Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-12-15
WHOLE NUMBER 519.

ana "niie tne tendency TO dangerous
monopolies of this kind is still feeble, to
use the power of Congress so as to pre-.
vent any selfish impediment to the free
circulation OF men and merchandise, in
their transit, constitutes one of the worst
forms of monopoly, and the evil is in>
creased if coupled with denial Of the
choice of route. When the vast extent
of our country is considered, it is plain
that every obstacle to the free circulation
Of commerce between the States ought
to be sternly guarded against by appro-
pirate legislation, withiu tho limits Of tho
Constitution.
The report of the Secretary of the In
terror explains the condition of the public
lands, the transactions of the Patent Of
fee and the Pension Bureau, the man.
agement of our Indian affairs, the pro-
gress made in the construction of the
Pacific railroad, and furnishes infor.
nation in reference to matters oflo-
cal interest in the District of Colum-
bia. 1t also presents evidence of
the successful operation ofthe Home
stead Act, under the provisions of
which l,160,536 acres of the public
lands were entered during the last
fiscal year-more than one fourth of
the whole number of acres sold or
otherwise disposed of during that
period. 1t is estimated that the re-
ceipts derived from this source are
sufficient to cover the expenses in
cident 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 title before the
expiration of the period at which it
would otherwise vest. The home
stead policy was established only
after long and earnest resistance;
experience proves it's 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 been
reserved as solitude for future pur-
chasers.
The lamentable events of the last
four years, and the sacrifices made
by the gallant men of our Army and
Navy, have swelled the records of
the Pension Bureau to an unexpect-
ed extent. On the 30th day of June
last, the total number of pensioners
was S5,9S6, requiring for their an
nual pay, exclusive of expense, the
sum of S8,923,445. 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 pay
ment of the stipends due, under ex-
isting laws, to our disabled soldiers
and sailors, and to the families of
such as have perished in the service
of the country, will no doubt be
cheerfully and promptly granted
A grateful people will not hesitate
to sanction any measures having for
their object the relief of soldiers
nutilated and families made father
ess in the efforts to preserve our
rational existence.
The report of the Postmaster
General presents an encouraging ex-
libit of the operations of the Post
Office Department during the past
vear. The revenues of the year
rom tho loyal States alone exceeded
he maximum annual receipts from
Ill the States previous to the rebel
ion, in the sum of $6,03S,0S1; and
he annual average increase of rev.
nue. during the last four years, COM
jared with the revenues of the four
ears immediately preceding the re-
ellion was $3,533,S45. The reye-
uss of the last fiscal year amounted
o 14,5OS,15S, and the expenditures
0 $13,694, ,728, leaving a surplus of
eceipts over expenditures of $861-
30. Progress has been made in
estoring the postal service in the
outhern States. The views pre-
ented by the Postmaster General
gainst policy of granting subsidies to
cean mail steamship lines upon es-
lblished routes, and in favor ofcon-
nuing the present system, which
mits the compensation for ocean
,rvice to the postage earnings, are
commended to the careful consid.
ration of Congress.
1t appears from the report of the
ecretary of the Navy that while, at
le commencement of the present
ear, there were in commission $50
,ssels ofall classes and descriptions
med with 5000 guns and manned
ith 21 900 men, the number ofves-
lis at present in commission is III.
it'll $50 guns and 1928 men. By
is prompt reduction of the naval
rces the expenses of the Govern
ent have been LARGELY diminished