Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1837-12-16

| bout one hundred and forty-two thousand eight
hundred and scycnty-seyen miles, having been
| increased about thirty-seven thousand one hun
drcd and three miles within the last two years
The annual mail transportation on those routes
Is about millions two hundred and twen-
| weight thousand nine hundred and sixty two
miles within the same period. The number OF
post Offices has also been increased from ten thou
| sand seven hundred ard seventy to twelve thou
a nd and ninety very few OF which receive
| IN. mails less than once a week, and large por-
,ion of them daily. Contractors and postrnasters
in general are represented as attending TO their
I Iuties with most commendabc zeal and fidelity.
/ The revenue Of tho Department, within the
ycsr ending on the ,hirticth juno last, was four
million one hundred and thirty-seven thousand g.
fifty six dollars and ffty-nine cents; and ITS l'ab'-
tiles nccruing within tho same tirnc were thrce
millions three hundred and eighty thousand eight
hundred and forty-scvcn dollars and scvcnty-hse
cents The increase Of revenue over that Of the
thousand ono hundred and sixty-six dollars and
fcrty-c1e cents.
For many interesting details ! refer you to The
report Of the Postmaster General, with the ac-
com2anying paper. Your particular attention IS
invited to the necessity of providing more SAFE
the Department.
Law ,rc Congress copies OF reports submit-
ted in pursuance Of Il call made by me upon the
heads Of Departments, for such suggestions az
their experience might enable them 10 make, as
to what further legislative provisions may be ad-
vaniagcousiy adopted to secure the faithful np-
plica,iou Of public moneys the objects for which
thew are appropriately; TO prevent their misaP.
plicaiion or cmbcZz!cmcnt by those entrusted with
The expenditure Of then; and generally TO IN
crease The security Of the Government against
losses in their disbursement. 1t is nee Hess to d.
late on the importance Of providing such ne"
s,fcpuards as arc within the power Of legislation
~ ,romote these ends; and I have little to add to
the recommendations submitted TO the accom-
panying papers.
Bv law the terms Of service OF our most I'M
po.tant collecting aud disbursing officers IN the
civil department arc limited to four years, ana
when rcappointed, their bonds are required TO DC
renewed The zafety Of the pnblic is much m
ere ;sed bv this feature Of the law, and there can
be no doubt that its application TO all officers
entrusted with the collection or disbursement oi
the public moneys, whatever may NC inc tenure
OF their Offices, would be equally bcnehcia'.
therefore recommend, in addition to such OF the
suggestions presented by the heads OF the Ne
,,rtmcn,s as you MAJ th:uk useful, 4 general
uroyision that all officers OF the Army or Navy,
or civil Department, entrusted with the rcceiP'
or payment Of public money, and whose Oonos'
with good and sufficient securities, at the csPi-
ration Of every such period
cal wear. from the first of October to the FIRST OF
April. has been frequently recommended, and ap-
pears to be desirable.
Tho distressing casualties IN STEAMBOATS,, WHO"
have SO frequently happened during the year,
seem to cvince the necessity oil attempting 70 pre-
vent them, by means OF severe provision, ions" cor
uoc,cd with their cus.o,n-housc papers This SUBJ
| iect was submitted to the attention OF congress
nv the Secretary Of the Treasury IN his last an
nual report. and will be again noticed at inc pres
cnt session, with additional details. II WIZ
doubtless receive that carly and careful cons'd-
Grafton winch its pressing importance appears 10
Your attention has heretofore been frequently
called TO the affairs of tho District Of Columbia,
and shou,d not again ask II did not their ehure
dependence on Congress give them constant
claim ypou its notice. Separated by the Consti-
t,,on from the rest Of the Union, limited IN cx-
tent, and aided by no Legislature OF Its own, II
would seem to be spot where wise ana UNI
! form system Of local government might nave
been easily adopted. This District, however un-
fortunate, has been left to linger behind inc resi-
of the Union; its codes, civil and criminal, are
moi ONLY defective, but full Of Obsolete or neon
ycnient provisions; being formed oi portions OF
two States, discrepancies In the laws Prcva' III
different parts Of the territory, small as IT IS ana
,l,houun il was selected as the seat OF inc UGH
cral Government, the site OF the pubic ed'hces,
the depository of its archives, and the residence OF
officers entrusted with large amounts o. pubic
property, and the management OF pubic DUST
ness but il has never been subjected TO, or rccciv-
ed that special comprehensive legislation winch
these circumstances peculiarly demand am
well aware of the varions subjects OF greater
u,ynituac and immediate interest that press
themselves on the consideration of Congress; but
/ I believe there is not one that appeals more d.
rcctlv TO its justice, than liberal, and even gen.
crous attention to the interests OF the District OF
Columbia, and thorough and careful revision Of
its local government. n,-orN
! w.su,xcroy December 5fi, 1887.
--D...OAenUsO aaeOOAne