The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-12-04

by fire. He also recommends, in conformity
with the views of the Judge-Advocate Cen
10 the military statute of limitations, as APP
piled TO the crime of desertion. In these sew
eral recommendations concur.
The Secretary or W Gr turner reports tnat
the work for the improvement OF the South
Pass of the Mississippi River, under contract
with Mr.. James b. Eads. made in pursuance OF
an act of Congress, has been prosecuted dur
ing the past year with a greater measure or
success in the attainment of results than
during any previous year. The channel
through the South Pass, which at the begin
ming OF June. 1870, had depJn of only seven
and half feet of water, had, ON the Sth of
July, 1872. minimum depth OF twenty-slX
feet, having width OF not less tban two
hundred and central depth of thirty feet.
Payments have been made q III &C
cordance with the statute as the
work progressed, amounting in the
aggregate to "a 900, and further payments
win become due, rs provided by the statute,
and in the event OF success in maintaining
the channel now secured. The reports OF the
General of the Army and of his subOrdinates
present a full and detailed account of the
military operations for the suppression of hos
tilitieS among the Indians OF the Ute! and
Apache tribes, and praise is justly awarded to
the officers and troops engaged for prompt
ness, skill and courage displayed. The past
! year has heen one of almost unbrOken peace
and quiet ON the Mexican frontier, and there
is reason to believe that the efforts of this
| Government and Mexico to maintain order
In that region Will prove eminently success
| full.
II This Department was enabied during the
past year 70 tind temporary, though crowded,
accommodations and a safe depository for a
! portion of its records in the completed cast
wing of the building designed for the State,
War and Navy Departments. The cOnstruc-
! ton of the north wing of the building-a part
! of the structure intended for the use of the
| War Departments being carried forward
! should receive from Congress such liberal p
| PIC priations as Will secure its speedy COM
| plctlon. .t.
THE NAVY.
4 The report of the Secretary of the Navy
shows continued improvement in that branch
of the service during the last fiscal year. Ex-
| tensive repairs have been made upon vessels,
( and two new ships have been completed and
, made ready for sea. The total expenditures of
| the year ended June 20, 1879, including specific
( appropriations not estimated for by the De
partment, were S13555 1000. The expenses
chargeable to the year, after deduc ing
the amount of these specific apprOprid-
| tons were $43,343, 3l7.79; but this is sub
ject to a reduction of S2S3, 25.g9 that
amount having been drawn upon warrants,
but not paid out during the year, The amount
appropriations applicable to the last fiscal
a balance of S1,479054.37 remaining uneX-
pended and to the credit of the Department
on June 90, 1879. The estimates for the year
ending June 20, 1881. are Sl4, S64, l4T.95 which
exceeds the appropriations for the present is-
cal year 1851, 1928 The reason for this in
crease is explained in the Secretary's report.
Ihe APPROPRIATIONS INHlldDle present rs
cal year are $14,502,250.67, which will, in the
opinion of the Secretary, answer all the Or
binary demands of the Service. The amount
drawn from the Treasury from July ] to
November ], 1873, was S5,7T0,4Oi.I2, of which
Sl0a5,I 1888 has been refunded, leaving as the
expenditure for that period $4,6T4s65.I9. If
the expenditures for the remaining twO-thirds
of the year do not exceed the proportion for
these four months, there will remain uneX-
pended at the end of the year S415,359.30 of
the current appropriations.
The report of the Secretary shows the graft
flying that, among all the discussing officers
of the Paw CorDs of the Navy. there is not one
who is a defaulter to the extent of single dol
lar / mite with him i'm recommending the
removal of the Observatory to more health
full locItiOn. That institution reflects credit
upon the Nation, and has obtained the apprO-
baton of scientific men in all parts of the
world. Its removal from its present locality
would not only be conducive to the health of
its officers and Professors, but would greatly
increase its usefulness. t -t. ... ID.
... ... .-. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
The appropriation for judicial expenses,
heretofore made for the Department OF
Justice in gross, was subdiv1ded at the last ses-
sion of Congress, and no appropriation what
ever was made for the payment of the fees of
Marshals and their deputies, either in the ser
vice of process or for the discharge of other !
duties, and since June 30 these officers have
continued the performance of their duties
without compensation from the Government, !
taking upon themselves the necessary Incl (
dental outlays. as well as rendering
unavoidable instances has the proper
execution of the process of the United I
States failed by reason of the absence OF the
requisite appropriations. This course of Off I
cial conduct on the part of the officers, highly I
creditable TO their fidelity, was advised by the /
AttOrney-G eneral, who informed them, how |
ever, that they would necessarily nave 70 rely
for their compensation upon the prospect OF /
future legislation by Congress. l therefore ,
especially recommend thOt immediate appro- I
priatiOn be made by Congress for this pur .
TIno a ,,nnl fhn M
tion for the Department of Justice at pre- vlous /
sessions has uniformly contained the follow |
ing clause: And for defraying the expenses
which may be incurred in the enforcement OF
the act approved Feb. %, 1870, entitled An act
to amend an act approved May ~, 1870, en- /
titled An act to enforce the right OF citizens
of the United States to vote in the several /
States of the United States, and for other pur-
poses or any acts amendatory thereof or /
supplementary thereto" No appropriation /,
was made for this purpose for the /
ton for members of Congress occurred, I
the omission was a matter of li-tle pral-
teal Importance Such election Will,
however, take place during the ensuing year. (
and the appropriation made for the pay of .
Marshals and Deputies should be sufficient TO .
embrace compensation for the services they (
may be required to perform at such election. .
The business of the Supreme Court is at pres /
ent largely in arrears. 1t cannot be expected |
that more causes can. be decided
than are now disposed of in its annual .
session, or that by any assiduity the /
distinguished Magistrates who. compose the |
Court eau accomplish more than is now done.
In the courts of many of the circuits also the |
business has increased to such an extent that /
the Delay of justice will call the attention of /
Congress to an appropriate remedy. Ii Is be
leved that all is done in each circuit which |
can fairly be expected from its Judicial force.
The evils arising from delay are less heavily felt
by the United States than by private suitors, as /
its causes are advanced by the courts when it |
is seen that they involve the discussions of |
questions of public character. The remedy |
suggested by the Attorney-ieneral is the APP
pointment of additional Circuit Judges, and |
the creation of an intermediate Court of Err
rors and Appeals, which shall relieve the
Supreme Court of a part of its jurisdiction,
while larger force is also obtained for the
performance of circuit duties. recommend .
this suggestion to the consideration of Con- /
gress. 1t would seem to afford complete /
remedy, and would involve, if ten additional ,
Circuit Judges are appointed, an expenditure I
at the present rate of salaries OF not more than |
$50 00) year, which would certainly be small /
in comparison with the objects to be attained.
.... ~ THE POST-OFFTCE. H.-. . /
The report of the PnStmastcr-Gen bears 1
testimony to the general revival of business 1
throughout the country. The receipts OF the |
POst-Ofice Department for the fiscal year 1
ending June 81, 1879 were S3O04l- 9S2. So, being /
800, 1865 81 more than the revenues of the pre- |
ceding year. The amount realized from the /
sale of postage-stamEs, stamped envelopes |
and poStal-cards was $50 1901 more than in |
the preceding year. and 81, 357,559.23 more than
in 1871. The expenditures of the Department |
were $33,449, 99.45 of which the sum of /
1876, 461 IS was paid on liabilities incurred in
preceding years. The expenditures during !
the year were 1901 209. r less than in the pre-
ceding year. This reduction is to be at |
tributed mainly to the operation of the law |
passed June Il, 1875 changing the compensa- /
ton of POstmasters from q commission |
on the value of stamps sold to +
commission on stamps cancelled. The /
amount drawn from the Treasury on I
in addition to the reve-
nues of the Department, was $3.03l 4I "a,
being S2,e17, 1877. IS less than in the preceding
year The expenditures for the fiscal year !
ending June 30, 1881, are estimated at $39,920- |
900. and the receipts from all sources at SSe,- 4
2i000O, leaving deficiency to be appropriated .
for out Of the Treasury of S7,7l0900. The re- I
nf ryitI z heI, NaH