Double postal cards, each.. Newspapers and other printed matter, per 2 ounces. Commercial papers: Packets not in excess of 10 ounces.. 4 cents. 1 cent. 5 cents. 1 cent. 2 cents. 1 cent. Packets in excess of 10 ounces, for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof.. Samples of merchandise: Packets not in excess of 4 ounces. Packets in excess of 4 ounces, for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof... Registration fee on letters or other articles.. 8 cents. Ordinary letters for any foreign country (except Canada and Mexico) must be forwarded whether any postage is prepaid on them or not. All other mailabie matter must be prepaid, at least partially. Matter mailed in the United States addressed to Canada 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 five cents. 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 two cents. Articles of every kind and nature which are admitted to the United States domestic mails are admitted to the mails exchanged between the United States and the United States Postal Agency at Shanghai, China; subject, however, to the following rates of postage, which must be prepaid, in all cases, by means of United States postage stamps on all articles, except official correspondence in "penalty" envelopes: First-class matter, 5 cents for each one-half ounce or fraction of one-half ounce. Postal cards, single, 2 cents each; double, 4 cents each. Second and third class matter, and samples of merchandise, not exceeding eight ounces in weight, 1 cent for each two ounces or fraction of two ounces. Fourth-class matter, 1 cent for each ounce or fraction of an ounce. Packages of third and fourth class matter (except single volumes of printed books) must not exceed four pounds in weight. Registration fee, 8 cents; na additional charge for return receipt. Articles other than letters in their usual and ordinary form must not be closed against inspection, but must be so wrapped or inclosed that they may be readily and thoroughly examined by postmasters and customs officers. Articles addressed for delivery at the following places in China, namely: Chefoo (Yentai), Chin Kiang, Chung King, Hankow, Hang Chow, Ichang, Kaiping, Kaigan, Kinkiang, Nanking, New-Chwang, Ningpo, Ourga, Peking, Shanghai, Taku, Tientsin, Wenchow, Wuchang, Wuhu and Yentai, are transmissible in the mails made up at San Francisco, Seattle and Tacoma for the United States Postal Agency at Shanghai; but at places other than Shanghai additional charges for postage may be collected of the addressees upon the delivery of the articles. PARCELS POST.-The first parcels post convention between the United States and any country in Europe was signed between the United States and Germany on August 26, 1899, and went into operation October 1. It was the beginning of a postal service by means of which articles of merchandise may be exchanged by mail between the two countries, provided they are put up in packages which do not exceed eleven pounds in weight. The postage rate for parcels going from the United States to Germany is fixed at 12 cents for each pound or fraction of a pound. The rate in Germany on parcels for the United States is fixed at 2 marks 40 pfennigs a parcel, whatever its weight, but a reduced rate of 1 mark 60 pfennigs may be adopted for a parcel not exceeding in weight one kilogram, equivalent to two pounds three ounces. Provision is made for customs declaration and payment. The United States had parcels post conventions with several countries in Central and South America and the West India Islands, but this was the first convention made with any country in Europe. The law empowers the Postmaster-General to make such conventions by and with the advice and consent of the President. POSTAGE RATES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ISLAND POSSESSIONS. All mail matter sent between the United States to the Island of Guam, the Philippine Archipelago, or Tutuila (including all adjacent islands of the Samoan group which are possessions of the United States), is subject to the United States domestic classification, conditions and rates of postage. Note 1. To insure prompt delivery, mail matter sent to persons in the United States service should include in the address the complete designation of the organization, company or regiment, vessel, or other branch of the service to which the addressee belongs; and the postage thereon should be fully prepaid. Note 2. By act of Congress, the United States postal laws and regulations, and all domestic postal conditions (including payment of postage with United States postage stamps) are in effect to, from and within the Island of Porto Rico. Note 3. By act of Congress, the Hawaiian Islands became a Territory of the United States June 14, 1900; consequently, the United States postal laws and regulations, and all domestic postal conditions (including payment of postage with United States postage stamps) shall, from that date, be in effect to, from and within the Territory of Hawaii. Note 4. In this order the Island of Porto Rico and the Territory of Hawaii are included in the term "United States"; and the Island of Guam, the Philippine Archipelago, and Tutuila are included in the term "Island Possessions" of the United States. Mail matter, except as provided in the next section, sent from the United States, or any of its island possessions, to Cuba; or sent from Cuba to the United States or any of its island possessions is subject to the Postal Union classification, conditions and rates of postage. The United States domestic classification, conditions and rates of in may postage apply to all mail matter sent by or addressed to persons in the United States service (military, naval or civil) in Cuba; provided: (a), That such mail matter sent by persons in the United States service in Cuba addressed to persons in the United States or any of its island possessions, must be indorsed so as to show the branch of the service to which the sender belongs, as, "Soldier's letter' (or mail), "Sailor's letter" (or mail), etc.; and when sent by a civil employe, "Postal Service letter" (or mail), "Customs Service letter" (or mail), etc. (b), That such mail matter addressed to persons in the United States service in Cuba, when sent by persons in the United States or any of its island possessions must bear, in addition to the name of the addressee, the complete designation of the organization, company and regiment, vessel or other branch of the service to which the addressee at the place of address, belongs; and the postage thereon should be fully prepaid. Mail matter, whatever its class addressed to persons in the United States service, serving in the United States, or any of its island possessions, or en route to or from the United States, or any of its island possessions, whose change of address is caused by official orders, will be transmitted as rapidly as possible until it reaches the addressee; the actual location of the addressee for the time being is considered as the original destination of the piece of mail matter; such transmission is not considered as "forwarding" in the sense which that word is used in the Postal Service, and no additional postage is required therefor. Letters sent by soldiers, sailors and marines in the United States service in Cuba, Guam, the Philippine Archipelago or Tutuila, addressed to places in the United States, when indorsed "Soldier's letter," "Sailor's letter" or "Marine's letter," be dispatched to destination without prepayment of postage, and only the single rate of postage shall be collected on delivery. In pursuance of the President's order of November 4, 1899, unsealed packages and parcels of mailable matter containing only articles designed as gifts or souvenirs, and with no commercial purpose and not for sale, sent by persons in the United States service (military, naval or civil) in Porto Rico, Guam, the Philippine Islands, or Cuba, to members of their families in the United States; and unsealed packages of mailable matter of the same personal character, sent from the United States to officers, soldiers, sailors and others in the public service in said islands, shall be transmitted through the mails and delivered subject only to domestic postal rates and regulations; provided, that no such package shall exceed four pounds in weight, and each shall be indorsed on the outside, in a conspicuous place, with the word "Gift" or "Souvenir," or the equivalent thereof; and that when sent from said islands to the United States each such package shall be so marked as to show the branch of the service to which the sender belongs, and be countersigned by a commissioned officer or a postmaster; and that when sent from the United States to said islands each such package shall show the branch of the service to which the addressee belongs. Postmasters are directed to advise senders of such packages of the provisions of this section, and otherwise see that full instructions are given for its proper execution. United States postage stamps are valid for the payment of postage in the island possessions; and the overprinted postage stamps of the island possessions are accepted in payment of postage wherever United States postage stamps are valid. PASSPORT REGULATIONS. The law forbids the granting of a passport to any person who is not a citizen of the United States. A person who has made only the declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States cannot receive a passport. No one but the Secretary of State may grant and issue passports in the United States. A citizen of the United States desiring to procure a passport while he is temporarily abroad should apply to the diplomatic representative of the United States in the country where he happens to be; or, in the absence of a diplomatic representative, to the Consul-General of the United States; or, in the absence of both, to the Consul of the United States. The necessary statements may be made before the nearest consular officer of the United States. To procure a passport a written application, in the form of an affidavit, must be made, which must be attested by an officer authorized to administer oaths, and if he has an official seat it must be affixed; if he has no seal, his official character must be authenticated by certificate of the proper legal officer. If the applicant signs by mark, two attesting witnesses to his signature are required; be is also required to state his age, the place of his birth, his occupation, place of permanent residence, and that he goes abroad for temporary sojourn and intends to return to the United States to reside and perform the duties of citizenship therein. He must also take the oath of allegiance, and the application must be accompanied by a certificate from at least one credible witness as to the identity of the applicant, and other facts, and also by a description of the person applying. An application containing the information indicated will be sufficient evidence in the case of native citizens. A person born abroad, whose father was a native citizen of the United States, must show, in addition to the above, that his father was born in the United States, resided therein and was a citizen at the time of the applicant's birth. A naturalized citizen is required, in addition to giving information as above, to transmit his certificate of naturalization, or a duly certified copy of the court record thereof, wth his application. It will be returned to him after inspection. He must state in his affidavit when and from what port he emigrated to this country, what ship he sailed in, where he has lived since his arrival in the United States, when and before what court he was naturalized, and that he is the identical person described in the certificate of naturalization. The signature to the application should conform in orthography to the applicant's name as written in his certificate of naturalization. The wife or widow of a naturalized citizen must, in addition to other statements required, transmit for inspection her husband's certificate of naturalization, must state that she is the wife (or widow) of the person described therein and must set forth the facts of his emigration, naturalization and residence, as required in the rule governing the application of a naturalized citizen. The child of a naturalized citizen claiming citizenship through the naturalization of the parent must state that he or she is the son or daughter, as the case may be, of the person described in the certificate of naturalization, which must be submitted for inspection, and must set forth the facts of emigration, naturalization and residence, as required in the rule governing the application of a naturalized citizen. A passport expires two years from the date of its issuance. A new one will be issued upon a new application, and, if the applicant be a naturalized citizen, the old passport will be accepted in lieu of a certificate of naturalization, if the application upon which it was issued is found to contain sufficient information as to the naturalization of the applicant. When the applicant is accompanied by his wife, minor children, or servant, who is an American citizen, it will be sufficient to state the fact, giving the respective ages of the children and the citizenship of the servant, when one passport will suffice for all. For any other person in the party a separate passport will be required. A woman's passport may include her minor children and servant under the above named conditions. Professional titles will not be inserted in passports. By act of Congress approved March 23, 1888, a fee of $1 is required to be collected for every citizen's passport. That amount in currency or postal money order should accompany each application. Orders should be made payable to the disbursing clerk of the Department of State. Drafts or checks will not be accepted. Blank forms of application will be furnished by the Department to persons who desire to apply for passports, upon their stating whether they are native or naturalized citizens or claim through the naturalization of husband or parent. Communications should be addressed to the Department of State, Passport Division, and each communication should give the postoffice address of the person to whom the answer is to be directed. The Secretary of State may refuse to issue a passport to any one who he has reason to believe desires it for an unlawful or improper purpose, or who is unable or unwilling_to_comply with the rules. Passports are not required in the Argentine Republic, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chili, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark and possessions, Great Britain and possessions, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Korea, Liberia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal and possessions, Salvador, Samoa, Sweden, Switzerland nor Uruguay. It is recommended, however, that Americans intending to visit the Argentine Republic, Belgium, China, Colombia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Peru, Portugal and Switzerland be provided with passports for convenience to travel without interruption. The laws of the following countries require that every foreigner must be provided with a passport before entering their domains: AustriaHungary, Dominican Republic, Germany, Greece, Hayti, Netherlands and possessions, Persia, Rumania, Russia, Servia, Transvaal (South Africa Republic), Turkey and possessions and Venezuela. As a general rule it is wise for persons intending traveling abroad, outside of British dominions, where passports are never demanded, provide themselves with passports before leaving the United States. Last year many Americans visiting France suffered considerable inconvenience because of their failure to secure passports. Persons intending to enter Russian or Turkish territory should have their passports viséd (countersigned) by a Russian or Turkish Consular representative in this country before sailing. PATENT OFFICE STATISTICS. to In 1899 there were received 38,937 applications for patents, 2,400 applications for designs, 106 applications for reissues, 2,059 applications for registration of trademarks, 629 applications for registration of labels, and 143 applications for registration of prints. There were 25,435 patents granted, including designs, 92 patents reissued, 1,649 trademarks registered, and 511 labels and 100 prints. The number of patents that expired was 18,135. The number of allowed applications awaiting the payment of final fees was 8,057. The number that were forfeited for non-payment of the final fees was 3,997. The total expenditures were $1,211,783 73. The receipts over expenditures were $113,673 30. The total balance to the credit of the Patent Office in the Treasury of the United States on January 1, 1900, was $5,086,649 64. In proportion to population more patents were issued to citizens of Connecticut than to those of any other State-one to every 945 inhabitants. Next in order are the following: District of Columbia, one to every 1,151; Massachusetts, one to every 1,262; Rhode Island, one to every 1,270; Oklahoma Territory, one to every 1,344; New-Jersey, one to every 1,455; Montana, one to every 1,474: New-York, one to every 1,579; Colorado, one to every 1,604; California, one to every 1,652. The fewest patents granted in proportion to the number of inhabitants were in the following States: South Carolina, one to every 25,024; North Carolina, one to every 21,012; Alabama, one to every 17,195; Georgia, one to every 14,025, and Mississippi, one to every 13,574. As to foreign patents, 1,072 patents were granted to residents of England; 888 to those of Germany; 371 to those of Canada; France, 292; Austria-Hungary, 100; Scotland, 83; Switzerland, 72; Belgium, 65; Sweden, 45; Victoria, 43; New-Zealand, 41; New South Wales, 32; Ireland, 27; Russia, 25; Italy, 23; Denmark, 20; Mexico, 14; Netherlands, 13; South Australia, 10; South African Republic and Western Australia, 7 each; Norway, 6; Argentina, Queensland and Tasmania, 5 each; India and Jamaica, 4 each; Finland, Japan and Java, 3 each; Guatemala, Peru, Turkey and Uruguay, 2 each, and Algeria, Bermuda, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Colony, Chili, China, Danish West Indies, Dutch West Indies, Egypt, Island of Tahiti, Spain, Sumatra, Trinidad and Venezuela, 1 each. RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES. Prepared by United States Weather Bureau. The letters at the head of each column indicate as follows: "M. A. R." mean annual rainfall (including snow melted), in inches. "M. A. T." mean annual temperature. "H. R. T.," highest recorded temperature at the station. "L. R. T.," lowest recorded temperature at the station. Stations. ... Alabama, Montgomery. 52.7 65.7 107|1 5 54.0 69.7 104 210 Kansas, Leavenworth. 99 2 7 42.3 43.3 97 117 Maryland, Baltimore...... 43.8 55.3 1021 7 32.3 48.3 101 124 13.2 43.3 103 142 Nebraska, Omaha........ 31.7 49.8 106 132 1Indicates temperature below zero. 8.5 48.6 104|128 96 111 Nevada, Winnemucca. 99 1 7 29.7 68.6 1082 4 16.2 51.6 102 120 32.9 45.3 97 125 42.8 57.3 102 1 6 53.150.2 97 12 43.5 55.0 104 115 W. Virginia, Parkersb'g.. [42.0 53.9 99 127 WEATHER BUREAU FORECASTS AND STORM WARNINGS. The Weather Bureau furnishes, when practicable, for the benefit of all interests dependent upon weather conditions, the "Forecasts" which are prepared daily at the Central Office in Washington, D. C., and certain designated stations. These forecasts are telegraphed to stations of the Weather Bureau, railway officials, postmasters, and many others, to be communicated to the public by means of flags or steam whistles. The flags adopted for this purpose are five in number, and of the forms and colors indicated below: EXPLANATION OF WEATHER FLAGS. When No. 4 is placed above No. 1, 2, or 3, it indicates warmer; when below, colder; when not displayed, the temperature is expected to remain about stationary. During the late spring and early fall the cold wave flag is also used to indicate anticipated frosts. EXPLANATION OF WHISTLE SIGNALS. A warning blast of from fifteen to twenty seconds duration is sounded to attract attention. After this warning the longer blasts (of from four to six seconds duration) refer to weather, and shorter blasts (of from one to three seconds duration) refer to temperature; those for weather are sounded first. By repeating each combination a few times, with intervals of ten seconds, liability to error in reading the signals may be avoided. As far as practicable, the forecast messages will be telegraphed at the expense of the Weather Bureau; but if this is impracticable, they will be furnished at the regular commercial rates and sent "collect." In no case will the forecasts be sent to a second address in any place, except at the expense of the applicant. Persons desiring to display the flags or sound the whistle signals for the benefit of the public should communicate with the Weather Bureau officials in charge of the climate and crop service of their respective States, the central stations of which are as follows: Montgomery, Ala.; Phenix, Ariz.; Little Rock, Ark.; San Francisco, Cal.; Denver, Col.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; Boise, Idaho; Springfield, Ill.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Des Moines, Iowa; Topeka, Kan.; Louisville, Ky.; New-Orleans, La.; Baltimore, Md. (for Delaware and Maryland); Boston, Mass. (for New-England); Lansing, Mich.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Vicksburg, Miss.; Columbia, Mo.; Helena, Mont.; Lincoln, Neb.; Carson City, Nev.; New-Brunswick, N. J.; Santa Fe, N. M.; Ithaca, N. Y.; Raleigh, N. C.; Bismarck, N. D.; Columbus, Ohio; Oklahoma, Okla. (for Oklahoma and Indian Territory); Portland, Ore.; Philadelphia, Penn.; Columbia, S. C.; Huron, S. D.; Nashville, Tenn.; Galveston, Tex.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Richmond, Va.; Seattle, Wash.; Parkersburg, W. Va.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Cheyenne, Wyo. There are also storm and hurricane warnings, the combinations being made with a white triangular flag, a red triangular flag and a square red flag with a black square in the centre. With the square flag below the red triangular flag, it foretells northeast winds; the square flag above the red triangular foretells southeast winds; the square flag below the white triangular, northwest winds; the square flag above the white triangular, southwest winds; two square flags-one above the other-indicate a hurricane. WOMAN SUFFRAGE. Women have equal suffrage with men at elections in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Idaho. In Kansas women possess school and municipal suffrage. In some form, mainly as to bonds or school elections, women may vote in the following States and Territories: Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New-Hampshire, New-Jersey, New-York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. The Cape Colony, the Russian colonies in Siberia, North Australia, Iceland, Canada and Tasmania have municipal woman suffrage. The Isle of Man, Pitcairn Island, South Australia, West Australia and New-Zealand have full woman suffrage. In England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales women vote for all elective officers except members of Parliament. In France the women teachers vote for women members of all boards of education, and in 1898 women engaged in commerce Europe. were given the right to vote for judges of the tribunals of commerce. In Sweden women vote for all elective officers except Representatives, also, indirectly, for members of the House of Lords. In Norway women have school suffrage. In Russia women householders vote for all elective officers and on all local matters; in Finland for all elective officers. Property holding women in Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein and Brunswick may vote by proxy at local elections, and for members of provincial diets. Women who are landed proprietors may vote in Bohemia by proxy for members of the Imperial Parliament and the local diet. Saxony women vote on same terms as men; married women by proxy, single women directly. Women have municipal suffrage in Moravia by proxy. In Austria-Hungary they vote by proxy for all elective officers. In Croatia and Dalmatia women vote at local elections in person. In Italy widows with property vote by proxy for members of Parliament. In Prussia women vote by proxy at local elections and for members of provincial diets. In Belgium women taxpayers have municipal suffrage by proxy, and in Luxemburg for members of the Legislature also. In Switzerland women real estate owners have local suffrage in the Canton of Berne. In Rumania women taxpayers have municipal suffrage by proxy. ANTI-WOMAN SUFFRAGE. In There was no open action against the granting of suffrage to women by the women of the country until the New-York Constitutional Convention was held at the State Capitol in May and June, 1894. The women who favored the granting of the franchise claimed that while only a few women openly espoused the cause, all the other women silently favored it or were indifferent. For this reason they were gaining ground with legislators. In order to contradict the error, and to give to the members of the Constitutional Convention a correct knowledge of the desires of the women of the State, an organization of women opposed to the granting of suffrage to women was founded in Brooklyn, N. Y., with such women as Mrs. Lyman Abbott, Mrs. William Putnam, and others as well known, at its head. This was quickly followed by an organization in Albany, N. Y., headed by Mrs. John V. L. Pruyn, Mrs. W. Winslow Crannell, Mrs. William Bayard Van Rensselaer and about 200 other prominent women. New-York followed with an organization with Mrs. Francis B. Scott as chairman of the Executive Committee. In a few weeks thousands of names of women over twenty-one years old were enrolled in protest to the proposed amendment, Albany sending in over 8,000 names. After the adjournment of the convention the organizations, with the exception of the one at Albany, disbanded. Later it was believed advisable to reorganize as a State association, with headquarters at New-York. That was done, and auxiliaries were formed in the different judicial districts. This association has kept posted on workings of the suffragists and has defeated every bill presented by them to the State Legislature. Mrs. Francis B. Scott is still honorary chairman, with an executive com the |