Evening star., 1866-12-03

why taxes NAV not be reduced as the country
advances in population and wealth, and yet
the oebt be extinguished within the next
quarter OF n century. e-
The report of the Secretary OF War fur
nishes valuable and important Information in
reference 10 the operations OF his Department
remain In the service, and they are being dis
charged as rapidly as they can be replaced by
regular troops. The army has been promptly
paic, carefully provided with medical treat
ment, well sheltered and su bsisted, aud is to
be furnished with breech loading small arms.
The military strength of the nation has been
unimpaired by the discharge of volunteers,
the disposition of unserviceable or per,shable
stores, and the retrenchment OF expenditure.
Suf1cient war material to meet any emergency
has been retained, and, from the disbanded
volunteers standing ready TO respond TO the
national call, large armies can be rapidly or
ganiZed, equipped, and concentrated. Fori-
fcations on the coast and frontier have re-
ceived, or are being prepared for more power
ful armaments; lake surveys and harbor and
river Improvements are IN course of energetic
prosecution. Preparations have been made
for the pay yment OF the additional bounties au-
thoriZed during the recent session Of Congress,
under such regulations as will protect the
Government from fraud. and secure 10 the
hororably- discharged soldier the well-earned
reward OF his faithfulDess and gallantry.
More than six thousand manned soldiers have
received artificial limbs or other surgical ap-
paratus: and forty-one national cemeteries,
containing the remains OF lC4,596 Union SOL
diers, have already been established. The
total estimate OF military appropriations is
S.5.2O5, coo.
1t is stated in the report OF the Secretary of
the Navy that the naval force at this time
consists of two hundred and seventy-eight
vessels, armed with two thousand three hum
dred and nifty lone guns. OF these one hun
dred and fifteen vessels, carrying one thous-
ana and twenty nine guns, are in commission,
distributed chiefly among seven sQuadrons.
The number OF men in the service is thirteen
thousand six hundred. Great activity and
vigilance have been displayed by all the
squadrons, and their movements have been
Judiciously and efficiently arranged in such
manner as would best promote American COM
merce, and protect the rights aRd interests OF
our cOuntrymen abroad. The vessels unem-
ployed are undergoing repairs, or are laid up
until their services may he required. Most of
the iron clad feet is at League Island, in the
vicinity of Philadelphia. a place which, until
decisive action shonld be taken by Congress,
was selected by the Secretary of the Navy as
the most eligible location for that class of
vessels. IL Is important that a suitable public
station should be provided for the iron-clad
fleet. ItIs intended that these vessels shall
be in proper condition for any emergency, and
II is desirable that the bill accepting League
Island for naval purposes, which passed the
House OF Representatives at its last session,
should receive final action at an early period,
in order that there may be a suitable public
station for this class of vessels, as well as a
navy-yard of area safHc cent for the wants of
the service, on the Delaware river. The
Naval Pension fund amounts to I1,750,OOO,
having been increased S2,750.000 during the
year. The expenditures of the Department
for the fisca' year ending 3Oth June last were
S43,:24, ,526, and the estimates for the coming
year amount TO S23.5G- ,436. Attention IS in
vited to the condition of our seamen, and the
importance of legislative measures for their
relief and Improvement. The suggestions in
behalf OF this deserving class of onr fellow
citizens are earnestly recommended to the IA
yorable attention of Congress.
The report OF the Postmaster General pre-
senis most satisfactory condition of the postal
service, and submits recommendations which
deserve the consideration OF Congress. The
revenues of the Department for the year end
ing June 3d. 1866, were S14, ,396, ,9s6 and the ex-
pendItures $685., ,U79, showing an excess of the
latter Of ss65,093. In anticipation of this de-
fclency, however, Especial appropriation was
made by Congress in the act approved July 2s,
le66. Including the standing appropriation OF
S7OO,0O0 for free mail matter, as a legitimate
PENDED. the actual deficiency for the past year
Is only S265, ,G93-a sum within S5i,l4t of the
amount estimated in the annual report of 1854
The decrease Of revenue compared with the
previous year was one and one- fifth per cent,
and the increase OF expenditures, owing prin-
cipally TO the enlargement Of the mail Service
IN the South, was twelve per cent. On the3nh
OF June last there were in operation six thou
sand nine hundred and thirty mail routes, with
an aggregate length Of one hundred ano eighty
thousand nine hundred and twenty one miles,
an aggregate annual transportation OF seventy
one million eight hundred and thirty seven
thousand nine hundred and fourteen miles,
and an aggregate annual cost including all ex-
penditures, of SS.4l0,1S4. The length OF rail-
two miles, and the ann ual transportation thirty
million six hundred and nine thousand four
hundred and sixty seven miles. The length
OF boat routes is fourteen thousand three
hundred and forty-six miles, and the annual
transportation three million four hundred and
eleven thousand nine hundred and sixty two
Niles. The mail service is rapidly increasing
throughout the whole country, and its steady
extension in the Southern States indicates their
constantly Improving condition. The growing
importance OF the foreign service also merits
attention. The Post Office Department of Great
Britain and our own have agreed upon a pre-.
liminary basis for new Postal Con yention
which ~ 10 believed will prove eminentiy bene-
ncial 10 the commercial interests or the United
OF the International letter postage to one half
the exietipg rates: reduction of postage with
all other countries 10 and from which CORES
pondence Ia transmitted in the British mail, or
in closed mails through the United Kingdom;
the establishment OF uniform and reasonable
charges for the sea and territorial transit of
correspondence in closed malls and an allow.
aDce los each Post Office Department OF the
lsbed under the auth 0rity OF the other for the
dispatch OF correspondence, either in opeu or
closed mails, on the same terms as those appli-
cable to the inhabitants OF the country provid.
ing the means Of transmission.
The report OF the Secretary of the Interior
exhibits the condition or those branches OF the
pubHc service which are committed to his su-
pervision. During the last fiscal year, four mil.
lion ak hundred and twenty nine Thousand
three hundred and twe We acres of public land
were disposed Of, one million eight hundred
and ninety-two thousand five hundred and
sixteen acres of which were entered under the
homestead act. The policy originally adopted
relative TO the pablic lands has undergone es-
seDtial notifications. Immediate revenue
and n OF their rapid settlement, was the cardi.
nal feature of Sur land sy stem Long expe-
rience and earnest discussion have resultedin
the conviction that the early development OF
our agricultural resources, and the diffusion
OF an energetic population over our vast terri.
tory, are objects Of far greater Importance to
the national growth and prosperity than the
prodeeds OF the sale of the land TO the highest
bidder In open market The pre.em ptton
laws confer upon the pioneer who complies
with the terms they impose the pri vileee of
purchasing limited portion of "unoffered
lands" at the minimum price. The homestead
relieve the settler from the pay.
ment OF pu fchase money, and secure him
permanent home, upon the condition Of resi-
dence for term of years. This liberal policy
invites emigration from the old, aud from the
more crowded portions of the new world Its
propitious results are undoubted, and will be
more signally manifested when time shall
have given 10 it a wider development 80
Congress has made liberal grants of public
land TO corporations, in aid OF the construction
Of railroads and other internal i'm proyements.