The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-12-10

OulceIs from the fOlib Oh the army WIN
out trial for the offence Of drawing pay
more than once for the same period for
the discouragement Of the plan to pay
soldiers by checks, and the establishment
of professorship or rhetoric and Eng
lish literature at West Point. The rea-
sons for these recommendations are OBJ
vious, and are set forth sufficiently in the
report attached. / also recommend that
the staff corps Of the army be fixed, where
this has not already been done, so that
promotions may be made and vacancies
filled as they occur in each grade when
reduced below the number TO be fixed by
law. The necessity for such legislation
Especially felt now in the pay depart
ment. The number Of officers in that de-
partment is below the number ADEQUATE
TO the performance Of the duties required
Of them by law.
THE NAVY
The efficiency of the Navy has been
largely increased during the last year.
under the impulse of the foreign compli-
cations which threatened us at the com
mencement Of the last session of Con-
gress Most Of our eficientwooden sbiDs
were put in condition for immediate ser
vice, and the repairs OF our iron-clad feet
were pushed with the utmost vigor. The
result is, that most Of these are now in
an effective state, and need only to be
manned and put in commission to 90 at
once into service. Some of the new
sloops authorized by Congress are al
ready in commission, and most of the
remainder are launched and only wait
the completion Of their machinery to en-
able them to take their places as part of
our effective force. Two iron torpedo
ships have been completed during the
past year, and four of our large double
turreted iron-clads are now undergoing
repairs. When these are finished, eve.
rything that is useful of our navy as now
authorized will be in condition for ser
vice, and with the advance in the science
OF torpedo warfare, the American navy.
comparatively small as il is, will be found
at any time sufficiently powerful for the
purposes of peaceful nation.
Much has also been ACCOMPLISHED Tur-
ing the year In aid of science, and to in
crease the sum Of general knowledge and
further the interests Of commerce and
civilization. Extensive and much need
ed soundings have been made for hydro
graphic purposes, and TO fix the proper
routes of ocean telegraphs. Further sur
Veys OF the Great lsthmus have been un-
dertaken and completed, and two vessels
OF the navy are now employed, in con-
junction with those of England, France.
Germany and Russia, in observations
connected with the transit Of Venus so
useful and interesting 70 the scientific
world. The estimates for this branch of
the public service do moi differ material
ly from those Of last year, those for the
general support Of the service being
somewhat less and those for permanent
improvements at the various stations
rather larger than the corresponding es-
tmate made year ago. Regular main
tenance and a steady increase in the eff
cheney OF this most important arm, in
proportion to the growth Of our maritime
intercourse and interest, il recommended
to the attention Of Congress, The use of
the navy In time Of peace might be fur
ther utilized by direct authorization of
the employment of naval vessels in ex-
plorations and surveys Of supposed nayi-
gable waters Of other nationahLies on thia
continent, specially the tributaries of the
two great rivers Of South America-the
Oronoca and the Amazon. Nothing pre-
vents, under existing laws, such explora-
ton, except that expenditures must be
made in such expeditions bevond those
usually provided for in the apppropria-
tons; The field designated Is unques-
honably one Of interest, and one capable
of large developments Of commercial in
terests advantageous 10 the peoples reach
ed, and 10 those who may establish rela-
tons with them.
EDUCATI0F OF THE PEOPLE
entitled to the right Of franchise l regard
as essential to general prosperity every
where, and especially 80 in republics
where both education or previous condi-
ton does not enter into aceountin giving
suffrage. Next to the public school, the
postofhce is the great agent Of education
over our vast territory. The rapidity
with which new sections are being settled,
thus increasing the carrying of mails on
a more rapid ratio than the increase Of
receipts, is not alarming.
RBP0RT0P THE POsTMAsTER GENERAL,
herewith attached, shows there was an
increase Of revenues in this department
in 1873 over the previous year Of S1,674,-
All, and an increase of cost Of carrying
the mails by paying employees, of $304,-
1851. The report of the Postmaster
General gives interesting statistics of his
department, and compares them with the
corresponding statistics of a year ago,
showinga growth in every branch of the
department. A postal convention has
been concluded with New South Wales
an exchange Of postal cards estab-
lished with Switzerland, and the nego-
tiations pending for several years past
with France have terminated in con-
vention with that country, which went
into effect last August. An International
Postal Congress was convened in Berne,
Switzerland, in September last, at which
the United States was represented by an
officer Of the Postofice Department Of
much experience and Of qualification for
the position. A convention for the es-
tablishment of an international postal
union was agreed upon and signed By
delegates of the countries represented,
subject to the approval of the proper au-
thorities of those countries. / respect
fully direct your attention TO the report
Of the Postmaster General, and to his
suggestions in regard to an equitable adj
justment Of the question Of compensation
for railroads for carrying the mails.
AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTH
Your attention win be drawn to the
unsettled condition Of affairs In some Of
the Southern States. On the 14th Of
September last the Governor Of L.ouisiana
called upon me, as provide3 ~ the Con-
stitution and laws Of the United States,
to aid in suppressing domestic violence
in that State. This call was made in view
Of q proclamation issued ON that day By
d. B. Penn, claiming that he We elected
Lieutenant Governor in 1879, and calling
upon the militia TO arm, assemble and
drive from power the usuTpeFB, as he des-
ignated the offlcers Of the State govern
ment. Oh the next day Iisgued my proc