The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1870-12-13

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ifyine, but the fact cannot be denied that
the Instability ofthe value ofour currency
10 Prejudicial 10 our prosperity, and tends
10 Keep up prices 70 the detriment of trade.
The evils of deprecated and fiuctuatina
currency are so great, that now when the
premium of gold has fallen so much, IL
would seem that the time has arrived when.
by wise and prudent legislation, Congress
should look to the policy which would
place our currency at par with gold at no
distant day.
REDUCTION OF TAXATION.
The tax collected from the people has
been reduced more than eighty million
dollars per annum. BY steadiness in our
present course there is no reason WHY i'm n
few short years the the national tax gath
erer may not disappear from the door of
the citizen almost entirely. With tho
revenue stamps dispensed by the postmas-
ters in every community, tax upon
liquors Of allsorts, and tobacco i'm all forms,
and by wise adjustment of the tariff
which will put duty only upon those of
which we use more than we produce. rev.
enue enough may bc raised after few
years of peace, and n CONSEQUENT redvlc-
ton of Indebtedness. Tofulfili all our obli-
cations, further reduction of expense, in
addition TO reduction of interest account,
may be relied on TO make this practicable
Revenue reform, IL IL means this, has nv
hearty support. If it implies collection
of all the revenue for the support of the
government, for the payment of the prin-
cipal and interest of the public debt, PEN
sions, ETC., by directly taxing the people,
then l am against revenue reform, and
confidently believe tho people are with me.
If ii means failure to provide the neces-
sary means to defray all expenses of the
Government, and thereby Reputation of
OF the public debt and pensions, then am
still more opposed TO such kind of revenue
reform. Revenue reform has not been de-
MED by any of its advocates to my knowl-
edge, but seems to be something which is
TO supply every mans wants without anv
cost or effort on his part. A true revenue
reform cannot be made IN day, but must
be the work of rational legislation and of
ullle. AS soon as the revenue can be dis
pensed with all duty should be removed
from coffee, tea, and other articles of uni-
Nersal use not produced by ourselves. The
necessities of the country compel us to
collect revenue from our imports. An
army of collectors and assessors is not n
pleasant sight to the citizen, but that of n
tariit Tor revenue is necessary. Such tar
i'll, SO far as II acts in ENCOURAGEMENT to
home products, affords employment to Ia
Dor at living wages in contrast to the paup-
or labor of the old world, and also in tho
development OF home resources.
THE ARMY.
ondeT the acts of Congress of the 10th
day of July, 1870, the army has GRADUALLY
been reduced, so that on the first of Jan
uary, 1871, the number of commissioned
officers and men will not exceed the num-
ber contemplated by law. The War De-
partment building is an old structure. not
fre proof and entirely inadequate in di-
menslons To our present wants. Many
fhnnGannG q nf Anlla,-e
ly for rent of private buildings to accom-
modate the various Bureaus of the De-
partment. l recommend an appropriation
Tor new War Department building suit
ed to the present and growing wants of the
nation. The report of the Secretary of
War shows very satisfactory reduction
IN the expenses of the army for the last
fiscal year, For details you are referred
to his accompanying report.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The expenses of the navy for the whole
or the last year, i. e., from December. 1860.
the date of the last report, are less than
nlneieen million dollars, or about one mil
lion less than they were the previous wear.
The expenses of the Navy Department i'm
the fiscal year since July LIST show. for the
lNe months decrease of over two million
lour hundred thousand dollars for those of
the corresponding months of last wear.
the estimates for the current wear were
25o'SOo,o.5 ~ those for the next year are
szo,6S3,3l7, with S95, 100 additional for tenn
porary ana permanent improvements
These estimates are made closely for the
most economical maintainance of the ma
val establishment as it now is. without
much in the nature.of permanent improve
ment. The appropriation made for the
last and current years were evidently in
lended py Congress, and arc sufficient
only TO keep the navy on its present foot.
ing, the repairing and refitting of our old
shlps. rms policy must of course gradual
~ nut surely destroy the navy, and it is in
itself tar from economical, as each wear
that 1t is pursued the necessity for NOR, re-
pairs in ships and navy yards become
more imperative and more costly, and our
current expenses are actually increased
for the mere repairs of ships. many of
which must soon be unseaworthy and use-
less. hope, during the present session of
congress. TO be able to submit to il plan
by which naval vessels can be built and re
pairs made with great saving upon the
present cost. 1t can hardly be wise states
manshlp lna governmentwhich represents
a country with over five thousand miles
of coast lines ON both oceans, exclusive of
AlasNa, and containing forty millions of
progressive people, with relations of every
nature with almost every foreign country.
TO rest with such inadequate means of en-
iorcilS any foreign policy, either of pro-
lection or redress. Separated by the ocean
from the nations of the Eastern Continent.
our navy is our only means of direct pro
lection 10 our citizens abroad, or for the
enforcement of any foreign policy,
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The accompanying report of the Post
master General shows most satisfactory
working Of that department with the
adoption ofthe recommendation contained
therein, particularly these relating to re-
iorm IN the ranking privilege, and the
adoption of correspondence cards, n self
sustaining postal system may speedily be
looked for, and at no distant day q further
reduction of the rate of postage be attained.
i recommend the authorization by Con-
gress to the Postmaster General and Attor
ney General Ia issue all commissions to
officials appointed through their respective
departments. At present these commits
slons, where appointments are made are
issued by the State Department. The law
IN all The departments of Government ex-
eept those of the Postoffice and of Justice
authorizes each 10 issue its own commits
sion.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM RECOMMENDED.
Always favoring practical reforms, re-
specuully direct your attention to one
abuse of long standing, which would like
to see removed by this Congress. 1t is a
reform in the Civil Service of the country.
would have ii go beyond the mere fix
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