The Portland daily press., 1872-12-03

Venezuela authorities, and having been &C.
knowledged- pursuant to treaty in the most
solemn form known among nations, 1t would
seem to deserve preference over debts of
different origin and contracted in different
manner. This subject is again recommended
to the attention of Congress for such action as
may be deemed proper.
JAPAN AND OUR COMMERCE. WITH THE EAST.
Our treaty relations with Japan remain un-
changed. An important embassy from that In
tereSting and progressive nation visited this
conn try during the year that is passing, but be-
ing unprovded with powers for the signing of
Convention in this country, no conclusion in
that direction was reached. 1t is hoped, how
ever, that the interchange OF opinions which
took place during their stay in this country has
led to a mutual appreciation of the interests
which may be promoted when the revision of
the existing treaty shall be undertaken. In this
connection i renew my recommendation OF one
year ago, that to give Importance and to add to
the efficiency of our diplomatic relations with
Japan and China, and to further aid in retain
ing the good opinion of these people and secure
to the United States its share of the commerce
destined to flow between those nations and the
balance of the commercial world, an approprla-
ton be made to support at least four American
youths in each of these countries TO serve as
part of the official family of our ministers there.
Our representatives would not even then be
placed upon an equality with the representa-
tives of Great Britain and of some other DOW
ers as now situated Our representatives in
Japan and China have to depend for interpre-
tiers and translatOrS upon the natives of those
countries who know our language imperfectly,
or procure for the occasion the services of EN-
ployeS i'll business houses or the Interpreters of
other foreign ministers.
CHANGE OF BUSINESS IN DEPARTMENTS.
L renew the recommendation made on pre-
viOus. occasion, of the transfer to the Depart
ment of the Interior to which they seem more
appropriately to belong of all the powers and
duties i'll relation to the territories with which
the Department of State is now changed by
law or by custom.
CARE FOR CITIZENS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
Congress from the beginning of the Govern
ment has wisely made provision for the relief
of distressed seamen in foreign countries. No
similar provision has, however, hitherto been
made for the relief of citizens in distress
abroad other than seamen. 1t is understood to
be customary with other Governments to- au-
thorize consuls to extend such relief to their
citizens or subjects in certain cases.
A similar authority and an appropriation are
recommended for citizens of the United States
destitute or sick under such circumstances. 1t
is well known that such citizens resoYs and for
elgn counties in great numbers Though most
of them are able to bear the expenses incident
to locomotion there are some who, through &C
cident or otherwise, become penniess to have
no friends at home able to succor them Per-
sons in this situation must either perish, cast
themselves upon the charity of foreigners or be
relieved at the private charge of our own off
GERS who usually, even with the NEST benevo-
lent dispositions, have nothing to spare for
such purposes. Should the authority and ap-
preparation asked for be granted, care will be
taken to SO carry the benificence of Congress
into effect that it shall not be unnecessarily or
unworthily bestowed.
l. TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
The moneys received and conveyed into the
| Treasury during the fiscal year ending June
10. 1872 from 1D1f 270 1Q6
from sales of public lands, $2,575, 71419; from
internal revenue, $130, 642, HIP; from tax on
net bank circulation, &C., S6 ,523, 396.39; from
Pacific Railroad Company, s$749, 1861 81; from
consular patent, land &C., s., 2S4, 09592; from
miscellaneous sources 81, 49,, 254 H. Total or
binary receipts, 1864 694 ,229 81; from premiums
on sales Of coin S9,4l2 1896; total nett re-
ury, June 80, 1871, $109, 935, 7O5 IS, Including
| 1S,22S.35 received from unavailable sources;
total available cash, S484, 042, 573.15
The net expenditures by warrants during the
same period were: for civil expenses SIG, 1884,
0597O: for foreign intercourse 81 1889, 1863. IA !;
Indians, $7,061 1882; Pensions, $685. $50, 4O2 76
for military establishments, including fortifca-
tions river and harbor Improvements and arse
nails, $35, 372, 157.20; for naval establishments,
including vessels and machinery, and improve
nents at navy yards. $2l ,249, S09.99; for mscel-
laneous, and including public buildings. light
houses, and collecting revenue, $42, 958 1923 08
| interest on the public debt, Sill, 357 1892.
| Total exclusive of principal and premium on
| public debt, $270,559 Cos 81 for premium on
bonds purchased, SO, 95S, 266. rs; for redemption
| of public debt, $99,960 25354; total, SlO6,91S,
5000; total net disbursements, S377 AIS, 216.2l.
| Balance in the Treasury, June 80, 1872, S1S,-
564, 1864; total, S4s4, 042, 573.1 Is.
From the foregoing statement it appears that
the net reduction of the principal Of the debt
during the fiscal year. ending Junes3O, 1872,
was 500, $50, 253.54. The source of the reduc-
| tion is as follows: net ordinary receipts during
the year, 1854 ,694, 229 91 net ordinary expendi-
| lures, including interest on the public debt,
$270, 559 695.91, leaving 1914, 1874 ,534 Co., add the
amount received from premiums sales of
| gold in excess of the premiumsj paid on bonds
purchased, S2.454, 370,89; add the amount of the
| year, accompanied with the same at the COM
mencement of the year, 1881, 348.65, total,
| 1896, $3.50 ,25354.
This statement treats solely of the principal
of the public debt. BY the monthly statement
of the public debt, which adds together the
principal and interest due and unpaid and in
| terest accrued to date due, and deducts the cash
in the treasury, as ascertained on the day of
| publication, the reduction was $780, 544 ,491 %.
| The source of the reduction was as follows
Reduction in principal account, 800 1860, O03.54;
reduction in unpaid interest account, So, 1880,
1926, total $103, 290, $3.50; reduction in cash
GA hand, $2746,64522, total, 800, 544, 491. %.
On the basis of the last table, the statements
|
LIST of March, 1862 to March LIST, 1871. $S7, 134,
1924; from March LIST, 1870, to March LIST,
1871, Sill, 519,630.25; from March 1st 1871 to
March LIST, 1872, $94 1896, 34S 81; from March LIST,
1872 to Nov. LIST, 1872 (eight months), 1854, 047,
237s4, total, 1865, 500, 999.97.
NO IMMEDIATE REDUCTION OF TAXATION RE.
COMMENDED
With the great reduction of taxation by the
| acts of Congress at its last session, the expeu-
| diture of the government in collecting the rev.
enue will be much reduced for the next fiscal
year. 1t is very doubtful however whether any
upon any people will be practicable for the pres
ent. At all events, as measure of justice tc
the holders of the nations certificates of in
debtedness, 1 would recommend that no more
legislation be had on this subject unless it be tc
| correct errors of omission or commission in the
present laws, uLtil a sufficient time has elapsed
to prove that it can be done and still leave suffi
cient revenue to meet the current expenses OF
the government pay interest on the public deb
| and provide for the sinking fund established by
| law.
The preservation of our national credit is OF
the highest importance.
| THE CURRENCY.
Next in importance to this comes solemn
duty to provide a national currency of fixed
unvarying value as compared with gold, as soon
as practicable, having duesregard for the inter
ests of the debtor class and the vicsstudes of
par.
WAR DEPARTMENT
The report of the Secretary of War shows
the expenditures of the War Department for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1871 to be 1885,, 799,
991.S2; and for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1872, to be $35, 372 1920; leaving reduction
in favor of the last fiscal year'of $427, 1874. g.
| The estimates for military appropriations fol-
the next fiscal year, ending June 30, 1874, are
1913, SOL ,378.7S The estimates of the Chief of
Engineers are submitted separately for fortif-
cations, river and harbor Improvements, and
for public buildings and grounas and the Wash
ngton aqueduct.
The affairs of the Freedmen's Bureau have
| all been transferred to the War Department,
and regulations put into execution for the speedy
payment Of bounty, pay, &c, due colored sol
| ders' properly coming under that bureau.
All the war accounts for money and property
prior to 1871 have been examined and trans
| mitted to the treasury for final settlement
During the fiscal year there has been paid for
transportation on railroads 81 300 900, of which
$S00,S57 was over the Pacific railroads; for
transportation by water $626373 81, and by
stage $4S,975,S4, and for the purchase of trans
portation animals, wagons, hire Of teamsters,
&c, &c, 1924, 650Ga. About $4,000 have
been collected from Southern railroads during
the year, of the amount of $4,000,0O0 still due.
| The Quartermaster has examined and trans
mitted to the accounting officer for settlement
1867 172. Y of claims by loyal citizens for quar-
termaster's stores taken during the war.
Subsistence supplies to the amount of $780,
| 4S1. 90 have been issued to Indians
| 0The annual average mean strength of the
army was "a, 101 white and 2, 494 coored soldiers
The total deaths for the year reported were 367