The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-08
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1(1OI" ~ OH1V Il Ne
cheerfully and efficiently and under circum-
stances Of greater privation and hardship.
Legislation is desirable to render more
efficient this branch Of the public service-all
the recommendations OF the Secretary Of War
regard as judicious, and especially COM
mend to your attention the following: The
consolidation of government arsenals, the re-
stontion OF mileage to officers travelling under
orders, the exemption OF money received from
the sale OF subsistence stores from being COW
cred into the Treasury; the use of appropria-
tions for the purchase OF subsistence stores
without waiting Tor the beginning Of the fiscal
year Tor which the appropriation is made; tor
| additional appropriations for the collection of
the torpedo material; for increased appropria-
tons for the manufacture OF arms; for reliev-
ing the various States from Indebtedness for
arms charged to them during the rebellion;
for dropping officers from the rolls of the army
without trial, for the offense of drawing pay
more than once for the same period; for the
encouragement of the plan to pay soldiers by
checks, and for the establishment Of profess
sorship OF rhetoric and English literature at
West Point.
The reasons for these recommendations are
obvious and are set forth sufficiently in the
report attached. / also recommend that the
status OF the staff corps Of the army be fixed.
Where this has not already been done So that
promotions may be made and vacancies filled
rs they occur in each grade. when reduced
below the number to be liked by law. The
necessity for such legislation is especially
felt now in the pay department. The number
OF officers in that department Is inadequate tn
the performance OF the duties required of them
/. by law.
| The efficiency of the navy has been
largely increased during the last year.
| Under the impulse of foreign complica-
ton, which threatened us at the COM
mencement of the last session of Congress.
most OF our efficient wooden ships were put
in condition for immediate service, and ths
repairs of onr iron-cad fleet were pushed with
the utmost visor The result is that most Of
these now are in an effective state and reed
only to he manned and put in commission to
20 at once into service. Some OF the new
sloops authorized by Congress are already in
commission, and most OF the remainder ara
launched and wait only the completion of their
machinery to enable them to take their places
as part of Our effective force.
| Two iron torpedo ships have been COM
pieted during the last year, and four OF our
large double-turreted iron-clads are now I'M
dercoing repairs. When these are finished
| everything that is useful of our navy, as now
authorized, will be in condition for service,
| and, with the advance in the science of tor
pedo warfare the American navy, comparn-
lively small as il is, will be found ut any time
powerful for the purposes OF peaceful ma
| ton.
Much has also been accomplished during
the year in aid of science, and to increase the
sum OF general knowledge and further the
interests OF commerce and civilization.
Extensive and much needed soundings
have been made for photographic purposes.
and to fix the proper routes OF ocean tele-
graphs. Further surveys of the great 18th
mus have been undertaken and completed,
and two vessels Of the navy are now employed.
in conjunction with those OF England, France,
Germany and Russia in observations con-
nected with the transit of Venus SO useful to
the scientific world The estimates for this
branch of the public service do not differ ma
terially from those OF last year, those for the
general support of the service being some
what less aud those for permanent improve
ments ut the various stations rather larger
! than the corresponding estimate made year
sco. The regular maintenance and u steady
increase in the efficiency OF this most impor-
tant arm, in proportion to the growth OF our
maritime intercourse and interests Is recon-
mended to the attention OF Congress.
The use OF the navy in time of peace might
be further utilized by a direct authorization
| of the employment OF naval vessels in explo-
rations and surveys OF the supposed navi-
gable waters OF other nationalities on this
continent, especially the tributaries OF the
two great rivers of South America, the
Oroncco and the Amazon. Nothing prevents
under existing laws such exploration, except
that expenditures must be made IN such ex-
petitions beyond those usually provided Tor
in the appropriations The field deslgnated
is unoucs sonably one of interes: and one ca
pable of large development OF commercial
interests advantageous to the peoples reached
and to those who may establish relations with
them.
Education of the people entitled to exercise
the right of franchise | regard essential to
general prosperity every where, and especi-
ally SO in republics where birth, education or
previous condition do not enter into &C
count in giving suffrage. Next to the pubilc
school, the post office is the great agent OF ed
ucation over our vast territory. Inc rapimty
with which new sections are being settled,
thus increasing the carrying OF mails in a
more rapid ratio than the increase Of receiptss
is not alarming.
The report of the Postmaster Generel, here
With attached. shows that there was an in
crease of revenue in his departm ent in 1879
over the previous year OF S1.G74, All and an in
crease of cost OF carrying the mails and pay
ing employees of S3,04l, 4GS 81. The report
of the Postmaster General gives interesting
statistics of his department and comparing
them with the corresponding statistics OF .
year ago showing growth In every branch
of the department.
A postal convention has been concluded
with New South Wales, an exchange OF postal
cards established with Switzerland, and the
negotiations pending for several years past
with Frynce have terminated in convention
with that country which went into effect LAST
August. r .u
convened IN Berne, Switzerland, in September
last. at which the Uninted States was repre-
sented by an officer of the Post Office Depart
ment of much experience and qualification
for the position. convention for the estab.
l;sbment of An International Postal Union was
agreed upon and signed by the delegates Of