The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-12-07

Of our revenues. The tax on de-
posts is especially unjust. 1t was
never imposed in this country until
it was demanded by the necessities OF war
and was never exacted, | believe in any
other country in great eXigencies banks
are required to secure their circulation by
plcdging with the treasurer of the
| United States bonds of the general
Government. The interest on these bonds,
which, at the time when the tax was i'm
posed, was per cent, is now, in most in
stances, % per cent. Beside, the entire cir
culation was originally limited by
law, and no increase was allowable
when the existing bonds had
practically n monopoly Of the business.
There was force in the suggestion that
for the franchise to the favored grantees
the government might very properly exact
n tax on circulation, but for years
the system has been free and
| the amount of circulation regulated by the
public demand. The attention OF this tax
has been suggested as means OF
reimbursing the government for the
expense of printing and lurnlshlnS
| the circulating notes. If the tax should be
repealed it would certainly be proper to
the amount of such expense TO the
| Comptroller of the Currency. 1t is
perhaps doubtful whether an immediate re-
| ductiOn of the rate Of taxation on liquors
and tobacco is advisable, especially in view
| of the drain or the treasury which
must attend the payment OF ar
rcars of pensions A comparison
| however of The amount Of taxes comes
under the varying rates of taxation which
| have at different times been prevented, and
suggests an intimation that some reduction
could be made without material dlmlnutlon
of the revenue.
The tariff laws also need revision, but
that a due regard may be paid to the CON
flicting interests of our citizens, important
changes should be made with
cannot be made at this session
Il commission such as was lately approved
by the Senate and is now recommended by
the Secretary of the Treasury, would doubt
less lcngthen the labors of Congress when
ever this subject shall be brought to its con
sderation.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The accompanying report of the Sccre-
tary of War will make known to You the
operations of that department for
past wear. lie suggests measures
Tor promoting the efficiency of the
army without adding to the number of its
officers and recommends the legislation
necessary to increase the number of en-
listed men to 10000 the maximum allowed
by law. This he deems necessary to maintain
quiet on our shifting frontier, to preserve
peace and suppress disorder and disagree
mcnt in new settlements, to pro-
tect settlers and their property
against Indians and Indians against
the encroachments Of intruders, and to en-
nl,1n ,n,conhIn Inn m iurontg establish
homes in the most remote points of our
country. The army is now necessarily
scattered over such a vast en-
tent of territory that, when
ever an outbreak occurs, rein
iorcements must be hurried from
many quarters over great distances, and
always at a heavy cost of transportation of
men, horses, wagons, and supplies. |
concur in the recommendations of
the Secretary for increasing the
army to the strength of 10000
enlisted men. 1t appears by the Sccrctarys
report that in the absence of disturbance Of
the lontier, the troops have been
actively employed in collecting the In
dams, hitherto hostile, and locating them.
| commend TO your attention the
in regard to the condition Of
our Notifications, especially our coast
defences and recommend an increase
of the strength of the engineer
battalion by which the efficiency of ouftor-
pcdO system would be improved.
also call your attention TO re-
marks ON the improvement of south pass
of the Mississippi river the
proposed free bridge over the Potomac at
Georgetown, the importance of completing
at an early day the north wing of the
War Department building and
other recommendations of the Secretary
of War which appears in this report.
The actual expenditures of the department
Tor the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880,
were ~, l22, 2Ol.39, the appropriations for
the year 1881 were Sti SS9075,l2 The esti-
mates for 1852 were SAL ,6ll 1861.
NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
exhibits the condition of that branch of
the service, and presents valuable
call your especial attention TO the APP
pended report efthe Advisory Board, which
here intend to devise suitable
measures for increasing the efficiency
of the navy and particularly to the
report rs to the character and number of
the vessels necessary to place ii on footing
commensurate with the necessities of the
government. ! cannot too strongly urge
on YOU my conviction that every
consideration Of the national safety, ccono-
my and honor imperatively demands a
thorough rehabilitation of our navy.
With full appreciation of the fact
that compliance with the suggestions of the
head of that department, and of the Adj
yisory Board must involve a
large expenditure of public moneys,
| earnestly recommend such appropriation
as will accomplish an end which seems
to me so desirable Nothing can
can be more inconsistent with true
necessary to accomplish this object.
Surely nothing is more essential to
the defense of the United States and
of all our people than efficiency ofournavy,
We have for many years maintained with
foreign governments the relations of an
honorable peace, and that such relations
may be permanent is desired by every
patriotic citizen of the republic. But if we
heed the teachings of history we shall not
forget that in the life of every nation an
emergency may arise where resort to arms
can alone save IL from dishonor
No danger from abroad now threatens this
people, nor have we any cause to
distrust the friendly professions of
other governments, but for avoiding
rs we'll as repelling danger that may
threaten US in future, we must be prepared
to enforce any policy which
We think wise to adopt; we
must be ready to defend our
harbors against aggression, TO protect by
the distribution of our ships of war
over the highways of commerce the
varied interests of our maritime
trade and persons and property of
our citizens abroad, to maintain every
where the honor of our nag and the dis.