St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-12-09

perhaps doubtful whether the immedi-
ate reduction of the rate of taxation
upon liquors and tobacco is advisable,
especially in view of the drain upon the
Treasury, which must attend the pay
ment of arrears of pensions. A COM
parisOn, however, of the amount of
taxes collected under the varying rates
of taxation which have at different
times prevailed, suggests the intima-
ton that some reduction may soon be
made without material diminution of
the revenue.
OUR LITTLE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy exhibits the condition of that
branch of the service and presents val
liable suggestions for its improvement.
/ call your especial attention also to
the appended report of the Advisory
Board which he convened to devise
suitable measures for increasing the
efficiency of the navy, and particularly
to the report as to the character and
number of vessels necessary to place it
upon a footing commensurate with the
necessities fsthe Government. | can
not too strongly urge upon you my
conviction that every consideration of
national safety economy and honor i'm
peratively demands thorough rehabil-
itatiOn of our navy, with a full appre-
citation of the fact that compliance with
the suggestions of the head of that de
partment and of the Advisory Board
must involve a large expenditure of
the public moneys. | earnestly recon-
mend such appropriations as will ac-
cOmplish an end which seems to me so
desirable.
OTHER MATTERS.
The army, the President thinks,
should be increased to 10000, not
counting the officers. He would have
the invasion of the Indian territory by
white men of the Payne stripe made
punishable by imprisonment. The re-
marks of the chief of engineers about
our defenceless sea-pOrts ard other
matters strike him as worth think
ing about. The exhibit made by the
postmaster general strikes him as
Gratifying" and he invites Congress
to consider the question of postal saw
ings hanks. He has given directions
that all persons who have committed
frauds upon the postal service shall be
prosecuted "with the utmost rigor of
the law"
Mr.. Arthur, it appears, is for bring
ing the Indians under the projections
and restraints of the law, opening the
ordinary courts of justice to them,
giving to those of them at least who
desire it an individual title to their
land, and making liberal appropriations
for Indian schools. He advises new
and stringent legislation against Nor
mon pOlygamy, and announces his
determined purpose" to do all in his
power to put stop to it. He is afraid
the pension arrears act will take $685.,
000, 900 out of the treasury. He is for
improving the Mississippi, however.
AS to civil-service reform, he says
the views expressed in his letter of ac
ceptance will govern his administra
ton. He is not sure that the Compel
tive examination as thus far conducted
is the best thing possible, and what he
has to say on this point deserves care
full consideration however he makes
it clear that he will sign the Pendleton
bill if Congress passes it.
Other suggestions are, that some
thing be done for our shipping inter
ests /; that some sort of government he
given to Alaska that the Potomac
marshes be reclaimed !; and that ade
quate provision be made for counting
the votes in presidential elections and
for the case of presidents inability
to discharge the duties of his office.