The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-12-06
Central and South America,


temporary interruption of diplomatic IN"
tercourse wi h Venezuela and with Qua
temala. Amicable relations have already
been fully restored with Venezuela, and
it is not doubted that all grounds OF mis-
understanding with Guatemala Will
speedily he removed.
From all these countries there are fa-
vorable indications of disposition on
the part of their Governments and peo-
pie to reciprocate our forts in the direc"
ton of increased commercial intercourse.
The Samoan Islands,
The Government of the Samoan Is
lands has sent an envoy in the person of
the Secretary of ST ate, to invite the Gov
ernment of the United States to recog-
nize and protect their independence, to
establish commercial relations with their
people, and assist them in efforts toward
a regulated and responsible Government
The inhabitants of these islands, having
made considerable pre- gress in Christian
civilization and the development oftrade
are doubtful of their ability to maintain
peace and independence without the aid
of some stronger power The subject is
deemed worthy of respectful attention,
and the claims upon our assistance by
this distant community viii! be carefully
considered.
Onr Foreign Trade.
The long commercial depression in the
United States has directed attention to
the subject of the possible increase ofOu
foreign trade and the method for its de-
velopment, not only with Europe, bnt
with other countries, especially with the
States and sovereigDties of the Western
Hemisphere. instructions from the De-
partment of State were issued to the var
ious Diplomatic and Consular officers of
the Government, asking them to devote
attention to the question Of the methods
by which trade between the respective
countries of their official residence and
the United States could be most juC ici-
ousIy fostered. In obedience to these
instructions, examinations and reports
upon this subject have been made by
many of these officers and transmitted
to The Departments, and the same are
submitted TO the consideration of Con-
gress.
Report Of the Secretary of the Interior,
The annual report of the Secretary of
the Treasury on the state of the finances
presents important questions for the ac-
tion of Congress, upon some of which [
have already remarked. The revenues
ofthe Goyernm, mt during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1877, were $269, 600 1862
The total expenditures for the same per-
iod were $23S, $50 00893, leaving sur
plus revenue of $3O,340 $3.50. This has
substantially supplied the requirements
of the sinking fund for that year The
estimated revenues of the current fiscal
year are $265, 500 900, and the estimated
expenditures for the same period are
S233 .430 643,72. If these estimates prove
to be correct. there will be surplus rev.
enue of $33 069 1885, De- an amount nearly
sufficient for the sinking fund for that
year. The estimated revenues for the
next fiscal year are $269,250,000. 1t APP
pears from the report that during the
last fiscal year the revenues Of the Gov
ernment compared with the previous
year, have largely decreased. This de-
crease, amounting to $l8, ,48l 1924, was
mainly in custom duties, caused partly
by large falling off of the amount of
im ported dutiabe goods, and partly by
the general fall of prices in the markets
of production of such articles as pay Gd
valorem taxes. While this is felt injuri-
ously in the diminution of the revenue,
it has been accompanied with very
large increase of expectation. The total
exports during the last fiscal year, in
Guiding coin have been $65S 637 457, and
the imports have been $492 097 $40, ,leav-
ing balance of trade in favor of the
United States amounting to the sum OF
$l66 5399l7, the beneficial effects of
which extend to all branches of business.
The estimated revenue for the next
year will impose upon Congress the duty
ofstriCtly limiting appropriations, inclu-
ding the requisite sum for the maintain
ance of the sinking fund within the ag-
gregate estimated receipts, While the
aggregate of taxes should not be inCreas-
ed, amendments might be made to the
revenue laws that would, without dimin-
ishing the revenue, relieve the people of
unnecessary burdens. A tax on tea and
coffee is shown by the experience of our
collected without loss by differentiation
or fraud, and largely borne in the count
ry of production. A tax of ten cents
pound on tea and two cents on coffee
would produce revenue exceeding ST.
100000 and thus enable Congress to re.
peal multitude of annoying taxes yield
ing revenue not exceeding that sum.
The internal revenue system grew out of
the necessities of the war, and most of
the legislation imposing tax on domes-
tic products under this system has been
repealed. By the substitution of tax
ON tea and coffee, all forms of internal
taxation may be repealed except that on
whisky, spirits, tobacco and beer.
Protection of the Revenue,
Attention is also called to the neces-
sity of enacting more vigorous laws for
the protection of the revenue, and for
the punishment of fraud and smuggling,
This can best be done by judiCious pro-
visions that will induce The disclosure of
fraud by differentiation and
All revenue laws should be
simple in their provisions and easily un-
uerStOOu. 30 lar as pTdCLlCdUle inc IdteS
of taxation should be in the form of spe-
cific duties, and not ad UaIoraa, requiring
the judgment of experienced men to as
certain values and not exposing the rev.
enue to the temptation of fraud. NV at
tention has been called during the recess
of Congress to the abuses existing in the
collection of the customs, and strenuous
efforts have been made for their Correc-
ton by Executive orders. The recon-
mendations submitted to the Secretary
of the Treasury by a commission appoint
ed to examine into the collection of GUS
toms duties at the port ofNew York con-
tain many suggestions for the modifca-
ton of the customs laws, to which the
attention of Congress is invited. 1t is
matter of congratulation that, notwith'
standing the severe difference caused by