The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-12-08
The Presidents Message.

The message of President Arthur, which
was transmitted to Congress on Monday,
gives abundant evidence that the verdict of
the people at the November elections, in
favor of q reduction of taxation, has been
wisely needed. 1t remains to be seen wheth-
err Congress, which is still under the control
of the Republicans, will grant the relief the
people so urgently demand.
The President, in the first place, refers to
the friendly character of our intercourse with
foreign nations, and to the prospect of an
early adjustment of our difficulties with
England growing out of the arrest of citizens
of the United States in Ireland.
The main features of the message relate to
our domestic concerns and the interesting
and important subjects of revision of the
tariff and the reduction of internal revenue
taxation are treated at length.
The President heartily approves of the
recommendation of the Secretary of the
Treasury for immediate and extensive reduc-
lions of the revenues of the govern
ment, which amount annually to $155 900 900
more than is needed for the current expenses
of the government and the interest on the
national debt.
Although this surplus has been largely
applied to the payment of the national debt,
the President renews the conviction that
such rapid extinguishment of the national
Indebtedness as is now taking place is cause
for serious apprehension, rather tlan for
nt,,la tI,n Nf
the government lie idle in the treasury they
will become the temptation to corrupt and
extravagant expenditure. The President,
therefore, suggests that unless it shall be
found that the probable expenditures of the
government for the coming year have been
under.e estimated, all internal taxes except
those which relate to distilled spirits, can be
prudently abrogated. This would diminish
the cost of collection $2,50000O, and retire
from office from 1 800 to 1000 persons He
does not think, however, that the time has
arrived for the total abolition of internal
revenue taxes, for the reason that it is doubtful
whether the duties on imports would alone
be sufficient for the needs of government,
and because, moreover, a total abolition of
excise taxes would prove a serious obstacle
to thorough revision of the tariff The
present tariff system is, the President frankly
admits, in many respects unjust, and if the
tax on domestic spirits is to be retained, he
is clearly of the opinion, judging from the
revenues derived from customs during the
last few years, that large reductions in the
customs revenue are entirely feasible; and
this may be accomplished, he believes, with
out abandoning the protection of domestic
labor by equalizing the public burdens among
all classes and occupations.
Referring to his veto of the River and Har-
Dor bill, the President recommends the adj
visibility of the passage of an amendment to
the Federal Constitution which would permit
the executive to disapprove of any item or
items in an appropriation bill without being
under the necessity of condemning the entire
measure.
Congress is invited to make more adequate
provision for arming and cquippng the mi
hiia. The condition of the navy is comment
ed upor, and the attention of Congress is
called to the intimate connection and inter-
dependence of the navy and the commercial
marine, and to the decadencc of our COM
merce, which has been transferred to foreign
vessels
The surplus in the Postoflice department
leads the President to favor q reduction of
letter postage to two cents per half ounce,
and he believes that in three or four years
the increase of revenues consequent upon q
reduction of rates would equal the expendi-
lures.
President Arthur expresses the determine
tion Of the administration to push the star
route cases, and says that off any guilty per-
sons shall finally escape punishment it will
not be for lack of earnest and diligent efforts
on the part of the prosecution"
Commenting in connection with the report
of the Secretary of the Interior upon the il
lteracy disclosed in certain portions of the
country by the census returns, the President
thinks it q momcntous question whether
Congress should not extend immediate and
substantial aid to supplement individual
effort and State legislation in behalf of cdu-
cation.
Upon the subject of civil service reform
the President recalls the sentiments express.
ed in his last communication to Congress,
and adds that since these suggestions were
submitted "the people of the country, appa.
rently without distinction of party, have in
various ways given expressions of their
earnest wish for prompt and definite action.
In my judgment such action should no longer
be postponed"
The President takes occasion to set himself
right upon the question of official removals.
and claims that in the fourteen months ofhis
administration only eighty-nine removals
have been made, exactly the same number
made in the four months of President Gar
fields administration. In connection with
this subject he also expresses his disapproval
of forced contributions from office-holders,
and favors their prohibition by law.
--s.>-
In the Criminal Court of Baltimore city,
last Friday, Judge Phelps sentenced Charles
Foote, colored, to be whipped with seven
lashes and to be confined sixty days in Jail
for brutally assaulting and beating his wife.
The lashes were promptly administered
The prisoners counsel, Mr. T. Kell Bradford,
intends to sue out writ of error to the
Court of Appeals 1t is difficult 10 see what
relief the Court of Appeals can give. The