Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Mr.. cLEvELANDS FIRST TRIBUTE To
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Taxation, the Tariff, and the Silver Cues
tion Dwelt Upon at Length-No More
Silver DolIars-The Chinese, toast
and Navy-Treasury Report.

StstE DoildFS-IHo Cnln6Se, I Od8t
and Navy-Treasury Report.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-President Cleve-
lands message read in congress, opened
with a tender allusion to the recent death of
Vice President Hendricks, and reference to
his distinguished public services, integrity
and devotion to duty. A general survey
shows that our relations with foreign DOW
ers continue to be friendly. There are no
questions of difficulty pending with any
foreign government. Allusion is made to the
appointment of Mr.. Kelly as minister to
Austria and his rejection by that country.
The reasons advanced by Austria asking for
the withdrawal of Mr.. Kelly were such as
could not be acquiesced in by the president
without violating his oath of office. He has
made no new nomination Inc the interests
of the governments at Vienna, are now in
the care of the secretary of legation.
Concerning the isthmian canal, the presi-
dent says the interest of the United States
in a practical transit for ships across the
isthmus has been repeatedly manifested dur
ing the last half century, and whatever high
way may be constructed across the barrier
must be for the worlds benefit, a trust for
mankind to be removed from the chance of
" any oiu6.C POVOl, ~ SuOutQ
1t become a point for invitation for hostili-
ties, or a prize for warlike ambition, toward
such realization the efforts of this admins
tration will be applied.
The Chinese question in the western states
despite restrictive legislation is far from
satisfactory, but all the power of the gov
eminent should be exerted to maintain the
ablest good faith coward China in the treat
ment of emigrants from that country.
On the fishery question the president
recommends that congress provide for a
commission in which the governments of the
United States and Great Britain shall be
represented, charged with the settlement of
the entire question of the two countries.
He urges legislation to make the recently
concluded treaty with Mexico effective.
OF international copyright, be says it is
certainly desirable to bring about the OBJ
ject in view.
Tho inadequacy of legislation touching
citizenship and naturalization is brought to
the attention of congress. 1t is important
that the right of alien domiciIe, as distin-
guished from federal naturalization, be de-
fined.
He urges a recast of appropriations for
the consular and diplomatic service on a
footing commensurate with the importance
Of our national interests, and advocates a
system of consular inspection.
In reviewing the reports and recommends
tions of his cabinet officers, the president first
takes up the report of Secretary Manning
and discusses the tariff and currency and
coinage question. Of the tariff, he saws:
1.-THE fact that all revenus are in excess of
the actual needs of an economical admins
tration of the government ~justifes a reduc-
tion in the amount exacted from the people
for its support. Our government is but the
means established by the will of a free peo.
pie by which certain principles are applied
which they have adopted for their benefit
and protection; and it is never better ad-
ministered and it is never better observed
than when the peoples taxation for its sup.
port is scrupulously limited to the actual
necessity of expenditure and distributed ac-
cording'to a just and equitable plan.
"The proposition with which we have to
deal is the reduction of the revenue received
by the government and indirectly paid by
the people from customs duties. The cues
ton of free trade is not involved, nor is thers
now any occasion for the general discussion
of the wisdom or expediency of a protective
system. Justice and fairness dictate that in
any modification of our present laws rclat
ing to revenue, the industries and interest.
NhlNa nave DccA tuCOuTdR6u ny SUCH law
and in which our citizens have large invest
ments should not be ruthlessly injured OF
destroyed.
1--WE should also deal with the subject in
such manner as to protect the interests Of
American labor which is the capital of oul
workingmen; its stability and proper re
Enumeration furnish the most justifiable pre-
text for a protective policy. Within thes
limitation a certain reduction should bS
made in our customs revenue. The amour
of such reduction having been determined
the inquiry follows where can it best be re
mitted and what articles can best be release
from duty in the interest of our c~itizensa
II think the reduction shall be made il
the revenue derived from a tax IDOL tn,
imported necessaries of life. We thus di
rectly lessen the cost of living in every fam
lily of the land, and release to the people il
every humble home q larger measure of tn,
rewards of frugal industry
Nothing more important, he says, than
the present condition of our currency an
coinage can claim the attention of congress
The very limited amount of circulating Ma
tional bank notes compared with the amour
the law permits them to issue indicates that
the volume Of an circulating medium MAY
be largely increased through this istrumen
tality.
On the silver question he takes stron.
grounds in favor of suspension of the coin
age of silver dollars. The authority to coli
money, given to congress by the c~onstitu
tion, if it permits the purchase of bullion ii
any event does not justify coinage to an ex
tent beyond the amount needed for a suEi
Gent circulatory medium. The desire tc
utilizs the silver product of the countr,
should not lead to a misuse or the peryersior
Of this power.
The necessity for such an addition to the
silver currency as is compelled by the silver
coinage act, he says, is negatived by th,
fact that up to the present time only abour
fifty millions of the 215, 000, 900 silver dol
lars coined since 1878 nave found their way
into circulation, leaving more than S165, 600.
900 in the possession of the government, the
custody of which has entailed a consider
able expense for the construction of vault.
for its deposit.
Against this latter amount there are out
standing silver certificates amounting tx
about 500, 100000 Every month two mil
lions of god in the public treasury are paic
out for two millions or more of silver dol
lars to lie added to the idle mass already &C
cumulated. If continued long enough thi,
operation will result in the substitution Of
siNerio III tue goiu the government own
applicable to its general purposes. 1t will
not do to rely upon the customs receipts of
the government to make good this drain of
gold because the silver thus coined having
been made legal tender for all debts and
dues public and private. At lines during
the last six months is per cent. Of the re
ceipts for duties have been paid in silver Oh
silver certificates, while the average within
that period has been 20 par cent.
The proportion of silver and its certift
Gates received by the government will
probably Increase as time goes on, for the
reason that the nearer the period approaches
when it viii be obliged to offer silver in pay
ment Of its obligations, the greater induce