St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-12-14

able Congress to repeal a multitude of
annoying taxes yielding a revenue not
exceeding that sum. By the substitu-
ton of tax on tea and coffee, all forms
of internal taxation may be repealed
except that on whiskey, spirits, tobacco
and beer.
PROTECTION OF THE REVENUE.
Attention is also called to the neces-
sity of enacting more rigorous laws for
the protection of the revenue and for
the punishment of frauds and snug
Cling. This can best be done by judi
cious provisions that will induce the
disclosure of attempted fraud by under
valuation and smuggling. All revenue
laws should be simple in their provis-
rates of taxation should be in the form
of specific duties.
REVENUE ABUSES.
Strenuous efforts have been made for
the correction of abuses existing in the
collection of customs. The report of
the commission to investigate the New
York custom house contains many i'm
portant suggestions for the modification
of customs laws.
THE PUBLIC CREDIT.
1t is matter of congratulation that
notwithstanding the severe burdens
caused by the YaI, the public faith with
all creditors has been preserved, and
that as the result of this policy the pub
lie credit has continuously advanced
and our public securities are regarded
with the highest favor ia the markets
of the world. | trust that no act of the
government will cast shadow upon its
credit. The progress of refunding the
public debt has been rapid and salts
factory. Under the contract existing
when / entered upon the discharge OF
the duties of my office, bonds bearing
interest at the rate of Al per cent. were
being rapidly sold, and within three
months the aggregate sales of these
bonds had reached the sum of $780,
100000; with my sanction the secretary
of the treasury entered into new con-
tract for the sale of per cent. bonds,
and within thirty days after the popular
subscription for such bonds was open
ed, subscriptions were had amounting
to $75. .496, $50, which were paid within
80 days after the date of subscription.
By this process within but little more
than one year the annual interest on the
public debt was reduced i'll the sum of
$3,775,000. recommend that
SUITABLE PROVISION
be made to enable the people to easily
convert their savings into government
securities as the best mode in which
their small savings may be well secured
and yield a moderate interest. 1t is an
object of public policy to retain among
our own people the securities of the
United States. In this way our country
is guarded against their sudden return
from the foreign countries, caused by
war or other tuIbances beyond our
limits.
SHIPPING INTEREST.
Our commerce with foreign nations
has steadily increased, but the greater
portion of the trade is conducted by
foreign vessels. The importance of en-
larging our foreign trade cannot be
overestimated, and our shipping inter
! est should receive the benefit of oul
commerce with other lands. 1t is not
doubted that Congress will respond tO
the public demand by practical legisla-
tion.
THE ARMY.
The army has been actively employed
in suppressing hOstilities in the Indian
country. A long and arduous campaign
has been prosecuted with complete sue
cess against the Nez Perces tribe of In
dians. The serious riots in July rem,
dered necessary the employment of q
considerable portion of the army; and
the troops thus sent in response to the
calls of the state authorities were able
| by the influence of their presence tC
restore order without the use of force
Disturbances on the Rio Grande have
rendered necessary the employment o
Il military force in that vicinity. Law.
/ less incursiOns into our territory have
) been frequent and orders were giveI
for the suppression of these raids an6
the punishment of the guilty parties
} 1t is believed that the policy Gen. ORD
was directed to pursue had the effect tC
check the depredations and that with
/ considerable force extensive border
peace may be preserved and the lives
, and property of our citizens in Texas
fully protected.
REDUCTION OF THE ARMY.
Prior to July l, the army was by law
reduced to 25, 1000 enlisted men, being q
|
viously authorized. This reduction was
made from the infantry and artillery
branches, without any reduction of the
: cavalry. The necessary effect of thi:
legislation is to reduce the infantry ani
artillery arms of the service below the
number required for efficiency, and
concur with the Secretary of War il
recommending that authority be giveI
to recruit all companies to at least 81
men and all batteries of artillery to a
least IS men, with power in case o
. emergency to increase the former to Ion
and the latter to 122 men each. -
SUGGESTIONS.
l invite your attention to the recon.
2 mendations of the secretary of war
! that the army be supplied with more
abundant and better supply of reading
2 matter; for complete revision of army
3 regulations that the law limiting the
: number of officers on the retired list bt
repealed; that claims for supplies taker
l during the war be referred to some tri
S bunal having more time for investiga
|. tion than the quarter-master and com,
: missary generals and that Congress
: provide for an annuity fund for the
families of deceased soldiers.
THE NAVY.
We have six squadrons now engaged
j in the protection of our foreign com
merce and other duties pertaining +,
the service. The total expenditures fo
. the fiscal year ending June 80, 1877
were 6,077 ,974.54. The estimates fo
the fiscal year commencing July |, 1873
. are SIG, ,233, ,234.40, exclusive of the sun
! of $3,3I4 ,23l, submitted for new build
ings, repairs and improvements at th
h several navy yards. The appropriation