The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-12-01

OHipplHB TO be SuDSluiA0Q,
In his report Secretary McOulloch says,
lowing TO the ehortness OF tho time allowed to
me for the consideration OF the subject, am
not prepared to name the articles upon which
duties should be removed or reduced. should
regret this IL Congress were not already in
possession Of the facts which should govern
Its action. This much, however, It may be
proper for me to recommend.
"First--That tho existing duties upon raw
materials which are TO be used In manufac.
ture should BIO removed. This can be done in
the interest OF our foreign trade.
'second-That the duties upon the articles
ueed or consumed by those who are the least
able to bear the burden OF taxation should DO
reduced. This also can be effected without
prejudice TO our export trade.
"In regard to our internal.revenue taxes
have to say that, as these taxes, with the ex.
eeption Of the tax upon whisky, ought not to
propriatiops are Kept within reasonable
bounds and rigid economy is established in all
branches S e OF the public service, see no good
banknote circulation shall refer to In my
remarks upon National banks. Taxes upon
agricultural productions, although Indirectly
levied, are Inconsistent with our general
policy, and tobacco Is the only one of these
productions which has been taxed. An artt.
Clt WHICH lb 30 Reuefully uSeu, ana which H10B
so much to the comfort OF tho large numbers
OF our population who earn their living by
manual labor cannot properly be considered n
luxury, and as the collection Of tho tax ia OK.
nenelvo ana troublesome 10 tho Government,
and Is especially obnoxious and irritative to
small manufacturers, the tax upon tobacco
should, In my Judgment, be removed"
The Secretary recommends the appointment
OF tarin commission composed OF mon not
welded TO the doctrines OF free trade or pro.
tectieu-fairminded men, who would prose
cute The tDQntry thOFOnpllv.
and impartially. II such commission should
be created, It should be done without unneces.
eary delay"
or our shipping interests the Secretary OK
presses the opinion:
"Frst-'rhat without Government aid TO
United States steamship lines the foreign car
eigncrs.
"second. That as we ought to have an In.
tereet In the business which we create, and
as the restoration OF our shipping interest is
important, II not essential, to tho extension Of
our foreign trade, subsidies in the form of
libolal payments for the transportation OF
malls or In some other form should be ofrered
as an inducement TO investments OF capital In
steamehips."
Silver certificates are taking tho place OF
gold and the Secretary has boon forced 10
the conclusion shat unless both the coinage
OF silver dollars and the Issue OF silver certin-
Gates are suspended, there IS danger that
silver, and not gold, may become our metallic
standard. This danger may not be Imminent,
but IL Is OF 30 serious character that there
III.
"The amount OF one-dollar notes Ia circula.
tlon is SOC, ,097.S0; tho amount OF two.
dollar notes In circulation is s26,77S, 73S 90.
Congress would, think, act wisely In putting
an end to their circulation. Nor do / hesitatS
10 express the opinion that the country would
be benefited II all flve.dollar notes should be
gradually retired and tho coinage OF half and
quarter eagles should besincreased. II this
should be done, the circulating medium OF the
United States below ten dollars would be silver
and gold, md we should be following the OK.
ample OF France, in which there Is an i'm.
mense circulation OF silver coin, which In all
domestic transactions maintains parity with
''The substitution OF gold aud silver for
email notes would be productive Of some In
only. II tho five-dollar notes should be- with.
drawn, the Treasury would be relieved from
the burden OF silver In Its vaults, and 1t would
be resumed"
The Secretary invites attention to the press.
Ing necessity for the recoinage OF the sub
eidiary coins, which would render them moro
creditable as VOL as moro useful. The Secre-
tary suggests that the existence OF the anoma-
lous trhdedollar should be no longer tolerated.
the report Gays;
"Among the measures Of relief recon.
mended In the last report were an increase OF
bonds deposited, a bill TO authorizes which
passed the Senate during tho last session OF
Congress; the acceptance of the 3.65 per cent.
bonds OF 1924 Of the District OF Columbia, the
payment OF which is guaranteed by tho United
States; and repeal OF the tax on circulation
earnestly commend these. propositions to the
wisdom OF Congress, believing that, II adopted,
they VIII enable banks which now Contemplate
surrender OF their circulation In conse-
quence OF the calling Of their 3 per cent.
with small pront, or az least without loss.
YIN view OF the recent outbreak OF cholera
In France, this subject has assumed great i'm.
| portonce, both as Affecting the health OF the
| country and tho interests OF those engaged in
the importation OF rags and the Manufacture
OF paper. Doup' mas been Expressed whether,
| vested In any Department to prevent the I'm.
| poltaion Of infected merchandise 1t is rec.
| commended that such legislation be provided
| as may be deemed proper to protect our coun.
| Try from the Introduction OF contagious dis
fseases through its foreign commerce
| bia" the Secretary says:
"The net expenditures on account OF the
DISTRICT Of Columbia for the fiscal year 1881,
In the Treasury on this account for the same
| period were Sl,070,726.13.
"Sinee December l, 1888, there hos been re.
| tired through the operation OF the sinking
| fund $26l,700 Of the bonded Indebtedness OF
| the District, reducing tho amount annually re-
| CURED for interest S15,432.55. Since tho
| duties OF the commissioners or tho sinking
fund OF the District of Columbia were deyolved
on the Treasurer OF the United States by the
act OF Congress OF June IL, 1873, there has
| been retired Sl,0i0,050 OF tho funded debt
| causing reduction in the annual interest
| charge OF s06,2S6.22.
l.. 'The amount realized from tho sale OF the
ponds In which the ten per centum retained
| from contractors In the District OF Columbia,
| was Invested as required by the act OF June
| IL, 1878, go Stat, 1867 has exceeded the
| sum necessary to pay tho amounts originally
| withheld, owing to tho advance In the securl-
les In which the investments were made. The
| surplus has been covered Into the Treasury
as miscellaneous receipts on account or pro-
,feeeds OK sales OF guarantee fund, District OF
| Columbia, TO be hereafter disposed OF Jas Con-
gress may direct. One half or the amount
/ originally retained was paid by the United
states, and one half by the District OF Column
/ bia."