Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-12-13
sf SaE VOL. y, NO. %.


on to make this practicable Revenue re
FORM if it means this has my hearty support.
III implies a collection of all the revenues
FOR the support Of the Government for the
payment of principal and interest Of the public
debt, pensions, &c. by directly taxing the
people, then | am against revenue reform.
aud confidently believe the people are with
me. If il means a failure TO provide the ne,
ccssary means to defray all expenses Of the
Government, aud thereby the reputation 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 It's advocates to my knowledge, but it
seems to accepted as something which is to
supply every mans want without any cost or
effort on his part. A true revenue reform
cannot be made in a day, but must be the
work of national legislation and Of time. As
soon as the revenue can be dispensee with, all
duty should be removed from coffee, tea, and
other articles Of universal use not produced
by ourselves The necessities of the country
compel MS to collect revenue from our i'm
ports An army of assessors and collectors
is not a pleasant sight to the citizens but that
of a tariff for revenue is necessary. Such
tariff, SO far as il acts in encouragement in
encouragement to home products, affords en-
ployment to labor at living wages in contrast
to the pauper labor Of the old world and also
in the development Of home resources
THE NAVY.
The expenses of the navy for the whole Of
the last year, 1. E., from Dec. /, 1869, the
dates OF the last part, are less than Sl0,000,-
000 or about ST 100000 less than they
were the previous year. The expenses since
the commencement of the fiscal year, l. E.,
since July LIST, slow for the five months a
decrease of over S2,400,000 from those of
the corresponding months of last year. The
estimates for the current year were S2S, 205,-
61S 65; those for the fiscal year are $50 6S7,-
81, with $3.50, 100 additional for necessary
permanent improvements These estimates
are made closely for the maintenance OF the
naval establishment as it now is, without
much in the nature Of permanent improve
ment. The appropriation made for the last
and current year were evidently intended by
Congress, and are sufficient only 10 keep the
navy on its present footing by the repairing
and refittlng of our old ships. This policy
must of course gradually but surely destroy
the navy, and il is in itself far from economi-
cal, as each year that il is pursued, the me-
cessity for mere repairs in ships and navy
yards becomes more imperative and more
costly, and our current expenses are annually
increased for the mere repair of ships, many
OF which must soon become unsafe and
L
OF Congress, TO be able to submit to It plan
by which naval vessels can be built, aud re-
pairs made, with a great saving upon the
present cost 1t can hardly be wise states
manship in Government which represents
a country with over five thousand miles of
coast-Hne on both oceans, exclusive of
Alaska, and containing forty millions of pro-
gressiye people, with relations of every
nature with almost every foreign country
TO rest with such inadequate means of en-
forcing any Foreign policy, either of protec-
ton or redress. Separated by the ocean
from the nations of the Eastern continent,
our navy is our only means of direct protec-
ton TO our citizens abroad, or for the en-
iorcement Of any foreign policy.
THE PosT-oFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The, accompanying report olthe Postmaster
General shows most satisfactory working
of the Department. With the adoption of
tho recommendations contained therein, par
ticularly those relating TO a reform in the
Thanking privilege, and the adoption of cor
respondeuce cards, a self-sustaining postal
system may speedily be looked for, and at no
distant day, further reduction Of the rate Of
postage attained.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
| recommend the authorization by Con-
gress Of the Postmaster General ana Attor-
ney General to issue all commissions to
officials appointed through their respective
departments. At present these commissions,
where appointments are presidential, arc
issued by the state Department. The law
in all the departments of the Government
except those Of the post-ofices and Of JUS
tice, authorizes each to issue It's own com
missions. Always fayoring practical reforms,
| respectfully call your attention TO one
abuse Of long standing, which | would like
to see remedied by Congress. II Is q reform
in the civil service Of the country ! would
have il 90 beyond the mere fixing Of the
tenure OF Office of clerks and employees, who
do not require the advice and consent Of tie
Senate TO make their appointment complete
| would have il govern not the tenure but
the manner Of making all appointments
There is no duty which so embarrasses the
Executive and heads Of departments as that
Of appointments, nor is there any such ar
duous and thankess labor imposed on Sena-
tors and Representatives as that Of finding
places for constituents. The present system
does not secure the best and often fl men for
public places. The elevation and publication
of the ciyi service OF the Government will
be hailed with approval by the whole people
OF the United States.
THE INDIAN POLICY.
Reform in the management Of Indian az
fairs has received the special attention Of
the administration from its Inauguration to
the present day. The experiment of making
a missionary work was tried with a few
agencies given TO the Denomination Of
Friends, and has been found to work most
advantageously. Ali agencies and supern-
tendencies not so disposed Of were given 10
officers Of the army. The act OF Congress
regulating the army renders army officers
Ineligible for civil positions Indian agen-
cies being civil Offices, determined to give
all the agencies 10 such religious denomina-
tons as had heretofore established misson-
aries among the Indians, AID perhaps TO some
other denominations who would undertake
the work on the same terms, I. E.,-as a
missionary work. The societies selected
are allowed to name their own agents, SUBJ
iec. 10 the approval OF the Executive, and
are expected to watch over them and aid
them as missionaries, to Christainize and
civize the Indian, and to train him in the
acts of peace The Government watches
over the official acts of these agents, and re-
qulres of them as strict an accountability as
ii they were appointed in any other manner.
| entertain the confident hope that the policy
now pursued will, 10 few years, bring all
Indians upon reservations, where they will
live in houses, have school houses and
churches, will be pursuing peaceful and self
sustaining avocatlons, and where they may
be visited by the law-abiding white man
with the same impuDity that he now visits
the civilized white settlements. | call your
special attention to the report of the Com
missioner Of Indian Affairs for full informa-
ton on this subject.
PUBLIC LANDS.
During the last fiscal year 8,095,4l3 acres
of public lands were disposed Of OF this
quantity, 3,69S, $40 acres were taken under
the homestead law, and 2,259 $40 acres sold
for cash. The remainder was located with
military warrants, college or Indian scrip,
or applied in satisfaction OF grants to rail-
roads or other public uses. The entries
under the homestead law during the past
year covered 99I ,545 acres more than those
during the preceding year. Surveys have
been vigorously prosecuted to the full extent
Of the means applicable TO the purpose.
The quantity Of land in market viii amply
supply the present demand. The claim of
the settlers under the homestead or pre-emp-
ton laws is not limited, however, TO land
subject to sale by private entry. Aay unap-
propriated surveyed public land may to I
limited amount, be acquired under the former (
laws, if the party entitled to enter unde!
them will comply with the Requirements
they:prescribe in regard to the residence ana
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