Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-08

thorifed to redeem, say not to exceed two million
dollars monthly of legal tender notes, by issuing
in their stead long bond bearing interest at the
rate of three and sixty FIVE hundredths per cent.
per annum, of denominations ranging from fifty
dollars to thousand dollars each. This would
in time reduce the legal tender notes to volume
that would be kept ahoat without demanding re,
demption in large sums. Third, that additional
power be given to the Secretary OF the treasury
to accumulate gold for final redemption, either by
increasing revenue, curtailipg expenses, or botn
1t is preferable to do both; and recommend
that reduction of expenditures be made whenever
it can be done without impairng government OBJ
legations or cripplipg the due execution thereof
The REVENUE.
One measure tor increasing the revenue, and the
only one think of, is the restoration of the duty
On ca ard coffee These duties would add probably
eighteen million dollars 10 the present amount le-
ceiyed from imports, and would in 10 way increase
the prices paid for these articles by the consumers
These articles are the products of countries col
lecng revenue from exports, and as we, the
largest consumers, reduce The duties, they proper
tionately increase them. With this addition 10
revenue many duties now collected and which
give but an insignificant return for the cost OF
collection, might be RENTED TO the direct advant-
age of consumers at home. l would mention
those articles which enter into manufactures Of all
sorts. All duty paid upon such articles go directly
to the cost of the article when manufactured here,
and must be paid for by consumers. These duties
not only come from the consumers at home, but
act as protection to foreign manufacturers OF the
same completed articles Ia our own and distant
markets | will suggest or mention another sub
ect bearing upon the problem OF how to enable
the secretary of the treasury to accumulate bal
ances 1t is TO devise some better method
of verifying claims against the government than
at present exists, through the Court OF Ciams, es-
pecay those claims growing out CT the late war.
Nothing is more certain than that very large
,F no ,sti cd IL
are either wholly fraudulent, far in excess OF the
real losses sustained. The report of the Attorney
General which he submitted TO Congress at an early
day will contain detailed history of awards made,
and Of claims pending OF class here referred to-
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
The report of the Secretary of War, accompany
ing this message, gives detailed account OF
army operations for the year just passed, ex-
penses for maintenance &C, with recomenda-
tions for legislation, to which respectfully
nyite your attention: 10 some OF these invite
special attention. First, the necessity OF making
$500 900 Of the appropriation for the Subsistence
department available before the beginning Of the
next f.cal year. With this provision, troops at
points distant from supply production must
either 60 without food existing laws must be
violated. 1t is not attended with cost on the
| treasury. Second, his recommendation for en-
actment OF system of annuities for families OF
deceased officers by voluntary deductions from
the monthly pay of officers. This Is not attended
| with a burden upon the treasury, and would for
the future relieve much distress, which every Old
army officer has witnessed in the past, othcers
DIVING suddenly, being killed, leaving families.
| without even means of reaching their friends, il
| fortunate to have friends to aid them. Third,
! the repeal of the law abolishing mileage and a
retuin the old system. Fourth, the trial with tor
| pedoes under the corps of engineers and appro-
| praton for the same. Should ever occur
! between the L ited States and any maritime
| power torpedoes will be among, If not the most
effective and cheapest auxiliary for the defence
of hsrbors, and also in aggressive operations, that
| can have. Hence it is advisable to learn by
! experience their best construction and appllca-
ton a, well As effect. Fifth, permanent organ
zation for the Signal Service corps. This service
| has how become necessity of peace as well as
| war, under the advancement made by present
| able management. Sixth, renewal Of the ap-
| preparation for compiling the official records Of
| the war
The condition of our Navy at this time is a sub
ject Of satisfaction II does not contain. it IS true,
| any of the powerful cruising iron clad5 which
make so much OF the maritime strength oil other
nations, but neither our continental situation nor
| toreiS policy requires that we should have a
large number of ships OF this kind while the situa-
| ton and the nature OF our ports conspre to make
those of other nations little dangerous to US. I'm
der any circumstances our navy does contain,
| however, considerable number of iron clads of
! the monitor class, which though not properly
cruisers, powerful and effective for harbor de.
| fence ana Tor operations near our own SHORES.
OF these, all the single urreted fifteen IN number,
have been substantially rebuilt, theirrotten wooden
beams replaced with iron, their hulls strengthened
and their engines and machinery thoroughly re-
paired, SO that they are now III the most efficient
| condition and ready for soon they can
be manned and put in commission. The
| five double-turreted iron clads belonging TO
! our navy-by far the most powerful Of our ships
! for fighting purposes-are also in hand, undergo
ing complete repairs and conld be ready for in
a mo 1 IN & m these
completed according 10 the present design, and
our two iron torpedo boats now ready, our iron
clad fleet will be, for the purposes OF defence at
home, equal to any force that can readily be
| brought against it.
| OF our wooden navy, also, cruisers Of various
sizes, to the number OF about 40, inciudin. those
| now in commission, are in the Atlantic and could
be ready for duty fast Us men could be enlisted
for those not already in commission. OF these
onc-thrd are in effect ships, and though some
OF the remainder need considerable repairs to
| their boilers and machinery, they all are or can be
readily made effective. This constitutes fleet OF
more than fifty war ships, of which fifteen are
iron clad now in hand on the Atlantic coast
! The navy has been brought to this condition by q
! judcious and practical application of what could
be spared from the current appropriations of the
last few years, and from that made to meet the
possible emergency OF two years ago. 1t has been
| done quietly without proclamation or display, and
| though it has necessarily straisened the de-
! parment in its ordinary expenditure, and as far
as the iron clads are concerned, has added nothing
10 the cruising force Of the navy, yet the result
is not less satisfactory, because is to be found in
great increase of real, rather than apparent
| force.
The expenses incurred in the maintenance Of
an effective naval force in all its branches are
necessarily large, but such. force is essential to
our position, relations character, and affects SER
| ously the weight of our principles and policy
throughout the whole sphere of naval RESPONSE
btes.
The estimates for the regular support of this
branch of the service for the next year, amount
to little lsss in the aggregate than those made toi
/ the current year, but some additional appropra-
tions are asked, for objects not included In the
ordinary maintenance OF the navy, but believed
to be Of pressing importance at this time: II
would in my opinion, be wise at once to afford suf-
fcient means for the immediate completion of the
five double turrcted monitors, which must otherwise
advance slowly, and only as money can be spared
from current expenses Supplemented by these
our navy, armed with the destructive weapons OF
modern warfare, manned with our seaIncn and in
charge Of our instructed officers, will present a
force powerful for the home purposes of respon-
| sible though peaceful nation.
POSTAL MATHIS.
The report of the Postmaster General herewith
transmitted gives full history Of the workings Of
h