The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-10
SHIPPING INTERESTS.

! SHIPPING INTERESTS.
That portion of the Secrettry's report
| which concerns the condition of our ship
ping interests can not fail to command your
/ attention. He emphatiGaily recommends
| that as an incentive to the inSestuGnt of
| American capital in American steamships.
the Government shall by liberal payments
| for mall transportation or otherwise lend
| its active assistance to ipdividul enterprise
and declares his belief that unless that
course be pursued our foreign carrying trade
must remain as it is-almost exclusively in
! the hands of foreigners One phase of this
subject is nog especially prominent, in
view of the repeal by the act of June &c
| 1884, of all salutary provisions arbitrarily
compelling American vessels to carry the
mails to and from the United States. AS it
| IS necessary TO make provision TO eempen-
! safe the owners of such vessels for perform
ing that service after April, 1885 it is hoped
that the whole subject Will receive early
consideration that will lead to the enact
ment OF such measures for the revival of
our merchant marine as the wisdom of
Congress may devise.
THE NATIONAL BANKS.
Tire per cent. bonds of the Govern
ment, to the amount of more than
Sl00, 000, 900 have, since my last annual
message, been redeemed by the Treas
ury. The bonds of that issue still out
standing amount to little over $500, 600,
600, about one-fourth of which will be
retired through the operations of the
sinking fund during the coming year.
AS the bonds still continue the chief
basis for the circulation of the national
banks, the question how to avert the
contraction of the currency caused by
their retirement Is one OF constantly
increasing Importance.
1t seems to be generally conceded
that the law governing this matter ex-
Of
and that upon their present bond-de-
posts larger circulation than is now
allowed may be granted with safety.
l hope that the bill which passed the
Senate at the last session permitting
the issue of notes equal to the face
value of deposited bonds will commend
itself to the approval of the House OF
representative.
WAR DEPARTMENT EXPENSES.
In the expens of the War Depart
ment the Secretary reports a decrease
Of more than S9,000,0 900, of which re-
auction IS, Cox, 900 was effected in the
expenditures for rivers and harbors,
and s., 200 600 in the expenditures for
the Quartermaster's Department.. Out
side OF that department the annual ex-
penses of all the Army Bureaus proper
Except possibly the Ordnance Bureau1
cannot be materially diminished with
out change in the numerical strength
Of the army. The expenditures in the
Quartermasterss Department can
readily be subjected to administrative
discretion, and it is reported by the
Secretary of War that as result of
exercising such discretion in reducing
the number of draught and pack ami
mails in the army. the annual cost of
supplying and caring for such animals
is now 81 Jos, 0S5.90 less than it was in
lSS2.
THE INDIANS.
The reports of military commanders
show that the last year has been made
notable for its entire freedom from
Indian outbreaks. In defiance of the
Presidents proclamation of July /.
1884, certain intruders sought to make |
settlements in the Indian Territory.
They were promptly removed by q de- |
tachment Of troops. During the past
session CT Congress = bill to provide 1
suitable fir1- proof buildlng for
THE ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM
and the library Of the Surgeon Gene |
rails 0(ic6 received the approval Of the /
Senate \ similar bill rsnarted favor