Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-12-15

Il
million fFe hundred and qfiftyNfour thousand
| wo hundred andsixty-two dollars leaving 4
balance Of thirty-two million four hundred and
twenty five thousand four hundred and forty-
seven dollars of receipts above expenditures
This facts Of increasing surplus in the treas
ury, became the subject OF. anxious considers
ton at q very early period Of INV administra-
tion, and the path of duty IN IN regard 10 Il
seemed 20 me obvious and clear, namely -
first, 10 apply the surplus revenue to the dis
charge of the public debt, SO far as it could be
judiciOusly done and, secondly, TO devise
means for the gradual reduction Of the revenue
70 the standafdof the public exigencies. o. -
Of these objects, the first has been i'm The
course Of accomplishment, in manner and to
a degree highly satisfactory. The amount of
the public debt, of all classes, was, on the
fourth of March, 1853, sixty-nine million one
hundred and nine thousand and thirty-seven
dollars payments on account of which have
been made since that period, to the amount Of
twelve million seven hundred and three thous-
and three hundred and ftwenty-nine dollars,
leaving unpaid, and in the CONTINUOUS course
OF liquidation, the sum Of ifty-six million four
hundred and eighty-six thousand seven hun
dred and eight dollars. These payments al
though made at the market price Of the re-
spective classes Of stocks, have been effected
readily, and to the general advantage of the
treasury, and have at the same time proved of
signal utility in the relief they have inciden-
tally afforded to the money market and to the
industrial and commercial pursuits of the
country. .--.i, .t .r.-... -..-;..a s,s y.-..eI u
The second of the above mentioned objects.
that OF the reduction of the tariff, is of great
lmportance, and the plan suggested bv the
Secretary of the Treasury, which is to reduce
the duties on certain articles, and to add TO the
free list many articles now taxed, and es-
pecially such as enter into manufactures, and
are not largely, or not al all, produced in the
country, is commended to your candid and
careful consideration. n9a t9.rfs .ft--Ar.f
You will find in the report of the Secretary
of the Treasury, also, abundant proof Of the
entire adequacy Of the present fiscal system to
meet all the requirements of the public ser
vice, and that, while properly administered, it
operates to the advantage OF the community in
ordinary business relations.
l respectfully ask your attention to sundry
suggestions Of improvement in the settlements
Of accounts, especially as regards the large
sums of outstanding arrears due the govern
ment, and of other reforms in the administra-
tive action Of this department, which are indi-
Gated by the Secretary, as also to the progress
made in the construction of marine hospitals y
custom houses, and Of a new mint in Califor-
MIA and assay Office in the city Of New York,
heretofore provided for by Congress and
also to the eminently successful progress Of
the Coast Survey, and of the Lighthouse
Board. .a ,..r.... ..--..,--r.t
Among the objects merising your attention
will be important Recommendations from the
Secretaries of War and Navy. am fully
satisfied that the navy Of the United States il
not in condition Of strength and efficiency
commensurate with the magnitude of our com
mercial and other interests and commend 10
your especial attention the suggestions on this
subject, made BY the Secretary Of the Navy.
/ respectfully submit that the army, which,
under our system, must always be regarded with
the highest interest, as nucleus around which
the volunteer forces Of the nation gather in the
hour of danger, requires augmentation, or mod
ihcatlon, to adapt il to the present extended
limits and frontier relations Of the counlry, and
the condition of the Indian tribes in the interior
Of the continent ; the necessity Of which will
appear in the communications Of the Secreia-
ries Of War and the Interior. -l,--.
To the administration uf the Post Office De-
partment for the fiscal year ending juno 80,
1853, the gross expenditure was seven million
nine hundred and eighty-two thousand, seven
hundred and ffty-six dollars; and the gross
receipts, during the same period, five millioa
nine hundred and foriy-iwo thousand, seven
hundred and thirty four dollars showing that
the current revenue failed 10 meet the current
expenses Of the department by the sum Of two
million forty-two thousand ihirty-two dollars.
The causes which, under the present postal
system and laws, led inevitably 10 this result,
are fully explained BY the report of the Post
master General one great cause being the
enormous rates the department. has been com
Pelled TO pay for mail service rendered By rail-
road companies. aai I1 ytuI M
The exhibit in the report Of the Postmaster
General Of the income and expenditures BY the
mail steamers will be found peculiarly inter
esting, and Of character to demand the i'm
mediate action Of Congress. '-
Numerous and fragrant frauds upon the PEN
sion Bureau have been brought to light within
the last year, and in some instances merlted
punishments inflicted but, unfortunately, in
others, guilty parties have escaped, not through
the want of sufficient evidence to warrant q
conviction, but in consequence Of the provisions
of Limitation in the existing laws 1rats lsg 4
1Ti From the nature Of these claims, the re-
moteness Of the tribunals 10 pass upon them,
and the mode in which the proof is, of necess-
ty, furnished, temptations to crime have been
greatly stimulated by the obvious difficulties Of
detection. The defects in the law upon this
subject are so apparent, and so fatal TO the
ends Of justice, that your early action relating
10 il is most desirable. ..., ...-....
During the last fiscal year, nine million eight
hundred and nineteen thousand -four hundred
and eleven acres Of the public lands have been
surveyed, and Ten million three hundred and
sIxty-ihree thousand eight hundred and ninety
one acres brought into market. Within the
same period, the sales by public purchases and
private entry amounted TO one million eighty
three Thousand four hundrcd and ninety-fve
acres located under military bounty land war
rants, six million one hundred and foriy-twO
thousand three hundred and sixty acres To-
Gated under other certificates, nine thousand
four hundred and sswcnty-seyen aeres ceded
70 the States as swamp lands, sixteen million
six hundred and eighty-four thousand two hnn-
dred and 6fty-three acres selected for railroad
and other objects, under acts Of Congress, one
million four hundred and twenty seven thous-
and four hundred and fifty seven acres.
Total amount Of lands disposed Of within the
fiscal year, twenty-five million three hundred
anG forty-six thousand nine hundred and nlno-
ty-tw0 acres which 10 an increase IN quantity
sold, and located under land warrants and
grants, Of twelve million two hundred and thlr-
~ one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
acres over the fiscal year Immediately Preced-
ing. gliiesr yu .rrg,.9.L. 1as3o1 LL9l1,