The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-12-11


beginning Of the next fiscal wear "a ~
admit Of a greater Concentration of tronn,
the appropriation asked for will not bc
The'appropriation estimated for river and
haybor Improvements and Tor fortiications
are Submitted separately. Nhateyer amount
Congress nisy deem proper to appropriate
for these purposes, will be expended The
recommendation OF the General Of the army
that appropriations be madeipr the forts n
Boston, Portland, New York, Philadelphia.
New Orleans and San Francisco if no 9th.
er is concurred in. | also ask your special
attention to the recommendation of the
General commanding the military division
OF the Pacific, for the sale of the seal islands
OF st. Paul and st. George, Alaska terri.
tory, and suggest that it be complied with,
or that legislation be had for the protection
OF the seal fisheries, from which a revenue
should be derived.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Strenuous efforts have been made to place
as many vessels in commission, or render
them tit for service, if required as soon as
possible, and to substitute the sail for steam
while cruising thus reducing the expen-
efficiency, and looking to our future. rec
ommend liberal, though not an extraya-
giant policy, toward this branch OF the pub
lie service
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Postmaster General
furnishes clear and comprehensive exhibit
OF the operations OF the postal service, and
oil the financial condition of this part of the
post office department The ordinary postal
revenues for the year ending the Both of
June, 1869, amounted to $lS,344,5l0, and
the expenditures to $23, ESQ, 13l, showing an
excess OF expenditures over receipts of 3d..
$500, the excess of expenditures over re-
ceipts for the previous year, was $64,37992;
the increase Of revenue Of 1869 over those
Of 1868 was $2,0519O9 and the increase
OF expenditures was s967,53S. The increas.
ed revenue in 1869 exceeds the increased
revenue in 1865 by s996,356, and the in
crease OF expenditures in 1862 was $2,527,-
go less than the expenditures in 1867,
showing by comparison this gratifying fea-
ture OF improvement, that while the increase
OF expenditures over the increase Of receipts
In 1868 was $2,439,525, the increase of re.
ceipts over the increase Of expenditures in
1869 was $10si37l Your attention is
respectfully called to the recommendation
made by the Postmaster General, for au-
thority to change the rate Of compensation
to the main trunk railroad lines for their
services in carrying the mails, for having
post route map. executed for recognizing
and increasing the efficiency of special
agents, Tor the increase OF mail service on
the Pacific, and for establishing mail ser.
vice under the flag Of the Union on the
Atlantic, and most especially do | call your
attention to his recommendation for the
total abolition of the franking privilege;
this Is an abuse from which no one receives
commensurate advantage. II reduces the
receipts for postal service from twenty-five
to thirty per cent, and largely increases the
service to be performed.
POSTAGE ON PUBLIC MATTRRs
The method by which postage should be
paid upon public matter is Sc. forth fully in
the report of the Postmaster General
PUBLIC LANDS
The report of the Secretary of the Inter.
ior shows that the quantity of public lands
disposed Of during the year ending the 30th
of juno, 1869, was 1865, l42 acres, exceed
ing that of the preceding year BY 1910.
400 acres, OF this amount 2,S97 ,54A acres
were sold for cash, and 2,137,365 acres
under the homestead laws. The remainder
was granted to aid IN the construction Of
the work of interna! improvements, APPROX
ed to the States - swamp land, and located
by warrants and scrip The cash receipts
from all sources were $4,472,ssS, exceed
ing those of the previous year, $2,s40,140.
PENSION LIST.
During the last fiscal year, g, 1875 names
were added to the pension rolls, and 1886
dropped thercfrom, leaving at its close,
1898. The amount paid to pensioners,
including the compensation Of Disturbing
agents, was, 2s,422 1884, an increase Of
SAL, 1872 on that of the previous year. The
munifcence Of Congress has been conspisu.
ously manifested in in its legislation for the
soldiers and sailors who suffered in the re-
cent struggle to maintain that unity GOV.
eminent which makes US ono people. The
addition to the pension rolls of each success
sive year since the conclusion of hostilities
results in great degree from the repeated
amendments ofths act of the l4th Of July,
1852, which extended its provisions to cases
not within its original scope. The large out
lay which 10 thus occasloned is further in.
creased by the more liberal allowance be-
slowed since that date upon those who, in
the line Of duty, where wholly or perma-
nently disabled
Public opinion has given an emphatic
sanction to these measures of Congress, and
it will be conceded that no part Of our pub
lie burden 10 more cheerfully borne than
that which is imposed by this branch Of
the service. It necessitstes for the next
fiscal year, in addition to the amount justly
chargeable to the naval pension fund an ap-
preparation Of $50, 100000.