The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-12-13

Treaty o,
applicable to the awards of the joint commission
created by that treaty. So long as these matters are
pending n oungress the Executive cannot assume
either to pass upon the Questions presented, or to
dist tribute the fund received.
t Is sndpsnss desirable that definite legisiaitys
to be final; or proyic.,g snne method for re-ex-
animation Of the claims. Itl' -
Southern American Nations.
Our relations with the republics of Central and
South AnaeEt1a and with the empire Of Brazil have
temporary interruption u diplomatic intercourse
with Venezuela and with GuateinEls: Amicable re-
ezuela, and it Is not doubled that gil grounds OF
misunderstanding with Guatemala win speedily be
favorable indications of disposition on the part Of
their Governments and people to recprocate our
efforts IN TIE direction ef increased commercial in
tercCurse- -e..
The Government OF the Samoan islands has cent
envoy, in the person of it's Secretary of State,
to invite the Government Of the United States
wise and ;Srctect their independence, to establish
commercial reistto.s with their people, and to as
regular se-3srnment The inhabitstts gf these
islands, sIaTing made considerable progfess IN
trade. are doubtful Of their ability to mairtain
peace and tnde ependepce without the aid of some
stronger power; he subject @ is deemed worthy of
sistance bf this distaat 5otnHuBjty viii Be carefully
considered
Foreign Commerce.
The long commercial depression In the United
States has directed attention to the subject
possible increase of our foreign trade and The
method for its development, not only with Europe
but with other countries, and especially with the
states and sovereignties of the Western hemisphere
Instructions from the Department of State were
issued to the various diplomatic and Consular of-
tention TO the question of methods by which trade
between the respective countries of their official
residences and the United States could he most ju-
diciously forwarded. In obedience to the iustruc-
tions, examinations and reports upon tfhs subject
have been made by many of these officers and trans
mitted 10 the department, and the submit
ted 10 the consideration of Congress.
National Finances
The annual report Of the SC cretary of the Treas
ury the state Of the finances preeents important
questions for the action of Congress, upon some OF
which have already remarked The revenues OF
the Government during the fiscal year ending June
80 1877, $3.50 tOO, ,5s6.62 The total e1pendt-
ing surplus revenue of s3o, SAC, SIT 60 This has
substantially supplied the requirements Of the sink
the current fiscal year $265 sO gO and the esti-
mated expenditures for the same period are $232,.
4so. e13 If these estimates prove @ to b be correct
amount nearly sufficient for the sinking fund for
this year.
The estimated revenues for the iieat fiscal yesr
$500. 5O,o0o 1t appears from the report tia,
during the last fiscal year the of the Gov
ernment, compared with the previous year, have
largely decreased. This decrease, amounting to
the sum of $1a,4Sl 49, 81, was mainly Ia customs
duties, caused partly by large falling off of the
/
the general fall of prices In the markets of produe
ton of such articles as pay ad valorem taxes
While this 1s felt injurious in the diminuion of the
revenue, 1t has been accompanied with very large
increase of Expectations. The total exports
during the last fiscal year, including coin
have been $658 637, ,457, and the imports have beer
S492 097540, leaving balance Of trade in favor
| the United States amounting to the sum Of 1856.
559eI7, the beneficial effects of which extend to ali
| branches of BUSINESS.
| $50 Revehue. --
! The estimated revenue for the next fiscal yea,
Will impose upon Congress the duty of strictly lin,
iting appropriations, including the requisite sun
for the maintenance of the sinking fund within the
aggre gate estimate of the receipts while the asgre
gate OF taxes should not be Increased. Amend
nents might be made to the Revenue laws tina
would, without diminishing the revenue relieve tn
| people from unnecessary burdens. ta1 On tea anf
coffee i shown by the experience, not only of ou
own country, but of other countries to be easi
collected without loss by undervaluation or fraud
10 Cents pound on tea and . per nount
On coffee would prod uce revenue exceeding s12
600 COO and thus enable Congress to repeal mutt
tude # annoying taxes yielding revenue not ex
ceeding that The internal-revenue system
grew out of the necessities Of the war, and O.
The legislation imposing taxes upon domestic pro
ducts under this system has been repealed. ..
the subst ution of tax on tea and coffee al
forms of internal taxation may be repealed, excep
that on whisky, spirits, tobacco and beer. Atten
ton is also called to the necessity of enacting NOR
vigorous laws for the punishment Of frauds ant
smuggling. This be best done by judiciou
provisions that viii induce the disclosure of at
tempted fraud by undervaluation and s1n1lgeIing q
Ali revenue laws should be simple in their provi
siors, and easily understood 80 far practcab.
the rates Of taxation should be In the form
fc duties, and not ad yalorem, requiring the tudg
Eent of experienced men to ascertain values ant
expos ing the revenue to the temptation of fraud.
Customs Abuses. rs
My attention has been called, dtlriug the recess
Congress, to the abuses existing in the collection
the customs, and strenuous efforts have been mad
for their correction by Executive orders. The rec
concentrations submitted to the Secretary of tn
Treasury by a commission appointed to examin
into the collection of customs duties at tie port
New York contain many suggestions for the fnod1f
cation of the customs laws to which the attention
Congress is invited
Public Credit.
1t is matter of congratulation that, notwith
standing the severe burdens caused by the war; tn
public faith with all creditors has been preserved
and the result of this policy the public credit ha
continuously advanced, and public securities re
gar6ed with the highest favor the markets of tn
world. trust that act Of the Government vii
cast shadow upon its credit. .-
The Public Debt.
The progress of re,unding the public debt ha
existing when / entered upon tine DISCHARGE Of tn
duties of my office, bonds bearing interest at tn
rate of ~ per cent were being rapidly sold, ans
within three months the Aggregate sales of thes
bonds had reached the cum of $500 O00, 900. e
With my sanction, the Secretary of the Treasur.
red into contract for the sale of 4-per
cent. bonds and within thirty days after the popu
lar subscription for such bonds opened sub
scTiptions were had amounting to $50, which
Were paid for within ninety days after the date O
subscription. By this process, within bat Dttl
more than year, the annual interest on the pub
lie debt was reduced in the sum Of So. It's, coo.
Savings Funds.
recommend that suitable provision be made t.
enable the people to easily convert their saving
into Coy, 1nInent securities, as the best mode ID
which small savings may be well-secured and yiel
moderate interest.
II is an object of public policy to retain anon
own people the securities of tne-United States
In this way our country Is guarded against thei
sudden return from countries, caused by war o
other disturbances beyond our limits.
American Shipping.
The commerce of the United States with foreig,
nations, and especially the export of domestic pro
ductions has of late years largely increased but tn
greater portion of this trade s conducted In foreis
vessels The Importance of enlarging our foreig7
trade, and especially by direct and speedy inter
change with countries this continent, cannot b
over-estinated- and it is matter of great momen
that our own shipping interest should receive, t
commerce with other lands. These consideration
forciby urged by all the large commercial cite
and wisely attracted to the solution of the problem
they present. 1t is not doubted that Congress vii
take them mp, in the broadest spirit o; Hberality
and respond to the pubic demand by PRACTICABLE
legislation upon this subject. -----
The Indian Wars.
| The report of the Secretary Of War shows that th
and has rendered very important service in repress
ing hostlities il the Indian country, and preservin
peace and protecting life and propeTt
Mexican border Z long and arduous cam
ppign has been prosecuted with final and oomplet
Stccess, against portion OF the Sez Perces tribe
Indians A full sccount of this campaign will b
found in the report of the General of the Army.
VIII be seen that in its course several battles
fought, in which a number Of gallant officers an
| men lost their lives. I join with the Secretary @
| War and General of the Army in awarding to th
officers and men employed the long and toilsom
pursuit and in the final capture of these Indians tn
khonor ana praise which are SO justly their due.
/ The Labor Riots.
The very serious riots which occurred IN seYers
of the States in July last rendered necessary tn
employment of considerable portion of the army
\ to preserve the peace and maintain order in tn
States of West Virginia Maryland, Pennsylvsnt
and Illinois. These disturbances SO formida
t-be to defy the local and State authorities, an
the National Executive WIS called upon, In the mod
~ dad fvff stiff