The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-12-08

demnity fund, heretofore obtained from
China and Japan, and which is now
in the hands of the state department
be returned to the government OF
those countries. The king of Hawaii, in
the course of his homeward return after
"A journey around the world, has lately
visited this country. While our relations
with that Kingdom are friendly, this
government has viewed with concern the
efforts to seek replenishment of the di-
| minIshed population of that island from
| outward sources TO IA degree which may
impair its native sovereignty and lndepen.
denee in which the United States was
among the first to testify lively interest
Relations of unimpaired amity have been
maintained throughout the year with the
respective governments of Austria, Hun.
gary, Belgium, Denmark, Hayti, Paraguay
| and Uruguay. This may also be said OF
| Greece and Ecuador, although our re.
lati0ns with those states have, for sew
eral years, been severed by the with.
drawal of appropriations for diplomatic
representation at Athens and Quito. II
seems eXpedient to restore those mis-
siOns, even on Il reduced scale, and
| decidedly recommend such course
with respect to Ecuador, which is likely
within the near future, TO play an im-
portant part among the nations of the
Southern Pacific. At its extra session,
the senate called for the text of the
Geneva convention, for the relief of the
wounded in the war. / trust that this
action 1OreshadOws such an interest on
the subject as Will result in the admis-
sion Of the United State to that
humane and cOmmendable arrange
ment. | invite your attention to
the new code of the international
rule for the prevention of collisions on
the high seas and of conforming the do
nestle legislatiOns of the United States
thereto, that no confusion may arise from
the application OF conflicting rules in the
case of vessels and different nationali-
ties meeting in the tidal waters. The in
ternational rules differ but slightly from
our own. They have been adopted by the
navy department for the governing of
war ships of the United States on
the high seas and in foreign waters
and, although the action of the state de-
partment in disseminating the rules and
in acquainting ship masters with the op-
ton of conforming without the jurisdic-
tiOnal waters of the United States are
now very generally known and Obeyed.
The state department.still continues to
publish to the country the trade and
manufacturing reports received from its
officers abroad. The success of this
course warrants its continuance, and
such appropriations as may be required
TO meet the rapidly increasing demand
for these publications which have special
reference to theAtlanIa cotton exposition
The October number of the reports was
devoted to valuable collection of papers
on the cotton goods trade of the world.
The international sanitary conference for
which, in 1879, congress made provi-
sion and assembled in this city early in
January last and its sessions were pro-
longed until March, although 10 reached
..z.,a IL.
future action of the participant
powers, the Interchange of views
proved to be most valuable. The
full protocols of the sessions have been
already presented to the senate, as peril
nent to this general subject. l call
your attention to the operations of the
national board of health established by
act of congress, approved March 3rd,
1879. Its sphere of duty was enlarged by
the act of June 2nd, in the same year.
BY this last named act the board was re-
quired to institute such measures as
might be deemed necessary for prevent
ing the introduction of contagious
or Infectious diseases from foreign coun-
tries into the United States, or from one
state into another. The execution of the
rules and regulations prepared by the
board and approved by my predecessor,
has done much to arrest the progress of
epidemic diseases, and has thus rend-
cred substantial services to the nation.
The international sanitary conference, to
which have referred, adopted form of
il bill of health to be used by all vessels
seeking to enter the ports of the coun-
tries whose representatives participated
in its deliberations. This form has been
prepared by the national board of health
and Incorporated with the rules and
regulations which have been approved
by me, in pursuance of law, The health
of the people is of supreme Importance,
and all measures looking to their protec-
tiOn against the spread of contagious
diseases, and to the increase of our sani-
tary knowledge for such purposes, de-
serve the attention of congress.
The report of the secretary of the
treasury presents, in detail, highly
satisfactory exhibit of the state of the
finances and the condition of the various
branches of the public service admins
tered by the department. The ordinary
revenues from all sources of the fiscal
customs, SI5s, lb9, 677 ,022; from internal
revenue, $l35, 264 ,3S5.5l; from sales of
public lands, 2,2cl ,S63.17; from tax on
circulation and deposits of national
banks, $S,llO, l15. ~; from repayment of
interest by Pacific railway companies,
SSlO,S34.SO; from sinking fund for Pacific
railway companies, So3, 1s0.54: from
customs lees, fines, penalties, etc,
81 ,225 ,6l4.S6; from fees, consular let.
tiers, patents and lands, 81, pa 1888. 9S
from the proceeds of the sales of govern
ment property, S262, ia (; from profits on
coinage, 1916 ,S4S, 561 from revenues of
the District of Columbia, Dol ,6l9 1923 from
sources, $40, 1888 .013 !; total
ordinary receipts, $3.50, 7Sl ,292.57 the Or
binary expenditures for the same period
were for civil expenditures, 81, 81
l71.l9 Tor foreign Intercourse, Sl,0l3,-
954.92 for Indians, $6.5l4, 16l 90 for pen
siOns, $50 BOSE, 1892; for the military es-
adjustment, including river and harbor
and arsenals, $40 ,465 $50. 90;
for naval establishment, including YES
sells, machinery and improvements at the
navy yards, Sl5, 6SS 81 IS; for miscellan-
eous expenditures, including public
buildings, light houses and cOllec-
tions in the revenue, $4l 1897 ,2S0.57; for
expenditures, on account of the Dis
trict of Columbia, S3,543, 912 .03; for In
terest on the public debt, So, sos, TAI. 1S
for premium on bonds purchased, 81 ,06l,.
24S.79; total ordinary expenditures,
$500, 7l2 ,SS7.59; leaving Il surplus revenue
of 500, C69 ,440.9 SO, which was applied as
follows TO the redemption of bonds
for the sinking fund, $74.371 10000; frae-
tiODal currency for the sinking fund,
Sl09, 00l ,0l5.00; loan of February, 1861;
81 AIS, 10000; ten-forties, of 1864 $2,Ol6,-
OF 1864, $34 10000; five.
twentles, of 1867, S37, 10000; cOnsols of
1865, Sl43.l5O.O0 cOnsols of 1867, $780,
1890; consols of 1868; $685., 400. 90; Texan
indemnity stock, 100000; old demand
interest and other notes,
SIS, $3.50; amount of increase of cash
in the treasury. Sl4, 63T ,O23.96 total $780,
O69, 404.ss: The requirements OF the
sinking fund for the year amounts to
$500, 1856, 064.02, which sum included u
balance of 9,S17 ISIS not provided for
during the previous fiscal year. The sum
of S144 1902 ,l05 was applied to this fund,
which left deficit of SIC ,305, 873.47. The
increase of the year 1881, compared with
those of the previous year, Is S29, 1852, =
90l.l0. II is estimated that the receipts
during the present fiscal year will reach
800 .0OO, 900, and the expenditures $780,
100000, leaving n surplus of $3.50 200 600.
applicable to sinking fund, and the re-
demption OF the public debt. / approve
the recommendation of the secretary OF
the treasury. that provision be made for
the early retirement of silver certificates,
and that the act requiring their issue be
repealed. They were issued in pursuance
Of the policy of the government to main
tain silver at the gold standard, and were
made receivable for all GUS
toms taxes and public dues. About sixty
six millions of them are now outstanding.
They form an unnecessary addition to the
paper currency, sufficient amount of
which may be readily supplied by the
national banks in accordance with the
net OfFebruary 18th, 1871. The treasury
department has monthly receipts of at
least 81, 000, 900 in value OF silver bullion
to be coined into standard silver dollars
Sl09 900 900 OF these have been al
ready coined, while only about S34 ,000,-
900 are in circulation for the reasons
which he specifies. L concur in the sec
retary's recommendations that the provi- |
sion Tor the coinage OF fixed amount
each he repealed, and that hereafter only