Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-12-07
DECEM BF,R I, 1877.

M 3 +, r I, 1877.
,lete success, against portion Of the Me-
'erces tribe Of Indians y full account OF
his campaign will be found in the report oil
he General of the army. IL Will he seen
hat in its course several battles were
ought. in which Il number OF gallant on
ers and men lost their lives ION with
he Secretary of War and the GENERAL OF
he army IN awarding to the officers and
men employed in the long and tollsome pur-
suit and in the final capture OF these In
iians the honor and praise which Is 50
Justly their due.
THE RAILROAD RIOTS.
The very serious riots which occurred in
several of the Suites IN July last rendered
necessary the employment OF considerable
portion of the army to preserve the peace
and maintain order. In the States OF West
virginia. Maryland. Pennsylvania and IL
lin lis these disturbances were 50 lormlda-
bic as to defy the local and state authOIl-
ties. and the national executive was called
upon, in the mode provided by the cOnsti-
tuition and laws. To furnish military aid. |
Am gratitiei L. be able to state that the |
troops sent IN response t. these calls
for aid in the suppression OF dOmes-
tie violence were able, by tue |
influence of their presence IN the |
disturbed regions, To preserve the peace
and restore order without the use OF force
In the discharge of this delicate and Im-
portant duty, both officers and men acted
with great prudence and courage, and for
their services deserve the thanks 'oi the
country.
TuE DISTURBANCES ALONG THE RIO GRANDE,
in Texas, to which have already referred,
hay rendered necessary the constant en-
ployment OF military force IN that vicinity
A iull report OF all recent military opera
tons in that quarter has been transmitted
to the House of Representatives, IN answer
to a resolution of that body, and 1t Will not
therefore be necessary to enter into details.
| regret to say that these lawless ineurslons
into our territory by armed bands IRON the
Mexican side OF the line tor the purpose OF
robbery have been OF ireguens occurrence,
and in spite of the most vigorous efforts OF
the commander of our forces the maraudrrS
have generally succeeded in escaping into
Mexico with their plumber. In Nay last.
gave orders for the exercise OF the utmost
vigilance on the part of our troops Tor the
suppression of these raids and the punish
ment of the guilty parties. a. well H. the ie-
capture OF property stolen by them ten.
Ord commanding IN Texas. was directed
to invite the Co cooperation ui the mexican
authorities in efforts to this end, hDd
to assure them that was ANXIOUS
TO avoid giving the least offence to Mexico
At the same time he was directed to give
notice of my determination to put an end to
the invasion of our territory by lawless
bands, intent upon the plundsr ofOur peaceful
citizens, even II the eifectual punishment oil
outlaws should make the crossing oil the
border by our troops in their pursuit neces.
sary. Is is believed that this policy has had
the effect to check somewhat these depreda-
tiOns, and that with a considerable increase
of our force upon that frontier anu the es-
adjustment OF several additional military
posts along the Rio Grande. 50 n to more
eifectually guard that extensive boruer,
peace NAV be preserved. and the lives and
property of our citizens in Texas fully pro-
tected.
THE REDUCTION OF TIE ARMY.
Prior to the first day of July last. the
army was. in accordance with the Jaw, re-
duced to the maximum of IS 600 enlisted
men. being reduction of $500 below the
force previously authorized. This reduc-
ton was made, a. required by law, entirely
from the infantry and artillery branches OIL
the service, without any reduction oil the
cavalry, Under the law as 1t now stands 1t
is necessary that the cavalry regiments DC
recruited to 100 men in each company Tor
service ON the Mexican and Indian frontiers.
The necessary effect OF this legislation Is to
reduce the infantry and artillery arms OF the
service below the number required Tor ell
fcieney. and concur with the Secretary OF
| War in recommending that authority be
| given to recruit all companies OF infantry
| In at least 50 men and all batteries OF aTtil-
| lery to at least - men, with power IN cases
| of emergency to increase the former to 100
| and the latter to l22 men each.
suSDRY RECOMMENDATIONS.
| invite your special attention to the iol-
lowing recommendations OF the secretary
of war First. that provision be mad' ioI
supplying to the army more abundant and
better supply of reading Datter; second,
that early action be taken by Congress
looking to complete revision and repub-
LEGATION of the army regulations third
that section ,25S OF the revised statutes
limiting the number of officers on the re-
tired list, be repealed; fourth, that the
claims arising under the act of July 1 1854
for supplies taken by the army during the
war. be taken from the Offices OF the quar-
| termaster and cOmmlsSary generals ant
transferred to the southern claims commls
sion, or some other tribunal having mort
time and better facilities Tor their promp
Investigation and decision than are pos
sessed by these Offices fifth, that Congress
provide for an annuity fund Tor the iamllle'
| of deceased soldiers rs recommended by tn,
paymaster general of the army
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY or THE NAVY
shows that We have six sqnadrons now en-
gagged in the protection OF our foreign com
merce and other duties pertaining to tht
naval service The condition and opera
| tionS of the department are also shown
The total eSehditures for the fiscal veal
ending June s., ls77, were SIG OF 81 81
There are unpaid claims against the depart
ment chargeable TO the last year which arr
presented TO the consideration OF COngres:
by the report of the Secretary. The estl'
mates for the fiscal year. commencing July
|, 1878, are SIC .233 ,23i 40, exclusive OF thu
sum of 81 ,3li ,23l Submitted Tor new build
ings, repairs, and Improvements ut the soy
eral navy yards. The appropriations iol
the present fiscal year commencing July
lS77, are Sl3 ,592 1873 80. The amour
drawn from the treasury from July tC
Nov. |, 1877. is S5.3l34 .O7.lO. OF wheel
there is estimated to be yet available s 029,
| - III ,-SubN tut w aShusA -
penditures during the first four months o.
the present fiscal year to have been S4,3l3,
5O9 10.
THE PJsTorfICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the postmaster general con
tains tull and clear statements OF the opera
tons and condition OF the postofhee depart
ment. The ordinary revenues OF the depart
ment for the fiscal year ending june 80
1877, including receipts from the money
order business AM from official stamps ant
stamped envelopes. amounted to the sum O.
s27 53I. $50. %. The additional sum o
81 .Ol3. 900 WAS realized from az propriatIou
from the general treasury for various pur
poses, making the receipts from all source
So. 5I4 SIS. 20. The total expenditure
during the fiscal year amounted to $50,
ls6. 322 "A, leaving an excess OF total re
ceipts over total expenditures OF $ LOIS.
562 So. and an excess of total expenditure
over ordinary receipts OF 5,95l I37. Is
Deiucting from the total receipts the sun
of 500, 26l ~ received from InternatIJna
money orders of the preceding fiscal year
and deducting from the total expenditure
the sum of 81 1863 Sis 20 paid on liabilItIe
incurred in the preylO fiscal year, the eX
pendtures and receipts appertalnlng to TIT
business of the last fiscal year were a. fol
lows: Expenditures. So .a23, 5ul u 70
ceipts ORDINARY, from money order busI
ness and from official postage stanpS). 81 :.
los 1923 IL excess Of expenditures, 81,
S5l, lsO42 The ordinary revenues OF thi
postofiice department for the year ending
June 30, 1879, are estimated 1t an increase
of three per cent over those Of 1877. making
Ss9, 1874, 09S IS and the expenditures tol
the same year arc estimated at $50 i27 I'll
leaving an estimated deficiency Tor the year
1879 Of s., 1913 ,672 ~ The additional
legislation recommended by the postmaster
general for improvements OF the mai!
service and to protect the postal revenues
from the abuses practiced under the existing
laws is respectfully commended to the care
iul consideration OF Congress.
THE BUREAU OF JUSTICES.
The report of the attorney general con
tains several suggestions a. 10 the admins
tratiun of Justice To which | invite yoHl
attention. The pressure OF business IN tho
/ ,nurt ont in sprfutn .trsuIf pnuTf.