The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-12-04

bears testimony to the general revival of BIT
siness throughout the country. The r.
ceipts OF the Post Office Department. for I'll
year ending June 30. 1879, were $30,04l
9s2.S6. being 1854 1851 more than the re,
enues of the preceding year. The amour
realized from the sale of postage stamp
stamped envelopes and postal cards wa
S|64, 465.9l more than in the precedn
year, and s2.3S7. 1928 more than in 1877
me expenditures of the department wer
pod, 449 SJ9. 10. ct which the sum of $376,
46l6 was paid on liabilities incurred il
the preceding year. The expenditures dur
ing the year. were 1901 ,209. III less than il
the preceding year. This reduction is to b.
attributed mainly Co the operation of tn,
law passed June II, 1878, charging the com
pensation of Postnasters from a commits
sion Oh the yalue of stamps sold. to a com
MISSION on stamps cancelled. The amour
drawn from the Treasury on appropriation
in addition to the revenues of the depart.
ment was IS OBJ. 454 "a. being 50, 276, 1877. 81
less than in the preceding year. The ex
penditures for the fiscal year ending JUNE
20, 1881. are estimated at 500, $3.50. 900, ant
the receipts from all sources at S32. PIC, 900
leaving deficiency to be appropriated for ou
OF the Treasury of $7,7l0.9 900. The relations
OF the department with railroad companIe.
have been harmonized, Notwithstanding g
the general reduction by Congress of theil
compensation, by the appropriation fol
special facilities. The railway Post Office
lines have been greatly extended. especially
in the Southern States. The interests of the
Railway Mail Service and of the public
would be greatly promoted. and the ex.
penditures could be more readily controlled
by the classification of the employes of the
railway mail service as recommended bv the
Postmaster General, the appropriation fol
salaries, with respect to which the maximum
limit is already fixed ny law, to be made in
gross. The POstmaster-General recommends
an amendment of the law regulating the
increase OF compensation for increased ser.
vice and increased speed in star routes so as
to enable him to advertise for proposals for
such increased service and speed, He also
suggests the advantages to accrue to the COM
merce Ut the country from the enactment of
general law, authorizing contracts wifi
American built steamers, carrying the Amer
lean flag. for Cranporting the una Is between
ports of the United States and ports of the
West Indies and Sou th America. at a fixed
maximum per mile; che amount TO be ex.
pended being regulated by ;annual appro-
platlons, IN like manner with the amount
paid for the domestic star service. Tue ar
rangemeDt made by the Postmaster General
and the Secretary of the Treasury for the
collection of duty upon books receiv d in the
mail from foreign countries has proved so
satisfactory in its practical operation that
the recommendation is now made that Con-
gress Shall extend the provisions of the act
OF March 3, 1879, under whicsi this arrange
mont was made, so as to apply to all other
dutlable articles received in the mails from
foreign countries.
1.-THE President reviews in detail our relations
WIN foreign countries, which are uniformly
peaceful, and present but few complications, the
principal being those with Great Britain in re-
gard TO Ine nsherles. demand has been made
upon the British government for SlO5, 305.-
" in satisfaction of the damages received nv onr
fishermen in Gortune Bay in January, lS78. and an
early reply is expected. The whole subject of
our fishery privileges is to be brought TO the at
ed questions pressed to a settlement Negotia-
lions with China in regard to Chinese emigration
10 tnls country are proceeding. and our govern
menu mas oHered It's services to both China and
Japan as mediator i'll the Loochoo Islands dis
pute The usual recommendation is made that
Congress should take some action in regard To
the distribution OF the Chinese and Japanese in
demn1ty funds. The project for the construction
OF an inter-oceau canal by the Nicaragua route is
warmly commended; but it is intimated that it
Is essential to success that the work should be
undertaken under the protective auspices of
JIG OuIGeu bIdGeS. referring to relations
Win South American countries, the President
advises that provision be made "for regular and
more frequent mail communication, in our own
Ships between the ports of this country and the
nations OF South America" Border raids along
the Rio Grande have been almost suppressed SO
CnaI the present orders to military commanders
as 10 crossing the border may soon be modified
The necessity for providing better government
Tor Alaska is strongly urged, and the announce
ment is made that bill for this purpose will he
submitted to Congress.J
There is gratifying increase of trade with
nearly all European and American countries. and
IL IS believed that, with adicious action in regard
TO ltS development, 1t Can and will be still more
enhanced, and that American products and man
ufactures will find new and expanding markets.
me reports OF diplomatic and consular officers
upon tnls SUBJECT, under the system now adopted
have resulted in obtaining much valuable infor-
ZION, Which has been and will continue TO be laid
before Congress and the public from time to
Time.
THE PUBLIC FINANCES.
The attention of Congress is called to the annu-
al report OF the Secretary OF the Treasury on the
condition OF The public finances. The ordinary
revenues from all sources for the fiscal year en-
ded June 80 1879, were $273827, 1874 46. The ordi-
nary expenditures for the same period were $685.
,47,Oe3 53, leaving surplus revenue for the wear
of 879 49, The receipts for the present fiscal
year, ending June 80 1886 actnaj ana estimated
Ire as IoiloWs Actual receipts for the first quar-
,er commencing July l. 1879 SIS, S.3, 6636l esti-
mated recelps 1or the remaining three quarters
or tie year, $2Uo $685. 80 total receipts for the
current fiscal year. actual and estimated S288 OO0-
)OO. The expenditures for the same period will
p
Ter GO menclng July l, 1879, actual expenditures
s9l TO- and for the remaining three-quarters
Of tne year the expenditures estimated at Sl72
l6,6l4.90, making the total expenditures S264 600
JOO, and leaving an estimated surplus revenue for
the year ending June 80, 1880, of So 1000 900.
Inc 1otaa reGe1ps FPS during the next fiscal We ar,
sting laws, will be 1888 000O0O and the estimated
ordinary expenditures for the same period will
pc $s7o,O97 36i39 leaving surplus of 49, 902 $685. 81
Tor that ySar. The large amount expended for
arrears of pensions during the last and pr ,sent
1scal year amounting to SCI. 7a7 ,24s.6o. has pre-
BY law to the sinking fund for the current year
but these arrears having been substantially paid
It is believed that the sinking fund can hereafter
be maintained without any change of existing
aw.
1.-THE reports of the Secretaries of the Army and
Navy are summarized by the President for the
of Congress- but as our readers are
lot very deeply interested in either of these de-
partments OF our public service we therefore will
omit them.
INDIAN WARDS.
1.-THE Indian problem is fully treated of in the
and the President recommends specif-
:ally to Congress the suggestions of secretary
'churz and Commissioner HayJ upon this subject
which have already been ex planned. He says that,
while the Executive is determir ed to protect the
indians in their territoriarights, il would be uu-
wise TO ignore the fact that organized raids like
hat against the Cherokee country, which was
broken up by Executive proclamation in last
April, are liable to be repeated year after year as
md gets scearcer and more valuable and hence
he expediency OF speedy changes in our Indian
)OHCy AT Une same Cl1ne the President depricateS
,he proposed transfer of the Indians from the In
erior to the War Department.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
My recommendations in former messages are
renewed in favor OF charging the facilities of the
Department. OF Agriculture Agriculture is the
eading interest and the permanent industry OF
our people. 1t is to the abundance of agricultn
al production, as compared with our home con
and the largely increased and highly
Droftably market abroad which we have enjoyed
n recent years. that we are mainly indebted for
our present prosperity as a people We must
ook for Its continued maintenance to the same
'ubstantial resource. There is no branch of in
iustry in which labor, directed by scientific
with unskilled labor. and no branch