Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-12-07

with the representative governments OF
Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark,
Hayti, etc.
l win call your attention to the propriety
of adopting tho new code of international
rules for the prevention of commissions of
the high sea, and of conforming the domes-
tic legislation of the United States thereto,
SO that no confusion may arise from the ap-
plication of conflicting rules in the case OF
vessels of different nationalities meeting III
tidal waters. The international rules differ
but slightly from our own. They have been
adopted by the navy department for the con-
venience of the war ships of the United
States on the high seas and in foreign wa
ters, and through the action of the State De-
partment in disseminating the rules and III
acquainting shipmasters with the option of
conforming to them without the jurisdic-
tional waters of the United States, they are
now very generally known and obeyed.
The State Department still continues to
publish to the country he trade and manu-
featuring reports received from Its
officers abroad, the success of this course
warrants its continuance, and such approp-
riations as may be required to meet the rap
idly increasing den and for these publica-
TONS With special reference to the Atlanta
Cotton Exposition, the October number of
of papers on the cotton goods trade of the
world.
The International Sanitary Conference
for which in 1879 Congress made proyis-
ion, assembled in this city early in January
last, and its sessions were prolonged until
March, although it reached no specific con-
illusions affecting the future action of the par
ticipant powers. The interchange of views
proved to be most valuable. The full pro-
tocols Of the session have been already pre-
scented to the Senate.
AS pertinent to this general subject, call
your attention to the Operations of the
National Board of Health, established by
act of Congress, approved March Sd, 1879.
Its sphere of duty was enlarged by the act
of June I'd in the same year. BY the last
named act the board was required to insti-
tute such measures as might be deemed
necessary for preventing the introduction
of contagious or infectious diseases from
foreign countries into the United States or
from one State into another The execu-
ton of the rules and regulations prepared
by the board and approved by my predeces-
sor has done much to arrest the progress of
different diseases, and has thus rendered
substantial service to the nation.
The International Sanitary Conference, to
which | have referred, adopted form of
bill of health to be used by all vessels seek
ing to enter the ports of the countries
whose representatives participated in its
deliberations. This form has since been
prescribed by the national board of health
and incorporated with its rules and regula
tons, which have been approved by me in
pursuance of law.
The health of the people is of such impor-
lance that all measures looking to their pro-
lection against the spread of contagious
diseases and to the increase of our sanitary
knowledge for such purposes deserve the
attention of Congress.
The report of the Secretary of the Urea
aury presents in detail highly satisfactory
exhibit of the state of the finance and the
condition of the various branches of the
public service administered by that depart
ment.
The ordinary revenues from all sources
for the fiscal year ending juno 80, 1881;
were: From customs, $19S, 1879, 672. 90 J;
from, sales of public lands So, POI, 1863. II ;,
from tax on circulation and deposits of ma
tional banks, IS, 116, 115.72; from repay
ment of interest by the Pacific Railway
companies, $50, $3.50; from sinking fund
for Pacific Railway companies, $S05, 1S0 54
from customs fees, fines, penalties ETC.,
1926, 574, S62 from fees consular, letters
patent and lands, So, 244, 9S3.9S; from pro-
ceeds of sales Of government property
$262 174 from profits on coinage, So, 1885,
ass 81; from revenues of the District of
Columbia, $2,016, 1873. %; from miscellan-
eous sources, So, 206, S70.13. Total ordin-
airy receipts, $3.50, 7S2, 292.57.
The ordinary expenditures for the same
period were for civil expenses, 81, 941 IT.
1872; for foreign intercourse, 81, 1913, 954 90;
for Indians Sc, 104, 161. 90; for pensions,
$50, O59, 279. 62: for the military establish
ment, including river and harbor improve
ments and arsenals, $40, 466, AGO, SIS; for the
naval establishment, including vessels, ma
chinery, and improvements in the navy
yard, $15, $50, 671. 56; for miscellaneous ex-
penditures, including public buildings, light
houses and collecting the revenue, S4l. $751;
25O.57; for expenditures On account of the
District of Columbia, SO, 543, 912.03; for
interest on the public debt; $3.50, sos, TAI. -;
for premium on bonds purchased, $l,0S1,-
24S. IS. Total amount of ordinary expen-
ditures. $3.50. 712, $3.50. Leaving sur
plus revenue of 800, 089, 4o4 SO, which was
distributed as follows:
For the redemption of bonds $74, 81, 500 !;
fractional currency for the sinking fund,
800, OO1 ,052 loan of FEBRUARY, 1861, ST.,
418, 200 ten fortys of 1864, $4,000, $50 !;
fve-twentys of 1862, $18, 800, 900; five
twentys 1864, $1S, 643, 400; 1866, $47,-
800, 900; consuls, 1867, $3.50, $50, 900; 1868,
1887, $50, 600; indemnity stock, $1,000 !;
demand and other notes, $1S3, 300 and to
the increase of cash in Treasury, s14e, $40,
239 total, 81, 900, 694, 49s. The require
{ho 1r,lyfr
for the wear amounted to $9O7, $50, 642,
which sum included balance of $498, Ill,
2S7 not provided for during the previous
fiscal year The sum of $74, $50, pol was
applied to this fund.- which left deficit of
| $40, 305,57 The increase of revenues for
1881 over the previous year was 1898, 529,
OIL 1t is estimated that this increase for
the present fiscal year will reach $400, 600,
900. and the expenditures S270, 000 900,
leaving surplus of $l3O, 900, 600, applicable
| to the sinking fund and the redemption of
| the public debt.
, l approve the. recommendation of the
Secretary of the Treasury that provision be
made for the early retirement of the silver
certificates and that the act requiring their
issue be repealed. They were issued in
pursuance of the policy of the government
/ to maintain silver at or over the gold STAN
| dard and accordingly made receivable for all
customs taxes and public debts. About
| 500, 600, 900 of them are now outstanding.
This forms an unnecessary addition to the
paper currency of the country, sufficient
| amount of which may be readily supplied
| by the national banks. In accordance with
act of March %, 1878, the Treasury De.
! partm ent has monthly caused at least two
millions in value of silver bullion to be coined
into standard silver dollars. 102, 200, 00O
of these dollars have already been coined,
while only about "a, 900, 900 are in circula.
ton, for the reasons which he specifies.
concur in the recommendation Of the Sec,
rotary, that the provision for the coninage
of a fixed amount each month be repealed,
and that hereafter, SO much be coined as
shall be necessary to supply the demand
The Secretary advises that the issue of gold
coin.be resumed, and suggests that the ma