The daily gazette., 1882-12-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
A GENERALLY SATISFACTORY
r DOCUMENT. .s
NO COMFORT FOR sTALwARTs.
A Reduction OF Taxation Recommended
General Review of Public Affairs and
Personal Apology.

Personal Apology.
H4J44 -%--- U.
WASHINGTON, Dec 4.-President Arthur
sent his second annual message TO Congress
to-day. He frat calls attention to our for
eign relations, which continue to be of the
most friendly character. Such slight differ
ences as baye arisen during the year have
be n already settled or are likely to reach
an early adju tmeht. .tGfstf
TaE FIyANo g.
The President copies the figures suL-
mitted by the Secretary of the Treasury IN
his report, agrees with the Secretary that it
is not desirable to continue the coinage of
the silver dollar, now SO enormously in
excess of the demand, and continues IL
heartily approve the Secretary's recnmmen-
dation OF immediate aud extensive reduc-
fions In the annual revenues of the govern :
ment 1t is one Of the tritest maxims oi
political economy that all taxes are burden
some. or late the public revenues have far
Exceeded this limit, and unless ch cked by
appropriate legislation such excess will con-
Cinue to increase from year to year. For
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1881, the sur
plus revenue amounted to one hundred mil
ions Of dollars; for the fiscal year ended the
Both OF June last the surplus was
more than one hundred and forty five mil
ions. The report Of the Secretary shows
what disposition has been made Of these
moneys. They have not only answered the
requirements Of the sinking fund, but have
Afforded large balauce applicable 10 other
reductions of the public debt. But renew
the expression of nv conviction that such
rapid extiuguishment OF the public indebt-
edness as is now taking place is by no means
a cause for cougratulatiOn. 1t is a cause
rather for serious apprehension. If 1t con-
tiuues itsin ust he speeiily followed by one
Of the evil results 70 clearly set forth in the
report of the Secretary. Either the surplus
must lie idle in the Treasury or the Govern
ment will be forced to buy at market rates
in bonds not then redeemable, and which
under such circumstances cannot fail TO
command an enormous premium, or the
swo, len revenues will be devoted to exit ava
giant expenditure, which, as experience has
taught, is ever the bane of an Overlooking
Treasury.
INEERNAL REVENUE REDUCTION.
''upon the showing of our financial condi-
ion at the close Of the last year ielt justi-
tied in recommending to Congress the aboli-
ton of all interaf~evenue taxes except those
upon tobacco Ia It's various iorms and upon
distilled spirits and iermented liquors aud
wine, except alsO the special tax upon thu
manufactures OF all liquors IN such articles.
venture now to sugg, st that unless H. shall
ne ascertained THAT the probable exprhdi-
iuies of The government tor the coming y, nj
nave been derestimated, all internal tuxes,
save those which relate to distilled spirits,
AN be pru,iently abrogated. Such course,
if accompanied by a simplification OF
he machinery of collection, which
would theu be casy of accomplishment.
might reasonably be expected to result in
diminishing the cast OF such collection by
at least two millions and half of dollars,
and ia the retirement from Office of from
| 800 to 1000 persons. The system of ex-
else duties has never commended itself to
the favor of the American people, aud has
never been resorted to except tor supplying
deficiencies in tne Treasury when, by reason
of special exigeucies, the duties on imports
have proved inadequate for tic need OF tn,
government. The sentiment OF the county
doubtless demands that the present pxcie.
lax shall be abolished as soon as such
course can be safely pursued.
TARIFF REVISION. t'
The President next discusses the tariff.
The present system, he says, 10 in many re-
spvcts unjust. 1t makes unequal distribu-
lion by reason Of Its burdens and its benefits.
II the tax on domestic spirits is TO be re
taiued it is plain, that large reductions from
the customs revenue are entirely feasible.
Wmle recommending this reduction, / am
far from advising the abandonmenG OF tn,
pulley of SO discriminating in the ad justlnent
ot DUTIES To afford aid and protection L.
domestic labor. But the present system
Should be go revised as to equaIiz. the put
lie burden among all classes and occupatiuLs
aud bring IL into closer harmony with tLt
present need Of industry. Without enter
ing into minute details, which under
present circumstances is quite unnecessary,
| recommend an enlargement OF the
free list 81 as to include within II the numer-
Gus articles which yield inconsiderabl,
revenue; an ampliflcation OF the complex
and Inconsistent schedule Of duties upon
certain manufacturers, particularly those OI
cotton, iron and steel, and substantial re-
duction of the duties upon those articles,
AMI upon sugar, molassee, silk, wool and
WOODEN goods If z neral revision of the
tarin shall be found 10 be impracticable al
his session express the hope that at least
some of the more conspicuous inequ lities
of the present law may be corrected before
your final adjournment One of them IL
specially referred to by the Secretary. III
view of recent decision OF the Supreme
Court the necessity OF amending the law b.,
which the, Dutch stand ,rd of color is
adopted aa the test of the sacchnr'ut
strength of sugar is too obvious to require
comment.
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
The President calls t,nion TO the weak
state OF our sea coasu deltnses, invites the
dttentlun Vi SouPTesS 10 ine prOpileJy ol
making more adequate provision for arm
ing aud equipug the militia aud then tak, s
up the River and Harb Ir appropriations.
He suggests that it might be well to max
ind, pendent schemes of improvement the
sLbjtcts of separate and distinct legislation.
| THIS would give each member D: Congress
| II chaucs 10 vote Tor onl, such appror riatons
| as he should deem meritorious. II The
| number OF works entitled to government
| all is SO great a. TO make this impracticable.
| The President suggests that the Executi,e G
| be allowed to disapprove any item or items
OF an appropriation bill. @
! The President thinks that the cruising ves-
sells oi the navy should be gradually replaced
| by hon and steel ships, the monitors ty
modern armored vessels and the armamen.
| by high power rifled guns.
CHEAP LETTER POSTAGE.
In discussing the report of the Post master
General the President says that the infor-
nation which it affords, that the receipts for
the fiscal year have exceeded the expendi-
lures, must be gratifying to Congress and
| to the people of the country. AT the last
session OF CONGRESS several bills were intro
duced in the House of Representatives for
| the reduction of letter postage to the rate of
| two cents per half-ounce. have given much
| study and reflection to this subject and am
| thoroughly persuaded that such reduction
would be for the best interests of the public.
Regarding the Star Route frauds the
! Prrsident remarks that ''if any guilty per-
sous thall finally escape punishment fer
| their oHenses il will not I've for lack OF dill.
| gent and earnest Efforts on the pait OF the