The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-12-03

such cases and under such circumstances
as may be expressly authorized by the con.
stitution, or by act of Congress" 9th, the
= passage of joint resolution OF congress
legaIizing the issues of rations, tents and
medicines which were made for the relief
of suffererssfrom yellew fever; 18th, that
provisions be made for the erection of fire
proof building for the preservation of GER
tain valuable records now constantly ex-
posed to destruction by fire. These recon-
mendations are all commended to your fav-
orable consideration.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
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-fve vessels ten of which have been
thoroughly repaired and made ready for
sea. Two others are IN rapid progress
towards completion. The total expendi-
lures of the year, including the amount
appropriated for the deficiencies of the
previous year, were ST., 468, 392.65. The
actual expenses chargeable to the year.
exclusive of these deficiencies, were 3d.
BOG, 914.O9, or $767, 199 IS less than those
of the previous year, and $4,928, 677.74
less than the expenses including the
deficiencies. The estimates for the
fiscal year ending on June 80, 1880,
are $14, 562 331 .45, exceeding the appropri-
D.
which excess is occasioned by the demands
of the naval academy and marine corps, as
explained in the Secretary's report. The ap.
preparations for the present fiscal year are
S14, 528, 431. 20, 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 18l to November, 1878, is 81, 740, 544-
IA, of which SIC, 980.75 has been refunded,
hot I'D
81, sos, 563 80, or $500, S99.24 less than the
corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
OUR POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The report of the Postmaster General en-
braces detailed statement of operations OF
the Postoffice DepaEtment The expendi-
lures of that department for the fiscal year
ended June 30th, 1873, were 1884, 165, 084. 40;
the receipts, including sales of stamps,
money order business and official stamps,
were $29, 1867, $685.. The sum of
$296, 436. 80 included in the foregoing state
ment of expenditures is chargable to the
preceding year, 80 that the actual ex-
penditures for the fiscal year, ended June
80, 1878, are $50, S74, 647, $50 The amount
drawn from the Treasury on appropria-
tions, in addition to the revenues of the de-
partment, was 81, 1907, 652. 50. The expen-
ditures for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1876, are estimated at SGT, 81 ,909, and
the receipts from all sources at $50, 1884,
02390, leaving a deficiency, to be appro-
priated out of the Treasury of S., 907, SIG. TO-
The report calls attention to the fact that
the compensation of postmaSters and of
railroads for carrying the mail is regulated
by law, and that the failure of Congress to
appropriate the amounts required for these
purposes does not relieve the government
of responsibility, 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 Congress annually
appropriate sum for its expenses largely
in excess of its revenues, or should such
rates of postage be established as will make
the department self-sustaining Should
the postal service be reduced by ex-
Guiding from the mails matter which
does not pay its way? Should the number
of post routes be diminished? Should other
methods be adopted which will increase
the revenues or diminish the expenses of
the postal service? The International
Postal Congress which met at Paris, May
1st, 1878, and continued in session until
June of the same year, was composed of
delegates from nearly all the civilized
countries of the world. 1t adopted new
convention to take the place of the treaty
convened at Berne, Oct. 9th, 1874, which
goes into effect on the LIST of April, 1870,
between the countries whose delegates have
signed il. 1t was ratified and approved by
and with the consent of the President, Au-
gust 13, 1878. A synopsis ofthis universal
postal convention will be found in the re-
port of the Postmaster General, and the full
text in the appendix thereto. In its origin
the post union comprised % countries,
having population of $50 000, 600 of PEG
pie. On the first of April next it will com
prise ffty-three countries and colonies, with
a population OF more than $50, 600 900 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 indicates, a universal union, reg
ulating upon uniform basis Of cheap post
age rates the postal intercourse between all
civilized nations. Some embarrassment
has arisen out of the conflict between the
customs laws of this country and provis-
ions of the postal convention in regard to
the transmission of foreign books and
newspapers to this country by it. It is
hoped that Congress will be able to devise
some means of reconciling the difficulties
which have thus been created so as to dc
Justice to all the parties involved.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The business of the Supreme Court and
of the courts in many of the circuits has in
creased TO SuCh an extent during The pas
years that additional legislation is impera
tive to relieve and prevent the delay OF jus
tice and possible oppression to suitors which
is thus occasioned. The encountered con
dition of these dockets is presented anew il
the report of.the Attorney General, and tn,
remedy suggested is earnestly urged fo
Congressional action. The creation of ad
ditional circuit judges as proposed woult
afford a complete remedy, and would in
volve an expense at the present rate of sal
aries of not more than $60,000 year.
THE INDIANS.
The annual reports of the Secretary 0
the Interior and of the Commissioner o
Indian Affairs, present an elaborate &C
count of the present condition of the India1
tribes, and of that branch OF the public ser
vice which ministers to their interests
While the conduct of the Indians general
has been orderly, and their relations wit
their neighbors friendly and peaceful, tw
local disturbances have occurred, whic
were deplorable In their character, but r,
manned happily confined to comparativel
small number of Indians. The disconter
among the Bannocks, which led first t
some acts of violence, on the part of som
members of the tribe, and final
TO an outbreak, appears to have been cause
by an insuffciency of food ON the reserv;
ton, and this insufficiency to have bee
owing to the 1nadequacy of the appropr1i
tons made by Congress to the wants of til
Indians, at time when the Indians wei
prevented from supplying the deficiency b
hunting. After an arduous pursuit by ii
troops of the United States, and several e]