The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-12-08

imposition of pecuniary fine which, in
most cases, it is impossible to collect.
There should be q penalty of imprise n
ment in such cases.
The separate organization of the
Signal Service Is urged by the
Secretary of War and full statement
of the advantages of such permanent
organization is presented in the report of
the Chief Signal Officer, and a detailed re-
port of the useful work performed by the
Signal Corps, and the Weather Bureau is
also given in that report / ask attention
| to the statement Of the Secretary of War re-
garding the acquisitions frequently made
by the Indian Bureau upon the Subsistence
Department of the Army for the casual
| support of bands and tribes of Indians
whose appropriations are exhausted The
War Department should not be forced, by
reason of inadequate provision for the In
dian Bureau, to contribute for the mainte
nance of Indians.
IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBoRs.
The report of the Chief of Engineers fur
| nishes detailed account of the operations
for the improvement of the rivers and har-
bors. / commend to your attention the
suggestions contained in this report in re-
gard to the condition of our Notifications,
especially our coast defences and recon-
mend an increase of the strength of the
battalion by which the efficiency of our
torpedo system would be improved. | also
call your attention TO the remarks upon the
Improvement of the South Pass of the
Mississippi river, the proposed free bridge
over the Potomac river at Georgetown
the importance of the completion
at an early day of the north wing of the
State and War Department building and
| other recommendations of the Secretary of
of War which appears in his report. The
actual expenditures of this Department for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1881, were
S42, IL, 202.3s; the appropriations for the
year 1882, were $44,SS9, 1882 the esti-
mates for 1888 were 81, 541 1851.
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY
| exhibits the condition of that branch of the
service and present valuable suggestions for
| its improvement. I call your personal at
tention to the appended report of
the advisory board which is to
be convened to devise suitable
measures for increasing the efficiency of the
| Navy and particularly to the report as to
the character and number of the vessel nee
| essary to place it upon footing commensu-
rate with the necessities of the Government.
cannot too strongly urge on you my con-
yiction that every consideration of national
safety, economy and honor imperatively de-
mands a thorough rehabilitation of our Navy
with a full appreciation of the fact that
compliance with the suggestions of
the head of that Department
and of the advisory board must
involve large expenditure of the public
moneys. / earnestly recommend such APP
preparations as will accomplish the end
which seems to be so desirable. Moth
ing can be more inconsistent with
true public economy than the
| withholding of the means necessary
| Constitution to the National Legislature
One of these objects, and one which is of
paramount importance, is declared by our
fundamental law to be the provision for the
common defense. Surely nothing is more
essential TO the defense of the United
States and of all of our people
than the efficiency of our Navy.
AN HONORABLE PEACE.
We have for many years maintained with
foreign governments the relation of hon.
orable peace and that such relations may
be permanent is desired by every patriotic
citizen of the Republic; but if we read the
teachings of history we shall not forget that
in the life of every nation emergencies may
arise when resort to arms can alone save
it from dishonor. No danger from abroad
now threatens our people, nor have
we any cause to distrust the
friendly professions of others, but
for avoiding as well as for expelling dangers
that may threaten US in the future, we
must be prepared to face any policy which
we think wise to adopt We must be ready
to defend our harbors against aggression, to
protect by the distribution of our ships OF
: war over the highways of commerce the
varied interests of our foreign trade and
: the persons and property of our citizens
abroad, to maintain everywhere the honor o.
our flag and the distinguished position which
we may right fully claim among the ma
tions of the world. r
, THE REPORT Of THE POSTMASTER GENERAL
is a gratifying exhibit of the growth anc
efficiency of the postal service. Tn,
receipts from postage and other ordinary
sources during the past fiscal year wer,
$50, 489, S16.58; the receipts from the monel
order business were 1926, 58l; together max
! ing total of $36, 7S6, 39S.97. The expend
: iture for the fiscal year was sos, 251, 1856 46
The deficit supplied out of the genera
Treasury was S24,811 .293.50, or 63 per cent
, of the amount. The receipts were S., 400,
SIS63 in excess of those of the previou
t year and s., 575, 81 in excess of the est
mate made two years ago before the presen
period of business prosperity had fairl!
begun.
The whole number of letters mailed IN thi
country in the last fiscal year exceeded
' 1000 000, 900. The registry system is reporteC
f to be in excellent condition, having beel
! remodeled during the past four years witt
: good results. The amount of registration
! fees collected during the last fiscal year wa
: ST ,2SS.22O, an increase over the fiscal yea
? ending June so, 1871, of $345, 1870; the en-
: tire number of letters and packages register
0 ed during the year was s, 1886, e19, of whicl
: only 81 were destroyed or lost in transit
8 The operations of the money orde
8 system are multiplying each yea
5 under the impulse of immigration, of tn
: rapid development of the newer States an,
: Territories, and the consequent deman,