St. Landry democrat., 1882-12-16

various reasons, SO sweeping measure as
the total abolition of internal taxes would tor
the present be an unwlse step. Two OF these
reasons are deserving OF special mentlon. !.
1t is by no means clear that even it the exist.
ing system of duties on imports is continued
without modification those duties alone Will
yield sufficient revenue for all the needs OF
the Government. 1t is estimated that one
hundred millions of dollars will be required
for pensions during the coming year, and 1t
may Well be doubted whether the maximum
annual demand for that object has yet been
reached. Uncertainty upon this question
would alone justify in my Judgment the re-
tention for the present OF that pornon OF the
system Of internal revenue which Is least oD-
iectionable to the people. 2. total abolition
of excise taxes would almost inevitably prove
a serious if not an insurmountable obstacle to
a thorough revision of the tariff and to any
considerable reduction in Import duties.
THE TARIFF.
The present tariff system is in many re-
spects unjust. 1t makes unequal distributions
both of it's burdens and its benefits. This fact
was practically recognized by majority OF
each house of Congress in the passage OF the
act creating the Tariff Commission. The re-
port of that commission will be placed before
you at the beginning of this session, and Will,
| trust, afford you such information as to the
condition and prospects of the various COM
mercial, agricultural, manufacturing, mining
and other interests of the country ana con-
tain such suggestions for statutory revision
as viii practically aid your action upon this
important subject.
THE REVENUE FROM CUSTOMS
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1879.
amounted to $l37,o00,OoO. 1t has in the three re-
succeeding years reached, frSf, sls1sooo'o y,
ready stated, $220, 900. The income from
this source for the fiscal year, which VIII END
on June 30, 1888, will doubtless be considera.
bly, in excess of the sum last mentioned. IL
the tax on domestic spirits is to be retained 1t
is plain, therefore, tina. large reductions from
the customs revenue are entirety Ieas'Die.
While recommending this reduction am tar
from advising the abandonment of the policy
| of 80 discriminating in the adjustment OF de-
tails as to afford aid and protection TO domes-
tic labor but the present system i sh9 h ee
among all classes and occupations ana bring
it into closer harmony with the present needs
| of industry. Without entering into minute
details, which under present circumstances Is
quite unnecessary, / recommend an enlarge
ment of the free list SO as to include within IL
the numerous articles which yield inconsld-
cradle revenue; simplific alton OF the com
pex and inconsistent schedule of duties upon
certain manufactures, particularly those OF
cotton iron and steel and q substantial re.
duction OF the duties upon those artienes a anu
goods. If q general revision OF the taf1H shaii
| be found to be impracticable at this session, !
/. express the hope that at least some OF tne
more conspicuous inequalities OF the present
| law may be corrected before your fnai ad,
! journment. One of them is specially referred
| to by the Secretary. In view OF a recent de
4 u
amending the law by whichthe duty standard
of color is adopted as the test OF the sacch't-
| rine strength of sugars is too obvious 10 re-
quire comment.
THE INDIANS.
From the report Of the Secretary of War it
! appears that the only outbreak OF Indians
! during the past year occurred IN Arlzona ana
| in the southwestern part OF New MeAi .cs:
! which has prevailed in all other parts OF the
| country has permitted such an addition to be
/ made to the military force in the region en-
dangered by the Apaches that there Is little
| reason to apprehend trouble in the future
! Those parts of the Secrstary'S report which
i relate to
1 OUR sEA-COAST DEFENSES
1 and their armament suggest the grayest re-
4 dections. Our existing fortifications are no
/ toriously inadequate to the defense oI me
great harbors and cities for whose prote ction
| they were built. The question OF providing
! an armament suited to our present nece ssdles
| has been the subject of consideration by
board whose report was transmitted to Con
| gress at the last session. Pending the consld.
| Grafton of that report the War Department
| has taken no steps for the manufacture or
| conversion of any heavy cannon, put the
/ Secretary expresses the hope that authority
ana means to begin that important WORK WI y,
/ be 500 n provided. ] invite the attention o.
/ Congress to the propriety OF making more
| adequate provisions
! FOR ARMING AND EQUIPPING THE MILITIA
| than are afforded by the act OF 1906 which IS
1 still upon the statute books: The matter mas
| already been the subject of discussion in the
Senate and q (which seeks to supply the de
| ficiencies of existing laws Is now upon thecal
/ endar. The Secretary OF W ar calls attentior
1 to the fact that an embarrassment is growing
| out of the recent act of Congress making the
retirement of the officers of the army compul
sory at the age 81. The act of 1878 is still II
force: which limits to tour hundred sne nun nun,
bel of those who can be retired for disability
or upon their own application.
| The two acts when construed together
seem to forbid the relieving, even for absolute
i incapacity, of officers who do not fall within
| the puryiew of the latter statute, save at sucl
/ times as there chance to be less than ~
names on the retired list. There are now ~
1t is not likely that Congress intended Thu
/ result and 1 concur with the secretary Una
the law ought to be amended.
The grounds that impelled me to withhold
nv signature from the bill entitled An &C
making appropriations tor the
4 CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR AND PRESERVATION OF
/ CERTAIN WORKS ON RIVERS AND HARBoRs,'
/ which became law near the close of you
last session, prompt me to express nope ina
no similar measure will be deemed necessar'
during the present session OF congress. ouel
/ measure would now be open to seriou
objection in addition to that which was urge
upon your attention. / am informed ny TN
Secretary of War that the quarter portion o
the sum appropriated for the various item
4 specified in that act remains unexpendeo
+ Of the new works which it authorized, e1pen
4 ses have been incurred upon two only, 10
i which the total apprOpflablDn WAS 4Li,Voo.ouo
The present available balance Is disclosed d
the following table:
Amount OF appropriation by act of =
i August 2, 1882 Slo, 81
A june IS, isss. ... 49, 1000
Amount of appropriation for pay
ments to j. i. Eads. ............-....5 So4 ,oe
on propriations 4,7ss.es
+ Total Observation-Disclosures. SIS, 7sl, ls
Less amount drawn from Treasury
40. lsss. . 49,. 6,u56, IS
Total ...................... .$l7, 734 SO
Il It is apparent by this exhibit that so far a
concerns most of the items to which the &C
of August 2, 1882, relates there can be no nee
Of further appropriations until Il alter liter. tn
any action should seem to be necessary i