Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-12-09
THE NAVY.

are referred 10 MS accompanying re-
port.
THE NAVY.
The expenses of the navy for the
whole of the last year, from December,
1869, the date of the last report, are less
than nineteen million dollars, or about
one million less than they were the
previous year. The expenses of the
Navy Department in this fiscal year,
since July 1st, show forthe five months
decrease of over g, ,40e, 600 from those
of the corresponding months of last
year. The estimates for the current
year were $2S, ,205, $50; those for the
next year are SIC, ,683, BY, with $951 ,00C
additional for temporary and perma-
nent improvements. These estimates
are made closely, for the maintenance
of the naval establishment as it now
is, without much in the nature of per-
manent Improvement. The appropria-
tions made for the last and current
years were evidently INTENDED by Con-
gress, and are sufficient only, to keep
the navy on its present footing, and
the repairing and rehtting of our old
ships. This policy must, of course
gradually but surely destroy the navy,
and it is, in itself, far from economical
for each year that it is pursued the
necessity for more repairs in ships and
navy yards becomes more imperative
and more costly and our current ex-
penses are actually increased for the
mere repair of ships, many of which
must soon be unseaworthy and useless.
hope during the present year and ses-
sion of Congress to be able to submit
to it plan by which naval vessels can
be built and repairs made with great
saving upon the present cost. 1t can
hardly be wise craftsmanship In a gov
ernment which represents a country
with over five thousand miles of coast
NJ
Alaska, and containing 10000, 900 OF
progressive people, with relations OF
every nature with almost every foreign
country, to rest with such inadequate
means of forcing any foreign policy,
either of protection or redress. Sepa-
rated by the ocean from the nations oil
the Eastern continent, our navy is our
only means of direct protection to our
citizens abroad, or for the enforcement
of our foreign policy.
THE POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT
The accompanying report of the
| Postmaster General shows a most sat
| isfactory working of that department
| With the adoption of the recon-
/ mendations contained therein, partic-
ularly those relating to a reform in
the franking privilege. and the adop.
tion of correspondence cards, a self
sustaining postal system may be
/ speedily looked for, and at no distant
day a further reduction OF the rate oi
/ postage can be attained. recommend
4 the authorization by Congress 10 the
/ Postmaster General and Attorney
/ General to issue all commissions to of
| ficials appointed through their respect
| departments. At present these com
| missions, where appointments are
made, are issued by the State Depart
ment. The law in all the departments
of government, except those of the
rNF v1,rN
/ each to issue it's own commissions.
THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Always favoring practical reforms, ]
| respectfully call your attention to one
abuse of long standing, which I would
/ like to see remedied by this Congress
/ It is a reform in the civil service of the
/ country. I would advise it to go be-
YOnd the mere fixing of tenure-of-of-
/ flee of clerks and employees, who do not
require the advice and consent of the
Senate to make the appointments com
plete. would have it govern, not
| the tenure only, but the manner OF
making all appointments. There is nc
duty which so much embarrasses the
Executive and heads of departments
as that of appointments, nor is there
/ any such arduous and thankless labor
/ imposed on Senators and Representa-
| tives as that of finding places for consti-
tuents. The present system does not
secure the best men, and often not ev-
en- fit men for public places. The Gle
vation and publication of the civil SER
vice of the government will be hailed
with approval by the whole people OF
the United States.
THE INDIAN POLICY.
Reform in the management of In
dian affairs has received the special at
| tention of tie administration from its
Inauguration to the present day. The
experiment was tried of making it a
missionary agency, given to the de-
| nomination of Friends, and has been
| found to work most advantageously.
All the agencies and uperintendencies
not so disposed of were given to ofi1-
| GERS of the army. The act of Congress
reducing the army renders officers in
| eligible for civil positions. Indian
agencies being civil offices, ] deter
mined to give all the agencies to such
religious denominations as had hereto
fore established missionaries among
the Indians, and perhaps to some 9TH
/ err denominations who would under
/ take the W rk on the same terms as
missionary work.