The report of the Postmaster-General shows the most gratifying progress in the important work committed to his direction.  The business methods have been greatly improved.  A large economy in expenditures and an increase of four and three-quarters millions in receipts have been realized.  The deficiency this year is $5,786,300, as against $6,350,183 last year, notwithstanding the great enlargement of the service.  Mail routes have been extended and quickened and greater accuracy and dispatch in distribution and delivery have been attained.  The report will be found to be full of interest and suggestion, not only to Congress, but to those thoughtful citizens who may be interested to know what business methods can do for that department of public administration which most nearly touches all our people.

The passage of the act to amend certain sections of the Revised Statutes relating to lotteries, approved September 19, 1890, has been received with great and deserved popular favor.  The Post-Office Department and the Department of Justice at once entered upon the enforcement of the law with sympathetic vigor, and already the public mails have been largely freed from the fraudulent and demoralizing appeals and literature emanating from the lottery companies.

The construction and equipment of the new ships for the Navy have made very satisfactory progress.  Since March 4, 1889, nine new vessels have been put in commission, and during this winter four more, including one monitor, will be added.  The construction of the other vessels authorized is being pushed both in the Government and private yards with energy and watched with the most scrupulous care.

The experiments conducted during the year to test the relative resisting power of armor plates have been so valuable as to attract great attention in Europe.  The only part of the work upon the new ships that is threatened by unusual delay is the armor plating, and every effort is being made to reduce that to the minimum.  It is a source of congratulation that the anticipated influence of these modern vessels upon the esprit de corps of the officers and seamen has been fully realized.  Confidence and pride in the ship among the crew are equivalent to a secondary battery.  Your favorable consideration is invited to the recommendations of the Secretary.

The report of the Secretary of the Interior exhibits with great fullness and clearness the vast work of that Department and the satisfactory results attained.  The suggestions made by him are earnestly commended to the consideration of Congress, though they can not all be given particular mention here.