Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-29
ABSTRACTS OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.


ABSTRACTS OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
The Secretary of the Treasury in his report
does not doubt that the receipts of the Treas
ury for the present and next fiscal years will
be fully equal to the estimates. If the appro-
priatons made at the present session do not
exceed the amount contained in the estimates,
it is believed that they can be met with the
ordinary and extraordinary receipts already
provided by law. The estimated balance that
will be in the Treasury on the Both of June
next is only So, $50, 900 and leaves no margin
for additional appropriations. If therefore
the appropriations should exceed the est-
mates, or Congress should determine to
provide within this period for the payment of
any portion of the public debt, it will become
necessary to make provision for such contin-
gencies. If additional demands are created on
the Treasury by legislation in the present
Congress, provision must be made to meet
them by such an increase of tariff duties as
may be required for that purpose. In such an
event, he respectfully refers Congress to his
last report as containing the views of the de-
partment on that subject AS no provision has
been made for the permanent redemption of
any portion of the $50 100000 of Treasury
notes, and as the authority for issuing them
expires on the Both of June next, it will be
necessary for Congress to extend the law for
that purpose for another year.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT
The Postmaster General gives an interesting
account of the affairs of the department. He
advocates various reforms, and trusts that
Congress will either give its express attention
to the specific contract for carrying the mails
between Portland and New Orleans, by voting
the necessary appropriation, or else that it
will indicate for the department such course
of administration as shall warrant it in closing
some one of the proposals which have been
received and which are now held under adj
visement. He urges action so as to secure
suitable Post Offices for New York and Phia-
delphia. He recommends the repeal of the
clause of the act Of 1858, which declares that
in forwarding the mails to foreign countries
the preference shall be given to an American
over foreign steamship, when departing from
the same port for the same destination, within
three days of each other. Dispatch is the
highest demand in the mission of this depart
ment, and hence that legislation which pro.
yides for retarding instead Of accelerating the
mails may be safely pronounced at least extra
ordinary in its character. The Post Office
Department, according to the theory of its
organization, should be selfsustained, and asks
if the peculiar character of its functions should
not be charge on the common treasury
The Postmaster General advocates the abo-
lition Of the franking privilege, and the sub
stitution of prepayment by stamps, when its
abuses would fall where they belong, ON the
government officers by whom they are perpe-
trated.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The Secretary of tue Navy, speaking of the
successful termination of the Paraguay expe-
dition, says that the cost of maintaining the
seven purchased vessels in commission was
not much greater than that of maintaining a
single steam frigate, and that their acquisition
has enabled the Department to adopt more eff
ficient measures for the suppression of the AT
frican slave trade. Since the commencement
of the present administration, 20 steam vessels
have been added to the navy. He renews the
recommendation to still further increase the
navy, and instead of perpetuating old vessels
or expanding millions in constructing few
large ships, it is earnestly recommended to
prosecute with vigor the line of policy which
has been adopted by Congress, and add a
much larger number Of steamships, which can
be maintained at comparatively small cost.
He says it is a source OF extreme regret and
modification that we now, at times, are obliged
to sit passively and see in some foreign coun-
tries American citizens plundered and murder
ed because the Executive has not the means
to protect them. He urges an increase in the
marine, medical, and purser's departments.
He narrates the operations of the various
squadrons during the last year. The Depart
ment in May last made a conditional contract
with the Chirqui Improvement Company and
Ambrose w. Thompson for the purpose of Sc
curing very valuable transit depot and naval
station and coal privileges in the province of
Chirqui on the Atlantic and another on the
Pacific side. 1t is for Congress to make an
appropriation of 100000.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The Secretary of War says of the army =
OF nearly seventeen thousand five hundred
men, not more than eleven thousand are avail
able for active service in the field, and that
they are scattered over an area of three mil.
lions of square miles. He hopes to make such
an alteration in the disposition of the troops
next season as will prevent any future repeti-
ton of the outrages on the southern and Next
can borders He recommends the enlistment
of men for Il mounted corps forsix months, be.
ginning in May. In actual battle with the In
dams success is more owing to individual
prowess, skill in arms, and horsemanship,
than to discipline. In point of economy, great
advantages accrue to the country. He recon-
mends a provision for retiring disabled and in
firm officers, as a measure for increasing the
efficiency Of the army. 1t is not deemed adj
visable to proceed in the mandatory OF rihed
N"hhoh pSJOuA eiiVSS iNIuiiSu wv
al purposes. He speaks favorably Of breach
loading rifles.
The Secretary says it does not seem neces-
sary to request any considerable appropriation
for additional masonry work for the tortifca-
tons. Such as are not strong enough to offer
good defence against shipping, may, when
the emergency arises, be reinforced at a small
expense, by earthern batteries combined with
them for mutual support, and such extent as
to give nm aggregate armament of sufficient
power. The army of Utah remains inactive,
and stands in the attitude Of menacing force
towards conquered and sullen people lie is
satisfied that the preservation of right and jus
tice through the means Of any Jurisprudence
known or recognized by the people of the Uni
ted States, is impossible in that territory.
There is in the present attitude of affairs
scarcely auy necessity for the presence Of
troops, and they will be otherwise disposed of
during the coming season.
The above named secretaries show wherein
they have largely reduced the expenditures
and estimates as compared with the previous
years
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The Secretary Of the Interior says that dur