The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-12-13

II the revenue for the fiscal year which will
end on June 80, 1885, be estimated upon the
basis of existing laws the Secretary is of the
opinion that for that year the receipts will ex-
coed by S60,000,000 the ordinary expenditures,
including the amount devoted to the sinking
fund. Hitherto the surplus, as rapidly as 1t has
accumulated, has been devoted TO the reduction
of the national debt As result, the only
bonds now outstanding which are redeemable at
the pleasure of the Government are the per
cents, amounting to about SjO5.OOO,OOO. The
AZ per cents amounting to $3.50 0O0,0 900, and the
$737 ,000,0 900 of per cents are not payable until
1891 and 1907, respectively. IL the surplus shall
hereafter be as large as the Treasury estimates
now indicate, the 8 per cent. bonds may all be
redeemed at least four years before any of the
AZ per cents. can be called in. The latter, at
the same rate OF accumulation OF surplus, can
be paid at maturity, and the moneys requisite
for the redemption of the per cents will
be in the treasury many years before those
obligations become payable.
The Trade Dollar.
The trade dollar was coined for the purpose Of
traffic in countries where silver passed at its
value, ascertained by its weight and fineness. 1t
never had legal tender quality Large num-
bers OF these coins entered, however, into the
volume of our currency by common consent.
Their circulation in domestic trade has now
ceased, and they have in the United States
become disturbing element. They should not
be longer permitted TO embarrass our currency
system / recommend that provision for their
reception by the treasury and minis as bullion
at a small percentage above the current market
price of silver of like fineness be made.
The Secretary urges, also, the immediate crea-
ton of an internal fast line OF waterways;
across the peninsula of Florida, along the coast
from Florida to Hampton roads, between the
Chesapeake bay and Delaware river, and through
Cape Cod.
Ifeel bound to impress upon the attention of
Congress the necessity Of continued progress in
the reconstruction of the navy. The condition
of the public treasury, "a i have already inti-
mated, makes the present an suspicious time
for putting this branch of the service in a state
of efficiency, IL is no part of bur policy TO Gre
ate and maintain navy able to cope with that
Of the other great powers of the world.
We have no wish for foreign conquest, and the
peace which we have long enjoyed IL In no SEEM
ing danger OF interruption. But that our naval
strength should be made adequate for the de-
Tense OF our harbors, the protection OF our
commercial interests and the maintenance OF
our national honor, fs proposition from which
no patriotic citizen can withhold his assent.
Postal Matters.
The report of the Postmaster General contains
n gratifying exhibit of the condition and
prospects OF tho interesting branch of
the public service committed TO his care.
IL appears that on June 80 1888, the
whole number OF postoff1ces was A., $685. of which
1882 were established during the previous fiscal
year. The number OF offices operating under
the system Of free delivery, was 1874 AT these
latter Offices the postage on local matter
amounted to a, 195, 230.52, q sum exceeding by
t1,0H .59401 the entire cost OF the carrier
service Of the country. The rate of
postage on drop letters passing through
these offices II now fixed by law at
two cents per haff-oun OF fraction thereof. In
offices where the carrier system has not been es-