Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-12-11

is by no means clear that even if the
existing system of duties Old imports
is continued without modification,
these duties alone will yield sufficient
revenue for all the needs of the gov
eminent. 1t is estimared that $780,
100000 will be required for pensions
during the coming year. and it may
be well doubted whether the maxi
mum annual demand for that object
has yet been reached. The present
tariff system is in many respects I'M
just. 1t makes unequal distribution,
both of its burdens and its benefits.
This fact was practically recognized
by majority of each house of con-
gress on the passage Of the act Gre
ating the tariff commission. The re-
port of that commission will be plac-
ed before you at the beginning of this
session, and will, | 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 contain such sugges-
tions for statutory revision as will
practically aid your action upon this
important subject. The revenue
from customs for the fiscal year end
ing June 30th, 1879, amounted to
$137, 100000 1t has in the three
succeeding years reached first $780,
100000, then $199, 100000 and fin
ally, as has already been stated,
1920, 100000. The income from this
source for the fiscal year which will
end on June 30th, 1888, will doubt
less 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 reduc-
tons from the customs revenue are
entirely feasible. While recommend
ing this reduction / am far from adj
vising the abandonment of the policy
of so discriminating in the adjust
ment of details as to afford aid and
protection to domestic labor. But
the present system should be so re-
vised as to equalize the public bur-
den among all classes and occupa-
tions and bring it into CLOSER har-
mony with the present needs of in
dustry.
The grounds that impelled me to
withhold my signature from the bill
entitled can act making appropria-
atiOnS for the construction, repair
and preservation of certain works on
rivers and harbors," which became a
law near the close of your last ses-
sion, prompts me to express the hope
that no similar measure will be deem
ed necessary during the present ses-
sion of congress. Indeed, such a
measure would now be open to a
serious objection in addition to that
which was lately urged upon your at
tention. [ am informed by the Sec
rotary Of war that the greater portion
of the sum appropriated for the va.
rious items specified in that act re,
mains unexpended. / offer a sug-
gestion, which / trust will commend
itself to the wisdom of congress. L
is not advisable that grants of con
siderable sums of money for divers,
and independent schemes of interna
improvement should be made tn,
subjects of separate and distinct leg
islative enactments. 1t will scarcel,
be gainsaid, even by those who ia
vor the most liberal expenditures TO
such purposes as are sought to be &C
complished by what is commonl
called the river and harbor bill, tina
the practice of grouping in such
bill appropriations for great diver
sity of objects, widely separated eth
er in their nature or in the localit
with which they are concerned or i
both, is one which is much to be dt
precated unless it is irremediablt
1t inevitably tends to secure the SUI
cess of the bill as a whole, thong
many of the items if separately col
sidered could scarcely fail of reje'
ton. By the adoption of the cours
, l have recommended every memb'
, of congress when opportunity shoul
> arise for giving his influence an
: vote for meritorious appropriation
would be enabled so to do witho
= being called upon to sanction othe
- undeserving his approval. So, ais
would the executive be affordt
10 thereby full opportunity to exerci
- his constitutional perogative of o
posing whatever appropriations seer
ed to him Objectionable without il
periling the success of others WIFI
=, commended themselves to his jud
ment.
" 1t appears by the secretary's l
III port that the available naval force
10 the United States consists of thlrt
" seven cruisers, fourteen single turrt
ue ed monitors built during the ]
lie bellion, large number of smoo
ISL bore guns and Parrot rifles and eio
an ty-seven rifed cannon. The crust
IL vessels should be gradually replac
eo by iron or steel ships, the monte
Is by modern armored vessels, and
lat armament by high power rifed gul
We The reconstruction of our ma,
ld- which was recommended in my |;
~ message, was begun by congress
laC thorizing in it's recent act the c.