The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-12-17


| which Increases the cost OF producing the
manufactured article. All corrections in
this regard are in the direction of bringing
labor and capital in harmony with each
| other and of supplying one of the elements
| properly 50 much needed.
THE ARMY.
| The report of the Secretary OF War
| herewith attached and forming part oil
! this message, gives all the information con-
corning the operations, wants and neceSSl-
| ties OF the army, and contains many sugges-
| lions and recommendations which com
| mend to your special attention. There Ii no
class Of government employees who are
| harder worked than the army officers and
none who perform their tasks more cheer
! fully and efficiently, ana under circumstan-
| ces OF greater privation and hardShips. Leg
| islation is desirable to render more efficient
| this branch of the public service. All the
recommendations of the Secretary OF War |
regard as judicious, and | especially COM
mend to your attention the following:
The consolidation Of government arsenals.
| The restoration OF ml1eageS to officers trav-
cling under orders
The exemption of money received from
the sale OF subsistence stores from being COW
cred into the treasury.
The use of appropriations for the rur-
chase of subsistence stores without wait
ing fer the beginning of the fiscal year for
which the appropriation is made.
For additional appropriations for the col
lection of torpedo material.
For increased appropriations for the man
For relieving the various States from IN
oebtedness for arms charged to them during
the rebellion.
For dropping officers from the rolls Of the
army without trial
For the punishment of the offense OF draw
/ ing pay more than once tor the same period.
, For discouragement of plans to pay SOL
!, diers by checks, and for the establishment
of a Protessorship of Rhetoric and English
Literature at West Point
The reasons for the recommendations are
: obvious, and are set forth sufficiently III the
report attached | also recOmmed
t that the status of the staff corps Of the army
: be made where this has not already been
5 done, SO that promotions may be made and
: vacancies filed as they occur in each grade
when reduced below the number provided
5 Tor. The necessity for such legislation is spe-
/ cially felt now in the pay department. The
e number of vacancies in that department Is
9 below the number adequate to the perform
ance of the duties required of them ny law
{ THE NAVY.
. The efficiency of the navy has been largely
= increased during the last year under the i'm
pulse of the foreign complications which
+ threatened Us at the commencement OF las
:. session OF Congress- Most OF our etiicien
i wooden ships were put in condition for i'm
! mediate service, and the repairs OF the iroI
v clad fleet were pushed with the utmost rlgor
i The result is that most of these are effective
# and need only to be manned and set in com
q mission to go at once into service
i Some OF the new sloops author
n lied by Congress are already
,f in commission, and most of the remainde
# are launched, and want only the completion
- OF their machinery to enable them to TAX
= their places as part of our effective force
> Two iron torpedo ships have been com
r, pleted during the last year, and four of on
~ dergoing repairs When these are finished
D. every thing that's needful of our navy a
now authorized, will be in condition 10
n service, and with all the advance in scienc
10 of torpedo war fare, the American navy
~ comparatively small as it is, vii
: be found at any time all powerful
tor the purposes of peaceful nation. Muc
also has been accomplished during the yea
K in aid OF science and to increase the sum
OF general knowledge and further the interest
a Of commerce and civilization Extensiv
OF and much needed soundings have bee
ne made Tor photographic purposes and to ii
tn the proper routes OF ocean telegraphs. Fun
o. ther surveys of the great isthmus have bee
s. undertaken and completed, and two yes
sells OF the navy are now employed in con
junction with those OF Englan
. France, Germany and Russia in observation
. connected with the
i'll TRANSIT OF VENUS.
he useful and interesting to the scientific worl,
he The estimates Tor this branch of the publ
e. service do not differ materially from thos
he OF last year, the general support OF the sci
be vice being somewhat less, and those for in
mt provements at the various stations rattle
ut larger than the corresponding estimate mad
ne year ago. The regular maintenance and
al steady increase in the efficiency of tn
IL most important arm in proportio
OF TO the growth of our maritime int
H course and interests is recommended to II
er attention OF Congress. The use of the nav
IN during peace might be further utilized by
rs direct authorization of the employment
rs naval vessels in the surveys OF the suppose
'es navizabe waters of other nationaliiies G
Is. this continent, and especially the tributari'
NJ OF the two great rivers Of South Americ
nd the 0ronoeo and the Amazon. Nothir
prevents, under existing laws, such expl,
n ration, except that the expenditures mu
X lie made in such expeditions beyond tho
to usually provided for in the appropriation
cd The field designated Is uuquestonably oil
~. of interest and one capable OF large develop
ment of our comm ercial interests alike sival
o. tageous to the people reached and to tho
i, who NAV establish relations with them.
!" THE POSTAL SERVICE.
rs The education OF the people entitled
n exercise the right OF franchise | regal
"a essential to the general prosperity ever
ls' where, and especially so in republics, whe
&c both education or previous condition do
~ not enter into account in giving suffras
~ Next to the public school the postofice
$50 the great agent Of education over our va
- territory. The rapidity with which he
~. sections are being settled, thus increasil
20 the carrying of mails in \ more rapid rat
- than the increase OF receipts IS not alarmir
- -. The report of the Postmaster General her
~ with attached, shows there WAS an i
~ crease of revenue in his department in is
- over the previous year OF 81 ,674, All. and
. increase OF the cost OF carrying the ma
~ and paying OF employees OF 1904, I46, e
* The report OF the Postmaster General Civ
Interesting statistics OF his department 81
a comparison with the corresponding stat
ETY. ties o; 3 yearago, showing growth in eve
the branch OF the department.
the 4 postal convention has been conclud
are with New South Wales, an exchange
Dur postal cards established with SwitzerlaI
st and the negotiations pending for seve
red years past with France, have termina;
ieh with that country. which went into eft
not last August An international postal Congr
10 Was convened IN Berne, Switzerland, s.
' ia teTEiter last. at which the United States
Iies represented by an officer OF the post OF
an department OF much experience and quail
hen cation Tor the position convent
Id for the establishment OF an information
: IN post union was agreed upon by the de