Omaha daily bee., 1888-12-04

been bought at premium, it was not deemed
prudent to further eXpend the surplus i'll
such purchases until thc authority to 40 so
should be more explicit. n resolution, how.
ever, having been passed by both houses OF
congress removing all doubt as to executive
authority, daily purchases OF bonds were
commenced on April 90, ISIS, and have con.
tinued until the present time. BY this plan
been purchased up to and including Novem.
Der 30, 1888 amounting to &il, 10000, the
premium paid thereon amounting to SlI,5Us,-
6l3OS.
At first sight this would seem to be a
profitable and scusible transaction on the
part OfthC government, as suggested by the
secretary of the treasury. The surplus thus
expended for the purchase Of bonds was
money drawn from the people in excess of
any actual need of the government
and was so expended rather than
allow it tn remain idle in the
treasury. II this surplus, under the opera
ton of just aud equitable laws, had been
left IN the hands of the people, II would have
been worth in their business mt least q per
cent per aunum. Dcducting from the
amount Of interest on the principal and pre-.
MUM of these bonds for the time they had
TO run at the rate Of 6 per cent, the saving of
. per cent made for the people by the pur-
chase Of such bonds, the loss would appear
to be 500, go, 900. This calculation would
seem TO demonstrate that If excessive and
unnecessary taxation Ia continued, and the
government is forced to pursue this policy Of
purchasing its own bonds at the premiums
which IL Will be necessary TO pay, the loss to
the people will be hundreds of millions of
dollars. He further COncurred with the
recommendation to the secretary to suspend
the coming of silver.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The secretary of war reports that the
army, at the date of the last consolidated re
turns, consisted of ., lS9 officers and -, $40
enlisted men. The actual expenditures of the
war department for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1855, amounted 10 sill l6j, l01.O7, of
which sum 81, l5S, jlG.6S was expended for
public works, including river and harbor I'M
provements.
After referring to the operations of the
department during the last fiscal year, and
the various plans on foot for increasing the
efficiency of the service, the president says:
earnestly request that the rccommenda-
tions contained in the sccretary's report, all
of which arc, IN my opinion, calculated to in
crease the usefulness and discipline of the
army, may receive the consideration of the
congress. Among those proposed is that
there should be provided Il plan for the eX-
animation of officers to test their fitness for
promotion. This reform has been before
recommended in the reports of the secretary,
and its cXpedionCy is SO fully demonstrated
by the argument he presents in its favor that
its adoption should no longer be neglected,
The death of Sheridan is briefly touched
upon, and tho president pays a glowing trib-
ute to his many admirable qualities.
Speaking of the Apache Indians, whose
removal from their reservation i'll Arizona
following the capture OF those of their num-
Der who engaged in a murdcrous raid in lSS5
and lSS6, and who are now held as prisoners
of war at Mount Vernon barracks, Ala
bama, the president says:
| am not at all in sympathy with those be-
nevolent but injudicious people who are con-
stautly insisting that these indians should be
pa-1II,Nnl fn thA TpsnptElfinn Thnir lsnI1nNrnl
was an absolute necessity if the lives and
property of citizens upon the frontier are TO
be at all regarded by the government, and
their continued restraint at Il distance from
the scene of their repeated and cruel MUIR
dcrs and outrages is still necessary. II is
mistaken philanthropy, in every way iniur-
ious, which prompts the desire to see these
savages returned TO their old haunts. These
prisoners should be treated kindly and kept
in restraint far from the locality of their
former reservation; they should be subjected
to efforts calculated to lead to their improve
ment, and to the s6fteuing of their savage
ana cruel Instincts, but their return to their
old home should be perslstently resisted.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
The report of the, secretary of the navy
demonstrates very Intelligent management
in that important department aud discloses
the most satisfactory progress in the work Of
rcconstructing the navy during the past year.
or the ships in course of construction, five,
VIZ: Jnp Iil.lflSoLOu,s lnltSlil!DEt, tDthlOWH,
Vesuvius and the Petrol have in that time
been launching and are rapidly approaching
completion, and in addition to the above, the
Philadelphia, the San Francisco, the Newark.
the Bennington, Concord and the HoircsshOf
torpedo boat are under contract for delivery
to the department during the next year.
The progress already and being made, gives
good ground for the expectation that these
vessels will be incorporated as part of the
American navy within the next twelve
months.
At the present time about 30 per cent of
the total departmental purchases are made
by contract, and after competition, as tine
expenditures on this account exceed on an
average Of 81, 000,0 900 annually, it IS evident
an important improvement in the sys-
has been lnaugurated and substantial
introduced.
THE posroFTICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the postmaster general
shows a marked increase of business in every
branch of the postal service. The number
postofices on July |, 1883, was 51,316, an in
crease of d, 1924 in three years, and of 2,2l3
for the last fiscal year. The latter men
toned increase is classified as follows: New
England states 5, middle states Isl, southern
states and Indian territory (4l) l,40G, the
states and territories of the Pacific coast
1870, the ten states and territories of the west
and northwest 434, district of Columbia 9,
total 2,2l9.
During the past year parcel post conven-
ions nave Deen concluded WIN l3afDllOeS,
the Bahamas, British Honduras and Mexico,
and arc now under negotiation with all the
and South American states. The in
Of correspondence with foreign cOun-
tries during the past three years is crafty
ing, and is especially notable and exceptional
the Central and South American states
and with Mexico. AS the greater part of
mail matter exchanged with these countries
is commercial in its character, this increase
is evideuc, of the improved business rela-
tons with them. In January last Il general
post convention was negotiated with the Do
lninlon of Canada, which went into opera
on March |, and which practically makes
one postal territory of the United States and
Canada. Under it merchandise parcels may
now be transferred through the mails at
fourth class rates OF postage.
The bills introduced at the last session, by
which a uniform standard in the amount of
receipts involved fix the right of a commun
ity to n public building to be erected by the
and fixing the salaries of fourth
class postmaSters, are earnestly commended
10 the approval of congress-. Especial atJen-
is called to the recommendations for the
classification of postal clerks, and legislation
affecting the relations of the government
with the railroads.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Referring TO the report of the attorney
he brought out, as an illus
of the prevailing sentiment
that a debt due TO the govern
ment should cause no,in~convenience, the fact
,l,t -.I,. 800. Eftl ~ shAs la~-A 10, ,a...I Il