The Washington times., 1911-12-21

ritories. After three month"; successful
operation the system was extended as
rapidly as feasible to the 1900 post
offices Of the FIRST. second, and third
classes constituting the presidential
grade. BY the end OF the year practi-
cally all of these will have been desig-
mated and then the system Will be ex-
tended to all fourth class postoffices
doing a money order business
RES esases Ros'0 was given % the
efficiency of the postmasters. and only
those offices where the ratings were
satisfactory to the department have
t,c designated WITHHOLDING ,S de nasfss
factory ratings has had salutary ef-
feet on the service.
The deposits have kept pace with the
extension OF the system Amounting 70
months operation in the experimental
offices. they increased to S67s.M0 by
July. and now after eleven months Of
operation have reached . tota ! Of
Ml.oco.ooo. This sum is distributed .
the law by bonds deposited With the
Treasurer Of the United States.
Under the method adopted for the
conduct of the system certificates are
counts with depositors are kept by the
ment. Compared with the practice in
| other countries Of entering deposits IN
ose osof sass ea Win the sasS
positor, the uee Of the certihcate nos
| resulted In great economy OF admin
The iepositors thus far number .p-
proxlmately 10000. They include forty
nationalities, native Americans largely
| predominating and English and Italians
coming next.
The first conversion Of deposits into
United States bonds bearing interest at
the rate of az per cent occurred on
July /, 1911. the amount Of deposits
| exchanged being 200, or little moro
| than per cent of the total outstanding
certificates Of deposit on June g. a. OF
were in coupon form and S&.7SO In
| registered form.
Parcel Post.
Steps should be taken Immediately
for the establishment Of rural parcel
post In the estimates OF appropria-
lions needed for the maintenance OF the
postal service for the ensuing fiscal
year an item of Sy50.nO0 has been In
serted to cover the preliminary eA-
pcnse OF establishing parcel post on
rural mail routes. as we'll as to covcr
an investigation having for its object
the final establishment Of a general
parcel post on all railway and steam
boat transportation routes. The de.
partmcnt believes that after the initial
expenses of establishing. the system are
betrayed and the parcel post Is IN Gull
| operation on the rural routes II will
rot only bring in sufficient revenue TO
| meet Its cost, but also q surplus that
can re- utu,1ed IN paying she e SI,i,ns,s
| 1t is hoped tina. Congress- will al.
4, thorize the immediate establishment of
limited parcel post on such rural
for the delivery along the routes OF
Parcels not exceeding eleven pounds.
which Is the weight limit for the in
pSst or at ,hs
or on another route emanattng from
service will prepare the way for the
more tborough and g, Somp phs I'VE IN In
appropriation mentioned, enable ths
department to gair definite information
concerning the practical operation OF
the a1 81 It the to
ar ares :pseia fS IN nss ad9 Of aI IT, al 0'nef'
erai ne parcel post has has ave ne srsai
opposition on the part of eome who
think that 1t will have the effect to de-
stroy the business of the country store.
|
the change will greatly Increase bust
ness for the benefit Of all. The red,tS-
ton in the cost of living 1t will bring
about ought to make its coming cer-
tain.
Navy Department.
On tine I'd Of November last, re.
viewed the fighting fieet OF battlcships
and other vessels assembled in New
York harbor, consisting OF "a battle
ships, Q armored cruisers, 2 cruisers, q
destroyers. II torpedo boats, 8 subma-
rines, and other attendant vessels,
making ninety-eight vessels Of all
classes. OF q tonnage of 576.G3f tons.
Those who saw the fleet were struck
with its preparedness and with It's high
| military efficiency. All Americans
| should be proud OF it's personnel.
The feet was deficient in the number
| of torpedo destroyers, in cruisers, and
| in Golfers, as we'll as In large battle
ship cruisers. which are now becoming
a very important feature of foreign
navies, notably the British. German
and Japanese.
The building plan for this year con.
templates two battieships and two col.
liers. This Is because the other and
|