Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

iuiioNiuS from the b1ltiuoFe SUh
gives the full test Of the document.
The Presidents message, delivered
to Congress on yesterday, opens with
the usual reference to the foreign re.
lations Of the United states, which he
Is able to state are everywhere peace
full. Of more immediate, interest,
however, is the recommendation, made
by the Secretary Of the Navy and la.
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 cre-
alton Of an interior coast line OF water
ways across the peninsula Of Florida,
along the coast from Florida to Hamp-
ton Roads, between the Chesapeake
bay and the Delaware river, and
.ough Cape Cod, TINS recognizing
more or less directly the national
character Of the projected Chesapeake
and Delaware ship-canal. Commercial
treaties have been made with Seryia
Roumania, C0rea and Madagascar;
legations have been established In
Persia, Corea aud Siam, and 1t is re-
commended that the interests Of Amer
lean States be cared for by the presence
OF consular representatives OF the
United States. Reference Is made to
the Brazilian export duty on cotiee, and
t. the penalties for technical faults APP
piled TO American vessels and carg0es
in the Antilles, and the suggestion Is
made that retaliatory measures afl-l
piled 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 Interna-
tional African Association in the
Cong0valley, and Congress Is
reminded lhatit may become advisable
for " 10 cooperate with other CON-
morcial powers in promoting the rights
OF trade In that region "free from the
interference or political control of any
one nation" No large reduction Of
revenues is advised. Congress is re-
minded that tariff bill has been re-
Gently passed, the results OF which are
not yet sufficiently apparent to warrant
internal revenue laws. He states,
however, that the legislation referred
to has out down the income OF the gov
ernment some fifty or sixty millions Of
dollars. The surplus of revenue over
expenditure, which the Presidedt esti-
mates at $50, 000, 900, 1t is recommended
should be spent in rehabilitating our
navy and providing coast defenSes.
The suggestion of the Secretary Of the
Treasury as to the proper method Of
perpetuating the national bank system
isp AprIoYed. tits accordingly recon-
mended that the tax OF ! per cent. on
the circulation Of the national banks be
repealed, and That the amount Of the
circulation allowed on bonds deposited
for security be 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 Ease their
circulation on per cents. which are
not redeemable till 1907. With respect
to the disposition to be made of trade
dollars the President and Secretary OIL
the Treasury, while not favoring ex-
actly the same plan, are in subtantial
agreement. The former recommends
that the trade dollar be accepted by the
treasury and the mints as bullion at
small percentage above the current
market price Of silver OF like fineness.
The Secretary suggests simply that the
standard silver dollar be exchanged,
dollar, for the trade dollar, the latter
70 be regarded as SO much bullion
bought under the act Of 1878. Approval
is given also the Secretary OF the
Treasury's plan for the consolidation
of certain customs districts, and it Is
added that by the reduction OF internal
revenue districts, recently perfected,
their number has been reduced from
126 to 81. Dwelling on the unprotected
condition Of our extended seacoast,the
number Of large and wealthy cities
with which II Is dotted, the age and
weakness ofour works Of defense, their
inferior armament and imperfect tor
pedo equipment, the President urges
the reconstruction of our navy and the
building Of plant for the manufacture
IF nrIr q mn nd M 80 % he
Overlooking condition OF the treasury
as q fact that renders the present the
proper time for the inception OF 80
pnrrittv 4 work. Attention Is called |
To he growth Of the number or post
offices from 1921 in 1882 to 47s603 in |
1855. The recommendation Is made. |
adversely to the views OF the POST |
master-General, that tho rate OF postage |
on drop letters, which at present In |
two cents where the carries system IL |
estapl shed and one cent elsewhere. be
made uniform BY reducing ii every
where 10 one cent. Reference Ii made |
TO the long-mooted proposition that the
government should assume the |
same control over tho telegraph
that it has always exercised over the |
mail. but the President Is unable to |
accord his approval to the project. The
suggestion is made, however. that the |
government should be authorized to |
exercise some sort Of supervision over |
interstate telegraphic communication.
The fees Of jurors and witnesses In the |
Federal courts, fixed by laws Of old |
date, are insufficient. 1t is recon-
mended that they be increased, and |
that district attorneys and ma 'shals be |
paid by salaries, rather than as at |
present, by fees--a change which, ii is
suggested, may diminish the number
of prosecutions made merely for the |
sake Of the fees. Congress is invited /
to consider the important question |
whether Federal aid may not with |
propriety be extended to public pri-
mary education in parts Of the country
where the percentage of illiteracy is |
high. The failure ofthe anti-polygamy |
legislation OF March, 1882, is cited, and
the strong recommendation is made