Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-15

also call your attention 10 the remarks unon
the Improvement OF the South Pass OF the
Mlsslsslppl river, the proposed free bridge AT
Georgetown over the Potomac river. Inc i'm
poltance OF completing az an early dav tba
north wing Of the War Department bulidine and
other recommendations of the Secretary ~ NVar
which appear in his report The actlnl ex.
pena.tures OF this department for the fscat
wear ending june 80, lt131, were e42. l22'201 40
The appropriations for the year 1852 were
S44.Ss9, 72542. The estimates for 1883 are
S44, 541, 276.91.
THE NAVY.
The report Of the Secretary OF the NAVY ex-
hlblts tAe condition OF that branch of the SER
vice. and presents valuable suggestions for it,
Improvement. call your especial attention
also to the appended report Of the Advisory
Board which he convened to devise suitah HE
measures for increasing the efficiency Of fe
navy, and particularly TO report as to the char
acter and number of vessels necessary to place
1t upon a footing commensurate with
the necessities of the Government
cannot too strongly urge upon you my CON
viction thst every consideration of national
safety, economy and honor imperatiyey de-
mands a thorough rehabilitation of our
navy, with inst appreciation Of the
fact that compliance VITA the suggestion OF
the head OF that department and of the
ADVISORY Board, must involve large ey-
Fenditure of the public MONEYS. | earn
estly recommend such appropriation as
VIII accomplish an end which seems
10 be so desirable Nothing can lie
more Inconsistent with true public economy
than The withholding Of the means necessary
to accomplish the objects intrustad by the con-
stitution 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 de-
Tense. Surely nothing is more essential to
the defense of the United States and of all oar
people than the efficiency of our navy.
IN TINE OF PEACE PREPARE FOR WAR;"
We have for many years maintained with for
eign governments the relations of honorable
peace, and that such relations NAV be peima-
nent Is desired by every patriotic citizen Of The
republic. But if we read the teachings of his
tory we shall not forget that in the life Of every
nation emergencies may arise when a resort
to arms can alone save it from dishonor. No
danger from abroad now threatens this people
nor have we any cause to distrust the friend
~ possessions Of other governments
But for avoiding well as for repeling dam
gers that may threaten III future we must be
prepared 10 face any policy which we think
wise to adopt. We must be ready to defend
our harbors against aggression, to protect, bv
the distribution OF our ships Of war over the
highways of commerce, the varied interests Of
our foreign trade, and the person and property
Of our citizens abroad; to maintain everywhere
the honor of our flag and the distinguished po-
sition which We may rightfully claim among the
nations of the world.
POSTAL MATTERS
The report of the Postmaster General is
gratifying exhibit of the growth and
efficiency of the postal service. The
receipts from postage and other ordinary
sources during the past fiscal wear were
S36 489, s16.53. The receipts from the money
order business were 1925, 5Sl.39, making
total of $36, 7S5, 3Y7.97. The expend ture for
the fiscal year was 500, PSI, 736. is. The deficit
supplied ont OF the general treasury was
S2,4Sl, 129, 49, or GO percent. of the amount
The receipts were 50, 4699ls.G3 in excess Of
those of the previous y0aI, and S4,575 397. 81
i'll excess of the estimate made two years ago
before the present year of business prosperity
had fairly begun.
The whole nuaher of letters mailed in this
country III the lest fiscal year exceeded ], 00O.-
100000.
The registry system is reported to be in ex-
cellent condition, having been remodeled dur
ing the past fou years with good results The
amounts of registration fees collected during
the last fiscal wear were $7l2, $50. 20-an in
crease over the 1scal year ending June 80 1877.
of s435, 49, 40. The entire number OF letters
and packages registered dnring the year was
633S, 9l9, of which only 2,06l we're DESTROYED
or lost IN transit. The operations of the
under the impulse of immigration of the
rapid development of the newer States and
Territories, and the consequent demand for
additional means of inter-cOmmuiication and
exchange. During the past year 1873 additional
mOney-order offices have been established
making total Of &, 499 in operation at the date
OF this report. During the year the domestic
money orders aggregated in valne $40 507, &c.
935. A modification of the system is suggested
reducing the fees for money orders not ex-
ceeding 80 from 10 cents to 5 cents and
making the maximum limit 500 in place OF
$50 Legislation for the disposition of mn
claimed money orders III Tue possession of the
Post Office Department is recommended. in
view of the fact that their total value exceeds
81 900.
The attention Of Congress ia again pointed
to the subject Of establishing system of saw
ings repositories i'll connection with the Post
Office Department
THE STATISTICS OF MAIL TRANSPORTATION
show that during the past year railroad routes
have been increased IN length 6,249 miles, and
in cost S1l1, 382, while steamboat routes have
been decreased in length 21S2 miles, and in
cost @l34,U5i. The so-called star routes have
been decreased in length 1910 miles, and In
cost 1854, 144. Nearly all Of the more expen-
siye routes have been superseded by railroad
service. The cost OF the star service must
therefore, rapidly decrease in the Western
States and Territories.
The Postmaster General, however, calls at
tention to the cOnstantly-increasing cost of the
Railway Mail Service as a serious difficulty in
the way Of making the department self-sus-
tanning.
Our postal intercourse with foreign countries
has kept pace with the growth Of the domestic
service. Within the past year several countries
and colonies have declared their adhesion to
the Postal Union. II now includes all those
which have an organized postal service. except
Bolivia, Costa Rca, New Zealand and the Brit
lsh colonies in Australia.
As has been already stated great reductions
have been made in the expense Of
THE sTAG-RoUTE SERVICE
The Investigations OF the Department OF jus
tice and Postofice Department have resulted
in the presentation OF indictments against
persons formerly connected with that
service. accusing them of offences against
the United States. l have enjoined upon
conduct of the cases on the part OF the Gov
eminent and upOn the eminent counsel, who
teiore my accession to the Presidency, were
called to their assistance. the duty of prose-
cuting With the utmost rigor Of the law all
persons who may be found chsrgeable with
frauds upon the postal service.
The Acting Attorney General calls attention
to tie neces slty OF modifying the present sys-
TEN Of
COURTS or TIE UNITED STATES,
a necessity due to the large increase OF bust
ness. especially in the Supreme Court. Iitga-
ton in ctr Federal tribunals became greatly
expanded after the close Of the iate war. SO
long As thet expansion might be attributable to
the abnormal condition ia which the commu-
nifty found itself immediately after the return Of
peace, prudence required that no change he
made III the constitution OF our Judicial tIibu-
nais. Bat it has now become apparent that sn
immense increase Of litigation mas directly re-
suited from tie wonderful growth or develop
ment Of tbs country There is no ground Tor
belief tbs the business Of the United States
courts viii ever be less in soilTne Than az
present. Indeed. that il Is likely to be much
greater r generaAg recognized by the bench
ana bar. Ia view Of the fact that Congress
has already given much consideration TO this
suhiect. / make no suggestion as Astail, hut
express the hope that your deliberations may
result III such legislation as viii give early re-
lief to cur overburdened court.
ARIZONA
The Acting Attorney General also calls
attention TO the disturbance Of TIE public
tranquility during the past year 10 the Terri
tory of Arizona. A band Of armed despeTa-
does known as "cow-boys,' probably num-
bering from 50 10 100 men, have been engaged
for months IN committing acts Of lawlessposs
aud brutality which the local authorities
have been unable to repress. The dePre-
dations of these COWBOYS" have also
been extended into MsGco whIeh
the marauders reach from the Arizona
frontier. With every disposition to meet the
exigencies II the case, / am embarrassed by
lack of author Il 10 deal with them effectusliv.
The punishment Of crimes committed within
Ar zona, should ordinarily, of course, be eft
TO the Territorial authorities Bat il Is worthy If
consideration whether acts which necessarily
tend TO enhr0il the United States with neigh
boring governments should not be declared
crimes against the Tuited States Some Of tfse
incurslons alluded to NAV perhaps be within
the scope of the law. Revised Statutes, section
52s5 forhlddlng Military expeditions OK en-
farrriSes y ecairst friendly states PINT