Arizona republican., 1904-12-07

an increase of $4902,23735 over the amount expended for this purpose in the preceding fiscal year. Large as this expenditure has been the Dene- fcent results attained in extending the free distribution of malls to the resi- dents of rulel districts have justified the wisdom of the outlay. Statistics brought down to October, 1904, show that on that date there were 27.13S rural routes established, serving ap- proximately 12,OO0,OO0 of lahe people in rural districts remote from post offices. and that there were pending at that time 3.S59 petitions for the establish Irent of new rural routes. Unquefation- ably some part of the general increase in receipts is due to the increased pos tai facilities which the rural service has afforded. The revenues Elave also been aided greatly by the amendments 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 (that portion of 1905 being estimated). is 4O47 per cent, as comuarei with 25.46 per cent for the period immediately preceding. and 15.92 for the four-year period immediately preceding that.
 CONSULAR SERVICE.
 Our consular system needs improve ment Salaries should be substituted for fees, and the proper classification, grading, and transfer of consular offi- cers should be provided. I am not pre- pared to say that competitive system of examinations for apoiltment would work we'll; but by law it should be pro- vided that consuls should be familiar. according to places for which they ap- ply, with French, German, or Spanish languages and should possess acquaint- Ns-itJo t,f States.
 NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
 The collections of objects of art con- tamplated in section 55S6 of the revised statutes should be designated and es- tablished as national gallery of alt; 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.
 It is desirable to enact a proper na- tional quarhlaine law. It is most un- desirable that s.ate should on it's own initiative enforce quarantine reg ulatiOns which are in effect a l-eStric- | ton upon interstate and international 1 commerce. The question should prop | erly be assumed by the government l alone. The surgeon general of the na- tional public health and marine hospital | service has repeatedly and convincingly i set forth the need for such legis,slion.
 EXTRAVAGANcE IN PRINTING
 I call your attention to the great ex- travagance in printing and binding | government publications, and especially | to the fact that altogether too many of | these publications are printed. There ! is constant tendency to increase their . number and their volume. It is an un- derstatement to say that no apprecidbIe harm would be cnused by, and sub- stantial benefit would accrue from, de- creasing the amount of printing now done by at least one half. Probably the great majority of government re- ports and the Like now printed are never re2e- at all, and furthermore the { printing of much of the material con- tained in many of the remaining ones serves no useful purpose whatever.
 CURRENCY.
 The attention of the congress should be especially given to the currency question, and that the standing com Inittees 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 agree ment in the business world for bet tering the sys-em; the committees should consider Che question of the re- tirement of the greenbacks and the problem of securing il our currency such elasticity as is consistent with safety. Every silver dollar should be made by law redeenable in gold at the option of the holder.
 MERCHANT MARINE.
 l especially commend to your inn mediate attention the encouragement of our merchant marine by appropriate legislation.
 ORIENTAL MARKETS.
 The growing importance Of the Orient as field for American exports drew from my predecessor, President Me kinley, an urgent request for it's spe- cial consideration by the congress. In his message of 1898 he stated:
 Tn this relation. as showing the pecu- liar volume and value of our trade with China and the peculiarly favorable conditions which exist for their ex- pansion in the normal course of trade, l refer to the communication addressed to the speaker Of the house of repre- sentauVes 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- priation for a commission to study the industrial and commercial conditions in the Chinese empire and to report as to the opportunities and the obstacles 10 the enlargement of markets in China for the raw products and manu- ufacturers of the United States Ac- ton was ot taken thereon during the last session. I cordially urge that the recommendation receive at your hands the consideration which it's importance and timelinesa merit
 In his annual message of 1899 he again called attention to this recom- naendation, quoting it, and stated fur ther:
 T now renew this recommendation as the importance of the subject has steadily grown since it was first sub- nited to you, and TO time should be |