The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-12-03
SUMMARY OF THE PRESIDENTS
MESSAGE


other New York papers give the following the
substance of the Presidents message: 1t begins
by congrat ulatiug Congress and the country upon
the successful accomplishment Of resumption, but
warns Congress that unless the unlimited coinage
Of standard silver dollars Is stopped the present
amount of gold VIII soon begin gradually to flow
out of the country and that silver win take its
place. On this point he recommends that no &C
lion be taken to fixing the ratio between the sill
yer dollar and the gold dollar until the Int rnaton
al Monetary Congress shall have arrived at some
conclusion regarding the legitimate status of silver
but suggests that the coinage OF the silver dollar
be merely suspended
It is also understood that he takes the ground
that il is only in time Of war or other pressing
emergency that the issue of notes, the worth Of
which is fixed wholly by the Govern ment, is au-
thorized, and that no such emergency now ex-
lists, the circulating notes.. e. the greenbac ks
should now be retired in some manner wisely cal
cuIated to forfend any disturbance of the present
financial equilibrium.
He also argues that as it has been the policy of
the Government ever since the adoption the
Constitution to pay off all debts after they
are incurred possible, sinking fund should
now be provided the existing laws relating to
that fund amended, so as to fix a limit, specified
and distinct, within which the present public debt
shall be paid.
He then recommends that if the revenues of the
Government shall not be sufficient to provide
necessary funds to meet the demand Of such
policy tariff should be placed on tea and coffee,
as that tax could be conveniently levied and would
be less felt by the people than any other.
He calls the especial attention of Congress to the
continued and utter disregard of the statutes
off
Of Utah, and suggests, or requests, that some &C
tion be taken Il the premises. He refers to the
ia t that the Territory is now approaching the peri
od when she will apply for admission into the
Union, and when she will certainly have to be ad-
Inittcd as a State. In this connection he recon-
ends that the citizens OF all the Territories who
are guilty of the crime of pOlygamy snail be debar-
red from the right of suffrage and also from the
privileges of jury duty. He also recommends that
test oath shall be imposed in the Territories for
the purpose Of excluding polygamists from tie
jury-box.
He devotes considerable space in the message to
discussion of the theories of civilservce reform,
and advocates the appointment Of a commission to
be endowed with the power to appoint officers or
officials of different grades in the civil service, all
such appointments to last during good behavior.
He discourages renewal of the discussions re-
garding a transfer of the Indian Bureau to the War
Department, as that discussion always serves to
hamper the officials of the Indian Bureau in pend
ing operations and negotiations and produces no
corresponding good.
AS member OF the Washington Monument Com
mission lie advises the appropriation Of sufficient
sum and the change of existing laws to permit the
completion of the monument at early date
Referring to The deficiency which exists in the
appropriation for the Department of Justice, he
points out the necessity of an immediate appropri
ton for the payment of accrued dues and fees OF
United States marshalls arising from the failure of
Congress to provide at the late extra session for
their payment under the usual process.
He further points out the necessity Of similar
and full appropriations for the faithful and compe-
tent execution of the laws in the future.
In tone and spirit the entire message is conspicu-
ously stalwart, as the phrase goes, far 1t
Iates to political affairs, and length exceeds any
of its predecessors.
The message makes reference to the interocean
canal and earnestly fayors it, expressing the hope
that after many years Of delay aud after having
attracted the attention of all maritime nations
throughout the world legislation to facilitate its
prosecution may be entered upon early in the ses
sion. The Ncaraguan route is especially referred
to and its apparent advantages briefly set forth
The President especially commends to the atten-
ton of Congress the condition of foreign COM
merce and asks that a Il possible legislation to ex
tend our commerce be enacted, especially in re-
spect to the carrying trade. The great overplus Of
American agricultural and other productions and
the large balance of trade in favor cited
reasons why the American Congress should do |
what it can to extend our commercial facilities. |
The President thinks that by wise action now we |
may regain commerce of which we cannot again
be deprived. No legislation looking, however, to-
wards any subvention of steamship lines is
mended.