The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-07

intercourse l,03
For Indians...-.---.-.- 6099. 1877 $685. 492. 60
For pensions. GO, 4O4, 86403 Sc 102, 267. 40
For the military, includ
ding river and harbor
improvements and ar -
- senalS- 54,oZ4,loz 4z,ofu,ofo.4f
For the navy. including
vessels, machinery and
improvements of navy
yards. 139O7, sS7.74 16,O21 079. 90
For interest on public
For the District of Co. '''O''
lumbia- $780,, 32l89 3,449, 65O.95
Miscellaneous expendi-
lures, including public
buildings, lighthouses
and collecting the reve-
Observation-Disclosures. 1895, 683 04 54728 o56 81
For the current year to the end of June 80
1887 the ascertained receipts, up to Oct. l. 1885,
with such receipts estimated for the remainder
of the year, amount to 1856, 600 600 The ex-
penditures, ascertained aud estimated for the
same period are 1896, 000, 900, indicating an an
ticipated surplus at the close of the year of
500. 900, 000
The total value of the exports from the United
States to foreign countries during the fiscal
year is stated and compared with the preceding
year as follows:
Year ending Year ending
June 30 1886 June 80 1886
Domestic merchandise 1865 964 500 90 1926 946 90
Foreign merchandise 1886 90 Is, SOC, 90
Gold. 1882, 1900 84.7T8. 1872. 0G
Silver 2951l ,2l9OO 1888, 90
The value of some of our leading exports dur
ing the last fiscal year, as compared with the
value of the same for the year Immediately pre-
ceding Is here given, and furnishes information
both interesting and suggestive
Year ending Year ending
June30 1886. June 80 1885
Cotton and cotton manufact-
.$2ls O45,57s $213 799,O49
Tobacco and its manufact-
ures ----. 80 424, 908 "a 767, 305
Breadstutts .---.-------- 12o $40, SOB 160370,S2
TroVlsiOns --------------- 9O6Z5,2lO l0I 5o2, 400
Our h. 1oa =
compared with the previous year. were as fol-
lows:
Articles 1886. 1885
Merchandise $685. 436 1876 90 1919 $50 o53. 80
Gold. Aforementioned. 30 743, $4,000 &c. 691 sos 90
Silver. 17S50,307OO l655O,627.00
In my last annual message to the Congress-,
attention was directed to tho fact that the reve-
nues of the government exceeded its actual
needs, and it was suggested that legislative ac
ton should be taken to relieve the people from
the unnecessary burden Of taxation thus made
apparent. In view of the pressing Importance
of the subject, deem it my duty to again urge
it's consideration.
The income of the government, by its III
creased volume and through economies In it's
collection, is now, more than ever in excess Of
public necessities The application of the sur
plus TO the payment of such portion of the pub
lie debt as is now at our option, subject to ex-
tngushment, If continued at the rate which has
lately prevailed, would retire that class of in
debtedness within less than one year from this
date. Thus a continuation of our present
revenue system would soon result in the receipt
of annual income much greater than neces.
sary to meet government expenses, with no in
debtedness upon which 1t could be applied. We
should then. be confronted with vast quantity
of money, the circulating medium of the people,
boarded in the Treasury when it should be in
their hands, or we should be drawn into waste
full public extravaganza with all the corrupting
national Generalization which follows in its
train. But it is not the simple existence OF this
surplus and It's threatened attendant evils which
furnish the strongest argument against our pres
emit scale of federal taxation, It's worst phase is
the exaction of such a surplus though perver-
sion of the relations between the people and their
government, and dangerous departure from
the rules, which limit the right of federal taxa
ton. Good government, and especially the gov
eminent of which every American citizen boasts,
has for it's objects the protection of every person
within its care. in the greatest liberty consist
ent with the good order of society, and his
perfect security in the enjoyment of his
earnings with the least possible dimnution for
public needs. When more Of the peoples sus-
tenance is exacted through the form of taxation
than is necessary to meet the Just obligations Of
the government and the expenses of its econom-
ical administration such exaction becomes ruth
less extortion and violation of the funda-
mental principles OF free governments. The
indirect manner in which these exactions are
made has Il tendency to conceal their true char
acter and their extent; but we have arrived at a
stage or superhuous revenue which has aroused
the people to a realization of the fact that the
amount raised professedly for the support of the
government is paid by them as absolutely as IL
added TO the price of the things which supply
their daily wants, rs if 1t was paid at fixed
periods into the hands of the tax-gatherer
Those who toll for daily wages are
beginning to understand that capital though
sometimes Wanting its Importance and camor-
ing for the protection and favor of the govern
ment is dull and sluggish, TILL touched by the
magical hand of labor it springs into activity
furnishing an occasion for federal taxation and
gaining value which enables it to bear it's bur-
den, and the laboring man is thcughtfully in
quiring whether, in these circumstances and
considering the tribute he constantly pays into
the public treasury he supplies his daily
wants, he receives his fair share of advantages.
There is also suspicion abroad that the sur
plus of our revenues indicates abnormal and ex-
ceptional business profits which, under the sys-
tenn which produces such surplus, increase with
out corresponding benefit to the people at large
The vast accumulatfons Of a few among our citi
zens, whose fortunes rival the wealth
of the most favored in anti-democratic ma
tions. not the natural growth of
steady. plain and industrious republic. Our
farmers, too, and those engaged directly and in
directly in supplying the products of agriculture,
see that. day by day, and as often as the daily
wants of their households reeur they are forced
to pay excessive and needless taxation while
their products struggle in foreign markets with
the competition of nations which, by allowing
freer exchange of production than we permit,
enable their people to sell for prices which dis
tress the American farmer. AS every patriotic
citizen rejoices in the constantly increasing
pride of our people, in American citizenship and
in the glory of our national achievements and
progress, sentiment prevails that the leading
strings useful to q nation IN its infancy may
well, to great extent, be discarded in the pres
emit stage of American ingenuity. Courage
and fearless selfreiapce and for the privilege of
INDUCING this sentiment, with true American
an idle surplus in the public treasury. And the
people know that the average rate of federal
taxation upon imports Is to-day. in time Of peace,
but little less, while upon some articles of neces-
sary consumption il is actually more than was
imposed by the grievous burden willingly borne
AT the time when the government needed mill
ions to maintain by war the safety and integrity