The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-12-11
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Review of National Affairs-Silver Coin
age-Revenues OF the Government
The Surplus--Pensions-
ton Of Taxation-Synopsis
of the MasaaRa.


The message of President Cleveland to both
Houses of Congress was read in those bodies upon
their assembling on Monday 1t is comprehen-
sive document and discusses with much force the
leading questions of the day. After referring to
a number of minor matters the President proceeds
to the discussion of the more important national
problems. The message states that the revenues
of the year ended June 80, 1886, show an in
crease of $13 749, 020.68 last year. there be-
ing an increase of S11 ,434, 0S4.1O from customs
and of 81, 4O7,2l9.04 from internal revenue, and
falling off in other receipts of 5000, 27436. The
expense of collecting both customs and internal
revenue have been reduced, the net saving being
$6460 900. The total ordinary receipts were $780,
439, 727 .O6, and the total ordinary expenditures
were $242, 4S3. 1850. The expenses were S17,-
7SS, 1917 less than the preceding year, and the sur
plus $93 $50, $3.50, increase over the year
ended June 30, 1885, of $50, 49,, Sl729. For the
current year the estimated surplus will be ninety
millions. The income of the government is de-
clared to be now more than ever in excess of
public necessities. The application of the surplus
to the extinguishment of the public debt would
retire all the public Indebtedness which can be
now called in in less than year. 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done, either the surplus must be withdrawn from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 perver-
sion of the relations between the people and the
government. When more than is needed to pay
the debts of the government and to provide for its
economical administration is collected, "such ex-
action becomes ruthless extortion and a violation
of the fundamental principles offree government"
The President says that those who toll for daily
wages are beginning to understand that capital is
sluggish till it springs into sctivity touched by
the hand of labor, and gains the value which en-
ables it to bear the burden of federal taxation,
and they have begun to thoughtfully inquire
-vho.h.- in there circumstances, and oonsfdefrng
the tribute they constantly pay into the public
treasury, they receive their fair share of advan-
tages. There is also suspicion abroad, adds the
President that the surplus indicates abnormal
business profits, which, under the system which
produces such surplus, increase, without CORES
ponding benefit to the people at large, great for
tunes which are not the natural growth of steady,
plain and industrious republic
The burden to which the agricultural interest,
the most important of all in the country, is sub
iected 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 in
vove 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 recon-
mends that the increasing and unnecessary sur
plus of the national income annually accommodating
be released to the people by an amendment to our
revenue laws, which shall cheaper the price of the
necessaries of life and give freer entrance 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, 131 $40
Ofthis amount at the present time the people hold
either in coin or silver certificates S166,S73,
The recommendation of last year that the coinage
be suspended is renewed upon all the grounds
there set forth, reinforced by the significant in
crease in our gold expectations.
In treating of army and navy affairs the Presi-
dent reiterates the absolute necessity of better
harbor defenses, and the hope is expressed that
effective steps will be taken in that direction i'm
mediately.
The reports of the Postofice Department show
that the present rates of postage will ultimately
suffice to sustain the service, although our people
enjoy now both cheaper postage, prorortionately
to distance and vaster and more costly service
than any other notion on the globe.
The erection Of one more national peniten-
tiaries for the confinement of persons convicted
by the federal courts is urged, and it is sugges-
ted that by employing the convicts in government
work they could be made self-supporting and a
the same time not be brought into undesirable
competition with free labor.
Considerable space in the message is devoted
to o 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 management adapted to the
different phases of development in which the diff
ferent tribes are with the ultimate object of al
loting to them all lands in severalty and bringing
them into the mass of our citizens.
The energetic efforts of the land department
under the present administration have succeeded
in restoring to the public domain two million
seven hundred and fifty thousand acres of land
wrongfuly appropriated, and almost as much
more i su nov IN a tlg4slon gas fggssgs,lGn
of whom are foreigners, is commented upon as o
serious evil. 1t is recommended that the pre-
emption and timber culture acts be repealed, ant
that the homestead law be SO amended as to maxi
the requirements ofresdence and cultivation mucf
more strict.
The report of the commissioner of pensions
| shows a net increase of more than 10000 pen
| sioners during the year, and the President point
out the injustice done by indiscriminate pension
| legislation.
Upon the question of the relations of labor ant
| capital the recommendations in the special mes
| sage of last year that the labor bureau be givel
| powers to arbtrate in cases between employer
and employees voluntarily referred to it are renew
ed, and it is declared that after law has done al
| that it can "much more remains to be accomplish
| ed in the reinstatement and cultivation of a tru
| American sentiment which recognizes the equalit
| of American citizenship"
The work of the department of agriculture i
favorably commented upon and the extension o
its functions suggested. The application by Con
gress of such legislation as the constitutions
limits will permit to the extinction of the pleuro
pneumonia among the cattle of several States j
| recommended
| 1t is stated that the continued operation of tn
| law relating to the civil service has added tn
most convincing proofs of its necessity and use
funess, and the cheerful and ungrudging supper
of Congress is invoked for the reform.
The plain duty of paying the unpaid claims t
the depositors in the Freedmen's Savings an
Trust Company is called to the attention of Con
| gress.