Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-12-18

Report Il Secretary q 10 Interior

tic Secretary Of the Interior states that all
public lands sold during the year amounted
To 1855, Isl acres; about one million
greater than the previous year. The mum.
her Of acres entered under the homestead
law, which are included in the above. ex.
coed that Of the last year by 4OO, 900 acres.
The cash receipts were near "a, 500, 900.
Ii, 762 patents were issued during the year,
the fees being $2l3 1926 in excess of expen-
ditures Last years expenditures exceed.
ed the receipts Appropriations asked for
the Patent Office for the next fiscal year,
1904 APO. S3O,00O,000 will be required
for pensions service for the next fiscal
year. The Secretary urges the assemblage
Of the Indians upon large rescrvati ons,
where numbers will. be more aggregated
and where the more civilized of them will
influence Others striving to progress in the
arts and peace. He earnestly recommends
the appropriation to enable tribes in the
Indian Territory, proper, to form general
organization with most Of the elements of
Territorial Government. He believes they
will be prepared to dispense with the TUT
lage Of agents ifthey may have delegate
in the House of Representatives to speak
tor them. The Indians north of the Platte
river are yet unprepared for similar orga-
nization but the day is not far distant when
two or three principal Indian terrific ries
may properly embrace all the tribes east
OF the Rocky Mountains. The same pol:
icy concentrations willapply to the country
west of the Rocky Mountains. The Secre-
tary approves the labors of the peace con-
vention und the policy now pursued by the
Indian Agents. He suggests placing the
education Of freedmen under the charge
Of the Commissioners of Education, and
recommends the erection of o freproof
building for the Federal Courts. He gives
a statement Of the condition of the Pacific
Railroad, giving the facts which are al
ready known, the affairs of the District of
Columbia are alluded to and some recon-
mendations are made. He concludes with
an argument in favor of civil service re.
form.
Postmaster Generals Report.
The Postmaster Generals report shows
that the ordinary revenues of the Depart
ment for the fiscal year ending June 3Oth,
1869, were 1884 $40; expenditures
s23, 093,13l. Cresswell holds that the
deficiency is due to three causes, namely.
Depreciation Of paper currency, unpaid
postage on printed matter, aud the franking
privilege. The first he regards as tempo
rary evil, which cannot now be remedied.
The second can be regulated by a stringent
law, the passage of which he recommends,
and the third should be abolished. BY
these means he believes the Department can
be made sclfsupporting. The practical
operations OF the department during the
year were satisfactory; its business was
increased materially, proving that a more
extensive correspondence has been super
induced, aud doubtless thereby a greater
efficiency in transmission and delivery of
the mails, and careful revision and read
justment Of pay Of the railroad routes is
recommended. Crcsswell urges the neccs.
sity Of some Legislation to encourage the
re-establishmcnt Of IN American line of
trans. Atlantic steamers. During the fiscal
year the money order Offices increased to
l,46S, the receipts to sl76,247, of which
there was surplus over expediturcs of
S6,553. A further extension Of the system
is recommended, its steady success having
proved its utility and the confidence ofthc
people in its safety. On June Goth there
were 27,l66 post Offices in operation.
Cresswell calculates to increase the efiicien.
cy ofthc Department.
WASHINGTON, Dec. y.-Rcpublican Sen.
ators held caucus this morning, for the
purpose Of recognizing the standing com.
mittees. The only changes of importance
will be Morrill, in place Of Fcssendcn, as
chairman Of Appropriations: Crane, of
New Hampshire, in place ofGrimes, chair
man Of Naval Affairs; Schultz, of Mo-, on
Foreign Relations, in place of Fesscndcn;
Ferry, Of Connecticut, in place of Crane, as
chairman Of the committee on Contingent
Expenses.
/ New York City Election.
New YORK, Dec. THE election for
Mayor, Aldermen, etc., occurred to-day.
Little interest was manifested. The vote
was light, and Tammany victorious in every
quarter Mayor Hall continues In Office
two years more.
Reportof Commissioner Of Internal Revenue.
CHICAGO, Dec. 6.-The report Of the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue shows
that the receipts from allsources, exclusive
of tho tax on bank circulation and deposits,
for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1859,
were S60, 039, 344,29. The taxes on
banks, the collection ofwhich by the Treas
urer Of the Uuited States has been previ-
ously reported, at el5, 1907 1893 Al. The
total receipts Of internal taxes, therefore.
are ST, 594, 1888 06, ~ nearly eleven mill
ions in excess Of the estimate of Commits.
siouer Wells last year. The receipts from
customs was likewise ten million larger
than Mr.. Wells estimate of last year, and
amounted to sl8,004,0 LOAF. The total re.
ceipts in the Treasury from all sources
for the fiscal year have been about s377,.
DOC. 900 against 305, 1888 ,0S3 o. the previ-
Gus year. Commissioner Delano furnishes