Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 26, Number 16, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 December 1876 — Page 4

THE 3XDIAXA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY MOKXING, DECEMBE11 6, 18 70.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER G.

THE PRESIDENTS JILSSAtiK. We will furnish the President s Mcsssage and accompanying documents to the State Iress at the earliest moment after it is given the country, at the moderate price of $".) per thousand. Papers wishing to buy from us will please scml in tiit-ir orders at once. INDIANAPOLIS SKNTINEI. CO. THE MESSAGE. P. S. Grant hr.s written his last message. In stating the agreeable fact he calls it "my ' eighth and final mesMige to congress." The event calls for the profoundest thanksgiving, for it gives some assurances of the removal at an early day of a terrible incubus : load of ignorance, venality and despotism that the country has been compelled to bear (luring eight weary and dreary years. Stung to the . quick by the repeated verdicts of disapproval, given by the people when considering Iiis acts, Grant awkwardly attempts an apology for his manifold blunders and crimes by plead" ing ignorance of everything pertaining to the high trust that ho voluntarily assumed. The men of thought, character, honesty a nd ahil ity, who were Grant's friends and admirers when first elected, have long since found out that "errors of jndgmenr," though sufficiently numerous to disgrace the country, were not the chief errors of his administration. As a consequence, they did not hesitate to denounce his acta ns venal and his policy as vicious. Their respect of Grant as a soldier was completely obscured by their disgust for him as president, and, as a consequence, they deserted him and his administration. It is not necessary here to give a list of the names; they are known to history and to fame mer. who loved their country better than party. Grant attempts an extenuation of his acts in his appointments of assistants to aid in carrying out the various duties of administering the government. He does not regard the appointive ni of thieves to office as a blunder on his part, and tTte retention of thieves in office in his estimation is equally meritorious and in justification of his multiplied violations of constitutions and laws he refers to history and attempts to drag the name of Washington down to his infamous level. Grant' reference to the commencement of his civil career as a must critical time is not true. There was at the time no war, the icoplc were loyal in all the states, aitendments to the constitution were adopted and accepted without the semblance of disquietude, and all that was required was a state sinanl ike policy, generous impulses and a recognition of constitutional guarantees. It suited Grant, however, to pursue in every regard a policy diametrically PIoed to the peace and prosperity of the country. Carpet-bagger robled and plundered the south. Acts of the nio-it infamous, despotism characterized his treatment of every southern Mate. Peace was destroyed and discord enthroned. Prosperity fled away and ruin usurped its place. If constitutions stood in the way of Grant's policy they were toppled over. If legislatures gave evidence of independence they were bayoneted into submission. anil that this dviltshness might he erpetual, returning boards were organized to give t semblance of law to despotic acts oi surii audacity that the .people ned out frruru Maine to the Rio Grande: "This is (Var. ism." For tlic general make-up of the message we refer our readers to the document itself. They will be wprised to not an entire omission tt tbc situation of affairs in South ClarrJ'na, Florida and Louisiana. In these states the most infamous crime of the century have been committed within the past thirty days. Id these states the liberties of the people have been struck down. In these states frauds, protected; by federal troops, intended to rob the people of their choice of rulers, have been consummated. In these states the decisions of the eopl have been reversed; courts struck down by federal interference, and legislature overawed by federal troois. Still, these fccts of terrible significance are not m mnch as alluded to by Grant in his eighth and final message to congress, unlcs the r.lluion be found in a paragraph where In he peaks of sending troops, into southern gtates to preserve ' the peace.' While these grave subjects are ignored he finds time and spa' to mention a case wherein it is suspicioned that a postmaster has been bulldozed. The list meiage of Grant finds the country in the grasp of a fearful crisis. Men are discussing the situation as if a great calamity w impending and near at hand. The pro- j gramme on one side is that fraud shall tri-j tiniph, and that Hayes shall be inaugurate though every pillar in the superstructure öt our liberties is broken down and the tenijie itself destroyed. Grant will soon pass from Iwer into odious obscurity. His, term ' of cilice ü an ineffaceable plague spot.upon Üic country. He will live in history as a curse more terrtbU than Nero, or the plagues tiiat (rod In ITis wrath poured bnt upon Kgypt. LOl'IAIAXA. We said seme days since, that South Carolina lay dead beneath her tunny skies, and we intimated that, Ixnmi ana, pierced with the fang; of Grantism, was even then in her death struggles. We only anticipated by a few hours ail event that the lightning now tells us has transpired. Louisiana is dead! The corpse of Florida In all probability will be stretched out in the radical m?rtc v?-dy. Have they any

friends to claim them? Oh. ye: mute" friends from deaf and dumb asylums, w ho will gesticulate and spell out denunciations on their fingers. Hut no word of&ympathy or. of grief has been spoken "so far. Great God, what a sjectacle! Professor lJergti, of New York, would have made more noise if a man in that great metropolis had killed a cat. I'ut Grant strangles and htiAw states at his pleasure, and the people sit dumb and silent as paving stones. KaJicals shout that their game haa triumphed; fraud nas won. Bayonets have not only conquered the south, but they have as certainly awed the north Into silence. What a picture for the closing month of the centennial year the great American republic (?) limping into 1S77, dragging at her heels the prostrate form of three dead states. Unfortuuately we can not bury them. No, they must putrify and btink; surrounded by radical buzzards; eaten by radical worms; breeding radical maggots. Grant and Kellogg. Chamberlain and Steams, Auger and Kuger, like the aroma. The electors of Indiana will to-dav assemble and cast their votes for Tilden and Hendricks. They come up to the capital city of the state clothed with authority coaferred by a sovereign people. Well, gentlemen, please take a look at liouisiana. The people of that sovereign state also elected men to vote for Tilden and Hendricks, but a machine with more teeth than a cotton gin, called a returning board, has stripped them of their authority, and while you in all the pride of power, cast your votes for the men who are the choice of the people, your associates in the grand work in Louisiana stand blistering under a southern sun, and if they were to assert their rights, would resemble targets after a ifle team tournament. Still Indiana is as silent as a grave yard and the leaders of the democracy have not so much as said, "Let us pray." The radical party has reduced fraud ami perjury to a science. They know to a fraction just how much of each is required to carry a state, and while democrats vill whiiper curses to-day, the radicals will wake the dead states, call in the conspirators and toast returning boards and bayonets. Military bands will play national airs, and" words of cheer will be sent to Grant and Zach Chandler. If northern freemen are not dead they will speak now. If Indiana has a voice let it be heard. If her great heart is not in her boots, let it pulsate as of old. We know that Indiana is pleading to record her protest and is denied the privilege because no one Invites her sturdy sons to tell in thunder tones bowdeeply they loathe fraud and Grant's infernal acts of tyranny. What is the t matter? Why this prolonged apathy and inertness? It is always prudent and safe to call the people .together. In this hour of liberty's deep humiliation the people should meet in council. There may be something worth preserving, and there may be a chance even yet to rescue liberty from the grasp of those who seem determined to overthrew it. We have delayed action too long. If it is to be had, let the note of preparation be sounded throughout the state at once.

KIMIITII AND LAST. Continued from Flnt Puff, The expenditures during the name period were Kor civil and miscellaneous expenses, including public buildings, light-houses, and collecting revenue....... f 15.9-r? ,20.'. 11 For Indians. .... 1,4.'H,75 ffi For pensions.. ......... . 8,:A2,;557 VS For military establishment, Including fortifications, rlverand harbor lraprovementaind arseTl ft mwm Foi naval establishment, includ H,T15,W1 S5 6,174,31 IV. ing vessels and machtner and improvements at navy yards... For interest on the nubile debt. Hi 01 including , aciflc railway bonds 7,107 ,x &t Total ordinary expenditures.. Iledemptlon of the public debt- ja,618,64J' 77 Jutlgmeiiti of court of Alabama claims 253,KM 21 TS.TT.l.SfVJ 2 ,V72,2h2 0 Total expenditure M,724,176 21 IIa 1 lice in treasury ftcptemler il, ls7t5..............M..........M..M.. 1 l?,f7,'-H 0t Total. 197,321,702 32 For the remaining three quarter It is estimated that the receipts will be From customs.... . t0.4 45,271 47 Froai internal revenue 91.511.aYl K,-! From sale of public lands ....... suo,oon 00 Front tax on national banks. . 3,fjUO,UiO IV Krem reimbursement by Pacific railway aoü,000 00 From customs, line, penalties and forfeitures 70, im) j0 Krin consular, patent and other - tce 1)0,000 00 Iitni proceeds of sales of public property - : - li'AOoO W From miscellaneous sources, Including premium on coin. 4,000.0u0 9 Total net receipts ! 191,11,92,5 W For the same period it is estimated that th et ix'ndit ure will be for civil and miscellaneous lnchiI; dins public buildings...... or ludians. . ........ 4.KIU.CMO no MfOM) 00 7,T)U,t)oO 00 17600 OH "or tiensinuH. ...... For military establishment Vor naval establishment. For interest on public debt Total ordinary expense..... 158f76Jiü W It will be observed from the statement of actual receipts and expenditure for the first quarter, that ending September 30. and of the estimate of the name for the remaining; three quarters, based upon exlstiiiK laws, that It la expected that the revenues for the current tincal vear will yield the aum of SMt3K,4fflJ&. and that tha expenditures will amount to rii7,(,753.:tj, which will leae a surplus revenue of Ji;til,4. The amount which ahould te annlled to the Kinking fund In estimated at ,7t,tu.67. The surplus revenuen will fall below that amount, in the opinion of the department, by not bus than 7,012.1 10.1.. TIMAT1W FOR THE riSC.VI- YtAR KMH.W JVK 3U, 1878. It Is estimated that the reocipta for the fbtcal vear ndiuic June 30, 1S78, wUl be From customs-. .-. . 1 1-10)00,000 00 From internal revenue IZiJJWfiOQ 00 From nalea of public lands liXijMA) 0o From tax on circulation of national bauks. . 7,330,000 00 From reimbursement of interest by Paclflc railway comjanlfS. i 3jO,000 OU From cuHtonu' nnett, penalties and forfeitures . 1.30,000 00 From eonsulars, letters-pntent and other fees lA&t) 00 From procevlii of ale of government proper! y..... 7........ 2öo,0"" nu From mLscellaueous sources - 5jX),wj0 w Total ordinary receipt. fJTOXi.OOO 0

expendlFor civil ex x-iihes For foreign intercourse For Indians........ For pensions For military establishment, including fortifications, river and hartor improvements and arsenals... For naal establishment. Including vessels and machinery and improvements at navy yartl For civil and miscellaneous, including public buildings, light houses, collecting revenues, mailsteamship service, deficiency in postal revenues, public printing, etc - Fon ntereston the public debt For interest on Pacific railway l.Vifn.w)0 oo lJ4."i.i Ol 2i;),wo oo SO".") 00 lrt.iiüfi.oio 42,ft ).() 00 57(1.110 on Ttal estimated expenditures, exeltiNlve of the sin kins-fund account and principal of the public debt - il i;v"M).70l 0 I'l-on the basis of these estimates tuere w ill lie a surplus revenue for the fiscal rear 1S7S, applicable to the sinking fund, of fcii.tWJWi. The estimated amount required bvlawtole fcctapart for that fund is S-VvLuiHUiO. If, tiicfore, theM estimates shall prove to be ujproxlmatelv correct, tliere will le a deficiency in this account of Js.WU.nio.hO. The estimates recelvel from the several executive departments are as follows: legislative establishment- ,,722 SO Executive rstal.lishment l").!'. ;H .ludicial establishment 3,IU1,4 00 Foreign int-rcouse 1 .2 IÖ.W7 -V) Military establishment , .'K,2l"',i i Naval establishment I9.4.'mi2 Indian affairs m ii.öiJ!1! 12 1 Vnslona 2,-Vl;,0"0 i Inbllc works: Tn asurv depar't f t.2f,4.1!i " War depar't 1S,7!27 70 Navy depar't 2.S.0! 00 Inierior depar't 8-',i2 2 fiepnr't of aerlc're... l.t.ViO On lH-iar't of justice...- 4200 no Cti,s.l,f.2 07 (J,07st)7 4'l U"s,;4 S. Postal service yt iscellancous l'eriminent appropriations, (Including .s.'v&i.O'Ki U) for sinking I UHd .. 14ö,.jI)Ö,j7() "! Total :. ?2W,1I,WI 00 FKniTtTIOX OK T1IK HfBI.IC IEI!T. Trlucipal of the debt July 1, 1ST5. ?2,?'2l, n Ptil Interest due and unpaid, and . accrued interest to date-.... .'W,617yV8 Total debt 2,270,tt.i2,0KS H Oih in the Treasury 1 12,2l l, il K2 Debt less cash In the treasury 2.12,fivS,72H 22 Principal of the debt July 1, ls;t;. 2,lso,.Bij,0()7 1 ' Interest due and unpaid, and accrued Interest to date 38.514,001 54 Total debt Gash In the Treasury 2,21 S.K 10,071 ! Debt, less cash in th Treasury Showing a reduction, as above stated of .... 2 M:,. 1 1 f2U,l ,: 3:1 It will be observed that the surplus revenues, exclusive of provision for the sinking fund, as shown in the statement of receipts and expenditures for the fiscal year, were .-,022,-241 JKl, or 5227,l:l.."i0 less than the amount or the reduction of the debt as shown by the monthly statement of the same. ISSI K OK HILVKK COIN, the secretary ttays: Immediately upon the passage of the act of April IS, 170, the department, through its several independent treasury oil! ces, began to lsue, In redemption tf the outstanding fractional currency, the subsidiary silver which had been . coined under the authority of the resumption act of January II, 1S7. To further relieve the preying deutaMd throughout the country fox money of small denominations, tin' silver coin In the treasury, previous to th passage of the act above nieiitioiied, was also issu-d In payment of currency obligations of the government. Under the authority for the issue, i f sliver coin granted by the act of July 22. lS7t, the department, in addition to redeeming fractional currency, whenever presented for that purpose, his also Issued silver cvlu In exchange for legal b-ndor notes as rapidly as' the eoinKatt& mtDtswoul eriuit. Tromthe date first mentioned, to and ineludhiar October :, 17, there lias leeii Issued of silver coin, as alnive Ktatel. S22.IHli.712.lK, of which amount there has iten issued for fractional currency redeemed and destroyed, 12,riv;.2.v.i.. "The demand for silver coin for cinnilation, though (growing less urgent, still ontiaues fully equal to the cajKicity of th mint to supply It. Until this demand shall liave eeasca, tlie coinage will le continued as rapidly a practicable, to the limit authorlzxsl by law." THE NATIONAL BANK'S are referred to at some lepth, and from the report of the comptroller of the currency it appears that, up to October 2 of the present year, 'ZM- banks in all had been organized, of which 2.0S7 were in operation ut that date. The returns of these banks show that they then had an aggregate capital of fl!Ä2!2; surplus of ll;S!u282: circulation outstanding, 2ll.44,001; individual depotuta. Sh-MilO; loans, ?!27."7l.i79: pecie (including coin ecrtlflVatesi, t21.JO,7tf7; legal tender notes (Including United Htates certificates of deprslt, ?II:1,42üb"; re demption fund with the United Stntes trea.surer, fl.7W,tt. urn ks ox I TORT. The receipts from customn for the year ending .1 nne K5. were Sl"7,ltf7,722 &i. and at the corresponding date of IsTrt they were H4,071,!s4 CI, a decline of $i),0!6,7X7 74. The receipts for the first quarter of the current fiscal year were H7kV4.7"2M ö-'l, while for the corresponding period of last year thev were MI,2ÄJ,62(J 2,, showing a decrease of Sti,bts,W7 72. INTERN A U KKVKSCK. The reKrt of tbe eomiuLsHioiier of Internal revenue, herewith transmitted, set forth In detail the condition of this brauch of the public service. statement showing tb receipt from the several objects of taxation under the Internal revenue laws for the fiscal years ended June HO. Is73 a nd 1S76 , respectively : ":':":SrS"a'5! I a Z 1 e-i ! I: f i I: " i ci:l :5c $M :5 i -r - r . i : 3 X K S 2 S il St f- ; Si XT'I - i-- C ..- il 3 5 11 ::;::.,: : : I 5 ! : : : :- i :j z : E s : s - : js C a 3 : a The amount of collectlonSjaS above reported. Includes commissions on sales of stamps, paid in kind, and certain sums re ported a collected but not deposited during the . fiscal years in quertlon, thus causing an apparent discrepancy between the above amounts of eoliectioaü and the amounts of miclt collectiona shown by warrauts covering the deposits into the treasury. . , THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. Secretary Tyner'a Report An (he Condi, tlon of the Iioate nnd I'Uheti Inder ills (r. . 1.. Synopsis of th annual report of the pou. master general of the United States for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1S76: TOHTOF-rttE PrpARrMKT,') Wasuinutox, I). f., Nov.-.T.KTfr. j Hlr The expenditure of thii department

It is estimated that the rdlnary tures for the same period will be "

f t'-t O

iocaiae-g

a.

ended June 3f. ist The revenues were a.s follows: ordinary receipts $-i8,4.'jJ,43S tW fii.2M.4f7 .j8 liecoipts from money onlcr busiues . Am't receivei from the general treaMtry ns sums approprfated to steamship lines 100,770 SI Oft 29,181,83? 50 I'xcess of expenditures over receipts . 4,o?l,7'J0 OS The exis-iiditures and rceelpta of the department, therefore, on account of and appertaining to the business of the last fiscal year (excludiiig r.xpeiiditun'N on account of "previous venrs) are a.s follows, to wit: lXleinlitureK S.'sI.TVe.lStf ItJ Hj-cciptSjorxlliiury and from money order business 2S,ti 1,197 SO Ii-avinic ait exceswof expenditures over and aiove de pur tmeiital receipts of..........-. 4,ljlsi tk The expendltiireM during the fiscal year were .'i2:i,l!e.21 more than tliose of the preceding year, and M,7U0,"W.t2 less than the estimates therefor. The ordinary receipts for the year were SI, 7X220s.ltf ior f.2t ier cent.) more than those of the preceding year, and $i."v41.50(or 0.11 percent.) more thau the estimates therefor. The exx-nditures and receipts Vy fiscal quarters, und the Increase or decrease therein as compared with the corresponding quarters of 1S75-74 and 1S74-7.", are shown by table 4 which acconiKinicri the report of the third assistant postmaster general. There was drawn from the treasury during the fiscal yenron appropriations For steamship service to Japan and China.'.....'. SöOO.OflO 00 Kor steamship service to Bra7.il... 37,500 M) To supply- dt ticleuciea in the revenues for the year ended June 50, lS7ti ....... 4,000,000 00 To meet deficiencies of previous fiscal years 551,029 SI In pursuance of act of congress (private, No. 12) of June 23,l7tf 5.1 80 Total. 5,0sjiS.t at Tin- estimated expenditure for the fiscal year ending Jun;i0, 17S, are n6,72n.l32 4.T The ordinary revenues are estimated at 7 percent, over the past fiscal year, . making ü,44ö,ltö 00 Kst limited revenue from monev-order business 200.000 00 Total estimated revenue for the rlscal year ending June ls7i.. 30,6K,lt5 00 Ksliinated excess of expenditures to be appropriated out of the general treasury as a deficiency- Sj,078,2ti7 41 Of the appropriations for deficiencies there were unexpended on June 30, lS7d, the following amounts: For fiscal vear eyded June 3ft, !71. ?14,HG SS For fiscal Vear ended June :, 1S72.. 3,:m W For rtscal vear ended June:, lS7;t.. 6S0.S. II For fiscal vear ended June ), 1S74.. l.UfW.574 ÄI For fiscal vvar ended June.50, 1875.. l,0!7yS42 00 2,S02,7Stf OS Amo'Hit nppropriutcd for fiscal ear of 1.ST.V7Ö . 6,SÖ2,7Cö 00 Tolal .s 9,655,491 1W During the paM fiscal year Ihe following amounts were drawn on account of payments for previous fiscal years, viz: For fiieil vear of ls70-71 For fiscal year of 1S71-T2. For fiscal year of 1S74 'T-i For rtscal year of 1S75-7Ö. , S14,lk 3S 5.,4S8 S7 4,0U),UU0 00 A tolal of.....-. Amount of deficiency appropriations Ulldiawu and available for 4A1 02! 21 pavm-nts of indebtedness to June :!0, 1S7 .... ri.101,4! & Against the above sum there are chargeable the following unsettled accounts, estimated: Ilalance due foreign countries- .. f 12,000 0i Mail-servlre unuer contract, or recognized, not yet reporttd for pymnt OSO.ikiS ö0 Mail - service nnrtcog ul-d S53 024 W Total Leaving alter settlement of all liabilities to June 0, ls.ti. a net balance ou deficiency appropriations of. . ISTSTAO K TAMl, STAMPKD ENVEI POSTAL CAHOH ISSUED. Thenunrberof ordinary iostage stamps isstud f iuring the pat fiscal vear was ft.. vailil,001 S5 3,750,308 40 .OPES AND hI S 18,773,151 00 Newspaper and periodical stamps, 1I6,'47. Stamped envclope,plaln2.407,0U0 Htamped envelopes, request, W,&IjU0 Newspaper wrappers, IS, 198,750. Postal canls,iri0,8:ä,büU...--Official postage stamps. 17,682,665.. Official stampett envelopes and wrappers, l.",600,l.r5.... . ... &45,254 75 2bO,31S 74 2,079,578 30 273,72:1 50 1.5&UÖ0 00 m&il 50 429,110 9S AggreKa ting 119,79707 2S,a53,42l 72 The following table shown the increase In stamps of all kinds, stamped envelopes, newspaper wrappers and postal cards over the previous year: ;3 5 L7 f 2 'S " r o -s : tJ3 : u si ; SS ! -T n l: i' Z"3 I HI E : a, : - i : : !c : ! ! : IS ! ! t - ! tB3 ? : mil! Iii - a S "S-Sc-3 HOG During the pa-st fiscal year there haa been a kiMof aeven packages of stamps, stamped envelopes and postal cards of the aggregate value of only 1147.45. The amount of postage collected during the vear, under tho act of congress approved June 21, Kl, (which took effect January 1, JS7i.on newspaper and eriodlcal publications mailed to regular tnlscrlter or nevra agencies from known offices of publication, commonly known as second-class matter, was 51,011,154.7, derived from :,4M! ponnds of matter at two cents per pound, -and 7,"OS,74. pounds at three cento per pound. The amount collected during the six months entging June 3U, ls75, waa Ssrt.iw.t!!. The increase is therefore at the rate of 41,267.29, or 4.24 percent, per annum. The Operation of the dead letter office are fully staled in the report of the third assistant postmaster general, and tables N6s. 10, 11 and 12, appended thereto. Tills business may bo briefly summarized as follows: Total number of letters received during the year,S,542,4!4, an average of 11,540 for each wockjpg day, and

during the fiscal year

classified thul Ordinary mall letter. 2A55.194; locator drop, 445uu; of domestic origin returned from foreign countries, las,i?2: foreign origin, ISiijO; returned to postoflice by proprietors of hotels, 45.13; held for poftg. o07,wi; misillrected,6n,77; nhip. 2X1 without address 6,H: and 5,517 registered letters. They are further classified acconling to their cxmtents as follows: 25,70 contained S41.447J7 n money; 12,04.-5 contained commercial aper t the value of $1,701,64X31; k contained deetl, mortgages, leases, railroad and other passagetickets, pension certiticntes and bank Imokit.'

37.U54 contakied postage stamps; 3118 con- t tained photographs; 2Uff contained Jewelry, f viotwDB, oooh, ciiromos, music, mercnanui.se, ., cuumidim nreipi.i, ouis oi lauing, allidavlts, abstracts of title, paid notes and canceled obligations of ail sorts. 1 he whole number of registered letters re ceived. Including 201 from last rtseal year, was VIS, of which 5.422 were delivered. The amount of money taken from letters which eouia not be restored to the owners was ,iV2.5.'l. Amount realized from sale of deadletter office property at auction, fljaiAl. fONTKACTS. There were In the service of the denartment ou the 30th day of June, 1S76, ,IJ6 contractors ior me transportation of the mails on public routes. There were at the close of the vear 1.718 special ortlces, each with a mail carrier whose pay from the department Is not allowed to ex ceed the net postal yield of the o;hce. Of public mail routes in operation there were 9.00.1, (of w hich 12 were railroad, being an in crease or 41 routes or this class over the previous year,)aggregatlng In length 2S1.7.8 miles; in an nual transportiition, l;ii,2i,7us miles; In annual i-oht, 15,201,140. Adding the compensation of railway post office clerks, route agents, mall route messengers, local agents, nnd mail messengers, amounting to SUWN the aggregate annual cost will le $18,361,04. J lie service was divided as follows: ltailroad routes: length, 72.31 miles; annual transportation. 77.741.172 miles: annual cost. SO.54.U t4 about 12.27 cents per mile. tsieainijoat routes: lengtü, I4,wt miles; annual Transportation, 3,7o4!3 miles; annual cost, $606, k)-) about 16.07 cents txr mile. other routes, upon which the mails are re quired to be conveyed with "celerity, certainty ana security: ' length, ll7 miles; annual transportatlon,54,s24,0u3 miles: annual cost, S5.u'i;ll about 9.21 cents por mile. There was an increase over the preceding year in length of routes of 3.P25 miles; In annual transortation, of 2,447,4'J2 miles; and a decrease in cost of $1229. Adding the increased cost for railway post office elerks.route, local and other agents, 8228,107, the total increase In cost was f75,S78. The railroad routes have been increased in length 2,265 miles, and in cost S.-526,616, against an increase last vear of 2lil miles In length and 26,855 In cost. MAIL UKPUKIIATIONS. Iirlng the year ended June 90, lS7t, 211 pcraons were arrested for violations of the postal law hnd regulations, and given in charge to the Tinted states authorities for trial, with the following results, viz: Convicted . 127 Acquittisl 11 itherwise disposed of. 48 Awaiting trial 105 Total. 1 The iiiimler of recorded complaints daring th year is tu to, involving the loss or rifling of 6,726 letters, aggregating In value, in monev, lKHids, drafts etc., tlW,im3, of which 2.iVi M ere registered, valued at "2.5.S2SI.60, and 4,571 unregistered, valuett at fl .l!.60. if tho 1,597 registered letters rejiort'd missing. J were salIstactorily nccouuted fijr and 761, valutsi at si6,7!1.16, arc reK)rtetl ns actually lost. Of the 764 lost, 196, valued at Sl25.74, w-re made good ; and of the 55s registered letters reportisj rifled of contents, valued at ifl. 47S.OK, the content of i . , aggregating in value $1,861.04 were recovered and restored to the owners. Cilm's numlicring 32 remain In the bands of the sxcial agents under invetigHtion. The whole nnmNT of letter registered throughout tlie United States during the year ended June 30, 1876, was 4,007,817, w hile this exhibit allows an actual loss of only 1,04!, almut 26-1,000 of 1 per cent,, or 2 3-5 lor every 10,oiJ0 roistered letters mailed. F0KF.I0X MAIbP. The postal union treaty, which went into oenitioii at the commencement of the fiscal year, has greatly slnilifiel the operations of our postal exchanges with European countries; as, under Its provisions, each country retains to its exclusive use all the postages which It collects. All postage accounts on the direct correspondence reciprocally exchanged between postal union countries have lieen discontinued, and therefore no record has been kept of tiie number of letters exchauged or the amounts of postage thereon, as was the practice under the sefarute postal arrangements previously in force. The weights, only, of the letter and printed matter malls dispatched to postal nn ion countries have been accurately taken,- for the purioe of making ayments for the intermediate sea anu uiand transit charges thereon; which charges arc, by the provisions of the treaty, defrayed by the pKt department of the country dispatching the mails. The total weights of the malls dispatched from the I'nltcd States to postal union countries during the year were as follows: Letters, 95,!84,ls6 grams, equal to S,-IS6,lUi ounces; printed matter and Rumples 366.552.486 grams, equal to 12,115158 ounces teing an increaned weight over 1S75 of 155,063 ounces of letters. and 1,727,567 ounces of printed matter and samples. A statement is append ed of the weight of mails dispatched to each postal unien coutry. The reduced rates of transatlantic sea postage of 6 francs 50 centimes per kilogram or letters ana ou centimes per kilogram of other mailmatter, established by the general protal union treaty, have been allowed and paid, at their current gold value, to the respective steamship lines transporting our malls to Europe, with the exception of the American line from Philadelphia to laverpool, which has received a compensation in excess of the sea postages, fixed by special agreement at ViJ2 per kilogram of letters and 10 cents per kilogram of other mall matter. The cost of the United States transatlantic mall steamship sen ice for the year 176 was 172U3.W. being a reduction of .5,755.1 from the cost ot the same service for the year k-T.x. The navmeuts made to the respective trans atlantic lines, on account of transportation of the British and French closed mails from Jew York to Kurope, amounted to Sl2,31tf.:ii. Tlie I'tiited states rxwtaeeon malls conveyed to and from the West Indies, 1'anama, Central America, Brazil, Mexico, Bermuda, Nova Scotia. New Granada, Venezuela and Honolulu, at the reduced rates established from July 1. 1875, amounted to Jl 19,617.68, and the cost of the sea conveyance thereof was S4-, l'56.7s. The United States postages on mails exchaixgud with Japan and China, bv means of the subsidized line of direct mail steamers, amounted to $18,b7t..-K. The total cost of the United States iiceun mail-teamshtp service for the year 1S76 (including $.j7,iVjO paid from special appropriation for steamship service to Jaian and China and to ttrarth was S755,27ii.K8, being a reduction of (2aiVüi.7S from the cost of tlie same service for the year 1875. The general postal union treaty concluded at Berne. October if, 174, has beeu in operation since July 1,175 with the most satisfactory results Our people haw enjoyed the advant - nges of the cheap nnd uniform postage rates which have been established to all partsof the civilized world, aud the post office has also been financially benefited by the greater simplicity of postal operations under its provisions, as well ashy tlie entire Kuppresslon of postage accouuts on ihe postal union correspondence. The territory of the uniou has been greatly enlarged by accession, from the 1st of July, 176. of British India, (comprising Illndoslan, British Bun nah, and Aden) and tlie French colonies in America, Africa, Asia and Ocean lea under an arrangement fixing the conditions of their adhesion to the stipulations of the treaty. APPOINTMENTS. The report of the appointment office shows the following: v Number of postofllees established during Number discontinued ....................... I n crease Number in operation June .30, 16 1 Number in operation Juno JU, 176....... Numlxirmiei by appointments of the president Number filled by appointments of the uost master iceneral...... 1W3 1,157 85,547 3tJU. Appointments were made during the year On resignations anu commissions - ex pi red . öslW 1,045 251 1,193 On removals... . On changes of names and sites .. On deaths of postmasters . Ou establishment of new office., Total appointments 8,62 Number of cases acted on during. the year- .. 10,114 The numberand aggregate compensation of special asentu, route ajfnt-mail route nie

sciigers. railway post office clerks, and local agents in service during the year ended June 30, IsTö, were :

W special azen t s 1,042 railway post office clerks .. SltC.061 92 1 .27S,.-iW 0 t75Xt t) i r.t;io u I'M, 'AO UO J,"w route agents., 219 mail route in esse nffrrs i 17 1m-hI agents 2,V Totai 2W,2Cl !2 The following table sliow live number of employe iu the poft office department ; also the number of postmasters, contractors, clerk in post.ottiee!, ronte agents, railway post oftce cfcM-ks and other officers in ser Ice June 30, iS and June 30, 1;ö, respectively : Ft-partmentid oflii-ers aDd employe: 1C6. losriaster general .... , .. Assistant pstma.ster general.. Superintendent of foreign malls Superintendent of money order system.- . Chief clerk to the poMtmwMer general . . Uli iff of division of dead letters-

1 1 3 1 1 J 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 5 1 t S

Chief of division tit depredation unci oi division ol postage stamps stamped envelopes, and postal curds Topographer for department 'hief clerks of bii ren ii Disbursing officer and uerinteudentof buildlnz Stenographer viems, meüsengers,watchmen,etc. 367 3 tVl :v,rr. 21 UU7 l,m2 21! ir 62 Total .... SHI Other officer and agents Post masters 2t"jy7 Cntractors ümi Clerks in post otlic s . 4.467 ieuer carriers 2.15 1 toil te age n t s .,.... J7 Kail w ay st office clerks.......... J1 Mail route mesM Ugers 225 IxK-al agents 125 special agents. 06 Total in service . 51,177 &.V154 FREE PEtlVEEV. No additions to the numlxr of fn delivery offices were made during the year. Tlie service was, however, improved in averal of the cities by establishing branch offices aud extending the carriers' delivery. Two branch office were established in Cleveland in place of two small offices, one in Brooklyn, and two iu Pliiladelphia. The general results of the mtvW during th year are satisfactory. The postage on icl matter exceeded the entire expense bv Jt,Ü75 22. ' Tlie increase in the cost of tho uervice wits but 5 per cent., while the increase in the postage on local matter van 6 per cent. The average cost perpieee of handling this matter was 3.13 mills. The' nggregite results for the fiscal year ending June 30. 17. were as fol lows: Increase over pd'g yea r. Number of officers.. Numlier of letter carriers Mail letters deliv22M 71 10,575,'CS 5,tÄ,H 4,!m,7W 3.!7,07S rod hm I'd,, 4M Mall postal cards de livered Ixxial letters delivered Local postal cards delivered Regw-terexl letters delivered Newspapers d el i v23,PC..;i 53,773,; 19630 1,0695 ered 80.675.0 10 liCtters collecteit . 2i "0,21 1,07 Postal cards collected :,i"p,5n. Newspapers collected 21,4VM Whole number of pieces handled 631,777,17;; Pieces bandied per carrier. ' 27S,tTS Total cost of service-.lrl,l5i 12.220.5.M i2,;tri.4P 5,7l7.o:'." 1.122.T7! I I10I4M50 I or 5 per cent. Average cost per piece in mills Average cost ier carrier 3 13 t71 C8 Amount of postage ) ilHXwi l'J local matter ?...?2,0;,1 73or per cent Kxcess of jiostage on on local matter over the total cost of service 1,:J75 22 In consequence of the reduction m i.it- hy congress at its l:ist rssion in . tlie appropriations for the free delivery service, I was compelled to further reduce tlie salaries paid to the hard worked and faithful letter carriers in cities where the free delivery system has been established. A tabular statement.marked Aexhioiting in detail tlie operations ol tlie free delivery service for the past fiscal year, will be found la the appendix. POSTAL MONEY OHDKU BYSTCM. At the close of the fiscal year ended June 1S75. the number of domestic money order offices was 3, tol. The number of new ottio-s established during the following year wa .a.6, and the number discontinued was V, making a total of 3.GÜ7 offices in operation June :o, la76. During the last fiscal year 4,Pf600 dom'stic money orders were issued, whose aggregate value was 77,0;i5jU72.7. - Tne niunber of i-ueh orders paid waa 4.947,6S5, amounting in value to f76,6o2,5ri.45. To the total amount of orderH paid Ls to be added ?47V67.40, the amount of orders repaid to remitters, making the total paymi t S77.10U.33S.S.5, and the excess of the payments over the issue fro6tij07. The total amount of f received by postmasters for the Issue of domestic money orders was 45,ti09.40. The foregoing statementof the year's transactions, when eonijHired with that of the preceding year, shows a deerease of fcE5J277.0, or one-half of one per cent., in the amount of orders issued; a decrease of Fi1.72.3u, or thre.-.-teuths of one per cent-in t-he amount of order paid, and a gain of 15zis7.!H, or 31 per cent, in the amount of fein reoelved. The past fiscal year L the first, since the establishment of the mouey order system, in which there has been a decrease lnt he number or amount of dornest ie money orders issued or paid. This decrease is believed to have been caused, for the most part, by the continuance of the financial depression which adected unfavorably to so great an extent the use of the money order system, in the direction of it employment lör business purposes, during th preceding year. SALARIES or PefeTMASTEKS. I recew the recommendation of my predecessor in his lat annual report for a change in the busis of adjusting the salaries of postmasters at fouith-clasa Office. Prior to July 1, 1S74, the salaries were baed mainly upon ihn amount of stamps canceled : but since then, by acts of June 'i. 1S74. and July 12. 1S76, corn nilssions have been allowed on the revenue. which are derived mostly from the Kile of stamps. That the ibange was not correct in principle must be apparent upon reflection, and that it has not beeu advantageous to 'the department la demonstrated by experience. The old plan was the more equitable one, for the reason that the stumia canceled in a postoffice represent the nmouat of labor performed in handling matter for mailing, while the sal of stamps is no test of the work required of the postmaster- In view of the facts. I urgently recommend ttiat tlie compensation of poHtraascers of the fourth claas be based upon the bus nesa of their respective offices, as ascer-. tained from sworn returns to the auditor of stamps canceled. KTRAW BIDrt. During the last fiscal year the loss and annoyance to the department occasioned by the vicious system of "straw bids" alruc4 whoUr disapiieansl. In all ense of failure toy bidder to execute cimtracts under the law.ar.d by cont motors to perform service In accordance with their contracts, sits were promptly commenced on their bonds and pressed to final Judgment. The number of . failure was less thau in any other yeur for a kvtg peri -d of time past, and the loss to the department resulting therefrom was considerably decreaad. In fact. It may tue ataU-d that ae lilarea were no greater in nmler or anvoujit than would naturally occur rnder the raott strlugent lav that could be en cted. , , REDrCTtvOf or PAT TO HAlUtOAIM. " The cost of Inland malltrrvasportatlon tv railroad w ho muterlattT ehangod by tws legislation bCi'nnKres, r Um butt wiiHion, tlt I deem it pruper to ca'ft attention to It, although it Iocs not leLi to a reported the operations oi this depuettuttfil during th iasi fiscal yeur. . By tWactof JulyClica, providing pf pi latkkns for the aerMoo ol tlie posti!llee deimrtment for the fjpcal year ending June sT7, a red uctlon t ten i-r centum, to take effect July 1, W7Ü, was required front the -pay of ratlwad companies for earth ing the mail. . At that date theoost of suc" er lce Cnvt of it ijusted uaie; thQ prvlloaik t;f the aci