Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-11-26
The Public Business.

money man, and is opposed to the use o
paper whenever there is sufficient coin in Oh,
country to take the place Of paper circula
ton. He is of opinion that greenback'
should be gradually withdrawn and golt
and silver issued instead. He will ask con
gress to pass a law Immediately to carry
this recommendation into effect. He viii
also request congress to pass law limiting
the further coinage of standard silver dol
lars. Great stress will be laid on the sue
cess which attended the placing Of the fouI
per cent loan. He will ask congress to pass
law to enable Secretary Sherman to con
tinue refundng the debt by purchasing fives
and skies, which will reach maturity the
next few years aud refunding them in four
per cent bonds. Authority is desired to pay
such premium for these bonds as will en-
able them to be refunded with saving Of
interest to the government. Secretary Sher-
mans annual report will present draft of
bill for this purpose. Congress also will
be asked to pass law for the protection of
foreign trade marks in the United States.
A great portion of the message will be de-
voted to review of the effort of the ad-
ministration to reform the civil service and
the success which has attended it. President
Hayes will draw line between the duties
of the executive and the interference Of the
legislative branch of the government in the
matter Of making appointments as broadly
as possible He wishes to break up the
habit which members of congress have Of
trying to dictate appointments. Whenever
President Hayes is in doubt concerning the
merits of applicants for federal offices, he
will request the advice Of representatives
or senators acquainted with the candidates.
When unsolicited such advice will not be
needed. The message will also deal with
the subject of the interference of govern
ment employees in political affairs. Presi-
dent Hayes does not approve of oflice-hold-
ers becoming ward politicians, debating at
primaries and in conventions the candidates
Of the people. The message will probably
contain some reference to the investigations
mddo Jug buc VI VIC WI WI huiCi-
lean fisheries. The subject of the Nicara-
guam canal will be alluded to, its import
ance urged and fuller survey of the coun-
try through which it would pass will be sug
gested.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the secretary of war makes
a pamphlet of twenty pages. The strength
of the army is placed at 2,lS7 officers and
24,262 men. OF these 3,i63 men are en-
ployed in important duties connected with
the military department, but are not in the
field. The secretary recommends that the
respective force of the army be raised to
$4,000, exclusive of these detachments.
Most of the disasters on the Indian frontier
are the results of the inadequacy of our
force. Since the war of the rebellion fifty.
five officers of the army have been killed in
Indian warfare and like number wounded.
The actual expenditures of the war depart
ment for the year ending June 80, 1879,
were S42,853,000. The estimates for the
year ending June 80, 1881, are $40, $4,000
which is a deduction of Sl4,000,0O0 from the
original estimates submitted to the secretary
of war. The appropriations for fortifca-
tions the last five years have been INSULT
cient to preserve such government property
from waste. The original estimate for
1880 for this purpose was 50, 900. Sec
Rotary McCrary reduced them to million,
but congress appropriated only $l50,000.
The original estimates for 1881 were over
four millions, which were reduced to one
million. General Sherman's report severely
criticises the management of Indian affairs.
PENSION BUREAU.
The annual report Of the commissioner of
pensions shows that on June 30th last there
were 242,755 persons in the United States
receiving pensions from the government, a
larger number than at any previous time.
The list is composed of 125,150 army in
valid pensioners, 81, l74 army widows, chill
dren and dependent relatives, 1874 navy
invalids, 1,722 navy widows, etc., 11.621
surviving soldiers of the war of 1912, and
2l,194 widows of deceased soldiers of that
war. The aggregate amount of one years
pensions to all pensioners on the roll is
S25, 4S3, 742.l5, but the actual annual pay
ment exceeds that sum by several million
dollars, from the fact that nearly all the
newly admitted army and navy cases have
several years accrued pensions due them at
the time of admission, which is paid at the
first payment. During the year the first
payments to new pensioners amounted to
s5,763,75S. 1t is estimated that at the close
of the year there will be not less than $780,
600 unsettled cases before the office.
ESTIMATES FOR NEXT YEAR.
The estimates for the next fiscal year are
also prepared. The grand aggregate Of
these is s136,347 ,129, against 1852 ,404, 648,
which included s25,000,000 and 100000
for the District of Columbia. For the COM
ing year the war department calls for
S29,3l9,794 for the military establishment
and 81, 557, 034 for public works the navy
department, sl4,5O9, l4S; Indian service,
$780,, S46 foreign intercourse, 81, 1851 /;
collecting internal revenue, S4,075,000 /;
tenth census, s2750,00O The postmaster
general in his annual report recommends an
increase of the appropriations for railway
service for the coming fiscal year to &c.
100000, and favors an amendment Of the
laws regulating the compensation on the
star routes those wherein the mails are
transported by horse and ordinary vehicles.
He also recommends the enlargement of the
foreign mail service.
THE COMING CONGRESS
will be one of the most important in the
history Of the country, and many grave
questions, involving the highest interests Of
the nation, will be acted upon. Let US hope
that less of spirit Of blind partisan yea
will actuate all who make our laws, and thai
! with. one accord all TO whom this important
interest is committed will devote themselves
industriously and intelligently to the worl
set before them. II they should happen u
labor tremendously for the best interests o
the whole country, for its perpetuity and tn
perpetuity Of its institutions, economy in it
administration, and peace and good will
among the citizens of its different sections