Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-12-11

ment of the public debt which adds together
the principal and interest due and unpaid,
and interest accrued to date, dne
and deducts the cash IN the Treasury as
recorded on day of publication, the reduction
was Sl00, 544, ,491. %. The source of this reduc
| ton is as follows:
Reduction in principal account 90, ,96O, ,OO354
| Reduction in unpaid int. acct. $3.50, SO
Total .s103, ,29o, ,956. so
Reduction in cash on hand ..... 2,746, ,465 %
Total .S10O, ,544, ,491 .2S
| On the basis Of the last table the statements
show reduction of the public debt from the
1st of March, 1869, to the present time fol-
lows:
From March 1st 1869, to March
From March 1st, 1870, to March
lst, 1871. l..................... III, ,6l9, 630.25
From March 1st. 1871, to March
From March 1st, 1872, to No
vember 1st. 1872, 8 MONTHS. Ga, Oh, ,237 .94
lOtdi SOOO. .OJO, JSJ OF
With the great reduction of taxation by the
acts Of Congress at its last session, the ex-
pendlture OF the government-in collecting the
reycnaSa will be much reduced for the next fis-
cal year. 1t is very doubtful, however
whether any further reduction of so
yexatious burden upon any people
will be practicable for the present.
At all events, as a measure OF justice to the
holders of the nations certificates of indebt-
edness, l would recommend that no more
legislation be had upon this subject, unless it
be to correct errors of omission or commission
III the present laws, until sufficient time has
elapsed to prove that it can be done and still
leave sufficient revenue to meet the current
expenses of the Government, pay the interest
on the public debt, and provide for the sinking
q hXyI . -
our national credit is of great importance
Next in Importance to this comes solemn
duty to provide a national currency of fixed
unvarying value as compared with gold, and
as soon as practical, having due regard for the
interests of the debtor class and the vicissi-
tudes of trade and commerce, and convertible
into gold at par.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of War shows
the expenditures of the War Department. for
the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1871, to be
$35, ,799, ,991.82, and for the fiscal year ending
June 30th, 1872, to be $35, ,372 1920, showing
reduction in favor of the last fiscal year of
1927, ,834.6 Estimates for military appropria-
tons for the next fiscal year ending June 30
1878, are $33, ,601 ,378.78. The estimates of the
chief OF engineers are submitted separately
for fortifcations and river and harbor improve
ments, and for public buildings and grounds
and the Washington acQueduct. The affairs of
the freedmens bureau, have all been trans
ferred to the War Department, and regula-
tions have been put into execution for the
speedy payment of bounty pay, &C.. due
to colored soldiers properly coming
under that bureau. All war accounts for
money and property prior to 1871 have been
examined and transmitted to the Treasury for
final settlement During the fiscal year there
has been paid for transportation on railroads
$4,000 ofwhich,$S0, 857 was over the Pacific
railroads. For transportation by water, So
263, ,752, and by stage. $4, S97, ,584, and for the
purchase of transportation animals, wagons,
hire of teamsters, &c, S92, 465, 064 About
$370, 900 have been collected from Southern
railroads during the year, leaving about s4,-
600, 900 still due.
The Quartermaster has examined and trans
mitted to the accounting Office for settlement
$50. III, ,292 of claims by loyal citizens for
Quartermaster's stores, taken during the war.
Subsisting supplies to the amount of So 904,-
S12 have been issued to Indians. The annual
average mean strength of the army was 24.210
white and 2,494 colored soldiers. The total
deaths for the year reported we're 367 white
and "a colored. The distribution of the medi-
cal and surgical history of the war is yet to be
ordered by Congress.
There exists an absolute necessity for
medical corps of the full number established
by the act of Congress of July 28th, 666,
there being now hfty-nine vacancies, and the
number of successful candidates rarely ex-
ceeds eight or ten in one year.
RIVER AND HABBoR IMPROVEMENTS.
The river and harbor improvements have
been carried on with energy and economy.
Though many are only partially completed,
the results have saved to commerce many
| times the amount expended. The increase of
commerce with greater depth of channels
greater security in navigation and the saving
/ of time adds much to the wealth of the coun-
try, and increases the resources of the govern
ment.
! The bridge across the Mississippi River at
Rock Island has been completed, and the
| proper site has been Determined upon for the
bridge at La Crosse.
| The able and exhaustive report made by the
commission appointed to investigate the Sutro
Tunnel has been transmitted to Congress.
THE SIGNAL OFFICE.
| The observations and reports of the Signal
Office have been continued. Stations have
been maintained at each of the principal lake,
| seaport and river cities. Ten additional sta
| tiOns have been established in the United
! States, and arrangements made for exchange
| Of reports with Canada, and a similar exchange
! of observations Is contemplated with the West
| India Islands.
REFORM IN THE MILITARY SERVICE.
| The favorable attention of Congress is in
Ylted to the following recommendations of the
| Secretary OF War: discontinuance of the ap-
pointment Of extra LieutenaDts to serve as
adlutants and quartermasters; the adoption of
1 a code providing specific penalties for well de-
! fined otfenses; so that the inequality of SEN
| fences adjudged by Court MartiaIs be adjust
ed; the consolidation Of accounts, under which
| expenditures are made, as a measure of econo-
my a reapproprlation of the money for the
co tructIon Of depot at San Antonio the
tltlo to the site being now perfected; a special
act placing the cemetery at the city of Mexico
on the same basis as other national ceme-
teries !; authority to purchase sites for military
posts Ill Texas the appointment of commits
5ary sergeants from mnOn-cOmmissiOned officers
/ as measure for securing the better care and
protection OF supplies; an appropriation for
the catalogue table of the anatomical section
of the army medical museum re-appropria-
ton of the amount for the manufacturing of
| breech-lOading arms should the selection be so
delayed by the board of officers as to leave the
former appropriations unexpended at
! the close of thu fiscal year; the
sale of such arsenals east of the Mississip-
pi as can be spared, and the proceeds applied
| to the establishment of one large arsenal Of
construction and repair upon the Atlantic
coast, and the purchase of a suitable site for
a proving and experimental ground for heavy
ordnance; the abrogation of laws which
deprive inventors in the United States
service from deriving any benefit from
their invention the repeal of the law
prohibiting promotions in staff corps a con-
tinuance OF work on the coast defenses the
repeal OF the seventh section of the act of July
18th, 1856, taking from engineer soldiers the
per diem granted to other troops a limitation
of time for the presentation of subsistence
supplies under the act of July 4th, 1864; and
a modification in the mode of the selection of
cadets for the military academy, in order to
enhance the usefulness of the acade-
my which is impaired by reason
OF the large amount of time necessarily eX-
pended in giving new cadets q thorough
knowledge Of the more elementary branches
OF learning which. they should acquire before
entering the academy also an appropriation
for philosophical apparatus and an increase in
the number and the pay of the military acad-
emy band.
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.
Jhe attention of Congress will be called du-
rlug It's present session to various enterprises
Tor the more certain and cheaper transporta-
ton OF the constantly increasing surplus OF
western and southern products to the Atlantic
seaboard. The subject is one that will force
itself upon the legislative branch of the gov
ernment sooner.or later, and suggest, there
fore, that immediate steps be taken to gain al
available information, to insure equitable and
just legislation.