Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-12-06

DOttOmS, anu Wnlle tIls VI auaiis eAiSts
! we cannot control our due share of the com.
I merce of the world. That between the Pacific
states and China and Japan, is about all the
| carving trade conducted in American vessels.
l would recommend liberal policy toward
that line of American steamers. one that VIII
insure its success, and even increased useful
ness. The cost of building iron vessels, the
only ones that can compete with foreign
ships in carrying trade, is so much greater
in the United States than in foreign coun-
tries, that without some assistance from tina
government, they cannot be successfully
built here There will be several PROPOSE
tions laid before Congress in the course OF the
present session, looking to the remedy OF
this evil, even if it should be at some cost to
the National Treasury. l hope such en-
enlargement will be given as will secure
American shipping on the high seas, ana
American shipbuilding at home.
The condition of the archives at the De-
partment of State calls for the early action OF
Congress The building now rented by that
department is a frail structure, at an incon-
venient distance from the Executive Mansion.
and from other departments. 1t is i'll adapted
to the purpose for which it is used, has not
capacity to accommodate the archives, and is
not fire-proof. Its remote situation, It's
slender construction, and the absence of a
but little hope of safety, either for buildings
or contents in case of accident or fire. Its
destruction would involve the loss of rolls
containing original acts and resolutions of
Congress, of the historic records of the
revolution. and of the correspondence of the
whole series of diplomatic and consular
archives. since the adoption of the Constitu-
ton, and of the many other valuable records
and papers left with that department when
it was the principal depository of the gov
ornamental archives. / recommend an APP
preparation for the construction of a building
for the Department of State. l recommend
to your consideration the propriety OF trans
ferring to the department of the Interior,
to which they seem more appropriately to
belong, all powers and duties in relation
to the territories with which the departmen mt
of State is now charged by law and usage,
from the Interior to the War department, and
theP ension department. so far as it regulates
the pay of soldiers pensions. would fur
ther recommend that the naval be transferred
to one of the bureaus of the Navy depart
ment.
The estimates for expenses of the govern
ment for the next fiscal year ARE Sis, 2i4, 346 vi
less than forthe previous one, but exceed the APP
preparation tor the present year SS,972, l27 Sc
In this estimate is included S22, 1873 1881 for
public work begun under Congressional SUI
perintendence, and of which only so much is
asked as Congress may choose to give. The
appropriation for same work for present fiscal
wear, was SIl 1854 5lS.0S. The average value
of gold, as compared with national currency
for whole year of 1869, was about 1874, and
for IL months of 1870, the same relative
value has Leen about ll5. The APP
proach to specie basis is very graf
tying, but the fact cannot be denied that
e to, E
prejudicial To our prosperity, and tends to
keep up prices TO the detrment of trade The
evils of Il depre ciated and fluctuating curren-
cy are so great that now when the premium
on gold has fallen much, it would seem
that the time has arrived when by wise and
prudent legislation Congress should look to a
policy which would place our currency at par
with gold at no distant day. The tax collect
I'd from the people has been reduced more
than eighty million dollars per annum. By
continuing in our present course there is no
reason why in a few short years the National
tax gatherer may not be sent from the door of
the citizen almost entirely. The revenue
stamps dispensed by Postmasters in every
community, a tax upon liquors OF all sort and
tobacco in all its forms, and by wise adj
justment of the tariff which will put a
duty on those articles which we can dis
pense with known as Injuries from
those of which we use more than we produce,
means enough may be raised after few years
OF peace and consequent reduction OF indebt-
edness to fulfill all our obligations. fur
Their reduction of expenses in addition to re-
duction of interest account may be relied up
on to make this practicable. Revenue re-
forms if it means this, has my hearty support.
If it impliesa collection of all the revenue for
the support of government, for tbs payment
IS hn I,.ht
pensions, ETC., by directly taxing the people,
then am against Revenue Reform, and con-
fidently believe the people are with me. Ii it
means failure to provide the necessary means
to defray all expenses of the government, and
thereby reputation of the public debt and
pensions, then 1 am still more opposedto such
kind of revenue reform. Revenue reform
has not been defined by any of its adherents,
to my knowledge, but seems to be accepted as
something which is to supply every means
wanted without any cost or effort on their part.
true revenue reform cannot be made
in day, but must be the work of ma
tional legislation and time. AS soon as the
revenue can be dispensed with, all duty should
be removed from coffee, tea, and other arti-
Giles of universal use not produced by our
selves. The necessities of the country compel
us to collect revenue from our imports. An
army of Assessors and Collectors is not a
pleasant sight to the citizen, but that or a tar
if for revenue is necessary. Such tariff, 20
far as it acts as an encouragement to home
products, affords employment to labor at liv-
ing wages, in contrast to the pauper labor of
the old world, and also the development Of
home resources. Under an act of Congress
of the 18th day Of July, 1870, the army has
gradually been reduced, so that on the first of
January, 1871, the number of Commissioned
officers and men will not exceed the number
contemplated by that law.
The war department building is an old
structure, not fire-proof, and entirely made
quate in dimensions to our present wants.
Many thousands of dollars are now paid an
nually for rents in private buildings, to ac-
commodate the various bureaus OF the depart
ment. / recommend an appropriation tor a
new war department building, suited to the
present and growing wants of the nation. The
port of the Secretary of War shows a very
satisfactory reduction in the expenses of the
army for the last fiscal year. The details you
are referred 10 in his accompanying report.
The expenses of the Navy for the whole of
the last year, from December l. 1863, (the
date of the last report are less than $40 ,0O0,-
900, or about 81 ,000,0 900 less than they were
the previous year. The expenses since the