The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-12-17

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is need of legislation to prevent 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 at present can be inflicted is the
forcible removal of the intruder and the impo-
sition of pecuniary fine, which in most cases
it is impossible to collect. There should be a
penalty by imprisonment in such cases.
The separate organization of the signal SER
vice 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. Details of the usual work
performed by the signal corps and the weather
bureau are also given IN that report.
l ask your attention to the statements of the
secretary of war regarding the acquisitions fire.
quently made by the Indian bureau upon the
subsistence department of the army for the
casual support of bands or tribes of Indians,
which appropriations are exhausted. The war
department should not be left, by reason of in
adequate provision for the Indian bureau, to
contribute for the maintenance of Indians.
RIVER AND HARBoR IMPROVEMENT.
The report of the chief of engineers furnishes
detailed account of the operations for the i'm
provement of rivers and harbors. I commend
to your attention the suggestions contained in
this report inregard to the condition of our FORTH
cations, especially coast defenses and recommend
an increase of strength of the engineer battal-
ion, by which the efficiency Of our torpedo sys-
TEN would be improved. / also call your atten-
ton to the remarks on the Improvement of the
South Pass of the Mississippi River the pro-
posed free bridge over the Potomac River at
Georgetown, the Importance of completing
at an early day the north wing of the de-
partment building and other recommendations
of the secretary of war which appear III his re-
port. The actual expenditures of this depart
ment for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1881
are S42, 122, 201, and appropriations for the
year 1882 were $44, 889, 1875; the estimates for
1883 are $44, SAL, 276.
THE NAVY.
The report of the secretary of the navy ex-
hibits the condition of that branch of service
and presents valuable suggestions for its i'm
provement. | call your special attention also
to the appended report of the advisory board
which will be convened to devise suitable meas
ures for increasing the efficiency of
the navy and particularly to the re-
port as to the character and number of
vessels necessary to place it upon a footing
commensurate with the necessities of the gov
ernment. cannot too strongly urge upon you
my conviction that every consideration of
national safety, economy and honor impera-
lively demands a thorough rehabilitation of our
navy With full appreciation of the fact that
compliance with the suggestions of the head of
the department and of the advisory board
involves a large expenditure of the public
moneys, l earnestly recommend such appro-
priations as will accomplish an end which
seems to be SO desirable. Nothing can be more
inconsistent with true public economy than the
Withholding OF the means necessary to
accomplish the objects intrusted by the consti-
tuition to the national legislature. One
Of three 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 our people than
the efficiency of cur navy.
We have fer many years maintained with
foreign governments the relations of honorable
, peace and that such relations may be perma-
nent IS desired Dy every patriotic citizen OF the
, republic; hut if we read the teachings of his
tory 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 this people
; nor have we any cause to distrust the
, friendly professions Of other governments, but
, for avoiding, as well as for repelling, the dan
ger 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 high
ways Of commerce the varied interests of cur
foreign trade, and the persons and property of
our citizens abroad; to maintain everywhere the
honor of our flag and the distinguished position
which we may rightfuly claim among the ma
tons of the world.
POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the postmaster general is a
gratifying exhibit Of growth and efficiency OF
the postal service.
The whole number of letters mailed In this
country in the last fiscal year exceeded one
thousand millions. The registry system is re-
ported 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, an increase over the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1877, of S345.4 43. The entire number
of letters and packages registered during the
year was 1888, 919, Of which only 2,061 we're
destroyed or lost in transit. The operations of
the money-order system are multiplying yearly.
Under the impulse of immigration, of the
rapid development Of the newer states and ter
rtorles, and the consequent demand for add-
tional means of INSTRUMENTATION and ex-
change, during the past year, 338 additional
| money-Order offices have been established
making a total of 5,499 in operation at the date
of this report. During the year the domestic
money orders aggregated in value $105, 075 500.
A modification of the system is suggested for
reducing the fees for money orders not exceed
ing five dollars from ten cents to five cents, and
making the maximum 800 in place of $50.
Legislation for the disposition of unclaimed
money orders IN the possession Of the postOfiice
department is recommended in view of the fact
that their total value exceeds one million dol
lars.
the subject of establishing system of savings
repositories In connection with the postoffice
department. The statistics of mail transpOrta-
ton show that during the past year railroad
routes have been increased in length 6249
miles and in cost 81, 114.382, while steamboat
routes have been decreased in length 2182
miles and in cost 1884 054. The so-caled Star
routes have been decreased in length 3,949
miles and in cost 1864, 144. Nearly all of them
are expensive routes and have been superseded
by railroad service. The cost of the Star
route service must therefore rapidly decrease
in the western states and territories.
The receipts from postage and other ordin-
ary sources during the past fiscal year were
$36, 489, 816. The receipts from the money
order business were 1926, 581, making total of
$36, 1856, 1877. The expenditure for the fiscal
year were $50, PSI, 736. The deficit supplied
out of the general treasury was $24, 81 ,293 or
GO per cent. of the amount The receipts we're
So, 469, 918 in excess of those of the previous
year and 81, SIC, 1897 in excess of the estimate
made two years ago before the present period of
business prosperity had faily begun.
The postmaster general, however calls atten-
ton to the constantly increasing cost of the
railway mail service serious difficulty in the
way of making the department self-sustaining
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. 1t now includes all those
which have an organized postal service, except
Bolivia, Costa RIGA, New Zealand and the Brit
lsh Colonies In Australia AS has been already
stated, great reductions have recently been
made Ii the expense of the Star route service
STAR ROUTE FRAUDS.
The investigation of the department of JUS
tice and the postoffice department have resulted
in the presentation of indictments against per-
sons formerly connected with that service &C