Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-12-17

route maps executed for re-organIzing and
increasing the efficiency of special agents.
for an increase of the mail service on the b
Pacific, and for establishing mail service
under the flag of the Union on the Attain.
tic; and most especially do l call your at
tention to his recommendation tfoI 1.-THE
total abolition of the franking privilege;
this is an abuse from which no one re-.
| celves commensurate advantage. 1t re-
| duces the receipts for postal service from
| twenty-five to thirty per cent. and largely
| increases the service to be performed
The method by which postage should be
| paid upon public matter is set forth fully
| in the report of the Postmaster General.
The report of the Secretary of the In
| terror shows that the quantity of public
lands disposed of during the year ending
the 30th of June, 1869, was 1866, ,152 acres,
exceeding that of the preceding year by
1,010, 400 acres Of this amount 2,S99,-
| 544 acres were sold for cash, and 2,737,365
acres under the homestead laws The
remainder was granted to aid in the con-
struction of works of internal improvement
approved to the States as swamp land, and
located by warrants and scrip. The cash
receipts from all sources were LATE, 1856,
exceeding those of the previous year,
$2S4O,1 ,14O.
During the last fiscal year, 23,106 names
were added to the pension rolls, and 4,S76
dropped therefrom, leaving at its close, {
1S7,963. The amount paid to pensioners,
including the compensation of disbursing
agents, was, $2S, S,422,SS4 an increase of
$441, ,192 on that of the previous year.
The munifcence of Congress, has
been conspicuously. manifested in ~ its
legislation for the soldiers and
bo in, ho
struggle to maintain that unity of
government which makes us one people.
The addition to the pension rolls of each
successive year since the conclusion of
hostilities result in a great degree from
the repeated amendments of the act of the
14th of July, 1862, which. extended its
provisions to cases not falling within its
original scope. The large outlay which is
thus occasioned is further increased by
the more liberal allowance bestowed since
that date upon those who, in the line OF
duty, where wholly or permanently dis
abled .-.airaq
Public opinion has given an emphatic.
sanction to these measures OF Congress,
and it will be conceded that no part of
our public burden is more cheerfully
borne than that which is imposed by this
branch of the service. 1t necesstates an
outlay for the next fiscal year, in addition
to the amount justly chargeable to the
naval pension fund, an appropriation of
| $30,0O0,0O0 1pN
During the year ending September 3Oth,
1869, the Patent Office issued 1892
patents and it's receipts were $6S6,399, be-
ing $213,926 more than the expenditures.
would respectfully call your attention
to the recommendations of the Secretary
of the Interior for uniting the duties of
supervising the education of freedmen
with the other duties deyolving upon the
Commissioner of Education. If it is the
desire of Congress to make the census,
which must be taken during the year 1870
more complete and perfect than hereto
fore, would suggest early action upon
any plan that may be agreed upon. AS
Congress, at the last session, appointed
committee to take into consideration such
measures as might be deemed proper in
reference to the census, and to report
plan, desist from saying more. e (. 7aus
recommend to your favorable consid-
Grafton the claims of the Agricultural
Bureau for liberal appropriation. In a
country so diversified in climate and soil
as ours, and with a population so largely
| dependent upon agriculture, the benefits
that can be conferred by properly foster
| Ing LnlS bureau are lHCdlCuldUle.
| desire respectfully to call the atten-
ton of Congress to the inadequate sala-
ries of number OF the most important
officers of the government. In this message
| I will not enumerate them, but will speci-
| fy only the Justices of the Supreme Court;
no change has been made in their salaries
| for fifteen years. Within that time the
labors of the Court have largely in
creased, and the expenses of living have
at least doubled; during the same time
| Congress has twice found it necessary to
increase largely the compensation of its
members, and the duty which it owes to
another department of the government
deserves, and will undoubtedly receive
| its due consideration. e.
There are many subjects not alluded to
in this message which might with propri-
| ETY. be introduced; but / abstain, bcliev-
| ing your patriotism and craftsmanship
will suggest the topics and legislation most
| conducive to the interests of the whole
people. On my part, | promise rigid
adherence to the laws and their strict en-
| forcement
(Signed) u. S. GRANT.