Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-12-13

entry particularly, raise the compensa-
ton otthese officers to a large sum. II
has always seemed TO me as II this sys-
tenn must at times work perniciously.-
1t holds out an inducement to dishonest
men, should such get possession OF those
offices, to be lax in their scrutiny OF
goods entered, to enable them finally to
make large seizures. Your attention is
respectfully invited to this subject.
GOLD VS.. CURRENCY.
Continued fluctuations IN the value Of
gold, as compared with the national cur
rency, has a most damaging effect upon
the increase and Development Of the
country, in keeping up prices OF all arti-
cles necessary in every day life, and it
fosters a spirit Of grumbling, prejudicisl
alike to national morals and the national
finances. If the question can be met as
to how to get fixed value to our curren-
| cy, that value constantly and uniformly
/ approaching par with specie, very de-
sirable object will be gained.
OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY.
From the operations of the army in
the past year, the expense of main
tanning it, the estimates for the ensu-
| ing year, and for continuing seacoast
and other improvements conducted
under the supervision of the War De-
partment, refer you to the aecompa-
nying report Of the Secretary of War.
l cali your attention to the provision
of the act Of Congress approved March
| Sd, 1859, which diseountenances pro-
motions in the staff corps of the army,
until provided for by law. recon-
| mend that the number Of officers in
each grade of the staff corps be fixed,
| and that whenever the number in any
one grade falls below the number so
| fixed, that the vacancy nay be filled
| by promotion from the grade below
L also recommend that when the office
of chief of a corps becomes vacant,
the place may be filed by selection
from the corps In which the vacancy
exists.
THE NAVAL FORCE.
The report of the Secretary Of the
Navy shows an improvement in the
number and efficiency of the naval
| force, without material increase in
the expense Of supporting ii. This is
due to the policy which has been
adopted, and is being extended as fast
as our material will admit of using
smaller vessels as cruisers on the sew
eral stations. BY these means we have
been enabled to occupy at once larger
extent of cruising ground, to visit more
frequently the posts where the pres
ence of our flag is desirable and gen.
orally to discharge more efficiently the
appropriate duties Of the Navy in time
Of peace, without exceeding the num-
Der of men or the expenditure author
lied by law. During the past year
the navy has, in addition to its regu-
lar service, supplied the men and off,
GERS for the vessels Of the coast survey
and has completed the surveys au-
thorized by Congress Of the isthmus
of Darien and Tehauntepee; and, I'M
der like authority, has sent out an
expedition completely furnished and
equipped to explore the unknown
ocean of the north. The suggestions
of the report as to the necessity for
increasing and improving the material |
of the navy and the plan reeommen-
ded for reducing the personnel Of the |
service to q peace standard by the |
gradual abolition Of certain grades Of
officers, the reduction Of Others and 4
the employment Of some in the GER
vice Of the commercial marine are /
well considered and deserve the /
thoughtful attention of Congress I
also recommend that all promotions
in the navy above the rank Of captain
be by selection instead of by seniority.
This course will secure in the higher
grades greater efficiency and hold out
an incentive to young officers to i'm
prove themselves in the knowledge Of
their profession. The present cost Of
the navy, its cost COM
pared with that Of the preceding year
and the estimates for the ensuing year
are contained in the accompanying
report of the secretary Of the navy. Ii
THE CONDITION OF THE POST OFFICE
DEPARTMENT.
The enlarged receipts of the Post
Office Department, as shown by the
report Of the Postmas-
Ter General, exhibit a gratifying in
crease in that branch Of the public
lie service. 1t is the index of the
growth of education and the proper .
Ity of the people, two elements highly
conducive to the vigor and stability
Of republics. With \ vast territory
ike ours, much of il sparsely popu-
ated but all requiring the services Of
.he mail, it is not at present to be ex-
Dected that this department can be :
made self-sustHining, but q gradual
approach to this end from year to year :
s confidently relied upon, and the
lay is not far distant when the Post
Office Department of the Govern
nent will prove a much greater bles- I
ing to the whole people than it is l
low. The suggestions Of the Post @
Master General for improvements in [
he department presided over by him .
ire earnestly recommended to your I
pecial attention, especially dOcu- 3
nents favorablet to the consideration Of :
he plan for uniting the telegraph 8
ystem Of the United States with the G
)ostal system. 1t is believed that by b
uch q course the cost Of telegraph Z
ng eonld be much reduced, and the [
ervice as well, If not better, rendered. Z
t would secure a further advantage d
" extending the telegraph through L
,ortions Of the country where private b
Enterprise will not construct it. Com n
nerce, trade, and above all, the efforts 2
o bring q people widely separated O
nto a community of interests, are al '
Vays benefited by q rapid intercom- a
Education, the ground I,
york Of republican institutions, en- i
by increasing the facilities /
o gather speedy news from all parts Of 0
he country. The desire to reap the O
'enefit of such improvements will
timulate education. 1 refer you to
he report of the Postmaster General
Or full details of the operations of =
f last year, and for comparative state n
nents of results with former years. c
THE RU KLUX. Z
There has been imposed upon the D
Executive branch OF the government a
be execution Of the act of Congress z
pproved April Goth, 1871, and COM Ii
1only known as the Ku Klux law, in n
portion of the State of South Caro- q
ina. The necessity of the course pur- o.
ued will be demonstrated by the re- a
ort Of the committee to investigate o.
outrages. Under the pro- a
isions ofthe above act Issued proc ii
calling the attention of the Il
eople OF the United States to the z
anne, and declaring my reluctance TO 81
xercise any Of the extraordinary ei
over thereby conferred upon me, d
kept in case Of imperative necessity, d
ut making known my purpose to
xereise such power whenever it
hOuld become necessary to do SO, for
be purpose of securing to all the citi- b
ems 0fthe United States the peaceful p
njoyment of the rights guaranteed II
, them bv the Constitution and fha ID