White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-12-30

position, different from the other depart
ments, and to this l shall hereafter refer.
| invite Congress to institute rigid
scrutiny to ascertain whether the expenses
in all the departments cannot be still fur
Their reduced and 1 promise them all the
aid in my power in pursuing the inyesti-
CATION.
/ transmit herewith the reports made to
me by the Secretaries of War, of the
Navy, of the Interior, and Of the Post
master General. They each contain val
liable information and important recon-
mendations, to which / invite the atten
ton Of Congress.
In my last annual message, l took
occasion to recommend the immediate
construction Of ten small steamers, Of
light draught. for the purpose Of increas-
ing the efficiency of the navy. Congress
responded to the recommendation. by
authorizing the construction of eight Of
them. The progress which has been
made in-executing this authority, is sta
ted in the report of the Secretary of the
Navy. ] concur with him in the opinion,
that 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, and in foreign countries,
as well as in guarding more effectually
our own coasts. l accordingly recon-
mend the passage of an act for this pur-
pose.
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 and bounty
land system, the policy towards the In
dians, and the amendment of our patent
laws, are worthy of the serious consider
alton of Congress.
The Post Office Department occupies a
position very different from that of the
other departments. For many years it
was the rolicy'of the government to rem
der this a self-sustaining department and
if this cannot now be accomplished, in
the present condition of the country, we
ought to make as near an approach to it
rs may ue pIdCliCdole'
The Postmaster General is placed in a
most embarrassing position by the exist
ing laws. He is obliged to carry these into
effect. He has no other alternative. He
finds, however, that this cannot be done
without heavy demands on the treasury
over and above what he receives for pos
tage; and these have been progressively
increasing from year to year until they
amounted for the last fiscal year ending
on the 50th June, 1858, to more than
four millions and half of dollars whilst
it is estimated that for the present fiscal
year they will amount to 5000, 000.-
The sums are exclusive of the annual
appropriation of 500. 900 for "compen-
sation for the mail service performed for
the two Houses of Congress and the
other departments and officers of the
government in the transportation of free
matter"
The cause of these large deficits is main
y attributable to the increased expense of
transporting the mails. In 1852 the sum
paid for this service was but a fra tion
above the four millions and a quarter
Since that year it has annually increased
until in 1858 il has reached more than
eight millions and quarter, and for the
service of 1859, it is estimated that it
will amount to more than ten millions of
dollars.
The receipts of the Post Office Depart
ment can be made to approach or to equal
its expenditure, only by means of the
legislation of Congress In applying
any remedy, care should be taken that
the people shall not be deprived of the
advantages, which they are fairly entitled
to enjoy from the Post Office Department.
The principal remedies recommended to
the consideration of Congress by the
Postmaster General, are to restore the
former rate of postage upon single letters
to FIVE cents; to substitute for the frank
ing privilege the delivery to those now
entitled to enjoy it, of post office stamps
for their correspondence, and to direct the
department, in making contracts for the
transportation of the mail, to conine it.
self to the payment of the sum necessary
for this single purpose, without requiring
it to be transported 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 will be done without
pay from the department, over all roads
where the the travel will remunerate the
contractors.
These recommendations deserve the
grave consideration of Congress.
! would again call your attention to
the construction of Pacific railroad
Time and reflection have but served to
confirm me in the truth and justice Of the
observations which l made, to which !
beg leave respectfully to refer.
1t is freely admitted that it would be
inexpedient for this Government to ex-
ercise the power of constructing the Pa
eiic railroad by its own immediate agents.
Such policy would increase the patron
age of the Executive to a dangerous ex-
tent. and introduce system of iobbing
and corruption. which no vigilencs on
the part Of federal officials, could either
prevent Or detect. This can only be done
by the keen eye, and active and careful
supervision Of individual and private in
tereSt. The construction of this road
ought, therefore, to be committed to COM
panias incorporated by the States. or 9TH
err agencies whose pecuniary interests