Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-03

schools, and liberal appropriations Tor
the erection OF buildings for schools aud
Libraries at the different posts.
8 The repeal or amendment OF the
act of June is, 1878, forbidding the
"use Of the army as posse cOmttatus.
or other wise for the purpose OF e1ecu.
ing the laws, except in such cases and
under such circumstances as may be e1-
pressly authorized by the constitution
or by act OF Congress.
8 The passage OF joint resolution OF
Congress legslizing the issue OF ratIops,
tents and medicines which were made
for the the relief OF sufferers from yellow
fever.
7. That provision be made for the
erection of Rre-proof building for the
preservation Of certain valuable records
now constantly exposed to destruction
by fire.
These recommendations are all com
menied to your favorable consideration.
THE NAVY.
The report OF the secretary OF the navy
shows that the navy has improved dur
ing the last fiscal year. Work has been
done on seventy-aSe vessels, ten OF
which have been thoroughly repaired
and made ready for sea. Two others
are in rapid progress toward completion.
The total expenditures for the year, IN
Guiding the amount appropriated for tho
deficiencies Of the previous year, were
slT,463. 392 65. The actual expenses
chsreeable to the year, exclusive OF
these deficiencies, were Sl3 800, 9l4 %,
or 9767. 100 Is less than those OF the
previous year; s4.92S. 67774 less than
the expenses. including the deficiencies.
The estimates for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1880. are GA, 56l 85l 45-,I-
csediug the appropriations Of the present
wear only S93, $40 rs; which excess is
ocCssioned by the demands Of the naval
academy aud marine corps, as explained
ia the secretsry's report The appro-
uriatious for the present fiscal year are
sll528 49,. 10, which, in the opinion Of
the secretary, will be ample for ali the
current expenses OF the department dur
ing the wear. The smonnt drawn from
the treasury from July to November
l. 1878. IL "a TAO. ga il OF which So.
/ gs). IS has been refunded, leaving as the
expenditure for that period 81. 669, DOB
80, or $500. 500 "a less than the cores
pondipg period of the last fiscal year.
The POST FFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the postmaster general
/ embraces detailed statement OF the
operations of the postolhce department.
The expenditures OF that department
for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1873,
we're S34. los, 04S 80. The receipts, in
GLIDING sales of stamps, money-order
! business and official stamps, were S29,-
| PIT. SIC 95. Tire sum OF $500, 436 80 in
cluded in the foregoing statement Of
expenditures, is chargeable 10 proceed
lug years. so that the actual eIpendi-
lures for the fiscal wear ended June 30,
/ 1873. ar S33 87i G4750. The amount
drawn from the treasury on appropria-
tions, in addition to the revenues Of the
department, was IS 307, COZ 81. The
expenditures for tho fiscal year ending
June 30. $780, are estimated at S36.-
! 5TI. 900, aud the receipts from all
sources at $50, ga OBJ 80. leaving de-
Aciency to be appropriated out OF the
treasury OF sj.907. S76 10. The report
calls attention TO the fact that the COM
peusation OF postmasters and OF rail
roads 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
governmental responsibility, but neces-
sarily Increases the deficiency bills
which Congress will be called upon 10
pass.
In providing for tho postal service the
following questions are presented :
Should Congress annually appropriate a
sam Of money FOR its expenses largely N
excess Of its revenue, or should such
rates Of postage be established as will
make the department seli.sustaining
Should the postal service bo reduced by
excluding from the mstis matter WHICH
does not pay its wsyp Should 4. the
number OF post routes be diminished
Should other methods be adopted which
will increase the revenues or diminish
tine expenses Of the postal services?
The international postal congress,
which met at Paris Msy /, 1873, and
continued in session until June 4 Of the
same wear. was composed OF delegates
from nearly ELL the civilized countries Of
the world. II adopted new conven'
ticn to take tue place Of the treaty
concluded at Berne October 9, 1874,
which goes into effect on the LIST Of
April, 1879, between the countries
whose delegates have signed it. 1t
WAS ratified and approved, by and
with the consent OF the President, August
10. 1873. A synorss Of the universal
postal convention will be fonnd in the
report OF the pos;master-g general, and
the full text in the appendix thereto. In
It's origin the postal union comprised
twenty-three countries, having a popu-
lation Of three hundred aud fifty mil
lions Of people. On the ist OF April
next it will comprise iorty-tbree coun-
tries and colon es, with population Of
more than six hundred sd fifty millions
Of people, and will soon, by the aces
sion Of the few remaining countries aud
colonies which maintain organized post
al services, constitute in fact, as we'll as
in name, az its new title indicates, q
universal union, upon uniform basis Of
cheap postage rates, the postal inter-
course between oil civilized nations.
Some embarrassment has arisen out OF
the couh.ct between the customs laws OF
this country aud the provisions OF the
postal convention, in regard to the
transmission of foreign books and news
papers to this country by mail. 1t is
hoped that Congress viii be able 10 de-
Use fome means OF reconcling the diff
crlties which have thus been created, So
Is to do justice to all parties involved.
tbs JUDICIARY
The business Of tao supreme court,
and OF the courts il many Of the circuits,
has increased 10 such en extent during
the past ears thai additional legisls-
inn q inlnara.IYe to relieve aud prevent