The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-12-11
The Presidents Message.
Front the Baltimore San.

the day, such as the necessity of tariff re-
form, the interests of labor as affected by ex-
listing federal taxation, and the suspension of
the coinage of silver After adverting to our
peaceful relations with foreign countries, the
Chinese question, the beneficial change effect
ed by the Colombian government in erecting
Panama into federal district, the unsettled
state of the Canadian fisheries question, the
propriety of strengthening our intimacy with
Hawaii by renewing the existing treaty, our
moral right and duty to assist Liberia IN con-
serving its integrity, the issue of extra terri,
torial jurisdiction raised by the action OF
Mexico in the Cutting case, the complaint OF
the government of the Netherlands IN regard
to our special tariff impost upon Sumatra
tobacco, the Samoan Islands protectorate,
our commercial relations with the Spanish
Antilles, the international copyright question:,
and the revision of laws affecting the consular
service, the President proceeds to the discus
sion of our several national problems. The
revenues of the year ended June ~, 1880,
show an increase of $13, 749, 0206S over last
wear. there being an increase of S11 ,434 OS4. 10
from customs and of 81, 407 ,2l9.O4 from in
ternal revenue, and falling off in other re-
ceipts of 50, 092, 274.36. The expense OF col
lecting both customs and internal revenue
have been reduced, the net saving being
S646, OOO The total ordinary receipts were
S336' 439, 727. O6, and the total ordinary ex-
nenditures were S242, 4S3, 1850. The ex-
penses were ST., 7S8, 797 less than the proceed
ing wear, and the surplus was 1913, $50, 5SS.56,
an increase over the year ended June 30,
1885, of $50, 49,, 817.29. For the current
year the estimate surplus will be ninety mil
| lions. The income of the government is de,
clared to be now more than ever IN excess OF
public necessities. The application OF the
Al
debt would retire all the public Indebtedness
which can be now called in in less than
wear. When this is done, either the surplus
must be Withdrawn from circulation and
| boarded in the treasury or we must engage IN
wasteful public extravaganza. The worst
phase of the existing system Is the perVerslon
of the relations between the people and the
government When more than is needed to
pay the debts of the government and to pro-
vide for its economical administration is col
leeted, "such exaction becomes ruthless ex
tortion and a violation of the fundamental
principles of free government" The Presl-
are beginning to understand that capital Is
sluggish till it springs into activity touched by
the hand of labor, and gains the value which
enables it to bear the burden of federal taxa
ton, and they have begun to thoughtfully in
| auire whether in these circumstances, and
considering the tribute they constantly pay
into the public treasury, they receive their fair
share of advantages. There is also suspicion
abroad. adds the President, that the surplus
indicates abnormal business profits, which,
under the system which produces such sur
plus, increase, without corresponding beneht
to the people at large, great fortunes which
are not the natural growth of a steady, plain
and industrious republic. The burden to
Il fba I'M
portant of all in the country, is subjected by
the increased cost of living caused by the
tariff, while its products have to compete
abroad with crops raised by less expensive
methods is pointed out The laborer will gain
BY every reduction in the cost of living which
does not involve reduction in the amount oil
work or rate of wages. The larger part of ouI
revenues will have to be collected from GUS
toms. Keeping in view all these consldera'
tons, the President recommends that the IN
creasing and unnecessary surplus OF the
national income annually accumulating be re-
leased to the people by an amendment to oul
revenue laws, which shall cheaper the price
of the necessaries of life and give freer en-
trance to such imported materials as by
American labor may be manufactured into
marketable commodities. The total coinage
of silver dollars since the passage of the
Bland bill has been S247, l31 $40. Of this
amount at the present time the people hold
either in coin or silver certificates Sl66, S73,
O4I. The recommendation of last year that
the coinage be suspended is renewed upon
all the grounds there set forth, reinforced by
the significant increase in our gold exporta-
TONS In treating of army and navy affairs
the President reiterates the absolute necessity
of better harbor defenses, and the hope is ex-
pressed. that effective steps will be taken 10
IL ole r,fr
Ie'Mthat the army and navy contracts
purcnf6e so united as to give encouragement
OF 9mestic manufacturers to enter~the bpsi
YES of producing gun steel and armor plates
1.-The renoUts of the Postolfide Departuieui
I show that the present rates OF postage viii
| ultimately suffice to sustain the service,
although our people enjoy now both cheaper
postage, proportionately to distance, and a
Easter and more costly service than any other
nation on the globe. The President suggests
that, as distinguished from grant or sub
sidy, whatever outlay may be required to
secure additional postal service, requisite and
proper and not otherwise attainable, with the
Argentine Republic and the Empire of Brazil
should be regarded as within the legitimate
compensation for such service. The extern
sion of the free delivery system is recommend
| ed The erection of one or more national
penitentiaries for the confinement of persons
convicted by the federal courts is urged, and
it is suggested that by employing the convicts
in government work they could be made self
! supporting and at the same time not be
brought into undesirable competition with
free labor. The recommendations made last
year for an alteration in the organization of
federal courts is renewed, as is the suggestion
that change be made in the manner of COM
pensating attorneys and marshals.
Considerable space in the message is de-
voted to a discussion of the Indian question
and the presentation of additional arguments
in favor of the commission suggested in the
last message, which should be able to put in
operation different methods of Indian man.
agement adapted to the different phases of
development in which the different tribes are,
with the ultimate object of alloting to them
all lands in seyeralty and bringing them into
the mass of our citizens The energetic et-
forts of the land departmentundert the present
administration have succeeded in restoring to
the public domain two million seven hundred
and fifty Thousand acres of land wrongfully
appropriated, and almost as much more is
now in litigation. The aggregation Of public
lands in large holdings by persons, many OF
whom are foreigners, is commented upon as
serious evil. 1t is recommended that the pre-
emptop and timber culture acts be repealed,
and that the homestead law be so amended as
to make the requirements of residence and
cultivation much more strict. Restriction
upon the alienation of homestead rights until
after patents have been issued are also sug-
gested. Much has been done to secure the
removal of unlawful fences from the public
domain, but much still remains to be done.
The report of the commissioner of pensions
shows net increase of more than 10000 pen
sioners during the year, and the President
points out the injustice done by indiscrimi::
nate pension legislation. The plan suggested
by the Secretary of the Interior and approved
by the government directors in the Pacific
railroads for change in the method of pay
ing the Indebtedness of those roads to the
government is referred to with the comment
that the 'only matters" to be considered are
the situation Of the government as a creditor
and the snrest way to secure the payment OF
the principal and interest of its debt. Federal
legislation upon the subject of railroad rates
for interstate commerce is suggested in the
light of the recent decision of the Supreme
Court as a subject worthy of consideration.
Upon the question of the relations of labor
and capital the recommendations in the spe-
cial message of last year that the labor
bureau be given powers to arbitrate in cases
between employers and employees voluntarily
-afarrad 70 II RIO ranawed and IL is declared