The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-12-11
WHAT THE PRESiDENT sAY VS. TO
CONGRE.s

Of specie payments. He says ;hst the
exc' 81 of precious metals drpJsitet ia
excl a7ge foi Z iissd S:ates no:es ever
the smouut redeemed Is so, coo, 600.
and the revival iu business is cred
ite1 to tie act of resumption.
tacressing foreign demand for Am-ri-
can manufactures hss created a balance
In our favor amounting to SO 000. 900.
The puOlic credit has been improved,
and four per cent. bonds have been
sold above par, the amou9t OF interest
saved annually since March l, 1877, by
refunding the public debs smOIits to
$l4 207, III. The amount of national
debt maturing within less than two
years is $792, 12l 200, of which
$500, 600, 900 bears interest at the rate
OF five per cent, sn1 :he bilaLce six
Il is thought this, too, can be refund
ed in four per cent. bonds, and if so,
$11, 600. 900 more Will be saved in in
terest. The coinage of gold last year
was $40, $50, 912; that of silver dol
lara since the passage of the act to No.
vember /. 1879 $45, 900 $50. of which
$l2. 700 3i4 are iu circulation.
The President does not think gen.
eral legislation 1T this time upon coin
age shGuld be INDUCED in, as the con-
mercial nations OF the world are now
trying to effect a uniform standard,
but he strongly urges Congress to sus-
pend the coinage of the silver dollar
The policy OF retiring United States
notes, IN the capac ty of legal tender
iu private contracts, is urged as pol
icy and duty of tho government,
and for the interest and security OF the
people. He regards legal tender pa
per money, based wholely upon the
authority and credit of the govern
ment, without warrant in the Constr
tutiou, and violation Of sound prin-
cIples of finance. He wishes the ma
tional debt, consequence of the late
war, reduced, and asks that sinking
funds be fully provided for doing So.
Poligsmy in Utah deserves attention,
and the laws sgainst it should be en-
forced, and its people should not en-
Joy the rights of State until this So
cial system IS at an end. From this
subject the President shifts to that OF
suffrage, and insists that the American
people have en- uudying love for the
sacred right, and he hopes all laws
protecting the people in theiI
suffrage rights will be enforc-
ed in all the States. AS to civil
service reform, he is still prosecuting
this noble ohject, and thinks he has
struck the very plan which will revolu-
tionize the system. 1t is the test OF
competitive ability. He condemns par
tissn selection, and declares that
Every citizen has an equal right to
the honor and profit of entering the
public service of his country. The only
just ground of discrimination is the
measure of character and capacity he has
to make that service most useful to the
people. Except in cases where, upon
just and recognized principles, as upon
the theory of pensions, offices and pro-
motions are bestowed as rewards fol
past services, their bestowal upon any
theory which disregards personal merit
is an act of injustice to the citizens, as
we'll as breach of that trust subject tc
which the appointing power is held.
Therefore he desires Congress tC
make the necessary appropriation fol
the resumption of work by the civil
service commission. Officers should
be free, he says, from partisan exac'
tions, and should be at liberty to give
OF not, as the will dictates and ability
permits.
The question of foreign relations Ii
discussed, but We have been at peac'
with all nations, and China even hsI
expressed a willingness to consider tn,
question of emigration to the United
States, and to prevent Injurious con
sequences to this country.
4 The report of the Secretary OF th,
Treasury Is submitted. 1t shows tha
The ordinary reYenues from al
sources for the fiscal year ended Jun,
80, 1870, we're $273, S27, 1S4 46; tn,
ordinary expenditures for the SAM
period were $266, 947, $50 So; leaving
surplus revenue for the year of SO. $40,
800 %.
The receipts for the present fisca
year, ending June 80, 1880, actual ant
estimated, are ss follows: Actual re
ceipts for the first quarter commenc
ing July :, 1879, $40, s43. 66S. 81 esti
mated receipts for the remaining three
quarters of the year, $20S, 1856, 3S6 80
total receipts for the current fisca
year. actual and estimated, $2SS, 600,
900.
The expenditures for the same peri
cd will be, actual and estimated, sfol
lows: For the quarter commencinI
July 1, 1870, actual expenditures
$91, 6s3, 3S5. 10; and for the remain
ing three-quarters of the yea
the expenditures are estimated 8
$172, 316, GA 90-making the total ex
pendit1res $264, 900, 600, and leaving
an estimated surplus revenue for To
year ending June 80, 1880, of $24,
900, 900. The total receipts durInl
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881
estimated according TO existing laws
will be $2Ss, 900, 900; and the estimst
ed ordinary expenditures for the sam
period will he $27s 097. 364 S9-leavin
surplus of 50, 9Os, 6S4 81 for that year
The large amount expended for al
rears of pensions du1ng the last an
the present fiscal year, amounting :
$9i, 747, 1880, has prevented the sp
plication of the full amount REQUIRE,
by law to the sinking fund for tn
current year; but these arrears hsYin
been substantially paid, it is helieve'
that the sinking fund can hereafter b
maintained without any change Of ex
lstlng law.
The War Department has coat tb
country $40, $50. 42s. 90. The Sout
Pass of the Mississippi, under contrac
with James B. Eads, has been opene
nd..deepened until width of tw
hundred feet aud depth of thirt
feet has been attained. Payments o
this work have been made aggregatin
q. 250, 900. There has been unexam