New-York tribune., 1873-01-03
WASHINGTON.
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE NAVAL ACADEMIC
COURSE,
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSB.l

lBI TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSBl
WASHINGTON, Thursday, Jan @ 1878
The House Appropriations Committee has done large
Of work during the present week. and has nearly
completed the Naval and Military Academy bills They
agreed 10 report in the section lengthen
ing the Of study at the Naval Academy, ana
making six years instead Of four as at present. Mueh
OF the additional years will be spent by the ndsp
at and they win thus receive more thorouSn
tuition the practical duties OF their proiessoh tau IL
has been possible to give heretofore AT the same
time the number annually graduated will not be in
creased by the effect OF @ tne have S
the Academy. now making ~ addllOnal mushlpmeh
after the present Se o m h te h VI 3
GERS annually supplied to the navy by the institution.
The increased estimated at about $4,000 per an
nm, The Committee have decided 10 make no change
in the course OF study at West Point Gen sherman in
Officers as the army could absorb. He reminded them
that troops the plains constantly engaged in
hostites against the Indians. The casualties OF this
arduous deprived the army OF large number OF
officers every year. and the President had been Obliged
during the past year TO appoint over 20 second euenants
from civil life, because the Military Academy did not
supply the demand Inc General sald tnat wouu ne
better 10 graduate surplus of officers rather than de-
cency and argued that the money spent TO give men
military education not thrown away II they re-
signed their commissions and went back 10 private LIE
after short service in the army. They formed reserve
for the country TO draw upon for sktu officers III case
OF war occurring.
INCREASE OF THE PUBLIC DEBT.
Considerable surprise has been expressed AT the in
crease of the public debt by than $5OOOOo. as
shown by the statement published to-day. OF course,
there is no legal authority for making actual in
crease in the bonded debt OF the United States and the
monthly statement does not indicate it, but rather a
reduction OF the balance hand. The present Is the
nst instance since Gen Grants Inauguration that there
been a failure 10 report reduction Of the public
debt the 1st of each month. The smallest decrease
before was during the first month Of Gen. Grants term
when reduction S26093 81 and the greatest dur
Inc the month OF June, 1870, S2O.2O3,I72 40.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCHl
The debt statement shows an increase OF the public
debt during the past month of s6s43O7; treasury bal
ances eoin s495925; currency S9s66l3; coin certif
Gates $63OO0 The increase Of the debt is owing TO
the very heavy payments during the month, and the
smaller receipts than usual About $3OOOOO Of
collected have been reported and therefore, do not
appear in this months statement. The increase is
nominal than real When the is made up in the
middle OF January the OF December there viii
be shown be absolute decrease OF the debt of prob
ably between S3OOOOO aud 100000 Among the returns
wanted are bank accounts and other revenues from all
distant CustOn-hOuseS. The Government expenses are
often long before the money is drawn; while the returns
receipts from distant places often not entered
until long after the money is IN the hahdS o TIE proper
officers.
EXPENSES OF THE CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT.
From the report Of the Supervising Special Agent Of
Treasury Department TO the Secretary of the Treas
ury, brief of the operations OF the workings Of the
force of special agents of department in connection
with the legal transactions affecting the from
Customs appears that, at the close Of the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1S71 there remaining undecided
suits Instituted their request for recovery forfeit
ures amounting S24 3l4 together with lS5 criminal
prosecutions For the fiscal year ending June 80 1872
there suits instituted at the instance Of this force
Of officers covering the amount OF S252ll9 ~ and for
the period there 192 civil aud criminal suits
decided settlements effected, by which the Govern
men recovered S79l 900 For the first half OF the
present fiscal year in five alone this force has
recovered the Government S751s94 The total expense
10 the Treasury Department including the salaries Of
the agents for the last fiscal year. Sl5g414 3S.