Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-12-11
FOREIGN TRADE.

II IDS
One of the gravest of the problems which
appeal to the wisdom of Congress fer solu-
ton Is the entertainment of the most effee-
tive means of increasing our foreign trade,
and thus relieving the depression under
which our Industries are now lang1ishing.
The Secretary of the Treasury advises that
the duty of investigating this subject be in
trusted in the first Instance to q competent
commission. While fully recognizing the
considerations that may be urged against
this course, i am nevertheless of the opinion
that upon the whole no other would tie likely
TO effect speedier or better results.
SHIPPING INTERESTS.
That portion of the Secretary's report
which concerns the condition of orr ship
ping interests can not fail to command your
attention. He emphaticalIy recommends
that as an incentive to the investment OF
American capital in American steamships,
the Government shall, by liberal payments
for mail transportation or otherwise, lend its
active assistance to individual enterprise,
and declares his belief that unless that course.
be pursued orr foreign carrying ira lie must
remain as Ii is to-day, almost exclusively in
the hands of foreigners. One phase of this
subject is now especially prominent, in view
of the repeal, by the act OF June 20, 1854, of
all the statutory provisions arbitrarily COM
pelling American vessels to carry the mails
to and from the United States. As Ii is nee
essary to make provision to compen safe the
owners of such vessels for performing that
service after April, 1855, it is hoped that the
whole subject will receive early conSidera-
ton that will lead to the enactment of such
measures for the revival of our merchant
marine Us the Wl5lDtl oi SOigrtS5 EBAY UC-
wise.
CIRCULATION OF NATIONAL BANKS.
The three per cent. bombs of the Govern
ment to the amount of mere than 500, 900, 600
have, since my last annual message, been re-
deemed by the Treasury. The bonds OF that
issue still outstanding amount to little over
$500 900, 900. about one-fouIth of which will be
retired through the operations ofthe sinking
fund during the coming. year. As these
bonds still continue the chief basis for the
circulation of the National Banks, tle ques-
ton how to avert the contraction of the cur
rency caused by their retirement is, one of
constantly increasing Importance.
1t seems to be generally conceded that the
law governing this matter eXacts from the
banks excessive security and that upon their
present bond deposits Il larger circulation
than is now allowed may he granted with
safety. hope that the bill which passed the
Senate at the last session, permitting the
issue OF notes equal to the face value of de-
posted bonds, will commend itself to the
approval of the House of Representatives,.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
II the expense of the War Department the
Secretary reports Il decrease of more than
5000 600, of which reduction s. $50, 900 was ef-
fectcd in the expenditures for rivers and har-
bors and : , ,TO0,000 in expenditures for the
puartermaster's Department. Outside of
that department the annual EXPENSES of all
the army bureaus prope- Except possibly
the ordndce bureau, are substantially
charges which can not be materially dimin-
fshed without change in the numerical
strength of the army. The expenditures in
the Quarternaster's Department. can readily
be subjected to administrative discretion,
and il is reported by the secretary of War
that as Il result OF exercising such discretion
in reducing the number OF dTaught animals
in the army the annual cost of supplying and
caring for such animals is now 81 l0e ,0Sj.y0
less than it was in lSS2.
The reports of the military commanders
show that the last year has been notable for
its entire freedom from 1adian outbreaks.
THE INDIAN TERRITORY RAIDERS.
In defiance of the Presidents proclamation
| of ,JulN 1. 1884. certain lntTluprS sought To
make settlements in the Indian Territory.
They were promptly removed by Il detach.
ment of troops. During the past session OF
Congress a bill to provide a suitable tire
proof building for the Army Medical Museum
and the library of the Generals
office received the approval of the Senate. 4
similar bill reported favorahly to the House
of Representatives by one of its committees
is still pending before that body. 1t is hoped
that during the coming session the measure
may become a law, and immediate steps may
be taken to secure "A place of safe deposit fol
insecurity. The funds witt which the
works for the Improvement of rivers and
harborS were prosecuted during the past year
were derived from the appropriations OF the
such few balances as were on hand
from previous appropriations. The bal
ance in the Treasury subject to requisitior
July /, 1885, was Sle,02I, 649.5 the amount
appropriated during the fiscal year 1884 wa.
81 .3la,634,6 21, and the amount drawn from the
Treasury during the fiscal year was SIS,
1d3.54, leaving a balance of s., l12 ,5So.63 in tn,
Treasury subject to requisition July list, 1854
CITIES.
The Secretary of War Subm Is the repor
of the Chief of Engineers as to the p%ractica
bility of protecting our important cities OF
the seaboards by fortifications aud othe
uefenSes able to repei modern methods o
attack. The time has now come when ,sucl
defenses can be prepared with confidenc'
that they will not prove abortive, and whel
the possible result OF delay in max ing sucl
preparation is seriously considered, della,
seems ~ineXcusable. For the most important
cities, those whose destruction or captur
would be a National humiliation, adequate
defenSeS, inclusive of guns, may be made BY
the gradual expenditure OF st, u00,0 D0, a sun
much less than Il victorious enemy coult
levy as 4 contribution. An appropriation o
about one-tenth of that amount Is asked II
begin the work, and l concur vito the Secre
tary of War in urging that it be granted.
GUNS.
The War Department is proceeding will
the conversion of ten-inch snnooth-bore gun
into eight-inch rifles by lining the forme
with tubes of forged or OF coiled rough
iron. Fifty guns will be thus converted dur
ing the year. This, however, does not obvi
ate the necessity of providing means for til
construction of guns of the highest power
both for the purpose of coast defense and TO
the armament OF war vessels. The report o
the Gun Foundry Board, appointed April I'd
1888, in pursuance OF the act of March 9th
1SS3, was transmitted to Congress in aspecia
message of February Sth, 1884. In my messag,
of March 18th, 1884, l called attention to tn
recommendation of the board that the Gov
eminent should encourage the production O
private steel works of the required materia
for heavy cannon, and that two Government
factories, one for the Army and one for til
Navy, should be established Tor the fabrica
ton OF guns from such material. No action
having been taken, the Board was subse
quentiy reconvened to then determine NOR
fully the plans and estimates .necessar,
for carrying out its recommendations
1t has received information which indicate
that there are responsible steel manufacture
ers in this country who, although not pro
yided ut present with the necessary plant
are willing to construct the same and t
make bids for contracts with the Govern
ment for the supply of the requisite materia
for the heaviest guns adapted to moderl
warfare, il "a guaranteed order of sufficien
magnitude, accompanied by Il positive APP
preparation extending over Il series of years
shall be made by Congress. All doubts as t
the feasibility of the plan being thus re
moved, l renew my recommendation, tina
such action be taken by Congress as will en-
t able the Government TO construct its owl
ordnance upon its own territory, and so {
provide the armaments demanded by con
, siderations oil national safety and honor.
THE NAVY.
q The report of the Secretary of the Navy ey
t hibits the progress which has Dten made o
2 the new STeel cruisers authorized by the act
5 of August 5th, lSs1, and March 81, lSS3. Of til
4 four vessels under contract one, the Chicago
e of 1900 tons, is more than half finished; til
Atlanta. 5000 tons, has been successful
f launched, and her machinery il now lifting
: the Boston, also of 5000 tons, is ready 10
launching, and the Dolphin, a diSpatc