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ships OF war, that it has been deemed necessary
to station competent force on the coast of Al


RIGA, to prevent fraudulent use Of our flag b,
| foreigners.


Recent experience has shown that the provi
sions in our existing laws which relate to tn,
sale and transfer of American vessels while a.
broad, are extremely defective. Advantage has
been taken of these defects to give to vessels
wholly belonging to foreigners. and navigating
the ocean, an apparent American ownership-
This character has been so we'll simulated as TO
afford them comparative security in prosecuting
the slave trade, traffic emphaticaIy denounced
In our statutes, regarded with abhorrence By
our citizens. and Of which the effectual suppress
sion Is nowhere more sincerely desired than in
the United States. These circumstances make
it proper to recommend to your early attention
a careful revision of these laws so that, without
impeding the freedom and facifities of our navi-
CATION, or imparing an important branch Of our
industry connected with it, the integrity and
honor of our flag may be carefully preserved
Information derived from our Consul at Havana,
showing the necessity Of this was comnunica-
ted to committee of the Senate near the close Of
the last session, but too late it appeared to be
acted upon. 1t will be brought to your notice
by the proper department, with additional COM
munications from other sources.


The latest accounts from The Exploring Ex-
pedition represent it as proceeding successfully
in It's objects. and promising results no less use
ful to trade and navigation than TO science


The extent of post roads covered by mail ser.
vice on the first Of July last, was about 1873, ,999
miles, and,ihe rate of annual transportation up
on them 34,496,878 miles. The number of
post Offices on that day was twelve thousand
seven hundred and eighty, and on the thirlieth
ultimo, thirteen thousand and twenty-eight


The revenue of the Post Office Department
for the year ending with the 3Oth of June last,
was four million four hundred and seventy-six
thousand six hundred and thirty-eight dollars
exhibiting an increase over the preceding year
of two hundred and forty-one thousand five hun
dred and sixty dollars. The engagements and
liabilities of the Department for the same period
are four million six hundred and twenty-fouT
thousand one hundred and seventeen dollars


The excess of liabilities over the revenue 70.
the last two years has been met out of the sur
plus which had previously accumulated. The
cash on hand on the thirtieth uItimo, was about
8 2O6,7OI 95. and the current income of the
Department varies very little from the rate Of
current expenditures Most of the service sus-
pended last year has been restored, and most OF
the new routes established by the act of 9Th July,
1888, have been set in operation at an annual
cost of 8 1876 963. Notwithstanding the pecu-
mary difficulties of the country, the revenue OF
The Department appears to be increasing; and
unless it shall be seriously checked by the re-
cent suspension OF payment by SO many of the
banks, it will be able not only to maintain the
present mail service, but in a short time to ex-
tend it, 1t is gratifying TO witness the prompt
tude and fidelity with which the agents of this
Department in general perform their public du-
ties.


Some difficulties have arisen in relation to
contracts for the transportation of the mails by
railroad and steamboat companies. 1t appears
that the maximum of compensation provided by
Congress for the transportation of the mails up
on railroads is not sufficient to induce snme Of
the companies to convey them at such hours as
are required for the accommodation of the pub
lie. 1t is one of the most important duties OF
the General Government to provide and main
tain for the use of the people of the States the
best practicable mail establishment To arrive
at that end it is Indispensable that the Post Of
fee Department shall be enabled to control the
hours at which the mails shall be carried over
railroads, as it now does over all other roads
Should serious inconvenience arise from the
inadequacy Of the compensation now provided
by law or from unreasonable demands by any
of The railroad companies, the subject is of such
general importance as to require the prompt at
tention Of Congress


In relation TO steamboat lines the most eff
cient remedy is obvious, and has been suggest
ed bv the Postmaster General. The War and
Navy Departments already employ steamboats,
in their service, and although it is by no means
desirable that the Government should under
take the transportation of passengers or freight
as business, there be no reasonable obJec-
ton to running boats temporarily. whenever it
may be necessary to put down altemps at extor-
ton, to be discontinued as soon as reasonable
contracts can be obtained.


The Suggestions of the Postmaster General
relative to The inadeqnacy of the legal allowance
10 witnesses in of prosecutions for mail de-
predations, merit your serious consideration
The safety ofthe mails requires that such prose
cutions shall be efficient and justice to the cili-
zen whose time is required to be given to the
public. demands not only that his expenses shall
be paid, but that he shall receive reasonable
compensation. ..-..-.. ....... .... ....


The Reports from the War. Navy and Post
Office Depa rtments will accompany this COM
munication and one from the Treasury Depart
ment will be presented to Congress in few
days. .r-.~' =


For various details in respect to the matters
in charge of these departments, would refer
you TO those important documents. satisfied that
YOU will find in them many valuable sngges-
tions which will be found well deserving the at
tention Of the Legislature. fgaaarz ..TsGeI