Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-12-11

-" viz VI IA "a l0tEH SohntAS Win
which we are at peace. The prompt and
thorough treatment of this question Is one
which Intimately concerns the National
honor.
NATURALIZATION LAWS.
Our existing naturalization laws also need
revision. Those sections relating to persons
RESTING within the limits of the United
States in 1875 and 1898 have now only an his
toricai interest. section 27l2, recognizing
the citizenship of the children of naturaliZed
parents Is Ambiguous In its terms and part
iy obsolete. There are special provisions of
law favoring the naturalization of those who
serve In the army or In merchant vessels, while
no similar privileges are granted those who
serve in the navy or marine corps. Al
uniform rule of naturalization, such
as the Constitution conteInpiateS,
should, among other things. clearly
define the status of persons born within the
United States, subject to a foreign power"
Section 1892: "And of minor children of
fathers who have declared their intention of
becoming citizens. but failed to perfect their
nattrallzation.' 1t might be wise to provide
for Il central bureau of registry, wherein
should be filed authenticated transcripts OF
every record of naturalization in the several
Federal and State Courts and to make pro-
vision also for the vacation or cancellation
OF such record In cases where fraud had been
prai.ticed upon the court by the applicant
himself, or where he had removed or forfeit
ed his acquired citizenship. 4 just and uni
torn law IN this respect would strengthen
the hands of the Government in protecting
its citizens abroad, and would pave the way
for The conclusions of treaties of naturaliZa-
ton with foreign countries.
AAs Afh- = - -LND SoENH la FEhfi f.
Tie legislation of the last session effected
in the diplomatic and consular service GER
tain changes and reductions which have been
productive of embarrassment. The popula-
Tion and intermediate activity of our coun-
try are steadily on the increase and are Civ
ing rise to ever varying and often delicate
relationships with other countries. Our
foreign. establishment now embraces
nearly double the area of operations
| thar it did twenty years ago. The
confinement of such Il service within the lin
its of expenditure then established is not, it
seems to me, in accordance with true econ
omf. \ community of 6t,oW,0O0 OF people
| should he adequately represented in its In
terVOurse with foreign nations. Aproiect for
the reorganization of consular service and
for recasting the scheme of extra territorial
jurisdiction is now before you. If the limits
OF a short session will not allow its full con-
Sidrration. | trust YOU will not fail to make
suitable provision for the present needs of
the service 1t has been customary to define
IN the appropriation acts the rank Of each
diplomatic Office to which a salary is at
tacAed. | suggest that this course he aban-
doned, and that it be left to the President,
with the advice and consent of the Seaate,
to fix from time to time the diplomatic grade
of the representatives of this Government
abroad rs may seem advisable, provision
being definitely made, however, as now, Tor
the amount OF SALARY attached to the re-
spectiVe stations.
FINANCIAL.
The condition of our finances and the op-
Grafton Of the various branches of the public
services which are connected with the Treas
ury department are very fully discussed in
1 lilt lti}Dlt III tlit IttitlttN- IL lGflGatS VIA
the ordinary revenues for the fiscal year end
ed June 50, 1874, Were:
rom customs FlSo, nbI ,4S9 81
From internal revenues. ......... III ,5SG,072 81
From all other sources....-.... 3~l,sid,307 65
Total ordinary .s3!S ,5l9,sf9 90
The public expenses during the same period
were:
For civil expenses................ s2eSl2,9 07 IL
For foreign i,2G0, itR 81
For $50. 6,i55,asa 20
For pensIons..-......-........ 5,429,2 2S IS
For the military establishment s1r
including river and harbor i'm
provements and arsenals...... 3~9,429,6os Sc
For the naval establishments in
tluding vessels, machinery and
improvements at navy yards. 1922. Col A
For miscellaneous expenditures
including public buildings,
light houses, and collecting the
revenue. Bi,J59,i III w
For expenditures on account of
the District of Columbia. .... 4G7, O49 PC
For interest on the public debt. G,5ES.37S As
For the sinking fund............. Al, isN,229 80
Total ordinary expenditures. s29o, 9I6, 1855 So
Leaving a surplus of ST .603 1868. As com
pared with the preceding fiscal year there
was a net decrease of over 81 zoe 1000 in the
amount of expenditures The aggregate re-
ceipts were less than those of the year
previous by about S4 100000. The falling OFF
OF revenue from customs made up nearly
} 900, 000 of the remainder was due to the dim
inished receipts from Internal taxation.
The secretary estimates the total receipts
for the fiscal year which will end June 30th,
less, at S35D, U00,00 and the total expenditures
Al S2g0, $40, 20l. Is, in which are included the in
terest on the debt and the amount payable
to the sinking fund. This would leave n
surplus for the entire year of about SIS, 900,
G0. The value of exports from the United
States to foreign countries during the year
ending June Both, 1854, was as follows:
pornesaic "a '.6i' -:
Total S740,5l 3,6G
61,lSS,SS;
Total exports of merchandise and
SSui ,6f6, ~.
Thu cotton and cotton manufactures in.
Guide in this statement were valued Mt sos,
NN,4l5, the hIeauStutfSa at Sif2. 544. ID, the proVi.
sons at Sll4s4lb,5iI and the mineral oil AT
During the same period the imports were
as follows:
ierchandlse..... ...........-..s6 6I .697 So
Gold and 31,+25,26
sos, IL, aa
More than IS per cent. of the entire value
Of imported merchandise consisted of the
following. articles:
sugar and MolasseS.. 103, SS4, 2I4
y, Wool and Wooden manufacturers. 81, 542,2 %.
: silk and its manufactures..-..-.... 49,949, II
4a,bob, IL
: Iron and Steel and manufactures
: ii,4hi,5"
1 s., AGA ,9os
Flax, Hemp, Jute and like sub
stances and manufactures thereof 33 ,46s SO
Hides and skins other than Fur
l 22,S5o,3V
/, SILVER DOLLARS AND CERTIFICATES.
: ] concur with the Secretary of the Treas
ury in recommending the immediate suspen,
: sion of the coinage of silver dollars and o
r the issuance of silver certificates. This is
+ matter to which in former communications
= have more than once invokedt the attention o
the National Legislature. 1t appears thai
annually for the past six years there hav,
f been coined in compliance with the require
a mentS of the act of February 18th, 1878, more
+ than twenty-SeVen million silver dollars. Tn,
q number now outstanding is reported by tn,
= Secretary to be nearly Is, 600, eco, wllereo
q but little more than 10000, 900, or less thar
: twenty-five pei cent, are in actual circula
q ton. The mere existence of this fact seems
: to me to furnish of itself II cogent argu
: ment for the repeal of the statute which
has made such fact possible, but Their,
are other and graver considerations tina
: tend in the same direction. The Secretar,
i avows his conviction that, unless this coin
age and issuance of silver certificates b
suspended, silver is likely at no dis
tant day to become our sole metals
! standard. The commercial disturbanc
+ and the Impairment OF National credit tina
would be thus occasionei can scarcely b
overestimated. l hope that the Secretary
suggestions respecting the withdrawal iron
circulation of the 81 and 81 notes will receiv
your approval. 1t is likely that a considera
bic portion of the silver 10Y in the vaults c
the Treasury might find its way into cur
Is TpncE.