Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-12-14

| ments can be made by the United
States. A commission of engineer
ing officers is now examining these
works, and their reports will be pre-
sented as soon as received.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy, shows that branch of the SER
vice to be in condition as effective
as it is possible to keep it with the
treasury appropriations given the
department. 1t is, of course impos-
sible to rival the costly and progress
sive establishments of the great
European Powers with the old mate
rial 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 was possible with
the means at command, and by sub.
stantially rebuilding some of our old
ships with durable material, and
completely repairing and refitting
our monitor feet, the navy has
been gradually so brought up that,
though it does not maintain a rela~
tive position among the progressive
navies of the world, it is in condi-
ton more powerful and effective
than it ever has been in time of
peace. The complete repairs of our
fine heavy iron-clads are only delay
ed on account of the inadequacy of
the appropriations made last year for
the working bureaus of the depart
ments, which were actually less IN
amount than those made before the
war, Notwithstanding the greatly
enhanced price Of labor and mater
ials, and the increase in the cost of
naval services growing out of the
universal use and great expense of
steam machinery. The money nee
essary for these repairs should be
provided at once, that they may be
completed without unnecessary de-
lay and expense. When this is done,
all the strength there is in the Navy
will be developed and useful to it's
full capacity, and all will be power
full for the purpose of defense; and
also for offensive action should the
necessity for that arise within a rea,
sonable distance from our shores.
The fact that our navy is not more
modern and po werful than it has been,
is because of complaint against the
Secretary of the navy by persons who
at the same time criticise and COM
plain of his endeavors to bring the
navy so that we can have it's best
aid and most efficient condition but
the good sense of the country will
understand than it is really owing to
his practical action that we have at
this time any active navy force at
command.
THE PUsT0FFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Postmaster Gen.
eral shows an increase Of expendit.
ures, excluding the expenditures of
account of previous years over the
receipts for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1876, to be 81, Isl, 978.6 sc.
The estimated expenditures for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1878, are
500, 623, 432.43. The estimated rev.
enue for the same period is 30,645,-
1880 leaving an estimated excess
of expenditures to be appropriated as
a deficiency of SCOTS, 267.43. The
Postmaster General, like his pred
ecessors, is convinced that a change
in the cases of adjusting the salaries
of postmasters of the fourth class is
necessary for the good of the service,
as well as for the interest of the gov
eminent, urgently recommends that
the compensation of the class of
postmasters above mentioned be
based upon the business of their
offices, as asoertained from the sworn
returns to the auditor of the stamps
cancelled.
A few postmasters in the Southern
States have expressed great appre-
hension for their personal safety, On
account Of their connection with the
postal service, and have specially re-
quested that their report of appre-
hended danger should not be made
public, lest it should result in the
loss of their lives but no positive
testimony of interference has been
submitted, except in the case of
mail-messenger at Spartsnburg, in
South Carolina, who reported that
be had been violently driven away
while in charge of the mails, on ac-
count of his political affiliations. An
assistant superintendent of the rail
way mail service Investigated this
case and reported that the messenger
had disappeared from hispost leaving
his work to be performed by subs
stltute. The Postmaster General
thinks this case is sufficiently sug-
gestive to justify him in recommend
ing that moro severe punishment
should be provided for the offense of
assaulting any person in charge of
mails, or of retarding or obstruct-
ing them by threats of personal in
jury.
A very Certifying result is pre-
scented in the fact that the deficiency
of this department during the last
fiscal year was reduced to S4,081,-
1908, as against Sc, 1859, 938.88 of
the preceding year. The difference
can be traced to the large increase
in its ordinary receipts, which great.
ly exceeded the estimate therefor,
and a slight decrease in its expendit.
ures. The ordinary receipts OF the
postoffice department for the past
seven fiscal years have increased at
an average rate of over eight per
cent per annum, while the increase
of expenditures for the same period
has been about five per cent per
annum, and the decrease in the de-
ficiencles in the revenues has been
at the rate Of nearly two per cent
per annum.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The report of the Commissioner of
Agriculture accompanying this mes
sage will be found one of great in
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