The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-12-05

creased during the year.
The Secretary recommends:
1. That pension be granted to the widow
Of the late Lieutenant Henry H Benner,
18th Infantry, who lost his life by yellow
fever while in command of the steamer J.
NJ. Chambers, sent with supplies for the re-
lief of sufferers in the South from that dis
ease.
2. The establishment of the annuity
scheme for the benefit of the heirs of de.
ceased officers, as suggested by the Pay
master General
8. 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.
4. The increase of the extra per diem of
soIdier-teachers employed in post-sch ools,
and liberal appropriations for the erection
of buildings for schools and libraries at diff
ferent posts.
5. the repeal or amendment of the act
of June Is, 1873, forbidding the use of the
army as posse coDaitdtus, or otherwise, for
the purpose of executing the laws, except in
such cases and under such circumstances as
may be expressly authorized by the Consti-
tuition or by act of Congress"
s. The passage of joint resolution of
Congress legalizing the issues of rations,
tents and medicines which were made for
the relief of sufferers from yellow fever.
Z. That provision DE made for the erec-
ton of fre-proof building for the preser~
walton of certain valuable records, now
constantly exposed to destruction by fire.
These recommendations are all COM
mended 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 seventy-6ve vessels, ten Ct which have
been thoroughly repaired, and made ready
for sea. Two others are in rapid progress
toward completion. The total expenditures
Of the year, including the amount appro-
priated for the deficiencies of the previous
year, were $17, ,46S, 1896. The actual ex-
penses chargeable to the year, exclusive of
these deficiencies, were 1896, ,91409, or
S767, 1918 less than those of the previous
year, and 81 92S,677. less than the ex-
penses, including the. deficiencies. The
estimates for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1880, are $14, ,562 1881 45-exceeding the ap
propriations of the present year only $685.
949 rs; which excess is occasioned by the
demands Of the Naval Academy and the
Marine Corps, as explained in the Secre-
tary's report. The appropriations for the
present fiscal year are $14, ,52S, ,431.70, which,
in the opinion of the Secretary, will be
ample for all the current expenses of the
Department during the year. The amount
drawn from the Treasury from July to No.
vember l, 1878, is 81 740, ,544.14. of which
$70,9S0.75 has been refunded. leaving as the
expenditure for that period $4,669, ,563 80,
or $520,s90.24 less than the corresponding
period of the last fiscal year.
POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT.
The report OF the Postmaster General
embraces detailed statement of the opera
tions at the Postoffice Department. The
expenditures of that Department for the
fiscal year ended June so, 1873, were $34,-
165, ,0S4.49. The net receipts, including e
sales of stamps, money-order business, and
official stamps, were $29,277, 1855. The
sum of $290,436 90, included in the forego-
ing statement of expenditures is chargeable
to preceding years, so that the actual ex-
penditure for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1878, are $33,S74,637 so. The amount
drawn from the Treasury on appropriations,
in addition to the revenues of the Depart
ment, was $5,30S, ,652.S2. The expenditures
Tor the fiscal year ending Jnne 80, 1880, are
estimated at $36, ,571 300. And the receipts
from all sources at $50, ,664 ,02S so. leaving a
Treasury of S5,907,S ,S76.10. The report calls
attention to the fact that the compensation
of postmasters and of railroads for carry
ing the mails is regulated by law, and that
the failnre of Congress to appropriate the
amounts required for these purposes does
not relieve the Government of responsible
ity, but necessarily increases the deficiency
bills which Congress will be called upon to
pass.
In providing for the postal service the
following questions are presented: Should
Cong ess annually appropriate sum for its
expenses largely in excess of its revenues,
or should such rates of postage be estab-
lished as will make the Department self
sustaining? Should the postal service be
r1,rlf I,
which does not pay it's way? Should the
number of postal routes be diminished? :?
Should other methods be adopted which
will increase the revenues or diminish eX-
penses of the postal service?
INTERNATIONAL POSTAGE.
The International Postal Congress, which
met at Paris, May l, 1873, and continued in
session until June of the same year, was
compose of delegates from nearly all the
civilized countries of the world. 1t adopted
anew convention, to take the place of the
treaty concluded at Berne, October 8, 1874 !;
which goes into effect on the 1st of April,
1879, between the countries whose delegates
have signed it. 1t was ratified and ap.
proved, by and with the consent of the
President, August 13, 1878. A synopsis OF
found in the report of the Postmaster-G Gen.
eral, and the full text in the appendix there
to. In its origin the Postal Union comprised
twenty-three counties, having a population
of three hundred and fifty millions of peo
| pie. On the 1st of April next il will com
prise forty-three. e.countriesIand colonies, ,witl
| population of more than six hundred anC
| fifty millions ofpeople, and will soon, by thu
accession of the few remaining countrie
and colonies which maintain organized pos
tai service, constituted, in fact as well IS il
name, as its new title indicates, Universe
| Union, regulating, upon uniform basis o.
cheap postal-rstes, the postal intercourse
between all civilized nations.
| Some embarrassment has arisen out of thu
conflict between the customs laws of this
country and the provisions of the Posta
| Convention, in regard to the Transmission
| of foreign books and newspapers to thi
country by mail. 1t is hoped that Congress!
will be able to devise some means of recon
Cling the difficulties which have thus beel
created, SO as to do justice to all parties in
volved.
The business of the supreme Court ant
of the courts in many of the circuits, ha
increased to such au extent, during the pas
years that additional legislation is i'm pera
tive to relieve and prevent the delay O
justice and possible oppression to suitors
which is thus occasioned. The encumbere
condition of these dockets is presente
anew in the report of the Attorney Genera
urged for Congressional action. The ere;
tion of additional circuit judges, as pre-
posed, would afford a complete remedy, an
would involve an expense-at the presen
rate Of salaries-of not more than $60, 900
year.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The annual reports of the Secretary
, the Interior and of the Commissioner
: Indian Affairs, present an elaborate accou1
= of the present condition of the India
tribes, and of that branch of the public Sc
! vice which ministers to their interet
While the conduct of the Indians, gene
- ally, has been orderly, and their relation
; with their neighbors friendly and peaceir
/ two local disturbances have occurred, viii,
y y were deplorable in their character, but !
J. mained, happily, confined to a eompal
\ lively small number of Indians. The d
4 content among the Banuocks, which /
j. first to some acts of violence on the part
;, some members of the tribe and finally
the outbreak, appears to have been caus
L. I. r. 4