Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-12-05
$tauntoll Spectator.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, lx82
The Presidents Massage.

u > The Presidents Massage.
AS the full text of the Presidents Mes. |
,age to Congress, which was delivered
yesterday, cannot be obtained for this
issue, and as we do not propose to pub
ish the text Of 1t anyhow, we condense
Ito principal features from . summary
given by the New York World. of last
After reciting the treaty Of immigra-
ton with China and that arrangements
have been made for carrying it into eff
feet, he refers to our relations with Chill
and Peru, and hopes that the obstacles
which have so far confronted our Min
lister to Chill may eventually be over
come to the credit of this government
and the satisfaction Of the hostile
powers.
The President is not unfavorable to the
Peace Congress, but prefers that 1t shall
first be submitted to further considera-
ton by the U. s. Congress. He also
tavors the settlement of international
questions by arbitration.
From his review of the Treasury De-
partment we learn that the excess of rev.
enues over expenditures during the
fiscal year is $l45, 54S, $40 0s, and the
amount applied to the reduction Of the
debt, $186. 2s1 ,5O5.55.
He congratulates the country upon
its prosperity, and favors rigid econo.
my in public expenditures and reduc
ton Of internal revenue taxes. He
favors the abolition of internal taxes,
leaving spirits, tobacco, and fermented
liquors to bear the burdens.
A considerable portion of the message
Is devoted to report Of the operations
connected with the refunding of the
three-and .one-half per cent. bonds into
three per cents. From the fact that
these latter bonds rule at premium the
President suggests to Congress that in
his opinion the time is now ripe for Leg
islation which will enable the Secretary
of the Treasury to further continue to
refund the debt. He thinks that the
experience Of the year conclusively
shows that the bonds of the nation bear.
ing per cent. interest can be success
fully placed.
Touching the tariff, the President re-
news his recommendation Of last year
that the existing laws need revision
He expresses the hope that the labors Of
and the report OF the Tariff Commission
may be 30 enlightening a. to facilitate
Congress in dealing with the subject.
Abiding 10 the national banking sys-
tenn, the President directs attention TO
the fact that up to October 3lst last::over
ITO banks have been organized with an
authorized capital of Sis, 1877 800. and to
which there had been issued circulating
notes aggregating over six million dol
lars. The total number of national
banks is nearly $500. Since the passage
Of the act of Congress authorizing ma
tional banking associations to continue
their corporate existence more than 500
banks have reorganized.
In reviewing the report of the Post
Office Department the President calls
the special attention Of Congress to the
reductions in the cost Of the postal SER
vice for the last fiscal year. The Star
route service will cost for the fiscal year
$5,50O,0OO, which is more than 5000 GOO
less than the cost of this service for the
last fiscal year and 81, $50, 900 less than
the amount appropriated for the current
year. He favors the suggestions of the
Postmaster General for the establish.
ment of postal savings system and di.
reefs the attention Of Congress to .nu.
merous recommendations calculated to
promote efficiency and secure economy
In the postal service. For the next fiscal
year, the receipts are estimated in round
numbers at $50. OO0. 900 and the expenses
at sac, OOO, 900, an estimated excess Of re-
ceipts over expenditures of nearly 81
900 600.
He also favors an increase of the ar.
my and the curtailment of appropria-
tons for public works. and hopes Con-
gress, for the next year, will make no
appropriation on account of rivers and
harbors, except SO far as may be neces-
sary te prosecute work already begun,
and for which the appropriations will
have been exhausted at the end of the
fiscal year.
The operations of the Navy Depart-
mept are very briefly reviewed. The
attention of Congress is invited to the
report Of the Board of Advisers of the
Navy in various recommendation adj
vanced to promote its efficiency. The
President concurs with the Secre.
tary Of the Navy in his recommends
ton for placing the navy on better
footing both as to ships and armament.
he also endorses the recommendation
that the Revenue Marine and Life-Sav.
ing Service and Coast Survey be trans
ferred from the control Of the Treasury
Department to the Navy Department as
means of combining under single
head all similar services.
As to the treatment Of the Indians,
he endorses the policy Of the Secretary
Of the Interior, and urges the import.
ance of law allowing them to hold
their lands In severalty.
He congratulates Congress upon it's
passage of the law for the suppression
Of polygamy in Utah.
The estimates required for the pay.
ment of pensions for the current year
are 800. 900, 600 This Is an increase over
last years estimates, accounted for by
the adjudication of the greater number
Of claims because of the increased cleri
cal force authorized at the last session
Of Congress.
The President recalls the prosecution
of the Star-route cases under the De-
partment of Justice, announcing the
progress already made and the determi-
nation of the Administration to secure
full investigation and satisfactory outs