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under the compulsory provisions of law,
purchased silver bullion and coined the
same at the rate of more than 2,000,000
every month. Bv this process, up to the
present date 215,759,431 silver dollars
have been coined. A reasonable appre
ciation of a delegation of power to the
general government would limit its ex
Kcise without express restrictive woids
to the people's needs and the require
ments of the public welfare. Upon this
theory the authority to coin money given
congress by the constitution, even if it
permits the purchase by the government
of the bullion for coinage, in any event
doea not justify such purchase and coin
iffc to an extent beyond the amount
seeded for sufheient circulating medium.
'The desire to utilize the silver product
of the country should not lead to a mis
use or the perversion of this power. The
ucces?ity for such an addition to the
silver currency of the nation as is com
pelled by the silver coiuage act is nega
tived by the fact that tin to the present
time only about 50,000,000 of silver
dollars so coined have actually found
their way into circulation, leaving more
than 1(15,000,000 in possession of the
government, the custody of which has
entailed a considerable expense for
construction of vaults for its
deposit. Against this latter amount
there are outstanding silver cer
tificates amounting to about s:i. 000,000.
Every month 2,000,000 of gold in the
public treasury are paid out lor 2.000,
000 Orinoco of silver dollars to be added
to the idle mass already accumulated. If
continued long enough, this operatiou
will result in me substitution of silver for
all the gold the government owus, ap
plicable, to its general purposes. It will
not da to rely upon the receipts or the
government to make good this decline of
goj'j, because the silver thus coined,
halving been made legal tender for all
debts and dues, public and private, at
times during the last six mouths, fifty
eight per cent of the receipts for duties
have been in silver or silver certificates,
while the average within that period has
been 20 per cent. The proportion of silver
and its certificates received by the gov
ernment will nrobably increase as time
jjocs on, for the reason that the nearer
the period approaches when It will be
obliged to offer silvi r in payment of its
obligations, the greater inducements
there will be to hoard gold against de
preciation in the value of silver, or for
the purpose of speculating. This hoard
ing of gold has already begun. When
the time comes that gold has been with
drawn from circulation, there will be ap
parent the difference between the real
value of the silver dollar and a dollar in
gold and the two coins will part com
pany. Gold, still the standard of value,
and necessary in our dealings with other
countries, will be at a premium over
silver. ISatiks which have substituted
gold for the deposits of their customers
may pay them with silver bought with
K.id gold, thus making a handsome
profit. Uich speculators will sell their
hoaided gold to their neighbors who need
it to Iiqudate their foreign debts at ruin
ous p'ciniiim over silver, and the labor
ing men and women of the laud, most
defenseless of all, will find that the dollar
received fcr the wages of their toil lias
sadly shrunk in its purchasing power.
It may be said that the latter result will
be but temporary and that iil(iuiai"ly the
price of labor will be adjusted to the
change, but even if this takes place the
wage-worker cannot possibly gain, but
must inevitably lose, since the price he is
compelled to pay lor his living will not
onlv be measured in a coin heavily de
preciated and fluctuating and uncertain
in its value, but this uncertainty
in the value of the purchasing medium
win oe made ttie pretext lor an advance
in prices beyond that justified by actual
depreciation. The words uttered in 18.51
tv Daniel Webster, in the senate of the
"United States, are true to-day: '-The
very man of all others who has the deep
est interest in a sound currency, and
who suffers most by mischievous legisla
tion in money matters, is the man who
earns his daily bread by hi daily toil. ' "
The most distinguished advocate of bi
inetalism, diseu-sing our silver
coinage, has lately written: "Xn
American citizen's hand has
yet felt the sensation of cheapne-s
either in receiving or expending the sil
ver act dollars. And those who live by
labor of legitimate trade never will feel
that sensation of cheapness. However
plenty silver dollars may become, thev
will not b distribniod as gifts among the
people, and if the laboring man should
receive four depreciated dollars where he
now receives but two. he will pav iu the
depreciated coin more than double the
price he now pays for all the necessaries
and comforts of life.'"- Those who do
not ferr any disastrous consequences
arising from the continued compulsory
coinage of silver as now directed by law,
and who suppose that the addition' to the
currency of the country Intended as its
res lit will be a public benefit, are re
minded that history demonstrates that
the point is easily reached in the attempt
to float at the same time two sorts of
money of different excellency, when the
better will ceaseto be in circulation. The
hoarding of gold which has already taken
place indicates that we shall not escape
the usual experience in su-li cases;
so if the silver coinage be continued, we
may reasonably expect that gold and its
equivalent will abandon the field of cir
culation to silver alone. This of course
must produce a severe contraction of our
circulating medium instead of adding to
it. It will not be disputed that anv at
tempt on the part of the government to
cause the circulating of the silver dollar,
worth SO scuts, side by side with gold
dollars, worth 100 cents, must be seconded
by the confidence of the people, that both
coins may retain the same purchasing
power and be interchangeable at will.
Special effort has been made .- the sec
retary of the treasury to increase the
amount of our silver coin' in circulation,
but the fact that a large share of the lim
ited amount thus put out has soon re
turned to the public treasury in pavment
of duties, leads to the belief that trie peo
ple do not now desire to Keep it in hand;
and this, with the evident disposition to
hoard gold, gives rise to the suspicion
that there already exists a
lack of confidence among the peo
ple touching our financial processes.
There is certainly no: enough silver now
iu circulation to cause uueasiness. and
the w hole amount coined and now on
hand might, after a time, be absorbed bv
the people without apprehension; but it
is the ceaseless stream that threatens to
overflow the land which causes fear and
uncertainty. What has been thus far
submitted upon this subject relates al
most entirely to considerations of a home
nature, unconnected with the bearing
which the policies of other nations have
upon the question; but it is perfectlv ap
parent that a line of action in regard to
our currency cannot be wisely settled
upon or persisted in without considering
the attitude on the subject of other couu
tries with whom we maintain intercourse
through commerce, trade and travel.
An acknowledgment of this is found iu
the act by virtue of which our silver is
compulsonly coined. It provides that
'the president shall invite the govern
ments of the countries composing the
Latin union, so called, and of "such
other r.uropean nations as he mav deem
advisable, to join the United States in a
conference to adopt a common ratio be
tween gold and silver for the purpose of
establishing internationally- the use of
bi-metalie money, and securing fixity of
relative value between these "metals."
This conference absolutely failed, and a
similar fate has awaited all subsequent
efforts in the same direction, and still we
continue our coinage of silver at a ratio
different from that of any other nation.
dlrtiacUo tm will th wmUm bV
1 th imtentU f thair Mrtv.
The most vital part of the silver coinage
act remain impcr.it he and unexecuted,
and withctit an ally or friend we bat
tie upon the silver field in an illogical
and losing contest. To give furl effect to
the design of congress on this subject I
have made careful and earnest endeavor
since the adjournment of the last congress.
To this end I di legated a gentleman' well
instructed in fiscal science to proceed to
the financial centers of Europe, aud in
conjunction with our ministers to En
gland, France and Germany, to obtain a
full knowledge of the attitude and inteut
of ttiese governments respecting the
establishment of such an international
ratio as would procure free coiuage of
both metals at the mints of these eonn
tiies and our own. Ily my direction our
consul-general at Pari has given close
atteulio.i to the proceedings of the con
gress of the Latin union, in order to indi
cate our interest in its objects and to
repoit its action. It may be said in brief,
a the result of these "efforts, that the
attitude of the leading powers remains
sub-tantially unchanged since the mone
tary conference of 1SS1. nor is it to be
questioned that the views of these gov
ernments are in each instance separated
by the weight of public opinion. The
iep thus taken have, therefore, only
more full' demonstrated the uselessness
of further attempts at present to arrive at
anv agreement on the subject with other
nations. In the meantime we are accu
mulating silver ciin based upon our own
peculiar ratio to such an extent, and as
suming so heavy a burden to be provided
for iu an' international negotiations, as
will render u an undesirable party to
anj future monetary conference of na
tions. It is a significant fact that four of
the five countries comprising the Latin
union mentioned in our coinage act.
embarrassed with their silver curreucy,
have just completed an agreement among
themselves that no more silver shall be
coined by their respective governments,
and that such as has already beeu coined
aud is in circulation shall be redeemed
in gold by the country of its coinage.
The resoit to this expedient by these
countries may well arrest the attention
of those who suppose that we can succeed
without shock or injury in the attempt
to circulate upon its merits all the silver
we may coin under the pro
visions of our silver coinage act.
The condition in which our treasury may
b- placet! bv a persistence m our present
course is a matter of concern to every
patriotic citieu wlm does not desire his
government to pay iu silver such of its
obligation as .should be paid in gold.
?or should our condition be uch as to
oblige Us iu a prudent management of
our affairs to discontinue the calling iu
anil payment of interest-bearing obliga
tions which we have the right now to
dieharge. and thus to avoid the payment
of further interest thereon. The so
called debtor chts, for whose benefit the
continued compulsory coinage of silver is
in-itt'tl upon, are not dishonest becaue
they are in tlebt. and they .should not be
sti-pectcd of a desire to jeopardize the
financial safety of the country in order
that they may cancel their present debts
by pa ing the same in depreciated dol
lars. Nor should it be forgotten that it
is not the rich nor the money-lender
alone mat 111111 submit to such a read
justment enforced by the government
mm tln-ir debtors. The pittance of the
widow and orphan anil the incomes of
helples beneficiaries of all kinds
would be disastrously reduced.
The depositors in savings-banks, and
other institution which hold in trust the
aviug of the poor, when their little ac
cumulation are scaled down to meet the
new order of thing, would, in their dis
tress, pairfully realize the tleluion of
the promise made to them tiiat plentiful
money would improve their conditions.
We have now on hand all th" silver dol
lar nece-sary to supply the present need
of the people, and to satisfy those who
from sentiment wish to see them in cir
culation, and if their coinage is sus
pended they can be leatiily obtained by
those who desire them. If the need of
more is at any time apparent their coin
age may be resinned. That disaster has
not already overtaken us furnishes no
proof that danger does not wait upon a
continuation of the present silver coin
age. We have been saved by the most
careful management and unii-nal expe
dients, hv a combination of fortunate
condition, and by a confident expecta
tion that the course of the government
iu regard to silver coinage would be
spccdih "hanged by action of congress.
I'ro-peritv hesitates upon our threshold
li-i-vre of danger and uncertainties
surrounding luis question; capital liniid
Jy shrinks tiom tratie, ami investors are
unwilling to take the chance of the ques
tionable s'lip- in winch their money will
be returned to them, while enterprise
halt at a n-k agtinst avIucIi care and
sagacious management do not protect.
As a necessary consequence labor lacks
emplovnieul. and suffering and distress
arevi-itcd up.in a portion of our fellow
citizens especially entitled to the careful
consideration of thoe charged with
duties of legislation. Xo interest appeals
to 11 so strongly for a safe and staple cur
rency a the vat army of the unem
ployed. 1 recommend the suspension of
compulsory coinage of silver dollars
directed by the law pas-ed in February,
1S7S.
On tho Rivers and tho High Seas.
The steamboat inspection service on the
'50th of June, lSs'5, wa composed of 110
persons, including ollieers. clerks and
messengers. The expenses of the ser
vice over the receipts were i:5S,S22.27
during the fiscal year. The special inspec
tion of foreign steam vessels, organized
under the law passed in 1SS2. was main
tained during the year at an expense of
$:iM5.11t!.:i). Since the close of the fis
cal year reductions have been made in
the force employed which will result in a
saving during the current year of 17,000
without affecting the ellicieucy of the
service.
The supervising surgeon-general re
ports that during the fiscal year -11.711
patients have received relief through
marine hospital service, of whom 12.J-!0;;
were treated in ho-pitals, and 2S.1U1 at
dispensaries. Active and effective ef
forts have been made through the
medium of this service to protect the
country against an invasion of cholera,
which has prevailed iu Spain aud France,
and the sinall-pox which recently broke
out in Canada.
The most gratifying results have at
tended the operations of the life-saving
service during the past fiscal year. The
observance 01 the provi-ion of law re
quiring the appointments of the force
employed iu the service to be made
solely with reference to their fitness
and without reference to their political or
party affiliations." has secured the result
which may confidently be expected in
any bianch of public employment where
such a rule is applied. As a consequence
this service is composed of men well
qualified for the performance of their
dangerous and exceptionally important
untie.. The number of stations iu com
mission at the close of the year was
2U.5. The number of disasters to vessels
aud crafts of all kinds within their field
of action was ;;71. The number of per
soiis endangered in such disasters was
2,lo9. of whom 2.-12S were' saved, aud
only 11 lost. Other lives which were im-
peiiled. though not by disasters to ship- j
piug. were also rescued, aud
a large
amount of property was saved through
the aid of thi service. The cost of us
maintenance during the year was S2S,
474.43. The work of the coast aud geodetic
Mrvey was. during the last fiscal year,
fartorisf rvfll hfUSm to 8t Boaifw
I cuutar? for haril.
carried on within the boundaries and off
the coast of tbirtv-two states, two terri-torie.-
and the District of Columbia. In
July last certain irregularities were found
to exist in the management of this
bureau, which led to a prompt investiga
tion of Its method. The abuses which
were brought to light by this examina
tion and the reckless disregard ot duty
and the interests of the government de
veloped on the part of some of those con
nected with the service, made a change
of superintendency and a few of its other
officers necessary. Since the bureau has
been in new bands, an iLtroduction of
economies and application of business
methods have produced an important
saving to the government aud a promise
of more useful results. This service has
never been regulated by any- i
thing but most indefinite legal enact-
ments, and the most unsatisfactory
rules. It was many years ago sanctioned ,
apparently for a purpose regarded as
temporary, and related to a survey of
our coast. Having gained a place iu the
appropriation made by congress, it has i
gradually taken to itself powers and ob-
jects not contemplated in its creation, ;
and extended its operations until it sad
ly needs legislative attention. So far as
a" further survey of our coast is con- ,
cerned, there seems to be propriety in ,
transferring that work to the navy de- I
partraent. The other duties now in
charge of this establishment, if they can- J
not be profitably attached to some exist- ,
ing department or other bureau, should
be prosecuted under a law exactly deiin- '
ing their scope and purpose, and with a
careful discrimination between the scien
tific inquiries which may properly be as
sumed by the government, and those
which should be undertaken by state au-
thonties or by individual enterpnse.
It is hoped that the report of the con
gressional committee heretofore ap
pointed to investigate tin and other like
matters will aid in the accomplishment
of proper legislation on this subject.
The Department of War.
The report of the secretary of war is
herewith submitted. The attention of
congress is invited to the detailed account
which it contains of the administration
of his department, and his recommenda
tions and suggestions for the improve
ment of the service.
The army consisted, at the date of the
last consolidated returns, cf 2.151 officers
and 24,705 enlisted men. The expenses
of the cpartnient for the fiscal year end
ing June 150. 1SS5, including i:;.lij,
301.00 for public works anil river and
harbor improvements, were I5,S50,
900.51. Besides the troops which were dis
patched in pursuit of the small band of
Indians who left thedr reservation in
Arizona and committed murders and
outrages, two regiments of cavalry and
one of infantry were sent last July 10 the
Iudian Territory to prevent au outbreak
which seemed imminent. They re
mained to aid if necessary iu the expul
sion of intruders upon the reservation
who have caused the discontent among
the Indians, but the executive proclama
tion warning them to remove was com
plied with without interference.
Troops were also sent to Kock Springs,
in Wyoming, after the massacre of Chi
nese there, to prevent further disturb
ances, and afterwards to Seattle, iu
Washington Territory, to avert a threat
ened attack upon Chinese laborers, and
domestic violence there. In both cases
the mere presence of the troon had the.
desired effect. It appears that the mini- !
her of desertions have diminished, but
that during the last fiscal year they num
bered 2.027, and one instance is given
by the lieutenant-general of six deser
tions by the same recruit. I am con
vinced that this number of desertion can
be much diminished by better discipline
and treatment, but the pimi-hinent
should be increased for repealed offenses.
These desertions might also be reduce J
by lessening the termcf first enlistments,
thus allowing a discontented recruit
to contemplate a nearer discharge and
the army a profitable riddance after
one term of service. A re-enlistment
would be quite apt to secure a contented
recruit and g od soldier. The acting
judge-advocate general reports that the
number of trials by general courts-martial
during the year was 2.I52S, and that
11. $51 trials took place belore garrison
and regimental courts-martial. The
suggestion that probably more than half
ot the army have been tried for offenses
great ami small in one year may well ar
rest attention. Of course many of these
trials before garrison and regimental
courts-martial were for offense almost
frivolous, and there should, I think, be
a way devised to dispose of these in a
more summary and less inconvenient
manner then by court-martial. If some
of the proceedings of courts-martial
which I have had occasion to examine
preseut the ideas of justice which gen
erally prevail in these tribunals, 1 am
satisfied that they should be much re
formed, if the honor and the honesty of
the armv aud navy are. by their instru
mentality, to be vindicated aud pro
tected. The board of fortifications or other de
fenses appoiuted in pursuance of the
provisions of the act of congress ap
proved March :5, 1SS5. will in a short
time present their 'report, and it is
hoped that this may greatly aid the leg
islation so necessary to remedy the pres
ent defenseless condition of our seacoast.
The work of the signal service has been
prosecuted during the last vear with re
sults of increasing beneiit to the country.
The field of instruction has been enlarged
with a view of adding to its Usefulness.
The number of stations in operation June
o0, 1SS5, was4S9. Telegraphic reports,
are received daily from 100 stations. lie- j
ports are also received from 75 ;
Canadian stations, from :575 vol- I
untecr observers, 52 army stir-
gcons at military posts aud :i:53
foreign stations. The expense of service
during the fiscal year, after deducting '
receipts from military telegraph lines,
was 79.759,297. In "view of the fact
referred to by the secretary of war that
work of this service ordinanlv is of scien
tific nature, and the further fact that it is I systematized that all effort shall unite and
assuming larger proportions constantly t lead in one direction, and fuily imbued
and becoming more and more iiusuitcei "'"h the conviction that war vessels,
to the fixed rules which must govern the ! though new, are useless unless theyeom
army, I am inclined to agree with him , h'me all that the ingenuity of man has up
in the opinion that it should be sepamtelv ! to this day brought fourth relating to
established. If this isdouethes.'opeand ' their construction. I earnestly commend
extent of its operations should as nsarlv I that portion of the secretary's report de
as possible be detiuitelv prescribed by law l voted to thi subject to the action of con-
and always capable of exact ascertain-
ment.
The military academy of West Point is
reported as being in a high state of effi
ciency, aud well equipped for the satis
factory accomplishment of the purposes of
its maintenance. The fact that
the class which graduates next
year is au unusually large
one has constrained me to decline to
make appointments to second lieutenan
cies in the army from civil life, so that
such vacancies "as exist in these places
may be reserved for such graduates; and
yet it is not probable that there will be
enough vacancies to provide positions
for them all when they leave the military
school. Under the prevailing 'aw and
usage those not thus assigned to duty
never actually enter the military service.
It is suggested that the law on this sub
iect be changed so that such of those
voung men as are not at once assigned to
duty after graduating may be retained as
second lieutenants in me army, 11 mey
desire it, subject to assignment, when
opportunity occurs, under proper rules
as to priori'ty of selection. The expendi
tures on account of the military academy
for the last fiscal year, exclusive of the
sum taken for its'purposes from appxo-
CktMSeT""
J
Tm Iadiaa boya Im tka EdacatioaaJ I way of conaaaicaiio with
priations for the support of the armv
were $290,712.07.
The act approved Mai ch :i, 1S&, de
signed to compen-ate officers and en
listed men for loss of private property
while in the service of the United States,
is so indefinite in its terms, and appar
ently admits so mam claims the adjust
ment of which could not have been con
templated, that if it is to remain on the
statue-book it needs amendment.
There should be a general law of con
gress prohibiting the construction oi
bridges over navigable waters in such a
mauuerasto ob-truet navigation, with
provisions for preventing the same. It
teems that under existing statutes the
government cannot intervene to prevent
such a construction when en
tered upon without its consent.
Thus it is represented that, while the of
ficers of the government arc with greal
care guarding against obstructions ol
navigation by a bridge across the Missis
sippi river at St. Paul, a large pier lor a
bridge ha be- n built just below this
place directly in the navigable channel ol
the river. If such things are to be per
mitted, a strong argument is presented
against the appropriation of large sums ol
money to improve the navigation of this
aud other important highways of commerce.
Tho Secretary of the Navy.
The report of the secretary of the navj
gives a history of the operations of hi
department, and the present condition ol
the work committed to his charge. He
details in full the course pursued by him
to protect the rights of the governmenl
iu respect to certain vessels unfinished al
the time of his accession to office, and
also concerning the dispatch boat
"Dolphin." claimed to be completed
and awaiting the acceptance of the de
partment. Xo one can fail to see from the recital
cortainetl in this repoit that only the ap-
I plication of business principles has beer
, insisted upon in the treatment of these
! subjects, and that whatever controversy
has arisen was caused by the execution
I on the part of the department of contracts
or obligations as they were legally con
strued iu the case of the 'Dolphin,"
with entire justice to the contractor.
An agieeinenc has been entered intc
providing for the ascertainment
by a "judicial inquiry of the com
plete or partial compliance wilL
the e-ontract in her construction,
and further providing tor the assessment
of any damages to which the government
may be entitled on aevount of a partial
failure to perforin such e-outract. or the
paymeut'of the sum still remaining un
paid upor1 her price iu case a full per
lormaiice is adjudged. The contractor,
by reasou of His failure in business, beinc
unable to complete the other three ves
sel, they wen; taken possession of h
the government iu their unfinished con
dition, under a clause in the contract
permuting such a course, and arc now
iu process of e'ompletion in the yard o
the contractor, but under the supervisior.
of the navy department.
Congies.s in its last session authorized
the construction of two additional new
cruiser and two gunboat, at a cost noi
exceeding in the aggregate 2,995,000.
The appropriation for this purpose hav
ing Lccome availabl on the 1st day ol
July last, step we're at once taken foi
the proeuninent of such plans for the
construction of these vessels as would be
likely to insure their ii-efulne'ss when com-
ph'ted
. Jhe-e are of the utmost import
ance, considering the constant advance
in the art of building vessel of this char
ac er, and the time is not lost which i
spent in their careful consideration and
selection.
All must admit the importance of at
effective navy to a nation like ours, pav
ing such an extended sea coast to pro
feet, yet we have not a single vessel ol
war that could keep the sea against?
1 iirst-eiass vessel of any important power.
' Such a condition ought not longer tc
1 continue. The nation that cannot resist
aggre-ssion is constantly exposed to it.
Its foreign policy is of necessity weak.
1 and its negotiations are conducted with
I disadvantage, because it is not in coudi
; tion to enforce the tirni dictated by its
' sen-e of light and ju-tice. Inspired'as 1
am with the hope, shared by all patri
j otic citizens, that the day isnot far dis
1 taut when our navy will fie such as befits
! our standing among the nations of the
earth, and rejoiced at every step that
I leads in the direction of such'a consum
1 iiiation. I deem it my duty especially tc
1 tlire-e-t the aitentionof congre-ss to the
I close of tin report of the secretary of the
1 navy iu which the humiliating features ol
i the present organization of this depart
ment are exhibited and the startling
I abu-es and waste of his present method
1 are exposed. The conviction is forced
i upon us with the certainty of mathe-
II;
itical demonstration, that before we
proceed further iu the restoration
of a navy, we need a thor
oughly reorganized navy department.
The fact that within seventeen years
more than 75.000.000 ha been spent in
construction, repair, equipment and
armament of veseis. and the further fact
that instead of an 'ffectiveand creditable
fleet we have only the discontent and ap
prehension of a nation undefended by
war vessels, added 10 the disclosures now
made. tSo not permit us to doubt that
every attempt to revive our navy has
thus far. for the most part, been misdi
rected, and all otp- efforts iu that direc
tion have been little better than blind
groping. ami expensive, aimless follies.
Unquestionably if we arc content with
the maintenance of a navy department
simply as an ornament to the government,
a constant watchfulness may prevent
some of the scandal and abuse which
have found their way into our present
organization, and its incurable waste
may be reduced to the miniuum; but il
we desire to build ship for present use
instead of naval reminders of the days
that are past, we must have a depart
ment organized for the work, supplied
with all the talent and ingenuity oui
coutitrv afford, prepareil to take advan
tage ot the experience of other nations, sc
g.'S-. n the hope that the suggestion
touehing the reorganization of his de
partment may be adopted as the first step
toward the reconstruction of our navy.
Tho Postofflco Department
The affairs of the postal service are
exhibited by the report of the postmaster
general, which will be laid before you.
The postal revenue, whose rates of gain
upon the rising prosperity of 1&?2 and
16S5 outstripped the increasing expense
of our growing service, was checked b
the reduction in the rate of letter post
age which took effect with the beginning
of October iu the latter year, and dimin
ished during the two past fiscal years
2.790,000. iu the proportion of -32,270, -000
in ! to 520.000 in 1SS5.
Xatural growth and development have
meantime increased expenditure, re
sulting in a deficiency in the revenue tc
the expertises of the "department of live
and a quarter millions of dollars for the
year lbsl, and eight and a third million.1
iu the last fi-cal year. The anticipated
anil natural revival oi the revenue has
been oppressed and retarded by the un
I woaderfal MtrMoaer lad
favorable business condition of the cqun
trv, of which the postal service is a faith
ful indicator. The gratifying fact is
shown, however, by the report that our
returning prosperity is marked by a gam
of 3SO,000 ia the "revenue of the latter
half of the last year over the correspond
ing period of the preceding year. The
change in the weight of first-class mat
ter, which may be carried for a single
rate of postage" from a half ounce to au
ounce, and the reduction by one-half of
the rate of newspaper postage, which,
under recent legislation, begun with the
current year, will operate to restrain the
augmentation of receipts which other
wise might have been expected to such a
degree that the scale of expenses may
gain upon the reveuue and cause an in
creased deficiency to be showu at its
close; yet after no long period of re
awakened prosperity, by proper economy
it is confidently anticipated that even the
present low rates, uow as favorable as
any country affords, will be adequate
toj sustain the cost of the service.
The operation of the postotlice depart
ment is for the convenience and benefit
of the people, and the methdd by which
they pay the charges of this useful arm of
their public service, so that it be just and
impartial, is of less importance to them
than the economical expenditure of the
means they provide for its maintenance,
and for the due improvement of its agen
cies, that they may enjoy its highest
usefulness. A proper attention has been
directed to the prevention of waste or ex
travagance, and good results appear
from the report lo have already been ac
complished.
I approve of the recommendation of the
postmaster general to reduce the charges
on domestic money-orders of 5 and less
from eight to five cents. This change
will materially aid those of our people
who most of all avail themselves of this
instrumentality, but to whom the ele
ment of cheapness is of the greatest im
portance. With this reduction the system
would still remain self-supporting." The
free delivery system has been extended
to nineteen additional cities during the
year, and 17S now enjoy its conveniences.
Experience has commended it to those
who enjoy its benefits, and further en
largement of its facilities will
be due to other communities
by which it may be adop ed.
In the cities where it has been estab
lished, taken together, the local postage
exceeds its maintenance by nearly one
million three hundred thousand dollars.
The limit to which this system is now
confined by law has been nearly reached,
aud the reasons given justify the exten
sion which is proposed.
It was decided, with my approbation,
after a sufficient examination, to be in
expedient for the post-otlice department
to contract for carrying our foreign mails
under the additional authority given by
the last congress.
The amount limited was inadequate to
pay all within the purview of the law the
lull rate of fifty cents per mile. It would
have been unjust and unwise to have
given it to some and denied it to others;
nor could contracts have been let under
the law to all at a rate to have brought
the aggregate within the appropriation
without such practical pre-arrangenieiit
of terms as would have violated it. The
rate of sea and inland postage, which
was proffered under another statute,
clearly appears to be a fair compensation
for the desired sen-ice, being three times
the price necessary to secure transporta
tion by other vessels upon any route, and
much beyond the charges made
to private persons for ser
vices not les3 burdensome.
Some of the steamship companies, upon
the refusal of the postmaster general to
attempt, by the means provided, the
distribution of the sum appropriated
(au extra compensation), withdrew the
services of their vessels, and thereby
occasioned slight inconvenience, though
no considerable injury. The mail have
been dispatched by other means. What
ever may be thought of the policy of
subsidizing any line of public convevauee
or travel, I am satisfied that it should
not be done under cover of an expendi
ture incitlent to the administration of a
uepanmeni, nor snoutii mere he any un
certainty as to.the rcceipieuts of tha sub
sidy, or anv discretion left to au
executive officer as to its distribution.
If such gifts of public money are to be
made for the purpose of aiding any en
terprise in the supposed interest of the
public, I cannot but think that the
amount to be paid' and the beneficiary
might better be determined by congress
than by any other way. The inter
national congress of delegates from the
postal-union countries convened iu Lis
bon, Portugal, iu February last, and,
after a session of some weeks, the dele
gates signed an agreement amendatory
of the present postal-union convention
in some particulars designed to advauce
its purposes. This additional act has had
my approval, and will be laid before you
with departmental report.
I approve the recommendation of the
postmaster general that auother assist
antant be provided for his department.
I invite your consideration of the several
other recommendations contained in his
report.
The Attorney General.
The report of the attorney general con
tains a history of the conduct of the de
partment of justice during the last year
and a number of valuable suggestions as
to needed legislation, and I invite your
careful attention to the same. The con
dition of business in the courts of the
United States is such that there seems to
be an imperative necessity for remedial
legislation on the snbject. Some of
these courts are so overburdened with
pending causes that the Gc-iays on de
termining litigation amount' often to
a denial of justice. Among the plans
suggested for relief is one submitted by
the attorney general. Its main features
are the transfers of all the original juris
diction of the circuit courts to the dis
trict courts, and an increase of judges
for the latter, where necessary an addi
tion of judges lo the circuit
courts, and constituting them ex
clusvely courts of appeal, and reas
onably limiting appeals thereto antl
further restrictions of right to remove
cause from the state to the federal
courts, permitting appeals to the su
preme courts from courts of the District of
Columbia, and from the territories onlv
in the same cases as they are allowed
from state courts, anil guarding against
an unnecessary number of appeals from
the circuit courts. I approve the plan
thus outlined and recommend the legis
lation necessery for its application to our
judicial system.
A Necessary Synopsis.
The present mode of compensation of
United States marshals and district at
torneys the message declares should be
changed- to fixed salaries. Under the
preseut method unscrupulous marshals
are found encouraging frivolous prosecu
tions. The message deals at great length upon
the Iudian question, citing facts already
touched upon in the report of the secre
tary of the interior. After reviewing
facts concerning the education of the In
dian's and their tribal relations, the
president says: 4,I recommend the pas
sage of a law authorizing the appoint
ment of six commissioners, tnree of
whom shall be detailed from the army
of careful !
inspection from time to time of all In-
in iiii iii.iiyi-ii 1tii.11 Lilt: tint 1 ifi e.iiicitii
tlians pon our reservations or subiect to
the care and control of the government,
with the view of discovering their exact
(
oat a fa JltlhPJS bMr "d ,W,l?2ilb
taaai ? I December 14th. isas.
condition and needs and determining
what steps shall be taken in behalf of the
government to improve their sisuation in
the direction of their self-support and
complete civilization; that it be ascer
tained from such iusoection what, if
any, of the reservations may be reduced
in area, and in such cases" what part is
not needed for Indian occupation may
be purchased by the government from
the Indians and disposed of for their
beneiit; what, if any, Indians may, with
their consent, be removed to other reser
vations, with a view of their con
centration The message directs that
the powers and functions of
the commission be strictly defined.
The message recommends "the repeal
and modification of certain of the land
laws, antl deprecates the falling of large
tracts of land into the hands of syndi
cates for speculation.
The president urges that trans-continental
roads be held to a strict account
ability in the matter of their grants.
The message cites that iu July, 1SS3,
there were 315,125 persons borne upon
the pension rolls au increase during ten
years of 110.000 persons. He recom
mends that care be taken to cleanse from
the rolls names of any fraudulent person -
strong Language Against Polygamy
In the territory of Utah the law of the
United States, passed for the suppression
or polygamy, has been energetically and
faithfully executed during the past year,
with measurably good results. A num
ber of convictions have been secured for
unlawful cohabitation, and in some cases
pleas of guilty have been entered and
slight punishment imposed upon promise
by accused that he would not again offend
against the law nor advise, counsel, aid
or abet iu any way its violation bv others.
The Utah commissioners express opinions
based upon such information as they arc
able to obtain, that but few polygamous
marriages nave taken place in the terri
tory duriug the last year. T. ey further
report lhat, while there cannot be
found upon the registration lists
of voters the name of a man
actually guilty of polygamy, and while
none of that class are holdiug office, vet
at the last election iu the territorv,'all
the officers elected except in one county
were men who, though not living in the
practice of pol gatnay,, subscribe to the
doctrine of polygamous marriage as a
Divine revelation and a law unto all,
higher and more binding upon the con
science than any human law, local or
national. Thus is the strange spectacle
presented of a communitv protected by a
republican form of government, to which
they "owe allegiance, sustaining by their
suffrage a principle and a belief which
sets at naught that obligation of absolute
obedience to the law of the land which
lies at the foundation of republican
institutions. tThe strength. the
perpetuity and the destiny of the nation
rest upon our homes established by the
law of God, guarded bv parental care,
regulated by parental atithoritv and sac
rificed by parental love. These are not
the homes of polygamv. The mothers!
of our land, who rule the nation, asthey
mould the characters and guide the ac
tions of their sons, Jive according to
God's holy ordina-ees. each pure and
happy in the exclusive love of the father
of her children. They shed the warm
light of true womanhood, unperverted
and unpolluted, upon all ' within their
pure and wholsome family circle. These
are not the cheerless, crushed and un
womanly mothers of polvgamy.
The fathers of our families are the
best citizens of the repub
lic. The wife and children
are the sources of patriotism aud con
jugal and parental affection, and beget
the highest devotion to country. The
uian who, undetiled by plural marriages,
is surrounded in his single home with his
wife and children, has a stake in the
country which inspires him with respect
for its laws and courage for its defense.
These are not the fathers of polygamous
families. There is no feature of this
practice 'or the system which sanctions it
which is not opposed to all that is of
value in our Institutions. There should
be no relaxation in the firm but just exe
cution of the law uow in operation, antl
I should be glad to approve such further
discreet legislation as will rid this coun
try of this blot upon its fame.
Since the people in our territories arc re
inforced by immigration from other
lands, I recommend that a law be passed
to prevent the importation of 3Iormons
into this country.
Miscellaneous and Conclusive.
The agricultural interests of our coun
try, the message says, demand just rec
ognition aud liberal encouragement.
They sustain with certainty and unfail
ing strength our national prosperity aud
bear their full share of the burden of
taxation without complaint. Out of our
total annual exports more than three
fourths are the products of agriculture,
and of our total population nearly one
half arc exclusively engaged in that oc-
nimolinn '!.. ,
tur..uvii. iuu inc.ss.iu recommeniis
that especial attention be paid to this
department.
Inferring to prohibitory laws adopted
by several countries regarding the im
portation of our animals and their pro
ducts, the message suggests the import
ance of such precaiition.sfortbo protection
of our sock of all kind against tlisease
as will disarm suspicion of danger and
cause the removal of such injurious pro
hibition. The president recommends ad
ditional legislation on this subject if
necessary, and recommends to the con
sideration of congress suggestions con
tained in the report of the commissioner
of agriculture.
The closing portion of the message is
devoted to the civil service question.
The president says: '-I am inclined to
think that there is no sentiment more
general in the minds of the people of our j
country man the conviction of the cor
rectness of the principle upon which the
law enforcing civil service reform is
based.'' He reiterates his former ex
pressed views on the subject and savs:
"I venture to hope that we never shall
again be remitted to the system which
distributes public positions" purely as a
reward for partisan service. Doubts
may well be entertained whether our
government could survive the straiu
of a continuance of this system which,
upon every change of administration, in
spire an immense army of claimants tor
office to lay seige to the patronage of the
government, engrossing the time of
public officers aud with their importuni
ties sijreaiiing aoroati me contagion 01
their disappointment, and tilling the air
with the tumult of their discontent.'
The message recommends that the sala
ries of civil service commissioners be in
creased to a sum more nearlv com-inen-urate
to their importaut " duties.
The message recommends an appro
priation to secure library room for valua
ble books and pamphlets belonging to
the government, and also an appropria
tion for certain District of Columbia in
ternal improvements.
The me'Ssage concludes as follows:
i'he present condition of law
relating ,
10 tue succession to tfie presidency in tne
event M the dearh. disability or removal I
of both the president and vice president
is such as to require immediate amend
ment. This subject ha3 been reneatedlv
considered by congress, but no result has
heer' reached
Ihe recent lamentable
ue:iin 0I lne v,ce president, and
lne vacancies at the same time in
ftl1 other offices,, incumbents 0f
1aw1fa
34..i
0-Taaae organ are ant-cjaai
Iftrtfrnlir. aud ma vnrtil.
which might immediately exercise tho
functions of the presidential office, have
caused publie anxietv and a just demand
that a recurrence of such a condition of
affairs should not be permitted. In con
clusion. I commend to the wise care antl
thoughtful attention of congress the needs
and welfare of an intelligent nation. To
subordinate these to narrow advantages
of partisanship or to the accomplishment
of selfish aim is to violate the people's
trnst and betraj the people's interests.
But an individual sense of responsibility
on the part of each of us, and a stern de
termination to perform our tlutv well,
must give us peace among those who
have added in tneir dav ami generation
to the glory ami prosperity of our beloved
land. Gkovku Cllvklasd.'
To Fatten Chrlatma Klrl.
Nearly n hundred years injo the following
uniqua method of fattening turkeys vna
ndvocnted: About three weeks before tho'
turkeys are wanted procure some walnuts.
When feeding the turkeys in the morion
take each one intended Tor killing, and put
a whole walnut down its throat, which has
been rubbed with fat. The shells must not
be cracked for Tear that the rough might
tear the throat. The second morning give
each turkey two walnuts prepared tho
same way; the third morning three; the
fourth, four; the filth, live; the sixth, ix;
the seventh, seven. If they are not fat
enough, give seven for two or three days,
and then reduce the number one each day
until the number is reduced to one, wheti
they will be fat enough to kill. Walnuts
are said to contain a. great quantity of
nutritious oil, and to have the property of
fattening turkeys. The flesh will be white
and ot fine flavor.
Why lie Va Not Afraid.
"What's tho matter, Tom?"
".Matter enough. Smith's dog bit m a
minute ago."
"Smith's dog bit you? Good gracious,
man. that dog is mad!"
"The deuce you say! He ain't any mntl
der than I am. I'm the one to be mad.
If I had bitten the dog he might have had
a good excuse to get mad."
"But the dog has the hydrophobia-"
"What's the hydrophobia?"
"It means, literally, in fear of water."
"Well, what do you care how much that
dog is afraid of water? I wish he was afraid
of me."
"Oh, you don't understand. You ara
liable to catch it from the dog."
"Xo, I'm not; but he's liable to catch it
from me as soon as I can borrow a gun."
"Oh, pshaw! This Tear of water you are
liable to have it."
"No, I'm a cold-water Unptist." New
man Independent.
Concluded to Compromise.
"For goodness sake, .Mary." asked the
young lady's mother at breakfast, "what
was the matter with you and Harry in the
parlor last night?"
"Why, mamma? What"' inquired the
daughter, demurely.
"Why, you jowored and quarreled for
half an hour like a pair of pickpockets."
"Oh," she replied, remembering the cir
cuniHtnnces, "Harry wnnted me to take
the big chair, and I wanted him to take it,
because lie was company, you know."
"Well, what did you quarrel about?"
"We didn't quarrel, mamma; only he in
sisted that I should take it. and I wouldn't."
"How did you bettle it, finally?"
"Well, mamma, no we compromised,
and both of its took it."
The mother had been a girl once herself.
.Merchant's Traveler.
Protecting Kohcm in Winter.
In the northern regions, lavdown t heroin
bushes and cover with evergreen boughs; in
places where the common brake can he had
it is well to collect it, as it makes an excel
lent protective covering. Old leaves 0.
course, can be used Tor the same purpose,'
and there is nothing better, the dillieulty is
to get enough of them. First, bend down
the rose shoots and fasten the tops to tho
ground with a peg, then draw soil np about
the base as high as possible, and afterward
cover with whatever material is to be ob
tained, keeping it in place by pole-j of sulH
cient weight to prevcntdisphiccmcuthy tho
wind wind. Vick's .Magazine for Novem
ber. He Could and Did.
"Conductah!" she called in a languid
voice.
"Yes'm."
"Can you stop this cah?"
"Yes'm."
llien yon may stop it."
"Yes'm," he said, as he rang the bell.
"Conductah!" she called, as she looked
out d the window.
"Yes'm."
"Can you start this cah?"
"Certainly."
1 lien you may start it. f
believe I will
rule to the connah. When
I reach th
connah you may stop it."
A Fault of IMuratloti.
Education needs to be adapted to the
requirements or the individual; to he more
personal in order to be more effective. We
generalize too much everywhere; nowhere
so much as in the claws room, ilet-atisc of
this heca use education runs io miii-h to
multiplication of studies rather than to
the f-titniilation of thought our educated
classes are inert and indifferent. The
average college graduate finds that in the
world about him there is no pla- he can
fill acceptably to himself, and the fault is
not po much with the nicked world as with
those who first gave direction to his educa
tion. Louisville Courier-Journal.
No IiidiM-oiiirut.
"Don't you want to eo to the
world, Tommv?" asked a Snnditv
better
school
teacher of her new -eholar.
"No mum," promptly replied the frank
little fellow.
"Antl why not. Tommy?"
"Oh, when 1 die I want to go when a fel
ler can rest."
"Well, my boy, you ran rest th-rc."
"Well, in that song we sung it said we'll
shine there."
"Certainly: .don't you want to shin
there?"
"No, rnum;I don't want to shine there, f
get enough of that here. I'm a. bootblack,
mum!" Yonkers Statesman.
Tea ru
Crocodile tears are things of ancient his
tory, and tears produced with the aid of
onions are equally well known, but it has
remained for modern science to find a way
to produce onion tears without betraying
the presence of the aggressie onion itself.
In fact, the aggressive onion need not be
present at all. An essential oil is extracted
from it which has all the tear-compelling
qualifies of the solid vegetable itself. One
drop of this oil on a handkerchief is good
for one flood of tears, two drops produce
a pCraistent fit of sobbing antl three drops
andappeatanteol llt!rr abandonment to
consuming grief. Philadelphia Times.
An old rail-splitter in Indiana pnt the
ijnietus npon a young man who chaffed
bim npon his bald head in theso words :
"Tonng man, when my head gets as soft
as your3, 1 can raise hair to 6elL"
unccuuui, etc., icut nee. iiuuieuse yj
( absolutely sure for all who start at once.
in eyerr Uoa't delay. Addresa Stixsox A Co.
I Partlaari Valao
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