The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-12-17


the increase Of receipts over the in
crease Of expenditures in 1869 was
$l,0s4,s71. Your attention is res
pectfully called to recommendations
made by the postmaster general for
authority to change the rate of COM
pensation to the main trunk railroad
lines for their services in coin, car
rying the mails, for having post route
maps executed, for recognizing and
increasing the efficiency of the spec.
ial agents, for an increase of The
mail service on the Pacific, and for
establishing mail service under the
flag of the union on the Atlantic, and
most especially do l call your atten-
ticn to his recommendation for to.
tai abolition of the franking privilege.
This is an abuse from which no enc
receives a commensurate advantage.
1t reduces the receipts for postal SER
vice from Is to 80 per cent, and
largely increase the services to Le
performed.
The method by which postage
should be paid upon public matter IS
set forth fully in the report Of the
postmaster general.
SALES OF PUBLIC LANDS.
The report Of the secretary Of the
interior shows that the quantity Of
public lands disposed of during the
year ending the Both Of June, 1869,
was 1865, 1852 acres, exceeding that
Of the proceeding year by 1,Ol0. 400
acres. Of this amount $500, 544
acres We're sold for cash aud 2.737.
265 acres entered under the home
stead laws. The remainder was
granted to aid in the construction Of
the work Of internal improvements,
approved to the states as swamp
land. and located warrants and scrip.
The cash receipts from all sources
were 81. 472. $50, exceeding those If
the proceeding year S2,s4o, lao.
PENSIONS.
During the last Zeal year 90, 1sG
names were added to the pension
rolls. and 4,s7G dropped thercfrom,
leaving. at the close. 49, 63. The
amount paid to pensioners, including
tho compensation of disbursing
agents, was$20, 4222, ss4, an increase
Of SAL. 1872 on that Of the previous
year. The muni6cence Of congress
has been conspicuously manifested in
it's legislation for the soldiers and
sailors who suffered in the recent
struggle to maintain that unity of the
government which makes us our pco-
pie. Tho additions to the pension
rolls Of each successive year since
the conclusion Of hostilities, result in
great degree from the repeated
amendments Of the act of tn 18th Of
July. 1862, which extended it's pro-
visions to cases not fallir: within its
original scope. The large outlay
which is thus occasional is furth. r
increased by the more liberal allow
ance bestowed since that date upon
those who, in the line Of duty, were
wholly or permanently disa tlcd.-
Public opinion has given an emphat-
ic sanction to these measures Of con-
gress, and it will be conceded that no
part Of our public burden is more
che crfully borne than that which is
imposed by this tsanrh If the service.
1t necessitates al outlay for the next
fiscal year, in addition to the amount
justly chargeable to TIE naval pens
ion fnnd, an approximation Ct $50,
coo, 900.
THE PATENT OFFICE.
Daring the year ending the 30th OF
September, 1869, the patent Office
issued Is, 762 patents, and its re.
ceipts were $3.50, $50, being 1918,
926 more than the expenditures.
EDUCATION OF FREEDMEN.
l would respectfully call your at.
tention to the recommendation Of tn.
secretary Of the interior for uniting
the duties Of supervising the educa-
ton Of freedmen with the other duties
dcvolying upon the commissioner Of
education.
TUE CENSUS.
If it is the desire Of congress te
make the census which must be taker
during the year. 1870 more complct.
a cd perfect than heretofore, would
suggest early action upon any p!ar
that may be agreed upon. As con
gress at the last session appointed q
committee to take into consideration
such measures d might be deemed
proper in reference to the census,
and to roper. a plan, | desist frcm
saying more.
InE AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
recommend to your favorable con.
sideration the claims Of the agri
cultural bureau for liberal appropri.
alton. In country so diversified il
climate and sell as ours. and with .
population so largely dependent upon
agriculture. the hereGts that can b.
conferred BY properly fostering thi,
bureau arc incalculab!e.
sALAEIEs OF JUDGES o: TIE SUPREME
COURT.
desire respectfully to call the at.
tenticn Of congress to the Inadequate
salaries Of number Of the most i'm.
pa,taut officers Of the government.
In this message | will not enunerate
them, but will specify only tho
justices Of the supreme court. . No
change has been made il their sala
ries fer Is years. Within that tim.
tkn l,1,ars ~ Ahc no,r< h.-o lo.~,l,