Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-07

Secretary Of the Treasury that no legislation
respecting them is desirable
TIE INTERNAL REVENUE
IT is a matter of congratulation that the
business OF the country has been so prosper
Gus during the past year as to yield by taxa
ton large surplus of income to the govern
ment. If the revenue laws remain unchanged
this surplus must year by year increase, on ae-
count of the reduction of the public debt and
its burden of interest, and because Of the
rapid increase Of our population. In 1850, inst
prior to the institution of our internal revenue
system. our population but slightly exceeded
3Of0000l By the census OF 1880 it is now
found to exceed 81. 900 000. It is estimated that
even il the annual receipts and expenditures
should continue as at present the entire debt
could be paid in ten years. In view. however,
of the heavy load of taxation which our peo-
pie have already borne we NAV well consider
whether ii is not the part of wisdom to reduce
the revenues. even if we delay little the paw
ment of the debt 1t seems to me that the
time has arrived when the people may Justly
demand some relief from their present oner-
GUS burden, and that by due economy in tire
various branches OF the public SER ice this may
readily b. Afforded
TAXES SHOULD BE REDUCED.
1 therefore concur with the Secretary in
recommending the abolition of all internal
revenue taxes except those npou tobacco in
its various forms ana upon distilled spirits and
fermented liquors, and except also the special
tax upon the manufacturers and dealers in
such articles The retention Of the latter tax
Is desirable as affording the officers of the gov
eminent proper supervision of these articles
for the prevention of fraud. / agree with the
Secretary of the Treasury that the law impoS-
ing stamp tax upon matches, proprietary
articles PLAYING cards, checks and drafts may
with propriety he repealed. and the law also
by which banks and bankers are assessed upon
their capital and deposits There seems to be
a general sentiment in favor of this course.
THE TAX ON DEPOSITS.
In the present condition of our revenues the
tax upon deposits is especially unjust 1t was
M yer imposed in this country until it was de-
manded bv the necessities OF the and was
never exacted, believe, in any other country.
even in its greatest ex gences. The banks are
required to secure their circulation by pledg
ing with the Treasurer of the United States
bonds of the general government The inter
est upon these bonds, which at the time when
the tax U as imposed was per cent iS now in
most instances S15 per cent Pesides. the
entire circulation was originally limited by
law. and no increase was allowable When
the existing banks had practically a mon
opoly of the business there vast nrce in the
suggestion that for the franchise to the favored
grantees the government might very properly
exact a tax on circulation, but for years the
system has heen free. and the amount of circu-
lation regulated by the public demand. The
retention of this tax has been suggested as a
means of reimbursing the government for the
expense of printing and furnishing he circu
lating notes. If the tax should he repealed it
would certainly seem proper to require the
natl nal banks to paw the amount of such ex-
pense to the Comptroller of the Currency.
FURTHER SUGGESTION
1t is perhaps doubtful whether the immedi-
ate reduction of the rate of taxation npon
lquors and tobacco is advisable. especially in
view of the drain upon the Treasury which
must attend the payment of the arrears of pen
sions. A comparison. however. of the amount
of taxes collected under the varying rates of
taxation which have ar different times pre-
vailed suggests the in'imation that some re-
duction may be soon made without material
dimnution of the revenue.
TARIFF REVISION
The tariff laws also need revision but that
ell due regard may be paid to the conflicting
interests Of our citizens important changes
should be made with cauti n. If a careful re-
vision cannot be male at this session. a COM
mission, such "a was lately approved by the
Senate and is now recommended by the Secre-
retary of the Treasury, would, doubtless.
tighten the la5oTs of Congress whenever this
subject shall be brought to its consiIerat on.
THE NEEDS OF THE ARMY.
The accompanying report of the Secretary
of War will make known to you the opera tion of
that department. for the past year. Hesugges
measures for promoting the eff iency Of the
army without adding to its Off 'ers. and recon-
meuds legislation TO raise the number of
enlisted men to 5000. the maximum allowed
by law. This he deem necessary 10 maintain
quietuda on our ever shifting frontier. TO pre-
serve the peace and suppress disorder and
marauders in new settlements, to protect set
tiers and their property against the Indians,
and the Indians against the encroachments
able immigrantS to Stsblish homes
in the most remote parts of our country. The
army is now necessarily scattered over such
vast extent of territory that whenever an out
break occurs reinforcementS must be hurried
from many quarters over great distances. aud
always at heavy cost for the transportation Of
the men, horses. wagons an1 supplies Icon
cur in the recommendations of the Secretary
for increasing the army t. the Strength OF
30 GOO enlisted men, 1t appears by the Secre-
tarys report that in the absence Of disturb
ances on the frontier the troops have been
actively employed in collecting the Indians
hitherto hostile and locating them on their
proper reservations. That Sitting Bull and his
adherents are now prisoners at Fort Randall
That the Utes have been moved to their new
reservation in Utah. That during the recent
outbreak of the ApacheS it was necessary to
reinforce the garrisOns in Arizona by troops
withdrawn from New Mexico. and that some
of the Apaches are now held prisoners for
trial, while some have escaped and the ma lori
ty of the tribe now on their reservation
INDIAN RIGHTS TO RESERVATIONS
There is need Of legislation to prevent intru-
sion upon the lands set apart for the Indians.
large military force at great expense is now
required to patrol the boundary liue between
Kansas and the Indian Territory. The only
punishment that can at present be inflicted is
the forclble removal OF the intruder and the i'm
position OF a peculiarly fine, which in most
cases it is impossible to collect There should
be punishment by imprisonment in such
cases.
THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
The separate organization of the Signal Ser.
vice is urged by the Secretary of War and a
full statement of the advantages of permanent
organization is presented in he report of the
Chief signal Officer. A detailed sta ement of
the useful work performed by the Sigual Corps
and the Weather Bureau is also given in that
report.
MATTER FOR CORRECTION.
ask the attention of Congress to the state
ments of the Secretary of War regarding the
requisitions frequently made by the Indian
Bureau upon the Subsistence Department Of
the army for the casual support of bands and
tribes of Indians whose appropriations are ex-
hausted. The War Department should not he
left by reason of inadequste provision for the
Indian Bureau to contribute for the mainten-
ance of Indians.
COAST DEFENsEs.
The report of the Chief Engineers furnishes
detailed ACCOUNT of the operations for the i'm
proVement of rivers and harbors. commend
to your attention the suggestion contained in
this report in regard to the condition of our
Notifications, especially our coast defenses.
the strength of the Engineers battalion bv
which the efficiency of our torpedo system
would be improved. l also call your attention
to the remarks upon the improved condition
of South Pass Of the Mississippi river, the pro-
posed free bridge over the Potomac river 1t
Georgetown, the importai ee OF somp ting at
an early day he north wing OF the War De
partment building and other recommends
tions of the Secretary of War, whi 3h appear
in his report. The actual expenditures of that
department for the fiscal year ending June.
1884, were S42, l22,2u 3g The appropriations
for the year 1881 ere Si4, 1888, ,725 AZ The es-
Inmates for 1888 are S44, s41,2'6 81.
TIE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the Secretary Of the Navy ex.
hibits the condition OF that branch of the SER
vice and presents valusble suggestions for it's
Improvement. | call your espacial attention
also to the appended report OF the Advisory
Board, WHICH he convened to devise suitable
measures for Increasing the efficiency of the
navy, ana particularly to report As to the
character and number Of vess els necessary to
place 1t upon footing commensurate with the
necessities of the government.
WE MUST HAVE WAR SHIPS
I cannot too strongly urge upon you my con-
VlcPion That veryconeideration of national safe
tV, economy ana honor imperatvaly demand |
thorough rehabilitation of our navy. With a |
full appreciation that compliance with the sug-
gestion OF the head OF that department and
the advisory board must involve a large ex
penditure of the public moneys, 1 earnes silly
recommend such appropriations as will accom-
plish an OF d which seems to me so desirable
Nothing can be more Inconsistent with true pub |
lie economy than Withholding the means neees- |
sary to accomplish the objects ebtrusi ed by the
Constitution to the National legislature One |
or these ohJe Is, and one which is of para
mount im portancr, is declared by our funda-
mental law to be the provision for the ',com- |
mon defense " Surely, nothing is more essen |
tial ID the defense of the United States and of
all our people than the efficiency of our navy |
We have for many years maintained with !
foreign governments the relations of /
honorable peace, and that such rele- |
every patriotic citizen of the republic. But. if |
we heed the tee chings of history we shall |