Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-12-07

e past year as 70 yield by taxation large surplus
VI income 70 the government II the revenue laws
remain unchanged this surplus year by year in
on account OF the reduction of the public debt
ho is burden Of interest," and because Of the rapid
OF our population. In 1860 just prior 10 the
institution Of cur internal revenue our population
but slightly exceeded 30 600 CSC: bv The cen.n. Of Iso
II is now found to exceed SO 600 O0 I, 4 es,;mat.d
tnAt even II the annual receipts and expenditures
continue as at present the entire deb; could be
oao OF oiiaxaton which our people have already borne
wi.dow W wen CONSIDER whether 1t is not the part of
h''ie the payment of the debt.
RELIEF FROM TAXATION
IL seems to me that the time has arrived when the
people may justly demand some relief from their
present onerous burden and that by due economy in
"e various branches of the public service this may
readily be afforded therefore concur with the Sec
fetary In recommending the abolition of all internal
revenue taxes except those upon tobacco in its vari
Gus iorms and upon distilled spirits and fermented
liquors. and except, also. the special tax upon the
enuon OF the latter tax is desirable afording the
oincers OF the govern ment q proper supervision of
@ articles ior the prevention fraud. agree with
e secretary OF the Treasury that the law imposing
stamp tax upon matches proprietary articles laying
e-ras, @ cheeks and drafts may with propriety be
repeated. and the law also by which banks and
bankers are assessed upon their capital aud de-
pests. There sens to be a general sentiment in
aTor OF this In the present condition of our
revenues the tax upon deposits is especially unjust
IL was never imposed in this country until il was de-
ulanaed oy the necessities of war. and
greatest exgency. Banks required to secure
tneir circulation by pedging with the Treasurer of
ne United states bonds of the General Government.
The interest upon these bonds which at the time the
tax was imposed was per cent is now in most in
stances 81 per cent. Besides the entire circulation
allowable.
THE TAX on CIRCULATION.
When the existing banks had practically
nopoiy Of the business there force in the susges
ton that for the franchise to the favored grantees the
government might very properly exact tax cir
culaon but for years the system has been free and
The amount of circulation regulated by the public
demand The retention of this has been sug-
ges;ed as q means Of reimbursing the government
for the expense of printing and furnishing circu-
latng notes II the tax should be repealed it would
certainly seem proper to require the national banks
TO pay the amount of such expense the Comp
troller OF the Currency. 1t is, perhaps. doubtful
"hether the immediate reduction of the of
taxation upon liquor and tobacco is advisable
especially in view of the drain upon the Treasury
which must attend the payment of arrears of PEN
si0ns. comparison however of the amount of
taxes collected under the varying rates taxation
which have at different times prevailed suggests the
ihtitnatcn that some reduction may De made
without material diminution of the revenue The
tarih laws also need revision but that due regard
may be paid 10 the conflicting interests of our citizens
important changes should be made with caution. II
careful revision cannot be made this session a
ATE and is now recommended by the Secretary Of the
treasury, would doubtless tighten the labors OF Con-
gress whenever this subject shall be brous TO its
consideration.
THE ARMY AND NAVY.
The President concurs in the recommen endation OF
the Secretary of War that the army be raised to
thirty thousand enlisted men. The report of the
Secretary of the Navy, he says presents valuable
suggestions for its improvement call your especial
attention. also, to the appended report Of the Ad-
visory Board, which he convened to devise suitable
measures for increasing the efficiency Of the navy.
and particularly to the report TO the character and
number of vessels necessary place it upon foot
ing commensurate with the necessities of the gov
ernment- l cannot too strongly urge upon you
tional safety. economy and honor imperaively de-
niands a thorough rehabilitation of our navy. We
have for many years maintained with foreign gov
ernments the relations Of honorable peace, and
that such relations may be permanent is desired
by every patriotic citizen of the Republic but If we
heed The teachings of history We shall not forget
that in the lite of every nation emergencies may
arise when a resort to arms can alone it from
dishonor. No danger from abroad threatens
this people, nor have any to distrus, the
friendly professions OF other governments. But for
avoiding as we'll as repelling dangers that may
threaten US in he future we mus; be prepared 10
enforce any policy which We think wise TO adopt.
We must be ready to defend our harbors against
aggression; to protect by the distribution of our
ships of war over the highways of commerce the
varied interests of foreign trade and the per-
tain everywhere the honor of our flag and the DIS
tinsuished position which we may rightfully claim
among the nations of the world.
THE POSTAL AND STAR ROUTE SERVICE
The report of the Postmaster General is a gratify-
ing exhibit of the postal service The receipts from
postage and other ordinary sources during the past
fiscal year Sc $50 SIG IS; the receipts from the
money order business s2ej 5sl So making total
of ss6 7s5 s97e7. The expenditure for the fiscal year
was $50 LAG. The deficit supplied out of the gen.
era Treasury 81 4sl l23 35 or 10 per cent of
the amount expended The receipts were So i6s Sis 63
in of those of the previous year. and 81 515
Sg 81 in excess of the estimate made two years ago.
before the present period of business prosperity had
fairly begun. During the past year SSS additional
money offices bsve been established making total OF
in operation at the date of this report During the
the domestic money orders aggregated IN yaue
sos 015 769 35 modification of the system is
gested reducing the fees for money orders not ex-
ceeding s. from cents to five cents and making the
maximum limit 500 in place of $50. Legislation for
the disposition of unclaimed money orders in the
possession of the Post Office Department is recon-
mended in view of the fact that their total value
exceeds million dollars. The attention OF Con-
gress is again invited TO the subject OF establishing
system of savings depositaries in connection with the
Posi- Office Department The so-cslled Star routes
have been decreased in length 39i9 miles and in cost
so, IA Most all the more expensive routes have
been superseded by railroad service The cost of the
Star service must therefore rapidly decrease in the
Western States and Territories. The Investigations
of the Department of Justice and the Post Office De-
partment have resulted in the presentation of ndct
nents against persons formerly connected with that
service accusing them of offenses against the United
States. have enjoined upon the officials who are
charged with the conduct the the part of
government. and upon the eminent counsel who. be-
fore my accession to the Presidency. called to
their assistance. the duty of prosecuting with the ut
most rgor of the law all persons who may be found
charseable with frauds upon the postal service.
COWBOYS AND INDIANS.
The President refers to the depredations of the
cowboys" in Arizona and says that in the event of
a request from the Territorial for protec
ton by the United States against domestic violence
this government would be poweress to render assist
ance The act OF l195. chapter sc. passed at time
when Territorial governments received little atten-
ton Congress- enforced this duty of the United
States only to the State governments But the act
of IsO7. chapter 50. applied also to the Terrific
ries This law seems have remained In force
until the revision of the statutes, when the pro-
vision for the Territories dropped. 1 am
not advised whether this alteration in