The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-12-09

various reasons, so sweeping a measure as
the total abolition of internal taxes would for
the present be an unwise step. Two of these
reasons are deserving of special mention. ].
II is by no means clear that even if the exist.
ing system OF duties on imports IS continued
without mobilization those duties alone will
yield sufficient revenue for all the needs of
the Government. IL is estimated that one
hundred millions of dollars will be required
for pensions during the coming year, and It
may well be doubted whether the maximum
annual demand for that object has yet been
reached. Uncertainty upon this question
would alone justify in my iudgment the re-
system If internal revenue which .least oh
Jectionable TO thepeope. 9. Atotal abolition
OF excise taxes would almost inevitably prove
thorough revision of the tariff and to any
Econsiderable reduction in Import duties.
THE TARIFF. F
The present tariff system Is IN many re-
spects unjust. It makes unequal distributions
both of its burdens and its benef This fact
was practically recognized by majority of
each house of Congress in the passage of the
act creating the Tariff Commission. The re-
port OF that commission viii be placed before
you at the beginning of this session, and will,
4 trust, Afford you snch information as to the
condition and prospects of the various COM
mercial, agricultural, manufacturing, mining
and other interests of the country and CON
tain such suggestions for statutory revision
as will practically aid your action upon this
important subject.
THE REVENUE FROM CUSTOMS
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1879.
amounted TO SlS7 100000. It has in the three
s,, s,aa wears reached, nr7t sSSooOoop
ready stated $50 BOO 900. The income from
this source for the fiscal year, which will end
on june 30, 1888, will doubtless be considera-
bly, in excess OF the sum last mentioned. II
the tax on domestic spirits is to be retained 1t
Is plain, therefore. thai large reductions from
the customs revenue are entirely feasible.
While recommending this reduction am far
from advising the Abandonment of the policy
OF 80 discriminating In the adjustment of de-
tails as to afford aid and protectionto domes-
tic labor, but the present system should be
so revised as to equalize the public burden
among all classes and occupations and bring
1t into closer harmony with the present needs
of industry. Without entering into minute
details, which under present circumstances is
quite unnecessary, l recommendan enlarge
ment OF the free list so as to include within it
the numerous articles which yield inconsid
cradle revenue a simplfication of the com
pick and inconsistent schedule of duties upon
certain manufactures, particularly those OF,
cotton, iron and steel and n substantial re-
duction OF the duties upon those articles and
upon sugar. molasses, silk, wool and woole ,I,
be found to be impractcable mt this session,
express the hope that at least some OF the
more conspicuous Inequalities OF the present
iournment. One of them is specially referred
to by the Secretary. In view of a recent de-
ciSion of the Supreme Court the necessity OF
amending the law by whichthe duty standard
of color is adopted as the test of. the saccha-
rine strength of sugars is too obvious to re-
quire comment -..
From the report of the Secretary of War it
appears that the only outbreak OF Indians
during the past year occurred IN Arizona and
in the southwestern part OF New Mexico.
They were promptly quelied, and the quiet
which has prevailed in all other parts of the
country has permitted such an addition to be
made to the military force in the region en-
dangered by the Apaches that there is little
reason to apprehend trouble in the future.
Those parts of the Secrstary's report which
relate to
OUR sEA-CoAsT DEFENsEs '
and their armament suggest the gravest re-
Elections. Our existing fortifcationS are no
toriously inadequate to the defense of the
great harbors and cities for whose protection
they were built. The question of providing
an armament suited to our present neceos ties
has been the subject OF consideration by II
board whose report was transmitted to Con
gress at the last session. Pending the consid-
Grafton of that report, the War Department
mas taken no steps Tor the maauiactnte or
Secretary expresses the hope that authority
ana means to begin that important work will
be 500 provided. / invite the attention of
Congress to the propriety of making more
adequate provisions
FOR AIMING AND EQUIPPSNG THE MILITIA
than are afforded by the act of 1906 which is
still upon the statute books. The matter has
already been the subject of discussion in the
Senate, and q bill which seeks to supply the de
fciencies of existing laws Is now upon thecal-
endar. The Secretary of War calls attention
to the fact that an embarrassment is growing
out of the recent act of Congress making the
retirement of the officers of the army compul-
sorry at the age of64. The act of 1878 is still in
force. which limits to four hundred the mum
ben of those who can be retired for disability
or upon their own application.
The two acts, when construed together,
seem to forbid the relieving, even for absolute
incapacity, of officers who do not tall within
the purview of the latter statute, save at such
times as there chance to be less than 400
names on the retired list. There are now 420.
1t is not likely that Congress intended this
result, and 1 concur with the Secretary that
the law ought to be amended.
The grounds that impelled me to withhold
my signature from the bill entitled IAN act
making appropriations for the
CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR AND PRESERVATION OF
CERTAIN WORKS ON RIVERS AND HARBORS,"
| which became a law near the close of your
| last session, prompt me to express hope that
| no similar measure Will be deemed necessary
| during the present session OF Congress. Such
| measure would now be open to a serious
objection in addition to that which was urged
| upon your attention. am informed by the
| Secretary of War that the quarter portion OF
! the sum appropriated for the various items
| specified in that act remains unexpended.
| OF the new works which it authorized, eXpen-
ses have been incurred upon two only, for
which the total appropriation was S2l 900. 900.
| The present available balance is disclosed by
| the following table;
Amount of appropriation by act of
August 2, 1852 ....;......... SIS. 7ss. s7s
Amount of appropriation by act OF
June 10, 1882. .................,. 10000
Amount of appropriation for pay
ments to j. Il. Eads, ................. 304 ,0OO
Unexpended balance of former ap-
preparations ......................... 4,7ss.2ss
Total .s23, 7al, l3s
| Less amount drawn from Treasury
between July l, 1882. and November
&c. 1882. northumberland. 6v56, 1874
Total .......................... SIT 1884, 1914
| 1t is apparent by this exhibit that so far as
| concerns most of the items to which the act
of August g 1882, relates, there can be no need
of further appropriations until after the