The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-12-14

year, Is ss Low as it is believed can be
relied on The estimates of bureau Off
GERS have BEEN carefully systemized and
reduced wherever it has been deemed
practicable. Ii, however, the condition
of the country should be such by the be-
ginning of the rext fiscal year as to ad-
nit Of greater concentration of troops,
the appropriation asked for will not be
expended.
The appropriation estimated for liver
and harbor improvements and for forti-
fications are submitted separately. What
ever amount Congress may deem proper
to appropriate for these purposes, will
be expended.
The recommendation of the General
of the Army that appropriations be made
/ for the forts at Boston, Portland, New
York, Philadelphia, New Orleans and
San Francisco, if for no others, is con
Cured in. r TIT
l also ask your special attention to the
recommendation Of the General COM
manding the military division of the Pa
cifc, for the sale of Of the seal islands Of
st. Paul and ST George in the Alaska
Territory. and suggest that it either be
complied with, or that legislation be had
for the protection Of the seal fisheries.
from which revenue should be derived.
The report of the Secretary of War
contains synopsis of the reports OF the
heads of bureaus Of the commanders of
military divisions, and of the districts of
Virginia, Mississippi and Texas; and the
report of the General Of the Army in
full The recommendations therein con-
tanned have been well considered, and
are submitted for your action l, how
ever, call special attention to the recon-
mendation Of the Chief of Ordnance for
the sale of arsenals and lands no longer :
of use to the government; also, to the
recommendation of the Secretary of
War that the act of the 3lst of March,
1869, prohibiting promotions and ap-
pointments in the Staff Corps of the ar
my be repealed The extent Of country
TO be garrisoned, and the number OF mil
itary posts to be occupied is the same
with reduced army as with large one,
the number Of staff officers required Is
more dependent upon the latter than the
former condition. The report of the
Secretary of the Navy accompanying
this shows the condition of the navy
when this Administration came into Of
fee, and the changes made since.
Strenuous efforts have been made to
place as many vessels in commission, or
render them fit for service il required, ,as
possible, and to substitute the sail for
steam while cruising thus materially re-
ducing the expenses of the navy, and
adding greatly to its efficacy Looking
to our future, l recommend a liberal
though not extravagant policy towards
this branch of the public service.
The report of the Postmaster Gene
ral furnishes clear and comprehensive
exhibit Of the operations of the postal
service, and of the financial condition OF
the Postoifice Department. The ordinary
postal resources for the year ending the
Sd of June, 1869, amount to SIS, S,344, BIO,
and the expenditures to So, ,6S9, ,43l.
showing an excess of expenditures over
receipts of S5,3I3620.. The excess of
expenditures over receipts for the pre-
vious wear, amounted to S6,437 ,9O2.9-!
The increase of revenue for 1859 over
those of 1868, was S2,051, ,909, and the,
increase of expenditures was S961, ,5S3.
The increased revenue il 1869 exceeded.
the increased revenue Of 1868 by $685.
1856, and the increased expenditures, Of
1869 was Sa,527,57 less than the in
creased expenditures in 1868, showing
by comparison this gratifying feature of
improyemcnt.that the increase of expen-
ditures over the increase of receipts IN
1868, was $2,439, ,535; the increase Of
receipts over 1869 was 81, 1,0S4.3fl.--
Your attention is respectfully callee to
recommendation by the Postmaster
General for authority to change the rate
of compensation to the main trunk rail-
road lines for their services in carrying
the mails; for having post route maps
executed; for recognizing and inereas-
ing the efficiency of the special agency
service; for increase of the service on
| the Pacific, and for establishing mail SER
vice under the flag Of the Union on tho
Atlantic; and most especially do il call
your attention to the recommendation
for the total abolition of the franking
privilege. This is an abuse from which,
no one receives commensurate advan-.,
tage. 1t reduces the receipts for postal
service from twenty-five to thirty per
cent?, and largely increases the service to-
be performed. .5IaIf4.{1U II
The method by which postage should
be fixed upon public matter is set forth
fully in the report of the Postmaster
/ General. EbBtsF
The report of the Secretary of the In
terror shows that the quantity of public
land disposed of during the year ending
3Oth June, 1869, was 7,466,154 acres-
Exceeding that of the preceding year by
1,010,409 acres. Of this amount 1885,
| 544 acres were sold for cash, and 2,737,-
365 acres entered under the homestead
laws The remainder was granted to
aid in the construction of internal inl-t
provements, appropriated to the States
as swamp lands, and located as warrants
and scrip. The cash receipts from all
sources were S4,472, $50, exceeding those
of the preceding year s2,S4o,14O. DuE
ring the last fiscal year 23,196 names
we're added to the pension rolls, and. A.
S76 dropped therefrom; leaving at its
close 1Sz963. The amount paid to pen-S
sioners, including the compensation Off
disbursing agents, was 1913, ,42a, 1884 an
increase of Sal, 1872 on that of the pre.s
ceding year The muniicence of Con
gress has been conspicaously manifested
in its legislation for the soldiers and sal ,
lors who suffered in the recent struggle
to maintain that unity of government
which makes us one people. The addi-
tons to the pension rolls of each success
sive year since the conclusion Of hostil7
tiles result in great degree from the re.
peated amendments of the act of the
14th of July, 1868, which extended its
provisions. To cases not falling within
the original scope the large outlay Which
is thus occasioned is further increased by
the more liberal allowance bestowed since