The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-03
TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 8.

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 to execute the law and TO
afford a fair trial TO the measure.
In the present financial condition OF the
country 1 am persuaded that the welfare OF
legit mate business and industry of every de-
seription will be best promoted by abstaining
from all attempts to make radical changes in
the existing financial legislation. Let it be
understood that during the coming year the
business Of the country will be undisturbed by
governmental interference with the laws affect
ing il, aud we may confidently expect that the
resumption of specie payments, which will take
place at the appointed time, will be successful
ly and easily maintained, and that it will be
followed by healthfni and enduring revival
of business prosperity. Let the healing iuflu-
eDce of time. the Inherent energies of our peo-
pie and the bIubdless resources of our country
have q far opportunity and relief from the
present difficulties will surely follow.
The War Department..
The report of the Secretary of War shows
tn At the army has been well and economically
supplied, that our small force has been active
ly employed and has faithfully performed all
the service required of it. The morale of the
army has improved and the number of deser-
tions has materially decreased during the year.
The Secretary recommends:
l-Ludb q pcuSubu 10 STdutou w bu0 WiuOW
of the late Lieut. Henry 81. Benner, 18th In
fantry, who lost his life by yellow fever while
in command of the steamer j. w. Chambers,
sent with supplies for the relief of sufferers in
the South from that disease.
2The establishment of the annuity scheme
for the benefit of the heirs of deceased officers
as suggested by the paymaster general.
3-The adoption by Congress of a plan for
the publication of the records of the war of the
rebellion now being prepared for that purpose.
hn TnaH sNff In xrtpnv dfns Af sol
der teachers employed in post schools, and
liberal appropriations for the erection of build
1nRs for schools and libraries at the different
posts.
5--The repeal or amendment of the act of
June Is, 1873, forbidding the fuse of the army
as posse c0nitdtuS or otherwise for the pur-
pose of executing the laws except in such cases
and under such circumstances as may be ex-
pressiy authorized by the constitution or by act
of Congress-"
6-The passage of Joint resolution Of Con-
gress legahzing the issues Of ratiOns, tents and
medicines which were made for the relief OF
sufferers from yellow fever.
THAT provision be made for the erection
OF a fire proof building for the preservation OF
certain valuable records now constantly ex-
posed to destruction by fire.
The recommendations are all commended to
your favorable consideration.
The Navy Department.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
shows that the navy has improved during the
last fiscal year. Work has been done on Is
vessels, 10 of which have been thoroughly re-
paired and made ready for sea. Two others
are in rapid progress toward completion. The
total expenditures of the year. including the
amount appropriated for the Deficiencies of the
previous year, were $17 46S, 1892 65. The actual
expenses chargeable to the year exclusive of
these deficiencies were S13 308 9l4 %. or $751;
1893 Is less than those OF the previous year, and
$4,92S,677 AZ less than the expenses, including
the deficiencies. The estimates for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1880, are $14 ,562 1881 45,
exceeding the appropriations of the present
year only $3,749.75, which excess is occasioned
by the demands of the naval academy and ma
rlne corps as explained in the Secretary 3 report
The appropriations for the present fiscal year
are $14, 528 431 20, which in the opinion of the
Secretary will be ample for the current ex-
penses of the department during the year. The
amount drawn from the treasury from July 1
to Nov. /, 1878, is $4,740, 544.14, of WHICH $70,
980.75 has been REFUNDED, leaving as the expen-
di'ur-s for that period $4,000 ,563.39, or $780,
1924 less than the corresponding period of the
last fiscal year.
The Post-Omce Deparimsn
The report of the Postmaster General en-
braces detailed statement of the operations
of the Post Office Department.. The exDendi-
lures of that department for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1878, were 1874, 165 0S4.4 The
receipts, including sales OF Stamps, money Or
der business and Official stamps were 1923 277,
$685. The sum of 1920, 1856 go Included 10 the
foregoing statement of actual expenditures is
chargeabe to preceding years, SO that the ac-
tual expenditures for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1878. are $33, 874, 647 so The amount
drawn from the Treasury GU appropriations in
addition to the revenues of the department was
$5,307 ,652 50. The expenditures for the fiscal
year ending June 81, 1880, are estimated at
at $50, 1854 ,023.90, leaving deficiency to b. ap-
proprlaled out OF the Treasury of $780,, S76 10.
The report calls attention to the fact that the
compensation OF postmasters and of railroa Dis
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. 10 pro-
viding for the postal service the following ques-
tions are presented: Should Congress an
nually appropriate sum for its expenses large
ly in excess of the revenues, or should such
rates of postage be established as will make the
department self-sustaining? Should the pos
service be reduced by excluding from the mails
tai matter which does not payiits way? Should
the number of post routes be diminished?
Should other methods be adopted which will
increase the revenues or diminish the revenues
Of the postal service?
The International postal congress which met
at PARIS May l, 1878, and continued 10 session
until June Alb Of the same year was composed
of delegates from nearly all the civilized
countries of the world. 1t adopted a new con-
vention to take the phase of the treaty con-
cluded at Bernie October 9. 1874, which goes
into effect on the LIST of April, 1879, between
the countries whose delegates have signed it.
1t was ratified and approved by and with the
consent of the President, August 10, 1878.
A synopsis of this universal postal convention
will be found in the reports of the Postmaster
General, and the full text in the appendix
thereto. In its origin the postal union COM
prised twepty-three countries having q
population of 350,000,000 Of people.
On the LIST of April nexs 1t will comprise forty.
three countries and colonies with population
OF more than $50 900 1000 and will soon b. the ac-
cession OF the few remaining countries and col
onies which maintain organized postal services,
constitute in fact as we'll as in name as its title
indicates universal union, regulating upon a
uniform basis of cheap postage rates the postal
intercourse between all civilized nations Some
endorsements have arisen out of the conflict
between the cdstoms laws of this country and
the provisions of the postal convention in re-
gard 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 reconciling the difficulties
which have thus been created so as to do lust
ceIto all parties involved.
United States Courts.
The businessIof the Supreme Court and of the
Courts in many of the Circuits has increased
at such an extent during the past year that adj
and prevent the delay of JUSTICE and possible
oppression TO suitors which is thus occasioned
The encountered condition of these dockets is
presented anew in the report of the Attorney
General, and the remedy suggested is earn
estly urged for Congressional action. The
creation of additional Circuit judges as pro-
posed would afford Q complete remedy, and
would involve an expense at the present rate
OF salaries of not more than 100000 year.
Interior Department and Indians.
The annual reports of the Secretary of the
Interior and of the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs present an elaborate account of the
present condition of the Indian tribes and of
that branch of the public service which minis
tiers 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 COM
paratively small number of Indians. The dis
turbances among the Bannocks, which led to
some acts of violence on the part of come
members of the tribe, and finally to the out
break, appears to hav been caused BY an in
suficency of food on the reservation, and this
insufficiency to have been owing to the made
quacy of the appropriations made by Congress
to the wants of the Indians at time when the
Indians we've prevented from supplying the
deficiency BY huoting. After an arduous pur-
suit bV the troODS of The Unitad States and COW