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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 1882)
TBE DAILY BEE OMAHA TUESDAY. DECEMBER 5 tiona through the medium of the rep resentatives of their foreign depart ments. The admirable system which has been bnilt up by the enterprise the Smithsonian Institution afford R A practical basis for our co-cperation In this scheme and arrangement has been effected whereby that institution will poform the necessary labor under the direction of the department of atato. A reasonable compensation therefor should bo provided by law. A SALARIED SERVICE. A clause in the act making appro priations for the diplomatic and for eign consular service contemplates the reorganization of botli branches of such service on a salaried huii , leaving ing fees to inure to the benefit of the treasury. I cordially favor such a project as likely to correct abuse * in the prcsant service. The secretary of state will present to you at an early day a plan for such reorganization. TREASURY OPERATIONS. REVENUES OF THE YEAR , . / A full and interesting exhibit of the operations of the treasury depart raont ia afforded by the report of the Hecrotary. It appoari that the ordi nary revenues from all sources for the. fiscil year ended Juno 30 , 1882 , are as follows : From customs , $220'421,730.75 From Internal llavenue. . . . llfl,497Dla ! 45 From sales of public lands. 4,753,1-11.O'.I From Ux on circulation and deposits of nat'u'l banks. Oj.fiPJ , 115.00 From rep ym'tof Int. by PaclBo llillway Cos. . . . 8111,054 37 From slnklngfuml for Pa- clfio Hallway Cos 700,271.42 From customs , foes , fine * , penalties , etc 131,331,800.00 From fees consular , Utters patent ani l.mli 2C38.000.07 From proceeds of talesuf government property. . . . 314,359.85 From profits of coluage , bullion depoiUs and as. B.y. 4,110,093.73' ' From Indian trust fund. . . 575,213.22 From deposits by Individu als f-r surveying public lands 2,0i2,30(5,20 ( From revenues of tbo JJls- , trlctot Columbia 1,715,170.41 FrommliceUanoous sources. 3,383,445.43 Total ordinary receipts. .8103,525,330.28 The ordinary .expenditures for the came period wore : For civil expenses $18,017,880 42 For > fdorolgn intercourse. . 1,387G8G 10 For Indians 1.730,747 40 Forpenslons 111,345,193 9) For the military establish ment , including river and ' harbor Improvements and arsenal 4'C70,491 19 For the naval cttabllsh- rcent , including vosiel . machinery and Improve ments at navy yard. . . . 15,032,040 2(5 ( For miscellaneous expend- ! , lutes , Including nubile buildings Whltu House , collecting the revenue. . . 32,539,237 CO For expenditure" on ac count of tbe District ot Colombia 3,330,513 87 For Interest on the public debt. . . . . 710,772 00 Total ordinary expen ditures 8257,981,439 17 Laavlng a surplus revenue of § 145- , 443,810.71 , which with an amount drawn from the cash balance in the treasury of $70,737,604 84 , making $100,281,505.05 , , which was applied to the redemption of bonds for the sink ing fund ; $60,079,160.00 of fractional currency for the sinking fand ; $5,705- 650 of loan of July and August , 1801 , f02,572.050 00 of loan of March 18G3 , $4 472,000.00 of funded loan o 1881 , § 37,104,450 00 of loan of 1858 , $1,000,000 of loan of February , 1801 , 303,000.00 of fivo-twontioo ot 1862 $2,100.00 of five-twenties of 1861 $7,40000 of fivo-twontioa of 1865 , 86,500.00 of ton-forties of 1801 , $254 , . 550 00 of consols of 1865 , $80,450.00 of consols of 1867 , * $408,250.00 of consols of 1868 , $141,400 of Oregon war debt , $075,250 of old demand compound interest and other notes $18 350 00 ; total $100,281.505.55. " The FOHEION COMMERCE of the United States during the las fiscal year , Including imports and experts ports of merchandise and specie , was as follows : Exports of merchandise 3750,742,272 Specie 49,417,479 Total. . . . , . . . , 8800,1159,76 Imports of merchandise. . . . 724,039,57' Specie. ! 42.472.39C Total $70rlUtlU Kxcessof txports over Imports of merchandise U5.002.CO : This excess is loss than it has bnen before any of the previous six years as appears by the following table : Year ending June 30 , ex cess of exports over Im ports 8170,790.431 81 1677 , i 161,162,094 00 1878 207,814,734 00 1879 201,001,000 dO 1880 107,083,012 00 1881 i. . . . 269,712,718 00 1882 25,902 , ( 300 During the year there have boon organized 171 national banks , and of these institutions'there arc now in operation 2,269 , a larger number thau over beforo. The value of their notes in active circulation on July 1st , 1882 , was $384,056,458 , I commend to > your attention the secretary's views in respect to the likelihood of a serious contraction of this circulation , and to the mode by which that result may , 1 in hla judgment , bo averted. In respect to the COINAOK CF.BILVEK DOLLARS and the retirement of the silver certi i- ficates , I have aeon nothing to alter but much to confirm the sentirnunta to which I. gave expression last year. A comparison between the re amounts of silver dollar circulation in November 1 , 1881 , and on November 1 , 1882 , shown a Blight increase of ara million and a half of dollars , but dur ing the interval there had been in the whole number coined an in create of $20,000000. | Of the $1-28,000,000 thus far minted littlu re than $35 , ( 00,000 are in circuit t tion. The mass cf accumulated coin has grown BO great that thu vault room at present available tor storapn ish /scarcely auilicient to contain it , It h not apparent why it is desirable to continue this coinage BO enormously In excess of public demand. As to thi silver certificates , in addition to the grounds which seemed last year to jus tify IJHr retirement , may bo men tioned d effect of which is likely to ensue ft 'it the supply of gold ccr- tificateu > < which concress recently made provision nnd which arc iiow in active circulation , You cannot fail to note with interpit the discussion toy the secretary u to the necessity of providing by legislation some mode of relieving the treasury of an excess of THE REVENUE. JIOAV IT HIIOtXD UK DONE. fln the event that congress fails to .teach an early agreement for the re duction of taxation , I heartily approve the secretary's recommendation of im mediate and extensive reductions in the annual revenues of the govern ment. It will bo remembered that I urged upon the attention of congress at' its last session the importance of relieving the industry and enterprise of the country from the pressure of unnecessary taxation. It is one of the tritcst maxims of political economy that all taxes nro burdensome , however wisely and prudently imposed , and though there have always boon among our people wide differences of senti ment as to the boat method of raising the national revenues and , indeed , as to the principles upon which taxation should bo based , there haa boon substantial accord in the doctrine that only such taxes ought to bo lovicd as are nccotnary for n wise and coonomi cal administration of tiio government Of late the public revenues have far exceeded that limit , and unless chocked by appropriate legislation such t-xccHs will continue to inoroaao from year to year. For the fiscal year ended Juno 30 , the surplus revenue mnountcd to $100,000,000. For- the fiscal year ending Juno 30 , 1882 , the surplus wan more than $145,000.000.- report of the BOO- rotary - shows what disposition haa boon made of those moneys. They have not only answered the require ments of the sinking lund , but have afforded a largo balance applicable to other reductions of the public debt. But 1 renew the expression of my conviction that such rapid extinguish ment of the public indebtedness an ia now taking plaoo is by no moans a cause for congratulation. It is a cause rather for HKKIOUS APPREHENSION. If it continues , it must speedily bo followed by one of 'the evil issues so clearly act forth in the report of the secretary. Either the surplus must bo Idle in the treasury , or the govern ment will ba forced to buy at market rates its bonds , not yet redeemable , and which , under such circumstances , cannot fail to command an enormous premium , or the swollen revenues will bo devoted to extravagant expen ditures , which , as experience haa taught us , is ever the bane of an overflowing public treasury. Upon the showing of our financial condition at the close of the last fiscal year , I fool gratified in recommending to congress the abolition of internal revenue taxes except those upon to bacco * in its varioua forms and on dis tilled spirits and fermented liquors , and except also the special tnx upon the manufacturers aud dealers in such articles. I venture now to suggcs' that unless it shrill bo ascertained tha the probable expenditures of the fjov- eminent for thu coming year have been under-estimated , all internal revenue tax which relate to distilled spirits can ba prudently abrogated. Such a oourao , if accompanied by a simplification of the machinery of col lection , which would thus bo easy o : accomplishment , might reasonably bi expected to result in dimlr.iahing the cost of such collection nt lowt two million and a half dollars , and in th retirement from ofllco of fvom fifteen hundred to two thousand persona , The SYSTEM OK EXCISE DUTIES have never commended itself to the favor of the American people. It has never been resorted to except for sup plying doficioncica in the treasury when , by roatou of special exigencies the duties on imports have proved in adequate for the needs of the govern raout. The oontimont of the country doubtloaa commends the present ox oiso tax shall bo abolished as BOOH ni such course cm safely be pursued. I ooerns .to mo , however , for varioui reasons , ao swooping n measure as thi total abolition of internal taxes would for the present beAN AN UNWISE BT1S1- . Two of those reasons are deserving o : apooial mention : First. It is by no moans clear tha oven if the existing system of dutiei on imports is continued without modi fioution the duties will nlono bo sufli olont for all the nooda of the govern' ' raont. It ia estimated that $100,000 , 000 will bo required for pe-naioni during the coming year and it may well bo doubted whether the maximum annual demand for that object hasyo been readied. Uncertainty upon thi question would alone justify in m ; judgment , the retention for the present ont of that portion of the system o internal revenue which is least objoo tionablo to the people. Second. A total abolition of oxcis taxes would almost inevitably prove aorious If not an insurmountable ob joctlon to a thorough revision of th tariff and to any considerable roduo tiou in import duties. THE PRESENT TARIFF RYttTKM is in many roapecta unjust. It make : unequal distributions both of its bur dona and of its benefits The fao was practically recognized by a major ity of each house of oongrosa in th postage of the act creating the tarii commission. The report of that com mlttton will be placed before you i the beginning of this session , and wil , 1 trust , furnish you such informatio as to thu condition und prosperity c the varioua ocmmorcial , agricultural manufacturing , mining and other interests torosts ot the country , and contaii. such suggestions for statutory revision as will practically aid your action upon this important subject. THE HBVKNUE FUOM CUSTOMS for the fiscal year ending Juno 30 , 1879 , amounted to $37,000,000. It has iu the three succeeding yean reached first $180,000,000 , then $190- - 000,000 , and finally , ua has already been Btated , 5220,000,000. The In come from this service for the present year , which will end Juno 30 , 1883 , will doubtless bo considerably ia ex cces of thu BUM last mentioned. If the tax on domestic Bpirils ia to bo retained it is plain they require that largo reductions from customs revenue are entirely feasible. While recom mending this reduction lam fur from advising the abandonment of the pol icy of so discriminating in the adjust ment of details aa to afford aid aud protection to domestic labor , but the present system should bo ao revised as to equalize the public burdens among all classed and occupation ! , and bring I it-into closer harmony with the 'pres ent needs of Industry , Without en tering into minute detail which un der present circumstances ia quite un necessary. I recommend an enlarge ment of the free list so aa to include within it the numerous articles which yield inconsiderable and the simplification of the complex and inconsistent schedule of duties upon certain manufactures , articularly those of cotton , iron and tool , and a substantial redaction of ho duties npon those articles and pen sugar , molasses , silk and woolen , ooda If a general revision of tha nriff shall bo found to bo impraotica- ilo at this session , I express the hope hat nt least some of the more con- picuous Inequalities of the pro ontlaw may bo corrected before your final ad- 'ournmont. One of thorn la especially oforrod to by the secretary. In accent ccont decision of the supreme court ho necessity of amending the law by Inch the duties and standard of color i adopted as the test of saccharine .trongth . of sugar is too obvious to oquiro comment. It wan made np xiront in the courao of the animated isoussion which this question arouses the last session of congress that the iolicy of diminishing the revenue by iminishing taxation commands the enoral approval of the members of oth houses. I regret that the con icting views as to the best method by which that policy should bo made porative , none of its bonefita have a * _ et boon reaped. In fulfillment of what I doom my constitutional duty , 'ml with little hope that I can make a aluablo contribution to this vexed uostlon , I shall proceed to intimate rlofly my own viowa in relation to it. THE ARMY. OPERATIONS OF THE YKAR. From the report of the secretary of war It appears that the only outbreaks f < Indians during the past year oc turrod in Arizona and in the south- estorn part of Now Mexico. They ore promp'ly quelled , and the quiet hioh has prevailed in all other parta f the country haa permitted auoh an dditlon to bo made In the military prco in the region endangered by the ' pachcs that there ia little reason to pprohend trouble in the future. The oports of the secretary , which relate 0 our sea coast defenses and their ar mament , aogtjoat the gravest roflec 'Ions. Our existing fortifications are Gloriously inadequate to the defense f the great harbors and cities for whoso protection they wore built. The question of providing an arma ment suited to our present necessities 'ion been the subject of consideration y a board whoso report was trans mitted to congress at the last sosiion. Bonding the consideration of that re- art the war department haa taken no tops for the manufacture or convor- ion of any heavy cannon , but the ecrotnry expresses the hope that authority and means to begin that im portant work will soon bo provided. 1 urge the attention of caqgreas to the propriety of making more adequate irovisionn for urminu and equipping .ho militia than is afforded by the act f 1806 , which is otill on the statute books. Thii matter has already been 'ho subject of discussion in the senate iad a bill which seeks to supply the deficiencies of existing laws ia now upon its calendar. The secretary of war calls attention to the fact that an embarrassment growing out of the re cent act of congress making THE RETIREMENT OK OFFICIALS of the army compulsory at the ago of G5. The act of 1878 is still in force which limits to 400 the number of thosu who can bo retired , for disability or upon their own application. The two acts , when construed together , seem to forbid the relieving , oven for absolute nocoisity , of officers who do not fall within the purview of the lat ter statute , aavo at such time aa there chances to bo losn than four hundred names on the retired list. There are now 420. It ia not likely congress in tended this result , and 1 concur with the secretary that the law ought to bo amended. The ground that induced mo to withhold my signature from the bill entitled "An act making appro priations for the construction , repair and preservation of certain works on rivera and harbors , " which became a law near the close of your last session , prompt mo to express hope that no similar measure will bo deemed neces sary during the present session of congress. Indeed , such a measure would now bo open teA A SERIOUS OIMCCTION. in addition to that which was lately urged upon your attention. I am in formed by the Bccrotary of war that a portion of the Bum appropriated for the varioua items specified in that act remains unexpended , Of the now works which it authorized expenses have boon incurred on two only , for which the total appropriation was $210,000. The present available bal- once is disclosed by the following table : Amount ot appropriation by act of August 2nd , 1882 $18,738,876 Amount of appropriation by act of June 10th , 18 2 10,000,000 Amount of appropriation for payments to J. Jl. Kads. . . . 301,000 Unexpended balance of former appropriations 4,738,233 Total , $23,791,138 Leas amount drawn from treas ury between July 1st,1882 , , and NoyemberSOtb , 1882. . . . 0,05(3,194 ( Total 817,734,044 If Is apparent by this exhibit that so far as concerns moat of the items to which the act of Auaust 2 , 1882 , re latue , there can bo no need of further appropriations until after the close o the present session. If , however , any action should seem to bp necessary in respect to particular objects it will bo entirely feasible to provide for those objects by appropriate legislation. Ii io probable , for oxnmplo , that a delay until the assembly of the next con gress to make additional provision for tha Mississippi river improvement might bo attended with serious con sequences If ouch should appear to bo the case a jnst bill relating to tha1 subject would command my approval. JUMBO LEGISLATION. AN IMl'OUTANT HEUOMMKNIUTION , This loaves me to offer n suggestion which I trust will commend itselt to the wisdom of congress. IB it not ad- vlsablo that grants of considerable sums of money for diverge indoppn dent Bchomes of international improvement provoment should bo made subjects 01 aeperato and distinct legislative exact inonts. It will scarcely bo gainsaid , even bo those who favor the most lib- cral expenditures for auch purposes as are sought to bo accomplished by what Is commonly called the river and har bor bill , that the practice of grouping in such a bill of appropriations for a a great diversity of objects widely separated either in their natures or locality with which they are concerned - corned , or in both , is one which is much to bo depreciated. Unless it Is Irredeemable it is inevitably tend ing to socnro the success of the bill aa a whole , though many of the items , if separately considered , could scarcely fail of rejection. By the adop tion of the course I have recom mended , every member of congress when every opportunity should arise for giving his influence and vote for meritorious appropriations would bo enabled BO to do without being called upon to sanction others undeserving his approval. So also would the executive - ocutivo bo afforded thereby n fall op portunity to exorcise his constitution al prerogative of opposing whatever appropriations soemdd o him objectionable - ionablo without imperiling the success of others which commended them selves to his judgment. It may bo urged in opposition to these sugges tions that the number of works of in ternal improvement which are justly entitled to aid is so great as to render impracticable separate appropriation bills therefor , or oven for such com paratively limited number as made disposition of largo sums of money. This objection may bo well founded , and whether it bo or not , the advan tages which would bo likely to ensue from the adoption of the course I have recommended may perhaps bo more effectually attained by another , which I respectfully submit to congress as AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSITION. It is provided by the constitutions of fourteen of our states that the execu tive may disapprove any item or items of a bill appropriating money , where upon the part of the bill approved shall bo law , and the part disapproved shall fail to become a law , unless re- passed according to the provisions proscribed for the passage of bills over the veto of the executive. The states wherein such provision as the forego ing is a fundamental law , are Alabama , California , Colorado , Florida , Georgia , Louisiana , Minnesota , Missouri , Neb raska , Now Jersey , Now York , Penn sylvania and West Virginia. I com mend to your careful consideration the question whether amendment of the federal constitution in the partic ular indicated would not afford the boat remedy for what la often a grave embarrassment , both to members of congress and to theoxooutivo , and is sometimes a serious public mischief. THE NAVY. MOVEMENTS AT HOME AND ABROAD. The report of the secretary cf the navy states that the movements of the various rquadrons during the year in lomo ana foreign waters , where our officers ana seamen with such ships as wo possess , have continued to illus- irate the high character and excellent lisclpllno of the naval organization 3n the 21st of December , 1881 , in 'ormation ' was received that the ex ploring steamer Jeannette had boon irushed and abandoned in the Arctic ocean. The officers and crow , after a r rir r --r Iho ice , embarked in to ujw for the coast of Siberia. Dne of the parties , under command of Chief Engineer George W. Melville , reached the land and , falling in with aativos , was saved. Another , under Lieutondji - Commander Do Long , landed < t if a barren region near the mouth of the Lana river after sb weeks had elapsed and all bat two ol the number had died from fatigue and starvation. No tidings have beet received from the party in the thin boat under the command of Lioutonanl Dhipp , but a long and fruitless investigation tigation loaves but little doubt that all its members perished at sea. As a slight tribute to their heroism I give In this communication THE NAMES OF THE GALLANT MEN who saciificod their lives on the expo dltion : Lieutenant Commander Geo. W. DoLong , Surgeon James M. Am bler , Jerome J. Colllna , Hans Hallor , Enchanti Hoiurich , H. Kancko , Geo. A. Boyd , Walter Leo , Adolph Dressier sier , Carl Gorte , Noise Svpnson , the cook Ah Sm , and the Indian Aloxy. The officers and men in the missing boat are Lieutenant Charles W. Ohipp , Commanding , Wm. Dunbar , Alfred Swootman Walter Shootoll , AlbertO , Knehno , Edwin Star , Henry D. Farren , and P. K. Johnson. Lieutenant Giles B. Harbort anc Master Wm. SohoutzviBch are now bringing homo the remains of Lieutenant ant DeLonj and comrades. In pur suance of the directions of congress the Rogers fitted for the relief of Jeannette notto , in accordance of an act of congress gross of March 3d , 1881 , sailed from San Francisco Juno 16th , under the command of Lieutenant Robert M. Berry. On November 30 , she was aocidently destroyed by fire while in winter quarters in St. Lawrence Bay bat the officers and crow succeeded h escaping to the shore. Lioutonan Berry and one of his officers , aftei making a search for the Jeannotti along the coast of Siberia fell in with Chief Engineer Melville's party am returned homo by way of Earopo The other officers and the crew of thi Rogers were brought from St. Law renee Bay by the whaling atoamei North Star. Master Charles F. Pat nam , who had been placed iu charge of a depot of supplies at Cape Serdez returning to his post from St. Lawrence ronco Bay acrosj the ice in a blinding snow storm , was carried oat to &ei and lost notwithstanding all efforts to rescue him. Ic appears by the secre tary's report that THE AVAIKAIILE NAVAL FORCE of the United States consists of 37 cruisers , 14 single turrottud monitors built during the rebellion , a largi numb'r of smooth bnre guns and Par rott rifles , and 8" nll < l cannon Th cruising vesselu should be gradual ! ; replaced by iron or stool ships , th monitors by modern armored vessels and their armament by high powe rilled guns. The reconstruction o our navy , which was recommended li the last message , was begun by congress gross authorizing in its recent act th construction of two largo armorei stool vessels of the character recom mended by the late navy advisory board , aud subject to the final appro val of a new advisory board , to be or ganized as provided by that act , call your attention to the reoommon dationa of the secretary and the boarc that authority be given to construe two more cruisers of smaller dlmen slons. and one fleet dispatch vessel and that appropriations be made fo ligh power rifled cannon , for thottor- > edo service , and fqr other harbordo- onsea. Pending the consideration > y congress of the policy to bohereaf- .or adofrH4-4 = - conducting the eight argo navy yards and thtir expensive stablishraonts , the secretary advo sated the reduction of expenditures 0 the lowest possible amounts , for the lurposo of affording officers and aea- men of the navy opportunities of ox- rcise and discipline in their proles- Ion under appropriate control and irections. The secretary advises hat THE L10HT HOUSE SERVICE nd coast survey bo transferred as now organized from the treasury to ho navy department , and ho also uggesta for reasons which ho assigns hat a similar transfer may wisely 10 made of cruising revenue vessels. ? ho secretary forcibly depicts the in > imato connection and iuter-indepen- lonco of the navy and commercial marine , and invites attention to the continued decadence of the latter and he corresponding transfer of our ; rowing commerce to foreign nations. ? ho subject is one of the utmost im- tortanco to the national welfare , klothods of reviving American ship- > uilding and of restoring the United States flag in the ccaan-carrylog trade hould receive the immedlato attcn- ion of congrofD. Wo have mechani cal skill aud abundant material for ho manufacture ot modern iron iteamships in fair compaction with our commercial rival * . Uur disadvan tage in building ships is the greater coat of labor und in sailing , higher axes and greater interest on capital , while the ocean highways are already monopolized by our formidable com petitors. These obstacles should in lomo way bo overcome , and for our rapid communication with foreign ands wo should not continue to do- ) end wholly upon vessels built in the rarda of other countries and sailing mdor foreign digs. With no United States steamer on the principal ocean inos , or for any foreign ports , our 'acilities for extending our commerce are greatly restricted , while the na- ions which baild and sail the ships and carry the mails and passengers obtain thereby conspicuous advantages "n increasing their trade. THE rOSTOFFICE DEPART. MENT- FIOUHES AND SI/GOJJSTIONS. The report of the postmaster gen eral tivea ( evidence of the satisfactory condition of that department , and contains many valuable data and ac- jompanying suggestions , which cannot 'ail to bo of Interest The informa tion which it affords that tha rocoipta tor the fiscal year have exceeded the expenditures , must bo very gratifying to congress and to the people of the : onntry. As matters which may fair ly claim particular attention , I refer you to his observation ! ) in reference to the advisability of changing the present basis for fixing salaries and al lowances , of extending the money order dor system , of enlarging the functions of the postal establishment sr > as to put under its control the telegraph system of the country ; though from this last and most important recom mendation I must withhold my con curronco. At the last session of congress [ gross several bills wore introduced Into the homo of representatives for THE REDUCTION OF iETTEE POSTAGE to a rate of two cents per half onnce. 1 have given much study and reflec tion to this subject and am thoroughly persuaded that such a reduction would bo for tbo best interests of the public. It has been the policy of the govern ment from its foundation to defray as far as possible the expenses .of .carry ing the mails by a direct tax in the form of postage. It has never been claimed , however , that this service ought to be productive of a not rev onuo. As has boon stated already the report of the postmaster general shows that there is now a very considerable surplus in this department and that henceforth the receipts are likely to increase to a much greater ratio than the necessary expenditure. Unless some change ia made In the existing laws the profits of the postal service will in a very few years swell the rev enues of the government many million of dollars. The time seems auspicious , therefore , for some reduction tion in the rates of postage. In what shall that reduction consist , a review view of the legislation which has Im-n had upon this subject during the lost thirty years discloses that domestic letters constitute the only class of mail matter which has never boon favored by a substantial redaction of rates. I am convinced that the burden of maintaining the service falls most on that clans , anc that more than any other it is entities to present relief. That suds' * reliol maybe extended without detriment to other public interests will bo dls covered npon reviewing the results ol former reductions. Immediately prior to the act of 1845 the postage upon a letter , composed of a single shoot , was aa follows : Convoyed 3G miles or loss , 6 cents ; between 30 anc 80 miles , 10 cents ; between 80 aud 15 ( miles 12 and 12 * cents ; between 15C and 400 miles 18j oonts ; over 400 miles , 20 cents. By thn act of 1845 the postage on a singV 'otter ' convoy ed for any distance under 30 miles was fixed at 5 cent * , nnd for any greater at 10 cent * . Hy the act of 1851 it was provided that a single letter , if prepaid , should bo carriec any distance not exceeding 3 00 ( miles for 3 cents , and any greater dis tanoe for 0 cents. It will bo notion that both of these reductions wore o a radical character and relatively tivoly quite as important as that now proposed. In oacl caee there ensued a temporary Iocs of revenue but a sudden anc LAIUIE INFLUX OF VISIT011S , which substantially ri paired thnt Ion within three years. Unless the ex perience of past legislation in this country and olsowheregoos for naught it may be eafoly predicted that the stimulus of 50 per cent , reduction 01 the tax for oarnaga would at once in creaeu the number of letters consignee to the mail. The advantage cf eccrec ; would load to a very general snbatltu tion of sealed packets for postal cards and open circulars , and in divers othoi wnya the volume of first-class matter would be enormously augmented Such increase amounted in Englant in the first year after the adoption o the penny postage to moro than 125 per cent. As a rule careful estimate the details of which cannot ba hen stated , I have been convinced that the deficiency for the first year fter the proposed redaction weald not exceed 7 per cent of the expend- ! uros , or 3,000,000 , while the de ficiency , after the reduction of 1845 , was more thah H per cent , and after hat of 1651 was 27 per cent. Another nterestlog comparison is offered by he postoflico department. The act of 845 was passed in ho face of Iho fact hat there existed a deficiency of moro ban (30,003. That of 1851 was en- oourauod bv the slight surplus of $132,000. $ The excess revenue m the text fiscal year is likely to be $3,800- 000. If congress should approve these uggestiona it may bo deemed desira- ) lo to supply to aorao extent the do- Icicncy which must for n time result iy increasing the charge for carrying merchandise , which is now only 16 : ents per pound , But oven without uch nn increase I am confident that ho roctipta under the diminished Atea would equal the expenditures ftcr a lapse of three or four years , DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. KNLAnOIKO THE SYSTEM , The report of the department of ustico brings anew to your notice the iccesiity of enlarging the present ystom of federal jurisprudence BO ae o effectually anawor the requirements if the over increasing litigation with which it ia called upon to deal. The attorney-ponoral renews the suggoa- ions of hii predecessor that , in the ntorest of justice , better provisions ban the existing laws offered should 10 made in certain judicial districts for ; uarantooinq the foes of witnesses and urors. In the message of December ast I referred to the pending criminal > roceedings grown out of fraud cnoffn as the 1 'STAU " ROUTE SERVICE" of the postoflico department , and ad vised you that I had enjoined upon the attorney general and associate counsel , to whom the interests of the ; ovornmont wore intrusted , tbo duty of prosecuting with the utmost vigor of the law all persons who might be lound chargeable with the offenses. A rial of one of these cases has since iccurrod. It occupied for many weeks ; hp attention of the supreme conrt of : his district , and was conducted with ; reat zeal and ability. It resulted in a disagreement of the jury , but the case has again boon placed upon the : alondar , and will shortly bo retried. [ f any guilty persons shall - es cape punishment for their offt > nBotit will not bo for lack of diligent and ur ; ont efforts of the prosecution. I trust that some agreement may bo reached that will speedily aid con gress , with the concurrence of the ex ecutive , to afford the commercial lommunlty the benefits of a national bankrupt law. THE INTERIOR. DEALING WITH INDIANS. The report ot the secretary of the interior , with itn accompanying docu- uonta , presents a full statement of the various operations of that depart ment. In respect to Indian affaira , nothing has occurred which has changed or corionsly modified the views to which I devoted much space in a former communication to con caa. I renew the recpmmondatlous therein contained as to extending to the Indian the protection of law ; allotting letting land in severally to such as desire it and making suitable provis ion for education of the , youth. Such provision as the secretary forcibly maintains will prove unavailing un less it ia broad enough to Include all those who are able and willing to make use of it , and should not solely relate'to intellectual training but also to instruction in such manual labor and simple and useful arts as can bo made practicably avoidable. Among other important subj lets which are included in the secretary's report and which will doubtlcaa famish occasion for congressional action , ia the neglect of railroad companies , to which large grants of land were made by acts ol 1862 and 1864 , TO TAKE TITLE XUEKKTO and the consequent inequitable ex emption from local taxation. No sur vey of our material condition cm faii to suggest inquiries as to the moral and intellectual progress of the people. The census returns shove an alarming state of illiteracy in certain portions ol the country where the provision for schools is mostly inadequate. It is a momentous question for the decision of congress whether immediate sub stantial aid should be extended by the general government for supplementing the efforts of privatebeniticonco anc of state and territorial legislature in behalf of education. REQULATINO KAILUOAIJS. .The regulation of intor-stato cam morco has already been the subject of your deliberations. Ooo of. the inci dents of the marvelous extension ol the railway system of the county has been the adoption of auch measures by the corporations which own or opntro the roads as has tended to impair the advantages of healthful competition and make hurtful discrimination in the adjustment of freightage. Those in equalities have been corrected in several oral of the states by appropriate legis lation , the effect of which is necessarily restricted to the limits of their own territory. So far aa such mischiefs affect commerce between the states or between any one of the states and of foreign countries , they are subjects of national concern aud congress alone can afford relief , THE MOKMONH. The results which have thua far at tended the enforcement of the recent statute for the suppression of polyg. amy in the territories are reported by the secretary of the interior. It is not probable that any additional leg islation in this regard will be deemed desirable until the effect of existing laws shall be moro closely observed and studied. The commissioners un der whoso supervision thuaa laws have been put in operation , are enoaura ed to believe that the evil at which they are aimed may be suppressed without resort to such radical measures as in Borne quarters have beuu thought in dispensable for success. TUE TElUIITOlilES , The close relations of the general government to the territories preparing - ing to be great states may well engage your especial Attention. It is there that the Indian disturbances occur and that polygamy has found room for its growth. I cannot doubt that a careful survey of the territorial question would bo of the highest ntility. Life and property would bo more secure. The liability of out breaks between Indiana and whites wonld bo lessened , the public domain wonld bo moro securely guarded , and letter progress bo made in the in * Btruction of the young. ALASKA A is still without any form of civil gov ernment. If moans wore provided .for the education of Us people and for the jrotectlon of their lives and property , ho immense resonroes of the 'region wonld invite permanent settlements and open now fields for industry and enterprise. The report of the com missioner of agriculture presents an account of the labors cf that depart ment during the past year , and in cludes information of much interest to ; ho public. The condition of the FORESTS OK THE COUNTRY and the wasteful manner in which their destination is taking place , give cause for serious apprehension. Their iction in protecting the earth's surtaco in modifying the extremes of climate nd in replenishing nnd sustaining the flow of springs and streams is not pot understood , and their importance In relation to the growth cf the coun try cannot bo safely disregarded. They ire fast disappearing bof erodes tractive Bros , and the legitimate requirements of our increasing population and their total extinction cannot bo long delayed unices bettor methods than now prevail - vail shall bo adopted for their protec tion and cultivation. The attention of cougrcsj is invited to the noccisity of additional legislation to secure the preservation of the valuable forests still remaining public domain , espe cially In the extreme western atatcs nnd territories , whore the necessity [ or their preservation is greater than in loss mountainous regions , and whore the prevailing dryness of the climate renders the restoration , if they are destroyed , well-nigh impossible. CIVIL SERVICE. REFORM IS NECESSARY. The communication which I made to congress at its first session in De cember last contained a full statement of my sentiments in relation to the principles and rales which ought to govern appointments to public service. Koiorring to the various plans which had heretofore been subjects of dis cussion in the national legislature , r plans which in the main were modeled npon the system which obtains in Great Britain , but which lacked cer tain of the prominent features whereby - by that system is distinguished , I felt bound to intimate whether they or any of them would afford adequate remedy for the evils which they aimed to correct. I declared nevertheless that if the proponed measures should prove acceptable to congress they wonld receive the unhesitating support of the executive. Since the sugges tions wore submitted for your consid eration there has boon no legislation upon the subject ti which they relate , but there has meanwhile been an in crease in public interest on that sujcct and the people of the country , appar ently without distinction of party , have in various ways and upon fre quent occasions given expressions to their earnest wish for prompt und definite action. In my judgment , such action should no longer bo post \ poned. I may add that my own f cnso of ita preaali'g importanoa has been quickened by observation in a practi cal phase of the matter to which at ) tention has more than once been called by my predecessors. THE CIVIL LIST now comprises about 100,000 persons , the larger part of which must , under the terms'of the constitution , be se lected by the president , either directly or through his own appoin tees , In the early years of the admin istration of the government the perso nal direction of appointments iu the civil service may not have been an irksome task for the executive , but now that the burden has increased A fully a hundredfold , it has become greater than ho ought to bear , and it necessarily diverts his time and atten tion from the proper discharge of other duties no loss delicate and responsible , and which , in the very nature of things , cannot be delegated to other hands. In the judgment of not a few , who have given study and reflection to this matter , the nation haa outgrown the provisions which the the constitution establishes for filling the minor offices in public service , but whatever may bo thought of the wisdom or expediency of changing the fundamental law in this regard , . i It is certain that much relief may bo afforded , not only to the president and to the heads of the departments , butte to senators and representatives iu con gress. By discreet legislation they would bo protected in a great measure by the bill now pending before the senate , or by any other which would embody ita important features from the pressure ol personal importunity and from the labor of examining con flicting claima and pretensions of candidates. 1 trust that before the close of the present session some do. ciaivo action may bo taken for the cor rection of evils which inherit the prc ont methods of appointment , and assure you of my hearty co-operation in any measures which are likely to conduce to that end , as they must fix the TERM AND TENURE OF OFFICIAL LIFE of the Bubordinato employes of the government. It seems to be general ly agreed that wha'tever their extent or character the one should be defi nite and the other stable , and that neither should be regulated by the seat in the office of party or fidelity to the fortunes of an individual. It mutters lictlo to the people at large what competent person is at thu head of this department or of that bureau , if they feel assured that the removal of one and the accession of another will not involve the retirement of honest and faithful subordinates , whoso duties are purely administrative und have no legitimate connection with the triumph of any political principles or the suciiosa of any po litical party or faction. It ia to this hUer class of officers that the eenato bill to which I have already re rred exclusively applies , while noithi-- that bill nor any other prominent scheme for improving the civil service con cerns the higher grade of officials who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate. REMOVALS. I feel bound to correct a prevalent misapprehension as to the frequency with which the present executive has displaced the incumbent of an office and appointed another in his stead. It haa been repeatedly alleged that he has in this particular signally departed