Year: 1871

those articles which did best bear it
without disturbing home production
or reducing the wages of American
labor. l have not enterrd into fig
ures, because to do so would be to re-
peat what will be laid before you in
the report of the secretary of the
treasury. The present laws for col
lecting the revenue, pay collectors of
customs small salaries, lat provide
for moieties, shares in all seizUrse,
which, at principal ports Of entry par
ticularly, raise the compensation Of
those officials to large sum. 1t has
always seemed to me as if this sys-
tenn must, at times, work perniciously;
it holds out an inducement to dishon-
est men, should such get possession of
those officers, to be tax in their scruti-
ny Of goods entered, to enable them
finally to make large seizures. Your
attention is respectfully invited to this
subject. Continued fuctuation in the
value of gold as compared with the
national currency has most damaging
effect upon the increase and develop
ment Of the country in keeping up
prices of all articles necessary in eve
ry day life. 1t fosters spirit of
gambling prejudical alike to national
morals and the national finances
If the question can be met as to how
to give fixed value to our currency,
that value. constantly and uniformly
approaching par with specie, :: very
desirable object will be gained


For the operations of the army in
the past year, the expenses of main
tanning it, the estimates for the ensu-
ing year, and for continuing sea cost
and other improvements conducted
under the supervision of the war
department, | refer you to the ac-
companying report of the secretary of
war.


l call your attention to the pro-
visions of the act of congress, approx
ed March 3rd, 1869, which discon-
tinues promotions in the staff corps
of the army until provided for by
law.


recommend that the number of Of
ficers in each grade in the staff corps
be fixed, and that whenever TIE unm-
ber in any one grade falls below the
dumber so fixed, that the vacancy may
be filled by promotion from the grade
below. | also recommend that when
the Office of chief of corps becomes
vacant, the place may be filled by Sc
lection from the corps in which the
vacancy exists. The ,eport of the sec
RETRY of the navy shows an improve
ment in the number and efficiency of
the naval force without material in
crease in the expense of supporting it.
This is due to the policy which has
been adopted and is being extended
as fast as our material will admit of
using smaller vessels as cruisers en- the
several stations. BY this measure we
have been enabled to occupy at once
larger extent of cruising ground, to
visit more frequently to posts where
the presence Of our flag is desirable,
and generally to discharge more eff
ticiently the appropriate duties Of the
navy in time of peace, without ex-
ceeding the number of men or the ex-
penditure authorized by law. Dur
ing the past year the navy has, in ad-
dition to its regular services, supplied
the men and officers for the vessels of
the coast survey, and has completed
the surveys authorized by congress of
the Isthmus Of Darien and Tehuante-
pee, and under like authority has sent
out an expedition completely furnish
ed and equipped, to explore the un-
known ocean of the north. The sug-
gestions of the report as to the neces-
ity for increasing and improving the
material of the navy, and the plan
recommended for reducing the person
mel of the peace standard by the grad
ual abolition of certain grades of of
ficers, the reduction of others, and the
employment of some in the service of
the commercial marine, are well con-
sidered, and deserve the thoughtful at
tention of congress. | also recon-
mend that all promotions in the navy,
above the rank Of captain, be by Sc
lection instead Of by seniority.


This course will secure it in the
higher grades, greater efficiency and
hold out an incentive to young Off
GERS to improve themselves in the
knowledge of their profession. The
present cost of maintaining the navy,
its cost compared with that of the
preceding year and the estimate for
the ensuing year, are contained in the
accompanying report of the secretary
of the navy.


The enlarged receipts of the post
Office department, as shown by accom-
panying report of the postmaster gen.
eral, exhibits gratifying increase in
the branch of the pubic service. 1t
is the index of the growth of educa-
ton and of the prosperity of the peo-
pie two elements highly conductive
to the vigor and stability of republics.
With a vast territory like ours, much
of sparsely populated, butall requiring
the service of the MALL it is not atpres-
ent to De expected that THIS depart
ment can be made selt:sustaining, but
a gradual approach to this end from
year to year is confidently relied on.
The day is not far distant when the
post office department of the govern
ment will prove a much greater bless
ing to the whole people than it is now.
The suggestions of the postmaster gen
eral for improvements in the depart
ment presided over by him, are earn
estly recommended to your special at
tention. Especially do recommend
favorable consideration of the plan
for uniting the telegraph system of
the United States with the postal sys-
TEN. 1t is believed that by such a
course the cost of telegraphing could
be much reduced, and the servece as