The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-12-08


conducted in American vessels. would
recommend liberal policy toward that
line OF American steamers-one that will
insure its success and increase its useful.
ness. The cost Of building iron vessels,
the only ones that can compete with for.
e'gn ships in the carrying trade, is so much
greater in the United States than in for
eign countries, that without some assist.
ance from the government, they cannot be
successfully built here. There will be
several propositions laid before Congress
in the course of the present session, look.
to remedy for this evil. Even if it should
be at some cost to the national treasury,
hope such encouragement will be given as
will secure American shipping on the high
seas, and American ship building at home.
THE FINANCES.
The estimates for the expenses of the
Government for the next fiscal year are
SIC, 274, 334. 81 lees that for the current
one, but exceed this years appropriations
for the same items $89,72l.27. In this
estimate, however. are included $685..
338 for public work heretofore begun un-
der Congressional provision, and Of which
only 90 much is asked as Congress may
choose to give. The appropriation for
the same work for the present fiscal year
was $l1 984, 5l8 08.
The average value of gold as compared
with the national currency for the whole
Of the year 1869, was about l.34, and for
eleven months Of 1870 the same relative
value has been about LIS The approach
to specie basis is very gratifying, but the
fact cannot be denied that the instability
Of the value of our currency is prejudicial
to our prosperity, and tends to keep up
prices, to the detriment of trade. The
evils Of deprecated and fluctuating cur.
rency are so great that now, when the
premium on gold has fallen 80 much, it
would seem that the time has arrived
when, by a wise and prudent legislation,
Congress should look to policy which
would place our currency at par " it'll gold
at no distant day.
REDUCTION OF TAXATION.
The tax collected from the people has
been reduced more than $4,000, 900 per
annum. By steadiness in our present
course there is no reason why, in few
disappear from the door of the citizen al
most entirely. With the revenue stamp
dispensed by postmasters in every commu-
nifty, tax upon liquors of all sorts. and to
bacco in all its forms, and by wise ad.
justment Of the tariff which will put duty
only upon those articles which we could
dispense with, known as luxuries, and on
those which we use more than we pro-
duce, revenue enough may be raised,
after q few years of peace and the
consequent reduction of indebted.
ness, to fulfil our obligations. A fur
Their reduction of expenses, in addition
to reduction of the interest account,
may be relied on to make this practicable.
REVENUE REFORM.
Revenue REFORM" if it means good,
has my hearty support; if it implies col.
lection of all the revenues for the support
Of the government, for the payment of the
principal and interest of the public debt,
pensions, &C., by directly taxing the PEG.
and confidently believe the people are
with me. If it means to defray all the
expenses of the government, and thereby
the reputation Of the public debt and
pensions, then am still more opposed to
such kind Of revenue reform. Revenue
reform has not been defined by any of its
to my knowledge, but it seems
to be accepted as something which
Is to supply every one with means without
any cost or effort on his part. A true rev.
enue reform cannot be made in a day, but
it must be the work Of legislative wisdom
and Of time. As soon as the revenue can
be dispensed with, all duty should be re-
moved from coffee, tea and other articles !
If universal use, not produced by our
'eives The necessities of the country
compel US to collect revenue from our i'm. |
ports. An army of assessors and collectors |
9 not 3 pleasant sight to the citizen, but
hat or tariff is necessary. Such tar.
q, so far as it acts in encouragement Of
lone products, affords employment to la.
'or at living wages, in contrast to the pau.
yer labor Of the old world, and also as.
lists in the development Of home resour-
'es.
THE ARMY
Under the act of Congress Of tho 10Th
lay Of July, 1870, the army has gradully
,sen reduced so that on the lst of January,
81, the number Of commissioned officers
buO u0n Will NV cAScou ku0 uuuUcI COue
emplated by law.
The department building is an old struc.
IRE not ire proof, and entirely inadequate
a dimensions to the present wants. Many
thousands of dollars are now spent annu-
lily for rent Of private buildings to accom-.
nodate the various bureaus Of the depart
nent. I recommend an appropriation for
/ new war department building, suitable
o the growing wants Of the nation.
The report Of the Secretary Of War
'hows satisfactory reduction in the ex.
oeBses Of the army for the last fiscal year.
For details, you are referred to his accom-.
'aDying report.
THE NAVY.
The expenses for the navy for the whole
# last year, !. e., from December !, 1869,
he dates of the last part, are less than
BIC, 600, 900, or about 1000, 900 less than
hey were che previous year. The ex.
lenses since the commencement of the fs.
:al year, !. e., since July LIST, show for
he five months decrease of over S..
700, 900 from those of the corresponding
months of last year. The estimate for the |
current year were S28, POS, 678 65; those |