The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-12-07
The Presidents Message.

The Presidents Message.
The time has gone by when duty required
the reading Of the Presidents message in ex-
tense. It has come to be more of business
and less of political document. The greater
| portion is devoted to review of the reports of
the heads of observation-disclosures which are
always published in advance of the message it.
self The only interest that now attaches to
the document is in the suggestions OF recon-
mendations it may contain. President Ar
| thurs message transmitted to Congress on
| Monday last is somewhat longer than recent
messages. and is not otherwise remarkable. 1t
treats first, as is customary, of the condition
of cur foreign affairs. and we are told thar
our intercourse with other powers has con-
| tinued to be Of the most satisfactory character"
After referring TO the affairs Of Chill and Peru
and til proposed peace Congress in Washing
/ ton of the nations of this continent the Pres
ident says:
1 am unwilling to dismiss this subject with
! out assuring you of my support of any meas
| ure> the wisdom of Congress may devise for
4 the promotion OF peace on this continent. and
/ throughout the world. and trust that the time
| i near when with the universal assent of civil
! led peoples. all International differences shall
| be determined without resort TO arms by the
| bcni%nant processes of arbitration.
H rcncw> his recommendation of such lcgis-
| lation : will place the United States in harmo-
! ny Will other maritime powers with respect to
| The international rules for the prevention OF
| collisions at sea, and i'll conformity with a
| Joint resolution of Congress ha, corrected the
| Secretary of State to address foreign govern
ment> in respect to Il proposed conference for
considering the subject of the universal adop-
| ton Of It common prime meridian to be used in
The reckoning Of longitude and in the regulation
of time throughout the civilized world He
far0rS the reorganization Of the diplomatic
and consular service on salary basis. leaving
the fees to nure to the benefit of the Treasury.
| reorganization of the report of the Secretary
Of the Treasury. showing the financial condition
I of The country. is given. and the attention of
Congress is directed to the Sccretarys views in
respect TO the likelihood of serious contrac-
ton OF the national bank circulation, and to
tlo modes by which that result may in his
Judgment, be ayerted. The views expressed
last year. with respect to the coinage Of silver
dollars. and the retirement of silver certificates
are reiterated. The President also renews his
recommendations for the reduction of taxation.
and does not consider such rapid eXtinguish-
lncnt Of the public debt as is now taking place
Il cause Tor coDgfatulatlon, but rather Tor serl-
Gus apprehension. He SAYS
If it continues. it must speedily be followed
by one Of the evil results clearly set forth in
the report of the Secretary. Either the sur
plus must lie idle in the treasury or the Gov
ernmcut Will be forced to buy at market rates
il bonds not then redeemabe and which, under
such circumstances. cannot fail to command an
enormous premium, or the swollen revenues
Will be devoted to cXtravagant expenditures.
which. as experience has taught are the bane
of an oYertlowing treasury.
rLp following s,lpoestion. are ,nada with "a
9'iN " ih'tl hal rev ehue tdAatioh
Upon the showing of our financial condition
at he close OF the last fiscal year felt justified
in recommending to Congress the abolition OF
Internal Revenue taxes except those en- tobacco
in is various forms. and distilled spirits and
fcrmentcd liquors, and except also the special
iaA upon me hlithtlactu1e OF ana dealers III such
IL mi h lI1T - ~ iliI't ulless
SEES of the Government for the coming wear have
been under estimated, al internal taxes save
hntd - c npl 'i % gan "
panied bv a simnIitcation Of the machinery Of
collection, which would then be easy of accom-
.,f.
h,. al least two ,IiIIinn. and a LIE Of aoiIr
and in the retirement from office of from 1900
10 Z'9V0 persons.
-Ahu Vi me tdrlh question:
me present larlH system Is IN many respects
IFS hnrnns and it, hanntits Ths to ~. "
practically recognized by a majority of each
House OF congress, Ill the passage OF the act
lntar;r9 into minnie IataiIs ,,,hih ,d .'nou'
cnt circumstances is cutie unnecessary. | rec
ommchd an enlargement of the free list so as to
iil1ii Tue numerous artlcies Whicn
the complex and inconsistent schedule of dntie,
upon certain manufactures, particularly those
tGt,oil' lton ailt slee any SUBSTANTIAL re-
upon sugar. molasses. six and wooden GOOD.
Ii general revision of the tariff shall be found
~ ", I iI tils session, express lhe
IRREGULARITIES of the present law may be garrett
ed before your final adjournment.
The President says our existing fortitications
are VIGOROUSLY inadequate to the defence of the
great harbors and cities for whose protection
+ho,. ,,,,, 1iI+ M l, ;-;+o. ~, ..4:
- ,,.',., w. Wv 80 - '''i
Oh congress 70 me pfopflety OF making more
adequate provision for arming and euuipping
the militia than i .f,r1ed Inv tho o.t of 1909
'i'''ii - '''i'i WV "s WV a.. VI LOW
referring TO the river ana harbor Dill OF last
session he expresses 1.-The hope that no similar
measure will no ,len,,ad nocess.,- d,rin,r ,bo
. no INV
| present session OF congress. Indeed, such
measure would now be open to a serious obec-
+io, in .,l3;t;,,, e. 4l+ ,,.,;a,, VIVA ,tol,- $50,
''Vi' III ~ 'N'' " ny" a. 'a''.' uisou
| upon your atlehtlon. am informed by the
Secretary of War that the greater portion of the
SIM anpronriated for fine vorious items snecit;ed
' " ms '''N>'
! III 'h'i act ieihdlils uheApehueu' III this con-
nection he suggests that grants for considerable
schemes of Internal Imnrovement he made the
-
~, ~ I