Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1879-12-13
Synopsis of the Presidents Message

The annual message Of President Hayes, as
/ il comes forth in advance Of its delivery to
/ Congress, begins by cougratuating that body
upon the success of the financial operations of
the treasury aud their good effects upon the
business of the country The resume Is not
materially different; from the facts aud figures
presented in the report of the Secretary Of tho
Treasury. The public credit has been as
greatly benefited by resumption as the general
business Of the country. aud the President
thinks that oil the remaining pc. cent. and
G per cent securities Of the government can be
refunded In per cent bonds, thus eiiecting
further reduction of $1,000 900 in annual
interest. The silver dollars coined under the
recent acts Of Congress now anonnt TO S45.-
| 600 $50. Of which S32, 800 3i4 still remain IN
the treasury. Upon the basis Of this fact and
of tie current proposili5n for unity of action
TO eliec. permanent system, for the equality
of gold aud silver in the exchanges between
commercial nations, the President advises Con-
gress 10 refrain from further experiments with
the coinage and 70 suspend the coming Of silver
dollars as DOW ordered by law. He says tha.
"the retirement from circulation Of United
States notes with the capacity Of legll-teOder
IN private contracts, is a step 20 be taken IN
our progress towards safe and stable curren-
cy, which should be accepted as the policy and
duty Of the government and the interest aud
security of the people" The President OK
presses IL as his " firm conviction that tho
issue Of lcsal-tender paper money on the credi;
and authority OF the government. except in ek-
treme emergency. "is without warrant In 'tSs
institution and violation Of sound financial
principles" He therefore advocates their re-
tirement and the rigid maintenance OF tho
sinking fuojs, In order 20 extinguish the ns-
tional debt as soon as possible. 10 pursuit Of
our traditional governmental policy. II nors
revenue be nceded, 10 can be easily obtained
by duties IN tea and ooii,ee. Tho Presl-
dent refers 70 the continued deliberate violation
Of the laws suppressing poligsny by promi
nept citizens Of U,ah, aud demands tho strict
enforcement Of these laws. which have been
decided 10 be constitntionsl by thc Supreme
Court lie appeals % Congress and 70 tho
people Of the country 90 unto In bringing
general public opinion % bear in favor Of tho
geuesal Observance Of and respect for the laws
enforcing the sanctiiy Of suiIfose through tho
whole land, and launches into q long and car
les. argument In favor Of bis views abolr. the
reform of the civil service. which have several
times before been discussed by him. Tho
President reports that considerable aud salts
factory progsess has already been made IN
these directions, but he fiinks iha, much ro-
maius still 10 be donc. lie dIslln enIshes slabo-
rstely between Offices whsh are sInply oxscu-
tive aud Administrative aud those which arc
more 90 lees political. deonling {, Nv bS emi-
gently proper fr tho PTesidrnis Official atvi-
sers 10 explain befois tho people tho policy Of
an admiussaton brought into Office by the
popular vote, and advocates Che providing OF
jsa and adequate means for examining eaudi-
dates for office, % that tho WORTHLESS, claimant
mar bc certain OF getting the appontInent -
The Pre,idsnts duties 10 sheso particulars arc
obvious, but he, o5nteods that nothing ale-
qua.e 10 the prenIta can be accomplished by
him without the co-operati5n OF Congress aud
the consIletate and Intelligost support Of tho
people. The resumption Of work by the civil
service commission 10 recommended, and ali
appropriation TO thst end Ia urged Tho for
eign relations Of she government oontinud
peaceful. The difficulty with Great Britain
growing out Of the Fortune Bay (Nevfound-
lank) outraecs Is being considered BY Lord
BaconGeld's government, The fisheries qncS-
tion, only temporary adjusted by iho'trcaty OF
Washington. needs 10 be permanently settled
as whole, and negotiations 10 that end arc
now 10 progress The message aso touches
upon the cattle trade restrictions, upon life
swing measures taken by the Dominion gov
ernment 10 connection with the commerce Of
the great lakes, and upon the Australian inter-
national shows, accommodating an Increased
appropriation for American exhibits. Tho
late treaty with Japan. II is expected. will
srvc as a model for ether countries. China
he's expressed willingness 10 discuss the emf
grafton question with US in dispasslonate
way, aud negotiations to that end arc now
pending Border raids on the Rio Grando
frontier baye been checked, aud our diplomatic
intercourse with the United States Of Colom-
bia Is again restored. This Is regarded n. cs-
pecially fortunate IN view Of the prominence
which has Just been attained ly the inter
ocelnic canal project. Our increasing tradO
with Mexico and South America suggests e.
the President the eypeiiency Of Congress pro
vidng means for regular aud moro frequent
mail communication with those countrics.-
Additional legislation is claimed 20 be needed
for the protection OF the rights Of people in
Alaska, aud a form Of territorial government
il recommended there. The President, after
commenting upon the operations Of the army
and navy during the year, aud showing tfat
the Department of Justice has been obstructed
By the lack Of appropriations, aud that tho
business Of the Supreme Court Is 50 largely in
arrears as 10 demand the creation Of intermc-
date courts aud the appointment Of additional
circuit judges, considers with approval tho
propositions Of the Postmaster General 10 re-
gard % increased facilities for domestic and
foreign mail service. The Isdian problem is
fully trcatei Of 10 the message. and the Presi-
dent recommends 81 eci6cally 10 Congress tho
suggestions Of Secretary S;hurz and Commis-
sioner Hayt upon this subject, which have al
ready been explained lie says that. while
the Execu,irei is determine. to protect the In
dams 10 their territorial rights. Il would bs
uDwise 70 ignore the fact that organized raids
like that against The Cherokee country. which
was broken mp by Executive proclamation ia
last April. are liable TO be repeated year after
year as land gets scarcef and more valuable,
aud hence the expodiency Of speedy changes
10 our Indian policy. At the same time the
President deprecates the proposed transfer OF
the Indians from the Interior 10 the War De-
par;ment. The President fenews bis rccots
mendatiops In favor Of enlargibg the fncsites
Of the department Of agriculture He also calls
the attention Of Congress 10 the paramount
subject Of education and It's progress, urges the
completion Of the Washington monument, and
lnvokes a generous policy 90 the part Of tho
naticnsl legislature towards the District Of
Columbia. i,s shorou2hfares, approaches aud
Its schools. The message is clearly and plain
ly written, aud reviews all the national affairs
10 an exhaustive way. The country will pro-
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