The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-12-06

related to his department. The total
ordinary revenues Of the government
for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1888,
amounted to 1919 .266, 074.76, of which
S219, 091 ,173.63 was received from Gus.
toms duties, and 1924 ,296 ,S7I .9S from
internal taxes.
The total receipts from all sources
exceeded those for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1887, by SIS, 627 81. The or
binary expenditures of the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1899, were S257 $685.
95S.67, leaving a surplus OF Sl1S .612,-
1900. The decrease in these expend-
itures as compared with the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1887, was s., 27s, 22l.SI,
Notwithstanding the payment of more
than five million dollars for pensions
in excess Of what was paid for that
purpose in the latter mentioned year.
The revenues of the government for the
year ending June 80, 1889. ascertained
for the quarter ended September 30,
1888, and estimated for the remainder
of the time amount to S377 COO 600,
and the actual and estimated ordinary
expenditures for the same year are
S273, 900, 900. leaving an estimated sur
plus of $104, 900 600.
Daily purchases of bonds were COM
menced on the 23rd day of April. 1883
and have continued until the present
time and by this plan, bonds of the
government, not yet due, have been
purchased up to and including the 30th
day of November, 1898, amounting to
S94 200, 400; the premium paid thereon
amounting to SIT sos ,613.O8.
He then gives resume of the pur-
chase of bonds and coinage of silver as
shown in the treasureTS report and
earnestly recommends the suspension
of the further coinage of silver
He then reviews the report OF the
SECRETARY OF WAR.
earnestly request that the recon-
mendations contained IN the secre-
tary'S report, all of which are, in my
opinion, calculated to increase the use
fulness and discipline of the army
may receive the consideration of the
congress; among these the proposal
that there should be provided plan
for the examination Of officers, to test
their fitness for promotion, is of the ut
most Importance. This reform has
been before recommended in the re-
ports of the secretary and its eXped-
| iency is so fully demonstrated by the
argument he presents in its favor that
its adoption should no longer be neg
leeted.
The death of General Sheridan, in
August last, was national aft1ietion.
The army then lost the grandest of its
chiefs. The country lost brave and
experienced soldier, a wise and dis
Greet counsellor, and modest and
sensible man. Those who in any man
ner came within the range of his per-
sonal association will never rail- TO pay
deserved and willing homage to his
greatness and the glory of his career,
but they will cherish with more tender
sensibility the loving memory OF his
simple, generous and conslderate ma
| ture.
He refers to the condition of the
Apaches and opposes their return to
their reservation. He reviews the
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.
He congratulates the country on the
improved methods that have been in
PRODUCED in that department.
THE REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GEN
ERAL
| is reviewed and the views are urged
upon congress and adds: Another
class of postal employees whose cOndi-
| ton seems to demand legislation is
that of clerks in pOstoffices, and call
especial attention to the repeated rec
concentrations of the postmaster gem
| eral for their classification. Pro- Ell
! legislation of this character for the re-
lief of carriers in the free delivery SER
vice has been frequent. Provision is
made for their promotions; for substi-
| tuteS for them on vacation; for suhSti-
| tutes for holidays, and limiting their
hours of labor. Seven million dollars
has been appropriated for the current
year to provide for them, although the
total number of offices where they are
employed is but $50 for the past fiscal
year, with an estimated increase for
| the current year of but forty, while the
/ total appropriations for all clerks in
offices throughout the United States is
50. $50 900.
The legislation affecting the statutes
of the government with railroads is in
need of revision. While for the most
part the railroad companies through
out the country have cordially cooper
ated with the post office department in
rendering excellent service, yet, under
| the law, as it stands, while the COM
| pensation to them for carrying the
| mail is limited and regulated, and al
though railroads are made post roads
by law, there is no authority reported
anywhere to compel the owner of a
railroad to take and carry the United
States mail. The only alternative pro-
vided by act of congress in case of re-
fusal is for Inc Postmaster General tO
send mail forward by pony express
This is but an illustration of i'll fitting
Legislation. reasonable and proper at
the time of its enactment but long
since outgrown and requiring read
justment. 1t is gratifying to note
from the carefully prepared statistics
accompanying the POSTMASTER Cen
Ieral's report that Notwithstanding the
great expansion of the service the rate
of expenditure has been leSsened and
efficiency has been improved in every
branch; that fraud and crime have de-
creased; that losses from the mails
have been reduced, and that the mum
Der of complaints of the service made
to pOstmaSterS and to the
ever before. The transactions oil
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
For the fiscal year ended June 80
1888. are contained in the report of the
: attorney general as well as number
of valuable recommendations, the
most of which are repititionS of those
previously made and ought to receive
consideration. 1t is stated in this
report that though judgements in civi
suits amounting to $552, O2l.OS wert
recovered in favor of the government
during the year only the sum of 1882.
9S4 was collected thereon, and that
though fines, penalties and fOrfeitures
were Imposed amounting to S54l SOS. 43
only SOD ,64S.42 of that sum was pale
on account thereof. These facts may
furnish an illustration of the SEMI
ment which extensively prevails that ;
debt due the government shoult
cause no inconvenience to the citizens
In
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OIL
THE INTERIOR,
which will be laid before you, the con
!, dition of the various branches of on
: domestic affairs connected with tina
department and its operations during
the past year are fully exhibited.
cannot too strenuously insist on thu
Importance of proper measures to in
sure right disposition of our public
lands, not only as matter of presen
, Justice, but in forecast of the coHse
Quences TO future generations. Th'
broad, rich acres of our agriculture
plains have been long preserved by ma
ture to become her nntramelled gift Il
! people civilized and free, upon whicl
should rest in well distributed owner
l ship the numerous homes of enlight