The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-12-18


currency bill passed al the last session Of Con.
gress, unless modification should become ne
cessary by reason Of the adoption Of necesrary
measures for returning to specie payments. Ia
these recommendations cordially Join.
THE TARIFF.
would suggest 10 Congress the propriety OF re-.
adjusting the tariff 50 as 10 increase the revenue
aud al the same time I" decrease the number Of
articles upon which duties are levied. Those ar
ticles " hich enter into our manufactures ami are
not produced al home, Ii seems Ia me should he
entered free. OF those articles of manufacture of
which we produce constituent part but do not
produce the whole, that part which We do not
produce should enter free also. ! will instance
line wool, dyes, etc. These must be imported 10
form part Of the manufacture Of the higher
grades of wooden goods. and chemicals used as
dyes, compounded in medicines and used In yarl-
Gus ways In manufactures come under this class
The introduction free Of duty Of such woods as we
do not produce should stimulate the manufacture
of goods requiring these, and therefore would he
"A benefit 10 home production. There many
articles entering into home manufactures which
we do not produce ourselves, the tariff upon
which increases the cost of producing the manu-
featured article. All corrections in this regard
are in the direction Of bringing labor and capital
in harmony with each other and of supply ing one
Of the elements much needed.
ARMY AND NAVY.
The report Of the Secretary of War, herewith
attached and forming part OF this message, gives
all the information concerning all the operations,
wants and necessities Of the army, and contains
10 your special attention. There Is no
class OF Government employees who are harder
worked than the army officers and men; none
who perform their tasks more checrfuliy and more
and under circumstances " greater
priyatiOns and hardshipz. Legislation H. de-ir-
able TO render more efficient this branch Of the
public service. All the recommendations OF the
Secretary of War regard az judicious and es-
peclally commend 20 your attention the following :
The consolidation Of Government arrenals mile
age 10 officers travelling under orders the exemp.
az Ia of efIll ries
stores from being converted into the Treasury the
use appropriations for the purpose of subsistence
stores without waiting for the beginning of the
fiscal year for which the appreciation Is made
for additional appropriations Sbr the collection
Of torpedo material for increased appropriations
for the manufacture u arms for relieving the
riOus states from indebtedness for arms charged
To them during the rebellion for dropping officers
from the rolls Of the army without trial for the
ofiense Of drawing pay more than once for the
same period; for the dscouragcment Of the plan
10 pay soldiers by checks; and for the establish
meut of professorship of rhetoric and English
literature at West Point. The reasons for the re-
are obvious, and are set forth
in the report attached. also recon
mend that the statute stan corps 81 the army be
fixed where this has not already been done. that
may DE made and vacancies filled as
they occur in each grade when reduced below the
number fixed by law. The necessity for such
legislation l. specially felt now in the pay depart
ment, whose number j. inadequate 10 the perform
ance Of the duties now required OF them by law.
The efficiency of the navy has been largely in
creased during last year under the impulse Of the
foreign complications which threatened Us. At
the commencement f the last session Of Congress
most Of our efficient wooden ships were put In
condition for immediate service, and the repairs
Of our iron clad fleet were pushed with the ut.
most yigor. The result IL that most Of there are
now in an effective state. and need only to be
manned and set in commission 10 gO AT once into
service. some Of the new Scoops authorized by
Congress are already in commission and most Of
the remainder are launched and wait only the
completion of machinery To enable them 20 take
their places as part Of our effective force. Two
no torpedo shy have been completed during
reted iron -clads are undergoing repairs.
When these are finished every thing that s need
full for our navy as now authorized will be in con
dition for service. and with the advance in
science OF torpedo warfare. the American navy,
small a. IL is, will be found pow
erful for the purposes of "A peaceful nation.
Much has also been accomplished during the
year in aid Of science and 10 increase the sum of
general knowledge and further the interests 81
commerce and civilization. Extensive and much
needed soundings have been made for hydro
graphic purposes, and 10 liN the proper routes Of
ocean telegraphs; the surveys Of the great 18TH
mus have been undertaken and completed, and
two vessels Of the navy are now employed v con
junction with those of England. France and Ger
many and Russia in observations connected with
the transit Of Venus useful and interesting to the
scientific world Estimates for this branch Of
public service do not differ materially from those
of last year. the general support of the service
being somewhat lees, and those for improve
ments at the various stations rather
lower than the corresponding estimate made
a year ago. The regular maintenance and a
steady increase in the efficiency Of this most
important arm, IN the proportion 10 the growth
OF our maritime intercourse and interests Is re-
commended 10 the attention Of Congress. The
use Of the navy during peace might be- further
utilized by direct authorization Of the employ
ment Of naval vessels in surveys Of the supposed
naygable waters ~ other nationalites ON this con
tnent, especially the tributaries Of the two great
rivers OF south America, the orinoco and Anna
ron; Nothing prevents under existing laws such
exploration, except that expenditures must he
made in such development of commercial inter
ests advantageous 10 the people reached, and 10
those who may establish relations with them.
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The education OF the people entitled To exercise
the right of franchise regard as essential 10 pros
perity everywhere, and especially so in Republics
where both education or previous condition does
not enter into account in ~ ing suffrage. Next u
the public school the post Office is the great agent
Of education over our vast territory. The rapid
10y with which new sections are being settled up
thus increases the carrying of mails in more
rapid ratio than the increase Of receipts.
The report of the Postmaster General, here
with attached, shows that there was an increase
OF revenue In his department In ls.S over the pre-
vious year OF . G-i al and an increase OF cost
Of carrying the mails paying employees of
ss4 ll6, ssl. The report of the Postmaster
General gives interesting statistics Of his depart
ment, az compared with corresponding statistics
Of year ago, showing growth in every branch
Of the department. A postal convention has
been concluded with New South Wales, an ex-
change OF postal cards established with >witzer-
land. and negotiations pending for several years
past with France have terminated in a convention
with that country, which went into effect last
August. An International Postal Congress was
convened in Bernc. switzerland, in September
last, at which the United States was represented
by an officer Of the Post ONCE Department Of
much experience and Of qualifications for the po-
sition. convention for the establishment Of an
International Postal Union was agreed upon by
the delegates of countries represented, subject %
the approval Of the proper authorities Of those
countries. | respectfully direct your attention 10
the report Of the Postmaster General. and to his
suggestions in regard 10 an equitable adjustment
of the question Of compensation 20 railroads for
carrying mails.
LOUISIANA AFFAIRS.
Your attention will be drawn 10 the unsettled
condition OF affairs in some Of the southern states
On the 18th Of September last the Governor Of
Louisiana called upon me, a. provided by the