Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-05

yet been reached. Uncertainty upon this
question would alone justify my Judgment
for the retention for the present of the por
ton of the system of internal revenue
which is least Objectionable to the people.
Second, a total abolition of excise
taxes would almost prove serious if not
an unsurmountable objection to thorough
revision of the tariff, and to any con-
siderable reduction in import duties.
The present tariff system is in many res
poets unjust. It makes unequal distribu-
tions both of its 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 COM
mission. The report 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
prospect of the various commercial, agri-
cultural, mining, manufacturing and other
interests of the country, and contain such
suggestions for statutory revision as will
practically aid your action upon the i'm
portant subject.
CUSTOMS.
The revenue from customs for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1879, amounted to
s137,Oo0,OOO. 1t has in the three succeed
ing years reached first S1S6, 5000, 600; then
$19S,O00,0G0, and finally, as has been al
ready stated, S22O,OOO,O0O. The income
from this source for the fiscal year which
will end on June 80, 1888, will doubtless
be considerably in excess of the sum last
mentioned. Ii the tax on domestic spir-
its is to be retained, it is plain, therefore,
that large reductions from the customs rev.
enue are entirely feasible. While
recommending this reduction, l
am far from advising the
abandonment Of this policy of SO discrim
mating i'll the adjustment of details as to
afford aid and protection to domestic la
Dor. But the present system should be so
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 enter
ing into minute details which. under pres
ent circumstances, is quite unnecessary,
L recommend an enlargement Of the free
list SO as to include within it the numerous
articles which yield considerable reve-
nue., a simplification Of the complex and
inconsistent schedule of duties upon GER
tain manufacturers, particularly those
Of cotton, iron and steel, and substantial
reduction of the duties upon these articles
and upon sugar, mOlasses. silk, wool and
wooden goods. If general revision of the
tariff shall be four to be impraeticable at
this session, express the hope that at least
some OF the more conspicuous ineQuall-
ties of the present law may be corrected
before your final adjournment. One of
them is especially referred to by the secre-
tary. In view of the recent decision of the
supreme court, the necessity of amending
the law by which the standard of c, lor is
adopted as the test of the saccharine
strength of sugars is too obvious to require
comment.
INDIAN OUTBREAKS.
From the report of the secretary
of war it appears that the
| only outbreaks of Indians during
the past year occurred in Arizona and the
southwestern part of New Mexico. They
| we're promptly quelled, and the quiet
which has prevailed in all other parts OF
the country has permitted such an addi-
ton to be made to tee military force in
the region endangered by Apaches that
there is little reason to apprehendtrouble
! in the future.
| COAST DEFENsEs.
| Those parts of the secretary's repor
which relate to our sea coast defense:
and their armament sugges
tho gravest reflections. Our existing
Notifications are VIGOROUSLY inadequate
to the defense of the great harbors and
cities for whose protection they were built
The question of providing an armament
suited to our present necessities has been
tho subject of consideration by board
whose report was transmitted to congress!
at the last season.. Pending the considera
ton of that report the war department ha:
taken no ste IS for the man
ufacture or conversion of any
heavy cannon, but the secretary ex
presses the hope that means to begin tina
important work will soon be provided.
THE MILITIA.
I invite the attention o
congress to the propriety o
making more adequate provisions 70
arming and equipping the militia than il
afforded by the act of 1906, which is still
upon the statute books. The matter has al
ready been the subject Of discussion III tn
senate, and bill which seeks to supply tn
deficiencies of existing laws is now upOl
its calendar.
RETIREMENT OF OFFICERS.
The secretary of war calls attention to tn
fact that an embarrassment growing out o
the recent act of congress, making the re
tirement of officers of the army compulsC
~ at The age of sixtyfour, while the act o
1878 is still III force, which limits to fou
hundred the number of thOs
. who can be retired for dis
ability, or upon their own application. Th
two acts when construed together seem t
forbid the relieving, even for absolute in
capacity Of officers who do moi fall within
the perview of the latter statement, saw
at such times rs there chances to be les
than 400 names on the retired list. Their
are now 420. 1t is not likely that congress
intended this result. and L concur with tn
secretary thai the law ought to b
amended.
| THE RIVER And EA3BoR BILL.
The grounds that induced me to with
hold my signature from the bill entitled
San act making appropriations for tn
construction, repair and preservation
| of the certain works o.
rivers and harbors," which becam
law near the close of your last session
', us1.npt me 10 express the hope that n
similar measure will be deemed necessar
, during the present session OF congress
I'll, . ha ma