American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-12-06


exclusive of the 3,i6G men required for dc
tached duty, and therefore not available fol
service i'll the field. He also recon-
mon.is that Congress be asked to provide by
law for the disposition of Il large number oi
which, though very valuable in themselves
have been rendered useless for military ptIr
poses Icy the advance of civilization and set
| tlcment. He uniics with the Quartermastcr-
General i'll recommending that approprH-
ton be made for the construction OF Il cheap
ana perfectly tirt-proof building for the safe
storage of II vast amount of money, accounts,
vouchers, claims and other valuable records
now in the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Office,
and exposed to great risk of total destruction
~ iire. He also recommends, in conformity
with the views of the Judge-Advocate Gen
eral, some deciaratory legislation i'll reference
70 the military statute of limitations, ap.
piled to the crime of desertion- In these sew.
The Secretary of War further reports that
the work for the Improvement of the South
Pass of the Mississippi River, under contract
with Mr. Jaincs b. Ends, made i'll pursuance of
an act Of Congress, has been prosecuted dur
Ing the past year with greater measure Of
success in the attainment of results than
fdnrng thG ss The The channel ;,l
and a half feet Of water had, on the sth OF
feet, having width of not less than two
hundred and a central depth Of thirty feet.
cordance with the statute as the
s wEH to- 81 ann fnrther pigments
will become due, AS 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 full and detailed account OF the
| military operations for the suppression of hos
tilties among the Indians of the Ute and
Apache tribes and praise is justly awarded to
ness, skill and courage displayed. The past
| year has heen one of almost unbroken peace
is reason to believe that the efforts of this
| Government and Mexico to maintain order
/ full. ''
! This Department was enabled during the
past year 70 find temporary, though crowded,
| accommodations and a safe depository for
| portion of its records in the completed east
| wing of the building designed for the State,
| War and Navy Departments. The construc-
ton of the north wing of the bulding-a part
| of the structure intended for the use of the
with alt possible dispatch, and the work
| should receive from Congress such liberal ap-
| Preparations US will secure its speedy COM
pletion.
| THE NAVY.
| The report of the Secretary of the Navy
shows continued improvement in that branch
! of the service during the last fiscal year Ex-
and two new ships have been completed and
made ready for sea. The total expenditures of
appropriations not estimated for by the De
| partment, were Sl3,555,7l0.W The expenses
,ha to the year. after deiuc,Ing
tons. were sl3,3fi,3l7-,9: but this is sub
Ject to reduction OF SIS, o:S, that
bur not paid out during the year. The amount
9fappropriat%ns apPlicanle to the last fiscal
a balance of S1,47g.05i.31 remaining unex-
pended and to the credit of the Department
on June 20, 1879. The estimates for the year
ending June 80. 1881, are $li, s64, 1875, which
M s he f@r the pr se m
crease is explained in the Sccretary's report.
The appropriations ayaiinbie fort he present fs-
opinion of the Secretary, answer all the
drary demands of the service. The amount
November i, 1879, was S5,77o,4OII2 OF which
Sl.GEi.i4 .33 has been refunded. leaving as the
the expenditures for the remaining two-thirds
OF the year do not exceed the proportion for
these four months, there will remain in n u!
the current appropriations
The report of the Secretary shows the graft
OF the Pay Corps of the Navy, there is not one
who is defau!ter to the extent of single dol-
lar. l unite with him in recommending the
removal of the Observatory to a more health
full location. That institution reflects credit
upon the Eation. and has obtained the appro-
baton of scientific men in all parts OF the
world It's removal from its present locality
its otiiccrs and Professors, but would greatly
increase its usefulness.
DEPARTMENT JUSTICE
The appropriation for judicial expenses,
heretofore made for the Department of
Justice in gross. was subdivided at the last ses-
sion of Congress, and no appropriation what
ever made for the payment of the fees of
Marshals and their deputies, either in the SER
duties, and since June 20 these officers have
continued the performance of their duties
without compensation from the government,
taking upon themselves the necessary incl
dental OUTLAWS, as well as rendering
unavoidable instances has. the proper
execution of the process of the United
req,iisitc s,ppropriations This course of ofi-
c.l conduct on the part of the officers, highly
creditable 10 their fidelity, was advised by the
Attorney-General, who informed them, how
ever, that they would necessarily have to rely
future legislation by Congress- 1 therefore
especially recommend thot immediate apPro
pose SC. The act milking the principal appropria-
ton for the Department of Justice ut previous
ing clause: And for defraying the expenses
which may be incurred in the enforcement OF
to amend P pn act app approved Ma" o $50 en-
ctled 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-
Supplementary thereto No appropriation |
Current eur 1 year 'f AS no 'p general eiee-
tion for members of Congress occurred,
the omission was a matter of little praa- |
tical Importance. Such election will,
however. take place during the ensuing year,
MarshaIs and Deputies should be sufficient TO
EN- brace 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 he expected
than are now disposed of in its annual
session, or that by any assiduity 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 tielay of justice will call the attention Of
Congress to an appropriate remedy. 1t is be-
lieved 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 Acknowledgement 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 u part of its jurisdiction,
while Il larger force is also obtained for the
performance of circuit duties. l recommend
this suggestion to the consideration of Con-
gfesS. III would seem TO AFFORD Il complete
remedy, and would involve, ii ten additional
Circuit Judges are appointed, an expenditure
ut the present rate of salaries of not more than
100000 year, which would certainly be small
In comparison with the objects to be attained.
P0ST-OFFICE.
The report of the Postmastcr-General bears
testimony to the general revival of business
throughout the country. The receipts of the
Post-Ofiice Department for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1879, were S31,04l !,S.S 80, being
1854 81 more than the revenues of the pre-
ccding year. The amount realized from the
sale of pUstage-Stamps, stamped envelopes
and postalcards was SIti 1881 mare than in
he preceding year, and S33S7,;sIg 23 more than
we're S:si,4i9SE.i5, of which the sum of
sgd, 80 was paid ON liabilities incurred in
preceding years The expenditures during |
he year SSnI .,0g. ~ less than in the pre- |
ceding year. This reduction is to be at |
ributc'l mainly to the operation of the law
passed June Il, 1873, changing the compcnsa-
lion OF Postmasters from commission
On the value of stamps sold to-
amount drawn from the Treasury
in addition to the reve-
being S2,2I,, 1896 less than in the preceding
year The expenditures for the fiscal year