Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-12-10

bringing into closer relationship and n
more direct union Of effort the bureau
IN Washington and its agents In the
field, and with the cooperation of its
branches thus secured the Indian bu-
reau would in measure fuller than ever
before lift up the savage toward that
self help and self reliance which con-
stitute the man.
jamestown TricentenniaI.
In 1907 there will be held at Hamp-
ton Roads the tricentennial celebration
of the settlement at Jamestown, Va,
with which the history of what has
now become the United States really
/ begins. commend this to your favor
able consideration. 1t Is an event of
prime historic significance, in which all
the people Of the United States should
feel and should show great and general
| interest.
Postal Service.
In the poStoffice department the serv-
Ice has increased in efficiency, and con-
ditions as to revenue and expenditure
| continue satisfactory. The increase of
revenue during the year was $685.
1SL10, or 60 per cent, the total re-
ceipts amounting to $143. 49,, 624. "a.
The expenditures were $152. 362, 116.7O,
an increase Of about 0 per cent over
the previous year, being thus $S,979,-
1926 In excess Of the current revenue.
Included In these expenditures was a
total appropriation of S12 ,95G 637.35 for
the continuation and extension of the
! rural free delivery service, which was
| an increase of $4,902,237.35 over the
amount expended for this purpose in
the preceding fiscal year. Large as this
expenditure has been, the beneficent
results attained In extending the free
! distribution of mails to the residents of
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 %, 1873 RI
raj routes established, serving approx
imately 100000 of people in rural
| districts remote from postofIices. and
that there were pending at that time
$500 petitions for the establishment of
new rural routes. UnquestionabIy
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 I'm 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 4O.4T per cent
as compared with 2546 per cent for
the period Immediately preceding and
1892 for the four year period imme-
diately preceding that
Consular Service.
Our consular system needs improve
ment. Salaries should be substituted
Tor fees. and the proper classification.
| grading and transfer OF consular Off
GERS should be provided am not pre-
pared to say that a competitive system
of examinations for appointment would
work well, hut by lav K shSSlf be
provided that consuls should be IA
miliar, according to places for which
they apply, with the French. German
or Spanish language and should pos
sess acquaintance with the resources
OF the United States.
National Gallery of Art.
The collection of objects of art con-
templated in section 55S6 of the Re
vised Statutes should be designated
and established as national gallery of
art, and the Smithsonian institution
should be authorized to accept any adj
ultlons TO said collection that may be
received by gift, bequest or devise.
National Quarantine Law.
1t is desirable to enact a proper ma
tonal quarantine law. 1t is most I'M
desirable that state should ON its
own initiative enforce quarantine regu-
lations which are In effect restrIc-
ton upon interstate and international
commerce. The question should prop
erly be assumed by the government
alone. The surgeon general OF the ma
tional public health and marine hos
pital service has repeatedly and con-
vincingly set forth the need for such
legislation.
Extravaganza In Printing.
call your attention to the great ex-
travagance in printing and binding
government publications and especially
10 the fact that altogether too many
of these publications are printed There
Is constant tendency to increase their
number and their volume. Ii is an I'M
reinstatement to say that no apprecia-
BILE harm would be caused 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 the government
reports and the like now printed are
never read at all, and, Furthermore, the
printing of much of the material con-
tanned 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 commit
tees on the matter in the two houses
charged with the duty take up the mat
ter of our currency and see whether it