Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-12-18
Department Reports.

Department Reports.
III TREASURY.
Tie repoy; Jl the Secretary lt the Treas
ury recapi:lla;es the transactions attending
the rcfurdiDg Of tie debt. and states that
+ the successful bidders have taken all former
bids, and holi the option for the rest till
February l. Tic sinking fuld is over 800
eco coo behind ihc Secretary not only
tase= strong ssosu3 ia iayUr " specie pay
Aeuts, but sets forth q LeGaite plan for
reaching the sane. lie recommends the re-
peal of the legal-tender act a, fixed day,
as 10 contracts thereafter made. and except
A. 10 0lhcia. salaries and ordinary expendi
tures Of the Government under the existing
appropriations. The Secretary recommends
teat authority be given for the immediate
issue Of convertible bonds bearing low rate
ot interest. he asks that day may be fixed
for the resumption 0s specie payment, not
more limited than three years; AZ the end
of Jhat time. the Secretary TO be authorized
70 raise gold by selling bonds IN such
amounts - may become necessary from time
= tine 70 keep the Treasury in a condition
to redeem greenhacks * presented. The Sec
.EtaEE 4tENAAl-4i II jan E44-- POI Va
the plan for the resumption Of specie pay
meni, but This branch Of the subject
Is not elaborated. 1t Is recommended that
the fractional currency be replaced BY sll-
yer. and 10 accomplish this the Secretary
desires 20 set all the mints al work coming
silver. and. a rapidly as It Is produced. the
fractional currency to be recalled and
destroyed, beginning with the smallest de-
nomination The Secretary also asks teat
coming gold be made as Tree ~ the United
States a. Il : in London. IN order to pre-
vent the expectation Of hlllioa for coming
In regard - printing all varieties OF Gov
erumen5 n0-e>, bonds aud amps. the Sec
retarv recommends that the whole be done
exclusively at the Irca.ury department.
The government has all ile Lee s~ary ma
chincry. obtained a. great cost. and All the
needed facilities. IL can perform tine work
at the same Or less cost than private firms
when the cost OF transportation by express
l. considered. Further, from these mInor
considerations, the Secretary regards the
question ot s2'cty - one which should con
irY4 ls TIE end Ji the present contracts, ur
rs soon as they can be legally terminated
IL recommends ti,tt al work ui -lis nature
be performed in tie prinJiuI division OF tae
Treasury.
Concerning the internal revenue. ,ao Sec
retary recommends that the tax be taken OF
bank checks, watches, cJsinssticS and drugs,
aui u meet this loss that m additional tax
ol ten cents per gallon BE- imposed On whis-
keg This wI!l raise she revenue q little
more than ths amount now received from
the articles enumerated lno practical
working, u cutting tea and coffee On the
Tree isl have been .ully examined by the
Treasury department. Carefully prepared
tables Of prices in foreign markets, and
uriceS 70 consumers i0r the period suhse-
qucnt 10 taking eff the tax. show that,
While the country lost IRON So COO OGo 70
SI2 coo 600 irom the decrease nt revenue
on this account. the removal q! the tax
simply added to tie price in the foreign
market. and has net benefited the consumer
here in the least The Secretary 1ecJn-
neuds the restoration OF this tax. The at
tcution %! Congress Is called to the great
danger 70 the revenue attending all az
tompts 70 modify the penalties which have
heretofore existed, By which the Treasury
has sought 10 enforce customs regulations.
The Secretary Is no believer 10 the y stem
of moieties. and does not desire its rcstora-
tion in any shape, but he expresses serious
doubts whether any benefit has followed
the modification of the penalties Tor vio-
I lations ot the customs regulations
Upon the question of tariff, the Secre-
tarv. without entering upon discussion.
I saws that ut present 1t l. only necessary u
| treat IL purely "a question oi re'enHc'
/ and not one either OF protection or Tree
trade. la the interest OF business, he does
/ nat think any changes should be hastily
made, and ii Congress desires to re'ise tue
nresent rates, he recommends that c0w-
I D.. - -. IA q rhp whUIa 81 D.
/ icct into consideration, with instructions 10
report to the next Congress
Great economv is recommended in tue ex-
penditures for public buildings. The Sec
retary recommends that Congress 20 over
the concentrations and estimates Tor these
works with great care, with view OF re-
ducinq some and wholly suspending Others
lie expresses the belief that the needs o! the
government do not require suci elaborate
and costly structures as have OF late been
erected. but tha. palmer, aud az tue same
time substantial, buildings VIII answer
every purpose and save many millions lie
thinks there Is needless extravaganee IN the
furnishing of public buildings, and thai
nurh greater economy should be practisen
in all directions. In regard to this matter
he has transmitted estimates. which nave
already been carefully revised, but he earn
estly requests Congress to unite with MN ID
scanning them still more closely, win
view TO their further reduction. The force
of the Department has been reorgaaized
and diminished exactly in accordance VIII
the laws and appropriations oil last session
but the Secretary thinks the lowest HINT U
economy consistent with the prompt ant
eficient performance of the pubic bushes
has not vet been reached. As to all plan
for increasing the public Indebtedness D.
aiding private enterprises of any Kind tn
Secretary does not believe that the presen
condition of the government justihes extend
| ing aid in any form.
', rha leuislatura of Vermont, at its lat