Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-12-13

WASHINGTON, Dec The presidents mes
sage congratulates the country upon the favor
able aspect OF domestic and foreign affairs
and suggests the creation of a commission to
consider the fisheries question.
In the absence OF conventional engagements
the rights Of our citizens in Mexico depend up
on domestic statutes Of that country.
When the will Of the Peruvian people is
manifested the president will not hesitate to
recognize the government approved by them.
The president repeats the suggestion that
provision be made for the exercise Of discre-
tionary power by the executive in appointing
delegations to participate in social and scen-
tific congresses for the discussion of important
matters of general concern.
He quotes from the secretary OF the treas.
ury report, and says: III the surplus shall
hereafter as large as the treasury estimates
now indicate the three per cent bonds may all
be redeemed at least four years before any OF
the AIS can be called In. The latter at the
same rate Of accumulation can be paid at
maturity and the moneys requisite Tor the re-
demption Of the fours will be in the treasury
many years before those obligations become
PAYABLE There are ccgent reasons, however,
why the national indebtedness should not be
thus rapidly extinguisLed, chief among them
the fact that only by excessive taxation is such
rapidity attainable
The president does not advise the adoption
at this session of any measures 10, large dim
mutton OF the national revenues. Owing 10
the interval which must elapse before the effect
OF the act Of March 81, 1888, can definitely
be ascertained, certain portion at least OF
the surplus revenues may be wisely applied To
the long-neglected duty of rehabllitating our
navy and providing coast defenses Tor the
protection Of our harbors
Immediately associated with the financial
subject Is the important question OF what
legislation Is necessary regarding the national
currency. The aggregate amount OF bonds
now on deposit In the treasury TO support the
81 hap u oir lot au IA
Nearly 500, 00O, 900 Of this amount consists of
three per cents, which are payable at the
pleasure OF the government and are likely to
be called in within less than four years. Unless,
meantime, the surplus revenue shall be dimin-
ished the probable effect of such an extensive
retirement OF securities which are the basis of
national bank circulation would be such
contraction OF the volume OF the currency as
10 produce grave commercial endorsements.
IL the revenues of the next four years shall be
kt ut substantially commensurate with the
expenditures the volume OF circulation Will
not be likely TO suffer any material change;
but II, on the other hand, there shall be great
delay in reducing taxation, it will become
necessary either to substitute some other form
OF bank currency In place OF national bank
notes, or TO maize important changes in the
laws by which their circulation is now control
led. In my judgement, the latter course is
far preferable.
The objections which the secretary urges
against the acceptance of any other securities
than the obligations of the government itself,
as the foundation for national bank circula-
ton, seem TO me insuperable for avoiding the
threatened contraction. Two courses have
been suggested either Of which is probably
feasible. One is the issuance Of new bonds
having many years to run, bearing a low rate
of interest, and eXcbangeabe upon specified
terms for those now outstanding. The other
course, which CONNIE nds itself TO my own
judgment as the better, is the enactment OF q
| law repeating che tax on circulation and
permitting banks to issue notes for All amount
equal To 80 per cent. If the market value,
instead of AZ now the face value, Of their de-
| post ed bonds. ] agree with the secretary in
| the belief that the adoption Of this plan would
| afford the necessary r. lief
The trade dollar should no longer be per-
mitttd to embarrass our currency system. He
! rrcomm ends that provision be made for their
reception by the treasury and mints as bullion
| at n small percentage Abo,e tine current market
price OF silver Of like tneness.
He calls the attention of Congress to the
| present condition of our extended sea coast,
and suggests that these works he put in an
efficient condition. Suitable facilities for the
manufacture OF heavy ordnance thould be
adopted for modern warfare. The perfection
# our submarine torpedo defcDses is also rec
commended.
tie believes that encouragement of state
militia organizations by the national govern.
| ment will be followed by very gratifying re-
| suits, and endeavors To impress the necessity
| If continued progress ia tue reconstruction OF
the navy.
On the subject Of government telegraph the
president says, such reflection as he has been
able to give IL since his last annual
message has not led him to change the views
| lben expressed. He believes, however. that
the government should exercise some sort Of
| supervision over interstate Geographic COM
| munication.
Referring to the great state of illiteracy in
| certain portions of the country, he suggests
| federal aid to public primary education, WHERE
ever adequate provision IL not already made
Concerning the extirpation of polygamy the
president is convinced that the evil has be-
come so strongly intrenched in Utah that II Is
profitless to attack 1t with any bat the stoutest
| weapons which constitutional legislation can
fashion. Therefore he favors the repeal of
| the act upon which the existing Utah govern
mint depends, the assumption by the national
legislature OF the entire political control OF the
territory, and the establishment OF commits
sion with such powers and duties as shall be
delegated to 1t by law
The subject OF governmental interference,
supervision or control OF inter state railroad
commerce Is dismissed as follows: The right
OF these railroad corporations TO a fair and
profitable return upon their investments, and
TO reasonable freedom in their regulations,
must be recognized; but 1t seems only just that
SO far as CONSTITUTIONAL authority will permit,
congress snOulu prOLect tnc people AT large IN
their interstate traffic against acts Of injustice
which state governments are powerless 10
prevent.
He believes the new system Of civil service
has thus far proved beneficial.
On the subject OF the presidential succession
and the proper Interpretation OF the corstitu-
tional phrase, Inability TO discharge the pow
ers and duties Of said Office" the president ex-
presses a hope that these questions will find
speedy solutions, lest emergenci arise when
longer delay will be impossible and any deter.
mination may furnish cause OF anxiety and
alarm.
The message closes with the following al
fusion and suggestion resn citing the civil
rights of the colored race: "The fourteenth
amendment TO the constitution confers the
rights Of citizenship upon al persons born or
naturaliZed In the United States and subject TO
the jurisdiction thereof. IL was specially the
purpose OF this amendment to insure members
OF the colored race full enjoyment Of civil
and political rights. Certain statutory pro-
visions intended To secure the enforcement Of
those rights have been recently declared un-
constitutional by the supreme court. ANY
legislation whereby Congress may lawfully
supplement the guarantees which the constitu-
ton affords for the equal enjoyment by all
citizens of the United States of every right.
privilege and immunity of citizenship, vii! re-
n1tx. hoe n irn of.f,r al