Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-12-18

f
sippi, Louisiana and Florida.
On the 30th Of June, 1868, ono hundred
aud sixty-nine thousand six hundred and
forty three names we're borne on the pen
sion rolls, and during the year ending on
that day the total amount paid for pensions,
including the expenses of disbursement.
S24,0l0,9S2i being So, ,39l OPS greater than
expended for Ike purposes during the pre-
cediBg year.
During the year ending the Both Of Sep
tember last, the expenses ofthe Patent Office
exceeded the receipts by one hundred and
scyeniy-one dollars; and, including reissues
and designs, fourteen thousand one hundred
and tfty- three patents we're issued
Treaties with various Indian tribes have
been concluded, and viii be submitted to
the Senate for its constitutional action
cordially sanction the stipulations which
provide for reseTving lands for the various
tribes, where they may be encouraged to
abandon their nomadic habits and engage
in agricultural and industrial pursuits
| This policy, inaugurated many years since,
has met with signal success, wherever it has
been pursued in good faith and with be-
coming liberality by the United States The
necessity for extending it as far as practIca
bic in our relations with the aboriginal popu-
lation is greater now than at any proceeding
period Whilst we furnish subsistence and
instruction to the Indians, and guarantee
the undlsturbed enjoyment of their treaty
rights, we should habitualy insist upon the
faithful observance of their agreement to
remain within their respective reservations
This is the only mode by which collisions
with other tribes and with the whites can
be avoided, and the safety OF our frontier
settlements secured.
The companies constructing the railway
from Omaha TO Sacramento have been most
energetically engaged in prosecuting the
work, and it is believed that the line will be
completed before the expiration Of the next
fiscal year. The six per cent bonds issued
to these companies amounted on the 9TH
inst, to $44, 337 900, and additional work
has been performed to the extent of$3, 200,
000, 600.
The Secretary of the Interior in August
last invited my intention to the report of a
Government director Of the Union Pacific
railroad company, who had been specially
instructed to examine the location, construc-
ton and equipment Of their road. / sub
mitted for the opinion of the Attorney
General certain questions in regard to the
authority Of the Executive which arose upon
this report, and those which had from time
to time been presented by the commission
ers appointed to inspect each successive sec
ton OF the work After carefully consider
ing the law of the case, he affirmed the right
of the Executive to order, if necessary, a
thorough revision Of the entire road. Com
missioners were thereupon appointed to
examine this and other lines, and have
recently submitted statement of their in
vestigations, of which the report of the
Secretary of the Interior furnishes specific
information.
The report of the Secretary of War con-
tains information of interest and importance
respecting the several Bureaus of the Wal
Department and the operations ofthe army.
J The strength of our military force. on the
30th ofSeptember last was forty eight thous
| and men, and it is computed that, by the
/ first OF January next this number will be
| decreased to forty-three thousand. 1t /:
the opinion Of the Secretary Of War tha
/ within the next year considerable diminu
! ton of the infantry force may be made with
mt detriment to the interests of the count
rv: and In view Of the great expense attend
! ing the military peace establishment. anC
/ the absolute necessity Of ofretrenchment when
ever it can be applied, it is hoped tha
| Congress will sanction the ruduction which
| his report recommends. While in 1866
| sixteen thousand three hundred men cos
! the nation SIS. AZ, O00, the sum Of sos,
/ 6S2. 600 is estimated as necessary for tht
support ofthe army during the fiscal yeal
ending June 80. 1870 The estimates ot
the War Department for the last two isca
year were, for 1857, $50, 5l4, 46l, and fol
1865 s25, ,205, Coz The actual expenditure:
during the same periods we're. respectively
S95. .224. AS and S123, ,246, GAS. The esti
mate submitted in December last for the
| fiscal years ending June 80, 1869, was STE,-
| l25. .707; the expenditures for the first quar-,
ter, ending the 30th Of September last, werC
| S2T. .229, III, and the Secretary of the Trea
| surv gives 500, 900, 600 as the amount which
will probably he required during the remain
ing three quarters, if there should be nc
reduction Of the army-makinE its aggrt gate
cost for the year considerably in excess oi
ninety three millions The difference be.
tween the estimates and expenditures fol
the three fiscal years which have been named
| is thus shown to be Sl75, 545, 343 for TIN:
/ single branch OF the public service.
The report of the Secretary ofthe Navy
| exhibits the operations of that Department
and of the Navy during the year. A consid
cradle reduction of the force has been effect
/ ed. There are forty two vessels, carrying
| four hundred and eleven guns. IN the sly
| souadrops which are established in different
parts of the world Three of these vessels
| are returning to the United States, and ioul
are used as store ships, leaving the aetua
cruising force thirtyfy vessels, carrying
three hundred and fifty six guns. The tota
number of vessels in the navy Is two hundred
and six. mounting seventeen hundred anC
! FORTY three guns. Eighty one vessels oI
! every description are In use, armed with sll
I hundred and ninty six guns. The numbe
/ Of enlisted men in the service, including ap
! prentices has been reduced to eight thous
4 and FIVE hundred. An increase of navl
/ ward facilities Is recommended as measure
! which will, in the event Of war, be pro
motive of economy and security. a NOR
through and systematic survey Of The Nortl
| Pacific Ocean is advised IN view OF reeen
ACQUISITIONS, our expanding commerce, anC
! the increasing intercourse between the /
/ ciiic States and Asia. The naval pension
( fund, which consists of ofthe aFslls OF prize
| captured during the war, amounts to Sl4,
| 600. O0O Exception is taken to the act
| 23d July last, which reduces the interest o.
the fund loaned TO the Government by In
Secretary, as trustees, to three per cent;
! instead of six per cent, which was onglnal
| " stipulated when the investment was MADE
An amendment of the pension laws is sug
gested to remedy omissions and defects Il
existing enactments. The expenditures 0
the Department during the last fiscal yea
we're $50, l20, 1894, and the estimates Ior IN
coming year amount to $50, 993, Ala:
The Postmaster General sreport furnishe
a fun and clear exhibit of the operation
and condition of the postal service, Th
ordinary postal revenue for the fiseai, yea
June so, 1868, was Sl6, ,292, 600, and tn
total expenditures, embracing all the serve
for which special appropriations have bee
made bv Congress, amounted to so, 73o,
| $50, showing an excess Of expenditures 2
s6, 437, ,99I. Deducting from the expendi
tnres the snm Of SI,S96, ,525, the amount @
appropriations for ocean steamship an
other special service. the excess Of expendi
lures was S5,54l, 446 BY using an unez
pended balance in the treasury OF s5,sO0
0O0. the actual sum for which special ar
,,,1,,,;ot;or is re,Dirad tO meet the dehcieI