mail matter for the
period beginning with 1902 and end
ing June, 1906 (that portion for 1903
being estimated), is 40.47 per cent.
as compared with 2546 per cent for
the period Immediately preceding.
and 1892 for the foar.year period i'm
mediately preceding that.
ExTRAVAeANcE IN PRINTING.
call your attention to the great
extravaganza in printing and binding
Government publications. and especi-
ally to the fact that altogether too
many of these publications are print
ed. There is a constant tendency to
increase their number and their vol
ame. It is an understatement to say
that no apnreciable harm would be
caused by. and substantial benent
would accure from, decreasing the
amount Of printing now done by at
least one-half. Probably the great
majority of the Government reports
and the like now printed are never
read at all, and furthermore the print.
ing of much Of the material contained
in many OF the remaining ones serves
no useful purpose whatever.
CURRENCY.
The attention of Congress should be
especially given to the currency ques-
tion. and that the standing committees
on the matter in the two Houses
charged with the duty, take up the
matter Of our currency and see wheth-
| er it Is not possible to secure an
agreement in the business world for
lettering the system; the committees
should consider the question OF the
retirement of the greenbacks and the
problem OF securing in our currency
such elasticity as Is consistent Win
safety. Every silver dollar should be
made by law redeemable in gold at
the option of the holder.
MERCHANT MARINE.
especially commend to your at
tention the encouragement OF our mer-
chant marine by appropriate legiSia'
! tion,
! ORIENTAL MARKETS.
The growing importance OF the ORR
ent as a field for American exports
drew from my predecessor, President
! Mckinley, an urgent request for It's
snecial consideration by the Con-
gsess. In his message Of 1898 nc
stated:
I'm this relation, as showing the
peculiar volume and value Of our trade
with China and the peculiarly favora.
BILE conditions which exist for their
expansion in the normal course OF
trade. | refe rto the communication
/ addressed to the Speaker OF the
House of Representatives by rhe Sec.
retary OF the Treasury on the 18th OF
last Juue, with its accompanying ,~tef
| Of the Secretary Of State, recommend
! ing an appropriation for a commission
to study the industrial and CONNER
cial conditions in the Chinese Empire,
and to report as to the opportunities
for and the obstacles to the enlarge
ment of markets in China for the raw
products and manufactures OF the
United States. Action was not taken
thereon during the last session.
cordially urge tnat the recommends
tion receive at your hands the con-
sideration which its Importance and
| timelinesS merit
PROTECTION OF ELECTIONS.
The power of the government to
protect the integrity Of the elections
of its own officials is inherent and has
been recognized and affirmed by re-
peated declarations of the Supreme
Court. There is no enemy of free
government more dangerous and none
! so insidious as the corruption of the
| electorate. No one defends or excuses
corruption. and it would seem to fol-
!ow that none would oppose vigorous
measures to eradicate 1t. l recon-
! mend the enactment OF law directed
against bribery and corruption in Fed
eral elections. The details of such
law may be safely left to the wise