The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-03

t5i8 1861 S06 2s the actual reduction Of tho as
oertained debt In that period has been 100 .644.
1881 being In excess OF tho reduction re-
Tho amount OF the public debt. lees cash in
the Treasury. Nov l. 1878 was ~ 02l 200 .Os3.is
"a a REDUCTION, since tho same date last year. OF
The progress made during the last year in
refunding the public debt a lower rates Of in
pcr cent. bonds sold during the present year
prior TO Nov. %. 1878 Is t10O, ,270. 800. and six
twcnties. to an equal amount, have boon. or will
be redeemed as calls mature.
place the four per cent bonds within easy reach
OF every citizen who desires TO invest his saw
ings. Whether small or great. IN these securi-
mends that the law DO 40 modified that small
sums may be Invested aud that through the
the freest opportunity may be given in all parts
OF tho country for such Investments.
The best mode suggested Is that the depart
mont be authorized to issue certificates OF de-
me interest @ at The rate Of sS5 per cent per
year after their issSe S, into dc four per cent
bonds authorized by the rcfuDding act, and to
DO issued only "a exchange for United states
nOtes sont TO the Treasury by mall or Otherwise.
Such a provision OF law, supported 10y suitable
regulations would enable any person readily
without cost or risk to convert his money into
an interest bearing security OF the United
states. and the money 40 received could be ap-
piled to the redemption OF six per cent bonds.
Tho coinage OF gold during tho last fiscal
year was $50 79s $50. The coinage Of silver
dollars; under the act passed Feb. ~ 1873.
Si9siI.5J0. oi which amount tl9sl.dl1 nre in
circulation. and tho balance. tli.829.6 .603 Is still
In the possession OF the Government
With viows unchanged with regard to the act
under which tho coinage OF silver proceeds. II
has been % .ne p9rpGss p o1 ,he Ssors'sTS an p1a
to the measure.
In the present financial condition Of the
Legitimate business and industry OF every de-
scription will be best promoted by abstaining
the existing financial Legislation. Let II bp un-
| derstood that during the coming year the bust
ness OF the country will be undistur6ed by
| ing II. and we may confidently expect that the
| RESUMPTION ~ sp'cio payments, which will take
| and easily maintained. and that It will be fol-
| lowed by healthful and enduring revival oil
Lei the healing influence Of time, the inherent
| energies Of our people. and the boundicss re-
| sources OF our country. have fair opportunity
and relief from present diiiculties VIII surely
THE ARMY AND THE NAVY.
The report Of the Secretary OF War shows that
| tho army has been well aud economically sup
| Piled that our small forco has been actively
| employed. and has faithfully performed all the
service required o. IT, The morale of the army
| has improved and the number OF doscrtions
| has materially decreased during the year.
| Tie Secretary recommends
1. That a pension be granted TO tho widow Of
| the late Lieutenant Heury III, Benner. Eight
een,h Infantry who lost his lie 10y yellow fever
| while In command Of the steamer j: NJ. Chnm'
| bers. scnt with supplies Tor tho relief OF suffer
ers In tho South from that disease
q The establishment OF the, annuity scheme
a. sugses,ed by the Postmaster General
3. The adOution 10y Congress OF n plan tor the
publication of the records OF the war OF tho re-
belliOn. now being prepared Tor that purpose.
1. The Increase Of the extra per diem of sol
der teachers employed IN poet schools. am
liberal appropriations for the erection Of build
| iugs for schools and libraries nt the differen
8. The repeal or amendment OF tho act O
June Is. 1873. forbidding the use Of the ARM
| as q posse comitatus or Otherwise for tho pur
pose Of executing tho laws. except III snch case
| and under such circunlstnnces "a may De cN
pressly authorized by the Constitution or by a.
| OF Congress
grcss legalizing the issues oi rations tents, nn'
medicines which were made for the relief o
= fhnt provision he made for tho erection o
| fircproOf building Tor tho preservation or Ger
tain valuable records. now constantly exposes
These recon incndntions ara all commendr,
20 your favorable con sideratinn,
| The report of the secretary OF the Navy show
that the navy has improved during the las
tscal yrnr. Work hns been done on seventy
| i've yc-scl- ten Of which have been thorough,
| repaired and made ready for sea Two other
are in rapid pro gress tOwarl completion. Tn
total expenditures OF the year; including Va
| amount appropriated for tho deficiencies OF tn
previous year were ti7 .i6s. 392.G5. The actua
expenses chargeablc 10 the year. exclusive q
|
ll9. ) less than those OF the previous year am
81 923 G77 ~ less than the expenses. inclulin
Ven year ending Jun. 20, lsso. are tli isi Is"
exceeding the appropria.'o 'ons of tie presen
year only s53 39i9I5 which cScsss oc'esi9,n,s 4,
marine corps IA explained IN the Secretary
repoi The 9pprrospr,,ssti'97nns "a i9r ihe presgin
ion Of the Secretary will be ample for all th
current expenses of the department during III
year. The. AMOUNT drawn from the Trc99ssur
from Iltlg -. Nt,k 1. IL 81
which t50.9S0.7j has been refunded. leavin
as 4s s exIBssgd,ure IBs Tor thRl rerod 81 on 56i y.
ri0d Of the last fiscal year
The POST OFFICE.
, Tho report Of the Postmaster General ON
bras's a detailed statement Of the operations ,
the Post ONCE Department. The expenditure
, June 30 1873 were t34, lGj.0si 40. The receipt,
including sales OF stamps. moncy,order bus
ness, and official stamps, were VIZ .3lb9'
, The sum OF 1920 i36 90. included in the fore
p going statement OF expenditures. Ia chhrgehhl
10 preceding years so that tho actual eXuend
D. lures for the fiscal year ended June 81. lSi'
, are s33. .s7i $3.50. The amount drawn from "a
Treasury on appropriation = IN addition TO th
q revenues OF the department, was S5jOi 'oJ4 \.
The expenditures for the fiscal year ondin
June 3. 1880. arc estimated nj t3G,j1 I 900, m
| tho receipts from all sources at $50 6Gi O23.g
I leaving deficiency = be appropriated ont {
} | tho Treasury Of bj.9O7 .s16lO, Tho report cal
= attention to the fact that tho compensation {
r | postmhsters and OF railroads for carrying III
4 | mail H. regulated by law and that the failure
: | Congress To appropriate the amounts require
| for these purposes does not relieve the Govern
| ment OF responsibility, but necessarily Increase
1 the deficiency bills which Congress will
| called upon 60 pass.
| In prnviding for the postal service, the follow
a | ing questions arc presented: should ConGros
1 | annually appr oprlate n sum for its expense
4 largely In excess ~ its revenues. or should sue
| rates Of postage be established IA will make III
- department self-sustaining Should the post
y service be reduced by excluding from the mai
: | matter which does not pay its way Should ~
r | number Of post routes be diminished Shoul
/ | other methods be adopted which will increas
= the revenues or diminish the expenses OF Ill
a | postal sPrviceY
: The International Postal Congress, while
o mot ai Paris May /. 1873 and continued In ses
l. sion until June Of the same year, was con
10 posed OF delegates from nearly all the civllize
. countries Of the world II adopted now col
g vention to tako the place OF the treaty conclude
at Berne oct. Q, 1874 which goes into effect O
r the Isl Of April, 1879. between the countrlt
whose delegates have signed i. 1t was ratne
and approved. by and with the consent OF tl
President Aug. 49, 1878. synopsis OF III
y Universal Postal Convention will be found in Il
i report OF the Postmaster General, and the fu
/. text in the appendix thereto. In its origin IL
Postal Union comprised wenty.three coul
r tries. having population OF three hundred an
= fifty millions OF people On the LIST Of Apr
Q next II will comprise forty-three counirl,
a and colonies. with a population OF more tina
H. .N IL. .n