Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-12-08
The Presidents Message.

Baltimore Sun of Tuesday:
The message transmitted to Congress yes
terday by the President, though perhaps
somewhat shorter than that OF last year, is
still necessarily formidable document in
point of length from the great variety and
importance of the questions discussed. Inc
President begins his message with general
reference TO our relations with foreign pow
ers, and proceeds TO note in detail the more
weighty and interesting questions connected
with our intercourse with each particular
government With regard to the arrest OF
citizens of the United States in Ireland, he
saws q disposition to respect our rights has
been practically manifested by the release
of the arrested parties, while that other sub
ject of contention between this country and
Great Britain, our claim to the control Of the
ipteroceanic canal, has continued 10 be the
subject of conference. The difference ON
this subject, he thinks, is more likely to be
removed by time than by discussion. The
friendly relations of our government with
Russia have continued unbroken, and the
courteous manner in which our intercesson
| in behalf of the Hebrew population Of that
country was received affords ground, the
| President believes for hope that the time |
will soon arrive when all faiths will be toll |
Grated within the Russian borders. Allud- |
| ing to the international convention held in |
| Paris in 1880 with reference to the protec- |
ton of trademarks, patents, ETC., the Presi-
dent calls attention to the fact that the pro-
lection of submarine cables is now under
consideration by an international conference
in session in the same city, and expresses
the opinion that 1t is clearly the tribe policy
of this government TO favor the neutraliza-
ton of this means of intercourse. In the
interest of Justice towards China and Japan
the President expresses the hope that the
question of the return of the indemnity to
the governments Of those countries Will
reach q solution at the present session. In
connection with this subject the attention OF
, Congress is called TO the question as TO
whether under the recent legislation re-
: stricting Chinese immigration, Chinese trav-
: eers may lawfully pass through the country
on their way to or from any other. The re-
r ciprocity treaty with Hawaii will become
terminable after September 8, 1888, and the
! President suggests that early consideration
Il be given to such notifications OF the treaty
v as may be deemed necessary TO the interests
!, of our people, while preserving the CONNER
} cial relations which he considers 1t import
i ant TO preserve The war between Peru
s and Bolivia on the one side and Chilli on
il the other is referred to at some length, but
:. while the disposition of Chilli to exact such
{ rigorous conditions of peace is deplored the
d President believes that forcible interference
n on the part of our government would not
be in keeping with the spirit of our institu-
tons nor the temper Of our people. The
project for an international peace conference
If in Washington is recalled, and willing
II ness expressed to support any measures
which Congress may devise for settlement
of national differences without resort To
l. arms. The President renews his recon-
&c mendation for such legislation as will place
al the United States in harmony with othel
nc powers in respect TO the prevention OF col
- iisions at sea, and expresses himself as cor
SC daily in favor of the reorganization OF the
to consular and diplomatic service on sala
v, ried basis
No The discussion of questions of domestic
concern naturally forms the greater part
" the communication, and the interesting AM
of important subjects of q revision of the tarii
st. and reduction in internal revenue taxation
of are treated at some length. Referring t
the report OF the Secretary of the Treasur
es' "as TO the necessity of providing by legisla
ton some mode of freeing the treasury {
an excess of assets" the President says h
heartily approves the secretary's recommer
Try dation of Immediate and extensive redut
lur tions in the annual revenues OF the govern
ain ment The surplus revenue for the fisci
- year ended June 80, 1881, was $l0OOOO,OO
p" and for the fiscal year ended on the 30th
es' June last was more than one hundred an
ter tifty-fve millions Although this surpl,
N, has been largely applied to the payment I
N' the national debt, the President renews Il
has expression of his conviction that such rap
lgs extinguishment of the national indebte'
ems ness as is now taking place is cause Il
serious apprehension, rather than for col
graduation. If the swollen revenues OF u
hat Government lie idle in the treasury thu
,ial will become the temptation to corrupt al
of extravagant expenditure. The Presider
,,,, therefore, suggests that unless 1t shall
ey found that the probable expenditures of t
leir government for the coming year have be
lty underestimated, all internal taxes exec
v;r. those which relate to distilled spirits, C
Va be prudently abrogated. This would d
wh mnish the cost of collection $2,500,000 al
up retire from office from 500 to 1000 persol
ati. He does not think, however, that the tr
"A has arrived for the total abolition OF int
N0" nal taxes, for the reason that 1t is doubt
cry whether the duties on imports would alo
be sufficient for the needs of governme
lea. and because, moreover, total abolition
-, excise taxes would prove serious obsta
Gnu to thorough revision OF the tarif. 1
ltial present tariff system is, the President iraI
dis ly admits, in many respects unjust, and
10
Nv ~. he is clearly of the opinion, judging fir
the the revenues derived from customs DUR
Off the last few years, that large reductions
inst the customs revenue are entirely ieasib
"a and this may be accomplished, he belie'
o'" without abandoning the protection of
IS oil nestle labor by equaliZing the public b
tce. dens among all classes and occupations
and President refers to his veto OF the river Q
=, harbor bill Of last session, recommends
i'ch' the consideration of Congress the adv
ying bility of the passage of an amendment
,and the Federal constitution which would
;s,od nit the executive to disapprove of any 1t,
'''0N in an appropriation bill without being
'erh- der the necessity of condemning the en-
with measure. Referring to the report OF
so. Secretary of War, the attention Of Cong
Is invited to the propriety OF making N
adequate provision for arming and eql
Den ping the militia, and to the conflicting
iious islation with reference to the rctiremen
pton army officers The condition of the nj
81, as shown in the secretary's report, is c.
ony mented upon, and the attention Of Cong
the called to the intimate connection and in
rthur dependence of the navy and the conn
!, h;s ca marine, and 10 the continued decade
- of the latter and the transfer Of our or
c'a's' ing commerce TO foreign bottoms. The
that port Of the Postmaster General shows
yhils there is considerable surplus in his DEP
his ment, and the President expresses hin
'"'s in favor of reduction of letter postag
ris OF the rate of two cents per half ounce,
believes that the increase in postal pat
age would equal the expenditures after
Mr. md, v,,;,oa,eIy oreatlv ;ncrease the rove,
unity. from this source In regard TO that Dor
given of the Attorney-Generars report wi
The touches upon the star-route cases, the Pl
a., dent says that "if any guilty persons s.
'he finally escape punishment il will not be
muir lack of earnest and diligent efforts on
ial to part of the prosecution" Commenting
,onge connection with the report of the Secret
'e of the Interior upon the iliteracy disclC
or 10 in certain portions of the country by
sug- census returns, the president thinks 1t
allow mentous question whether Congress she
-, not extend immediate and substantial ali