Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1888-12-13

mercial policies. including freer mutual
exchange of products, can be most advan-
tageously arranged by independent but
cooperative legislation. In the mode
last mentioned the control of our taxation
for revenue will be always retained in our
hands unrestricted by conventional agree
ments with other Governments.
In conformity also with Congressional
authority, the maritime powers have been
invited to confer in Washington In April
next upon the practicablity of devising
uniform rules and measures for greater
security of life and property at sea. A
disposition TO accept on the part of num-
Der of the powers has already been mani
tested, and If the cooperation of the
nations chiefly interested shall be secured
important results may be confidently an
ticipated
TANNAGE DUES.
The act OF June 26 1884. and the acts
amendatory thereof in relation 10 tonnage
duties have given rise to extended cores
pondence with foreign nations with whom
we have existing treaties of navigation
and commerce, and have caused wide and
regretable divergence of opinion in rela
tion to the imposition of the duties refer
red to. These questions are important,
and | shall make them the subject Of a
special and more detailed communication
at the present session.
NATUR,IIz,TIoN.
With the rapid increase of immigration
to our shores and the facilities of modern
travel, abuses of the generous privileges
afforded BY our naturalization laws call for
their careful revision. The easy and un-
guarded manner in which certificates of
American citizenship can now be obtained
has induced a class, unfortunately large 10
avail themselves of the opportunity to be-
come ah~olved from allegiance TO their ma
tive land. and vet hv foreign residence
to escape any just duty and contribution Of
service To the country of their proposed
adoption. Thus. while eyading the du-
ties of citizenship 10 the United States,
they may make prompt claim for its nation
al protection and demand it, Intervention
In their behalf International COmplica-
tiOns of a serious nature arise, and the
correspondence of the State Department
di>close> the great number and cnmplrNity
of the questions which have been raised.
our laws regulating the Issue Of pass
ports should be CAREFUL, revised, and the
institution OF Il central bureau of rcgI>tra-
tinn at the capital l. again strongly
Llar> of each case Of naturalization IN the
United States would he secured aud prop
crly indrxcd and recorded and thus many
eases Of spurious citizenship would NJ
detected and unjust responsibility would
lie avoided.
DIPLOMATIC A>p CoN>tttE sERNICE
The reorganization Of the consular ser
vice j. = matter of serious Importance to
our national interests The number of
existing principal consular offices !, be-
lievcd % bc greater than j. at all necessary
for the conduct of the public business
1t need not be our policy to maintain more
than a moderate number Of principal offices
each supported hy a salary sufficient I" en-
able ;hc incumbent to live in comfort and
50 distributed A. to secure the convenient
supervision, through subordinate agencies
of affairs, over considerable dis
trict.
repeat the recommendations heretofore
made by me that the appropriations for
tnc maintenance of our diplomatic and
Consular >cr,icc should be rcca~t; that
the >o-caIlrd notaral or unofficial fce>,
which our representatives abroad are now
permitted 10 treat rs personal pcrqui>ite>.
should b. forbidden; that system of Con
sular inspection should be- instituted; aud
that Il limited number of Secretaries OF
Legation at large should be authorized
NE APPROACHING CENTENNIAL~
Preparation for the centennial crlchra-
tion on April 80, l9-9 of the Inauguration
Of George Washington a President of the
nitcd States, at the city of New York,
have been made by a voluntary organtha-
tion Of the citizens of that locality. and
believing tkat an opportunity should be
afforded for the expression OF the interest
felt throughout the country in the event,
/ respectfully recommend httng and CO.
operative action by Congress on behalf of
the people Of the nited states.
THE Cn~pIrIo< nF uUE fINtNCL~.
The report Of the Secretary Of the
Treasury exhibits in detail! tine condition
OF our national finances and the up,rttt',~
OF the several branches Of The GuN,tum, ni
related to hi, department. The total og-
binary revenues OF the Government for the
fiscal year ended June 80. 1855, amounted
to s379, 2G6, ,u74.5G, Of which S2l9 09l, ,l13.-
IS wa, received from custom, duties and
Sl2i .296. SIP. from internal revenue
taxes. The total receipts from all sources
exceeded those for tile fiscal year ended
June 20, l>s1, by s. ,sG2 191.lo The ordl-
nary expenditures of the Government for
the fiscal Year ending June 30, lsN~, We're
$3.50, ,Gj3 9JN 81, leaving surplus OF SllH.-
6l2 llG.U9. The decrease IN these eNpcn-
dlturcs. a. compared with the fiscal year
ended June 30, l-S1. was S-,2lS, -"n,
notwithstanding the payment ot more than
- 900 600 for pensions IN excess OF what
WAS paid for that purpose in the lat
ter mentioned year.
The revenues oil the Government for the
year ending June 80, lss9, ascertaiucd for
the quarter ended Sept. 30 lesS, and csti-
mated for the remainder of the time,
amount to s177, 900 600, and the aCtua! and
estimated ordinary expenditures for the
same year are S273 900 600, leaving an e.
tinated surplus Of SlDt oOo 900. The e>u-
mated receipts for the year ending June
80, 1890 are S371 900 900. and the e>tlmat-
ed ordinary expenditures for the same time
are S27j 761 4ss.34 showing surplus OF
SlUl 232 81 G6.
The foregoing statements of surplus 30
not take into account the sum necessary
to be expended to meet the requirements
of the sinking act. amounting To more than
S47 900, 900 annually. The cost of collect
Ing the customs revenues for the last rs
cal year was > "A per cent, for the year
1855 it was 377 per cent. The excess OF
internal revenue taxes collected during the
last fiscal wear over those collected for the
wear ended June 80 1881. was 50, iS9, l'i.-
26, and the cost of collecting this revenue
decreased from "a per cent, in 1887 10
less than 80 per cent, for the last year
The tax collected on oleOmargarine was
S723 ,94s.04 for the year ending June 80
1887, and Ss64 l39. ss for the following
year.
SUSPENSION OF SILVER COINAGE RECON-
MENDED.
At the close of the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1887. there had been coined under
the Compulsory Silver Coinage Act S266,
ass $50 in silver dollars, S55, ,504 $40 of
which were in the hands of the people.
ON the Both day of June, 1855, there had
been coined S299 70s, 100. and of this 500
s29, ,303 was in circulation in coin and
$500, ,3S7 ,376 in silver certificates, for the
redemption of which silver dollars to that
amount were held by the Government.
On the Both day of November, 1850,
1912 ,679, $50 had been coined; S6O,91o,94O
of the silver dollars were actually IN cir-
culation. and S237 ,4lS,346 in certificates.
The Secretary recommends the suspen-
sion of the further coinage of silver, ana
in such recommendation | earnestly con
cur. For further valuable Information
and timely recommendations | ask the
careful attention of the Congress to the
Secretary's report.
THE ARMY.
The Secretary of War reports that the
army, at the date of the last consolidated
returns, consisted of 2lS9 officers and "a
$40 enlisted men. The actual expenditures
Al