The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-12-15


due share of the commerce of the word That between
the Pacific States and China and Japan is about all
the carrying trade now conducted in American
sells. would recommend liberal policy toward
that line Of American steamers; that will insure
its success and even increased usefulness.
The cost of building iron vessels the only ones
that cas-. compete with foreign ships in the carrying
trade is much greater in the United States than
jim foreign countries, that, without assistance
built here There will be several propositions laid
before Congress in the of the session
be at cost the National Treasury hope such
encouragement will be given will secure American
shipping on the high seas and American ship-build
ing at home.
BUILDING roR DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
The condition of the archives at the Department of
State calls for the early action of Congress. The
building now rented by the Department is fral
structure ut best at inconvenient distance from
tho Executive Mansion and from the other Depart
ments, 1t is illadopted to the purpose for which it
is used has not capacity to accommodate the archives
and is not hreproof. Its remote situation, its slen
der construction and the absence of supply of wa
ter in the neghborhood, leaves but little hope of
safety for either buildeng its contents in of
the accident of fire. It's destruction would involve
the loss of the rolls containing the orgonl acts and
resolutions of Congress- of the historic records of the
revolution of the confederation of the whole series
of diplomatic and consular archives since the adop
tion of the Constitution and of the many other valu
able records and papers left with that department
when it the principal depository of the Govern
ment archlves. recommend an Appropriation tor
the construction OF building for the Department of
State.
DEPARTMENT POWERS AND DUTIES.
recommend to your reconsideration the proprety
otransferrng to the Department of the interior,
which they seem more appropriately to belong all
powers and duties in relation to the territories
with which the Department of the State is charg
ed by law usage; and from the Interior Depart
ment to the War Department the Pension Bureauso
far as it regulates the payment of soldiers pensions
would further recommend that the payment of
naval pensions be transferred to of the bureaus
OF the Navy Department.
GOVERNMENT EXPENSES.
The estimates for the expenses of the Government
for the fiscal SIS less than for the
rent but exceed the appropriations for the pres
ent year for the items, SS.972756 In this est
mate, however, is included S22 1895, 1921 for public
works heretofore begun under Congressional permits
sion, and of which only much is asked Congress
may choose to give. The appropriation for the same
work for the present fiscal was S1 1884 51S0S.
CURRENCY, GOLD AND TAXES
The average value OF gold as compared with nation
al currency for the whole of the year 1869 13l
and for eleven months of 1870 the relative value
has been about 115. The approach to a specie basis
is gratifying but the fact cannot be denied that
instability of the value of currency prejudcia
to prosperity and tends to keep up prices to the
detriment of trade. The evils Of deprecated and
fuctuatBg currency great that now when
the premium gold has fallen 20 much, it would
seem that the time has arrived W aen by wise and
prudent legislation Congress should look to policy
which would place currency at par with gold 8
no distant day. The tax collected from the people
has been reduced more than $4,000 O00 per annum.
BY steadness in present there is reason
why in few short years the national tax-gatherer
may not disappear from the door of the citizen al
most entirely.
With the revenue stamp dispensed by postmaste rs
in every community, 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 could dispense with, known lux
ures, and on those which more of than we
produce, revenue enough may be raised after a few
years OF peace and consequent reduction of indebted
ness to fulfill all obligations; and further re-
duction of expenses in addition to reduction of in
terest account may be relied to make this practc
able.
REVENUE REFORM.
Revenue reform, if it means this, has my hearty
support If it implies collection of all the revenue
for the support Of the Governments for the payment
of principal and interest of the public debt pensions
&C.. by directly taxing the people, then against
revenue REFORM and confidently believe the people
with me. If it failure to provide the me-
cessary to defray the expenses of the Govern
ment, and hereby reputation of the public debt and
pensions then l 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 10 be accent
ed as something which is TO supply every mans
wants without any cost effort his part true
revenue reform cannot be made in day but ris be
the work of natural legislation and of time. A. soon
the be dispensed with all duty should
be removed from coffee, tea and other articles of
iversal not produced by ourselves. The neces-
sites OF the country compel us to collect
from imports. An army of and collect
is not pleasant sight to the citizens but that
"a tariff fer revenue is necessary. Such tariff.
far it acts in encouragement to labor living
wages in contrast TO the pauper labor of the old
world Land also in the Development of homo resources
Under the act of Congress of the 18th day of July
1870 the army has gradually been reduced, that
on the first day of January 1871, the number of COM
missored officers and men in all Will not exceed the
number contemplated by that law.
DEPARTMENT BlILDING.
The Department building is IN old structure, not
fireproot and entirely inadequate in dimensions
our present wants. Many thousands OF dollars are
now paid annually for rent of private building. to
accommodate the various Bureaus of the Depar
L recommend an Appropriation tor newWar Depart
ment building, suited to the present and growing
wants of the nation.
ARMY AND NAVY
The report of the Secretary of War shows very
sat sfactory reduction in the expenses of the army
for the last fiscal year. For details you referred
to his accompanying report. The expense of the
navy for the whole of the last year, e. from Deem
Der 1862 the das of the last report less than
oo00o, or about 81 100000 less than they
the previous year,
The expenses since the commencement of this
fiscal year. H. since July show for the five months
decrease of from those Of the CORES
ponding months of last year.
The estimates for the current year SOS, 205-
56SO3 Tqose for the next $50 $50 817, with
1856, 100 additional for the necessary permanent
provements. There estimates are made closely for
the maintenance of the naval establishment it
is, without much in the nature of permanent
ment The appropriations made for the last and
curre-t years were evidently intended by Congress
and sufficient only to keep the navy its present
footing, by the repairing and refrting of our old
ships, This policy must of course gradually but
surely destroy the navy; and it is in itself far from
economical, as each year that it is pursued the
cessty for repairs in ships and navy yards be-
v,
expenses annually increased for the re-
pair of ships, many of which must soon become
safe and useless.
/ hope during tt present session of Congress to be
able to submit to plan by which Daval vessels
be built and repairs made with great saving upon
the present cost. 1t can hardly be wise statesman
ship of a Government which represents country
with five Thousand miles of coast line on both
oceans, exclusive of Alaska and containing forty
millions OF progressive 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 redress.
Separated by the ocean from the nations of the
Eastern continent our navy is OILY means of pro-
lection to citizens obroad Sr the enforcement
of any foreign policy.
PosT-oFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report of the Postmaster Gen
eral shows most satisfactory working of the depart
mcnt. With the adoption of the recommendations
contained therein, particularly those relating to re-
form in the franking privilege, and the adoption of
correspondence cards. sefsustaining postal system
may speedily be looked for and at no distant day
further reduction of the rate of postage attained,
] recommend authorized by Congress to the Post
master General and Attorney General to issue all
commissions to officials appointed through their
spective departments. At present these commissions
where appointments President al are issued by
the State Department, except those of the postoice
and of Justice, Authorizes each to issue its
missions.
CIVIL SERVICE RsFoRM.
Always favorng practical reforms, respectfully
call your attention abuse of long standing
which L would like remodied by this Congress
1t is reform in the civil service of the country.
would have it go beyond the fixing of the ten
of Office of clerks and employees who do not
qure the advice and consent of the Senate to make
their appointments complete. would have it gov
not the tenure but the manner of making all APP
pointments. There is no duty winch embarrasses
the executive and heads of departments that of
appointments, nor is there any such arduous and
thankless labor imposed Senators and Representa-
tives as that OF finding places for constituents
The present system does not secure the best, and
often not fit for public places. The eeya-
zion and nurcotion of th civil service of tho Gov
ernment will be bailed with approval by the whole
people of the United States.
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Reform in the management of Indian affairs has
received the special attention of the Administration