Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-12-14

monopoly of the business, there was no reason
for the suggestion that for the franchise favor
ing grantees the government might very prop
erly exact tax on circulation, but for years
the system has been free and the amount of
circulation regulated by the public demand
The retention of this tax has been suggested
as means of reimbursing tine gov
eminent for the expense of printing
and furnishing the circulating notes. If the
tax should be repealed it would certainly seem
proper to require the national banks to pay the
amount of such expense to the comptroller of
the currency. It is perhaps doubtful whether
the immediate reduction of the taxation upon
liquors and tobacco is advisable especially in
view of the drain upon the treasury which
must attend the payment of arrears of
pensions. comparison, however, of the
amount of taxes collected under the varying
rates of taxation which have at different times
prevailed, suggests the intimatiOn that some
reduction may soon be made without iniuring
the revenues. The tariff laws also need revis-
ing; but that a due regard may be paid
to the conflicting interests of our
citizens, important charges should bemade with
caution. If a careful revision cannot be made
at this session, commission such as was lately
approved by the senate and is now recommend
ed by the secretary of the treasury, would
doubtless tighten the labors Of congress, when
ever this subject shall be brought to its consid-
Grafton.
WAR DEPARTMENT..
The accompanying report of the secretary of
war will make known the operations of that de-
partment for the past year. He suggests meas
ures for promoting the efficiency of the army
by adding to it number of officers and recon-
mends legislation necessary to increase the
number of enlisted men to 80, 000 the maximum
allowed by law. This he deems necessary to
maintain quietness on our ever shifting frontier,
to preserve peace, and suppress disorders and
marauding i'll new settlements, to protect
Indians against the encrOachmentS of 1ntTuders,
and to enable peaceable immigrants to es-
tabllsh homes In the most remote parts of our
country. The army is DOW necessarily scattered
over such vast extent of territory that when
ever an outbreak occurs, reinforcements must
be hurried from many quarters over.
great distance and at heavy cost for
transportation of men, horses, wagons and
supplies. L concur in the recommended
ton of the secretary for increasing the
army to the strength of 10000 enlisted men.
1t appears by the secretary's report that in the
absence OF disturbances on the frontier the
troops have been actively employed in collect
ing the Indians hitherto hostile and locating
them on their proper reservations. That Sit
ting Bull and his adherents are now prisoners
at Fort Randall; that the Utes have been
moved to their new reservation in Utah; that
during the recent outbreak of the Apaches it
was necessary to reinforce the garrisons in
Arizona by troops Withdrawn from New Mexico
and some Apaches are now held for trial
while some have escaped and the majority of
the tribes are now on their reservations. There
is need of legislation to prevent intrusion upon
the lands set apart for the Indians. A large
military force at great expense is now required
to patrol the boundary line between Kansas
| and the Indian Territory. The only punish
ment that at present con be inflicted is the
forcible removal of the intruder and the impo-
sition of pecuniary fine, which in most cases
| H. L.
penalty by imprisonment in such cases.
The separate organization of the signal SER
vice is urged by the secretary of war, and full
statement of the advantages Of such permanent
organization is presented in the report of the
chief signal officer. Details of the usual work
performed by the signal corps and the weather
| bureau are also given in tha5 report.
| ask your attention to the statements of the
secretary of war regarding the acquisitions fire.
quently made by the Indian bureau upon sthe
subsistence department of the army for the
casual support of bands or tribes of Indians,
which appropriations are exhausted. The war
department should not be left, by reason of in
| adequate provision for the Indian bureau, to
| contribute for the maintenance of Indians.
RIVER AND HARBoR IMPROVEMENT.
! The report of the chief Of engineers furnishes
detailed account Of the operations for the i'm
| provement Of rivers and harbOrs. I commend
| to your attention the suggestions contained in
cations, especially coast defenses and recommend
an increase of strength Of the engineer battal-
ion, by which the efficiency of our torpedo sys-
! tenn would be improved. l also call your atten-
ton to the remarks ON the improvement of the
South Pass of the Mississippi River, the pro-
posed free bridge over the Potomac River at
| Georgetown, the Importance of completing
at an early day the north wing of the de-
partment building and other recommendations
of the secretary of war which appear in his re-
port. The actual expenditures of this depart
ment for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881,
are $42, 1872, POI, and appropriations for the
year 1882 were $44, 889, 725; the estimates for
1888 are $44, 541 ,276.
! THE NAVY.
The report of the secretary of the navy ex-
hibits the condition of that branch of service
and presents valuable suggestions for it's i'm
prOvement. | call your special attention also
to the appended report of the advisory board
which will be convened to devise suitable meas
ures for increasing the efficiency of
the navy and particularly to the re-
port as to the character and number of
vessels necessary to place it upon footing
commensurate with the necessities of the gov
eminent. cannot too strongly urge upon you
my conviction that every consideration of
national safety, economy and honor 1mpera-
lively demands thorough rehabilitation of our
navy. With full appreciation of the fact that
compliance with the suggestions Of the head Of
involves a. large expenditure of the public
moneys, earnestly recommend such appro-
priations as will accomplish an end which
seems to be SO desirable. Nothing can be more
inconsistent with true public economy than the
Withholding Of the means necessary to
accomplish the objects intrusted by the consti-
tuition to the national legislature. One
of three objects, and one which is of paramount
Importance is declared by our fundamental law
to be the provision for the common defense"
Surely nothing is more essential to the defense
of the United States and of all our people than
the efficiency of our navy.
| We have for many years maintained with
foreign governments the relations of honorable
peace and that such relations may be perma-
nent is desired by every patriotic citizen of the
republic; but if we read the teachings of his
tory shall not forget that in the life of every
nation emergencies may arise when resort to
arms can alone save it from dishonor. No
danger from abroad now threatens this people
nor have we any cause to distrust the
friendly professions of other governments, but
for avoiding, as well as for repelling, the dan
ger that may threaten us in the future. we must
be prepared to face any policy which we think
wise to adopt; we must be ready to defend our