Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-12-04

provided for by lew. Long delays In
payments are productive of desertions
and generalization, and the law pro-
hibits the payment of troops by other
than regular paymasters. There are
now sixteen vacancies in the Ordin-
ance Department, thus leaving that
branch of the service without sufii.
cient officers to conduct the business
OF the different arsenals on a large
seals, if ever required.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
During the year our navy has been
reduced by the sale Of some vessels no
longer fit for naval purposes, and by
the condemnation of others not yet
disposed of. This, however, has been
more than compensated for by the re-
pair OF six Of the old wooden ships,
and by the building of eight new
sloops.of-war, authorized by the last
Cangress. The building of these lat
ter has occurred at a doubly fortunate
time. They are about being complet-
ed, when they will, possibly, be much
needed, 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
ments OF other works at a time of
great financial distress. Since the
commencement of last month, hover
er, the distressing occurrences which
have taken place In the caribbean Sea,
along our very seaboard, while they
illustrate most forcibly the necessity
always existing that nation situated
as ours should maintain in state of
efficiency q navy adequate to its re-
sponsibilities, has at the same time de-
manded that all the efficient force we
really have shall be put in immediate
readiness for warlike service. This
has been and is being done promptly
and effectively, and ! am assured that
all the available ships and every au-
thorized man in the American navy
will be ready for whatever action is
required for the safety of our cities or
the maintenance of our honor. This,
Of course, will cause the expenditure
of some of tho appropriations which
were calculated to extend through the
fiscal year but Congress, l doubt not,
understand and appreciates the emerg-
ency, 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 ex-
tensive monitors in condition for
service, and thus the exigency finds MS
In Q much better condition for war
than we could possibly have been
without his action.
PosT-oFF1cE DEPARTMENT.
A complete exhibit is presented in the
accompanying report Of the Post Master
General Of the operations Of the Post-ofice
Department during the year. The ordina-
~ postal revenues for the fiscal year ending
june 30th, 1873, amounted to $22, $685.
741.62. and expenditures ,of oil kinds $29,.
0e4, sO5.67. The increase of revenues over
1872 was 81. 0s1, S16. 10, and the increase in
expenditures, $M ,857,38. Independent Of
the payments made from special appro-
priations for mail steamship lines, the
amount drawn from the general Treasury to
meet deficiencies was e52,664,7OO. The
constant and rapid extension OF our postal
service, particularly upon railways, and the
improved facilities for the collection, trans.
mission, 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 number Of Post Offices In opera.
ton on the 30th Of june, 1873, was 1924,
met increase of 1881 over the number
reported the preceding year. The number
OF Presidential Offices was 1853, an in
crease ofl6s during the year.
The total length ofrailroad mail routes at
the close Of the year was SO, Asst, an increase
of 6,647 miles over the year 1872. Fifty.
nine railway poet office lines were in opera
ton on the Both June, 1878, extending over
1896 miles of railroad routes, and per-
forming an aggregate service of s4,p25
miles daily.
The number Of letters exchanged with
foreign countries was 27,45s, les, an in.
crease OF 5000, 665 over the previous year,
and the postage thereon amounted to g.
OH, 8l0.66, and the total weight of CORES
pondence exchanged in mails with Euro
pesn countries exceeded 9l2 tons, an in
crease Of % tons over the previous year.
The total cost OF the Unisad States ocean
mail steamship service, including V1oo,0vv
paid from special appropriations to subsidi.
zeti iinss of ruati stean-rs, was ] ,047 27l-
81. Now or additional posta Conventions
have been concluded with Sweden, Norway,
Belgium, Germany, Canada, Newfoundland
and japan, reducing postage rates on cor
respondence exchanged with those coun.
tries, and further efforts have been madelto
conclude satisfactory postal convention
with France, but without success.
l invite the favorable consideration of
Congress to the suggestions and recon.
mendations of tho Postmaster General for
an extension of the free-delivery system In
all cities having population of not less
than 10000 /; for the prepayment of postage
on newspapers and other printed matter of
the second class for uniform postage and
limit Of weight on miscellaneous r,atter;for
adjusting the compensation Of all Postmas-
tiers appointed by the President by the old
method of commissions on the actual re.
ceipts Of the Office, instead Of the present
mode OF fixing the salary in advance upon
special returns; and especially do urge ia
vorable action by Congress on the import
ant recommendation of the Postmaster Gen.
eral for the establishment of United States
postal savings repositories.
Your attention is also again called TO a
consideration of the question of postal tele-
graphs, and the arguments adduced in sup
port thereof, in the hope that you may take
such action in connection Herewith, as in
your judgment will most contribute to the
best interests of the country.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Affairs in Utah require your early and
special attention. The Supreme Court OF
the United States, In the case OF Clinton Va.
Englebrecht. decided that the United States
Marshal of the Territory could not lawfully
summon jurors for the District Courts. and
those courts held that the Territorial Marshal
should faithfully perform that duty because
be 10 elected BY the Legislative Assembly,
and not appointed, - provided for in the
act organising the Territory. All proceed.
ings at law are practically abolished by
these decisions, and there have besn but few
nY M tOr,y frlo1s &, ~ ns.k,;.x No,rt. .c