The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-12-05

base OF military supplies for either OF the war;
ring factions. Under color OF a blockade. of
which no reasonable notice had been given and
which does not appear TO have been efficiently
loan dag has been reported aud in consequence
measures 10 prevent and redress any molesta-
tion OF any OF our innocent merchantmen have
been adopted.
COMMUNICATIONS WITH HONOLULU
proclamation was duly made ON the 9th day
of November. 1887, OF the conventional exten-
sion OF the treaty OF June 3. 10 s. with Hawaii,
under which relations OF such special and
benencent intercourse have been created In
the vast held OF Orien al comm rec now un-
folded from our Pacific borders no feature pre-
sents stronger recommendations for Congres-
sional action than tbs establ shment OF COM
munication by submarine telegraph with Homo
lulu The geographical position OF the Hawaiian
group, in relation to our Pacific States creates n
natural interdependeney aud mutually OF in
terest which our present treaties were intended
TO foster. and which make close communication
logical and commercial necessity.
OUR SISTER REPUBLIC.
The wisdom OF conc udlng a treaty OF COM
mercial reciprocity with Mexico has been here
tofore stated in nv messages 10 Congress- and
the lapse OF lime and growth OF commerce with
that ciose netghbor an sister Republic confirm
the Judgment SO expressed. The precise relo-
cation OF our boundary Inns is eedful an ade-
quate appropr alton IL now recommended.
IL Is with sincere satisfaction that 1 am en-.
nbled To admit the spirit of good neigbborhood
ana friendly cooperation and concil alton that
has marked Tn CORES BON ience and action OF
tho Mexican ~ thorites n their shars of the
task in maintaining law and order about the
line OF our common boundary.
The long pending boundary dispute between
Costa Ricn and Nicaragua wa referred to nv
arbi ration, and 10y an avn rd ma on the 22d OF
March last tns question has been finally settled
10 the expressed satisfaction of DO h of the par
ties in in cres..
Other ioreien mat ers referred To are the abo-
lition OF slavery in Brazil. the claims against
Chilli, Hayti, and Venezuela, and the assem-
blags at Washington during the coming year Of
the representatives OF south and Central Amori-
can StMo', with those of Mexico. Hay l. and
San Domingo, 70 discuss important commercial
topics.
THE NATIONS FINANCES.
The report OF The Secretary OF The Treasury
shows That the total ordinary revenues of the
Government for the fscal year ended June 30
loS'. amounted TO s349, z65,O4 g, Of which S21),-
0uNlG3 was role.ved from customs duties
and STA 29j.Si % from internal re venue taxes
The total receipts from all sources exceeded
those for the rs nj yea ended June 20, 1887, by
~, 6!,,9ilO. The ordinary exp nditures for The
fiscal year ending June 30 1SSS, were $3.50 g B.
9.SG7 leaving surplus o. Sll96l2,1l6.09. The
decrease in cape iiturt as compared with the
hscal year ended June -, 1857, ~, 27s DO 80,
Notwithstanding payment OF more than
SjOO,DO for pensions in excess of what
was paid for that purpose in the latter
ment Oned year. The estimated receipts for
the year ending June 80 1890, are S3i7, 900,
and the estimated ordinary expenditures for
the same time are s275,Iel ,4sS. "A. showing a
surplus Of Sl0. 232, 5l1.66. The foregoing state
ments OF Surplus do not take into account the
sum necessary TO DO expended 10 meet the
ing 10 more than ) ,7,OJJ,OVO annually. The cost
OF collecting the Gus loms revenues for the last
fiscal year wac 2.4i per for the year 1895 it
was 3. n per cent The excess OF internal revenue
taxes collected during the last fiscal year
those collected for the year ended June 30, 1887,
was So 4SJ 74.2j, and the cost OF collecting this
revenue decreased from 3. 4 per cent in 1887 TO
less than 3D. per cent. Tor the last year The tax
cole ctcd on oleomargarine STz3, 9lS "a for the
year ending june 80, 1887, and 1854, l31SS for the
following year
The requirements of the Sinking Fund Act
have he IN met for the year ended June 81, 1888,
and for the current year. also by the purchase
of bonds. After complying with this law,
positively required and bonds sufficit mt Tor that
purpose had been bought az II premium, il was
not deemed prudent u further oXtend the sur
plus III such purchas until the authority to do 30
should TO more explicit. A resolution, ho viewer,
having been passed by both houses of Congress
removing all doubt as to Executive authority,
daily purchases OF bonds were commenced on
the I'D day OF April, 1888, and have continued
until the present time. By this plan, bonds OF
the Government not yet due have been pur-
chased up TO and including the 3 tn day of No
vember 1853, amount NC TO SJi, 700, 400 the pre-
MUM paid thereon amounting TO Sl7. sos 6lAOS.
The premium added TO the principal of these
bonds represents an investment yielding about
per cent interest for the time they still had to
run, and the saving to the Government repre-
sented by the difference bstween the amount OF
interest mt 2 per cent. upon the sum paid for
principal and premium and what it would have
paid for interest at the rate specified on the
bonds. IL they had run TO their maturity, is
about so, $4,000. At first sight this would
seem TO be profitable and sensible
transaction on the part OF the Gov
Secretary OF the Treasury, the surplus thus ex-
pended for tho purchase Of bonds was money
drawn from the people in excess of any actual
need OF the Government, and was so expended
rather than allow it to rem ain idle in the
ury. If this surplus, under the operation of Just
and equitable laws. had been leIt IN the hands
OF tho people, it would have been worth in cir
business at loast per cent. per annum. De-
Quoting from lie amount OF int rest upon the
principal and premium upon the bonds and tho
time they hnd TO run Mt the rate OF per cent,
the saving OF y r cent. made for the people by
the purchase OF such bonds, the loss will APP
pear to be S5j7 o. 30 This calculation
would seem TO demonstrate that IL excessive
and unnecessary taxation is continued, and
the Government is forced to pursue this
policy OF purchasing its own bonds at
the premiums which it will be necessary TO paw,
the loss 10 tho people will be hundreds of
millions of dollars. since the purchase OF bonds
was undertaken as mentioned, nearly all that
ha been offered were at last accepted. 1t has
boon m ade quito apparent that tho Government
was in niger of being subjected to combina-
tions 70 raise their price. No withstanding he
large sums paid ont I'm tho purchase OF bonds,
the surplus in the Treas ry on the 18th day OF
November, 1888, was S52,2 81 ,6loOl, after deduct
ing about S2J.OtO,0O0 just drawn out for the pay
ment of pensions
At tho close of the fiscal year ended June 80
1887 there had been coined under tho compul-
sorry silver coinage act, 1866 $500 in silver
dollars, $50 50l, 371 of which were in the hands
of the people. On the 3Jth day Of June, 1873,
$jj. S2J, 3.3 was in circulation in coin and $780,
3S7, $40 in silver certificates, for the redemption
of which silver collars to that amount were
held by tho Government
On the 30th day oil November. 1888, 1912, So
900 had been coined ,99J of the silver dol
lars were actually in circulation. and S257, AS
3l6 i'm certihca es. The Secretary recommends
the suspension of the further COMA 90 of silver,
uni in such recommendation L earnestly con-
cur
THE ARMY
Tho Secretary of War reports that the army,
at the date of the last returns consisted OF 3 lSJ
officers and "A, $40 enlisted men. The actual ox-
penditures OF the War Depart ment for the fiscal
year ended June 81 1888 amounted to 81, l65.-
1901, of which sum S9.15S,5l6 was expended
for public works. including river and harOor inn
provements Plans and Specifications for guns
OF large calber including dynamite guns, and
for the establishment of an army gun factory
have been prepared and bids for the work will DO
advertised for. The recommendation of the
Secretary OF War that there shal be plan for
the examination of officers to test their fitness
for promotion il approved
The death OF Gener Il Sheridan in August last
was n national afliction. The army then losG
the gran lest of its chiefs. The country lost
bravo and experienced soldier, wise and dis
erect counselor and modest and sensible
man. Those who In any manner came within
the range of his personal association will never
fail to pay deserved and willing homage TO his
greatness and the glory OF his career; but they
will CHI IRISH with more tender sensibiity the
loving memory of his simple. generous and con-
siderate n tture.
The condition OF the Apache Indians. 3S2 in
number. held as prisoners NJ Mount Vernon bar