New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

President Arthur's Message is a straightfor-
ward and business like document. The digests
of tho Department reports, of which it is largely
COMPOSED, are clear and satisfactory. The
recommendations and suggestions as a rule are
sensible and well digcstcd. In no sense great
message, it is nevertheless well calculated to
produce an excellent impression on the country.
The opening paragraphs are devoted to our
relations to other countries. These continue on
friendly footing with nothing to warrant the
the belief that they will not remain so for an
indefinite period. Attention is called TO the
Importance of the fisheries industries on the
north coast of the Atlantic and the Pacific; to
the need that exists for the revision of our legis-
lation touching pauper immigration; to the
propricty of increasing the consular corps so Us
TO place a Consul General at each capital in
Central America and at the Bulgarian capital
and to the incxcusablc delay in the settlement
of sundry Of our claims against Spain. These
are the more interesting OF the points that are
covered under this general head. The cOnsid-
erutions that follow touching the much dis
cussed question of surplus revenue and debt re-
duction, are cogently presented. The President
does not advise the adoption at this session of
any measure calculated largely to diminish the
National revenues, believing it the part of wis
dom to wait for the results of the legislation
had at the last session of Congress. For the pres
ent he wisely thinks portion at least of the sur
plus can be proftably spent in restoring our
Navy to proportions commensurate with our re-
quirements and in providing coast defences for
the protection of our harbors. This last suggcs
ton is timely and excellent, but another which
l. 4 Ia e 4 &C i,,t,p
coast line of water ways will hardly be received
with as much general favor. 1t is not clear
that the people are yet ready for such a scheme.
On the subject Of legislation in regard to the
National currency the Message, after CHANGING
at the danger that would attend an extensive
retirement of the securities which are the basis
of the National bank circulation, favOrs i'm
portant changes in the laws by which that cir
culation is now controlled. The recommends
ton is made that law be passed repeating the
tax on circulation and permitting the banks to
issue notes for an amount equal to 80 per cent of
the market value of their bonds. The Message is
equally specific in regard to the trade dollar. The
President thinks the best way to dispose of this
nuisance is to turn it into the Treasury and the
minis as bullion. There will be general APPROX
al of the paragraph in regard to the cOnsOlida-
ton of revenue districts, as there has already
been of what the President has accom-
plished in this promising field of retrenchmcnt
The Indians have been so well behaved during
the year that they are disposed of in few i'm
material sentences. But not so the Mormons
In his last Message the President expressed the
hope that the pOlygamy problem could be
solved without resOrtng to radical measures.
He does not talk in that cheerful strain this
year. He favors the repeal of the act upon
which the existing Government of Utah depends
and the assumption by the National Legislature
of the entire political control of the Territory.
The fact that the President is thoroughly In
earnest and proposes an important aggressive
movement will crafty the country and ought to
have a salutary effect upon Congress, leading to
some prompt and decisive action on the Nor
mon question.
Reaching the consideration of the postal tcle .
graph scheme, the Message becomes less clear
No adequate idea can be formed of what the
President really thinks on the subject. While
opposing the purchase Of existing lines or
the construction of new ones by the Gov
eminent he still ayows his belief that the
Government should be authorized by law to ex-
ercise some supervision over Interstate tele
graph communication" But he fails to explain
the nature or extent of the supervision that he
would regard as judicious save as it appears in
the statement that he does not believe the Gov
eminent should assume the same control over
the telegraph which it has over the mail. The
portion Of the Message which treats of the reg
ulation of railroads is sensible and, as far as
it goes, practical The recommendations of
last year in regard to Federal aid TO education,
the Presidential succession and the need of a
constitutional amendment giving the President