The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-10

Wv fA2StSA lCLG1Oh, l0u , III
subject Of diplomatic correspondence.
There is a gratifying increase of trade
with nearly all European and Ameri-
q countries, and it is believed that,
with judicious action to regard to it:
development, it can and will be still
more enhanced. and that American pro
ducts and manufactures will find new
and expanding markets. The reports
of diplomatic and consulate officers
upon this subject. under the system now
adopted, have resulted in obtaining
much valuable information which has
been and will continue to be laid before
Con ,reSs and the public 0 time tt
time.
TIE CONDITION OF ALASKA.
The third article Of tn" treaty witt
Russia, of March 30. 1867, by which
Alaska Was ceded to the United States.
provides that the inhabitants ofthe ceded
territory, with the exception Of the
u~nciviliZed native tribes, ahall
he admitted to the enjoyment of All tie
rights Of citizens of the United States;
and shall be maintained and protected
in the free enjoyment OF their liberty OF
property and religion. The ~uncivllized
tribes arc subject to such laws and regu-
lations as the United States may from
time to time adopt in regard to the alb
original tribes of that country. Both
the obligations Of this treaty and the
necessities of the people require that
some organized form of government
over the Territory Of Alaska be
adopted. There appears TO be no law
for the arrest of persons charged with
common law ofenses, such as as
sault. robbery, and murder. and no
magistrate authorized to issue or exc
cute process in such cases. Serious diff
cultiesshave already arisen from offences
of.this character, not only among the
original inhabitants, but among citizens
Of the United States and other countries
who have engaged in mining, fishing,
and other business operations within the
Territory. A bill authorizing the ap-
pointment of justices of the peace ana
constables, and the arrest and detention
ofpersons charged with criminaloffencess
and providing for an appeal to United
States courts for the district of Oregon.
in suitable cases, will, at a proper time,
be submitted to Congress.
TIE PUBLIC FINANCES.
The attention of Congress is called to
the animal report of the secretary of the
treasury on the condition of the public
finances. The ordinary revenues from
all sources for the fiscal year, ended
June 80, 1879, were 1918, S27. 1874 46. The
ordinary expenditures for the same Pc
riod were 5000, 9i7, 063 SO, leavinga sur
plus revenue fort year ofS6,s19 300 90.
The receipts for the present fiscal year,
ending June 80, 1850, actual and esti-
mated, are as follows: Actual receipts
for the first quarter, commencing
July l, 1879, S79,643,633 81; esti-
mated receipts for the remaining three
quarters of the year, S2c6, l56, 1856 80;
Total receipts for the current fiscal year,
actual and estimated, S2S5, DOC. 900. The
expenditures for the same period will
he, actual and estimated. rs follows:
For the quarter commencing July l,
1879, actual expenditures, S9l,6e3,-
1886 10; and for the remaining three
quarters of the year. the expenditures
are estimated at Sl72, 3l6. GA 80, making
the total expenditures S264, O0o, GOO, and
leaving an estimated surplus revenue for
the year ending June 80. 1880, of $24,-
900, 600.
The total receipt during the next fis-
cal year, ending June so, 1881, estimated
according to existing laws, will be $2es,-
t0O, 900. and the estimated ordinary ey-
penditures for the same period will be
S27S. 097. 3G4 80. leaving n surplus Of
$4,000, 635. 81 for that year. The large
amount expended for arreaSs Of pensions
during the last and the present fiscal
year, amounting to S2l, TAI, 249, CO., has
prevented the application of the full
amount required by law to the sinking
fund for the current year, but these ar
rears having been substantially paiG, it is
believed that the sinking fnnd can here
after be maintained without any change
Of existing law.
- TIE ARMY M NAVY.
The secretary Of a reports that the
war department estimates for the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1881, are $40, $780,
426. 90, the same being for a less sum OF
money than any annual estimate rem
dered to Congress from that department
during . period Of at least twelve years.
He concurs with the general ofthe army
in recommending such legislation as will
authorize the enlistment of the full NUN
Der of 25,009 men for the line of the
army, exclusive ofthe ;, AGO men required
for the detached duty, and therefore not
available for service in the field. He
also recommends that Con gress be askcd
to provide by law for the disposition of
a large number of abandoned military
posts and reservations, which, though
very valuable in themselves, have been
rendered useless for military purposes
by the advance of civilization and set
Element. He unites with the quarter
master general in recommending that
an appropriation be made for the con-
struction of a cheap and perfectly fire.
proof building for the safe storage of a
vast amount of money, accounts, vouch-
ers, claims. and other valuable records,
now in the cuarternaster. generals
Office, and exposed to great risk of total
destructic, by fire. He also recon-
mends, in conformity with the views
Of the judge advocate general, some
declaratory legislation in reference
to the military statute of limi-
tations, as applied to the crime OF
descrtion. In these several recommen-
dations I concur. The secretary Of war
further reports that the work for the i'm.
provement 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 prose
cuted during the past year, with a
greater measure of success in the attain
ment OF results than during any previous
year. The channel through the South
Pass which, at the beginning Of June,
1875, had IL depth of only eve and one
half feet Of water. had, on the eighth OF
July, 1879, u minimum depth Of twenty
six feet, having 4 width OF not less than
200 feet and Il central depth Of thirty
feet. Payments have been made in ac-
cordance with the statute as the work
progressed. amounting in the aggregate
to "a, $50. 600, and further payments will
become due, as provided by the
statute, in event Of success in main
tanning the channel now secured.
The reports of the general Of the
armyand of his ~subordinates present
q full and detailed account of the
military operations for the repression OF
hOstilitics among the Indians OF the Ute
and Apache tribes. and praise is justly
awarded to the officers and troops en-
gagged. for promptIeSs. skill and courage
displayed. The past year has been one
Of almost nnbroken peace and quiet on
the Mexican frontier. and there is reason
to believe that the efforts of this govern
ment and Of Mexico to maintain order
in that rerion will prove permanently
successful. This department was en-
abled. during the past year, 20 find tenn,
porary though crowded accommoda-
tions and il safe depository for 4 portion
of its re cords in the completed east wing
ofthe building designed for the State, war