Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-12-13
LANCASTER. WISCONSIN, THURSDAY. DECEMBER IS 1877.

While the aggregate of taxes should not be
increased, amendments might be made to the
revenue laws that would, without dimini shing
the revenue, relieve the people from unneces-
sary burden. The tax or tea and coffee, is
shown by the experience not only OF our own
country but of other countries, 20 be easily
collected without loss oy under valuation or
/ freud, and largely borne in the country of
production. A tax of ten cents pound on
tea and two cents per pound on coffee. would
produce revenue exceeding $4,000, 900, and
thus enable Congress to repeal multitude OF
taxes yielding revenue not exceeding that
sum. The internal.revenue system grew on,
of the necessities of the war, and most of the
legislation imposing taxes on domestic pro-
ducts under this system has been repealed.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| forms of internal taxation may be repealed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. Attention is also called to the necessity
| of enacting more vigorous laws for the pro.
lection OF the revenue and the punishment of
| frauds and smuggling. This can best be done
by judicious provisions that wilt iuduee the
disclosure of attempted fraud by undervalua
| ton and smuggling. All revenue laws should
| be simple in their provisions aud easily UNDER
stood So far as practicable the rates of tax
alton should be IN the form of specific duties
and not ad vaIorem, requiring the judgment OF
experienced men to ascertain values and ex-
posing the revenue to the temptation of fraud.
MY attention has been called during the
recess of Congress to the abuses existing IN
connection with the customs, and strenuous
exertions have been made for correction by
Executive orders. The recommendations
submitted to the Secretary OF the Treasury by
a commission appointed to examine into the
collection of custom duties at the port of New
York contain many suggestions for the modi-
fication of the custom laws, to which the at
tention of Congress is invited. It's a matter
of congratulation that notwithstanding the Sc
we're burdens caused by the war, the public
faith with all creditors has been preserved, and
as the result of this policy the public credit
| has continuously advanced, and our public Sc
curities are regarded with the highest favor
in the markets of the world. trust that no
act of the Government will cast g shadow up
on this credit.
The progress of refunding the public debt
has been rapid and satisfactory under the con-
tract existing when entered upon the dis
charge of the duties of my office. Bonds
bearing interest at the rate of Al per cent. were
being rapidly sold, and within three months
| the aggregate sales of these bonds had re ached
| the sum Of S2O0, 1000, 900. With my sanction
the Secretary of the Treasury entered into a
| new contract for the sale of a per cent. bonds,
and within thirty days after the popular sub
scription for such bonds was opened, sub
| scriptions were had amounting to $75,496, 800
which were paid for within ninety days after
| the date of subscription By this process.
| within but little more than one year the annual
| interest on the public debt was reduced 49,
775,000.
recommend provision TO be made to en-
able the people to easily conve IT their savings
into Government securities as the best mode
in which small savings may be well secured
and yield a moderate interest. 1t is an object
of public policy to let remain among our own
people securities of the United States. In
this way our country is guarded against their
sudden return from foreign countries, caused
| by war or other disturbances beyond our
| limits. The commerce of the United States
with foreign nations, and especially the ex.
port of domestic productions, has of late year.
ly largely increased, but the greater portion
of this trade is conducted in foreign vessels
The Importance ofenlarging our f reign trade,
and especially by direct and speedy inter.
change with the countries on this continent
cannot be over estimated, and il is matter of
great moment that our own shipping should
receive TO the utmost practical extent the ben
eft of our commerce with other lands These
considerations are forciby urged by all the
| large commercial cities of the country, and
public attention is generally and wisely al
tracted to the solution of the problems they
present. II is not doubted that Congress will
take them up in the broades spirit of liber-
ality, and respond to the public demand by
practicable legislation upon this subject
THEA ARMY.
The report of the Secretary of war shows
that the army has been actively employed
during the year, and has rendered very i'm
portant service in recent hostiities in the In
dian country, and protecting life and proper ty
in the interior, as well as along the Mexican
border. A long and arduous campaign has
been prosecuted with final complete success
against the Nez Perces tribe of Indians. A
full account of this campaign will DE found in
the report of the General of the army Il will
be seen that in its course several battles were
fought in which number of gallant officers
and men lost their lives. join with the Sec
rotary of War and the General of the army in
awarding to the officers and men employed in
the long and toisome pursuit, and in the final
capture of these Indians, the honor and praise
which is so justly their due.
THE LABOR RIOTS
The very furious riots which occurred in
several of the States in nly last rendered nee
essary the employment of possible portion
OF the army TO preserve the peace and main
tain order in the States of West Virginia,
Maryland, Pennsylvania and Illinois. These
disturbances were so formidable as TO defy
the local and State authorities, and the national
executive was called upon in the mode pro-
vided by the constitution and laws to furnish
military, and am gratifed to be able to state
that the troops sent in response to these calls
for aid in the suppression of domestic violence
were able, by their presence in the disturbed
regions, 10 preserve the peace and restore or
der yUth0uf IA If uto II
charge of this delicate and important duty
both officers and men acted with prudence and
courage, and for their services deserve the
thanks of the country. The disturbances
along the Rio Grande in Texas, to which
have already referred, have rendered necessary
the employment of a military force in that
vicinity. A report of all the recent military
operations 10 that quarter has been transmit
ted to the House of Representatives in an
swer to resolution of that body and it will
not therefore be necessary to enter into de.
tails. regret to say that these lawless excur-
sions into our territory by armed bodies from
the Mexican side Of the river, for robbery,
have been of frequent occurrence, and in spite
OF the most vigorous efforts of the commander
OF our forces the marauders have generally
succeeded in escaping into Mexico with their
plumber. In May last gave orders for the
exercise of the utmost vigilance on the part
OF our troops Tor the suppression of these raids
and the punishment of the guilty parties, as
well as the recapture of the property stolen
by them. Gen. Ord commanding in Texas,
was directed TO invite the cooperation of the
Mexican authorities in efforts to this end, and
assure them that was anxious to avoid CIV
ing the least offense. AT the same time he
was directed to Civ e notice of my determine
ton to put an end TO the invasion of our terri
tory by lawless bands intent upon the plunder
of our peaceful citizens, even if the effeetual
punishment OF the outlaws should require the
crossing of the border by our troops in their
pursuit. 1t is believed that this policy has
mad the effect to check somewhat these raids,
and that with a considerable increase of our
force upon that frontier, and the establishment
of several additional military posts along the
Rio Grande, so as more effectually 10 guard
that extens re border, peace may be preserved,
and the lives and property OF the citizens of
Texas fully protected.
Prior TO the first day of July last the army
was in accordance TO law reduced to the max
imum of 25, 900 enlisted men being reduc-
ton of $500 below the force previously au-
thorized. This reduction was made as re-
quired by Law entirely from the infantry and
artillery branches of the service, without any
reduction of the cavalry. Under the law as it
now stands IL is necessary the cavalry regi-
ments be recruited to 100 men in each compa-