The Portland daily press., 1874-12-09

larity which cannot be easily frittered away.
Sofar as the successful administration Of af-
fairs is concerned, this is an immense advan-
tage. So far as it is help to future victories
it is of small account Gen. Dix was chosen
Governor in 1872 by over. so, 900 majority. His
management of the state government
was SO entirely acceptable, that the
people of all parties expressed their salts
faction. Aud yet that did not prevent his be-
ing defeated by about the same majority, in
The late canvass That, however,-is one of the
incidents of popular suffrage. He goes out of
Office with reputation not one whit impaired
by the adverse result of the election, and will
be remembered ia history as one of the ablest
and purest Governors that has borne sway in
the Empire state. 4'd.asoQ 1h loa YARMOUTH,
Department Reports. q'naa 30
REPORT or THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
The Report of Secretary Brstow Mis SO
long that it is impossible to publish it at length
any further than his opinions on the currency
question. The Secretary takes strong ground
infavor of specie payments, but sets forth no
definite plan for reaching the same. He re-
,commends the repeal osf, the legal-tender act at
apdexcept as to official salaries and ordinary
expenditures of the Government under the ex-
listing appropriations. The Secretary recon-
-mends that authority be given for the immedi-
ate issue of convertible bonds bearing low
rate of interest," He asks that day may be
fixed for the resumption OF specie PAYMENT not
more distant than three years; at the end of
that time, the Secretary to be authorized to
orase gold by selling bondsin such amounts as
may become necessary from time to time to
keep the Treasury in condition to redeem
greenbacks as presented. The Secretary recon-
.meuds free banking as a part of the
plan, for the resumption of the specie pay
meut, but this. branch of the subject
is not elaborated. 1t is recommended that the
fractional currency be replaced by silver and to
accomplish this the Secretary desires to set all
the mints at work coming silver, and as rapidly
as it is produced, the fractional currency TO be
recalled and destroyed, beginning with the
smallest denomination The Secretary also
asks that coming gold be made as free in the
United States as it is in London, in order to
prevent the expectation OF bullion for coin
ing. oa 9a .7isir soN'h'-'aA ".i'' -'''' '-''
% The Secretary treats the revenue and its
sources at length OaAaccount OF the depres-
sion of business and changes in the tariff, the
tariff receipts have fallen off nearly 100000
during the fiscal year, end ing June 80, 1874,
compared with the year previous. The receipts
from the internal revenue show a decrease of
Si1 1,430,7 as compared with the previous year.
He recommends that the internal tax be taken
off of shank checks, watches, cosmetics, and
drugs, aud to meet this loss recommends an in
crease of the whiskey tax ten cents a.
gallon This will give little more
thans1 ahe articles above enumerated
} The practical workings of putting tea and
coffee on the free list have been fully examined
by the Treasury Department. Carefully pre-
pared tables of prices in foreign markets. and
prices TO consumers for the period subsequent
TO taking off the tax, show that, while the
country lost from S6,000,000 to So, 090, 600
from the decrease of revenue on this account,
the removal of the tax simply added to the
price in the foreign markets and has not bene'
fited the consumer here in the least. The Sec
rotary recommends the restoration of this tax.
The attention of Congress is called to the great
e. danger to the revenue attending all attempts
to, modify the penalties which have heretofore
existed, by which the Treasury has sought to
enforce customs regulations. The Secretary is
desire its restoration in any shape, but he ex-
presses serious doGbts whether any benefit has
followed the modification of the penalties for
violations of the customs regulations. He
thinks that it is. necessary at present 10 treat
the tariff purely as question of revenue. ual
Great economy is recommended in the ex-
penditures for public buildings The Secretary
recommends that Congress go over the appro-
priations and estimates for these works with
great care, with view of reducing some and
wholly suspen6iDg others. He expresses the
belief that the needs of the Government do not
require such elaborate and costly structures as
have of late been erected, but that palmer. and
at the same time substantial, buildings will
answer every purpose aud save many millions.
He thinks there is needless extravaganza in the
furnishing of public buildings and that much
greater economy should be practsed in all di-
Tections. IN regard to this matter, he has
transmitted estimates, which have already been
carefully revised, but he earnestly requests
Congress to unite with him in scanning them
still more closely, with a view to their further
reduction. The force of the Department has
been reorganized, and diminished exactly in
accordance with the laws and appropriations of
last session, but the Secretary thinks the lowest
limit of etonomy consistent with the prompt
and efficient performance of the public business,
has not yet been reached. As to all plans for
increasing the public Indebtedness by aiding
private enterprises of any kind. the Secretary
does not believe that the present condition of
the Government justifes extending aid in aOy
form. @'''ii-
During the year the gold coinage, including Z
recoined pieces, was $50, ,442, 500; silver coinage.
$685. 6O1; gold bars stamped, $31, ,4S5 S1S; sill.
q
age of Si5 193 $50 90 of silver SO O37 805 So of
gold bars $10,816,OS6 81, compared with the 4
previous fiscal year, Itis estimated that the
country has gained $38, 100000 in specie and
bullion the past two fiscal years, and that the
stock of specie in the country is about $780,
000,000. = p -.. b. ,.-,.. r.... .fl ..ra,,l 5al I
=. The Secretary observes but little improve
ment in our carrying tIade. In 1872 over 76
per cent. of our carrying trade was done by
H. Lat .-SU
per cent. was SO performed. The tonnage of 4
The United States appears to be S00,625 tons
an increase during the fiscal year of 104, ,625 /
Tbo real increase was more than double that
amount, as canal boat tonnage, amounting to
133,e65 tons, has been dropped from the returDs I
The Secretary commends the Life Saving
Service. There are % stations. The operations
are reported as follows: Number of wrecks /
1O2; number of lives imperlled 1907; number 1
saved 1904; value of property imperled 49,,
685, ,936; value of properly saved S2,758, ,2S1. E
The lighthouse service reports 546 lighthouses:
% light-ships; AZ fog-sigaals; 2S2 beacons; 1865
buoys. /
-'1 REPORT OF SECRETARY DELANo 4
The report of the Secretary of the Interior .
deals atlength with the Indian question He 4
is gratifed al the results of the peace policy /
and recommends the extension of the home 4
stead law to Indians, with certain important |
notifications He notes the progress towards I
civilization, of several Tribes, and warmly advo- I
Gates legislation to encourage its Continuance I.
aud acceeration.
During the year 9,53o.S72 acres of the public I
lands have been disposed Of. OF this amount I
351s,66l acres navc been takeu by homestead
entries, and s. 2G4 3i4 certified to railroads The |
cash receiptsre less than last year by 1898 SIT. 4
The amount OF lard certitieJ to railroad COM 4
lpanies during the previous year was G083.537 |
acres, 4
The operations of the Patent Office during 4
the year ending September 80, 1874: show a l
large increase over those OF the preceding year.
The NUMBER of applications. inclusive of re-
issues and designs were 21,077, of which 10, $40 |
were allowed; 220 applications for extensions
We're filed, of which 20S were granted: and 3
$50 patents were allowed, but not issued on ac-
count OF failure to pay the tiual fees six hund-
red and ninety-six applications for trademarks
and labels have been filed, of which 5S3 wele
granted registration The total amount of fees