The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-12-04

wonld be thus occasioned can scarcely be
over-estimated- i hope that the Secrctary's
suggestions respecting the withdrawal from
circulation of the 81 and 81 notes will receive
your approval. 10 IL likely that considerable
vaults of the Treasury might thus find It's way
into the currency While trade dollars have
ceased, for the present at least, TO be an ele-
ment OF active disturbance In our curren-
cy system, some provision should be
made for their surrender TO the Gov
eminent. In view of the circum-
stances under which they were coined, and OF
the fact that they have never had legal tender
quality, there should be offered for them only u
slight advance over their bullion value. The
Secretary in the course OF his report, considers
the proprnty of identifying the designs OF our
subsidiary silver coins. and OF so increasing
their weight that they may bear their due ratio
OF value to the standard dollar. His conclusions
In this regard are cordially approved.
INTERNAL REVENUE TAXES.
In my annual message of 1882 recommended
the abolition OF All excise taxes except those
relating TO distilled spirits. This recommended
ton 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 q surplus large enough to permit
such tariff reduction IA may seem TO be advis-
able when the results OF recent revenue laws
and commercial treaties shall have shown in
what quarters these reductions can be most
Judiclously effected.
One Of the gravest of the problems which
appeal TO the wisdom of Congress for solution
is the ascertainment of the most effective means
OF increasing our foreign trade, and thus re-
lieving the depression under which our ind g.
tries are now ianguishing The Secretary of
the Treasury advises that the duty OF inves-
tigating this subject be intrusted in
While fully recognizing the considerations that
may be urged against this course, | am never
theless OF the opinion that, upon the whole, no
other would be likely to affect speeder or better
results.
SHIPPING INTERESTS.
That portion OF the Secretarys report which
concerns the condition OF our shipping interests
cannot fail To command your attention. He
emphatically recommends that as an incentive
to the investment OF American capital in Ameri-
can steamships, the Government shall, by lib
eral payments for mail transportation or other
WISE lend its active assistance TO individual en-
terprise, and declares his belief that unless
that course be pursued our foreign carrying
trade must remain as 1t fs-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, 1884,
of all salutary provisions arbitrarily compelling
American vessels to carry the mails to and from
the United States. AS 1t Is necessary TO make
provision to compensate the owners of such ve.-
sells for performing that service after April, 1895.
il is hoped that the whole subject will receive
early consideration that will lead to the enact
ment of such measures for the revival of our
merchant marine as the wisdom OF Congress
may devise
THE NATIONAL BANKS.
The per cent bonds OF the Government, to
the amount OF more than 0O,0OO,00o, have,
since my last annual message, been redeemed
by the Treasury. The bonds OF that issue still
outstanding amount to little more than $780,
100000, about one-fourth OF which will be re-
tired through the operations of the sinking fund
during the coming year. As the bonds still
continue the chief basis for the circulation Of
the national banks, the question how to avert
the contraction of the currency caused by their
retirement is one of constantly increasing i'm
portance.
IL seems to be generally conceded that the
law governing this matter exacts from the banks
excessive security, and that upon their present
bond deposits larger circulation Than is now
allowed may be granted with safety. i hope
that the bill which passed the Senate at the last
session permitting the issue OF notes equal TO
the face value of deposited bonds will commend
itself to the approval of the House of Repre-
sentatives.
WAR DEPARTMENT EXPENSES.
In the expenses of the War Department the
Secretary reports a decrease of more than 81
600 000 of which reduction So 900 was effected
in the expenditures Tor rivers and harbors, and
s2700, 900 in the expenditures for the Quarter
masters Department. Outside of that depart
ment the annual expenses OF all the Army
Bureaus proper Except possibly the Ordnance
Bureau are substantially fixed charges which
can not be materially diminished without
change in the numerical strength OF the army.
The expenditures in the Quartermaster's de-
partment can readily be submitted to admins
tratve discretion, and is reported by the Secre
tary OF War that as a result OF exercising such
o
and pack animals in the army, the annual cost
OF supplying and caring for such animals is now
81, Jos, OS59o less than it was in 1882.
THE INDIANS.
The reports of military commanders show
that the last year has been notable for its
entire freedom from Indian outbreaks. In
defiance of the Presidents proclamation of
July l, 1884, certain intruders sought TO make
settlement in the Indian Territory. They were
promptly removed by detachment of troops.
During the past session of Congress, bill TO
provide suitable fireproof building for
THE ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM
and the library of the Surgeon Generals Office
received the approval OF the Senate. similar
bill. reported favorably to the House of Repre-
ing before that body 1t is hoped that during
the coming session the measure NAV become
a law. and thereafter immediate steps may be
taken to secure place OF safe deposit sor these
valuable collections now In state of insecurity.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The funds with which the works for the i'm
provement of rivers and harbors were prosecut-
ed during the last year were derived from the
appropriations of August 2, 1882 together with
such few balances as were on hand from pre-
vious appropriations. The balance in the Treas
ury subject to requistion July l, 1888, was $40
02i,64955. The amount appropriated
during the fiscal year 1884 was
Sl,3l9,63l,627, and the amount drawn
from the Treasury during the fiscal year was
81 228, 7O354, leaving balance OF So 1l2, $50. GO
in the Treasury subject to requisition July j..
1884.
The secretary or w ar submits the report OF
the Chief of Engineers as to the practicability
OF protecting our important cities on the sea-
board by
TORTIFICAT ATOMS AND OTHER DEFENSES
able to repel modern methods of attack. The
time has now come when such defenses can be
prepared with confidence that they will not
prove abortive, and when the possible result OF
delay in making such preparation Is seriously
considered, delay seems fnexcusable. For the
most important cities, those whose destruction
or capture would be a national humiliation, ade-
quate defenses, inclusive of guns, may be made
by the gradual expenditure Of S60,0O0,O00, a sum
much less than q victorious enemy could levy as
a contribution. An appropriation OF about one
tenth of that amount is asked TO begin the work,
and concur with the Secretary OF War In urg-
ing that it be granted. The War Department Is
proceeding with the conversion of ten-inch
smooth bore guns into eght-inch rifles by
lining the former with tubes of forged or
of coiled wrought iron. Fifty guns will be
thus converted within the year. This, however,
does not obyiate the necessity of providing
means for the construction of guns of the high
Tense and for the armament Of war vessels.
MANUFACTURE OF ORDNANCE.
The report of the Gun Foundry Board, aIJ-
pointed April 2, 1885, in pursuance Of the act of
March, 1888, was transmitted to Congress in n
special message of Feb. Z, 1894. In nv message
of March 26, 1884. called attention TO the recon-
mendaton of the board that the Government
should encourage the production by private steel
works of the required material for heavy
-one for the army and one for the navy
should be established for the fabrication OF
guns from such material No action hav-
ing been taken, the board was subsequently
reconvened TO determine more fully the
plans and estimates necessary for car