Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-06
transferred to one of the bureaus of the
| Navy Denarfrnenf

Government for the fiscal year are $18,.
244, BAG. Oh less than for the, current one,
but exceed the appropriations, for the
present year for some items IS, 972, 127. So.
In this estimate, however, Is included
$22, 338, 278.3 81 for public works hereto
fore begun under Congressional provision,
and of which only SO much is asked as
Congress may choose to give. The ap-
preparation for the same works for the
present fiscal yesr was 81, 9S4, 51s.0s.
| The average value of gold as compared
with national currency for the whole OF
the year 1869, was about 1874, and for
IL months In 1870 the same relative value
has been about lie. The approach to q
specie basis is very gratifying, but the
fact cannot be denied that the instability
of value of our Currency is prejudicial TO
our prosperity, and tends to keep up
prices to the detriment of trade; and the
evils of deprecated and fuctuating cur
rency are so great that now, when the
premium on gold has fallen 30 much, it
would seem the time had arrived when
by wise and prudent legislation Congress
should look to policy which would
place our currencv at par with gold at no
distant day. ~
4 Revenue.
The revenue collected from the people
has been reduced more than fifty mil
lion dollars per annum. By steadiness
In our present course there is no reason
why, in few short years, the national
tax gatherer may not disappear from the
door of the citizens almost entirely. With
the revenue stamps dispensed by tie post
masters in every community, tax upon
liquors of all sorts, and tobacco In all its
forms, by wise adjustment of the tariff,
which will put duty only on those arti-
cles which one could dispense with,
known as Injuries, and on those which
we use more of than we produce, revenue
enough may be raised, after few years
of peace, and the consequent reduction
OF Indebtedness, to fulfill all our obliga-
tons. A further reduction of expenses,
in addition to the reduction of the in
terest per cent. may be relied on to
make this practicable.
Revenue Reform.
Revenue reform, if is meapsthis, has my
hearty support. If it implies collec-
ton of all the revenue for the support of
the Government, for the payment of the
public debt, pensions, ETC., by directly
taxing the people, then am against such
revenue reform and confidently believe
the people are with me. If it means
failure to provide the necessary means to
defray all expenses of the Government and
thereby the reputation of the public
debt and pensions, then l am still more
opposed to such kind of revenue reform.
1t has not been defined by any of its adj
vocates to my knowledge and seems to be
accepted as something which is TO supply
every mans wants without any cost or
effort on his part. A true revenue reform
cannot be made in day, but must be the
work of national legislation and of time.
AS soon as the revenue can be dispensed
with, all duty should be removed from
coffee, sea and other articles of universal
use not produced by ourselves. The ne
cessities of the country compel US 70 col
lect revenues from our imports.s An
army of assessors and collectors is not
pleasant sight to the cinZeO, but that or
tariff for revenue is necessary. Such a
tariff 80 far as it acts in the encourage
ment of home products, affords employ
ment to labor at living wages, in contrast
to the pauper labor of the old world, and
also in the development of home re-
sources.
The Army.
Under the act of Congress of the
18th day of July, 1870, the army
has gradually bsen reduced, so
that on the 1st of Jan, 1871, the num-
Der of commissioned officers and mcn
will not exceed the number contemplated
by law. The War Department building
is an old structure, not fire proof, and en-
tirely inadequate in dimensions to our
present wants. Many thousands of dol
lars are now paid annually for rent of
private buildings to accommodate the va
rious bureaus of the Department l re-
commend an appropriation for q new
War Department building suited to the
present and growing wants of the nation.
The report of the Secretary of War
shows q very satisfactory reduction in
the expenses of the army for the las: ifs
cal year. For details you are referred to
his accompanying report.
The Navy.
The expenses of the Navy for the whole
of the last year from Dec. 1869 TO date of
the last report, are less than SIS, 900, 900,
or about $40, 900 less than they were
the preyiour year. The expenses of the
Navy Department in this fiscal year since
July l, show for the five months de- |
crease of over 81, 400, 900 from those OF |
the corresponding months of last year.
The estimates for the current year were
$2S, 205, $40. Those for next year are
1906, 1873, 10, with sos, 100, OOOadditional |
for temporary and permanent improve
ments. These estimates are made closely |
for the mere maintenance of the |
naval establishments as it now is
without much in the nature of |
permanent improvement. The appro-
priation made for the last and current
years were merely intended by Congress,
and are sufficient only to keep the navy
On its present footing, and the repairing
and refitting of our old ships. This poll
cy must of course gradually and surely
destroy the navy, and it is itself far from
for each year that it is per-
,umed the necessity for more repairs in
ships and navy yards become more i'm
0erstive and more costly, and our current
expenses are actually increased for the
mere repair of ships, many of which
must soon be unseaworthy and useless.
nope during the present session of Con-
yress to be able to submit to it plan by
which naval vessels can be built, and re-
pairs made with Great saving upon the
present cost. 1t can hardly be wise
in q government which
epresents a country with over 8, 900 miles
If coast line on both oceans, exclusive of
Alaski, snd containing 400, 000, 600 of
people, with relations of every
ration with almost every foreign country,
orcing any foreign policy, either of pro-
ection or redress. Separated by the
,cean from the nations of the western
eastern2 continent, our navy is our only
means of direct protection to our citizens
broad, or for the enforcement of any for
ign policy.
The POstOfRice.
The accompanying report of the Post
master General shows a most satisfactory
working of that department With the
.doption of the recommendation con-
aimed therein, particularly the legislation
or reform in the franking privilege and
he adoption of correspondence cards, a
postal system may be
peedily looked for and at no distant day |
/ further reduction of the rate of postage
De attained. recommend that authority
De given by Congress to the Postmaster
General and Attorney General to issue all
to officials appointed through
heir respective departments. At present
;hese commissions or appointments are
made or issued'by the Safe Department.
The law in all the departments of the
except those of the Post
office and justice, authorizes each to issue
Is own commissions