Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-12-05
aancaster :9ntelligenccr.
TUESDAY EVENING DEC. s. 1852,

1ancaster !9ntelligenccr.
TUESDAY EVENING DEC. s. 1882.
The Annual Reports.
The presidents message and the re.
,orts oe his cabinet officers sent to Con
,ress and given to the country at this
season appear in full in the morning
papers Of to day and will be read by few
persons at the great length at which
they arc printed. There is nothing
eyentful in our relations with foreign
the United States being at
present as nearly As possible in that de-
lightful state comprehensively described
by former president, I" at peace with
all the world and the rest of mankind"
Mr.. Blaineis attempt to embroil US with
the South American states, and possibly
England, failed and gets a parting KICK
from the successor to Garfield. by far
the most interesting domestic subject
that engages public attention is the sur
plus of our revenues caused by burdens
of taxation that oppress the people. OBJ
struct business and threaten the pros
perity of the country. We are raising
money at q rate far beyond our wants
and beyond even the necessities of the
redeemable national debt. The presi-
dent reviews the secretary's report in
this matter and accords with his sug-
gestions, which we print and which are
elsewhere commented upon. 1t is nota-
bIe that with all the campaign tariff agi-
tation of the opposition and the cries Of
Democratic " free trade -" and attack
upon American industry" the Republi
can federal administration makes bold
demand for reduction of duties.
The report of the tariff commission is
presented simultaneously with the other
public documents, and it points the way
to a general reduction of from 20 to %
per cent. in existing custom rates. The
commission reaches the conclusion now
SO patent to the best intelligence of the
country, that high duties have a ten
lency to create prejudice, to encourage
unsafe investments of capital, to cause
a plethora of certain commodities that
the time has come when a reduction
from the high war rates can safely be
made, and that the increase in the pro
ductions by the older industries is sufli
cient to admit of a reduction without
impairment of ability to compete" Leg
islation in accordance with this view
cannot be long delayed, though in effect
ing it Congress will find, as the commits
sion did, that the selfshness of human
nature leads the representatives of every
industry to think that theirs is the ont
which still needs protection.
One of the most important points
suggested in the state papers o
this year is the reduction of let
ter postage to two cents per half
ounce. Cheap postage is a characters
tic of advanced civilization and 1t is
universal benefaction. Our postal de
partment is gradually becoming self
supporting and as it approaches tha
stage there should he reduction of rate
where it is most felt and most needed
The present rate of carrying letters i
too high and has been maintained to-
long. Besides, reduction will so large
ly stimulate the mail service us to 500
compensate in part if not altogether 70
the reduced revenues.
The only part of the message which i
not 4 careful following of the line
marked out by the department report
is that which relates to the civil service
and while it is prolific of the usual com
plants that it is impossible for the chic
executive to give personal directions t.
the 100, 900 appointments for which he i
responsible, it is barren Of suggeste,
remedies for the evils which arise an,
prevail under our present system. Tn
president is unquestionably right in hi
declaration that lit matters little to tn
people at large what competent persel
is at the head of this department or tha
bureau if they feel assured that the re
moval OF one and the accession of an
other will not involve the retirement o
honest and faithful subordinates, who's
duties are purely administrative an
have no legitimate connection with th
triumph of any political principle or tn
success of any political party or faction.
But nobody seems yet to have devised
means to reach this end which is accel
table to our lawmakers and above tn
suspicion of jealous people. The pres
ident constructs for himself defens
against the charges of the Garfield fac
tion that he has been the creature of til
Stalwarts in striking down the friend
of his predecessor to shield himsel
from this accusation he shows cOnclu
sively that the percentage of his remoy
ais was far less than Garlield's. But "
presume he doesn't expect anybody t
concede that any principle of civil sci
vice reform characterized an admins
tration in which Blaine was the rulin,
spirit. There is mild hypocrisy in Al
thurs affected disapproval of Hubbc
ism.
Tariff and Taxes.
The suggestions of the secretary of til
treasury in regard to the. financial affair
of the country seem to he wise. II