The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-12-15

with which the Department of State is now
churged--by law or usage; and from the Interior
Departmcntt 10 Che War Department the Pension
Bureau, so far as 1t regulates the payment OF
soldiers pensions. would further recommend
that the payment of naval pensions be transfer
red 10 one of the bureaus OF the Navy Depart
AaeAt,
Inc estimates for the expenses of the govern
1nent for the fiscal year are SlS2 l35V less than
for the current one, but exceed the appropriation
for the present year for the same items SS9l2,-
l27 So In this estimate however, is included
~, SS,27S 81 for public works heretofore begun
only so much Is asked as Congress may choose
TO give. The appropriation for the same works
for the present fiscal year was Sll iS4,olS OS
The average value of gold as compared with
the national currency for the whole of the year
1869 was about lS, and for eleven months of 1870
the same relative value has been about ll5. The
approach to specie basis is very gratifying, but
the fact can not be denied that the instability of
the value Of our currency is prcjudicial to our
prosperity, and tends TO keep up prices to the
detriment Of trade. The evils of Il deprecated
and fluctuating currency are so great that now,
when the premium on gold has fallen so much,
II would seem that the time has arrived when
by wise and prudent legislation Congress should
look 10 policy which would place our currency
Mt par with gold at no distant day. The revenue
collected from the people has been reduced more
than 80 million dollars per annum. BY steadi-
ness in our present course there is no reason
why, In few short years, the national tax
gather may not disappear fr0m the door OF the
citizen almost entirely. With the revenue
community, tax upon liquors of all sorts, and
tobacco in all its forms, and by wise adjustment
of the tariff, which will put a duty only upon
those articles which one could dispense with,
known as luxuries, and OH those which we use
more of than we produce, Revenue enough may
be raised, after few years of peace, and eonse,
quent reduction of Indebtedness, to fulfill all
our obligations. A further reduction of fexpense,
in addition TO reduction of interest account,
may be relied ON 10 make this. Practical reve-
nue. reform, ifit means this, has my hearty sup
/ / a n M
for the support of the government, for the pay
ment of the principal and interest of the pubic
debt, pensions, &c, by directly taxing thcpeople,
then ! anlsagnst revenue reform and confi-
dcntly believe the people are with me. II 1t
means O failure TO provide the necessary means
10 dctray all the expenses OF the government,
and thereby reputation of the public debt ana
pensions, then snm still moro opposed to such
kind of revenue reform. 1t has not been defined
by amy 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 bis part true revenue reform can
not be made In day, but must be the work of
ma iGnll 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
universal use not produced by ourselves. The
necessities of the county compel us to collect
revenue from our imports. An army Of Assessors
and Collectors Is not n pleasant sight to the citi-
Nns but that or tariff for revenue Is necessary.
such tariff, so far as II acts in encouragement
To home products, affords employment to labor
at living wages, in contrast To the pauper labor
of the Old World, and also in the development
of home resources.
b. k.Inder the act of Congress- Of the 18th day Of
p July, 1870, the army has gradually been reduced,
and on the LIST Of January, 1871, the number OF
commissioned officers and men Will not exceed
the number contemplated by law. The War
Department building Is an old structure, not
hrt-proof and inadequate I'm dimensions 10 our
present wants. Many thousands of dollars are
now paid annually for rent Of private buildings
tO accommodate the various bureaus Of the de-
plrtment. recommend an appropriation for q
new War Department building suited TO the
present and growing wants of the nation. The
report Of the Secretary Of War shows n very sat
tsfuctOry reduction In the expenses Of the army
for the last fiscal year. For details you are re-
fcrrcd to his accompanying report.
The expenses of the navy for the whole Of the
last year, frOnF December, 1869, the date Of the
last report, are less than nineteen million dol.
lars, or about one million less than they were
the previous year. The expenses of the Navy
Department in this fiscal year. since July LIST
.hOw for the five months Il decrease Of over
2,lOOOOO nom those OF the corresponding months
OF last year. The estimates for the current yenl
were S2S,2Oj,67O those for the next year arC
s20,B38l7, with SOL 900 additional for temporary
ana permanent improvements. These estimates
are made closely, for the malntOnance OF thu
naval establishment, ms II now Is, without mucl
in the mature Of permanent improvement. Tn,
appropriation made for the last and curren
years were evidently intended by Congress, ant
are sufficient only, 10 Keep the navy Oh It's pres
ent footing, and the repairing and rchttlng 0
our old ships This policy must, of course, grad
IIhlly. but surely destroy the navy, and II IL, II
itself far fIom CcOnOnlical-ior each year that /
is pursued the necessity for more repairs IN ship
and navy yards become moro imperative anC
moro costly; aud our current expenses are nc
tually increased for the mere repair OF ships
many Of which must soon be urse0wOrthy nnt
useless hope during the pres, mt year and ses
sion Of Congress To be able 10 submit TO It u psal
by which naval vessels cnn be built and repair
made with great saving on the present cost,
can hardly be wise stntesmanshlp In n govern
mrnt which represents country with over nv
thousand miles Of coast line ON both oceans OK
elusive Of Alnslini and containing iO0OOOOO 0
progressive people, with relations of every mn
lure with almost every foreign country, To res
with such inadequate means of forcing any for
cign policy either Of protection OF redress. Sep
arntpd by the ocean from the nations Of the cast
ern continent, our navy Is our only means o
direct protection to our citizens nbrOad, or 70
the enforcement of our foreign policy.
f1hc accompanying report OF the fostmaste
General shows Il most satisfactory working q
that department With the adoption Of the rec
concentrations contained therein, particular
the leglsnling to u reform In the franltlng priv
ilegp, aud the ndotiOn of correspondence cnrds,
seli-suStalning postal system may be spcedll
looked for, and ~ no distant day for iuftllc
reduction Of the rate Of postage cnn bo attained
recommend the authorization by Congress
the Postmaster General and Attorney Ooneit
TO lSsuc ali commissions 10 officials appOinte
through their respective departments. AZ pre-
ent these commissions, where appointments ~
made, nre issued 10y the state Department.. I'll
law III all the departments of government, eN
ct'pt those Of the PO'tOnlce ana Of justice, ~
thnrzps unch 10 issue ltS own commissions
Always htVoring practical reforms, | respcc
fully enl your attention to ono abuse of Ion
standing, which would like To see reinCdled y
this Congress. II ha reform IN ne clYll servl'
Of the country. | would advise II To go bcyon
the mere hXing-Of-Oiiirp of clcrksand employc
who do not require the advice of the senate
make heappolntments complete. would hhN
II govern, not the tenure only, but the mann,
Of making all appointments There Is no dul
which 80 much cnbarasScs the Executive M
heads Of departments as that OF appointment
nor lHthelc any such Hrduous ANA thhnklcss u
nor lmpospd on Senators aud Representatives
that Of finding places IOrc0nstitucnts Thepro
ent system dOa4 not secure the best men, ~
often not even nt mon for public place III
elevation and publication OF the civil service
Sba aoyrrnm mt will be hnltcd with approval i
ihe whole people ofthe United smtes
Reform Ia the management OF Indian anu
liaS received the special attention OF the ndlnll
isiratOn from It's Inauguration 10 tue pftsnl
dny. The experiment was tried oi innklhg y
missionary agency given 10 the uohohllhhllo
Of Ffiends, aud has been found to work mo
adyantngeuudy, Ak the agencies Rnd superb
tendencies not 80 dstlpsed OF were given TO on
ccis Of thenrmy. TIE act Of Congress roluell
the army renders army officers Ineligible Il
civil positions Indian agepelos being civil q
nG,~, determined 10 give Gll the agencies
such religious denominations as hhl hnrctoio
e,tnblishad missionaries among tho indians,nl
perhapi To some other denominations WI
would undertake. the work ON the same terms
q missionary work.
Tile societies selected are allowed 10 nun
their own agents subject 10 the approval OF u
Executive, aud are expected 10 watch over the
and aid tliem as missionaries and Christian
aud clyllze the Indian, and train him In q
aFtsOf peace. The government watches over u
official ucts OF these agents, ana rpquircsol the
ns strict an account of their ability ~ II IN
were appointed In any manner. lchthrtaih q
confident hope that the policy now pursued W
IN a few yenrs bring all the Indians upon reS'
VatlOns where they VIII live IN houses, M
school houses and churches, viii he purau
pcaceful aud self-sustaning avOcatlons, q
where they may be visited by the law-abidl
white inaii with the snine impunity thNt he nt