Morning journal and courier., 1882-12-05

Annual Reports-Facts and Recommen-
 dations from Various Heads of Depart
 ments.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The Postmaster General in his annual report recommends the abolition of postage on second class matter and that the rate on fourth class be increased. He approves the plan of selling stamped en- velopes at cost of the stamp and thinks the revenue would be increased by this means. He recommends the establishment of postal savings banks and postal telegraph system. He recommends postal rates for SS5 and un- der, commends civil service in railway mail division He states that the Star service has been handled by the Assistant Postmaster General in most gratifying manner and fa- yors the suggestion that first and second class offices receive stationery through the first assistants office, that box rents be paid direct to the government and that the gov ernment rent all postoffces and not the post masters, and that where practicable all post office buildings be erected by the govern ment and no buildings be rented or leased if it can be avoided.
 The annual report of Attorney General Brewster 3 900 to defray the expenses of the Uni States courts during the next fiscal year rec2m mends revision present scale of fees of Uni ted States arshals asks an increased appropriation the investigation of accounts Of marshais, dis trict attorneys. etc recommends the authoriz aton of atorneys to appoint in several cases thorites regarding the retention and return pris oners that the maxi imum compsnsasion of several the that the revised statutes be so amended that all emolument retaners of district attorneys shall hereafter be settled for the other accounts are settled that addi- tona legislation be had to protect executive civil of the government in the performance of their duties, and also against outrages committed upon them bee they have faithfully performed them. Tba states tbere brought In the court of claims 4S2 suits claim ing against the United 718 claiming $27 59 75S e. 'NO' ''' The annual report of the Secretary of War shows the expenses the last fiscal year 349 $38 897 620 34 for the next fiscal year. not in General shermans recommendations that the stand
 ing army increased to 3O,oOo men, that the pay of privates be increased to SIS month to prevent de sertion and systematic plan be adopted for the exchange of officers s ana from a @ 9ne State to sity 8 reproof building suitable for the proper tion and the library which yearly grows more i'm peratve the present building is overcrowded and insecurity against accident and fire places extreme Jeopardy collections which if destroyed d
 aea ps but to he world The Secretary the View of Chief Engineer Wright that there
 an supplies
 yards and arsenals in provision against the Poss
 Wrghts judgment respecting increase of strength the bill Exported from the senate Committee on Mill tary Affairs, and the calendar, providing for a substantial increase of the appropriation to arm and equip the militia of the several States and con with the recommendation of the chief signal off I cer for District organization sufficiently large l to perform the work of the weather bureau, and further recommends that the weather bureau be wholly separated from the army and from its appro- prations. He recommends that the laws relating to retirement hs amendedso as to avoid the difficulty | that now exists under an opinion of the Attorney General that long there four hundred officers the retired list no officer can be placed on that list, except who belongs to the other of the classes mentioned in the act of 1SS2 He also ommends an amendment that would impose penalty of Imprisonment upon Payne others who may make | raids into the Indian country.
 The annual report of the Commissioner of Pensiont shows the number of pensioners the rolls at the close of the fiscal to have been S07 of whom 173,OO nvalids and 76,000 widows, orphans and dependent relatives. The number added to the rolls
 during the year 27. 664 and the number dropped II 44G. The total sum paid for pensions during ths year was $54, 900. The commissioner renews the recommendation of his last report that any pension
 CT feeling that the proper pension has no
 been allowed him may by making an application
 within one year have his case reopened. He also recommended a modification of the laws requiring
 persons applying for pensions account of tn,
 death of relatives to show that they were dependen