The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-12-27

Of Congress an increase OF the several
corps of the Army at our distant western
posts, as proposed in the accompanying
Report of the Secretary of War.
Great embarrassment has resulted f,oss
the effect upon rank IN the Army hero-
tofore given to Brevet and Saff comm
sions. The views of the Secretarv os
War on this subject are deemed imno,,
ant. and if carried into effect will !, !.
believed, promote the harmonv of ~
service. The plan proposed for retirine
disabled officers and providing an asvIn,s
for such Of the rank and file as from soa
wounds, and other infirmities, have be-
come unfit to perform their respective
duties, is recommended as the mean, of
increasing the efficiency of the Army
and as an act of justice due from prats'
tul country TO the faithful soldier. The
accompanying Report of the Secretary of
the Navy presents full and satisfactorv
account of the condition and operation.
| of the Naval service during the pas,
year. Our citizens engaged in the legit.
mate pursuits of Commerce have enjoyed
It's benefits. Wherever our National YES.
sells have gone, they have been received
with respect. Our officers have been
treated with kindness and courtesy, and
they have on all occasions pursued a
course OF strict neutrality, in accordance
with the policy of our Government. The
Naval force at present in commission is
admirable, with the number of men au.
thorized by Congress to be employed.
L invite your attention to the recon-.
mendation of the Secretary of the Navy.
to the subject of a reorganization of the
Navy, in its various grades of officers,
and the establishing of a retired list for
such of the officers as are disqualified for
active and efficient service. Should Con.
gress adopt such measures as has been
recommended, it will greatly increase the
efficacy of the Navy.
also ask your attention to the views
expressed by him in reference to the en-.
ployment Of war steamers, and in regard
TO the contracts for the transportation Of
the United States Mail, and the operation
of the system upon the prosperity of the
Navy.
BY an act of Congress passed Angus,
Ia, lS4S, provision was made for extend
ing Post Office and Mail accommodation,
to California and Oregon. Exertions have
been made to execute that law, but the
limited provisions of the act, the made
quacy of the means it authorizes, the i'll
adaptation Of our Post Office laws to the
situation of that country, and the measure
OF compensation allowed TO those laws,
compared with the prices of labor and
rents IN California, render these exertions
IN great degree Intellectual.
More particular and efficient provision
by law s required on this subject.
The act of 1915, reducing postage, has
now, by its operations during four wears,
produced results fully showing that tne
income resulting from such reduced DOS
tage, is sufficient to cover the whole of
the expenses of the service of the Post
Office Department, not including the COS.
Of transportation in mail steamers on the
line from New York TO Chagres, or from
Panama to Astoria, which have not been
considered by Congress, as properly be-
longing to the mail service.
1t is submitted TO the wisdom of Con.
gress whether further reduction of pos.
tage should not now be made, more par
ticularly on the letter correspondents.
This should be relieved from the unjust
burden of transporting or delivering the
franking matter of Congress, for which
provision should be made from the Trea-
sury. confidently believe that change
may safely be made, reducing all single
letter postage TO the uniform rate of
cents, regardless of distance, withou,
merely imposing any greater tax on the
treasury than would constitute a very
moderate compensation for this public
service. and l therefore respectfully re-
commend such reduction.
Should you think proper to abolish the
trankIng privilege entirely, it seems pro-
bable that no demand on the Treasury
would result from the proposed reduction
on postage. Whether any further dimi-
mutton should now be made, as the result
OF the reduction 10 five cents, which
have recommended, should be frustrated,
is submitted to your decision.
Since the commencement of the last
session of Congress a Postal Treaty with
Great Britain has oeen secured ane rali-
fled, and such reductions have been form
) ed by the Post Office Departments of the
above two countries, in pursuance of that
r Treaty, as to carry its provision out in
: full operation. The attempt to extend
this same arrangement through England to
, France, has not been equally successful;
) but the purpose has not been abandoned.
5 For particular statement of the conti-
| ton of the Post Office Department, and
other matters connected with that branch
i of public service, refer you 10 the Re-
f port of the Post Master General.
/ BY act of March Sd, IS49. Board was