The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-12-06


urging that it be granted" The recon-
mendation Of government gun works is
allo renewed
The President refers but briefly to the
work done on the new cruisers, and recon.
mends appropriations to complete the vessels
now under way and those suggested by the
Naval Advisory Board. He then speaks of
the crelitable share of the navy in the
Artic expeditions and says: ain this, the
last of the stated messages that | shall
have the honor to transmit TO the Congress
OF the United States, / cannot too strongly
urge upon its attention the duty of restor-
ing our navy as rapidly as possible to the
high state of efficiency which formerly
characterized it. As the long peace that
has lulled us into a sense Of fanced securi.
may at any time be disturbed, it is plain
that the policy Of strengthening this arm of
the service is dictated by considerations Of
wise economy, OF just regard for our future
tranquility and of true appreciation OF the
dignity and honor of the Republic"
The President finds in the report Of the
Postmaster General the justification of the
reduction in letter postage, aud he repeats
his recommendation that the rate for drop
letters be reduced to one cent. He also
approves the recommendation that the
unit Of weight in first class matter should
be ounce, instead Of one half ounce, and for
the extension Of the carrier and rapid
delivery service.
The Indi ans, ,Mormons and other trouble.
some people are briefly alluded to and the
President advises the repeal of the pre-
emption law, the enactment OF statutes
resolving the present legal complications
touching lapsed grants TO railroad com
panies and the funding Of the debt Of the
several Pacific Railroads under such guar
antly as shall etiectually secure its ultimate
payment.
FOREIGN COMMERCE.
The Language of the message upon the
extension of our foreign trade is as follows:
I'm the course of this communication
reference has more than once been made to
the policy OF this governmet as regards the
extension of our foreign trade. IL seems
proper to declare the general principles
that should, in nv opinion, undPrlie our
| NATIONAL Efforts In this direction. The main
conditions of the problem may be thus
stated: We are people apt in mechanical
pursuits and fertile IN inyention: we cover
vast extent of territory, rich in agricul.
tural products and in nearly all the raw
materials for successful manufacture. We
haye system of productive establishments
more than sufficient to supply our own
| demands. I'll e wages of labor are nowhere
| Sioc oO BlSdbs IL : sNdlb Ol lNlUR OF our
artisan classes is such as tends to secure
their personal comfort ard he development
of those higher moral and intellectual
qualities that go to the making Of good
citizens. Our system of tax and tariff
legislation is yielding a revenue which is
| IN excess of the present needs of the gov
ernment. These are elements from which
it is sought to devise a scheme by which,
without unfavorably changing the condition
OF the workingman, our merchant marine
shall be raised from its enfeebled condition
ard new markets provided for the sale
| beyond our borders Of the manifold fruits
OF our industrial enterprises. The problem
is complex and can be solved by no single
measure Of Innovation or reform. The
countries Of the American continent and
the adjacent islands are for the United
States the natural marts of supply and
demand. 1t is from them that we must
obtain what we do not produce or do not
produce in sufficient quantity, and it is to
them that the surplus productions of our
helds, our mills and our workshops shouhl
flow under conditions that will equalize Or
favor them IN comparison with foreign
competition.
yMMERCIAL REFORM
"Four paths OF policy seem to pont'to
this end: First, series OF reciprocal COM
mercal treaties with the countries of Am
erica which shall foster between us aud |
them an unhampered movement of trade. |
The conditions of these treaties should be |
the free admission OF such merchandise as
this country does not produce N return for |
the admission free or under q favored |
scheme Of duties Of our own products, the |
benefits of such exchange to apply only to |
goods carried under the flag of the parties |
n I ha ntrnpt tho rntnnval on hath eijna
from the vessels so privileged of all tonnage |
dues and national imposts, so that those |
versels may ply unhindered between our
ports aud those OF the other contracting |
parties, though without infringing on the |
reserved home cnasting trade; the removal |
or reduction "of burdens on the exported
products of those countries coming within |
the benefits 81 the treaties, ana the avoid |
ance Of the technical restrictions and pen
alties by which our intercourse with these |
countries is at present hampered.
"Secondly. The establishment Of the con.
sular service OF the United States on a
salaried iooting, thus permitting the re
linQuishment OF consular fees, not only as
RESPECTS vessels under the national flag, but |
also as respects vessels Of the treaty nations
carrying goods entitled to the benefits Of the
treaties.
''Thirdly. The enactment Of measures to |
FAVOR the construction and maintenance of
steam carrying marine under the flag OF
the United States.
"Fourlhly. The esta ablishment of an uni |
form currency basis for the countries of
America, so that the coined products of our
mines maycrculate on equal terms through
out the whole system OF Common weslths
This would require monetary union of
America. whereby the output of the bul
ha nj a,;,
Of those which yield neither gold nor silver
could be adjusted in conformity with the
population, wealth and commercial needs |
of each. As many Of the countries furnish
no bullion to the common stock the Surplus |
production OF our own mines and mints |
might thus be utilized and q step ta ken |
toward the general reconciliation OF silver. |
PROTECTION AND FREE TRADE.
"To the accomplishment of these ends, so
far as they can be attained by separate |
treaties, the negotiations already concluded |
and now in progress haYe been directed, !
and the favor which this enlarged policy |
has thus lar received warrants .he belief
that its operations will ere long embrace all |
or nearly all, the countries of this hemi |
sphere. 1t ia by no means desirable, how
ever, that the policy under consideration |
should be applied to these countries alone |
The healthful enlargement oi our trade
with Europe, Asia and Africa should be |
sought by reducing tariff burdens on sach |
Ol their wares as uelther we nor the other
American States are fitted to produce, and |
thus enabling ourselves to obtain in return |
better market for our supplies of food, If
raw materials and Of the manufactures in .
which we excel. 1t seems to me that many |
of the embarrassing elements in the great
national conflict between protection aud |
free trade may thus be turned TO good |
account-that the revenue may be reduced |
so as nc longer to overtax the people, that /
protective duties may be retained withor |
becoming burdensome, that our shipping |
interests may be judcouslY enenuruge@,
the currency fixed on firm bases aud above
all, such a unity of interests establish ell
among the States Of the American sysl,m
as will be Of great aud ever increasiI z
advantage TO them all. All treaties in the
line OF this policy which have been nego-
tiated or are in process of negotiation con-
tain provision deemed to be requisiteunder
the clause Of the Constitution limiting TO
tha HnuaA of RanraeantnAivps tho authnritv