The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-12-22

the prevention OF delay and unneces-
sary cost. in litigation. | am glad TO
say that h supreme court has taken
steps TO reform the present equity
rules or the federal courts. and that
We may in the near future expect a
revision OF them which will be a long
step in the right direction.
Postoffiee.
Al the beginning OF the present ad-
ministration in 1909 the postal service
was IN arrears TO the amount OF ST.
419.11O47. IL was very much the
largest deficit on record. In the brief
space OF two years this has been
turned into a surplus OF $780, 200.
Postal Savings System.
On January 3. 1911. postal savings
repositories were established expert
mentally in As tates and territories.
After three months successful opera
tion the system was extended as rap
idly as feasible to the $500 postoffces
OF the first. second and third classes
constituting the presidential grade. BY
the end OF the year practically all OF
these will have been designated and
then the system will be extended to
all fouTth-class p~ostoffices doing a
money order business.
The depositors thus far number ap-
proximately 100000. They include 40.
nationalities, native Americans large
ly predOminating and English and ItaL
ians coming next.
Parcel Post.
Steps should be taken Immediately
for the establishment OF a rural parcel
post. In the estimates OF appropria-
tons needed for the maintenance OF
the postal service for the ensuing rs
cal year an item Of $4,000 has been
inserted TO cover the preliminary ex-
pense OF establishing a parcel post on
rural mail routes. as well as 10 rover
an investigation having for its object
the final establishment OF a general
parcel post on all railway and steam
boat transportation routes.
The Navy Department.
On the Cd 81 November last 7 re-
viewed the fighting fleet Of battleships
and other vessels assembled IN New
York harbor. Those who saw the
fleet we're struck with its prepared
ness and with its high military ell
cheney.
The fleet was deficient in the mum
ber OF torpedo d%estroyers. In cruisers
and IN GOLFERS. as well as IN large
battleship cruisers. which are now be
coming a very important feature OF
foreign n%avies.
The building plan for this rear con
templates we battleships and two
Golfers. This rs because the other
and smaller vessels can be built much
more rapidly in case Of emergency
than the battleships. and We certainly
ought 20 continue the policy Of two
b%attleships a year until after the
Panama Canal Is finished and until
IN our first line and en- orr reserve
line We can number a. available YES
sells ~ proper armament and size.
Council Of National Defense.
urge again upon Congress the do
STABILITY of establishing the council
of national defense The bill 70 cstab
iish this council was before Congress
last winter. and % Is hoped that this
legislation will pass during the pres
ent session. The purpose ~ tho coun
Gil is 10 determine the general poll
cy Of national defense and 70 recon-
mend to Congress and 10 the Prcst
dent such measures relating % 10 az
90 shall deem necessary and eXpedi
cnt
Civil Retirement.
have already advocated. In my
last annual message. tho adoption of
a civil service retirement system. with
n contributory feature 90 ~ 90 as t1
reduce 20 "a minimum the cost % tho
government Of the pensions 20 be-
paid After considerable reflection. .
am very much opposed to "a pension
system hat Involves no contribution
from rho employees fhink the OK
perlrncc OF other governments iusti
fcs This view but The crying nccca
aitv Tor some such contributor sys
tenn. wlth possibly "a preliminary gov
erumeltal outlay. in order f0
the initial cost md 90 set The system
going AZ once while the contributions
are accommodating. is manifest on
every side Nothing will 90 much
promote tho economy and efficiency
OF tho government as such r. system
ELIMINATION From Politics.
. Wish fo enc again my recon
mendafion that all tho local offices
throughout the country. Including col.
lcctors o. internal venue collectors
OF customs. -postmasters OF aI four
classes. immigration commissioners
and marshals should be- by low Gov
cred into The classified service. The
necessity for confirmation by the cen
ate being removed and tho President
and fhc others whose time ia now
taken up in distributing this patron
< under the custom that has pre-