The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-10

sails therefore invited by advertisement reservlng
to the department the right 10 take the bid deemed mo
favorable and leaving to the bidders TO propose Their
the duration of the contract the rate OF
compensation and the description OF vessels IN whch he
service was to be rendered.
Astoria in the Oregon Territory determined on as
the northern terminus of the route, with right OF
changing reserved to the departments and the law was
construed TO require mail to be transported from one
point to the other within thirty days The distance Is
more than three thousand miles, and the winds and cur
rents known to be such as to render 1t mpIacteaDe 10
perform the required service in sail vessels II was,
therefore determined to employ steamers The great DIS
lance at which the service TO be performed, the heavy
expenses which must be incurred by the contractors IN
providing on the Pacific the necessary shops and
materials for repair the indispensable fue and depols or
COAL induced to adopt the term OF ten years as the di-
ration OF this contract winch has neen adopted by le
Post Office Department for It's foreign mail contracts
But to guard myself against the reproach OF exceeding
the authority which it the intention OF Congress TO
confer clause is inserted 10 the contract reselyng 70
ing session of Congress, II 1t shall be deemed proper or
expedient to do So .
The contracts require the vessels to be ready for in
October and November OF the year lSls and the right OF
pay will commence with the commencement OF the per-
Torrance of the mail service stipulated The annual
compensation under these agreements, VIII be-
To L. K Collins $3s5,0oO 90
To A. G. Soo 100000 90
To Arnold Harris 100000 90
An appropriation for payments under the contracts
with Collins and Sloo, during the fiscal year commencing
the ls OF july lS4s, Gf the contractors comply with
their undertakng OF nearly three OF the annual
compensation will be required, and about one-fourh for
that with ana as an ae o s ma u h the com a
preparation Congress will declare its approval OF the term
which has been adopted and whether the reserved power
of annulling the contract shall be exercised
regard them favorable contracts, and the establish
OF regular and speedy intercourse, by mall between
the Atlantic cities and Oregon, as OF the highest national
Importance.
| have cordially co-operaed in the establishment OF
the several lines of steamers stipulated by those con-
tracts Thirteen vessels will be constructed IN the
/ IL, h.,
ers, and will be available for national purposes on any
emergency. The contracts spuate that mail agent
10 be appointed by the Postmaster General, shall be
placed and maintained on board but, the contract is
made with this department. and the payments will be
made from the treasury bills approved here, unless
otherwise directed, il may be question whether the law
hostages by the Post Office Department. and how far
such receipts would be applicable to the payment OF
these contractors respectfully submit that the neces
sary legal enactmens the subject may be made by
Congress.
The Observatory is in successful operation, and its
usefulness to the naval service is confirmed by expert
ence respectfully the recommendation contained
my last report, that appropriation OF sum, not eX
ceedng six thousand dollars, be made for the collection
oil materials to compile nautical almanac Tor the use
OF the navy and merchant marine
submit herewith communication from the supern-
enden the subject OF duties paid into the treasury on
instruments imported for at the Observatory. When
the estimates submitted, and appropriations were
made 1t was not foreseen that these duties amounting
to thousand two hundred and seventy nine dollars
that Congress direct that they be refunded.
At the last session of Congress, clause was inserted
in the navy appropriation BILL that the superintendent OF
the Observatory should be captain, commander or lieu
tenant in the navy; and while performing duty SUCH
his annual pay should be three thousand dollars
In the form in which the act passed, this PROVISION is
worded that the accounting officers OF the Treasury
deemed it uncertain to whomit applied and recommended
that Congress should pass explanatory law. No pay
ment has been made under the law but the supentend
ent has received only his duty pay lieutenant in the
respectfully
be corrected, and that the salary be allowed in
tended, commencing with the present fiscal year
There in attendance at the naval school about
vantages To tier sAs fr W ndf sTs e
to promotion The school is well conducted, and will
unquestonaby be OF very great advantage to the naval
service. The examinations which there made before
applicant enter the service, and those which de-
emne his qualification for promotion, after five six
years OF service exert the most beneficial influence in
tanning in the service only those who free from physi
cal defect and have the mental endowments essential to
skilliul and accomplished naval officer.
The operation of the act of March Sd, 1915, requiring
appointments of midshipmen be made from the States
ana Territories according TO representation in Congress-
has been highly favorable in enarging the interest
felt by the whole country in the navy 1t will be yet
some time beforeNhe inequalities amongst the States will
De removed The maximum number OF midshipmen al
lowed by law is four hundred and fftyon The divi-
sor fixed by the act of 1915 is this time 800 1t will
change the number of members Of the House of Repre-
sentatives varies recommend that the restriction i'm
posed by the act of August 1912, by which the number
OF mdshipmen is limited to 451 be far removed TO
times hereafter that each State and Territory shall have
two midshpmen for each Representative in Congress to
which it may be entitled This small increase will con-
tribute to hasten the establishment of equality and will
simplify the distribution of mdshipmen amongst the States
and Territories Cases have been presented the de-
parment of Of those who have fallen in battle. which
have confirmed the opinion that it would be wise and
just to give the authority asked Tor my last reportto
appoint one mdshpman out OF eight ten at large ire
spective of actual residence.
have the honor to present the estimates for the main
tenance OF the marine corps.
Under the provisions of the act of March last the ad
ditona officers authorized appointed and the re-
crutng service has been actively performed The full
number of prvaes authorized by law have not been
listed 1t is respectfully suggested whether, this add
ona force is to be discharged at the end of the war; and
the services OF the corps, or large portions OF it, will be
required land in Mexico, the privileges of bounty
ought not to be extended to the marines
In the month of May last, when it very desirable
to strengthen the column of the army under Major Gene
raj Scott gave pleasure to tender for that purpose
portion OF the marine corps battalion of marines, under
Lieut. Col Watson, promptly sent forward and
joined the main army at Puebla the 9th of August
They have performed their duties with the highest honor
and displayed the qualities of veteran troops. In the
brilliant operations in the valley of the city of Mexico
puepec, amongst the glorious dead who fell in gallany
defending their country's honor, Major Twiggs
the second in command of the battalion. Lieut.. Col
Watson after arduous and distinguished career of
at the head of his detachment left his command
after the captulation in the city of Mexico his way
to the United States TO recruit his impaired health, when
he Frustrated by sickness in Vera Cruz, and beahed
his last at thai city the 10th of November The
rine corps has rendered important service with the
Oh l1,It - H.