The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-04

! Into our territory oy armed bands iron
the Mexican side of'the line for the pCr
pose of robbing, have been of frequent
occurrence, and in spite of the most vigil
liant efforts of the commander OF our
! forces, the msrsuders have generally sue,
ceeded in escaping INTO Mexico with
their plumber. In May last, 1 gave
orders for the exercise of the utmost Wig.
lance on the part of our troops for the
suppression of these raids, and the
Punishment of the guilty parties as well
as the recspture o: the property stolen
by them. General Ord, commanding the
troops in Texas, was directed to invite
the cooperation of the Mexican suthorl-
ties in the efforts to this end, and to as
sure them that [ was anxious to avoid
giving the least offence TO Mexico. At
the same time he was directed 20 give no.
tice of my determination to put al eud to
the invasion of our territory by lawless
bands, intent upon the plumber OF our
peaceful citizens, even If the etfectusl
punishment of the outlaws should make
the crossing of the border by our troops,
IN their pursuit, necessary. 1t is believed
that this policy has had the
effect to check, somewhat,
these depredations, and that with con-
siderable increase of our forces upon that
frontier and the establishment OF several
additional military posts along the Rio
Grande the more ehectually to guard that
extensive border, that peace may be pre-
served and the lives and property of our
citizens in Texas fully protected. Prior
to the first day of July last, the army
was, in accordance with law, reduced to
the maximum of $4,000 enlisted men,
being reduction OF $500 men below
the force previously authorized.
This reduction was made as re.
CURED by law, entirely from the
infantry and artillery branches
Of the service without any reduction OF
the cavalry, under the law us il now
stands. 1t is necessary that cavalry
regiments be recruited to one hundred
meu in each company tor service in
the Mexican and the Indian frontiers.
The necessary effect of this legislation
is 20 reduce the infantry and artillery
arms of the service below the number
required for efficiency, and | concur
with the Secretary VI War in re-
commencing that authority be given
to recruit all companies of infantry TO
at least fifty men, and all batteries
of artillery to al least seventy-fYe men,
with the power, in case OF emergency,
to increase the former to one hundred
and the latter to one hundred and TWEEN
ty.two men each. invite your special
atten ton 10 the following
of the Secretary
OF War. l. That provision be made for
supplying to the army more abundant
and better supply OF reading matter.
2. That early action be taken by Con-
gress looking 10 the complete revision
and republication Of the army regula-
tions. 3. That section 1888 of the re-
vised statutes limiting the number of Off
GERS on the retired list be repealed, 4.
That the claims arising under the act OF
July 4th, 1864, for supplies taken by the
army during the war, be taken from the
offices of the Quartermsster and Com
misssry Generals and transferred TO the
Southern Claims Commission or some
other tribunal having more time
ana better facilities tor their prompt
investigation and decision than are pos
;essed by these officers. .. That Con-
gress provides for an annuity fund for
the families of deceased soldiers as
recommended by the Psymaster General
Of the army
Report OF the secretary Of the Navy.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy shows that we have six squsdrons
now engaged in the protection OF our
foreign commerce and other duties per-
tanning TO the naval service. The con-
1ition and operations of the department
are also shown. The total expenditures
for the fiscal year, ending June 30, 1877,
were SIG O77,974 81. There arc unpaid
Claims against the department charseable
10 last year, which are presented
10 the consideration of Congress by the
report of the Secretary.
The estimates for the fiscal year com.
moncng July l, 1878. are SIG, z33 % 40,
exclusive of the sum $2,3l42Sl,
submitted for new buildings, repairs and
and the several navy
yards. The appropriations for the pres
ent fiscal year commencing July !, 1871
are 1882 1920. The amount drawn
from the treasury. from July to No
venber /, 1877, is $5.343,03IlO, OF which
here is estimated to be yet available
81, O29 1880, showing the amount OF &C
.ua expenditures during the first four
months of the present fiscal year to have
been $4,3l2, 509l0.
POstmaster-Gener Report.
TIE report OF the Postmaster General
contains full and clear statement OF the
Postofiice Department. The ordinary
revenues of the department tor the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1877, including re-
,eipts from the money order business and
from Official stamps and stamped enveI-
Opes, amount to the sum OF S2I ,53l ,5o5.Z6.
The additional sum Of SLOl3OOO was real
zed from appropriations from the gen
srsl treasury tor various purposes, MAX
ing tie receipts from all sources S34 544-
Ss5 70. The tOts! expenditure dlrlng
the tiscal year amounted to S33, 4o6, 1872 Al,
leaving an excess of total receipts over
total expenditures OF Sl,O5o 562o2,
and an excess of total expenditures
over ordinary receipts of 1854 73Ilo.
Deducung from the total receipts the
sum of $63,26l.s4 returned from inter-
national money orders of the preceding
year, and deducting from the tota, eG-
penditures the sum of Sl,l63 $3.50 paid
on the liabilities incurred in the previous
fiscal year. The expenditures and re-
ceipts appertaining to the business OF the
last tiscsI year were as follows: Expendl-
lures, $32, 3D., 50424; receipts from ordi-
nary money order business and from
official postage stamps, S27 46o, 3Z3.4zi
excess OF expenditures, S4,o54, $50 ~.
The ordinary revenues of the Postotice
Department for the year ending June
80. 1879 are estimated st an increase o!
3 per cent. over those Of 1877, making
! 20 O34 O9S %, snd the the expenditures
for the same year sre estimated 1T $50
427,77l, leaving an estimated deficiency
tor the yesr 1879 OF 1888, 512.72. The
additional legislation recommended by
the Postmaster General for the improve
mont nj the mail service, and to protect