National Republican., 1880-12-07

The collection of books, specimens and records
constituting the Army Medical Museum and III.
brary arr of national Importance. The Library
now contains about nfty.Onc thousand five hun.
drcd volumes and hfty-scvcn pamphlets relating
tents of the NImy McdIcnl Museum consist
of twenty-five thousand specimens, and are
unique in the completeness with which both mill.
tary surgery and the diseases Of armies are Illus.
lrntcd. Thar destruction would be an irTcpambc
loss, not only 10 the United States but TO the world
There are filed In the record aud pension division
over sixteen thousand bound volumes Of hospital
records, together with great quantity Of papers
embracing the original records Of the hospitals Of
our armies during the civil war Aside from their
historical value, these records are daily searched
for evidence needed IN the settlement Of large
numbers Of pension and other claims, for the pro,
lection OF the Government against attempted
frauds, as well rs for the benefit of honest claim
ants, These valuable, collections nrc now in
ger Of DESTRUCTION by rS tis therefore re earnestly T %
recommended that IN appropriation he made for
new, frc.proof building, adequate for the present
needs and reasonable mturc expansion Of these
valuable collections. Such building should he
absolutely hrc.proofi no expenditure for mere
architectural display Is required. II Is believed
that n suitable structure can be erected nj n cost
not to . exceed two hundred and my thousand dol.
commend to the attention Of Congress the great
services Of the CommandcriuChicf Of our armies
during the war for the Union whose wise, firm,
aud patriotic conduct did 40 much to bring that
momcntous conflict to u close. The legislation NJ
the United states contains many prcccdcnts for the
recognition of distinguished military merit, au.
eminent services to the country, IN act Of Con.
grcss authorizing the appointment Of a captain
general of the army, with suitable provisions rc.
laling to compensation, retirement, and other de.
tails would, In my Judgment be altogether fitting
| and proper, and would be warmly approved by the
country.
The report of the Secretary Of the Navy exhibits
the successful and satisfactory management Of that
Deparlmcnt during the last fiscal year The total
ing ncXpcndCd ut the close Of the year 81 6S .,
OF tue amount OF available appropriations. The
June 30. 1851, are slj6Ddlih; and the total csti.
mates for the next fiscal year ending june - lSsl
are sln337'lSl The amount drawn by warrant
The recommendation of the Secretary of the
| Navy, thnt provision be made for the establish
people of Alaska, Is approved. At present there Il
no protection OF persons or property IN tia. Terri,
tory, except such us Is afforded by the officers Of
was dispatched to stka because Of the fear that
without the immediate presence Of the national
authority there was simpcndingdange of anarchy.
The steps taken to restore order have been nc.
| Cepted In good faith by both white and Indian
inhabitants and the necessity for this method Of
| however, the jamestown should he withdrawn,
leaving the people, as nt present without the ordi
| organized locn government serious consequences
might cnSilc,
| The laws provide only for the collection of rev.
| transmission of the mails. The problem II tn sup.
ply local rule for Il population 50 scattered and
50 peculiar in It's origin and condition, The ma.
tivcs are reported to be cnchHblc and sclfsuppOrt.
advance rapidly in civilization, aud new iactor
of prosperity would he added Ia the national life,
| | therefore recommend the requisite legislation
| upon this subject
The secretary Of the Navy has taken steps
| toward the establishment Of naval cUaingsta.
| iOns ut the lsthmus of Panama, Ia meet the ~.
| qurcmcnts of our commercial relations with Cen.
| trnl aud South America which are rapidly growing
| in importance. Locations cmincntly suitable, both
as regards our naval purposes and the uses of com.
ncrcc. have been selected one on the east side of
the isthlnuS III Chiriqui Lagoon, IN the Caribbean
sea, and the other ON the Pacific coast, at the Bay
of Golito. The only safe hnrbors, sufficiently com.
modious, on the isthmus, are at these points, and
| the distance between them Is less than one hun.
| drcd miles; The report OF the Secretary of the
Navy concludes with valuable suggestions with
respect to the building up of our merchant.marinc
service, which deserves the favorable considcra.
| iOn of Congress.
the continual growth and the high state of efcicn.
cy of the postal service The operations of no de.
9rmcnt of the Government perhaps, represent
with greater exnctncss the increase In The popula.
| tlon and the business of the country In isG6 the
postal receipts were sSols,oG7lo; IN 1850 the II.
ceipts We're sEi3l5i7g,ai All the inhabitants of
watch the Fost,oacs very closely. This S careful
constant stimulus TO improvement, % I'D During 'd the
pnsS yssr ansfe wss an increase pSslosss
mrking an additional annual transportation OF
l0s0l lo miles. The revenues of the postal service
for the ensuing year are estimated at s5,7ilo,
cheney to he appropriated out of the Treasury of
| $3.50 1880.
The Universal Postal Union has received the ne.
ccS-iun of almost nll the countries niId colonies o
| the world maintaining organized postal services
nnd II Is confidently expected that all the other
| countries and colonies now outside the Union will
! soon unite Herewith, thus realizing the grand
| idea and aim of the founders of the Union oi
forming, for purposes of international mail com
muicntion, single postal territory embracing the
| world with complete uniformity Of postal charges
and conditions of international exchange, for all
nc states {, To d" s hi sSmTc of his Gs"S ae
additional legislation is asked by the Postmaster
General, TO whose recommendations especial ut
The suggestion of the Postm0stcr.Gcneral, TINT II
Would pc wise 70 encourage by appropriate legisla;
steamers by our own oizcns to carry the mails be-
| tween our own ports and those Of Mexico Central
| America south America, and of trnns.Pacic
countries, Is commended to the serious considenl.
The attention of Congress Is also invited to the
suggestions oIthc PostmnscrGcncral IN regard to
| postal savings.
The necessity for additional provision to aid in
the transaction of the business of the Federal
| courts becomes each year more apparent The
d0ckcts of the supreme Court and of the circuit
courts IN the greater number of the circuits ARE en-,
cnmbcrcd with the constant accession ofcascs. In
the former court, ana i'll many instances In the cir.
cult courts, years intervene before II Is practicable
| to bring cases 10 hearing.
The Attorney General recommends the establish.
mcnt of an intermediate court of errors and ap.
| pcnls. II Is recommended that the number Of
Judges of the circuit court In each circuit with the
exception Of the second circuit. should be increased
| by the addition of another Judge: In the second
Circuit, that two should be added and that an In.
| tcrmediatc appellate court should be formed In
each circuit To consist Of the circuit Judges and the
circuit Justice and that In the event of the absence
Of either Of these Judges the place of the absent
Judge should be supplied by the Judge of one Of the
district courts in the circuit, such an appellate
court could be safely invested with large jIriSdc.
ton, and Its decisions would satisfy sutorS IN many
where uDDpulS would Sill hp allowed the
supreme Court. The expense incurred for this
intermediate court will require very moderate in.
Department OF Justice. This recommendation Is
commended To the careful consideration of Con.
gress.
II Is evident that delay of Justice, In many in.
| stances oppressive and disastrous to suitOrs, now
necessarily occurs in the Federal courts, which will
in this way be remcdcd,
The report of the Secretary of the Interior pre-.
scnts an elaborate account of the operations of that
Department during the past year II gives me great
pleasure TO say that our Indian affairs appear TO be
IN more hopeful condition now than ever before.
The Indians have made gratifying progress In ag.
riCulture, herling, and mechanical pursuits. Many
who were few years ago in hostile conflict with
the Government are quietly settling down on farms
where they hope to make their permanent homes,
building houses and engaging IN the occupations of
civilized life. The introduction of the ircighting
business among them has been remarkably fruitful
ofgood results, In giving many Of them Congcnial
and rcmuncraive employment aud IN stimulating
their ambition to cnrn their own suppOr Their
honesty iidelity. and efficiency as carriers are
highly praised. The organization of police force
of Indians has been equally successful In main.
tanning law and order upon the reservations, and
In exercising II wholesome moral influence among
the Indians themselves | concur with the SccrC-
tnry of the Interior IN the recommendation that the
pay of this force be increased, as an nduccment To
the best class of young men 10 enter IL.
Much care and attention has been devoted TO the
enlargement of educational facilities for the In.
dians, The means available for this important OBJ.
ject have been very inadequate. A few additional
bOnrdingsChOOls nj Indian agencies have been eS.
tablished and the erection of buildings have been
begun for several more, but an increase of the ap.
DrODrlntiDus IDr This Interesting un1prlnk ~