The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-12-07

the amount of surplus revenue collected |
under the present laws, after providing for |
current expenses of the government, the |
interest account and sinking fund, and |
that this surplus be reduced In such /
manner as TO afford the greatest relief to |
the greatest number. There are many |
articles not produced at home, but which |
enter largely into general consumption, |
through articles which are manufactured
at home, such as medicines compounded |
&c, &C., from which very little revenue is |
derived, hut which enter into general use.
All such articles / recommend to be placed
on the free list Should further reduc-
ton prove advisable, l would then recon-
mend that it be made upon those articles
which can best bear it, without disturbing
home production or reducing the wages OF
| the American laborer. l have not entered
| into figures, because to do so would be to
repeat what will be laid before you IN the
report of the Secretary OF the Treasury
| SALARIES OF COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS.
The present avs for collecting tue rev.
| enue pay collectors of customs small sala-
ries, but provide for moieties or shares in
all seizures, which, at the principal ports
of entry particularly, raise the compeusa
ton of these officials to large sum. IT
| has always seemed to me as If this system
must at times work perniciously Itholds
| out an lnducement to dishonest men,
| should such get possession OF these Offices,
to be lax in their scrutiny of goods enter
ed, to enable them finally to make large
seizures. Your attention is respectfully
invited to this subject
GOLD AND THE CURRENCY.
The continued fluctuations in the value
of gold, compared with the national cur
rency, has a most damaging effect upon
the increase and development of the coun-
try, in keeping up prices Of all articles
necessary in every day life. 1t fosters
spirit of gambling prejudicial alike to ma
tional morals and the national finances.
If the question can be met as to how to
give q fixed value TO our currency, that
value constantly and uniformly approach
ing par with specie, q very desirable OBJ
jecL will be gained.
THE ARMY.
For the operations of the army in the
past year, the expense of maintaining it,
the estimates for the ensuing year, and for
continuing sea coast and other improve
ments conducted under the supervision Of
the War Department, l refer you to the
accompanying report of the Secretary of
War. l call your attention to the provi-
sions of the act of Congress approved
March Sd, 1859, which discontinues pro-
motions in the staff corps of the army
until provided for by law. l recommend
that the officers IN each grade in the staff
corps be fixed, and that whenever the
, number IN any one grade falls below the
number so fixed, that the vacancy may be
filled by promotion from the grade below.
l also recommend That when the Office OF
: 1 obiaf of O corpS hacOpoas the placa
may be filed by selection from the corps
IN which the vacancy exists
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Ma
Wy shows an improvement in the number
. and efficiency OF the naval force, without
. material increase In the expense of sup
porting it. This is due to the policy
which has been adopted, and is being ex-
tended as fast as material will admit, oi
using smaller vessels as cruisers on the
several stations By this means we have
} been enabled to occupy at once a larger
, extent of cruising grounds, to visit more
? frequently the posts where the presence
] of our flag is desirable, and generally tC
discharge more efficiently the appropriate
duties Of the navy IN time of peace, with
. out exceeding the numbers of men or the
: expenditures authorized by law. purins
: the past year the navy has, in addition tC
: its regular service, supplied the men anC
: | officers for the coast survey, and, and has
: com Jleted the surveys authorized by Con
: gress of the Isthmus of Darien and Tehu
! | sntepec, and under like authority has SEN
. out an expedition, completely furnished
: and equipped, to explore the unknown
. ocean Of the North The suggestions o
: the report as TO the necessity Tor lncreas
: ing and improving the material of tht
, navy, and the plan recommended for re
: duclng the personal of the service 10 1
= peace standard by the gradual abolition o
. certain grades of officers, the reduction 0
other, and the employment of some In tn,
service of the commercial marine, are vel
: considered, and deserve the thoughtful at
e tention of Congress. I also recommend
: that all promotions In the navy above tn
rank of Captain be by selection instead o
by seniority. This course will secure il
s the higher grades greater efficiency. anC
hold out an incentive to young officers Il
. improve themselves in the knowledge 0
r their profession The present cost o
E maintaining the navy, its cost compared
with that Of the preceding year, and tn
q estimates for the ensuing year are con
: tanned In the accompanying report OF th'
e Secretary of the Navy.
Y THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT.
The enlarged receipts of the Postofict
y Department, as shown by the accompany
r ing report of the Postmaster General, ex
}. hIbits gratifying increase in that brancl
of the public service. 1t is the index o
4 the growth of education and of the pros
8 perity of the people, two elements hlghl!
,. conducive to the vigor and stability of re
a publics. With a vast territory like ours
,. much of it sparsely populated. but all re
y curing the services of the mail, it is no
= at present to be expected that this De-
= partmeut can be made self-sustaining bu
# a gradual approach to this end from yea
v to year is confidently relied on, and tn
# day Is not far distant when the Postofhc
e Department of the Government will prov
a a much greater blessing to the whole peo
n pie than it Is now. The suggestions of tn,
e POstmaste General for Improvements IL
Y the Department presided over by him, ar
o earnestly recommended to your specia
q attention. Especially do / recommend
! the favorable consideration of the plan fo
a uniting the telegraphic system of tn
4 United States with the postal system. L
: is believed that by such course the cos
b of telegraphlng could be much reduced
and the service as well if not better rem
, dered. 1t would secure the further advan
tage of extending the telegraph through
portions of the country where private en-
terprise will not construct 1t. Commerce
e trade, and, above all, the efforts to bring
b people widely separated INTO a commu
: nifty of interests, are always benefited b.
!, a rapid INSTRUMENTATION; education
e the grand work Of republican institutions
q encouraged, by increasing the facilities u
: get the news speedily from all parts .
t the country. The desire to reap the ben
t efts of such improvements will stimulate
II education. refer you to the report o
E the Postmaster General for full details o
r the operations of last year, and for com
e parative statements of results with forme
= years.
THE KU-KLUx LAw-ITs ENFORCEMENT
o There has b0en imposed upon the Exec
5 utlve branch of the Government the ex
o ecution of the act Of Congress, approve,
e April 90, 1870. and commonlY known q
IS the Ku uKlux law, n q portion Of tn
: State Of South Carolina. The necessit,