Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1885 — UNCLE SAM’S SERVANTS. [ARTICLE]

UNCLE SAM’S SERVANTS.

They Are Busy Making Reports of the Condition of the Public Service. Statements of the Operations of the Mint and Other Bureaus—Gen. Sheridan's Report Report of the Director of the Mint. Dr. James P. Kimball, Director of the Mint, -in his annual report of the operations of the mints and assay offices of the United States for ■ the year ending June 30, 1885, says the value of the gold deposited at the mints and assay offices -during the year was $56,748,752, of which $3,854,€77 consisted of redeposits. Of the gold deposited nearly $32,000,000 consisted of domestic bullion, over $11,000,000 of foreign bullion, and some $8,000,000 of foreign coin. The value of the silver deposited in bars and purchased for coinage, computed at its coining rate in silver dollars, was $37,082,222, of which $1,292,447 was redeposits. Of the silver deposited and purchased, over $32,000,000 was classified at the mints as of domestic production, $2,000,000 was of foreign bullion, and $1,000,000 of foreign coin. The total coining value of the gold and silver deposited and purchased at the mints was $94,830,976, against $97,955,154 in the previous year. The decline in the production of gold on the Pacific coast is shown by the continued falling off of deposits at the mint in San Francisco, the value of the gold deposited at that institution having declined over $8,000,000 since 1881. The total imports of gold bullion into the United States were $8,849,237. The deposits of gold bullion classed as foreign at the mints were over $11,000,000, from which it would appear that over $2,000,000 worth of gold bullion had reached this country that was not entered at the custom-houses. The imports of silver bullion amounted to $4,530,384. The imports of gold coin amounted to $17,842,459, of which $3,352,090 consisted of our own coin, and $14,490,369 of foreign coin. The import of silver coin was $12,020,243, of which $673,926 was our own coin. The exports of gold bullion amounted to only $395,750, nearly all of which was United States bars. Of silver bullion, the very large sum of $20,422,924 was exported, only $1,500,000 worth of which consisted of bars bearing the stamp of 4he United States mint or assay offices. From this it will be seen that about $19,000,000 worth of the silver production of this country found its way abroad by export. The export of American gold coin amounted to $2,345,809, and of foreign gold coin to $5,736,333, a total of $8,082,142. The export of American silver coin amounted to $1,211,627 ($1,073,150 of which consisted of trade dollars), and the export of foreign silver coin to $12,060,612, some $10,000,000 of the amount being exported at the port of San Francisco. The coinage executed at the mints during the year was: ■G01d524,861,123 Silver 28,848,959 Minor coins 527,557 A total 0f554,237,639 Of the silver coinage $28,528,552 consisted of standard dollars. In addition to the coinage executed, gold bars were manufactured of the value of $32,027,463, and silver bars of the value of $9,549,313, a total of $41,576,776. The bars manufactured exceeded by some $10,000,000 the value of those produced in the previous year. The total value of the gold bars exchanged for gold coin was $2,065,021, against $25,800,799 the previous year, showing a large falling off in the demand for gold bars for export. The silver purchased for the standard dollar coinage during the year was 24,212,412 standard ounces, costing $23,747,460. The average price paid for silver ■during the year was $1.08.9 The average London ?rice was about $1.09.2. and the average New ork price was $1.09.1. The Director estimates the amount of gold and silver coin in the country July 1, 1885, at $820,000,000, of which $542,000,000 consisted of gold and $278,000,000 of silver. This amount was owned as folows: By the Treasury: G01d553,223,160 Silver 95,119,065 A total 0f5148,342,225 By national banks: G01d5165,575,867 Silver 11,978,833 A total 0f5177,554,700 By other banks and private hands: G01d5323,375,609 Silver 171,726,303

A total 0f5495,101,912 The Director has deducted the amount of coin •in the Treasury represented by gold and silver •certificates outstanding and added it to the stock ■of coin in active circulation. In addition to the coin in the country there was in the mints and assay offices July 1, 1885, gold and silver bullion available for coinage as follows: Gold bullion, va1ue566,847,095 Silver bullion, cost 4,65-1,587 A total 0f571,501,682 The Army. Lieut. Gen. P. H. Sheridan, in his annual report to the Secretary of War, savs the discipline •of the army is very good and that he has no recommendations to make, except that the number of men in the companies be increased and that two more companies and two majors be added to each regiment of infantry. The General says that he most heartily coincides with the remarks of Gen. Schofield, of the Division of "the Missouri, on the need of military legislation, and considers his views of so much importance that he incorporates them in his report. From the reports at the date of the last consolidated returns the army consisted of 2,214 officers and 24,705 men.

Gen. Sheridan urges a radical change in the allotment of lands to Indians. He suggests narrowing the limits of their reservations by lo•cating each family on 320 acres, and that the balance of each reservation be condemned and purchased by the Government at $1.25 per acre, the interest of the proceeds of these purchases to be given to the Indians each year. He illustrates the practical working of this scheme by instancing the Crowe, who now have nearly 5,000,000 acres in their •reservation. There are not more than 3,300 of •them, and counting five persons to a family—a large estimate—they could be settled separately on 320 acres for each family, and then have more than four and a half million acres left. If this land was purchased by the Government and the proceeds invested in Government bonds and the interest used for their support, it would be more money than is now appropriated by Congress annually for their maintenance. It would be their own money, and take the question of annual appropriations out of Congress. These lands could readily be sold again to settlers and the Government lose nothing, while the Indians would have security in the principal until Congress chooses to give it to them to be used as they saw fit. The Indians, he says, counting the value of the lands of their immense reservations, are not poor. They are only incompetent at present to take care of their own property, ana therefore reqire looking after.

The Secret Service. The Chief of the Secret-Service Division, in •Mb annual report to the Solicitor of the Treasury, shows: During the last fiscal year 444 arrests were made by the operatives of the service, assisted by local officers, a large majority of which were lor passing, dealing in, or manufacturing counterfeit money. The amount of counterfeit money ■captured during the year was $305,580, mainly in flash notes. A large amount of plates, dies, molds, and counterfeiting material was seized and destroyed. The Chief of Division expresses the opinion that there are now in the hands of couriterfeiters about 8100,000 in base money of the following character: 820 silver certificates, $lO United States notes, 810 notes of the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, $5 United States notes. The counterfeiting of coin is on the increase, which, in the case of the 5-cent nickel, is due to the disparity between its face and intrinsic value. While counterfeiters of paper money during the last year have been unusually active, they have been generally unsuccessful in their efforts to float the results of their work. A recommendation is made for legislation prohibiting the making of dies or molds for making fao similes for business purposes. Bureau of Navigation. Commodore J. G. Walker, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, in his annual report to the Secretary of the Navy, submits estimates for $130,000 for the support of the bureau for the nextfiscal year. It is proposed that the Banger •hall be employed in sounding in the Pacific

Ocean off the coast of Lower California and Mexico, and in examining the North Pacific Ocean for the rocks and shoals which have been reported in the track of vessels. The old surveys of the coast of the Spanish Main are known to contain many errors, and it is proposed that the Thetis shall be used to make the surveys necessary to correct them. Upon the completion of this duty the report continues : The Thetis should be sent to the South Pacific to examine the many dangers to navigation reported to exist in that section, the existence of which has in many cases not been proven.

The Solicitor of the Treasury. Judge McCue, Solicitor of the Treasury, in his annual report to the Attorney General, states that during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1885, 2,903 suits were commenced, of which eighty were for the recover of $793,503 from defaulting public officers, 193 were for the recovery of $1,068,999 on account of violations of the postal laws, thirty were for the recovery of $55,748 on custom-house bonds, 129 were for the recovery of $15,873 for violations of customs and navigation laws, 825 were suits against Collectors of Customs and others for refund of duties and taxes, and 1,646 were suits involving $1,301,766, in which the United States is a party or is in-terested-making a total of $3,235,889. Of the whole number of suits brought 1,170 were decided in favor of the United States, forty-three were adversely decided, 372 were settled and dismissed, and 1,318 are still pending. The entire number of suits decided or otherwise disposed of during the year was 2,873; the amount for which judgments were obtained was $619,626, and the entire amount collected from all sources was $1,932,842. The number of cases in which offers of compromise were pending and decided during the year was 223, involving $2,918,297. The number of offers accepted was 118, involving the sum of $1,238,953. The amount accepted was $134,613; the number of offers rejected was sixty-one, involving the sum of $804,128, the amount rejected $56,473. The number of offers pending at the close of the year was forty-four, involving the sum of $875,215, for the compromise of which there is offered $13,399. In the cases pending are included eight cases of trespass on the public lands, involving the sum of $2,111,000. An offer of $2.50 an acre has been made in compromise, which offer cannot be approximated until the area of. the land has been ascertained by survey. Commissioner of Customs. The annual report of the Commissioner of Customs shows that during the fiscal year ended June 30,1885, there was paid into the Treasury from various sources, the accounts of which were settled in his office, the sum of $183,207,908. The amount paid out was $27,125,973. The Commissioner suggests that the designation of his office be changed to Third Controller, and also suggests the addition of a statistical branch for the preparation of information to be gathered from the settlements made by him. A recommendation is made for the payment of the chief customs officers by salaries instead of by salary, fees, and commissions, according to the present system.

The I’ostal Service. Sixth Auditor McConville has submitted to the Postmaster General his annual report on the financial operations of the Postoffice Department during the last fiscal year. From the report it appears that the gross postal revenues were $42,560,843, and the expenditures $49,317,188; excess of expenditures over revenue, $6,756,345. To this deficiency, says the Auditor, should be added the amounts certified to the Pacific Railroads for transportation ($1,340,266), and the estimated unadjusted liabilities for 1885 ($285,000), making a total deficiency of $8,381,571. The deficiency last year was $4,967,425, or $3,414,146 less than the present deficiency. The revenues show a falling off of $765,115, while the expenditures have increased $2,912,328. This result is attributed to the reduction in letter postage and to general business depression. The principal items of expenditure were as follows : Railway transportationsl3,ssß,3l3 Postmasters’ salaries 11,243,848 Salaries of postoffice clerks 4,873,853 Star route transportation 5,463,259 Railway postal clerks 4,246,209 Free delivery service 3,985,952 Railway postal-car service 1,709,326 Transportation of foreign mails 325,462 The value of the postage-stamps sold was $40,050,226. The profits of the money-order business were $408,933. Tho amount of the balances paid by foreign countries for mail transportation was 66,955, and the amount paid by the United States to foreign countries for like service was $74,859.

Our Defenseless Seacoast. Gen. John Newton, Chief of Engineers, in his annual reqrrt invites the attention of Congress to the defenseless condition of our seacoast and lake frontier. Gen. Newton restricts his estimates to what is required for the repair and modification of existing works, and for torpedoes for harbor defense. He, however, expresses a hope that the commencement of an elaborate system of defense may be no longer delayed for lack of appropriations. The report, with respect to the estimates, work accomplished, and the condition of engineering works in progress, is largely a digest of the reportiwf the officers in charge of the various works, which have already been made public. Commissary Department. The annual report of the Commissary General shows that the total amount to the credit of the Subsistence Department for the fiscal year ending June 30 was $4,043,131, and the total exenditures $3,051,766, leaving $991,365 on hand at the end of the fiscal year. The average price paid for fresh beef for the first half of the fiscal year was 10 29-100 cents, and for the last half 9 15-100 cents. The value of subsistence issued to the Indians during the year was $41,526. The average cost per ration was a fraction over 50 )£ cents, being an increase of about 9-10 of a cent over the cost of the previous year. Gen. McFeely urgently invites attention to the importance of providing by law for the enlistment of cooks and bakers for the army ns a measure calculated to preserve the health and promote the comfort and efficiency of the troops. Gen McFeely recommends that existing orders limiting the number of commissory sergeants in the service to 120 be revoked so it may be practicable to have a commissary seargeant at each military post or place of deposit of subsistence supplies.

. The Signal Service. ’ The annual report of the Chief Signal Officer is made public by the Secretary of War The report states that the course of instruction at Fort Myer has been improved and enlarged, and now provides for the full education of the officers and men of the signal corps in duties required of them in time of war. The report expresses regret at the fact that it has been impossible to drill the men in handling field telegraph trains owing to a lack of horses. A desire is expressed that provision be made for a supply of horses so that the corps may be put in condition to handle field trains in time of war. The report states that it is proposed to erect two stations about fifteen miles apart, to be used for the purpose of perfecting the men in the art of visual military signals. The work of the Signal Office during the last year is fully reviewed and a number of suggestions made as to its further improvement. It . dwells especially upon the distribution of signals of warning regarding the approach of cold waves, with a view to the protection of crops, and ask that the appropriation for this purpose be increased. With 85,000 it is estimated that the United States can be practically served with these warnings. General Hazen reviews at great length the report of Lieutenant Greely and comments upon it. He warmly commends Lieutenant Greely, his officers, and the men for the skill and bravery with which they discharged their duties and bore their sufferings, and pronounces the results of the expedition highly valuable to science. “Whatever," he says, "inexperienced critics may characterize as errors, it none the less follows that Lieutenant Greely brought in health and strength his entire party, and in safety all the records and important scientific instruments connected with his two years’ work, to the appointed place at Cape Sabine, and but for the rashness with which the Proteus was forced into the ice the entire party would have returned in health. ” He makes a strong appeal for the Government recognition of Lieutenant Greely's services and those of his surviving comrades.

Bureau of Statistics. The Chief of the Bureau of Statistics reports that the total values of imports of merchandise during the twelve months ended Sept. 30 were 8570,551,260, and during the preceding twelve months 8658,110,065—a decrease of 887,558,805. The values of exports of merchandise for the twelve months ended Sept. 30 were 8715,893,671, and for the twelve months ended Sept. 30, 1884, were 8735,777,000—a decrease of 819,878,389. The Chief of the Bureau of Statistics also reports that 27,801 immigrants arrived in this country,

exclusive of Canada and Mexico, during September, against 33,395 in September, 1884, and 268,836 for the first nine months of this ‘year, against 336,449 for the corresponding period last year— a decrease of 65,613, of which 40,368 is the decrease in the immigration from Germany, and 7,404 that from Ireland.

Diplomatic Service. The report of Mr. Eickhoff, Fifth Auditor of the Treasury, for the fiscal year ending June 30, shows that the total expenses of the diplomatic service were $440,249. The total expenses of the consular service were $870,183. The amount of fees received was $791,345, and the expenses of consulates in excess of fees received was $78,838. Paymaster-General Rochester's Report. Paymaster-General Rochester, in his annual report to the Secretary of War, shows that the disbursements by his bureau during the last fiscal year amounted to $13,483,727, including $197,000 to the Signal Service, $213,000 to the Military Academy, and $12,349,443 on army payrolls. The amount disbursed for payment of mileage of officers was $155,000. General Rochester recommends that Congress be asked to enact legislation allowing officers who may be traveling under orders their actual fare and a certain rate of mileage by the shortest usually traveled route sufficient to meet incidental expenses. Such a scheme, he says, would be more equitable both to the officers and to the Government than the present system. Ninetytwo non-commissioned officers and privates have been placed upon the retired list. General Rochester recommends legislation to authorize the payment of these men $9 a month in lieu of the allowances for clothing and rations. The Pay-master-General reports that the diminished operations of his bureau make it possible for him to drop six clerks from the present force. Figures from Controller Durham. The annual report of First Controller Durham shows that during the fiscal year ended June 30 68,609 warrants were examined, registered, and countersigned, and that 26,660 accounts received from the auditing officers were revised, recorded, and certified to the Register. The Controller calls attention to the fact that in 1868 the First Controller then in office certified balances due to the United States from the several States and Territories respectively for direct taxes due and unpaid under the direct tax act of Aug. 5, 1861, and such States and Territories were accordingly debited on the books in the office of the Register of the Treasury, and says: It may well be doubted whether any corporate State was properly so charged, but as the then Controller had jurisdiction of the subject matter the statements made by him of the accounts of the above-named States and Territories as to their indebtedness on account of direct taxes are binding on tho present Controller for the reasons indicated in the opinion in the Mississippi direct tax case. Recently amounts have been certified to this office as duo to some of said States and Territories from the United States on account of commissions on the net proceeds of the sale of public lands within tho States and for other cause, the amounts so certified, instead of being paid, having been ordered to bo credited on said indebtedness of tho States and Territories as stated against them by the former Controller. Other States, it is reported, will present tho same question, as amounts may become due them for tho sales of lands or otherwise, and said amounts will be credited as above indicated, unless Congress in its wisdom shall direct that the money due and to become due in said States shall be paid to them without reference to the charges, as stated heretofore, made against them by the former Controller. Discussing the question of old claims against the Government, which are constantly being presented for his action, tho Controller suggests that some fixed period after the right of tho claimant accrues should be prescribed by statute within whicli a claim may bo brought before the proper accounting officers for their action thereon. What the Militia Wants. Adjutant General Drum, in his annual report to the Secretary of War, invites attention to tho subject of the obsolete arms and ammunition in the hands of the State militia or stored in tho several State armories. It would, he says, seem a most wise measure if, at the approaching session of Congress, a general act were passed providing for immediate exchange when requested of all obsolete arms- now in the hands of the militia of the several States for improved Springfield rifles, caliber 45, and appropriate ammunition therefor. He recommends that proof be required with the application lor the detail of a military professor at any military school that at least 150 male pupils above the age of fifteen years are usually present. He finds that in some cases tho number was as low as sixty. Ho recommends that non-commissioned officers and privates on the retired list be paid a gross sum in money in lieu of their present pay and commutation of allowances, and he submits a table embodying a proposition to pay them at rates varying from $53.40 per month for chief musicians to $23.90 for artificers. He recommends the publication of a new edition of army regulations to conform with laws enacted since the present code wae promulgated, and calls attention to the inadequacy in size of the military prison at Fort Leavenworth. He calls special attention to the value of work done by the prisoners. He also calls attention to the difficulty of securing clerks acquainted with army forms and recommends remedies. The Revenue Marine Service. The report of the Chief of the Revenue Marine Service shows that In enforcing the provisions of the law and the protection of revenue 2,448 merchant vessels were boarded and examined. Of this number 1,425 were found violating the law and were either seized or reported to the proper authorities. These vessels incurred liability to fines, penalties, or forfeitures amounting to s6o4,sls—about two-thirds the cost of maintaining the service. The number of vessels in distress assisted was 274. They had on board 2,542 persons; and the value of the vessels and cargoes was $5,568,043. Sixty persons were picked up out of the water and saved from dr-owning. The Alaskan cruise of the Corwin—an account of whose voyage and discoveries was published upon the return of 'the vessel to San Francisco—is commented on at some length. The report further states that the revenue cutters have co-operated beneficially with tho State and national quarantine system on our Atlantic and lake coasts in preventing the introduction of cholera, yellow fever ana smallpox. The cost of conducting the service for tho fiscal year was $819,957.

The Geological Survey. The sixth annual report of Prof. J. W. Powell, director of the geological survey, covering the Operations of the institution for the fiscal year ended June 30,1885, has been given out for publication. Prof. Powell says that during the fiscal year fair progress was made in the topographic survey of the United States. An area of 57,508 square miles was surveyed, and the maps thereof made ready for the engraver. The average cost of the work was about 83 per square mile. The following table shows the distribution of this work: Massachusetts.... 1,250 Texas 4,000 New Jersey 1,267 Plateau region.... 15,000 Appalach'n regionl7,64o Yellowstone park. 1,000 Missouri-Kansas .13,600 North’n California 3,750 The Steamboat Inspection Service. The Supervising Inspector General of steam vessels reported the work of the steamboat inspection service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, os follows. In the domestic service: Total number of vessels inspected.... 5,638 Total tonnage of vessels in5pected....1,098,365.65 Total number of officers licensed 25,235 The receipts were $111,468 Expenditures 250,291 Unexpended .balance in the Treasury standing to the credit of the steamboat inspection service 433,444 Total number of lives lost by accident in 1884 ..... 271 Total number of lives lost in 1885 133 Decrease in 1885 138 Of-the number of lives lost in 1885, forty-seven were passengers, and eighty-six were officers or persons employed on the steamers. The loss of life on steam vessels for the fiscal year is the minimum loss yet recorded, being but one to each forty-three steamers inspected, as against one to each three steamers inspected previous to the steamboat law of 1852. The report says it has come to bo generally admitted that travel by steamboat is the safest of all known means of passenger conveyance. In the foreign service : Total number of steamers inspected 277 Expense of foreign service $36,641 The Supervising Inspector General recommends amendments to the Devised Statutes so as to put the owners of inland steamers on an equality with the owners of seagoing steamers in the matter of personal liability.