The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-12-16

reterning 10 specie navmant. -
these recotnihcnds .-s.- ~
joln LAWNS 1 eordial
EEArStsTNKNr or fe,ts1 .ss.s,. "
4 70. 4es iaaI
1 woahi suggest 10 Consrs...tkz
proPriety Of readjustiag the tar;g'a,.. s.'s
as to increase the revenue. and at ~
same time to decrease the number ~
articles upon which duties are levied
Those articles which enter into our
manufactures and are not produced
u nome, It seems TO me, shOaId he
admitted free. Those art,eisa ~
manufacture which We produce 4 con
stituent part Of, but do not produce
the whole, that part which re do not
produce should enter free also. I viii
instance fine WOOL, dyes, &c. These
Articles must l,c imported TO form a
part Of the manufacture of the hi0h-
er grades Of wooden goods; chemicals
used as dyes, compounded in medi
J cines, and used in various wavs in
manufactures, come under this class.
I The introduction free of duty Of such
woods as We do not produce should
stimulate the manufacture Of goods
requiring the use Of those we do pro-
duce, and therefore wouil be a bepe-
tit 10 home production. There are
many articles entering into home
manufactures which we do not pro-
duce ourselves, the tariff upon which
increases the cost OF producing the
manufactured article. All corrections
in this regard are in the direction Of
bringing labor and capital in har-
moay with each other, and of supply
ing one OF the e.ements of prosperity
so much needed.
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
WAR,
Herewith attached, and forming a
part of this message, gives all the in
formation concerning the operations,
wants and necessities of the army,
and contains many suggestions and
recommendation which / commend
to your special attention. There is
no class of Government employees
who are harder worked than the
army officers and meu-none who
perform their tasks more eheerfully
and efficiently, aud urd eireum-
stances Of greater privations and
hartiships Legislation is desirable
70 render more efficient this branch
OF tie public service. All the recom-
mendations of the Secretary Of War,
] regard as judicious, and especial
ly commend to your attention the
following: The consolidation OfGoy-
erna cut aisenals; the restoration Of
mileage Co oilieers travelling under Or
ders; the exemption Of money receiv-
ed from the sale Of subsistence stores
from being covered into the Treasa-
ry the use Of appropriations for the
purchase of subsistence stores with
out waiting for the beginning Of the
fiscal year for which the appropria-
tion is made for additional apprO-
priations for the collection cftorpedO
materials; for increased appropria-
tiOus for the manufacture Of arms
foE relieving the various States from
Indebtedness for arms charged to
them during the rebellion for drop
ping officers from the rolls Of the
army without trial for the offence Of
drawing pay more than once for the
same period for the discouragement
of the plan TO pay soldiers by checks,
and Of the establishments Of profess
sionship of rhetoric and English lit
erature at West Point. The reasons
for these recommendations are obss-
Gus, and arc set forth sufficiently in
the report attached. | also recon-
mend that the staff corps Of The army
be fixed. where this has not already
been done, so that promotions may
be made aud vacancies filed as they
occur in each grade when reduced be-
low the number to be fixed by law
The necessity for such legislation Is
specially felt now in the Pay Dapart-
ment- The number Of officers in that
department is below the number ade-
qlate to the performance Of the da-
ties required Of them by law.
TIE NAVY.
The efficiency Of the Ravy has been
largely increased during the last
year, under the impulse Of the
foreign complications which threat
ened US at the commencement OF the
last session Of Congress. Most CT
our efficient wooden ships were put
in condition for immediate service,
and the repairs Of our iron clad fleet
we're pushed with the utmost vigOr.
The result is, that most Of these are
now in an effective state, and need
only to be manned and put in con-
mission 10 90 at once into service
Some of the new slOops authorized
by Congress are already in commits
sion, and most Of the remainder are
launched and only wait the compile
tion of their machinery to enable
them to sake their places as part OF
our effective force. Two iron torpe-
do ships have been completed during
the past year, and four Of onF large
double-turreted iron-elads are now
undergoing repairs. When these are
finished, everything that is useful o.
our navy as now authorized will be
in condition for service, and with the
advance in the science Of torpedo var
fare, the american navy. cOmpa q
lively small as it is, will be found ut
any time sufficiently powerful for the
purposes OF a peaceful nation.
.sscb h,s $50 been accomplished
during the year in all ofscience, and
to increase the sum Of general knowl
edge and further the interests or
commelce and civilization. Exten-
sive and much needed soundings
have been made for bydrogTaphic
purpos 5, and 10 fix the proper routes
Of ocean telegraphs. Further surveys
Of the Great Isthmas have been M
dertaken and completed, and two
vessels Of the navy are now employed
in conjunction with those eofEngIand,
France, Germany and Russia, in OBJ
seryatiOns connected with the transit
o Venus, so useful ard interesting
to she scientific world The estimates
for this branch ofthe public service
do not differ materially from those
Of laef war fhoo, f,r fha eranaral