West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-12-14

1915 10 SlN.ol 3ooO, oil which amount Sd
QS4,9i7 are in circulation, aud the balance
Sl4,S29, COS, is still in the possession OF the
Government
With views unchanged with regard 20 the
act under which the coinage OF silver PRO.
ceeds. II has been the purpose of the Secre.
tary faithfully to execute the law, aud 20
afford q fair trial TO tine 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 bv ah.
staining from all attempts To make radical
change in the existing financial legislation
Let II be understood that during the coming
year the business of the country will be un.
disturbed 10y governmental interference with
the laws affecting IL, and We may confidently
expect that the resumption OF specie pay.
ments, which will take place az the ap.
pointed time, will be successively and
easily maintained, and that IL will be fol.
lowed by healthful and enduring revival
of business prosperity.
Let the healing influence OF time, the In.
herent energies OF our people, and the
boundloss resources OF our country, have a
fair opportunity, and relief from y resent
difficulties will surely follow.
SECRETARY OF WAR.
The report of the Secretary OF War shows
that the army has been well aud cconomi-
oally supplied, that our small force has been
actively employed, aud has faithfully per.
formed all service required of H. The
morale of the army has improved and the
number ot desertions has materially de-
creased during the year.
The Secretary recommends:
!. Iha9 pension be granted TO the widow
of the late Lieutenant Henry III Benner
18th Infantry, who lost his life by yellow
lever while in command Of the steamer ]
NJ. Chambers, sent with supplies for there
lief pl guflar.rg t,,t h..
ease.
?. The establishment OF the annuity
scheme for the benefit OF the heirs OF de.
ceased officers, AS suggested by the Pay.
master 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.
4. The increase OF the extra per diem Of
soidier-toachers employed In postschools
and liberal appropriations for the erection
oi buildings for schools and Libraries NJ diff
ferent posts.
5. the repeal or amendment of the act
of June is, 1878, forbidding the "use of the
army rs a posse ooD,udtls, or otherwise. for
the purpose OF executing the laws, exccpt in
such cases and under such circumstances as
may be expressly authorized by the Consti.
tuition or BY act OF Congress-"
u. The passage OF a Joint resolution OF
~.
tents and medicines which were made for
the relief OF sufferers from yellow fever.
4 That provision be made for the erec-
hon of hre-proof building for the preser-
vation 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
s.urHa NN
the last fiscal year. Work has been done
on feventy-ive vessels, ten q which have
been thoroughly repaired, aud made ready
Tor sea. Two others are in rapid progress
toward completion. The total expenditures
Ot the year, including the amount appro.
prlated Tor the deficiencies ~ the previous
year, were $l7466, ,392. .65. The actual ex.
penses chargeable TO the year, exclusive of
these Deficiencies, were $i33O6 qi4OQ. or
1907, 1918 less than those OF the previous
year, and 81 92S, ,677.74 less than the ex.
penses, including the deficiencies. The
estimates for the fiscal year ending June 80
1880, are $l4, ,562. .38I 45-exceedinp the an
preparations OF the present year only $33,.
949 10; which excess is occPsioned by the
demands Of the Naval Academy and the
Marine Corps, AZ explained in the Secre.
tary's report The appropriations for the
present fiscal year are $l4. .b28, ,431 10, which.
IN the opinion OF the Secretary, will be
.A'HH'N iNi az tAt tuIItuN expenses oil the
Department during the year The amount
drawn from the Treasury from July TO No.
vember I, 1878, is - 740,54414. Of which
$7O,95O 70 has been refunded. leaving sB the
expenditure for that period "a 660, ,563. 80,
or 500, ,6eO.A less than the corresponding
period OF the last 6fcal year.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES REPORT.
The report OF the Postmaster. e neral
embraces detailed statement Of the opera
tiOns az the PostcfIice Department. The
expenditures Of that Department for the
fiscal year ended June 30 1873, were $34,-
165,O64.49. The net receipts, including
sales OF stamps, mOney.order business, and
official stamps, were 500, ,277, ,bi5.eb. The
sum Of $3.50 ,436 90, included in the forego.
ing statement Of expenditures is chargeable
10 preceding years, so that the actual ex-
penditnre for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1873, are 1891, ,637 So The amount
drawn from the Treasury on apr Iropriations,
IN addition 10 the revenues OF the DepaYt-
menf, was $5,3Os, ,G52.S2 The expenditures
Tor the fiscal year ending Jnne 80, 1880. are
estimated at&3C, 81 900 And the receipts
from all sources at $50, ,G64023 30. leaving a
dehciency 70 be appropriated out Of the
Treasury Of f5,9O7 ,s76l0 The report calls
attention 70 the fact that the com pensation
Of pOstmaster8 and Of railroads for carry
ing the mails is regulated by law, and that
the iailnre Of Congress 10 appropriate he
amounts required for these purposes does
not relieve the Government OF responsibil.
ltyi but necessarily increases the deficiency
bills which Congress will be called upon TO
pass,
In providing Tor the postal service the
IohoWing guesbons are presented Should
Cong ess annually appropriate sum for its
expenses largely IN excess Of its revenues
or should such rates Of postage be eBtab-
hshed ne will make the Department self.
sustainingf Should the postal service be
reduced by excluding from the mails matter
which does not pay its way? Should the
number Of postal routes be- diminished3 ?
should other methods be adopted which
wil increase the revenues or diminish ex-
penses of the postal service2
NTERSATfONAL POSTAGE.
The international Postal Congress. which
met 90 Paris, May }, 1878, and continued in
session until June Of the same year. was
compose OF delegates from nearly alI the
civilized countries of the world II adOptcd
anew convention, 90 take the place of the
treaty concluded at Berne, OCTOBER O. 1874:
which goes into effect on the fstof April.
lsl8, between che countries whose delegates
have tigned lt 10 was ratified and an.
proved, by and with the consent Of the
President August u.s., 1878. A synopeigof
this Universal Postal Convention will be
found in the report or the Postmaster-Gen.
erali and the fun text in the appendix there.
%. ln its origin the Postal Union comprised
twenty.three counties, having n population
OF three hundred and fifty millions Of pco.
Ia a