Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1882-12-13

year slncc rs you nave already been ADVISED by
correspondence transmitted to you in January
last, this government sent special mission
to the belligerent powers to express the hope
that Chill would be disposed to accept money
indemnity for the expenses of the war and to
relinquish her demand for portion of the
territory from her antagonist. This recon-
mendatlon, which Chill declined to follow, this
government did not assume to enforce: nor can
it be enforced without resort to measure
which would be in keeping neither with the
the spirit of " our R Institutions. The
power of Peru no longer extends over it's
whole territory, and the event of our interior
ence to declare peace would need to be sup
plementcd by the armies and navies of the
United States. Such interference would
almost inevitably lead TO the establishment of
protectoratc-a result utterly at odds with
our past policy, injurious to our present inter-
ests and full of embarrassments for the
future, for effecting the termination
OF hostllltles on terms at once just to
versaries. This government has spared
no efforts to save such as might involve the
complications which l have indicated. 1t is
greatly to be deplored that Chill seems resolved
to exact such rigorous conditions of peace and
ndisposed to submit to arbitration the terms
of an amicable settlement. No peace is likely
to be lasting that is not sufficiently equitable
and just to commend the approval Of other
nations.
About year since invitations were extended
the nations of this continent to send repre-
sentatives to peace congress, to assemble at
Washington in November, 1882. The time OF
meeting was fixed at period then remote. in
the hope. as the invitation itself declared, that
in the meantime the disturbances between
South American republics would be adjusted.
As that expectation seemed unlikely to be
realized, asked in April last for an expression
of opinion from the two houses of congress as
to the ACCESSIBILITY Of holding the conventional
the time appointed. This action was prompted
in part by doubts which mature reflection had
suggested, whether the diplomatic usage and
traditions of the government did not make it
fitting that the executive should consult the
representatives Of the people before pursuing
a line of policy somewhat novel in it's character
and far reaching in it's possible consequences.
IL view of the fact that no action was taken by
congress in the premises and no provision had
been made for necessary expenses, l subse-
quently decided to postpone the convocation,
and so notified the several governments which
had been invited to attend. I am unwilling to
dismiss this subject without assuring you of
my support Of any measures the wisdom of
congress may devise for the promotion Of
peace on this continent and throughout the
world. trust that the time is nigh when with
the universal assent of civilized people all in
transitional differences will he determined
without resort to arms by the benignant pro-
cess Of arbitration.
Changes have occurred III the diplomatic
representation of several foreign powers during
the past year. New ministers from the Argen-
tine Republic. Austria Hungary, Brazil, China.
France, Japan, Mexico. the Netherlands and
Prussia have presented then credentials. The
missions of Denmark and Venezuela at this
capital have been raised in grade. Switzerland
has created plenipotentiary mission to this
government. and an embassy from Madagascar
and a minister from Siam will shortly arrive.
Our diplomatic intercourse has been enlarged
by the establishment of relations with the new
Kingdom of Servia, by the creation OF mis-
sion to Siam and by the restoration Of the
mission to Greece. The shah of Persia has
expressed his gratltcation that charge de- af-
fairs will shortly be sent to that country where
the rights of our citizens have been hitherto
courteously guarded by the representatives of
Great Britain.
Irenew my recommendation Of such legisla-
ton as will place the United States in har-
mouy with other maritime powers with respect
to the International rules for the prevention Of
collisions at sea.
In conformity with your joint resolution of
the Sd of August last, | have directed the
secretary of state to address foreign govern
ments in respect to the proposed conference
for considering the subject of the universal
adoption Of a common prime meridian to be
used in the reckoning of longitude and the
regulation of time throughout the civilized
world. Their replies will in due time he laid
before YOU
An agreement was reached at Paris in 1877 S
between the principal powers for an interchange
Of official publications through the medium Of
their respective foreign departments. The ad-
mirable system which has been built up by the
enterprise Of the Smithsonian Institute. at
fords practical basis for our cooperation in
this scheme and an arrangement has been Of
fected by which that institution will perform
the necessary labor under the direction of the
department of state. A asonable compensa
ton herefor should be provided by law.
the diplomatic and consular service contem-
plates the reorganization of both branches Of
such service on salaricd basis, leaving the
fees inure to the benefit of the treasury. l
cordially favor such project as likely to correct
abuses in the present system. The secretary
OF state will present to YOU at an early day a
plan for such reorganization
Tho Treasury.
A full and interesting exhibit Of the opera
tons of the treasury department is afforded by
the report Of the secretary:
It appears that the ordinary revenues from
all sources for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1882. we're as follows:
Customs. NJ, 41O,I 3O 70
Int rnal revenue. LAG, 497, 595 45
Sales of public lands ............ 1888 40 67
Tax on circulation and deposits OF
national banks. observation-disclosures. s,s56,794 As
Repayment of interest by Pacific
Railroad Companies. ............. $4,000 80
COMPANIES 1921 ~
Customs fees fnes penalties, etc.. 1913 4,80I 00
lands .............. ............. 2,6ss, 1899 81
property .................. 3l4,s59 s.
Profits on coinage, bullion deposits
and assays. .................. 4,Ilo,o3o -
Indian trust fund. Observation-Disclosures. 5.705,2 43 %
Deposits by individuals for survey
ing public lands ................. 2O5, 93O, 636 90
Revenues of the District Of Colunl-
bia.... .......... ........... 1,715,l76 Al
Miscellaneous sources ........... 338, 344, 543 %
Total ordinary receipts. SiO3, 525, $50 %
The ordinary expenditures for the same
period were:
Civil expenses. .............. .slso42,3s 1856 AZ
Foreign intercourse. ................ 1,387,5s6 1g
Indians Observation-Disclosures. 1886, 748 on
Pensions e1,s45,lss 81
river and harbor i'm provements and
arsenal. 45.oiU,434 IL
The naval establishment, including YES
sells, machinery and improvements at
Miscellaneous expenditures, including
public. buildings, light houses and
collecting the revenue ............ "a, 539, 237 Sc
Expenditures on account Of the Dis.
trict of Columbia. $3.50, 543 81
Interest the public debt ...... II ,077, 2U6 ~
Total ordinary expenditures. ... 1891 1881 ,439 81
Leaving surplus revenue of 5145, 543, 810.71,
which, with an amount drawn from the cash
balance in the treasury of 800, 1877, 694.84,
making $166, 291. 505.55 was applied to the re-
demption Of bonds for the sinking fund, $50.
O79, $50 Of fractional currency for the sinking
fund, IS, 7O5, 553 of the loan of July and Au-
gust, 1861, S62, o72, $50 of the loan of March.
1868. 5l,472, 900 of the funded loan ofl831,
$37, l94, $50 of the loan of 1853, 81, 600 of the
loan Of February, 1861. /: 100000. Of
of 1864, 81, 400 of 5 2O's of 1865, Sc, 500 of
1O-4O's OF 1864. s254, $50 of consols of 1865,
500, $50 of conso]s Of 1867, $408, $50 of consols
of 1868, $1O1 400, GOO of Oregon war debt
1915, $50 of old demand compound interest and
other notes, $1S.35O; total $3.50, 281, SOP.
The excess of exports over imports Of ner-
chandise was :s25,9O2, $50. This .exceas is less
than it has been before in any Of the previous
six years.
Dnring the year there have been organized
III national banks. and of those institutions
there are now in operation 2, 269, larger num-
Der than ever before. The value of their notes
in active circulation Oh July l. 1882, was 1924,
657, 458. I recommend to your attention the
secretaty's views in respectIto thelikelhood Of
a serious contraction of this circulation and to
the modes by which that result may, in his
judgment. be averted.