Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-12-13
The Presidents Message.

AASooehf5C vi tfiH ICSluCHb
to Congress, which appea I'd in THE
HERALD of last week, thou as dull as
such documents usually al will strike
the majority of our reader as con-
servative, comprehensive business
like paper. On some subj 5, especi-
ally the recommendations ft National
Bankrupt Law, regulation If corrupt
abuses practiced by railroads built by
government moneys and subject to con-
gressional regulation, and TO- authoriz-
ing local taxation of railroad lands, and
one or two other important questions of
public policy, the MESSAGES distinguish
ed by their conspicuous absence, but on
most questions effecting the public well
fare, the President shows himself as
fully abreast of the times.
The first half of the message, pro-
badly written by the Secretary of State,
is devoted to a consideration of our for
eign relations, which are at present
peaceful and likely to remain so.
On the subject of the rapid retirement
of bonds held by National banks as
security for their circulation, and the
probable contraction of the currency
caused thereby, the President expresses
willingness to adopt the recommends
tions made by the Secretary of Treasury
for relief, and says: "For averting the
threatened contraction two courses have
been suggested, either of which is pro-
badly feasible. One is the issuance of
new bonds having many years to run,
bearing low rate of interest, and ex-
changeable upon specific terms for those
now outstanding. The other course.
which commends itself to my own judy
ment as the better, is the enactment of
law repeating the tax on circulation,
and permitting the banks to issue notes
for an amount equal to 80 per cent of
the market value, instead of, as now,
the face value of the deposited bonds
l agree with the Secretary in the belief
that the adoption of this plan will afford
the necessary relief"
The President evidently believes,
"that in time of peace we should pre-
pare for war;" and in regard to the
navy he says: 1--WE have no wish for
foreign conquest and the peace which
we have long enjoyed is in no seeming
danger of interruption. But that our
naval strength should be made adequate
for the defense of our harbors, the pro-
lection of our commercial interests, and
the maintenance of our National honor
is proposition from which no patriotic
citizen can withhold his assent"
The President minces no words in re-
gard to his views on the polygamy
question. He laments the failure of
past legislation to reach the real evil or
to mitigate it to very gres xtent and
now advocates stringent m ures as to
the government of Utah and the estab-
lishment of a commission With such
powers and duties as shall /. delegated
to 1t by law"
In regard to postal matte he favors
the reduction of drop lettel ostage to
the uniform rate of one ce in cities
and villages. He opposes b a the pur-
chase of existing telegraph lines and
the construction of competing ones by
the government, but in h, favor of
some sort of government supervision
over Interstate telegraph communica-
ton, and shows decided leaning to
the proposition that Congress shall
authorize the Postmaster-G General to
contract with private persons or cor
porations for the transmission of mes
sages at fixed rates under supervision of
the department This is long step to-
ward the postal telegraph.
Withal the Presidents head is clear
and he is in harmony with progressive
classes on all subjects of National inn
portance. Let Congress show as much
wisdom in making legislation, as Mr..
Arthur has in recommending it, and
the country will show greater progress
in matters effecting her permanent pros
perity in the year to come, than it has
in many long years that are past.