Litchfield enquirer., 1877-12-13

ties of the war, and most of the legislation inn posing taxes upon domestic products under this system have been repealed. By the sub- sitution of a tax on tea and. coffee all forms ol internal taxation may be repealed, expect that on whisky, spirits, tobacco and beer Atten- tion is also called to the necessity of enaeling more vigorous slaws for the protection of the revenue and for the punishment of frauds and smuggling This can best be done by Judiclous provisions that will induce the disclosure ot at- tempted fraud by undervaluati0n and snug gling. All revenue laws should be simple m their provisions and easily understood So far as practicable, the rates of taxation should De in the form of specific duties, and not ad valo. rem, requiring the judgment of experienced men to arcertain values and exposing the rev enue officers to the temptation of fraud
 CUSTOM HOUSE REFORM.
 My attention has been called during the re- cess of congress to abuses existing ln the col | lection of the customs, and strenuous efforts l have been made for their correction by execu- tive orders. The recommendations submitted | to the secretary of the treasury by comElS- sion appointed to examine into the ccslectlon of customs duties at theport of New orK con l tain many suggestions for the modification or 
 congress is invited.
 THE PUBLIC CREDIT.
 It is matter of congratulation that, notwith- standing 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 ad- vanced, and our public securities are regarded with the highest favor in the markets of the world. l trust that no act of the government | will cast a shadow upon it's credit. The pro | gress of refunding the public debt has been | rapid and satisfactory. Under the contract ex- | isting when entered upon the discharge ot the duties of my office bonds bearing interest I at the rate of 44 per centum were being rapid | ly sold. and within three months the aggregate sales of these bonds had reached the sum of $200, 900. 900. With my sanction the secreta- " of the treasury entered into new contract 1 for the sale of 4 per centum bonds and within thirty days after the popular subscription for such bonds was opened, subscriptions Were had amounting to $75, 496, $50, which were paid for within ninety days after the date of 1 subscription. By this process, within but lit- tie more than one year, the annual interest on the public debt was reduced in the sum Of S3,- l 775, 900.
 | recommend that suitable provisionbe made to enable the people to easily convert their say | ings into government securities as the best mode in which small savings may be we'll se- cured and yield moderate interest. It is an object of public policy tOretainamo our own people the 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. | l THE INDIANS.
 The present condition of the Indian tribes on the territory of the United States and our rela- tiOns with them are fully set forth in the re-
 ports of the secretary of the interior and the commissioner of Indian affairs. After 6 series of most deplorable conflicts the successful ter imitation of which, while ref1ecting honor up- on the brave soldiers by whom 1t was | accomplishe cannot lessen our regret at | their occurrence, we are now at peace with all the Indian tribes in our borders. To preserve that peace by just and humane policy will be the object of our earnest endeavors Whatever may be said of their characters and savage propensities, of che difficulties of introducing among them the hab- it's of civilized life, aud the obstacles they of fered to the progress of settlement in certain parts of the country, the Indians are certainly entitled to our sympathy and toa conscientious respect on our part for their claima upon our sense of justice. They were the aboriginal Oc- cupants of the land we now possess. They
 have been driven from place to place. The purchase money paid to them in some cases for what they called their own, has still left
 them poor, in many instances. When they
 had settled down upon land assigned to them
 by compact, and begun to support themselves by their own labor, they were rudely j0stled off and thrust into the wilderness again. Many if not most of our Indian wars have had their origin in broken promises and acts of injustice upon our part, and the advance of the Indians in civilization has been slow, because the treat ment they received did not permit 1t to be fast CT and more general. We cannot except them to improve and to follow our guidance unless
 we keep faith with them in respecting the rights they possess, and unless, instead of de- priving them of their opportunities, we lend
 them helping hand. cordially approve the
 phlicy regarding the management of Indian af- fairs outlined in the reports of the secretary of the interior and of the commissioner of Indian
 affairs The faithful performance of our promises is the first condition of good under standing with the Indian. I cannot too urgent ly recommend to congress that prompt and lib eral provision be made for the conscientious fui- fillment of all engagements entered into by the government with Indian tribes. To withhold the means necessary for the performance of a promise is always false economy, and is apt to prove disastrous in it's consequences. Especial cara is recommended to provide for Indians settled on their reservatI0ns, cattle and agri- cultural implements, to aid them in whatever | efforts they may make to support themselves,
 and by the establishment and maintenance of schools to bring them under the control of civilized influences. see no reason why h. dians who can give satisfactory proof of hay ing, by their own labor, supported their fami- lies for number of years, and who are willing to 1etach themselves from their tribal relations should not be admitted to the benefit of the
 homestead act and the privileges of citizen ship, and recommend the passage of law to that effect It will be an act of justice as we'll as measure of encouragement. Earnest ef forts are being made to purify the Indian ser
 vice so that every dollar appropriated by con- gress shall rebound to the benefit of the lndi- ans as intended Those efforts will have my firm support. With an improved service and every possible encouragement held out to the Indians to better their condition and to elevate themselves in the scale of civilization we may hope to accomplish at the same time a good | work for them and for ourselves.
 How WOMEN PLAY WHIsTa- All women play cards alike. Watch 8 woman at game
 of.whist and you'll get a pretty correct idea of
 how all women play whist t:. La me, Hen ", is it my play? Let me see-second hard low-that's the first time around of that suit.
 ain't it? We'll, I'll play-no, hardly think
 wilL-now you stop looking on my hand-did you see anything-of course Pm going to play,
 but must have time to think-what's trumps I-spades-I thought twas clubs-well, I'll-
 no-yes wRll, there !" Then she will clap an ace on her partners king and insist upon keep ing the trick for fear she willbe cheated out of it in the final count -St .Louts Gourn0I
 A Brooklyn brides back hair fell down, and fell of, during the ceremony in church the other evening There was an instant pause,
 but nobody was brave enough to stoop down
 and pick up the mass of blonde stuff and hair pins. The bride left the church leaning heav-
 fly on her husbands arm. Her face was very red and Il snront of hair EnossihlY eleven hairs