New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-03


your favorable consideration.
THE NAVY.
| 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-fve vessels,
ten of which have been thoroughly repaired and
made ready for sea. Two others are in rapid pro-
gress toward completion. The total expenditures
of the year, incuding.th amount appropriated for
the Deficiencies of the previous year, were $l ,46s
| 392 65. The actual expenses chargeable to the
year, exclusive of these deficiencies, were $l3,-
3O6,914 90, or $767, 1919 IS less than those
of the previous year, and $4,02S,677 IA less
than the expenses including the deficiencies
| The estimates for the fiscal year ending June so
1850, $14, 562 3S1 45-exceeding the appr0pria-
exeess By the demands Of the Naval
Academy and the Marine Corps. as explained IN the
Secretary's report. The appropriations for the
| present fiscal year are $1452S,431 10, which. IN
the opinion of the Secretary, will be ample for all
the current expenses of the Department during the
year. The amount drawn from the Treasury from
| July to November /, 1873, is $4,740,544 IA, of
which $70,9S0 70 has been refunded, leaving as the
expenditure for that period 81 500 563 80, or $500
500 "a less than the period OF the last
fiscal year.
TIE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Postmaster General embraces
detailed statement of the operations of the Post
Office Department. The expenditures of that De-
partner. for the fiscal year ended June so, 1873.
were 1874. l65 0S4 40. The receipts, including sales
of stamps, money business and official stamps,
were 500. 277,516 95. The sum OF 5000, 436 90,
| included in the foregoing statement of expendi-
lures, is chargeabe to preceding years. so that the
actual expenditures for the fiscal year ended
June So 1878, are 49,, S74,647 so. The
amount drawn from the Treasury on ap-
preparations, in addition to the revenues
of the Departments was $5.307, 652 SO. The ex-
penditures for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1880,
are estimated at 36.571 ,900 and the receipts from
all sources at $50, 654 O23 80, leaving deficiency
to be appropriated out of the Treasury of $5,907,-
$40 10. The report calls attention to the fact that
the compensation of pOstmasters and of the rail-
roads for carrying the mails is regulated by law,
and that the failure of Congress to appropriate the
amounts required for these purposes does not re-
leve the Government of responsibility, but neces-
sariy increases the deficiency bills which Congress
will be called upon to pass.
In providing for the postal service, the following
questions presented Should Congress annually
appropriate a for it's expenses largely in excess
of its revenues or should such rates of postage be
established as will make the Department sef-sus-
taining7 Should the postal service be reduced by
excluding from the mails matter which does not
pay Its wayf 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 servicef
The International Postal Congress, which met at
Paris, May 1, 1873, and continued in session until
June of the same year, was composed of delegates
from nearly all the civilized countries in the world.
1t adopted a new convention, to take the place of
the treaty concluded at Berne, October O. 1874;
which goes into effect on the LIST of April 1879 be-
tween the countries whose delegates have signed it.
be wsS gae Of fRe O
1878. A synopsis of this Universal Postal Con-
venton Will be found in the report of the
De- ,optar Gntaar and In T1n in I'm
appendix thereto. In Its origin, the Postal Union
comprised twenty-three countries having pOpula-
ton of 1850 600 900 of people On the 1st of April
next, 1t will comprise fortythree countries and col
Onies, with population OF more than CSC, 10000
of people, and VIII soon, by the accession of the few
remaining countries aud colonies which MAINTAIN
organized postal services, constitute in fact well
as in name, its new title indicates, Universal
Union, regulating upon uniform basis of cheap
postage rates, the postal intercourse between all
civilized nations.
Some embarrassment has arisen out of the conflict
between the customs laws OF this country and the
provisions of the Postal Convention, in regard to
the transmission of foreign books and newspapers
to this country by mail 1t Is hoped that Congress
will be able devise means of reconcingth the
difficulties which has thus been created as to do
justice to all parties involved
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The business of the Supreme Court, and of the
courts in many of the circuits has increased to such
extent during the passed years that additional
legislation imperative to relieve and prevent the
delay of justice, and possible oppression to suitOrs
which is thus occasiOued. The encountered con- |
dition of these dockets is presented 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 remedy, ana
would involve an eXpense-at the present rate OF
salaries-of not more than $50, 600 year.
THE INDIAN SERVICE.
The annual reports of the Secretary of the Interior
and of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs present
nj ~ no nf
Indian Tribes and of that branch of the public SER
vice which ministers to their interests While the
conduct of the Indians generally has been orderly
and their relations with their neghbors friendly and
peaceful, two local disturbances have occurred,
which were deporable in their character, but re-
mained, happily, confined to q comparatively small
number of Indians. I he discomfort among the
Bannacks which led first to acts of violence on
the part of some members of the tribe and finaytO
the break appears to have been caused by insult
ieiency of food the reservation. and this INSULT
cheney to have been owing to the inadequacy of
the appropriations made by Congress to the wants
of the Indians, at q time when the Indians were
prevented from supplying the deficiency by hunt
ing. After arduous pursuit by the troops of the
United States and several engagements, the hostile
Indians reduced to subsection, and the larger
part of them surrendered themselves as prisoners.
In this connection desire TO call attention to the
recommendation made by the Secretary of the In
terror that sufficient fund be placed atthe dis
posal of the Executive to be used with proper ac-
countabllisy at discretion. in sudden emergencies
of the Indian service.
The other case of disturbance was that Of band
of Northern Cheyennes who suddenly left their
reservation in the Indian Territory and marched
rapidly through the States of Kansas and Nebraska
in the direction of their old hunting-grounds, CON-
hitting murders and other crimes on their way.
From documents accompanying the report of the
Secretary of the Interior, ii appears that this dis
orderly band was as fully supplied with the