Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Inc resolution lies over uHueI tuo lu'es'
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
In addition to the brief synopsis given IN
Yesterdays GAZETTE, the President in his
message states that peaceful relations exist
with all foreign nations, but at the same
time he recommends in case of war with
any foreign power, that Immediate steps be
taken for the creation of an interior coast
line of water ways across the peninsula of
Florida, along the coast from Florida to
Hampton Roads, between the Chesapeake
bay and the Delaware river, and through
Cane Cod. Commercial treaties have been
made with Servia, Roumania, Corea and
Madagascar; legations have been establish
ed in Persia, Corea and Siam, and it is re-
commended that the interests of American
citizens resident or trading in Bulgaria and
the Central American States be cared for by
the presence of consular representatives of
the United States. Reference is made to
the Brazilian export duty OH coffee, and to
the penalties for technical faults applied TO
American vessels and cargoes in the Antilles
and the suggestion is made that retaliatory
measures applied TO Spanish vessels and
cargoes from Cuba and Puerto Rico might
not be barren of good results. Attention is
called to the work of the International
African Association in the Congo valley,
and Congress is reminded that it may be-
couc advisable for us 10 cooperate with
other commercial powers in promoting The
rights of trade in that region free from the
interference or political contIol of any one
nation No large reduction of revenues
j. advised. Congress is reminded that tarlil
bill has been recently passed, the results OF
which are not yet sufficiently apparent to
warrant 4 further modification of the tarllf
or internal revenue laws. He states, how
ever, that the legislation referred to has cut
down the income Of the government some
fifty or sixty millions Of dollars The surplus
of revenue over expenditure, which the
President estimates ut S6O,o00ooO, il is re-
commended should be spent III rchabilltal-
inv the navy and providing coast detenses
The suggestion OF the Secretary Of the
Treasury as to the proper method OF per-
petuating The national bank system Is APP
proved. IT. is accordingly recommended
That the tax OF per cent. on the circulation
of the national banks be repealed, and that
the amount of the circulation allowed OH
bonds deposited for security he increased To
90 per cent OH the market value OF such
bonds. With respect to the disposition to
he made of trade dollars, the President
recommends that the trade dollar be ac-
cepled by the treasury and the minis as
bullion at II small percentage above the cur
rent market price of silver Of like linencsS
Approval is given the Secretary Of the
Treas,lry's plan for the consolidation Of
certain customs districts, and it is added
t,.nt h. tic reduction of. internal revenue
districts, recently perfected, their number
number has been reduced from l26 to So.
The President urges the reconstruction Of
the navy and the building Of plant for the
manufacture Of heavy ordnance, and points
to the OVERLOOKING condition Of the treasury
as Il fact that renders The present the proper
time for the inception of so great work
Attention is called 10 the growth Of the
Of postolces from 1921 in 1882 to
AZ Sc; in 1888. The recommendation is
made that the rate Of postage on drop let
tiers, which at present is two cents where
The carrier system is established and one
cent elsewhere, be made uniform by rcduc-
ing it everywhere to one cent. Reference
is made TO the longmooted proposition that
the government should assume the same
control over the telegraph that it has always
exercised over the mail, but the President
is unable to accord his approval to the
project. 1t is suggested that the govern
ment should be authorized to exercise some
sort of supervision over interstate tele
graphic communication.
Congress is invited to consider the impor-
tant question whether Federal aid may not
with propriety he extended to public pri-
mary education in parts of the country where
the percentage OF iliteracy is high. The
failure Of the anti-polygamy legislation Of
March, 1882, is cited, and the recommends
ton is made that Congress repeal the act
upon which the existing government Of
Utah depends, assume control of the Terri
tory, and establish in authority commits
sion with powers fitting it to deal effective
y with the Mormon problem. The ques-
ton Of regulating interstate commerce is
presented for consideration. The right of
railway corporations to reasonable profits is
conceded, but Congress should protect the
people from injustice The effects Of the
civil-rights act in the short time during
which it has been in operation are pro-
nounccd beneficial The act passed by the
Senate nj its last session regulating the pres.
idcntial succession is recommended to the
favorable consideration Of the present Con-
grcss. 1t is asked that the Executive be en-
powered TO veto particular items of an an
preparation without impairng the validity
ofother items which meet his approval.
The President calls attention to the re.
peal Of the French statutes which forbade
the importation into that country of-Amer-
lean pork products, and notes the refusal of
the German government to investigate the
matter.
THE, DANVIIJE RIOT
The grand jury Of the Hastings Court, OF