The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-11
roads under such guaranty as shall e1ectu-


ally ensure its ultimate plymen.
The report OF the Utah Commission VIII
be read with interest. 1t disctoseS the re-
suits of recent legislation looking to the
prevention and punishment OF polygamy
in that Territory. l still believe that If that
aboIninable practice can be suppressed by
law it can only be by the most radical legisla-
ton consistent with restraints of the cunsti
tuition. can again recommend. therefore,
that Congress assume absolute political con-
troll OF the Territory of Utah, provide for
the appointment of commission with such
Governmental powers as it in IFS judgment
may justly and wisely put into their hands.
In the course of this communication refer
enCe has more than once been made to the
policy of this Government as regards the
extension of our foreign trade, it seems
proper TO declare the general principles that
should, in my opinion, underlie our National
efforts in this direction. The main conditions
OF the problem may thus be stated: We are
a people in mechanical pursuits and fertile
in invention. We cover n vast extent of ter
ritory rich in agricultural products and in
nearly all the raw materials necessary for
successful manufacture. We have Il system
of productive establishments more than
sufficient to supply on, own demand.
The wages OF labor are s<'There else
SO great. The scale of living of
our artisan classes is such as tends TO
secure their personal comfort and the de-
relopment of those higher moral and intel
lectual qualities that go to the making up of
good citizens. Our system Of tax and tariff
legislation is yielding revenue which Is in
excess of the present needs of the Govern
ment. Those are elements from which it is
sought to devise n scheme by which, without
unfuv0rably changing the condition of the
workingmen our merchant marine shall be
raised from its enfeebled condition and new
markets provided for the sale beyond our
borders of the manifold fruits of our indus
trial enterprise. The system 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 mar
ket of supply and demand. 1t is froIa them
that we should obtain what we do not pro-
duce, or do not produce in Suthcicncy, and Ii
is to them that the surplus production of our
fields, our mills and our workshops should
flow under conditions that will equaliZe or
favor them in comparison with foreign COM
petition. -Four paths of policy seem TO point
to this end: First, u series of reciprocal COM
mercial treaties with the countries of Amer
lea which shall foster between us ard them
an unhampered increment of trade. The
conditions of these treaties should be the
free admission of such merchandise as the
country does not produce in return for ad-
mission free or under favorable scheme OF
duties of our products, the benefits of such
exchange to apply on these goods carried un-
der the tag OF the parties to the contract. The
removal on both sides from vessels so priyil-
eyed of all tonnage dues and National inn
posts, so that their vessels may ply unhind-
cred between our ports and those OF the
other contracting parties, though without i'll
fringing on the deserved home coasung
trade; the removal or reduction of burdens
on the exported products OF those countries
coming within the benefits of the treaties,
and the avoidance of the technical restric-
uOnS and penalties as at present hampered.
Secondly, the establishment of the consul
lar service of the United States on salaried
footing, permitting the relinquishmen! OF
consular fees not only as respects vessels I'M
der 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 IA
vor the construction and maintenance of
steam carrying marine under the flag of the
United States.
Fourthly, the establishment of q uniform
currency basis for the countries of America.
so that the coined products of our minis may
circulate on equal terms throughout the
whole system of commemorative. This would
require q monetary union of America,
whereby the output of the bullion producing
countries and the circulation of those which
yield neither gold Tor silver, could be ad-
justed i'll conformity with the population,
wealth and commercial needs of such, aS
many OF the countries furnish no bull
lion to the common stock. The sur
Plus production OF our mines and
step taken toward the general remOnetiza-
ton of silver to the accomplishment of
these ends so far as they can be attained by
separate treaties the negotiations already
concluded and now in progress have been
directed and the favor with which this ell
larged policy has thus far been received war
rants the belief that its operations will ere
long embrace all, or nearly all the countries
of this hemisphere. 1t is by 10 means de-
sirable, however, that the policy under con-
sideration should be applied to these cOun-
tries as well as the healthful enlargement of
trade with Europe, Asia and Africa should
be sought. By
REDUCING TARIFF BURDENS
on such of these wares as neither we nor the
other American States are fitted to produce,
and thus enabling ourselves to obtain in re-
turn n better market for our supplies of
food, of raw materials and of the manufac-
lures in which we excel; ii seems to Inc
that many of the embarrassing elements in
the great National conflict between protec-
ton and free trade may thus be turned TO
good account; that the revenue IL ay be re-
duced so rs to no longer over-tAx the peo-
pie; that protection duties may be retained
without becoming burdensOme; that our
shipping interests may be judiciOusly en-
cOuraged, the currency fixed en- firm
basis, above all such an amity OF
interests established among the States
of the American system as will be of
great and ever increasing advantage to them
all. All treaties in the line of this policy
which have been negotiated, or are in pro-
cess of negotiation contain provision
deemed to be requisite under the clause of
the constitution, limiting to the House of
Representatives the authority to originate
bills for raising revenue.
On the twenty-ninth of FEBRUARY last !
transmitted to Congress the first annual re-
port of
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION,
together with communications from the
of the Government, respecting the spe-
cial workings OF the law under which
the commission had been acting. The
good results therein fOrcshadOwed have
been more than realized. The system has
fully answered the expectations OF his friends
in securing competent and faithful public
servants, and in protecting the appointing
officers of the Government from the pres
sure of personal importantly, and from the
labor OF examining the claims and preten-
sionS of rival candidates for public employ
fffaA
support of the President and of the heads
of the several departments and the mem
bers of the commission have performed their
duties with zeal and fidelity. Their report
will shortly be submitted and will be accom-
panied by such recommendations for enlarg-
ing the scope of the existing statute as snail
commend themselves TO the executive and
the commissioners charged with its admins
tratiOn.
In view of the general and persistent de-
mand throughout the commercial communl-
ty for National bankrupt law, hope that
the differences of sentiment which have
hitherto prevented its enactment may not
outlast the present sessions.
The pestilence which for the past two years
has been raging in the countries of the East
recently made its appearance in European
ports with which we are in constant cOmmuni-
cation. The then Secretary of the Treasury,
in pursuance of a proclamation of the
President, issued certain regulations re-
stricting and for time prohibiting the I'M
portation of rags and the admission of bag
gage VI ans VI
from infected quarters. Lest the course may
have been without strict warrant or law,
approve the recommendation of the present
Secretary, that the Congress take action in
the premises, and also recommend the inn
mediate adoption of such measures as will
De likely to ward off the dreaded epidemic
and to mitigate its severity in case IT shall
unhappily extend to our shores.
The annual report of the commissioners OF
the District of Columbia reviews the opera
tions of the several departments of its mu
nicipal government. ask yeur careful con-
sideration of its suggestions in respect to
legislation commend, such as relate to re-
vision of the civil and criminal code. the per-
Torrance of labor by persons sentenced to
in JAIL the construction and
occupation of wharves along the river front,
and the erection of a suitable building for
district officers