The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-12-18

deem proper appropriate Tor these purposes
be expended The Recommendation of the Gea-
sr.d of the Army that appropriations be made for
the forts at Boston, Portland, New York, Phila-
delrhia, - Orleans and San Francisco. if for
20 other reasons, isconcurred in. I also ask your
special attention to the recommendation of the
General commanding the military division of the |
Pacific for the sale of the seal island of st. Paul
and st. George, Alaska Territory, and suggest |
that it be complied with, that legislation be had
for protection of the seal fisheries from which |
revenue should be derived. The report of the |
Secretary of War tains n synopsis from the /
heads of Bureaus of the commanders of the mill |
tary divisions of The Districts OF Virginia Missis-
sippi and Texas, and the report of the General of
the Army in full. The reeommen datiuns therein !
contained have been considered and arc submitted
for your action. however call special attention
to the recommendation of the Chief of Ordnance
fer the sale Of arsenals and lands longer of
to the Government / also recommend the sug-
Seston of the Secretary of War that the Act of
sd of March, 1859, prohibiting promotions and
appointments In the staff corps of the Army, be
rcapealed The extent of the cluntry to be gov
erned and the number of military posts TO be oc-
cupied, as the rule is the same with a reduced
force as with large one, the number of staff Off
GERS required is more dependent upon the latter
than the former condition.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy accom-
panying this shows the condition of the Navy
when this Administration came into Office and the
changes made since. Strenuous efforts have been
made to place as many vessels In commission or
render them fit for service if required as soon as
possible and substitute the sajf for steam while
the Nav and aipr matsr;s}lrs 5, me ss. o.
Looking to our future, liberal though not ex-
travagant policy toward this branch of the public
service is commended.
PosrorFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the ostmaster-Gcneral furnishes
clear and comprehensive exhibit of the opera
tons of the postal service and of the financial
condition of the Postoffice Department. The or
dinary postal revenues for the year ending june
n0rrrf 20 Nh II
ditures TO S2S, $50, 131, showing an excess of ex
penditurcs over receipts of $5,353, 500. The ex-
cess Of expenditures over receipts for the previous
year amounted to S6,437,992 The increase of
this Departments revenues for 1859 over those of
1868, was 81 051 300, and the increase of expen-
dItures was 50 ,03S- The increased revenue
or lS6Y exceeded the increased revenue of 1868
by $996, 1886. In the increased expenditures in
1862 were S., 527, $40 less than the increased ex
penditures in 1867. showing by comparison this
gratifying feature of improvement that while the
increase of expenditures the increase of
eeipts in 1868 50, ,439 525, the increase of
eeipts over the increase of expenditures of 1869
was Si ,oo4sSd. Your attention is respectfully
called to the recommendation made by the Post
master-General for authority to charge rates of
compensation to the main trunk railroad lines for
services ia coin IN carrying mails for reorgan-
lzing and increasing the efficiency of special
agents, for increase of mail service the Pacific,
and for establishing mail service under the flag of
the Union on the Atlantic; and 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 commen-
surate advantage. 1t reduces the receipts for
postal service from Is TO 80 per cent. and largely
increases the 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.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary .f the Interior
shows that the quantity of public lands disposed
of during the year ending the 3eth June, is CO.
was 1,666,l52 acres exceeding that of the pre-
ceedlng year by 1,010, 400 acres. Of this amount
2,S99, ,544 acres were sold for cash. and g 73I 365
acres secured under the homestead laws The re->
mainder was granted to aid the construction If
works OF internal improvement, approved to Me
States as swarnps, and land warrants and scfip.
The cash receipts from all sources were s, ,z72,-
$40, 40.
During the last fiscal year, % 1876 names were
added to the pension rolls, and 1896 dropped
therefrom, lea7ing at the close, 1s7, ,663. The
amount paid to pensioners including & the he cemPen
increse of $441, l52 that of the previous year.
The munifcence of Congress has been conspicu-
ously manifested in its legislation for the soldiers
and orphans who suffered IN the struggle to main
tain that unity Of Government which makes us
one people The additions to the pension rolls
of each successive year since the conclusion ofhos
tlities results in great degree from the reported
amendments of the act of the l4th of July, 1867,
which extended its provisions to cases not falling
within its original scope. The large outlay which
is thus occasioned is further increased by the
moro liberal allowance bestowed since that date
upon those who in the line of duty were wholly
or permanently disabled. Public opinion has
given emphatic sanction to these measures of
Congress and it will be conceded that no part of
our public burden is more cheerfuly borne than
that which is imposed by this branch of the ser
vice. 1t necessitates for the next fiscal year an
addition to the amount justly chargeable to the
naval pension fund of 100000, 900.
During the year ending goth of September,
1862 the Patent Office issued 13, 762 patents, and
the receipts were $636, 6,3s9, being s2I3, 3,035 more
than tho expenditures.
would respectfully call your attention to the
recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior,
for uniting the duties of supervision of the edu-
cation of the freedmen with the other duties de-
voiving 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 heretofore, L
recommend 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 re-
ference TO the census and report a plan, desist
from saying more.
I recommend to your favorable consideration
the claims of the Agricultural Bureau In coun-
try SO diversified In climate and soil as ours and
with q apopulation SO largely dependent upon
Agricuiture, the benefits to be conferred by prop
erly fostering this Bureau are incaieulabie
desire respectfully to call the attention of
Congress to the inadequate salaries of number
of the most important officers ofthe Government.
In this message / viii not enumerate, but will
mention the Justices of the Supreme Court. No
change has been made in their salaries in fifteen
years. Within that time the labors of the court
have largely increased, and the expenses ofliving
have at least doubled. During the same time
Congress has twice found it necessary to increase
largely the eompensation-of its own members and
the duty which It owes to another department of
the Government deserves to and will undoubtedly
receive its due consideration.
There are many subjects not alluded to in this
message which might with propriety be intro
duced but abstain, believing your patriotism and
statesmanship viii suggest the topics of legisla
fion most conducive to the interests Of the whole
people. On my part I promise rigid advocacy of
the laws and their strict enforcement.
u. s. GRANT.
wAsursaros, d. c., Dec. 6, 1859.
A letter from miner to Boise paper