Year: 1878


by the report 1t is the duty of the department to
provide for the transportation of all maable matter
which may be in the form prescribed by law
BY act Of Congress certain rates of compensation
are TO be paid for certain average weights of mails
day. and also certain rates for the compensation Of
railways. As the Postmaster General has neither the
authority the power to limit the amount of mail
matter to be forwarded which represents about ninety
per cent of the cost of railroad transportation, and
he does not prescribe the rates to be paid there
only two ways in which he reduce the expendi-
lures for this purpose to the amount appropriated
These arerst by disseminating the mail service on
certain roads. and second by disseminating lines Of
railroad post Office until the cost is reduced
to the required figure But owing to the laws which
regulate the distribution of mails new railroads
the cost OF new service is not determined until the
greater part of the fiscal has expired. The
sty of reweghing mail matter in many instances is
another difficulty 1t is therefore not easy to prevent
q deficiency.


The amount appropriated for the current fiscal year
is $9100OO0 1t is definitely ascertaned that $4,000
additional will be required to the cost Of service
for 1879. If no further funds are supplied
by Congress service to the above amount
must be discontinued. 1t is estimated that
1000 will be required for $780, The large i'm
migration into the undeveloped farming and mineral
lands Of the West Northwest and Southwest creating
necessity for railroad and the facilities for construct
ing railroads cheaply at the present day. win doubtless
the amount required for carrying the mails
newly constructed routes to be greater than 1t has
been for the last three years. the increase from this
666 per cent in 1877. In spite of the hard


times it is considered that the increase for 1880 will
be nearly eight per cent and this theory the esti
mate is based. Reference is made to the dissatsfac
ton Of the railroads with the reduction Of five per
cent in the rates of compensation recently made by
Congress. The greater number have entered formal
protest against the reduction. claiming that
spending decrease in service should be made and
serting that they connue to perform the service tenn
porarily only account Of the Inconvenience which
their refusal would to Of business of
their respective lines. General Brady recommends
that the delivery Of the mails from railroad stations to
passengers be performed by the government He does
not concur in the suggestion Of the Postal Com
mission that some arrangement probably be
made with the railroad companies to perform this side
service for sum not exceeding $T5OO00 per annum.
He says large savings in such service have
been made in the past by inviting competition
and 1t is believed that the most reasonable can
be obtained by pursuing the plan in the future
General Brady mentions with approval the proposed
law to mako 'space. speed and frequency" the joint
basis Of railway mail compensation instead Of the
present system Of making weight alone the basis
It is suggested, however, that . gauge expressly
stating the amount Of space to be used will be
necessary. and that its establishment should be the
work Of Congress. An elaborate plan of gauging
the space is submitted for the consideration of Con-
gross in connection with the bill. The aggregate
estimate for mail transportation and the items Incl
dent thereto during the next fiscal year is $40
The total amount appropriated for the current year
about 81, 900 less


CONDITION OF THE NAVY.


The Secretary of the Navy has begun the prcpars-
ton of his annual report. It will show improved
condition of the navy last year. that the appro-
prisons have been confined strictly to the law and
that larger sum than that appropriated for the
present year will be required for the fiscal year.


THE TERRITORY OF oKLAHAMA.


Senators Patterson. Grover and Garland, the COM
mittee appointed under the resolution Of Senator
Voorhees, looking to the establishment Of the Terri
tory Of Oklahama, will meet ut st Louis this week.
and with Senator Voorhees, will 60 down to the In
dian Territory for the purpose Of making OBSERVE


ons and taking testimony to the condition Of tho
Indians, &c Senator's Paterson and Grover left this
morning and Senator Garland will meet them in st.
Louis Thcy will take clerk and two stenographers
with them.


THE FoRTUNE BAY FISHERY DIFFICULTY.


With the exception of certain provisions as to fish,
ing on Sunday the provisions Of the consolidated
statutes Of Newfoundland enacted in 1874 referred to
by Captain Sullivan in his report TO Lord Salisbury in
regard to the attack upon our fishermen It Fortune
Bay in January last, found under title "a chapter
l02 Of the Coast Fisheries Laws" II is expressly
provided by section ls chapter 1o2 that nothing in
this chapter shall afoct tho rights and privileges
granted by treaty to the subjects Of any State
or Power in amity with Her Majesty" The Depart
ment OF state has information other than news
paper statements as to the colonial government hav
ing been requested by cable despatch from the
Foreign Once in London TO send statement respect
ing the Fortune Bay trouble


CANADIAN INJUSTICE TO AMERICAN sEAMEN.


Secretary Sherman has addressed Secretary Evarts
an Official communication setting forth the injustice
Of the Canadian authorities in debarring American
from receiving the reward which given 10 the
captains and of vessels coming TO the relief
Of vessels in distress and towing them 10 place
of safety This position Of the Canadian authorities
is based the rights which IL is claimed belong to
the Of each nation the waters Of their own
country II IL therefore insisted that the rewards Of
such service in Canadian waters belong exclusively to
tho Canadian seamen. Az this distinction is not OBJ
served in American waters. scamen arc naturally
indignant that they should be refused the reward OF
their bravery tho ground that they are not Ca
madam The Secretary in his letter points out
the that has always prevailed in this respect
and submits the matter to the Department Of State TO
be brought the attention Of the Dominion govern
ment through the proper diplomatic channels.


THAT TROUBLESOME KID GLOVE APpRAIsEAsENr.


Assistant Secretary French. in his report (which has
been approved by Secretary sherman) upon the kid
glove case holds that section 2o31 Of the Revised
Statutes which gives appeal to the Secretary from
collectors decision upon the rate and amount Of
80 a
only to the classification of goods- He also argues
that this section does not apply 70 thc true and
tnAl marked xalus and vholesaas prics" upon which