New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-04

vice on the Mexican and Indian frontiers. The
necessary effect Of this Legislation - 10 reduce tho
infantry and artillery Of the service below NE
number required for efficiency and | cOncnr WIN
tie Secretary OF War in recommending tDht al-
thOrfv De- Given to recruit al companies OF infantry
to nj least fifty men, and I'LL batteries of artillery to
al least seyenty-fyc men. with power, IN case or
emergency, to increase the former To loO, ana the
latter to i22 men each invite your sp,oial atten-
ton 90 The following recommendations OF the Secre
tary of War:
I,r.i-Tlat provision he made for supplying TO the
army more abundant and better supply OF readlng
matter
Seco1d-That early action be taken by Congress-
looking to "a complete revision and republication OF
Tfird2fhat srction .25s of the Revised Statutes,
limiting the number of officers on the retired list Do
repealed.
foayh-That the claims arising under the act OF
July 18th, 1861, for supplies taken b. the Army
during the War. be taken from the offcrs OF the
Quartermastcr and COmmssary Generals, and trans
icrred 10 the Southern Claims Commission, or sOl1e
other tribunal having more time and better mcili-
tics for their promptinve tigatoD and decision, than
are possessed by these officers.
IiGh--Ihat Congress provide for an annuity fund
for the families of deceased soldiers, as recon-
mended by the Paymaster-Gencral ~ the Army.
CONDITION or THE NAVY
The report Of the Secretary of the Navy shows
that we have six squadrons engaged in the pro-
lection Of our foreign commerce, and other duties
pertaining to the Naval service. The CON
dition and operation of the Department
ara also shown. The total expenditures
for the fiscal year ending June 30 1871
were $lG.O7797l 81. There are unpaid claims
which presented 10 the consideration Of Con-
grcss BY the report of the Secretary. The estimates
for the fiscal year commencing July !, 1873. are
Tl6 233,23i 40 exclusive of tho sum Of ~ ~ l,Z3l
submitted for new buildings repairs and improve
ments OF the several Navy Yards. The appr0pra-
irons for tue present fiscal year commencing July l.
1877, are Sl3. j92.032 30. The amount drawn irom
the Treasury from July !, 70 November 1, 1877, IS
Tj3 ~, 037 10, II which there IS estimated 10 De
yea available ~ ,O29, J2S 30, showing the amount
Of actual expenditure during the iTst four months
Of tho present year, TO have been 8 l,313,509 10.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Postmaser-General contains a
f1ll and clear statement of the operations and
dtion Of that department. The ordinary revenues
OF the department for the fiscal year ending June So
1877, Including receipts from money-order business
and from official stamps aud stamped envelopes
amounted to tho sum OF S27,J31 $50 20. The
additional sum Of $7O13,OOO was realized
from appropriations from tine General Treasury for
various purposes. making tho receipts from all
sources S3fj4t.S8j 26. The total expenditures
during the fiscal year amounted to S33, lS6,}22 ~,
leaving an excess OF total receipts total eApen-
ditnres Of / ,05S 562 81, and excsssof total ex
penditurcs over ordinary receipts Of 5j,95L737 Is.
Deducng from the total receipts the sum Of $685.,
1Sf received from international money-ordegs Of the
preceding fiscal year. and deducting from the total
expenditures the sun Of Bl163,sIS 20 paid on La
bitcs incurred in the previous h5cal year the eX-
pendiures and receipts apperianlng to the business
OF the last fiscal year were rs follows:
Exnendit1res $32,322, 5Ol "a
Receipts tlr,l.nary, from Inouey-orier uus-
mess ana from official postage stamp:l. 2E4bo,323 y
Excess OF xrcndtu-es.............. SA,S5t.ISO -
The ordinary revenues OF the Post Omco Depart
T,,p. Is-
mated at an increase of 9 per cent over those Of
1877. making T20 90 i,O9S d, and the expenditures
for the same year are estimated at S}G, f27,7 III.
leaving m estimated deficiency for the year 1879
of -. 1913 672 II. The additional legislation rec
commended by the POsimaster-Genrral for improve
mruts of the mail service, and ~ protect tine postal
revenues from the abuses pracuctd under existing
laws is respectfully commended 10 the careful con-
sldrratlOn of Congress.
Tne report of the Acknowledgement contains sew
era suggestions rs to rye administration OF justice,
- which | invite your attention. J ne pressure ~
cuisines in the supreme CoHTt and ID CERTAIN Cir
cuit Courts OF tie United States, IS now such that
serious delays, To- the great injury ami even opTcs-
SION of suIt0rs, occur; and q remedy should
be sought this condition Of Affairs whether ~
viii be found IN the plan, briefly sketcheh ~ ne
report OF increasing the number Of Judges Of the
Cir nit Courts and by means oil tbs addition io iht
judicial force of creating ntcrn dat, Court ot
Errors and Appeals, or whethef some some 2.aer ,aqI"
can Ice devised for Obylating ihe 0iihCutic' WHicl
nuw exist, leave 10 your mature cohsidcidton
TIE INDIAN PROBLEM
The present condition of the Indian tribes on the
territory of the United States and our relations
with them, are fully set forth IN the reports OF the
Secretary OF the Interior and the Commissioner 0f
Indian Affairs. After series of most deplorahlc
conflicts the successful termination Of which, while
rejecting honor upon tire brave soldiers who
accomplished It, cannot lessen our regret At the
occurrence We are now at peace With al
the indian tribes on our borders. To preserve that
peace by 4 lust and humane policy viii he the object
of NV earnest endeayOrs. Whatever may 5e said OF
their character and savage propeusltes Of the dim
entities Of introducing among them The habits OF civ
lized life. and the obstacles they have offered TO
the progress Of settlement in certain parts
of the country the Indians are certainly ent-
fled 10 our sympathy, and 10 conscientious
r,spect on our part for their claims upon orr sense
of instice. They were the aboriginal occupants OF
rhe land we now possess. They have been driven
fro., place To place. Tie purchase-money paid TO
them in some cases for what they called their o~n,
has stiil left them poor. In many Instances when
they had settled down upon land assigned to
them by compact and begun 10 support them
selves by their own labor, they were Wdoiy
io,tled odf and thrust into the wilderness again.
Many if not most OF our Indian wars have had their
origin in broken promises and acts OF injustice upon
orr part and the advance Of the indians in civilizI-
on has been SLOW because the Treatment they re-
c.iycd did not permit It 10 be faster aud more gen,
eraL We cannot expect them to improve and
10 follow our guidance unless we Keep Idlth
with them I'M respecting the rights they pos
sess and unless, instead of depryng them %
their opportunities. We lend them a helping hand.
cordially approve the policy regarding tue lhaaSc-
mcut of Indian affairs outlined IN tie reports oil the
Secretary of the Interior. and Of The Connissi0ner
of Indian Affairs The faithful performance OF ous
promises is the first condition of good uIder''anu-
Ing with the Indians. cannot too urgently frcom-