Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-13

the wisdou,of lie policy which originated and
has susIainsdit. T6S dimini6hed appropriations
required 70r in support during the hsnal year
1863 will 40 doubt be cheerfully made.
The namber|of vessels 10 the reYehue seri
vice Of the department on the 4sh Of March,
1861, was twenty nine. Five have been pre-.
siously Heizsd by the insurgents, and one had
been ordered to Norfolk for repairs, where, hay
ing been taken to pieces With o view to rebuild
ing and therefore Incapable Of removal, she was
involved in the disasters attendant on the de-
structiono of the navy yard ls.ss-
|. sOe the vessels connected with the revenue SER
vice not seized by the rebels, four were on the
Pacific coast, six on tho Lakes, and eighteen on
the Atlantic coast, OF those on the Lakes i've
have been ordered to service on the Atlantic
coast. Nearly halt of these vessels are unfit for
the purposes of tho revenue, and will be sold
uuder the provisions Of theact OF July % q
Under the same act three steamers nave Deen
purchased and equipped, and have been Of essen
tial service in the suppression Of unlawful COM
morco on the Chesapeake, and in aid Of the ex-
petition by which the authority Of the Union was
recently restored on tho eastern shore OF Viz
ginia. aNN-@
With q view to the increased efficiency of the
service, the Secretary directed 0 thorough exam
ination, to be made by o competent board or
oficers, of ell candidatee for appointment as
well as Of all officers, except captains, already In
the service, and has made acertifcate from that
board of entire competency ON Indispensable con-
dition of appointment. slfS7 ,so' ts
Four revenue cutters arenoV engaged in Coast
Survey duty, in connection with tho naval and
military expeditions on the coasts Of the insur-
gent States; and the whole of the remaining
number are actively engaged In the enforcement
of the revenue laws, and in the CORRECTION OF
commerce.
Under advertisements for proposals for the
construction of additional revenue steamers,
under the act of July, large number ofbids and
models have been received, and contracts will be
made for five, which, when completed, will fully
answer the existing demands OF the service.
The Secretary desires to avail himself Of this
opportunity to invite the attention of Congress
TO the importance of uniform system and uni
form nomenclature of weights and measures and
coins to the commerce Of the world, in which
the United States already CO. largely sbares.
The wisest of our statesmen have regarded the
attainment of this end, so desirable In itself, as
by no means impossible. The combination Of
the decimal system with appropriate demon
nations in acheme of weights, measures, and
coins for the international uses Of commerce,
leaving, if need be, the separate systems of ma
tions untouched is certainly not beyond the reach
of the daring genius and patient endeavor which
gave the steam engine and the telegraph to the
service of mankind. The Secretary respectfully
suggests the expediency.ofa small appropriation
to be used in promoting interchange of opinions
between intelligent persons of our own and
foreign countries on this subject. ,,s'rD "A
In closing this report, the Secretary takes
pleasure in asking the consideration Of Congress
TOR the various suggestions Of the heads Of the
bureaus of she department. contained in their
several reports, which are herewith transmitted.
It has been his endesvor, since assuming the
charge of the department, toipfuse into its action
the greatest possible activity and vigor; and il
is source Of very great satisfaction to him
that hs efforts have been, in general, faithfully
and zealously supported by the gentlemen with
whom he has been associated. The reports
from the several bureaus will show how much
has been accomplished during the year, and how
well. The Secretary indulges the hope that
continued endeavor, with large experience, will
make tie department, in all its working, what
department. charged with duties and RESPONSE
bilities SO various and important, ought to be.
TgE-T S. P. CHASE.