Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-12-10

the last session of congress a very considera-
BILE reduction was made in the rates of taxa
lion, and in the number of articles submitted
to taxation /; aud the question may well be
asked whether or not in some instances not
unwlseiy. In connection with this subject,
too, venture the opinion that the means oil
collecting the revenue. and especially from
imposts, have been embarrassed by legIsla-
ton so as 10 make it questionable whether or
not large amounts will not be lost to he
treasury, to the prejudice OF the interests OF
the honest importer ana tax payer.
The Secretary of the Treasury in his report
iavors legislation looking TO specie payments,
thus supporting the views previously express
ed in this message. He also rec ommends
economy in appropriations, and calls atten
ton to the loss of revenue from repeating the
tax on tea and coffee without benefit to the
consumers, recommends the increase of ~
cents gallon on whlskey, and further that
no notifications be made in the banking aud
currency bill passed al the last session OF
Congi ess, unless the modification should be-
come necessary by reason of the adoption OF
measures Tor returning to specie payne MIS-
In these recommendations | cordially join.
THE TARIFF.
/ would suggest TO Congress the proprietv
of readiustIng the tariff So as to increase the
revenue, aud DIT the same time decrease the
number of articles upon which dues are
levied. Those articles which enter into our
manufactures and are not produced at home.
it seems to me should be entered free. Those
articles of manufacture which we produce a
constituent part of, but don't produce the
whole, the part which do not produce
should be entered free also. ] will instance
iue wool, dyes, &c. These articles must be
imported TO form part OF The manufacture of
the higher grades of woolen goods Tn.
chemicals used, as in compounded medicines,
and used In various ways III the manufactor.
les, come under this class. The introduction
free of dues, of such articles as we don't pro-
duce, would stimulate the manufacture OF
goods requiring these in those we do produce
and therefore 1t would be benefit 10 home
production, There are many articles enter
ing into home manufactures which we dom.
produce ourselves, the tariff upon which in
creases the cost of producing the manufac-
tured 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 of prosperity
so much needed.
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
Herewith attached and forming a part of this
message gives all the information concerning
the operations, wants and necessities of the
army, and contains many suggestions AM
recommendations which | commend to your
special attention. There is no class of Gov.
eminent employees who are harder worked
than the army officers, nor men who perform
their tasks more cheerfuIly and efficiently,
and under circumstances OF greater prIvations
and hardshlps Legislation is desirable to
render more effic tent this branch of the pub
lie fha dafi nF
Secretary of War regard as judicous, and
especially commend to your attention the
following: The consolidation of the govern
snent arsenals; the restoration of mileage to
officers travelling under orders the exemp-
ton of money received from the sale of sub
sistence stores from being covered into the
Treasury the use of appropriations for the
purchase of subsistence stores without wait
ing for the beginning OF The fiscal year for
the appropriation for the collection of ;or-
pedo material; tor increased appropriations
for the manufacture of ar rs; for relieving
the various States from Indebtedness for arms
charged to them during the rebellion for
dropping officers from the rolls of the army
without trial for the offence of drawing pay
more than once for the same period; for the
of the plan of paying soldiers
by checks and for the establishment of d
professorsh p of rhetoric and English litera
ture at West Point The reasons for the recon
mencations are obvious, and are set forth suth
GENTLY 10 the report attached.
/ also recommend that the status of the
staff corps OF the army be fixed, where this
has not already been done, so that promotions
NAV be made and vacancies filled as they oc-
cur in each grade, when reduced below the
number to be fixed by the necessity for such
lee islation. 1t is especially felt now in the
pay department that the number of vacancies
in that department are below the number ade-
Quate to the performance of the duties re-
CURED by law
THE NAVY
has been largely increased during the last
year, under the impulse of the foreign com
r. r. tho Iast session of Congress Most If our
efficient wooden ships were put in condi-
ton for immediate service, and the repairs of
our iron clad fleet were pushed with the ut
most vigor.s The result is that most of these
are in effective condition, and need only to be
manned and set in commission to go at once
into service Some of the new sloops author
lied by Congress are already In commits ion d,
and most of The remainder are launched and
wait only the completion of their machinery
to enable them to take their place as part of
our effective force. Two iron torpedo ships
have been completed during the last year, and
four of our large double turreted iron clads
are now undergoing repairs. When these are
finished everything that is needful in our navy,
as now authorized, will be in condition for
service and with the advance in the science
of torpedo warfare, the American navy, COM
paratively small as it is, will be found at any
time powerful for tie purposes OF peaceful
nation. Much has also been accomplished
during the past year
IN AID OF SCIENCE,
and to increase the sum of general knowI-
edge and further the interests of commerce
and civilization. Extensive and much needed
have been made for photographic
purposes, and to fix the proper routes of
pecan teegraphs. Surveys of the great 18th
mus have been undertaken and completed, and
Two vessels of the navy are now employed in
conjunction with those Of England, France,
Germany and Russia in observations connec-
led with
THE TRANSIT OF VENUS,
useful and interesting 10 the scientific world.
The estimate of this branch of the public
service does not differ materially from those
Of last year, the general support of the SER
vice being somewhat less, and those for I'M
at the various stations rather lar
rer than the corresponding estimate, made a
year ago. The regular maintenance and steady
increase in the efficiency of this most impor-
tant arm in proportion to the growth of the
maritime intercourse and interest, is recon-
merded to the attention of Congress. The
use of the navy during the year might be fur
her utilized by direct authorization for the
employment of naval vessels in the surveys
Of the supposed
NAvlGABLE WATERS OF OTHER NATIoNALITIEs
IN this continent, especially the tributaries Of
he two great rivers of South America, the
Drinoco and the Amazon. Nothing prevents,
lnder the existing laws, such exploration,
except that expenditures must be made in
,uch expeditions beyond those usually proyi-
led for in the appropriations. The field des-
gnated is unquestionab Iy one of interest. and
me capable of large development of com
nercial interest advantageous to the people
,eached, and to those who may establish rela
ions with them.
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
The education of the people entitled TO ex-
.rcise the right OF franchise regard essential
o the general prosperity everywhere, and es-
,ac;aItv en- in renublics where both education