The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-07

hne, , w~ There should lie penalty by
!o.,y,soumcnt In such cases.
""f SIGNAL SERVICE.
-. so,ara,e organization Of the signal
,.;ce Is urged by the Secretary Of War,
h,Il statement 81 the advantages Of
anu ornament organization IL presented
", ,hd rc,,ort Of the Chief Signal officer. A
n. u account Of the useful work per.
e,,sd bv the Signal corps and the Wea-
ls,' Bnrcau is also given in that report.
w,R DEPARTMENT AND INDIAN BUREAU.
~ attention to the statements OF the
s..re,ary OF War regarding the acquisitions
,SsavSnily made by the Indian Bureau upon
~ subsistence Department OF the army for
nv casual support Of bands and tribes OF
Italians whose appropriations are exhaust
a The War Department should not be
~, by reason OF inadequate provision for
49, indian Bureau, 10 contribute for the
maintenance Of Indians.
prpENcEs TO RE STRENGTHENED.
Tho roport OF the Chief Of Engineers
.,rnishc> a detailed account OF the opera
CON for the Improvement OF rivers and
ssrhors. commend TO your attention the
u~'..c,tions contained in this report in re-
10 10 tic condition Of our Notifications,
s'',ncislIy our coast dcfcnccs, and recon-
Ind an increase OF the strength OF the
Tn',ineer battalion, by which the efficiency
a our torpedo system would be improved.
INTERVAL IMPROVEMENTS.
I also cali your attention TO the remarks
,ron the Improvement OF the South Pass
~ the Mississippi river; the proposed free
triare over the Potomac river nj George
trwa-the importance OF completingit at an
',rl, day the north wing OF the War De-
nsrtmcn; building, and other recommends
lions OF the Secretary of War, which APP
near in Ms report. The
ACTUAL EXPENDITURES
n that department for the fiscal year end
ING lime 80, 1881, were Si2, IL, 0l3.90. The
appropriations for the year 1882 were
sit $50. 7sJ.42. The estimates for 1883
are So, GI.276.0i.
The report Of the
SECRETARY OF TIE NAVY
evhibif. the condition Of that branch OF the
service. and presents valuable suggestions
i,r H. Improvement. | call your especial
,ttentiOn also 10 the appended report OF
the Advisory Board which he convened 10
devise suitable measures for increasing the
efficiency II the navy, and particularly to
repori - 10 the character and number Of
vessels necessary 10 place it upon footing
commensurate with the necessities OF the
Government.
AN ENLARGED NAVY.
cannot too strongly urge upon YOU my
conviction that every consideration of na- 4
tonal safety, economy, and honor impeTa- !
lively demands thorough rehabilitation
Of our navy. With n full appreciation OF
the TACT that compliance with the suggcs-
lions Of the head OF that department and OF
the Advisory Board must involve a large
expenditure OF the public moneys, earn
e,tly recommend such appropriations as
viii accomplish an end which seems to me
n desirable. Nothing can he more incOn-
,i.tent with true public economy than
Withholding the means necessary to accom- /
pli>h the objects entrusted by the Constitu-
lion 10 the National Legislature. One of
those subjects, and one which is OF para /
mount importance. is described 10y ours
fundamental law TO be the
PROVISION FOR THE " COMMON DEFENCE"
surely nothing il more essential to the |
defence Of the United States and of all our
people than the efficiency Of our navy. We I
have for many wears maintained with /.
orahle peace, and that such relations may
he permanent is desired by every patriotic .
citizen Of the republic; but if we heed the I
teachings OF history we shall not forget /
that in the life OF every nation emergencies /
may arise when resort to arms can alone I
ave il from dishonor.
20 danger from abroad now threatens I
this people. nor have we any cause TO dis /
trust the friendly professions Of other Gov /
cInmcnt.. But avoiding rs well II Tor re- .
pelling dangers that may threaten Us in the .
future. we must he prepared to enforce .
any policy we think wise to adopt. We .
must be ready TO defend our harborS /
against aggression, 20 protect 10y the dis
iribution OF our ships Of war over the /
highways of commerce the varied interests /
Df our foreign trade and the persons and .
property of our citizens abroad. to main /
lain everywhere the honor OF our FLAG and .
the distinguished position which we may
rightfully claim among the nations OF the /
world.
The report OF
THE PosTNAsTRR-GENERAL
!, gratifying exhibit of the growth and
Of the policy. The receipts from
postage and other sources during the
past fiscal year were S3e,4S9, sl6.5S. The
receipts from the mOney-order business
were S99j. 5SI. 80, making Il total of $780,
,Sj. 397.97. The expenditures for the fiscal
wear were S3g. 251, 1886. The deficits sup
plied out OF the general treasury was p, 4Sl,-
l2q.Sj. or 90 10 per cent. OF the amount
expended. The receipts were %, 400, 91S.G3
IN excess Of those OF the previous year
s41J. so. 81 i'm excess OF the estimate made
wo years ago, before the present period OF
business prosperity had fairly begun. The
whole
NUMBER OF LETTERS MAILED
n this country in the last fiscal year en-
ceded one thousand millions. The regis
~ system is reported TO be in excellent
having been revived during the
,ast four years with good results. The
mount of registered fees collected during
he last fiscal year was S712, 1882. 2O-an in |
rease over the fiscal year ending June so, ;
SO. OF sSi5. 1910. The entire number ,
4 letters and packages registered during ,
he wear was $685. $40, Of which only 2,06l ,
we're lost or destroyed in transit
The operations OF the
N0SEY-ORDER SYSTEM
re multiplying yearly under the impulse OF
Immigration and OF the rapid development !
4 the newer States and Territories and [
he consequent demand for additional |
means OF inter-communication and eX- {
hange.
During the past year 33S additional G
Offices have been established, {
making total OF 5,499 in operation at the
late Of this report. :
Daring the year the domestic orders ag- |
,rcgated in value jO7,j76,9 3j. A modifi-
II on OF the system is suggested reducing |
he fees for money-orders not exceeding % q
rom ten cents 10 five cents, and making I
he maximum limit 300 in place Of $50. 4