Huntsville gazette., 1882-12-09

1924 ,656, AS.

in active circulation on July 1st, 1882, was
1924 ,656, AS.
OUR EXCESS REVENUE.
For the fiscal year ended June 80, 1881, the
surplus revenue amounted TO Sl00O00 600; for
the fiscal year ended on the 30th Of June last
the surplus was more than Si45 900 900. These
moneys have not only answered the require
ments of the sinking fund, but have atssreie8
q large balance applicable to other reductions
OF thepublic debt; but renew the expression
OF my conviction that such rapid extinguish-
ment OF the national indebtedness as is
now taking place is by no means cause for
congratulatfon. 1t is cause rather for
| serious apprehension. If it continues it must
| speedily be followed by one OF the evil results
so clearly set forth in the report of the Secre-
tary-either the Surplus must lie idle in the
Treasury, or the Government will be forced
| 10 buy at market rates its bonds not then re-
deemable, which, under such circumstances,
can not fail to command an enormous prem
Iunl, or the swollen revenues Will be devoted
to extravagant expenditure, which, as exper-
lence has taught, is ever the bane of an over
nOWing treasury.
REDUCING TAXATION.
Upon the showing OF our financial condi-
ton at the close OF the last fiscal year, felt
justified in recommending to Congress- the
abolition of internal revenue taxes except
those upon tobacco in its various forms and
upon distilled spirits and fermented liquors,
and except, also, the special tax upon the
manufacturers and dealers in such articles.
venture now to suggest that unless it shall
be ascertained that the probable expendi-
lures of the Government for the coming year
have been underestimated all internal taxes
save those which relate to distilled spirits,
can be prudently abrogated
The sentiment of the country doubtless
demands the present excise tax shall be
abolished as soon as such course can safely
be pursued. 1t seems to me, however for
various reasons, so sweeping measure as
the total abolition of internal taxes would for
! the present be an unwise step. Two of these
reasons are deserving of special mention. l.
1t is by no means clear that even if 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
Tor pensions m during the coming year, and it
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 portion of the
system OF internal revenue which is least OBJ
iectionable to the people. 2. A total abolition
OF excise taxes would almost inevitably prove
serious Ii not an lnSurmOuntable 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 its burdens and its benefits. This fact
| was practically recognized by majority of
1 each house of Congress in the passage of the
act creating the Tariff Commission. The re-
! port OF that commission viii be placed before
you at the beginning of this session, aud will,
l 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 and 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 coo. 1t has in the three
succeeding years reached, first, $4,000 900,
| then S19o, 600 900, and finally, as has been al
this source for the fiscal year, which will end
on June 80, 1888, will doubtless be consdera-
bly, In excess of the sum last mentioned. II
the tax on domestic spirits is to be retained it
is plain, therefore. that large reductions from
the customs revenue are entirely feasible.
RIVERS AND HARBoRs.
The grounds that impelled me to withhold
my signature from the bill entitled "An act
making appropriations for the construction
repair and pres ervation of certain works on
rivers and harbors" which became a law
near the close of your last session, prompt
me 10 express hope that no similar measure
will be deemed necessary during the present
session of Congress / am informed by the
Secretary of War that the quarter portion OF
the sum appropriated for the various items
specified in that act remains unexpended.
THE NAVY.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
states the movements of the various squad
rons during the year, in home and foreign
waters, where our officers and Seamen, with
such ships aswe possess, have continued to
illustrate the high character and excellent
discipline of the naval organization.
1t appears by the Secretarys report that the
available naval force of the United States
consists of thirty-seYen cruisers, fourteen
single turreted monitors, built during the re-
belliOn, a large number of smooth bore guns
and parrot rifles, and eighty-seven rified
cannon. The cruising vessels should be gradu
ally replaced by iron or steel ships, the moni-
tors by modern aImored vessels. and the ar
mament by high power rifled guns.
THE POST-OFFICE
The report of the Postmaster General gives
evidence of the satisfactory condition of that
department. The information which 1t af-
fords that the receipts for the fiscal year have
exceeded the expenditures must be very
gratifying to Congress and to the people OF
the country.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report of the Department of Justice
brings anew to your notice the necessity of
enlarging the present system of Federal juris-
prudence, so as effectualiy to- answer the re-
6iuirements of the ever increasing litigation
with which it is called upon to deal.
NATIONAL BANKRUPT LAW.
trust that some agreement may be reached
which will speedily enable Congress, with
the concurrence of the Executive to afford
the commercial community the benefits OF
national bankrupt law.
THE INDIAN POLICY.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior,
with its accompanying documents, presents
full statement of the varied operations OF that
department. In respect to lndlan analrS
nothing has occurred which has seriously
changed or modified views to which devot-
ed much space in former communication
to Congress. | renew the recommendations
therein contained as toextending to Indians
the protection of the law allowing landin sew
crafty to such as desire it and making sulta-
bic provision for the education of youth.
CENSUS RETURNS.
No survey of our material conditions can
fail to suggest Inquiries aS to the moral and
intellectual progress OF the people. The CEN
s,ls returns disclose alarming state OF INT
eracy in certain portions of the country where
the provision tor schools is grossly made
ouate 1t is q momentous question for the
decision of Congress whether immediate SUBJ
stantial aid should be extended by the Cen
eraI Government for experimenting the Ell
forts of private beneficence and OF state ana
Territorial legislation in behalf OF education
THE REGULATION OF INTER STATE COMMERCE
has already been the subject of your deliber-
ations One of the incidents OF the marvellous
extension Of the railway system OF the coun-
try has been the adoption Of such measures
by the corporations which own or control the
roads as has tended to impair the ADVANTAGES
of healthful competition and make hurtful
determinations in the adjustment OF freight
ace These inequalities have been corrected
in several of the States by appropriate le9ls-
latiou. the effect of which Is necessarily re-
stricted to the limits Of their own territory.
So far as such mischiets affect commerce
between the States, or between any one Of the
states and a foreign country, they are sub