Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-12-11


cen, bonds Within easy reach of every citizen
who desires to invc this savings whether small
or great. In these securities The secretary Of
| the easury recommends that the Law DO 81
modified that email sums may be invested and
that through the postotiiccS or other agents III
| the government the freest opportunity may be
given in Nil parts OF the country for such invest
ments. The best mode suggested is that the de-
partment be author zcd to Issue certificates Of de.
| post Of the denomination OF $40, bearing interest
| AT the rate of is per cent. per annum. and con-
vertible ut any time within one year after their
| issue into the per cent. bonds authorized Dy
| the refunding act, and to be issued only in ex-
! change for u. ). notes sent to the treasury by
| mail or otherwise. such provision or law. sup.
ported by suitable regulations would enable any
| person, readily, without cost or risk TO convert
| his money into an Understanding security
OF the United States, aud the money 40
received could be applied to the redemption OF
| the per cent. bonds. The coinage OF gold dur-
ing the last fiscal year was $59 ,9S $50 the coin.
age of silver dollars under the act passed Fee.
-. 1878. amounted to including one-third Of Nov.
| 1873, flS COL ,a55 Of which amount &4,9St941
in circulation. and the balance 603 Is still
in the possession of the government With re-
gard to the act under which the coinage of silver
proceeds. has been the pnrpose OF the secretary
to faithfully execute the law and to afford fair
trial 10 the measure. In the present financial
condition of the country. am persuaded that the
welfare OF legitimate business and Industry OF
| every description will be best promoted by alb
staining from all attemptt TO make radical
changes in existing financial legislation. Let it
| be understood that during the coming year the
| business of the country Will be undisturbcd by
! governmental interference with the laws affect
ing it, and we may confidently expect that the
| sumption of specie payments. which will take
| place at the appointed time, will be successfully
| and easily main aimed, and that 1t will be 70 low
ed by healthiul and enduring rival of business
| prosperity Give the Inherent energies OF our
people and the boundless resources of our
| country fair opportunity, and relief from the
| present difficulty will surely follow
THE ARMY.
The report of the secretary OF war shows that
the army has been well and economically sup
piled, and that our small force has been actively
employed and has faithfully, performed
The morals Of the army has improved
and the number of deserters has materially de-
mends that pension be granted to the widow of
the late Il Henry, II. Benner, 18th infantry, who
the steamer J; NJ. Chambers sent with supplies for
the relief of the sufferers in the south from that
for the benefit of the heroes of deceased officers
suggested by the paymaster general; the adoption
records of the war Of the rebellion now being pre-
for that shs of the
post , schools and liberal APPROXIMATIONS
amendment of the act OF June 18th, 1879 forbid
HH Of ne n
such cases and under such circumstances as may
congress egalzing the issues OF rations tents and
sufferers from yellow fever that pr Provisions S be
made for the erection of a fire. proof building for
| constantly exposed to destruction by fire. These
| commend ations are all commended to your favor
able consideration.
rhe 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 ten OF
which have been thoroughly repaired and made
! towards completion. The total expenditures OF
OF hs s
| The actual expenses chargeabe to the year
than tn mere Year
ana Sta.S67I "a less than the expenses including
ending june So 1850. are sii5s ss'45 exceeding the
appropriations OF the present year only *3asla. 70
naval academy and marine corps as explained in
the secretary's REPORT The appropriations for The
opinion Of the secretary Will be ample for all ne
current expenses of the department. during the
july to November ISIS is $40, sail, Of when
FOR asa nese s S s
than the corresponding period OF the last fiscal
year.
THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT..
| The report of the postmaster general embraces
detailed si3,ement Of the operations OF the post
as FSs receipts saT ended nsns AZ s 81
stamps % %sTs ssT business rh s"d sum 1' Of
$3.50 436 so included in the foregoing statement
years. so that the actual expenditures for the IFS
cal year ending June 80 1880. are estimated at
| Ss6,51l 500, and the receipts from all sources
$40 664, 023 80, leaving II deficiency to be appro.
pria,ed on, OF the treasury of So 9U,, s1G1O The
report calls attention to the fact that the compen
| saton Of pOstmasters and OF railroads for carry
ing the mails Is regulated by law, and that the
failure OF congress to appropriate the amount
required for these purposes does not relieve the
government OF the responsibility, but necessari-
ly increases the deficiency bills which congress
| th,s
postal service, the following questions are pre-
sented: Should congress annually appropriate
sum for its expenses largely in excess of its rcve-
| nues! or should such rates of postage be estab-
lished as will make the department self-sustan-
ing? or should the postal service be reduced by
excluding from the mails matter which does not
pay Its way. should the number OF
post routes he diminished. or should
some other methods be adopted which will in
crease the revenues or diminish the expense OF
| the postal service. The International postal con
gress which met at Paris in May, 1878, and con-
tinued in session until June OF the same year,
was composed OF delegates from nearly all the
new convention to take the place of the tresty
concluded at Berne Oct 9. 1874, which goes into
effect on the LIST of April 1879. between the coun-
tries whose delegates have signed 1t. 1t was rat
lied and approved by and with the consent Of the
president Aug. 13, 1873. synopsis of this uni
versal postal convention will be fond in the re-
port OF the postmaster genera and the full text
IN the appendix thereto. In its origin the postal
union comprised q countries having a popula-
ton Of 3JlOOOOOO of people. On the first of April
next 1t will comprise 43 countries and colonies.
with a population of more than 80 100000 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 as in name, as the new title indi
Gates a universal union, regulating, upon uni.
form basis of cheap postage rates. the postal in
| teicourse between all civilized nations Some en-
barrassment has arisen from conflict between the
| custom laws of this country and the provision OF
the postal canon in regard to the Transmission Of
foreign books and newspapers to this country by
mall 1t Is hoped that congress will be able TO d.
wise some means Of reconciling the difficulties which
have thus been created to do justice to all par
| ties involved.