The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-12-15
The Presidents Message.

ne EEcSAUSAI - MSSo<@1Ss
The first Message of President
Arthur was presented to Congress
the 9Th. It is very long; so long
that we cannot find space for it,
but viii attempt to give some OF its
main features. After speaking Of
the great calamity. that befell the
nation in the death of President
Garfield, he congratulates the coun-
try upon the rare good fortune en-
ioyed; during the year in abundant
lar7ests, the freedom from the
rayages Of disease, and the peaceful
relations existing between this and
other nations. He devotes large
space to; the discussion Of our diplo
matte and consular relations with
other governments, in. which there
is nothing of special interest. In
regard to the finances, he states
that the ordinary revenues from all
sources for the year ending June
30, 1S9lsweEe s360,7S2, ,922:57 the
ordinary expenditures dor the same
period being s26o,712,Ss7.59. The
revenue for the. present fiscal year
he estimates at s4o0,000,000, and
the expenditures at S270,0G0,0O0.
Hesrecesnmends the reduction of
the revenue by removing the tax
upon matches, proprietary articles,
bank, checks and bank. deposits !;
ont. in view Of the drain made
upon the Treasury from the pay
ment of arrearages Of pensions,
be thinks It not advisable at present
to reduce the taxation on liquors
and tobacco. He comedies with
the Recommendation Of Gen. Sher-
man :tbat. the number of enlisted
men in the, army be. increased to
the maximum allowed by law-30,-
600. sdHealso recommends that the
navy ; y and our harbor Notifications
be put in a more efficient condition
50 as to provide against any emer,
,gencg9 The receipts from the Post
Office Department for>the past fs-
cal year were s36,7s5, ,3s7.s7; the
expenses s39, ,251, ,736.46: He re-
commends that the money order
system be so changed as to reduce
the fees forpost Office money orders,
and to allow sums up to 500 to be
sent BY order, instead of $50, as
now allowed By law. In regard to
Indian affairs, he says that the plan
formerly pursued of settling the
Indians upon reservations remote
from civilization has proved totally
unsatisfactory and disastrous and
that the plan: lately pursued Of set
ting: thensin the midst of civilized
communities and thus allowing
them to be absorbed among the
whites and to be benefited by
schools and by the ordinary indus
tries and pursuits Of life, is working
we'll. Fhe President urges earn
estly upon Congress the duty Of
sappressing, polygamy. The diff.
cnlty,,amounting almost to an i'm
possibility, OF proving polygamous
marriages, he thinks can be ob7iated
to great degree by removing the
incompetency Of the wife to testify
against the husband, and by re-
curing, under; heavy penalties, per,
sons performing marriage .ceremo-
MES IN the elTerritories to file certif-
Gates ofssuch marriages in the Su-
preme CourTof the Territory. The
President estimates that it will re-
q1Wre 1886, 100000 to pay pension
claims Of the, present year He, ,ad-
vocates the2systen of competitive
examinations in the civil service
and a fSity Of tenure, so that per,
sons applying FOR appointments
may be examined as to their fitness,
that promotions shall depend upon
merit, and that appointees may feel
secure in their positions so long as
they do their duty
The SUM of $1,000, 0,O00is lying in
the National Treasury that has ac-
cumuIated from unclaimed money
orders. Considering that the money
order system was established only
eighteen years ago, and that money
eannet be sent by post Office order
over $50, the, fact that. such an
amount has gone astray gives some
idea OF the vast amount Of money
thnt hos lean Sent by this method.