Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-12-11

v euda &HmR
The wages OF labor are nowhere Hiss
SO great. TIL scale of living of our artissn
classes is such as tends to secure their per-
sonai comfort, and the DEVELOPMENTS ~
those higher moral and intellectual ouaIit,es
that go to the making Of good citizens. our
system of tax and tariff legislation is Welding
a revenue which is in excess OF the presene
needs ofthe Government. These are ,.lenents
from which it is sought to devise q scheme bs
which, without unfayorabIy changing the
condition of the working men, our merchant
marine shall be raised from its en-.
Ie se69led condition, n new markets
borders of the manifold fruits of Industrial
enterprises. The problem is COMPLEX
anu can be solved by no single measure OF
innovation or reform. The countries of the
american continent and the adjacent islands
are, Tor the United States, the natural mar
het OF supply and demand II is from them
snat we should obtain what We do not pro-
once, or do not produce in sufficieney. and It
Is TO them that the surplus productions OF
shouId now under conditions that Will QUAIL
eign competition.
Four paths of policy seem to point To this
emo. first. a series of reciprocal commercial
treaties with the countries of America. which
small foster between us and them an un-
nafnpered movement of trade. The condi.
tons of these treaties should be the free al
mission or such merchandise as the country
aoes not produce. in return for admission
free or under Il favored scheme of duties ~
our own products, the benefits Of such ex-
change to apply on these goods carried under
tue Iag OF the parties. TO the contract. The
privileged of all tonnage dues and national
inposss, SO that their vessels
ports and those OF the other eontSaea1ny our our
ties, though without infringing GA the re-
served home coasting trade; the removal or
reduction of burdens on the exported nro.
ducts OF those countries coming within the
benefits of the treaties land the ayoidance Of
the technlcai. restrictions and penalties by
at present hampered. Secondly, the estab-
lisnment of the consular service of the
United states on a salaried footing. permit
ting the relinquishrnent of consular fees. not
only as respects vessels under the National
nag, but also as respects vessels of the treaty
nations carrying goods entitled to the
enactment of measures to favor the
construction and maintenance of a steam
carrying marine under the flag of the United
states Fourthly, the establishments of an
uniform currency basis for the countries of
America, so that the coined products of our
mines may circulate unequal terms through
OUT the Wlote system of commonwealth
ms would require a monetary union of
america, whereby the output of TIL. bullion
p hoea countries and the circulation of
tnose winch prodnce neither gold Ilof silver
could be adjusted in conformity with the
population, wealth and commercial needs of
eaeti. As many of the countries furnish no
puiilon to the ommon stock, the
surplus production of our own mines
ana minis might thus be utilized,
ana a step taken toward the general re,
monetlZation OF silver. To the acs.ompiisb-
ment OF these ends, SO far as they can he oh
aantea py separate treaties, the Negotiations
already concluded and now in progress.
nave been directed, and the favor viii
winch THIS enlarged policy has thus FAR been
received, warrants the belief that its opera-
tons will, ere long, embrace all or nearly ali
the countries of this hemisphere. It is BIZ M
means desirable, however. that the policy
unde consideration should be anpiied
to these countries alone. The heaithfui
Enlargement OF our trade with Europe,
by reducing the tariff burdens on such Of
their wares as neither we nor the other
American states are htted to produce ana
thus enabling ourselvessto obtain N return 4
better market for our supplies of food. az
raw material and of the manufactures in
which We excel. 1t seems to me that many
of the embarrassing elements In the great
National conflict between protection and free
trade may thus be turned to good account.
that the revenue may be reduced SO as no
longer to over-tax the people, that protective
duties may be retained without becoming
burdensoIne, that our shipping interests may
be iudiciously encouraged, and the currency
liked on q firm basis, and above al such an
unity of interests established among the
States of the American system as will be OF
great and ever increasing advantage to them
all All treaties in the line of this policy
which have been negotiated or are In process
of negotiation contain a provision deemed
to be requisite under the clause OF. the Con-
stitution limiting to the House of Represen-
tatives the authority to originate bills for
raising revenue.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
On the sath of February last. I trans
port of the Civil Service Commission, to-
gether with communication from the
heads of the several Executive Depart
ments of the Government respecting
the practical workings of the law under
which the Commission had been acting.
The good results therein foreshadowed
have been more than realized. The sys-
TEN has fully answered the expectations OF
its friends in securing competent and
tecting the appointing officers of the
Government from the pressure of per.
sonal importantly and from the labor OF
examining the claims and pretensions of
rival candidates for public employment. The
law has had the unqualified support of the
President and of the heads of the several de-
partments, and the members of the Commits
sion have performed their duties with zeal
and fidelity. Their report will shortly be
submitted, and viii be ed by such
recommendations for enlarging the scope of
the existing statute as shall commend them
selves to the Executive and the Commission
ers charged with Its administration.
NATIONAL LAW.
In view of the general and persistent de-
mand throughout the COMMERCIAL COM
munity for a National bankrupt law, / hope
that the differences of sentiment which have
hitherto prevented its enactment may not
outlast the present session
CHOLERA PRECAUTIONS.
The pestilence which, for the pasttwo years.
has been raging In 1.-the countries of the East,
1 recently maub It's apptaIdnCt III EuIupchii
ports with which we are in constant
Communication. The then Secretary OF
the Treasury, in pursuance of a pro-
ciamation of the President. issued certain
regulations restricting and for q time pro-
hibiting the importation of rags and the ad-
mission of the baggage of immigrants and
of travellers arriving from infected quarters.
Lest this course may have teen without
strict warrant of law, L approve the recon-
mendation of the present secretary that
Congress take action in the premises, and
| also recommend the immediate adoption OF
such measures as will be likely to ward of
the dreaded epidemic and to mitigate Its Sc
verify in case 1t shall unhappily extend TO
our shores.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The annual report of the Commissioner OF
the District of Columbia reviews the opera
tions of the several departments OF It's
,nrDicinaI government. i ask your careful
consideration of it's suggestions in respect to
legislation, especially commenting such as
relate TO n revision of the civil and criminai
code. the performance Of labor by persons
sentenced to Imprisonment ir. the JAN, the
| construction and occupation OF whhryes
along the river front, and the erection OF u
suitable building for district offices.
ApESsIoN FOR GRANT.
I recommend that in recognition OF the
eminent services of Ulysses 5. Grant, late
General of the armies of the United states,
and twice President of this Nation, thaf Con,
gress confer upon him a suitable pension.
am certain of the measures that seem TO me
necessary and expedient i have now N
obedience to the Constitution reeomfnendeo
Aa M nflRra 0f no