The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-12-16
The Presidents Message

We present herewith the more strik-
ing and important passages from Fresi-
dent Arthur's Message.
To the senate and house OF reprepresentatives
of the United States.
An appalling calamity has befaIien the
American people and their chosen representa-
tive since you last met in the halls where you
are now. We might else recall with unalloyed
content the rare prosperity with which
throughout the year the nation has been bless
| ed. Its harvests have been plenteOus; It's
varied industries have thriven; the health of
| Its people has been preserved; IL has maintain
ed with foreign governments undisturbed re-
| lati0ns or anmlty and peace. For these mani
festatiOns OF his favor we owe to Him who
holds our destiny in his hands the tribute OF
| our greatful uevOtlOns. To that mysterious
exercise Of will which has taken from us the
loved and illustrOus citizen who was but late
ly the head OF the nation, We bow in sorrow
and submission. The memory OF his exalted
character, OF his noble achievements and of
his patriotic life, will be treasured forever as
sacred possession of the whole people. The
announcement OF his death drew from foreign
| governments and peoples tributes OF sympathy
and sorrow which history will record as sig
nal tokens OF the kinship of nations and the
federation OF mankind. The feeling Of good
will between our government and that of
| Great Britain was never more marked than at
present. In recognition OF this pleasing fact I
directed, on the occasion of the late centennial
celebration at Yorktown, that asalute be given
to the British flag.
CUSTOMS REVENUE.
The revenue from customs for the past fiscal
| year was $19S, 1885 o. an increase of $11,
| 1851 AZ over that of the preceding year
$l3S S,09S,562 80 of this amount was collected
at the port OF New York, leaving $60,06l 1883
as the amount collected at all the other ports
lnff fhan untr ia ~ go
| was collected OH sugar, meadO and mOlasses;
$27, ,285624 78 on wool and its manufactures,
$2l ,462, ,S34 "a on iron and steel and manufac.
lures thereof; $19.038.665 81 on manufactures
| OF Silks $l0,S25,l l15 Fl on manufactures OF
cotton; $6, ass, ,643 "a on wines and spirits;
making total OF revenue from these sources
| OF $1S3 3O5S,720 81. The expenses of collection
for the past year were S6,4l9,345 20; an in
| crease over the preceding year of $3S7,410 04.
| Notwithstanding the increase in the revenue
| from customs over the preceding year, the
gross value Of the imports, including free
goods, decreased over $25,000,000. The mark
| ed decrease was in the value of manufactured
| wool $14,023,6S2 and in that of scrap and pig
ron $12,Sl0.671. The value of imports Of SUI
gar on the other hand showed an increase of
$7457,474. or steel rails $4,345,521, of barley
,2O4 and of steel in bars ingots, etc. ST.
620046. The exports cOntrasted with the i'm
ports were as follows: Domestic merchandise
$SS3, ,925,95 fOreigI merchandise $1S,45l 1899,
total $902,377,S46. Imports of merchandise
$642, ,664, 1928. Excess Of exports over imports
Of merchandise $259, ,722 718, aggregate Of ex-
ports and imports $1,545, ,041 ,974. Compared
with the previous year there was an increase
Of $66, ,73S, ,6S8 in the value Of exports of mer-
chandise, and decrease OF $25,290,l1S in the
value of imports. The annual average of in
crease of imports OF merchandise over exports
thereof for the years previous June 30, 1873,
was $l04, ,s06,92 but for the last six years
thav-a houh haa 81 rtr
ports Of merchandise amounting to $l,1S0,668,-
lob, an annual average Of 1885, 778017. The
specie value Of the exports OF domestic mer
chandise was $376,6l6,473 in 1870, and $685.
VIZ, ,947 In 1881; an increase OF $307,309,474 or
1876 per Cent. Tho value of imports was $435-
95S 408 in 1S70 and $642, 1854 1928 in 1881, an in
crease of $206, 70S, ,220, or AZ per cent during
each year FROM 1852 to 1879 inclusive. The ex-
ports of specie exceeded the imports. The
largest excess OF such exports over imports
was reached during the year 1854, when it
amounted to $92, ,2S0, ,429, but during the year
ending June 30, 1880, the imports Of coin and
bullion exceeded the exports by $75,S91 ,391,
and during the last fiscal year the excess of
imports over exports was S91, ,16S650.
ABOLITION OF INTERNAL REVENUE TAXES.
It seems to me that the time has arrived
when the people may justly demand some re-
lief from their present 0nerOus burden, and
that by due economy in the various branches
ed. /, therefore, concur with the secretary in
recommending the abolition OF all internal rev.
enue taxes. except those upon tobacco in its
various forms and upon distilled spirits and
| fermented liquOrs, and except, also, the spec
| ial tax upon the manufacturers OF and dealers
| in such articles. The retention of the latter
tax is desirable as affording the officers of the
government proper supervision Of these arti-
ces for the prevention Of fraud. agree with
| the secretary OF the treasury that the law i'm
| posing stamp tax upon matches, proprietary
articles playing cards, checks and drafts may
| with propriety be repealed, and the law also
] by which banks and bankers are assessed upon
| their capital and deposits. There seems to be
| general sentiment in favor of this course. In
| the present condition OF our revenues the tax
upon deposits is especially unjust. 1t was
never imposed in the country until 1t was de-
maDded by the necessities of war, and was new
or exacted 1 believe in any other country even
| in its greatest exigencies. Banks are required
| to secure their circulation by pledging with
l the treasurer of the United States bonds OF the
| general government The interest upon these
bonds, which at the time when the tariff was
imposed was per cent, is now In most in
stances 81 per cent. Besides, the entire Cir
culatiOn was originally limited by law and no
| increase was allowable When the existing
banks had practically monopoly Of the bust
ness there was force in the suggestion that for
the franchise to the favored grantees the gov
| 6Tuu6ub Hlkuts Nofy pIopoily, oAdCb n mA Ou
| circulation, bat for years the system has been
free and the amount Of circulation regulated
| by the public demand. The retention Of this
| tax has been suggested as q means of reim-
| bursting the government for the expense of
printing and furnishing the circulating notes.
| IF the tax should be repealed 1t would certain
| ly seem proper 10 require the national banks
| to pay the amount OF such expense to the
comptroller of the currency. 1t is perhaps
doubtful whether the immediate reduction OF
i the rate OF taxation upon liquors and tobacco
is advisable, especially In view Of the drain
upon the treasury which must attend the pay
ment of the arrears Of pensions. A cOmpari-
| son, however, OF the amount OF taxes collected
| under the varying rates OF taxation which had
at different times prevailed, suggests the init
| nation that some reduction may soon be made
| without a material diminution Of revenue.
| The tariff laws also need revision, but that a
| due regard may be paid TO the conflicting in
terests Of our citizens important changes should
be made with caution. III careful revision
/ cannot be made at this session, a commission.
| such as was lately approved by the senate, and
| Is now recommended by the secretary OF the
treasury, would doubtless tighten the labors ot
| Congress whenever this subject shall be
brought to its consideration.
| THE POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT..
The report of the postmaster general is a
gratify ing exhibit OF growth and efficiency of
the postal service.
The receipts from postage and other ordina-
ry sources during the past fiscal year were $685.
4S9,S16 5s; the receipts from the money order
business were $295,5S1 81. making total of
S36, ,7S9, 800 81. The expenditure for the fiscal
year was $69, ,251, ,796 ~. The deficit supplied
out of the general treasury was $2,4sl, ,129 95,
or SO per cent OF the amount The receipts
were $3,469,91S 63 in excess OF those OF the
previous year, and $4,575,S97 81 In excess OF