w connected with the Post-Office establishment 32,661
employees who are in the classified service. This includes many who have
been classified upon the suggestion of the Postmaster-General. He states
that another year's experience at the head of the Department serves only
to strengthen the conviction as to the excellent working of the
civil-service law in this branch of the public service.

Attention is called to the report of the Secretary of the Navy, which
shows very gratifying progress in the construction of ships for our new
Navy. All the vessels now building, including the three torpedo boats
authorized at the last session of Congress and excepting the first-class
battle ship _Iowa_, will probably be completed during the coming
fiscal year.

The estimates for the increase of the Navy for the year ending June 30,
1896, are large, but they include practically the entire sum necessary
to complete and equip all the new ships not now in commission, so that
unless new ships are authorized the appropriations for the naval service
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897, should fall below the
estimates for the coming year by at least $12,000,000.

The Secretary presents with much earnestness a plea for the authorization
of three additional battle ships and ten or twelve torpedo boats. While
the unarmored vessels heretofore authorized, including those now nearing
completion, will constitute a fleet which it is believed is sufficient
for ordinary cruising purposes in time of peace, we have now completed
and in process of construction but four first-class battle ships and
but few torpedo boats. If we are to have a navy for warlike operations,
offensive and defensive, we certainly ought to increase both the number
of battle ships and torpedo boats.

The manufacture of armor requires expensive plants and the aggregation
of many skilled workmen. All the armor necessary to complete the vessels
now building will be delivered before the 1st of June next. If no new
contracts are given out, contractors must disband their workmen and
their plants must lie idle. Battle ships authorized at this time would
not be well under way until late in the coming fiscal year, and at least
three years and a half from the date of the contract would be required
for their completion. The Secretary states that not more than 15 per
cent of the cost of such ships need be included in the appropriations
for the coming year.

I recommend that provisio