The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-12-15


Therefore, 1 ask that the time OF making sne
report be extended to the 29th day OF January
1877 in accordance with the resolution OF aug.
ust Is 1876
The army regulations prepared UNDER the
act OF Merch l, 1875, have not been proInui
gated, but are held until after the report OF
the above mentioned commission shall nave
been received and acted upon. By an act
OF August Is, 1876, the cavalry force OF the
army was increased by $500 men,. which
provided that they should be- discharged on the
expiration of hostiiities. Under this
authorlty the cavalry regiments have been
strengthened, and few of them are now IN
me neid pursuing the remnants OF the Indians
Slen whom they have been engaged with
during the summer.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The estimates of the War Department are
made npon the basis Of the number of men
authorized by law, and their requirements as
shown by years of experience. and also with
the purpose OF part of the bureau officers TO
provide for all contingencies that may arise
during the time for which the estimates are
made. exclusive OF enQi neer estimates pre-
sented in accordance with the acts or Congress-
calling for surveys and estimates for imnroye.
ments at various localities. The estimate
now presented are about Sc 000, 900 in excess of
the appropriations for 1874, 1875 and 1876
This increase is asked in order to provide for
the increased cavalry force, should their SER
vices be necessary; to prosecute economical
work upon important public buildings; to pro-
vide for armament of Notifications and manu-
facture of small arms, and to replenish
department. The appropriation for these
lsst named have for the past few
years been 80 limited that the accumu-
lation in store will be entirely exhausted
during the present year, and it will be neces
sary to at once begin to replenish them. [
invite your spccial attention to the following
recommendations of the Secretary of War:
First-That the claims under act Of July 4th,
1864, for supplies taken by the army during
the war be removed from the offices Of the
Quartermaster and Commssary Generals and
transferred to the Southern Claims Commits
sion. These claims are of precisely similar
nature to those now before the Southern
Claims COMMISSION, and War Dept Bureaus
have not the clerical force for their ex-
animation, nor the proper machinery for in
vestigating the loyalty OF claimants.
Second-That Congress- sanction the scheme
of an annuity fnnd for the benefit of families
of decea sed officers, and that it also provides
or the permanent organization of the regular
service. both Of which were recommended in
nv last annual message.
Third-That manufacturing operations Of
the ordnance department. bs concentrated at
three arsenas and armory, and that the
remaining arsenals be sold, and the proceeds
applied to this object by the ordnance de-
partment
RIVER AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.
The appropriations for river and harb or i'm
provements for the current year were SIS, OILS.
600. With my approval, the Secretary of War
directed that OF this amount 50 GOO, 900 should
be expended and no new works should be be-
gun, and none prosecuted which were not of
nat nal Importance. Subsequently this
amount was increased to 50, 237 900, and works
are now progressing on this basis. The i'm
provement of the south pass of the MISSISSIPPI
pi river, under James b. Fades and his ascot
ates Is progressing favorably. At the present
time there is channel of 90 $40 feet in
depth between the jetties at the mouth of the
passes; 1871 feet at the head of the pass.
Neither eoannel, however. has the width re-
quired before payments can be made by the
United States commission of engineer
ing officers is now examining these works.
aud their reports will be presented as soon az
received
NAVY DEPARTMENT..
The report Of the Secretary of the Navy
shows that bl anch of the service to be in a
condition as effective as it il possible to keep
1t with the treasury appropriations given
the department. 1t is, of conrse i'm
possible to rival the costly and progressive
establishments Of the great European Powers
with the old material of our navy, to which no
increase has been authorized since the war;
except the eight small cruisers built to supply
the place of others, which had gone to decay.
Yet the most has been done that possible
WIFI tl0 LuehIs aG COLuIuhuG, ADu by buDHLdn-
TALLY rebuilding some OF our old ships with
durable material and completely repairing
and reftting our monitor feet the navy has
been gradually 80 brought up that, though
it does not maintain relative position
among the progressive navies of the world it
is i'll condition more powerful and
effective than it ever has been in time OF
peace. The complete repairs of our fine
heavy iron-clads are only delayed on account
OF the inadequacy of the appropriations made
last year for the working bureaus of the de-
partment which were actually less in amount
than those made before the war, notwithstand-
ing the greatly enhanced price OF labor and
Materials and the increase IL the cost Of the
Davel service growing out OF the uoiver-
sal use ard great expense Of steam machinery.
The money necessary for these repairs should
be provided at once, that they may be COM
pleted without unnecessary delay and expense.
When this is done, all the strength that there
is in the Navy will be developed and useful to
its full capacity, and all will be power
full for the purpose OF defence; and
also for offensive action should
the necessity for that arise within q
reasonable distance from our shores The
fact that our navy is not more modern and
powerful than it has been made, is because of
complaint against the Secretary of the navy by
persons who ct the same time criticise and
complain Of his endesvors to bring the navy
so that we can have if3 best aid and most eff
cient condition; but The good sense of the
country will understand that it is really to his
practical action that we have at this time any
active navy force at command
THE PosToFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Postmaster General
shows an increase of ex penditures, excluding
the expenditures of account of previous
years never receipted for the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1876, to be~~$4 Isl, 1856 The
estimated expenditures for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1878, are 1856, 723, 43243.
The estimated revenue for the same period
is $50, Gas, 1880, leaving an estimated excess
of expenditure to be appropriated as de-
fciency of $6,078, 267.43. The Post
master-General, like his predecessor,
is convinced that change
in the cases of adjusting the salaries of post
masters of the fourth class is necessary for
the good of the service, as well as for the
interests of the government, urgently rec
ommends that the compensation of the
class of postmasters above mentioned be
based upon the business of their offices. as
ascertained from the sworn returns to the
auditor of stamps cancelled.
A few postmasters in the Southern States
have expressed great apprehension of their
personal safety, on account of their connec
ton with the postal service, and have
specially requested that their reports of ap-