The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-12-15

been presented by the commissioners
appointed to examine this and other
lines, and have Recently submitted state
ment of their Investigations, Of which
the report of the Secretary Of the Inter
ior furnishes specific information.
WARLEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Secretary Of War!
contains information Of interest and i'm
portanee respecting the several Bureaus
of the War Department and the oper-
ations Of the army. The strength OF
our military force on the goth Of Sep |
tember last was forty-eight thousand
men, and it is computed tliat this num-
Der will be decreased to- f0fty-three
thousand 1t is the opinion Of the See
retary of War that within tile next year
considerable diminution of tic infant /
ry force may be made without detrinent
to the interests Of the country, and III
view of the great expense attending the
military peace establishment and the alb
solute necessity of retrenchment when
ever it can be applied, it is hoped that
AOlOIcSS W Ill SttllCItOLl thS iNtoS'iDA
which his report recommends. hhe
in 1860 sixteen thousand three hundred
men cost the nation Sl6,472,OOO, the
sum of $65,6S2,000 is estimated and
necessary for the support of the army
during the fiscal year ending June 30:
1870. The estimates of the War De
partment for the last two fiscal years
were-for 1867, S33,S14, 461, and for
1868, S25, 5,205.669. The actual eXpendi-
lures during the same periods were re-
spectisely, S95,224,4 ,415 and Sl23,246,-
GAS. The estimate submitted in Decem-
Der last for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1869, was S77,124,707. The expen-
ditures for the first quarter ending the
30th of September last were S27,2l9, III
and the Secretary Of the Treasury gives
SG6, 100000 as the amount which will
probably be required during the remain
ing three quarters, if there should be no
reduction Of the army, making its ag-
eregate cost for the year considerably in
excess of 100000. The difference
| between the estimates and expenditures
for the three fiscal years which have
been named, is thus shown to be Sl75,-
545, ,343 for this single branch of public
service.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy exhibits the operations Of that
Department and of the navy during the
wear. A considerable reduction OF the
force has been effected. There are forty
two vessels, carrying four hundred and
eleven guns, in the six squadrons which
are established in different parts Of the
world Three Of these vessels are re-
turning to the United States and -four
are used as store ships, leaving the act
ual cruising force thirty-fve vessels, car
rying three hundred aud iiftysix guns
The total number of vessels in the navy
is two hundred and six, mounting one
thousand seven hundred and forty-three
guns. Eighty-one vessels OF every de
scription are in use, armed with six hun
dred and ninety-six guns. The number
of enlisted men in the service, including
apprentices has been reduced to eight
thousand five hundred. An increase o
navy yard facilities is recommended. a;
a measure which will, in the event o.
war, be promotive of economy and Sc
curity. 4 more thorough and system
-atic survey of the North Pacific ocear
is advised, in view of our recent acquis
itions, our expanding commerce, and tb'
, increasing intercourse between the Pa
, citc States and Asia The Naval Pen
sion Fund, which consists of moiet.
of the avails of prizes captured during
=, the war. amounts to S14, 100000.
: Exception is taken to the act OF 23'
of July last, which reduces the interes
on the fund loaned to the Government
: by the Secretary as trustee to five pc
cent, instead Of six per cent which wa
originally stipulatedwhen the investmen
was made An amendment ofthe pensin
S laws Is suggested to remedy omission
: and defects in existing enactments. Th
e expenditures of the Department durin
: the last fiscal year, were s2O,120,3 1874 AN
), the estimates for the coming year amoun
I to 500, ,993,3l4
-sof PoSToFFICE DEPARTMENT.
:, The Postmaster Generals report ful
- nishes full and clear exhibit of the OF
8 erations and condition of the post;
. service. The ordinary postal revenu
=. for the fiscal year, ending June 30tl
, 1868, was SIG, ,292 600, and the tota. eS
penditures, embracing all the service fo
i which special appropriations have bee
i made by Congress, amounted to So
! 730592, showing an excess Of expend
r lures of S6,437, ,991. Deducting frol
- the expenditures the sum of 81 1896, 52'
y the amount of appropriations for ocea
steamship and other special service, til
excess of expenditures was S4,54l, ,46'
BY using an unexpended balance in til
Treasury of S3,S00,000, the actual SUI
y of which for special appropriations
- required to meet the deficiency is $74l
:. 466. The causes which produced tn
, II large excess of expenditure over I'll
, revenue were the restoration Of servit
- in the late insugent States and the pu
, ting into operation Of new service e
y, tablishcd by acts of Congress whlc
; amounted, within the last two years an
+ = half, to about 4S,700 miles, equal
le more than one-third of the whole amour
Z. of the service at the close of the war
y u New postal conventions with Great Bri
u ain, North Germany, Belgium, the Netl
erland, Switzerland and Italy, respec
lively, have been carried into effect undt
IS their provisions. Important improv
D. ments have resulted in reduced rates {
l. international postage and enlarged ma
D facilities with European countries. TT
G cost of the United States trans-Atlant
re ocean mail service since January Is
n 1868, has been largely lessened undt
i the operation of these new convention
is reduction of one-half having bee
Is effected under the new arrangement ft
Is ocean mail steamship service which wei
E. into effect on that date. The attentio
s. of Congress is invited to the practic;
Is suggestions and recommendations mao
lie in his report by the Postmaster Genera
Ill FOREIGN AFFAIRS.