Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-11

upon which duties should be removed or ~
ducod j should regret this II Congress were
not already In possession OF the Facts which
should govern its action. This much, how
ever, Il may be proper for me to recommend;
!. That the existing duties upon raw ma ma
teras which are e Be used IN n su z, sss
interest OF our foreign trade.
2. That the duties upon the articles used Of
consumed by those which are the least able 70
duced. This also can be. effected without
prejudice TO our export trade.
In regard TO our Internal revenue taxes, 1
have to say that, as these taxes, with the ex-
ception of the tax upon whisky, ought not 70
be and will not be needed for revenue IL APP
preparations are kept within .reasQnable
bounds and rigid ECONOMY Is established In all
branches of the public service, see no good
reason for their continuance. Taxes upon
agricultural productions, although indirectly
levied, are inconsistent with our general poll
cy, and tobacco Is the only one or these pro-
auctions which has been taxed. An article
which is so generally used, and which adds so
much to the comfort of the large numbers Of
our population who earn their living by man
ual labor, can not properly be considered
luxury, and as the collection OF the tax is ex-
pensive and troublesome to the Government,
and is especially obnoxious and irritative to
small manufacturers, the tax upon tobacco
should, In my Judgment be removed.
The tax upon whisky could not be repealed
without disregard of public sentiment nor
without creating n necessity for higher duties
upon imported goods, but while this Is true
the tax upon the alcohol used in manufactur-
ing might be removed with decided benefit to
home industry and foreign trade.
On the subject of our shipping interests
Secretary McCulloch urges the prompt re-
moval of the unjust tariff taxes which have
driven American vessels from the sea and
paralyzed ship building in this country. He
does not however, consider the restoration
of our merchant marine an easy matter. We
have been out of the carrying trade so long
and toregn SomdPan a nave Sncn enormous nor ,s
of the United States TO gain supremacy on the
seas would meet with most vigorous compe-
tition On this point Mr.: McCulloch says;
err that the United States will ever share to a
considerable extent in the foreign carrying
trade without Government aid. II is for Con-
gress to determine whether this aid shall be
granted or whether our foreign shipping In
terest shall remain in Its present death-like
condition. The letalone policy has been tried
for many years, during which our ships have
| been swept from the ocean, and we pay every
year many millions of dollars to foreign ship
| owners for freights and fares. Ought this con-
| dition of things TO be continued2
Entertaining these views, do not hesitate
| to express the opinion
/. That without Government aid to United
| States steamship lines the foreign carrying
trade will remain in the hands of foreigners.
2. That as we ought to have an interest in the
| business which we create and as the restora
ton of our shipping interest is important If not
| essential, to the extension OF our foreign trade
subsidies in the form of liberal payments fcl
| the transportation of malls or In some other
| form should be offered as an inducement 10
/ investments of capital In steamships. The
amount OF necessary ara woula pc lnslgnln
| granted to manufacturers by protective
| duties and nothing would be paid until the
| services were rendered.
on the subject of the continued coinage ant
unlimited legal-tender quality OF the silver dol
lar the Secretary says:
/ have been forced to the conclusion tina
unless both the coinage Of silver dollars san, ans
there Is danger that silver. and not To2d' ma,
become our metallic standard. This dan
ger may not be imminent, but 1t is Of SO Sc
rious character that there ought no
10 be delay In providing against it. Not onlJ
| would the National credit be seriously i'm
| paired IL the Government should be under the
necessity of using silver dollars or certificates
in payment of gold obligations, but business
of all kinds would be greatly disturbed; no
only so, but gold would at once cease to be
circulating medium, and severe contraction
The United States is one of the most power
| full of Nations-its credit Is high, its resource.
limitless; but It can not prevent dePrecia
leading Nations of Europe. The suspension
of its coinage might depress the market prize
UI ye dou6ess be- to RSt " be
duction of gold is diminishing, that OF silve
has practically reached its maximum ant
t6s e the Yield Of both Tod
silver mines will speedily decline. A
the same time the demand for both 70
coinage and in manufactures will increase
The very necessities of the commercial work
will prevent a general and continued disuse o
either as money. The European Nations
which hold large amounts of silver mus
sooner or later come to its rescue and tn,
would do much to bring about Oh their par
action In its favor But whatever might b.
the effect of the suspension of the coinag
upon the commercial value of silver, 1t is YER
clear that the coinage can not be continued
without dotrment to the general bushes
and danger to the National credit.
Tho amount of one-dollar notes in circul,
ton is SIC, 763, 097.S0; the amount of two-dolla
would, think, act wisely in putting an en'
to their circulation. Nor do i hesltat
to express the opinion that the countr
would be benefited IL all hve-dolla
notes should be gradually retired and tn
coinage of half and quarter eagles should b
increased. If this should be done, the circulat
ing medium of the United States below to-
dollars would be silver and gold, and W
should be following the example of France, Il
which there is an immense circulation of si
yer coin, which in all domestic transaction
maintains parity with gold. In this event
also the Treasury would be relieved from tn
burden of silver in its vaults and IL would no
be long before the coinage of silver might b
resumed.
In conclusion, the Secretary recommend
that immediate action be taken by Congress
relative to the basis of National bank circu
lation, now seriously threatened by the rapi
call for bonds on which it Is based, and tina
the system be continued substantially as
now is, except that the tax on circulatio
yer coins should be fecoIned ana Iifefaassasi
weight; that the trade dollars should be pun
chased at slight advance only upon thei
bullion value, and not at all unless presente
within year, and that additional vaults TO
the storage of silver be constructed.