River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-12-05


lars, under the act passed July Is 1878,
! amounted on the I'D Of November. 1878, to
/ l9,sl4i550, Of which amount Si,9sl.9f7 are in
circulation, aad the balance, sli,s29, COS, is
still in the possession Of the government.
SPECIE RESUMPTION.
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 condi-
tion of the country | am persuaded that the
welfare OF legitimate business and industry Of
every description will be best promoted
by abstaining from all attempts to
make radical changes III the existing
financial legislation. Let it be UNDER
stood that, during the coming year. the
business OF the country will be undistarhed by
4 interference with the laws affecting it, and we
may confidently expect that the resumption of
apecie payments, which viii take place at the
| appointed time, viii be successfully and easily
maintained, and that will be followed by
healthful and enduring business prosperity.
| Let the healing influence of time, the inherent
energies of our people, and the houndess re-
sources of our country have fair opportuni-
ty and relief from present difficulties viii
surely follow.
OUR ARMY.
The report of the secretary of war shows
that the army has been well and economically
supplied, that our small force has been actively
employ ed 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 that pension be
granted to the widow of the late Lieutenant
Henry II Benner, who lost his life by the yell
low fever while in command of the steamer J.
Nj. Chambers, sent with supplies fer the relief
of the sufferers in the South from that disease.
The establishment of the annuity scheme,
for the benefit of the heirs of deceased officers,
as suggested by the paymaster-general; the
adoption, by Congress- of Il plan for the publi-
cation of the records of the of the rebellion,
now being prepared for that purpose. The in
crease of the extra per diem of soldier teachers
employed in post schools. and liberal appropri-
atoms for the erection Of buildings for schools
and libraries at the different posts; the repeal
or amendment of the act of June Is, 1878, for
bidding the use of the army
as posse comItatus or
otherwise for the purpose of executing the
| laws, except in such cases and under such cir
cumstances as may be expressly authorized by
the constitution or by act If Congress; the
passage of joint resolution of Congress legal
izing the issues of rations tents, and medicine
which were made for the relief of sufferers
from yellow fever; that provision be made for
the erection of q fire proof building for the
preservation of certain valuable records, now
constantly exposed to destruction by fire.
IleSe recommendations are All recommended
to your favorable consideration.
THE NAVY.
The report of the secretary Of the navy shows
that the navy has improved during the last ifs
cal year Work has been done on seventv-five
vessels, ten 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 intending the
amount appropriated for he deficiencies of the
lar. QQ0 AZ The aet1
expenses chargable to the year exclusive of
these deficiencies, we're Sl3 1906, 9l4.U9 or $780,
1918 less than those of the previous year,
and a, 92S, 67774 less than the expenses
including the deficiencies. The estimates
for the fiscal year ending j nne 30, 1882 are
3I4, 562, 381 -, exceeding the appropriations Of
the present year only $50, 9i9.75, which excess
is occasioned by the demands of the naval
academy and the marine corps.
As explained in the secretary report the APP
preparations for the present fiscal year are Sl4,
528, 20, which, in the opinion of the secre-
tary, will be ample for all the current expenses
of the department during the year. The
amount drawn from the treasury from july !
to November l, 1878, is $4,740, 544.l OF which
so, 9SU.75 has been refunded, leaving as the
expenditure for that period 81 $50 563.39 or
1920 "a less than the corresponding period
of the last fiscal year.
TIE POSTAL SERVICE.
The department Of the acknowledgement
embraces detailed statement of the operations
of the postoifice department The expendi-
lures of that department for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1873, was 93t 1G5, 0S4.4U. The
receipts. including sales of stamps were 800
| 277, 51695. The sum of $3.50. 1860, included
| in the foregoing statement Of expenditures, is
chargeable to preceding years, SO that the az
tual expenditures for the fiscal year ending
june 30, 1878, are estimated at 1865 7l9.00;
and the receipts, from all sources, at 0,664,-
023. 90. leaving a deficiency to be appropriated
out of the treasury of S5,907 ,876.l0.
The report calls attention To the fact that
the compensation of postmastcrs of railroads
for carrying the mail is regulated by law. and
that the failure of Congress to appropriate the
amount required for these purposes does not
relieve the government Of responsibility, but
necessarily increases the deficiency bills, which
| Congress viii be called upon to pass
! In providing for the postal service the fol-
| lowing questions are presented: Should Con-
| gress annually appropriate a sum for its ex-
penses largely in excess of its revenues; or
| should such rates of postage be established as
will make the department sclf-sustaining!
! Should the postal service be reduced by eX-
Guiding from the MALE matter which does not
pay its way?
Should the number of post routes be dimin-
| ished?
Should other methods be adopted which will
increase the revenue diminish the expenses
of the postal service?
INTERNATIONAL POSTAL CONGRESS.
The international postal congress, which met
at Paris May /, 1873, and continued in session
until June 4th of the same year, was composed
of delegates from nearly all the civilized couu-
tries of the world. 1t adopted a new conven-
ton to take the place of the treaty concluded
at Berne, Oct. 8, 1874, which goes into effect on
| the LIST of April, 1879, between the conn
tries whose delegates have signed it.
1t was ratified and approved by and
! with the consent of the Presl-
dent, August 49, 1878. synopsis OF this
universal 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 twenty-three eoun-
tries, having a population OF 800 600, 900 of
people. On the lst of April next it will COM
prise forty-three countries and colonies with
population of $50, 000,000 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 we'll
as in name, as it's new title indicates. univer-
sal union regulating upon a uniform basis OF
| cheap postage rates the postal interests be-
| tween all civilized nations.
| Some embarrassment has arisen out of the
conflict between the customs laws of this coun-
try and the provision of the postal convention
| ia 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 reconciling the difficulties which
! have thus been created, as to do justice TO
all parties involved.
COURT BUSINESS.
The business of the supreme court and of
courts in many OF the eilcuits was increased to
such an extent during past years, that add
tional legislation is imperative TO relieve and
prevent the delay of justice, and possible OPP
preston to suitors, which is thus occasioned
The encountered condition of these Gockets is
presented anew in the report of the attorney
general. and the remedy suggested is earnestly
urged for Congressional action. The creation
of additional circuit judges, as proposed would
an expense, at the present rate OF salaries, of
not more than 100000 year.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The annual report of the secretary of the
interior, and OF the commss oner 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 Beighbors friendly |
and peaceful, two local disturbances have oc- |
cured which we're deplorable in their |
character, but remained happily CON
fined 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 the tribe and finally I
to the outbreak, appears to have been caused |
by an insuffieency of food on the reservation, /
and this insuflicieney to have been owing to the