Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-12-04

Waiiluk ldcAlons- ln0ef color OF a DlOckaQe or
Which no reasonable notice had been given and
which does not appear to have been efficiently
maintained, seizure Of vessels under the Ameri-
can flag has been reported, and in consequence
measures TO prevent and redress any molestation
Of any of our innocent merchantmen have been
adopted.
Proclamation was duly made on the 9th day of
November 1887, of the conventional extensions
of the tre atty of June 8, 1885 with Hawaii under
which relations OF sucn special and beneficial in
tercouise have been created
The president then announces that so far the
Chinese government has not made any claim on
the money appropriated for indemnity 10 Chnese
for injuries intiicied by moos in this country and
hopes that the cessation of the mrux OF Chinese
into this country will remove cause OF unk1nd
feeling. He also refers briefly to our relations
with Japan Corea, Persia and other countries,
and urges the conclusion OF a reciprocity treaty
with Mexico congratuates Brazil on the total
abolishment OF slavery, and states our relations
with Chilli Peru, Venezuela, and other South
American countries, Zone of which are anything
but friendly. OF the ''Al-American" congress he
says:
As authorized by the congress, preliminary
steps have been taken for the assembiage at this
capital during the coming year OF the representa-
tiyes of South and Central American states,
together with those of Mexico, Hayti and San
Domingo, TO discuss sundry important monetary
and commercial topics, Excepting III those cases
where, from reasons of contiguty of territory
and the existence of a border line incapable OF
being guarded. reciprocal commercial treaties
may be found expedient, il is believed that freezer
mutual eAcndnge Oh pTOuuctS can De most du-
vantageously arranged by independent but CO.
operative legislation. In the mode last mentioned
the control OF our taxation for revenue will be
always retained in cur own hands, restricted by
conventional agreements with other govern
ments
With the rapid increase of immigration TO our
shores and the facii les of modern travel, abuses
of the generous privileges afforded by our nat
uraliZatiou laws cali for their careful revision.
The easy and unguarded manner IN which certih-
cate of American citizenship can be obtained has
| induced class unfortunately large, to avail
| themselves of the opportunity to become absolved
from allegiance to their native land and yet by
| foreign residence to escape any just duty and
| contribution OF service to the country of their
proposed adoption Thus while evading the duties
of citizenship to the United States, they may
! make prompt claim for its national protection
and demand It's Intervention in their behalf In
| ternational ,ompicati ms of a serious nature
arise, and the correspondence of tHe state de-
partmeBt disceses the great number and CO
| pticity of the questions which have been raised.
Our laws regulating the issue OF passports should
be carefully revl ed, and the institution of cen
tral bureau OF registration at the cauita is again
| strongly recommended By this means full par
| tculars of each case OF naturalization IN the
| United States woud he secured and properly in
dexed and recoried and thus many cases of
spuriou, citizenship would be detected, and unjust
| responsibilities would be avoided
| The reorganization of the consular service is
| matter of serious importance to our national
interests. The number OF existing principal
consular offices is believed TO be greater than is at
all necessary for the conduct of the public bnsi-
hess. 1t need not he our policy to maintain more
than moderate number OF principal Offices each
supported by a salary sufficient 10 enable the in
cumbent to live in comfort, and so distributed as
to secure the convenient supervision, through
Subordnat4 agencies, of affairs over consider
able district. | repeat the Recommendations
heretofore made by me, that the appropriations
for the maintenance of our diplomatic and con-
suar service should be recast; that the so called
netarial or unofficial fees which our representa-
| tives abroad are now permitted to treat as per-
sonal perquistes should be forbidden; that sys-
ten of consular inspection should be instituted;
| and that limited number of secretaries of lega-
| tiun at large should he authorized
| Preparations for the centennial celebration on
| April 80 1sSg of the inauguration of George
| Washington as president of the United States at
the city OF New York have been made by vol
untary organization of the citizens OF that local
| ty, and believing that an opportunity should be
afforded for the expression of the interest felt
throughout the country with this event respect
fully recommend fitting and cooperate action by
congress on behalf of the people OF the United
States.
The report of the secretary Of the treasury ex
hibits in detail the condition Of our national
finances and the operations of the several
branches of the government related 10 his de
partment
The total ordinary revenues Of the government
for the fiscal year ended June 30, lso5 amounted
TO 1919 607i16, Of which s2l9 o9l I73 81 was re
ceived from customs duties and sl2i, ,296 s.. q
from internal revenue taxes The total receipt
from all sources exceeded those for the fisca
year ended June 3o,1Ss7, by s. ss2, 7g7 10 Tn,
june 50, isss were sa59. .s5s, s., leaving
J surplus Of sli9,612,ll609 The decrease in thes'
| expenditures as compared with the fiscal yea
ended June 30 1887, was Ss,21S2 220 80 notwith
J standing payment Of more than s5OD0, 900 fo
pensions IN excess of what was paid for tha
purpose in the latter mentioned
year, The revenues of the government
I for the year ending June 30, 1899, ascertainet
| for the quarter ended Sept. 80 1885, and est
mated for the remainder of the time amount t
sS77 d0,0ol, and the actual and estimated orti
! nary expenditures for the same year are S273,
000,O0a leaving an estimated surplus Of slO4 oO0
900. The estimated receipts for the year endin
June 30. 1890 are s3T7, 90 600 and the estimate
ordinary expenditures for the same time ar
s275, 81, 1881 showing a surplus of Sl0l, 81
{ 5ll66.
> The foregoing statements of surplus do no
, take into account the sum necessary TO be eN
pended TO meet the requirements Of the sinkin
D fund act amounting to more than S4l 10000 al
uualy.
The cost Of collecting customs revenues for tn
, last fiscal year WIS 244 per cent; for the yea
1875 il was 81 per cent. The excess Of internf
revenue taxes collected during the last fiscal yea
over those collected for the year ended June 81
! 1887, was S., $50 17ia6 and the cost of coectin
to less than 81 per cent. for the last year. Tn
, tax collected on Oleomargarine was SS2} 94S Q
for the year ending June 30 lss. and SS5I, lS9 :
for the following year
referring To the purchase ot bonds which he
been going since April last the president give
:. the total amount and cost, and says the saving
: the government represented by the transaction
!. aggregates about S27,l65,0O0. He then pr
!, ceedsl
!. At first sight this would seem to he proftab
+ and sensible transaction the part of the go'
i ernment, but suggested by the secretary of th
I treasury, the surplus thus expended for the pu
/ chase of ronds was money drawn from the pei
a pie in excess of any actual need of the goverl
h ment and was so expended rather than allow
h to remain idle in the treasury. II this surplu
l. under the operation of just and equitable Law
l. had been left in the hands of the people it woul
!, have been wors h ia their business at least pt
cent. per annum, Deducting from the amoul
"a of interest upon the principal and premium .upo
s the bonds, and the time they had 70 run, at Il
rate of per cent, the saving Of per cent. mad
i. for the people y the purchase Of such bonds tt
+ loss would appear TO be SIS 760.N1O.
4 This calculation would seem TO demonstra
n that if excessive and unnecessary taxation is co
tinued, ard the government is forced 10 purSl
I this policy of purchasing its own bonds at Il
Y premiums which it will be necessary 10 pay II
= loss to the people will be hundreds of millions
> dollars Since the purchase of bonds was unde
s. taken as mentioned nearly all that have been 0
n fered were at last accepted. 1t has been mat
n quite apparent that the government was in da
= ger OF being subjected to combinations TO raj
n their prices as appears by the instance cited /
L the secretary of the offering of bonds of the p
- value of only s36 900 often that the aggrega
y of sums demanded for their purchase amount.
% to more than Slq7uOlO. Notwithstanding d
large sums paid out in the purchase of bonds, Il
- surplus in the treasury on the 10Th day OF Mover
= Der, leSS, was y, "a blUl, after deductIng ~
~ O0,OOo Just drawn out for the payment OF pc
70 sions,
y The secretary of the treasury's recor
70 mendations, the most important of wh'
r is that the coinage of silver dola
D. be suspended, indorsed. Also repoT
ae of the war office and the operations Of suppl
ing heavy ordnance etc, are summarized, a.
% the secretary's recommendations adopted al
8 urged upon congress. Reference is made TO Z
70 imprisoned Apaehes and the report from them
rs stated to be satisfactory but he opposes retur
IN ing them to their reservation.
o The death of Gen. Sheridan in August last W
ly a national aff1iction. The army then lost d
Mt grandest Of its chiefs. The country lost a bra
or and experienced soldier a wise and discreet con
e selior and modest and sensible man. Tho
IL who in any manner came within the range Of /
IS personal association will never fail to pay
y served and willing homage to his greatness a
the glory of his career; but they will cherish wi
u more tender sensibility the loving memory of
n simple, generous and considerate nature
m The report of the secretary of the navy demo
IN states very intelligent management in that i
. portant department and discloses the most 81
81 isfactory progress in the work of reconstruct
re the navy made during the past year OF t
~ ships III course of construction five, viz: {
as Charleston Baltimore, Yorktown, Vesuvius a
Dt the Petrol, have in that time been launched
no are rapidly approaching completion; and in
d. diton to the above the Philadelphia the S
Sc Francisco, the Newark the Bennington the C,
~ cord and the Herreshoff torpedo boat are all l
m der contract for delivery to the department d
ne ing the next year. The progress already ma
SIS and being made gives good ground for the
a. pectation that these eleven vessels will be inc
70 | porated as part of the American navy witt
OF the next twelve months.
ss The report shows that notwithstanding t
}" | large expenditures for new construction and
u additional labor they involve the total ordina
or current expenditure of the department for I
'e three years ending June 80 1855 are less than
re- more than 20 per cent than such expenditu
IN, for the three years ending June 30 1884
VI The message then takes up the postmas
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