L P FisTicr
. VOLUMK VI.
ALBANY, OREGON DECEMBER 10, 1873.
NO. 27.
HE PRtMUK-VTH .HEWAUK.
(Continued from, Saturday's Kegister.
EXPEDITION TO THE AMAZON.
In attempting to regain our lost
commerce and carrying trade. I have
heretofore ealled attention to the
States south-of the United States as
offering a field where much might be
accomplished to further this object. I
suggest thai a small appropriation he
maoe, accompanied with authority
for the Secretary of the Navy to tit
out a naval vessel to ascend the Ama
zon river to the month of the Maderia,
thence to explore the river and its
tributaries into Bolivia; to report to
Congress at its next session, or as
soou as practicable, as to the accessi
bility ot the country by water, its re
soitjcesand itopulation. To be reached
such an exploration will cost but
little, tt can do no barm and may
result in establishing a trade of value
to both nations.
U further connection with the treaty
department I would recommend a
revision and codification ot the tariff
laws, and the opening of more mints
for coining money with authority to
coifi for such nations as may apply.
f THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The attention of Congress Is invited
to the recommendation in the report
Of thrtfecretary of War. The appar
ent great co4 ot supporting the
Academy is fully explained in his re
port, and will receive your attention.
While inviting your general attention
to all the recommendations made by
the Secretary of War, there are two
to which I would generally invite
your consideration ; First. The im
portance of preparing for war in time
of peace, by proper armament of our
sea const defences. Pro-asr arma
ments nre of vastly more importance
than lortifiaitjous. The latter eaii be
supplied very .speedily for temporary
purposes when needed; the former
cannot. The .second is the neeesslty
of reopening promotion in"the staff
corps of Hie, army. Partiiailarlv is
this necessity lett in The Medical, Pay
aud Ordnance Departments at this
time. It is necessary to employ con
tract siirgeoas to supply, the necessity
of medical attention required by the
army. With the present force of the
pay "department, it is now difficult to
make the payments to the troops pro
vided for by iaw. Long delays in
payments are productive of desertions
and demoralization, and the law pro
hibits the payment of troops by other
tliau regular army paymasters. There
arc now sixteen vacancies in the Ord
nance l)eartinent. thus leaving that
branch of the service without sufficient
officers to conduct the business of tlie
different arsenals on a large scale, if
ever required.
THEN AY V DEPARTMENT.
During the past year our navy has
been reduced by the sale of some ves
sels no longer fit for naval purposes,
and ny tne eouricmnatioii or others not
yet disposed of. Tliis. however, has
been more than compensated for by
the repairs of six of the wooden ships
and by the building of" eight new
sloop tlf war, authorized by the; last
Congress. The building' of these
latter hm occurred at a doubly fortu
nate time. They are about beiiig
coulpleted, vvheii they will possltjly
he much needed, aud tlic work upon
them has not only given employment
to thousands ot men, but no doubt has
been titvimausof keeping open the
establishments ot oilier Works at a
time of great. financial distress Since
the commencement of last month,
however, the distressing occurrences
which have, taken place in tire waters
of the Caribbean Sea, along our very
seabwird, while tliey Illustrate most
forcibly the necessity always existing
that a nation situated as ours shmitd
maintain in a state of efficiency a navy
adequate to its responsibilities. It has
at, tjic sjune time demanded that the
effective force we really have shall be
put in Immediate readiness for warlike
service This has been ami is being
done promptly and effectively. 1 am
assured that ail the available ships aud
every authorized man of the American
navy will be ready for whatever action
is required for the safety of our cities
or the maintenance ol our honor.
This of course, will render the expen
ditur JlTa'stiflM, time, 6f some or rW
appropriations which were calculated
to extend through the fiscal year; but
Congress will, 1 doubt not, understand
and appreciate the emergency, and
will provide adequately, not only for
thft fruut -sii nation, hot for" the
lutuoefliaintefMtcuoof our naval force;
The Secretary of the Navy has, during
the past year, been quietly putting
some iif jpiui, oxtepsiyej Mmiftors t a
condition for service, and thus the ex
igency. od us in mm bttt con
ditM.kli work tliawe should poMbty
have been without his action.
FOSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
A complete exhibition is presented
in the accompanying report ot the
Postmaster-Goneral of the operations
of the Postofrlee Department during
the year. The ordinary postal revenue
for the fiscal vear ending -Mine dutu.
1873, amounted to 122,906,741 57, and
expenditures of all kinds to $29,084,
905 07. The Increase in revenues
over 1872 was $1,081,315 20, and the
increase in expenditures, $246,573 06,
independent of payments made from
special appropriations for mail steam
ship lines. The amount drawn from
the General Treasury to meet deficien
cies was $520,547. The constant and
rapid extension of our postal service,
particularly upon railways, and the
improved facilities for the collection,
transmission, distribution and delivery
of malls which- are constantly being
provided, account' for the increase of
expenditures ot this popular branch of
tne public service. 1 lie total number
of postoffiees in operation on the 301
of .Tune, 1878, was 44.244 an .increase
of 1.381 over the number reported the
previous year. The number of Presi
dential offices was 1,303, an increase
of lfi2 during the year. The total
length of railroad mail routes at the
close ot the year was 03.455 miles, an
increase of 5.540 miles over the year
1878. fifty-nine railroad nostoffiee
lines were in operation on the 30th of
dune, 1873. extending over 14.866
miles of railroad routes, and perform
ing, an aggregate service of 34.925
uiilos daily. The number of letters
exchanged with foreign countries was
27.459.1S5, an increase of 3,096,685
over the previous year; and the pos
tage thereon amounted to $2,021,
310 86. The total weight ot corres
pondence exchanged in mails with
European countries, exceeded 912
tons an increase of 92 tons over the
previous year. The total cost of the
United States ocean mail steamship
service, including $735,000 paid Irom
special appropriations to subsidized
lines of mail steamers, was f,wfp
771 35. Additional postal conventions
have been concluded with Sweden,
Norway, Belgium, Germany, Canada,
Now Fouudlaud and Japan, reducing
postage rates on correspondence and
exchange with those countries; and
further efforts have been made to con
clude a satisfactory ppstal convention
with France, but without success. I
invite the favorable consideration ol
Congress to the suggestions and rce
oniineudajluns pt the Ppstmastet Gen
eral foray extension Of the iree deliv
ery system in all cities having a popu
lation of not less than ten thousand,
for the prc-payment ot postage on
newspapers and otlier printed matter
of tiie second class, for uniform pos
tage and a limit of weight on miscel
laneous matter, for adjusting the com
pensation of all postmasters appointed
by the President by the old method,
or commissions on tbe actual receipts
of their offices, instead of the present
mode of fixing their .salaries In. ad
vance upon special returns. Ami es-
IK'cially do I urge favorable action by
Congress on the important recommen
dation of the Postmaster General for
the establishment ot United States
postal savings depositories. Your
attention is, also again called to the
consideration ot the question of postal
.telegraphs and the arguments adduced
in support thereof, in the hope that
you may take such aetlori hi connection
therewith as in your judgment will
most contribute to the best interests
of tlie country.
THE DEi'ARTJIEXT OF JUSTICE.
Affairs in Utah require your early
and special attention. The Supreme
Court of the United States, hi the case
of Clinton vs. Englcbrecht, decided
that the United States Marshal of that
Territory could lawfolly summon jit
rors. It was also held that the Terri
torial Marshal faithfully performed
that duty, because he is ejected by the
Legislative Assembly and not appoint
ed, as provided for in the aet organiz
ing the Territory. All proceedings
at law are practically abolished by
these decisions and there have been
but few new jury trials in the District
Court hi that Territory since the last
session of Congress. Property is left
without protection by Courts; and
crimes go unpunished. To prevent
anarchv there it is evidently necessary
that Congress Should provide the
Courts with some mode of obtaining
Juries, and 1 recommend legislation
to tne end, and aisp that the Probate
Courts f A Territory, Which' rro
assume to Issue writs of injunction
ami habeas corpus, and to try criminal
cases and questions as to land titles,
be denied jurisdiction not possessed
ordinarily by courts of that descrlr
fts " "
HONFlCATION OF THE BANKRUPT ACT.
I have become impressed with the
belief that the act approved March 2d,
1867v entitled "an act to establish . a
uniform system of bankruptcy through
out the United States.1' Is productive
of more evil than good ; that at this
time many considerations might be
urged for its reiieal. but, if this is not
considered advisable, I tmnK it win
not be seriously questioned that those
portions of said aet providing tor
what is alleged involuntary bankrupt
cy operates to Increase;- trie financial
embarrassment of careful and prudent
men who very often become involved
in debt in the transaction of their bus
iness, nnd though they may possess
ample property it it could lie made
available for that purpose to meet all
their liabilities, yet on account of the
extraordinary scarcity of money they
may be unable to meet all their pecun
iary obligations as they become due ;
in consequence of which they are lia
ble to be prostrated in their business,
by proceedings in bankruptcy, at the
instance of unrelenting creditors.
People are now so easily alarmed is
to monetary matters 'that the mere
filing of a pel it ion in bankruptcy by
an unfriendly creditor will necessarily
embarrass, and, oftentimes, accom
plish the financial ruin of responsible
business men. Those who otherwise
might make lawful and just arrange
ments to relieve themselves from the
difficulties produced by a stringency
in money, are prevented by their con
stant exposure to attack, and disap
pointment by proceedings against
them in bankruptcy ; and, besides,
the law is made use of in many cases
by obdurate creditors to frighten debt
ors into compliance with their wishes.
and into acts of injustice to other cred
itors and themselves. . I recommend
that so much of said act as provides
for involuntary bankruptcy on account
of the suspension ot payment be re
pented.
CLAIMS AGAINST TIIE GOVERMMENT.
Your careful attention is invited to
the subject of Claims against the Gov
ernment, and the facilities afforded by
existing laws lor their prosecution.
hach ot the departments ot State,
Treasury and War. have demands for
many millions of dollars upon their
flies, and they are rapidly accumulat
ing, to these may oe added those
now pending be'tore Congress, the
Court of Claims and the Southern
Claims Commission, making in the
iggregate an immense sum. Most ot
these grew out of the rebellion, and
are liiteiided to indemnify persons, on
both sales, for tlieir losses during the
war, and a few of them are fabricated
and supported by falc testimony.
Projects are on foot, it is believed, to
induce Congress to provide for new
classes ot claims and to revive old ones,
through a repeal or modification of the
statue of limitation, by which tliey are
now barred. I presume these soheuies,
if proposed, will be received with little
favor by Congress,' ami I recommend
that persons having claims against the
United htates, cognizable by any tri
bunal er department thereof, be re
quired to present them at an early day,
and that legislation lie directed as far
as practicable, to the defeat of un
founded and unjust demands upon the
Government. And I would suggest,
as a meabs of preventing fraud, that
witnesses be called to apiiear in person
to testify before these tribunals having
said claims before them for adjudica
tion. Probably the largest saving to
the National Treasury can be secured
by timely legislation oa these subjects.
Of the economic measures that will be
proposed, you will be advised of the
operatlonsof the Department of .Instiee
by tbe report ot the Attorney General,
and I invite your attention to the
amendments of existing laws suggested
bv Wm, with a view of rcdncnig ex
penses in that department.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT INDIAN AF
FAIRS. The .policy Inaugurated towards the
Indians at the beginning of the last
admltiistration has been steadily push
ed and, I believe, With beneficial re
sults, it will be continued with only
such modifications as time and experi
ence may demonstrate as necessary
with the encroachment ot civilization
upon the Indian reservations aud hunt
ing grounds. Disturbances nave taken
place between the Indians ami whites
during the past year, and probably
will continue to do so until each race
appreciates that the other lias rights
which must be respected. The policy
has been to collect the Indians as rap
idly as possible on reservations, and.
as far as practicable, within what is
known as Indian Territory, and to
teach them the arts of civilization and
Self-support. Where found off their
reservations, altd endangering tbe
peace and, safety of whiter ttyyr have
been punished atia will cdfitlnue to be
for like offensef. The Indian Terri
tory, south of Kansas and west or Ar
kansas, k sufficient in are and atcW
tirttttral ' resources to support ! al II n
dians east of the Rocky Mountains.
In time, no doubt, all of them except
a few who may elect to make their
home among white people, will 1 col
lected there as a preparatory step for
this .consummation. 1 am now satis
tied that a Territorial form of govern
ment should be given them which will
secure the treaty rights of tlte original
settlers, and protect their homesteads
trom alienation.
TUE PATENT OFFICE
The operations of the Patent Office
are growing to sndi magnitude, and
the accumulation of material is liecom
so great, tliat the necessity lor more
room is becoming more obvious, day
by day. I respectfully Invite your at
tention to the reports of the Secretary
of the Interior and the Commissioner
of Patents on tills subject.
THE GENERAL I. AND OFFICE.
The business Of the General Land
Office exhibits a material increase in
all its branches during tlie hist fiscal
year. During that time, there were
disposed of, of the imblic lands, 3,030.
608 acres being an amount greater
by 1,105.631 acres than was disposed
of the preceding year. Of the amount
disposed of. 1,026,208 acres were soid
tor cash; 214,940 acres were located
with military land-warnuits; 379,301
acres were taken for homesteads; 053.
440 acres were located with agricul
tural college scrip; .008,353 acres Were
certified by railroaus; 705,750 acres
were grauted to wagon roads; 238,548
acres were approved to States as
sWainp lands; 138,681 acres were cer
tified for agricultural colleges, common
schools, universities and Seminaries;
190,75 acres were approved to States
for internal improvements, and 1,422
acres were located with Indian scrip.
rue cash receipts during the same tune
were )fl,40S.ai5 su being tfiytMlS on
in excess of receipts for the previous
year. During the year 3,488. 182 acres
ot public lauil were surveyed an in
crease oyer the amount surveyed the
previous year of 1,037,193 acres, and,
added to the area previously surveyed,
aggregates 610,554,895 acres which
have been surveyed, leaving 1,218,
443,505 acres of public lands still un
surveyed. The increased and steadily
increasing facilities tor reaching our
unoccupied public domain and for the
transportation of surplus products, en
larges the available field for desirable
homestead locations, thus stimulating
settlement and extending year by year.
in a gradually increasing ratio, occu
pation and cultivation. The expressed
desire of the representatives ota large
colony of citizens of ltnssia to emi
grate to this country, as is understood
with the consent of tlieir Govern incut,
if certain concessions can be made to
enable them to settle in a compact col
ouy, is ot great interest as going to
show the light in which our institu
tions are regarded by an Industrious,
intelligent and wealthy people desirous
of enjoying civil and religious liberty,
and the acquisition of so large an im
migration of citizens of a superior class
would, without doubt, be ot much sub
stantial benefit to the country, I invite
attention to the suggestions of the Sec
retary of the Interior In this behalf.
PENSIONS.
There was paid during the last fiscal
year for pensions, including the ex
penses ol disbursement, $29,185,289 02,
being an ainomit less by $984,050 9S
than was expended for the same pur
port the preceding year. Although
this statement of expenditures would
indicate a material reduction in
amount compared with the preceding
year, it is believed that the changes in
the pension laws at. the last session of
Congress will absorb that amount the
current year. At tlm close of the last
fiscal year there were on the pension
rolls 99,801 invalid military pension
ers, anil 132.088 widows orphans and
dependent relations of deceased sol
diers, making a total of that class of
211.80218,206 survivors of the war of
1812, and 5,053 windows of soldiers of
tliat war pensioned under the act of
Congress of February 14th, 1871, mak
ing a total of tliat class of 23,319; 1,430
Invalid navy pensioners, aiid 1,770
widow's and orphans nnd dependent
relations of deceased officers, sailors,
and marines ot the navy, pensioners,
making 3,200. Grand total , of pen
sioners of all classes1, 238,414 show
ing a net Increase rtnrfng the last fiscal
year of 8,21ft. The names of 1,645
pensioners were added to the rolls,
and 1(1,223 names were dropped. The
system1 adopted for the detection of
frauds against the (iovefrtment m the
matter of pensions has been productive
of satisfactory results; but legislation
Is needed to provide, if possibjeagaiust
the perpetration of such frauds in fu
ture. EDUCATION.
The evidently increasing Interests In
tlie cause ol education is the .most en
couraging feature in tbe general pro
gress of the country, and tne bureau of
education Is earnest in its efforts to
give a proper direction to the increased
facilities which are being offered to aid
in the education of the country.
CENSUS.
The ninth censns has been complet
ed, aud the report thereof published
and distributed, and the working force
of the bureau disbanded. The Secre
tary of the Interior gives his recom
mendation for a census to he taken In
1875, to which subject the attention of
Congress is invited. The original sug
gestion in that behalf has met with the
general approval of the country, and
even it it be not deemed advisable at
present to provide for a regular quin
quennial oeusus. a census taken in
1875, the report of which could be
completed and published before the
hundredth Anniversary of enr inde
pendence, would be especially, interest
ing and valuable, as showing the pro
gress of the coimtry dnring the first
century of our national existence. It
is believed, however, that a regular
census every five years would be of
substantial benefit to tlie country, in
asmuch as our growth hitherto has
been so rapid thaUhe results of a de
cennial census are necessarily rmreH
able as a basis of estimates for the lat
ter years Of the decennial' period.
. THE DISTRICT OF COLL'MlUA.
Under the very efficient management
of the Governor and Board oi Public
Works of this District the city of
Washington is rapidly assuming the
appearance of a Capital of which the
nation may .well be proud. From be
ing a most unsightly place three years
ago, disagreeable to pnss through in
summer m consequence ot tbe dust
arising from unpaved streets and al-
.. F! .1 l i . . . . .i
must impassamc m winter irom ine
mud, it is now one ot the most sightly
cities in the country and can boast of
being paved. Tbe work has been done
systematically, the grades, location of
sewers and of water and of gas mains
being determined upon before tlie wortr
was commenced, thus securing the per
manency when completed. 1 question
whether so much, has ever been accom
plished id atiy American city for the
same expenditure. The Government
having a large reservation in the city,
aud the nation at large having au in
terest in tlieir Capitol, I recommend a
liberal policy toward the District of
Onlnrnlna, and that the Government
should liear its just sliare of the ex
pense of these improvements. Kvery
citizen visiting the Capital feels a pride
in its growing beauty, and that he,
too, is part owner, in the in vestments
made here. I would suggest to Con
gress the propriety of promoting the
establishment iu this District of nu in
stitution of learning or university of
the highest class, by the donation of
lands. There Is no place better suited
for such an institution than tlie Na
tional Capitol. There is no other
place in which our citizens are directly
interested.
CTVIL SERVICE KEFORM.
In my succesive messages to Con
gress I have called attention tothe sub
ject ol civil service reform. Action
lias been taken so far as to authorize
tiie appointment of a Hoard to devise
rules governing the methods of mak
ing appointments and promotions, but
there never lias been any motion on;
these rules. To have any rules effect
ive, they must have the acquiescence
of Congress, as well as those of tlie
Executive. I recommend, therefore,
the subject to your attention, ami sug
gest that a special committee ot Con
gress might confer with the Civil Board .
during tho present session, for the pur
pose of devising sncli rules as can be
maintained, anil which will secure tlie
services of honest and capable officials,
and which will also protect them In a
degree ot confidence while iu office. '
Proper rules will protect Congress as
well as the Executive from much
needless precaution, and will prove ot
great value to the public at large.
COLORADO AS A STATE.
I recoinmeud for your favorable con
sideration tlie passage of an act for the
admittance of Colorado as a State in
the Union. It ssesses all the ele
inentsof prosperity and, I believe, a
population to justify such admission.
CANAL FOR IRRIGATION.
Tn this coiuiectiou, 1 would also
recommend the encouragement of a
canal tbi purposes of irrigation from
the eastern slope of the Rocky Moun
tains to the Missouri river. As a rule,
I am opposed to donating the public
lands lor Internal improvements, own
ed arid controlled by private corpora
tions, but in this Instance I woold
make an exception. Between the
Missouri river and the Rocky Moun
tains there is au arid belt of public
Iaiid of from three hundred to five
hundred miles hi width, perfectly val
ueless for trie ocenption of man for
the want of sufficient rain to secure
the growth of any products. An irri-