Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-12-10

the poatofhces, or other agents of th
4 ldOve1nment, the freest opportunity ma
be given in all parts of the country fc
such investments.
The best mode suggested is, that th
Department be authorized to issue Ger
tihcates of deposit of the denominatio
OF ten dollars, bearing interest at tn
rate OF 800 per ceut. per annum, AN
convertible at any time within one yea
after their issue into the four per cent
bonds authorized by the refunding act
ano to be issued only in exchange TO
United States notes sent to the Treasur,
Dy mail or otherwise. Such provision
OF law, supported by suitable regula
tions, would enable any person readily
without cost or risk, to convert hi
money into an interest bearing securit,
of the United States, and the money 9,
received could be applied to the redemp
ton OF six per cent. bonds.
The coinage of gold during the las
fiscal year was $50, 798, $50. The coinage
of silver dollars. under the act passed
February %, 1873, amounted on the 23t
of November, 1873, to $I9,S14.55O, O
which amount 81, 1884, ,947 are in circula-
tion, and the balance, $14 1926, ,6O3, ia still
in the possession of the Government.
With views unchanged with regard t.
the act under which the coinage of sill
yer proceeds, it has been the purpose O.
the Secretary faithfully to execute The
law, and to afford q fair trial to the
measure
In the present financial condition Of
the country, I am persuaded that the
welfare OF legitimate business and In
dustry OF every description will be best
promoted by abstaining from all at
tempts to make radical changes in the
existing financial legislation. Let it be
understood that during the coming year
the business of the country will be un-
disturbed 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 sue
cessfully and easily maintained. and
that it will be followed by a heaithful
and enduring revival of business pros
perity.
Let the healing influence of time. the
inherent energies of our people. and the
boundless resources Of our country.
have fair opportunity, and a relief
from present difficulties will surely fol-
low.
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 ali the service
required of it. The morale of the army
has improved, and the number of deser-
tons has materially decreased during the
year.
The Secretary recommends:
l. That pension be granted to the
widow of the late Lieutenant Henry III.
Benner, Eighteenth Infantry, who lost
his life by yellow fever while in com
maDd of the steamer ~. M. Chambers, !"
sent with supplies for the relief of the
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.
A. 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
S. The repeal or amendment Of the
act of June IS, 1878, forbidding the "use
of the army as posse coneitotats, or 9th
erwise, for the purpose of executing the
laws, except in such cases and under such
circumstances as may be expressly all
thorized by the Constitution or by act of
Congress-"
e. The passage of joint resolution of
Congress legalizing the issue of rations,
tents, and medicines which were made
for the relief of sufferers from yellow fe-
YER
7. That provisions be made for the
erection of a fire-proof building for the
preservation of certain valuable records,
now constantly exposed to destruction
by fire.
These recommendations are all com
mended to your favorable consideration.
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 five vessels. ten
of which have been thoroughly repair
ed, and made ready for sea- The others
are in rapid progress towards compile
ticn. The total expenditures of the
year, including the amountappropriated
for the deficiencies of the previous year.
were ST., ,468, 1872 65. The actual expens.
es chargeable to the year. exclusive of
these deficiencies, were s13, BOG, ,914 O9. or
S767, 1919. is less than those of the previ-
GUS year, and $4 ,928, ,67774 less than the
expenses, including the deficiencies
The estimates for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1880, are $14, 562, ,381 .45-exceed-
ing the appropriations of the present
year only $33, ,949. rs which excess is oc-
casioned by the demands of the Naval
Academy and the Marine Corps, as ex-
planned in the Secretary's report. The
appropriations for the present fiscal
year are $l4,52S, ,431.70, which, in the
opinion of the Secretary will be ample
for all current expenses of the depart
ment during the year. The amount
drawn from the Treasury from july ]
to November l, 1878, is 81. .74O. .544 IA. of
which $40, 0,98O75 has been refunded.
leaving as the expenditure for that pe-
riod S4 ,G69, ,564 80. or $500, ,S99. "a less than
the corresponding period of the last fis-
cal year.
The report of the Postmaster General
embraces detailed statement of the
operations of the Pcstoffice Department.
The expenditures of that department
for the fiscal year ended June 80. 1878
were $34. 165, ,0S4 49, The receipts. in
cluding sales of stamps, money order
business. and official stamps, were $29,-
277 .51695. The sum of $3.50, ,436, 80, in
cluded in the foregoing statement of
expenditures, is chargeable to preceding
years, so that the actual expenditures
for the fiscal year ended June 80. 1873
are $33, ,S74 ,647.50. The amount drawn
from the Treasury on appropriations, in
addition to the revenues of the depart
ment, was S.. 3O7, ,652s2 The expendi-
lures for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1880, are estimated at $50, ,57l 300, and the g
receipts from all sources at $50, 1854, ,O23. :
so, leaving deficiency to be appropriat-
ed out of the Treasury of $5 ,9O7, ,s76 10.
The report calls attention to the fact that
the compensation of postmasters and of
railroads for carrying the mail is regu-
lated by law, and that the failure of
Congress to appropriate the amounts re.
CURED for these purposes does not re-
lieve 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