Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-01-03


force is requisite. But our military establish
ment is not materially changed as 10 It's efhcien-
cy, from the condition in which stood before the
commencement of the Mexican war. Some adj
dtion to it will therefore be necessary; and
recommend to the favorable consideration of Con
gress 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 from the ct
feet upon rank in the army. heretofore gwen TO
brewer and staff commissions. The views Of the
Secretary of War. on the subject are deemed
important, and if carried rn,n effect will It is be-
leved, promote the harmony of the service. The
Dlsn proposed for retiring disabled officers, and
D oviding an asylum tor such Of the rank aud II e
as from are, wounds, and other inhrmites occa-
stoned by service, have becoln' unfit 10 perform
their respective duties, is recommended a.
me ms of inc easing The efficiency ot1ihe army,
aud as an act of justice, due from graIeiul
country to the faithful soldier.
The accompanying report OF the Secretary oi
the Navy presents a full and satisfactory accnuut
of the condition and operations OF the naval ser,
vice during the past year. Our cItizens engaged
in the legitimate pnrs ITS ot Commerce nave en-
loved its benefits. Wherever our nition Il YES
sells have gone, they have been received WIN re-
spect our officers have been treated with KIND
ness and courtesy, and they have, on oii oc'a
sions, pursued cou Sc of strict neutrality, Ia
accordance with the policy OF our Government
Tie naval force at present in commission Is as
large as is admissible, with the number Oh men
! authorized by Congress to be employed
invite your attention to the recommendation :
Of the Secretary Of the Navy on the SuoIeci OF
a reorganization Of the Navy, IN us various
grades IF officers, and the establishing Of re-
tired list for such OF the officers AS are di|qnail
fed for active and effective service. should
Congress adopt some such measure a. Is recon- =,
mended, it will greatly increase he eIhciehcy Oh
the Navy, and reduce its expenditures.
, also ask your attention to the views expires.
sed by him in reference to the employment OF
war steamers, and in regard to the contracts ior
the TRANSPORTATION of the U. S. mails, and the OPP
GRAFTON of the system upon the prosperity oil inc
| Navy.
! by an act of Congress passed August 18th,
| 1913, provision was made for extending post Of
1 flee and mail accommodations to Call'ornla and
! Oregon. Exertions have been made to execute
that law but the limited provisions of the act,
the lnadeguacy of the means it authorizes, the
| i'll adaptation of our post office laws to the stu
alton of that country and the measure OF COM
pensaton for services allowed bv those laws,
compared with the prices of labor and rents in
California. render those exertons, in great de
gree, Intellectual. More particular and efficient
provision by law is required on this subject
The act of lS45, reducing postage has now,
by its operation during four years, produced re-
suits fully showing that the income from such
reduced postage is Sufficient to sustain the who'll
expense Of the service of the Post 'ffice DE
partmenr, not including the cost Of transporta
non in mail steamers on the lines from N. York
to t'hlgres and from Panama to Astoria, which
have not been considered by Congress as prop
erly belonging to the mail service.
1t is sub nittcd to the wisdom of Congress
whether further reduction Of postage should
not now be made. more particularly on the let
ter correspondence This should be relieved
from the unjust burhen of transporting and de.
livernU the ranked matter of Congress, fol
which public service provision should be made
fro ~ the treasury. | confidently believe that u
change may safely be made reducing all single
letter postage to the unlfirm rate Of five cents
regardless of dlstancsa ate compensation for this
any greater tax on Wherefore respectfully re
Commend such reduction. Should Congress
prefer to abolish tn ranking privilege entireIy.il
seems probable hat no demand on the treasury
would result from the proposed reduction o
postage. Whether any further dmnuti m shou
now be made, or the result If the reduction tc
five cents. which have recommended, should
be first tested is submitted to your decision.
Since the commencement of the last session
of Congress, Postal treaty with Great Britain
has been received and ratified, and such regula
tons have been formed by the Post Office De
partments of the two countries, in pursuance o
that treaty, as to carry its provisions into full op
Grafton. The attempt to extend this same ar
rangement, through England, to France, has no
been equally successful but the purpose has no
been abandoned.
For particular statement of the condition O
the Post Office Department, and other matter
connected with that branch of the public service
| refer you to the report Of the Postmaster Gen
eral.
BY the act of the Sd of March. 1919, Boar
was constituted to make arrangements for takin
the seventh census, composed of the Secretary c
State, the Attorney General, and the Postmaste
General and it was made the duty of this Boar
"to prepare and cause to be printed such form
and schedules as might be necessary for the flu
enumeration of the inhabitants of the Unite
States and also proper forms and schedules fc
collecting in statistical tables, under proper head
such information as to mines, agriculture, con
merce, manufactures, education, and other topic
as would exhibit full view Of the pursuits, IL
dustry, education, and resources of the country
The duties enioned upon the Census Board, thu
established, having been performed, 1t now resi-
with Congress to enact a law for carrying mi
effect the provision of the Constitution which n
quires an actual enumeration Of the people
the United States within the ensuing year.
Among the duties assigned by the Constitute
to the General Government is one OF local ar
limited application, but not, on that account tt
less obligatory: | allude to the trust commtte
to Congress, as the exclusive legislator and SO
guardian of the interests of the District Of Co
umba. | beg to commend these interests
your kind attention. As the National metrop
lis, the city of Washington must be an object
general interest and, founded as it was und
the auspices of him whose immortal name
BEARS its claims to the fostering care of Coz
gress present themselves with additional strengt
Whatever can contribute to its prosperity mu
enlist the feelings of Its Constitutional guardian
, and command their favorable consideration.
; Our Governments one of limited powers, al
( its successful administration eminently depen
D on the confinement of each OF its co-ordinl
= branches within its own appropriate sphere. TT
= first section of the Constitution ordains that "i
> Legislative powers therein granted shall be vest
: in Congress of the United States, which shi
}. consist of Senate g. House of Representatives
; The Executive has authority to recommend In
= to dlctate) measures to Congress. Having pc
; formed that duty, the Executive Department
+ the Government cannot rghtfully control the d
= clsion of Congress on any subject of eglslatio
e until that decision shall have been officially su
: mitted to the President for approval. The che
S provided by the Constitution, in the clause co
e ferring the qualified veto will never be exercis
C by me, except in the cases contemplated by t
+ fathers of the Republic. view it as an extrer
If measure, to be resorted to only in extraordina
cases-as where it may become necessary to d
s fend the Executive against the encroachments
t. the Legislative power, or to prevent hasty and
y conslderate or unconstitutional Legislation.
cautiously combining this remedy within the spht