Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1881-12-14
Wednesday, Dec. II, 1881.
Presidents Message.

The President message % tOngrez~
Is a long one, and relates the history Of
the government for the past year, and
expresses the wishes Of the Presiden,
and his cabinet regarding future legis-
lation. From this report we find the
amount raised by taxation during the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1881, was
about S330,000, 000-the total revenue
from all sources being $3.50, 1s3, 292.jI.
The expenses of the government for
the same time were s2bOTl2, $500
leaving q balance on hand Of $780,
O69. 404. gS-all Of which except S1+,-
637,O23.93. was applied towards re-
ducing the national debt. The Presi.
dent estimates the revenue Of the
country fer the present fiscal year.
which will and June 90. ls>2, 90 about
0OOOO,00O, and the expense 81
s270,O0000O He would like % have
the silver certificates retired, and the
suspension Of the coinage ct silver
dollars. which. under the act cl 1873,
provided for the <srthlv coinage Of
100000 silver dollar-. Instead Of a
fixed amount. the President recon-
mcnds that only so much shall be
coined as shall be necessary 20 supply
the demand.
The receipts from the custom house
taxes were S19S.159676O2 The cx-
rensos Of collection were s64l9,345.20.
lie gives the history Of the refund
ing of high interest bonds % B. per
cent. consols--by which the interest on
the public debt was reduced per an
mum S10.473,9j227. The President
forgot to tate that if Have had not
vetoed the three per cent. funding bin
passed bv the Democrats ut the last sls-
sion, the annual saving 81 interest
would be still greater.
In view Of the large surplus be re-
commeuds the abolition Of all internal
revenue taxes. except those upon TO-
bacco and liquors, and also .Le stamp
tax or matches, proprietary ayticles
PLAYING cards, checks and drafts, and
repeating the law by which bank. and
bankers are assessed upon their capital
and deposits.
The Indian question recciyc- its
usual attention. and the Prcsiden5 a--
surcs Congress Of his hearty cJ1peIa-
ton in putting an end o. p.lrcamy
among the 4ormous.
He draws the attention 81 Congress
tothe ya-tamodnt that will be necessary
10 paw the arrears Of pelsiol.-s45os-
OO0.O00-aud says The E4c- ,ba.
sum 50 large may be- expended by the
government 10 mee. the demand for
arrears Of pensions is an admonitiou 20
Congress and the executive % give
CAUTIOUS consideration 10 any similar
project In the future" Heug-cst= the
adoption of some measures for impT7v-
ing the navigation Of the Mississippi.
The civil service reform IS again In
PRODUCED. but beyond expressing Il wish
that the public service be reform
cd, he saws but little, except -how-
Ing the system in vogue Ia Great
Britaiu-s0me parts Of which hethiaks
NAV be adopted. The question has
been before Congress before, Grant be-
.uz the first 10 mako q farce # it, and
HAYES also put q little more ridicu.e
upon II. y politician. d. not care
70 give up the power they get from the
present system. and as il is very con
venient 10 the ruling power 20 raise
money from the government employees
for election purposes. We are inclined
70 the belief that the Republicans win
let the present system remain as i is.
The Offices will be given a. q reward
for political services, and the official
who does not pay his political assess
ment viii be bounced. L j. always
safe for a President 10 make q little
popularity BY recommending civil ser
vice reform, o. he knows that his spg-
cestions viii not be acquiesccd in.
In order 10 doctor the merchan. ma
rine, he thinks i; should be assisted
by taxing the people for its benefit.
lie suggests that the expense Of taking
care Of the newly arrived Immigrants
should be paid by the nation instead
Of by the State whose shores they first
reach The great majority Of the en-
migrants land at New York, and if the
recommendation is acted upon by Con-
gress, the Presidents own State would
be greatly benefited.
The President hopes that Congress
will enact some law in regard to count
ing the Presidential vote, and in case
Of Presidential incapacity.