Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1907 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Postmaster General Meyer, in biff annual report, makes several recooar mendations for Increasing 1 the efficiency and extending the scope of the worit of the Postoffice Department Chief among these recommendations was that for the establishment of postal saving* banks. Mr. Meyer would have every money order office, and such others ass may be deemed necessary, designated to receive deposits in amounts of not lea* than sl, but the amount of Individual accounts be would limit to SSOO. Ob these deposits interest at the rat* of 9 per cent should be allowed, Araatortal extension of the parcels post servic* la urged. A recommendation is also mada for more up-to-date-business method* and a revised system of bookkeeping. He also suggests a permanent official corresponding to the superintendent of » mails or the^agent of a great manufacturing corporation, who would hold office continuously through various administrations. In Illustrating tha growth of the postal business during tbe last fifty years, Mr. Meyer statea that In 1857 the receipts were $8,053,952, with a deficit of $3,454,106, while tbe last fiscal year the receipts were $183,585,005,-wftiLadeficitof's6,6sar“ 282. He believes that by 1917 the receipts will be over $350,000,000. One of the features of the annual report of Gen. F. C. Ainsworth, adjutant general of the United States Army, which has called forth no little comment throughout the country, Is the statement that If present conditions continue there will be nothing for the government to do to secure men for the military service but to materially increase the pay of enlisted men or resort to conscription. The report shows that the deficiency below the authorized strength of the army on Oct. 15, 1906, was 8,046, while In October, 1907, it was 20,535. Among the reasons given for this falling off Is the strong competition which the government encounters from private who offer higher pay and more attractive conditions. The annual report of the Isthmian Canal Commission, recently made public, shows expenditures up to date of $48,285,880.37, and indicates gratifying progress in the work. On June 30, 1907, the total farce of skilled and unskilled laborers was 29,446, an increase I —year. The for Rcrtr death rate among al years past shows a markedMmprovfr ment In health conditions, mainly duo to sanitation, better housing facilities and better food supplies. The report strongly recommends the continuation of the work by the National Government direct and not through a contractor or syndicate of contractors.

At the direction of the President m special commission, consisting of Lawrence O’Murray, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Labor; Herbert Knox Smith, commissfoner of corporation*, and Charles P. Neill, United States labor commissioner, started for Goldfield, Nev., to Investigate the labor conditions at that place and to determine whether there Is necessity for tjfe presence of the United States troops recently ordered there at the request of Gov. Sparks Bids to the amount of $25,000,000 of the recent offering of Panama canal bonds have been accepted by Secretary Cortelyou at an average price of 103, and nearly all of the accepted bids ara from national banks which were In a position to take out additional cimlatlon at once. It was thought that the 3 per cent certificates would not exceed $15,000,000. The Secretary says that the Improvement Justifies him in limiting both the new issues. As an Indication olf a desire on the part of Congress to deal promptly with the currency question, Speaker Cannon departed from precedent in naming the House committee on banking and currency In the opening bours of the session, Instead of waiting until after th* Christmas recess. Fowler of New Jersey, who recently criticised Secretary Cortelyou for what he termed his “In-' efficient efforts to relieve the financial situation,” was reappointed chairman. The committee is expected to organize at once. The cash balance In the treasury has been reduced to about $17,000,000 by the distribution of funds among national banks during the recent crisis, and the officials have decided to cut down the amount of the balnnces standing to the credit of disbursing oipqers. Thus, by a simple act of bookkeeping, the available cash Is Increased for the time being by many millions of dollar*. The opening of proposals for the $30.000,000 of Panama canal bouds showed that the amount had been subscribed several times over, and that a good fig*ure, well above the market price, would be realized for the securities. While the official figures were not obtainable. It was thought that the average price would prove to be about 104. The allotment of the bonds will be at the discretion of the Secretary of the Tree*nry. • • MTMIM