The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-12-09


Il hes hcen the policy of the goverumeat to
collect the principal part Of iss revenues BY q tax
upon imports, and no change Ia this policy II de-
sirahle. But the present condition nf aRtirs c,u-
strains our people to demand, that by . revision
Of our revenue laws, the receipts Of the govern-
ment shall be reduced to the necessary expense
Of its economical administration, and this demand
should be recognized and obeyed by the peoples
Representatives In the legislative branch Of the
government. In rcadjusiing the burdens " Fed
eral taxation, sound public policy requires that
such Of our citi1ens that have built up large and
important industries under present conditions.
should not be suddenly and To their injury de-
prived Ofadvan,ages to which they have adapted
their business, bat If the public good requires il
shey should he content with such consideration
Ms shall deal fairly and cautiously with their in
terests. while the just demand OF the people for
relief from needless taxation Is honestly an
swered.
A reasonable and timely submission to such .
demand should certainly be possible without dis
astrous shock To any interest, and cheerful cOn-
cessiOn sometimes averis abrubt and needless ac-
tion, often the OuigrOwth Of impatience and de-
layed justice. Due regard should be also ac-
corded in any proposed readjnstment tO the in
terests OF American labor SO far as they are in
vOlved.
We congratulate ourselves that there is among
US NO laboring class fixed within unyielding
bonds. and doomed under all conditions to the
inexorable fate Of daily toll We rec gnize 10
labor chief factor in the wealth of the Republic
and we treat those who have it in their Keeping
as citizens entitled to the INST careful regard
and thoughtful attention. This regard and al
tenion should be awarded them not only be-
cause labor is the capital OF our wOrkingmen,
justly entitled TO its share of government favor,
but Tor the further and not less important reason
hnff Iols
in bis humble home as a consumer, is vitality in
terested in all that cheapens the cost Of living
and enahles him TO bring within his domestic
circle additional comforts and advantages. This
relation of the wOrkingmen 10 the revenve laws
of the country and the manner in which il pal
pably influences the question of wages, should
not be forgotten in the justifiable prominence
given to the proper maintenance Of the supply
and protection of well paid labor, and these CON
sideratioDs suggest such an arrangement Of gov
eminent revenues as shall reduce the expense of
living, while il does not curtail the opportunity
for work nor reduce The compensation OF Amer-
labor, and injuriously affect its condition
and the dgnfed place it holds in the estimation
of our people.
Blu our farmers and agricultnrists, those who
from the soil produce the things consumed, are
perhaps more directly and plainly concerned
than any other OF our citizens in just and care
full system of Federal taxation. Those actually
this kind OF work number nearly one half of our
population. None labor harder or more cOntinu-
Ously than they. No enactments limit their
hours of toll No interppsiii0n of the govern
ment enhances to any great extent the value of
their product. And yet tor many of the nrces-
saries and comforts of life which the most scru-
pulous economy enables them to bring into their
homes. and Tor the implements of husbandry,
they are obliged to pay price largely increased
by an unnatural profit which, by the action of
the government, is given TO the more favored
manufac urer.
/ recommend that. keeping in view all these
considerations. the increasing and unnecessary
surplus of National income annually accumulal-
ing 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 en-
trance to such imported materials rs by Ameri
can labor may be manufactured into marketable
commodities. Nothing can be accomplished,
however in the direction of this much needed
reform unless the subject is approached IN pa
triOic spirit Of devotion to the interests of the
entire country and with willingness to yield
something for the public good.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
The public debt during the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1885, was decreased "a yO43 36.
During the twelve months ended October 81,
1885, = per cent. bonds were @ called for redemp-
tiOn amounting to $127 ,2S3, 100, of which &SO.-
643.2O0 was so called 10 answer the r. qulrements
OF the law relating to the sinking iund, and $46-
659,9OO for the purpose Of reducing the public
debt by the application of a part of the surplus in
the treasury to that object. Of the bonds thus
called $1O2 ,269, ,45O became subject under such
calls to redemption prior to November Isl. 1886.
The remainder, amounting to $25 ,013 $50, ma
tured under the calls after that dale 10 addi-
tion to the amount subject TO payment and can
collation. prior to November 1st, there were also
paid before that day certain OF these bombs, with
the interest thereon, amounting TO $5.052, $50
which were anticipated as to their maturity, of
which t$2, ,644, $50 had not been called. Thus
$lV ,34l 800 had been actually applied prior to
the 1st OF November, 1885, to the extinguish-
ment OF our bonded and inerest-bearing debt
leaving on that day still the sum of $1113443.-
112. Of this amount $86 84S, 200 were still rep
resented by three per cent bonds. They, how
ever have been since November 1s', or will at
once be further reduced by $22 ,606, $50, being
bonds which have been called as already stated
but not redeemed and cancelled before the lat.
ter date.
SILVER COINAGE
During the fiscal year ended June 3Oth. 1886
there were coined under the compulsory silver
coinage act OF 1878, 1888 9O5 silver dollars and
the cost of the silver used in such coinage was
$93, ,44S $50. There had been coined up to the
close OF the previous fiscal year under the pro-
visions OF the law $203, ,882 ,5H silver dollars and
on the LIST OF December. 1885. the to; i amount
of such coinage was $247, ,13l $40 The Director
OF the Mint reports that at the time OF the pas-
sage of the law OF 1873, directing this coinage.
the Intrinsic value of the dollars thus coined was
944 cents each. aud that on the 3lst of July.
1855, the price Of silver reache the lowest stage
ever known, 81 that the intrinsic or bullion price
of standard silver dollar at that date was less
than 70 cents. The price of silver ON the 3Oth
day OF November last was such as to make these
dollars intrinsically worth 70 cents each. These
differences In the value of the coins represent
the fluctuations in the price of silver and they
certainly do not indicate that compulsory coin.
age by the government enhances the price of
that commodity, or secures uniformity In its
value. Every fair and legal effort has been
made by the Treasury Department to distribute
this currency among the people. The with
drawai OF United States Treasury notes of small
denominations, and the issuing of silver certih-
accomplish this result n obedience to the senti-
ments OF the representatives Of the people in
Congress. On the 9th day OF November, 1885,
the people held Of these coins or certificates re-
presenting them the nominal sum of $166 e7S,-
O41. and we still had SO 464 345 in the Treasury,
rs against about $142. .694 .055 10 the hands OF
the people and $72,685,876 remaining In the
Treasury one year ago. The Director of the
Mint again urges the necessity of more vault
room for the purpose OF storing these silver dol
lars which are needed for circulation by the
people
have seen no reason to change the views ex-
pressed 10 my last Annual Message on the SUBJ
ject OF this compulsory coinage, and again
urge It's suspension on all the grounds contained