Terre Haute Weekly Gazette, Volume 8, Number 18, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 7 December 1876 — Page 1

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VOL.8—NO. 18

Theatre Burned.

Th8 Brooklyn Theatre Caught Fire Last Night while crowded with an Audience.

An Indescribable scene of Confession and Dismay.

Miny Burned and More trampled to Death.

New York, December 5.—The Brooklyn theatre was burned to the ground toniuht. The fire originated on the stage at 11130 p. in., when the company was about half through with the last act of the "Two Orphans." The fire spread with lightning ragidity and burst out through the door on Washington street.

The panic and confusion among the audience was terrible, and a numbermust be bodily injured and some probably, killed. "Dictor's resturant, adjoining, was totally destroyed, and the postoffice slightly damaged.

The theatre was owned by Kingolev Keeney and others, ana was rented to Shook Si Palmer of Union Square theatre, New York. Loss on theatre about $250,000. At 1 o'clock the fire was still burning, but under control. The fire was caused by the gas setting fire to the woodwork in onerof the wings. 1ATER.

The fire originated in the flies, which, blazing, fell on top of the scenery. One of the actresses came to the front of the stage and soid: "A small accident has occured, but don't be alarmed only a piece of fly on fire." On the mention of lire the audience arose to their feet, and made wild rush for the door. The smoke soon become suffocating, and the women fell fainting in the isle and •were trampled over. Numbers jumped out of tt.e windows and were severely injurid. Three were picked up and sent to Long Island College hospital, and are not expected to live. A young man who jumped out of a window, says a ladywas with him and got to the window, and while holding on with hands and endeavoring to get 0 it became overpowered with smoke and ll'b.u k, and must have been consumed in the flumes. Dresses were torn from t:ieir bodies while lying in the aisles, and on the sidewalk out-ido was a l,irre piH of dresses so torn f. om their hacks and picked by the police, who were in the police station, next door to the theatre. All the theatre conipany^got out safely except a iiy man named Cuinbersvme, who was badly burned, and threw himself out of the window. He will die.

AN ACTOR BURN*ED.

New York. Dec. 6.—Harry Murdoch, one of the leading actors In the Brooklyn theatre company is missing, and is thought to have perished by the burning of the theatre last night. Several residents of Brooklyn, who are supposed to have attended the performance last night have not returned to their homes, and is feared an examination of the ruins tot day will result in finding the charred remains of some Of these missing persons*

FULL PARTICULARS OFTHE FIRfe.

Ne«\ York, Dec. 6—The fire in Brooklyn theatre last night was attended by appalling loss of life-and it is thought that not less than

IOO PERSON'S WERE KILLED

in the rush to the stairs, or burned to death, being unable to escape- The fire bn-ke out during the performance of the

last

scene of the Two Orphans in which Miss Claxtou plays a heroine on the boat house fl or.

In five minutes more the audience wou have been dismissed, and there would have been no hing more serious to record than destruction ofprooertv. The house was about two-thirds filled, those below silting well forward tow irds the stage, for th^se in the family ci.cle, dress circle and galleries there was no way of cscap .exceptbv Washington street, the panic stricken people rushed pell mell towards and down the stairways.

Tie main exit became immediately choked up, and a scene of terror, confusion and distress ensued which beggars description. Just above the landing place of the stairway, a woman in the rus-h bad her foot oushed between the bannisters and fell. The crowd behind her forced forward by the terrified people still farther behind fell over her and piled on to »of each other four and five deep.

The police from the station house next do .r, were promptly at the scene, but owing to the manner in which the people •were piled up on top of each other, and massed togethei, »hcy could extricate comparatively law, and these were all bruised, bleeding and maimed. The firemen got to work 011 the rums shortly af— -ter daylight this, morning.

They succeeded in getting as far as the floor of the dress circle, where they found a great number of bodies, and immediately hegao. the. work oi removal, andup 1 ill o'c ock, 65 bad es had been recovered, and what appeared to be 20 or

30 more were seen in Hie basement into which they tiaa been precipitated by the falling of burning floors.

I GREAT EXCITEMENT.

Brooklyn, Dec. 6. noon—The number of bodies thus far recovered from the

ruins is

about

75i.vet

lug

it Is believed that

as many more are still in the nuns. They are mostly those VWJ

family circle. TU

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S'f.rgri* MORE HORKJBLli JETAILS.

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The names of S6 persons missing from

their homes have been registered. •iWiff tv.v

KATfi

SMi

ttXicTON

jJt At the preliminary inquiry ot lire marshall s^is: At the beginning of the last act just as the curtain went up^I heard *a rumbling noise on the stage apd two minuits alter 1 t-aw flamesr The lire seemed to be all on the stage.

mi.

••t A-5*-!

Mrs. l*urren, myself, Mr. Studley and Air. Murdoch vere on the stogj at this time. We four remained there and en-

Continued on tilth pa^e.]

t'S

The Annual Message Hiram Ulysses.

I

of

He Ranges Pretty Much Over the Whole Field.

Chiefly Discussing the Southern Situation.

If you want to Know TVhat it is all About Read.

To THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: In submitting ray eighth and last annual message to Congress it seems proper that I should refer to, and in some de gree recapitulate the events and official acts of the past eight years. It was try fortune, or misfortune, to be called to the office of chief executive, without an}' previous political training. From the age sf seventeen I had never witnessed the excitement attending a Presidential campaign, but twice antecedent to my own candidacy, and but at one of them was I eligible as a voter. Under such circumstances, it is but reasonable to suppose that errors of judgement must have occured even had they not differences of opinion between the executive, bouud by an oath to the strict performance of his duties and writers and debaters must have arisen. It is not necessarily the evidence of blunder on the part of the executive because there are these differences of views, and mistakes have been made as all can see, and I admit, but it seems to me that oftener in selections made of assistants, appointed to aid in carrying out the various duties and ot administering to the govertnent, nearly every case selected without a personal acquaintance with the appointee, but upon recommendations of representatives chosen directly by the people, and if possible, where so many trusts are to be alloted, that right parties should be chor,„-n. In every instance history shows that no administration from the time of Washington to the present, has been free from the mistakes, but I leave comparisons to history, claiming only that I have acted in every instance, from a conscientious desire to do what was right constitutional, within law. and for the best interests of the whole people. Failures have been errors of judgment, not of intent. My civil career commenced at the ipost critical and difficult time, less than tour years before the country had emerged from a conflict, such as no other nation had ever survived. Nearly one half of the States had revolted againt the Government, and of those remaining faithful to the Union, a large per ccntage of the populatior sympathized with the rebellion, and made an enemy in the rear, almost as dangerous as the more public enemy in front, but they maintained them openly and courageously the former received the protection of the govern ment they would see destroyed and reaped all the pecuniary advantage to be gained out of the then existing state of affairs. Many of them, by obtaining contracts, and by swindling the government in the delivery of their goods, immediately on the cessation of hostilities, the then noble President, who had carried the country so far through its peril, fell a martyr to his patriotism, at the hands of an assassin. The interven ing time to my first, inauguration, was filled up with wranglings between Congress and the new executive, a3 to the hest mode of reconstruction.

Or to speak plainly as'to whether the control of the Government should be thrown immediately into the hands of those who had recently and persistently tried to destroy it, or whether the victors should continue to have an equal voice with them in this control. The reconstruction as finallv,agreed upon insans this and only th s, except that the late slave was enfranchised, giviug an increase, as was supposed to the Union-loving and Unionsupporting votes free, in the full sense o: They would not disappoint this expectation, and hence at the beginning of my first administration work of reconstruction much embarressed by the long delay, virtually commenced it was tht. work ot the legislative branch of the government. My province was wholly in'-approving their acts, which I did most heartily, urging the legislatures ot the states that had not done it, to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. 1'he country was laboring under an enormous debt contrae ed in the suppression of rebellion and taxation was so oppressive is to discourage production. Another danger also threatened us, a foreign war. this last difficulty has been adjusted and was adjusted (without war, in a manner highly honorable to a 1 parties concerned. It has been reduced wiihin^ie 7 years nearly 310 mil.ion dollars and the national debt has been reduced in the same time over 434 million dollars by refunding the six per cent bonded debt for b.-ndb bearing 5 and 4 and "one half per cent interest respectively the annual interest has been reduced over 130 millions dollars in 1869- to but little oyer 100 millions dollars in 1876. The balance of trade ha#i- been changed from oyer one hundred and, thii'v milltons ag to HlOl ty millions of dollars in cur tav. in 1876. It is confidently behoved hat the balance of the trade, in fa.vbr'of the United Stales will increase, ubt/diminish, tnd tha the pledge of Congress to resume specift payments in "879, will be .easily accomplished. liven fr a&Senee of much desired fur .her, that the Legislation on thl subject. A policy has been adopted towards the Indi 111 tribes, inhabiting a large^ portion of territory ot tne United States, which has been humane, has

aio$t tha United States "in )reStiftnafte nundfed arid twenr

US

substantially ended the Indian hostilities in the whole land except in a portion of Nebraska and Dakota and Wyoming and Montana Territories. The Black Hills region and approaches there to, hostilities there have grown out of t\\f. avarice of the white man who has vio lated our treaty stipulations in his search for gold. The question might be asked why the government has not enforced obedience to the terms of the treaty prohibiting the occupation of the Black Hills region by whites. The answer is simple. The first emigrants to the Black Hills were removed by troops but rumors and fresh discoveries of gold took into that region increased numbers. Gold has actually been found in paying quantities,, and an effort to remove the miners would only result in disaffection of the bulk of the froops that might be sent there to remove them. All difficulties in this matter has, however, been subject to the approval of^Cungress, by a treaty ceding the Black Hills and approaches to settlement by ci^pens. The subject of Indian policy and treatment is fully set forth by the Secretary of the Interior. The Commissioner of Indian affairs, mv views so fully expressed there in that. I refer to mere reports and recommendations as my own. The relations of the United States with foreign powers continue on a friendly footing. Questions have arisen from time to time in the foreign relations of the government, but th United States have been happily free during the pas year from the complications and embarrassments which have surrounded somof the foreign powers. The diplomatic correspondence submitted herewith contains information as to certain of the matters which have occupied the government. The cordiality which attends our relations with the powers of the earth has been plainly shown by the general participation of foreign nations in the exhibition which has just ceased, and by exertions made by distant powers to show their interest in a friendly feeling toward the United State« in commemoration of the Centennial of the Nation. The government, and people of the United States, have not only fully apprrciated this exhibition of kindly feeling, but it may be justly and fairly expected, that no small benefits will result botS to ourselves and other nations, from1 a better acquaintance and a better appreciation of our mutual advantages. ,a.

Congress at its last session saw fit to"reduce the amount specially appropriated for foreign intercourse by withholding appropriations for representatives of the United States in certain foreign countries and for various consular officers, and by reducing the amounts usually appiopria ted for certain other diplomatic posts, and thus necessitating a change'in the grade of representative. For these reasons immediately after the passage of the bill making appropriations for diplomatic and consular service for the present force, instructions were issued to the representatives of the United States at Bo ivia.Ecandor and Columbia, and to the consular officers for whom no appropriation had been made to choose their respective legations and consulates and cease from the performance ot their duties and in like manner steps were immediately taken to substitute charges de affaires for minis ers resident in Portugal, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland ani Paraguay. While thoroughly impressed with the wisdom of sound economy in the foreign service, as in other branches of the Government, I cannot escape the conclusion that in some instances the withholding of appropriations will prove an expensive economy, and that the small retrenchment secured by a change of grade in certain diplomatic posts au not an adequate consideration for the loss, of influence and importance which will attend our foreign representatives under this reduction. I am of the opinion that a re-examination of the sub ject will cause a change in

some

VJ

instances

in the conclusion reached in these suhjects at che last

8

:ssion of Congress Court of

Commissioners of Alabama claims, who»e functions were continued by an act of the last session of Congress, until the first day of January 1S77, has carried on its labors with diligence and general satisfaction. By a report from the clerk of the court transmitted herewith, bearing date of

November 1876, it appears that during the time now allowed by law, the court will have dispose'1 of all the clairr presented for adjudication. This report also contains a statement of the general results of the labors of the court'to the date thereof. It is a cause of satisfaction that the method adopted for satisfaction of the classes of claims admitted to the court, which are of long standing and justly entitled to an early considerati n, should have proved successful and acceptable. It is with *atisfaction that 1 am enabled to st ite that the work of the joint committee f'.-r determing the boundary line between the United States and British possessions from tlie northwest a igle ot the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky mountains, commenced in 1S72, has been finished, and by final agreements of the commissioners with the maps, have been duly signed, and the work of the com-mi.-.»ioii is complete. The fixing of the boundary up in the Pacific coast by the protocol of

arch 10, 1S73,

purs..a

tfetff9*

1ERRE HAUTE, IND:..—THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1876. -.

condition of the questions which lately arose with Great Britain, respecting the surrender of fugitive criminals und'r the treaty of 1S42. The Ottoman Government gave notice under the date of January 15, 1874, of its desire to terminate the treaty of 1862, concerning commerce and navigation pursuant to the provisions of the 22 nd article thereof, anq under this notice the treaty terminated upon the fifth day of January, 1874. 'That Government has invited negotiations towards the conclusion of a new treaty by the act of Con gress of March 23rd, 1S74. The president was authorized that when he should re ceive. Satisfactory information that the O :toman Government, or that of Egypt had organized new tribunals likely to secure to the citizen# of the United States the same impartial justice enjoyed under the exercise of judicial functions, by the diplomatic and consular offices of the United States, to suspend the separation or the act of June 22d, i860, and to accept for the citizens of the United States, jnrisdictions of new tribunals, satisfactory information having been received of the organization of such new tribunals in Egypt, I caused a proclamation to be issued, on the 27th of March last, the suspending opperation of the act 27, of June 22nd, 1876, in Egypt. Accord ing to provisionsjtof the act, a copy of the proclamation accompanies this message. The United States has united with the o|her powers in the organization of these courts, It is hoped that the jurisdiction questions, which have arisen, may be readily adjusted, and that it may be hindered by no obstacles. The cessary legislation to carry into effect the condition respecting commercial reciprocity concluded with the Hawain Islands in 1S75, having been had, the proclamation to carry it to effect, the convention as provided by the act approved August 15th 1876, was duly issued uuon the Tuesday of September last. A copy thereof accompanies this message Tie commotiOhs which have been prevalent in Mexico for some time past and which unhappily seem to be not yet wholly quieted have lei to complaiutsofcitizens of the United States of injuries persons in authority. It i* hoped however these will ultimately be adjusted ti) satisfaction of both Governments. Thfe frontier ol the United States in that quarter has not been exempt from acts of .fiolence by citizens of one republic on thejge of the other The frequency jf these is jnpposed to be increased and their adjustment made more difficult by the considerable changes in the csurse of the loyMr part of the Rio Grande river, whic® ri er'is a part of the boundary between^the two countries.

These changes h^e placed on either side of that river, portions of land which existing conventions, belong to the jurisdiction of go/erniriant on the opposite side of the river. ]fsThe subject of adjustment of this cause* of difficulty, is under consideration between the two Republics. The governtiMnt of the U. S. of Columbia has paWl the award in the case of the steajdSHSjJont ejo, seized by authorities ofthatgovernmenfsoftie years* since and the amount been transferred to thc claimants. It is witn satisfaction that I am able to announce that the joint Commission for the adjus inent of the claims between the United States and the Mexico convention in 1868, the juration of which Ins been stveral times extended, has brought its labors to a close, from the report of the agent of the United States, which is transmitted herewith. It will be seen that within the time limited by the commission, one thousand and seventeen claims, on the part of citizens of the United States against Mexico, was referred to the commission. Of these 831 were dismissed or disallowed and in one hundred and eighty-six cases, awc.rds were made in fa -or of the claimants against the Mexican republic, amounting in aggregate to $4,125,633, Within the same period 998 claims on tiie part of the cit'zens of the Mexican Republic against tl.e United States were referred to the commission of these claims. Eight hundred and thirty-one were dismissed or disallowed, and in one hundred and sixty-seven cases awards were made in favor of claimants against the United States, amounting in the aggregate to $15^.498 41. By the terms of the convention the amount of these award: is to be deducted from the amount awarded in favor of our citizens against Mexico and the balance only to be paid by Mexico to the United States, leaving the United States' to make provisions for iheir proportion of the awards tn favor of its own citizens. I invite your attention to the legislation which will be necessary to provide for the payment. In this connection I am prepared to be able to express the acknowledgment due Thornton, the umpire ef thecommisioner who has given atttention to the consideration of a large number of claims submitted to him, much time unwearied, patient with 'that fairness and intelligence which are well known to belong to the accom-i-hed represei.talive of Great Britain, and which arc likewise recognized by the representative

:n

tto

the award of the emperor of Gei many, by article XXXIV. of the treaty of Washington with the termination of the work of this commission adjusts and fixes the end boundary between the 0. S. and the possession except as the portion of territory ceded to the U. S. and treaty of 1S07. The work intrusted to the officers of the army attached to. the commissions has" been well and satisfactorily performed. Original of final agreement of commissioners signed upon the 29th. of May 1S76, with original •list of astronomical stations observed and the original official test of monuments irked .international boundary lines' and maps- and records and 'general repbrts relating 4r the commission have been deposited in CSeiiepattnieatof stat e. The official repo1.t •of Part United States WrtfrfKe report ot the chief astronomer of the United Stat es. will be submitted to Congress within a short time. I reserve for a separate communication to Congress, a sta.emcnt of the

this country of the Re­

public of Mexico, nonthly payments 01 a very small part of the amount due by the Government of Venzut-la to citizens of the United States on account claims to tne latter i^ainst mat government, continue to be made with reasonable punc uality, that the gorernme has proposed to charge the system which it has hitherto pursued in this respect by issuing bonds for part of that amount of several claims. The proposition however could not- properly he accepted, at least without the cons6r«t of tlie holder* of ceatificate* of indeb edntss of Venezuela, these are so nfuch depressed that it would be difficult if not impossible, to ascertain' theif disposition on ,the subject' in the' other mes§2g%.3T-havefelled the attentiort of Congress to the necessity of legislation with regard fo naturalization and .0 subject to expatriation-and election of na tionality numbers Of persons of foreign birth setkin'g hoine in the U. S. the ease and fa^lity*' %ith vfhich the? hiof.tM! emigrant, mat, a'ftier a lapse ojf a reak&tftiK: time becbme'possesstxi oC all' fhe ptivf" lege of citizerrSttfp' 6f'' tht U. S. and frequent occasion with which induce such adopted citizens to return to the countr* ot their birth render subject of natituralizalion and the safe guards-which experience

has proved ncce3tarv for the protection of the honest naturalized citizens of paramount importance The very simplicity in the requirements of the law on this question afford oppoitunity for fraud .and the want of uniformity in the proceedings and records of the various courts, and in the forms of certificate* of naturalisation issued, afford a constant source of difficulty.

I suggest^ no additionol requirements to the acquisition of citizenship beyond those now existing but I invite" the earnest attentior of congress to the necessity and wisdom of some provision regarding uniformity in the records and certificates and providing against the frauds which frequently take place and for the vacsling of a record of naturalization obtained in fraud, these provisions are needed in aid and for the protection of the honest citizens of foreign birth, and for the wail of which he is made to suffer frequently. The niietf States has insisted upon the right of exportation, and has obtained, alter a long struggle, an admission of the principle contended for, by acquisition therein on the part of many foreign powers and? by the conclusion of treaties on thaL. sub ject. It is, however, but justice to the government to which such naturalized citizens have formerly owed allegiance as well as to'he United States, that a certain fixed and definite rule should he adopted, governing such eases and providing how the expatriation may be accomplished while emigrants in large numbers^ become citizens of the United States. It is also time that persons, both native born and naturalized, once citizcns of tlie United States, either by formal acts- or as the effect ot a series of facts and circumstances, abandon their citizenship and cease to be entitled to the protection of the U. S.,but continue in certain Occasions to assert their claim to protection in advance of the provisions, and in this connection I again invite your attention to the necessity of the .egislation, concerning the marriages of American citizens, contracted abroad and concerning the status of American women, who may marry foreigners, and of cnildren born of American parents in a foreign couutry. The delicate and complicated questions continually occur ring with reference to the naturalization expatriation and status of such persons as I have referred, to induce me to earnestly direct your attention again, to theie subjects. In like manner, 1 repeat my recommendation tltat some means be provided for hearing determination of the President, and subsis'ing claims of aliens upon the governmentofthe United States, within a reasonable limitation, and such as may hereafter arise, while by the existing provisor ofthelaw.the count of claims may, in certain cases-bo resorted to bv an alien claimant. The absence of any general provisions 'governing alt 9uch cases and the want of a Tribune skilled in the disposition of such cases upon recognized, fixed and settled principles, either provide ho remedy in many deserving cases or compels a consideration of such Claims' byt'zCon»«ss_or.JtbeL_eJtecutive department of the Government,' It is believed that other governments are in adyance of the United States upon this question, and that the pvtictice now adopted is entirely unsatisfactory. Con gress, by.act approved the 3fd of March, 1875, authorized the inhabitants of the territory of Colorado to form a state government with the the name of ihe state of Colorado, and therein provided for the admission of said state when formed into the union upon an equal footing with the original states or constitution having been adopted and ratified by the people ef that state, and an acting governor having certified to me the fa :ts as prevailed by said act together with a copy of such a constitution and ordinances as provided for the same said act and ihe provisions of said act of congress having been duly complied with, issued a proc ama'ion On the 1st ot Augu*t 1876, a copy of which theretoann xed. Tnc reportof secreta ry of war shows that the army has been actively employed during the year in subduing at the request of the Indian bureau certain wild bands of tlie Siux Indian nation and preserving peace at the south during the election. The commission constituted under the act of July 24,1S76 to consider and report on the whole subject of reform and reorganizing of the whole army, in Angust last and has collected a large mass of statistics of points bearing on the subject before it. These are now under consideration and their report is progressing. I am advised though by the president os the commission that it will be impracticable to comply with the clause of the act requiring, the report to be presented through me to ao -gress on the first day of this session as not been time for that mature deliberation which the importanc of the subject demand*, therefore I ask that the time of making the report be extended to the 29th dav oi January 1877. In accordance with tlie resolution passed, August 15th 1876. The arniv regulations pre pared under fct, March 1st 1875, had. not been promulgated, but we are- helduntil after report of the above'mentiorK«£.

Congress shall have been acted upon by act August 15th 1876. The cavafry force of the a'my, was rncrcased by 2500 men, Jvith a ov..'so tl A they should oe disc! arged on ihtr expiration of the hostilities.' U'nder this authority the cavalry regiments hskve been strengthened and a portion of them are now in the field pursuing-the rehv nanjs of Indians with whom tbejy have Men engaged during the sommer. The estimates of the war department are made up on the basis of the number of men, allowed by law, and their requirements, as shown by years of experience and alio with the purpose of a part of the bureaii bilkers, to provide for contingeddes that may anVe'dut&ig. th'^ tiVne for"trhJch the' eistimafes'.are made exdlajfivc of engineers esifmsftfeii prevented in accordance wTth thfi act of es$, calling for su^e/slioii esirtriatej! ttr' improvemeh^i arvnrious "lotalltfiS.'i" •tna(£# oc4, 6obi fri excess of years 74, 7^:* marked in oedtr to provide foj^ the in creased cavalry force, should their service

\l

lMmi*ift if

nwntiT HiiiMim |j

$30,635,165,

01

be necessary to prosecute and economic.it- to justify hi

ly vrork upon important public buildings, iCot-viuiled ou p&£c.lsM

., —rjirmigf^cLTt

W i«

Whole No. 470

and to provide tor the amount of fortifications and manufactories of small aim# and to replenish the working stock in the' supply departments. The appropriations for the last named, have, for thp past few years beew s& limited that the accu--mulations in store, will be entirely exhausted during the present year, and it will be necessary to at once begin to replenish them. I invite your especial attention to the following recommendations of the Secretary of War:

First, that the claims under the- act of July 4, 1S64, for thcsupplie» taken f»v the army during the war, be removed from the officers of the quartermaster and commissary of the government, and transferred to the sou hern claims commis sory. These claims are of a precisely similar natnre to these now before the southern claim' commission and war debt bureaus have not thfc clerical fortfe for their examination, nor proper machinery for investigating the loyalty of the claimants. Secondy that Congress sanciTan the scheme ot an annuity fund fbr the benefit of the families of deceased* officers and Jthat it also provides for thtr permanent iorganiaation of the regular service both of iwhich were recrmmended ia my latt annual message. Third, that manufacturing operations of the ordinance departmsnt be concentrated at thr-w arsenals and an armory, and that the remaining arsenals be sold and the proceeds appHed to this objeot by tHe orainanee department.

The appropriation for rivsr audi haroor improveiner ts for the current year were $5,015000. With my approval ther scoretary of war directed that of this1 amount $2so,000 should be expended ancK no new work should be begun, a»d noner prosecuted' which" were not of national! importance. Subsequently this amount' was increase* to $323,700, and works are now progressing o« this basis. The im—• provement of the south pass of the Mississippi* river under J. ByEads and h® asso-ciates-is piogress-ing favorably. At' the presont time there ia 20 3-to feot in. depthtbetween the jetties at r.he mouth'of the pass and eighteen and one and a halffeet at the head) of the pass. Neither hannel, however,, has the width required beforertlle payment shall be made By-tWe United*States. The Commission of Engineer»and officers is now examining these works and their reports will bt-pre-sented as soon aa- renewed. The report of the Secretary of the Navy, shows-that he believes the services tobe in a condition as effective as it is possible to klep it witl the iTMtfinsv the appropriations give the' department. It is of course po

:sible

to rivaUhe costly and progres­

sive e*tabllshmr B*»o£ the gr.. Emopi#» powers with the old material of our navy to which-no increase has been authorized -ince the war, except eight small cruisers built tosupply tfte place©! others which, hod gone todecay yet most has been done that was-possible with means at com-r mand and by substantially rebuilding, of our ships with durable material and completely repairng and refitting owri monitor flfeeb. The na^ypias bee* gradually 66 brought up that though it does not iftj&ftlljtf 'lts relative position atnanp.r the progreslve navies- of the worli,. It ia now in ^Condition more powerful tuul effective than if ever has been in time ®f peace. The complete repairs of of« line heavy iron clads are only delayed ion account of the inadequacy of the appropriations mitdr last year, fbr the working bureaus of the department which .were actually less in amount than tlioes. made before the war, notwithstanding., the greatly enhanced pricc of labor and tna•.erialsyand the increase in the cost of'thenaval.service,growing out of tUe universal use and great cxypnse* of •teatm machinery. 1 he money necessary tor these repairs, should be. provided at once, that they mtvy be, completed without further unnecessary delay and expense. When this-is dpne».all the strength that there is i« the nayy,. will.be developed, and useful, to its- lull capacity, and all will be powerful for purpos£ of defence, and also for offensiveaction should necessity fur. thj»fc ari«t within a reasonable distance from outr shore,and the fact that our navy, is noli taoce modern and powertijl than: iti is has been made a cause, of complaint against the secretary of the navy by persons wbo,, et the same time criticise and complain .of. Ifcts endeavors to bring the navy mat we have to its best and most efficient Mnditjon, but tbe good sense et the coantnjt will understand that it is re*Uy to tuis $rac|tical action tha we hive at.ihis.tjiria._any effective navy force a& commands The report of the postmaster general shows excess of expenditures, including uspendkures on account o£pcevioas-y«ar».over 'receipts for the fiscai year ending June 30*1876, to be 14,151,988 46,. estimated expenditures for the hscal year, ending June 30, 1876, ate ^67^4)324 33 estimated revenue for thei same period is

exp.nui ures to.be apprupiiai&d as a deficiency «.f $6^7,826,743^ Tfae postmaster genferal. like his predecessor, is. conyineed that &e change in- thje basis of. adjusting the salaries of port, masters of the lounh class it is- n^ce^sary for the good of the sitrvice as wejla* for the interests of the .government^ a«id urgently recommends that thefc compensation of that class of po&tmastess above nr^enlioned be based upoa the business of their respective offices, qs ascett^b.ed from the sworn reiurns to tfee auditor ot stamps cancelled a few post mailers ia the southerp state. have express*o great apprehensions of their personal safety oa account of their connection]with, .the postal service, and have specially regarded that t^pir reports of apprehended danger shield not be nattit ,-publip ltcs- it should result in the Vote ottbeir lives. But no jK#Hive testiajpny, or in'erieijunu! lu^.(fWHrkubmiited, encccpt in tjie» o* a„mail ra^tsenger at Sparvenbur_, in SvjutJ? who reported that, he had been violently driven A wiy Wfri)# & cltatgd ot his pol tical affilia'iOM.• superintendent jupfl services in,«es*«g*£ed! U'l? «Mretvaod leyortcd that from his '-—l-: pcifcrn.-d

•{«_ by a substitute. UhiPostinasic. Gct.-.-ral thinks this ca is sufficiently .su-^eslivc rec.:-..ine«di.i.' that a.

0^.

leaving an estimated, excess