South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-12-05
CONGRESS.


eighth Congress began at noon on
Monday last with quorum in both
HOSES. The only busi.iess transacted
was the reading OF the President
message and the announcement Of the
deaths OF Senator Anthony aud Re.
representatives. Duncan and Evins.
We copy the following synopsis of
the Presidents message from the Bal
timore Sun:
The President in the message re-
views with his usual painstaking care
the public incidents. both of domes-
tic and foreign character, that have
marked the history OF the past year,
and upon questions of rolicy affecting
the industries. the commerce, the H.
nances, the taxation, the foreign rela-
tons aud deienses of the country :,
makes number of important sugges-
tons that will doubtless receive from
the national Legislature all the consid-
Grafton they deserve. In the outset
he alludes to the recent presidential
election, and congratulates the cour-
try upon the fact that, despite the fer
vor and Intensity OF The contest and
"the slight preponderance by which
the Issue was determined" the public
peace suffered no disturbance. In
this he sees signal demonstration of
"tGe strength ,nd wisdom CT our pu-
litical institutions" yet in view Of the
controversy over the national election
eight years ago, and the evident risk
OF dispute over the recent contest by
reason OF the narrowness OF the mar
gin ty which it was decided, he again
calls tie attention OF Congress to the
necessity of providing more precise
aud definite regulations for counting
the electoral vote. Our foreign rela-
tons continue to be wholly amicable.
With Nicaragua Il treaty has been
concluded by which the United States
secures certain advantages for the
construction of an interoceanic canal,
a railway and telegraph line rough
the territory of that republic With
Spain has been negotiated recipro-
city treaty, the result Of which would,
1t Is thought, be "to make the inter
course between Cuba and Porto Rico
and ourselves sea- cely lees intimate
than the commerce; al movement be-
tween our domestic port" The trea.
~ OF n similar character with Mexico
has been ratified, and but awaits the
necessary tariff legislation OF Congress
to become effective. The treaties
are the expression OF settled policy
on the part OF the government 10 cul-
tlvate, through reciprocal concessions,
intimate trade relations with all the
countries Of this hemisphere, and the
mission OF tie Central and South A.
merican commission which is about to
proceed to Mexico Is 10 prepare the
way for general enlargement of our
commercial intercourse with Ameri
can States" The neutrality laws Of
the United States, it is recommended,
should be enlarged Ito cover all pat-
cnt acts of hostility committed in our
territory and aimed against the peace
of q friendly nation" The President
sees 10 reason Why covert prepara-
ton in this country for the commits
sion OF criminal acts should not be
punishable, WIZ Their such acts are in
tended to be committed here or a.
broad Some modification of our
naturalization laws is also required
The recommendation of The Secreta.
ry OF the Treasury, whose views, rs is
generally known, are somewhat IN adj
vance OF those OF his party, are con
CURED in with some explicitness. Tho
coinage Of silver dollars and the issu.
ance OF silver certificates should be
Immediately suspended, experience
having shown it to be impossible &c
get the former into circulation. Will,
the growing abundance OF the Latte
threatens to drive gold out of circu
latlon. thus etfectlng serious contrac
ton of the currency and creating til,
conditions OF financial panic. ~ n
less this coinage and the issuance O
silver certificates be suspended, silvc
Is likely at no distant day TO becom,
our sole metallic standard" To speet
the retirement of the trade dollar it i
suggested that "a slight advance Owe
their bullion value" might be ofiere,
for them. The Identification of on
subsidiary silver coin and an in creas
OF their weight is thought to be adyi
sable. The recommendation that al
internal revenue taxes except thos
on distilled spirits be abolished is re
Moved The revenue thus lost will
cut down the present sG.l Ius, but still
leave margin "large enough to per
nit such tariff red ucton as NAV cen
TO be advisable when the results q
recent revenue laws and commercial
treaties shall have ,hown in vha
quarters those reductions can be mos
jadiciously effected"
The secretary Of the Treusur, : advic
that commission be created 30 s,u I,
YF 10 IL