The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-02

OF yne fact that they have never had legal
tender quality, there should be offered for
them only slight advance over their bullion
value The secretary, in the course of his
report, considers the propriety of beautify
ing the designs of our subsidiary silver coins,
and of so increasing their weight that they
may bear their due ratio of value of the
standard dollar. His conclusions in this re-
gard are cordially approved
INTERNAL REVENUE TAXES.
In my annual message of 1889, l recon-
mended the addition Of all excise taxes ex-
cept those relating to distilled sririts. This
recommendation is now renewed In case
these taxes shall be abolished, the revenues
that will still remain to the government
will in my opinion, not only suffice TO meet
its reasonable expenditures but will afford
surplus large enough to permit such tariff
reduction as may seem advisable when the
result, OF recent revenue laws and CONNER
cial treaties shall have shown in what quar-
ters those reductions can be most judiciously
Effected
OUR FOREIGN TRADE.
Oie OF the gravest Of the problems which
appeal 10 the wisdom of congress for solu
hon Is the ascertammGnt Of the most effect
i've means of increasing our foreign trade,
and thus relieving the depression under
The secretary Of tie treasury advises that
the duty Of Investigating this subiecs be
intru tel IN the first instance to conn cent
commission. " hila fully recognizing tho
con liielation5 tha5 lHay be urged against
this cUur e, | am nevertheless OF the opinion
that, upon the whole, no other would be
likely to effect spaolior OF better results
SHIPPING INTERESTS.
That portion OF the secretary's report
| Ia.
ping interests cannot fail to command your
attention. He emphatcally recommends
that as an incentive 10 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 belof that unless that
course Ike pursued our foreiga carrying
| trade must remain as it is-almost exclusively
| i'll the hanlS OF foreigners One phase
| of this subject is now espcc ally prominent,
in view of the repeal by the act of June 26
| 1854, OF all statutory provisions arbitrarily
| compelling .Amafican vessels to carry the
mails to and from the United States. AS it
| is necessary to make provision to compen-
| safe the owners of such vessels for perform
! ing that service after Arril, 1885, it is hoped
| that the whole subject will lead to the enact
| ment of such mea ,Gges for the revival of onT
|
| may devise.
THE NATIONAL BANKS.
The 8 per cent. bonds of the government,
| to the amount Of more than Sl10, 900, 900,
| have since my last annual mes age, been re-
deemed by the treasury. The bombs OF that
issue still outstanding amount to little over
500, OOO,O00, about one fourth Of which will
| bcsretlred through the operations of the sink
ing fund during the coming year. As the
| bonds still continue the chief basis for The
circulation oG the national banks, the ques
| ton how to avert tine contraction OF the cur
roncy caused by their retirement is one OF
| constantly increasing Importance.
1t seems to be generally conceded that the
law governing this matter exncts from thu
banks excessive security, and that up,r
their present bond deposits a larger circula
| ton than is now allowed may be granted
with safety. l hope that The bill which
passed the senate at the last session permit
ting the issue of notes equal to the face
value of deposited bonds will commend it
self to the approval of the house of repre-
sentativeS.
WAR DEPARTMENT EXPENSES.
In the expenses of the war department the
secretary reports Il decrease of more thai
$4,000 900, of which reduction S., 600 90
was effected in the expenditures for river
and harbOrS, AMI 81 700, 900 in the eXpendi
lures for the CrGrtelmastar's department
Outside of that department the annual 6x
peIses Of all the army bureaus proper lex
cept possibly the ordinance bareaul ar
substantially fixed charges which canno
be materially diminished without chang
in the numerical strength Of tae army
The expenditures in the quarter master
department can readily be subjecte
, | to administrative discretion, and
is reported by the secretary of war that as
result Of exercising such discretion in reiuc
ing the number of draught and pack animal
, in the army, the annual cost of supplying
and caring for such animals is now 81, los,
I, 0S5. 81 less than it was in lSS2.
THE INDIANS.
The reports of military commanders ShoN
"a that the last year has been notable for il
= entire freedom from Indian outbreaks.
: defiance of the presidents proclamation q
July /, 1854, certain intrulerS sought Il
, make setllem IFS IN the Indian territory
Tha were pro mntiy rcmov, 10y detacl
inert q troops, Daring the pat session {
: congress, a bill to provide suitable fire-prot
Q building for
@ THE ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM
and the library of the surgeon generals Off
received the approval of the senate. a sir
&c liar Till, reported favOrably to the house
III -" 70 ~ ~. 49, - ~ 49, ~,
stii lr'h.liH p'loio t''.'' roSty 1t Is MOI
s.' ii't 'i t,'f. "Ia' ,r,[i
4 a ''d,, W H.
lit'j ~ 10 I'm o1,,nTIn =,
now in IA state of insecurity
0 INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The funds with which the works for Il
< Improvement of rivers and harbors We
. | prosecuted during the past year were d
u rived from the appropriations of the act
, Aug. 2, 1882, together with such few ba
% ances as were on hand from previous Apr
= lriations. Tho balance in tho treasury su
y Jet TO ruguisition July |, 1855, was $1,000
Il G4955 The amount appropriated during q
- fiscal ycvr 1854 was s., 1919, 634, 627, and tt
70 amount drawn from the treasury during Il
II fiscal year was s. Us, T03 81, leaving a bi
y ance OF - IL, oo0.65 IN the treasury sub]e
= u ~, req"l9lIioll JulS |, 1871,
= M 9if f "n wa "a, INV ,no
W 49,. g.
:, u o''A ''''i' OiU'e' VII ''Ae %
; "'''u ~
!. FORTlFiCATIONS AND OTHER DEIENSES
able to repel modern methods of attack. 7
is time has now come whefi such defenSeS CT
be prepared with confidence that they W
r" MOI prove abortive, and when the possit
- | ,o-rti+ of Ialov in Su1h /,