Huntsville gazette., 1883-12-08
NUMBER 4.

ton and providing coast defenses for the
| protection of our harbors.
! The question of the national currency is next
| discussed, and methods proposed for averting
a contraction OF the currency by the retire
! ment OF securities upon which the National
/ bank circulation Is based. One of these Is
! the issuance of new bonds having many
! years to rum bearing low rate of interest,
! and exchangeable upon specified terms for
| those now outstanding. The other course,
which the President considers the better is the
enactment of a law repeating the tax on circu-
| lation, and permitting the banks to issue notes
! for an amount equal to 30 per cent. of the
market value instead of as now, the face
/ value of their deposited bonds. A recommen-
| dation is made that provision be made for the
| reception of trade-dollarS by the Treasury and
| m1ntS as bullion at small percentage above
the current market price of silver of like fine
ness.
The consolidation of certain of the customs
districts is recommended similar to that made
| in the Internal Revenue Department,
| The passed year has witnessed only single
disturbance of the quiet Of the Indian tribes,
the raid from Mexico into Arizona
Attention is directed to the urgent necessity
of providing some adequate system of sea
coast defenses both as to ordnance and tor
pedo service, and legislation is recommended
looking TO the fostering of the State militia
systems.
The work of strengthening our navy has
been auspiciously begun in the building Of
three cruisers, the Chicago, Boston and At
lanta. A fourth, the Dolphin, is to be CON
4 structed of similar material as the others,
/
! monitors Puritan, Amphitrite and Terror have
! been launched in the Delaware River and the
| Monad mock in California. The completion of
! these is advised together with the construc-
4 ton OF four additional gunboats and three
\ steel vessels. The erection of an interior
cOast-line Of water ways across the peninsula
/ OF Florida, along the coast of Florida to
Hampton Roads, between the Chesapeake Bay
and Delaware River. and through Cape Cod,
| is also recommended by the Secretary of the
Navy.
| The Post-offce Department exhibits
gratifying condition of that important
| branch of the public service. On June
| Post-offices was 47,S63 Of which 1852
were established during the previous year.
the system of free delivery was 154.
! At these latter offices the postage on local
matter amounted to s4195, ,230. 81, a sum ex-
| ceeding by Sl,02l, S94,0l the entire cost of the
carriers service OF the country. The rate of
postage on drop letters passing through these
| offices is now fixed by law at two cents per
\ half ounce or fractions thereof, and the rec
| ommendation is made that the old rate of one
cent for all drop letters be resumed.
/ Upon the question of the Government as
suming control of the telegraphic system the
President reiterates his dissent announced in
former message, but refers the matter to
the wisdom of Congress, expressing the
belief however, that the Government
should be authorized by law to exercise some
sort of supervision over Interstate telegraph
communication, and expressing the hope that
for attaining that end some measure may be
devised and acted upon.
The President believes that the statutes rel
ative to jurors fees should be revised and al
so the laws which regulate the compensation
of District Attorneys and Marshas. The latter
he thinks, should be paid wholly by salaries
instead of in part by fees, as is now the case
The change would prove to be measure OF
economy and would discourage the Institution
of needless and oppressive legal proceedings
which it is to be feared have in some in
stances been conducted for the mere sake of
personal gain.
Attention is called to the report of the
e T,,t.
presentation of certain phases of the In
dian question; to his recommendations for
the repeal Of the pre-emption and timber cul-
ture acts, and for more stringent legislation
to prevent frauds under the pension laws,
The statutes which prescribed the definitions
and punishments of crimes relating to pen
sions could doubtless be made more effective
by certain amendments and additions which
are pointed ont.
The question is again submitted for the con.
sideration Of Congress whether some Federal
aid should be extended to public primary ed
ucatiOn wherever adequate provision therefor
has not already been made.
In relation to affairs in Utah, the President
expresses himself as convinced that polygamy
has become so strongly intrenched in the Ter
ritory that it Is prOfitess TO attack it with any
but the stoutest weapons which constitutional
legislation can fashion and favors the repeal
of the act Of March, 1882. Upon the existing
Government depends the assumption by the
National Legislature of the entire political
control of the Territory, and the establish
ment of a commission with such powers and
duties as shall be delegated to 1t by law.
The matter of diseases among cattle is re
verted to and probable steps to be taken look
ing to an investigation. The claims of Alaska
for suitable government are pressed with the
assertion that the promptings OF interest, as
well as considerations of honor and good
faith, demand the immediate establishment OF
civil government in that Territory.
The question of Interstate commerce on
railways is urged upon the attention of Con-
gress as matter of paramount importance,
as is also the question of forest protection on
domain. Attention
the beneficial effects of the Industrial Exhibit
tiOns held in various portions or the
country, and especially to the Ex-
position to be held next year at New Orleans in
commemoration of the centenary Of the first
shipment of cotton from port of the United
States. Under the act of Congress of the
10th of February, 1888 declaring that eXpos-
ton to be national and international in its char
acter, all foreign governments with whlch the
United States maintain relations have been
invited to participate. The promoters OF TINS
| important undertaking nave already received
| assurances of the lively interest which 1t has
Careful consideration is asked for the report
of the Commissioners of the District of Co
lumbia, especially in relation to assessments
of arrears of taxes and water supply.
The President believes the effects of the
work Of the Civil Service Commission nave
thus tar proved beneficial; The practl-
cal methods appear to be adequate Tor the
ends proposed, and there has been no Sc
rious difficulties In carrying them into effect.
Since the 10th of July last no person so far as
]
/ service in the classified portions thereof IN any
of the departments, or at any OF tnc
/ nost-offices and customs districts except
| those certified by the Commission to be the
| most competent on the basis OF the e1amlna-
| tions held in conformity to the rules.
/ The hope is expressed that Congress IN 1ts
wisdom will frame such legislation as will re-
! move any doubt as to the Presidential success
| sion in case of 'inability to discharge the
| powers and duties of such Office, when the
! Presidency has devolved upon the Vice-PresH
! dent according to Constitutional provision.
| The recommendation is repeated tnat
\ Congress propose an amendment 70 that
provision OF the Constitution which prescrlDcs
\ the formalities for the enactment OF laws
whereby in respect to bills for the appropria-
tion of bubble money the Executive may De
| enabled. while giving his approval TO Partlcu-
lar items to interpose his veto as to such others
| as do not commend themselves to MS 1udg-
ment. 80, a.. ourox.,;o, +hat
anv legislation whereby Congress may
| lawfully supplement the guarantees Wnlcn
/ the Constitution affords for the equal ENJOY
| ynent Nv All citizens of the United states o1
| eyery right, privilege and immunity OF citl'
| zenship. will receive unhesitating approval
in the Green Mountains, near Bran