Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-01

limits
OF short session win allow OF FUN coasidera
tion trust that you will not fall TO make suitable
provision for the present needs OF the service.
II has been customary to define In the appropria-
ton acts the rank or each diplomatic oce 20 which
salary is attached l suggest that this course be
abandoned. and that 1t be left TO the President
with the advice and consent OF the Senate 20 fx
from time TO time the diplomatic grade OF the rep
resentatlres OF this Government abroad as may
seem advisable, provision being definitely made
however, as now, for the amount OF salary attached
TO the respective stations.
FINANCIAL
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 in the report OF the Secretary
II appears that the ordinary revenues for the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1884, were
fioAi CUStONs slH0,tSf, ,is9 90
From internal revenue. ............ lei 5s6 Ce2 "a
From all other sources. S.ss6,3U7 6s
Total ordinary revenues.. SaS,5ls.ses 80
The public expenditures during the same period
For civil expenses. SOC 3l2eO7 Il
For foreign intercourse. .-........... 1860 766 81
fof lHuiths- 6.ia5sg9 20
f0r pensions. h5 oos
For the military establishment. inciud-
ing river and harbor Improvements
and arsenais. ..........;..;... ss.42ssOs &c
vessels, machinery, and improve
ments at navy yards. .,.......... I7.2s2,sOI ~
For miscellaneous expenditures. in-
cudlnS public buildings, light
HOUSES, anu CoIIectltE the revenue. IS S39el0
Fer expenditures on account OF the
District OF Columbia a................. $40, ,Ose 6s
For interest on the public debt. .. 81 57S y7s ~
for tEe silAliS Iuho 46.19O 22e 80
Total ordinary expenditures. asO,si6.i:s s.
Leaving a surplus of........... $40 1886 os
AS compared with the preceding fiscal year there
was net decrease OF over SCI 10000 In the amount
oi expenditures Ihe aggregate receipts were less
than those OF the year previous by abouts4 100000
The falling off in revenue nom customs made up
nearly se0,ea0O Of this deficiency, and abous
S23.01OO00 or the remainder was due 10 the dimin-
isned receipts from internal taxation.
The Secretary estimates the total receipts for the
fiscal year which win end June 30, 1855, at
s33Oo00000, and the total expenditures at
S2slo2U.2Ol.l6, Ia which sum included the
Interest ON the debt and the amount payable TO the
sinking fund. This would leave surplus for the
entire year OF about S39.00O.0o0
The value OF exports from the United States TO
foreign countries during the year ending June 50,
1854. was as lolio"s;
Domestic merchandise. 1924 964 ss2
'oieish nlelcnahdSe. Se.--.----...-..-..... l5S4e'5'
Total merchandise. ise..........,...... 4O5i3eOe
Specie o1lSS'3S3
Total exports of merchandise ana
0p00ie e''''-''---' -.-..-.-. -soU,osdss'
The cotton and cotton manufactures included in
this statement We're valued at sos, S,9OO.4l5: tie
breadStuffS at Sl62. ,1l5: the provisions q
$ll44l6,54', and the mineral oils az 81. .lG32is
follows:
M MMerehahdlSe.. .$66. ,697 .6e3
Soio anu SilNeI..-.-- -.--..-....----.-... 31.426.2t2
Total L.......................... s7o51as,s55
More than 63 per cent OF the entire value OF i'm
ported merchandise consisted OF the following
articles:
Sugar and molasses. slo3 ss4 ga
Wool and wooden manufactures .. $3.50 2ss
SIX and its manufactures. 4s.s4sias
Coffee .... 40 6ssS 70s
Iron and steefand manufactures thereof 4i,4645ss
Flax, hemp, tute and like substances and
manufactures thereof. ............... SS 4s3 3Ss
Cotton aud manufactures OF cotton 49, SoA5A go
Hides and skins other than fur skins. 90 $50 800
concur with the Secretary Of the Treasury In
recommending the immediate suspension of the
coinage or silver dollars and or the Issuance OF sill
yer certificates This is matter;to which, In for
mer communications, have more than once In
yoked the attention OF the National legislature
Ii appears that annually Tor the past six years
there have been coined, IN compliance with the
requirements OF the act OF February 2S, 1873 more
than :wenty-seven million silver dollars The
number now outstanding is reported by the Secre-
tary TO be nearly one hundred and eighty-ive mil
lion, whereof but little more than forty million, or
less than % per cent, are In actual circulation
The mere existence OF this fact TO me 70 FUR
nlan OF luSe1 cogent argument for the repeal OF
the statute which has made such fact possible.
But there are other and graver considerations
that tend In the same direction
The Secretary avowS his conviction that unless
TINS coinage and the ISSUANCE OF silver certificates
become our sole metallic standard. The comfner-
cial disturbance and the impairment OF national
credit that would be thus occasioned can scarcely
be oyereStimated.
hope that the Secretarys suggestions respect
ing the withdrawal from circulation OF the one
dollar and tw0-dOllar notes Will receive your ap-
proval IL is likely that considerable portion OF
;he silver now encumbering the vaults OF the
Treasury might thus ind its way into the cur
rency.
While trade-dollars have ceased, for the present
at least, to be an element OF ctive disturbance IN
our currency system, some provision should be
In
view or the circumstances under which they were
coined and OF the fact that they have never had q
legal-Uender quality, there ShoulI be offered fof
them only slight advance over their bullion
value.
The Secretary, In the course OF his report. con-
siders the propriety OF beautifying the designs OF
our subsidiary silver coins and OF SO Increasing
their we ght that tLey may bear their due ratio OF
value 10 the standard dollar. dis conclusions In
this regard are cordially approved.
In my annual message OF 1882 recommended the
abolition OF ali excise taxes except nose relating
TO distilled spirits. This Recommendation is now
renewed. In case these taxes shall be abolished
the revenues that Will still remain TO tie Govern
ment Will, In my opinion, not only suffice TO meet
It's reasonable expenditures but viii afford sur
plus large enough 10 permit such tariff reduction
as may seem 10 be advisable, when the results CI
recent revenue laws and commercial treaties shall
have shown In what quarters those reductions can
be most judicously effected
COMMISSION RECOMMENDED TO DEVISE MEANS FOR
INCREASING OUR FOREIGN TRADE.
One OF the graveSt OF the problems which appeal
TO the wisdom OF Congress for solution is the ascer
tainment OF the most effective means for fncreas-
Ing our foreign trade ana thus relieving the depres
sion under which our industries are now lauguish-
Ing. The Secretary of the Treasury advises that
the duty OF investigating this subject be in
trusted In the first Instance 10 competent COM
mission. While rully recognizing the consioera-
tons that may be urged against this course am
nevertheless OF the opinion tnat, upon the whole
no other would be likely TO effect speedier better
results
That portion OF the Secretary's report which con-
Germs the condition OF our shipping interests can
cally recommends that an incentive 70 the in-
veStment OF American capital ia American steam
ships, the government shall by liberal payments
Tor mall transportation, or otherwise, lend It's
active assistance 10 individual enterprise, and
declares his belief that unless that course Dur
sued our foreign carrying trade must remain as II
is to-day, almost exclusively In the hands OF
eigners.
one phase OF this subject is now especially prom
lnent, In view or the repeal by the acJ OF June o.
1884, OF all statutory provisions arbitrarily COM
peIling American vessels 10 carry the mails to ana
from the United States As 1t is necessary TO make
provision TO compensate the owners OF such vessels
Tor performing that service after April 1885 IL is
hoped that the whole subject will receive eariy
consideration that viii lead 70 the enactment ol
such measures for the revival OF our merchant
marine as the wisdom OF Congress may devise.
FOR PREVENTION OF coNrRAc
TON OF CURRENCY.
The three per cent bonds OF the Government to
the amount OF more than $780, 600 have, since
my last annual message been redeemed by the
Treasury. The bonds or that issue still outstand-
ing amount 10 little over $500, 600 0o0 about one
fourth OF which Will be retired through the oper-
ations OF the sinking fund during the coming year
AS these bonds Stll constitute the chief basis for
the circulation a Ia