Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-12-06
PRESIDENT ARTHUR's MESSAGE.

PRESIDENT ARTHUR'S MESSAGE.
He Urges n Reduction of the Tariff
as the only Means of Enlars-
ing our Trade With
Foreign Nations.
GConhnued from first page,1
THE THREE PER CENT BONDS.
The three per cent. bonds of the gov
ernment, to the amount OF more than
800. 900. 900, have, since my last mes
sac been redeemed by the treasury. The
bonds of that issue still outstanding
amount to n little over 5000 ,OOO, 900,
about one-fourth of which will be re-
tired. through the operations OF the
sinking fund during the coming year.
AS these bonds still continue h chief
basis tor the circulation of national
hanks, the question, how to avert
the contraction of the currency caused
bv their retirement is one OF constantly
increasing Importance. 1t seems 10 De
generally conceded that the law gov
erning that matter exacts from the
banks excessive security, and that up
on their present bond deposits a larger
circulation than is now allowed may
he granted with safety. [ hope thai
the bill which passed the senate at the
last session, permitting the issue OF
notes equal to the face value OF dcpos-
tied bonds, will commend itself to the
approval of the house OF representa-
tives.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
In the opens of the war depart
mant the secretary reports a decrease
OF more than 80, 0 900, of which re-
duction s. 900 900 was affected III the
expenditures for rivers and harb0rs'
and s., 700, 900 in the expenditures iol
the uuartermaster's department. Out
side of that department, the annual ex-
pepses OF all the army bureaus proper
except, possibly, the ordinance bureau.
are substantially unchanged, and can
not be materially diminished without {
change in the numerical strength OF the
army. The expenditures i'll the quar-
Transfers department can easily bt
subjected to administrative dlscretioh
and it is reported by the secretary o
war that asa result OF exercising sucl
discretion in reducing the number o
daught animals in the army, the annua
cost of supplying and caring for sucl
animals is now 81, los, 0S5 80 less than i
was in 1882. The report OF militar.
commanders show that the last yea
has been notable tor its entire freedom
from Indian outbreaks. In defiance O
the presidents proclamation on July
1854, certain intruders sought to max
settlements in Indian territory, an
they were promptly removed by a de
tachment of troops.
During the past session OF congress
bill to provide for a suitable tire-proo
building for the army medical museni
and the library of the surgeon general
Office received my approval. Dunn
She coming session the measure ma
become a law and thereafter immedi
ate steps may be taken 10 secure aplac
of safe deposit for these valuable collet
tons, now in a state OF insecurity. LII
funds with which the works for tn
Improvement of rivers and harbor
were prosecuted during the past veal
were derived from the appropriation c
the act of August 2, 1882, together wit
such few balances as were on han
from previous appropriations. Ih
balance in the treasury, subject to r.
QUESTION July 1,,1ss3, was.Sl0,o2l,6 49,
So. The amount appropriated durln
the fiscal year 1884, was Sl3,166,S46 p
and the amount drawn from the treas
ury during the fiscal year was S8,22o,
Tn t1rt-rr1nsut hasapfeoffr1,ll5a q5tS9
lion July l, 1884. The secretary
war submits the report of the chief
engineers as to the practicability c
protecting II important cities on tn
seaboards by Notifications and othe
defenses able 10 repel modern method
of attack. The time has now come whe
such defenses can be prepared wit
confidence that they will not prov
abortive; when the possible result {
delay in making no such preparation
seriously considered, delay seems inc,
cnsable, for the most important cite.
those whose destruction or captul
would be a national humiliation. AC
equate defenses, inclusive of guns, MA
be made by the gradual expenditure {
500, ,000, a sum much less than
victorious enemy could lay as a contri
button. An appropriation of about ont
tenth of that amount is asked to begi
the work, and l concur with the seer,
tary of war, i'll urging that it |
granted.
The war department is proceediu
with the conversion of ten inch smoot
bore guns into eight inch rifles by lii
ing the former with tubes of forged c
of coiled wrought iron. Fifty gur
will be thus converted within the veal
This, however, does not obviate tt
necessity of providing means tor I'll
construction of guns of the highe;
power, both for the purpose of Goa!
defense and for the armament Of W.
vessels.
The report of the gun foundry boar
appointed April 2, 1888, in pursuant
OF the act of March 3, 1888, was trans
mitted to congress in Il special messag
OF February s, 1884. In my messas
of March &c, 1884, l called attention
the recommendation OF the board tn,
the government should encourage ii
production OF private steel works oftl
required material for heavy cannon
and that two government factorie
one for the army and one for the nav.
should be established for the manuta
ture of guns from such material. n
action having been taken, the boar
was subsequently reconvened to dete
mine more fully the plans and estimate
necessary for carrying out its recon
m%endations. 1t has received inform;
ton which indicates that there are T.
sponsible steel manufacturers in til
country who although not provided
present with the necessary plant, al
willing to construct the same. and
make bids for contracts with the go
mme for the supply of the requisi
Inaterial for the heaviest guns adequaJ
TO modern warfare If d guarantee
order of sufficient magnitude, accom-
panied by a positive appropriation c,
tending over Il series OF years, shall |
made by congress-, all doubt as to Il
feasibility of the plan would be reno,
ell. renew my recommendation til
such action be taken by congress
will enable the government to co
s.rnct its own ordinance upon its ow
territory, and also to provide the arm
ment demanded by consideration
the national safety and honor.
NAVY AFFAIRS.
The report of the secretary of Il
navy exhibits the progress which h
been made i'll the new steel cruiser
authorized by the acts of August
1882, and March g., 1888. OF the TO
vessels under contract, the "Chicago
of 1850 tons, more than half finishe
and the "Atlanta," 5000 tons, has be,
successfully launched and her machi
erv is now being fitted, The "BostOn