Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-12-05

These great artificial water courses the prop
ery Of The States through which they pass and pay
| toll to those States Would II not be wise states
manship to pledge these States that II they will
open these canals for the passage OF large vessels
| the Government will look after and keep in
nayigable condition the great public highways
with which they connect, to.wlt: The over slough
on the Hudson the st. Clair fats and the Illinois
and Mississippi riversi This would be
producers of the West and South, in Civ
Ing them cheap transportation for their
produce to the seaboard, and market to the con-
sumers in the East. in giving them cheaper food,
particularly Of those articles Of food which do not
| lind foreign market, and the prices OF which,
therefore, are not regulated by foreign demand.
The advantages Of such awork are too obvious for
argument. ] submit the subject to you, therefore,
without further comment.
| EXPLORATION OF THE AMAZON.
In attempting to regain our lost commerce and
carrying trade, Heretofore called attention TO the
| States south Of us as Offering field! where much
| might be accomplished to further this object.
suggest that small appropriation be made, &C
companied with authority for the Secretary OF the
Navy to fit out a naval vessel to ascend the ANA
| zon River to the mouth of the Madeira thence to
| explore that river and its tributaries into
| Bolivia and to report TO Congress at its next
session, or as soon as practicable, the acces
sibility OF the country by wateT' Its re-
ana @ e bn so caG do n
and may. result in establishing trade of value TO
both nations.
REVISION or THE TARIFF LAWS.
In further connection with the Treasury Depart
| ment, would recommend revision and codifca-
| tion Of the tariff laws, and the opening Of more
mints for coming money with authority to coin for
such nations as may apply.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The attention of Congress is invited to the rec
concentrations Of the Secretary Of War herewith
accompanying. The apparent great cost Of sup
porting the Academy is fully explained in the re-
| port and 1t will receive your attention. While in
viting your attention to all the recommendations
made by the Secretary Of War, there are two which
would especially invite you to considers First,
| the importance OF preparing for war In time Of
peace by providing for proper armament for our
| sea.cOast defenses. Proper armament Of vastly
more importance than fortifcations. The latter
| can be supplied very speedily for temporary pur-
ond is the necessity of reopening promotion in the
staff corps OF the army. Particularly is this neces
sity felt in the medical pay and ordnance depart
ments. At this time IL is necessary to employ by
contract surgeons to supply the necessary medi-
| cal attention required by the army. With the
present force Of The Pay Department, it is now
| provided for by law. Long delaysin payments are
| productive Of dCsertions and decentralization, and
| the law prohibits the payment Of troops by other
than regular army paymasters. There are now
| sixteen vacancies In The Ordnance Department,
thus leaving that branch OF the service without
sufficient officers to conduct the business of the
| different arsenals on large scale, IL ever re-
quired.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
| During the past year our navy has been reduced
by the sale of some vessels longer 1T for naval
purpoees, and by the condemnation of others not yet
| disposed of. This, however, has been more than
| compensated for by the repair OF Fix OF the old
| wooden ships, and by the building of eight new
| sloops of war authorized by the last Congress.
The building of these latter has occurred at
doubly fortunate time. hey are about being
| completed, when they will possibly be much need
| ed and the work upon them has not only given
| employment to thOus ands OF men, but, no doubt,
| has been the means of keeping open establish
meDts OF other works at a time of great financial
distress. Since the commencement of last month,
| however, the distressing occurrences which have
taken place in the waters Of the Caribbean Sea,
| along very seaboard, while they illus
trate most forcibly the necessity always existing
that nation situated as ours should main
tain In state Of efficiency a navy ade-
quate to its responsibilities, has at the same time
demanded that all the effective force really
have shall be put in immediate readiness for war
like service. This has been and is being done
promptly and efficiently, and am assured that all
| the available ships, and every authorized man of
the American navy will be ready for whatever ac-
tion is required for the safety OF our
cities the maintenance Of our honor
This. Of course, will cause the expendi-
ture In short time of some OF the appropriations
which were calculated to extend through The fiscal
| year; but Congress will, doubt not, understand
and appreciate the emergency and will provide
adequately not only for the present preparation
| but FOR the future maintenance Of our naval force
| The Secretary OF the Navy has during the past
year been quietly putting some Of our most extern
sye monitors in condition for service and thus the
exigency finds us in a much better condition for
war than We could possibly have been without his
| action.
| PosT-OFFIcE DEPARTMENT..
| complete exhibit ia presented in the accom-
| panying report OF the Postmaster General of the
year
The ordinary postal revenues for the fiscal year
ending June 80 1873, amounted TO $22, ,995 741.57,
and the expenditures of all kinds TO $9, ,0S4 945 81.
The increase Of revenues over 1872 81, ,USl,3l5
30, and the increase in expenditures, 81 426 So
| Independent OF the payments made from special
appropriations for mail steamship lines the amount
| drawn from the general 1reasurys 10 med
deficiencies was $5,265475: The constant Sand
rapid extension Of our postal service, particularly
upon railways, and the improved facilities for the
collection. transmission, distribution and delivery
OF the mails, which are constantly being provided,
| account for the increased expenditures of this
popular branch of the public service. The total
dnQmber of Post totices IN operation the 9Oth of
june, 1874 was 80, ,2i4 net increase Of 1881
/ the sEumber~ reported the preceding year The
lsnumber of Presidential Offices was 1853, an
1 increase of 1863 during the year.
| The total length OF railroad mail routes at the
close of the year SO, ,457 miles, increase of
| 5,546 miles over the year 1872 Fifty-nine railway
post-Ofiice lines were in operation on the 30th of
June 1873, extending over 1866 miles OF railroad
| routes, and performing an aggregate service of
| "a, ,a25 miles daily.
| The number Of letters exchanged with foreign
countries was 27,459,ls5, an increase Of 3,096,6S5
| over the previous year. and the postage thereon
amounted to $2O51 3lO S6, and the total weight
| Of correspondence exchanged in mails with Eu-
| ropean countries exceeded 92 tons an increase of
" tons over the previous year. The total cost of
the United States ocean mail steamship service, in
| Guiding $I35,0 paid from special appropriations
| TO subsidized lines OF mail steamers, was 81, ,047-
| Gl.35, New or additional postal Conventions
| have been concluded with Sweden, Norway, Bel
| GUM, Germany, Canada, Newfoundland and
| Japan, reducing postage rates on correspondence
exchanged with those countries and further efforts
| have been made to conclude a satisfactory postal
| convention with France, but without success.
| invite the favorable consideration OF Congress
| to the suggestions and recommendations of the
Postmaster General, for an extension OF the free
delivery system in all cities having population of
not less than 100O0 for the prepayment of postage
on newspapers and other printed matter Of the sec
| ond class; for a uniform postage and limit of
weight ON miscellaneous matter; for adjusting the
| compensation of all Postmasters appointed by
| the President bV the old method Df
the actual receipts OF the office, instead OF the
| present mode OF fixing the salary in advance upon
special returns; and especially do urge favorable
| action by Congress on the important recommends
| ton Of the Postmaster Gene al for the establish
ment OF United States postal ayings repositories
Your attention Is also again called to consider
alton OF the question of postal teegraphs and the
arguments addueed in support thereof, In the hope
that you may take such action in connection there
| with as in your Judgment will most contribute to
the best interests OF the country.
| UTAH.
Affairs In Utah require your early and special at
| tcntion. The Supreme Court of the United States,
| in the case of Clinton VS.. Englebrecht, decided
| that the United States Marshal OF that Territory
could not lawfully summon jurors for the District
Courts, and those courts held that the Territorial
Marshal illegally performed that duty because he
is elected by the Legislative Assembly, and
0E osanaS the Teroy All 0F prOcesdnss eas
at law are practically abolished by these
| decisious and there have been but few or no jury
trials in the District Courts of that Territory since
the last session OF Congress. Property is left with
| out protection by the courts, and crimes go un-
punished. To prevent anarchy there II Is absolute
] ly necessary that Congress should provide the
| courts with some mode OF obtaining Jurors, and
| recommend legislation TO that end; and also,
| that the Probate Courts Of the Territory now as
| sumo TO issue writs Of injunction and habeas cor
pus and TO try criminal cases. and in questions as
To land titles be denied all jurisdiction not possess
| cd ordinarily by courts OF that description.
BANKRUPTCY.
| / have become impressed with the belief that the
| act approved March 2, 1867 entitled An Act TO Es-
| tablish a Uniform System OF Bankruptcy through
out the United States" is productive Of more evil
! than good. At this time many considerations
might be urged for its total repeal, but II this is
| not considered advisable think II will not be Sc
rOusly questioned that those portions Of said act
| providing for what is called H'invOuntary bank
| ruplcy" operate to increase the fin,
| ancial embarrassment of careful and
| prudent men, who very often become involved in
| debt In the transaction OF their business and
| though they may possess ample property, II 1t
could be made available for that purpose, TO meet