Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-12-12

IT, Ihe morale OF the army has improved
and the number of deser.ions has materi.
ally decreased during the year. The Sec
retary recommends:
First. That pension be granted TO the wild.
ow of the late Lieut. Henry II. Benuer, 18th
infantry, wao lost his life by yellow fever while
in command of the steamer J. NJ. Chambers,
sent with supplies for the relief OF sufferers in
the Sou from that disease.
Second. The establishment OF the an nuity
scheme for the benefit Of the heirs of deceased
officers as suggested by the Paymaster Gen
ersl.
Third The adoption by Congress of plan
for the publication of the records OF the war OF
the rebellion now being prepared for that pur-
pose.
Fourth The increase of the extra per diem
Of soldier teachers employed in post schools.
and liberal appropriation for the erection of
buildings for schools and Libraries at the differ
ent posts.
Finn. The repeal or amendment Of the act
of June Is. 1873, forbiddiug the use of the
army a. posse comltdtHs or otherwise for the
| purpose Of executing the laws. except in such
cases and under such circumstances rs may be
expressly authorized by the constitution or by
act Of Congress"
SIKH. The passage OF a joint resolution Of
! Congress legalizing the issues OF rstions, tents
and medicines which were made tor the relief
! OF sufferers from yellow fever.
seventh. Tha, provision be made for the
erection Of hre-proof building Tor the preser-
vation OF certain valuable records now con-
stanty exposed to destruction by fire.
These recommendations are all COM
mended TO your favorable consideration.
TIE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Secretary of the Navy
shows that the navy has improved during
the last fiscal year. Work has been done
On - vessels, 10 OF which have been thor
oughly repaired and made ready for sea.
Two others are in rapid progress towards
/ completion. The total expenditures Of the
year. including the amount appropriated
for the Deficiencies ut the previous wear
were sl1 .i6s 1872 G5. The actual expenses
/ chargeabie To the year. exclusive OF these
deficiencies. were sl3 .30S .9lt %, or s761,-
100 Is less than those OF the previous year.
add 81 92S .617.t7 less than the expenses,
including the deficiencies. The estimates
for the fiscal year endiu. June 80. 1880. are
/ sli 1862 .3Sl u, exceeding the appropTia-
lions of the present year only s33,9t9 -,
/ which excess is oCcasiOned by the demands
OF the naval academy aud marine corps, as
/ explained iuthe Secretary's report.
The appropriations Tor the present fiscal
year are Sli52S, 1910 which, In the opin-
ion of the Secretary. VIII be ample Tor the
c ,rreut expenses ot the department during
the wear The amount drawn from the
Treasury from July % Nov. !, ISIS, j.
St,7i0 81 42I ,oi which $40, ,9S075 has been
/ refunded. leaving as the expenditure for
that period 81 go jG3 30, or $500, $50 u
less than the corresponding period o1 the
/ last fiscal year.
THE rOsr OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Tie report OF the Postmaster General
embraces detailed statement OF the opera
of iltiirn
| expenditures of that Department for the
fiscal year ended jane 30, 1873, were S3i
| lG5 .0Si 40. The receipts including sales of
/ stamps, money order business aud utli siai
stamps were $50 277, ,5lG.9 The sum OF
/ $500 1876 30 included IN the foregoing state
meut Of actual expenditures j. chargeable
TO preceding years, 50 that the actual cN-
prniitIrcs for the fiscal year ended June
80. ls1s, are S33,s1i 6i1.jO. The amonnt
drawn from the Treasury on appropria-
tons ia addition to the revenues OF the
Department was s. 301 ,GJ2 s.. The eX-
penditnrcs tor the fiscal year ending June
30. 1850, are estimated at S36,5.l 900. and
The receipts from all sources at $50, ,6Gi =
w. "''' 49, 4 .; ,;a.~,, 20 ba pturanri-
atsd out OF the Treasury Of s5.90Hs1G 10.
fhe report calls attention to tue tact that
the compensation of postmasters and of
railroads for carrying the mail i regulated d
I uE IA" dil klIt lLc idituIt Oh NbHGlt>S 70
/ appropriate the amount, required tor thes"
purposes does not relieve the government
OF responsibility, but necessarily increase
the deficiency bills which Congress will be
called upon 10 pass. In providin. TOR the
postal service the following questions are
presented:
Should Congress annually appropriate a
sum for its expenses largely IN excess OF
the revenues or should such rates OF post
aye be established a. will make the de-
partmeut self sustaining:
Should the postal service be reduced by
excluding from the mails matter which
does not pay its way:
should the number OF post route. be Lli-
minshed!
Should other methods be adopted which
will increase the revenues or diminish the
revenues OF the postal service:
INTERNATIONAL POSTAL CONGRESS.
The international postal congress which
met at Paris MAY !, 1873, aud continued IN
session until June OF the same year was
composed OF delegates from nearly all the
civilized countries OF the world. II adopted
new convention 10 take the place ot the
treaty concluded AT Berne Oct. 9th, 1874,
which goes into effect on the lst of April,
1879, between the countries whose dele
gates have signed it. 1t was ratified and
approved BY and with he consent of the
President Aug. l3, 1875 A synopsis OF
this universal postal convention will be
found in the reports of the Postmaster Gen
eral and the fu!l text in the appendix there
to. la its origin the posta. union was COM
posed of twenty-three countries having a
population of 800. 600 900 OF people. On
the lst OF April next it will comprise forty
three countries AMI colonies with popu-
lation of more than 6J0,000,000 and will
soon by the accession of the few remaining
countries aud colonies which maintain
organized postal service constitute in fact.
as we'll as IN name, as its new title indi-
Gates, a universal union, regulating upon
a uniform basis OF cheap postage rates the
postal intercourse between all civilized na-
:ions.
Some rmbarrass sment has arisen out OF
the conflict between the custom laws OF
thi, country and the provisions of the pos
tai convention in regard TO the transmits
sion of foreign books and newspapers to
this country by mail. Is hoped that Con-
gress will be able to devise some medus OF
reconciiing the difficuld which have thus
been created 30 as to do justice 10 all par
ties involved.
THE SUPREME COURT.
ne business OF the supreme court anu
of the courts In many of the circuits has
increased TO such an extent during the past
year that additional legislation is impera-
tive to relieve and prevent the delay OF jus
tice and possible apprehension to suitors
which is thus occasioned. The encunl.
bered condition of these dockets is pre-.
sented anew in the report of the Attorney
General and the remedy suggested is
earnestly urged for congressional action.
The creation of additional circuit judges
as proposed would afford complete rem
edy and would involve an expense at the
present rate of salaries Of not more than
$50. 900 a year.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The annual report of the Secretary ofthe
Interior and of the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs present an elaborate account o.
, the present condition of the Indian tribe:
and of that branch of the public service
which ministers to their interests. While
the conduct OF the Indians generally ha:
been orderly and their relations with theil