The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-04

intercourse, and the dignity and power of the ma
The expedition commanded by Lieutenant De
Haven, despatched In search Of the British comman
der Sir J 'hn Frankln, and his companions in the
Arctic Seas, returned TO New York in the month Of
october, alter having undergone great peril and SUI
ierng from an unknown and dangerous navigation
and the rigors Of northern climate without any
satisfactory Information OF the objects Of their Search
put with new contributions to science and navga-
ion from the unirequented polar regions. The Off
GERS ana men OF the expedition, having been all vol
unteers for this service and having so conducted IL
as to meet the entire appreciation of the Govern
ment II is suggested an act of grace and gener-
osity, that the same allowances of extra pay and
emoiumenis be extended 10 them that were made 10
the officers and men of like rating in the late explor-
ing expedition to the South Seas
earnestly recommend TO your attention the ne
cessity OF recognizing the Naval Establishment
apporoning and fixing the number Of officers I'm
each grade, providing some mode of promotion TO
the higher grades Of the navy, having reference 10
merit and capacity rather than seniority or date of
entry into the service, and for retiring from the ef
fective list upon reduced pay those who may be in
competent 10 the performance of active duty. As
measure of economy as well as Of efficiency in this
arm OF the service, the provision last mentioned Is
emnenily worthy OF your consideration.
The determination of the questions OF relative
rank between the officers and civil officers of the
navy, and between officers of the army and navy,
In the various grades of EACH will also merit your
attention. The failure TO provide any substitute
when coporal punishment was abolished for offences
In the navy has occasoned the converting of numer-
courts martial upon the arrival of vessels in port
and is believed have had an injurious effect upon
the discipline and efficiency of the service To
moderate punishment from grade TO another is
among the humane reforms of the age; but TO abol-
ish one OF severity, which applied SO generally to
offences on shipboard, and provide nothing in Its
| stead, Is TO suppose progress of improvement in
every individual among seamen which is not ASSUME
ed by the Legislature in respect any other class of
men. IL Is hoped that Congress, 10 the ample OPP
portuniiy afforded by the present session. will tho
roughly investigate this important subject and es.
| tablsh such modes OF determining guilt, and such
gradailons OF punishment consistent with hu-
manly and The personal rights of individuals and az
the same time shall ensure the most energetic and e
hcient performance of duty and the suppression Of
| crime In our ships of war.
| Inc stone dock in the navy yard at New \ Ork,
winch was ten years in process Of construction, has
been so lar finished as 10 be surrendered up 10 The
| authorities of the yard The dry dock AZ Phiiadel-
phia Is reported as completed and is expected soon
to be tested and delivered the agents of the
| government. That at Portsmouth, New Hamp-
shire, is also nearly ready for dolveryi and a con
tract mas been concluded, agreeably TO the act Of
congress al It's last session, for floating sectional
dock on the BAY Of San Francisco. | invite your
attention TO the recommendation OF the Department
| touching the establishment OF navy yard In CON
junction with this dock an the Pacific Ssch So
49, ~ H'TtNSdfN 10 the cdnNtntcfttN ~
'S''vFness ot our ueei in that ocean. which must
be expected 10 increase wlm Inc gnJwui vi ~, II
! - y ~ - + -
| csri lis waters
The Naval Academy at Annapolis, undera revised
! ana improved system al regulations, now affords
| opportunities Of education and instruction TO the
pupils quite equal il is believed for professional m-
| prOvement, Ia those enjoyed by the cadets in the
| Military Academy. large class of acting midship
men was received at the commencement of the las
| academic fern md N nras a-chi has agf
eli 10 the institution, 10 afford the amplest means io
regular instruction in seamanship, as well as fol
cruises during the vacations OF three or four months
| in each year.
The advantages of science In nautical affairs have
rarely been strikingly illustrated than in the
| fact stated in the report of the Navy Department
that, by means of the wind and current charts, pro-
| jcctcd and prepared by Lieutenant Maury, the SUI
pcrntcndent of the Naval Observatory, the passage
from tho Atlantic to the Pacific ports of country
has been shortened by about forty days.
The estimates for the support of tho Navy and
Marine Corps tho ensuing fiscal year will bc found to
be 1885, 72I9 the estimates for the current year
| being SJ900,62l.
The estimates for special objects under the control
of this Department amount to S26Sl, $50 against
S22l09S0 for the present year the increase being
| occasi0ned by tho additional mail service on the
Pacific coast and the construction of the dock in Cali
ornia authorized AT the last session of Congress and
slight additions under the head Of improy
and repairs in navy yards, buildings and machinery
| deem it Of much importance tn just economy
| and n correct understanding OF naval expenditures
that there should he entire separation OF the ap
preparations for the support of the naval service
proper from those for permanent improvements u
navy yards and stations. and from steam mai
service, and other special objects assigned to tn,
supervision of this Department.
The report of tho Postmaster General herewith
| com inundated, presents interesting view OF tn
progress operations and condition of his Department
At the close of tho last fiscal year. the length @
mail routes within the United States was l96 20
miles tho annual transportation thereon Oh, 272 IS
miles and the annual cost OF such transp0rtatio
$3.42l,754
The length of the foreign mail routes is estimate
at 3i9 miles and the annual transportation thereo
at 6l5, 2O6 miles. The annual cost of this service
kI.472 1877, of which $i4S.937 is paid by the POI
Office Department and 81 1923 $50 is paid through tn
Navy Department.
The annual transportation vithin che United State
excluding the service in California and Oregon
which now for the first time. reported and embrace
in the tabular statements of the Department. exceed
that ofthc preceding year 1922 55 miles, at m 10
| creased cost Of $547 ITO.
| Tho whole number of post Offices in the United
| States. on the 30th day of Juno last 10, 796
There were 1893 post offices established and 256 dis
| continued, during the year
The gross revenues of the Department for tho fiscal
year. including the appropriations for the franked
matter of Congress, of the Departments and officers
of Government and excluding tho foreign hostages,
collected for and payable TO the British post office,
| amounted to 80, 727, 866.7S
The expenditures for the same period Excluding
800, 599ig paid under award of the Auditor, In
pursuance of resolution of the last Congress, for
| mail service the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in
| 1892 and 1888 and the amount paid TO the British
post Office for foreign hostages collected for and pay
able to that ofce) amounted 10 5000, 58679; leav
ing a balance of revenue over the proper expend-
lures of the year of 1903, 29s9 80.
Tho receipts for hostages during the year (exclu
ding the forcign COLLECTED and payablp
10 the British post Office amounted 10 $6,345 7472l
being an increase of 97,6lO79, or 1885 per cent
over tho like receipts for the preceding year.
The reduction of postage under the act Of March
last did not take effect until the commencement Of
the present fiscal year The accounts for the first
quarter under the operation of the reduced rates,
will not be settled before January next and no re-
liable estimate of the receipts for the present year
can yet be made IL il believed, however, that they
will tall far short of those of the last year. The
plus of the revenues now hand IL, however, 80
large that no further appropriation from the Treas
ury in aid Of the revenues of the Department Is re-
quired for the current fiscal year hut nm additional
appropriation for the year ending juno 80 1921, VIII
probably bo found necessary when the receipts of the
first two quarters of the fiscal year are fully ascer
taincd.
In his last annual report the Postmaster General
recommended a reduction of postage Ia rates which
he deemed NJ low could be prudently adopted I'M
less Congress prepared 10 appropriate from tho
Treasury for the support Of tho Department u sum
more than equivalent to the mail services performed
by il for the Government. The recommendations of
the Postmaster General, in respect TO letter postage
except on letters from and to California and Oregon,
were substantially adopted by tho last Congress lie
now recommends adherence TO the present letter
rates and advises against n further reduction until
justified by tho revenue of the Department
lie also recommends that the rates OF postage on
printed matter be- revised To render thom more
simple and more uniform in their operation upon all
classes Of printed matter. submit tho recominonda
tons Of the report to your favorable confederation
The public statutes OF the United statcs have now
been accommodating for moro than sixty years md,
interpreted with private acts scattered through
numerous volumes. and, from tho cost Of the whole,
have become almost inaccessible 10 the great Of
the community. They also exhibit much of the in.
congruity and imperfection Of hasty legislation Az
+, 4, ko al l.