The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, December 23, 1885, Image 2
IHE PESSMT'S MESSAGE.
To the Congress of the United Statesi
Tour assembling is cloudal by a sense of
public bereavement, caused by the recent and
sudden death of Thomas A. Hendricks, VicePresident
of tho United States. His distinguished
public services, his complete integrity
and devotion to every duty, and his personal
virtues will find honorable record in his
country's history.
Amplo and repeated proofs of the esteem
and confidence in which he was held by his
fellow-countrymen were manifested by his
election to offices of the most important trust
and highest dignity; and at length, full of
years and honors, ho has been laid at rest
amid universal sorrow and benediction.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
It is gratifying to announce that the relations
of the United States with all foreign
powers continue to be friendly. Our position
after nearly a century of successful constitutional
government, maintenance of good faith
m au our engagements, the avoidance of complications
with other nations.aud our consistent
and amicable attitude toward the strong
and weak alike, furnish proof of a political
disposition which renders professions of good j
will unnecessary. There are no questions of
difficulty pending with any foreign government.
Early in March last war broke out in Central
America, caused by the attempt of Guatemala
to consolidate the several States iuto a
single government. In these contests between
our neighboring states the United
States forbore to interfere actively, but lent
the aid of their friendly offices in deprecation
of war and to promote jx>aco and concord !
among the belligerents, and by such counsel
contributed importantly to the restoration of
tranquillity in that locality.
The interest of the United States in a practical
transit for ships across the strip of land
separating the Atlantic from the Pacific
has been repeatedly manifested during tho
last half century. My immediate predecessor
caused to be negotiated with Nicaragua a
treaty for the construction, by and at the solo
cost of the United States, of a canal through
Nicaraguan territory, and laid it before the
Senate. Pending the action of that body
thereon, I withdrew the treaty for re-examination.
Attentive consideration of its provisions
leads me to withhold it from re-submission
to the Senate.
In the application of the acts lately passed
to execute the treatv of 1SS0, restrictive of
the immigration of Chinese laborers into the
United States, individual cases of hardship
have occurred beyond the power of the Executive
to remedy, and calling for iudicial de
termination.
CITIZENSHIP AND NATURALIZATION.
The inadequacy of existing legislation touching
citizenship and naturalization demands
your consideration. While recognizing the
right of expatriation, no statutory provision
exists providing means for renouncing citizenship
by an American citizen, native-born, or
naturalized, nor for terminating and vacating
an improper acquisition of citizenship. Even
a fraudulent decree of naturalization can
not now be cancelled. The privilege and
franchise of American citizenship should
be granted with care; and extended I
to those only who intend in good i
faith to assume its duties and responsibilities i
when attaining its privileges and benefits; ]
it should be withheld from those who merely
go through the forms of naturalization with <
the intent of escaping the duties of their or- I
iginal allegiance without taking upon them- ]
selves those of their new status, or who may <
acquire the rights of American citizenship for j
no other than a hostile purpose against their i
original governments. These evils have had ]
many flagrant illustrations. I regard with ]
favor the suggestion put forth by one of my i
predecessors that provisions be made for a j
central bureau of record of the decrees of <
naturalization granted by the various court'? <
throughout the United States now invested <
with that power. i
The rights which spring from domicile in j
the United States, especially when coupled |
with a declaration of intention to become a j
citizen, are worthy of definition by statute, j
The stranger coming hither with intent to re- 1
main establishing his residence in our midst, ?
contributing to the general -welfare, and by, \
his involuntary act, declaring his purpose to c
assume the responsibilities of citizen- i
ship, thereby gains an inchoate status t
which legislation may properly define. The
laws of certain States and Territories admit <
a domiciled alien to the local franchise, con- t
ferring on him the rights of citizenship to a ^
decree which places him in the anomalous po- 1
sition of being a citizen of a State and yet l
not of the United States within the purview e
of Federal and international law. It is im- i
portant within the scope of national legisla- t
tion to define this right of alien domicile as \
distinguished from Federal naturalization. i
COMMERCIAL TREATIES. C
The commercial relations of the United j
States with their immediate neighbors and c
with important areas of traffic near our I t
shores suggest especially liberal intercourse c
between them and us. Following the treaty i
of 1883 with Mexico, which rested on the 1
basis of a reciprocal exemption from customs i
duties, other similar treaties were initiated by \
my predecessor. Recognizing the need of (
less obstracted traffic with Cuba and Porto j
Rico, and met by the desire of Spain to succor
languishing interest in the Antilles, steps g
were taken to attain these ends by a treaty of s
wtiuuv.?vu -.a. oii_tiiia.i i>i catj am*! ?uiu ?
signed by the Dominican republic. Subse- j
quently overtures were made by her Britan- \
nie Majesty's government for a like mutual t
extension of commercial intercourse with the r
British "West Indian and South American do- t
pendencies; but without result L
THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE. i
I earnestly urge that Congress recast the v
impropriations for the maintenance of the di- v
"gliomaconsular service on a footing s
commensuruw w'ith the importance of our t
national interests. At eye,y where a n
representative is necessary, the salary should c
be so graded as to permit him to live with l
comfort. With the assignment of ade- c
quate salaries the so-called notarial extraofficial
fees, which our officers abroad t
are now pennitted to treat as personal c
"perquisites, should be done away with. Every *
act requiring the certification and seal of the e
officer should be taxable at schedule rates, 1
and the fee therfore returned to the treasury, i
By restoring those revenues to the public use j
the consular service would be self-supporting, j
even with a liberal increase of the present (
low salaries. In further prevention of abuses 1
a system of consular inspection should be i
instituted. <
TIIE TREASURY. I
The report of the secretary of the treasury 1
fully exhibits the condition of the public (
finances and of the several branches of the 1
government connected with the department. 1
The suggestions of the secretary relating to I
the practical operations of this important de- 1
Sailment, and his recommendations in the J
irection of simplification and economy, par- 1
ticularly iu the work of collecting customs
duties, are especially urged upon the attention
of Congress.
The ordinary receipts from all sources for
the fiscal year ended June ?50, 1SS5, were
$322,690,700.3*. Of this sum .$181,471,939.34
was received from customs and fill2,49S,735.54
from internal revenue. The total receipts, as
given above, were $24,829,11?3.54 less than
those for the year ended June JJO, 1884. This '
diminution embraces a falling off of $13,595,550.42
in the receipts from customs and '
$9,687,340.97 in the receipts from internal rev- ,
enue.
The total ordinary expenditures of the
government for the fiscal year were $200,220,935.50,
leaving a surplus in the treasury at
the close of the year of $03,40-3,771.27. This
is ?40,929,854.32 less than the surplus reported
at the close of the previous year.
THE TARIFF.
The fact that our revenues are in excess of
the actual needs of an economical admin is
uauuu ui mu j;v"vuuuitrui j usuue.-. u lomi,tion
in the amount exacted from the people
for its support, Our government is but the
means established by the will of a free people,
by which certain principles are applied which
they have adopted for their benefit and protection;
and it is never better administered
and its true spirit is never letter observed
than when the people's taxation for its support
is scrupulously limited to the actual necessity
of expenditure, and distributed according
to a just ond equitable plan.
The proposition with which we have tc
deal is tne reduction of the revenue received
by the government, and indirectly paid by
the people from customs duties. The question
of free trade is not involved, nor is there now
any occasion for the general discussion of the
wisdom or expediency of a protective system.
Justice and fairness dictate that in any
modification of our present laws relating
to revenue, the industries
and interests which have been encouraged
by such laws, and in which our
citizens have large investments, should not
be ruthlessly injured or destroyed. "We
should also deal with the subject in such
manner ns to protect the interests of American
labor, which is the capital of our workingmen:
its stabiltv and proper remuneration
furnish the most justifiable pretext for a protective
policy. Within these limitations a certain
reduction should be made in our customs
revenue. The amount of such reduction
having been determined, the inquiry follows,
where can it best be remitted and what
articles can best.be released from .duty, in the
interest of our citizens? 1 think the reduction
should be made in the revenue derived from
a tax upon the imported necessaries of life.
AVe thus directly lessen the cost of living iB
every family of the land, and release to the
people in every humble home a larger measure
of tlie rewards of fragal" industry.
TOE SILVER QUESTION.
Nothing more important than the presenl
condition of our currency and coinftge car
claim your attention. Since February, 1878
the government has, under the compulsory
provisions of law, purcnaseu silver duuioo
and coined the same at the rate of more
than $2,000,000 every month. By this
process up to the present date 215,759,431
silver dollars have been coined. A reasonable
appreciation of a delegation of power
to the general government would limit its
exercise without express restrictive words to
the peoples needs and the requirements of tho
public. Upon this theory and authority to
"coin money" given to Congress by tha Constitution,
if it permits the purchase by the
government of bullion for coinage in any
event, does not justify such purchase and
coinage to an extent beyond the amount
needed for a sufficient circulating medium.
The desire to utilize the silver product of
tho country should not lead to a misuse or
the perversion of this power. The necessity
for such an addition to the silver currency of
the nation as is compelled by the silver-coinage
act, is negatived by the fact that up to
the present time only about fifty millions
of the silver dollars so coined have
actually found their way into circulation,
leaving more than one hundred and sixty-five
milions in the possession of the government,
the custody of which has entailed a considerable
expense for the construction of vaults
for its deposit. Against this latter amount
there are outstanding silver certificates
amounting to about ninety-three millions of
dollars.
Every month two millions of gold in the
public treasury are paid out for two millions
or more of silver dollars, to be added to the
idle mass already accumulated. If continued
long enough, the operation will result iu the
substitution of silver for all tho gold the
government owns applicable to its general
purposes. It will not do to rely upon tho
customs receipts of the government to"
make good this drain of gold, becauso
the silver thus coined having been make legaltender
for all debts and dues, public and private,
at times during the last six months fiftyeight
per cent, of the receipts for duties have
been in silver or silver certificates, while tho
average within that period has been twenty
per cent. The proportion of silver and its
certificates received by the government will
probably increase as time goes on, for the
reason that the nearer the period approaches
when it will be obliged to offer silver in payment
of its obligations, the greater inducement
there will be to hoard gold against depreciation
in the value of silver, or for the
purpose of speculating.
The hoarding of gold has already begun.
When the time comes that gold has been
withdrawn from circulation, then will
be apparent the difference between
the real value of the silver dollar and
i dollar in gold, and tho two coins will
part company. Gold, still the standard of
ralue, and necessary in our dealings with oth?r
countries,. Will be at a premium over silver;
banks which have substituted gold for the deposits
of their customers may pay them with
silver bought with such gold, thus making a
handsome profit ; rich speculators will sell
their hoarded gold to their neighbors who
need it to liquidate their foreign debts, at a
ruinous premium over silver,and the laboring
men and women of tho land, most defenceless
of all, will find that the dollar received
for the wa^e of their toil has sadly
in T\?ivihoeinn? r\A^i'or Tf mov Via
mi una iu 1 uo pai vuuoxu^ vxi xv u*v*j ww
said that the latter result will be but temporiry,
and that ultimately the price of labor will
>e" adjusted to the change; but even if this
Mikes place, the wage worker cannot possibly
?ain but must inevitably lose,since the price ho
s compelled to pay for his living will not only
je measured in a coin heavily depreciated,
ind fluctuating and uncertain in its value,
:>ut this uncertainty in the value of the purchasing
medium will be made the pretext for
in advance in prices beyond that justified by
ictual depreciation.
The words uttered in 1S34 by Daniel Web;ter
in the Senate of the United States are
rue to-day: "The very man of all others
vho has the deepest interest in a sound cur'ency,
and who suffers most by mischievous
egislation in money matters, Ls the man who
iarns his daily bread by his daily toil." The
nost distinguished advocate of bi-metalism,
liscussing our silver coinage, has lately
vritten; "No American citizens hand has
ret felt the sensation of cheapness,
'ither in receiving or exjx?udin^ the SilverVet
dollars." And those who live by labor
>r legitimate trade will never feel that sensaion
of cheanness. However plentv silver
lollars may become, they will not be'distribit<xl
as gifts among the people; and if the
aboring man should receive i'our depreciated
lollars where he now receives but two, he
vill pay in the depreciated coin more than
louble the price he now pays for all the nec:essaries
and comforts of life.
Those who do not fear any disastrous conequences
arising from the continued compulorv
coinage of silver as now directed by law,
Liul who suppose that the addition to the curencv
of the country intended as its result,
vill be a public benefit, are reminded that
listory demonstrates that the point is easily
eached in the attempt to float at the same
ime two sorts of money of different excelonce,
when the better will cease to bo
n general circulation. The hoarding of gold, 1
t-hich has already taken place, Indicates that
re shall not escape the usual experience in
uch cases. So, if this silver coinage be coninued
we may reasonably expect that gold
,nd its equivalent will abandon the field of
irculatiou to silver alone. This, of course,
nust produce a severe contraction of our emulating
medium, instead of adding to it.
It will not be disputed that any attempt on
lie part of the government to cause the cir ulation
of silver dollars worth eighty cents,
;ide by side with gold dollars worth 100 cents,
:veu within the limit that legislation does not
un counter to laws of trade, to be successful
nust be seconded by the confidence of the
leople that both coins will retain the same
mrchasing power and. be inter hangable
at will. A special effort has
jeeu made by the secretary of the treasury to
rtf amw etlvnv nAin it) Y?_
ncreuse iue aiiiuuni >.'i vm
nilation; but the fact that a large share of j
the limited amount tints put out has soon returned
to the public treasury in payment of I
;luties, leads to the belief that the people do i
not now desire to keep it in hand; and !
this, with the evident disposition to hoard
sjold, gives rise to the suspicion that
there already exists a lack of confidence
among the people touching our financial processes.
There is certainly not enough silver
now in circulation to cause \measiness; and
the whole amount coined and now on hand
might, after a time, be absorbed by the people
without apprehension; but it is the ceaseless
stream that threatens to overflow the
laud which causes fear and uncertaiuty.
What has been thus far submitted upon
this subject relates almost entirely to considerations
of a home nature, unconnected with
the bearing which the policies of other nations
have upon the question. But it is perfectly
appareut that a line of action in regard to our
currency cannot wisely be settled uj>on or persisted
in, without considering the attitude
on the subject of other countries
with whom Ave maintain intercourse
through commerce, trade,
aud travel. An acknowledgment of this fact
is found in the act by virtue of which our silver
is comptilsorily coined. It provides that
"the President shall invite the governments
of the countries composing the Latin Union,
so called, and of such other European nations
l,.. r.mv j Wit ii arlviuqVilo t/i irmi thn TTnitpil
09 liU llKt J viv,vm uuh-mv.v, jv-?
States in a conference to adopt a common ratio
between gold and silver for the purpose of
establishing internationally the use of bi-mctallic
money and securing fixity of relativo
value between these metals."
This conference absolutely failed, and a
similar fate has awaited all subsequent efforts i
in the same direction. And still we continue I
our coinage of silver at a ratio different from
that of any other nation. The most vital
part of the silver-coinage act remains inoperative
and unexecuted, and, without an ally or
friend, we 1 <attle upon the silver field in an
illogical and losing contest.
To give full effect of the design of Congress
on this subject I have made a careful and
earnest endeavor since tho adjournment of
the last Congress. To this end I delegated a
gentleman well instructed in fiscal science, to
proceed to the financial centers of Europe,
and, in conjunction with our ministers to
England, France and Germany, to obtain a
full knowledge of the attitude and intent of
those governments in respect of the establishment
of such an international ratio as
would procure free coiuago of both metals at
the mints of those countries and our own.
By my direction our consul-general at Paris
I '
has given close attention to the proceedings
of the Congress of the Latin Union, in order
to indicate our interest in its objects and re- \
port its action.
It may be said, in brief, as tho result of
these efforts, that the attitude of the leading
powers remains substantially unchanged since
the monetary conference of 1881. nor is it to
be questioned that the views of these governments
are in each instance supported by the
weight of public opinion. The steps thus
taken have therefore only more fully demonstrated
the uselessness of further attempts at
present, to arrive at any agreement on the
subject with other nations.
In the meantime we are accumulating silver
coin, based upon our own peculiar ratio,
to such an extent, and assuming so heavy a
burden to lie provided for in any internation~
,,.;n i J
HI UVgUWUUUUS, tlft Hill 1BUUB1 US Itu U11UW511Uble
party to any future monetary conference
of nations.
It is a significant fact that four of the five
countries composing the Latin Union mentioned
in our coinage act, embarrassed with
their silver currencv, have just completed an
agreement among themselves, that no more
silver shall be coined by their respective governments,
and that such as has been already
coined and in circulation shall be redeemed
in gold by the country of its coinage. The
resort 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 provision of our silver coinage act.
The condition in which our treasury may
be placed by a persistence in our present
course, is a matter of concern to every patriotic
citizen who docs not desire his government
to pay in silver such of its obligations
as should be paid in gold. Nor should our
condition be such as to oblige us, in a prudent
management of our affairs, to discontinue
the calling in and payment of interest-bearing
obligations, which we have the right now
to discharge and thus avoid the payment of
further interest thereon.
The so-called debtor class, for whose benefithe
continued compulsory coinage of silver is
insisted upon, are not dishonest because they
are in debt; and they should not be suspected
of a desire to jeopardize the financial safety
of the country, in order that they may cancel
their present debts by paying the same in deniwintrHl
dollars, isor should it be forgotten
that it is not the rich nor the money-lender
alone that must submit to such a readjustment,
enforced by the goverment and their
debtors. The pittance of the widow and the
orphan and the incomes of helpless bene
ficiaries of all kinds would be disas"
trously reduced. The depositors in savings
banks and in other institutions which hold in F
trust the savings of the poor, when their little c
accumulations are scaled clown to meet the j;
new order of things, would, in their distress, F
painfully realize the delusion of the promise I 1
made tothem that plentiful money would im- J
prove their condition. r
We have now on hand all the silver dollars c
necessary to supply the present needs of the c
people and to satisfy those who from senti- !
ment wish to see them in circulation; and if .
their coinage is suspended they can be readily J;
obtained by all who desire them. If the need j;
, of more is at anv time apparent their coinage 1
may be renewed. '
That disaster has not already overtaken us ^
furnishes no proof that danger does not wait ?
upon a continuation of the present silver
coinage. We have been saved by the most {
careful management and unusual expedients,
by a combination of fortunate conditions, and l
b}" a confident expectation that the coui-se of fc
the government in regard to silver coinage
would be speedily changed by the action or c
Congress. j.
Prosperity hesitates upon our threshold be- ^
cause of the dangers and uncertainties sur- j
rouuding this question. Capital timidly ^
shrinks from trade, and investors aro un- c
willing to take the chance of the questionable ?
shape in which their money will bo returned 0
to them, while enterprise halts at a risk
against which care and sagacious manage- c
nient do not protect.
As a necessary consequence labor lacks em- r
plovment, and suffering and distress are vis- j.
ited upon a portion of our fellow-citizens
especially entitled to the careful considera tion r
of those charged with the duties of legislation.
No interest appeals to us so strongly ^
for a safe aud stable currency as the vast c
army of unemployed. c
1 recommend the suspension of the com- r
pulsory coinage of silver dollars directed by c
the law passed in February, 1878. t
"TOE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the secretary of war is here- j
with submitted. The attention of Congress is t
invited to the detailed account which it con- 0
tains of the administration of his department, f
and his recommendations and suggestions for t
the improvement of the service. t
the navy. a
The report of the secretary of the navy a
gives a history of the operations of his depart- *
ment and the present condition of the work t
committed to his charge. s
He details in full the course pursued by him a
to protect the rights of the government in re- 0
spect of certain vessels unfinished at the tune ?
of his accession to office, and also concerning 1
the despatch boat Dolphin, claimed to bo |
completed and awaiting the acceptance *
of the department. ISo one can fail v
to see from recitals contained in this &
report that only the application of business t:
principles has been insisted upon in the treat- "
ment of these subjects, and that whatever ?
controversy* has arisen was caused by the ex- b
action on the part of the department of con- 11
tract obligations as they were legally con- *
strued. t'
All must admit the importance of an effec- F
ti ve navy to a nation like ours, having such an u
extended sea coast to protect. And yet wo P
have not a single vessel of war that could r
keep the seas against a first-class vessel of any fi
important power. Such a condition ought v
not longer to continue. The nation that can- a
not resist aggression is constantly exposed to q
it Tt.c fnrpicrn nn1ir?v ic nf nor?oocif.v iraal/ R'
anil its negotiations are conducted with
disadvantages, because it is not in condition
to enforce the terms dictated by its setise of t
ri-ht, nii? A
laspirCCl a* I am by tiie hope, shared by all t
patriotic citizens, that the day is not very far v
distant when our navy will bo such as beiits ^
our standing among the nations of the earth, *
and rejoiced at every step that leads in ?
the direction of such a consummation, I ^
deem it my duty to especially direct the at- f
tention of Congress to the close of the report ^
of the secretary of the navy, in which the T
humiliating weakness of the present orgaui- n
zation of his department is exhibited, and a
tho startling abuses and -wasto of its | n
present methods are exposed. The coil- | f
viction is forced upon us with tho j s
certainty of mathematical demonstration, i r
that l>efore we proceed further in the restora- e
tiou of a navy we need a thoroughly reorgan- c
ized navy department. The fact that within r
seventeen years more than ?75,000,000 have v
been sj>eut in the construction, repair, equip- . t.
meut, and annainent of vessels, and tho | j
further fact that, instead of an effective and | r
creditable fleet, we have only the discontent j t
and apprehension of a nation undefended by
war vessels, added to the disclosures now
made, do not permit us to doubt that every
attempt to revive our navy has thus far, for
the most part, beeu misdirected, and all our
efforts in that direction have been little better
thau blind gropings and expensive, aimless
follies.
Unquestionably if we are content with tho 5
maintenance of a navy department simply as ^
a shabby ornament to the government, a .
constant watchfulness may prevent some of 1
the scandal and abuse which have found their I
way into our present organization, and its '
incurable waste may be reduced to the minimum.
But if we desire to build ships for J
present usefulness instead of naval re- I
minders of tho days that are past, we j c
must have a department organized for j
the work, supplied with all tho talent and in- J
genuity our country affords, prepared to '
take advantage of the experience of other na- "
tions, systematized so that all effort shall 1
unite and lead in one direction, and fully ini- ,
bued with the conviction that war vessels, !
though new, are useless unless they combine | '
all that the ingenuity of man has up to this j |
day brought forth relating to their construc- ;
tion.
I earnestl}' commend the portion of the sec- 1
retary's report devoted to this subject to tho 1
attention of Congress, in the hope that his j
suggestions touching the reorganization of j ]
his department may l>e adopted as the first | '
step toward the reconstruction of our navy. j
TIIK I'OSTAL SERVICE. ,
The afTairs of the postal service are nx- ]
hibited by the report of the postmastergeneral,
which will be laid before you.
1 approve the recommendation of tho post- f
master-general to reduce tho charges on 1
domestic money orders of five dollars and less J
from eight to live cents. This change will ]
materially aid those of our people who mo ;t ]
of all avail themselves of this instrumentsli- 1
ty, but to whom the element of cheapness is j
of the greatest importance. With this reduc- <
tion the system would still remain self-sup- i
porting. <
I approve the recommendation of the post- !
master-general that another assistant be pro- i
vided for his department. I invite your con
sideration to the several other recommendations
contained in his report.
TUE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report of the attorney-general contains
a history of the conduct of the department 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 present mode of compensating: United
States marshals and district - attorneys should
in my opinion be changed. They are allowed
to charge against the government certain
fees for services, their income being measured
by the amount of such fees within a fixed
limit as to their annual aggregate. This is a
direct inducement for them to make their
feas in criminal cases as large as possible
in an effort to reach the maximum !
sum permitted. As an entirely natural
consequence, unscrapulous marshals are
found encouraging frivolous prosecutions,
arresting people on petty charges of crime
and trausjiorting them to distant places for
examination and trial, for the purpose of
earning mileage and other fees. And district
attorneys uselessly attend criminal
examinations "far from their places of residence
for the express purpose of swelling
their accouuts against the government.
The actual expenses incurred in these transactions
are als6 charged agaiust the government.
Thus the rights and freedom of our
citizens are outraged and public expenditures
increased for the purpose of furnishing public
officers pretexts for increasing the measure
of their compensation.
I think marshals and district attorneys
should be paid salaries adjusted by a rule
which will make them commensurate with
services fairly rendered.
TUP TVHT A VQ
*
The report of the secretary of the interior,
containing an account of the operations of
this important department, and much interesting
information will be submitted for your
con uderation.
The most intricate and difficult snbject in
charge of this department is the treatment
an I management of the Indians. I am satisfy
I that some progress may be noted in their
condition as a result of a prudent administration
of the present l&ws and regulations for
thiir control.
But it is submitted that there is lack of a
fl.co.1 purpose or policy on this subject which \
should be supplied. It is useless to dilate
u )jn the wrongs of the Indians, and as useless
to indulge in the heartless belief that because
their wrongs are revenged in their own
atrocious manner, therefore they should be
exterminated.
They are within the care of our gonent,
and their rights are, or should be, projected
from invasion by the most solemn obligations.
Thev are properly enough called
ho wards of the government: and it should
>e borne in mind that this guardianship in olves,
on our part, efforts for the improvcnent
of their condition and the enforcement
if their rights. There seems to bo general
oncuirenco in the proposition that the
iltimate object of their treatment should
>e their civilization and citizenship. Fitted
>y these to keep pace in the march of progress
with the advanced civilization about
hem, they will readily assimilate with the
nass of our population, assuming the responibilities
and receiving the protection mcilent
to this condition. The difficulty appears
o be in the selection of the means to do at
irescnt employed toward the attainment of
his resvlt.
The history of all the progress which has
K?en made in the civilization of the Indian, I
hink, will disclose the fact that the beguiling
has been religious teaching, followed by
n* accomnanviucr secular education. While
he sdf-sacrificing and pious men and women
vho have aided in this good work by their
ndependent endeavor have for their reward
he beneficent results of their labor and the
onsciousness of Christian duty well perormed,
their valuable services should be fully
cknowledged by all who under the law are
harged with the control and management of
iur Indian wards.
What has been said indicates that in tht
iresent condition of the Indians, no attemp_
hould be made to apply a fixed and unyield
ug plan of action to their varied and varying
leeds and circumstances.
The Indian bureau, burdened as it is with
heir general oversight and with the details J
if the establishment, can hardly possess itself j
if tho minute phases of the particular cases j
leeding treatment: and thus the propriety of
reating an instrumentality auxiliary to
hose already established for the care of the
ndians suggests itself.
I recommend the passage of a law authorzing
the appointment of six commissioners,
hree of whom shall be detailed from the
:rmy, to be charged with the duty of a care- j
ul inspection from time to time of all the
ndians upon our reservations or subject to
Iia rnrp nwl r-mitrol of the government, with |
. view of discovering their exact condition
.nil needs,and determining what steps shall be
akeii on behalf of the government to improve
heir situation in the direction of their selfupport
and complete civilization; that they
scertain from such inspection what, if any,
f the reservations may be reduced in area,
nd in such cases what part, not needed for ,
ndiau occupation, may l>e purchased by the
;overmnent from the Indians and disposed of
or their benefit; what, if auy, Indians may,
rith their consent, be removed to other reervations,
with a view of their concentraion
and the sale on their behalf of their
bandoned reservations; what Indian
inds now held in common should
>0 allotted in severalty; in what
iianner and to what extent the Indians upon
he reservations can be placed under the procction
of our laws and subjected to tneir
ienalties: and which, if any, Indians should
e invested with the right of citizenship. The ,
owers and functions of the commissioners in
egard to these subjects should be clearly demed,
though they should, in conjunction
rith the secretary of the interior, be given
11 the authority to deal definitely with the
uestions presented, deemed safo and con- !
istent.
THE TUBLIC LANDS. j
It is not for the "common benefit of the
Jnited States1' that a large area of the pubic
lands should be acquired, directly or
hrough fraud, in the hands of a single indiidual.
The nation's strength is in the poo- i
ile. The nation's prosperity is in their prosperity.
The nation's glory 'is in the equality
f her justice. The nation's perpetuity is in ,
he patriotism of all her people. Hence, as
ar as practicable, the plan adopted in the
[ispisal of the public lands should have in
iew the original policy, which encourages :
aany purchasers of these lands for homes
jad discouraged the massing of large
t'eas. .Exclusive of Alaska, about threeiftlis
of tho national domain lias been sold or
ubjeetod to contract or giant. Of the renaming
two-fifths a considerable portion is
if-.hpr mountain or desert. A rapidly in
:.'easing population creates a growing deuaud
for homes, and the accumulation of
vealtli inspires an eager competition to obain
the public land for speculative purposes.
11 the future this collision of interests will be
nore marked than in the past, and the execuion
of the nation's trust in behalf of 0111* settlers j
rill be more difficult. I therefore commend
o your attention the recommendations conained
in the report of the secretary of the
uterior with reference to the repeal and j
notification of certain of our land laws.
PENSIONS.
It appears from the report of the commisioner
of pensions that there were, on July 1,
S85, Ii45,125 persons borne upon the pension
oils, who were classified as follows: Army
nvalids, 241,450; widows,minor children and
lepeudent relatives of deceased soldiers,
'8,N41; navy invalids, 2,745; navy widows,
ninor children and dependents, 1,926; survivors
of the war of 1812, 2,945; and widows of
hose who served in that war, 17,212. About
me man in ten of all those enlisted in the late
var are reported as receiving pensions, exclusive
of tne dependents of deceased soldiers.
In .Tiilv 1. 1ST"., the number of neiisioners was
534.821, and the increase within the ten years
icxt thereafter was 110,304.
While there is no expenditure of the public
'unds which the peojile more cheerfully approve
than that made in recognition of the
lervices of our soldiers living and dead, the
.entiment underlying the subject should not
je vitiated by the introduction of any fraudllent
practices. Therefore it is fully as imjortaut
that the rolls should lx> cleanse<l of
ill those who by fraud have secured a place j
hereon, as that meritorious claims should bo ;
specially examined and adjusted. The reforms
in the methods of doing the business of
:his bureau which have lately been inaugurited
promise better results in both these di- |
ections. I
THE PATENT OFFICE.
The operations of the patent oflice demon- I
rtrate the activity of the inventive genius of '
;he country. For the year euded June 150, j
1885, the applications for patents, including |
reissues, and for the registration of trademarks
and labels, numbered 35,(>8S. During |
the same period there were 22,928 patents
granted and reissued, and 1,429 trade-marks
ind labels registered. The number of patents
issued in the year 1885 was 14,:?87. The receipts
during the last fiscal year were $1,074,174.3.5,
and the total expenditures, not including
contingent expenses, ?934,123.11.
There were 9,788 applications for patents
V '
Q
pending on July 1,1884, and 5,786 on the same
date in the year 1885. There has been considerable
improvement made in the prompt
determination of applications, and^a consequent
relief to expectant inventors.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
In the Territory of Utah the law *jf fhe
United States passed for the suppression of
jx>lygamy has been energetically and faithfully
executed during the past year, with
measurably good results. A number of convictions
have been secured for unlawful cohabitation,
and in some cases pleas of guilty
have been entered and a slight punishment
imposed, upon a promise by the accused that
they would not again offend against the law,
nor advise, counsel, aid, or abet, in any way,
its violation by others.
The Utah commissioners express the opinion,
based upon such information as they are
able to obtain, that but few polvgamous
marriages have taken place in the Territory
during the last year. They further report
that while there cannot be found upon the
registration lists of voters the name of a man
actually guilty of polygamy , and while none
of the class are holding office, yet at the last
election in the Territory all
the officers elected except in one
county were men who, though not
I acmaiiv living in tne practice 01 polygamy,
subscribe to the doctrine of polygamous marriages
as a divine revelation and a law unto
all, higher and more binding upon the conscience
than any human law, local or national.
Thus is a strange spectacle presented of a
community protected by a Republican form
of government, to which they owe allegiance,
sustaining by their suffrages a principle and a
belief which sets at naught that obligation of
absolute obedience to tne law of tne land
which lies at the foundation of Republican
institutions.
The strength, the perpetuity, and the destiny
of the nation rest upon our homes, established
by the law of God, guarded by
parental care, regulated by parental authority,
and sanctified by parental love. These
are not the homes of polygamy. The mothers
of our land, who rule the nation as they
mold the characters and guide the actions of
their sons, live according to God's holy ordinances,
and each, secure aud happy in the
exclusive love of the father of her children,
sheds the warm light of true womanhood,
unperverted and unpolluted, upon all with
her pure and wholesome family circle. These
are not the cheerless, crushed, and unwomanly
mothers of polygamy.
The fathers of our families are the best citizens
of the republic. Wife and children are
the sources 01 patriotism, and conjugal and
parental affection beget devotion to the country.
The man who, undefiled with plural
marriage, is surrounded in his single home
with his -wife and children, has a stake in the
country which inspires him with respect for
ita laws and couracre for its defence. These
arc not the fathers of polygamous families.
There is 110 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 execution of the law now in operation,
and I should be glad to approve sucn further
discreet legislation as will rid the country of
this blot upon its fair name. Since the people
upholding polygamy in our Territories are reenforced
Dy immigration from other lands, I
recommend that a law be passed to prevent
the importation of Mormons into the country.
AGRICULTURE.
The agricultural interest of the country
demands just recognition and liberal encouragement.
It sustains with certainty and unfailing
strength our nation's prosperity by
the product of its steady toil, and bears its
full share of the burden of taxation without
complaint. Our agriculturists have but
slight personal representation in the councils
of the nation, and are generally content
with the humbler duties of citizenship
and willing to trust to the bounty of
nature for a reward of their labor. But the
magnitude and value of this industry is appreciated,
when the statement is made that
of our total annual exports more tnan uireefourths
are the products of agriculture, and
of our total population nearly one-half are
exclusively engaged in that occupation.
The department of agriculture was created
for the purpose of acquiring and diffusing
among the people useful information respecting
the subjects it has in charge, and aiding
in the cause of intelligent and progressive
fanning, by the collection of statistics, bytesting
the value and usefulness of new seeds
and plants, and distributing such as are
found desirable among agriculturists. This
and other powers and duties with which this
department is invested are of the utmost importance,
and if wisely exercised must be of
great benefit to the country. The aim of our
beneficent government is tue improvement of
the peoplo m every station, and the amelioration
of their condition. Surely our agriculturists
should not be neglected. The instrumentality
established in aid of the fanners of
the land should not onlv be well equipped for
the accomplishment of "its purpose, but those
for whose benefit it has been adopted should
be encouraged to avail themselves fully of its
advantages.
The prohibition of the importation into
several countries of certain of our animals
and their products, based upon the suspicion
that health is endangered in their use and
comsumption, suggests the importance of
such precautions for the protection of our
stock of all kinds against disease, as will disarm
suspicion of danger and cause the removal
of such an injurious prohibition.
If the laws now in operation are insufficieut
to accomplish this protection, I recommend
their amendment to meet the necesities of the
situation, and I commend to the consideration
of Congress the suggestions contained in
the report of the commissioner of agriculture
calculated to increase the value and efficacy
nf t.hic flpnnrttrwnfc
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The report of the civil service commission,
which will be submitted, contains an account
of the manner in which the civil service law |
bas been executed during the last year, and
much valuable information on this important
subject.
I am inclined to think that there
is no sentiment more general in the
minds of the people of our country j
than a conviction of the correctness
of the principle upon which the law enforcing
civil service reform is based. In its present
condition the law regulates only a part of the
subordinate public positions throughout the
country. It applies the test of fitness to applicants
for these places by means of a comnetitive
examination, and uives large discrc- |
tion to the commissioners as to the character
of the examination and many other matters
connected with its execution. Thus the rules
and regulations adopted by the commission
have much to do with the practical usefulness
of the statute and with tue results of its application.
The people may -well trust the commission
to execute the law with perfect fairness an.l
with as little irritatiou as possible. But of
course no relaxation of the principle which
underlies it and no wakening of the safegiards
which surround it can be expected.
xpcrience iu its administration will probably
suggest amendment of the methods of execution,
but I venture to hope that we
shall never again be remitted to
the system which distributes puqlic
positions purely as rewards for
partisan service. Doubts may well be entertained
whether our government could survive
the strain of a continuance of this system,
which upon every change of an administration
inspires an immense anny of claimants
for ottice to lay siege to the patronage
of government, engrossing the time of the
public officers with their imjiortuuities,spreading
abroad the contagion of their
riisnnnointment and filling this air with
tbo tumult of their discontent.
The allurements of an immense number of
offices and places, exhibited to the voters of
the laud, and the promise of their bestowal in
recognition of partisan activity, debauch the
suffrage and rob political * action of its
thoughtful and dehberative character. The
evil would increase with the multiplication
of offices consequent upon our extension,
and tlio mania for office-holding,
growing from its. indulgence, would
pervado our population so generally that
patriotic purpose, the support of principle,
the desire for the public good aud solicitude
lur the nation's welfare would be
nearly banished from the activity of our
party contests ana cause uiem uj
iuto ignoble, selfish and disgraceful struggles
for the possession of of I ice and public place.
Civil-service reform enforced by law came
mue too soon to check the progress of demoralization.
(Jne oi its effects, not enough regarded,
is the freedom it brings to the political
action of those conservative aud sober
men who, in fear of the confusion and risk
attending an arbitrary aud sudden change in
all the public officers with a change of party
rule, cast their ballots against sueli a chango.
Parties seem to be necessary, and will long
continue to exist; nor can it "be now denied
that there are legitimate advantages, not
disconnected with oflice holding, which follow
party supremacy. While partisanship continues
bitter aud pronounced, ami supplies
so much of motive to sentiment and action,
it is not fair to hold public ollicials in
charge of important public trusts, responsible
for the best results in the per-,
formance of their duties, and yet insist that
they shall rely, in confidential and important
places, upon the work of those not only opposed
to them in political affiliation, but so
steeped in partisan prejudice and rancor that
they have no loyalty to their chiefs and
no deeire for their success. Civil service
reform does not exact this, nor does it
require that those in subordinate positions
who fail in yielding their best service,or
who are incompetent, should be retained
simply because they are in place. The whining
of a clerk discharged for indolence or incompetency.
who, though he gained his place
by the worse possible operation of the spoils
system, suddenly discovers that he is entitled
to protection under the sanction of civil service
reform, represents an idea no less absurd
than the clamor of the applicant who claims
the vacant position as his compensation for
the most questionable party work.
The civil service law does not prevent the
discharge of the indolent or incompetent
clerk, but it does prevent supplying his place
with the unfit party worker. Thus, in both
these phases, is seen benefit to the public service.
And the people who desire good government
having secured this statute will not
relinquish its benefits without protest. Nor
are they unmindful of the fact that its full
advantages can only be gained through the
complete good faith of those having its execution
in charge. And this they will insist
uoon.
I recommend that the salaries of the
civil service commissioners be increased
to a sum more nearly commensurate
to their important duties.
succession to the presidency.
The present condition of the law relating to
the succession to the presidency in the event
of the death, disability, or removal of both
the President and Vice-rVesident is such as "to
require immediate amendment. This subject
has repeatedly been considered by Congress,
but no result has been reached]
The recent lamentable death of the VicePresident,
and vacancies at the same
time in all other offices the incumbents of
which might immediately exercise the functions
of the presidential office, has caused
nublic anxiety and a .iust demand that a recurrence
of such a condition or affairs should
not be permitted.
In conclusion, I commend to the wise care
and thoughtful attention of Congress
the needs, the welfare, and the aspirations
of an intelligent and generous
nation. To subordinate these to the
narrow advantages of partisanship, or the
accomplishment of selfish aims, is to violate
the people's trust and betray the people's interests.
But an individual sense of responsibility
on the part of each of us. and a stern
determination to perform our duty well,must
give us place among those who have aided in
their day and generation to the glory and
prosperity of our beloved land.
Grover Cleveland.
Washington, December 8,1885.
THE PUBLIC LANDS,
Figures oT Interest front Commissioner
Sparks' Iteporu
Commissioner Wm. A. J. Sparks, of tli9
general land office, in his annual report
places the sales, entries, and selections or
public land during the last fiscal year at 20,113,G63.37
acres and of Indian lands 881,850.'21
acre3, making a total ot 20.995,513.58 acres,
being a decrease, as compared with the year
1884, of 0,5:35,566.41 acres, and an increase
over the year 1883 of 1,5'J5,4?0.?8 acres.
The receipts from the disposals of public
lands are $7,(586,114.80; from sales of Indian
lauds, $933,483.52; a total of $8,619,598.32,
being a decrease, as compared with the year
1884, of $4,159,532.01, and with 1883 of $V
080,167.33, to which is to be added *8,8-21.86
for certified copies of records furnished by
the general land oSce, making the total receipts
for the year from all sources $3,628,4*20.18.
The commissioner reports that the vast machinery
of the land department appears to
have been devoted to conveying the lands of
the United States upon fraudulent entries
under strained constructions of the imperfect
land laws and upon illegal claims under public
and private grants. He also charges that
"depredations upon public timber are universal,
flagrant ana limitless," and declares that
wise and speedy measures should be adopted
for the preservation of the forests. The
commissioner also recommends that the
Homestead law be so amended as to provide
that the public lands of the United States,
other than mineral and reserved timber
lands, shall be disposed of only under its provisions,
and that these be strengthened to secure
actual inhabitancy, improvement and
cultivation, as precedent conditions to the acquisition
of any rights there under, and absolutely
prohibiting and rendering nugatory
for any purpose whatever any sale or transfer
of the homestead privilege, or of any
title derived or to be derived thereunder prior
to the issue of patent. The law should
provide for substantial and not merely pro
forma proofs, and applications and proofs
should not be permitted to be made before
any other officer than the land officers of the
United States.
ARMY AFFAIRS,
Resume o? the Annnal Report of
Secretary Endicott.
In submitting his annual report to the
President Secretary Endicott states the expenditures
for the year ending June
30, 1SS5, at $45,850,999.54. Ho estimates the
next fiscal year at $48,204,183, reduced
from a schedule presented to him which
called for nearly double the amount At
last reports from the lieutenant-general the
army consisted of 2,154 officers and 24,705
enlisted men. He then gives in detail the
operations of the troops on the frontier. The
Oklahoma country was freed from invaders
without bloodshed, and the effect has been to
restore quiet among the Iudians. Other slight
J;-1??1 ? -? fw l\np r\f A ri.
uisiurua.liu.*3 auiuii^ tuc liiuiau Uiuw v??. u..
zona and New Mexico were easily quelled by
the presence of troops. He commends to the
consideration of the President the policy of
concentrating troops and putting large garrisons
in the vicinity of large cities as a measure
of economy, the present railroad facilities
being ample to transport them to the
frontier speedily when needed.
The acting judge-advocate-general reports
2,3~J8 courts-martial during the year and 674
convictions for desertion.
Attention is called to the defenceless condition
of our seacoast aud lake frontier. Estimates
under this head have been restricted
to the sum required for the repair and modification
of existing works and torpedoes for
harbor defense, but a short appropriation
does not allow the department to do more
than place in serviceable condition the heavy
gun? and mortars in the harbors.
Mention is made of the Grant relics presented
to the government by Mrs. Grant at
the request of Mr. Vanderbilt. These a^e
now stored in the war department, where
they will remain until Congress officially accepts
the gift and directs what disposition
shall be made of it
In conclusion Mr. Endicott asks that Congross
provide for an assistant secretary of
war, as there is no olRcer in the department,
asjnow organized, who can assist the secretary
in his duties and act in his absence.
T.AFT! r>TSASTFR&
unuu
A Year's Kccord of tlie Number of
V cmlri and Lives Lost*
Tho table of disasters to lake shipping during
the year of 1SS3, just published, show
that sixty vessels wore lost during the years
involving a loss of $1,010,200. Of these,
twenty-two were steam and thirty-eight
Bailing vessels. Twenty-two went ashore and
grounded to pieces, nineteen were destroyed
by fire, fourteen foundered, four capsized,
and were broken up by seas, and one was
blown into splinters by tho explosion of her
boilers. Twenty-five were wrecked on Lake
Michigan,ten on Lake Huron,six on Lake Su<
perior.six on Lake Erie, and thirteen on Lake
Ontario. In these disasters seventy-four
lives were lost The most notable di-aster
was tho wreck of the Algoma at Isle Royal,
Lake Superior, on November 7, by which
forty-eight lives were lost.
The renobsco't tribe of Indians in Maine
have a representative in the State legislature
to look alter their interests, but he is not entitled
to vote. The Indians number 500 and
do not desire fall citizenship.
A man in Stewart county, Ga., recently
found on his place a gourd four feet six inches
long and about as broad. He hollowed it
out. put rockers on it, and now it serves as a
cradle for his baby.
Dr. Albert Thompson*, a young Irish physician,
has been presented with tho Albert
aiadal for removing poison in a case of diphhoria
by sucking it away.
s treasury: ;
First Annual Report of Secretary
Manning.
Eeceipts and Expenditures?Silver
and Tariff Questions
The annual report of the secretary of the
treasury embraces fifty-eight pages of printed
matter, and is accompanied by a special report
of fifty-six pages on the collection of
customs duties.
The ordinary revenues of the government,
for the fiscal year 1885 tvere $323,690,700, andthe
ordinary expenditures (including sinking:
lUUUf if^iv vvv,/)vvv)*/,w) ?v%?. ?jjj ym
surplus or 817,859,7:35. As compared with
the preceding year there was a decrease oi
$24,829,163 in revenue and an increase of:
$16,100,090 in expenditures.
The estimated revenues of the year 1S86 are
$315,000,000, and the estimated expenditures,
including sinking fund $290,750,000. For the
year 1877, however, the secretary estimates
that there will be a deficit of $24,589,552, the'
revenue remaining at $315,000,000 and the"
expenditures reaching $339,589,552. Of this
estimated increase of $49,000,000 in expendi*
tures, $19,000,000 is for pensions, $15,000,000
for the navy, and $4,000,000 for fortifications.
The interest bearing debt has been reduced
during the fiscal year $10,369,750, and now
stands at $1,260,778,162., including the Pacific
Railroad bonds ($64,623,512). The balance in.
the treasury of assets over liabilities has been
increased $58,053,702 since March 1, 1885, of
which $36,000,000 is silver coin, $16,000,000
gold coin, and $9,000,000 legal tender notek - "
Eighteen pages of the secretary's report are
given to a theoretical and historical discussion
of the silver question. The secretary
argues that the continued coinage of silver
dollars by arbitrary purchases of bullion
without reference to the public demand for
such dollars must eventually make the
United States a silver mono-metallic nation,
and put us out of harmony with the commercial
world, and tend to defeat international
bi-metalism. Ho opposes the project for ;
making a heavier dollar, since that would also
operate against international bi-metalism by
carrying us further away from the European
ratio, and because the adoption of a new
I w/vulJ 4-Ua r\Q mAra /IAI
1 CI LIU WUUIU Xii V Ol V O IUU Wiuiug VI. ax&itaw UV4"
lars. whereas we have more than enough already.
Stoppage of the coinage, in the secretary's
opinion, is the effectual and only
remedy for the evils existing and threatened.
On the subject of reform in taxation the
secretary says:
"Beside the reforms which are desirable for
the effective administration of any system of
taxation levied through imported merchandise,
and are indispnsable for the administration
of custom laws, which, like our own,
are a chaos rather than a system, I venture
to hope that in due season it will be the pleasure
of Congress to consider some other reforms,
upon which, as is requisite, all parties
may agree and that are of a different scope.
Like our currency laws, our tariff laws are a
legacy of war. If exigencies excuse their
origin, their defects are unnecessary after
twenty years of peace. They have been retained
without sifting and discrimination, although
enacted without legislative debate,criticism
or examination. A horizontal reduction
of ten per cent, was made in 1872, but was repealed
in 1875 and rejected in 1884. They
require at our custom houses the employment
of a force sufficient to examine, appraise, and
levy duties upon more than 4,182 different articles.
Many rates of duty begun in war
have been increased since, although the late
tariff commission declared them 'iniurious to .
the interests supposed to be benefited.1 and
said that a 'reduction would be conducive to
the general prosperity.' They have been retained,
although the long era of falling prices,
in the case of specific duties, has operated a
IQT-ITQ in bronco nf rates Thpv hftVfl hfiftll TfV
tained at an average ad valorem rate for the
last year of over forty-six per cent., which is
but two and a half per cent, less than the
highest rate of the war period, and is nearly
four per cent, more thau the rate before the
latest revision. The highest endurable rates
of duty, which were adopted 1862-4 to offset
internal taxes upon almost every taxable article,
have in most cases been retained now
from fourteen to twenty years after such internal
tax has been removed. They have
been retained while purely revenue duties
upon articles not competing with anything
Sroduced in the thirty-eight States have been
iscarded. They have been retained upon
articles used as materials for our own manufactures
(in 1884 adding $30,000,000 to their
cost) which, if exported, compete in other
countries against similar manufactures from
untaxed materials. Some rates have been retained
after ruining the industries they, were
meant to advantage. Other rates have been
retained after affecting a higher price for a
domestic product at home than it was sold
| abroad for. The general high level of rates
has been retained on the theory of countervailing
lower wages abroad, when, in fact,
the higher wages of American labor are at
once the secret and the security of our capacity
to distance all competition from 'pauper
labor' in any market. All changes have
left unchanged, or changed for the worse, by
new sdiemes of classification and otherwise,
a r>rvmnlir?/itpd. cumbrous, intricate CTOUD of
laws which are not capable of being administered
with impartiality to all our merchants.
As nothing in the ordinary course of business
is imported unless the price here of the*
domestic, as well as the imported, articled
higher by the amount of tne dutV and the
colt of sea-transit than the price abroad, the \
preference of the taxpayer for duties upon
articles not produced m the United States is
justified by the fact that such duties cost him
no more than __the treasuix of his country
gets. As~~fbr duties affecting articles that are
also produced in the United States, the first
to be safely discarded are those, upon materials
used by our own manufactures, which
now subject them to a hopeless competition at
home and abroad, with the manufacturing
nations, none of which' taxes raw materials.
It is not to be doubted that in any reform
which shall finally receive the approval of the
two houses of Congress, they will maturely
consider and favorably regard the interests
which can only gradually and carefully be
adjusted, without loss, to changes in the legislative
conditions for their advancing prosperity.
With this view, I have invited in
some 2,000 circular letters to our manufacturers
and merchants, their enlightened col'mrtnAirnmonf
/vf /Ml** flcool
UjXfi iltlVLl 1U IUU V T CU4CUV Vi. VU* AW^CM
policy, and the replies received will hereafter
be submitted to the consideration of Congress.
LIFE-SAVING SERVICE.
The usual beneficent results have attended
the operations of this service during the year.
The number of stations in commission at the
close of the year was 203. The number of
disasters to documented vessels reported by
the district officers to have occurred within
their field of action is 256. The niunber of
persons on board these vessels was 2,206,
of whom 2,196 were saved and ten lost.
The value of the property involved is
estimated at $4,604,455, of which $3,352,760
was saved and $1,251,695 lost. The number
of vessels totally lost was fifty-six. There
were beside 115 disasters to smaller ci-aft,
such as sailboats, rowboats, etc., on which
were 233 persons, 232 of whom were saved
and one last. The value of property involved
in these minor disasters was $29,925, of which
$20,823 was saved and $3,102 lost.
PUBLIC BUILDINiS.
During the last year work has been in
progress upon forty-nine buildings, under the
direction of the supervising architect. Congress
at its last session authorized the erection
of, aud made appropriation for, thirty-one
new buildings in various parts of the country,
making, practically eighty new buildings,
ranging iu cost, of construction
from $25,000 to $1,500,000, upon which preparatorv
or active work of construction nas
I >0011 prosecuted. IHU LUUH ca|a;uiuiuic9
during tho year upon new buildings, including
sites, aggregate $1,438,709.94; 5for repairs
and preservation of public buildings, $175,004.39;
for heating apparatus and repairs to
same, elevators, vaults, safes, locks, storage
of silver dollars, etc., $109,800.74..
Tall Shanter, tho six-foot Navajo Indian
chief who called ou the President the other
day, is handsome, wears high-heeled boot*
and clothing of the latest fashionable cut and
has his hair put up in a French twist, giving
him a rather effeminate look.
General Grant and Bishop Simpson, of
the Methodist Episcopal church, were first
cousins. Tho bishop's father and tho general's
mother were brother and sister, Their
father and mother were Irish, from County
Tyrone.
Sagasta, at present prime minister to the
Queen Regent of Spain, Christina, was at
the head of Amadeo's cabinet in 1ST I and
1S72. IIo afterward supported Castelar,
and was directly connected with the events
which seated Alfonso on tho throne
t