Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-12-14
THE HERALD.
[ Continued from first page.l

Alaska Territory, ana Suggest tnat IL
either be complied with, or that iegis
lation be had for the protectionsof the
seal fisheries, from which a revenue
should be derived The report of
the Secretary of War contains syn
opsis of the reports OF bureaus, Of
commanders Of military divisions,
and of the Districts of Virginia, Mis-
sissippi aud Texas
The report of the General of the
Army in full, and the recommends
tons therein contained, have been
we'll considered and are submitted
for your action. /, however, call
special attention to the recommen-
dation of the Chief of the Ordinance
for the sale OF arsenals and lands no
longer Of use to the Government,
also 10 the recommendation Of the
Secretary of War, that the act of
March Sd, 1869, prohibiting promo
tons and appointments in the staff
corps of the army, be repealed. The
extent Of the country to be garrison
ed and the number of military posts
to be occupied is the same with a re-
duced army as with large one.
The number of staff officers required
is moro dependent upon the latter
than the former condition.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy, accompanying this, shows the
condition of the Navy when this ad-
minlstration came into Office, and the
changes made since. Strenuous Of
forts have been made to place as
many vessels in commission, or rem
der them fit for service, as required,
as soon as possible, and substitute
the sail for steam while cruising, thus
materially reducing the expenses of
the Navy and adding greatly to its
efficiency. Looking to our future, |
recommend a liberal, though Mt ex-
travagant. policy towards this branch
of public service.
THE PosroFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the Postmaster Gen.
eral furnishes a clear aud comprehen
slve exhibit of the operations Of the
postal service, and of the financial
condition OF this part Of thea Postof-
fee Department, The ordinary
postal revenues Of the year ending
the BON OF June, 1869. amount TO
SIS, 344 $40, and the expenditures to
S23 ,6S9, 131, showing an excess Of
expenditures over receipts Of S., 353,-
$40 The excess Of expenditure j
over receipts over the previous year
amounts to Sc, 437 1892. The increase
of revenue for 1869 over that of 1865
was $2,051 900, and the increase OF
expenditures was 1907 ,538. The in
creased revenue in 1869 exceeded
tho increased revenue in 1868 by
1896, 1886, and the increased expendi-
lures in 1869 were S2,527 $50 less
than the increased expenditures in
1867, showing by comparison this
gratifying feature of improvement,
that, while the increase OF expendi-
lures over the increase of receipts in
1868 was So, 439, 535, the increase OF
receipts over the increase Of exper :
ditures in 1869 was $1,0S4 81.
Your attention is respectfully called
to the recommendation made by the
Postmaster General for authority to
pay the rate Of compensation TO
main trunk railroad lines for thor
services in carrying the mails for
having post route maps executed ;
for recognizing and increasing the
efficiency Of the special agency SER
vice; for the increase Of the mail
service on the Pacific, and for estab-
fishing mail service under the flag of
the Union on the Atlantic and most
especially do | call your attention to
his recommendation for the aboli-
ton Of the ranking privilege This
is an abuse from which no one re-
cei7es a commensurate advantage.
1t reduces the receipts for the postal
service from % to 30 per cent, and
largely increases the services to be
performed The method by which
postage should be paid upon publi3
matter is set forth fully in the report
of the Postmaster General