The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-03
year, and s4,928,e77.74 less than the ex-
penses, including the deficiencies. The es-

penses, including the deficiencies. The es-
tiustes fer the fiscal syeagsse ndiEg 5nnes20s
1880, are ST., 582, 3Sf .45-exceeding the mp
preparations OF the present year only $685.
sa9.75; which excess is occasiened by the
| denan dsioi the Naval Academy and the Ma
/ zine Corps, ms explained in the Secretary's
report. The appropriations for the presen /
| fiscal year are 81 4,52s, 431.7o, which, in the
opinion Of the Secretary, will be ample for all
the current expenses Of the Department du-
ring the year. The amount drawn from
the Treasury from July /, to November /,
1878, Is S4,740,544.14, OF which S7O,980.75
has been refunded, leaving as the expeudi-
ture for that period 81, 8s9, 500. ,jor $780,
| 1924 less than the corresponding period
| OF the last fiscal year.
The report OF the Postmaster General
embraces detailed statement OF the opera
ttons Of the POST Office Department. The
Expenditures of that Department for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1878, were S34,-
f65,0S4.49. The receipts, including sales OF
stamps, money order business, and official
stamps, were S29,277.516.95. The sum OF
| 1896, 1855. 80, included in the foregoing state
ment of expenditures, Is chargeab!e to pre-
ceding years. so that the actual eXpendi-
lures for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1878,
are S33,874,647.50. The amount drawn
from the Treasury on appropriations, in
addition to the revenues OF the Department,
was $500, G52.S2. The expenditures for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1880, are es-
timated at $50, ST. 800, and the receipts from
all sources at S30,664, 023.90, leaving q def.
cheney to be appropriated out OF the Trea-
sury OF 30, 907, S76.10. The report calls at
tention to the fact that the compensation Of
postmasters and OF railroads for carrying
| ~, ,1ofo 1,r 1ouy hot bo
failure Of Congress to appropriate the
not relieve the Government OF RESPONSE
bility. but necessarily increases the def
cheney bills which Congress will be called
upon to pass. =.
In providing for the postal service the fol-
lowing questions are presented: Should
| Congress annually appropriate sum for its
expenses largely in excess OF its revenues,
or should such rates OF postage be estab-
lished as will make the Department seli-sus-
tanning? Should the postal service be re-
duced by excluding from the mails matter
which does not pay its way? Should the
number OF post-routes be diminished?
| Should other methods be adopted which
will increase the revenues or diminish the
expenses Of the postal service?
The international Postal Congress which
met at Paris May l, 1878, and continued in
session until June 4th OF the same year, was
composed Of delegates from nearly all the
civilized countries OF the world. 1t adopted
a new convention, to take the place OF the
treaty concluded at Berne October 8, 1874,
| which goes into effect on the 1st Of April,
1870, between the countries whose delegates
have signed it. 1t was ratified and ap-
proved, by and with the consent Of the
President, August 10, 1878. A synop-
sis OF this Universal Postal Convention
will be found in the report OF the Post
master General, and the full text in the
appendix thereto. In its origin the Postal
Union comprised twenty-three countries,
having q population Of 350,000,000 OF peo-
pie. On the 1St Of April next 1t will COM
prise folty-three countries and. colonies,
with population OF more than 650,000,000
OF people, and will soon, by the accession OF
the few remaining countries and colonies
which maintain organized postal services,
constitute, in fact as well rs in name, as its
new title indicates, 4 Universal Union, reg
ulating upon uniform basis OF cheap post
agerates the postal intercourse between
all civilized nations.
Some embarrassment has arisen out Of the
conflict between tile customs laws OF this
country and the provisions OF the Postal
Convention in regard to the transmission Of
foreign books and newspapers to this coun-
try by mail. 1t is hoped that Congress will
be able to devise some means OF reconcilinS
the difficulties which have thus been ere
ated, so as TO do justice to all parties in
volyed.
The business Of the Supreme Court, and
of the courts III many OF the circuits, has
increased to such an extent during the past
years that additional legislation is impera-
tive to relieve and prevent the delay Of JUS
tice, and possible oppression TO suItors,
which is thus occasioned. The encountered
'condition OF these dockets is presented anew
in the report OF the Attorney-General,a and
the remedy suggested Is earnestly urged for
congressional action. The creation OF adj
ditional circuit judges, as proposed, would
afford comrlete remedy, and would in
volve an eXpense-at the present rate OF
saaries-of not more than 100000 year.
The annual reports OF the Secretary OF
the Interior and OF the Commissioner OF In
dian Affairs present an elaborate account OF
the present condition Of the Indian tribes
and OF that branch OF the public service
which ministers to their interests. While
the conduct Of the Indians generally has
been orderly, and their relations with
their neighbors friendly and peaceful,
two local disturbances have occurred
which were deplorable in their char
acter, but remained, happily, confined to
q comparatively small number OF Indians.
The discomfort among the Bannocks, which
led first to some acts OF violence on the part
OF some members OF the tribe, and finally to |
the outbreak, appears to have been caused |
bv an insutficiency Of food on the reserya-
ton. and this insutticiency to have been |
owing to the inadequacy or the appropria- |
tons made by Congress to the wants OF the |
Indians at time when the Indians were |
prevented from supplying the deficiency |
by hunting. After an arduous pursuit by |
the troops OF the United States, and
several engagements, the hostile In
dams were reduced TO subsection, and |
the larger part OF them surrendered them
selves as prisoners. In this connection I |
desire to call attention to the recommends |
ton made by the Secretary Of the Interior |
that a sufficient fund be placed at the dis |
posal Of the Executive to be used, with
proper accountability, at discretion in sud-
den emergencies OF the Indian service.
The other case OF disturbance was that OF
a band of northern Cheyennes who suddenly
lett their reservation in the Indian terri
tory and marched rapidly through the States
Of Kansas and Nebraska in the direction Of
their old hunting grounds, committing
murders and other crimes on their way.
From documents accompanying the report
OF the Secretary OF the Interior it appears
that this disorderly band was as fully sup
piled with the necessaries Of life as the four
thousand seven hundred other Indians who
remained quietly on the reservation, and
that the disturbance was caused by men CT
arestless and mischievous disposition among
the Indians themselves. Almost the whole
OF this band have surrendered to the mill