The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-12-10


of interest ana because of the rapid increase of
our population In 1862 just prior to the fnstitn-
ton of our internal revenue system, our popula-
ton but slightly exceeded thirty millions. By
the census of loS0 Ii is now found 10 exceed hHy
millions. IL is estimated that even If the annual
receipts and expenditures should continue as AZ
present tke entire debt could be paid in ten
years. In view, however, of the heavy load of
taxation which our people have already borne.
we may well consider whether IL Is not the part
of wisdom to reduce the revenue. even
il we delay little the payment of the
debt. 1t seems to me that the time has arrived
when the people may Justly claim some relief
from their justly enormous burden, ard that by
due economy in the various branches of the pub
lie service this may readily be afforded. mere
fore concur with the secretary ia recommending
the abolition of all internal revenue taxes except
thoee upon tobacco in its various forms, and upon
distilled spirits and fermented liquors. and ex-
cept also the special tax upon the manufacture
of and dealers in such articles. The intention
of the latter tax is desirable as afording the Off
GERS of the Government a proper supervision of
these articles for the prevention of fraud. agree
with the Secretary of the Treasury that the law
imposing stamp upon matches. proprietary arti-
Giles, playing cards checks and drafts may with
proprlety
BE REPEALED
and the law also by which banks and bankers are
assessed upon their capital and deposits. There
seems 10 be general sentiment in favor of this
course. In the present condition of our revenues
the tax upon deposits is especially unjust IL
was never imposed in this country until it was
demonded By the necessities of war, and was
never exacted, believe. in any other country,
even in Its greatest exlgeHcies. Bankers are re-
| Qulred 10 secure their circulation by pledging
with the Treasurer of the United States bonds of
| the General Government. The interest on these
| bonds, which at the time the tax was imposed
was q per cent Is now in most Instances 30 per
| cent, and besides the entire circulation was
| originally limited by the Government and no iu-
crease was allowable When the existing banks
had practically a monopoly of the business there
was force in the suggestion that for the franchise
TO the favored guarantees the Government might
very properly eXacta tax OH circulation. but for
years the - stem has been free and the amount of
cirlation regulated by the public demand. The
retention 81 this tax has been sug-
| the Government for the expenses of
| printing and furnishing the circulating notes III
| the tax should be repealed. II would certai ly
seem proper 10 require the National Banks To pay
the amount of such expense to the Comptroller
| OF the Currency. Ii is perhaps doubtful whether
| the immediate reduction of The rate of taxation
upon liquors and tubacso is advisable especially
| in view of the drain uJoE the Treasury which
| must attend the payment OF the arrears of pen
| siOns A comparison. however, of the amount If
taxes collected under the vary ing rates of taxation
which have at different times prevailed suggests
| the intlmati0n that some reduction may soon be
| made without material diminutien of the v
enue.
The Tariff.
The tariff laws also need revision, but that due
| our citizens important changes should be made
| wsth caution II a careful revision can not be
| made at this session, n Commission such was
| lately approved by the Senate aud is now recon.
|
| doubtless tighten the lahors of Congress when
this subject shall be brought tn iis considera
/ ton.
| The Army.
The accompanying report of the Secretary OF
| War will make known the operations of that De-
| partment for the past year. He suggests meas
| with adding To the. number of its officers and
| recommends the legislation necessary
| to increase the number of enlisted men To
| 30O0U, 10 the maximum allowed by law This he
deems necessary To maintain quietness on our
ever shifting frontiers 10 preserve peace and sup
press disaster and marauding in new settlements
to protect settlers and their property against the
| Indians ard the Indians against the encroach
| ments OF intrudeIs, and To enable peaceable i'm
migrants to establish homes in the most remots
| parts of our country. The army is now neces
| sarily scattered over such vast extent of terri
tors that, when an outbreak occurs, rein
| forcements must be hurried from man,
quarters over great distances and always a
a heavy cost for transportation of men, horses
wagons and supplies. A.
tary tor increasing the army to the strength of 80.
600 men. IL appears by the Secretary's report tina
in the absence of disturbances on the frontie
the troops have been actively employed I'm col
lecting Indians hitherto hostile and locating
them on their proper reservations; that Sitiinl
Bull and his adherents are prisoners at For
Randall: that the Utes have been moved to thei
new reservation In Utah; that during the recen
outbreak of the Apaches ii was necessary to rein
drawn from seW Mexico: that some AracRes "i ar
have escaped and the majority of tn
tribe are now on their reservation Then
is need of legislation to prevent The Intrusion OF
lands set apart for the Indians. A large militar
force AZ great expense is now required TO patro
the boundary line between Kansas and the In
dian Territory. The only punishment that cal
at present be inflicted is the forcible removal O
the intruder and the imposition of a pecuniaI
fine, which IN most cases ii is impossible to col
lect. There should be penalty by i'm prisonmen
| in such cases.
The separate organization of the signal seryic
| nf a f1l sta
ment of the advantages of such a permanent OF
sanitation is presented In the report of the Chic
Signal Officer. A detailed report of the usefu
work performed by the signal corps and tn
weather bureau is also given in that report
ask attention TO the statements of the Secre
tary of War regarding this acquisitions frequentl
made by the Indian Bureau upon the subsistence
department of the army for the casual support G
bands and tribes of Indians, for which the apprc
priations are exhausted. The War Department
should not be left by reason of Inadequate pre-
vision for the Indian Bureau to contribute for tn
maintenance of the Indians.
River Improvement
The report of the Chief of Engi, GERS furnishe
detailed account of the operations for the i'm
provement OF rivers and harbors. | commend 1
your attention the suggestions containe'
in this report in regard to the. condi
ton of any fortifcaticns especially GU
coast defenses, and recommend an increase of tn
strength of the engineer battalion by which tn,
efficiency of our torpedo system would be i'm
proved, also call your attention TO the re
marks upon the improvement Of the South Pas
| of the Mississippi River the proposed free bridg
| over the Potomac River at Georgetown the i'm
por ance of completing at an early day the nortl
wing OF the Department Building and othe
recommendations Of the Secretary o. War, whicl
The actual expenditures of this DEPARTMENT IN
the fiscal year ending June 80 1881 were 80 l22
20139 the appropriations for the year 1882 wer
ASs9, 12o.42, the estimates for 1888 s44,541,
276.9l.
The Navy.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy exhibit
the condition OF that branch of the service an,
presents valuable suggestions for its improve
ment. call your especial attention also to TIN
/ appended report Of the Advisory Board which N
convened to devise suitable means for increasin
the efficiency OF the Navy aud particularly to re
port to the character aud hum Der of vessel
necessary TO place ii upon a footing cOmmensul
ate with the necessities of the Government cal
not too strongly urge upon my conviction tina
every consideration of national safety economy
and honor imperatiyely demands
With VHl1usn f fn sppreciaop our Navy
fact that compliance with the suggestions of the
head of that department and of the Advisor,
Board must involve a large expenditure of III;
pub ic moneys. earnestly recommend such ap
preparations as will accomplish in the end which
seems to be so desirable. Nothing can be NOR,
holding the means necessary to accomplish In,
objects intrusted by the Constitution to the Ma.
tional Legislature. One of these objects and one
our fundamental law TO be the provisions for tho
common defense" Surely nothing is more es
sential to the defense of the United States and OF
all our people than the effcier cy of our Navy
We have for many years main tanned with foreign
Governments the relations OF honorable peace
and that such relations may be permanent is de
sired by every patriotic citizen of the Republic
But ii we read the teachings Of history we shall
not forget that in the life of every nation emer
gencies may arise when resort to arms alone
save 1t from diShonor. No danger from abroad
now threatens this people. nor have we any cause
TO distrust the friendly profess ions of other Gov
| ernments. But tor avoiding as well repeliing
dangers that may threaten us in the future we
must he prepared TO face any policy which we
| think wise TO adopt. We must be ready TO defend
our harbors against aggression, to project by the
distribution OF our ships of war over the high
ways of commerce, the varied interests of our