Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-03

will be ready for whatever action is REQUIRED
far the safely OF our citizens or the maiuten-
auca OF our honor.
This of course will require the expenditure
IN I short time of some of the approximations
m =" were calculated 10 extend through the
fiscal year, but Congress will, [ doubt not
understand and appreciate the emergency, aud
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 elective monitors IN condi
t;ou for service, and thus the cxigency fluids US
in much better condition for work than we
could possibly have been without his action.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
complete exhibit is presented in the accom-
pauying report of the Postmaster General of
the operations of the Post Office department.
during the year. The ordinary postal revenues
for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1878, amour
led to so, 900 TAI. 81, and the expenditures Of
al kinds to $29,OS4 955 81 The increase of
revenues over 1872 was 81 OSl, 81 30, and the
Increase of expenditures 81, APO, 753 So.
Independent OF be payments maize from spc-
cial appropriations for mail steamship lines, the
amount drawn from the general treasury to
meet deficiencies Was IS 265, Ats.
The constant and rapid extension Of our pos
tai service, particularly upon railways aud the
improved facilities for the collection, transmits
sion, distribution and delivery Of The mails
which are constantly being provided, account
Tor the increased expenditures of this popular
branch of the public service.
The total number of post Offices in operation
on 80 h June, 1878, was 33 2244, net increase
of 1871 over the number reported the preced-
ing year. The number of Presidential offices
was | 1868 an increase Of 163 during the year
The total length of railroad mail routes, at the
close Of the year, was 63, 457 miles, an Increase
of 5,546 miles over the year lS72 Fifty uine
railway post office liues were in operation on
3Oth June, 1878, extending over 1856 miles
OF railroad routes, aud performing an aggregate
service OF "a 925 miles daily.
The number of letters exchanged with for
cign countries was 81 ,459, 1885, an increase Of
3U96,6S5 over the previous year, aud the post
age thereon amounted to S2,O2l, 3lO. st. The
total weight of correspondence exchanged in
the mails with European countries exceeded
9i2 tous, an Increase of 90 tons over the prevl-
Gus year
The total cost of the United States OCEAN mail
steamship service, including $l25, 900 paid irom
Special appropriations to suDSldlZ ID lines VI mall
steamers, was 5 ,047.27l.35.
New or additional posta! conventions have
been concluded with Sweden, Norway, Belgium
ieruauy. Canada, Newfoundland, aud Japan,
reducing postage rates 90 correspondence ex-
changed with those countries; and further ct
forts have been made TO conclude a Sltl> tactory
postal convention with France, bat without sue
cess.
| invite the favourable consideration Of Con
gresS to the Suggestions and recommendations OF
tue Postmaster General, for an extension OF the
1 Iii
ation Of not less than ten thousand; for the
prepayment Of postage on newspapers and other
priuted matter Of the secoud class; for a unl-
form postage and limit OF weight on mlscel!auc-
Gus matter; for All listing the compensation OF
ali postmaSters not appointed by the Presl-
dent, by the old method OF commlssl Us Oh the
actual receipts OF the office: Instead OF the pre-
sept mode of fixing the salary 10 advance, upon
special returns; and especially do urge favor
able action by Congress on the important recon-
meudations OF the Pos; master General for the
establishment of United States Postal Savings
Repositories.
sidcration of the question of postal telegraphs,
and the arguments adduced in support thereof,
in the hope that you may take such acton IN
connec.io Herewith us IN your judgment VIII
most contribute to the best interests OF the coun-
try.
DEPAHlMENt Of JOSl1
Affairs in Utah require your ear! ~ and specia5l
attention. The Supreme Court Of the United
States. in the case of Clinton VS.. Eng lebrecht,
dec ded that the United States Marshal OF that
Territory could not lawfully summon Jurors for
the district courts; and those courts hoid mat
the Territorial Marshal cannot lawfully per
form that duty, because he is elected by the
Legislative Assembly, and not appointed rs pro-
vided Tor in the act organizing The lerritory.7
All proceedings at law are practically aooilsn a. a
by these d. cisions and there have been out Few
or no Jury trials in the district courts or mat
Territory since the last session OF Congress.
Property is left without protection by the courts
and crimes go unpunshe1. To prevent anarchy
there it is absolutely necessary that Congress
provide the courts with some mode OF obtaining
Jurors, and l recommend legislation to that
end; and also that he prob ,te courts OF the 1er-
ritory, now MSS utning - issue Wrlts OF lnjuc ION
and habeas corpus, and to try criminal cases ana
questions AS to land titles, DO denied all Jurlsdlc-
ton no; possessed ordnsrily by courts OF that
description.
I have become impressed with the belief that
the act approved March z, 1867, entitled AN
act 10 establish uniform system OF bankruptcy
throughout the United States is productive OF
more evil than good at this tine Many consid-
erations might be urged for It's total repeal; but
if this is not considered advisable, think it will
not be seriously questioned that those portions
of said act providing for what Is called ihV'luh
tary bankruptcy operate to increase tn, fnancial
embarrassments Of the country. Careful and
prudent m IN very often become involved in
debt in the transaction of their business, ana
though they may possess ample properly, IL IL
could made be available for that purpose, to meet
eli tnelr liabilities yeton account ofthe eXtraord-
nary scarcity OF money, they may bs unab e to
meet all their pecuniary obligations as they De-
come due in conse quence or when they are ia
bic to be pros:r.tei in their business by proceed
ings IN bankruptcy at the instance of unrelent
People are now so easily alarmed as to none
tary matters that the mere filing OF pet!ti0h IN
bankruptcy By an untriendy creditor Will ne
ccs,arly cmbarrass, and oftentimes accomplish
the financial ruin of respoi BILE bus mess man
Those who otherwise might make lawful and
just arrangements to re1evc themselves from
difficulties produced by the present strlhse ICY
in money are preyented by their constant cx-
posure to attack and disappointment b., proceed,
ngs against them in bankruptcy; and BESIDE tne