The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-12-25
ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER Is,
AARRIsoN's MESSAGE.

HARRISoN'S MESSAGE.
If Its Recommendations Are Carried Out
the Surplus Will Be Dead Issue.
AS usual in general messages from the
Executive Office President Harrison
commences with perfunctory narrative
of the relations of the Republic with
other nations of the earth. 1t is the
contribution of the State Department to
the body of the message and contains
little that is important or instructive.
1t is seldom that an Executive in gen.
eral message departs from recognized
routine. Lincoln did it when the men
ace of rebellion was upon us. Cleveland
did it when he wished strongly to
emphasize his conviction that the para
mount need of the country was tariff re-
form. But pursuing the old lines,
President Harrison opens with couple
of columns descriptive of the status of
our affairs with foreign lands, in all of
which, since we are at peace with the
world, there is little of genuine interest.
For the rest the message, save as the
Presidents view has been changed by
recent elections and by Department re-
ports, is a restatement of his letter of
acceptance and his speech on the 4th of
March last after taking the oath of office.
The obligations of his Office make him
more solicitous about the evil effects of
Treasury surplus than when he was
a candidate. The surplus for the last
year was in round numbers $4,000, 900.
The estimated surplus for the next year
is 4S,OOO,0OO. AS matter of fact this
may be falsified, and it is altogether
likely that it will, for when Con-
gress will have made its appropri-
ations 1T is not likely that the show
ing will be quite so rosy. the President
speaks upon this question as II he were
Cleveland himself, save that his rec
concentrations are not so logical. He
would have the internal tax on tobacco
removed. He would have the free list
of the custom-houses enlarged. He
would have the tariff revised; but he
would have the protective feature re,
tanned in revising the schedules upon all
| articles of domestic manufacture, and is
particularly solicitous upon paper that
farm products shall come in for share
of protection. Just how this can be
done he doesn't stop to say. The farmers
of Iowa recently considered the subject
and concluded with eminent practicable
| ity that it wasn't in the power of Con
gress to do it, The farmer can be re
lieved at the custom-house by reduc
ton of taxation. He can not be bene
fitted in any other way.
Passing from the report of the Score
tary of the Treasury the President treat!
of variety of subjects in a perfunctory
way. He wants the law for the exclu
sion of Chinese rendered more efficient
He wants coast defenses improved ant
discriminating appropriations made TO
| rivers and harbors. He recommend
legislation for intermediary Fedora
courts, increased payment of distric
judges and greater protection for Fed
eral judges and witnesses summoned
thereto. A small paragraph agains
trusts is followed by a recommendation
that an international copyright law b.
passed, that National bankrupt law b
enacted and that the naturalization law
be so amended as to guard against ad
hitting to the privileges Of citizenshi
aliens who can not be trusted.
Upon departmental questions tn
President follows the information an
adopts the recommended ton of the CHIEF
He notices that the pension roll in
wolves at tremendous expenditure, but h
asks for more upon the suggestion tina
there are numerous dependent veteran
who ought to be provided for out of tn
National exchequer. Regarding tn
Interstate commerce law the one recon
mendation, humane enough, is that CON
mon carriers be required to look specia
~ to the safety of their employees, e:
pecially brakemen and yardmen. Coz
corning the District of Columbia it
asserted that ''the laws regulating tn
sale of Intoxicating drinks should be rt
vised with a view to bringing the traffi
under stingent limitations and control,
which will be taken by testers as a 81
thrust at our amiable Vice-Presiden
mine host of the Shoreham, and it's a
tractive buffet
While recommending the Worlds Fa
he prudently refrains, of course, fro,
naming particular city.
The negro and the civil service al
taken care of in the usual method. III
message, having recommended subsidit
for ocean mail service between our por
and South and Central America, close
with suggestion which was not needle
that Congress mustn't mistake chees
pairing for economy. When Congre
will have voted large additional sun
for pensions, for education, for Goa
defense, for naval increase, for subs
dies, there will be no further need fl
the Presidents solicitude about the SUI
plus. That will disappear as totally
the lost tribes of Israel and the emba
rassment will not be, as in Cleveland
day, to find means of reducing the re
enue, but to devise ways of increasir
taxation. Chicago Times.
TARIFFS AND LABOR.