The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-12-09

see no substitute for such a system eX-
cept in placing all the Indians on large
reservations as rapidly as can be done,
and giving them absolute protection
there. As soon as they are fitted for
st they should be induced to take their
lands in severalty, and 10 set up terri
.torial governments for their own pro-
lection. For full details on this sub
iect, l call your attention to the re-
parts of the Secretary of the Interior
and the Commissioner of Indian At
fairs.
.-tE THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of War
shows the expenditures of the War
Department for the year ending June
80, 1869, to be SSO644,042, of which
S23,SS2.3l0 was disbursed in the pay
ment of debts contracted during the
war and is not chargeable to current
army expenses. His estimate of S344,-
531 .03i for the expenses of the army
for the next fiscal year, is as low as
can be relied on. The estimates of
bureau officers has been carefully scru-
tinized and reduced weherever it has
been found practicable. If however,
the condition of the country should be
such by the beginning of the next fis-
cal year, as to admit of greater con-
traction of troops, the appropriation
asked for will not be expended. The
appropriations estimated for river
and harbor improvements, and for
Notifications are submitted separately.
Whatever amount congress may deem
proper to appropriate for these pur-
poses will be expended. The recon-
mendation,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 other, is concurred
in. l also ask your special attention
to the recommendation of the general
commanding the military division of
the Pacific, for the sale of the seal is
lands of St. Paul and st. George, Alas
ka Territory, and suggest that it either
be complied with CIR 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 q synopsis of the reports of
the heads of bureaus, of the comman-
ders of military divisions. and of the
districts of Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas, and the report of the general of
the army in full. The recommends
tions therein have been well consider
ed and are submitted for your action.
Il, however, call special attention to
the recommendations of the chief of
ordnance for the sale of arsenals and
lands no longer of use to the govern
ment; also to the recommendation of
the secretary of war, that the act of
the third of March, 1869, prohibiting
prmomotions and appointments in
staff corps of the army be repealed.
The extent of country to be garrison
en-, 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
more 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-
ministration came into Office and the
changes made since. Strenuous efforts
have been made to place as many ves-
for service if required, as possibfe,a and
to 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, l recommend liberal, tho
not extraVagant policy toward this
branch of the public service.
THE PosToFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
the report of the postmaster gene
raj furnishes a clear and comprehen-
sive exhibit of the operations of the
| postal service, and of the financial
condition of the postoffice department
The ordinary postal revenues for the
year ending the Both of June, 1869
amounts to $I9,344,510, and the ex.
penditures to $23 3,698, ,131, showing an
excess of expenditures over receipts
of S5, ,353,620. The increase of reve.
. nue. for 1869 over that of 1868 was. 81.
051 ,909, and the increase of expendi.
lures was S967,53S, The increased
revenue in 1869 exceeded the increased
revenue in 1868 by $996,396, and thu
increased expenditure in 1869 was 81,
l 527, $40 less than the increased expend
itures in 1868, showing by comparison
|
that while the increase of cxpend
itures over the increase of receipts il
1868 was $2,439, ,535, the increase o
receipts over the increase of expend
itures in 1869 was 81, ,0S4,371.
Your attention is respectfully called
to the recommendation made by tn,
postmaster general for authority tc
change the rate of compensation to tht
main trunk railroad lines for thei
services ill carrying the mails; for hav
ing post route maps executed; for re
organizing and increasing the efficien
cy of the special agency service; 70
an increase of the mail service on tn
Pacific, and for establishing mail ser
vice under the flag of the Union Oh
4 the Atlantic; and most especially do
4 call your attention to his recommend
d alton for the total abolition of tn
franking privilege. This is an abus
from which no one receives a com
: mensurate advantage. 1t reduces tn
q receipts for postal service from TWEEN
ty-tive TO thirty per cent. and largel,
increases the service to be performed
The method by which postage shoult
be paid upon public matter is set fort
], fully in the report of the postmaste
general. .e-H-- ID.
!, d. PUBLIC LANDS.
The report of the secretary of tn
interior shows that the quantity O
public lands disposed of during tn
, year ending on the Both of June, 1868
was 1866, ,152 acres, exceeding that @
the. preceding year by 1,Ol0, 400 acres
Ofthis amount, 2,S99,644 acres wer
sold for cash and 2,737,365 acres Ell
tered under the homestead law. Th
remainder was granted to aid in th
: construction of works of internal i'm
provement, appraised to the states a
swamp lands and located by warrant
and scrip. The cash receipts from al
4 sources were $4,472,SS6, exceeding
those of the preceding year SO, ,24O, LAC
~ -- >.- PENSIONS. ..--
During the last fiscal year 23, ,19I
names were added to the pension roll
and 1875 dropped therefrom, leaving
at its close 1S7, 1868. The amount pai(
to pensioners, including compensatio,
of disbursing agents, was $2S,422, 1888
an increase of $441, ,1S2 on that of ,th,
previous year. The munificence o