New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-03


In further connection with the Treasury Department
I would recommend a revision and codlhcatlon OF the
Tariff laws and the opening of moro mints for coming
money with authority TO coin for such nations 40 may
apply -
The attention OF Congress is invited to the recon
enations contained in the report Of the Secretary OF
war herewith accompanying Tho apparent great cost
Of supporting the army fully explained by this report
and hope will receive your attention
While inviting your general attention to all the recon
mendatons made by the Secretary OF War, there are
two which would especially invite you to consider
first the importance of preparing for war In time Oh
peace by providing proper armament Tor our seacoaSt
defeusea Proper armament is OF vastly more impor-
lance than Publications The latter be supplied
very speedily for temporary purposes when needed the
former cannot The second is the necessity OF roopenng
promotion in the staff corps Of the army. PartIc-
uary u this necessity felt In the medical pay, and ord
nance departments At tins time IL Is necessary 10 en-
poy contract surgeons to supply the necessary medca
Attendance required by the Army. With tho present
force OF the pay department 1t now difficult 10 make
the payments 10 troops provided for by law Lons
DELAYS in payments are productive Of assertions ana
other Generalization and the law prohibits tho payment
Of troops by other than regular army paymasteIs
There are now 10 vacancies in the Ordnance Depart
mept thrs leaving that branch OF the service without
sufficient officers conduct the business OF the different
arsenals on larger scale, n ever required.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
During tho past year navy has been depleted by
the sale OF vessels longer fit for naval service
and nv tho condemnation OF others not yet disposed Of
This h0wev CT been LOre than compensated for by
the repair OF six OF tho old wooden ships and by the
building o. eight new soops Of war authorized by the
last Congress The building Of the latter has occurred
at doubly fortunate time. They are about being com
pleted at rmc when they may, possibly be much
ha9 OF liz
given direct employment TO thousands Of men, but
has no doubt, been tho means OF keeping
open establishments for other work at time OF great
financial distress Since the commencement OF the last
month however the distressing which have
taken place the waters OF the Caribbean sea. almost
on our very seaboard while they illustrate most for
cbly the necessity always that nation situated Ike
ours should maintain in state OF possible efficiency
navy adoluate its responsibilities, have at the same
Tine demanded that all the effective force we really
haze shall be put In immediate readiness for warlise
sr1ylce THIS has been and being done promptly and
Of ,,tiyey, aud I assured that all the available
sbps md every authorized % the American Navy,
will he ready for whatever action is required for the
aafety Of our citizens the maintenance Of honor
This. of course, III require the expenditure in short
time OF some OF tho appropriations which were eacu-
lated TO extend through the fiscal year but Congress
will doubt not understand aud appreciate the emer-
gency, and will provide adequately not only for the
present preparation but FOR the future maintenance Of
naval force.
The Secretary of the Navy has d. ring the past year.
been quietly putting OF most effective monitors
n condition for service, and thus tho exsency finds us
m a much beuer condition for work than we could pos
.bly have been without his action
posr-oFFICE DEPARTMENT.
complete exhibit Is presented in the accompanying
report OF the Of the operations OF
the Post Office DEPARTMENT. during the year. The ord
q. "a Ir.,a "A
1873 amounted to s2l997 g. aud the expenditures OF
All kinds 10 $40 O9i g. Tue increase OF revenues over
1872 was 90 and the Of expenditures
g. l26753 s. Independent of the payments made from
special appropriations Tor mail steamship lines, the
amount drawn from the gen3riatroasury to meet def
cencies was .5,255,l75.
The constant and rapid extension OF our postal Service
parcualy upon railways and the improved facilities
for the collection Transmission, distribution and dey-
cry OF the mails. which constantly being provided
account for the expenditures OF this popular
branch OF the public service Tho number Of Post
Offices In operation on juno b. 1873, was 324i, net
OF 1851 over the number reported the preceding
var The number OF Presidential offices 1853, an
OF i53 during the year Tho total length OF
railroad mail route at the close Of the year was
G3,lj7 miles, increase OF 5,ji6 miles over the
year 1874 Ffty-n railway post-0Gce liCes
we're m operation on June so 1879, extending
over 1866 miles of railroad routes, and performing
aggregate service OF - 925 miles daily. The number Of
letters exchanged with foreign countries was 2i59lS
an increase Of 9096Gsj the previous year and the
postage thereon amounted to S2,0 $40 50. The total
weight OF CORE spOnlence exchanged the mails with
European countries exceeded 92 tous increase OF %
tons over the previous year. The total cost OF the
United States ocean mail steamship service, In
GLIDING s725ooO paid from special appropriations TO
subsidized lines OF mail seamers ,ol727l IS. New
and additional postal conventions have been concluded
with Sweden. Norway, Belgium, GERMANY Canada,
Newfoundland, and japan reducing postage rates on
correspondence exchanged with those countries and
further efforts have been made to conclude salts
factory postal convention with France, but without
success.
VARIOUS POSTAL SUGGESTIONS.
Invite the favorable consideration Of Congress to the
suggestions and recommendations OF the Postmaster
General FOR an extension Of the free delivery system iu
all cities having population OF not less than 1000
for the prepayment OF postage on newspapers and
other printed matter OF the second class; for n
uniform postage aud limit Of weight on miscellaneous
matter; for adjusting the compensation OF all postnas
not appointed BY the President by the old method
of commissions. the actual receipts OF the Office in
stead OF the present mode OF fixing the salary in advance
upon special returns and especially do urge fayOra
bic action by Congress the important RECOMMENDED
tion tho PostmasterGeneral for the establishment
OF United states Postal Savings Depositories.
Your attention is also again called TO consideration
OF the question OF postal teegaphs and the arguments
advanced support thereof In the hope that you may
tako such action IN connection herewith IN your
Judgment will most contribute 10 the best interests Of
the country.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Affairs in Utah require your early and special atten
ton The Supreme Court or the United States In the
case OF Clinton agt. Englebrecht, decided that the
United states Marshal Of that Territory could not law
fully summon Jurors for the District Courts and these
courts hold that the Territorial Marshal cannot lawfully
perform that duty because he is elected by the
Legislative Assembly aud not appointed, pro-
yided for in the act organizing the Terri
tory. All proceedings at law practically