Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-12-07
President Arthur's Message.

The Presidents message, delivered to Con-
gress on Tuesday, opens with the usual ref
erence TO the foreign relations of the United
States, which he is able 10 state are every
where peaceful. OF more immediate inter
est, however, is the recommendation, made
by the Secretary of the Navy and in
dorsed by the President as an important
measure of national defense in case OF war
with any foreign power, that immediate
steps be taken for the creation of an interior
cOast.lii OF waterways across the penin.
sula of Florida, along the coast from Florida
TO Hampton Roads, between the Chesapeake
bay and the Delaware river, and through
Cape Cod, thus recognizing more or less d.
rectly the national character of the projected
Chesapeake and Delaware ship-canal. Com.
mercial treaties have been made with Servia,
Roumania, Corea and Madagascar; Legations
have been established in Persia, Corea and
Siam, and il is recommended that the inter-
ests of American citizens resident or trad
ing in Bulgaria and the Central American
States be cared for by the presence OF con-
sular representatives of the United States.
Reference is made to the Brazilian export
duty on coffee, and to the penalties for
technical faults applied TO American yes
sells and cargoes in the Antilles, and the
ures applied to Spanish vessels and car
goes from Cuba and Puerto Rico might not
be barren OF good results. Attention is called
10 the work Of the International African
Association in the Congo valley, and Con-
gress is reminded that it may become advis-
able for us 10 cooperate with other CONNER
cial powers in promoting the rights Of trade
in that region Stree from the interference or
political control OF any one nation" No
large reduction OF revenues is advised. Con
gress is reminded that tariff bill has been
recently passed, the results of which are not
yet sufficiently apparent 10 warrent further
modification of the tariff or internal revenue
laws. He states, however, that the legisla-
ton referred to has cut down the income
Of the government some fifty or sixty mil
lions Of dollars-a statement at variance
with that made by the Secretary of the
Treasury, who put the net reduction at but
$30O00O00 The surplus of revenue over
expenditure, which the President estimates
at $6OOOO,OO0, II is recommended should be
spent in rehabilitating our navy and provid-
ing coast deienses. The suggestion OF the
secretary Of the Treasury as TO the proper
method OF perpetuating the national bank
system Is approved. 1t is accordingly recon-
mended that the tax OF | per cent on the cir.
and that the amount Of the circulation al.
lowed on bonds deposited for security he
increased to 80 per cent. on the market value
OF such bonds. The effect of this would be
TO make It profitable to the banks to base
their circulation on 4 perce which are not
redeemable till 1907. With respect to the dis
/ position 10 be made Of trade dollars the Pres.
/ ident and Secretary of the Treasury, while
not iavoring exactly the same plan, are in
substantial agreement The former recon.
/ mends that the trade dollar be accepted BY
/ the treasury and the mints as bullion at a
! small percentage above the current market
/ price OF silver Of like fineness. The Secre.
/ tary suggests simply that the standard silver
dollar be exchanged, dollar for dollar, for the
trade dollar, the latter to be regarded us 80
much bullion bought under the act of 1878
I Approval is given also the Secretary of the
Treasury's plan for the consolidation of Ger.
tain customs districts and II is added that by
the reduction of internal revenue districts,
recently perfected, their number has been re-
duced from l26 TO SO. Dwelling on the un-
I protected condition of our extended sea.
coast, the number OF large and wealthy cities
with which il is dotted, the age and weak.
ness Of onr works Of defense, their inferior
armament and imperfect torpedo equipment,
/ the President urges the reconstruction Of our
navy and the building of plant for the man.
uiacturc Of heavy ordnance, and points 10
the overlooking condition Of the treasury as
fact that renders the present the proper
time for the inception OF 80 patriotic a work
Attention is called 10 the growth Of the
number Of postofiices from 1921 in 1882 10
47,SG3 In 1883. The Recommendation Is
made, adversely TO the views of the Post
master-General, that the rate of postage on
drop letters, which al present il two cents
where the carrier system is established and