The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

l 1 llE 1 NEOlDI l agent in the distant west may be wholly out of touch with the office of the Indian bureau. He may very we'll feel that no one takes a personal interest in him or his efforts. Certain routine duties in the way of reports and accounts are required of him, but there Is no one with whom he may intelligently consult on matters vital to his work, except after long delas Such man would be greatly encourages and aided by contact N tn some one whose interest in Indian affairs anu whose authority in the Indian bureau were greater than his own, and suen contact would be certain to arouse ana constantly increase the interest he takes In his work.
 The distance which separates the agents-the workers in the feld-from the Indian office in Washington Is chiet obstacle to Indian progress Whatever shall more closely unite these TWO branches of the Indian service, and shall enahle them to cooperate more heartily and more effectively, will be for the in- creased efficiency of the work and the betterment of the race for whose i'm movement the Indian bureau was estab- lished. The appointment of field assist ant to the commissioner of Indian affairs would be certain to insure this good end. Such an official, if possessed of the re- quisite energy and deep interest in the work, would be a most efficient factor in bringing into closer relationship and a more direct union of effort the bureau in Washington and it's agents in the field; and with the cooperation of It's branches thus secured the Indian bureau would, fttI1 ha. tfo up the savage toward that self-help and self-reiance which constitute the man. JAMESTOWN
 TRlcENTENNlAL.
 In 1907 there will be held at Hampton Roads the tricentennial celebration of the settlement at Jamestown, Va, with which the history of what has now be- come the United States really begins. I commend this to your favorable consider ation. It 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 ser vice has increased in efficiency, and con- ditions as to revenue and expenditure continue satisfactory. The increase of revenue during the year was $9,35S, 10, or G.9 per cent, the total receipts amount ing to $14S, ,SS2 62434. The expenditures were $152, 362 lI6.7O,, an increase of about g per cent over the previous year, being thus $S979, ,492.36 in excess of the current revenue. Included in these expenditures was a total appropriation of SIP 956, 637 .35 for the continuation and extension of the rural free delivery service, which was increase of $4,902,2 35 over the amount expended for this purpose in the preced- ing fiscal year. Large as this expendi- ture has been the free distribution of mails to the residents of rural districts have justified the wisdom of the outlay. Statistics brought down to October l, 1904. show that on that date there were 27, ,13S rural routes established, serving ap- proximately 100000 of people in rural districts remote from postoffices. and that there were pending at that time 3S59 petitions for the establishment of new 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 revenues 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 TOT the period beginning With iJ0z and ending June, 1905 (that portion for 1905 being estimated), is 4047 per cent, as compared with 25.46 per cent for the pe- riod immediately preceding. and 1892 for the four-year period immediately preced- ing that.
 CONSULAR SERVICE.
 Our consular system needs improve ment. Salaries should be substituted for fees, and the proper classification, grad ing and transfer of consular officers should be provided for. I am not prepar- ed to say that competitive system of ex- aminations for appointment would work well but by law 1t should be provided that consuls should be familiar. accord ing to places for which they apply, with the French, German, or Spanish lan- guages, and should possess acquaintance with the resources of the United States. NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART.
 The collection of objects of art contem- plated in section 55S6 of the revised stat utes should se designated and establish ed as national gallery Of art and the Smithsonian institute should be author ized to accept any additions to said col lection that may be received by gift. be- quest or devise.
 NATIONAL