The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1870-12-14

thousands Of dollars are now paid
annually for rent of private build.
ings to Accommodate the various
Bureaus Of the Department. I
recommend an appropriation for
another War Department building.
suited to the present and growing
wants of the nation. The report
OF the Secretary of War shows a
very satisfactory reduction in the
expenses OF the army for the last
fiscal year ; for details you are re.
ferred to his accompanying re-
port. Expenses of tile navy for
the whole of the last year, that is,
from December 1st, 1869, the date
Ut the last report, are less than
100000 dollars, or about ,OOO,-
600 dollars less than they were the
previous year. The expenses since
the commencement Of this fiscai
year, that is, since January 1st,
show for the five months de.
crease of over 100000 dollars
II ON those of the corresponding
months of last year. The estimates
fDr the Current year were rs, ,2O5,-
671.37 dollars, those for next year
are 20,GS3,317.00 dollars, with
955, 10000 dollars additional Tor
necessary, permanent improve
ments. These estimates are made
closely, for the mere maintenance
of the naval establishment, as it
now is, without much in the nature
of permanent improvement. The
appropriations made for the last
andHcurrent years were evidently
intended by Congress sufficient on
ly to keep the navy on its present
footing. BY the repairing and re-
fitting Of our old ships, this footing
must, of course, gradually but
surely destroy the navy, and it is
in itself far from economical, as
each year that it is pursued, the
necessity for repairs in ships and
navy yards becomes more impera-
tive and more costly, and our cnr-
rent expenses are annually in
creased for the mere repair .ofships,
many of which must soon be come
unsafe and useless. Ihope during
the present session of Congress to
be able to submit q plan by which
naval vessels can be built and re-
pairs made with great saving up
on the present cost. 1t can hard
ly be wise craftsmanship in a gov
ernment, which represents coun-
try with over 5000 miles of coast
line on both oceans, exclusive of
Alaska, and containing 40, 100000
of progressive people, with rela.
tions of every nature with almost
every foreign country, to rest with
such inadequate means of entorc.
ing any foreign policy, either of
protection or redress. Separated
by the ocean from the nations Of
the Eastern Continent, our navies
are our only means of direct pro-
lection to our citizens abroad, and
for the enforcement of any foreign
policy. The accompanying report
of the Postmaster General shows a
most satisfactory working of that
department, with the adoption of
recommendations contained there,
in, particularly those relating to a
reform in the franking privilege,
and the adoption of the correspond.
ence cards, self.sustaining postal
system may speedily be looked for
at no distant day, and a further re-
duction Of the rate of postage be
attained. recommend authorize
ton by Congress to the Pnstlnas-
ter General and Attorney General
to issue all commissions to officials,
appointed through their respective
departments. At present these
commissions, whose appointments
are presidential, arc issu ed by State
Department. The law in all the
departments ofgovernment, except
those + the post Office and of jns-
tice, authorizes each to issue it's
own commissions, always favoring
practical reforms. / respectfully
call your attention to one abuse of
long standing which I would like
to see remodied by this Congress.
1t is a reform in the civil service OF
the country. l would have it go
beyond the mere fixing of the ten.
ure of Office of clerks and employees
who do not require the advice and
consent of the Senate to make their
appointments complete. / would
have it govern not the tenure, bnt
the manner of making all appoint.
ments. There is no duty, which so
much embarrasses the Executive
and heads of departments, as that
of appointments, nor is there any
such arduous, and thankless labor
imposed OH Senators and Reprcsen
ta'ives, as that of finding places for
constituents. The present system
does not secure the best men, aud
f.. ..nk O. .s.o.. C.. .~.~ll;o .sln.o.