The Portland daily press., 1875-12-08


OF allegiance, the United States has enacted no pro-
visions OF law, and in respect marked out how
and when expatriation may be accomplished by its
citizens Instances are brought to the attention Of
the government where citizens of the United States
either naturazed or natural born, have formally be-
come citizens subjects OF foreign powers, but who,
nevertheless in the absence Of any provisions Of leg
isation on this question. when involved in difficult
ties or when 1t seemed to be their interest," claim to
be citizens of the United States and demand the in
tervention OF a government which they have long
since abandoned and to which for years they have
rendered no service nor held themselves in any way
amenable. In other cases natura zedfcitizens i'm
mediately after naturalization, have returned to
their native country, have become engaged in busi-
ness, have accepted Offices or pursuits inconsistent
with American citizenship, and evince intent to
return to the United States until called upon to dis
charge some duty to the country where they
siding, when at once they assert their citizenship
and call upon the representadvesof Of the government
to aid them in their unjust pretensions.
1t is but justice to all bona de citizens that
doubt should exist such questions and that Con-
gress should determine by enactment Of law how er
patriaton may be accomplished and change of citi-
zenshp be established.
American Women Married to Foreigners
also invite your attention to thenecessity of reg
may marry foreigners, and of defining more fully
that of children born in a foreign country OF Ameri-
can parents who may reside abroad, and also OF
some further provisions regulating or giving legal
effect to marriages Of American citizens contracted in
foreign countries. The correspondents submitted
| herewith shows few Of the constantly occurring
questions these points presented to the consdero
ton of the government. There are few subjects 20
engage the attention Of Congress on which more del
icate relations or more important interests are de-
| pendent.
The State Department.
In the month Of July last the building creed for
the Department Of State taken possession Of and
| occupied by that department. am happy to
nounce that the archives and valuable papers of the
| government in the custody Of that department
are now safely deposited and properly cared for.
Receipts Of she Treasury.
The report of the Secretary Of the Treasury shows
the receipts from customs for the fiscal year. ending
June goth, 1874 to have been s16a ios and for
the fiscal year ending june 3oth 1876 TO have been
S157 35-a decrease for the last hsc year Of
1886 Receipts from internal revenue for the
year ending June 3oth, 1874, were S1o2, 400 Tsiso
and for the year ending June 3oth, 1878, s1iO
0O7 ,4s35s-ncrease 1851 7Os.6s. The report also
shows complete history Of the working Of the de-
partment for the last year and contains recommend
ations for reforms, for legislation, which concur in
but cannot comment on so fully as should like to
do If space would permit, but win conne myself to
few suggestions which look upon as vital to the
best interests Of the whole people coming withinth
| review Of Treasury
Resumption Of Specie Psymcnss.
| Imean specie resumption. Too much stress can
not be put this question, and hope Congress may
be induced at the earliest day practicable to insure
the consummaion Of the act of the last Congress at
the last session to bring about specie resumption
and after the 1st day Of January, 1879 at the FUR
thest. 1t would be blessing If this could be con-
summated even at an earlier day Nothing seems to
be more certain than that permanent reaction
not take place in favor Of the industries and financial
welfare of the country until we return to measure
Of recognized standard throughout the civilized
world. While we use currency not equivalent to
this standard, the worlds recognized standard, spe
1 Gle becomes commodity like the products Of the
SOIL the surplus seeking market wherever there Is
| a demand for it. Under our present system we
should want none nor would have any were 1t not
that customs dues must be paid in coin and because
the pledge to pay interest Of the public debt In coin
The yield of precious metals would flow out for the
purchase of foreign productions and leave the United
States hewers of wood and drawers OF water because
of wiser legislation or the subject of finance by the
nations with whom we have dealings. am not pre-
pareu 70 can suggest tne Dest leGl5ht0n
| secure the end most heartily commended. tf
1t will be source Of great qualification TO me to
be able to approve any Of Congress looking ef
fectively towards securing resumption. Unlimited
imitation would probably bring about specie pay
ments more speedily than any legislation looking to
the redemption of legal tenders in con but would
be at the expense of honor The legal tenders would
have value beyond settling present liabilities,
properly speaking, repudiating them. They would
buy nothing after debts were all settled.
Resumption Measures Suggested.
There are few measures which seem to meImpor-
l tant in this connection and which commend to
| your earnest consideration.
First-A repeal of such Of the legal tender act as
makes these notes receivable for debts contracted AZ
ter date to be fixed in the act ITSELF say not later
than the 1st of January, 1877. We should then have
quotations at real values not fictitious Gold
would be no longer at premium, but currency at q
discount. A healthy reaction would set in at once
and with it desire to make the currency equal 10
what it purports to be. The merchant, manufactur-
and tradesmen of every calling could do business
on fair margin of profit the money to be received
having an unavoidable value. Laboring and all
classes who work for stipulated pay or salary would
receive more for their income because extra profits
would no longer he charged by the capitalists to
compensate for the risk Of downward fuctuation In
l the value OF the currency.
Second-That the Secretary Of the Treasury be au-
| thorized to redeem say not more than two million
dollars monthly Of legal tender notes. but issuing in
their stead long bond bearing interest at the rate
of three and sixtyfve hundredths per cent. per
mum of denominations ranging from fifty dollars to
| one thousand dollars EACH This would in time re-
duce the legal tender notes to value that could be
kept afoat without de handing redemption in large
| sums. ...F ...5. .r.s..t.-
Third-That additional power be given to the Sec
retary of the Treasury to accumulate gold for final
redemption, either by increasing revenue. curtaing
expenses both. 1t is preferable to do bot h, and
recommend that reduction of expenditures be made
wherever 1t can be done without impairing govern
ment obligations or crippling the due execution
, | thereof. .....-l s-.i-f-
/ Suggestions for Increasing3fhe Revenne.
One measure for Increasing the revenue and the
only think Of is the restoration Of the duty on
tea and coffee. These duties would add probably
eighteen million dollars to the present amount re-
ceived from imports and would In ne way increase
the prices paid for those articles by the
These articles are the products Of countries collect
ing revenue from exports, and as we, the largest
consumers, reduce the duties they proportionaly In
crease them. With this addition to the revenue
many duties collected and which give but an In
significant return for the collection, might be remit
| ted and to the direct advantage Of consumers at
) home. would mention those articles which enter
into manufactures of all Sorts All duties paid upon
such articles go directly to the cost Of the articles
when manufactured here and must be paid for by
consumers. These duties not only come from the
consumers at home but act protection to foreign
manufacturers Of the sa1s completed articles in our
; own and distant markets. .--.-
Fraudulent War Claims. -
Twill suggest or mention another subject bearing
upon the problem of how the Secretary Of the Treas
ury to accumulate balances. It is to device som
better method of verifying claims against the gov.
ernment than present exists through the court Of
claims especially those growing out Of the late wsr
Nothngis certain than that very large percen
tage of the amounts passed and paid either who'll
fraudulent far in excess OF the real losses sus
tanned. The large amount Of losses proven on good
testimony, according to existing law, by aidavts OIL
fictitious unscrupulous persons to have been sus
tained small farms and plantations, are not only
far beyond the possible yield of those places for an,
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