Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-12-11
THE -JRAsSErTE vrcrr,is,


The act of Congress approved August Z,
1882, authorized the remoya to the United
states OF the bodies of Com
mander George W. belong and his com
panions of the Jeanette expedition, FMS
remova has been successfully accom-
plished by Lieutenants Harber and Sehuetze.
The remains were taken from their grave
in the Lena Delta in March. 1855, and were re-
tanned at iakutsk until the following winter.
the season being too far advanced to admit
OF their immediate transportation. They ar
rived at New York February 20, 1874, where
they were received with situable honors.
THE GREEDY RELIEF EXPEDITION.
In pursuance of the joint resolution of
Congress. approved February IL, 1884, a naval
Lieutenant a. w. Greedy, United states Army,
and of the party h had been engaged an
der his command in scientific observations
at Lady Franklin Bay. Tn feet consisted of
the steam sealef Thetis, purchased in Eng
land the Bear, purchased mt ST. Johns, New
~foundland, and the Alert, which was gener-
ousiy provided by the British Government.
Preparations for the expedition were
promptly made by the secretary of the Navy,
with the active cooperation of the Secretary
OF War. Commander George W. Coffin was
placed in command OF the Alert, and Lieu.
tenant w. Ill. Emery in command OF the Bear.
The Thetis was Entrusted to Commander
Wenfleld :. Copiey, to whom also was as
signed the superintendent of the entire
expedition. Immediately upon its ar
rival ut Upernasik the fleet began the
dangerous navigation of Melville Bay,
and, in spite of every ~obstabIe, reached Lit.
Teton Island on June ed, a fortnight earlier
than ai,y vessel had before attained that
point. On the same day it crossed over to
Cape Sabine, where Lieutenant Greedy and
the other suryfsors OF his party were discoy-
cred. After taking on board the living and
the bodies of the dead, the relief ships sailed
for st. Johns, where they arrived on July
18th. They were appropriately received at
Portsmouth, n. H., on August Ist, and ut New
York on August sth. One of the bodies was
landed at the former place, The Others were
put on shore at Governors Island, and,
with the exception OF one which was in
TERED in the National Cemetery, were for
warded thence to the destination indicated
by friends The organization and conduct
OF this relief expedition reflects great credit
upon all who contributed to its success.
STRONG NAVY ID
In this, the last of the stated messages that
| shall have the n to transmit to the Con-
gress of the United States. | can not too
strongly urge on its attention the duty of re-
S S'e ! sgs. 9af of fa a,,lc as rsp nc as possible to the
acterizei it. AS the long peace that has
luled us into Il sense of fancied security
may at any time be disturbed, it is plain that
the policy of strengthening this arm of the
service is dictated by considerations OF use,
economy OF a just regard for our future tran
guilty, and of a true appreciation of the dig
nifty and honor of the Republic.
II POSTAL SERVICE.
The report Of the General ac-
quaints you with the present condition
and the needs of the postal service. 1t dis
closes the gratifying fact that the loss OF
revenue from reduction in rate of letter
postage as recommended d in my message De-
cember, 1882, and affected by the act OF
March ), ISIS, has been much less than was
generally anticipated. My recommendation
of this reduction was based upon the belief
that the actual falling OF in receipts from
letter postage for the year Immediately sue.
ceeding the change of rate would be $780,
900. 1t has proved to be only s2,275,0Oe. This
is n trustworthy indicator that the revenue
Will soon be restored to its former volume
by the natural increase OF sealed CORE
spondence.
M CENT POSTAGE.
/ confidently repeat, therefore, the recon.
mendation OF my last annual message tina
single rate postage upon drop letters be re.
duced to one cent wherever payment of two
| cents is now required by law. Double rate I.
only expected at offices where the carrier
system is in operation, and it appears that a
those offices where the carrier system is IN
local letters defrays the cost not only of its
own collection and delivery, but of the col
| lection and delivery of all other mail matter
This is an inequality that ought no longer tl
exist.
UNITY OF WEIGHT.
| / approve the recommendation of the Post.
master-General that the unit of weights in
1 the rating of iirSt-claSS matter should be one
In view of the statistics furnished by the de,
partment it may well be doubted whether tft
change would result in any loss of revenue.
That it would greatly promote the convent.
ence of the public is beyond dispute. Tn
free delivery system has been lately applied
to five cities, and the total number OF offices
IN winch 1t Is now IN operation Is l's; IL,
proper conditions is equally an accommoda-
ton to the public and an advantage to the
postal service. 1t is more than self sustain.
ing. and for the reasons urged by the Post
master-General may be properly extended.
EXCEPTIONAL DISPATCH.
1t is the opinion of that officer that it il
properto provide means whereby excep
| finnaI IiStnareh ", .tpafinp with latfa-S Sr
free delivery offices may be secured b,
paying extraordinary postage. This scheme
might be made effective by the employment
of a special stamp whose cost should bt
commensurate with the expenses of the ex'
ira service. In some of the large cite;
private express companies have, under;
carriers by atfording for the prompt trans,
mission of letters better facilities than
P~ost-office. 1t has always been the policy
of the Government to discourage such enter
prises, and in no better way can that policy
be maintained than in supplying the pubic
with the most efficient mail service that,
with due regard to its own best interests can
be furnished for its accommodation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS REPORT.
The Attorney General renews the recon-
mendation contained. in his report of last
year, touching the fees of witnesses and
jurors. He favors radical changes in the fee
torneys and marshals of the United States
should be compensated solely by salaries,
and the erection by the Government of a
Penitentiary for the confinement of Offenders
against its laws.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
OF the variou Governmental concerns in
charge of the Interior Department the re
ports of its Secretary presents an interesting
Among the topics deserving par
ticuiar attention, l refer you to his ohserva'
tions respecting our Indian affairs, the pre-
emption and timber culture acts, the fallurt
of railroad companies to take title to lands
granted by the Government, and the opera
tions of the Pension Office, the Patent Office
the Census Bureau and the Bureau OF Educa
ton.
THE INDIANS.
Allusion has been made already to the cir
cumstances that beth as between different
indian tribes and as between Indians an6
the whites, the past year has been one OF tn
broken peace. In this circumstance thu
President is glad to find Justification for th'
policy of the Government in dealing with sht
Indian question and confirmation of tn
views which were fully expressed in my mrs
recommendation to the Forty seventh Con
gress. The Secretary urges anew the
enactment of a statute for the pun
ishment of crimes on In
dian reservations. and recommends the
passage of the bill now penang III
the House of Representatives Tor tine pnr
chase of a tract of 5000 square inlteS IRON
the sioux reservation. Both these measures
are worthy of approval. / concur with min
also in advising the repeal of the pre-ernp
ton law, the enactment of statutes resolving
the present legal complications touching
lapsed grants to railroad companies, ana TN
funding of the debt of the several faclh.