Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-12-07

the last fiscal year the revenues of the Govern
ment, compared with the previous year, have
largely decreased This decrease. amounting TO
the sum of $lS,4S1, ,452.54, was mainly in Gus
toms duties, caused partly by a large falling Of
in the amount of imported dutiable goods, and
partly by the general fall of prices in the mar
kets of production of such articles as pay ad "a
torem taxes. While this is. felt injuriously, in
diminutiOn of the revenue, IL has been accompa-
MED with very large increase of expectations
The total exports during the last fiscal year, i'm
cluding coin have been 1868 637 ,457 and the inn
ports have been S4g2 097 $40 leaving balance of
trade in favor of the United States amounting TO
the sum of S166,539.9l7, the beneficial effects of
which extend to all branches of business. The
estimated revenue for the next hscal year Will
impose upon Congress the duty of strictly limit
ing appropriations, including the requisite sum
for the maintenance of the sinking fund within
the aggregate estimated receipts.
While the aggregate of taxes should not be in
creased amendments might be made to the Rev
enue laws that would, without diminishing the
revenue, relieve the people from an unnecessary
burden. tax on tea and coffee ls shown by the
experience not only of our own country, but OF
other countries, to be easily cOllected without
loss by differentiation and frand and largely
borne in the country of production. tax of
on coffee would produce a revenue exceeding
5l2,00O00O and thus enable Congress to repeal a
multitude of annoying taxes, yielding revenue
not exceeding that sum. The internal revenue
system grew out of the necessities of the war and
most of the legislation imposing taxes upon do
mestic 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repealed.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repealed except that which specifies tobacco and
beer.
Attention is also called to the necessity of en-
acting more vigorous laws for the protection of
the revenue and for the punishment of frauds
and smuggling. This can best be done by judi
ciOus provisions that will induce the disclosure
of attempted fraud by Smuggling. All revenue
laws should be simple in provisions and easily
understood. So far as practicable the rates of
taxation should be in the form of specific duties
and not dd UdtOren, requiring the judgment of
pXnprlpnPpd
ing the revenue to the temptation of fraud. My
attention has been called during the recess of
Congress to the abuses existing IN the customs,
and strenuous efforts have been made for their
correction by executive order. The recommends
tions submitted to the Secretary OF the treasury
by a commission appointed to examine into the
collections of customs and duties of the port of
New York contain many suggestions for the
modification of the customs laws, to which the
attention of Congress is invited.
BONDS.
1t is matter for congratulatlon that. not
withstanding the severe burdens caused by the
war the public faith with all creditors has
been preserved, and that as the result of this
policy, the, public credit has continuously adj
with the highest favor in the markets of the
world l trust that no act of the government
will cast a shadow upon its credit. The progress
of refunding the public debt has been rapid and
satisfactory. Under the contract existing when
| entered upon the discharge of the duties of my
office bonds bearing interest at the rate of A.
per cent. were being rapidly sold, and
within three months the aggregate sales
of these bonds had reached the sum OF -NNNUl,-
600. With my sanction the Secretary of the Treas
ury entered into a new contract for the sale of
per cent. bonds, and within thirty days after
the popular subscription Tor such bonds was
opened subscriptions were had amounting to
S76 496, 800 which were paid within ninety days
after the date of the subscription. By tins
process, within but little more than one year the
amount of interest on the public debt was re-
duced in the sum of S3,775,O00. l recommend
peope rT to easiy convert savings into Government
securities as the best mode in which small saw
ings may be well secured and yield moderate
interest. 1t is an object of public policy to re-
tain among our own people the securities of the
United States. In this way our country ls
guarded against their sudden return from foreign
countries. caused by war or otner ulsuluDances
beyond our limits.
The commerce of the United States with for
eign nations and especially the export of domes-
tic productions, has of late years largely in
creased. but the greater portion Of this trade If
conducted in foreign vessels. The Importance
of enlargng our foreign trade, and especially by
direct and speedy interchange with countries on
this continent, cannot be overestlmated, and 1t
is a matter of great moment that our own ship
ping interests should receive to the utmost prac-
teal extent the benefit of our commerce with
other lands. These considerations are torclbly
urged by all the large commercial cities of the
country, and public attention Is generally and
wisely attracted to the solution of the problems
they present. 1t is not doubted that Congress
will take them up in the broadest spirit of lber-
ality, and respond to the public demand by prac-
tical legislation upon this subject.
The report of the Secretary of War shows that
the army has been actively employed during the
year and has rendered very important service in
repressing hostilities in the Indian country and
preserving peace and protecting life and property
in the interior as well as along the Mexican bor-
der A long and arduous campaign has been
prosecuted with final complete success against
portion of the NeZ Perces tribe of Indians. A
full account of this campaign will be found in
the report of the General of the Army. 1t will
be that in its course several battles were
fought, in which a number of gallant officers and
men lost their lives. join with the Secretary of
War and the General of the Army in awarding to
the officers and men employed IN the long and
tOilsome pursuit and in the tnai capture of these
Indians the honor and praise which are so justly
their due.
Previous to July last the army was, in ac-
cOrdance with law, reduced to the maximum OF
q 900 enlisted men, being reductiou of. $500
below the force previously authorized. Ihs re-
duction was made, as required by law, entirely
from the infantry and artillery branches OF the
Pacific, without any reduction of the cavalry
Under the law as it now stands, 1t is necessary
that the the cavalry regiments be recruited to
100 men to each company, for service on the Mex
lean and Indian frontiers. The necessary effect
of this legislation is to reduce the infantry and
artillery arms of the service below the number
required for efficiency, and | concur with the
Secretary of War in recommending that authori-
ty be given to recruit all companies of infantry
to at least fifty and all batteries of artillery
to about seventy-ive men, with power IN case of
emergency to increase the former to 100 and the
latter to l25 men each. invite your special atten-
ton to the following recommendations OF the sec
retary of War: First, that provision be made
for supplying to the army more abundant and
better supply of reading matter; second. that
early action be taken by Congress looking to a
complete revision and republication OF the army
regulations; third, that Sec. l,25S of the Revised
Statutes, limiting the number of officers on the
retired list. be repealed; fourth that the claims
arising under the act of July T. 1864, for supplies
taken by the army during the war, be taken from
the offices of the Quartermaster and COmmlssary
Generals and transferred to the Southern Claims
Commission, some other tribunal having more
time and better facilities for their prompt in
VpgfI raj lnn
these officers; fifth that Congress- provide for an
annuity fund for the families of deceased sol
diers, as recommended by the Paymaster-General
of the Army.
THE RAILROAD STRIKE RIOTS.
Very serious riots which occurred in several of
the States IN July last rendered necessary the
employment of a considerable portion of the
army to preserve the peace and maintain order.
In the States of West Virginia, Maryland, Penn
sylYania and Illinois these disturbances We're so
formidable as to defy the local and State author
titles, and the National Executive was called up
on, in the mode provided by the Constitution
and laws, to furnish military aid and am graft
ned to be able to state that the troops sent in re-
sponse 70 these calls for aid in the suppression OF
domestic violence were able, by the influence of
their presence in the disturbed regions, to pre-
serve the peace and restore order without the use
of force in the discharge of this delicate and inn
pOrtant duty. Both officers and men acted with
great prudence and courage, and for their serv-
ices deserve the thanks of the country.
ALONG THE RIO GRANDE.
Disturbances along the Rio Grande, in Texas
to which have already referred, have rendered
necessary the constant employment of a military
force u that country. full report of all recent
military operations in that quarter has been
transmitted to the House of Representatives in
answer to resolution of that body, and II will
not therefore be necessary to enter into details.
L regret to say that these lawless incursiOns into
| our territory by armed bands from the Mexican
side of the line for the purpose of robbery have
been of frequent occurrence, and, i'll spite of the
! most vigorous efforts of the commander of our
forces, the marauders have generally succeeded
| in escaping into Mexico with their plunder. In
| orders
most vigilance on the part of our troops for
! the suppression of these raids and the punish
ment of the guilty parties as well as the re-
capture of property stolen by them. Gen;
| Ord, commanding in Texas was directed
to invite the cooperation ~ the Mexican
authorities in efforts TO this end, and 10 assure
| them that was anxious 10 avoid giving the least
offense to Mexico. At the same time he was di-
reoted to give notice of my determination 10 put
an end TO the invasion of our territory by law
| less bands intent upon the plunder of our peace
! full citizens, even if the effectual punishment
| of the outlaws should make the crossing of the
| border by our troops in their pursuit necessary.
Ii is believed that this policy has had the effect
hat atis hat