Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-08
THE TARIFF,

adjusting the tar1u so - 10 increase the revenue,
and at the same time decrease the lumber OF
articles upon which duties levied Those arti-
k>cies which enter into manufactures and are
not produced at home, it seems to me should be
encouraged free. Those articles of manufacture
Of which we produce a constituent part of, but do
not produce the whole, that part which we do not
/ prodace should enter free also. | will instance
fine wool, dyes. etc. These article; must be inn
ported to form part of the manufacture OF the
higher grades Of woolen goods. Chemicals used
as dyes, compounded in medicines, and used in
various ways in manufactures. come under tins
class. The Introduction free of duty, of such woods
as we do not produce, should stimulate the man
ufacture of goods requiring the u OF those we DO
produce, and therefore would be a benefit ofhome
production. There are many articles entering
into home manufactures which We do not produce
ourselves, the taef upon which increases the COS:
Of producing the manufactured articles. All cor
roctons in this regard are in the direction OF
bringing labor and capital in harmony with each
-nther, and Of supply Ing orc of the clemens OF
prosperity so much needed.
TIE WAR DEPARTMENT.
+ The report of the Secretary of War, herewith
submitted, and forming part of this message,
gives ali the information concerning the opera
tons, wants and necessities of the army, and
contains many suggestions and recomfE endaiions
which | recommend to 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 cheer
fully and efficiently and under circumstances OF
greater plivations and hardships. Legislation Is
desirable to render more efficient that branch OF
the public service.
All the recommendations of the Secretary of
War ,ed injadicous, and especially COM
mend to your attention the following The con-
solidation of government arsenals; the restora
ton of mileage TO officers travelling under orders
the exemption Of money received from the sale of
subsistence stores from being covered into the
treasury; the use Of appropriations for the pur-
chase of subsistence stores without waiting forth
beginning of the fiscal year for which the appro-
priation is made; for additional appropriations for
the collection of torpedo material; for Increased
appropriations for the manufacture of arms for
relieving the various States from ndebtedns IS for
arms charged to them during the rebeilion for
dropping officers from the rolls of the army with
out trial the offence of drawing pay more than
once for the same period; for the Encouragement
Of the plan to pay soldiers by checks; and for the
establishment of ProfessorShip OF English Lit
eraturc at West Point. The reasons for these
recommendations are obvious, and are set forth
sufficiently in the report attached. l also recon-
mend that the status of the staff corps of the army
be fixed where this has not already been done, so
that promotions may be m ide and vacancies filed
as they occur in each grade, when reduced below
the number to be fixed by law. The necessity for
such legislation is specially felt now on the pay
department. The number of officers in that &C.
paltmept is below the number adequate to the
performance Of the duties required of them by
law.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The Efficiency Of the navy has been largely in
creased during the last year, under the impulse
of the foreign complications which threatened us.
At the commencement of the last session Of Con-
gress, many of our efficient wooden ships were
put in condition for service, and the repairs of our
iron clad fleet were pushe with the utmost yigor.
The result Is that most of these are now IN an eff
fective state, and need only to be manned and put
into commission to 90 at once into service. Some
of the soops authorized by Congress, are
already in commission, and more of the remainder
launched and wait only the ompletion of thei +
machinery 10 enable them to take their places as
part Of our effective force. Two iron torpedo ships
have been completed during the last year, and
four Of our large double tunotted non claGs are
now undergoing repairs. When these fin
ished everything that i, useful ofour navy, as now
authorized, will be in condition for service; and
with the advance in the science oforpedo warfare,
and navy, comparatively small it is, will be
found at any time powerful for the purposes of a
peaceful nation. Much has also been Gccomp-
shed during the year in aid Of science, and TO in
crease the sum Of general knowledge, and further
the interests of commerce and civilization. En-
tensive and much needed soundings have been
made for photographic purposes, and 10 fix the
proper route of ocean telegraphs. Further sur
veys of the great isthmus have been undertake
and completed and two vessels of the navy are now
employed in conjunction with those Of England,
France, Germany and Russia, in observations con-
nected with the transit Of Nenus-so useful and
interesting TO the scientific world. The estimates
for this branch of the public service do not differ
materially from those of last year; these for the
general support of the service being somewhat
less, and those fer permanent improvements at the
various stations, rather larger than the correspond
ing estimate made year ago. The regular main
tenance and steady increase in the efficiency Of
this most important arm, in proportion to the
growth of our maritime intercourse and interests,
is recommended to the attention Of Congress.
The NAVY AN AID TO SCIENCE.
The use of the navy IN time of peace, might be
further utilized by direct authorization of the
employment Ct naval vessels in explorations and
surveys of the supposed navigable waters of other
nationahties on this continent, especially the tIb-
utaries Of the two great rivers Of South America,
the Onnoco and the Amazon. Nothing prevents,
under existing law, such explorations, except
that expenditures must be made in such expcdi-
tons beyond those usually provided for by the
appropriations The field designated is unques-
tionably one of interest and one capable of large
development of commercial interests, advanta-
geous to the people reached, and to those who
may establish relations with them
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The education of the people entitled to exercise
the right Of franchise, is regarded essential to
general prosperity everywhere, and especially so
in republics where both education or previous
condition does not enter into account in giving
suffrage. Next to the Public School, the Post
vast territory. The rapidly with which new sec
tons are being settled thus increases the carrying
of mails in more rapid ratio than the increase of
receipts. The Report of the Postmaster General
herewith attached shows that there was an in
crease of revenue in his department in 1873, over
the previous year, of $l,674, 90 and an in
crease of cost of carrying the mails and
paying employees S3,0il ,46S.9l. The report of
the Postmaster General gives interesting statistics
Of his department and compares them with the
corresponding statistics of year ago, showing
growth in every branch of the department 4
postal convention has been concluded with New
south Wales exchange of postal cards cstab
lished with Switzerland, and the negotiations
pending several years pas. with France have ter.
minated in a Convention with that country which
went into effect last August. An International
Postal Congress convened in Berne, Switzer-
land, in September last, at which the United
States represented by an officer of the post
office department of much experience and of quail
iticaiors for the position. A Convention for the
establishment of an International Postal Union
was agreed upon, and signed by the delegates of
Tie countries represented subject to the approval
of the proper authorities of those countries
respectfully direct your attention to the report of
the Post Master General and to his sugges tons IN
regard to an equitable adjustment Of compensa-
ions to railroads for carrying the mails.
AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.