The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-12-08
(ooNcLoDED FROM FIRST pAGE.)
THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES.

THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES
Inc condition of the archieves at the
Departments of State calls for the early
action of Congress. The building now
rented by that department is a frail struc
cure, at an lnconvenient distance from
tne Executive mansion and from the
other departments. It is ill adapted to
Che purpose for which il is used, has not
capacity to accommodate the archives,
and Is not fire proof It's remote sltua-
uon, Its slender construction, and the
absence OF supply of water in the
nelgho0rhood, leaves but little hope of
safety f"r either the building or contents
IN case ut the accident of fire. Its destruc
ton would involve the loss of the rolls
containing the original acts and resou-
lions of Congress, of the storic records
OF the Revolution and of the confedera-
ton OF whole series of diplomatic and
consular archives since the adoption of
the Constitution, and of many other valu-
able records and papers left Wi b that de-
partment when it was the principal re
positorv of the government archives.
recommend an appropriation for the con.
strnction of a building for the Depart
ment of State I recommend to your re-
consideration the propriety of transfer
ring 70 Department of interior, to which
they seem more appropriately to belong,
oil powers and duties IN relation to the
territories with which he Department of
State is now charged. ny law or usage,
and from the Interior Department to the
War Department the Pension Bureau, so
Tar rs 1t regulates the payment Of soldiers
pensions. | sould also recommend that
the payment of na val pensions be trans
ferred to one of the bureaus of the Navy
Department.
ESTIMATE OF EXPENSES
The estimates for the expenses of the
Government for the next fiscal wear are
$10, 244, 346 OF less than for the current
one, but exceed the appropriations for
the present year, for the same items, 90,
972, l57. La this estimate, however are
included $22,338,278 for public work
heretofore begun under the CongressiCna
provision, and of which only 81 much is
asked as Congress may choose to give.
The appropri alton for the same work for
the present fiscal year was Sill, 984 ,518,OS
GOLD AND CURRENCY.
The average value Of gold. as cnmpar-
ed with the national currency for the
whole of the year 1869, was about 134,
and for eleven months Of 1870, the same
relative value has been about 115. The
approach to a specie basis is very crafty
ing, but the fact cannot be denied that
the instability of the value of our curren
cy is prejudIcial to our prosperity, and
tends to keep up prices 70 the detrlment
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 cur
rency at par with gold at no distant day
REDUCTION OF THE TAXES.
The tax collected from rhe people has
been reduced more than $50, 100000 per
annum. By steadiness IN our present
course there is no reason why, in few
short years, the national tax gathercr may
no. disappear from the door of the citizen
almost entirely. With the revenue stamp
dispensed by postmasters in every com
munly, tax upon liquors of all sol is,
and tobacco in all its forms, and by a
wise adjustment of the tariff which will
put duty only upon those articles which
We could dispense with, known as
luxuries, and un those which we use
more of than VIC produce, revenue
enough may be raised after few years
of peace and the consequent reduction
of Indebtedness to fulfill all our obiiga-
tions. A further reduction of expenses in
addition to a reduction of interest account
may be relied on to make this prac lea
Bile. Revenue reform, if it means this, has
my hearty support. If it implies col
lection 0fall the revenues for the support
OF the Government Tor the payment of
principal and interest of the public debt,
pensions, &c, by directly taxing the peo- !
pie. then am against revenue reform, and |
confidently believe the people are with |
me. fit means failure to provide the |
necessary means to defray all expenses Of
the Government, and thereby the repu
diation 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 advo-
Gates to my knowledge but it seems to be
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 ftime. AS soon as the
Re venue can be dispensed with, all du,y
should be removed from coffee tea, and
other articles of universal use not pro
duced by ourselves The necessities
of the country compel US TO collect
revenue from our imports. An army oil
assessors and collectors is not pleasant
sight to the citizens, but that or tariff for
T. venue is necessary. Such tariff, so far as
il acts in encouragement to home products
affords employment to labor at living wogts
in contrast TO the pauper labor of the old |
world, and also in the development OF home |
resources.
EaTAEHNrT |