The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-12-16

4
OF our national achievemente and progress. a
sentiment prevails that the leading strings use
great extent. be discarded in the present stage
OF American ingenuity, courage and fearless
self-reliance. And for the privilege OF indulg-
| ing this sentiment with true American enthusi-
asm, our citizens arc quite willing 20 forego an
idle surplus la the public treasury. And all
the people know that the average rate OF
in time OF peace, is but little less,
while upon some articles OF necessary
consumption, it is actually more. than
was imposed by the greyous burden willingly
borne at time when the Goyernm' mt
needed millions to maintain by the safety
| ana integrity of the United States.
REVISION OF THE REVENUE LAW.
II has been the policy OF the Government Co
collect the principal part OF its revenues Dy
is desirable But the present condition OF
affairs constrains our people 70 demand that by
revision of our revenue laws the re-
ceipts OF the Government shall be re-
duced 10 tine necessary expense OF its
economical adm nistratOn, and this de-
mand should lie recognized and obeyed by
the peoples representatives. IN the legislative
branch OF the Government. In readiust NJ tue
burdens of Federal TAXATION sound public
policy requires that such OF our citizens "a
have built up large and important industries
under present conditions should not DO sud
denly, and t. their injury, deprived OF adyan-
tages to which they have adap. their business
but If the public good requires il, they should
be content with such consideration as shall
deal fa rly and cautiously With their interests,
while the Just demands OF the people Tor relieI
from needless taxa ION is honestly answered.
A reasonable and timely submission to
such II de'land should certainly be possible
without disastrous shock 70 any interest and
cheerful concession sometimes ayerts abrup.
and Needless action. often the outgrowth Of i'm
patience and delayed justice.
THE AMERICAN LABoRER.
Due regard should be also accorded in any
proposed readjustment to the interests
OF american labor so far as they
that there is among 70 laboring
class, fixed within unyieiding bounds and doom
ed under all conditions II, to the memorable
labor chief factor in the wealth Of tho
republic. and we treat those who have it
in their keeping citizens entitled to the mo It
I careful regard and thoughtful attention. This
regard and attention should be awarded them,
not only because labor is the capital of our
wofkingman, justly entitled 70 its share Of
Government favor, but for the further and not
less important reason that the laboring man.
/ surrounded by his family in his humble home,
is virtually Interested in all that cheapens the
cost OF living and enables him to bring within
his domestic circle additional comforts and
advantages. This relation OF the workingman
10 the revenue laws OF the country
and the manner in which it palpably influences
the question OF wages, should not be forgotten
in the justihable prominence given TO the proper
maintenance OF tho supply amt protection OF
well paid labor And these considerations sus-
gest such an arrangement ot Government reve-
nues as shall reduce the expense of living,
while it does not curtail the opportunity for
work nor reduce the compensation OF American
labor and injuriously affect its condition and
the dignihed place 1T holds III the estimation OF
our people.
But our farmers and agriculturists, those who
from the soil produce the things consumed 10y all
are perhaps more dn ec,ly and plainly concerned
than any other Of our citizens in n lust and care
! full system of Federal taxation. Those actually
engaged in, and moro remot ly connected with.
this kind OF work number nearly one-half OF our
! population; none labor harder or more cortnu
ously than they No enactments limit their
hours of toll, and no interposition OF the Gov
H. 70 A. VA
OF their products; and yet for many OF the
neces sarios md comforts OF life, which the most
scrupulous economy enables them TO bring into
their homes, and for Their implcnc nts OF
husbaudry they are obliged To pay Pre- large
! ~ increased by an unnatural profit, which, by
the action of the Government is given u the
| more favored manufacturer l recommend that,
keeping in view all these considerations, the
increasing and unnecessary surplus OF national
| income annually accommodating be releas 81 70
! the people. by an amendment to our revenue
| laws, which shall ch npen the price of the
| necessaries OF life, and give freer entrance 70
| such imported materials as, by American labor,
may DO manufactured into marketable COM
modities. Nothing can be accompli shed, how
! ever, in the direction Of this much-neCded re-
/ form unless tho subject is approached in
patriotic spirit of devotion 20 the interests OF the
| entire country. and with willing ess to yield
something for the whole gool.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
The sum paid upon the public debt during the
fiscal year ended Juno 3D. 1886, was silj5l, Oi3.jG.
| During the twelve mo lths ended October 81,
! 1856 three per cent. bonds were called for re-
| demptiOn amounting TO Sl2i 2S3, loo, OF which
| SSO,G43, 300 was 50 called TO answer the require
merts OF the law relating t. the sinking fund,
and $4,000 900 for the purpose of re lUcing the
debt by application of part OF the surplus
IN the treasury T. that object. Of the bonds
thus called clO2,29, $50 became subject, under
such calls, 70 redemption prior TO November
! l, 1856. The remainder, amounting d
| $50 $3.50, Inatured under the calls after
that date In addition t. the amount
subject to payment and cancellation prior to
November l, there were also paid before that
day certain OF these bonds with the interest
thereon, amounting To 500 1850, which were
anticipated TO the maturity, of which S2,6j4,-
| SO had not been called. Thus Si07,jile 800 had
been actually applied prior t. the lst Of No
vemOer 1886, % the eXtnguisnmcnt Of our
bonded and interest bearing debt, leaving on
that day still outstanding the sum OF 81 ,i43,-
1l2. OF this amount SSj,Sls7L0 was still rep
resented by per cent. bonds. They. however,
have been since November Il, or Will at once
be, further reduced by Sl2,G05, 80, being bonds
which have been called, rs already stated, but
! not redeemed and Cancelled before the latter
! date.
SILVER COINAGE.
During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1886,
there were coined under the Compulsory Silver
Coinage act Of 1878 20 so silver dollars, and
| tho cost OF the silver used in such coinage was
S23, AS 960.0l. There had been coined up to the
close OF the previous fiscal year under the pro-
visions of the law 2O3 So, So silver dollars, aud
on the LIST day OF December, 1885, tho total
amount of such coinage was s2i7 13l, $40.
The Director of the MI! Mint reports
on 9a' the at aW ho Of time ISIS d res Pa'i tSs
coinage the intrinsic value OF the dollar thus
coined was "a 4 cents each and that on July 81
1886 the price of silver reached the lowest stage
ever known that the intrinsic or bullion price
! Of our standard silver dollar at that date was
~ cents. The price of silver on November 30
last was such as to make the dollars intrinsic
ally worth 70 cents each These differences in
the value of the coins represent but the huctua-
tions in the price of silver, and they certainly
do indicate that compulsory coinage by the Gov
eminent enhances the price of that commodity
or secures uniformity in its value.
CIRCULATING SILVER.
Every fair and legal effort has been made by
the Treasury Department 60 distribute this
currency among the people. The withdrawal
of United States treasury notes of small de-
nominations and the issuing of small silver
certificates have been resOrted 20 in the en-
deavor To accomplish this result, in obedience
TO the will and sentiments Of the representa-
tives OF the people in Congress. On the 9th day
of November, 1876, the people held OF these
coins or certificates representing them the nom-
inal sum of SlG6, ol30il, and we still have S79,
46l.345 in the treasury as against about Sl42, S9i
055 in the hands Of the people, and S72 S65,376
remaining in the treasury ore year ago. The
Director OF the Mint again urges the necessity
of more vault room for the purpose OF storing
these silver dollars, which not needed for
circulation by the people. have seen no reason
TO change the views expressed in my last annual
message on the subject of this compulsory coin
age, and again urge its suspension on all the
grounds contained in my former recommends