The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-12-07

FEBRUARY -, 1918, dNlouIllcu VII VIC --"u
of November, 1878, TO Sl9,olA'op, Oh
which amount S49S4,947 are III circula-
ton, and the balance, Sl4 SOB, Is still
i'm the possession Of the Government.
With views unchanged with regard to
the act under which the coinage OF silver
proceeds, it has been the purpose OF the
Secretarv faithfully to execute the law,
and to afford IA fair trial to the measure.
In the present financial condition or
the country am persuaded that the wei
fare of legitimate business and industry
of every description will be best promot-
ed by abstaining from all attempts TO
make radical changes IN the existing
financial legislation. Let 1t be under
stood that during the coming year lhe
business of the country VIII be undlS-
turbed 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 1t Will be
followed by "a healthful and enduring re-
vival Of business prosperity.
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
Let Che healing influence Of time, the
inherenl energies of our people, and the
bOundlesS resources of our country, have
fair opportunity, and relief from pres
ent 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 mplovrd, and
has faithfully performed all the service
required of 1t. The mOrdie 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 III.
Benner, Eighteenth Infantry. who lost
of the steamer j. NJ. Chambers, sent
with supplies for The relief of sufferers in
the South from that disease.
,. 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 plan
for the publication of the records of the
War of the Rebellion, now being prepar
ed for that purpose
1. The increase nf 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.
). The repeal or amendment of the act
of June 18TH 1875, forbidding the use
of the army us Il posse coma at,tS. or other
wise, for the purpose of executing the
laws, except in such eases and under
such circumstances rs may be expressly
authorized by the constitution or by act
of Congress-
&. The passage of Il Joint resolution OF
Congress legalizing the issues of rations,
tents and medicines which were made
for the relief of sufferers from yellow
fever.
!. That provision be made for the cree
ton Of IL lire proof building for the pre-
Sprvation of certain valuable records,
now constantly exposed to destruction
by fire.
These recommendations are commend
ed to your favorable consideration.
NAVAL AFFAIRS.
The report of the Secretary of the Ma
Wy shows that the navy has improved
during the last fiscal year, Work has
been done on seventy-tve vessels, ten of
which have been thoroughly repaired and
made ready for SEA. Two others are in
rapid progress towards completion. The
total expenditures OF the year, including
the amount appropriated for the deiicen
cleS OF the previous year, were SIT ,46S,-
1896. The actual expenses chargeabe
to the year, exclusive Of these deticien-
ceS, were Sl3,3O6, 9li.09, or S767 ,l99. Is
less than those of the previous year, and
Si,H2S,67I.74 less than the expenses, in
GLIDING the deficiencies. The estimates
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1850,
are SlJ,j62,3Sl i5-eXceeding the apprO-
priations o! the present year only S33,-
2i9.75; which excess is occasi0ned by the
demands OF the Naval Academy and Ma
rinn [ 10 "A nj N hn ttrN Q
report. The appropriations for the pres
ent fiscal year are Sl4,52S, 43l 40, which,
in the opinion of the Secretary. will be
ample TOR the current expenses Of the de-
partment during the year. The amount
drawn from the treasury from July | to
November |, 1878. is Sf,740,5 A.l4, of
which SIO,0s0.7j has been refunded, leav
ing rs the expenditures for that period
1853 .J63.H9, or 500, S90.2i less than the
corresponding period of the last fiscal
year.
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The report Of the Postmaster General
embraces detailed statement of the OPP
erations of the Post Office Department.
The expenditures of that department for
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1878, were
S3i, l65,0,i.49 Thel receipts, including
sales of stamps, ROney-Order business
and official stamps, were S29.277, 5l6.95.
The sum Ot $500, 1850, included in the
foreign statement of expenditures, Is
chargeable to preceding years, 50 that the
actual expenditures for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1878, are S33 .S7l ,6iI 30.
The amount drawn from the treasury on
appropriations, in addition to the reve-
nues of the department, was S5,307 ,652. 81.
The expenditures for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1850, are estimated at S36,-
57i 800, and the receipts from all sources
at $50 ,66i ,O23.9O, leaving il deficiency to
be appropriated out of the treasury of So
9O7 ,S76.l0. The report calls attention to
the fact that the compensation of post
masters 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 RESPONSE
bility, but necessarily increases the def
cheney bills which Congress will be called
upon To pass.
In providing for the postal service. the
Neutrality-suspicious. are presented: Should
Congress annually appropriate Il SUN for
its expenses largely in excess OF its rev
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