The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Extracts from and References to the Docu-
ment.

ITtsluent Arthur on lhsL mOnuAy Scut W
Congress his message, the leading features
Of which are indicated below.
The recent presidential election, while
happily mentioned As demonstrating the
strength and wisdom of our political institu-
tions, is referred to as emphasizing the
urgency for providing more precise and
definite regulations for counting the cleo
toral vote.
An elaborate review is given of our rela-
tioDs with foreign powers, their peaceful
condition rendering the recital less interest
ing as the situation Is more gratifying. The
reference to our great neighbors, France,
Germany and England, is made in few
lines.
The multiplicity of international indus
trial expssitlons and the great productive
ness of the United States in manufactures,
ETC., induces the President to ask from Con-
gress continuous discretionary authority to
accept Invitations for this government to
participate and to appoint honorary commits
sioners thereto without salary, but with q
small fund to defray reasonable expenses.
The attention of Congress is called to the
question of international copyright without
any very definite suggestions.
THE SHIPMENT OF EXPLOSIVES.
The first suggestion of striking interest is
In relation to International obligations as
relates to the sale and shipment of explo-
sives likely to be used against the peace and
welfare of friendly power. The text is as
follows:
II recommend that the scope of the neu-
trality laws of the United States be so en-
isrged as TO cover all patent acts Of hostility
committed in our Territory and aimed
against the people of friendly nation. Ex-
listing statues prohibit the fitting out of
armed expeditions and restrict the shipment
of explosives, though the enactments In the
latter respect were not framed In regard to
International obligations but simply for the
protection of passenger travel; aud these
statutes were intended to meet special emer-
gencies that bad already arisen. Other
emergencies have arisen since and modern
ingenuity supplies means for the organiza-
tion of hostilities without open resort to
armed vessels or to 6libusterlng parties. /
see no reason why the commission of crimi-
nal acts such as are here under considera-
tion, should not be alike punishable whether
such acts are intended TO be committed in
our own country or In foreign country
with which we are at peace. The prompt
and thorough treatment Of this question Is
one which intimately concerns the national
honor"
NATURALIZATION LAWS.
After referring to the absolute character Of
some portions ofthe naturalization laws, the
President adds:
"a uniform rule of naturalization, such as
the constitution centemplates, should among
other things clearly define the status of per-
sons, born within the United States subject
TO foreign power and Of minor children Of
fathers who have declared their intention Of
becoming citizens but have failed To- perfect
their naturalization. 1t might be wise TO
provide for q central bureau for registry
wherein should be filed authenticated trans
crpts Of every record Of naturalization In
the several federal and State courts, and TO
make provisions also for the vacation or can
of such record In case where fraud
had been practiced upon the court by the
applicant himself, or where he had removed
or forfeited his acquired citizenship. A just
and uniform law in this respect would
strengthen the hands of the government in
its citizens abroad and would pave
the way for the conclusion Of treaties OF
with foreign countries"
FINANCIAL MATTERS.
"The condition Of our finances and the
operations of the various branches Of the
public service which are connected with the
treasury department are very fully discussed
Ia nf ha
that the ordinary revenues for the fiscal year,
ended June 80, 1884, were: From customs,
Sl95 067 ,4S9.76; from internal revenue,
Sl21, 5S8, 072.51; from all other sources, $31,r
s66, 3O7 65; total ordinary revenues, S34S,-
11e,50o.o2. The public expenditures during
the same period were: For civil expenses,
So, 3i2, 907.71; for foreign intercourse, ST.
go, 1852; for Indians, S6,475, 999.29; for
pensions, $55, 429, 22S. SO; for the military es-
including river and hsrbor i'm
provements and arsenals, $50, 429, 603.36; for
the naval establishment, including vessels,
and improvements at navy yards,
ST., 292 COL "A; for miscellaneous expendi-
lures including public buildings, light
houses and collecting the revenue, S43, $780,:
TO; for expenditures on account of the Dis
trict of Columbia, IS, 407 ,040.62; for interest
on the public debt, S54,57S, 37S.4S; for the
sinking fund, SAC, TOO, 229 so; total ordinary
expenditures, $500, GIG, ass. So; leaving sur
plus Of ST., COS, $4,000. As compared with
The previous fiscal year, there was q net de-
crease of over So, 100000 IN the amount Of
The aggregate receipts were
less than those of the year previous oy about
So, 100000. The falling off of revenue for
customs made up nearly S20,0OO,0 900 Of this
deficiency and about $50, 000, 900 of the re-
al Hna m hn II mi had nj
from internal taxation. The secretary esti-
mates the total receipts for the fiscal year
which will end June 30th, 1885, at $3.50, 000,-
boo, and the total expenditures at $500, $780,
l0l.l6, in which are included the interest on
The debt and the amount payable to the sink
Ing fund. This would leave a surplus for
he entire year of $50, 100000. The value Of
exports from the United States to foreign
during the year ending June Both,
1884, was as follow: Domestic meIchan-
disc, ST24 ,964, S52; foreign merchandise, $751;
54S,727; total merchandise, S740, 5l3 600;
specie, SCI, 1873, 1888; total exports Of merchan-
disc and specie, $s07, 646,902. The cotton
and cotton manufactures included In this
statement were valued at SOS, DOC, AIS; the
breadstuffs at S162, 544,7 15; the provisions at
sl14, 416 SAT aud hs-mineral oils at Sat-
l0S,74S. During the same period the inn
ports were as follows: Merchandise, S967,-
507, 1858; gold and silver, S37, 426, 1852; total,
sos, 123, 955. More than 83 per cent. of the
entire value of imported merchandise con-
sisted of the following articles: sugar and
molasses, $l03, S44, 274; wool and wooden
$o3, 542, 1902; silk and its
9,949, 12s; coffee, $49,6s6,-
IO5; iron, steel and manufactures thereof,
s41 ga, 500, chemicals, $3S, 1895; fax,
hemp, jute and like substance and manu-.
lectures thereof, $50, 463, 1903; cotton and
Of cotton, $50, 454, 476; hides
and skins, other than fur skins, 81, 350, 906."
AGAINST SILVER COINAGE.
concur with the Secretary ofthe Treasury in
the Immediate suspension Of
the coinage of silver and issue Of certificates.
This Is q matter to which, In former CON-
l have more than once invoked
The attention of the National Legislature.
1t appears that annually, for the past six
years, there has been coined In compliance
with the requirements Of the act of February
Is, 1878, mere than twenty seven million
silver dollars. The number now outstand-
ing is reported by the Secretary to be nearly
one hundred and eighty five million, whereof
but little more than forty million, or less
than % per cent, are In actual circulation.
The mere existence Of this fact seems 10 me
10 furnish of itself q cogent argument for the
repeal Of the statute which has made such
fact possible. But there are other and gravev
that tend In the same direc.
ton. The Secretary avows his conviction
that unless this coinage aud the issue Of sill