Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-02

IL Il
ance with the conditions of the law. BY its
terms, the public debt should have been reduced
between 1862 and the close OF the last fiscal year.
s5 e,36f S06.2S; the actual reduction OF the aScer
! tanned eebt, in that period, has been S72o.64i.-
taS 81: icing in excess Of the reduction required
by the sinking-fund act-s2o2, ,2s2, 933 33.
| Tie amount of the public debt, less cash in the
treasury November /. 1878, was s. e2i, 30 iS iS
| "a reduction, since the same date last year, Of
S23, IJO. .6l SO.
The progress made during the last year. in
reminding the public debt at lower rates of in-
| te1est, Is very gratifying. The amount OF to;r
| ercent: bonds sold during the present year
pl1or TO November %, 1878, is SO0, ,2T0 900, and
SIX per cent. bonds, commonly known as five
lWSEtles, 10 an equal amount have been or
| Will be redeemed as calls mature.
1t has been the policy of the department to
| place the four cent. bonds within easy reach OF
| every citizen who desires TO invest his savings
! whether small or great, in these securities Tne
Secretary OF the Treasury recommends that me
Ia" pe SO nlodlfied, that small sums may be in
otSae oeS1ed, ana that through the post offices or
GtEef agents or the government, the freeSt oo-
poftunlfy may be given in all parts OF the cOun-
try for such investments.
| The best mode suggested is, that the DEPART
| ment be authorized TO issue certificates of de-
| pOSit of the denomination OF ten dollars bear
| ing interest at tie rate $50 per cent per annum
and convertible at any time within one year
| after their issue into the four per cent. bonds
| authorized by the refundng act, and to be is
| sued only in exchange for United States notes
sent TO the Treasury by mail or otherwise
| Such provision OF law, supported by suitable
| regulations, would enable any person readily
| without cost or risk, 10 convert his money INTO
| an interest bearing security of The United
| states and the money SO received could be an
| piled 10 the redemption Of six per cent bonds
The coinage OF gold during the last fiscal year
| was S5z '9s,9s0 The coinage of silver dollars,
| under the act passed February 2S. ISIS amount
| cd on the 2Sd OF November, 1878. to sl9Sl4559
| Of which amount =, 1854 a. are in circulation
and the balance, s4.S29, GG3 is still in the pcs
| session OF the Government.
With views unchanged with regard to the act
| under which the coinage OF silver proceeds, it
| has been the purpose of the Secretary faithfully
| 70 execute the law, and to afford a fair trial TO
! the measure.
IN the present financial condition of the conn
| ty, am persuaded that the welfare OF legiti-
| mate business and industry OF every deScrfpfion
| Will be best promoted by ab5tanin% from all
| attempts 10 make radical changes in'tAe exist
ing financial legislation. Let It be understood
that during the coming wear the business of the
| country VIII be undlsiurbed by governmental
| interference with the laws affecting it, and we
| may confidently expect that the resumption of
| specie pay lnentS, which viii take place at the
| appointed time will be successfully and easily
| maintained, ard that it VIII be followed by a
healthful and enduring revival of business
Let the healing influence of time. the inherent
| energies OF our people, and the bOundlesS re-
| sources OF our country, have fair oppoftInity
ana rellel from present difficulties viii surrey
The report of the Secretary Of War shows
| that the army has been well and economically
supplied. that cur small force has been actively
| employed, and has faithfully performed all the
| service required OF it. Tie morale of the army
| has improved, and the number of desertions has
| materially decreased during the year.
| 1he secretary recommends
! !. Ihat pension be granted to the widow OF
| the late Lieutenant Henry III. Benner lSJn In
| faDtry, who lost his life by yellow fever while
| IN command OF the steamer J. NJ. Chambers
| sent with supplies for the relief OF sufferers il
| 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.
| ). lhe adoption by Congress OF plan for the
| puollcatlon OF tile records OF the War OF the
| feDelHon, no" being prepared for that pllr-
| pose.
4. The increase of the extra per diem of SOL
! der-teacherS employed in post schools, and lib
eral appropriations for the erection Of buildings
| Tor schools and libraries at the different posts
| .. 1he repeal on amendment OF the act OF
June l., lSIo. f0rbiddiDr the ''uSe OF the army
| as posse colntatlS. OF otherwise, for the pur-
| pose OF executing the laws except i'll SUCH cases
| ana under such circumstances as may be ex-
| pleSSiE authorized by tie Constitution or by
| act Of Congress-
| q. I he passage Of a joint resolution of CON
| gfesS leg2:iZns the issues Gf ra,ions. tents ana
medicines which were made for the relief of SUI
| 1erclS from yellow fever.
Z. That provision be made for The erection OF
| nre-proof building fer the preservation Of Ger
| tain valuable records, now constantly exposed
| to destruction by fire.
! 1he recommendations are all commended 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-fVe vessels ten of which have been
thoroughly repaired, and made ready for sea.
| Two others are in rapid progress towards COM
| petlon. The total expenditures of the year.
| including the amount appropriated for the de-
ne nclencleS OF the previous year, were S17,45S,-
| 392.G5. The actual expenses chargeab,e to the
| year. exclusive OF these deficiencies, were sl3-
3O6,94O9 or $t6I 199 Is less than those OF the pre-
ylous year, and 1922, ,61,..4 less than the ex-
| penses, including the Deficiencies The eSti-
| mates fOr the fiscal year ending June 80, 1850,
are Sl4, ,562, ,3S1 .45-eXceeding the appropriations
OF the present year only s33949. .'5; Which excess
! is occasioned by the demands of the Naval
! Academy and the Marine Corps, as explained
III the Secretary'S report. The appropriations
| for the present fiscal year are 4,52S 431 20,
which, In the opinion OF the Secretary, will be
ample for all the current expenses OF the De-
| partment during the year. The amount drawn
rom ON the Treasury from July to November
been refunded, leaving as the expenditure for
that period 81, ,G69 80, $780, 92i less than
the corresponding period OF the last nscal year.
The report OF the Postmaster General en-
braces a detailed statement of the operations
| or the POST Otlce Department. The eXpendi-
lures OF that Department for the fiscal year
ended June 81, 1873, were $34 l65, ,O4 49, The re-
| celpts including sales OF stamps money order
business and official stamps, were S29 2Il 5169j
| The sum Of $3.50 1860, included in the forego-
| ing statement OF expenditures, is chargeable to
preceding years. so that the actual eXpendi-
lures 1Or the 1Scal year ended June So 1878, are
sS3,Sl4.6+1.5O. The amount drawn from the
1
revenues OF the Department, was s., ,30I ,652 81
| 1he expenditures for the fiscal year ended June
80, 1850, are estimated at S3G, 81 800, and the
receipts from all sources at $50 G64 O23 go leay-
| ing deficiency TO be appropriated out of
the Treasury OF 5.9o7, ,s76.1 10. The report
| calls attention to the fact that the COM
| pensatiOn of pOstmasters and of railroads
for carrying the mail is regulated by
law, and that the failure of Congress to appro-
pirate the amounts required for these purposes
dCeS not relieve the Government of responsible
ity, but necessarily increases the deficiency
b1llS which Congress will be called upon TO
pass.
In providing for the postal service, the follow
ing questions are presented: Should Congress
annually appropriate sum for its expenses
largely In excess OF its revenue, or should such
rates OF postage be established as will make the
Department 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-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
net at Paris May l, 1918, and continued in seS-
sion until June OF the same year, was CON-
poeed OF delegates from nearly all the civilized
countries Of the world. 1t adopted new con-
Ventlon, to take the place of the treaty con-
cluded at Berne october 3, 1874; which goes
into effect on the lst Of April, 1s.9 between the
countries whose delegates have signed it. II
was ratified and approved, by and with the con-
| sent OF the President, August 10, 1878. synop.
| sis CT this Universal Postal Convention vii! be