The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-12-14

tative OF the people, 1t must be heia su'
perior to loouopolies, which, in them
selves, ought never to be granted, aud
which, where they exist, must be subor'
dinate and yield to the Government.
The Constitution coufers on Congress
the right to regulate commerce among
the several States. 1t is of the first ne
cessity. for the maintens0ce Of the Union,
that the commerce should be free and
unobstructed. No State can be justified
in auy device to tax the transit Of travel
aud commerce between States. The po-
sition of many States IS such that, it
they we're allowed to take advantage of IT
for purposes Of local revenue, the com.
mere, between States might be injuri.
ously burdened, or even virtually pro F..
tied. 1t is best, while the country Is
still young, aud while the tendency to
dangerous monopolics of this kind is still
feeble, to use the power of Congress so
as 70 prevent any selfish impedimsnt to
the free circulation of men and merchan-
disc. A tax on travel and merchandise,
IN their transit, constitutes one OF the
worst forms Of monopoly, and tho evil is
increased it coupled with denial Of the
choice of route. When the vast extent
Of our country is considered, it Is PLAIN
Of commerce between tho States ought to
be sternly guarded against by appropriate
LEGISLATION, within the limits of the Con-
stitution.
The report Of the Secretary Of the In.
terror explains the condition of the pub
lie lands, the transactions of the Patent
Office and the Pension Bureau, the man.
agemcnt of cur Indian affairs, the pro.
gre>s made in the construction of the
Pacific railroad, and furnishes informa-
ton ia reference to matters Ut local it,
tere,t ia the DISTRICT of Columbia. 1t
operation Of the Homestead Act, under
the provisions of which |, lou, 533 acres
Of the public lands were entered during
the last fiscal year-more than one fourth
Of the whole plumber of acres sold or
otherwise disposed 81 aag!uc that period.
1t is estimated that the receipts derived
from this source are sufficient to cover
the expenses incident to the survey and
disposal Of the lands entered under this
Act, and that payments in cash to the
extent of from forty to fifty per cent. will
be made by settlers, who may thus at any
time acquire the title before the expira-
ton of the period ut which it would
otherwise vest. The homestead policy
was established only after long and earn.
est resistance; experience proves its
wisdom The lands, in the hands of
industrious settlers, whose labor creates
wealth and contributes to the public re-
sources, are worth more to the United
States than if they had boen reserved as
solitude for future purchasers.
The lamentable events of the last four
years, aud the sacrifices made by the
gallant men Of our Army and Nave swell
ed the records of the Pension Bureau to
an unprecedented exteut. Ga the 3Oth
day Of June last, the total number of
pensioners was 1886, requiring for
their annual pay. exclusive of expenses,
the sum Of sS,O23,tI5 The number OF
applications that have been allowed since
that date will require large increase of
this amount for the next fiscal year. The
means for the payment Of the stupeuds
due, under existing laws, to our disabled
soldiers aud sailors, and to the families Of
such as have persisted III the service OF
the country, viii 40 doubt be cheerful'y
and promptly granted A grateful peo-
pie will not hesitate to sanction any
measure having for their object the rcIiet
of soldiers mutiiatcd and families made
farherless in the efforts to preserve our
national existence.
The report of the Postmaster General
presents an enco,ragin. exhibit Of the
operations of the Post Office Department
during the year The revenues of the
past year from the loyal States alone ex.
ceeded the maximum annual receipts
from all the States previous to the REBEL
ion, in the sum Of IS OBS .09l and the
annual average increase OF revenue during
the last four years, compared with the
revenue Of the four years Immediately
preceding the rebellion, was 81. o33, S4o
The revenues Of the last fiscal year
amounted to 5l4 $50 les, and the expen
ditures to sl3 ,G94, rs, leaving sur plus
ofreceipts over expenditures of 1861 ,430.
Progress has been made in restoring the
postal service in the Southern States -
The views presented by the Postmaster
General against the policy of granting
subsidies to ocean mail steamship lines
upon established routes, and in favor OF
continuing the present system, which
limits the compensation for ocean service
to the postage earnings, are recommend
ed to the careful consideration Of Goa
gress.
Itappoars, from the report Of the See
rotary of the Navy, that while, at the
commencement Of the present year, there
were in commission $40 vessels of al
classes aud descriptions, armed with
5000 guns and manned by il 600 men
the number of vessels at present in com
mission is III, with $50 guns and II I2s
men. BY this prompt reduction of thu