The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-04

OF e5 900 onissei men, being reduction
OF . 500 below IN" force previou ~ authorized This
reduction made, required by law, entirely rom
the infantry aud artillery branches oil inc SERVICE
without any reduction OF INC cavaiy Under inc law
rs il now stands IL Is necessary tho cavalry rcg
ments DO recruited TO 100 men IN cacn company Tor
service on the Mexican and Indian frontiers inc
necessary elect Of Mis legislation IS 10 reduce inc IN
nntry nnd artillery arms OF tho service
below the number required Tor efficiency ana
/ concur with the Secretary Of War IN
eeommendig that authority be gwen 70 recruit all
companies OF infantry TO at least hy men and all bat
teries OF artillery to az least scv"uty ave men, win
power in case OF emergency Increase the former 10
100 and the latter to i22 men each
RECOMMENDATIONS
invite your special attention 10 the following re-
concentrations OF the Secretary OF War
Fu-st-rhat provision be mace for supplying to the
army moro abundant and better supply OIL reading
matter.
looking TO complete revision and republication OF
7nird-rhat section l. 25s Of the Revised Statutes,
limiting the plumber Of officers on the retired s'' %
repealed.
July 4 1864, for supplies taken by the army during
the war % taken from tho Offices OF the Quarter
master ana Commssary General and transferred to
the Southern Claims Commission or some other trou-
nal having time and better facilities Tor tner
prompt investigation and decision than are possible
by these officers.
Fifh-That Congress provide Tor an annuity fund
for The families Of deceased soldiers, recommended
by the Paymaster General OF the army.
THE NAVAL SERVICE
The report OF the Secretary OF the Navy shows that
we have six squadrons now engaged in The protection
OF our foreign commerce and other duties pertaining
TO the naval The condition operation OF the
department are also shown The total expenditures or
the n fiscal year ending June 90 a, were ere
department, chargeaole to the last year. when are
presented to the consideration OF Congress by the re.
year commencing July J. 1875 arc SD, 23i 40 OK
elusive Of The sum OF $2,3I425l submitted Tor now
buildings, repairs and improvements OF the sew
eral navy yards. The appropriations Tor the
present nscai year, commencing July !, 1871,
the Treasury IRON July 4 to November l, 1877, is
So 343 O37 49, oil which there is estimated 10 be yet
available ST. O29 52s 3d. showing the amount OF actual
expenditure durn the FIRST TOUR months OF the pres
ent year TO have been $4,3l3,5 500 10.
THE POSTAL skRvicE
The report the Postmaster General contains full
and clear statement OF tue operations and condition
Of that department. The ordinary revenues OF the
department. for the fiscal year ending June 3d. 1877,
from official stamps and stamped envelopes, amounted
10 the oil $27, $50 20 The additional sum OF
ST. 0l3 realized from appropriations from the
ceipts from all sources S34 ga 1856 20 The total ex
penditures during the fiscal year amounted TO
s33 4s6 1922 40 leaving total receipts
total expenditures oil 05S 562 49, and an excess OF to-
tai expenditures ordinary receipts OF 50 Doh 37 H.
iron the receipts the OF So 326 1874
received from international money orders oil the
preceding fiscal year ana M rom Inc .ota ex
incurred IN the previous fiscal year, the expendi-
lures and receipts apperaDing to the business OF the
last fiscal year were as iolows:-
Expenditures $oZ,Szl,oua "a
Receipts Ordinary, from money order
business and from official postage
stamps) -, 400, 90 ~
Excess of cxpeditures . 81, s54, $50 50
The ordinary revenues Of the Post Offce Department
for the ending June 80 1872 are estimated at an
increase OF three per cent over those OF 1871 making
500, 034, OBS 2S and the expenditures Tor the same
year estimated at $50, 427 I'LL leaving an cstima
ted deficiency Tor the year 1875 Of S7,3o3, 672 ~
The additional legislation recommended by the
Postmaster General Tor improvements OF the mail
service and to protect the postal revenues rom
the abuses practsed undcr existing laws is respect
fully commended TO the careiui consideration OF Con-
gress
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report OF tue Attorney General contains several
suggestions as to tho administration OF justice TO
which invite your attention. Tho pressure oil BUSH
ness in the Supreme Court and Ia CERTAIN ircuit
courts Of the United States is now such that serious
delays. TO the great injury and even oppression OF
suitors, occur; and remedy should be sought for
this condition of affairs Whether II will be found IN
The plan briefly skcched in the report Of increasing
the number OF the judges OF tho circuit courts and,
of creating an intermediate court OF errors and
appeals, Or whether some other mode can DO devised
Tor obviating the difhcuuos which now exist leave
TO your mature consideration.
THE INDIANS.
Tho present condition or the Indian tribes on the
territory Of the United States and our relations with
them, are FUZZY SGT forth IN the reports OF the Secre
tary OF the Interior ana the Commissioner OF Indian
Affairs. Alter series OF most deporaue conflicts
the successful termination OF which, While re-
fecting honor upon the brave soldiers who
accom- pshed II cannot lessen regret at the
rcnco-we at peace with all the indian trfoos
borders. To preserve that peace Dy just aud
humane poicy VIII be the object or my earnest en-
deavors Whatever may BIO said OF their character
and savage propensitics. OF the d1culties oil intro
ducing among them tho HABITS Of civilized lie ana the
obstacles they have offered 10 the progress OF settlement
In certain parts of tho country, tho Indians are GER
tainly entitled to our sympathy and TO conscientious
respect part for their claims upon our sense Of
justice They were tho aboriginal occupants Of the
land we now possess. They have been driven from
ome Tor what they called their own has s left
them poor. In many instances, when they had set
tied down upon land assigned to them by compact
and begun TO support themselves by their own
labor, they were rudely jostled of and thrust
into the wilderness again. Many. II not most.
oil Indian have had their origin
in broken promises aud acts OF injustice upon our
part, the advance OF the Indians IN civilization
has ooen SLOW because the treatment they received
did not permit 1t TO faster ana more general. We
can not expect them 10 improve and " follow our
guidance unless keep lailh with them in respect
tho rights they possess, and unless instead OF de-
priving them OF tneir oppor, unties we lend them
helping hand cordially approve tho policy regard
ing the management OF Indian affairs outlined IN the
report of tho Secretary OF the Interior ard OF
the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs me faithful per.
Torrance OF our promises Is the trst condition Of a
good ing with the Indians cannot
urgently recommend 10 Congress that prompt and
liberal provision be made tor the conscientious ulhl-
men OF all engagements entered INTO by The govern
ment with Indian tribes 10 withhold the means nee
essary Tor the performance OF promise is always
false economy aud is apt to prove dis
aslrous in IT'S consequences. Especial care is
recommended to provide for Indians settled
on their reservations cattle and impe-
mens To AID them whatever efforts they may make
TO support themselves, and by the establishment aud
maintenance OF Schools to bring them under the con-
troll oil civilized influences. | no reason why
Indians VINO give satisfactory proof oil having by
their own iaoor supported their families Tor number
oil years aud VINO wiling to detach them
selves from their tribal relations SHOULD not BIO
admitted TO the benefit oil the Homestead
act and the privilege oil citizenship, and
recommend the passage OF II law to that effect II
Will DC an act OF justice as well as measure OF en-
enlargement Earnest Efforts are being made to
purify the Indian service, that every dollar appro
priated by Congress shall rebound to tho benefit OF
Indians, as intended. Those Efforts will have my nrm
support With an improved service and every possi-
bio encouragement held out to the Indians better
their condition aud TO elevate themselves tho scale
OF civilization, We may hope to accomplish ut the
time good work Tor them and Tor ourselves
THE TIMBER
invite the attention OF Congress TO tho Importance
OF the state Is and esons made by the Secrc
tary of tue Interior concerning the aepredatons
mittcd upon the timber lands OF the United States
the necessity for the preservation OF the forests.
IL is believed that the measures taken la pursuance of
existing laws 10 arrest these depredations will be
trcly successful Congress BY appropriation for that
purpose, renders their continued enforce possible
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