Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-06-19

ton and discipline
The state Of the navy pension fund re-
ouires the immediate attention of Con-
tress. BY the operation OF the act OF the
Bird of March, 1887, entitled FAn act iof
The more equitable administration of the
navy pension fund.- that fund has been
exhausted, 1t will be seen flom the &C
companying report of the Commissioner
of Pensions that there will be required for
the payment of navy pensioners, on the
first OF July next. SS4, 006,06b, and on the
drstof January, 1912, the SUN OF $1,000
In addition to these sums, about $4,000
will be required opay arrears Of pensions,
which will probably be allowed between
the first of July and January, 1912, maxi
ing in the whole $l50,005,06b. To meet
these payments there is within the control
of the Department, the sum Of $2S,0l0,
leaving a deficit of Sl2l ,96G,06. The
public faith requires that immediate pro-
visions should be made for the paymentoi
these sums,
La order to introduce into the Navy q
desirable efficiency, new system OF &C
countabiity may be found to be indispen-
SADLY necessary. To mature plan hay-
lGg for lis object the accomplishment OF
an end so important, and to meet the Just
expectations of the country, requires more
time than has vet been allowed the Sec
rotary at the head OF the Department.
The hope is INDUCED that by the time of
your next regular session, measures OF i'm.
portance, in connection with This branch
of the public service, may be matured for
your consideration.
AL though the laws regulating the Post
Office Department only require from the
officer charged with rs direction to report
at the annual session Of Congress, the Post
master General has presented me some
facts connected with the financial condl.
ton of the department which are deemed
worthy the attention of Congress.-B BY the
accompanying report Of that officer, it APP
pears tina; the existing liabilities of that
department, beyond the means of pay
ment as its commands cannot be less than
100000. AS the laws organizing that
branch of the public service coniine the
expenditure to It's own revenues; defi>
ciencies therein cannot be presented under
the usual estimates for the expenses OF
1t must therefore be left to
Congress to terminate whether the moneys
now due to contractors shall be paid from
the public Treasury, or whether that de-
par,ment shall continue under its present
1t will be seenby the report Of the Post
master General, that the recent lettings
of contracts ln several of the States have
been made at such reduced rates of COM
pepsation, as to encourage the belief that,
if The Department was relieved from ex.
isting difficulties, its future operations
might be conducted without any further
call upon the general treasury.
The power of appointing to Office is one
of character the most delicate and re-.
sponsible. The appointing power is ever
more exposed TO be led into error. With
anxious soIcltude to select the most trust.
worthy for official station. | cannot be
supposed to possess personal knowledge
of the qualifications of every applicant.
| deem it therefore proper, in this public
manner, to invite, on the part of Senate,
a Just scrutiny into the character and pre-.
tentlons Of every persons whom | may
bring to their notice in the regular form
of nomination to Office. Unless persons
every way trustworthy are employed ia
the public service, corruption and irregu.
Iarity will inevitably follow. | shall
with the greatest cheer(ullness, acquesce
in the decision of that body, and, regard.
ing it was wisely constituted to aid the
Executive department IN the performance
of this delicate duty, | shall look 10 ils
'consent and ADVICE" as given only in
lerest OF the country. shall, also, at the
earliest proper occasion. invite the atten.
ton Of Congress to such measures as in
my judgement will be best calculated to
regulate and control the Executive pow
er in reference TO this vitality important
subject.
lshall, also, at the proper season. invite
your attention to the slatuary enactmeuts
for the suppression ofthe slave trade, (which
may require to be rendered more efficient
in their provisions There is reason to
believe that the traffic is on the increase.
Whether such increase is to be ascribed to
the abolition OF slave labor in the British
possession in our vicinity, aud lnatend.
4, ant diminution in the supply Of those arti-
Giles which enter into the general consump
ton of the world, thereby augmenting the
demand from other quarters and thus cal.
ling for additional labor, it was needless