The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-07

LNG, fDECEMBERas7, IL
1t is used has not capacity to accommo.
date the archives, and 1t is not fire-proof
Its remote situation, its slender construc.
tion, and the absence of q supply OF water
in the neighborhood, leave but little hope
of safety for either the building or its con.
tents In case of the accident of a fire. .
It's destruction would involve the loss oil
the rolls containing the original acts and
resolutions of Congress, of the historic re-
cords of the Revolution and of the Confed.
Grafton Of the whole series OF diplomatic
and consular archives since the adoption ol
the Constitution, and. Of the many othe.
valuable records and papers left with that
Department when 1t was the principal de.
pository of the governmental archives. I re.
commend an appropriation 1for the con.
struction of a building for the Department
of State. Ei%{ n - 7ftslE
i recommend to your consideration the
propriety of transferring 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 Department of State is now
charged by law or usage, and from the In:
ICilol Ocl pau tuett ~ tuS w Wd4fDeljdEIlutill
the Pension Bureau, SO far as it regulates
further recommend that the payment OF
naval pensions be transferred to one of the
bureaus of the Navy Department.
The estimates for the expenses of the
Government for the next fiscal year are
SIS, PA 1916 .01 less than for the current one,
but exceed the appropriations for the pres.
ent year for the same items SS,972. 1876.
In this estimate, however, is included
So, ,338, ,27S.G for public works heretofore
begun under congressional provision, and
of which only so much lis asked as CONGRESS
may choose to give. The appropriation for
the same works for the present fiscal year
was S11 1884, ,516.0S.
The average value Of gold, as compared
with national currency for the whole of the
year 1869, was about 134, and for II months
of 1870 the same relative value has been
about 10. The approach to specie basis
is very gratifying, but the fact cannot be
denied that the instability Of the value of
our currency is prejudicial to our prosper
ity, and tends to keep up prices to the de-
triment Of trade.
The evils Of deprecated and nuctuating
currency are so great that now, when the
premium on gold has fallen so much, it
would seem that the time has arrived when,
by wise and prudent legislation, Congress
should look to policy which would place
our currency at par with gold at no distant
day. esry.E,E
The tax collected from the people has
been reduced more than eighty millions of
dollars per annum. BY steadiness in our
present course there Is no reason why, in a
few short years, the national tax-gatherer
may not disappear from the door of the citi.
zen almost entirely.
With the revenue stamp dispensed by
postmasters In every community, a tax
upon liquors of all sorts, and tobacco in all
its forms, and by wise adjustment of the
tariff, which will put duty only upon
those articles which we could dispense with,
known US luXuries, and on those which we
use more of than we produce, revenue
enough may be raised, after a few years of
peace and consequent reduction OF indebt-
edness, to fulfil all our obligations. A
further reduction Of expenses in addition
to IL reduction of interest account may be
relied on to make this practicable.
Revenue reform. if it means this, has my
hearty support. If it implies collection
of all the revenue for the support of Gov
ernment, for the payment Of principal and
interest of the public debt, pensions, &C.,
by directly taxing. the people, then | am
against revenue reform, and confidently be-
lieve the people are with me.
If it means failure to provide the neces-
sary means to defray all the expenses of the
Government, and thereby repudiation of
the public debt and pensions, then | am
still more opposed to such kind of revenue
reform.
Revenue reform has not been defined by
any of its advocates, to my knowledge, but
seems to be accepted rs something which is
to supply every mans wants, without any
cost or effort on his part. A 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 be dispensed d
with, all duty should be removed from cof-
fee, tea, and other articles of universal use
not produced by ourselves. The necessi-
ties of the country compel us to collect
SCISSORS and collectors is not 4 pleasant sight
to the citizens, but that or tariff for reYe
nue. is necessary.
Such tariff, so tar as it acts as an en-
couragement to home production, affords
employment to labor at living wages, ii
contrast to the pauper labor Of the Ole
World, and also in the development o
home resources.
Under the act of Congress of the 1911
duy Of July, 1870, the army has gradual.
been reduced so that on the 1st day of Jan
uary, 1871, the number of commissioner
officers and men will not exceed the mum
ber contemplated by that law. The Wa
Department building is an old structure
not flre-proof, and entirely inadequate il
dimensions to our present wants. Man,
thousands of dollars are now paid annual,
for rent of private buildings to accommo
date the various bureaus of the Depart
ment. ........,.
recommend an appropriation for a nev
War Department building, suited to th
present growing want OF the nation.
The report of the Secretary of Wa
shows very satisfactory reduction in th
expenses of the army for the last fiSca
year. For details you are referred to his &C
companying report.
The expenses of the navy for the who'll
of the last year, from December 1, 1869. tn
date of the last report, are less than $40,
900, 900, or about 81, 100000 less than the,
were the previous year. ~7 &2 q.
The expenses since the commencement
Of this fiscal year, since July /, show for th
five months decrease of over S2, 400, ,O0
from those of the corresponding months O
last year. s..a b..
The estimates for the current year wer'
S2S, ,205, ,671.37 those for next year S20, ,6S3,
3I7, with 1856, 100 additional for necessar,
permanent Improvements.
These estimates are made closely, TO
the mere maintenance of the naval es
tablishment as it now is, without much il
the nature of permanent improvements
The appropriations made for the last ans
current years were evidently intended b,
Congress, and are sufficient only to keel
the navy on its present footing by the re
pairing and reftting of our old ships. Thi
policy must, of course, gradually but surei,
destroy the navy, and it is in itself far from
economical, as each year that it Is pursued
the necessity for more repairs in ships ant