The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-12-14
WHOLE NO. 1888.


/ by which the efficiency of our tor
/ pedo system would be eimproYed. i
also cali your attention TO the re-
marks on the improvement of the
south pass of the Mississippi river,
the proposed free bridge over the
Potomac river at Georgetown, the
importance of completing at an ear
ly day the north wing Of the De-
partment building, and other re-
Communications of the Secretary OF
War, which appear IN his report.
The actual expenditures of this De-
partment for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1881, were s42, ,122, ,201.2
The appropriations Tor the year 1882
were S44, ,SS9,72542 The estimates
for 1853 are S44 oil ,276.91.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy exhibits the condltion of that
branch of service and presents vaiu-
able suggestions for Its improve
ment. | call your especial attention
also to the appended report Of tue
advisory board which he convened
to devise suitable measures for in
creasing the efficiency Of the navy,
and particularly to report as to the
character and number Of vessels ne
cessary to replace it upon footing
commensurate with the necessities
Of the Government. | cannot too
strongly urge upon you my conyIc-
ton that every consideration OF ma
tional safety, economy, and honor,
Iimperatively demands 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 a
large expenditure of the public
moneys, l earnestly recommend
such appropriations as viii accom-
plish an end which seems 10 be so
desirable. Nothing can be more IN
consistent with true public economy
than withholding the means neces-
sary to accomplish the objects in
trusted by the constitution 10 the
/ National Legislature. One Of those
objects, and one that Is Of para
| mount importance, is declared by
the fundamental law tn be the pro-
vision for the common defense.
Surely nothing IS more asseutial TO
the defense Of the Unit q States and
of all our people thai the .he ELI.
cheney of our navy.
| We have for many years main
tanned with foreign governments the
relations Of honorable peac and
that such relations IA be srma-
nent is desired by exc riotic
citizen of the republic But if we
read the teachings OF history we
lshall not forget that IL the life Of
Ievery nation emergencies may arise
when resort to arms can alone
save it from dishonor. No danger
from abroad now threatens this peO-
pie, nor have We any cause to G.s
trust the friendly professions Of
other governments. But for avoid
ing as well as for repelling dangers
that may threaten Us in future, we
must be prepared to enforce any
policy which we think wise to adopt.
| We must be ready to defend our
harbors against aggression; TO pro-
tect, by the distribution of our ships
of war over the highways of COM
| meree, the varied interests Of our
foreign trade and the persons and
property of our citizens abroad ; to
maintain everywhere the honor of
our flag and the distinguished posi-
ton which we may rightfully claim
among the nations of the world.
THE PosroFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
| The report of the Postmaster Gen
eral is a gratifying exhibit of the
growth and efficiency of the postal
service. The receipts from postage
and other ordinary sources during
the past fiscal year were s36, ,4o9,-
ISf6.5S. The receipts from the mon
ey order business were S295, ,5S1. .5y,
making q total of s36,7S5, ,397 81.
The expenditure for the fiscal year
was s39, ,251, 1850 The deficit
lsupplied out OF the general treasury
was S2,4S1.129 30 or 6.3 per cent. OF
| the amount. The receipts were s3,-
| 469. 9.91S.63 in excess of those of the
tprevious year and sf,575, 81 in
excess OF the estimate made two
years ago before the present period
of business prosperity had fairly be
| gun.
The whole number of letters mail
| ed in this country in the last fiscal
wear exceeded l,000,000,000. 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 collected during the
last fiscal year was s712,SS2.2o, an
increase over the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1880, of S345, ,443.40.
The entire number OF letters and
packages registered during the year
was s, S,33S,919, OF which only 2,061
were destroyed or lost in transit.
The operations OF the money order
. system are multiplying yearly.
Under the impulse of immigra-
ton, of the rapid development OF
the newer States and Territories, and
the consequent demand for addition
al means Of intereommunication and
exchange, during the past year 33s
, additional money order offices have
been established, making total OF
5,499 in operation at the date of this
report. During the year the domes-
tic money orders aggregated in value
E sIO5, ,O75, 1895. A modification Of
the system is suggested reducing the
fees for money orders not exceeding
five dollars from ten cents to five
cents. and making the maximum
limit one hundred dollars in place
, of fifty dollars. Legislation for iht
disposition OF unclaimed money or
ders in the possession Of the Postot-
, fee Department is recommended
in view of the fact that their tota.
value now exceeds one million dol
! lars.
The attention of Congress Is again