Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-12-16

ing and increasing the efficiency Of special ao.n,.
for an increase of the mail service on the Pscs;ss
and for establishing mail service under the aso ~
the Union on the Atlantic and most especialy d a.
call your attention 10 his recommendation for the
total abolition of the ranking privilege this i 'e
abuse from which no one receives a c0mnensnrae,aa
advantage. 1t reduces the receipts for postal sa
vice from twenty-five to thirty per cent and aree.
increases the service to be performed eNJ
The method by which postage shoula \.
paid upon public matter is set forth fnII
IN the report of the Postmaster Generaf
The report OF the Secretary OF the Interia,
show. thai the quantity Of pnolic lands disposed
was 66b, 152 acres, exceeding that Of the preceS
ing year by 1,0l0,4U9 acres. OF this amonu,
2 $50 544 acrts were sold for each, and 9 73T sss
acres under the homestead laws. The remaindeY
was granted TO aid in the construction of worSs
Of internal Improvement approved to the Statss
~ swamp land, and located by warrants and scrin
The cash receipts from all sources were 81 AZ
1856, exceeding those OF the previous Year
During the last fscal year, % 1906 names we,.
added to the. pension rolls, and 4S1s
dropped therefrom, leaving at its close
1s7,96s. The amount paid to pensioners
agents, was, SIS, laa,ssi, an increase "
$441 ,l97 on that OF the previous year, Tha
muniacence of Congress has been conspIcuonsIv
manifested In its legislation for the soldiers ana
sailors who suffered in the recent struggle 10
maintain that unity of government which makes
us one people. The addition to the pension roIs
of each successive year since the conclusion al
hostilites result In great degree from the repeat
ed amendments Of the act of the 18th Of july IsS5
which extended its provisions to cases not fano,
within It's original scope. The larger 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 ne,
manenty disabled.
Public opinion has given an emphatic sanction IN
these measures OF Congress and will be Conceded
that no part of public burden is more cbeerllv
borne than this branch lof the service Ii nec,,ssi
tates an outlay for the next fiscal year. in addition
to the amount justly chargeabe to the naval pen
sion fund, an appropriation of s30,000,OO0
During the year ending September Both 1854
the Patent Office issued 162 patents, and its re-
cepts were 1899, being 926 more than the
expenditures.
iwould respectfully call your attention to the
recommendations of the Secretary of the interior
for uniting the duties of supervising the educs.
ton Of freedmen with the other duties devolvinp
upon the Commissioner Of Education. If il il
the desire of Congress to make the census which
must be taken during the year 1870, more com.
plete and perfect than heretofore, i would suggest
early action upan any plan that may be agreed ND
on. As Congress, at the last session, appointeda
committee to take into consideration such meas.
ures as might be deemed proper in reference to the
census, and to report plan desist from saying
more.
Recommend to your favorable consideration the
claims OF the Agriculture Bureau for liberal appro.
priation. Ina country so diversified in climate and
soil ar ours, and with population so largely de-
pendent upon agriculture, the benefits that can he
conferred by properly fostering this bureau are in.
calculabe.
desire respectfully to call the attention of Con.
gress to the Inadequate salaries of number of the
most important officers OF the government In this
message will not enumerate them but will specify
only the justices of the Supreme Court; no change
has been made in their salaries for fifteen year,
Within that time the abors Of the Court have largely
increased, and the expenses of living have at least
doubled; during the same time Congress has
twice found 1t 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
consde Grafton.
There are many subjects not alluded to In this
message which might with propriety be intro
duced but abstain believing your patriotism
and statesmanship will suggest the topics and
legislation most conducive to the interests of the
whole people. On my part, / promise ri id ad.
herence to the laws and their strict enforcement.
(Signed) U. S. GRANT