Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-12-15

AuJ ustinent OF the tariff, which win put dutv or
upon those articles which We could siispensa 10y
known as luxuries, and those which we psa w.,
OF than we produce, revenue enough NAV be 80
after Few years OF peace and the Consequent reinc
ton OF Indebtedness to fu'fn ali our obliaations
further reduction of expenses in addition to rej
ton OF interest account may be relied on 3, 49,.
this practicable Revenue reform if it means th;u
has my hearty support. II 1t implies coiect;on -
all the revenues for the support Of the Goyern NJ.
for the payment Of principal and Interest," Of ~
pubic debt, pensions, etc. by directly taxins
confidently believe the people are with MI re-.
means failure to provide the necessary rne,,s ~
defray all expenses Of the Government and thsrah.
the reputation Of the public debt and rens;on9
then am still more opposed to such kind of reyann
reform. Revenue reform has not leen defined ~
an! Of its advocates to my knowledge, but it sesms
to be accepted as something which is to supniv er
cry mans wants without any cost or effort IN r.
part 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 ha a.
pensed WITH all duty should be removed from az
fee, tea and other articles Of universal use not M
duced by ourselves. The necessities of the oonnr,
compel us to collect revenue from our mports A.
army of assessors and collectors l. not q pleasant
sight to the citizens, but that tariff for reyenn.
is necessary Such q tariff, far az II acts Ia en-
couragement to home products affords emplovynen,
to labor at living wages in contrast 10 the pauper lA
Dor Of the old world and also In the development on
home resources.
DEPARTMENT.
Under the act of Congress of the 18th dav ~ Jr,
1870, the army has gradually been reduced 40 thu
on the LIST of January, 1871, the number of commits
stoned officers and men will not exceed the numhar
contemplated by the laws The Department build
ing is old structure, not re-proof and entireI,
inadequate in dimensions to our present wants
Many thousands Of dollars now spent anpuallv
for the rent Of private buildings to accommodate the
various Bureaus of the Department. I recommend
an appropriation for new War Department building
suitable to the growing wants Of the nation Ths
report OF the Secretary Of War shows very satsfao
tory reduction in the expenses Of the army for tina
last fiscal year. For details you referred to hi1
accompanying report.
THE NAVY
The expenses of the navy for the whole Of
the last year i. e., from Dec. /, 1869, the dates
of the last part, are less than 10000, 900, or
about 10000 600 less than they were the pre-
vious year The expenses since the com
mencement of the fiscal year, l. e., since july
LIST, show for the five months decrease Of
over so, 400, 900 from those of the correspond
ing months Of last year. The estimates for
the current year we're 1913, 205, $685. those for
the fiscal year are $206S7,317, with 1856, 100
additional for necessary permanent improve
ments. These estimates are made closely for
the maintenance Of the naval establishment
as it now is, without much in the nature Of
permanent improvement. The appropriation
made for the last and current year we're evil
IDENTIFY intended by Congress- and are sufficen.
only to keep the navy on its present footing
by the repairing and refitting of our old ships
surely destroy the navy and it is in itself far
from economical, as each year that it is pur-
sued, the necessity for mere repairs in ships
and navy-yards becomes more imperative and
more costly, and our current expenses
are annually increased for the nero
repair of ships, many Of which must
soon become unsafe and useless. hope, dur
ing the present session of Congress-, to be able
to submit to it a plan by which naval vessels
can be built and repairs made, with great
saving upon the present cost. 1t can hardly be
wise craftsmanship in Government which
represents country with over five thousand
miles of coast-line on both oceans exclusive of
Alaska, and containing forty millions of pro-
gressive people, with relations Of every nature
with almost every foreign country; to rest
with such inadequate means of enforcing any
foreign policy, either of protection or redress.
Separated by the ocean from the nations Of
the Eastern continent, our navy ia our only
means Of direct protection to our citizenA
abroad, or for the enforcement Of any foreign
policy .t
THE POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT..
The accompanying report Of the Postmaster
General shows a most satisfactory working of
the Department. With the adoption Of ths
recommendations contained therein, particu-
larly those relating to reform in the franknig
privilege, and the adoption Of correspondents
cards, a self-sustaining postal system may
further reduction of the rate of postage at
tanned.
CIVIL SERVICE RKFoRM.
~ recommend the authorization by Congress
of the Postmaster General and Attorney Cen-
eral to issue all commissions to officisls appoint
ed through their respective departments. AT
present these commissions, where appoint
ments are presidential, are issued by the state
Department. The law in all the departments
of the Government except those OF the post
Office and of Justice, authorizes each to Issue
its own commissions. Always fayoring pract-
cal reforms, respectfully call your attention
to one abuse Of long standing, which 1 wonld
like to see remedied by this Congress. 1t Ii
reform in the civil service OF the country.
would have it go beyond the mere fixing OF the
tenure of Office of clerks and employees, who 90
not require the advice and consent OF the SEN
ate to make their appointment complete. 1
would have it govern not the tenure but tne
manner Of making all appointments. There Is
no duty which so much embarrasses Che Execu.
tive and heads of departments as that OF
appointments, nor is there any such arduous
! and thankless labor imposed on Senators ana
Representatives as that of finding places 1or
constituents. The present system does nov
secure the best and often not fit men for puptiic
places The elevation and publication OF the
with approval by the whole people OF the United
States.
THE INDIAN POLICY.
Reform in the management of Indian affairs
has received the special attention OF the admin
istration from its Inauguration to the present
day. The experiment of making missionary
work was tried with a few agencies gwen 10
the Denomination Of Friends, and has pee n
found to work most advantage AL
agencies and superintendencies not so disposed
! of we're given to officers Of the army. Inc sct
of Congress regulating the army renders army
officers ineligible for civil positions. lnalan
/ agencies being civil offices, Determined 70
! give all the agencies to such religious denolr
! nations as had heretofore established mission.
aries among the Indians, and perhaps 70 so .he
other denominations who would undertake the
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