Morning journal and courier., 1882-12-05

In respect to the coinage of silver dollars and the to alter much to the sentiments to which 1 gave expression last year. comparison between ' November 1st 1ss1 and on November 1st, 1882 shows
 slight increase million and half of dollars but Der coined increase of twentysix millions. Of the one hundred and twenty-eight millions thus far minted little more than thirtyfve millions are ln circulation. The of accumulated coin has grown great that the vault room at present available for storage Is scarcely sufficient to contain it. It is not apparent why it is desirable to continue this coinage oT sH & in af ahs m the which seemed last year to justify their from supply of gold certificates for whose issu Congress recently made provision and Wh1ch are now in active circulation.
 THE SURPLUS TAXATION.
 You cannot fail to note with interest the discussion by the Secresary to the necessity of providing by legislation mode of freeing the treasury of an excess of assets In the Congress fails to reach early agreement for the reduction of taxa dation of immediate extensive reductions in the annual revenues of the government It will be re- gress at It's last SC importance of relieving the industry and enterprise of the country frem the pressure of unnecessary taxation It is one of the trtest maxms of political economy that all taxes are burdensome however wisely ana pruoently nnposea, and though there always have be en among our people wide differences of sentiment to the best method principles upon which taxation should be based
 there has besn substantial accord in the doctrine that for a and economical administration of the gov ernment Of late the public revenues have far e1-
  legslaton such will continue to increase from year year. For the fiscal year ended June 3e 1884,
 at o ne ast the suppas Tss more than one hundred forty five millions. The report of the Secretary shows what disposition has been made of auSements of the sinking fund but have afforded
 large balance applicable to other reductions of the Yicton that such rapid of the nation al debt is now taking place is by no means cause apprehension. If it continues it must speedily be followed by of the evil results clearly set forth in the report of the .secretary-either the surplus must be idle in the treasury the government will forced to buy at market rates its bonds not then ! redeemable, and which under such circumstances ! capnot fail to command an enornous premium, or the swollen revenues will be devoted to \ the bane of an overhowing treasury. It was made apparent in the course of the animated discussions which this question aroused at the last session of Congress that the policy of diminishing ths revenue by reducing taxation commanded the general agprSy % cause of conflicting views As to the best methods by
 banss baVe as vet been secured In of what deem constitutional duty but with little VeEed question. shalI proceed to Intimate brisay views In relation to it. Upon the showing of felt Justified in recommending to Congress abolition of internal revenue taxes except those fermented liquors, except special tax upon the manufacturers of and dealers in such arti-
 ascerained that the probable expenditures of the aoyernment f for r the coming year have been under.
 estimated ali internal taxes those which relate
 to dstilled spirits can be abrogatsd Such
 machinery of collection, which would then be easy o1 accomplishment might reasonably be expected to
 suit in diminishing the such collection by al
 least two and half million dollars in the retire
 ment from office of from 1.500 to 200O persons The
 system of excise only has never commended itself
 the favor of the American people and has beer
 resorted to except for supplying deficiencies in the l treasury when by reason of special exgencies th
 duty on imports has proved inadequate for the need
 doubtless demands that the present excise sinai be abolished as soon as such course safely b.
 sons sweeping measure as the total abolito,
 of internal taxes would for the present be unwis mention. First, 1t is by clear that even
 the existing system of duties on imports Is continue sufficient revenue for all the needs of the gov
 eranent It s.ss is estimated @ that one hundrs pensions during the coming year, and it may be we 2 ! doubted whether the maximum annual demand fo that object has yet been reached Uncertainty upo ! this question would alone justify, in my judgment
 system of internal revenue which is least objsotion able to the people. Second, total abolition Of not an iusurmountable obstacle to a thorough re
 vision of the tariff and to any considerable dlminr
 The present tariff system many respects un ius
 It makes universal dstribut ons both of it's burden
 and benefits This fact was practically recognized by majority of each house Of Congress in the passage
 that viii be placed before you at the b
 ginning of this session and will, trust, afford 70
 such information to the condition and prospects
 the various commercial, agricultural, manufacturing S mining and other interests of the country and !
 practically your action this important subjec The revenue tax from customs for the fiscal n three succeeding years reached first S1ss seO0 00
 then $i9s 900 ,eoo. and finally. as has been alread ), the fiscal year which will end June 30, 1ss last mentioned. If the tax on domestic spirits is
 be retained it is plain therefore that large reduction a While recommending this reduction am far fro F advising the abandonment of the policy of di l. aid and protection to domestic labor. But the pre ent system should be revised to equalize the publ
 burden among all classes and occupations and bri1 it into closer harmony with the present of il dustry. Without entering into minute detail whic # sary, recommend enlargement of the free Ii to include within it numerous articles which vie ,e the complex and ineonsistent sohednie duti
 ootton iron and sae and rsduotie ea1 of the duties upon those articles and sugar.
 the aSa be be st t
 session, express the hope that at least of u of them is specially referred to the secretar sD the necessity of amending the law by which Il
 duties atandard or color IS adopted as the test of saccharine strength of sugars is too obvious te l quire comment.
 'o THE WAR DEPARrMENT.
 From the report of the Secretary of War it appea that the only outbreaks of Indians during the year occurred in Arizona and in the southweste, k part of New Mexico. They promptly quele and the quiet which has prevailed in all other par
 he s has o1cs t5eh @ an to
 by the Apaohes that there is little reason to appr 10 retarys report which our ssacoast defene and their armament suggest the graves reflection to the defense of the great harbors and cities f " " whose protection they were built The question ties has been the subjeot of consideraton by boa whose report transmitted to Congress- at the Ia
 session. Pending the consideration of the report u m War department has taken steps for manufactu expressed the hope that authority and means to ,f gin that important work will be soon provided: pr of making more adequate provision for arnng al
 equipping the militia than is afforded by the act a. Senate and bill which seeks to supply the decisn The Secretary of War calls attention to the faotth
 an embarrassment is growing ont of the recent act J. Congress making the retirement of officers of u afy at the age Of 6 S4 M The act of 1873 Who s rsred for dsay v tne or er lh application. The two acts when construed togeth
 pacity of oficers who do not fs within the purvie
 of the latter statute, save at such times as the ;s tired list. There four hundred and twent ID It is not likely that Congress intended this y and concur with the Secretary that the law oug II to be amended.
 D. RIVERS AND HARBoRs.
 The grounds that impelled ma to withhold my si nature from the bill entitled 'An making appr prations for the construction. repair and preserY , ton of certain works rivers and harbors" whic B. became law near the close of your last session prompt me to express the hope that similar " ure will be deemed necessary during the present a- sion of Congress- Indeed, such measure won be to serious objection in addition to tn . which was lately urged upon your attention. 8 t; informed by the Secretary of that the great
 portion of the appropriated for various t. specified in that act remains unexpended. Of tt Ia new works which it authorized expenses have bee " incurred upon two only. for which the total appr pr.ation $2l00Oo The present available balan ts is disclosed by the following table:
 Appropriation by act of August 1882 SIS, sss75 :. Appropriation for payments to J. B.
 ie Unexpended balance of former appropri-
 n ationa 4,7Ss'2e3 ai Total. $23, 791, ,13S r. Less amount drawn from Treasury be-
 d tween July l, 1882, and November 30,
  'f Total. ST, ,734 944 ,- REMEDIES PREVENT ExTRAvAGANCE
 t, It is apparent by this exhibit that far
 most of the items to which the act of August
 1SS2 relates, there can be need for further appr priatiors until after the close of the present sesso d If however, action should to be necessal
 in respect to particular objects 1t will bs entre n feasible to provide for thoss objects by appropria legislation It is possible for example, that dels g until the assembling of next Congress to make add tional provision for the Mississippi river improv | rnio he ed