The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-12


navy yard facilities is recommended
as q measure which will, in the event
of war, be promotive of economy and
security. IN
A more thorough and systematic
survey of the North Pacific Ocean is
advised, in view of our recent acuui.
sitions, our expanding commerce,
and the increasing intercourse with
the Pacific States and Asia.
The naval pension fund. which
consists of moiety of the avails of
prizes captured during the war,
amounts to $14,O00,O0O. Exception
is taken to the Act of 23d July last,
which reduces the interest on the
fund loaned 20 the Government by
the Secretary us trustee, to three per
cent, instead Of six per cent, which
was originally stipulated, when the
investment was made. An amend
ment of the pension laws issuggested
to remedy omissions and defects in
the existing enactment. The expen-
ditures of the Department during the
last fiscal year were $40, 12O,3 1894, and
the estimates for the ensuing year
amount to $50, 993, Ala.
The PostmasterG Generals report
furnishes full and clear exhibit of
the operations and condition of the
postal service. The ordinary postal
revenue for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1868, was SIG, 292, 600, and
the total expenditures, embracing all
the services for which special appro-
priations have been made by Con-
gresss, amounted to S22, ,730, 592,
showing an excess of expenditures
of sc, 437, ,991. Dedncting from the
expenditures the sum of 81, 500, ,525,
the amount of appropriations for
ocean steamship and other special
service. the excess of expenditures
was 81, 541 ,46G. by using an uncx-
pended balance in the Treasury of
S3, 500, 900, the actual sum for which
special appropriation is required to
meet the deficiency, is S741, 466. The
causes which produced this large ex-
cess of expenditure over the revenue
were the restoration of the service in
the late insurgent States, and the
putting into operation of the new
service established by the Acts of
Congress, which amounted, within
the last two years and half, to about
48, miles, equal to more than
one-third of the whole amount of the
service at the close of the war.
New postal conventions with Great
Britain, North Germany, Belgium, the
Netherlands, Switzerland aud Italy,
respectively. have been carried into
effect. Under their provisions, i'm
portant improvements bave resulted
in reduced rates Of international post
age, and enlarged mail facilities with
European countries. The cost of the
United States Trans Atlantic Ocean
mail service since January 1, 1868,
has been largely lessened under the
operation of these new conventions;
reduction of over one-half having
been effected under the new arrange
ments for OCEAN mail steamship SER
vice, which went into effect on that
date.
The attention of Congress is in
vlted to the practical suggestions and
recommendation made in his report
by the Postmaster-General
No important question has occur
red during the last year in our accus-
toned cordial and friendly inter
course with Costa Rica, Guatemala,
Honduras, San Salvador, France,
Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Por-
tugal, the Netherlands, Denmark,
Sweden and Norway, Rome, Greece,
Turkey, Persia, Egypt, Liberia, Mo-
rocco, Tripoli, Tunis, Muscat, Siam,
Borneo and Madagascar. Cordial re-
lations have also been maintained
with the Argentine and the Oriental
Republics.
The expressed wish of Congress
that our national good offices might
be rendered to those republics and
also to Brazil and Paraguay, for
bringing to ali end the calamitous
war which has so long been raging in
the valley of the LaPlatte, has been
assiduously complied with and kind
ly acknowledged by all the bellige-
rents. That important negotiation,
however, has thus far been without
result.
Charles A. Washburn, late United
States Minister to Paraguay, having
resigned, and being desirous to re-
turn to the United States, the Rear
Admiral commanding the South At
lantic squadron, was early directed to
send ship of-war to Asuncion, the
| capital of Parapi1ay to recaiua Mr.