The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-12-03

che Pacific MAila steamer China to
Japan. have been suspended. The
| United States Minister'S relations with
the Japanese Government arc per-
fectiy harmonious. but his representa-
'ions in regard to the military regis
tration of bis servants aud the EMPLOY
ment of Mr. Wasson have passed un-
needed. A party of American astrono-
mers are already located near Nagataki,
fJr observations OF the transit OF Vs-
nus. The boiler Of steamer on Lake
Biwi exploded. Passengers and Grew,
numbering 100. are reported either
killed by the explosion or drowned.
WAsHrNaToN, December 1.-The re-
port OF the Postmaster General is com.
| pleted. The revenues for the year end
ing June 30. 1874. were $24 SOC. .568,
and the expenditures 1872. l26, ,4l4. The
estimated expenditures for the. year
ending June 80. 1876. are $50. 1854 O34;
total estimated revenue, $29, l48. 1855.
leaving deficiency to be app roprlated
ont OF the general treasury Of 1856.
878. These estimates do not include
appropriations for steamship service
and stamps. amounting to So 09S. 500
The use of the registered letter system
IL steadily increasing. There has been
marked gain in tue time of traus-
| porting through mails. un average gain
from New York to San Fruuclscu of
! tive hours aud thirty.two minutes. q
gain for mails to New Orleans Of two
| hours aud hfty-seven minutes, aud go
ing North, of one hour and fifty mi
tiutes, and perceiptibls gulu on all
through routes in regularity aud Ger
taluty. The foreign mail system is in
better condition than ever before. The
number of post Offices in operation
June 30. 1874, was 81 29l; total nun
Der OF appointments during the year,
JAZZ. The results Of tue extension Of
the letter carrier system are of the
most gratifying character. There has
been gain of over 30 per cent. IN the
amount of fees received from money
orders. There has heen only Que err.
roneous payment in 59.G77 payments,
aud only seventy-four IN all The in
crease In money exchanges with Great
Britain and Switzerland hns been very
marked. The mouey order business
| of thls department appears to be IA.
pidly growing in favor, aud is un-
to large number Of persons who are
not within reach of banking facilities
or who are uuaocustOmed to the use Of
them. Yet I see no reason why this
branch OF service SHOULD not be made
self-sustaining. The apparent profits
vi the money order system during the
last year are about SI05. 900. while GER
tain expenses to the amount of
Sl82. QUO for clerk hire and static nery
in the Post Office Department, Audi
tors office, and for money order clerks
in the post Office. are not charged to
tue money order business, but arc paid
out OF the appropriations; so that,
while the money order system appears
to yield a revenue of Sl05 900, there
is. in fact, a deficit Of S7U,UOO. I sug.
gest, therefore, that the fees of money
orders be increased in accordance with
the views OF the superintendent sub
mittted herewith, (see appendix or
that the money order system shall,
like any other business, be made to
defray all it's own expenses.
Among the investigations likely to
be demandsd ut tile opening of the
session, is that of the conduct of Sec
retary Robeson, in employing num-
Der OF workmen at navy yards Just be-
fore the elections, and dismissing the
same in a few days after their votes
were secured. This system has been
going on for years. and this fall has
attained large proportions. In addi.
ton to the Brooklyn and Boston navy
yards, there is the case of Norfolk.
where as nscy as 800 workmen who
had been put on work before the elec.
tion were discharged Immediately after.
ward.
The present high price of gold is a
snbject that is evidently causing the
Secretary OF the Treasury good deal
Of perplexity of mind. aud it is not im-
probable that some steps will soon DO
taken which will be intended to alfeot
the money market. AS long as eoli
remained at or below no. there Raa an
apparent feeling of satisfaction, but
ll1a to IL per cent. premium is
deemed too high a price for the pre-.
oious coin. and the 'pewera that be-"
are puzzling their minds for remedy.
MANCHESTER. n. H., December l..
ssrious manufacturing companies Of
this city, which, with the exception of
the Manchester mills, have been run.
ming but five days per week for some
time past, will, it is understood,
begin running on full time this week.
NEW YORK, December The fnmily
Gt Mayor Huvemeyer have consented