Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-12-23

vey have rendered important service to naviga-
tion. The discovery of a new channel into the
harbor of New York, through which our largest
shlpsmay pass without danger, must afford mpor-
tant commercial advantages to that harbor, and
greatly to lis value as a naval station. The accu-
rate survey of Georges shoals of the coast of Mas
sachusetts, lately completed, will render compare
lively safe navigation hitherto considered dam
serous.
4 Considerable additions have been made to the
number OF captains, commanders, lieutenants, SUR
seons, and assist ant surgeons, in the Navy These
additions were rendered necessary, by the increas
ed number of vessels put in commission, to answer
the exigency of growing commerce.
Your attention is respectfully invited to the va
rous suggestionso of the Secretary, for the improve
ment OF the naval service.
| The report of the Postmaster General exhibits
ths progress and condition of the mail service.
! The operations of she Post Oth:e Department
constitutes one of the most active elements of our
national prosperity, and it is gratifying TO observe
with what VigOr they are conducted. The mail
of the United States cover an extent of about
one hundred and torty-two thrusand eight hundred
and seventy -seven miles, having been increased
boat thig:y-seven thousand one hundred and three
miles within the lasttw years. The annual trans
two hundred ani twanty-eigh, Thousand nine hun-i
1 dred and sixty-two miles, having been increased
about ten millions three hundred and ffty-nine
thousand four hundred and seyen,y-six miles with
| in the same period. The number Of post Office
has also been increased t.en, len thousand seyen
hundred and seventy twelve Thousand and nnty-i
nine, very few OF which receive the mails less than
once week, and large portion OF them daily.
! Contractors and Postmastsrs i'll general are reps
/ - as AT hair fiti~ VIII me,
commendable zeal and fidelity.
l'ha revenue of the Department, within the year
ending on the thirteenth June last, was four mill
lions one hundred and ti,irty-sesen thousand aud
titty-six dollars and dy-nine cents; and its liabil-
tics accrung within the same time were three mill
! lions three hundred and eight thousand and forty
seven dollars and sevcnsy-tivc cents The increase
| of revenue over that OF the preceding year was
seven hundred and eight thousand one hundred
and siXty-six dollars aud forty-onc cents.
I For many interesting details refer you 10 the
report of the Postmaster General, with the accom-
| panying paper. Your particular attention is invi-
| ted to the necessity of providing more safe and
convenient building for the accommodation of that
/ department..
| lay before Congress copies of reports submitted
| in pursuance Of call made upon the heads of de-
par.menls, Tor such usgoslons as their experience
might enable them TO make, as to VIVA. further le-
4 gisIatiye provisions may be adsantageousy adopt
4 ed to secure the faithful application OF public mo-
neys to the objects iof which they are appropriately
| to prevent their nisapplication or embezzement
by those entrusted with the expenditure of them
and generally TO increase the security of the Gov
ernnsnt against losses in their disbursement. tits
Inaediess TO dlats Oh the Importance of providing
such new safeguards within the pogerof le-
gslation to promote these ends; and have litte to
{! adj 10 the recommendations submitted in the ac-
i compahying paper.
BY law the terms of service Of our most impor-
tant collecting and dsbafsing officers in the civil
departments are limited 10 Jour years, and when
Ereappoined, their bonds are required 10 be renew
ed. Tbs safety Of the public 10 much Increased
lby this feature of the law, and there can be no
doubt that its application 10 all officers entrusted
with the collection and disbursement OF the pub
Lie monay, whatever may be the tenure o! THEN o.
fees, would BE- equally benslcal. Therefore rec
o;nacad, in addition II such OF the suggestions
presented by tho heads OF Departments you may
think useful, goheral provision, that al officers OF
the Army or Navy, or il, the Civil Department,
entrusted with the receip. or payment OF public
money, and whose term OF service IS either unlim.
issd for logger term than four years, be requi-
red 10 give bonds, with good sufficient security,
al the expiration OF every such period.
a change in the pariol OF terminating tbs fiscal
year, from the fist Of October TO the first of April,
has been fsquentiy recommended, and appears TO
be desirable.
:. The distressing casualties in steamboats,, which
have so frequently happened during tha past year,
seem 10 eeiace the necessity OF attempting 10 pres
vent them, by aieaas oi severe provisions cosnact-
ed with ineir custom house papers. This subject
was submitted 10 the attention of Congress by the
Secretary OF the Treasury III his last annual re-
port and win be again noticed at the present ses-
sion, with additional details. 1t viii doubtless re-
cciva that early and careful consideration which
lis pressing importance demands.
Your attcntion has heretofore been frequently
called 10 the affairs of the District of Columbia,
and should not again ask it, did not the entire de-
pendence on Congress give them constant claim
: upoif its notice. Separated by tho Constitution
from the res, of the Union, limited in extent, and
aided by no legislature of its own, it would seem
be spot where wise and uniform system of To-
cal government might have been easily adopted
This District, however, unfortunately, has been
N left to linaer behind the rest o the Union its codes
civil and criminal, are not only very defective, but
full of obsolete ihconyenient provisions; being
formed of portions OF two States, discrepancies in
the laws prevail in different parts OF the Territory
small as it is; and although il was selected as the
scat of the General Government, the site Of its
public cdifccs, the depository of its archives, and
the residence of officers entrusted with large a
mounts Of public property, and encouragement Of
public business, yet il has never neen subjected 10,
. or received. that special and comprehensive legs-
!. latioi which these circumstances peculiarly dc.
mand am web aware of the various subjects o
), greater magnitude and immediate interest that
press themselves ON the consideration OF Congress;
= but believe theIe is,oi that appeals more di-
rectly to its justice, than ocral and even gener-
GUS attention 10 the interests of the District OF 70.
! lumbia, and thorough and careful revision OF its
I local government.
. NJ VAN BUREN.
!, WAsmsaTos, Dec. S, 1897.
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