Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-12-05

water resources and the population 80 reached
Such an exploration will cost but little 1t can do
no harm and may result in establishing a trade
OF value to both natione.
TARIFF REvTsI0E-SEw MINrs
In further connection with the Treasury De-
partment, would recommend the revision and
edifcaton of the tariff laws and opening OF m pro
mints for coming money, with authority to coin
for such nations az may apply.
THE COST or rilE ARMY.
The attention of Congress is invited to recon-
mendatiOns contained in tho report of the SeCre-
tary of War heroSith accompanying. The APP
parent great cos, OF supporting the army, is fully
explained by this report, and hope will receive
your attention.
IN TIME or PEACE PREPARE foR WAR.
while inviting your general attention to all tho
recommendations made by tho Secretary OF War;
there are two which would especially invite you
to consider lst the importance OF preparing
for war in time Of peace, by providing an arma
ment for sea coast defence Proper armament
IL OF vastly more Importance than Notifications.
The latter can be supplied very speedily for tenn
porary purposes when needed; the former cannot
The second is the necessity of re-opening pro-
motion in the staff corps OF the army. Particu-
lnry is this necessity felt in the Medical, Pay and
Ordnance Departments. At this time 1t is nee
essary to employ contract surgeons to sup
ply the necessary medical attendance required by
the army. With the present force of the Pay De-
partment, it is now difficult to make the payment
to troops provided for by law. Long delays in
payments are productive of assertions and other
demoiaizations and the law prohibits the pay
ment Of troops by other than regular army pay
masters. There are now sixteen vacancies in tho
Ordnance Department, thus leaving that branch
OF the service without sufficient officers to con-
duct the business OF the different arsenals on a
large scale, if ever required. During the past
year the navy has been depletd by tho sale OF
some vessels no longer fit tor naval service, and
by condemnation of others not yet disposed of.
This, however, has been more than compensated
for by repair OF six old wooden ships and by
building eight ne sloops of war authorized by
La Congress. Building these latter has occur
red at doubly fortunate time; they are about
b ing completed at Il time when they may possi-
bly, be much needed, and work upon them has
not only given direct employment to one thou
sand men, but no doubt been the means OF keep
ing open establishm nts and other work at the
time of great financial distress. Since the COM
mencement of last month, however, distressing
occurrences which have taken place IN tho waters
Of the caribbean Sea, almost on our very sea-
board, while they illustrate most forcibly the ne
cessity always existing, that nation situated
like ours, should maintain in state OF passable
efficiency navy adequate to Its responsibilities
have at the same time demanded all the effective
force we really have, shall be put in immediate
readiness for war-like service This has been
aud is being done promptly and effectively, aud
| | am assured that all available ships and every
! authorized man of the American navy will be
| ready for whatever action il required for the
! safety of our citizens or the maintenance OF our
honor. This, OF course, will require tho expond-
| ituro in short time OF some OF the appropila-
! lions which were calculated to extend through
| the fiscal year, but Congress will, L doubt not.
understand and appreciate the emergency, and
will provide not only for p esent preparation but
| for future maintenance OF our naval force Inc
secretary of the Navy has during the past year
! been quietly putting some of our most effective
monitors in condition for service, and thus the
| exgency finds us i'll much better condition for
work than we could possibly have been without
| his action.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
complete exhibit is presented in the accom-
! panying report Of the Postmaster Gee eral of the
post Office department during the year. The or
binary postal revenues for the tsc Al year ending
juno 80 1873, amounted to S22 1896 TAI. 81, and
the expenditures of all kinds, $40 0S4, 9i5.67 :;
| being an increase of revenues over 1872 OF ST.
0S1 1890, 9id an increase Of expenditures OF
81 426 1896. Independent of payments made
| from special appropriations for mail steamship
lines, the amount drawn from the general treas
! ury to meet deficiencies was 81, 2G5, 475.
Constant and rapid extension of onr postal
service, particularly uponrailways and improved
facilities for collection transmission, distribution
and delivery of mails which are constantly being
provided, account for increased expenditure OF
this popular branch of the public service. The
total number of post offices, June 30th, 1873
30, 2l4 ; ret increase, 1881, over the number re-
ported for the preceding year number dlstribut-
ing offices was 1868, an increase of 1863 during
tho year. Total length of railroad, mail route
at the close of the year, was 63, i57 miles, an in
crease of 5,5l6 miles over the year of 1872 Ff-
ty-nine railway post-ofce lines were in operation
on the 30h of June, 1873, extending over / 1, $50
miles of rail- Dad routes, and performing an ag-
| groBate service of "a 925 miles daily. The num-
Der of letters exchanged with foreign countries
is q. 459, 1856, an increase OF 1906 6S5 over tho
previous year, and postage thereon amounted to
S202l $40. Total weight of correspondence ex-
changed through the mails with European coun-
tries exceeded 9l2 tons, an increase OF W tons
,x,ar ttn nf a1
States ocean mail steamship service, including
S725, 600 paid as special appropriations to subsi
died lines Of mail steamers, was -, iO7 ,27l ,35
New or additional postal conventions have been
concluded with Sweden, Norway, Belgium Ger
many, Canada, Newfoundland and Japan
postage reducing rates on tho correspond
ence exchanged with those countries. Fur
Their efforts have been made to con-
cude a satisfactory postal convention with
France without success. l invite the favorable
consideration OF Congress to the suggestions
and recommendations OF the Postmaster General
for the extension of the free delivery system i'll
all cities having population OF not less than
10, 900; for the prepayment of postage on news
papets and other printed matter of the second
class forthe uniform postage and limit OF weight
matter on miscellaneous matter; for adjusting
the compensation of postmasters not appointed
by the President, by the old method the COM
missions the actual receipts Of the Office, in
stead of the present mode of fixing the salary
in advance upon special returns and especially
| 40 urge the 1aNOIADlb hCIiOu OF lOubIcS5 Oh
the important recommendations OF the Post
master General for the establishment of United
States postal savings depositaries. Your atten-
ton is also again called 10 the consideration OF
the postal telegraph, and the arguments advanc'
ed in support thereof in the hope that you may
take such action in connection Herewith as in
your Judgment will best contribute to the inter
ests or the country.
LAW AND ORDER.
Department of Justice.-Aiiairs in Utah require
your early and special attention The Su-
preme Court of the United States in tho
that the United States Marshal of that ter
ritory could not lawfully sun mon jurors for the
District Court, and those courts hold that the
Territorial marshal capnut lawfully perform that
duty becanso he is elected by legislative assem-
bly, and not appointed as provided for in the act
organ zing the territory. All proceedings
at law are practically abolished by these de-
ci-ons. There have been but few or no jury
trials in the district courts in that territory since
the last session Of Congress. Property is left
without protection by the courts, and crimes 30
unpublished. 10 prevent anarchy there 1t
is absolutely es;ary that Congress pro-
vide courts with some mode OF obtaining Ju,,
rors. and recommend legislation to that end
and also that probate courts OF territory who as
sumo to Issue wits of injunction aud habeas
corpus and to try criminal cases, and questions
as to land titles BIO denied all Jurisdictions not
possessed ordinarily by courts of that descrip-
| ton.
BANKRUPTCY ACT.
Ihave become impressed with the belief that
the act approved March, 1867, entitled an act to
establish uniform system of bankruptcy through
out the United States ID productive OF more evil
than good. At this time many considerations
might be urged for it's total repeal, but if this IL
not considered advisable, think it will not be
seriously questioned that those portions OF said
act providing for what is called involuntary bank
ruptcy operate to increase financial emb9rrass
ments in the country. Careful and prudent mel
very often become involved IN debt in the tran
saction OF their business, and though they may
,nssaea nmnln nrnnnriv IL IL cnnll hn madn avail