Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-05

such a treaty project can scarcely be oyereslmated.
IL is believed that when the treaty is laid before You
the Justice and beralty of it's provisions will COM
mand universal attention at home and abroad.
i,o ,,or,dian isteiv convened in washington upon
the invitation of the government OF the United states
was composed of representatives from % nations.
The conference concluded it's labors on the first of
November, having with substantial unanimitS agreed
upon the meridian Of Greenwich as the starting
point whence longitude is to be computed through
30 degrees eastward aud westward, aud upon adop-
ton for all purposes for which 1t may be found con-
venient of universal day which shall begin at mid
night the initial meridian, whose hours shall be
computed from zero mp totwenty-iour.
THE NATIONAL FINANCES.
Tho condition of our finances and tho 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 ap
pears that the ordinary revenues for the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1884, were:
From Gust oms.. NgJ ,OoI Aog 20
From internal revenue. ......,.+., III ibs6O12 20
From all other sources ........... Sl,66b,3OI 70
Total ordinary revenues ,........... ASols,S6s w
The public expenditures during the same period
were:
For civil expenses. ..., S223l2,OOI II
Foreign intercourse. ........,.. l26O,166 ~
Indians Observation-Disclosures. 6475.999 20
Pensions ...................... 55429 ,22s O6
The military establishment, including
river and harhor improvements and ~.
arsenals. hvfazS'uuo %
The naval establishments including YES
sells, machinery and Improvements .. -.
Miscellaneous expenditures, including
public buildings, lighthouses and ..
collecting the revenue. ......... 439js,IlO w
Expenditures on account Of the Dis - -
trict of Columbia .................. 34Ji,OAy o.
Interest the public debt ........ bN,bls SIS 4s
The sinking uud................,... 46IsO,21S oO
Total ordinary expenditures. 800 9l6,4S5 81
Leaving surplus of ...,........... 1908 1896 90
As compared With the previous year, there was a
net decrease of over q 100000 in the amount OF e1-
penditures. The aggregate receipts were less thah
those of the year previous by about S4 OOO Inc
falling off OF revenue from customs made up nearly
500 900 of this deficiency and about Oh
the remainder was due to the diminished receipts
from internal taxation. The secretary estimates the
total receipts for the fiscal year which will end June
3d. 1885, at $3.50 900 900, and the total expenditures
1890 go 201 6 in which is included the interest on
the debt and on the amount payable to the sinking
fund This would leave surplus for the entire year
The value Of exports from the United States to for
eign countries during the year ending June 80 1855
were as follows: Domestic merchandise STA 96A bol
foreign merchandise, Sl5,54s 1877 total merchandise,
S705l3, 500; specie, S61, l33SSs total exports OF
merchandise aud specie, 500, 646, e92. The cotton
and cotton manufactures included in this statement
were valued at S20s 300 413 the breadstuhs at t62
544 715 the provisions at l4 4l6, 545 and the miner
al oils at S44, lO2,24S.
lows: Merchandise, 1861, 40, $685. gold and silver
1877 426, 2G2; total S7O5 1855. More than 63 pei
cent. of the entire value of imported merchandise
consisted Of the following articles:
Sugar and molasses ............,..Sl0 3, 1874, 2iI
Wool and wooden manufactures. ......... b9542, 40
SILK and its manufactures. ASiS4S ~
Coffee ..,,,,................ 1885, 7O
Iron and steel manufactures thereof a, 464 Ss
Chemicals. S6,4oiso
manufactures thereof. 33,463 Sg
Cotton and manufactures of cotton. .. S0,i54,4I
Hides aud skins other than fur skins. 22,s5O'9o
THE E1GHrY-FIvE CENT DOLLAR.
concur with the secretary of the treasury in rec
ommending the immediate suspension of the coinag
of silver dollars and of the issuance Of silver Ger TIN
Gates. This is matter to which in former communl
cations have more than once invoked the attention
of the national legislature. 1t appears that annual
for the past six years there have been coined in com
pliance with the Act of February 2s 1873, more thai
~, 600, 900 silver dollars. The number now outstand
ing is reported by the secretary to be nearly
OO0 whereof but little more than s4000000O or les
than % per cent. in actual circulation. The mer
existence of this fact seems to me to furnish OF IL
self an argument for the repeal OF the statute whlc
has made such fact possible. But there are othe
considerations that tend in the same direction. I'll
secretary avoys that unless this coinage and the ssu
ance of silver certificates be suspended silver is like
ly, at no distant day, to become our sole metall
standard. The commercial disturbance and the i'm
pairment of national credit that would be thus coca
stoned can scarcely be overestimated.
hope that the secretarys suggestions respecting
the withdrawal from circulation of the one dollar an
two dollar notes will receive your approval IL
likely that considerable portion of the silver nov
iIcumbering the vaults of the treasury might mud it
way into the currency.
While trade dollars have ceased for the prese Mt,
least to be element Of active disturbance in gu
currency system, some provision should be made TO
/ their surrender TO the government. IN view OF III
| circumstances under which they were coined and q
the fact that they have never had legal tender qua
ity there should be offered for them only slight ad
! vance over their bullion value.
The secretary in the Of his report consider
the proprety of Identifying the designs of our sui
sdiary silver coins and Of so increasing their weigh
| that they may bear their due ratio OF value to tn
standard dollar. His conclusions in this regard ar
cordially approved.
| IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING ES
CIsE TAXES.
In my annual message OF 1882 recommended th
abolition of all excise taxes except those relating
/ distilled spirits. This recommendation is now n
newed In case these taxes shall be abolished tn
/ revenues that will still remain to the governmeI
/ will, in my opinion, not only suffice to meet its rea
sonabe expenditures, but will afford surplus larg
enough to permit such tariff reduction 81 may seer
| to be advisable, when the results Of recent fevenu
/ laws and commercial treaties shall have shown /
what quarters these reductions can be most judiciUu
! ly effected.
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
That portion of the secretary's report which cor
Germs the condition Of our shipping interests cannc
| fail to command your attention. He emphaticall
recommends that incentive to the inyestmeI
of American capital 10 American steamships the go'
eminent shall by liberal payments for mail transpo
tation otherwise lend its active assistance to ind
Ydual enterprise, and declares his belief that unlei
that course be pursued our carrying trade must r.
main II is to-day-almost exclusively in the hand
| of foreigners One phase Of this ubject is now esp
cially prominent in view Of the repeal by the act
June &C. 1884, of all statutory provisions srbitr9r
compelling American vessels to carry the malls
and from the United States As II is necessa ry
make provision to compensate the owners Of sue
vessels Tor performing that service after April 1888
it is hoped that the whole subject will receive ear
consideration that will lead to the enactment OF sue
measures for the revival Of our merchant marine
! the wisdom Of Congress may devise.
THE CURRENCY QUESTION.
The three per cent bonds of the government
the amount OF more than 800, O00 900 have since IN
last annual message been redeemed by the treasur
The bonds Of that issue still outstanding amount to
tIa hon urfh M VIII
will be retired through the operations OF the sinkiT
! fund during the coming year. As these bonds Ell
constitute the chief basis for the circulation Of Il
national banks, the question how to avert the CO..
/ traction Of the currency caused by their retireme
is Of constantly increasing Importance. 1t seen
to be generally conceded that the law governing ID
matter eXacts from the banks excessive security al
that upon their present bond deposits larger Giro
laton than is now allowed may be granted with SAT
ty. l hope that the bill which passed the Senate
the last session permitting the issue of notes equal
the face value Of deposited bonds, will commend
self to the approval Of the House OF Representative
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
In the expenses Of the war department the secret
ny reports decrease Of more than 100000; of th
reduction IS 600 900 was effected in the eIpendtur
for rivers and harbors aud 49, TOO 900 in the eIpenC
lures for the quartermaster's department. Outsi
of that department the annual expenses of all 4
army bureaus proper Except possibly the ordnan
bureau) are substantially fixed charges, which cam
be materially diminished without change in the n
merical strength of the army. The expenditures
the quartermasters department can readily be su
lected TO Administrative ulhcretOni and II II report
by the secretary Of war that as result of eIercis
such discretion IN reducing the number of draug
and pack animals in the army the annual cost Of su
ply aud carrying for such animals is now 81 l0s0e5
less than it was In 1882. The reports of militia
commanders show that the last year has been notal
for its entire freedom from Indian outbreaks.
In defiance Of the Presidents proclamation of Ju
1884, certain intruders sought to make setlemeL
in the Indian Territory. They promptly
moved by detachment Of troops.
HARBoR DEFEEcEs,
The secretary of war submits the report of I
chief engineers as to the practicabty Of protecti
our important cities on the seaboard by fortihcatio
and other deiences able TO repel modern methods
attack. The time has now come when such defenc
can be prepared with confidence that they will n
prove abortive and when the possible result Of del
IN making such preparation is seriously consider
delay seems ineXcusAble. For the most importa
cities, those whose destruction capture would be
national humiliation adequate defences, inclusive
I guns, may be made by the gradual expenditure
100000, a sum much less than victorious ensu
could levy as a contribution. An appropriation
about one-tenth Of that amount Is asked to begin 1
work, and concur with tue secretary of war in Ut
ing that 1t be granted. The war department is pl
ceeding with the conversion of lO'inch smooth -bo
guns Into sinch rides by laying the former wi
tubes Of forged of coiled wrought iron. FIJI
guns will be thus converted within the year. TIL