The Ouachita telegraph., 1882-12-09

mentioned In connection Win tne
speakership of the next House, were
particularly sociable. Somebody re-
marked that they must nave Iosih
on their hands; they held on 10 tngir
friends with such firm, friendly
grasp. Although the election for
Speaker is a year off, everybody is
talking about it. Even the candidates
are posing and laying their wires.
Randall is working for the place
with all the adroitness and vigor for
which he is famous. He makes no
move that is not intended to be toward
the Speakership. Just at present his
strongest opponent is Carlisle, and he
is doing what he can to create the i'm
preston that Carlisle is free trader.
It is said by the same correspondent
of members of the Senate that they ap-
peared glad to meet again after their
vacation, and that very nearly all the
Senators were present, those from this
State included.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
1t would require an hour to peruse
attentively the annual message of
President Arthur. 1t ia, in the main,
a bussines document, and remarkable
for nothing of belligerent or partisan
nature.
The President opens with review
of the foreign relations of the United
States, from which it appears that this
government is involved in no serious
trouble with any foreign power.
The President passes next to the con-
sideration of the matter of finances.
We will follow the Presidents views
with bearings on the more important
matters treated of in his message,
leaving comments with the reader.
INTERNAL. REVENUE AND TARIFF.
Upon the showing of our financial
condition, also of the last fiscal year,
feel justified in recommending to Con-
gress the abolition of all revenue taxes
except those on tobacco in its various
forms, aud upon distilled spirits ana
fermented liquors, and except also
special taxes upon manufacturers or
dealers in such articles. I venture now
to suggest that unless it shall be ascer-
tanned that the expenditures of tho
Government for coming years have
been underestimated, all internal taxes
save those which relate to distilled
SplrltS, Gall W pIuuOu"J eAOAo6o~'"'
Such a course, if accompanied by
simplication of the machinery of col
lection which would then be of easy
accomplishment, might be reasonably
expected to reduce the cost of such COL
lection by at least s2, 500 900, and in the
retirement from Office Of from 800
to 1000 persons.
A total abolition of excice taxes
would almost invariably prove II
serious, If not an unsurmontable obs
tacle to a thorough revision of the
tariff, and to very considerable reduc-
ton in import duties. The present
tariff system is, in many respects, un-
Just. 1t makes unequal distributions
both of its burdens aud its benefits.
This fact was practically recognized by
majority of the Act creating the
Tariff Commission.
If the tax on domestic spirits is to
be retained, it is plain, therefore, that
large reductions from the custums re-
venue are entirely feasible. While
recommending this reduction, I am
far from advising abandonment of the
policy of so discriminating in the adj
justment of details as to afford pro-
lection to domestic labor, but the
present system should be so revised as
to equalize the public burden among
all classes and occupations, and bring
it into close harmony with the present
needs of industry. Without entering
into minute details, which under
present circumstances, is quite un-
necessary, 1 recommend an enlarge
ment of the free list so as to include
within 1t the numerous articles which
yield inconsiderable revenue; a sim
plihcation of the complex and incon-
sistent shedule of duties upon certain
manufacturers, particularly those of
cotton, iron ond steel, and substan-
tial reduction for the duties upon
those articles and upon sugar, molasses,
silk, wool and woolen goods.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
It is apparent by this exhibit that so
far as concerns most of the items to
which the Act OF August, 1882 relates,
there can be no need of further appro.
priations until after the close of the
present session. If, however, any ac-
tion seems to be necessary in respect to