Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-12-16

Navy pension funds will be transmitted as soon as the
accounts oil the several Agents are received. The re-
mo'eness Of the residence Of some OF the Agents OF The
pension fund makes IL difficult and announcement 10 oh
tain complete statements o ftheir transactions TO be render.
cd within the time prescribed by the act of 23d April, 1900.
In presenting views Of the policy which il NAV be
Tor the public interest should be pursued i'm reference
to The naval establishment, it may be observed that tho
rapid increase OF the population and general resources
OF tho nation, which has already taken place. and ia
daily advancing, leaves little to be dreaded from inv,-
slon' oil ITS territory by an external foe, detached as il is
from the great warliks powers Of the world.
IL WIZ be ON the ocean,, and in tho transit Of its MGR.
eanuie enterprise to distant markets, that the nation may
be regarded as most vulnerable; and to this point should
Its efforts Tor defence be chiefly directed.
Inc great expense attending the support Of so LARGE
a naval force as may be occasionally required 10 give so.
cur.ty to the commercial pursuits OF the country, and to
sion and attacks of a foreign foe, makes II a matter of
ieading Importance that a system be pursued which shall
P'ace inc resources OF the country IN a condition TO be
readily brought into action whenever the necessity nro-
sen.s useii' without mourning the expense of maintain
ing such large force when its services are not wanted.
This, doubtless, will be found TO be a task of much
umneuny. IL may however, it is believed, in some
measure be attained by steadily adhering to the cour,c
suggested TO you in a former communication, to provide
ior inc collection OF supplies of all the materials for the
~. OF a Navy, which require much time TO
Pu' a condition Tor use, and which can be pre-
served without material deterioration or decay; 10 The
preparation oil these by seasoning and other processes,
III n preservation OF them after being so prepared,
u"ui required 10 be used, to retain no more vessels nj
war In commission than are required for tho Immediate
wants OF the service, and to cause those which n n,,,
DC judged proper should be built to be reserved on the
STOCKS, properly sheltered, until their services are called
lot oy the national wants; to provide for the efectual re-
par ana preservation OF the vessels in ordinary: IN nm
pon' 10 me service no larger number of junior officers
~ De kept actively employed. either at sea, at the
sauohs OH shore, or in the requirement of a KNOWLEDGE
OIL 0e various branches OF their professional education.
on ms later po'nt,it may be remarked, that to keep in
tne pay CT the Government a greater number of these
ohcers than can lie usefully employed, is not only a pro.
"'ga waste Of the public money, but a prodigaI abuse of
ue character oil the youth of the country. When thus
appointed 10 the Navy, and taken from the guardianship
Oh heir natural friends, and thrown, without restraint or
occupa ion, upon society, il can rarely happen that thew
escape me absolute and cnervatlng habits incident to a
ne u id'eness and indulgence.
Every days experience gives confirmation 10 the q
Pihion, that the worst effects TO the moral and profess
sionai characters of the Midshipmcn OF the Navy re-
suit from this state of emancipation from parental Guar.
dianship, unrestrained by the active discipline Of Tho
service to which they nominally belong.
should inc exigencics Of the nation demand A sudden
increase oil the corps, it would BIO far safer TO resort 10
appointments made for the occasion, than 10 RELY unon
suPernumersries 4 thus become negligent and in,ubor-
aina'e, and who, If brought into service, would rather
tend TO weaken than 10 augment its strength.
Other subjects believed to have a claim 10 conside-
ration are, the state OF the unsettled accounts of the dis
pursuing ofhcers.a general survey of the coasts, har-
pUrs' &c INC former was brought to your notice du-
ring the last session of Congress; the latter, as a ,nea-
sure afording Information on the geographical DO ition,
OF me principal capes and promontories, the depth and
arecm1n OF the channels; of the bays and harbors, SC.
Is a subject Intimately connected with the security and
prosperity OF the United States Navy. To these vour
Is again respectfully invited.
JOHN BRANCH.
Documents accompanying the Presidents .He.sage
REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER ENERn
fosr oFFIcE DEPARTMENT. 30th Nov. 1890.
iofi' President 0 The United States:
sIR,-i have the honor TO submit the following RI.
port e. the hsn:ac Ions, condition and prospects, Of ,h,,
Department. "'
The expenditures CT tho Department, for
me year commencing With the Let cf
July, 1927. and extending 10 the Ist
OF July. 1928, were 81 s9s soa en-
The receipt. being the amount of pos.
nges returned for tho ssme period,
were 1895 SIT o5
Showing an excess of expenditure be-
=, yend the revenue, for that year, of as o;6 Ak
: ne expenditures, from the lst Of july,
1873, to the lst oil July, 1929, were 1881 1872 81
me amount OF ~pos'ages, returned for
" same PERIOD was l.7O7.4is AZ
that year, OF -s,,, :,
The total expenditure. from the LIST Of "i
July, 1929, TO the LIST July, 1880, were o32. 7O7 az
10 uI; Tor compensation
to Postmastprs 6os oai OF
transportation of the mail, 1874 OO9 es
incidental expenses, 63,463 OF
ne amount OF Po.tages returned for Tho
same PERIOD was 1850. 5ss 10
Exhibiting an excess of expenditurs bs.
yond the revenue, for his last year, of 90 Iot s5
ms dehci' OF the current receipts Of the last wear n
msu., "a expenditures OF the department, ii will be OH
served, has not increased, above that of the n,scsd;n,
y'ar, In so great a ratio as that of the preceding ysa,
increased beyond the deficit ef the wear terior 70 an.
Isl OF July, 1928. The inference deduced from mi.
fact, az well as the increasing prosnerI,v NJ ,ha 80, ~
ment, VIII be shown more distinctly in an exhibit N Tho
receipts and expenditures of the department. bv hi,
yea's' o the TWO preceding years. Thus the re euIar
loerease oil the revenue Of the department will suf6.
cienty demonstrate lie ability, by lis future recein,s n
,J.n us es,enFve engagements. should no c%onsidera
PIE charges be created, Tor a lew wears more In addi
non TO those incident to the present establishment.
me expenditures for the latter half OF the
year 1873, were 1851, 100 ss
The receipts Tor the same period s28 255 az
Excess OF expenditure .toas co
! he expenditures Of the Let half e,rof
iozo were o3O, 0fI OIL
f"' ISL 1853 O6
Excess. Of Expenditure az -1o--
ne expe nditures Of The second half year
-" ioZy, were 94s, 36s II
800, 1927 go
The sHPenoitnre tor tia half year 55 $50 II
iooo, were 9s43n 81
90 'P' 957 7o5 so
Excess for the last half wear 2e sss =,
(t mould be noted that the excess Of ,b;s I..s h,u
year would have appeared, az il actuaJv y,s bn, Si1
10, mad not a portion OF The current expsud,,ur.s
,"S "eIe maue IN the preceding year been entered in
account Of the FIRST half OF the present weary
1900 =, ~. o. p stages rom the Let Of July,
love ta,ement, ia exn zoo "a
me amount Of postage from the let Of
'u'y' 1925 10 the ist July, 1929. was l,707.1ls ~
Giving an increase in this one wear of 10 tel GO
me smoun' Of available funds at the disposal Of Inc de.
Partment on The LIST of July, 1929, wa,
Deduct the excess of exnandin,.. ~""io'0 VI