Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-14

expecting IN those cases where, from reasons
OF eongut Gs territory and the
being guarded, reciprocate CONNER:
cisl treaties may be found expedient.
It ie believed that commercial policies tDduc-
ing free mutual exchange Of products can be
most aovahtag' ously arranged by independ-
ent, but cooperative legislation in the trade
for revenue will be always retained IN our
own hands unrestricted by conventional
agreements with other governments In
conformity also with congressional authority,
the maritime powers have hecn invited to
confer 10 Washington IN April next upon the
practicaoii,ty q devsing uniform rules and
mes ,ures for the greater security of life and
prosperity at sea. A disposition to accept on
the part Of number of the powers has al
ready been manifested, and If the. co.opera-
ton Of the nations chiefly interested shall be
secured, important results may confidently be
anticipated.
The act of June %, 1884, and the acts
amendatory thereof In relation to the tonnsge
duties have given rise to extended cores
pondence with foreign nations with whom we
have existing treaties of navigation and com.
merce and have caused wide and regretable
divergence of opinion In relation to the impo-
sition of the duties referred to. The ques-
tions are important and ehall make them a
subject OF special and more detailed commu-
nication ut the present session.
IMMIGRATIoN.
With the rapid increase of immigration to
our shores and the facilities of modern travel
abuses of generous privilege affor ded by our
naturalization laws call for their careful re-
vision. The easy and uDguarded manner in
which certificates of American citizenship can
now be obtained ha induced class, unfOrtu-
nately large, to avail themselves of the op
portnnity to become absolved from allegiance
to their native land and yet by forefgn resi-
dence to escape any just duty and contribu-
ton OF service to the country of their pro-
poted adoption, thus while evading the du-
ties of citizenship to the United States they
national protection, and demand ths inter-
vention In their behalf International COM
plicattons Of serious nature have arisen aud
the correspondence of the state department
disclosed-the great number and completely
of the qualifications which have been raised.
Our laws regulating the issue of passports
should be carefully revised and the Institution
Of central bureau of registration at the
capital is again strongly recommended. By
this means full particulars OF each case of
naturalization in the United States would be
secure and properly tndexed and recorded
and thus many cases Of spurious citizenship
would be detected and unjust responsibilities
would be avoided. Tue reorganization of the
consular service is a matter Of serious import
ance to our national interests
TIE CONSULAR SERVICE.
Tue number Of existing principal consular
Offices is believed to be greater than is at all
necessary for the conduct Of public business.
1t should not be our principle to maintain
more than moderate number of principal Of
fees, each supported by salary, sufficient to
enable the incumbent to live in conf rt aud
supervision through subordinate agencies of
affairs over a considerable district.
repeat the recommendation heretofore
made by me, that the appropriations for the
maintenance of our diplomatic consular SER
vice should be recast; that the so called no.
torial or unofficial fees which our representa-
tives abroad are now permitted to treat as
personal perquisites should be forbidden;
that system of consular inspection should
be instituted and that limited number of
secretaries of legation at large should be au-
thorized.
THE INAUGURATION CENTENNIAL.
Preparations for the centennial celebra-
ton on April 80, 1880, of the Inauguration of
George Washington as president of the
United States at the city Of New York have
been made by voluntary organization of the
that an opportunity should be afforded for
the expression Of the interest felt through
out the country with this event respect
fully recommend fitting and cooperate action
bv congress on behalf OF the people Of the
United States,
THE TREASURY.
The report of the secretary of the treasury
exhibits in detail the condition of our national
finances and the operations of the several
branches of the government related to this
department. The total ordinary revenues of
the government for the fiscal wear ended June
30, 1888, amounted to 1915, 266, 074.76, Of
which $780, 173 GO was received from Gus
TIE, g 81 n
revenue taxes.
The total receipts from all sources exceeded
those for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1857,
by SIS, 627, 97l 10. The ordinary expenditures
of III ii cal year ending June so, 1888. were
$259, $50, 95S 81, leaving surplus OF Sl19 6l2,-
1850. The decrease in these expenditures
as compared with the fiscal year ended June
80, 1887. was IS ,27S, 22O 3D. notwithstanding the
payment of more than five million dollars for
pensions In excess Of what was paid for that
purpose In the latter mentioned year. The
revenues VI the government for the year end
ing June 80, 1889, aecertatned for tn. quarter
ending September 30 1888, and estima ted for
the remainder Of the time, amount to S377,-
coo, 900 and the actual estimated ordinary ex-
pendttures for the same year are 1913, 90, 600,
leaving an estimated surplus Of $l04 0OO, 90. ).
The estimated rectints for the year ending
June 80, 1890, are s377, 000, 900, and the est
time are ss75. 767, ASS. 81, ehowing a surplus Of
SOL ,232, 5ll.66. The foregoing statements
Of surplus do not take into account the sum
necessary to be expended to meet the require
ments Of the sinking fund act, amounting to
more III an al 00O, 900 annually. The cost Of
collecting the customs revenues for
the last fiscal year was 244 per cent
for the year 1885 It was 377 per cent.
The excess of internal revenue taxes col
lected during the last fiscal year over those
collected for the year ending June 80, 1887,
was s ,4s9, 174.2i, and the cost of collecting
this rev nue. decreased from 81 per cent. in
1887 to less Than 70 per cent. Tor last year.
The tax collected on oleomargarine wa $723,
04S.U4 for the year ending June 81, 1857, and
S164, 9.SS for the following year. The re-
quirerncnts Of the sinking fund act have been
met for the year ended June 80, 1888, and for
hecurrent year also by the purchase Of bonds.
After complying with this law, as positively
required, and bonds sufficient for that pur-
pose had been bought at premium, 1t was
not deemed prudent to further expend the
surplus in such purchases until the authority
to do 60 should be more explicit
A, q resolution, however, has been
passed by both houses of congress
removing all doubt as to executive authority,
the daily purchases Of bonds were commenced
ON the s3l day Of April, .1sss, and have con-
tinued until the present time. BY this plan