AUGUST 28, "1904,
The Commoner.
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THE report of the receipts and expenditures of
the postofflce department for the fiscal year
ending June 30 shows a deficit of about $8,000,000.
During the year, the sum of $12,000,000 was spent
in extending the rural mail delivery routes. Tho
Now York Commercial says: "It is to be noted
that the postofflce department has not been self
sustaining in any year since 1884. In 1882, in
3.883 and in 1884 It yielded a nominal excess of
receipts above expenditures, but since then the
deficit each year has ranged from about $3,000,000
to $11,500,000, during a large part of which period
the rural delivery system was not in operation.
In the mean time tho number of postofilcees has
increased from 60,017 in 1884 to 74,169 in 1903, and
the receipts in these offices have increased from
$43,300,000 to $$134,200,000. Expenditures, in the
same period, have increased from $$46,400,000 to
$138,800,000. It is manifestly impossible to calcu
late with prociso accuracy just what the revenues
and disbursements of the postal service will be in
a given year. Much depends upon the conditions
of business, particularly in the matter of issuing
postal money-orders; and it is only surprising
that the postofflce authorities at Washington are
able to, make income and outgo balance so closely
as they do."
SHALL a negro be appointed postmaster at
the "Hermitage," the former home of An
urow Jackson, near Nashville, Tennessee? This
question is troubling the fourth assistant post
master general, party leaders, and, incidentally,
Mr. Roosevelt. The Washington correspondent
for the New York Herald explains: "A few
weeks ago the postmaster at 'The Hermitage' died,
leaving the office in charge of members of his
family. Tho negroes immediately began the cir
culation of a petition for the appointment of one
of the two negro voters in the precinct, and they
say that they will carry the case this time straight
to the president if necessary. The question is
rapidly reaching what might be called the acute
stage. Tho negroes insist that tho office, under
the . rules that govern distribution of federal pat
ronage, should be given to a negro; that the case
is not dissimilar from that of Crum, at Charleston,
and that if tho president is determined to keep
'the door of hope' open for the black man this is
an excellent opportunity for him to make good the
promises held out to negroes in the president's
speeches on the race question."
THE postofflce at the "Hermitage" is not great
ly attractive, "but the negroes have made
persistent efforts to have one of their number
chosen postmaster. The Herald correspondent
says: "This is not the first time that the 'Her
mitage' postofflce case has engrossed the attention
of the postofflce department. In Mr. Cleveland's
first term a democrat named Field was appointed
postmaster at the 'Hermitage.' He held ofhce con
tinuously without molestation until 1897. Presi
dent Harrison retained him in office. When Mr.
McKinley was elected the negroes in the district
demanded that Field be removed and that One of
the three reublican voters in the 'Hermitage' pre
cinct be given the office. Of those three republi
cans one was a white man of ample wealth, who
ivould not accept the postmastershlp at Washing
ton, much less at the 'Hermitage and two ne
groes. Both of these negroes wanted the office.
They finally compromised and one withdrew in
the other's favor. Then they drew up a a petition
which was presented to white republican voters in
Tennessee who had to do with the distribution
of patronage there. The petition was .indorsed by
most of these white republican leaders, though
some of them protested, and in due time It. was
filed with the fourth assistant postmaster general.
The petition did not specify that the person recom
mended was a negro. This fact was, however,
drawn to the department's attention, and it wras
made clear that it would never do even for a
republican administration to appont a negro to
be postmaster at Andrew Jackson's home, and tho
democrat retained the position."
AN INVENTORY of gifts made to various ships
in the navy shows that these gifts amount
to $110,000 in value. They were presented by
states and municipalities after which vessels havo
been named, and in some cases by individuals.
Silver services represent tho greater part of tho
gifts. The armorod cruiser New York heads tho
list in the value of its gifts, the amount being
$14,539, which represents a silver sorvice, library,
a bell and other furnishings. The cruiser Brook
lyn boast3 of a silver service presented by tho
peppio of that borough and valued at $8,397. Tho
smallest gift is an $8 photograph of tho Footo. Tho
silver services on some of tho big ships arc valued
as follows: Cincinnati, $4,500; Detroit, $2,500; In
diana, $9,526; Iowa, $5,000; Helena, $2,500; Min
neapolis, $6,100; Nashville, $3,165; Newport, $1,850;
San Francisco, $7,486; Texas, $4,855; New Or
leans, $2,700; Illinois, $5,000; Albany, $5.8S3, and
Alabama, $3,363.
A SPECIAL attraction of the celebration of
"Old Home Week" In Amesbury, Mass., was
the famous old schooner "Polly," built In 1805.
The Bangor, Me., correspondent for the New York
World says: "The Polly now halls'from Rockland,
Me., where she is laid up winters, and is com
manded by a Belfast man, Capt. George F. Ryan.
The keel of tho Polly was laid on the bank of
tho Powow river, Amesbury, Aug. 4, 1805, and
she is one of tho oldest vessels now afloat. At
the breaking out of the war of 1812 she was fitted
out as a privateer, and sailed from Newburyport
with a crow of twelve men, two barrels of rum
and a barrel of hardtack. Soon after she sailed
the Polly was captured by a British vessel, and ,
placed In charge of a prize crew, while her own
men were ironed and confined in the hold. The
British discovered tho two barrels of rum, and
were Boon in such a condition that they were
unable to manage tho vessel. One of the Polly's
crew managed to free himself, and, liberating
his companions, took chage of the cratt and
landed the prize crew in Portland, where they
were kept in prison until the close of the war.
After this the Polly took many prizes, but was
finally captured herself and taken with her crew
to England. The Polly has been coasting over
since the close of the war of 1812, sailing between
Maine ports and Massachusetts. Sho is a stubby
little craft, 61 feet long, 13 feet beam, and 6 feot
deep. She Is as tight as a bottle, and can get
any kind of cargo. She is what sailors call a
lucky vessel, for in all the gales of ninety-nine
years she has never hacL a serious mishap."
NEARLY all the ofneers or high rank on both
sides of tho war In the Orient are well along
in years. A writer in the Kansas City Journal
points out that Field Marshall Oyama, who is in
command of the Japanese forces in tho field, is
now 62 while Baron Kodama, the chief of staff,
is 52. Generals Kuroki, Oku and Nodzu, who are
in command of the forces south of Liao Yang, aro
60 58 and 63, respectively. Baron Nogi, who is
also at the front, is 55; General Nlshi, in com
mand of the second division, Is 58, and Prince
Fushimi, who is the youngest division commander,
is 46 Marquis Yamagata, who is a field marshal
and said to be the finest strategist of his genera
tion is 66, but is not with the army. The average
of the Japanese generals is said to be 57 years,
while that of the Russian generals is about 54
years, the age of General Kuropatkin.
nnHESE figures form an interesting contrast
I with conditions existing in our own civil
war, which, according to the Journal writer, so far
as the federal side was concerned, may be called
a "young man's war." This -writer points out
that Grant was only 39, Sheridan was 30 and
Sherman 41 when the war began. Custer was a
maior ceneral when 24, and Pope and Hancock
were 3 "an 38, respectively, in 1861. McCIclian
Thomas Rosecrans, Meade and a number of
oheS were all under 48 when first they led their
menlito battle. The generals whom these union
triors fought against were, on an average, some
Xat morttatufe in years. When Fort Sumter
was fired on General Lee was 55, General A. S,
JiAnSSn 68 and General J. T. Johnston 54. Jack
son however, was only 37, Hood 30, Longstreet
40 and Stuart 28.
Acs iq nolnted out by this same authority, the
abllitv of a general does not depend upon
his age Von Moltko at 70 served his country as
well as Alexander the Great served his ambitions
at 23 and 30, or Hannibal at '30. Sciplo Afrlcanu
was 29 whon ho defeated tho Carthagcnian general.
Washington was 43 whon ho took command of the
troops in tho revolution. But it was tho career
of Napoleon, perhaps, moro than any other in
stance which created tho belief that war is tho
vocation of youth. The "littlo corporal" was only
31 whon ho subdued Egypt, and at that tlmo Kol
lorman, Ncy and Lanncs were 30 and Murat waa
29.
FOR a recent number of an eastern publication,
Admiral Schloy wroto an articlo on "Tho
Battle off Santiago." Tho Washington correspond
ent for tho Now York Tribune says that this ar
ticlo has occasioned considerable talk In tho navy
department and adds: "Of courso, no officer
would discuss either tho morlts of tho articlo or
tho propriety of publishing it, as to do so would
not only bo a direct violation of tho general ordors
of tho department, but also In disregard of tho
president's strict injunction, Issued as commander-in-chief,
that naval and army offlccrs should re
frain from furthor discussion of tho Shmpson
Schloy controversy. It was pointed out, more
over, that Admiral Schley was himself guilty of
insubordination in preparing and permitting tho
publication of tho articlo, and, being still an officer
of tho navy, although on tho retired list, ho laid
himself open to censure for his courso, and pos
sibly rendorcd himself susceptiblo to trini by
court martial. In some quarters suspicion was ex
pressed that thero was a good deal of politics in
tho appearance of the articlo at this time. It wa
pointed out that tho Sampson-Schloy controversy
died a natural death and had boon forgotten by
a majority of the public. If, however, officers ,on
the active list should undortako to point out tho
errors in Admiral Schley's contribution to cur
rent literature, and a reopening of tho contro
versy ensue, it might prove useful to the demo
crats in certain quarters, particularly in Mary
land, and for that reason officers best posted on
the subject deemed it wisest to refrain from com
ment." SOME of London's broken down nobility has
devised an interesting plan for making both
ends meet. Tho London correspondent for tho
New York Herald says: "For tho sum of 50
pounds a week, moro or less, admirers of British
aristocracy will be able to go yachting with real
live lords during tho coining winter. This In
formation has been discreetly communicated
through tho poBt to such persons as the directory
seems to suggest are endowed with sufficient
means to enjoy the delights of this apotheosis of
"a personally conducted tour." On the outer
cover of the cornetcd circular of Invitation one
reads "Earl Tankerville presents his compliment
to Mr. Blank and on behalf of the invitation cruise
committee invites him to join a winter crulso to
the Mediterranean, as described on tho overleaf.
R. S. V. P. to Lord Muskerry.' On opening the
document the composition of the Invitation cruise
committee is seen to be set forth as follows: 'Com
mittee chairman, Earl Tankerville; committee,
Earl of Craven, Lord Haddo, Lord Braye, L. Ver
non Harcourt, M. P.; Capt. R. D. Chichester; hon.
secretaary, Lord Muskerry.' The circular Issued
In tho abo'vo names goes on to slate: 'The abovo
committee has been formed to Invite ladles and
gentlemen of recognized social standing who aro
likely to form congenial company for a pleasure
cruise to visit the Mediterranean during the com
ing winter In the parliamentary recess, and as
this invitation is personal, the honorable secre
tary will be obliged by receiving names of our
guests who intend to accompany those Invited.
It is scarcely necessary to say ladles will Join the
cruise.' "
THE latest scheme to pawn off fake curios and
antiquities on unsuspecting people Is shown
by- tho Paris correspondent for the Chicago Trib
une This correspondent shows how a "worm
eaten chair" is made to order. "Ticks," or wood
fretters required to give pseudo-antique furniture
an air of old age, are now "cultivated" in large
droves on potatoes. Formerly they were hard to
obtain but now there are millions of the vermin.
The fakers let loose the wood fretters on tho
imitation furniture before it is painted or var-
il
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