American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-12-07


h'- savings whether small or great. in these
securities. Tns Secretary of the Treasury
recommends that the law re so modified tina
small sums may be invested and ihrt through
the post offices, or other agents of the Coz
ernment,' the freest opportunity may be gfver
IN All parts of the country for such invest
menus. t-. -.
The best mode sugg est ps isthetthe Depart
ment be authorized to issue certificates nf DC
post, OF the denomination of ten dollars
bearing interest ut the rate of 3.65 per cent
per annum and convertible at any time with
IN IN one year after their issue into the four per
and to be issued only in exchange of United
Gates potes sent 50 She Treasury by mail
ported by suitable regulations; would enable
any person reality; without cost or risk, to
convert his money into an interest bearing
security of the United States, and the money
SO received could be applied to the redempi
ton of six per cent bonds.
Inc totnag4 of gold during the last fiscal
year So, 1885, $50. Ths eofpage of silver
dollars, under the act passed February Is,
lsIs; amounted, on the ed of November, 1877
circulation, and the balance, S4 s29 ,603, is still
in the possession of the Government.
With views unchanged with regard to the
act under which the coinage of silver pro-
feeds. 4 he's beer the Purpose Of the Secretary
f fsH r1dfy s Sse2ts tie iw' aria to afford a
In the present fna5ciaI CONDITION Of the
country, am persuaded that the Heftare Of
legitimate business and industry of every
description will be best promoted by alb
staining from all attempts to make radical
IN.
Let it be understood that during the coming
Sear the Business of the country. will be I'M
uistutbed - -t-ern''lepthl fntsrference with
expect that the resumption OF, speeis ply,
ments, which will take place at the appointed
tanned, and that it will be followed by a
healthful and enduring revival of business
prosperity.
herent energies of our people, and the bound
less resources of our eotintrs, have fair OPP
pottttnity and relief from present difficulties
will surely follow:
THE ARMY.
The report of the Secretary of War shows
that the army has been well and economical
saf o and b tHlee h8s
ed all the service refiuired. of il. The morale
of the army has improved, ami the number
of assertions has materially decreased dur
ing the year.
The Secretary recommends
Of nj That pension be Eramsed to the wid low
Infantry, who lost his life by yellow fever
while in command of the steamer 81. NJ.
of sufferer in the South from that disease.
2. The establishment Of the annuity scheme
ticers; as Suggested by the Payhiastef- Aeni
). Tihe adoption By Congress of plan for
the publication of the records OF the War of
the Rebellion. now Being prepared for that
4. The increase of the extra per dieit OF
soldier teachers employed in post schools,
and liberal appropriations for the erection
of buildings for schools and libraries at the
different posts.
s. The repeal or amendment of the act of
June Is, 1873, forbidding the Fuse of the Army
as posse comitatus, or otherwise, for the pur-
pose of executing she laws. except in such
eases and Under such circumstances ~ may
be expressly authorized by the Constitution
Of by net of Congress-
9 The bhssace OF Joint resolution of Con-
gress legaliZing tie issues Of Fati2rs; tents,
and medicines which were matte for the re-
nj q
7. That provision be made for the erection
Of n fire proof building for the preservation
IF certain valuable records, now constantly
~~ro-ed TO destruction by fire.
These re ,omin'ndse..iops are all commended
to 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
repaired and made ready for
%o sfss aTf "a, rapid towards W fds
the deficiencies of the previods year; He'e
q. iss,3s265. The actual eApenses
Of these deficiencies. were Sl3.3O6, BLOC. or
1901, 1918 less than those of the previous
year md less than the eapense a
the hseal year ending June 30, 1Ss0. are sl4,.
Sc, IS :45-efxceeeihS the 81. atptoptiations Of
is accustomed by the demf inds Of the Naval
Academy and the Marine Corps, as explained
Z.
lions for the present fiscal year are SIZES
i3l.7O, which, in the opinion of the Secretary,
will he ample for all the current expenses of
the Department during the year. The
amount drawn from the Treasury from July
|, to November l, lS1S is $, 40 a44.il OF which
expenditure for that period $40 9,56s39, or
500, 500 81 less than the corresponding period
of the last fiscal year.
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The repoft of the Postmaster General en-
Hfip n
of the Post office Department.. The expBndi-
lures OF that department to- the hschi yeat
receipts, including sales of stamps, money
order business S,a q, and r official stamps
1890, 1860, included in the foregoing state
ifient Ut expenditures, is chargeable to pre-
seding years, so that the actual expenditures
FOR the fiscal year ended June 30. 1873. are
s33 81 ,6i7.5n. The am5uiit drawn from the
Treasury on APPROXIMATIONS in addition to
So 81. The expenditures for the fiscal year
ending june 80, 1850, lire estimated at S56,l71,
400. and the receipts from all s6urces at 3d.
66f $3.50, leaving Il deficiency to be approprf-
ated out of the Treasury of 50 .9t1,S16lO. The
report calls attention to the TACT that the
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 the deficiency 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 a sim for its
expenses largely in excess of its revenues, or
should such rates of postage lie established
as will make the Department selt-sustaining?
Should the postal service be reduced by ex-
/. OF pay its way? Should the number of post
routes be'diminished! Should other methods
be adopted which viii increase the revenues
or diminish the expenses of the postal Serv-
ice?
The International Postal Congress. which
met at Paris May l. ISIS, and continued in
GifNtnI MT In A nf hn Won
of delegates from nearly all the
civilized countries of the world. 1t adopted
IL new convention, to take the place of the
treaty concluded ut Berne October 9, 1874;
which goes into effect on the lst of April, 1879,
signed it. 1t was ratified and approved, by
and with the consent OF the President, Aug
ust Ii, 1873. \ synopsis of this Universal
Postal Convention will be found in the re-
port of the Postmaster General, and the full
text in the appendix thereto. In its origin
the Postal Union comprised twenty three
and colonies, with Il population OF
three hundred and fifty millions of people.
On the LIST of April next it will comprise for
ty three countries and colonies, with popu-
latiOn of more than six hundred and fifty
millions OF people, and will soon, by the ac-
cession OF the few remaining countries and
which maintain organized postal
constitute, in fact, as vel! as in
name, as its new title indicates, II Universal
Union, regulating, upon n 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
and the provisions of the Postal
in regard to the transmission OF
foreign books and newspapers to this country
by mail. 1t is hoped that Congress will be
able to devise some means of IecOnciling the
difficulties which have thus been created, so
as to do justice to all parties involved.
THE COURTS.
The business OF the Supreme Court, and OF
the courts III many of the circuits, has In
creased to such an extent during the past
years that additional legislation is impera-
tive to relieve and prevent the delay OF JUS
tee, and possible oppression to suitors.
which Is thus occasioned- The encumbered
condition of these docIsets is presented anew