The Portland daily press., 1881-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
A Sketch of What it will Contain.
SUSPENSION OF SILVER COINAGE
RECOMMENDED.
Secretary BIaine's Canal Policy En-
dOrsed.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-The Presidents mes
sage is completed, and will be sent to Congress
tomorrow 1t will not be very long docu-
ment, but those who think they know some
thing of its contents say it will be strong and
vigorous State paper. 1t will open with pa
thetic illusions to the death of President Gar
field, in consequence of which Gen. Arthur
became, consiiiutionally, President. The
work of the different departments will be re-
viewed and the recommendations of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury as to finances be in
dorsed The President will go quite as far as
Secretary Folger, it is understood, in matter of
recommending the suspension of the coinage
of the standard silver dollar, and it is believed
he will adopt to some extent the recommends
lions of United States Treasurer Gillian as TO
the treasury reserve. He will recommend
revision of the tariff and modification of the
internal revenue taxation, recommending that
the tax be entirely removed upon certain ar
tcles, and that the internal revenue taxation
be mainly confined to spirits and tobacco in
their various forms. The Panama Canal CUES
ton will be discussed, aud the President will
in the main indorse the principles contained
in Secretary Blaine's recent letter. AS to the
Peru-t'hilian war, the hope will be expressed
that peace may soon be restored.
It had not been intended by the President to
make any allusion in his message to the fact
that two diplomatic agents have just been sent
to South America to endeavor to compose
peace. In fact the President enjoined the
striCteSt secrecy as TO the departure OF these
agents, and doubtless was as much surprised as
the officials of the State Department were to
read the morning before the officials sailed from
New York, not only that they were to go but
the time when, with details as to their secret
instructions. 1t is expected, in view of this
publication that the President will make
some reference to this mission in his message.
The message will certainly take such ground
with regard to the South American complica-
tions as will make il evident that the United
States will not consent to the destruction of
Peru by Chill. In connection with this portion
of the message tits expected that the instructions
of the State Department to the two South
American ministers will be presented to Con-
gress at an early day. The two State Depart
ment Commissioners will first proceed to Peru
and call upon Gen. Hurlbut. They will be
conveyed from Panama to Peru in Govern
ment steamer, which has left San Francisco to
await their arrival.
1t is believed that the President will make
some recommendations as to civil cervice re-
form similar in character to those contained in
the report of Internal Revenue Commissioner
Raum 1t is known that that portion of Mr..
Raum's report was submitted to President
Arthur before it was published, and that the
President gave it his entire approval. To that
extent undoubtedly Commissioner kaums
civil service views cover the opinions Of the
President, which it is to be expected will be
presented IN his M ssage.