Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-12-06

! report OF the manner in which the consul
lates a.e conducted. Ia the absence OF such
reliable Information, efficiency, he thinks,
can scarcely be rewarded, or its opposite
corrected. III referring to the income OF
the government aud the existence Of large
surplus IN tbs treasury, be says: Tho ap-
plication Of the Surplus to TIC payment OF
| such portion Of !ia pniiiie iaot as is now
subj ect to eztinsuisnale1;, il rniliAu,;i at
the rate Which i!i: lately pre9t;ie!, aould
retire that class OF inleb.ct!al-s wi;!iin less
than Que year from this dale. + continual
ton OF our present revenue system would
soon result in the receipt of "a annual in
come much greater than necessary to meet
Government expenses, with no indebted.
ness upon which it could be applied. I
recommend That the unaeces stry surplus
annually accommodating ha released 10 the
people By all amendment 10 our revenue
laws which shall cheaper tho price Of the
necessaries of life and give feeer entrance TO
such imported materials a., by American
labor, may be manufactured into markea.
bic commodities" In connection with this
subject he says: we recognise in labor q
chief factor in the wealth Of the republic,
and we treat these who have it III their
keeping as citizens entitled to the most
careful regard and thoughtful attention, not
only because labor is the capital of our
workingmsn, justly entitled to its share of
Government favor, but for the not less i'm.
portaGt reason that the laboring man, in his
humble home, as consumer is vitality inter-
rested in all that cheapens the cost OF living
and enables him TO bring within his domestic
circle, additional comforts AIT; atiyantages.n
He sees no reason To change the views ex-
pressed ID his last annual message on the
subject of compulsory coinage, and he again
urges its suspension On all the grounds con
tanned IN his former recommendation, rein
forced by the significant increase of our gold
expectations during the last year. Tho af.
fairs OF tho postal service, ho says, show
marked and gratifying Improvement during
the past year, ard suggests 4 subsi.
dy TO certain steamship lines carry
ing the mails, especially to South Ameri.
can ports. He again urges change in
the fsdsrn! judicial system to meet The wants
Of tie poopio and obviate the delays neces-
sarily attending the present condition of af.
fairs i'll oar courts The recommendations
OF the Secretary of the Interior and the
Commissioner Of tho General Land Office
looking 10 the better prote cton Of public
lands ana OF The public surveys, lhe preser-
walton q aat!onal forests, tho adjudication
oil grants to States and corporations and of
private ao;l claims, and the Increased eff
cheney Of he public land service, he COM
mends 10 "he attention OF Congress. He
recommend; the repeal Of the pre- en,ption
and tlmher-cu!turc acts and that the home
stead laws be so ameaGed as to better secure
compliance with thnir requirements of resi-
dence, improvement, ard cultivation for the
period OF Eve years from date Of entry,
without Communication Or provision for spec
ulative ra!isquishmen! lie also recon.
mends the repeal Of tie desert-lauti
laws uniess it shall la tho pleasure Of
the C"Egicsd 10 so amend these laws as to
render them l,s' liable to abuses. Re.
ierring to ;ha report of he Secretary orI
the Navy n!y:niug Il detailed exhibit CT
the c2ndi:iri Ct his department, tho Pres!.
dent says the batteries OF the monitors are
Obsolete AID the vessels can only be relied
upon as auxiliary ships in harbor defense,
and then after such al expenditure unon
them as might not be deemed Unsuitable.
OF the wooden vessels he says it is estimated
by the chief constructor of the navy that
only three vii! he se!viccable hey ont a pc
riod Of six years, al which time it may be
said that Of The present naval force
nothiIs worthy the n.me will remain.
As plea for civil SERVICE he says: "Our
civil! selvi rsfo!m mag i've impes feet in
some ci is Gc:a;is; it RAY be misunder
STOOD AID opposed tmay not always be
faithfully applied; lis dssigus may some.
times m:scarry through mistake or willful
intent; it may sometimes tremb.e under
the assaults OF lis enemies or lanuuish under
the misguided zeal of impractical friends
but if the people / f this country evsr submit
to the barishaent OF lis underlying princi-
pie from the operation Of their government.
they will abandon the surest guarantee OF
the safety and success of American institu
TONS" The laws OF the District appear to
be in an uncertain and unsatisfactory condi.
ton, and their codifcation or revision, he
thinks, is much needed. During The past
year one of the bridges leading from the
District to The State Of Virginia became
unfit for use, ind travel upon it was forbid
den. This leads him TO suggest that tbs
improvement of ali the bridges crossing tho
Potomac and its branches, from the city Of
Washington, is worthy OF tho attention oc
Congress.
Diced.
Fell asleep in Jesus, Sunday ncccmbcr 5, 1856
after a long and painful iilrcs5 which she bore
with Christian fortitu3e and resignation, ANNA
NJ, beloved wife of VIM. Lsyccck, i'll the fortieth
Sc ,nr