Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-12-05
TIE POSTOFFYCE DEPARTMENT.


net revenue for the year from the sale of post
age-stamps was SIC, $50 l16 against SIS, SSl ,936
last year. Amount of stamps, stamped en-
velopos. etc, sold, s2.,3755 9S, against s25,-
757,5l5 III 1877. Expended during the year for
mail transportation, 49, IA, l79, against 49,
$50 C22:; the previous YEAR From the tables
showing the operation OF the money order of
fees II appears that the revenue from this
source for the year was S.H9,64a against
slO9 y the previous year
The Postmas ter General devotes a considera-
bic portion of his report to the subject of the
! present and prospective Deficiencies in the
amounts appropriated by Congress for salaries
of Postmasters ard for railway transportation.
In regard 10 postmaster- salaries he says the
deficiencies or prevention Of them 40 far ~
salaries and compensation OF Postmasters are
concerned. are not and cannot be controlled by
the department Ii the amount appropriated
by Congress for the purpose be not equal TO the
amount of compensation established by law,
there A. sst be deficiency.
! After describing the rates of compensation
prescribed by law for railway mail service, the
Postmaster General saws the apI'rops iation
made by Congress AZ its last session not
sufficient to pay for the existing service rail
roads, and should no additional appropriation
he made for this service, he shall feel ii his
/ duty under the law 10 cultail the service
to fall within the appropriation, however much
thereby He il satisfied il would lead Justly 10
much complaint The mails would be detained
at Offices of separation hardly ever less than
twelve hours, and generally twenty four hours
Books, papers. and packages passing over great
distances or cirouitous routes would be de-
| tanned at more than one such Office in very
many cases, and there would be delay ia
immense number of transactions which are in
tiated, conducted, and completed by communi-
cations through the mails. In his opinion. it
would cause shock To our postal system from
which K would not soon recover. The railway
companies which have been at the expense Of
furnishing postal cars might be slow to furnish
us such conveniences a second time, and there
is no law 10 compel them to do so.
In relation to the revenues OF the service, the
report says: Time and again il has been
(, shown that matter of the second and third
class does not pay Its way through the mails,
and Congress has been urged TO increase the
rates of postage thereon. The question has
been considered time and time again by appro-
pirate committees, and discussed in both
branches of Congress-, and the results have
f. shown that II was not expected that the depart
ment should be self sustaining, but that the
deficiencies In its revenues should be met by
, appropriations from the general treasury. The
amount of matter sent through the mails free is
very large, adding greatly to our expenditure
and giving us no revenue.
3The franking privilege has been restored to
members and the chief officers of Congress, 50
as to allow them to send free almost everything
which they were ever allowed to transmit
through the mails free, except letters. Tons
| upon tons Of books, documents, seeds, shrubs
and the like are placed in our mails free of
charge on this score. Now, most respectfully
bat earnestly suggest that ii would be the bet
ter policy to reduce the deficiencies of the reve-
nues Of the department by curtailing or abol-
ishing the list of free matter, and by increas-
ing the rates of postage ON merchandise, than
by appropriating sums inadequate to an eff
cient, prompt and fast transmission of the
mails
TIE ARMY.
Gen. sherman, in ll- annual report 10 the
Secretary of War, refers to the reports of the
different commanders of the military depart
ments, and invites particular attention. To that
Of Gen Sheridan.
Beyond question, il was hunger which drove
the BannocLs and Cheyennes to war this sum-
mer, and similar eseapades will occur each
year unless these Indians be kept quiet with
more food
Ii seems idle 10 expect that the entcrprsing
white race will cease till every of this con
hnent Is susceptible of cultivation. 1t Is net to
be expected that these pasture fields can be
used by the two races without everlasting con-
the Indians are large enough. and should suffice
them TO raise all the meat and grain necessary
for their subsistence, but meantime they must
have food else they will steal and fight. To
convert these Indians into pastoral race is the
first step in the upward progress of civilization:
that of culture must be the next stage though
slower of realization. But in this direction is
the sole hope of rescuing any part OF the Gomad
Indians from utter humiliation This
end cannot be reached by means OF the
wasted OH an Indian. There must not only be
show of force, but actual force and subsection
used. Force will be necessary to compel the
nomad to cultivate his own ground
There Is q wide distinction among the tribes,
and each tribe must be dealt with according to
its nature Large discretion to supply food
must be lodged with the President, or some
where else. Starvation will each year cause
wars. such occurred this year with the Sho-
shones and Southern Cheyennes The army
cannot foresee or prevent these wars. All it
can do after the Indians break out plumber
steal, and kill harmless families, is to pursue
and capture them in detail after infinite toll
then conduct them back to their reservation,
and turn them loose 10 return to the same game
I'D A6itnnt.
The General reports that the Indian problem
IL not single problem, but many; many, al
most, as there are tribes. Measures which
would be wise in one instance would be folly in
another, and whatever department is charged
Will iutlSt DC uUt Only IOTct, Dut
large discretion and authority to furnish food
In emergencies
Gen Sherman doubts the wisdom Of select
ing and preparing In advance, as recommended
by Gen. Hancock, posts and camps in the
South against yellow fever. The artillery
school at Fortress Monroe is kept TO a high
standard, and IL fast becoming post graduate
course for officers.
The report shows that there are 1922 enlisted
men in the ten regiments of cavalry in the
army, =, GO men in the five regiments of artil-
lerv, and ii 2u5 in the twenty five regiments of
infantry, making a total Of 2l,64. Besides
these there in the engineer battalion 1873
permanent and recruiting parties, music-boys,
and recruits III the depots, ,l2l /; enlisted men
detached on general service, 372 ordnance de-
partments, 344 West Point detachments, 100;
prison guard II Hospital Stewards, 1SS Ord
nance Sergeants, ia; Commissary Sergeants,
l4S; and Indian scouts, $40; a total of 3, 097,
making the whole number of enlisted men in
the army "a. 761.
COMPTROLLER ENOY,S REPORT
The Comptroller OF the Currency, in his an
nual report, shows the total number of banks
and private bankers ia the country 10 be 6, AS,
with an aggregate capital of 500, ss6 900, and
aggregate deposits of s1.9las54,0OO. During
the past year twenty eight banks have been or
ganized, with authorized capital of S2,115,-
\ 600, 10 which 81 So, 500 in circulation notes
have been issued Fifteen banks failed within
this PERIOD, having an aggregate capital of
s2,ll2, 800, and forty-one banks, with total
| capital OF $4,000 Ot, voluntarily discontinued
business. Tetal amount Of United States taxes
collected fromthe commencement Of the system
4 Il lft3 nj fs foil