St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-12-13

To tie Governments In view of the circum-
stances under which they were coined and
of the fact that they have never had q legal
tender quality, there should be offered for
them only a slight advance over their bullion
value. The Secretary, in the course OF his
ing the designs of our subsidiary silver coins,
and of so increasing their weight that they
may bear their due ratio of value to the
standard dollar, His conclusions in this re-
gard are cordially approved.
EXCISE TAXES.
In my annual message of 1882 I recon-
mended the abolition of all excise taxes ex-
cept those relating to distilled spirits. This
recommendation is now renewed. III case
these taxes shall be abolished the revenues
that will still remain to the Government
will; in my opinion, not only suffice to meet
its reasonable expenditures, but will afford q
surplus large enough to permit such tariff
reduction as may seem to be advisable Wnen
the results of the recent revenue laws and
commercial treaties shall have shown in
what quarters these reductions can be rdosG
judiciously effected.
FOREIGN TRADE.
One of the gravest of the problems which
appeal to the wisdom of Congress for s0lu-
ton is the ascertainment of the most effec-
tive means of increasing our foreign trade,
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 a competent
commission. While fully recognizing tho
considerations that may be urged againsG
this course, am nevertheless of the opinion
that upon the whole no other would be likely
to effect speedier or better results.
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
American capital in American steamships,
the Government shall, by liberal payments
for mail transportation or otherwise, Iendits
active assistance to individual enterprise,
and declares his belief that unless that course
be pursued our foreign carrying trade must
remain as it is to day, almost exclusively in
the hands of foreigners: One phase of this
subject is now especially prominent, in view
of the repeal, by the act Of June 26, 1854, OF
all the Statutory provisions arbitrarily COM
pelling American vessels to carry the mails
to 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, 1885, it 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 $100,000,000
have, since my last annual message, been re-
deemed by the Treasury. The bonds of that
issue still outstanding amount to little over
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.
rency caused by their retirement is one of
constantly increasing Importance.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
In the expense of the War Department the
Secretary reports decrease OF more than
So 900 ,00O of which reduction $5,6OO,0O0 was eff
fected in the expenditures for rivers and har-
bors and $2,700,000 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 dimin-
ished without change in the numerical
strength of the army. The expenditures in
the Quartermasters Department. can feadlly
be subjected to administrative dlscretlon,
and it is reported by the Secretary or war
that as result of exercising such discretlon
in reducing the number of draught animals
in the army the annual cost OF supplying ana
caring for such animals is now Sl,luo,uo9'SO
less than it was in 1882.
The reports of the military commanders
show that the last year has been notable for
its entire freedom from Indian outbreaks,
sEABoARD CITIES.
The Secretary of War submits the report
of the Chief of Engineers as to the practlca-
bility of protecting our important cities on
the seaboards by Notifications and other
defenses able to repel modern methods OF
defenses can be prepared with confidence
that they will not prove abortive, and when
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 pc mace py
the gradual expenditure of $60,00O,OOO, sum
much less than O victorious enemy could
lew as q contribution. An appropriation OF
about one-tenth of that amount is asked to
begin the work, and concur vito the Secre-
tary of War in urging that it be granted
GUNS.
The War Department is proceeding with
the conversion of ten-inch smooth bore guns
into eigIlt-inch rifles by lining the former
with tubes of forged or of coiled wrought
iron. Fifty gums will be thus converted dur
ing the year. This, however, does not obvl-
ate the necessity of providing means Tor the
construction of guns OF the nighesb power
both for the purpose of coast defense and Tor
the armament of war; vessels. The report or
the Gun Foundry Board, appomted April "a
1888, in pursuance of the act or March 9tn,
1888 was transmitted to Congress IN aspeclal
message of February Sth, 1884. In my message
of March 26th, 1884, called attention 10 Che
recommendation of the board that the Gov
eminent should encourage the prouuctlon OF
nrivate steel works of the required material
for heavy cannon, and that TWO government
factories one for the Army land one tor the
Navy, should be established fof the IaDr l!a
having been taken, the Board was Supse-
nnentIy reconvened to then determine more
fully the plans and estimates necessary
for carrying out its recommendation
1t has received information which indicates
that there are responsible steel manufactur-
ers in this country, who, although not pro-
vided at present with the necessary plant,
are willing to construct the same and TO
make bids for contracts with the Govern
ment for the supply of the requisite material
for the heaviest guns adapted to modern
nnagnitude, accompanied by positive ap-
proprfation extending over a series Of years,
Shall be made by Congress. All doubts as to
moved i renew nv Recommendation, that
such action be taken by Congress as will en-
able the Government to construct It's own
ordnance upon its own territory, ana SO TO
provide the ornaments demanded by con-
siderations of national safety and honor.