Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-12-10
The Presidents Message.

cial earnestness and force the leading cues
tons of the day, such as the necessity of
tariff reform, the interests of labor as affected
by existing federal taxation, and the sus-
pension of the coinage of silver After ad-
verting TO our peaceful relations with foreign
countries, the Chinese question, the bene-
fetal change effected by the Colombian gov
eminent in erecting Panama into federal
district, the unsettled state of the Canadian
fisheries question, the propriety of strength
ening our Intimacy with Hawaii by renew.
ing the existing treaty, our moral right and
duty to assist Liberia in conserving its in-
tegrity, the issue Of extra territorial jQrlsdic-
ton raised by the action of Mexico In the
Cutting case, the complaint of the govern
ment OF the Netherlands in regard 10 our
special tariff impost upon Sumatra tobacco,
the Samoan Islands protectorate, our com
mercial relations with the Spanish Antilles,
the international copyright question, and
the revision of laws affecting the consular
service, the President proceeds to the dis
cussion Of our national problems The
revenues Of the year ended June 30, 1896,
show an increase of $13,749 02068 over last
year, there being an increase of $11,434,-
OS410 from customs and of $4,407 ,21904
from internal revenue, and falling off in
other receipts of 5000 ,274.36. The expense
OF collecting both customs and revenue have
been reduced, the net saving being $646,000
The total ordinary receipts were 1886, 49,
727.O6, and the total ordinary expenditures
were $242, 483, 1850. The expenses were
| SIT IT'S, 797 less than the preceding year, and
over the year ended June 30, 1885, of $780,
492,817.29. For the current year the esti-
mated surplus will be ninety millions The
income of the government is declared to be
now more than ever in excess of public ne
cessities. The application of the surplus to
the extnguishment of the public debt would
retire all the public indebtedness wis4sh can
be now called in in less than year. When
this is done, either the surplus must be with
drawn from circulation and hoerded in the
treasury or we must engage in wastefu
public extravaganza. The worst phase of
the existing system is The perversion of the
relations between the people and the gov
ernmenL When more than is needed to
pay the debts of the government and to pro
videfor its economical administration is col
lected, "such exacton becomes ruthless ex
tOrtiOn and violation of the fundamental
4 principles of free government" The Presi-
dent says that those who toll for daily wages
are beginning 10 understand that capital is
sluggish till it springs into activity touched
| Wy tiiO manu- vi anu Suiho thO NoiuC
which enables it TO bear the burden of
federal taxation, and they have begun to
thoughtfully inquire whether in these cir
cumstances, 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 Presi,
| dent, that the surplus indicates abnormal
business profits, which, under the system
which produces such surplus, increases,
without corresponding benefit to the people
at large, great fortunes which are not the
natural growth of steady, plain and in
dustrious republic. The burden to which
the agricultural interest, the most important
of all in the country, is subjected by the in
creased 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 a reduction in the amount
of work or rate of wages. The larger part
of our revenues will have to be collected
from customs Keeping in view all these
considerations, the President recommends
that the increasing and unnecessary surplus
of the national income annually accumu-
lating be released to the people by an amend.
ment TO our revenue laws, which shall
cheaper the price of the necessaries Of life
and give ireer entrace to such imported
materials as by American labor may be
manufactured into marketable co II NJ lii es
The total coinage Of silver dollars since the
passage of the Bland bill has been $247 =
131 $40. OF this amount at the present time
the people hold either in coin or silver Ger
tiicates $166,S73, 041 The recommend
ton of last year that the coinage be suspend
ed is renewed upon all the grounds there
set forth, reinforced by the significant in-
crease in our our gold explorations. In
treating of army and navy affairs the Presi
dent rcterates the absolute necessity M bet
ter harbor delenses, AMI the hope i, express
ed that effective steps viii he taken in that
direction Immediately. H. is also suggested
that the army and navy contracts might b.
so united as To give encouragement 10 do
nestle manufacturers to enter the business
of producing gun steel and armor plates.
The reports OF the PostotIicc Department
show that the present rates of postage will
ultimately suffice To sustain the service, al
though our people enjoy now both cheaper
postage, proporlionately to distance, and a
vaster and more costly service than any
other nation ON the globe. The President
suggests that, as distinguished from grant
or subsidy, whatever outlay may be re
quired to secure additional p1stai service
requisite anl proper ami not otherwise at
tainablc, with the Argentine Republic aud
the Empire Of Brazil should be regarded II,
within the legitimate compensation for 81 ii
| service. The extension of the lrec.dcliVciy
system is recommended. The erection Z"
one or more national pcnitcntiares for the
confinement of persons convicted by the
federal courts is urged, and ii is suggested
that by employing the convic,s in govern
ment work they could be made sell sup
porting and at the same time not be brought
into undesirable competition with Tree labor
| The recommendation made last year for an
alteration in organization OF federal courts
is renewed, a. is the suggestion that a change
be made in the manner OF compromising AT
torneys and marshals.
Considerable space in the message is dc
voted To Il discussion of the Indian question
and the presentation OF additional arga
ments in favor Of the commission suggcste I
in the last message, which should be abb
to put in operation different methods oi Ia
dian management adapted 10 the different
phases of development in which the differ
ent tribes are, with the ultimate object of
alloting to them all lanaa in severalty and
| bringing them into the mass OF our citizens.
The energetic efforts of the land depart
ment under the present administration have
succeeded in restoring to the public domain
two million seven hundred and fifty thous
and acres Of land wrongiully Appropriate d,
and almost as much more is now in litigi
ton. The aggregation of public lands IN
large holdings by persans, many of whIn
are foreigners, is commented upon as ser
ious evil II is recommended that ths pre-
emption and timber culture act be repealed
and that the homestead law be SO amended
as to make the requirements of residence
and cultivation much more strict. Restric-
tons upon the alienation OF homestead
rights until after patents have been issued
are also suggested Much has been done To
secure the removal ol unlawful fences from
the public domain, but much still remains
to be done.
The report of the commissioner of pen
sions shows net increase of more than 20,
900 pensioners during the year, anl til :
President points out the injustice done by
indiscriminate pension legislation The
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