Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-04


For miscellaneous expenditures,
including public buildings,
light houses and collecting the
For expenditures on account Of '~
the District OF Columbia, 49,. 8,iO1.0l9 G2
For interest on the public debt. bA.b7S,3I6 ~
For the sinking fund. 4o,gsO'z1v ~
Total ordinary expenditures. eeeO,0le.4s9 50
Leaving sufplus of.s............ 67,C0l3e %
As compared with the preceding fiscal year
there was net decrease OF over tzl,OOJUO In
the amount OF expenditures The aggregate
receipts were less than the year previous by
about $54, 100000. The falling of of revenue
from customs made up hearty S2O,O0O,O0 OF
this deficiency, and about So 900 900 of the re.
receipts from informal taxation. The secre-
tary estimates the receipts for the 1sca year
which will end June 3D. 1872 at s sS sS9 u
which are included the interest on the debt
and the amount payable To the sinking fund.
This would leave a surplus fer the entire year
THE SILVER COINAGE
concur with the Secretary of the Treasury
I'm recommending the Immediate suspension
of the coinage of silver dollars and the issue
of silver certificates. This is a matter to
which I'm former communications have more
than once invoked tho attention of the Ma
tional Legislature IL appears that annually
i'm compliance with the requirements OF
the act Of February is ISIS.
more than twenty-SeVcn million silver
dollars. The number now outstanding Is re-
ported by the Secretary To be nearly one hun
dred and eighty-hye millions whereof but
little more than forty millions, or less than
twenty-five per cent, are in actual circula-
ton. The mere existence of this faeS seems
TO me to furnish of itself cogent argument
for the repeal OF the statute which mas maae
graver considerations that tend I'm the same
direction. The Secretary avows his con-
viction that unless this coinage and the is
n 4
pended, silver is likely at no distant day to
become our sole metallic standard. The com
National credit that would be thus occasioned
can scarcely be oVer-estim0ted. i hope that
the Secretary's suggestions respecting the
withdrawal from circulation of the one and
two dollar notes will receive your approval.
Ii is likely that considerable portion of
the silver now incumberng the vaults
of the Treasury might thus find its
way into the currency. While trade
dollars have ceased, for the present ut
least. to be an element of active disturb
ance in our currency system, some provision
should be made for their surrender to the
Government. In view of the circumstances
under which they were coined and OF the fact
| ity, there should be offered for them only n
| slight advance over their bullion value. The
Secretary in the course of his report, consid-
ers the proprlety of identifying the designs
of our subsidiary silver coins, and OF so in
| creasing their weight that they may bear their
| due ratio of value of the standard dollar. His
| proved
INTERNAL REVENUE TAXES.
The President renews the recommendation
made in his message of 1882 that all excise
taxes, except those relating 10 distilled spirits
| be abolished.
OUR FOREIGN TRADE.
II Is recommended that as the most speedy
means of asoertaining how an Increase OF
teiht icso,mahmYssion to investigate the question
| be appointed I'm accordance with the recon
mendation of tho Secretary of the Treasury.
SHIPPING INTERESTS.
Tie hope is expressed that the subject of
| American shipping interests will receive early
consideration that will lead TO the enactment
of such measures for the revival Of our mcr-
chant marine as the wisdom OF Congress may
devise.
THE NATIONAL BANKS.
The three per cent. bonds of the Government,
| 10 the amount of more than $l0,O0O,000,
! have, since my last annual message, been
| redeemed by the Treasury. The bonds of
| that Issue still outstanding amount to little
| over 500, 100, about One-fOurth OF which
will be retired through the operations of the
sinking fund during tho coming year AS the
| bonds still continue the chief basis for the
| circulation of tho National banks, the quGS-
ton how to avert the contraction of the cur
rency caused by their retirement is one OF
constantly increasing Importance.
IL seems to bc generally conceded that the
! law governing this matter exact; from the
banks excessive security, and that upon their
| present bond deposits larger circulation
! than is now allowed may be granted with
safety. / hope that the bin which passed the
Senate at the last session permitting the issue
of notes equal to the face value of deposited
bonds viii commend Itself to the approval OF
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Considerable space is devoted TO the recon-
Inendations of the Secretary of War, with re-
| gard to the bills before Congress for the con-
| struction of fire proof building for an army
medical museum. II is hoped that during the
! coming session the measure may become Il
| law, and thereafter immediate steps may be
| taken to secure u place of safe deposit for
these valuable collections now In state OF In
| security.
The Secretary of War SUI bmlts the report of
] the Chief of Engineers az to the practicability
board by Notifications and other defenses
able to repcl modern methods Of attack. The
| time has now come when such defonses can
| bc prepared with confidence that they will
not prove abortive and, when the possible
result of delay in making such preparation
| Is seriously considered, delay seems inexcus-
able. For the most important cities, these
| whose destruction or capture would be Ma
| tionul humiliation, adequate defcnses, inclu.
sive Of guns, may be made by the gradual ex
Tendture of 900, a sum much less thar
victorious enemy could levy as u contribu
| ton. An appropriation of about one-tcnth OF
that amount is asked to begin the work, and
| concur with the Secretary of War in urging that
| IL be granted. The War department is proceed
| ing with the conversion of ten-inch smooth
bore guns into eight-inch rifles by lining the
| former with tubes of forged or of cOilcd
Wrought Iron, Fifty guns will be thus con
not obviatc the necessity OF providing means
for the construction of guns of the highest
power, both for the purposes OF coast defense
and for tho armament of war vessels.
l renew my recommendation that such ac-
| ton be taken by Congress as will enable the
! Government to construct Its own ordnance
| upon its own territory, and so to provide the
ornaments demanded by considerations OF
| National safety and honor.
THE NEW STEEL CRUISERS.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy OK
hibits the progress which has been made on
| tho new steel cruisers authorized by the acts
! of August 3, 1882, and March 3, 1898. OF tho
| four vessels under contract one the Chicago,
! of 500 tons, Is more than half finished; the
Atlanta, BOD tons, has been successfully
launched, and her machinery is now fitting;
| the Boston, also of 5000 tons, is ready for
launching, and the Dolphin, n dispatch steam
err of 500 tons, is ready for delivery.
The machinery of the double-turreted mon
\ itors Puritan, Tcrrcs and Amphitrite con-
tracted for under the act of March 3, 1883, is
in process of construction. No work has been
done during tho past year on their armor, for
| fourth monitor, the Monadnock, still remains
unfinished ut the Navy Yard in California. 1t
is recommended that carly steps be taken TO
| complete these vessels, and to provide also an
armament for the monitor Miantonomah.
THE GREEDY EXPEDITION.
Tho story of the rescue of Lieutenant
| Greedy aud his congress Is referred to, and
| duct Of this relief expedition reflect great
crediuupon all who contributed to its success.
THE NAVY
In this, the last of the State messages that
i shall have the honor 10 transmit to the
Congress of the United States, can not too
strongly urge on it's attention the duty of
| restoring our navy as rapidly as possible to
| the high state OF efficiency which formerly
characterized il. As the long peace that has
| lulled us into a sense of fancied security may
| at any time be disturbed, IL is plain that the
! policy of strengthening this arm of the serv-
| Ice Bis dictated by considerations OF use and
economy; of Just regard for our future tran