St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-12-17

| the balance of the indemnity fund heretofore
obtained from China and Japan, and which is
| now in the hands of the State Department, be
] returned to the Governments OF those coun-
| tries.
| The King of Hawaii, in the course of his
| homeward return after a journey around the
| world has lately visited this country. While
| our relations with that kingdom are friendly,
| this Government has viewed with concern the
| efforts to seek Il replenishment of the dimin-
| ished population of the Island from outward
sources to degree which may impair native
| sovereignty and independence. in which the
| United States was among the first to testify a
| lively interest.
Relations of unimpaired amity have been
| maintained throughout the year with the re-
| spective Governments of Austria, Hungary,
| Belgium, Denmark. Hayti Paraguay and
| Uruguay, Portugal AMI Sweden and Norway.
| This may also be said of Greece and Ecuador,
although our relations with those States have
drawal of appropriations for diplomatic rep
resentatives at Athens ahd Quito. 1t seems
| expedient to restore those missions, even on
a reduced scale; and decidedly recommend
| such q course with respect to Ecuador, which
is likely within the near future to play an i'm
portant part among the nations OF the South
ern Pacific.
At its last extra session the Senate called for
! the text of the Geneva Convention for the re-
lief of the wounded in war. l trust this action
foreshadows such interest in the subject as
| to that humane and commendable engage
ment.
l invite your attention to the propriety of
adopting the new Code of international Rules
for the prevention OF collisions the high
seas, and of conforming the domestic legisla-
ton of the United States thereto, so that no
confusion may arise from the application of
conflicting rules in the case of vessels of diff
ferent nationalities meeting in tidal waters.
These international rules differ but slightly
from our own. They have been adopted by
Nav Ia ri m n m UnI lnnn nf
the war ships of the United States on the high
seas and i'll foreign waters, and through the
action of the State Department in dissent
mating the rules and in acquainting the ship
masters with the option of conforming to
them without the jurisdictional waters of the
United states, they are now very generally
known and ODeyed.
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL.
The State Department. still continues to
publish to the country the trade and manu-
featuring reports received from United States
officers abroad The success of this course
warrants its continuance and such appropri
alton as may be required to meet the rapidly
increasing demand for these publications.
With special reference to the Atlanta Cotton
ports was devoted to a valuable collection of
papers ON the cotton goods trade of the
world.
SANITARY.
The International Sanitary Conference, for
which in 1879 Con sress made provision, as
the sessions were prolonged until March. Al
though it reached no specific conclusion af-
feeling the future action of participant pow
ers, the interchange of views proved to be
most valuable. The full protocols OF the Ses
sions have been already presented to the
Senate.
As pertinent to this general subject, 1 call
your attention to the operations OF the Ma
tional 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
px f1n 11.f ,nI In
Board was required to institute such meas
ures rs might be deemed necessary for pre-
venting the Introduction of contagious or in
fictitious diseases from foreign countries into
the United States, or from one State to anoth.
er. The execution of rules and regulations
prepared by the Board and approved by my
predecessor has done much to arrest the pro-
gress of epidemic disease, and has thus rem
dered substantial service to the nation. The
International Sanitary Conference to which 1
have referred adoptei form of bill of
health to be used by all vessels seeking to en-
ter the ports of the countries whose repre-
sentatives participated in its deliberations.
This form has since been prescribed by the
National Board OF Health and Incorporated
with its rules and regulations, which have
been approved by me in pursuance of law.
The health of the people is of supreme i'm
portance. All inca Sures looking to their pro-
lection against the spread of contagious dis
eases and the increase OF our sanitary knowl-
edge for such purposes deserve the attention
of Congress.
FINANCIAL.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
represents in detail a highly satisfactory ex-
hibt of the state of the finances and the con-
dition of various branches of the public serv
ice administered by that department.. The
ordinary revenues from all sources for the
fiscal year ending June 10, 1881, were: From
Customs, Sl9s, l59,6l6.02 from internal reve-
nue., Sls5, 26i ,3s55l; from public lands, 2.22l,
national banks, Ss,ll6,ll5.l2 from repayment
of interest by Pacific Railway companies,
$50. S}3.S0; from sinking fund for Pacific Rail
way Companies. $50, 1851; from Customs
fees, fines, penalties, etc, 81 ,225 5l4.S6; from
fees consular letters patent and lands, S.
244 80; from the proceeds of sales of Gov
eminent properly, s26 2l7.4O0; from profits on
trict of Columbia, s2,ol6.19s2i; from miscel-
laneous sources. ST, POS ssO.23. Total ordinary
receipts, s. .6O1 1922, 92l.57.
riod were: Civil expenses, Sl7,sH, l17l9; for
foreign intercourse, 81, O93 954.92; for the Indi
ans, S6,5l4, l6l03; for pensions, $50. $50 79.62
for the military establishment, including riv-
and harbor improvements, and arsenalS
$40, ACC, 1906; for the naval establishment in
Guiding vessels, machinery and improve
ments at navy yards, Si5, S66 6s7 .66; for miscel
laneous expenditures, including public build
ings, light houses and collecting the reve-
nue., SAL S37 ,S2050; for expenditures on ac-
count of the District of Columbia S35l3,9l2.03;
for interest on the public debt, So, 502 4l.ls;
for premium on bonds purchased, sl06, l24 ,s7s.
leaving a surplus Of revenue, OF sloO,o69 4oi.ss,
which was applied. as follows: to the redemp
ton of bonds for the sinking fund, STA 49,
of February, 1861 AIS, 600; To- 4es of 1864, s..
DIG. $50; 5-2Os, of 1862, Sls,3OO; 5.20s of 1864,
s., 400; 52os of 1865, So 300; consols of 1865,
$l43, 10000; consols of 1867, $95 600; con-.
soils of 1868, s33, 100000. Loan indemnities,
stock, ST. 100000; old demand, compound in
terest and other notes, 81 $4,000 and to the
increase of cash in the treasury, $4, 637 o.. SO.
Total 500 OG9 4O4 90, The requirements of the
sinking fund for the year amounted to 500, 1885,
e65.02, which sum includes a balance of S49,-
sl7,l2s.7s not provided for during the pre-
applied to this fund, which left a deficit of
sis, 205, S7s.47. The increase of the revenues
for 1881 over those of the previous year was
500, 352, 901. 10.
It is estimated that the receipts during the
fiscal year will reach $4O0, 900 and the ex.
penditures $780, 900, leaving surplus OF
$3.50, O0O, 900 applicable to the sinking fund and