The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-07

ana WilSH NOlh cannot De IufnlSnGu
from outside( which is always prefer
able) then it must be furnished by
the government. Practical instruc-
ton of this Kind would IN a few years
result in the forming of habits of reg
uiar industry which would render the
Indian a producer and would effect q
great reduction in the cost of his
maintenance.
jamestown Tercentennial
In 1907 there viii be held at Hamp-
ton Roads the tercentenn1al ceiebra-
ton of the settlement at Jamestown
Virginia. with which the history OF
what has now become the United
States really begins. / commend this
to your favorable 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 Post Office Department the
service has increased in efficiency. ana
conditions as to revenue and expenii-
ture continue satisfactory The in
crease of revenue during the year was
S9,35S, 1S1.10, or 60 per cent. the to-
tai receipts amounting to $143,3S2,-
624.34. The expenditures were $152.-
362,116.70ta increase of about 3 per
cent. over the previous year, being
thus $S.979 1926 in excess. of the cur
rent revenue. Included in these ex-
penditures was a total appropriation OF
$12,95 ,63T.35 for the continuation ana
extension of the rural free delivery
service which was an increase of ST.
2,23735 over the amount expended
for this purpose in the preceding lis
cal year. Large as this expenditure
has been the beneficent results attain
Cd IN cN-tn m distT
of mails to the residents of rural dis
tricts have justified the wisdom of
the outlay Statistics brought down
to the 1st of October, 1904, show that
on 4that date there were 27,13S rural
routes established, serving approx
mately 10000 00 of people in rural
districts remote from post offices, AMI
that there were pending al that tirle
1853 petitions for the establishment
of new rural routes. UnquestiOnably
some part of the general increase III
receipts is due TO the increased postai
facilities which the rural service has
afforded. The revenues nave also
been aided greatly by amendments in
the classification of mail matter, an0
the curtailment of abuses of the Sec
ond class mailing privilege. The aver
age increase in the volume of mail
matter for the period beginning With
1892 and ending June, 1905, Chat
portion for 1905 being estimated), is
40.47 per cent. as compared with
25.46 per cent. for the period immedi-
ately preceding, and 1892 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 Off
GERS should be provided.
National Quarantine Law
It is desirable to enact a proper
national quarantine law. 1t is most
undesirable that a State should on its
own initiative enforce quarantine reg
ulations which are in effect a restric-
ton upon interstate and internationa;
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.
1 call your attention to the great
Extravaganza in printing and binding
government publications, and especial
IL 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
ume 1t is an understatement to say
that no appreciable harm would be
caused by. and substantial benefit
would accrue from, decreasing the
amount of printing now done by at
least one-half
Currency.
The attention of the Congress should
be especially given to the currency
question, and that the standing com
mittees on the natter in the TWO
houses charged with the duty, take
uD the matter of our currency anr
see whether it is not possible to Sc
cure an agreement in the business
world for lettering the system; the
committees should consider the ques-
ton OF the retirement of the green
backs and the problem of securing In
our currency such elasticity as is con-
sistent with safety. Every silver dol
lar should be made by law redeemable
in gold at the option of the holder.
Merchant Marine.
I especially commend to your inn
mediate attention the encouragement
of our merchant marine by appropri-
ate legislation.
Tariff.
On the tariff / shall communicate
with you later.