Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1849-12-28


received with respect; our officers have
been treated with Kindness and courSe-
sy, and they have on all occasions pur-
sued course Of strict neutrality in ac.
cordance with the policy of our Govern
ment. The Naval force at present is as
large as is admissible with the number Of
men authorized by Congress to be EN-.
ployed.
invite your attention to the recon.
mendation of the Secretary Of the Navy,
on the subject of the reorganization Of
the Navy in its various grades of officers,
and the establishments of retired list for
such Of the officers as are disqualified for
active and efficient service. Should
Congress adopt some snch measures as
is recommended, it will greatly increase
the efficiency Of the Navy. and reduce
its expenditures. also ask your atten-
ton to the views expressed by him i'm
reference to the employment Of War
Steamers, and in regard to the contracts
for transportation OF the u. s. Mails, and
the operation of the system upon the
| Navy.
By al. act Of Congress, passed August
18th, 1S4S' provision was made for ex-
tending Post Office and mail accommo-
dalions TO our possessions on the Pacif-
ic, and exertions have been made to ex-
tend the benefits of the service as contem-
plated by law. But the compensation
allo wed by those laws, compared with
the prices of labors and rents in Colifor-
MIA, render those exertions in great de-
gree Intellectual. More particular and
efficient provision by law is requisite ON
that subject.
The Act of 1913, reducing postage,
has already, by its operation during four
years, produced results fully showing that
the income from such reduction ofpostagc
is sufficient TO sustain The whole expenses
of the service of the Post Office Depart
ment, not including the cost of transport
ting, in Mai Steamers, from the line from
New York &c Chagres, aud from Pana-
ma to Astoria, which have not been con-
sidered by Congress as properly belong
ing to the mail service. 1t is submitted
to the wisdom of Congress whether fur
Their reduction of postage should not now
be made, more particularly the letter cor
respondence, which should be relieved
from the unjust burden Of Transporting
and delivering the franked matter of Con-
gress, for which public service provision
could be made from the Treasury. I
confidently believe that change may
safely be made reducing all single letter
postage to the uniform rate Olive cents,
regardless Of distance, without thereby
imposing any greater tax on the freasu-
ry than would constitute a verp mode
rate compensation for this public service,
and therefore respectfully recommend
such reduction. Should Congress pre-.
fer to abolish TIM Franking system, it is
probable that no damage TO the Treasury
will result. from The propose re-
ductioa of pos are. Whether any fu.lher
diminution should now be made, or the
result of the reduction to FIVE cents, which
l have recommended, should be iirst tried,
is submitted TO yolr decision. - y
Since the commencement oflhe last ses-
sion, Postal Treaty with Great Britain
has been received and ratified, and such
regulations been formed by the Post Of.
fee Departments Of the two countries,
in pursuance of that Treaty, rs to carry
its provisions into full operation. The
attempt to extend the same arrange
men: through England to France has
not been equally successful. but the
purpose has not been Abandoned
For particular staten mt OF the colii-
ton Of the Post Office Department, and
other matters connected with that branch
of the public service, refer you to the
Report of the Post Master General.
By the a.t of 81 March, 1913, a. board
was constituted to make arrangements for
taking the seventhcensas compos I'D of tho
Secretary of State, tn, Attorney General.
and the Paymaster General, ami it is made
the duty of this board to prepare and cause
to be printed, forms and schedules for col
lecting statistical tables unler the proper
heads Such information as to mines, agri.
culture, commerce, manufactures, educa-
ton, AMI such other topics would exhibit g
full view of the pursuits, in lustry educa-
ton and resources Of the country. The
duties enioined upon the census Board.
thus to enact law for carrying into effect
tn, provisions of the Constitution, which
require actual enumeration Of TIN, people
of the United States within the ensuing pe-
Rod. "
Among the duties assigned BY the Con-
stitution to the General Government, is
one of local and limited application; but
not on that account the less obligatory;
allude to the trust committed to Congress
as the exclusive legislator, and the sole
guardian Of the interests Of the District Of
Columbia. AS the National Metropolis,
the city of Washington must be an object
of general interest, and founded, as it was,
under the auspices of him whose immortal +
name it bears, its claims to the fostering
care Of Congress present themselves with
additional strength. Whatever can con-
tribute to its prosperity must enlist the
FEELINGS of its constitutional guardins, and
command thcif ia yorable consideration.
Our governmennt is one OF limited pow
ers, and its successful administration emf
neItly depends ON the confinement OF each
of its coordinate branches within its own
appropriate sphere. The first section Of
the constitution orlains that all legislative