The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-12-17


United States indispensable and for which the
intersection of any foreign guarantee might be
regarded as superfiuous and unfriendly act.
THE cLAYToN-BULwER TREATY.
Foreseeing the probable reliance of the Brit
1sh government in the provisions of the Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty of 1850 as affording room
for share IN the guarantees which the United
States covenanted with Colombia four years
before, / have not hesitated to supplement the
action of my predecessor by proposing to her
maJestys government the modification Of that
instrument and the abrogation of such clauses
thereof as do not comport with the obligations
OF the United States toward Colombia or with
the vital needs of the two friendly parties to
the compact.
GENEVA PEACE CONVENTION
At its last extra session the senate called for
the text of the Geneva convention for the re-
lief of the wounded in war. | trust that this
action foreshadows such interest in the sub
Ject rs will result in the admission to that hui
name and comrnendable engagement.
TRADE STATISTICS.
The state department still continues to pub
lsh to the country the trade and manufactur-
ing reports received from It's officers abroad
The success of this course warrants its continu-
ance and such appropriation as may be required
to meet the rapidly -increasing demand for these
publications. With special reference to the
Atlanta cotton exposition the October number
OF the reports was devoted to valuable COL
lection of papers on the cotton goods trade Of
the world. The international conference
for which the congress of 1878 made provision
assembled in this city in January last and its
sessions were prolonged until March. Although
it reached no specific conclusions affecting the
future action of the participant powers, the in
terchange of views proved to be most valuable.
The full protocols of the sessions have been al
ready presented to the senate.
COLLISIONS ON THE HIGH SEAS.
l invite your attention to the propriety OF
adopting the new code of international rules
for the prevention of collisions on the high
SEAS and of conforming the domestic legisIa-
ton of the United States thereto so that no
confusion may arise from the application of
conflicting rules IN the case of vessels of differ
ent nationalities meeting in tidal waters. These
international rules differ but slightly from ours
They have been adopted by the navy depart
ment for the government of the war ships of
the United States on the high seas and in for
eign waters, and through the action of the state
department in disseminating 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 obeyed.
BOARD OF HEALTH
AS pertinent to this general suject call your
attention to the operations of the national
DOafu Oh health Established Dy acJ OF congress
approved March 3, 1879. Its sphere of duty
was enlarged by the act of June 2, in the same
year. BY the last named act the board was re-
quired to institute such measures as might
be deemed necessary for prevent
ing the introduction of contagious
or infectious diseases from foreign countries
into the United States or from one state into
another. The execution of the rules and regu-
lations prepared by the board and approved by
my predecessor, has done much to arrest the
progress of epidemic disease and has thus rem
dered substantial service to the nation. The
international sanitary conference to which l
have referred adopted a form of a
bill of health, TO be used by all yes
sells seeking to enter the ports of the
countries whose representatives participated in
the deliberations. This form has been pre-
served by the national board of health and in
corporated with its rules and regulations, which
have been approved by me in pursuance of law
The health of the people is of supreme impor
lance, and all measures looking to their preser-
walton against the spread of contagious
diseases, and to the increase OF our sanitary
knowledge for such purposes, deserve the at
tention Of congress.
FINANCE.
The report of the secretary of the treasury
represents IN detail highly satisfactory exhibit
of the state of our finances and the condition
of the various branches Of the public service
administered by that department. The ordin-
airy revenues from all sources for the fiscal year
ending June 10, 1881. we're from customs, $685.
1866; from internal revenue, $135, 264,-
1886: from public lands 1922, 1876, 317;
from tax on circulation and de-
posts of national banks, 1911, 611, 572;
from the payment OF interest by the Pacific
Railway Companies 1910, 833. 80; from sinking
fund for Pacific Railway Companies, $685.,
1904; from customs fees, fines, penalties, ETC.,
S122, 551, 486; from fees, consular letters pat
eats and lands, S22, 244, 1889; from proceeds
of sales of government property, 500, 217, 400;
from profits on coinage, So, 468, 1861; from
revenues of the District of Columbia, So 016,-
1928; from miscellaneous sources, S6,206,-
8S0.13; total ordinary receipts, 1850, 782. 297.
The ordinary expenditures for the same
period were: For civil expenses, 81, 81 Ill.,
10; for foreign intercourse, Sf09, 395, 1872; for
Indians, $6.514, 5000; for pensions, $50, 050,
279.62; for the military establishment including
river and harbor Improvement and arsenals,
$40, 465, 1855; for the naval establish
ment, vessels; machinery in improvement at
navy yards, SIS, 686, gu Sc; for miscellaneous
expenditures, including public buildings, light
houses and collecting the revenue, $41, 1897, 800;
for expenditures on account Of the District of
Columbia, S. 543, 912; for interest on the public
DEBT. 982, sos, TAI; for premium on bonds pur-
chased, $16, 1861 total ordinary ex-
penditures, $3.50, 712, 887, leaving sur
plus revenue of 800, 069, 404 which was applied
as follows:
To the redemption of bonds FOR the sinking
fund S743, 712, 900; fractional currency for the
sinking fund 0,900, 106; loans of February
1861, S741, 800, 900; 10-40's of 1864, 1901 ,615,
600; 520's of 1862, $18, 800, 00G; 520's of 1864,
So, 100000 5-20s of 1865, $37, 300, 600;
consols of 1865, S143, $50, 900; consols of 1867,
S95, 915 900; consols of 1863 1913, TAO, 900; loan
indemnity stock, 81, 900, 600; old demand COM
pound interest and other notes, 81 1888, 900: and
to the increase of cash in the treasury. $14, 637,
023. Total, $100069, 404 The requirements
of the sinking fund for the year amounted
to $9,07S,6 COG, 402, which sum includes
a balance of $40, ST., 1875 net, pro-
vided for during the previous fiscal year.
The sum of $74, 480, POI was applied to this
fund which left a deficit of SIC, 205,873 The
increase of the revenue in 1881 over those of
previous years was S29, 352, 901. 1t is estimated
that the receipts during the present fiscal year
will reach $400, 100000 and the expenditures
S270.000,0 0e leaving surplus of $130,000,000
applicable to the sinking fund and the redemp-
ton of the public debt.
SILVER CERTIFICATES.
1 approve the recommendation of the
secretary of the treasury that provision
be made for the early retirement of sill
yer certificates, and that the act requiring
their issue be repealed. They we're issued
IN pursuance of the policy of the government
to maintain silver at near the gold standard
they were accordingly made receivable for all
customs, taxes and public dues. About sixty
SIX millions of them are now outstanding. They
formed an unnecessary addition to the paper
currency, sufficient amount of which may be
readily supplied by the national banks. In &C
cordance with the act of February %, 1878, the
treasury department has monthly caused
at least $2,000,009 in value of silver
bullion to be coinedinto standard silver dollars,
and 102, 000, 900 of these dollars have been al
ready coined, while only about 100000 are
in circulation. For the reasons which he speci-
ties, concur in the secretary's recommendation
that the provisions for coinage OF an affixed