The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-12-15

The following brief notice of the
annual departmental reports we extract
from the Lancaster MteNigencer:
The report of the Secretary Of War
gives general review of the operations
and conditions of the army during the
past year, the details being left for dis
| cusson in the reports of the various
| department and bureau officers. In
consideration of the greater and import
ant duties devolving upon the army,
| the Secretary expresses the hope that
the present estimates, which he claims
are based upon most economical calcu.
| lations, will be permitted to stand
| Several economical measures, by VIII ich
| a saving can be effected, are suggested,
and the permission of COngrss to put
them in operation is asked. The report
of the Secretary makes very satisfac-
tory exhibit of the efficiency of the
army, and indicates that it's general
management is most excellent.
In closing his report, the Secretary
ment, in conformity to the programme
marked out by the President, that it has
been found necessary to retain about
one sixth of the whole army in those
States of the Southeast of the Mississip-
pi which were engaged in the rebellion,
for the purpose of putting down sec.
ond rebellion and bringing its leaders
to punishment. BY what process of
reasoning the Secretary arrives at the
necessity of this course, apart from po.
litical motives, he does not tell US.
The Secretary of the Navy furnishes
the information that the Navy of the
United States now consists of l79 ships
of all classes and conditions; Of these
20 are sailing vessels and the remainder
steamers of various classes, including
SO monitors, all of which, but one are
laid up in ordinary. There are on the
stocks ID vessels; and very large pro.
portion of these having been built in
great haste during the war out of un-
seasoned live-oak to meet sudden
emergency, are practically worthless;
and the Secretary contends that, AS they
have faithfully performed the duty fJr
which they were constructed, the Gov
ernment eau well afford to lose them.
The total expenditures of the Navy
Department since the last report have
been Sl9,265, ,2i0.52, and the apprOpria-
tions for the current fiscal year amount
to $40 ,064,7l The estimates for the
general expenses of the service for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1870, amount
to $l9,92j, ,5O7.02.
The report of the Postmaster. General
is somewhat voluminous. According to
it, the service in this country will com.
pare favorable with that of any Euro.
pean nation, when due allowance is
made for the vast extent of our terri
tory, and the sparsenesS of the popula.
tion in many sections. The Postmas-
ter.General has under his command an
army of 43,953 men, aud the service
rendered by them to the country is bet
ter performed, perhaps, than that of any
other branch OF the Government. There
continues to be a steady increase in the
operations of the department, the fig
ures for the last fiscal year showing. the
increase of revenue to be considerably
above the increase in the expenditures,
a favorable showing under any circum-
stances, and especially so, from its rari-
ty,, in connection with governmental
administration.
OF Internal Revenue, 1t appears that the
total amount of revenue received from
all sources, excluding the duty upon the
circulation among the National Banks,
is Sl4l,0ll ,l76,Y. Commissioner Dou.
glass, after commenting on the general
working of the machinery for the col
lection of the revenue from dlstiller5
and others, makes dicided stand on
the question OF the tobacco trade; ami
madverts strongly on the manner in
which 1t is received into boLd, and al
most makes an assertion that the United
States Treasury has hitherto been gross.
ly swindled by those who deal in the
commodity. He has made several rec
concentrations for the prevention OF
such frauds in the future.