Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-12-05
The Presidents Message.
From tie Baltimore Sun.

as IL comes tOftn IN advance OF delivery 10
Congress, begins by congratulating that body
upon the success Of the financial operations
of the treasury and their good effects upon
the business Of the country. The resume
is not materially different from the facts and
figures presented in the report Of the Secre-
rotary Of the Treasury, to be found elsewhere,
and Of which we treat in another article.
The public credit has been as greatly bene-
fitted by resumption as the general business
of the country, and the President thinks
that all the remaining per cent and per
cent securities of the government can be
refunded in per cent. bonds, thus effecting
further reduction of $l1,000,000 in annual
interest.
The silver dollars coined under the recent
acts Of Congress now amount to $40 600, $50,
of which $32,300,344 still remain in the
treasury. Upon the basis of this fact and
of the current proposition for unity of ac-
| ton to effect permanent system for the
equality Of gold and silver in the exchanges
between commercial nations, the President
advises Congress to refrain from further ex-
periments with the coinage and to suspend
the coming of silver dallars as now ordered
by law.
He says that "the retirement from circula-
ton of United States notes, with the CAPT
step to be taken in our progress towards q
safe and stable currency, which should be
accepted as the policy and duty of the gov
eminent and the interest and security of the
people," The President expresses it as his
| "firm conviction" that the issue of legal
| tender paper money on the credit and .Au-
| thority of the government, except in ex-
IRENE emergency, "is without warrant
in the constitution and violation of sound
| financial principles" He therefore advo-
Gates their retirement and the rigid mainte-
nance of the sinking funds, in order to ex-
tinguish the national debt as soon as posi-
BILE, in pursuit of our traditional government
policy. If more revenue be needed, it can
be easily obtained by duties on tea and coffee.
The President refers to the continued de-
liberate violation of the laws suppressing
polygamy by prominent citizens of Utah,
and demands the strict enforcement of these
laws, which have been decided to be con-
stitutional by the Supreme Court.
He appeals to Congress and to the people
of the country to unite in bringing general
public opinion 10 bear in favor of the general
observance of and respect for the laws en-
forcing the sanctity of the suffrage through
out the whole land, and launches into a long
and earnest argument in favor of his views
about the reform of the civil service, which
have several times before been discussed by
him. The President reports that considera-
BILE and satisfactory progress has already
been made in these directions, but he thinks
that much remains still be done. He distin-
guishes deliberately between offices which
are simply executive and administrative and
those which are more or less political, deem
ing it to be eminently proper for the Presi-
dents official advisers TO explain before the
people the policy Of an administration
brought into office by the popular vote, and
advocates the providing of just and adequate
means for examining candidates for Office, so
that the worthiest claimant may be certain of
getting appointment. The Presidents duties
in these particulars are obvious, but he con-
tends that nothing adequate in the premises
can be accomplished by him without the CO.
operation of Congress and the intelligent
support of the people The resumption of
work by the civil service commission is re-
commended, and an appropriation to that
end is urged.
The foreign relations Of the government
continue peaceful. The difficulty with Great
Britain growing out of the Fortune Bay
(Newfoundland) outrages is being consider
ed by Lord Beaconfield's government. The
fisheries question, only temporary adjusted
by the treaty Of Washington, needs to be
permanently settled as whole, and nego-
tiations to that end are now in progress.
The message also touches upon the cattle
trade restrictions, upon life-saving measures
taken by the Dominion government in con-
nection with the commerce Of the great lakes,
and upon the Australian International shows,
recommending an increased appropriation
for American exhibits.
The late treaty with Japan, it is expected,
will serve as a model for other coun-
tries. China has expressed willingness to
discuss the emigration question with us in a
dispassionate way, and negotiations to that
end are now pending. Border raids ON the
Rio Grande frontier have been checked, and
our diplomatic intercourse with the United
States of Colombia Is again restored. This
is regarded as especially fortunate in view
of the prominence which has Just been at
tanned by the interoceanic canal project
Our increasing trade with Mexico and South
America suggests to the President the expe-
diency of Congress providing means for
regular and more frequent mail commune
cation with those countries.
Additional legislation is claimed to be
needed for the protection Of the rights of
people in Alaska and a form of territorial
government is recommended there The
President, after commenting upon the OPP
erations of the army and navy during the
year, and showing that the Department of
Justice has been INSTRUCTED by the lack of
appropriations, and that the business of the
Supreme Court is so largely in arrears as to
demand the creation of intermediate courts
and the appointment of additional circuit
judges, considers with approval the propo-
sitions Of the Postmaster-General in regard
to increased facilities for domestic and for
eign mail service
The Indian problem is fully treated of in
the message, and the President recommends
| specially to Congress the suggestions Of
Secretary Schurz and Commissioner Hayt
upon this subject, which have already been
explained. He says that, while the Execu-
| tive is determined to protect the Indians in
their territorial rights 1t would be unwise to
! ignore the fact that organized raids like that
against the Cherokee country, which was
broken up by Executive proclamation in
last April, are liable to be repeated year after
| year as land gets scarcer and more valuable,
and hence the eXpedieney of speedy changes
in our Indian policy. At the same time the
President deprecates the proposed transfer
of the Indians from the Interior to the War
Department.
The President renews his recommended
tons in favor Of enlarging the facilities of
the department of agriculture. He also calls
the attention of Congress 10 the paramount
subject Of education and its progress, urges
the completion of the Washington monu.
ment, and invokes generous policy on the
part Of the national legislature towards the
District of Columbia, its thoroughfares, APP
proaches and its schools.
The message is clearly and plainly writ
ten, and reviews all the national affairs in
an exhaustive way The country will pro-
badly be surprised to find that the subject
of civil service reform, which il was sup
posed had been abandoned, still occupies
such large space in the Presidents thoughts.
REPoRT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY.
The revenue of the government for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1879, was $273,-
S27, 1874 46, the expenses were 1896, 947 $685.
SO, leaving surplus of revenue of $6,S79,-
300 93, which was chiefly applied to increas-
ing the cash balance in the treasury. The
receipts for 1879 increased some SIG, III 1885,
20, Of which $7,079367 so was increase Of
customs revenue, and $2,9799S5 81 increase
Of internal revenue. The increase in expen-
ditures was 49,, 224, T31 20, the largest items
-. 4 l.. AZ.