The examiner., 1881-12-10

vessels, machlnery, improvements at navy yards, s15, ,686 ,67L66; for 1iiisce1. 1 laneous expendi itures, including, public buildings, lighthouses and collecting the revenue S4l ,S37 ,28O.57; forsexpendi- lures on account of theDistriet of sCo- the public debt, $S2,508, ,741.l8; for premium on bonds purchased, $1 ,O6l : 24S78. Total ordinary expenditures, o of revenue of sloo, ,oee 40 ,4ol.ss, s which was applied as follows: To the redemption of bonds, the sinking fund
 s74,37f 200; fractional. currency For. the sinking fund, $lO9,0 .O5; loan of Feb riary, 1861, $7 AIS, ,00O; ten-forties of 1864, $2, ,O16 ,l5O; tive-twenties of 1862, SIS, 300, ,O0O; five-twenties of 1864, $3 ,- 400 OO0; tive-twenties of 1865, $37 300 : 900; consols of 1865, $143, ,15O; consols of 1867, $950, ,l50; consols of 1868, $337 ,- 1 400; Texan indemnity stock, $lO0, ,0O0 old demand compound interest and other notes, $l ,83O 0OO; and to the increase of cash in the treasury $l4 ,637 ,023.93; total, $lO0, ,069 ,404.98. | The requirements of the sinking fund for the year amounted to $90, ,786,- $49, ,8l7 ,l2S.78 not provided for during l ' l $74 ,48O, POI .05 was applied to this fund. which left deficit of SIG, 1905 ,873.4 The increase of the revenues for 1881 over those of the previous. year, was $29 1852 ,90l.l0. It is estimated that the receipts during the present fiscal year will reach $S400 ,000, ,000, and the eXpen- ditures $27O ,OOO OO0, leaving surplus of s130 ,o0O, GOO, applicable to the sinking fund and the redemption of the public
 THE LIQUOR TAX.
 It is, perhaps, doubtful whether the immediate reduction of the rate of taxation upon liquors and tobacco is advisable, especially in view of the drain upon the treasury which must attend the payment of arrears of pen. sions. A comparison, however, of the amount of taxes collected under the varying rates of taxation which have at different times prevailed, suggests the intimation that some reduction may soon be made without material diminu- tion of the revenue. REVISION OF TARIFF.
 The tariff laws also need revision; but that due regard may be paid to the conflicting interests of our citizens, inn portant changes should be made with caution. If a careful revision cannot be made at this session, 8 commission such as was lately approved by the Senate, and is now recommended by the secretary of the treasury, would doubt less tighten the labors of Congress whenever this subject shall be brought to its considerations l WAR DEPARTMENT.
 The accompanying report of the sec retary of war will make known the r operations of that department for the 1 past year. He suggests measures for promoting the efficiency of the army without adding to the number of it's officers, and recommends the legislation necessary to increase the number of enlisted men to 30,0O0, the minimum allowed by law. This he deems neces- sary to maintain the .quietude of our ever shifting frontier; to opreserve peace and suppress disorder and r1arauding in I new settlements; to protect settlers and their property against Indians and In- l dians against the encroachments of in- truders; and to enable peaceable inn migrants to establish homes in the most remote parts of our country. 1 The army is now necessarily scattered over such vast extent oflterritoryftha
 whenever an outbreak occurs reinforce ments must be hurried from many i quarters over great distances, and always at heavy cost for transportation
 of men, horses, wagons, and supplies l concur ill the recommendations of the secretary for increasing the army to the strength of thirty thousand enlisted men. It appears by the secretary's re- port that, in the absence of disturbances on the frontier, the troops have been actively employed ill collecting the In dians hitherto hostile and locating them on their proper reservations; that Sitting Bull and his adherents are now prisoners at Fort Randall ; 1 that the Utes have been moved to their l new reservation in Utah; that during the recent outbreak of Apaches it was 1 necessary to reinforce garrisOns in Ari- zona by troops withdrawn from New l Mexico, and that some of the Apaches are now held prisoners for trial, while I some have escaped and the maj jority of ] the tribe are now on their reservation. There is need of legislation to prevent 1 intrusion upon the lands set apart for the Indians. A large military force, at great expense, is now required to patrol the boundary line between Kansas and the Indian Territory. The only punish ment that can at present be inflicted, IS tIIC GtI O1 GAIC AGluSACA StAAA the imposition of peeuniary fine, which, in most cases, it is impossible to compel. There should be a penalty by imprisonment in such cases.
 POSTAL. AFFAIRS.
 The report of the postmaster-general is q gratifying exhibit of the growth and
 efficiency of the postal service. The re-
 ceipts from postage and other ordinary sources during the past fiscal year were $36 ,489 ,816.58. The receipts from the | money order business were $295 ,581 .39, making total of $36,785, ,397.97. The
 expenditure for the fiscal year was $36,- 251 ,736.47. The deficit supplied out of the general treasury was $2 ,481 ,l29.35 or $ 3-lO per cent. of the amount ex- pended. The receipts were $3 ,469, ,91S.63 in excess of those of the previous year, and $4 ,575 ,397:97 in excess of the estimate made two years ago, before the present period
 of business prosperity had fairly begun. The whole number of letters mailed in
 4his country in the last fiscal year ex-
 ceeded 1000 ,0OO,00O. The registry
 system is reported to be in excellent condition ,'having been remodeled during the past four years with good results. The amount of registration fees col
 tected during the last fiscal year was 1 $7l2, ,882.2O an increase over the fiscal l year ending June 30. 1877. of $345 .443.-