Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-12-07


RESUMPTION OF SPECIE FAYNENTs.
The average value Of gold as compared
with national currency for b whole OF
the year 1863, was about l34, II Tor
eleven mouths of 1870, the same relative
las been about lis. The approach
to a specie basis is very gratifying nut
fact cannot be denied that the lnsta-
bility Of the value of our currency Is
preiudicial to our prosperity and tends
10 keep up prices TO the detriment OF
trade. The evils Of a depreciated and
huctuating currency are 50 great that
now when the premium on gold has fall
len so much, il would seem that the
time has arrived when, by wise and
prudent legislation, Congress should
iook 10 a policy which would place our
currency at par with gold al no distant
day.
The tax collected from the people has
been reduced more than eighty mllllon
dollars per annum. BY steaolhes1 IN
our present course there is no reason
why, in q few short yearu, the national
tax gatherer may not disappear from the
door OF the citizen almost entirely. With
tbe revenue stamp dispensed by post
matters in every community, ajax upon
Iiouors of all sorts and tobacco in ali
FERNS. and by a wise adjustment OF the
the tariff, which will put a duty only
upon those articles which we couId us
pense with, known as luKurles, anu ou
those which we use more OF than We ~
duce. Revenue enough may DeIA
ter a few wears Of peace and cOnselueI
reduction of indebtedness to fulfill all
our obligations. A further reduction
of expenses. in addition to a reduction
Of the interest account, may be relleu
-. - V-r,N-. Ill .-~#HlnhNa
Revenue reform" If il means TINS
has my hearty support. II II implies
a collection Of all the revenue for the
support of the government, for the
payment of principal and interest OF
the public debt, pensions, &c, by Oh
rectly taxing the people, then am
against Revenue reform, and conn
IDENTIFY believe the people are with me.
fit means failure to provide theneees-
sary means TO defray all expenses or
the government, and thereby repudi-
alton Of the public debt and pensions,
then l am still more opposed TO such
a kind Of revenue reform. Revenue
reform has not been defined by any OF
its advocates, to my knowledge, but
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 n day, but must be the work OF ma
tional legislation and Of time. AS
soon as the revenue can be dispensed
with. All duty should be removed from
coffee, tea, and other articles OF mi
versal use, not produced by ourselves;
The necessities Of the country compel
US to collect revenue from our imports.
An army Of assessors and collectors IS
not n pleasant sight TO the citizen, U
that, or a tariff for revenue, Is neces-
sary. n Such a tariff, so far as IL acts In
announcement to home products, ar
fords EMPLOYMENT TO labor at living
wages in contrast 70 the pauper labor
OF the old world, and also In the de-
development Of home resources.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Under the act OF Congress Of the
18th day of July, 1870, the army has
gradually been reduced, 50 that on the
LIST Of January, 1871, the number OF
commissioned officers and men Will
not exceed the number contemplated
by law. The War Department build
ing is an old structure, not hre-prOOt,
and entirely inadequate in dimen-
sions to our present wants. Many
thousands OF dollars are now paid
annually for the rent Of private build
ings to accommodate the various bu-
reaus Of the department. / recon-
mend the appropriation for a new
War Department building, suitable
to the present and growing wants Of
the nation. The report Of the Secre-
49, - NNTwa IHnwRa N w~awWH an~NHH#mm#nEw
reduction in the expenses Of the army
for the last fiscal year. For details
you are referred to his accompanying
report.
THE MANY DEPARTMENT.
The expenses Of the navy for the
whole OF last year, !. c. from Deem
Der, 1859, the date Of the last report,
are less that $4,000 900, o about one
million less than they were the previ-
Gus year. The expenses Of the Navy
Department in this fiscal year, since
July I, show for the I'VE months a
decrease OF over 81, 400, 900 from those
of the corresponding months last year.
The estimates for the current year
were SIS, Dos, 6TS.38. Those for next
year are $20, SIS, 81, with S95, 100 addi-
tional for temporary and permanent
improvements. These estimates are
made closely for the mere mainte-
nance of the naval establishment as
it now is, without much in the nature
of permanent improvement. The p-
preparations made for the last and
current years were evidently intended
by Congress and are sufficient only
to keep the navy on its present foot
ing, and for the repairing and reft-
ting our old ships. This policy must,
Of course, gradually but surely destroy
the navy, and il is in itself far from
economical, as each year that it Is
pursued the necessity for more repairs
in ships and navy yards will become
more Imperative and more costly, and
our current expenses are actually in.
creased for the mere repair Of ships,
many Of which must become unsea-
worthy and useless.
Hope during the present session Of
Congress to be able to submit to il a plan
by which naval vessels can be built and
repairs made with great saving upon
the present cost. It can hardly be wise
craftsmanship in a government which
represents a country with over hve
thousand miles of coast line on both
oceans, exclusive Of Alaska, and con-
tanning fortv-millions Of progressive
people, with relations Of every natur
with almost every foreign country to
rest with such inadequate mean OF IN
forcing any foreign policy, either Of pro-
lection or redress. Separated by the
ocean from the nations Of the Eastern
continent, our navy is only means Of
direct protection 20 our citizens abroad,
or for the enforcement Of any foreign
policy.
THE P~osT-oFFICE.
The accompanying report Of the Post
master General shows a most satisfactO-
~ working Of that department. With
the adoption of the recommendations
contained therein, particularly those re-
lating to reform in the franking privi-
lege and the adoption Of correspondence
cards, q self-sustaining postal system
NAV speedily be looked for, and at no
distant day a further reduction Of the
rate of postage be attained. 1 recon-
mend authorization by Congress to the
Postmaster General and Attorney Cen
eral to issue all commissions TO officials
appointed through their respective de-
partments. At present these commits
sions, where appointments are made, are
issued BY the State Department. The
law, in all the departments Of the gov
erment, except those in the post ONCE
and Of justice, authorizes each 10 issue
its own commissions.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Always favoring practical reforms,
I respectfully call your attention to an
abuse Of long standing, which would