Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1882-12-08
11ortG obarco g l,ncs
PORT TOBACCO
Friday Morning, December 8, 1882.
The Presidents Message.

Monday. 1t exhibits evidences OF having
been carefully prepared, and presents
full and elaborate discussion of the more
prominent questions upon which Congress
will be called upon to legislate. good
deal of space is devo ed to discussion of
our foreign relations, which are represent
ed as amicable and sal isfactory on al sides
The message offers an explanation of The
indefinite postponement of Mr.. Blaine's
"peace Congress" and the uninviting Of
the invited powers, which it states was
necessitated by the failure of Congress to
make any provision for the necessary ex
penses OF the concern. The Executive
disclaims any hostility to the theory upon
which this Congress was called, and adds
II am unwilling to dismiss this subject
without assuring you of my support of
any measures the wisdom of Congress may
devise for the promotion Of peace on this
continent and throughout the warld, and
l trust that the time is nigh when, with
the universal assent of civilized peoples,
all international difficulties shall be deter
mined without resort to arms, by the be-
nignant process of arbitration"
Upon the question of diminishing the
government revenues the President dwells
at some length. AS was predicted he APP
pears to think that Stree rum and taxed
SALT would be a rather poor platform for
the Republican party in 1884. He advises
internal revenue taxes He recommends
that the tax upon distilled spirits should
be retained, while that upon .termeate1
liquors and upon tobacco be abrogated.-
This, the President thinks, would render
a simplification of the collective machin
cry of this branch of the revenue practical
ble and effect saving in that regard Of
two and half millions of dollars per an
num- He is Of opinion that excise taxes
have never been favored by the American
people and appears to think that impost
taxes are less Objectionable. He continues:
~The sentiment of the country doubtless
demands that the present excise tax shall
be abolished as soon as such course can
be safely pursued. 1t seems to me- how
ever. that for various reasons 80 sweeping
q measure as the total abolition of inter
nal taxes would, for the present, be an
unwise step. Two of these reasons are
deserving of special mention: /. 1t is by
no means clear that, even if the existing
system Of duties on imports is continued
without modification, those duties alone
will yield sufficient revenue for al the
needs of the government. 1t is estimated
that one hundred millions of dollars will
be required for pensions during the com
ing year, and it may we'll be doubted
whether the maximum annual demand for
that object has yet been reached. Uncer-
tainty upon this ques ion would alone JUS
tify, in my Judgment, the retention for the
present of that portion of the system of
internal revenue which is least objection
able to the people. 2. A total abolition
of excise taxes woulc: almost inevitably
prove serious, if not an insurmountable,
obstacle to a thorough revision of the
tariff, and to any considerable reduction
in import duties.
Upon the question of revision of the
tariff the message says: The revenu, from
customs for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1879, amounted to $137,Oo0,ooo. 1t has
in the three succeeding years reached first
$1s6,OOO,OOo, then St9s, 100000, and final
~ as has been already stated, 1920, 100000
The income from this source for the fiscal
year which will end on June 30th, 1888
will doubtless be considerably in excess
of the sum last mentioned. If the tax on
domestic spirits is to be retained, it is
plain, therefore, that large reductions from
the customs revenue are entirely feasible.
While recommending this reduction, am
far from advising the abandonment OF the
policy of so discriminating in the adjust
lection to domestic labor. But the pre-
sent system should be 80 revised as to
equalize the public burden among all
classes and occupations, and bring it into
closer harmony with the present needs OF
industry without entering into minute de-
tails, which, under present circumstances
is quite unnecessary. l recommend an
enlargement of the free list so as to include
within it the numerous articles which
Weld inconsiderable revenue-a sinplifi-
cation of the complex and inconsistent
schedule of duties upon certain manufac-
turers, particularly those of cotton, iron
and steel, and a substantial reduction of
the duties upon those articles, and upon
sugar, molasses, silk, wool and wooden
goods. If general revision of the tariff
shall be deemed to he impracticable at
this session, express the hope that at
least some of the more conspicuous in
CAPABILITIES of the present law may be cor
rected before your final adjournment.
1t is rather difficult to distinguish be-
tween the recommendations of the Presi-
dent upon this question Of tariff, and the
principle repeatedly enunciated in Dem
ocratic platforms "Tariff for revenue.
with incidental protection"
The President refers to the history of
the star route frauds, and concludes by
saying that eff any guilty persons shall
finally escape punishment for their offences
it will not be for lack of diligent and
earnest efforts on the part of the prosecu-
ton"
Upon the question of reform in the civil
service of the government, the message is
unequivocal, and the views expressed by
the President upon this question will