Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1858-12-11


amount required for The old. The true
questions then, are, how bsye these objects
been unnecessarily multiplied In accor-
dance with these principles, the heads of the
different executive departments Of the gov
. ernmeut have been instructed to reduce
their estimates for the next iizcal year TO the
lowest standard consistent witlithe efficiency
Of the service, and this duty they have rer-
formed in a spirit Of just economy. The
estimates Of the treasury, war. navy and in
terror departments, have each been in some
degree reduced; and unless a sudden and
unforeseen emergency ST Oud arise, II is not
anticipated that deficiency will exist in
either within the present or the next fiscal
year. The post office department is placed
in " p, culiar position, different from the 9th
et departments, aud to this shall hereafter
refer.
Invite Congress to institute rigid scrn-
tiny to ascertain whether the expenses in all
the departments cannot be still further re-
duced; and promise them all the aid in
my power in pursuing the investigation.
Transmit herewith the reports made TO
me by the secretaries Of war, Of the navy,
of the interior, and Of the post master gen
eral. They each contain valuable iniorma-
tion and important recommendations, to
which | invite the attention Of Congress.
In my last annual message | took OCCASION
to recommend the Immediate construction
OF 10 small steamers, light draught, for the
purpose Of increasing the efficiency of the
navy. Congress responded to the recon-.
mendation 10y authorizing the construction
of eight of them. The progress which
has been made in executing this authority is
stated in the report Of the secretary of the
navy. concur with him in the opinion
that q greater number of this class Of vessels
is necessary for the purpose of protecting in
a more efficient manner the persons and
property Of American citizens on the high
seas, aud in foreign countries, as well as in
guarding more etfectually our own coasts -
accordingly recommend the passage Of an
act for this purpose.
The suggestions contained in the report
Of the Secretary of the Interior, especially
those in regard to the disposition of the
public domain, the pension aud bounty land
system, the policy toward the Indians, and
the amendment of our patent laws, are
worthy of the serious consideration of Con-
gress.
The post-office department occupies po-
sition very different from that Of the other
departments. For many years it was the
policy oftbe government TO render this a
self-sustaiuiDg department. and if this can
not be accomplished in the present condition
of the country, we ought to make as near
an approach 10 it as may be practieable.-
The post master general is placed in most
embarrassing position by the existing laws.
He is obliged To carry theseinto effect. He
has no other alternative. He finds, howev-
er, that this cannot be done without heavy
demands upon the treasury over and above
what is received for postage; aud these have
been progressively increasing from year to
year until they amounted for the last fiscal
year ending on the 30th Of June, 1858, to
more than four millions and half of dol
lars; whilst it is estimated that for the pres
ent fiscal year they win amount to Sc 2OO,-
600. These sums are exclusive of the annu-
al appropriation of 100000 for 'compen-
saton for the mail service performed for the
two houses of Congress and the other de-
anu tlAICcIS VI luG EONtdDLuGuI Ill
the transportation of free mster"
The cause Of these large deficits is mainly
attributaI to the increased expense Of trans
porting the mails. In 1852 The sum raid
for this service was but fraction abo\ e
four millions and a quarter, Since tha,
year 1t has annually increased until in Ii S58
it has reached more than eight millions and
quarter; and for the service of 1859 is es-
tinrated that twill amount to more than
$1O,O00,000.
The receipts of the rost-office depart
ment can be made TO approach or to equal
It's expenditure, only by means Of the legis-
lati"n Of Congress. In applying any reme-
d,, care should lie taken that the people
sha,l rot be deprived Of Tie advantages whlch
they are fairly entitled To enjoy from the
post office department. The principal rem
edies recommended TO the consideration of
Congress by the post master general are to
restore the former rate of postage upon sin
gle letters to five cents; to substitute for the
franHirg privilege the delivery to those now
entitled To enjoy it, Of post office stamps for
their correspondence, and to direct the de-
partment, in making contracts for the trans
poriation Of the mail, 10 confne itself to the
payment Of the sum necessary for this sin
gle purpose, without requiring it to be trans
ported in post coaches or carriages of any
particular description. Under the present
system the expense to the government is
greatly increased, by requiring that the
mail shall be carried IN such vehicles as will
accommodate passengers. This viii be
done without pay from the department,
over Nil other roads where the travel will re-
munerate the contractors,
These recommendations deserves the
grave consideration OF Congress.
would call your sttrnlion TO the con-
structi.no Of Pacific Railroad. Time and
reflection have but served to confirm me in
the truth and justice of the observations
which | made on this subject in my last an-
nual message, to which beg leave respect
fully TO refer.
1t is freely admitted that it would be in
expedient for this government TO exercise
the power Of constructing the Pacific Rail
road by its own immediate agents. Such a
policy would increase the patronage Of the
executive TO dangerous extent, and intro
duce system of jobbing and corruption
which no Vipiance on the part of federal