stone, Lord Chief Justice of England; Sir Louis A. Jetté, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Quebec, and Clifford Sifton, Canadian Minister of the Interior John W. Foster was the chief agent for the United States. He was assisted by Jacob M. Dickirson, D. T. Watson, Hannis Taylor and Chandler P. Anderson. The tribunal met in London on September 3. On October 17, a few days after the argument had been completed, the commission reached a conclusion, Lord Alverstone voting with the three commissioners from the United States. On October 20 Lord Alverstone, Mr. Root, Mr. Lodge and Mr. Turner signed an award, the two remaining British commissioners, Mr. Aylesworth and Sir Louis A. Jetté decliring to sign. The Boundary In this award the questions submitted to the tribunal are answered as follows: Question 1-What is intended as the point of commencement of the line? Answer-The line commences at Cape Muzon. Question 2-What channel is the Portland Channel? Answer-The Portland Channel passes north of Pearse and Wales islands and enters the ocean through Tongas Passage, between Wales and Sitkian islands. Question 3-What course should the line take from the point of commencement to the entrance to Portland Channel? Answer-A straight line to the middle of the entrance of Tongas Passage. Question 4-What point on the fifty-sixth parallel is the line to be drawn from the head of the Portland Channel, and what course should it follow between these points? Answer-A straight line between Salmon and Bear rivers direct to the fifty-sixth parallel of latitude. Question 5-In extending the line of demarcation northward from said point on the parallel of the fifty-sixth degree of north latitude, following the crest of the mountains situated parallel to the coast until its intersection with the 141st degree of longitude west of Greenwich, subject to the condition that if such line should anywhere exceed the distance of ten marine leagues from the ocean, then the boundary between the British and the Russian territory should be formed by a line parallel to the sinuosities of the coast and distance therefrom not more than ten marine leagues, was it the intention and meaning of said convention of 1825 that there should remain in the exclusive possession of Russia a continuous fringe or strip of coast on the mainland not exceeding ten marine leagues in width, separating the British possessions from the bays, ports, inlets, havens and waters of the ocean, and extending from the said point on the fifty-sixth degree of latitude north to a point where such line of demarcation should intersect the 141st degree of longitude west of the meridian of Greenwich? Answered in the affirmative. Question 6-If the foregoing question should be answered in the negative, and in the event of the summit of such mountains proving to be in places more than ten marine leagues from the coast, should the width of the lisière which was to belong to Russia be measured (1) from the mainland coast to the ocean strictly so-called, along a line perpendicular thereto, or (2) was it the intention and meaning of the said convention that where the mainland coast is indented by deep inlets, forming part of the territorial waters of Russia, the width of the lisière was to be measured (a) from the line of the general direction of the mainland coast, or (b) from the line separating the waters of the ocean from the territorial waters of Russia, or (c) from the heads of the aforesaid inlets? Required no answer after the fifth question had been answered in the affirmative. Question 7-What, if any exist, are the mountains referred to as situated parallel to the coast, which mountains, when within ten marine leagues from the coast, are declared to form the eastern boundary? Answer-The majority of the tribunals have selected the line of peaks starting at the head of Portland Channel and running along the high mountains, on the outer edge of the mountains shown on the maps of survey made in 1903, extending to Mount Whipple, and thence along what is known as the Hunter line of 1878, crossing the Stikine River about twenty-four miles from its mouth, thence northerly along the high peaks to Kate's Needle; from Kate's Needle to the Devil's Thumb. The tribunal stated that there was not sufficient evidence, owing to the absence of a complete survey, to identify the mountains which correspond to those intended by the treaty. This contemplates a further survey of that portion by the two governments. From the vicinity of Devil's Thumb the line runs to the continental watershed, thence through White and Talya, or Chilkoot, passes westerly to a mountain indicated on the map attached to the treaty as 6,850 feet, thence to another mountain 5,800 feet, and from that point in a somewhat curved line across the head of the glaciers to Mount Fairweather. This places the Canadian outpost on the upper water of Chilkat River in British territory, and the mining amps of Porcupine and Glacier Creek in American territory. From Mount Fairweather the line passes north on high peaks along the mountains indicated on the map by Mounts Pinta, Ruhama and Vancouver to Mount St. Elias, A boundary line will be run by experts from Canada and the United States in accordance with the terms of the London award, The Senate ratified on March 17, by a vote of 73 to 5, a treaty with the United States of Colombia providing for the construcPanama Canal Treaty. tion by the United States of a ship canal across the Isthmus of Panama. The convention was rejected, however, on August 12 by the Colombian Senate, and the time limit for exchanging ratifi Ications expired on September 21. For details of the creation of the new State of Panama and terms of new canal treaty see elsewhere under "Isthmian Canal" and "Panama." nual appro priations $765,456,776 30 11$753,055,506 02 12$800,624,496 55) 18$730,338,575 99 Amount of estimated revenues for fiscal year 1904.. .$585,000,000 00 144,767,664 00 .$729,767,664 00 Total estimated revenues for fiscal year 1904... 1One-half of the amounts for the District of Columbia payable by the United States, except amounts for the water department (estimated for 1904 at $133,256), which are payable from the revenues of the water department. 2Includes all expenses of the postal service payable from postal revenues and out of the Treasury. 3 No amount is estimated for rivers and harbors for 1904 except the sum of $18,570,339 33. to meet contracts authorized by law for river and harbor improvements included in the sundry civil estimates for 1904. 4 No river and harbor bill passed for 1904, but the sum of $20,233,150 is appropriated in the sundry civil act to carry out contracts authorized by law for river and harbor. improvements for 1904. "In addition to this. amount the sum of $5,768,757 50 is appropriated in the sundry civil act to carry out contracts authorized by law for river and harbor improvements in 1903. This amount includes $18,570,339 33 to meet contracts authorized by law for river and harbor improvements for 1904. 7This amount includes $20,233,150 to carry out contracts author-.. ized by law for river and harbor improvements in 1904. This amount includes $5,768,757 50 to carry out contracts authorized by law for river and harbor improvements for 1903. This amount is approximated. 10This is the amount submitted by the Secretary of the Treasury in the annual estimates for the fiscal year 1903, the exact amountappropriated not being ascertainable until two years after the close of the fiscal year. 11In addition to this amount contracts are authorized to be entered into, subject to future appropriations by Congress, as follows: By the District of Columbia act, $1,400,000; by the naval act, $22,526,000; by the sundry civil act, $7,850,000; by the act of March 3, 1903 (public buildings act), $5,153,859 34; in all, $36,989,859 34. 12In addition to this amount, contracts are authorized to be entered into, subject to future appropriations by Congress, as follows: By the District of Columbia act, $2,118,405; by the Military Academy act, $3,500,000; by the naval act, $21,069,500; by the river and harbor act, $38,336,160; by the sundry civil act, $1,511,000; by the deficiency act, $232,750; by the public buildings act, $15,943,650; by the Isthmian canal act, $180,000,000; in all, $262,711,465. 18 No river and harbor bill passed for 1902, but the sum of $7,048,623 was appropriated in the sundry civil act to carry out contracts authorized by law for river and harbor improvements for 1902. 1'In addition to this amount. the sundry civil act carries contract and direct appropriations for river and harbor improvements aggregating $15,725,605 75. 15Estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury. 16In addition to this amount, contracts are authorized to be entered into, sub--ject to future appropriations by Congress, as follows: By the District of Columbia act, $198,500; by the naval act, $1,384,640; by the sundry civil act, $82,500; by the act of March 3, 1901 (public buildings act), $2,259,000; in all, $4,224,640. CIVIL SERVICE LAWS. The term "Civil Service Act" refers to an act of Congress "to regulate and improve the Civil Service of the United States," approved January 16, 1883, which gave the power to the President to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, three persons, not more than two of whom shall be adherents of the same party, as a commission, with authority to prescribe regulations in pursuance of and for the execution of the provisions of the rules and of the Civil Service Act. The act requires that the rules shall provide among other things for open competitive examinations for testing fitness of applicants for the public service, the filling of classified positions by selections from among those passing with highest grades, an apportionment of appointments in the departments at Washington among the States and Territories, a period of probation before absolute appointment, and the prohibition of the use of official authority to coerce the political action of any person or body. The act also provides for investigations touching the enforcement of the rules promulgated, and forbids, under penalty of fine or imprisonment, or both, the solicitation by any person in the service of the United States of contributions to be used for political purposes from persons in such service, or the collection of such contributions by any person in a government building. The terms used in the regulations are: "Classified Service," referring to all that part of the executive Civil Service of the United States included within the provisions of the act; "Grade," referring to a group of employes or positions in the classified service arranged upon a basis of duties performed without regard to salaries received: "Class," referring to a group of employes or positions in any grade arranged upon the basis of salaries received, and "Excepted Position," referring to any position within the provisions of the Civil Service Act, but excepted from the requirement of competitive examination or registration for appointment thereto. The rules promulgated by the President on May 6, 1896, as amended July 27, 1897, May 29, 1899 and April 15, 1903, show that almost everything in the District of Columbia between the grade of mere laborer or workman and the grade of Presidential appointment is included in the classified service. The following places are brought into the classification outside the District of Columbia: All executive officers and employes who are serving in a clerical capacity, or whose duties are in whole or in part of a clerical nature; or in the capacity of a watchman or messenger, or physician, hospital steward, nurse, or whose duties are of a medical nature; or as draughtsman, civil engineer, steam engineer, electrical engineer, computer or fireman; or in the service of the Supervising Architect's office in the capacity of superintendent of construction or of repair, or foreman; or in the service of the Treasury Department in any capacity. Outside the District of Columbia, as well as within the District, everything in the Treasury Department is classified. About six thousand classified positions in the navy yards are subject to the registration system, and about as many others of similar nature in the War Department are to be so subjected. The following figures, based upon estimates made in 1902, show the approximate extent of the service: Positions in the executive Civil Service, 235,854; in executive departments and offices and the Government Printing Office at Washington, 20,931; in local offices and offices outside Washington, 214,923. Of positions in Washington 17,260 are classified "competitive," 286 are classified "excepted," 391 are above classification and 2.904 are below classification. Of positions in local offices and outside Washington 92,544 are classified "competitive," 11,870 are classified "excepted," 1,111 are above classification and 109,398 below classification or not yet classified. Summarizing for the entire service, 103,804 are classified "competitive," 12,156 are classified "exempted," 1,502 are above classification and 112,392 are below classification or not classified. Of the 12,156 positions in the classified service excepted either in whole or in part from examination 1,972 are in the Indian service and filled by Indians, about 4,471 are pension examining surgeons, and the remaining positions are largely those in which duty is performed in the character of deputy. as in the places of deputy collector of internal revenue, deputy marshal, etc., or those where the duties are of a confidential or fiduciary nature. Examinations are held in every State and Territory at fixed times and places. They relate as nearly as possible to the duties to be performed and, wherever pracAdmissions and Removals. ticable, include practical tests. No one is certified for appointment whose standing in any examination is less than 70 per cent, except soldiers and sailors having preference under Section 1,754 of the Revised Statutes, who need obtain but 65 per cent. A certificate is given to each person examined, stating whether he or she passed or failed to pass. Upon requisition of an appointing officer the commission certifies the names of three eligibles for the position desired to be filled, and from the eligibles thus certified selections are made. Provision is also made in the rules for the filling of positions by promotion, reduction, reinstatement or transfer. The revision of the rules promulgated by President Roosevelt on March 20, 1903, contains this limitation on the power of removal: "No person shall be removed from a competitive position, except for such cause as will promote the efficiency of the public service, and for reasons given in writing, and the person whose removal is. sought shall have notice and be furnished a copy thereof, and be allowed a reasonable time for personally answering the same in writing; but no examination of witnesses nor any trial or hearing shall be required except in the discretion of the officer making the removal. Copy of such reasons, notice and answer, and of the order of removal, shall be made a part of the records of the proper department or office, as shall also the reasons for any change in rank or compensation, and the commission shall upon request be furnished with copies or the originals thereof." The rules also forbid any person in the executive Civil Service to use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election or affecting the result thereof." They provide that no discrimination shall be exercised, threatened or promised by any person in the executive Civil Service against or in favor of an applicant, eligible or employe in the classified service because of his political or religious opinions or affiliations. Persons who served in the military or naval service of the United States and were discharged by reason of disabilities resulting from wounds or sickness incurred in the line of duty have under the rules a certain preference. They are released from all maximum age limitation, are eligible for appointment at a grade of 65 (while all others are obliged to obtain a grade of 70), and are certified to appointing officers before non-veterans. By two executive orders, one of July 3, 1902, and the other of March 26, 1903, President Roosevelt directed that appointments of all unclassified laborers in departments in Washington be made in accordance with registration tests for fitness, and extended those tests to laborers and workmen in the government employment in such other large cities as might be agreed on by the heads of departments and the Civil Service Commission. In pursuance of an act of Congress approved April 12, 1900, the civil authority of the United States succeeded the military in Porto Rico. Inasmuch as the exIn Porto Rico and Hawaii. ecutive officers and employes under this act became a part of the executive Civil Service of the United States, they were held to come within the operations of the Civil Service act and rules. There are approximately 301 federal positions, of which 152 are subject to competitive educational examination, 81 subject to compet tive registration, 20 are excepted and 48 are not subject to classification. In Hawaii the same classes of positions are embraced within the classified Civil Service as are included in that service in other Territories. On September 19, 1900, the United States Philippine Commission passed an "act for the establishment and maintenance of an efficient and honest Civil Service in the Philippine Islands." The act provides for a Civil SerIn the Philippines. vice Board of three persons, which is authorized to prepare rules for appointments and promotions according to merit and by competitive examination as far as practicable. The act applies with few exceptions to all appointments of civilians to positions under the civil government, and vacancies in the highest positions must be filled by promotion. On November 30, 1900, the President issued an order directing the United States Civil Service Commission to render such assistance as may be practicable to the Philippine Civil Service Board. In accordance with this order the commission examined 1,174 persons for the Philippine service during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902. Over 200 have been sent to the Philippines through the agency of the commission. These examinations were for positions requiring professional, technical, scientific or special clerical ability, as natives are appointed to all positions for which they are competent. POSTAL LAWS-GENERAL POSTAL INFORMATION. Classes of Domestic Mail Matter.-Domestic mail is divided into four classes, as follows: First Class-Letters, postal cards, private mailing cards and matter wholly or partly in writing, whether sealed or unsealed (except manuscript copy accompanying proof sheets or corrected proof sheets of the same), and all matter sealed or otherwise closed against inspection. Rates of postage-Two cents per ounce or fraction thereof. Postal cards, one cent each. Private mailing cards with written messages, conforming to government cards in size and weight and to the regulations prescribed by the Postmaster General, one cent each. On "drop" letters, two cents per ounce or fraction thereof, when mailed at letter carrier offices, or when mailed at offices which are not letter carrier offices, if rural free delivery has been established and the persons addresed can be served by rural carrier, and one cent per ounce or frac tion thereof at other offices. Second Class-Newspapers and publications issued at stated intervals as often as four times a year, bearing a date of issue and numbered consecutively, issued from a known office of publication, and formed of printed paper sheets, without board, cloth, leather or other substantial binding. Such publications must be originated and published for the dissemination of information of a public character, or devoted to literature, the sciences, art, or some special industrý. They must have a legitimate list of subscribers equal to 50 per cent of the number of copies regularly issued and circulated, and must not be designed primarily for advertising purposes, or for free circulation, or at nominal rates, or have the characteristics of books. Rate of postage For publishers and news agents, one cent a pound or fraction thereof. For others than publishers and news agents one cent for each four ounces or fraction thereof. Third Class-Books, periodicals and matter wholly in print (not included in second class), proof sheets, corrected proof sheets and manuscript copy accompanying the same. Rate of postage-One cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof. Seeds, scions, cuttings, roots and plants, and also correspondence of the blind printed in raised characters, and sent unsealed, are mailable at third class rates. The insertion of the date, name of the addressee and sender in writing does not impair the rights of a circular to the third class. Fourth Class Merchandise, namely, all matter not embraced in the other three classes, and which is not in its form or nature liable to destroy, deface or otherwise damage the contents of the mail bag, or harm the person of any one engaged in the postal service, and not above the weight provided by law. Rate of postage -One cent per ounce or fraction thereof, but on seeds, cuttings, roots, scions and plants, one cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof. Payment of Postage.-On first class matter the postage should be fully pre paid, but if two cents in stamps be affixed the matter will be dispatched with the deficient postage rated thereon, to be collected of addressee before delivery. Packages of first class matter exceeding four (4) pounds in weight must Le fully prepaid; but letters and packages of first class matter weighing less than four (4) pounds when prepaid one full letter rate will be dispatched and the deficiency collected of the addresses. The fee is 8 cents, in addition to postage, and must invariably be prepaid. Limit of Weight.-A package must not exceed four pounds in weight, unless it be a single book. Second class matter and fully prepaid first class matter are not subject to the four pound limitation. Registry System.-All mailable matter may be registered if fully prepaid with ordinary postage stamps, but not matter addressed to fictitious names, other than legitimate trade names, initials or box numbers, or bearing vague and indefinite addresses. The registry fee is eight cents, in addition to the postage, both of which must invariably be prepaid. Money Order System.-The following are the fees for domestic money orders, including orders drawn on Guam, Hawaii, Porto Rico and Tutuila, Samoa, also orders drawn on the United States Postal Agency at Shanghai, China: For orders not exceeding $2 50, 3c.; exceeding $2 50 and not above $5, 5c.; exceeding $5 and not above $10, 8c.; exceeding $10 and not above $20, 10c.; exceeding $20 and not above $30, 12c.; exceeding $30 and not above $40, 15c.; exceeding $10 and not above $50, 18c.; exceed ing $50 and not above $60, 20c.; exceeding $60 and not above $75. 250.; exceeding $75. and not above $100, 30c. The maximum amount of a single order is $100. interna tional money orders may be issued up to $100, which is the maximum, except for orders issued and payable in Great Britain and in the colonies of Bermuda, British Guiana, Cape Colony and Jamaica, for which the maximum amount is $50. charged for international money orders, as a rule, is 10e. on each $10 or fraction thereof, except that domestic rates are charged for orders payable in Canada, Cuba Newfoundland and the Philippines (these orders are drawn on the domestic form). and that for orders payable in Bolivia, Costa Rica, Liberia, Mexico, Peru and the Transvaal, one-half the regular international fee, with a minimum charge of Se for an order for $10 or under, is exacted. Postal Conventions.-Postal conventions are now in operation for the exchang of money orders between the United States and the following countries: Grea Britain, Switzerland, Germany. France, Italy, Canada, Newfoundland, Jamaica, Nev South Wales, Victoria, New-Zealand, Queensland, Cape Colony, Windward Island (Barbados, Grenada, St. Vincent and St. Lucia), Leeward Islands (Antigua, St Christopher-Nevis, Dominica. Montserrat and the Virgin Islands), Belgium, Portuga (including the Azores and Madeira Vormonja, Sweden, Norway, Japan. Denmark Netherlands, Bahama Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Austria-Hungary, British Guiana, Luxembourg, Bermuda, South Australia, Salvador, Chili, Honduras, Egypt, Hong Kon British Honduras, Cuba, Russia, Mexico, Bolivia, Apia (Samoa), Costa Rica, Greece Liberia. Peru and the Transvaal. Special Delivery.-The regulations governing "rapid" or "special delivery provide that any article of mailable matter bearing a 10c. special delivery stamp, it addition to the lawful postage, is entitled to immediate delivery on its arrival at any United States post office between the hours of 7 a. m. and 11 p. m., If the office be e the free delivery class, and between the hours of 7 a. m. and 7 p. m., and to the arrival of the last mail, provided this be not later than 9 p. m., if the office be other than a free delivery office. To entitle such a letter to immediate delivery the resi dence or place of business of the addressee must be within the regular letter carrie limits of a free delivery office, and within one mile of any other office. Special de livery stamps are not available for the payment of postage, nor can ordinary postag stamps be used to secure immediate delivery of mail matter. Foreign Postage Rates.-The rates of postage to all foreign countries and colonies (except Canada, Cuba and Mexico) are as follows: Letters. 15 grams (1⁄2 ounce). 5c.; postal cards, each, 2c.; double postal cards, each, 4c.; newspapers and other printed matter, per 2 ounces, 1c. Commercial papers: Packets not in excess, f 10 ounces, 5c. packets in excess of 10 ounces, for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof, 1c. Samples of merchandise: Packets not in excess of 4 ounces, 2c.; packets in excess of 4 ounces, for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof, 1c. Registration fee on letters or other articles, 8c. Ordinary letters for any foreign country (except Canada and Mexico) must be for warded whether any postage is prepaid on them or not. All other mailable matter must be prepaid, at least partially. Matter mailed in the United States addressed to Canada, Cuba or Mexico is subject to the same postage rates and conditions as it would be if it were addressed for delivery in the United States. Full prepayment is required upon all registered articles; and postage upon all articles other than letters is required to be prepaid, at least in part. If the postage is not prepaid in full, double the amount of the deficiency will be collected of the addressee when the article is delivered. The rate on "commercial papers" per 2 ounces is the same as for "printed matter, except that the lowest charge on any package, whatever its weight, is 5c. The rate on samples of merchandise per 2 ounces is also the same as for "printed matter, except that the lowest charge on any package, whatever its weight, is 2c. Articles of every kind and nature which are admitted to the United States domestic mails are admitted, at our domestic postage rates and conditions, to the |