Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1884-12-02

increase OF sealed corre5ponGence. ne ap-
proves the recommendation that the unit OF
weight with frst-class matter should Dc one
ounce instead Of one-haif ounce ~ IL now Is,
and recommends reduction Of postage on
drop letters % one cent lie also recon-
mends an extension of the free delivery
system
PRE-KMPTIoS LAws--PAcTFIc RAILROADS.
The President concurs with the Secretary
Of the interior in advising the repeal OF the
pre-emptIOn laws, the enactment OF statutes
resolving the present legal complications
touching lapsed grants To railroad companies
and the funding the debt of the several Pa
cific railroads under such guaranty as shall
effectualiy secure its ultimate payment
PoLyaAMY.
He believes that if polygamy can be sup
pressed in Utah by law it can only be by the
most radical legislation ce a sistent with the
restraints of the constitution, and recon-
mends that Congress assume absolute polit-
ical control of the territory Of Utah, and
provide for the appointment OF commission
ers with such governmental powers as IN Its
judgment may justly and wisely be put into
their hands.
IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN TRADE ExTESsION.
The President deyotes much space to
consideration of the policy of the govern
ment regarding the extension of our foreign
trade. The main conditions of the problem
are thus stated: We are people apt In me-
chancal pursuits and fertile in invention;
we cover vast extent of territory, rich In
agricultural products and IN nearly all the
raw materials needed for successful manu-
facture; we have a system of productive es-
tablishments more than sufficient to supply
our own demands: the wages of labor are
nowhere else so great; the scale of living of
our artisan classes is such as tends to secure
their personal comfort and the development
of those higher morals and intellectual quail
tiles that 90 TO the making of good citizens;
our system of tax and tariff legislation is
yielding a revenue in excess of the present
needs of the government. These are the
elements from which 1t Is sought TO devise
scheme by which. without unfavorably
changing the condition of our workingmen,
our merchant marine shall be raised from its
enfeebled condition and new markets pro-
vided for the sale beyond our own borders of
the manifold fruits of our industrial enter
prise. 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 sup
ply and demand. 1t Is from them that we
| should obtain what we do not produce In
sufficiency, and If is to them that the surplus
productions of our fields, our mills and our
workshops should flow, and under conditions
that will equalize or favor them in compari-
son with foreign competition.
FOUR PATHS SUGGESTED.
''Four paths of policy" the President says,
''seem to point to this end: First, series
of reciprocal commercial treaties with the
! countries of America, which shall foster be-
| tween us and them an unhampered move
ment of trade. The conditions of these
| treaties should be the full admission of such
nnf
duce in return for the admission free, or
under favored scheme of duties, of our
own prodUcts-the benefits of such exchange
to apply only to goods carried under the
national flag of the parties to the
contract; the removal on both sides from the
vessels so privileged of all tonnage dues and
| national imports, so that those vessels may
| ply unhindered between our ports and those
| of the other contracting parties, though
/ without infringing upon the reserved home
| coasting-trade the removal or reduction of
burdens on exported products of those
countries coming within the benefits of
| treaties, and the avoidance of technical re-
strictions and the penalties by which our in
tercourse with these countries is at present
| hampered."
| Second, by the establishment of the con-
! sular service of the United States ON salar-
led footing, thus permitting the relinquish-
ment of consular fees not only as respects
/ vessels under the QatfOnal nag, Dut also as
| respects vessels OF other nations arriving and
carrying goods entitled to the benefit of
| treaties"
Thirdly, the enactment of measures to
| favor the construction and maintenance of a
steam carrying marine under the flag of the
| United States"
"Fourthly, the establishment of a uniform
| currency basis for the countries of America" !"
This would require a monetary union Of
America whereby the output of bullion pro-
| ducing countries and the circulation 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 mines and ,nints might thus be utilized,
| and a step taken toward the general remone-
/ tia tion of silver.
To the accomplishment of these ends, so
far a. they can be ascertained by separate
| treaties and negotiations already concluded
and now in progress, have been directed
and the favor which this enlarged policy has
/ thus far received, warrants the belief that
its operations will ere long embrace all, or
nearly ALL the countries of this hemisphere,
| Is by no means impossible. However,
that policy under consideration should be
applied to these countries alone.
THE TARrFr.
The healthful enlargement OF our trade
with Europe Asia and Africa should be
sought by reducing tariff burdens of such of
| their wares "a neither we nor other Ameri-
can states are fitted TO produce, and thus en-
abiing ourselves 90 obtain in return a bet
ter market for our supplies OF food. OF raw
| materials, of manufacturers, and in which
| We excel. IL seems to be that many of the
embarrassing elements in great national
conflict between protection and FREQ trade,
! may thus be turned TO good ccount
that the revenue Law be reduced 80 ne
l no longer to ovsrtax the people;
that protectionist duties may be retained
| without becoming burdensome. that our
shipping interests may be judiciously en-
couraged. the currency hxed on firm basis
and above all such unity OF interests estab.
| iiahed among the states Of the American
system. a. viii be Of great and even increas-
ing advantage 90 them all. All the treaties
| IN the line of THE policy which have been
| negotiated. or which are in process Of nego.
/ tiation. oonfain provision deemed to bs
| requisite nnasf The elanae of The constitu.
ti0n limiting - lhe Houso of Representa-
| tsvea The asthofity to ofiziBste bills for fais