The Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1870-1875, 1870-12-07

1869, the date OF the last reportJ are
less than nineteen million dollars, or
about one million less than they were
the previous year. The expenses Of
the Navy Department in this fiscal
year, since July l, show, for the tive
months, decrease of over two mil
lion four hundred thousand dollars
from those of the corresponding
months of last year. The estimates
for the current year were $28, 203, 90;
those for the next year are $26 .033,-
40. with $95, 100 addition for tempo
rary and permanent improvements.
These estimates are made closely, for
the maintenance of the naval estab-
lishment IS it is now, and without
much in the nature of permanent I'M
proYement. The appropriations made
for the last eight current years were
evidently SO intended by Congress,
and are sufficient only to keep the
navy on its present footing, and the
repairing and reftting of our old ships.
This policy must, Of course gradually
but surely destroy the navy, and it
is in itself far from econom-
ical; for each year that 1t is
pursued, the necessity for more re-
pairs in ships and navy yards
became more imperative and
more costly, and our current ex-
penses are actually increased fol.
the mere repair of ships, many Of
which must soon be unseaworthy and
useless. hope during the present
session of Congress to lie able to sub
NIT to it plan by which naval vessels
can be built and repairs made with
great saving upon the present cost.
It can hardly be wise craftsmanship
in q government which represents a
country with over five thousand miles
of coast line on both oceans, exclu-
sive of Alaska, and containing forty
millions of progressive people with
relations Of every nature with almost
every foreign country. to rest with
such INADEQUATE means of forcing any
foreign policy. either of protection or
redress, separated by the ocean from
the nations of the Western Continent.
Our navy is the only means of direct
protection to our citizens abroad, or
for the enforcement of any foreign
policy.
THE PoSToFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report of the
Postmaster General shows a most sat
isfactory working of that department.
With the adoption Of the recommend
alton contained therein, particularly
that looking to a reform in the frank
ing privilege, and the adoption of cor
respondence cards, a self sustaining
postal system may be speedily looked
for, and at no distant day o further
reduction of postage will be attained.
I recommend an authorization by
Congress to the Postmaster General
and Attorney General to issue all
commissions to officials appointed
through their respective departments.
| At present these commissions. where
appointments are made, are issued By
the State Department. The law IN
all departments Of the Government
except those of the postoiiica and
| Justice, authorize each to issue it,
own commissions.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Always favoring practical reforms,
l respectfully call your attention to
one abuse of long standing, which l
would like to see remedied by this
Congress. 1t is a reform In the civil
service of the country. would ad.
| wise il TO go beyond the mere fixing
of the tenure of ofics of clerks and
! employees who do not require the ad-
| vice and consent Of the Senate to
make their appointments complete. /
would have it govern not the tenure
but the manner, of making all APP
pointments. There is no duty which
so embarrasses the Executive and the
heads of the Departments, as that OF
appointments, nor is there any such
! arduous and thankless labor imposed
upon Senators and Representative as
| that of finding places for constituents.
Thu present system does not secure
the best men, and often not even FL
men for public place. The elevation
aud publication of the civil service of
| the government will be hailed with
approval by the whole people of the
United States.
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Reform in the management Of In
dian affairs has received the special
attention of the Administration from
its Inauguration to the present day.
The experiment of making it mis-
sionary agency given to the denomin-
alton of Friends, has been found to
work most advantageous. All agencies
and superintendents not so disposed
of were given to officers Of the army.
The act of Congress reducing the ar
my rendered army officers ineligible
for civil positions. lndian agencies
being civil Offices, l determined to
give all agencies to such denomina-
tons as had heretofore established
missions among the Indians; perhaps
to some other denominations who
would undertake the work, on the
same terms as 8 missionary work.
The societies selected are allowed
to name their own agents, subject to
the approval of the Executive. and
are expected to watch over them and
aid them as missionaries and chris
tianize and civilize the Indian, aud to
train him in the arts of peace. The
government watches over the official
acts of these agents, aud requires of
them as strict an accountability IS If
they we're appointed in any other
manner. l entertain the confident
hope that the policy now pursued.
will, In few years. bring ali Indians
upon reservations where they will live
In houses, have school houses and
churches, will be pursuing peaceful
and Eelf-supporting avocations, and
where they may be visited By the law
abiding white man with the same i'm
punity that he now visits civilized
white settlements. / call your special
attention to the report of the Com
missioner of Indian Affairs, for full
information on this subject.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
During the last fiscal year, 1856, al, 200
acres OF public land were disposed of. OF
this quantity, $50, s9l acres were taken un-
der the homestead law, and 2l5,95l ,55l
acres sold for cash. The remainder was
Iodtan scrip, or applied In the safisfac-
public uses.
The entries under the Homestead law
during the past year covered 96ls5l5 acres
more than those during the preceding
year. Surveys have been vigorously pros
ecuted TO the full extent OF the means APP
pl1cable TO the purpose. The quantity OF
land in the market will amply supply the
present demand. The claim OF the settler
under the Homestead or Presumption laws
is not, however, limited to land subject to
surveyed public land may, 10 limited
amount be acquired under the former laws,
IL the party entitled 70 enter under them
will comply with the requirements they
prescribe In regard to the residence and
cultivation. The actual settlers prefer
lands which were unEuFYeyed at the
tim of his settlement. His right was for.
merly confined within much narrower
limits, and at one period of our history
was conferred only BY special statutes.
They were enacted from time 10 time ID
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