The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-12-04

RLONC4
In my annual message OF 1882 recon-
mended
TIE ABOLITION OF ALL EXCISE TAXES,
except those relating to distilled spirits
The recommendation is now renewed.
In case these taxes shall be abolished
the revenues that will still remain 70 /
the government will, IN my opinion,
not only suffice TO meet its reasonable
expenditures but will afford . surplus |
large enough to permit such tariff re-
duction as may seem to be advisable,
when the results Of recent revenue laws
and commercial treaties shall have shown
in what quarters these reductions can be
most 1udiciously effected. One of the
gravest of the problems which appeal TO
wisdom OF congress for solution is the
the ascerIainment Of the most effective
means of increasing our foreign trade
and thus relieving the depression under
which our industries are now anguish
ing. The secretary of the treasury ad
vises that the duty OF Investigation OF
this subject be Entrusted in
the first instance to competent COM
mission. While fully recognizing the
considerations that may be urged against
this course, am, nevertheless, OF the
opinion that upoa the whole no osbeE
would be likely to eH'ct speedier OF Bet
ter results. That portion of the secretary's
report which concerns the condition OF
our interests cannot fail to command
your attention. He emphstically rec
ommends that as az incentive to the
investment of American capitol In
American steamships, the government
shalt be liberal IN payments for mail
transportation or otherwise lend Its
active assistance to individual enterprise
and declares his belief that unless
that course be pursue d, our foreign car
ryIng trade must remain as it Is TO day,
almost exclusively in the hands of for
eigneTs. One phase of this subjecC is
now especially prominent in view of the
repeal by the act of j ne 26. 1884. of all
salulary provisions arbitrarily cOmsell-
ing American 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 per-
forming the service after April 1S. 1885.
II is hoped that the whole subject Will
receive early consideration that Will lead
to the enactment OF such measures tor
the revival of our merchant marine as
the wisdom of congress may devise.
| The
THREE PER CENT. BONDS
of the government TO the amount of
more than 81 600, 600 900 have siace my
last annual message, been redeemed by
the treasury The bonds of that issue
| still outstanding, amount TO little over
| 5000 0O0, 600, about one-fouIth of which
will be retired through operations of
the sinking fund during the coming
year AS these bonds still continue the
chief basis fl r the circulation Ut national
| hanks, the question how TO avoid the
contraction of the currency caused by
| their retirement is one of constantly in
creasing importance, II seems TO b.
| generally conce led that the law govern
| ing that matter, eXacis from the ban ks
excessive security and that urOn their
present bond deposits a larger circu-
lalIon than is n, W allowed, may be
| granted with safety. hops that the
bill which passed the seEa;e ut the las
session, permitting the issue OF notes
equal to the face value OF deposited
bonds, will coDmend itself to the ap-
prevail of the house of representatives.
10 the
EXPENDITURES OF The WAR DEPART
MENT
The s,crat.ry reports i d crease OF
more than $9O.O00, 600, OF which reduc-
ton s., SOC, 900 was effected in the ex.
penuItures for rivers and harbOrs, and
$27 GOO, 600 10 the expenditures tor the
Quariermaster's department. Outside OF
this department the annual expenses of
all the army bureau proper, except posi-
bly, the ordinance bureau, a!e subatin-
TALLY charges which cannot be material.
iy diminished without change in
the numerical streng Ii OF the army. The
expenditure ia The quartermaster's de,
psrIment can readily be subject d TO adj
ministTallVe discretion, and il is report.
: ed by the SECRETARY of war that as re-
: | - observation
/ duciag the number of draught animals
in the army, and the annual cost of sup
plying and caring for such animals /!
now $i10 sos, 500 less than il was in 1882
The reports of military commander
show that the last year has been notable
for rs entire freedom from Indian out
i. breaks. III defiance of the presidents
2 proclamation OF July l. 1884, certain in
: truders sought to make settlements il
the Indian territory, they We're prompt
r ly removed Oy detachment OF troops
! During the past session OF congress,
bill to provide tor q suitable fire-proo
building for the army medical museum
J, ana he library of the surgeon general
: Office received the approval Of the sen
+: ate. a similar bill reported favoIabl!
To- the house of representatives, by one o
D | us com iltees is i'll pending befor
7: bat body. II is hoped tina
turing the coming St ssiOn the measure
may become Law am theI eAfter imme
; diate steps may be taken to secure
nlac" OF safe deposit tor these valusbl
cole ciiuns, now in a state OF insecurity
= | The funds win which these works TO
+ The improvement of rivers aud hartor
t were prosecuted dnIing the year Wer
: derived from the appropriations of the at
t | of August 2, 1882, together with such few
V balances as were ON hand from previou
4 appropriations. The balance 10 the treas
y ury subject 10 requisitioH on July Isl
t 1888, WAS 81 ,002, l64, 955. The amour
7 AZ propriated during the fiscal year 1873
: was 81 ,319, 634 ,G29, and the amour
q drawn from the treasury during the f1s
= cal year was 1922 S78 354, leaving a bal
d ance of $1l2 $50, 063 in the treasury sui
t jeet TO requisite July LIST, 1885,
q Tie secretary of war submits the re
K port of the chief OF engineers as to tn
practicabIlItY of protecting Our import
Is ant cities On the sea6oards by fortttict
J. ton and other Gefenses able to repe
d modern methods of attack. The tim
q has noR come when such defense
J. can be prepared with cDbfitience tbs
= they will not prove abortiSe, and who
j. the possible result of delay in maxim
= such preparation is seriously coDsldere
delay seems inexcussble. For the moi
/, important cities, those whose d.
l. struclion or capture would b
e national humiliation, 6dequsi
10 defenses inclusive of guns may be mad
s by the gradual expenditure OF $6OOOO
u 600, q sum much lees than victoriou
e enemy could levy as contribution
}: An appropriation of about one-teDt
d that amount is asked t. begin the worl
D and | concur with the secretary OF wS
IL in urging that 1t be granted. The Wa
IL department is proceeding with the col
- version of 10-ioch smooth boz
n guns into 3 inch rifles b
Is lining the former with tubes of forge
y or of coiled wrought iron. Fifty guI
C wi. be thus converted within the yea
q, This, however docs not obviate the n
Ie cesslty of providing means for ii
!. construction of guns OF ii
Of highest power, 10th for the pu
Is poses Of the coast defenses an
D for the armand Mt of war weasel
s. The report ct the gun foundry board, O.
le pointed April 2, 1888. in pursuance {
l. the act of March 3, 1888, was transmittt
to congress 10 q special message Of FEE
In ruary g. 1884. In my message OF Marc
We IS, 1888, called sttentioB TO the recon
OF mendaIi5u of the board tEat the gJyer
al ment sh luld encourage the productIC
re of private steel works of Il
be required mat rial tor heavy cannon ar
.. that two government factories. one 4
d the army and one for the navy shOu
az be established for the fabrication
~ guns from such material. No aCtIC
u, having been taken the b.jard was su
IL seqlently reconyehed 10 deuermiLe mo
1t fully the plans and estIm ates BeccesssI
K for carrying out its recommendation
SD il has received information which in
70 Gates that there are responsible ste
IN manufacturers ia this country who, 4
40 thoug h not provided al present with 4
be necessary plant, are willing to cOnsiru
We the same and TO make bids for contFaa
Se with the government for the supply
be the requisite material for the heavie
Mt guns adapted 20 modern warfare If
d. guaranteed order of sufficient Da
&c nitude, accompanied by pos
III tiae Appropriation extending ov