Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-12-14

Il uldll DTCNjhSCo nave uTBeu uST duuereHCS.
THE REVIVAL OF OUR COMMERCE.
/ Our'repressed commerce is a subject to which
called your especial attention at the last session.
suggested that we will, in the future have to lool
more to the countries south of the United States
to China and Japan for its revival Our representa-
tves to all these Governments have exerted their in
fuence to encourage trade between the United States
and the countries to which they are accredited, bu
the fact exists that the carrying is done almost excu
sivey in foreign bottoms and while this state of af
fairs exists we cannot control our due share of the
commerce OF the world that between the Pacific
States and China and Japan is about all the carrying
trade now conducted in American vessels. would
recommend a liberal policy toward that line Of
American steamers-one that will insure its
and even increase its usefulness. The cost of build.
ing iron vessels Qhe only that compete with
foreign vessels in the carrying trade), is 50 much
greater in the United States than in foreign
tries, that without assistance from the Govern
ment they cannot be successfully built here There
will be several prososition laid before Congress in
the of the present session looking to remedy
for this evil even if should be at some cost to the
National Treasury. I hope such encouragement
viii be given as viii secure American shipping on
the high seas, and American shipp-building at
home. ~~N
~@i'-'I@-T THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES.
The condition of the archives at the Department Of
State calls for the early action of Congress- The
building now rented by that department is ffail
structure, at inconvenent distance from the Ex-
ecutive mansion and from the other departments.
1t is i'll adapted to the purpose for which it is used
not fire proof. It's remote situation, it's slender
struction, and the absence of supply of water in
the neighborhood leaves but little hope of safety for
either the building contents in of the accident
of fire. Its destruction would involve the loss of the
rolls containing the original acts and resolutions of
Congress- of the historic records of the Revolution
and of the confederation of whole series of diplomat
ic and consular archives since the adoption of the
Constitution, and of the many other valuable records
and papers left with that department when it was
the principal repository of the government archives
I recommend an appropriation for the construction
of building for the Department of State. recon-
mend to your reconsideration the propriey OF trans
ferrng to the Department of Interior to which they
seem more appropriately to belong all powers and
duties in relation to the territories with which the
Department of State is charged by law usage,
and from the Interior Department to the War De-
partmen the Pension Bureau, far as it regulates
the payment of soldiers pensions. would also
ommend that the payment of naval pensions be
transferred to one of the bureaus of the Navy De-
partment.
ESTIMATES EXPENSES.
The estimates for the expenses of the Government
for the next fiscal year $40 244 34701 less than
for the present year, for the items $8 972 127.
In this estimate, however, are included $22 278
for public work heretofore begun under the Con-
gressional provision, and of which only so much is
asked as Congress may choose to give The appro-
priation for the work for the present fiscal year
was $11 1884 518.0S.
GOLD AND CURRENCY.
The average value of gold, as compared with the
national currency for the whole of the year 1869, was
about 1884, and for II months of 1870, the rela
tive value has been about 115. The approach to q
specie basis very gratifying, but the fact cannot be
denied that the instability of the value of our cur
rency is preudicia to prosperity, and tends to
keep up prices to the detrment of trade The evils
of a deprecated and fuctuating currency, SO
great that now, when the premium on gold has fall
en- 80 much, it would that the time has arrived
when by wise and prudent legislation, Congress
should look to policy which would place our cur
renoy at par with gold at no distant day.
REDUCTION OF THE TAXES.
The tax collected from the people has been re-
duced more than $80,000 900 per annum. By steadi-
ness in our present course there is no reason why,
in few short years, the national taxgatherer may
not disappear from the door of the citizen almost
entirely. With the stamp dispensed by post
masters in every community, tax upon liquors of
all sorts, and tobacco in all its forms, and by wise
adjustment of the tariff which will put duty only
upon those articles which could dispense with,
known as luxuries, and on those which we use more
of than we produce, revenue enough may be raised
after few years of peace and the consequent reduc
ton of Indebtedness to fulfill all our obligations.
further reduction of expenses in addition to reduc-
ton of interest account may be relied on to make
this practicable. Revenue REFORM if it means this,
has my hearty support. II IL implies collection OF
all the revenues for the support of the Government
for the payment of principal and interest OF the
public & DEBT 1 pensions etc. ny directly eyr 'axng ag
confidently believe the people are with me. 1t 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 still more opposed to such kind of frevenue
reform. Revenue reform has not been defined by
any of its advocates to my knowledge but it seems
to be accepted something which is to supply ev-
cry mans wants without any cost or effort on his
part. true revenue reform cannot be made in q
day, but must be the work of national legislation
and of time. As soon the revenue be dis
pensed with, all duty should be removed from cof-
fee tea and other articles Of universal use not pro-
duced by ourselves. The necessities of the country
compel to collect revenue from our imports. An
army of assessors and collectors is not pleasant
sight to the citizens, but that or tariff for revenue
is necessary. Such tariff, far as it acts in en-
couragement to home products, affords employment
to labor at living wages in contrast to the pauper la
Dor of the old world and also in the development OF
| home resources.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Under the act of Congress of the 18th day of July
| 1S70 the army has gradually been reduced, so that
on the 1st of January, 1871, the number of commits
stoned officers and men will not exceed the number
contemplated by the laws. The Department build
ing is old structure not ire-proof and entirely
Inadequate in dimensions to our present wants
| Many thousands of dollars spent annually
for the rent of private buildings to accommodate the
various Bureaus of the Department. / recommend
an appropriation for new War Department building
suitable to the growing wants of the nation. Tht
report of the Secretary Of War shows very satisfac
tory reduction in the expenses of the army for th
last fiscal year. For details you are referred to hi
| accompanying report. -
The expenses of the navy for the whole Of
| y
of the last part are less than $40, 900, 600, o.
about 81, 900, 900 less than they were the pre-
vious year. The expenses since the com
mencement of the fiscal year, I. e., since July
1st show for the five months decrease o.
over So, 400, 600 from those of the correspond
ing months of last year. The estimates fo
the current year were 1923, ,205, 678.65; those fol
the fiscal year are $20,6S7, ,317, with 1856, Lon
additional for necessary permanent improve
ments. These estimates are made closely fo
the maintenance of the naval establishment
as it now is, without much In the nature o.
permanent improvement. The appropriation
made for the last and current year were evi
IDENTIFY intended by Congress, and are sufficien
only to keep the navy on It's present footing
by the repairing and refitting of our old ships
| This policy must of course gradually bu
surely destroy the navy, and it is in itself ia
from economical, as each year that it is pur
sued, the necessity for mere repairs in ship
and navy-yards becomes moro imperative ant
more costly, and our current expense
are annually. increased for the mer
repair of ships, many of which mus
soon become unsafe and useless. hope, dur
ing the present session of Congress- to be abb
to submit to it a plan by which naval vessel
can be built, and repairs made, with grea
saving upon the present cost. 1t can hardly b
wise craftsmanship in a Government whicl
1 represents country with over five thousan
miles of coast-line on both oceans, exclusive o
hidSho, aoAit SOAoo11IiiS ioi lhiAiloho VI P1S
gressive people, with relations of every natur
with almost every foreign country; to res
with such inadequate means of enforcing an
foreign policy, either of protection or redress
Separated by the ocean from the nations 0
the Eastern continent, navy is our onl
means of direct protection to our citizen
abroad, or for the enforcement of any foreig
policy. ..
Il THE PosT-oFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report Of the Postmaste
General shows a most satisfactory working 0
the Department. With the adoption of tn
recommendations contained therein particu
larry those relating to reform in the frankni
privilege, and the adoption of correspondent
cards, a self-sustaining postal system ma
speedily be looked for, and at no distant day,
further reduction of the rate of postage at
tanned.
/ CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Il recommend the authorization by Congress
of the Postmaster General and Attorney Gen
eral to issue all commissions to officials appoint
ed through their respective departments. A
present these commissions, where appoint
ments are presidential are issued by the Stat