Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-12-17

be paid for by the consumers. These du-
ties not only come from the consumers at
home, but act as protection TO foreign
manufacturers of the same completed arti-
cles in our own and distant markets. l
will suggest or mention another subject
bearing upon the problem of how to ena-
bic the Secretary Of the Treasury TO accu-
mulate balances. II Is TO devise some bet
ter method of verifying claims against the
Government than at present exists through
the Court Of Claims, especially those claims
growing out of the late war Nothing Is
more certain than that very large per-
centage of the amounts passed and paid are
either wholly fraudulent, or are far in OK
cess of the real losses sustained. The large
amount of losses proved on good testimo-
ny, according TO existing laws, by afbda-
Wits of fictitious or INSCRIPTIONS persons,
TO have been sustained on small farms and
plantations are not only far beyond the
possible yield of those places for any one
year, but, IS every one knows who has ex-
perience in filling the soil, and who has
visited the scenes Of these spoilations, are
in many instances more than the individ-
ual claimants were ever worth, including
their personal and real estate. The report
of the Attorney General, which will be
submitted to Congress at an early day,
will contain a detailed history OF awards
made and of claims pending OF the class
here referred to.
THE ARMY.
The report Of the Secretary Of War. ac-
companying this Message, gives detailed
account of the Army operations for the
year just passed, of expenses for mainte-
nance, DC, with recommendations for leg
islation, to which respectfully invite your
attention. To some of these invite espe-
oial attention. -
First-The necessity of making 5000, 900
of the appropriation for the Subsistence
Department available before the beginning
of the next fiscal year. Without this pro-
vision troops at points distant from the
supply production must either go without
food or existing laws must be violated. 1t
is not attended with cost TO the Treasury.
iSecond-His recommendation for the en-
actment of a system of annuities for the
families of deceased officers by voluntary
deductions from the monthly pay OF OFF,
GERS. This, again, Is not attended with bur-
den upon the Treasury, and would for the
future relieve much distress which every
old army officer has witnessed in the past,
OF officers dying suddenly, or being killed,
leaving families without even the means OF
reaching their friends, If fortunate enough
10 have friends to help them.
Third-The repeal of the law abolishing
mileage and return TO the old system.
Fourth-The trial with torpedoes under
the Corps of Engineers and appropriation
for the same. Should war ever occur be-
tween the United States and any maritime
power, torpedoes will be among, If not the
most, effective and cheapest auxiliary for
the defense of harbors, and also in agrees
sive operations, that we can have. Hence
it is desirable to learn by experiment their
best construction and application as we'll as
effect.
FIrh-A permanent organization of the
Signal Corps. This service has now be-
come a necessity of peace as well as war,
under the advancement made under the
present management.
Sizth-A renewal of the appropriation
for compiling the official records OF the
war, &c.
THE NAVY.
The condition of our Navy at this time is
asubject of satisfaction. 1t does not con-
tain, 1t is true, any CT the powerful cruis-
ing iron clads which make so much of the
maritime strength ofsome other nations, but
neither our continental situation nor our
foreign policy requires that we should have
large number Of ships of this character,
while this situation and the nature OF our
ports continue to make those of other ma
lions little dangerous TO us under any cir
cumstances. Our Navy does contain, how
ever, a considerable number OF iron-clads
of the monitor class which, though not
properly cruisers, are powerful and effec-
tive for harbor defense and for operations
near our own shores. or these all the sim
gle-turreted ones, fifteen in number, have
been substantially rebuilt, their rotten
wooden beams replaced with iron, their
hulls strengthened, and their engines and
machinery thoroughly repaired, so that
they are now in the most efficient condi-
tion, and ready for sea as soon as they can
be manned and put in commission. The
to our Navy, by far the most powerful OF
our ships for fighting purposes, are also in
hand and undergoing complete repairs, and
could be got ready for sea in periods vary
ing from four to six months. With these
completed according to the present design,
and our two iron torpedo boats now ready,
our iron clad fleet will be for all purposes
OF defense at home equal to any force that
can readily be brought against it. or our
wooden navy also, cruisers of various sizes,
TO tho number of about forty, including
those now in commission, are in the Allan
tic and could be ready for duty as fast as
men could be enlisted for those not already
in commission. OF these one-third are in
effect new ships, and though some OF the
remainder need considers BILE repairs 10
their boilers and machinery they all are oil
can readily be made effective. This
constitutes a fleet of more than fifty wal
ships, of which fifteen are iron-clad, now
in hand on the Atlantic coast. The Navy
has been brought to this condition by ju-
dicious and practical application of what
could be spared from the current appropri'
atoms of the last few years, and from thai
made to meet the possible emergency OF
two years ago. 1t has been done quietly
without proclamation or display, and
department in its ordinary expenditure
and, as far as the iron clads are concerned
has added nothing TO the cruising force o.
the Navy, yet the result Is not less satisfac.
tory, because 1t is to be found in great in
crease of real rather than apparent force
The expenses incurred in the maintenance
OF an effective naval force in all its branch.
es, are necessarily large; but such force
IL essential to our position, relations anC
character, and affects seriously the weigh
NtWNAf WaIn nWNA WNfItn nHn RIafaNN
the whole sphere of naval responsibilities
The estimates for the regular support o.
this branch OF the service for the next veal
amount 10 liltleless in the aggregate, thar
those made for the current year, but some
additional appropriations are asked, for OBJ
jects not included in the ordinary mainte
nance of the Navy, but believed to be o
pressing importance at this time. 1t would
in my opinion, be wise at once 10 AFFORD
sufficient means for the immediate com
pletion of the five double-turreted moni
tors now undergoing repairs, which mus
otherwise advance slowly, and only a
money can be spared from current ex
penseS. Supplemented by these, our Navy
armed with destructive weapons of modern
warfare, manned by our seamen and II
charge of our instructed officers, will pre-
sent a force powerful for the home purpos
es of responsible though peaceful nation
THE POST oFFIcE-ExcLUsIoN OF MER
oHANDIsE FROM THE MAILS.
The report Of the Postmaster General
herewith transmitted, gives full history
Of the working of the department for tn
year just passed. II will be observed tina
the deficiency to be supplied from the gen
eral treasury increased over the amount re
quired for the preceding year. In a coun
try so vast in area as the United States
with large portions sparsely settled, 1t mus
be expected that this important service will
be more or less burden upon the Treas
ury for many years to come. But thoIe i