The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-12-06

|
of the fact that they have never had legal
| tender quality, there should be offered for
/ them only slight advance over their bullion
value. The Secretary, in the course OF his
| report, considers the propriety of beautify-
/ ing the designs of our subsidiary silver coins,
and of so increasing sheir weight that they
standard dollar, HE conclusions in this re-
gard are cordially approved.
EXCISE TAXES.
In my annual message OF 1882 recon-
mended the abolition OF all excise taxes ex-
/ cept those relating to distilled spirits. This
/ recommendation Is now renewed. In case
these taxes shall be abolished the revenues
| that Will still remain 10 the Government
| will, in my opinion, not only suffice to meet
| its reasonable expenditures, but will afford
| surplus large enough to permit such tariff
| reduction as may seem to be advisable when
/ the results of the recent revenue laws and
commercial treaties shall have shown in
| what quarters these reductions can be most
! judciously effected.
! FOREIGN TRADE.
One of the gravest of the problems which
! appeal to the wisdom of Congress for solu-
| ton Is the ascertanment of the most effec-
! tive means OF increasing our foreign trade,
and thus relieving the depression under
which our industries are now languishing
The Secretary of the Treasury advises that
the duty OF investigating this subject be in
trusted in the first instance to competent
commission. While fully recognizing the
considerations that may be urged against
! this course, am nevertheless of the opinion
that upon the whole no other would be likely
SHIPPING INTERESTS.
| That portion of the Secretary's report
| which concerns the condition of our ship
ping interests can not fail to command your
| attention. He emphatically recommends
that as an incentive to the investment of
| American capital in American steamships,
| the Governments SHALL by liberal payments
for mail transportation or otherwise, lendit
| active assistance to individual enterprise,
| and declares his belief that unless that course
be pursued our foreign carrying trade must
i'm io tn nlfa iNynlx n,
| the hands of foreigners. One phase of this
| subject is now especially prominent, in view
| of the repeal, by the act of June 26, 1884, of
all the statutory provisions arbitrarily com
pelling American vessels to carry the mails
20 and from the United States. AS it is nee
essary to make provision to compensate the
| owners of such vessels for performing that
service after April 1855, 1t is hoped that the
whole subject will receive early considera-
ton that will lead to the enactment of such
| measures for the revival of our merchant
marine as the wisdom of Congress may de-
| wise.
CIRCULATION OF NATIONAL BANKS.
The three per cent. bonds of the Govern
ment to the amount of more than sl00,0O 900
have, since my last annual message, been re
| deemed by the Treasury. The bonds of that
issue still outstanding amount to little over
500, 00o, COG, about e-fonrth of which will be
retired through the operations of the sinking
fund during the coming year. AS these
bonds still continue the chief basis for the
circulation of the National Banks, the ques-
ton how to avert the contraction of the cur.
constantly increasing importance
THE WAR DEPARTMENT
In the expense of the War Department the
Secretary reports decrease of more than
50, 900 900, of which reduction $5,600000 was eff
fected in the expenditures for rivers and har-
bors and $2,T00O00 in expenditures for the
Quartermaster's Department. outside OF
that department the annual expenses of all
the army bureaus proper Except possibly
the ordnace bureau), are substantially
charges which can not be materially dimln.
he'd Wi m
strength of the army. The expenditures in
the Quartermaster's Department can readily
be subjected to administrative discretion
and it is reported by the Secretary of War
that a result of exercising such discretion
in reducing the number of draught animals
in the army the annual cost of supplying and
caring for such animals Is now Sl,l0S, 81
less than it was in 1854
The reports of the military commanders
show that the last year has been notable fol-
} its entire freedom from Indian outbreaks.
i sEABOARD CITIES.
The Secretary of War submits the report
of the Chief of Engineers as to the practica
bility of protecting our important cities on
the seaboards by fortifications and Other
defenses able to repel modern methods Of
defenses can be prepared with confidence
that they will not prove abortive, and wher
the possible result of delay in making such
preparation is seriously considered, delay
seems inexcusable. For the most important
cities, those whose destruction or capture
would be a National humiliation, adequate
defenses, inclusive of guns, may be made by
the gradual expenditure of S60,OO0,000, a sun
much less than victorious enemy could
about one tenth of that amount is asked tC
begin the work, and concur vito the Score
! tary of War in urging that 1t be granted.
GUNS.
The War Department Is proceeding will
the conversion of n-inch smooth bore gum
into eight inch rifles by lining the formel
, with tubes of forged or of coiled wrough
! iron. Fifty guns will be thus converted dur
. ing the year. This, however, does not obvi
q ate the necessity of providing means for thu
. construction of guns of the highest power
both for the purpose of coast defense and TO
the armament of war vessels. The report o
the Gun Foundry Board, appointed April I'd
: 1883, in pursuance of the act of March 9th
: 1888, was transmitted to Congress in specia
= message of February sth, 1884 In my message
: of March 18th, 1884, called attention to thu
{ recommendation of the board that the GOV
eminent should encourage the production o
> private steel works of the required materia
. for heavy cannon, and that two Governmen
8 factories, one for the Army and one for tn
2 Navy, should be established for the fabrica
: ton of guns from such material: No actor
o having been taken, the Board was subSe
e quently reconvened to then determine NOR
@ fully the plans and estimates necessar,
-, for carrying out its recommendations
4 II has received information which indicate
= that there are responsible steel manufacture
> ers in this country, who, although not pro
o vided at present with the necessary plant
are willing to construct the same and t.
y make bids for contracts with the Govern
. ment for the supply of the requisite matera
. for the heaviest guns adapted to modern
v warfare, If guaranteed order of suffcien
y magnitude, accompanied by positive ap
!, preparation extending over series OF years
)6 shall be made by Congress. All doubts as t
the feasibility of the plan being thus re
/. moved, renew my recommendation, tina
i such action be taken by Congress as will en-
If able the Government to construct its ow
a ordnance upon its own territory, and so t
provide the ornaments demanded by cor
If siderations of national safety and honor.
It THE NAVY.
Q The report of the Secretary of the Navy "a
y hibtS the progress which has been made o
. the new steel cruisers authorized by the act
70 of August 9th, 1882, and March Sd, 1888. OF tn
70 four vessels under contract one, the Chicago
- - of $500 tons Is more than half finished; III