Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-02

IN Whit was i"fmrrIy dsncminaed spanish america -
! he estimate for the present year Is not, however
great the expenditure for 1922 which was S2o0 1iO
% cts
The current expenses of the Indian Department were
unimpor'an and irregular in early years, but al! The ex
pend!urrs in hs hramch for the first III years amounted
10 lees than S2 900 annually; the estimates for lc9,
amount 10 ScGG &c., including appropriations not
for current expenses This is owing almost tx
cins!vely to annurs and stIpuanns under treaties with
the Indians entered into since l750.
Having no military establishment worthy OF notice at
the origin of the Government. the expenditures in this
branch of the public service have Of course Increased
When II is considered that the settled area CT the L.
has increased, according TO the calculations u! scien
tic engineer, in the ratio Of 2l0575 in 1880, I" l0l3
GOD In 1889 idea msy b. formed Of th" vast
OF our present boundaries; and We may wei! doubt not
wthSandng the recent increase of the army, hetheI
i, will ultimately be found adequate 10 protect all uur
extensive irunlsrs
Although we have been more liberal in ma val np.
PropfiaUus thai establishment still bears unimport
ant rank in comparison with that of every other mari
time nation. TIE improvement IN Steam navigation.
however Ia promise 4 revolution in the mode Of
conducting maritime wur which may render this diff
ence OF less Importance as il regards existing navIes and
may require and considerable expenditures in this
branch Of the public service, hch will be noticed here
after
The appropriations for roads in 1898 were 600
There such Federal expenditure in early years.
In The expenses for ah'I there has been
siderable Increase respectfully within the last two years
The annual amount cxpc nitd in the FIST years
GLIDING III" maintenance of the establishment, l. IS
than $4,000 For many vars past it ess Than
S:hOUiD annually; bul in lS7 II suGdt My incrcas
ed TO s go 0l9, and included 2l ,yGi for light
houses. Nc In ISIS the appropriations amounted 10
SG63 cI3 The estimate merely for maintaining lie
existing lighthouses IN III" year 1889, amounts to 1884,,
600 The appropriations for n"w works Of this kind
authorized without proper examinations. and much
money has been wasted tbs branch Of the service.
Two years ago Congress drecd such examinations
10 l." mad" brtur" any work should BE- commenced.
The officers repeated in favor Of suspending the appro
prrtloas for if.y Of the number Ut works author
ized by The act of lcJ7. There is large amount
rcTIaning pended in This branch of the service
The Expenditures for i"rii:canns were irregular in
the first years; but from 1-9 10 lI.c The annual
vas $lrS eco The appropriations for 1888 amounted
81 Ul5 uuO and the estimates :ur 1889. 81 2G9 100
Th!s part 0i the national defence is sull in very in
comp lric state. The Improvement in steam batteries
wiEiG few years past renders II. however, question
wothy OF inquiry, whether Will not also produce an
entire revolution il tie plan 81 haIbor del, nee and
whether II would not be NEST ludIcnus for the present
TO c"riimc cur expenditures 10 the armament OF the
Qualifications have finished, a.d await the result OF
future experiments whrh will become necessary 10
certain heiirr looiing steam batteries are NJ" superior
I" stationary Publications guarding the entrance into
and IN defending harbors. There are other reasons
frr suspending new appropriations Tor lc3J Those
visiting made una! The 9Th July last, and
The directed thn hail of the amount should be
expended the present year; and there remained un
drawn from the Treasury on Tie LIST January S1oI 500
OIL besides the balances IN the hands OF our cISOursing
officers Unt"r such circumstances With deficient
revenue and whr there probability that change
will be made in the plan of hab"r defence and that The
public mnrey MAJ hereafter be more advanogeously sx-
prudsd, lie committee are oiopin'nn that 1t is not exre
dent IL add 81 800 100 10 the large amount unexpenGed
aud in The hands oil discussing officers
For tie fist and twenty tho oVsrsnp a"'"nn
ar"nnit paid inr pensions "as less Than Ss-4uUO As
ale 1914, it about $yhuG0 and il ioI5 less than
$1OGtO The late wGr adued about $500 GOO for in'a.
lids and the widows children Of those who had died
oi wounds received IN battle Tie whole pension roll
of The L 5 arising from The Revolutionary, Indian,
and BRUSH wars, did mol Then exceed $500 900
ally The appropriations Tor pensions the present
year 81 $50 CGU Ia which to BE- added III"
permanent appropriation Il" 5 900 GEO, and un'xprnd
appropriation amounting 10 Sal Geo. making aggre
gate tor pensions III -iD Of 81 - | 900; and
charged upon the public Treasury AZ 50O pension.
bIi! passed at the last SESSION. without de-
base and approved TIE las; day Of the session. which
from Tue Treasury IN the present year 81 3I2tU;
and there three general pension bills pend,rg
The House winch would, if adopted, probably double r
annual amount appropriated for pensions.
Thus result and III 50 short period, c"uld not have
been an,lc pa;rd by the irlmers vi our Constitution
/ he CLAIMS Of revolutionary soldiers rested pecu
liar grounds Their services and suterings were OF an
eyiIauriIinry caiacier and had from necessity tten
cumpti He'd IL violate our contracts with them in h'ir
cast. We were warranted IN departing lrOm ordinary
usage when ample 10 indemnify llit
Pensions rvahGs. and to the widows children Of
those who killed who die at wounds receives
battle lurin part Of the contract, where such laws cX
isi brlw,rn the Government and the soldier. But in
urautnr pensions, have done, IN cases where the
sn,dIrr y as neither killed wounded in battle,
violated The pension principle and charged The public
Treasury with h1lt pay to the representatives Of all
s. no enlist !he service OF Government, whether ~
rrace or 10 war IN addition To the compensation s-
uulaleG for their services. Prior tn ls3G there
no departure from the ordinary pension rules, except
10 Revolutionary soldiers; but that year, provision
vas made gene rally for pensions IN ordinary cases Of
t.p
whether Of wounds nol. The same rule was exierd
ed TO the navy pension fund, which VIII be very s""n
DESTROYED 10y such improvdent legislation PrIor I"
1857 this fund amply sufficient to provide for oar
naval irynlids for t" widows children OF those
who bav, been killed in battle II invested in
stacks and amounted, the lst March, 1851 To ST.
IL 80 .,: IT Is rfdnce0 under The operation u
recent laws TO $2G3 1853 o. Should we have no re-
form in this branch of egslaiion 1t will be difficult TO
anlicipa,e the amount which may be annually required
far this expenditure II we continue 10 grant pensions
in cssfs OF ordinary DEATH in prace or IN war; 10 the
representatives of all vino emp"yed in the military
service whether Of The regular army or not, aud to all
in the naval service, shall soon follow the example
OF some mcnaches, and extend our pension roll, and
with eana Justice to the representatives, OF all who die
in the evil rnployments OF Government
Tn. committee feel TO be their duty TO bring to The
s,eri,l notice Of the House the heavy aud rapidly IT,
cress,np expenditures upon harbors and rivers his
item was unknown in the early legislation OF the re
deral Government. The first appropriation was made
in IeO2; but prior 10 l6l6 only $36449 had been fx
rend,d upon two works, connected directly and Ind
rccrly, with navy yards and lighthouses In el6 and
1919 two other appropriations were made, amounting TO
ed GEO. both connected with light houses. few ap
n,onr;aions were made in le20 1891 le22, and 1873
in The neighborhood of lighthouses and navy yards,
amounting altogether $50; and in lc23 two barbor
surveys were authorized, al an expense OF SOU
After we had adopted The policy OF raising more reve
nue than was required for Federal purposes and as The
perind approached for The redemption OF The public debt
hi. was one Of the new branches Of expenditure
snl,ed to in order absorb contemplated surplus hc
cnrd;uoy and for the first time IN the history OF our
Isc;.laon an act was passed the 2Oh OF May. lc21
ser importing certain horbors and The navigation 81
cr,nn rivers and creeks for authorizing surveyso
be- made of certain bays, sounds and rivers therein men
,iorrd" On the Cd "f March, lc27, This was i"i""eG
by regular annual bill Ito authorize the improving "i