Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-12-22

the extent Of the reduction by dismissal and stil
lne corps would have fewer officers than CORES
ponelng number OF men IN the army.
ne contracts for the transmission of the mail
IN steamships. converted into war steamers prom
lse to realize all the benefits to our commerce and
10 the navy which were anticipated The first
steamer thus secured to the Government, was
launched IN January 1913. There are now sew
en- and n another year there viii probably be no
less than seventeen afloat. While this great ra-
tlonal advantage IS secured, our civil conmunica-
ton and intercourse are increased and promoted
with Germany, Great Britain and other parts of
LuTope-Wlth all the countries of the west coast
OF our contlnent-and especially with Oregon and
California, between the northern and southern sec
tons of the west Considerable revenue may be
expected from postage; but the connected line
rom Chagres and thence across the 'Isthn4us to
oregon cannot tan 10 exert most beneficial intu-
ence not now to be estimated, In the intercourse
OF the manufactures, commerce, navigation and
currency OF the United States. As an important
part OF the system. recommend to your iavora-
bic consideration the establishment Of a line of
steamers between New Orleans and Vera Cruz
1t promises the most happy results III cenaenting
friendship between the two Republics and Ia ex-
tending reciprocal advantages to the trade and
manufactures OF both.
The report of rhe Postmaster General. will
make known TO you the operations Of the Depart
ment, for the past year.
1t is gratifying to find the revenues of the De
parunent, under the rates of postage now estab-
Gshed by law, so rapidly increasing The gross
amount of postage during the fiscal year amount
to S4.371,077 exceeding the annual average re
celps tor the nlne years preceding the passage of
the act OF the Sd OF March, 1915, by the sum OF
Sl6,453, and exceeding the amount received the
year ending the 30th OF June 1917, by the sum
Of s425, ISL
The ,ax5oaDd+,,-as e.
surn Of S24672 allowed by Congress, at its last
session, to individual claimants, and including the
SUM OF Sl0050O, paid for the services of steam
ers between Bremen and New y oI,1 amounted to.
81, 19SS42 which is less than the average for the
nine years previous TO the act Of 1855, by-5200,-
748.
The mail routes on the Both dav of June last.
were 163,20S miles in extent-being "a inc4ease
during the last year OF 1890 miles. The mails
Were transported over them during the same term.
41,012,579 miles, making an increase of transpor-
tauon for the year of ,124 $50 miles, whilst the
expense was less than that OF the previous year
by S4,235.
The increase of the mail transportation within
the last three years has been 5,37S3I0 miles.
whilst the expenses were reduced 1886, 737-ma-
king an increase Of service at the rate of 5 per
cent During the past year, there have been en-
ployed in contracts with the Post Office Depart
ment, two ocean steamers, in conveying the mails
monthly between New York and Bremen; and
one. since October last performing senli-IuonthIy
service between Charleston and Havana
A contract has been made for the transmission
Of the Pacific mails across the lsthnus from Cha
gres to Panama. Under the authority given to
the Secretary OF the Navy, three ocean steamers
have been constructed and sent 10 the Pacific, and
are expected to enter upon the mail service be-
tween Panama and Oregon, and the intermediate
points, the first of January, of next wear: and
a s4rrI, hoe Ioa,, = 4
between Havana and Chagres, so that a regular
mail line viii be kept up, after that time between
the United States and our territories on the Pacific
Notwithstanding this great increase IN the mail
service, should the revenue continue TO increase
the present year, il did IN the last there viii be
received near S45U,O00 more than the expenses
The considerations have satisfied the Postmaster
General that, with certain notifications of the act
of 1915, the revenue may be still further increas
ed, and reduction Of postage made to a uniform
rate of five cents, without any interference with
the principle which has been constantly and prop
erly enforced, Of making that Department sustain
itself
well digested postage systemis the best means
OF dltfusng intelligence among the people, and is
OF so much importance in a country SO extended
as this of the United States, that l recommend
for your favorable consideration, the suggestions
OF the Postmaster General Tor its Improvement
Nothing can retard the onward progress of our
country, and prevent us from assuming and main
tanning the first position among nations but a dis
regard OF the experience OF the past, and reeur-
renee to an nwise public policy
We have just closed a foreign war bv an
peace: a war rendered necessary
and unavoidable in vindication Of the national
nights and honor. The present condition Of
the country IS similar, in some respects, TO
that which Immediately followed after the
close of the war with Great Britain in 1915.
and the occasion is deemed to be a proper time
to take retrospect of the measures Of public
character which that war gave rise to. There
was at that period Of our history a departure
from our earlier policy. The enlargement of
the powers Of the federal government by con-
struetlons which obtained, We're not warranted
by any Interpretation of the constitution A
few years after the close of that war. a series
Of measures Were adopted, which united and
combined, constituted what was termed. bv
their authors and advocates, the American
system.
The introduction of the new policy was for
q time favored by the condition Of the country.
by the heavy debts which had been contracted
during the war, by the depression of public
credit, by the deranged state Of the finances
and the currency, and by the commercial and
pecuniary embarrassment which extensively
prevailed. These Were not only causes which
ed 20 lIo 0911ol Islliile-lt' the events Of the
war with Great Britain, and the embarass
nents which had attended It's prosecution,
had left on the minds OF nanny Of our states
man the Impression that our government was
not strong enough, and that to work its re-
sources successfully IN great emergencies.
md especially IN war, more power should be
into its hands. This increased
power, they did not seek to obtain BY the Ie-
climate and prescribed mode-an amendment
IF the constitution-but by construction. They
saw governments in the Old World based
lpon different orders of society, and so consti- !
uted, as to throw the whole power of nations |
nto the hands of few, who taxed, uncon-
rolled, the many, without responsibility. or
In that arrangement, they con
,eived the strength Of nations, in war, consis- !
ed. There was, also, something fascinating
n this luxury and display of the higher order, /