The National tribune., 1888-12-06

A AmGIlC@Au faBOEs ne CAUSE IVE HDlCA OHO DnS-
| tie is waged is comprised within lines clearly
and distinctly defined. It should never be
compromised. It is the peoples cause"
He blames Congress for encouraging pater-
| nRlism IN Government one of the abuses being
| that relief from contracts made with the GOV
| eminent is too easily accorded in favor OF the
| citizen. Ii is made too easy to support claims
against the Government, and gratuities in the
| form Of pensions are granted upon no other
! ground than the needy condition OF the ap-
| plicant or for reasons less valid.
He also criticizes Congress for its failure to
| do many things which he thinks ought to be
| done. Among these are the amendments OF
the laws relating to public lands; of those re-
/ lating 10 the management of the Indians; the
erection of prisons for the confinement of
United States convicts, and of a P0stoffice at
1 Washington. He says in this connection:
"a revision Of our pension laws could easily
/ be made, which would rest upon just princi-
pies aud provide for every worthy applicant.
But while our general pension laws remain
confused aud imperfect, hundreds of private
I pension laws are annually passed, which are
/ the sources of unjust discrimination and popu-
! lar decentralization"
He reasserts the old Democratic idea of
States rights, and quotes Gen. Jackson as a
/ supporter. C0ngratnlates the country upon
! the maintenance of peace at home and abroad.
! Regrets that the fisheries dispute is not yet
ndAtotANSJAa9 s4tjASANNf stsfA NiaN DiAiAS iva
this upon the Senate. because of the rejection
of the treaty which the State Department had
carefully prepared.
The SAckville episode is spoken of as an &C.
/ cuTrence Of q deeply regrctahle nature, and
Sackylle's oiiense +" was most grave, involving
disastrous possibilities to the good relations of
the United States and Great Britain, c0nstitut-
ing gross breach Of diplomstic privilege, and
an invasion Of the purely domestic affairs and
essential sovereignty of the Government TO
which the envoy was accredited"
Our relations with France, China, Japan,
Corca, Persia, Hawaii, Mexico and South
America arc mentioned at length and he an
nounces with sincere regret that Hayti has
again become the theater of Instruction, dis
order and bloodshed.
The proposed International American Com
merciaI Congress is commended.
He urges a revision of the naturalization
laws. 50 as TO secure record of all naturaliza-
ton papers issued, and also the reorganization
OF the Consular Service.
TIE FINANCES.
In regard TO the National finances, he says:
The total ordinary revenues of the fiscal
year ended June 50, 1855, amounted to $379,-
266,094.46, Of which $4,000, 1853 was re-
ceIyed from customs duties aud $I24, 296, ST.. 9S
from internal-reyenue taxes. The total re-
ccipts from all sources exceeded those for the
fiscal year ended June 50, 1887, by 81 662 797. TO-
The ordinary expenditures OF the Government
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1883 were
S259.653, S56.67, leaving surplus of $l19, 612,-
1868. The decrease in the expenditures as
compared with tie fiscal year ended June go
15S7, was s.. PC 52l.30, notwithstanding the
payment OF more than 100000 for pensions in
excess OF what was paid for that purpose in the
latter mentioned year.
The revenues of the Government for the
year ending june 80. 1859, ascertained for the
quarter ended sept. 80, 1858, and estimated for
the remainder Of the time, amount TO $377, 00O-
600; and the actual and estimated ordinary ex-
pendituTes for the same year are $273, 900 000
/ leaving an estimated surplus of S104000000.
4 The estimated receipts for the year ending
/ June 80, 1890 arc S357 100000 and the esti-
mated ordinary expenditures for the same time
are S210,161, 4.5.34, showing surplus of $I0I,-
232.5 &C. The foregoing statements Of surplus
do not take iuto account the sum necessary to be
! expended to meet the requirements of the sink
/ lng-iund act, amounting to more than $47,-
/ 100000 annually. The cost of collecting the
+ customs revenues for the last fiscal year was
/ PA per cent; for the year 1885 it was BIT per
cent. The excess of internal-revenue taxes
collected during the last fiscal year over those
collected for the year ended June 30 1887, was
/ IS, 4o9 I74.26, and the cost of collecting this
! revenue decreased from 81 per cent in 1887 to
! less than 80 per cent. for the last year. The
tax collected on oleomargarine was S723, 94s04
FOR The year ending June 80, 1857, and $780,
/ 1855 for the following year"
/ He iustifes himself for rot taking up more
/ OF the Douds by saying that lie deemed 1t pru-
dent to wait until the authority should
i be more explicit. After the passage, However,
/ OF Lie resolutions by both Houses of Congress.
! the purchase of bonds commenced on the 23d
/ day Of April, ISIS, and had been continued
/ until the present time. Up until the Both day
] "a =fAa N r
/ been paid with q premium amounting to $I7-
/ sos. Gl3.05. This effected a saving to the Gov
( eminent from what would have had to have
] been paid had the bends ran to their maturity
! Of 81. l65,000. This, at first sight, looks like
/ a proGtable, sensible transactions; but he be-
lieves it would have been much more sensible
instead of expanding the surplus this way not
to have drawn il from the people. They could
have made much better use of it than the Gov.
yerHmeut could. lie fears that combinations
viii be made TO raise the price of bonds.
Notwithstanding large sums paid out in the
purchase OF bonds, the surplus iii the Treasury
on the Seth day Of November, 1888, was $52,
324, 6l0.0l, after dedueting about $4,000 00(
just drawn out for the payment of pensions.
Passing TO the silver question he says there
had been up 10 June 30, 1855, 299, 708, 790 silve
dollars coined, of which but S., 829, 1903 was il
circulation and 200,3S7, 376 represented silve
certificates.
The Secretary Of the Treasury recommended
the suspension of further coinage of silver
and in this recommendation the Presiden
heartily c0ncurs.
The Army is dismissed briefly stron
recommendation is made for gun factory, an
the death OF Gen. Sheridan is spoken of as
National affection.
He is not at all in sympathy with the phil
anthropic people who want to see the Apach
prisoners now in confinement at Mt. Vernon
Ala, sent back to their reservation. He think
il is an absolute necessity that they be kep
from the scene Of their repeated outrages.
The reports of the Secretary of the Navy an
Postmaster-GeIeral are alluded to- and the cor
dition of these Departments commended. II
says of the total number of Postmasters 81, 81
are Of the fourth class. Simple justice require
that the compensation of this class of ofiicia
receive attention, and be made in some degre
adequate to their services
Revision of legislation affecting the relatio
: Of the Government with the railroads is urget
While the railroad companies have general
cordially co-operated with the Postoffice d.
partment in rendering service, yet under Til
law as il now stands there is no authority
compel owners of railroads to take and carr
/ the United States mail. The only aIternatil
in cases of refusal would be for the Postmaste
General TO send the mail by pony-express.
The Department of Justice reports that nearl
: 600 convictions have been had in the Teri
tories Of Utah and Idaho under the laws pul
! ishiBg polygamy, and decree has been rel