Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-12-09

ing completed at a time Wnen Lney may possibly
be much needed, and the work upon them mas
not only given direct employment to thousands
of men but has no doubt been the means OF Keep
ing open establishments for other work at time
of great financial distress. ,
Since the commencement OF the last month, now
ever. the distressing occurrences which have Ia
ken place in the waters CT the Caribbean Sea, al
most on our very seaboard, while they illustrate
most forciDly the necessity always existing that
q nation like ours should maintain In state OF
passable efficiency a navy adequate to 1t, respon-
sibilities has at the time demanded that all
the effective force we really have shall be put in
| immediate readiness for warlike services.
This has been and is being done promptly and
am assured, that all the available ships and
every authorized man of the American navy will
| be ready for whatever action is required for the
safety of our citizens or the maintenance of our
honor. This, of course, will require the expend-
iture in short time of some of the appropriate
| tons which calculated to extend through
| the fiscal year, but Congress will, doubt not,
| understand and Apr eciate the emergency, and
will provide adequa tey 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 effective monitors in condition for
vice, and thus the exigency finds us in much
better condition for work than we could possibly
have been without this action.
PosT-oFFIoE DEPARTMENT.
| complete exhibit is presented in the accom-
| panying report of the Postmaster-Ge of the
| operations of the Postofice Department during
| the year. The ordinary postal revenues for the
| fiscal year ending June 80, 1873, amounted to
So, 996 81 and the expenditu of all kinds
| S29 1884, 945.67 The increase of revenues over
1872 was 81 ,08l 3I5 20, and the increase of ex-
penditures So, 426, 1886. Independent of the
| payment made from special appropriations for
| mail steamship lines the amount drawn from the
general treasury to meet deficiencies was SIS, $685.
| 475. 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 operation the 30th of June 1873 was
| 80, 244-a net increase of 1881 over the number
| reported the preceding year. The number of
| presidential Offices 1868, an increase of 1913
| during the present year. The total length of
railroad mail routes at the close of the year was
63, 457 miles, increase of 5.546 miles over the
year 1872. Fifty-nine railway postotfice lines
| were in operation ON 30th June, 1873, extendin g
over Il, 1866 miles Of railroad routes and perfor-
ming an aggregate service Of 81, 925 miles daily.
| The number of letters exchanged with foreign
countries was q, $50, 1856, increase Of $685.
600 over the previous year, and the postage
| thereon amounted to So, OIL ,310S6.
The total weight Of correspondence exchanged
in the mails with European coun-
| tries exceeded 9l2 tons, an increase Of 90 tons
| over the previous year. The total cost of the
United States ocean mail steamship service, in
| Guiding 1925, 900 paid from special appropria-
tons to subsidized lines of mail steamers was
81, 047, 27i.35. New or additional postal con-
ventions have been concluded with Sweden, Nor
way, Belgium, Germany, Canada, Newfoundland
and Japan, reducing postage rates on correspond
ence exchanged with those countries, and further
efforts have been made to conclude satisfactory
postal convention with France, but without sue
cess. | invite the favorable consideration OF
Congress to the suggestions and recommendation
ofthe Postmaster General for an extension of the
free delivery system in all cities having popu-
ation Of not less than ten thousand for the pre-
payment of postage on newspapers and other
; printed matter of the second class for uniform
postage and limit Of weight mscellaneou!
matter for adjusting the compensation of al
postmasters Dot appointed by the Prest by the ole
method of commissions On the actual receipts O.
the Office instead of the present mode of fixing
the salary in advance upon special returns, anC
especially do l urge favorable action bysCongres
on the important recommendations of the Postnas
ter-General for the establishment of UnitedState
postal savings repositories. Your attention il
also again called to a consideration Of the ques
ton Of postal telegraphs and the arguments ad
duced in support thereof, in the hope that you
may take such action in connection Herewith a,
, | in your judgment will most contribute to thu
best interests Of the country.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Affairs in Utah require your early and specia
, attention. The Supreme Court Of the United
States in the case of Clinton VS. Englebrecht de-
cided that the United States Marshal of that ter
ritory could not lawfully summon Jurors for thu
district courts, and those courts hold that thu
| Il
duty because he is elected by the legislative as
sembly, and not appointed as provided for in thu
act organizing the territory. All proceedings a
law are practically abolished by these decisions
and there have been but few or no jury trials il
the district courts of that territory since the las
session Of Congress. Property is left withou
protection by the courts, and crimes go unpun
ished. To prevent anarchy there it is absolutely
r necessary that Congress provide the courts will
f some mode Of obtaining jurors, and recommend
legislation to that end, and also that the proba
e courts of the Territory, now assuming to issu
writs of injunction and habeas corpus, and to try
criminal cases and questions as to land titles, b.
3 denied all jurisdiction not possessed ordinarily
by courts of that description.
: | have become impressed with the belief tina
the act approved March I'd, 1867, entitled an &C
! to establish uniform system of bankruptc,
) throughout the United States, is productive o
' more evil than good at this time. Many consid
erations might be urged for its total repeal. blu
if this is not considered advisable, think it will
not be seriously questioned that those portions
I of said act providing for what is called involun
: tary bankruptcy operate to increase the inancia
= embarrassment of the country. Careful and pru
dent men very often become involved in debt il
the transaction of their business, and though the,
, may possess ample property, if it could be mad
available for that purpose 10 meet their liabili
ties. yet on account of the extraordinary scarci
: ty Of money they may be unable to meet all thei
l pecuniary obligations as they become DUE il
consequence of which they are liable to be pros
trated in their bushes by proce edings in bank
ruptcy at the instance Of unrelenting creditors
) People are easily alarmed to monetar,
matters that the mere filing of petition in bank
\ ruptcy by an unfortunate creditor will necessa
9 rily embarrass and oftentimes accomplish the Fl
S nancial ruin of a responsible business man.
e Those who otherwise might make lawful and jus
arrangements to relieve themselves from diff
culties produced by the present stringency il
money are prevented by their constant exposure
to attack and disappointment, by proceeding
: against them in bankruptcy; and, besides, tn
law is made use Of in many cases by obdurat
, creditors to Tighten or force debtors into com
} plance with their wishes, and into acts of in
f justice to other creditors and to themselves.
recommend that so much Of said act as provides
FOR involuntary bankruptcy on account of tn
l suspension of payment be repealed.
Your careful attention is invited to tn,
subject of claims against the gov
eminent, and the facilities afforded by existing
laws for the prosecution. Each of the depart
ments of State, Treasury and War have demands