Nebraska Newspapers

    r THE OMAHA DAILY BEE
EI.BVIilNTlI YJEAR. OMAHA , WEDNESDAY MORNING , DECEMBER 7. 1881 , NO. 143
CHESTER'S ' CHARGE.
i\
"fo thB Wisdom of the Country in
The Relations the United States
Sustains T iwards Foreign
Qovernmonts.
The Splendid Financial Exhibit
Made by tha Treasury
Department ,
Rooimmended of the
Law Rygu atiup1 the Coin
age of Silyer Money.
Ho Also Reoornmeds the Abolition
lition of Certain Internal
Revenue Taxation.
And AdTiaes I o crease of the
Army to a Maximum of
Thirty Thousand.
Attention Paid to the Necessi
ty for Increased and Effec
tive Naval Pow.r.
Exhaustive Review of the In
dian Problem and a Reme
dy Suggested.
A Measure Proposed Whereby
the Mormon Iniquity May
ba Run to Birth.
The Problem of Civil Service
Reform the Subject of
Lengthy
The Electoral Vote and Presiden
tial "incapacity. "
INTRODUCTORY.
CONCJKTUIAT1ON. .
WASHINGTON , December 7. To the
senate nnd huuao of representatives
of the United States :
AnappilliiiR calamity hna befallen
the American people since their chosen
representatives last mot in the halls
where you are now assembled. Wo
might also recall with un
altered content the continued
prosperity with which throuchnut the
year the nation haa boon blessed. Its
barvesta have been plenteous ; ita va
rioua industries have thriven ;
the health of ita people haa
beea . preserved ; it has main
tained with foreign governments
the undisturbed relations of amity
and peace. For these manifestations
of Hia favor we owe to Him who holds
our destiny in Hm hands the tribute
of our grateful devotiotm.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
THE KOlirUNE BIY AWAUI ) ,
Save for thu correspondence to
which I shall hereafter refer to in re
lation to thu proposed canal across the
Isthmus of P.uiam i , little has occuricd
worth mention in the diplomatic , rela
tions of the countries. Eutly in the
year the Fortune Bay claims were eat
lafactorily Bottled by the British yov -
ernmunt paying in tlieaumof 15,000 ,
most of which has already be'on distri
buted. Aa the terms of the settle
ment , including compensation for in
juries Buffered by our hsheimen at
Aspen O.vy , there has boon letuinud
from the uross award a mini which is
deemed adequate for those claims.
THK AUhTIlALI VJ ? EMIiniTIOXS.
The pirticip.ition of Americans in
the exhibitions at Melbourne andSyd-
Jioy will bo approvingly mentioned in
the reports of the two exhibitions soon
to bo presented to Con rejs. They
wdl disclose the readiness of our coun
trymen to m ike a successful competi
tion in thoao fields of enterprise.
I.NTKKNATIO.SAL tOl'MlKHIT.
Necotiationa for an international
-copyright convention are in hopeful
progress.
progress.THE UOMIMON II011DKK.
The surrender of Sitting Hull and
iis forces upon the Canada frontier
haa allayed all apprehension , although
bodies of hostile Indiana atill cross the
border in quest of sustenance. Upon
this subject n correspondence haa
been opened which promises an adequate -
quato understanding. Our troops
'haveorders to avoid , meanwhile , all
collisions with alien Indiana.
THE YOUKTOWN VISITORS.
The presence at the Yorktown cele
bration of representatives of the
French republic and descendants of
Lafayette and of his gallant com
patriots who were our allies in the
revolution , has aorved to strength n
the spirit of good will which has
always existed bolweon the two na
tions. You will bo furnished with
the proceedings of
THK BI-HKTALLIU CONPliUI'AC I !
held during thu aununur at the city
of Paris. No accord wai reached ,
but a valuable intorohanu'o of views
waa had , and the conference will
next year be renovved.
THB F.LECTVICAI. CO.VCIIlKSn.
Atthuolectvical exhibition and con
gress also hold at Paris , this country
was creditably represented by emi
nent specialism , who in the absence of
an appropriation generally lout their
efficient aid at the instance of the
atat * department. While our exhibi
tion in this almuBt distinctively Ameri
can Cold of achievements huvn won
eovoral awards , I rocoinmcnd that
conpjrosa provide for the repayment of
the personal expenses incurred in the
public interest by the honorary com-
miaaionera and dolomites.
AMfUICAK OITIZENd ABUOAI > .
No now questions respecting the
.0tatua f our naturalized citizens to
Gormnny have atuoii during the your ,
and the causes of complaint , especially
in Aleace and Loraine , hr\vo practic
ally ceased thrmu'h the liberal action
of thn imperial government in accept
ing our often expressed views on the
subject. The application of the treaty
of 1808 to the lutoly acquired Rliein-
ish provinces haa received very earn
est attention , and definite and lasting
agreement on this point is confidently
expected. The participation of the
deecondnnta of II.iron Von Stoubcn in
the Yorktown festi\itie3 and their
subsequent , reception by their Ameri
can kitiBinon strikingly evinced thu
ties of the peed will which unite tlio
Ournian people and our own.
SPAIS AND AMBUICVN SHIITINO.
Our intercourse vvith Spain has
been friendly. An agreement , con
cluded in February last , fixes it term
for thu labors for the Spiniah and
American claims coinmisson , The
Spanish government lias been request
ed to pay the late awards of the com
mission , and will , it is believed , accede -
cede to the request aa promptly nnd
courteously as on forinur occasions.
Hy recent legislation onerous fines
have been imposed upon American
shipping in S | amah and colonial perU
for alight irregulnritioi in manifests.
Ono case of hardship is flpccially
worthy of attention. The bark Ma
sonic , bound for Japan , entered Man
illa in diet res 3 nnd in there sought to
bo confiscated under tno Spanish revenue
nuo laws for an alleged shortage in
h < r trans-shipped cargo. Though of-
forta for her relief hvio thus far
proved unavailing , it is expected that
the whole will bo adjusted u a friend
ly spirit ,
HVKSIAN KBLATIONH.
Thu senate resolution nt condolence
on the aaaoasination of Czar Aleian
dor II. was , , appropriately communi
catpd to ' 'tho Russian government ,
which in tarn has oxprcaaod ita aym
pnthy in our late national bereave
ment. It t * desirable that our cordial
relations' vpth Russia should bo
strengthened by prtfpor engagements ,
assuring to peace-able Americans who
visit the empire the consideration
which is dtio to them us citi/ona of a
friendly state , Thin ia especially
needful with respect to American Israelites
raolites whose classification Midi thu
natiyo Hebrews has evoked unenrotic
remonstrances from this government.
ITU.I\N CONBULAK SKUVICK.
Consular agreement with Italy has
been Banctioned and proclaimed ,
which puts at rest conflicts of juris
diction iii the case of crime on ship'
board.
Several important international
conforoncoB have been held in Italy
during the yo.vr. At thn geographical
congress of Venice , the Boniface congress
gross of Milanand , the Nice congress of
Turin , this country was represented
by delegates from branches of the
public aorviro or by private citizens
duly accredited in on honorary ca
pacity. It is hoped that congress wil
give such prominence to the retmlta of
their patriotic action aa they may
seem to deserve.
THE DDTC1L COtOMKS.
The Abolition of all discriminating
duties agaiimt the Dutch colonial pro
ductions of.the Dutch East Indies , as
are imported hither from the Uol
lands , have been already considered
by congress. I truafc that at the prea-
sunt soRsion the matter nuiy be fa
vorably concluded.
MISSIOXIKUri I > TCKKE\ .
The destruction to life and proper
ty in many part * > of Turkey has given
rise to eoirespondence with the porte ,
looking particularly to the bettor pro
tection of American missionaries in
the empire. The condemned mur
derer of the eminent missionary , Dr.
Justin \V. Parsons , has not yet been
executed , although thin government
has rope.itedly demanded it.
SVMVf elllMlXAL EMIGRATION.
The Swiss government h.is
Holicitetl the good olticus of our diplo
matic and consular uuontn for the pro
tection of its citizens in countries
where it itself is not represented.
This request h is , within proper lim-
itfijboeii granted. Our agonta have been
instructed to protest against the con
duct of thu authorities of cettain
commune : ) in permitting the emi
gration to this country of criminals
and other objectionable persons
Several such poisons , through thu
corporation of the c immtssioner of
emigration at New York , have been
sent hack on the steamers which
brought them. A continu ition of this
course may prove a more effectual rem
edy than diplomatic renionstancf.
KOKMANIA ANI HEKVIA.
Treaties of commerce and naviga
tion for the regulation of consular
privileges , have been concluded with
Llounmnia and Sorviu since their ad
mission into the family of the Euro
pean states ,
OUK KKIJITIOKH WITH MEXICO.
As * in natural with contiguous atutos
having like institutions and like aims
) f advancement and development , the
Friendship of the United States and
Mexico lias boon constantly main
tained , The government has lout no
occasion of encouraging the Mexican
government to a beneficial realization
of the mutual advantages which will
result from more intimate commercial
intercourse , nnd from the opening of
Lhu rich interior of Mexico to railway
enterprise. I deem it important that
means bo provided to restrain the
lawlessness unfortunately HO common
on the frontier , and to suppress the
forays of the reservation Indians on
cither side of the JUo Grandu ,
CEfiTKAL AMERICAN HTATKS.
The neighboring states of Central
America have preserved internal peace
ind their outward relations toward u > i
liavo boon those of intimate friend
ship. There are encouraging signs of
their growing deposition to Hubordi-
nato their local inteiestB to those
which are common to them by reason
of their geographical relations. Guate
mala and Mexico has afforded this
'ON eminent an apportunity to exercise
ita good oflices for preventing a rup
turu between thesa states and for pro
curing u peaceful eolution of the ques
tion. I cheruih a strong hope that in
view of our relations of amity with
both countries our friendly counsel
will prevail.
The Costa Hic.tn government lately
furnuul an engagement with Columbia
for settling by arbitration the boun
dary question bet ween those countries ,
providing that the post of arbitrant
should be ollered successively to the
king of the Belgians , king of Spain
and the president of the Argentine
Confederation. The king of the licl-
giiins haa declined to net , but I am not
us yet advised of the action of the
king of Spain. Aa wo have certain
interests in the disputed territory
which are protected by our treaty on-
gngemcnt with wno of the parties , it is
important tln.t the arbitration should
not without our consent affect our
rights , and Una government hits ac
cordingly thought proper to make its
views known to the parties to the
agreement as well aa to intimate them
to the Itelgiati government.
THK I'ANIMA e'A.VAI.
The questions growing out of the
proposed interoce.vnio water-way
across the Isthmus of Panama are of
grave national importance. This gov
ernment has not ooen unmindful of
the solemn obligations imposed upon
it by its compact of ISiC with Colum
bia as tlio independent and sovereign
mistress i f the territory crossed by the
proposed canal , and has sought to ren
der them effective by fresh engigo-
tnents with the Columbian republic
looking to their practical execution.
The negotiations to this end , after
they had reached what ap
peared to V ° a mutually aatisfuctory
solution hers , were met in Columbia
by a disavowa of the powern which
ita ClttPy h l tsaumed and by a pro
posal for renewed W gtia.tions on a
torlified basin. Meanwhile this gov
ernment learned that Columbia had
proposed to the European powers to
join in a guarantee of the neutrality
of the proposed Panama canal , a
guarantee which would bo in direct
contravention of our obligation as the
solo guarantor of the integrity of
Columbia territory and of the neu
trality of the canal itself. My la
mented predecesor felt it his duty to
place before the European powers the
reasons w hicli made the prior guaran
tee of the United Staler ) indiapensible
and for which the interjection of any
foreign guarantee might bo re
garded aa a superfluous and un
friendly act. Foreseeing the prob
able reliance of the British
government on thu provisions of the
Clayton-Bulvver treaty of 1830 , as af
fording room for a share in the guar
antees which the United States cove
nanted with Columbia four yearn be
fore , 1 have not hesitated to supple
ment the action of my predecessor by
proposing 10 her majesty's govern
ment the modification of that instru
ment and the abrogation of such
clauses thereof aa do not comport
with the obligations of the United
States toward Columbia , or with the
vital needs of the two friendly parties
to the compict.
THK SOUTH AMI'IUCAN DIFKIUCLTV.
Tno government aces with great
concern the continuances of the hos
tile relations between Chili , Bolivia
and Peru. An early peace between
these ropublicH in much to bo desired ,
not only that they may themselves be
npared further misery and bloodshed ,
but because their continued untngon-
ism threatens consequences which
are , in my opinion , dangerous to the
interests of republican government on
tins continent , and calculated to de
bt roy the best elements of our free
and peaceful civiliition. . An in
the present excited condition ol
popular feeling in thcso countries ,
there have been serious nmapprehcn
sionn of the postti m of the United
States , and as separate duiplomaiic in
tercourse n ith each thro yh independ
ent ministers is pouutimes subject
( owing t the want of prompt iccipro-
cal communication ) to temporary mis
understanding , I have deemed it ju
dicious at tlio present time to wend
special envoy , accredited to all and
oich of them , and furnished with g-jn-
etnl instructioiiH , which will , I trust ,
enable him to bring these povveis into
friendly rul itions.
TUB VT.Nh/.UI'IA liBIIT.
The government of Venezuela main
tains its attitude of warm friendship ,
and continues with great regalitit >
its payment of the monthly quota of
ttio diplomitic debt. Without nug
geating thu direction in which con-
grosH should act , I ask attention to
the pending questions affecting the
distribution ot the sums thus far recon -
con od. The relations between Vonu-
/uola and France , growing out of the
same debt , have been , for Homo time
past , in an UHH itisfuctorj. state , nnd
this government , as the neighbor and
that of the largest of crodilois ol
Venezuela , has interposed itself with
the r'rench government with the view
ot producing a friendly and honorable
adjustment.
ItltlZILU.S' INTBIimH.
I regret Unit thu commercial
interests between the United States
and Brazil , from which great ad
vantages were hoped u year ago , have
Hufferod from the withdrawal of the
American linen of communication be
tween Jinuilian jxms and our own.
NATIONAL INTKKVKNTJON.
Though the efforts ot our minister
resident at Buenos Ayrea and the
United States minister at Santiago , u
: reaty has been concluded between
.he Argentine Republic nnd Chili ,
dialling of the longjfponding Patagonian -
gonian boundary question , It in u
matter of conuratnlatum that our
government Ins been offered the op
portunity of aiiccoifully exerting ita
; oed influences for the prevention of
li > u'roomontH ; between the republics
of thu American continent.
THE AHIATIO TKKATIES.
The clauses ot the treaties vhich
forbid thu participation of citi/ena or
vesselH of the United States in the
opium trade will doubtless receive
your approval , and they will attest the
sincere mturoat which our people and
l/cn eminent nnnifest in the commend
able oilorta of the Chinese government
to put a atop to this demoralizing una
dmtructive trnffia In relation , both
to China and Japan , nome chungOA
M * dofltrftWe in onr prwit KV ' 'I"I "f
consular jurisdiction. I hopent fomo
future tinio to lay before you u scheme
for ita improvement in the entire east ,
ClIINl'Jlt IMMIOKATIOS
I am glad to inform you tint the
treaties lately negotiated with China
have been duly ratified on both nidea
and the exchangn madu at Peking.
Legislation ia necessary to carry its
provision into effect. The prompt
spirit with which the Chinese govern
ment , at the request of the I nitod
States , conceded the modification of
oxinting treaties , should secure careful -
ful regard for thu interest and iimcep-
tibilitios of that government in thu
enactment of an- laws relating to
Chinese immigration ,
JAPAN.
The intimacy between our country
and Japan , the most advanced of the
ou torn nations , him continued tube
cordial. T am advised that the em
peror contemplates the ostibluhiiii-nl
of a constitutional government , and
that ho haa already Munitioned a par
liamentary congress for the put pine
of etlecting thu change. S-.ieh a ro-
nmrkiiblo step toward complete us-
Mutilation with the wentern njnti'm
cannot fail to bring Japan into closer
and more bonolio'ml relationship with
ouraelvea. 1 |
COXHULAR JUIUHDICTIOS
As the chief Pacific ewer , a ques
tion has arisen in' relation to the ex
ercise in that country of thu jiuhu il
functions conferred upon our ministers -
tors and consuls. The indictment ,
triXl and conviction in the consular
court at Yokahama of John Uo s , a
merchant seaman on board an Amen-
can vess l , have made it necessiry for
the government to institute a careful
examination into the nature and meth
ods of this Jurisdiction. It appeared
that HoS8 wiu regularly shipped under
the llag of ( & ' V United States
but was by * birth a Brit
ish subject. Sly predecessor felt
it his duty to maintain the position ,
that during his service as a regularly
aoixman on board. } an Amoric.ui mer
chant vessel , Ross was subject to
'
the law a of that 'qorvice , and to the
jurisdiction of the United States con
sul. t
111 IT OLD INDEMNITY Kl'Ml.
I renew the recommendation which
hivs heretofore bean urged by the ex
ecutive , after the deduction of such
amount [ as hnay bo found due to
American citizens , the balance of the
indemnity funds heretofore obtaim-d
from China and Japan , and which are
now in the hands of the state depart
ment. bo returned to thu govern
menta of those countries.
THE fUNPWlCH TflLANIIS.
The king of the Hawaii , in the
courao of his homeward return , after
a journey around the world , haa lately
vi itod this country. While our re
lations with that kingdom are friend
ly , this government lias viewed with
concern the efforts -to seek roplciimh-
mont of the diminishing population of
the island from outlawed sources to a
degree which may impair the native
sovereignty and inuependenco , in which
the Uni tea 'Stnte frs among the first
to tostifiy a lively interest.
M1SCKLI.A.NEOUS } OKM(1N ( HKr.ATIONH. .
Relations oi unimpeachod amity
have been maintained throughout the
year with the respective governments
of Austria , Hung try , Mjlgium , Denmark -
mark , Hayti , Paraguay and Urugu ly ,
Portugal , and Sweden and Norway ,
and this may also bo said of Greece
and Ecuador , although our relations
with these statoa have for some years
been eevetod by the withdrawal of ap
propriations for diplomitic reprceci -
tativcH at Athena and Quito.
It seems expedient to restore these
misRuins , oven on a i educed Hilo ,
and I decidedly recommend such u
com so with respect to Ecuador ,
which is hkuly , within the near fu
ture , to play an important part among
the nations of thu South Pacific ,
Till ! OENKVA CONVENTION.
At the last extra aession attention
wna called to thu text of the Geneva
convention for the relief of the wound
ed in war. 1 trust tins action foro-
uhadowa such interest in the mibject
us will result in the adhesion of the
United States to that humane and
commendable engagement.
HULKS KOIl OCEAV TltAVKI. .
I invite your attention to the propriety -
priety of adopting the new code of in
ternational rules for the prevention of
ci lluions on the hi h He is and of c > n-
forming donuatic legislation of ( he
United Statei thereto , HO that no con
fusion may arise from the applica'ion '
of conflicting vessels of diifeient
nationalities meeting in tidal waters.
Thuro international rules differ but
slightly from our own. They hurt )
been adopted by the navy department
for thu government of the war uhipi
of thu United Statoa on the high sous
and in foreign witters , and through the
action of the state department in dis-
Humiliating thu rules and in acquaint
ing the shipmasters in thu option of
conforming to them without the juris-
diutionul waters of the United Statra.
They are now very generally known
and obeyed.
hOItEION I.AIIOU AND rltAIlK NTATIHIIL'S.
Thu state department still continues
to publish to thu countiy the trade
ind manufacturing reports received
from its ofuccrs abroad. The success
of this courHe warrants itn continu
ance , and Kuch appropriation as muy
jo required to meet the rapidly in
: reasmg demand for those public i-
lions. 'With special irfuronco to the
Atlanta cotton exposition , the Oclo
nor number of thu reportn wan devoted
, a a valuable collection of piper * on
: ho cotton goods tiado of the world.
HIE IMKIINAHONAL HANITUtV TO.V
> f.IU'M K ,
for which in 1870 congress made pro
vision , assembled in this city early in
lanuaiy last , and its sessions were
prolonged until March. Although it
eached no npocifiu conclusion ulK-cting
1m future action of the participant
Kjwcrs , the interchange of views
iroved to be moat valuable , Thu full
irotocolit of the Bomion have already
x > en presented to thn state , Aa jior-
tineut to this general subject , I call
pour attention to the operation ! of the
board of hcnHh
by net jif congress , approved Mirch
! ld , 187' ' Its sphere of duty was en
larged by the act of Juno lid in
thu dime year , lly the last nnmed
act the hoaul was required to insh
tuto such measures as might bo deem-
L-d nuce'imry for preventing tlio intro
duction of contagious or infectious
ilisonsi-d from foreign countries into
the United States or from ono state
into another. The execution of thu
rules and regulations prepared by tlio
board ami approved by my prodoccta-
or has done much to ai-ro.it the progress
ross of epidemic d scaiies and has thtm
rendered nuhstnntial service to the na
tion. The international sanitary con
ference to which 1 havureferred adopt
ed a form of a bill of health tt bo uiu-d
by all vu sul seeking to enter the
ports of the countries participating
in its deliberations. This form
his since been prescribed by
the nation U bonnl of health
ami inc irporatod with its rules
and re'jn'atioim ' which have boon ap
proved by mo in pursuance of the luw.
J'ho luiihli uf the people is of supreme
inipnitiiiico. All measures looking to
their pinicction aaaiimt thu spread of
contagious diseases and thu increase
of oursanitaiy knowledge' for such
purpost-8 , doscivo the attention of
' ' .
conj'ii'ss.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
HNA.NCIU. KMII1I1T.
The report of thu secretary of the
trovsury represents in detail a highly
sitiufnctory exhibit of the state of thu
tiimncos and thu condition of thu vari
ous branches of the public s rvice ad
ministered by that cJopirtnu-nt. The
ordinary resource's fro.n all sources
for the fiscal year ending , lunei)0 ) ,
J881 , vvoreaa fulluws :
1'rom I'lKtoiiiK . ? 1')8 ' ) ir > 9f > 70.02
IV m inlt'riml rnveuiif . lid , 21)1,383,51
Frmn public Ininin , 2,2JlJ3 ( 17
V oiu tav on ci dilution
Mid clqioiltn of nntional
, l > aiiU3 8,110,113.72
1 rom rcpav nifnt of Inter-
Ml by thn IVcihc rail-
w \y eotnpanlr . . . . 810,833.80
Fiom sinUtJK-funJ for the
1'ncitic rniiroftU conipn-
Kioin customs fee * , fines ,
in-null ie-n , etc 225,5108(1 (
From frt-M , cnnnulnrln torn
patent nillaiuU . ' . ' ,214,081 ! ) ! )
Kroni proceeds of Bales of
gc > U'niiii"iit i ro | erty. 20217 Ifl
K uni pmhtH ( in coiling" 3 , 108,485 ( il
Fnim revvnuo of tno Dis
trict of Uoli mbin 2,010,1002,1
Kroni mNct llancous sour-
to 0,200880.13
Total ordinary receipts . $ 3li ) ,782,2)7 ) 00
The ordinary expenditures for the
aamo peiiod w ro at follows :
V. chil expanses . . $ 17 , J4l 177 . . .
Tor foreign intcicoume. . , . ll,0Mril ! ! ) ! I2
For Iii'liuus ' 0,514,101 Oil
For p-iii-ioiiB 60,050,279 02
K r th mil tiry cstihlixli-
ment , includiiiK' river
niul hnrborimpnnemenU
mul nraennls 40,400,1005,1
Tor the iiavul fstabliKli-
ment. incltidiiij.iHoli" ,
inivhii o y and imp ute-
monts at imvy jnrdi. . . . 1.1,081,071 CO
For minccjlaneoiH expend- !
turef , including public
Imlldin.'s , light hniiBoa
nndcolle tlngthercrouuu 41,837,280 r l
Fur expenditures on ac
count of the 1) strict of
f'olumliia l\M'J,9 \ " ( K
For intercut on the public
dot 82ri08,7U ! >
For premium on buidi
ptirchaMtil 1,0622187s
Total expenditures. . . . 9260,712,887 Ml
TJiia loft a surplus of revenue of
8100.0G-10U)8 ! ) ) , which was applied
as follows :
To the rrdi'ption of bonds
for tlio Hinkim ; fund .3 71,371,200 00
Fractional u irrm cj for the
Kinking fmul 100,001 0"
Loan of Kcbiiiniy , 1801. . . . 7,11 1,00 W )
IIDs I of IM'.I . . 2,01lir.l ! ) 00
520'rinf 1812 ! 1H.300 ! > 0
, r.-0'rtof 1H > It.lOOOi
r.-0's of inr. : i7ioo : oo
U..iih.ils . f Jbf.l . . . . 1,131 fiOO 00
ConaoN of 1M.7 . ! fl'lIW ) (0
Cou OH if IHCd . , 37 ! , IOU OH
lyoui in'ldiinity Hioolc . . . 10 , < JUO(0 (
Old dcmiunl , coiup mul In-
u.TCHt aii'l othe-r notes IB.ii.ll ) 00
Thu men auo ol eaih In the
Tro huty . . . . . . . 11 037 , 2J 93
Totd : lOOfl'IOI ( ) ) OH
The u-qniiomciitH of thu mnKing
fund for the yoir amounted to § ! )0 ) ,
780,001.02 , , nnd whieli aiim inchulo' ) a
IM'UIICO ' of ? lt,817lliS ! , 78 not provid
ed for dining the previnus fiscal year.
Thu sum of § 7 180,201 05 was np
plied to this fund which left n dulicit
of Sl ( , : wr > 87:1JO. : . The increase of
the le-venueH for 1881 over those of
tin ) previous year was 82 ! ) ; { 5iiK)1.10. !
It id estimated that the rucuiptn dur
ing thu piesunt fiscal yoir u ill ro.tcli
S4KOfl,00 ( ) ( ( ) , and the expenditures
8270,000,000 , leaving a surplus of
9ii,000 : ( ) 000 applicable ) to the mnkin ; ;
fund and thu ledomptlon of the pub
lic debt ,
UKlIItKMK ! < T OF NJI.Vl'.U CKHTIi'KHTKS
I approve the * recomiiiu.idutions of
the Hccrotury of the treasury
that jirovision bo made for
the early retirement of silver cor-
tiliculea and that the act requiring
their iBSiio bo repealed. TJmy wcro
isMied in purauuuco of iho policy of
the government to maintain silver at
or near the gold standard , and wore
accordingly made receivable for all
customs , tuxes and public duea. About
$ ( il,000,000 ( of them are now outstand
ing. They formed an unnocesaary
iddition to the piper currency , a
sutlicient amount of which may be
readily auppliud by the national
kinks ,
COINtHK OK HII.VEK.
In aecunlancn with thu act of Fob-
-8th 1878 tlio do-
nmry8th , , treasury -
partiiKint has monthly caused at leant
S10,000,00 ( ) in value of Hi'lvei bullion
to be cdinod into standard silver dol-
ara. Ono bundled nnd two millions
if thuHU dollars have been utuadily
coinud , only about thirty-four millions
ire in circulation ,
u'.oiHi-Anow ! < i.toMur.Nini .
] < \r ) the HuiHons which ho Hptcifiea ,
I concur in thu sucntary'H : roeommou-
datioii that the provision leqiiimiK
thu coinage of n fixed nmoiint each
month bo rupoiled , nnd that hereaf
ter only no much be coined as uliall bo
iieci'Htmry to Hiijiplv the dumaud ,
The Bucretiiry ndvisw that the iesuo
of gold certificates should not for the
pronont bo reaumod , nnd aug enta that
th < > national N > nt.s muy pn"Tlr \ * >
forbidden by law to retire their
cuireiicy , except upon nwomiblo no
tice of their intention so to do. Such
legislation would seem to bo justified
l < y thu recent action of certain banks
on the occasion referred in the secre
tary's report.
HUCTIO.VAI. CfllTlKSC'Y.
Tlioro are fifteen millions of frac
tional currency still outstanding.
Only about $80,000 lias been redeem
ed in the past year. 1 ho suggestion
that thin amount msy properly bo
dropped from future statements ot thu
public debt seems worthy of approval ;
so , also , dors the suirgi'stion of the1
secretary , ns to the advi-nhility of re-
teving thu calendar of the United
States courts in thu southern district
of Now York by thu transfer to an-
ithor tribunal of the numerous cuitn
thuro pending against the collector
The
KKVhNUi : niOM CUSTOMS
'or the past fiscal year was Sl'IO.lfi'.t-
MU'.CL' , an incrca.su of 8lli7 ( : ! till -t'2
ivnr that of the preceding jear ;
81 8,0 8r l ! 1)9 ) of this amount
was collected at thu port of
Now York , leaving' $ TiO,25l,113 OH
as thu amount ccllecUd at all
, ho other ports of the country. Of
tins sum , S 17,077,1U7 03 was collected
in sugar mid molasses , $27,285,024.78
: > n wool and ita manufactures , $21-
102,0 ; ! 1 on iron and nteol and mum
fact HIM thereof , Slt,0WiG5.8l ! : ( on
man.ifactuiea of silk , $10,825,115 , 21
on manufactures of cotton , and
9,4tG4i.04 ) ! ) : on WIIUH and spirits ;
making thu total revenue from these
sources of § 1 : ,058,720.81. The ex-
poiison of collection for thu past year
vvoro ? G,4iyt4r ; . ' .20 , an imroiso over
the preceding year of $1187,110.04.
Notwithstanding ( ho increase in the
revenue from customs over the pre
ceding year , the gross value
of the imports , including free
unods , decreased over 825,000-
000. The marked decrease waa in the
value of unnmnufActurod wool $14-
02S8'2 : { nnd in that of scrap and pig
iron 812,810,071.
IMI'OHTS AND K
The value of the imports of sugar
on the other hand showed nn increiiBC
of $7tr.7,474 , of Bteel rails 81,345-
5'21 , of barley 82,154,201 , and of
steel in bars , ingots , etc. , $020,010.
Contrasted with the imports the e\-
porta were nn fell < ws : Domestic mer
chandise , 890,8:17,250.47 : ; foieign nu-r-
chandise$184,5K < ) < ) ; total$002,377-
! )4i ) ( ; imports of inoichandise , SOU-
001,028 ; excess of exports over iiu-
ports of morchandiBo , 8i"y,712,718j
ngifresato of exports and imports ,
815,150,11974. , Compared with the
prtivioua year there was an increase of
800,738,088 in the value of the ex-
pertH of merchandise , and a decrease
of 825,290,118 in the value of im
ports. The annual average ot in
crease of imports of merchandise over
exports thereof for the ten
years previous to Juno 30 ,
1873 , waa 8104,890,922 , but
for the las.t six years there haa boon
an excess of exports over imports ol
merchandise amounting to $1,180-
008,103 , an annual'avcrago of 8190-
778,017. ' The spooio value of the t-x-
pertH of domestic merchandise was
8-170,01(5 ( 473 in 1870 , and 8883,025 , .
917 in 1871 , an increase of 8307,30- !
474 , or 1 3-5 per cent. The value ol
the imports wns 8135,958,408 in 1870
and 80t2,004i ( 28 in 1881 an in
crease of 8200,700,220 , , or 17 per cent.
Duriiu'each year from 1802 to 1879
inclusive , thooxporls of speciocxceedcd
the imports. The largest excess of
.such exports over impoiLs wna lunched
during the year 1804 , when it amount
ed to 892,201,92 ! ) , but during the
year ending Juno 30th , 1880 , the im
ports of coin nnd bullion exceeded the
exports by 875,891 'Ml , and during
the la t fiscal year the excess of im
parts over exports was 891,108,050.
TIU : iiKKUfcniNo OIM'.UAIIONS.
Tu the last annual report of the secretary
rotary of the treasury , the attention ol
cnngi CHS v\n called to the fact that
S109i.l,050 ( in 5 per centum bondw
nnd V203,573 , 50 in 0 per coiitum
bonds Mould bueoinu ruduonmblo dur
ing the ytur , and congress was asked
tuautliomo thu lefunding of theau
bonds at a lower rate of interest.
The bill for such refunding having
fmlcd to become a law , the Hi'crutury
of the treasury , inApiil last , notified
the holders of the 8195,090,100 of 0
per centum bonds then outstanding
that the bonds would bo paid nt par
on the 1st day of July following , or
thr.t they might bo "continued" ut
the pleasure of the government to
bear mtureet at the rate of M per
centum pur annum. Under thin notice -
tico 8178,055,150 of the 0 per contum
bonds wen ) continued at the lower
into , and 817,035,250 were redeemed.
In thu month of May , a like notice
was given respecting the redemption
or continuance of the 8439,811,350 of
* i per centum bonds then outstanding ,
ind of thcho 8101,501,900 , wore con
tinued at : U per centum per annum
ind $38,330,150 redeemed.
IIONll UKDKMITIO.V.
Thu ( i per centum bonds of the loan
of February 8 , 1801 , and of the Oregon -
gen war debt , amounting together to
814,125,800 , , having matured during
, ho year , thu aocrotiry of the treasury
guvo iiotico rf his intention to redeem
.ho same and such aa have been pro-
Hunted have been paid from the mir-
> hm revenue. There have also been
redeemed at par 810,179,100 of thu : U "
iur centum "continued" bondn , mak"
iiL' u total of bonds redeemed , or
which have ceased to brnr interest
luring the year of 8123,909,050. The
eduction of thu annual intercut on the
iiibliu debt through them ) t inductions
n as follows : IJy reduction of interest
to , ' ) j per cent. , 810,173.952.27 ; by
redemption of bondH , lt.0,352,310.00 ;
total , 8H,820I2J2. ! ( 7. The 'U per
centum bonds , being payable ( it the
ileiusuro of thu government , tire nviul-
iblo for tlioinvestmunt of Hiirplus ruv
enuu without thupajmoiit of prom
uni. Unless theHii boudu can be
'muled at a much lower rate of inter-
ist than they now bear , I agree with
ho secretary of the treasury , that no
emulation respecting them is dusir-
able. It in ft matter of congratula-
that the business of the country
twst year aa to yield by taxation a.
largo surplus of income to the govern
ment If the revenue lawa remain
unchanged , this surplus must year
by year increase , on account of the
reduction of the public debt and ita
burden of interest , and bocaiiBO of the
wpid increase of population. In
1800 , just prior to the institution of
our internal revenue system , our pop-
illation but slightly exceeded 30,000-
000 By the census of 1880 , it is
found to exce-od 50,000,000. It is es
timated that even if the annual ro-
.jipts and expenditures should con-
tinun as at preaent , the entite debt
ivculd bo paid in ton years , In view ,
However , of the heavy lend of taxa-
uin which our people have already
Hirne , wo may well consider whether
t is not the part of wisdom to rcduoo
; hu revenues , even if we delay a lit-
Lle payment of thu debt.
INTRKSAI. IIKVKNUK TAXATION.
It seoma to me Unit the time hna ar
rived when the people may justly don -
n ind Home relief from their present
enormous burden , nnd that by duo
economy in the vaiious branches of
the public service tins may readily bo
afforded. 1 therefoie1 concur with the
soeritary in n commending the aboli
tion uf all intutnnl revenue taxes ex-
iept thimu upon tihnccs ) in ita various
forma and upon distilled and firnuinU'd
liUius ( ] , and except ivlpo thu pccial
tax upon the manufacturers of , and
deulern in Mich art cles. The inten
tion of the latter tax is desirable on
( Herding thu officers of tlio govern
ment n proper supervision ot these
articlea for the prevention of fraud.
1 agree with the soretary of the truan-
ury that the law imposing n stamp tax
on ma clios , propriutory articles ,
playing curds , checks and drafts , imy
with propriety bo repealed , nnd the
law also by which banks and banker *
are assessed upon the capital and de
posits. There noeins to be a general
uontiment in laver of this course. In
the present condition of our revenues ,
the tux upon dupoaita in especially un
just. It was never imposed in this
country until it was required by the
necessities of war , and was ncvor-
cxncU'd , I believe , even in ita greatest ,
exigencies.
NATIONAL HANK ( 'IUCUI.ATIO.V.
limkpra are required to secure their
circulation by pledging with the
treasurer of thu United States bondw
of the general government. The in
terest upon tlioso bonds , which at the
time when the tax was imposed wan.
0 per cent , is now in most instaiicua
M per cent , and besides the entire
circulation waa originally limited by
law and no increase was allowable.
When the existing banks had prac
tically a monopoly of the business ,
there was force in the suggestion that ;
for the franchise to the favored :
grantees the government might very
properly exact a tax on circulation ,
but for years the system haa boon free
and the amount of circulation regu
lated by the public demand. The re
tention of tliw tax has been suggested
as a moana of reimbursing the govern
ment for the dxpouau of printing and
furnishing the circulating'"no&s. If
the tax should bo repealed it would
certainly BCOIII proper to require the
national ban lea to pay the amount of
ouch ctpctiHo to the comptroller of
the currency.
SO IlKDUITIKUf OV TOBACCO Oil LICjUOH.
It is , perhaps , doubtful whether
thu immudiato reduction of the rate
of taxation upon liquors and tobacco
in advisable , especially in view of the
diain upon the tieasury which must
attend thu payment of aricaia of pon-
Hioim. A comparison , however , of
the amount of taxes collected under
the vniying rulcH of taxation which
have at cUfUironl times prevailed , sug
gest u the intimation that some reduc
tion may IIOOH bo mite'u without
inuterul diminution of the lovenue.
Tin : i uitir LAWS
also need revi lion , but that a due re
gard mav bo paid to thu conflicting
intoiesta of our citizens , important ,
clringca should be madu with caution.
If a careful leMsion cannot bo made
nt this Hussion , u commission , such aa
wns lately nj proved by the Bunuto ,
nnd m now recommended by the ACC-
rotuiy of the treasury , would donbt-
htsH lighten the labor-i of cougresK
whenever thin subject shall be hi ought
to ita consideration.
WAR ! DEPARTMENT.
INCKKAHK THK AHSIV.
The accompanying report cf the
secretary of war will inuke known the
operations of the department for the
year. Ho suggests measure * for promoting
meting the efficiency of the army ,
without adding to the number of it *
oflicerH , and recommends the legiBln-
tiou necessary to increase the num
ber of enlisted men to inaku 30,000
the maximum allowed by law. Thm
ho deems necessary to maintain quiet
ness on our over-shifting frontier , to
preserve ponce , and suppress disorder
and marauding in nov settlements , to
protect BottloiB and their property
against Indians , and Indians against
the encroachments of intruders , nnd
to enable peaceful immigrants to es
tablish homes in thu moat remotu
pnrtfl of our country. The army i
now nece-Hsnrily scattered over uuch a
vast extent of territory , that v hen-
over an outbreak occurs , reinforce
ments must bo hurried from many
1 nar t DM over great distances , and
vluajH ut heavy cost for trunspoiia-
: ion of inun , horses , wagons ami sup
plies. 1 concur in thu rocommunda-
: ioii of the secretary for increasing
: lie army to the strength of 30,000-
enlisted men.
KltONlIKlt VVOUK.
It appears by the secretary's report
: hut in thci absence of disturliances on
: liu fiontier , thu troops have been IKV-
ivoly employed in collecting Indian *
iitherto hostile mid locating them on
ihuir proper reset v aliens ; that Bitting
Hull and his adherents are now pris
oners ut Fort llandull ; that the Ute *
liavo been moved to their now reser
vation in Utah ; that during the m
eont outbieuk of the Apaches it nan
necessary to reinforce garrisonw in
Arizona by troops withdrawn from-
New Mexijo , and tjiat some Apache *
nnw hold prisoners for trial while