Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-12-17

with their original allegiance, without taking
who may acquire the rights Of American citizens
| ship for no other then n hostile purpose toward
their original government. These evils have
| had many hagrant illustrations
| regard with favor the suggestion put forth by
one of my predecessors that provision may DO
made for a central bureau OF record OF the
DEGREES OF naturalization granted by the various
| courts throughout the United States; now in
vested with that power.
The rights which spring from domicile in the
| United States, especially when coupled with
declaration of intention TO become n citizen, are
| worthy OF definition by statute. The stranger
coming hither with intent TO remain establish,
ing his residence n, our midst contributing I'd
| the general welfare, and by his voluntary act
declaring his purpose to assume the Responsible
ity OF citizenship, thereby gains an inehoate
status which iegislation may properly define.
Tho laws Of certain States and Territories ad-
| NIT domiciled alien TO the local franchise
comforting ON him the rights OF citizenship to
degree which places him IN the anomalohs
position of being citizen of State and yet not
| OF the United States within tho purview OF
Federal and international laws. lt Is important
/ within the scope OF national legislation to de;
fine this right OF alien domicle as distinguished
from Federal naturalization.
The commerca Taiationss ~ the unted states
| with their immediate neighbors and with impor-
tant areas OF traffic near our shores, suggest es-
pecially liberal intercourse between them
and us.
Following the treaty of 1889 with Mexico,
which rested on the basis of reciprocal exeiip-
tion from custom duties, other similar treaties
were inflated by my predecessor
Recognizing the need Of less obstructed traffic
with Cuba and Port Rico, and met by the desire
Of Spaiu TO succor languishing interest In
the Antilles, steps were taken to attain
those ends by treaty of commerce.
| A similar treaty was afterward signed by the
Dominican Republic. subsequently overtures
were made by her Britannia Majesty's Govern
ment for a like mutual extension of commercial
intercourse with the British West Indian and
South American dependencies, but without re-
suit.
| SPAIN AND SAN DOMINGO.
| On taking Office withdrew for re-examina-
tion the treaties signed with Spain and Santo
| Domingo, then pending before the Senate. The
result has been to satisfy me Of the inexped-
| iency OF ent ring into engagements of this
character not covering the entire traffic.
These treaties contemplated the surrender by
the United States OF large revenues for made
quate considerations. Upon sugar alone duties
| were surrendered to an amount far exceeding
| all the advantages offered in exchange. Even
were it intended to relieve our consumers, it
was evident that 30 long as the exemption but
partially covered our importation, such relief
would be illusory. To relinquish a revenue so
when new and large drains upen the treasury
were contemplated. Moreover, embarrassing
questions would have arisen under the favored
nation clauses OF treaties with other nations.
AS a further objection, it is evident that tariff
regulation by treaty diminishes that independ-
| ent control over it's own revenues which is
| essential for the safety and welfare OF any
| Government An emergency calling for an i'm
crease of taxation may at any time arise and no
engagement with foreign power should exist
| to hamper the action Of the Government.
| TUNNAGE DUES.
| BY the fourteenth section of the shipping act,
approved June 26, 1881, certain reductions
| and contingent exemptions from tunnage
dues We're made to vessels entering
ports of the United States from any foreign
The West India Islands, the Bahamas and Ber.
mudas, Mexico and the 1sthmus as far us Aspirl-
| wall and Panama the Governments of Belgium,
Denmark, Germany, Portugal and Sweden and
Norway. hnve asserted under the favored nation
clause in their treaties with the United States,
claim TO like treatment in respect TO vessels
| coming to the United States from their home
ports. This Government however, holds that
the privilege granted by the act is purely geo.
graphical r mnrns tha to any, any vessel IS OF any
the nan Clause and fo eet atSShshn tShn
of the privileges in question to vessels sailing to
this country from ports outside the limitation of
| the act Undoubtedly the relations of com
merce with our near neighbors whose terri
tories form so long frontier line difficult to be
guarded, and who find in our country and
equally offer to us natural markets, demand
special and considerate treatment IL rests
| with Congress to consider what Legislative
action may increase facilities of intercourse
| which contiguitv makes natural and desirable.
| THE GOVERNMENT FINANCES.
The report OF the Secretary Of the Treasury
fully exhibits the condition Of the public finan-
ces, and of the several branches of tho Govern
ment connected with his department. The sug
gestions of the Secretary relating to practical
operations Of this important department, and
tion and economy, particularly in the work OF
collecting customs duties, are especially urged
upon the attention of Congress.
| REDUCTION OF DEBT.
The amount paid on the public debt during
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1885, was S45, $685.
245.43 and there has been paid since that date
and up to Nov /, 1886 the sum OF $500, ,82s, leav-
ing the amount of the debt at the last named
date 1874, ,475, $50. At. There was, however Mt
that time in the Treasury applicable to the gener-
al purposes of the Government the sum of &c.,
s1s,292 .3e.
CURRENT YEAR.
The total receipts for the current fiscal year,
ending June 30, 1886, ascertained to October J.,
1885, and estimated for the remainder Of the
The expenditures, ascertained and estimated
for the same time, are S245 000, 600 leaving sur
plus at the close Of the year estimated at
$70,000000.
THE REDUCTION OF THE TARIFF.
The fact that our revenues are in excess Of
the actual needs of an economical adminstra-
ton OF the Government justfes a reduction in
the amount expected from the people for its sup
port. Our Government is but the means estab-
tain principles are applied which they have
adopted for their benefit and protection. And it
is never better administered and it's truer spirit
is never better observed than when the peoples s
taxation for its support is scrupulously limited
to the actual necessity Of expenditures and dis
| tributcd according to n 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 question Of free trade is not involved nor
is there now any occasion for the general discus
sion of the wisdom or expediency OF protec-
tive system. Justice and fairness dictate that
in any modification of the present laws relating
to revenue the industries and interest which
have been encouraged by such laws, and in
which our citizens have large investments, should
not be ruthlessly injured or destroyed.
We should deal with the subject in such man.
ner as to protect the interests Of American labor
| which is the capital of workipgmen It's
stability and proper remuneration furnish the
most iusti1able pretext for protective policy.
Within these limitations n certain reduction
| should be made in our customs revenue. The
| amount Of such reduction having been deter
mined, the inquiry follows: Where IL best
be remitted, and what articles can best be re-
leased from duty in the interest of our citizens
think the reduction should be made in the
revenue derived from tax upon the imported
necessaries Of life. We thus directly lessen the
cost OF living in every family of the land, and
| release to the public in every humble home n
larger measure of the rewards Of frugal industry.
THE NATIONAL BANK CIRCULATION.
During the year ended Nov 1, 1886, 145 nation
al banks were organized, with an aggregate cap
ital OF SIG, ,936, 900. and circulating notes have
been issued to them amounting to A.N4,910.
The whole number Of these banks in existence
on the day above mentioned was 2727.
The very limited amount Of circulating notes
| issued by our national banks compared with the
amount the law permits them TO issue, upon n
deposit of bonds for their redemption, indicates
| that the volume Of our circulating medium may
be largely increased through. this instrumental
ity.
THE SILVER QUESTION.
Since February, 1873, the Government has un-
der the compulsory provisions Of law, purchased
more than 2,00O, 900 Of dollars every month. BY
this process up TO the present date. .215, ,759 f31
silver dollars have been coined.
reasonable appreciation Of a delegation Of
power to the General Government would limit
/ its exerciea without exOroes restrictive words