Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-05

,ur small force has been actively employed and has
faithfully performed all the service required of it,
The morale of the army has improved and the num-
Der OF assertions has materially decreased during the
year. The secretary recommends that a pension be
granted to the widow oil the late Lieutenant Henry H.
Benner, who lost his life by yellow fever while In
command OF the steamer j. M. Chambers, sent with
supplies for the relief of the sufferers in the South
from that disease.
The establishment Of the annuity scheme, for the
benefit of the heirs of deceased officers as srp Qesed
by the raymaster, general; the adoption, by Con-
gress OF plan for the publication of there ords of
the war of the rebellion, being prepared for that
purpose. Inc increase OF the extra per diem OF sol
der teachers employed in post schools and liberal
for the erection of buildings for
schools and libraries at the different posts; the re-
peal or amendment of The act of June 49, 1878, for
bidding the use OF the army as posse comitatus
otherwise for the purpose of executing the laws,
cept in such cases and under such circumstances as
may be expressly authorized by the constitution
by act of Congress- the passage of Joint resolution
OF Congress legazing the issues of rations tents and
medicine which made for the relief of sufferers
from yellow fever: that provision be ade for the
erection OF nre proof building for the preservation
of certain valuable records, now constantly ex posed
to destruction by fire. These recomme ndations are
all recommended to your favorable consideration.
THE NAVY.
The report the secretary of the navy showes that the
navy has improved during the last fiscal year. Work
has been done on seventy-ve vessels, ten Of which
have been thoroughly repaired and made ready for
sea. Two others are in rapid progress toward COM
petion. The total expenditures of the year, incud
ing the amount appropriated for the deficiencies of
the previous year, S17 ASS, 39265. The actual
expenses chargeabe to the year, exclusive of these
deficiencies, S19306, 9l409 S707, 1918 less
than ~. tho those g of the previous year, and
snsSS the less the T expenses ESTIMATE.
for the fiscal year ening June 80, 1880, S14,562
3Sl45, exceeding the appropriations of the present
year only $50 949.75, which is occasoned by
tue demands of the naval academy and the marine
corps.
AZ explained in the secretary's report the apprt :
pratons for the present fiscal year 43i.70
which, in the opinion CT the secretary, will be ample
for all the current expenses of the department dur
ing the year. The amount drawn from the treasury
from July to November !, 1878, is $474n,s444, of
which S7u,98075 has been refunded, leaving as the
expenditure tor that period 5036 $50 92l
less than the corresponding period Of the last fiscal
year.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The department of the acknowledgement EN-.
braces detailed statement of the operations Of the
postofice department. The expenditures of that de-
partment for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1878
was 1884, 165 OS449 The receipts. including sales OF
stamps $40 277 $685.. The sum of $3.50, 436. 90
included in the foregoing statement of expenditures
is chargeable to preceding years. that the aetna
expenditures for the fiscal year eeding June &c. 1878
estimated at 1855, $780, and the receipts from
all sources, at ,O2S9o leaving deficiency t.
be appropriated out of the treasury of SIS 90 10
The report calls attention to the fact that the com
pensation of postmasers of railroads for carryin,
the mail is regulated b. law and that the failure o.
Congress to appropriate the amount required fo
| these purposes does not relieve the government
of responsibility but necessarily increases the def
cheney bills. which Congress viii be called upon tt
pass.
In providing for the postal service the following
questions are presented Should Congress annually
appropriate for its expenses largely in excess
OF its revenues, should such rates Of postage bt
established as will make the department self sus
tanning?
Should the postal service be reduced by excluding
from the mails matter which does not pay It's way?
Should the number of post routes be diminished
Should other methods be adopted which will III
crease the revenue diminish the expenses of the
postal service?
INTERNATIONAL. POSTAL CONGRESS.
The international postal congress- which met a
Paris May 1885, aid continued in session until jun
4th of the year. composed of delegates from
nearly all the civilized countries of the world. 1
adopted new convention to take the place of tn
treaty concluded at Berne, Oct. 9, 1874 which goe
into effect the LIST of April 1879, between the coun
tries whose delegates have signed it. 1t ratife
and approved by and with the consent of the Pres
! dent, August Is, 1878. synopsis of this universe
postal convention will be found in the report of In
postmaster general and the full text in tn
| appendix thereto. In its origin the post
| having population of $50, ~ 900 OF people. D
the first of april next it will comprise forty thre
| countries and colonies with population OF nor
IQan O0UUJU,uuJ OF people ana VIII Boon, by III
accession of the few remaining countries and colt
| MICS which maintain organized postal services col
sstitute in fact Well III name its title il
dicates universal union, regulating upon uniforl
basis OF cheap postage rates. the postal interests b.
| tween all civilized nations,
Some embarrassment has arisen out of the ccl
dict between the customs laws OF III country an
the provision of the postal convention in regard
the transmission of foreign books and newspapers
this country by mail 1t ls hoped tnat Congress wi
be able to devise some means Of reconcing II
l n vhir hay Henft tpd tn Al
justice to all parties involved.
COURT BUSINESS.
The business of the supreme court and of cour
in many of the circuits was increased to such an e.
tent during past years, that additional legislation
imperative to relieve and prevent the delay of usc
and possible oppression to suitors, which is thus o
casioned. The encountered condition of these doc
cts is presented in the report of the attorne
general and the remedy suggested is earnestly urge
for Congressional action. The creation of addition
circuit judges, as proposed, would afford a comple
remedy, and would involve expense, at the presel
rate of salaries, of not more than $4,000 year.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
The annual reports of the secretary of the interi
| and of the commissioner of Indian affairs, presel
an elaborate account of the present condition of Il
Indian tribes and of that branch of the public Sc
vice which ministers to their interests. While IL
conduct of the Indians generally has been trder
and their relations with their neighbors friendly an
peaceful, two local disturbances have occurred whiC
deplorable in thsi character but remained hal
PLY confined to q comparatively small number
| Indians. The discomfort among the Bannock
which led first to some acts of violence the pa
of rome members of the tribe and finally to the GU
| break, appears to have been caused by an il
suficiency of food the reservation al
| this insuficiency to have been owing
the mad eauacy Of the appropriations made
Congress to the wants of the Indians at time whe
| the Indians were prevented from supplying the del
cheney by hunting. After arduous pursuit by IL
troops of the United States, an several engag
ments, the hostile Indians were reduced to subje
ton and the larger part of them surrendered then
| selves as prisoners. In this connection desire
call attention to the recommendation made by the
Rotary of the interior that sufficient fund be place
at the disposal of the executive to be used with pro-
or accountability at discretion III sudden emergenc
of the Indian service.
The other case of disturbance was that of a band
Northern Cheyennes, who suddenly left their reese
walton, in the Indian territory, and marchet rapid
| through the States of Kansas and Nebraska. in Il
direction of their old hunting grounds, committiI
murders and other crimes on their way. From doc
ments accompanying the report OF the secretary
the interior it appears that this disorderly band
as fully supplied with the necessaries Of life
: 4,7OU other Indians who remained quietly the
reservation, and that the disturbance caused
men of restless and miscellaneous disposition amor
| the Indians themselves. Almost the whole of Il
band have surrendered to the military authorize
and it is q gratifying fact that when son
of them had taken refuge in the camp of the RI
| Cloud Sioux, with whom they had been iu friend
| relations, the Sioux held them prisoners, al
/ readily gave them up to the oincers OF the Unit
States, thus giving proof of loyal spirit, whic
alarming rumors to the contrary. notwithstandin
they had uniformly shown ever since the wishes tn
expressed at the council of September, 1877 had be-
! complied with.
MOUNTED INDIAN AuxILIARIEs.
Both the secretary of the interior and the secreta
J of war unite in the recommendation that provision
. made by Congress for the organization of corps
! mounted "Indian auxlares " to be under the co
troll of the army, and 10 be used for the purpose
keeping the Indians on their reservations, and pI
venting and REFRESHING disturbance on their part.
! earnestly concur this recommendation. 1t is
leved that the organization of such body of I
dian cavalry, receiving moderate pay from the &c
eminent, would considerably weaken the restless e
+ ment among the indians by withdrawing fro