New-York tribune., 1876-12-06

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 de-
cay Yet the most has been done that was possible
| with the means at command, and by substantially
rebuilding some of our old ships with durable mate
| riai and completely repairing and refttng our
monitor fleet, the navy has been gradually 80 brought
| up that, though it does not maintain its relative
position among the progressive naves OF the world,
~ now in condition more powerful aud effective
than 1t ever has been in time of peace. The COM
Pete repairs OF our fine heavy ronclads only de-
iayed on account OF the nadequacy of the appropra
ions made last year for the working bureaus of the
department. which were actually less in amount than
| those made before the war. Notwithstanding the
greatly enhanced price Of labor and materials and
the increase in the cost of the naval service grow
| ing out OF the universal use and great expense of
steam machinery. The money necessary for these
repairs should be provided at once, that they may
be completed without further unnecessary delay
ana expense. When this is done, all the strength
that there Is in navy viii be developed and
ful to its full capacity. and it will be powerful for
purposes OF defense, and also for offensive action
should the necessity for that arise within reason
able distance from our shores. The fact that
| navy is not more modern and powerful than it is
has been made cause of complaint against the Sec
retary OF the Navy by persons who mt the time
criticse and complain of his endeavors to bring the
navy that we have tO It's best and most efficient
condition. but the good sense of the country will
| understand that it is really due to his practical
action that we have at this time any effective navy
force at command.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
| The report Of the Postmaster-General shows the
excess of expenditures, excluding expenditures on
account of previous years. receipts for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1915, to be $4,151 1888 66.
| Estimated expenditures for the fiscal year ending
June 80 1877, are $50, 6,723, ,432 43. Estimated
revenue for the period is $50 G45 165 leaving
an estimated excess of expenditure to be appropri-
ated as q deficiency of $607S,26 iS. The Post
master-Genoral like his predecessor, Is convinced
that change in the basis of adjusting the salaries
of postmasters of the fourth class is necessary for
the good Of the service well as for the interests
| of the Government, and urgently recommends that
the compensation of the class of pOstmasters above
mentioned be- based upon the business of their
spcctive offices, ~ ascertaned from the sworn
| turns Ia the auditor Of stamps cancelled.
few postnasterS in the Southern States nave eX
pressed great apprehension of their personal safety
on account Of their connection with the postal SER
vice. and have specially requested that their reports
! of apprehended danger should not be made public
lest il should result in the loss of their lIyes But
no positive testimony OF interference has been sub
mited, except in the case of a mail messenger at
Spartanburg, in South Carolina who reported that
he had been violently driven away while in charge
of the mails, account of his political affiliations
| An assistant superintendent of the railway mail
service investigated this case and reported that the
| messenger had disappeared from his post. leaving
| 1s work to be performed by substitute. The
Postmastor-Beneral thinks this case is sufficiently
suggestive 70 justify him in recommending that
more severe punishment should be provided Tor the
oficnse of assaulting any person III charge OF the
mails, of rctarding OT otherwise Obstructng them
| by threats oi personal injury.
A very gratifying result Is presented in the fact
| that the deficiency of the department during the
| last fiscal year was reduced To Sf0s1, 100 IL, as
| against 50 IGp, ,0S So of the preceding year. The
difference can he traced TO the large increase in ITS
ordinary receipts (Which greatly exceeded the estl-
mates therefor and slight decrease IN It's expendl-
lures. The ordinary receipts of the Post-Oice De-
partncnt for the past seven flscal years have il-
creased at average of over per cent per annuIn
while the increase of expenditures for the same
period has been about 80 per cent per annnm and
the decrease of deficiency III the revenues has been
| at the rate Of nearly per cent per annum.
AGRICULTURE.
The report OF the Commissioner Of Agriculture ac-
companyng this message will be found one OF great
interest, marking, it does the great progress Of
the last century in the variety of products of the
soil increased knowledge and skill in the labor of
producing saving and manipulating the same to pre-
pare them for the use of man, in the improvements
in machinery to aid the agricuturist in his labors,
and in knowledge of those scientific subjects neces-
sary 10 thorough system of economy in agricultural
production namely: chemistry. botany, entomology,
etc A study Of this report by those interested in
| agriculture and deriving their support from 1t viii
find II Of value in pointing ont those articles which
are raised in greater quantity than the needs OF tie
world require and must SELL therefore, for less than
the cost Uf productiOn and those wiich command
proG over cost of production because there IL not an
oyc--prOducton. call special attention 10 the need
OF the department for new gallery i"r lhe RECEPTION
| of the EXHIBITS returned from the Centennial EXIT
hilton intending the exhibits donated by very many
| foreign nations and 10 the reconmendatlohs 0l the
| Commissioner Of Agriculture generally. -
The reports Of the District Commissioners ana The
Roar of ueal.h aro Just received, too late To read
them and Ia make recommendations thereon, ana are
| herewith submitted
THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
The international Exhibition held in Philadelphia
! this year in cOmmemOration of the one hundredth
anniversary OF American independence has proven
n great success and will 10 doubt be OF enduring ad-
| vantage 10 the country. IL has shown the great
progress in the arts. sciences and mechahlcai Skhi
made in a single century, and demonstrated that
we are but little behind older nations i'll any one
branch while in some we scarcely have nval.
Il has served, too, not only to bring peoples and
products of skill and labor from all parts OF the
world together but in bringing together people from
all sections of our own country, which must prove
great benefit in the information impaired ana the
prde of country engendered. Ii has been suggested
by scientists Interested i'll and connected WIN the
Smithsonian Institution, in communication h'io-
with incosed, that the Government eNhlpit pe re-
moved 40 the Capitol and snifabie pulldlie Uc
erected or purchased for its accommodation az Il
permament exhibit. | earnestly recommend thIs
and, believing that Congress would second
| this view, 1 directed that all Goycinmeht cN-
hints Mt the Centennial Exhibition should feiIa'h
where they are except such as might he lnJnfec ny
remaining in building not intended ~ pIot'cili i
in lnclcnent weather or such aS may oc Wllc, ny
! the dcnartment furnishing them unnl the question
of permanent exhibition is acted on AhoHgh t na~ .ne
money appropriated by Congress TO ghanle tno pa,
ticipation of the several Executive departments III
the international Exhibition of 1876 we're not Snii-
cien TO carry out the undertaking 70 the fan cXet
ot first contemplated il gives me pleasure 10 releI 10
H. vow, eiirirnt and creditablc manner In when
the e board appointed from these several departments
In nrnyide an exhibition the part ot tne boEer-
] .L--... .lLLtIL.