The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-12-12

Receipts including the sale of stamps, money
order business and official stamps, were $29,-
| 277,5l9 95. The sum of $3.50, 436 SO, in.
cluded in the foregoing statement of expendi.
lures, is chargeabe to the preceding years, SO
that the actual expenditures for the fiscal ytesr
ending June 30, 1878, are $50, S74, CAT so. The
amount drawn from the treasury on apppro.
priation, in addition to the revenues of the de-
partment, was So, 307, 652 so. The expendi.
lures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880,
are estimated at $36, 81 900, and the receipts
from all sources at $50, 664, 023 90, leaving a
deficiency to be appropriated out of the
treasury of S., 907,S76 10. The report calls
attention to the fact that the compensation
of postmasters of railroads for carrying the
mail is regulated by law, and that the failure
of Congress to appropriate the amounts re.
quired for these purposes does not relieve
the government of the responsibility, but
necessarily increases the deficiency bills,
which Congress will be called upon to pass in
providing for postal service. The following
questions are presented: Should Congress
finally appropriate a sum for its expenses
largely in excess of it's revenues 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 postal service!
UNIVERSAL POSTAL SERVICE.
The international postal congress, vlaFh
met at Paris, May |, 1878, and continued in
session until June 4th of the same year, was
composed of delegates from nearly all civil
lied countries of the world. 1t adopted q
new convention to take the place of treaty
concluded at Berne, October 8, 1864. Such
convention goes into effect on the LIST of
April, 1879, between the countries whose dele
gates have signed. 1t was ratified and ap-
proved by and with the consent of the presi-
dent, August 3D. 1878. A synopsis OF this uni
versal postal convention 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 % countries, hav-
ing a population of $50, OO0,O of people,
On the LIST of April next it will comprise 43
countries and colonies with population of
more than $50, 600, 900 of people, and will
soon, by the accession of the few remaining
countries and colonies which maintain organ
lied postal services, constitute in fact as well
as in name, its new title indicates uni
versal union regulating, upon a uniform basis
OF cheap postage rates, the postal intercourse
between civilized nations. Some embarrass-
ment has arisen out of the conflict between the
customs laws of this country and the postal
convention i'll regard to the transmission of
foreign books and newspapers to this country
by mail. 1t is hoped congress will be able to
devise some means remedying the difficulties
which have thus been created so as to do JUS.
tice to all involved.
THE U. s. COURTS.
The business of the supreme court, and of
the circuit courts i'll many of the circuits, hac
increased to such an extent during the pasS>
year that additional legislation is imperative
to relieve and prevent the delay of justice,
and the possible opposition to suitors which
is thus occasioned. The annual report of the
attorney general and the remedy suggested is
earnestly urged for congressional action. The
creation of additional circuit judges as pro.
posed would afford a complete remedy and
would involve an expense at the present rate
of salaries of not more than 500, OOO year.
THE INDIAN TROUBLES.
The annual reports Of the secretary of the
interior and OF the commissioner of Indian
affairs, presents an elaborate account of the
present condition of the Indian tribes, and of
that branch of the public service which min
listers 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 oc-
Cured which were deplorable in their charac.
ter but remained. happily, confined to a
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 tribes, and finally to the
outbreak, appears to have been caused by an
insutiiciency of food on their reservation, and
this insuffciency to have been owing to the
inadequacy of the appropriations made by
congress to the wants of the Indians at a time
when the Indians were prevented from sup
plying the deficiency by hunting. After an
arduous pursuit by the troops of the United
States aad several engagements, the hostile
Indians were reduced to subsection, and the
larger part Of them surrendered themselves as
prisoners.
In this connection desire to call attention
to the recommendation by the secretary Of the =
interior that sufficient fund be placed at the
disposal OF the executive, to be used with
proper accountability, at discretion, in sudden
emergencies Of the Indian service. The other
case of disturbance was that of band of
Northern Cheyennes, who suddenly LETT their
reservation in Indian Territory and marched
rapidly through the States Of Kansas and Ne.
braska in the direction of their old hunting
grounds, committing murders and other crimes
on their way. From documents accompany.
ing the report of the secretary Of the interior
it appears that this disorderly band was as
fully supplied with the necessaries of life AZ
4, 700 other Indians who remained quietly on
the reservation, and that the disturbance was
caused by men of reckless and mischievous
disposition among the Indians themselves.
Almost the whole OF this band have surren-
dered to the military authorities, and it is
act hat hon k.l Al,