The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-12-03

4 tEy Will W uuOL5tuIgGA W 5SNt
Interference with the laws affecting \, an
We may confidently expect that the r
sumption Of specie payments, which VI
take place at the appointed time, Will b
successfully and easily maintained, an
that It will be followed by healthful an
enduring revival OF business prosperity.
Let the healing influences Of time, To
inherent energies OF our people, and tn
boundles resources OF our country, have
fair opportunity, and relief from presen
difficulties will surely follow.
THgwAR DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Secretary Of Wa
shows that the army has been well ant
economically supplied, that our small fore,
has been actively employed, and has faith
fully performed all the service required Q
It. The morale OF the army has improved
and the number OF assertions has materi
ally decreased during the year.
The Secretary recommends
|. That a pension be granted to The
widow OF the late Lieutenant Henry IL
Benner, 18th Infantry, who lost his life BY
yellow fever while in command OF the
steamer 81. NJ. Chambers" sent with sup
plies for the relief OF sufferers in the South
from that disease. NN
2. The establishment OF the annuity
scheme for the benefit Of the heirs OF de
ceased officers, as suggested by the Pay
master General.
8. The adoption by Congress Of q plan
for the publication Of the records Of the
War OF the Rebellion, now being prepared
for thst purpose.
4. The increase OF tho extra per diem o.
soldier.teachers employed in post.schools
and liberal appropriations for the erection
OF buildings for schools and libraries at the
different posts.
8. The repeal or amendment Of the act
OF June IS, 1878, forbidding the fuse OF the
army as n pose comitatus, or otherwise, foI
the purpose OF executing the laws, except
in such cases and under such circumstan'
ces as may be expressly authorized by the
Constitution or by act OF Congress" =,
.. The passage OF o JOINT resolution oil
Congress legalizing the issues Of rations,
tents, and medicines which were made for
the relief of sufferers from yellow fever.
7, That provision be made for the cree
ton OF q tire-proof building for the pres
ervation OF certain valuable records, now
constantly exposed to destruction ny fire.
These recommendation are all COM
mended to- your favorable consideration.
TIE 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.five vessels, ten OF which have
been thoroughly repaired, and made ready
for sea. Two others are in rapid progress
towards completion. The total expendi-
lures OF the year, including the amount
appropriated for the deficiencies OF the
previous year, were ST., 1902 65. The
actual expenses chargeable to the year,
exclusive Of these deficiencies, were SlS,-
SOG,914 90, or S7B7, 100 IS less than those
OF the previous year, and 81, 92S, G7l a less
than theexpenses, including Deficiencies.
The estimates for fiscal year ending June3O,
1880. arc $l4 ,562, 3S1 45-exceeding the ap.
preparations OF the present year only $685.
$40 rs; which excess is occasioned by the
demands OF the Naval Academy and the
Marine Corps, rs explained in the Secre-
tary's report. The appropriations for the
present fiscal year are SID OBS, 43l 20,
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 /, 1878, is 81, 1905
II, Of which $70,0S0 10 has been refunded,
leaving rs the expenditure for that period
$4,000, sos 80, or $3.50, 800 "a less than the
corresponding period OF the last fiscal
year. .- .u..
TIE posTOPFICH DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the Postmaster General
embraces a detailed statement Of the opcr-
atoms OF the Postoiiice Department The
expenditures OF that Department for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1878,
were $S4, Jos, 0si 40. The receipts, in
Guiding sales of stamps, money or
der business, and official stamps,
we're S20,277,516 %. The sum OF
500, 1856 90, included in the foregoing
statement OF expenditures, is chargeable
to preceding years, SO that the act ual ex
penditures for the fiscal year ended June
30, 1873, are S33,ST4,G4 SO. The amount
drawn from the Treasury on appropria-
tons, in addition to the revenues OF the
Department, was $780,, 652 81. The ex.
penditures for the fiscal year ending June
10, 1850, arc estimated at 1851 800, and
the receipts from all sources at $50, gu,
OPS 80, leaving a deficiency to be appro'
priated out the Treasury OF S5,907 ,S76 10.
The report calls attention TO the fact that
the compensation Of poslmasters and OF
railroads for carrying the mail Is regulated
by law, and that the failure OF Congress to
appropriate the amounts required for these
purposes does not relieve the Government
OF responsibility, but necessarily increases
tho deficiency bills which Congress will be
called upon to pass. a.''
In providing for the postal service, the
following questions arc presented: Should
Congress annually appropriate q sum for
its expenses largely in excess OF Its reve'
nues, orshould such rates of postage be es,
tablishedas will make the Department self!
sustaining? Should the postal service be
reduced by excluding from the mails, mat.
ter which does not pay its way? Should
the number OF post routes DO diminished
Should other methods be adopted which
will increase the revenues or diminish the
expenses Of the postal servlca2' ,,.,
The international Postal Congress, which
met at Paris May /, 1878, and continued In
session until June OF the same year, was
composed OF delegates from nearly all the
civilized countries OF the world. ltadopt.
cd q new convention, TO take the place Of
tho treaty concluded at Bernc, October o,
1874; which goes into effect on the LIST oil
April, 1870, between the countries
whose delegates have signed It. It was
ratified and approved, by and with the
consent OF the President, August IS, 1878
A synopsis OF this Universal Postal Con-
yention will be found in the report OF the
Postmaster General, and the full text in
the appendix thereto. In its origin the
Postal Union comprised twenty three
countries, having q population Of three
hundred and fifty millions Of people. On
the LIST Of April next 1t will comprise forty
three countries and colonies, with pop.
ulation Of more than six hundred and fifty
millions 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 al
In name, as It's now titleindicates.a Univer
sal Union, regulating, upon auniform basis