The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-12-12

IL
sent with supplies for the relief of the
sufferers in the South from that disease,
2. The establishment of the annuity
scheme for the benefit of the heirs OF
deceased officers as suggested by the
Paymaster General.
3. The adoption by Congress of a plan
for the publication of the records of the
War of the Rebellion, now being pre-
pared for that purpose.
T. The increase of the extra per diem
of soldier-teachers employed in post
schools, and liberal appropriations for
the erection of buildings for schools and
libraries at the different posts.
5. The repeal or amendment OF the
act of June IS, 1878, forbidding the ''use
OF the army as posse conaitatats, or 9TH
erwise, for the purpose of executing the
laws, except in such cases and under such
circumstances as may be expressly au-
thorized by the Constitution or by act
Congress-"
6. The passage of joint resolution O.
Congress legalizing the issue of rations,
tents. and medicines which were made
for the relief of sufferers from yellow fe-
yer.
Z. That provisions be made for the
erection of fire proof building for the
now constantly exposed to destruction
by fire.
These recommendations are all COM
mended to your favorable consideration.
The report of the Secretary Of the
Navy shows that the navy has improved
during the last fiscal year. Work has
been done on seventy. five vessels. ten
OF which have been thoroughly repair
ed, and made ready for sea. The others
are In rapid progress towards compile
ticn. The total expenditures of the
year, including the amountappropriated
for the deficiencies of the previous year,
were $17, 468 1872 65. The actual expens-
es chargeable to the year, exclusive of
these deficiencies, were S13, 306 9l4.09, or
$767, l99 Is less tn those of the previ-
GUS year, and 81 92S 677 "A less than the
expenses, including the deficiencies.-
The estimates for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1880. are Sl4, 562, 381 .45-exceed-
year only $3S, $40 rs; which excess is oc-
casioned by the demands of the Naval
Academy and the Marine Corps, as ex-
planned in the Secretary's report. The
appropriations for the present fiscal
year are $14,52S. 431.7O, which, in the
opinion of the Secretary will be ample
for all current expenses of the depart
ment during the year. The amount
drawn from the Treasury from July l
to November l, 1878, is $1.74O, 544 IA, of
which $7O,9S075 has been refunded,
leaving as the expenditure for that pc
riod 81 $3.50 ,564. &c. or $500, 899 "a less than
the corresponding period of the last fis-
cal year.
The report of the Postmaster General
embraces detailed statement of the
operations Of the Postoffice Department.
The expenditures of that department
for the fiscal year ended June 81. ISIS
were $34. 165, 084.49. The receipts. in
Guiding sales of stamps, money order
business. and official stamps. were $685.
FL, 516.95. The sum of 1890, 1856, 80, in
cluded in the foregoing statement of
expenditures, is chargeable to preceding
years, SO that the actual expenditures
for the fiscal year ended June 80. 1878.
are $33, S74. 647 so. The amount drawn
from the Treasury on appropriations, in
addition to the revenues of the depart
ment, was S., 307, 652.S2. The expendi-
lures for the fiscal year ending June 80.
1880, are estimated at $36, ST. 800, and the
receipts from all sources at $50, 1854, O23.-
80, leaving deficiency to be appropriate
cd out of the Treasury of SIS, 907, S76 10.
The report calls attention to the fact that
railroads for carrying the mail ia regu-
lated by law, and that the failure of
Congress to appropriate the amounts re-
CURED for these purposes does not re-
lieve the Government of responsibility,
but necessarily increases the deficiency
bills which Congress will be called upon
to pass.
In providing for the postal service the
following questions are presented: =
Should Congress annually appropriate
sum for its expenses largely in excess
OF Its revenues, or should such rates of
postage be established as will make the
department self sustaining? Should the
number of post. routes be diminished?
Should other methods be adopted which
Will increase the revenues or diminish
the expenses of the posta! service?
The International Postal Congress.
which met at Paris May l, 1873. and
continued in session until June 4, of the
same year, was composed of delegates
from nearly all the civilized countries
of the world. 1t adopted a new con-
vention to take the place of the treaty
concluded at Berne October 8, 1874:
which goes into effect on the LIST of
April, 1879, between the countries whose
delegates have signed it. It was rati
fed and approved. by and with the
consent OF the President, August 10.
1873. A synopsis of the Universal Pos
tai Convention will be found in the re-
port of the Postmaster General, and
the full text in the appendix thereto
In its origin the Postal Union COM
prised twenty-three countries, having a
population of three hundred and fifty
millions Of people. On the 1st Of April
next 1t will comprise forty-three coun-
tries and colonies, with population of
more than six hundred and fifty mill
lions OF people, and will soon, by the
accession of the few remaining countries
and colonies which maintain organized
postal services, constitute. in fact as we'll