National Republican., 1881-12-07

payment of the debt
II seems to me that the time has arrived when
the people may Justly demand some relief from
their present Oneruus burden, and that hy due
economy IN the various brarchcs of the public
service this may readily be afforded.
| therefore concur with the Secretary in recon.
mcndiug the abolition Of all internal revenue
taxes, except those upon tobacco in It's various
forms, and upon distilled spirits and fermentcd
liquors and except also the special tax upon the
mnnuHctutors of, and dealers in such articles.
The retention of the latter tax is desirable as
nilOrding tie officers Of the Government proper
supervision of these articles for the prevention OF
fraud. ! agree with the Secretary OF the Treasury
tunt the law imposing q stamp tax upon matches
proprietary articles, playing cards, checks, aud
drafts may with propriey be repealed, aud the
law also 10y which banks and bankers are assessed
upon their capital nnd DEPOSITS There sguins 70
he general sentiment IN favor rOfthis course.
In The present condition Of our revenues the tax
upon deposits Is especially unjust IL was never
the necessities Of war, aud was never cxacled, ]
believe. in ny other country, even in Its greatest
cNigcnCes Banks arc required TO secure their
circulation 10y pledging with the Treasurer OF the
United States bonds Of the General Government.
The interest upon these bonds which Mt the time
when the tax was imposed WIS 6 per cont, is now,
In most instances, 3ls per cent. Besides, the ON.
tire circulation was originally limited by law aud
10 increase was allowable. When the DXtsting
banks had practically monopoly Of the business
there was force In the suggestion, that for the
franchise to the favored grantees the Government
might very properly exact tax on circulation
but for years the system has been free, and the
mRnd.
The retention of this tax has been suggested ms
a means OF reimbursng the Government for the
expense Of printing and furnishing the ciruuat-
ing notes. If the tax should be repealed 1t would
certainly seem proper TO require the national
banks TO pay the amount of such expense to the
Comptroller OF the Currency
II isperhnps doubtful whether the immediate
reduction Of the rate Of taxation upon liquors and
,GbGcco Is advisable t especially IN view % Of M ,hS
payment OF arrears Of pensions. A comparison
however, Of the amount of taxes collected under
the varying rates of taxation, which have at diff.
that some reduction may soon be made without
mat rial diminutiun Of the revenue.
Tho tariff laws also need revision: hut, TINT O
due regard may u, cid TO the conflicting inter
ests Of our cluE Ms, iphiOrtant changes should be
made with caution. il II careful revision canno
be made at this session, commission such us wa,
ntely approved by the Senate nnd is now recon
mcnded by the Secretary of the Treasury, woulC
doubtless tighten the lnbors of Congress when
ever this subject shall be brought to Its consdea
ton.
The accompanying report of the Secretary o
Wur will make known TO you the operations o
that department for the past year.
He suggests measures for promoting the eff
cheney Of the army without adding to the numbe
of its officers, aud recommends che Legislation
necessary TO increase the number of enlisted mel
tothirty thousand, themaximum allowed by law
This he deems necessary to maintain ,quictud
OH our cvcr-shifting frontier; to preserve peac
md suppress disorder and marauding in new set
Elements; to protect settlers and their propert
against Indians, and Indians against the cncroach
ments ofintrnders, and to enable peaceable I'm
| migrants to establish homes in the most remot
| pnrts Of our country
The army is now necessarily scattered oyersucl
n vast extent of territory that, whenever an out
break occurs, reinforccments must be hurriet
| from many quarters, over great distnnces and al
| ways at heavy cost for transportation OF men
| horses, wagons, aud supplies.
! concur in the recommendations of the Scere
| tnry for increasing the army to the strength O
| thirty thousand enlisted men.
1t appears by the SecrctaTys report that in tn
absence of disturbances OH the frontier the troop
have been actively employed in collecting the In
dians hitherto hostile, and locating them on thei
| proper reservations; that Sitting Bull and his nd
| hercnts are now prisoners at Fort Randall; tina
| the Utes have been moved to their new reservation
| in Utah; that during the recent outbreak of TIL
| Apachcs II wns necessary to reinforce the gnrri
sons IN Arizona by troops Withdrawn from Ney
| Mexico; and that some of the Apacics are nov
llheld prisoners for trial while some have escaped
and the majority of the tribe arc now OH thei
There is need orlegislatlon to prevent intrusion
| upon the lands set apart for the Indians larg
military force, at great expense, is now requirct
to patrol the boundary line between Kansas AM
the Indian Territory. The only punishment tina
can mt present be inflicted is tho forcible remoya
of the Intruder and the imposition of a pecuninr
fine, which, In most cnses IL is impossible to col
lcct, There should be n penalty by Imprisonment
in such cnses.
The separate organization of the Signal Seryic
Is urged by the Secretary of War, and full state
ment of the advantages of such permanent orgTi
zation is presented IN the report Of the Chet Sig
nal Oficer. detailed account of the useful wor
performed by the Signal Corps and the Weathe
Bureau Is also given In that report
| ask attention to the statements of the Sccretar
| of War regarding the requisitions frequently mad
| by the Indian Bureau upon the subsistence de
pariment of the army for the casual support {
bunds.nnd tribes of Indians whose appropriation
are exhausted The War Department should nC
| be LEFT by reason Of Inadequate provision for tn
Indian Bureau, to contribute for the maintenance
| of Indians.
The report of the Chefof Engineers furnishes
detailed account Of the operations for theimprove
| ment of rivers and harbors.
| commend TO your attention the suggestion con
| tanned in this report in regard to the condition
our fortiiicntions, especially our coast defense
| and recommend an increase of the strength of tn
Engineer Battalion, by which the efficiency of ou
| torpedo system would be improved.
| / also call your attention to the remarks upo
| the improvement of the South Pass of the Missis
sipni River, the proposed free bridge over tn
| Potomac River at Georgetown, the importance
| completing at an carly day the north wing of III
| War Department building, and dotherrecommendl
tlons of the Secretary OF War, which appear In h
report.
| The actual expenditures Of that department f
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881, were 49, I'D
2Ol30. The appropriations for the year 1882 iwel
81 sS9.725A2. The estimates for 1883 are .sH,5il
| 2760l.
Tire Navy.
The report Of the Secretary of the Navy exhibl
the condition OF that branch of the service, al
| presents valuable suggestions for It's improvement
call your especial attention also to the apponde
report Of the Advisory Board, which he convene
IN devise suitable measures for increasing tl
efficiency of the navy, aud particularly 70 rcp0
| as to the character and number of vessels ncce
sary to place IL upon u fOOling commensurate vii
| the necessities of the Government.
| i cannot too strongly urge upon you my conyi
ton that every consideration of national safet
economy ami honor mperativeiydemands atho
ough rehabilitation of our navy.
| Withnfu appreciation of the fact that Compl
ance with the suggestions of the head Of that d
partment aud of The advisory board must involve
large expenditure ofthe pnblic moneys, earnest
recommend such appropriations as will accomplii
an end which seems to me so desirable.
Nothing can he more iuconsstentwlth true pill
lie economy than Withholding the means nece
snry To accomplish the objects intrnsted by Il
Constitution 10 the National Legislature. One
those objects, and one whichi of paramount IN
partnucc Is declared by our fundamental law,
he the provision for the common defense
Surely nothing Is more essential TO the defense
the United States and Of all our people than Il
We have for many years maintained with 70
elgn governments the relations of honorab
peace, ana that such relation may be permane
Is desired by every patriotic citizen OF the Repu
lie.
But If we heed the teachings of history we shi
not forget that In the life every nation emerge
cios may arise when resort to arms can alone 50
II from dishonOr.
No danger from abroad now threatens this pc
pie, nor have we any cause to distrust the friend
VI prOiessions of other governments.
II But for avoiding as well us for repelling dangC
that may threaten us IN the future We must
prepared to enforce any policy which we thir
wise 10 adopt,
We must be ready to defend our harbOrs agar
aggression. TO protect, by the distribution Of o
ships of war over the highways of commerce. 4
varied Interests Of our foreign trade and the pc
sons and property of our citizens abroad, 70 mai
tain everywhere the honor Of our flag and the d
tingulshed position which we may rightfu
claim among the nations of the world.
Postal Matters.
i The report OF the Postmaster. General is gra
flying exhibit Of the growth and efficiency Of /
postal service.
: Tile receipts from postage and other ordlna
sources during the past fiscal year were $50, As
SIG 5S The receipts from the money order blI
ness were s295 6Sl. 80, making total of s36,7S
39791 The expenditure for the fiscal year "
$50 25l, 1906. The deficit supplied out of the Ge