Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-12-24

struction of building fof the Department.
Of State. tsa-.1
CHANGES IN DEPARTMENTS sREcoMMENDED
recommend to yodr consideration the
propriety Of transferring to the Depart
h1cnt Of the Interior, to which they seem
more properly to belong, al powers aud
l duties in relation 70 the Territories with
Whish shes psl<lDs1S ~. e.osuls h uow
charged by law Of usage, and from the In
terror Department to the War Department
the Pension Bureau, so far as il regulates
the payment Of soldiers pensions. would
| further recommend that the payment of
naval pensions be- transferred to one of the
Bureaus Of the Navy.
EXPENSES OF TiE GOVERNMENT.
| The estimates for tho expenses Of the
Government for the fiscal year are $18,.
24 ,34S OIL less than for the current one,
but exceeds the appropriation for the pre-.
sent year, for the same items, S80, ,721 in
this; the estimates, however, included
$22, ,388, ,27S 81, for public works hereto-
fore begun under Congressional provision,
aud of which only SO much is asked ~
Congress may choose to give. The appro-
|
sent fiscal year.. was S19S, ,451 ,S08.
RETURN TO SPECIE PAYMENT.
The average value of gold, as compared
with national currency for the year 1869,
was about 1874, and for the eleven months
Of 1870 the same relative value has been
about rs. This 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 xeep UP prices to the det-
r,ment Of trade The etils Of deprecia.
ted aud fuctuating currency are SO great,
that now, when the premium on gold has
fallen so much that it would seem that tho
time has srrivcd when by prudent legisla-
ton Congress should look to policy which
would place our currency at par with gold
2t no distant day.
| REDUCTION OF TAXATION.
The tax collected from the people has
been reduced more than eight million dol
lars per annum, by steadiAess in our pres
ent course there is no reason why, In &
few short years, the national tax. .gathcrer
may not disappear from the door of the
citizens almost entirely. With the revenue
stamps dispensed by postmastcrs in every
community, a tax upon liquors Of all sorts,
and tobacco in all its forms, and by . nice
adjustment of the tariff, which will put a
duty only upon those articles which we
could dispense with, known as Injuries,
aud on those which We use more OF than
VIC produce, revenue enough may be raised
after few years Of peace and consequent
reduction Of indebtedness, to fulfill all our
obligations.
REVENUE REFORM.
In addition to this, reduction of inter-
nal accounts may be relied on to make this
practicable. Revenue reform, If il means
this, has my early support; If it implies
collection Of all the revenue for the sup-
port Of the Government, for the payment
Of principal and interest of tas, public
debt, pensions, &C., by direct taxation ON
the people, then am against revenue re.
form. and confidently believe the people
are with me. Ifit means failure to nro-
vide the necessary means to defray all ex-
penses Of the Government, and thereby re-
pudiate the public debt, then am still
more opposed to such kind Of revenue.
Revenue reform has not been defined by
any Of its advocates to my knowledge, but
seems 70 be accepted as something which.
u 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 legisla-
ton, and Of time. As soon a. che revenue
can be dispensed with, al duty should be
removed from coffee, ten and other articles
Of universal use, not produced by our
selves. The necessities Of the country
compel Us TO collect revenue from our i'm
ports. An army Of assessors and collectors
is not pleasant sight to the citizens. bat
that, or tariff for revenue, u necessary.
Such tariff, 80 far - it acts a An enceur-
agement to home products, affords employ
meut to the laborer at living wages, in
contrast to tho pauper labor Of the Old
World, and also in the development Of
home resources. ffs,s..
ExPENsEs AND xsTfMArEs OF THE ARMY
4... AND NAVY. A
Under the Act of Congress Of the 18th
Of July, 1870. the army has gradually been
1871, the number Of commissioned .oaicers /
aud men, all will not exceed tho numbef
contemplated by that law.
The Department. building il % old
structure, not 6re-proof, and entirely in
adequate in dimensions to Our prssent
wants. Many thousands Of dollars are
now paid annually for rent Of ps;vats
buildings to. accommodate tho various
bureaus Of the Department. IrecOmmend
an appropriation for new War Depart.
mont building. suited to tho present srow-
ing wants OF the nation.
The report of the Secretary of War
shows very satisfactory reduction ID the
expenses Of the army for tho Ascsl gar.
For this you are referred to his accompasy.
ing report gA
Thu ar nansns nf thn nave ~ A1hn - hnln