The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-12-12


it be understood that during the COM
ing year the business of the country
will be undisturbed by governmental
Interference with the laws affecting it,
and we may confidently expect that
the resumption of specie payments
which will take place at the appointed
time, will be successfully and easily
maintained, and that it will be follow
etlsby a heaithful and enduring revival
of fbusiness prosperity.
Let the healing influences of time,
th6inherent energies of our people, and
the boundless resources of our country
present difficulties will surely follow.
The report of the Secretary of War
shows that the army has been well
and economically supplied, that our
small force has been actively employed
and has faithfully performed all the
service required of it. The morale of
theArmy has improved, and the num-
berof desertions has materially de-
creased during the year:
4 The Secretary recommends G.
+. u That pension be granted to the
widaW Of the late Lieutenant Henry
H. Benner, 18th In fantry, who lost his
the steamer J. M. Chambers, sent with
supplies for the relief of sufferers in
the South from that disease.
2. The establishment of the annuity
scheme for the benefit of the heirs of
deceased officers, as suggested by the
Paymaster General.
3. The adoption by congress of plan
for the publication of the records of the
war of the rebellion, now being pre-
pared for that purpose.
4. The increase of the extra per diem
of soldier-teachers employed in post
schools, and liberal appropriations for
the erection of buildings for schools
and libraries at the different posts.
5. The repeal of the amendment OF
the act of June Is, 1878, forbidding the
. use of the army as Il posse cOmitatus,
or otherwise, for the purpose of exc
cutting the laws, except in such eases
and under such circumstances as may
be expressly authorized 10y the cOnsti-
tuition or by act or congress-"
6. The passage of a joint resolution
of congress legaliZing the issues of IA
tions, tents aud medicines which were
made for the relief of sufferers from
yellow fever.
z. That provision be made for the
erection of fire-proof building for the
preservation of certain valuable rec
ords, now constantly exposed to des'
truction by fire.
These Recommendations are all COM
mended to your favorable considera.
ton.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy shows that the navy has i'm prov
ell during the last fiscal Year. Work
has been done on seventy five vessels
ten of which have been thoroughly
repaired and made ready for sea. rw,
Others are in rapid progress tOwar,
completion. The total expenditure.
of the year, including the amount ap
propriated for the deficiencies Of the
previous year, were Sl7, ,A6S, So. 80. The
exclusive of these deficiencies, were
$i3,G06, ,914.O9, or S767. 1918 less thar
those OF the previous year, and 81, ,92S,
6!7.74 less than the expenses, includ
ing the deficiencies. The estimate:
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1880
are $l4 562, ,3Sl ,45-eXceeding the ap
preparations of the present year only
$3S ,949. rs; which excess is OccasioneC
by the demands of the Naval Academy
and the Marine Corps, as explained il
the Secretary's report. The appropria
tiOns for the present fiscal year ar,
$l4.52S, ,431.70, which, in the opinion o
the Secretary, will be ample for all til.
current expenses of the Department
during the year, TheSamount drawn
from the Treasury from July l to No
vember l, 1878, is LAO, ,544.14, o
which $70,9SO.75 has been refunded
leaving as the expenditure for tina
period 81 $3.50 .563 SO, or $500, ,S99.24 less
than the corresponding period of the
last fiscal year.
The report of the Postmaster Gener
al embraces detailed statement of thu
operations of the Fost Office Depart
ment. The expenditures of that De
partment for the fiscal year ending
June so, 1878, were $Gf, l65, ,Os4 40. The
receipts, including sales of stamps
money order business, and otficia
stamps, were S29. .277 ,516.95. The sun
of $500, 1860, included in the foregoing
statement of expenditures, is charge
able to preceding years. so that the
actual expenditures for the fiscal yea
ending June 80, 1878, are $33, ,S74 ,647. so
The amount drawn from the Treasury
on appropriations, in addition to the
revenues of the Department., was S.,
S07 ,652.S2. The expenditures for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1880, are
estimated at $50, ,67l 900, and the re
ceipts from all sources at $4,000, ,023. 80
leaving a deficieIfcy 10 be appropriate
ed out of the Treasury of $5, ,947, ,S76. 10
The report calls attention to the fact tina
the compensation of postmasters anC
of railroads for carrying the mail i.
regulated by law, and that the failure
of congress to appropriate the amount:
required for these purposes does no
relieve the government of responsible
ity, but necessarily increases the de
| ficiency bills which congress will be
called upon to pass.
In providing for the postal service
the following questions are presented
II T..
a sum for its expenses largely in eXces!
of it's revenues, or should such rates O
postage be established as will make the
department tself-sustaining? Should the
postal service be reduced by excluding
from the mails matter which does no
pay its way? Should the number O
post routes be diminished? Shoul(
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 l, 1878, anG
continued in session until June 4 o
the same year, was composed of dele
gates from nearly all the civilized
countries of the world. 1t adopted
new convention, to take the place o
the treaty concluded at Berne, Octo
! ber ., 1874, which goes into effect OF
the lst of April, 1879, between til,
countries whose delegates have signet
| it. 1t Was ratified and approved, by
and with the consent of the "Presi
dent" August 13, 1878. A synopsis o
this universal postal convention viii
be found in the report of the Postplas
| ter General, and the full text ia th
appendix thereto. In its origin tn,
Postal Union comprised twenty-five,
countries, haveing a population ofthre
hundred and fifty millions of people
On the lst of April next it will com
prise forty-three countries and colo
nies, with Il population of more thar
six hundred and fifty millions of peo
pie, and will soon, by the accession q
the few remaining countries and colo
MES which maintain organized posta
services, constitute, in fact as we'll u
in name, as its new title indicates,
Universal Union, regulating, upon
uniform basis of cheap postage rates
the postal intercourse between all civ
iliZed nations.
Some embarrassment has arisen on
of the conflict, between the custom
laws of this country and the provision