Newspaper Page Text
ESTABLISHED 1850.
j\||'K\rS message.
Uil.E VM> COMPREHENSIVE
IMM I MENT.
foreign Krlalions-The Country’s
ii„ iil 4 mKlitlon The Taxation
~in rhe Neel of the Indians—
„ ,i e Reform—Rivers and Ilar
rln Mormon Question —Our Dead
u li tll l Marine—Removals from Of
i’,,|jtiial Assessments.
, ,'l Bouse of Representative* of
the Constitution that the
from time to tune give to the
atiou of the state of the Union
; to their eoni-ideration such
'halt judge necessary and ex
i. FOREIGN RELATIONS.
i the events of tlie year which
■ the commencement of your
* call your attention to the
o ou of our foreign affairs. Our
> !i other powers has continued
-t friendly character. Such
i- a- have arisen during the
already settled, or are likely to
adjustment.
, HRITAIN AND IRELAND.
. it i. i n-of the United States
„ . rthe recent laws, which owe
t di.-turbed condition of that
to a -oiiieuhat extended
ith the Government of Great
\ • -ition to respect our rights
ally manifested liy the release
i i-artiis. The claim of this na
!io the stt|iervisiou and control,
i ante canal across the Anteri
n-continued to lie a subject of
H i- likely that time will he
thro di-cussiou in removing
•ctwceii the two nations,
ii -o closely cemented by the
. r relations and the community
.It; KI'SS!AN EMPIRE.
-tn!: -hed friendliness w ith Rus
. and unshaken. Il has prompted
• lie earnest counsels of this gov
inca-iircs la- adopted for stip
ir. nption which the Hebrew
• untrx lias lately suffered. It
rid that any American citizen
ci id !•> arn -t or injury, but our
ii-t ranee has. nevertheless,
received. There is reason to
•:■■ nine is not fardistaut when
■ > to -ccure toleration to all
K-. PATENTS AND CORPORATE
KII.UTS ABROAD,
lor.al convention held at Paris
ended by representatives <rf the
,:i agreement was reached in
rail lion of trade-marks, pal
t the rights of manufacturing
ration-. The formulation into
recommendations thus adopted
attention which it merits,
i HON OK OCEAN CABLES.
■n of -uhmarine cables i-a suli
■ •nsideration bx an interna
al Parts. Relieving that it
. policy of ttn- government
utrali/ation of tins means of
. I ivqiu-ted our Minister to
i : nd the conference a- a delegate.
ted two of our eminent scientists
x- rep. f-entatives at the meet
•ernalional eommittee at l’aris for
r) - aOopt ion of a common unit to
' : ni - force.
- ■ inte’O XTIONAL CONVENTIONS.
liii- freou'ent occurrence of con
i' tin i onMu’-fathui of important
c .inmon inter.' I ** *" civilized na-
fully -tiggest ’hat the K.xecu
•-!. 1 liv t ongrvs- xv,*U thediscre
uvrto delegates to wh eon
tlt;*l !>ion Ik? made to defray
- incident thereto.
I REL ATIONS WITH SPAIN.
. I—lxwen the United States
to the effect of a judgment and
ud i!at uralizatmu lias not been ad
' it i- hoped and believed that the
- noxx in progress will result in the
nent of the pixsitioD which seems to
I mi nt so reasonable ud iu-i. i
i t called the attention of Congress
that in the port- of Spain and its
• icrous fines have lately been im
n vc—ds of flic fnited'states for
• linical offense- against local rcgula
l.ffort- for the abatement of
\.. imn- have thus far proved
I - —fill. I regret to inform you
.! the fees demanded by Span -
als in American |mrt- are in some
-■> large xvlien compared with the value
argo as to amount in effect to a con
ic export duty, and that any remon
- in this regard have not as yeircceived
trillion which they -is-in to deserve.
THE ItAMBIT.u CATTLE EXPOSITION.
Tae German Government has invited the
vd states lo participate in an interna
j ! exhibition of domestic cattle, to !• held
I: mtnirg in July. Iss::. If this countrv is
I rcpreoeßted.it i> important that in the
I . sol the session t ongee—should make
J !c appropriation fur lhax purpose.
I THE KINGDOM OF IT ALY.
I ' . ath of Mr. Marsh, otir late Minister
i- exoked from that government ex
it piufOasd respect for hi- exulted
c ■ and for his honorable career in the
jerviceof his country. The Ital
ium : ' has raked a question as to
■1 recognizing in hi- dual char
rvpresentaiive of tin- country re
, Sited. Uith u- .Secretary of Lem
- - 1 P General at Rome. He has
, i -VCTVtarv. but his exequatur
1 |, a - thus far beeu withheld,
xx i:xi'kai.7on treaty.
idition convent,’•■o * lth *s’lgium.
-cn m o|ieration 15.4. has
i l*!u*'l In another. The
It approval. and ra'Gfieailons
i' exchanged lietxvoen tin' r ‘JU-
Dries. To the list of extradit.'*"*
■ecu addxnl that of the assassina-'
. niptcd a—a—mat ion of the chief of
ISS-AUFRICAN CITIZENSHIP.
i a- i -cn opened xx it it Switzer
>.• a settlement by treaty of the
trier it- citizens can renounce
nice and become citizen- of thi'
' - without the consent of the Swiss
inform you that the iminigra
■ r- amt criminals from certain of
':l/erland has sub-tantially
> longer sanctioned by the au'-
roii'nleration of this subject
-i ion that the act of Aagaat
.1- for its object the return of
■t- to their own country,
dirtcd a> to lie ojien to the in
' t it affects the extradition of
f< rred charge- of crime.
I OTTOMAN Kit PIKE.
I’orte lias not yet assented to
•ii. which this government has
caty of 1830 relative to itsju
- in Turkey. It may well lie
.-r. that this difference will Ik*
ral revision of the system
e United States in the
Fast. as it is a subject to
si ion lias been atreudv called
'• r. • iry of state.
'I.J lIV4N AND COREA.
ds of justice towards < hina
- that the question of the re
• mnity fund to the governments
■ - will reach, at the present
-factory solution which I have
aded and \v hich has recently
•td by I ongrcssional discus
i.iiciy concluded with Corea
ii of the Senate.
khkdiveV domain.
'listnrlianee in Egypt the
■f Vmerican vessels served as
I he persons and property of
own citizens, and’ of
i • r countries, whose govera
-cd tlieir thanks for this
j , •"!( IIINESE TRAVELERS.
- at ion restricting the inimi
- from i hum has given rise
Uicr Chinese proceeding to
’ untry may lawfully pass
< on-truing the act of May
the treaty of No
te restriction would seem to
> - immigrants coming to
-a- talmrers. and would not
.n-.t across our territorv. 1
of i ..ngress to the subject
any. as may lie deemed act-
I HI AN REPUBLIC.
).as recently had occasion
rest in the republic of
t ■ aid the amicable settte
• ry dispute now {tending
if and the British isissc#-
vn REcirmocmr.
with Hawaii trip
nftcr scjitenilier 9th, lass.
.• by either part.*.
• -of that compact may
i-. its existence has fos
rdationa which it is ini]Mrt
i suggest, therefore, that
■ imi n in smh iMiniim
a- seem to be demanded by
' VNn SAN DOMINGO.
S creasing trade with lioth
I’'imago. I advise that pro
: t diplomatic intercourse
: iarging the scope of the
I’rinse. I regret that cer
n an citizens against the
Haytt i.avc been urged nn
•KDER LAWLESSNESS.
i.t with Mexico provides
s, tlie frontier by the armed
... intry in pursuit of hostile
ssage of last year I called
ci alent lawlessness upon
the necessity of legislation
I again invite the at ten
- and ice!. A partial re
t - -chiefs ha- lieen sought in a
now twiiiis the approval of
- also anothor touching the
* : Vo . ' 'be niternattona) boundary
States and Maim, if
, - ; i lii-d the action of CongTtieS
i 1 n-r establishing suitable com
'■S'l,r 'TT.MALAN BOUNDARY.
dispute between Mexico and
" fti led this government to
**’**, ■-i counsels to liotti parties,
shfy settled.
W 'tNEEUELAN CLAIMS.
is :i i'*w V' 1 * '“i-' ,,rre d Sn our relations
■ ’ 1 again invoke vour ac-
KL ler of the pending awards
■P i- : ■ odic, to which reference jvas
M.'J- i; vo, 'io-.-ial ike—age from the Execu-
I ' ,ast session, An invitation has
been received from the Government
of Venezuela to send representatives
in July, 1883, to Caracas for par
ticipating in the centennial celebration
of the birth of Bolivar, the founder of South
American independence. In connection xvith
thi- event it i- designed to commence the erec
tion at l aracas of a statue of Washington,
and to conduct an industrial exhibition which
w ill lie open to American products. I recom
mend that the United states lie represented,
and that suitable provision lie made therefor.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
The elevation of the grade of our mission in
Central America to the plenipotentiary rank,
which \va- authorized by Congress at the late
session, has lieen since effected.
PERI'—BOLIVI A—CHILI.
The war between Peru and Bolivia on the
one side and Chili on the other began more
than three years ago. On the occupation riv
Chili iu ISso of all the littoral territory of Bn"-
livia negotiations for peace were conducted
under the direction of the I’nited states. The
allies refused to concede any territory,
but • lull has since become master of the
whole coast of both countries and of the
capital of Peru. A year since, as you
have alradx lieen advised by correspondence
transmitted to you in January last, this gov
ernment sent a special mission to the liel
ligerent poxven- to express the hope that Chili
would W disposed to accept a money in
demnity for the exjienses of the war, and to
relinquish her demand for a portion of the
territory of her antagonist.
This recommendation, which Chili declined
to follow, this government ilid not assume to
enforce, nor can it be enforced without resort
to measures which would be in keeping neither
xvith the temper of our people nor with the
spir't of our institutions. The power of Peru
no longer extends ox cr its whole territorv, and
in the event of our interference, the dictation
of peace would need to be supplemented liv
H'e armies and navies of the United States.
>ncli interference would almost inevitably
lead to the establishment of a protectorate, it
result utterly at odd- with our past policy, in
jurious to our present interests and full of em
barrassments for the future. For effecting
the termination of hostilities upon terms
at once just to the victorious nation
and generous to its adversaries this
government lias spared no efforts save
such as might involve the complications
which I have indicated, it is greatlv to lie
deplored that Chili seems resolved to exact
-uch rigorous conditions of peace, and is in
disposed to submit to arbitration the terms of
amicable settlement. No peace is likely to be
la-tiug that i- not sufficiently equitable or just
to command the approval of other nations.
THE PROPOSED PEACE CONGRESS.
Almut a year since invitations were ex
tended tn tlie nations of this continent to send
representatives to a peace congress, to assem
ble at Washington in November. 1882. The
time of meeting was fixed at a )>eriod then
remote, in the hope.as the invitation itself de
clared. that in the meantime the disturbances
between the South American Republics would
Is- adjusted. As that eyjiectiit ion w as unlikely
to lie realized, I asked in April last for an ex
pression of opinion from the two Houses of
Congress as to the advisability of holding the
prn|s>-ed convention at the time appointed.
Tin- action was prompted in part by doubts,
which mature reflection bad suggested,
xvlietlier the diplomatic usages and traditions
of the government did uot make it fitting that
the Executive should consult the representa
tives of tlie people liefore pursuing a line of
policy somewhat novel in its character and
far reaching in it- possible consequences.
In view of the fact that no action was taken
by emigre— in the premises, and that no pro
vision had lieen made for the necessary ex-
Itenses. I subsequently decided to fiostpone the
■convention, and so notified the several gov
ernments, w hich had been invited to attend.
I am unwilling to dismiss this subject without
a—tiring you of nix support of any measures
that tlie wisdom of Congress may devise for
the promotion of peaee on this continent and
throughout the world, and I trust that the
time is nigh xvlien. with tlie universal assent
of civilized peoples, all international differ
ences shall be determined without resort to
arms by the benignant processes of arbitra
tion.
DIPLOMATIC CHANGES.
Changes have occurred in the diplomatic
r,., l .~escntatioi]s of several foreign (mux ,rs
during 'he past year. New Ministers from
tlie \rge.’*t'n* Republic, Austria. Hungary,
Brazil. Chili, China, Frame, Japan, Mexico,
tlie Netherlands and Russia, have presented
their credentials-. Tlie mi—ions of Denmark
and Venezuela at this api tot have been raised
in grade. Switzerland has created a Plentpo
tentiarx mission to this government, and an
emba.-s’v from Madagascar and a Minister
from Siam w ill shortly arrive. Our diplomatic
intercourse has lieen etitsi’ged by the
established of relations xvith the mtyr kingdom
oi servia. by the creation of a mission to Siam,
and liv the restoration of the mission to
Greece". The shah of Persia has expressed his
gratification that a ( harge d’Affaircs will
shortly l>e sent to that country, where the
right-’ of our citizens have lieen hitherto
courteously guarded by tlie representatives of
Great Britain.
AIDS TO OCEAN NAVIGATION.
I renew mv recommendation of such legis
lation a- w ill place the United States in liar
monv w ith other maritime powers w ith rc
s|H'et to the international rules for the preven
tion of collisions at sea. In conformity with
your resolution of the Sd of August last, I
have directed tlie secretary of State to address
foreign governments in respect to a proposed
conference for considering the subject of the
universal adoption of a common prime meri
dan. to lie used in the reckoning of longitude
ami in the regulation of time for the civilized
world. Their replies will in due time belaid
before you.
INTERCHANGE OF OFFICIAL Pt'BLIC ATIONS.
An agreement was reached at Paris in 1875
between the principal pow ers for the inter
change of official publications through the
medium of tlieir respectlvn foreign depart
ments. The admirable system which has been
built up liv the enterprise of the Smithsonian
Institution affords a practical basis for our CO
u)>eration in this scheme, and an arrangement
ha.- isvii effected liv which that institution will
perform the necessary lalior. under the direc
tion of the Department of state. A reason
able compensation therefor should be provided
by law.
JMJ'aOVING THE CONSULAR agKVICE.
. elau-e in the act making an appropriation
f ' diplomat)'' and consular services con
the organization of Itoth branches
Of -n b serx ic ' planed basis, leaving the
fees' l l • imire to the “* -If'fA'Te w
eordiallv favor-uch a ;•?***; •*- “Kj‘' , r "
reel abtisea in tlie present Iht ‘ V
tary of State xviU present to *“ e * *
day' a plan for such a reorganization.
OPERATIONS OF THE TREASURY.
A full and interesting exhibit of the opera
tions of the Treasury Department is afforded
by the report of the Secretary. It appears
that the ordinary revenues front all sources
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1882,'were as
follows:
From customs #±20.410,730 25
From internal revenue . 146,497.595 45
From sales of public land 4,753,140 37
From taxes oh the circulation
and deposits of national hanks 8,030,704 45
From repayment of interest by
the Pacific railway companies 840,554 37
From the sinking fund for l’acffie
railway companies 700.271 42
From customs, fees, lines, penal
ties, etc 1,343.348 (Hi
From fixs consular, letters pa
tent and lands 2,638,000 97
Front the proceeds of the sales of
government property 314,039 85
From profits on coinage, bullion
deposits and assays . 4,116,603 73
From Indian trust funds 5,705.243 22
From deiKist— ny individuals for
surveying of public lands 2,032,300 36
From revenues of the District of
Columbia. 1,715,176 41
From miscellaneous sourctsi 3,383,445 43
Total ordinary receipts , #403,523.250 28
The ordinary expenditures for the same
lieriod were: ~
For civil expenses $19,042,386 42
For foreign intercourse 1,307,583 19
For the ludians 9,7:16,747 40
For {tensions 61,345,193 05
For the military establishment,
including river and harlwr im
provements and arsenals 43,570,494 19
For the naval establishment, in
cluding vessels, machinery, and
improvements at navy yards 1 .',032.040 20
For mi-cellaiieous expenditures,
including public buildingslight-
Itouses and collecting the reve
nue. 34,539.237 50
For expenditures on account of
the District of Columbia . 3,330,743 87
For interest on the public debt 71,077,200 79
Total ordinary expenditures. #257,981,439 J>7
Leaving a surplus revenue of $145,543,810 71,
which w ith an amount drawn from the cash
balance in the Treasury of $20,737,094 84, mak
ing $100,281,505 .V>.
There was applied to the redemption of
bonds for the sinking fund $00,079,154: of frac
tional currency for the sinking fund, >58,705 55;
of the loan of .fulv and August, 1801, $02,572,050:
of the loan of March. 1863. $4,472,900; of the
funded loan of 1881. $37,194,450; of the loan of
ls> *100.000; of the loan of February, 1801,
$303,000; of the 5-20s of 1802, $210,000; of the
5-20- of 1814. *740.000; of the 6-Ms of 1860.
$650,000; of thelo-40sof 1864. $*54,550; of the
con-ols of 1813, $8,645,000; of the consols of 186.,
*4os 50; of the consols of 1868, $141,400; of the
< iregon w ar debt, $675,250; of old Ilemand,cotn
pound interest and other notes, $18,350. Total
$166,281,505 55.
Ol'R FOREIGN COMMERCE.
The foreign commerce of the United States
during the last fiscal year, including imports
and exports of merchandise and specie,
as follows:
Exi>orts of merchan
dise #750,542,257 „
Specie 40.417,479 —$. 99,959, < •#>
Imports of merchan
dise 724.639,374
Specie 42.472,390 — .6. ,111,064
Excess of exports over imports of _
merchandise $ 25,902.683
This excess is less than it has been before for
any of the previous six years, as appears by
the following table: ’
For the vear ended June 30, the excess of
evuorts over imiiorts of merchandise was in—
Vi-fi $ 79.643.481
. 151,152,094
IHTO . 264,661,666
-L', ....... 167,683,912
Cos, . 259.712,718
THE NATIONAL BANK 9.
During the year there have been organized
171 national hanks, and of thoseinstitutions
there are now in operation 2,269, a larger
number than ever before. The value of their
notes in active circulation on July J, I*2, was
t.i.ii K 56.458. 1 commend to your attention the
(-.•rotary's r jews in respect to the likelihood
of a seruius contraction of this circulation, and
to thTumdes by which that result may, in lus
judgment* be STCiUti,
SILVER AND SILVER CERTIFICATES.
In respect to the coinage of silver dollars
and the retirement of.silver dferUtuAtes I have
-een nothing to alter, but much to confirm the
sentiments to which 1 gaxe expression last
year. A comparison between tlie respective
amounts of silver dollars in circulation on
Nox'eralier 1. 1881, and on Nox'ember 1, 18s2.
shows a slight increase of a million and a half
of dollars. But during the interval there had
lieen in the whole number coined an increase
of txventy-six millions. Of tlie one hundred
and twenty-eight millions thus far
minted little more than thirty-five
millions are in circulation. The mass
of accumulated coin has groxvn so great that
the vault room at present available for stor
age is scarcely sufficient to contain it. It is
not apparent why it is desirable to continue
this coinage noxv "so enormously in etjgess of
the public demand.
As to the silver certificates, in addition to
the groumls which seemed last year to justify
their retirement, may be mentioned the effect
which i- likely to ensue from the supply of
gold certificates, for whose issuance Congress
recently made provision and xvhieli are now
in actixe circulation.
REDUCTION OF TAXATION.
tou cannot fail lo note with interest the
discussion by the Secretary as to the necessitv
of providing by legislation some mode of free
ing the Treasury of an excess of assets, in the
event that Congress fails to reach an earlv
agreement for tlie reduction of taxation. I
heartily approve the Secretary's recommend
ation of an immediate and extensive reduc
tion in all the annual revenues of the govern
ment. It will lie remembered that I urged
u|ion the attention of Congress at its last
session the importance of relieving the
industry and enterprise of the country
from the pressure of unnecessary taxa
tion. ft is one of the * tritest
maxims of |>olitical economy that all taxes are
burdensome, hoivever wisely and prudently
they are impose'!, and though there hax-e al
ways lieen among our people w ide differences
of sentiments as to the lie-t methods of raising
the national revenues, and. indeed, as to the
principles upon which taxation should lie
based, there has been substantial accord In
the doctrine that only such taxes ought to lie
levied as are necessary for a w ise and eco
nomical administration of the government.
Of late the public revenues have far exceeded
that limit, and. unless checked by appropriate
legislation, such excess w ill continue to in
crease from year to year.
For the fiscal year ended .June 30, 1881, the
surplus revenue amounted to one hundred
millions of dollars. For the fiscal year ending
on the 30th of June last the surplus was more
than one hundred and forty-five millions.
The report of the Secretary show s what dispo
sition has been made of these moneys. They
have not only answered tlie requirements of
the sinking fund. Imt have afforded a large
balance applicable to other reductions of
the public debt. But 1 renew
the expression of my conviction that such a
rapid extinguishment of the national indebt
edness as is now taking place is by no meansa
cause for congratulation. It is a cause rather
for serious apprehension. if it continues it
must speedily lie followed hx - one of the evil
results so clearly set forth in tlie reports of the
Secretary. Either the surplus must lie idle in
the Treasury or the government will !• forced
lo buy at market sates its lionds not then re
deemable, and which, under such circum
stances, cannot fail to command an enor
mous premium, or the swollen revenues will
he devoted to extravagant expenditures,
which*'xperience lias taught is ever the bane
of an overflowing Treasury. It was made
apparent in the course of the animated dis
cussions which this question aroused in the
last session of Congress that the policy of
diminishing the revenue by reducing taxation
commanded the general approval of the mem
bers of both Houses. I regret that, because of
conflicting views as to the best method by
w hich that policy should lie made ojieralixe,
none of its bene tit- have as yet been reaped.
THE PRESIDENT’S VIEWS.
In fulfillment of what I deem my constitu
tional duty, hut w ith little hope that I can
make a valuable contribution to this vexed
question, I shall proceed to intimate briefly
my ow n views in relation to it upon thesiioxv
iug of our financial condition. At the close of
the last fiscal year 1 felt justified in recom
mending to t ongress the afxtlition of all inter
nal revenue taxes, except those upon tobacco
in its various forms and upon distilled spirits
and fermented liquors, and except
also the special tax upon the manufac
turer and dealers iu such articles.
I venture noxv lo suggest that, unless it shall
be ascertained that Hie probable expenditures
of tlie government for the coming year have
lieen underestimated, all internal taxes other
than those which relate to distilled spirits can
lie prudent I v abrogated. Such a course, if
accompanied bv a simplification of tlie ma
chinery of collection, winch would then lie
easy of accomplishment, might reasonably lie
expected to result iu diminishing the cost of
such collection by at least SZ.jixyjoo, and in the
retirement from office of from 1.900 lo 2,(hh>
persons. Thesystetnof excise duties ha-uever
commended itself to the favor of the Ameri
can iNtei'le, and has never been resorted to
except for supplying deficiencies in the Trea
sury, xvlien by if’a.-oo of special exigencies the
duties on imports have proved inadequate for
the needs of the goi'ernment. Tin. tentiment
of the ir l entry, doubtless, demands that the
present excise’ tax shall tie abolished as soon
as such a course cu be safely pursued. It'
seems to me, however, thta bn 1 various reasons
so sxve>ping a measure as the total abolition
nf internal taxes would for the present lie an
unwise step. Tw oof these reasons are deserv
ing of special mention,
First. It is by no mcHnselear that, oven if the
existingsystem of duties on imports is contin
ued without modification, those duties alone
xvillyield sufficient revenue for all the needs of
the government. It is estimated that one
hiimlred millions of dollars w ill lie required
for pensions during the coining year, and it
may well be doubted w hether tlie’ maximum
annual demand for that object has yet lieen
reached. Uncertainty ujiqu ibis 'question
would alone justify, in'mv judgmeul. tlie re
tention for the present of that [Kirtion of the
system of internal revenue which iii the least
objectionable to the people.
second. A total abolition of the excise taxes
would almost inevitably prove a serious, if not
an insurmountable, obstacle to a thorough re
vision ot in- tariff, and to any considerable
reduction iu import qtuyie.- Thepresent tariff’
system i- in many respects Jt makes
unequal distributions both of its burdens and
it- benefits. This fact was practically recog
nized liv a majority of each House of Congress
in the‘passage of’ tlie act crea*ing the Tariff
Commission. The report of that commission
xvill tie placed before you at the beginning of
this session,„nd w ill. I trust,afford such infor
mation a* to the (umqiUoii and prospects of the
various commercial, agrictiUuiui, joining and
other interests of the country, a inf contain
such suggestions for statutory revision as w ill
practically aid your action upon tin* i it; port
.■nit subject.
The f'eveuue froul customs for
the fiscal rear ended June 30,
:•-(. amounting to 4t37.000.000. II ha.-ut the
three -'icceeding years reached, first $186,000.-
ihhi then *'98,000,000, ttitd iiii.'tii >, as bn* been
’ ...Iv -t’.t.,,? *220,000,000. The income from
this source lor’ the year which will end
on June 30, 1883, will doubtless be considerably
in excess of the sum last mentioned.
If the lax on domestic spirits is to lie retain
ed. il is plain therefore that large reductions
from the customs-revenue arc entirely feasi
ble. While recommending this reduction. I
am far from advising the abandonment of the
policy of discriminating in the adjustment of
details as to afford aid and protection to
domestic latior. But the present system should
he so revised as to equalize the public burden
among all classes and occupations, and bring
it into closer harmony with the present needs
of industry.
ENLARGE THE FREE LIST.
Without entering into minute detail, which
under present circumstances is quite unneces
sary, I recommend an elargement of the free
list*so as to include within it the numerous
articles which yield an inconsiderable
revenue, a simplification of the
eomp'.ex and inconsistent schedule of
duties upon certain manufactures, particular
ly those of cotton, iron and steel, and a sub
stantial reduction of the duties u{win tluise
articles and upon sugar, molasses, silk, wool
anti woolen goods. If a general revision of the
tariff should be found to lie impracticable at
this session. I express the hope that at least
some of the more conspicuous inequalities
of the present law may lie corrected before
vour adjournment. One of them is specially
referred to by the Secretary. In view of a
recent decision of the Supreme Court, the ne
cessity of amending the law by which the
Dutch standard of color is adopu-d as the test
of the saccharine strength of sugars is made
11 si obvious to require comment.
OPR MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT.
Front the report of the Secretary of War, it
appears that the only outbreaks of Indians
during the past year occurred in Arizona and
in the southwestern part of New Mexico.
They were promptly quelled, and the quiet
which has prevailed in all other parts of the
country has permitted such an addition to the
military force in the region endangered by
the Apaches that there is little reason to ap
prehend trouble in the future. Those parts
of the Secretary's report which relate to
our seaeoast defenses and tlieir armament
suggest the gravest reflections. Our existing
fortifications are notoriously inadequate to
the defense of the great harbors and cities for
whose protection they were built. The ques
tion of providing an armament suited to our
present necessities has been the subject of
consideration by a lioard, w hose report was
transmitted to Congress at its session.
Pending the consideration of that report the
War Department has taken no ste|>s for the
manufacture or conversion of any heavy can
non, hut the Secretary expresses the hope
that authority and means to liegin that im
portant work’will soon be provided. I invite
the attention of Congress to the propriety of
making more adequate apuropriation for arm
ing and equipping the militia than is afforded
bv the act of 1880. which is still upon the statute
libok. The matter ha already been the sub
ject of discussion iu the Senate, and a bill
which seeks to supply the deficiencies of exist
ing laws is now ujion its calendar.
The Secretary of War calls attention to
an embarrassment growing out of the
recent act of Congress making the retirement
of officers of the army compulsory at the age
of 64. The act id 1878 is still in fon-e,
which limits to four hundred the number
of those who can be retired for disability or
upon their application. The two acts when
construed together seem to forbid the rehev
in ~ even for absolute incapacity of officers
wtio do not fall within the purview of the
later statute, save at such times as there
chance to lie less than four hundred names
the retired list. There are now four hun
dred* awl *t wen ty , It is not likely that Con
gress intended this result, and 1 com ur with
the secretary that the law ought to be amend
ed.
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
The grounds that impelled me to 'vithhold
mv signature from the bill entitled ‘an act
making appropriations for the construction,
repair and preservation of certiun works on
rivers and harbors,” which liec.imc a lavi
near the elose of your last session, Pr”™}P;
me to express the hope that no similar
measure will be deemed necessary during the
present session of Congress. Indeed, suen a
measure would now lie open t a serious
jection in addition to that which was lately
urged upon vour attention. I am informed
by the Secretary of War that the greater por-
SAVANNAH, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1882.
tion of the sum appropriated for the various
items specified in that act remains unexpend
ed. Of the new works which it authorized
expenses hax-e been incurred upon two only,
for which the total appropriation w as s2lo,ubb.
The present available balance is itisclosea bv
the following table:
Amount of appropriation bv act of
August 2, 1882 $18,738,875
Amount of appropriation bv act of
June 19, 1882 ' 10,000
Amounnt of appropriation for pav
ement to J. 11. Eads " 301,000
Unexpended balances of former ap
propriations ’ 4,738,203
$23,791,138
Less amount drawn from the Treasu
ry between July 1, 1882, and No
vember 30, 1882 . 6,056,194
#17.734.944
It is apparent by thi-exhibit that so f;jr as
it concerns most of the items to xvhieli tlie act
of August 2d, 1882, relates, there can be no
need or further appropriations until after the
close of the present session. If. however, any
action should seem to lie necessary in respect
to particular objects, it w ill be entirely feasi
ble to provide for those objects by appropriate
legislation. It is possible, for example, that
a delay till the assembling of the next Congress
to mate additional provision for the Missis
sippi improvement might be attended with
serious consequence. If such should appear
to be the case, a just bill relating to this wquld
command my approval.
This leads me to offer a suggestion, which,
I trust, will commend itself to tlie w isdom of
Congress. Is it not advisable that grants of
considerable sums of money for divers ami
independent schemes of internal improve
ment should fie made the subject of separate
and distinct legislative enactment? ft
scarcely be gain-aid, even by those w ho fax - or
the most liliera! expenditure* for such tmr
poses as are sought to he accomplished by
w hat is commonly called the “river and liar
lior bill” that the practice of grouping in
such a bill appropriations for a
great diversity of objects widely
separated either "in their nature or in the
locality xvith w hich they ere concerned, or in
both, is one w hich is much to U: deprecated,
unless it is irremediable. It inevitably ttijds
to secure the success of the bill as a whole,
though many of the items, if separately con
sidered. could scarcely fail of rejection. Ity
the adoption of the course I have recommend
ed every member of Congress, jyhenever op
portunity should arise for giving his influence
and x-ote for meritorious appropriations, would
he enabled so to do w ithout being called upon
to sanction others undeserving his approval.
So would tlie Executive be afforded thereby
full opportunity to exercise his constitutional
prerogative of opposing whatever appro
priations seemed to him objectionable
without imperiling the success of others
which commended themselves to his judgment.
It may in' urged in opposition to these sugges
tions that tlie number of works of internal
improvement which are justly entitled lo
gox'ernmental aid is so great as to render im
practicable separate appropriation bills there
for. even for such comparatively limited num
ber as make disposition of large sums of
money. This objection may bo well founded,
and. whether it be or not, the advantages
which would be likely toensuofrom the adop
tion of the course I have recommended max',
perhaps. In' more effectually nt tamed by an
other, xvhieli I respectfully submit to Congress
as an alternative proposition. It is provided
by the constitutions of fourteen of our States
that the Executive may disapprove of any item
or items of a Dill appropriating money,w’liere
upon the part of tuo hill approved shall he a
law and the part disapproved shall fail to
become a law unless repassed according to the
provisions prescribed for the passage of bills
over the veto of the Executive. The States
w herein such provision as the foregoing js a
part of the fundamental law ure Alabama,
California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louis
ian. Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jer
sey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and
'V*est Virginia. 1 commend to your careful
consideration the question xvhethe’r an amend
ment of the Federal Constitution in the par
ticular indicated would not offer the best
remedy for what often i- a grave embarrass
ment both to members tjf t ongresf and to the
Executive, and is sometimes a serious public
mischief. *
PUB NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT.
The report ot the Secretary iif the Navy
states the movement of the various squadVony
during the year iu home and foreign waters,
where our officers and seamen, with snob
ships its we possess, have continued to illus
trate the high character and excellent disci
pline of the naval organization.
THE JEANNETTE EXPEDITION.
On the 21st of December, 1881, information
xvas received that the exploring steamer Jean
nette had been crushed and abandoned in the
Arctic ocean. The officers and crew, after a
journey over the ire, embarked in three ipjals
for the roast of Silieriu. One of ttie parries,
under the command of t hief Engineer Geo.
AV. Melville, reached the hind, and, fall
ing in with the natives, was saved. Another,
under Lieut. ( ommuudcr He Long, landed
in ji barren region near the mouth of the Lena
river. After six weeks had elapsed all hut
two of she numlier had died from fatigue and
starvation. o tidings have been received
from the party in the third boat, under the.
command of Lieut. Chipp, but a long and
fruitless investigation leaves little doubt that
all its members perished at sea. Asa slight
tribute to their heroism I give in this com
munication the names of the gallant uiet) xvho
sacrificed their lives on this expedition: Lieut.
Commander Geo. W. llc Long, Surgeon J as.
M. Ambler, Jerome J. Collins, Hans Halmer
Krichsen, Heinrich H. Kaaeke, Geo. W. Floyd,
Walter Lee, Adolph Dressier. Carl A. Gortz,
Nelse Iverson, the conk. Ah Sam, ami
the Indian Alexy. The officers ami
men in the missing boat were Lieut,
t hartes W. Chipp,commanding,William Dun
bar, Alfred S'.veetmau, Walter sharwell, Al
bert fvUehne, Jydxyapd sl.i, Henry l). War
ren and Peter E. Johnson. Lieuf. Giles B.
Barber and Ma-ter William B. Scheutze are
now bringing home the remains of Lieutenant
Dc Long ana Ills eomrades.ln pursuance of the
directions of Congress. The Rodgers, fitted
out for the relief of the Jeannette, in accord
ance with the act of Congress of March 3d,
1881, sailed from San Francisco June lti, under
the command of Lieut. Robert M. Berry.
On November"3o she was accidentally de
stroyed by’fire xihilc in winter ouarters’in St.
Law rence Bay, lint the officers and r)ejv suc
ceeded In escaping to the shore. Lieutenant
Berry and one of liis officers, after making a
search for the Jeannette along the
coast of Siberia, fell in with
Chief Engineer Melville’s party and returned
home 1 >x- way of Europe. The other officers
and th)- crew ~f the Rodgers were brought
from St. J.awreike Bay hi Hie whaling steam
er North star. Master < liarles l>. s. Puniam.
xvho hud been placed in charge of a depot of
supplies at Cope Ser'Ue, returning to his post
from st. Lawrence Bay across the ice in a
blinding snow storm, xvas earned out to sea
am! !‘isf, notwithstanding all efforts to rescue
him,
TlJl* STRENGTH OF tEE NAVY.
It appears by the aeat story’s report that il'.C
available naval force of fhu LAuvii S'"*es
consists of thirty-seven cruisers, fourteen sin
gle turreted monitors built during the rebel
lion. a large number of smooth-bore gnus and
Parrott rifles and eighty-seven rifled cannon.
The cruising vessels should lie gradually
replaced by ! roll qf steel ships, the monitors
liy- modern armored vessels, and tin; arma
ment by high power rifled guns. The recoil -
struetion of our navy,which wqs recommended
in mv last message, was begun, Congress au
thorizing in its recent act the construction of
two inffe unarmored steel vessels of the char
acter rccon.-i,ci..led by the late Naval Advi
sory Board, and suiijk.U to the final approval
of anew Advisory Board to be organized as
provided by that act.
1 call your attention to the recommendation
of the Secretary and board, that authority he
given to construct two more cruisers of smaller
dimensions and one fleet dispatch vessel, and
that appropriations be made for high power
rifled cannon for the torpedo service and for
other harbor defenses.
Pending the consideration by Congress of
the poliev to be hereafter adopted in conduct
ing the "eight large navy yards and tlieir ex
pensive establishments) the Secretary advo
cates the reduction of expenditures therefor
to the lowest possible amounts. For ttie pur
pose of affording the officers and seamen of the
navv opportunity for exercise and discipline
in tfieir profession under appropriate control
and direction the Secretary advises that the
lighthouse service and coast survey lie trans
ferred as now organized from the Treasury to
the Navy Department, and he also suggests,
fo* the reasons which he assigns, that a similar
transfer u(.y wisely be made of tlie cruising
revenue vessls.
DECLINE OF OCR OCEAN CoVIJTRCE.
The Secretary forcibly depicts the intimate
connection and inter-dependence of the navy
and the commercial marine, and invites at
tention to the continued decadence of the lat
ter and the corresponding transfer of our
growing commerce to foreign bottoms. This
subject is one of the utmost importance to the
national welfare. Methods of reviving Amer
ican ship budding anil f restoring the United
States flag on the ocean carrying trade would
receive the immediate attention of Congress.
We have fhe mechanical skill and abundant
material for the manufacture of modern iron
steamships in the face of competition with our
commercial rivals. One disadvantage in
building ships is the greater cost of latior, and
in sailing them, higher taxes and the greater
interest on capital, while the ocean high
ways are already monopolized by our for
midable competitors. These obstacles should
iu some way be overcome, and for out* rapid
communications with foreign lands we should
not continue to depend wholly upon vessels
built in the yards of other countries and sail
ing under foreign flags. With no United
States steamers on the principal ocean linos
or in foreign jiorts, our facilities for extend
ing our commerce are greatly restricted,
while the nations which build ’and sail the
ships and carry the mails and passengers ob
tain thereby conspicuous advantages in in
creasing their trade.
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
The rejiort of the Postmaster General gives
evidence of the satisfactory condition of that
department and eontrains many valuable data
and accompanying suggestions, which cannot
fail to be of interest. Trie information which
it affords, that the receipts for the fiscal year
have exceeded the expenditures, must lie
gratifying to the Congress and people of the
country. Asa matter which may fairly claim
.particular attention, I refer yod to his either
pint ions in reference to the advisability of
.changing the present ba-is for fixing salaries
and allow ances, of extending the money or
der system and of enlarging the functions of
the postal establishment so as to put under its
control tho telegraph svsteju of tjic country,
though from this fast and most important rec
ommendation I must withold my con
currence. At the last session of Con
gress several bills were introduced
into the House of Representatives for
the reduction of letter postage to the
rate of two cents per half ounce. 1 nave given
much study and reflection to this subject, and
am thoroughly persuaded that sueh a reduc
tion would be’for the liest interest of the pub
lic. It has been the policy of the government,
from its fonndation, to de’fray, as far as poesi
iU. the expenses of carrying the mails, bv a
direct tax in the form of postage, It has never
been claimed that this service ought to be pro
ductix'e of a net rexeuue. The report of the
Postmaster General shows that there is noxv a
very considerable surplus in this department,
and that henceforth the receipts are likelv to
increase at a much greater ratio than the nec
essary expenditures. Unless some change
is made in the existing laws, the
profits of the postal service will in a very few
years =we!l the revenues of the government
many millions of dollars. The time seems
uuspteious. therefore, for some reduction in
the rates of postage. In what shall that re
duction consist? A review of the legislation
which has been had upon this subject during
the last thirty years discloses that domestic
letters constitute the only class of mail matter
w hich has never been favored by a substantial
reduction of rates. Xam convinced that the
burden of maintaining the service falls most
unequally ui>on that tdass, and that.more than
any other, it is entitled to present relief.
That such relief may be ex
tended without detriment to other public
iuteresU will be discovered upon review ing tlie
results of farmer reductions. Immediately
prior to the act of 1845 the postage upon a let
tor composed of a single sheet was as totioxvs:
If conveyed 30 miles or less, 6 cents, between
80 and 190 miles, ):>>, cents; between ISO and
400 miles, 18% cents; over 4(*> miles, 25 cents.
By the act of 1845 the postage upon a single
letter conveyed for any distance under §OO
miles xvas flx’ed at 5 cents, and for am greater
distance at 10 cents. By the act of 1851 it was
provided that a single letter, if prepaid, should
Mi carried any distance not over 300 miles for :l
cents, and any greater distance for 0 cents. It
will be noticed that both qf these reductions
were of a radical eharacter.and relatively quite
as important a.- that w hich is now proposed. In
each ease there ensued a temporary loss of
revenue, but a sudden and Igrge influx of
business, which substantially repaired that
loss within three years. Unless the experience
of past legislation in the country and else
where goes for naught, it may be safelv pre
dyctad that the stimulus of 33V;, per cent, reduc
tion in 144 k iax for carriage xvould at once
increase the number of jotters consigned to
the mails. The advantages of accrt-o; jypuld
lead to a very general substitution of sealed
packages for postal cards and open circulars,
and in divers other ways the volume of first-
class matter xvould be enormously augmented
] iu Uit first year after the adoption of
j penny postage more than 25 per cent.
Asa result or careful' estimates, tlie details of
w hich cannot lie here set out, 1 have become
convinced that the deficiency for the first x ear
! after the year of tlie proposed reduction would
; not exceed 7 per cent of the expenditures, or
three million dollars, while the detieiem.y af
ter the reduction of 1845 xvas more than l’4 per
j cent, and after that ot 1851 was 27 per cent.
Another interesting comparisons is afforded
i by statistics furnished by the Post Office De
partmeui. The act of 1845 was passed in the
j face of the fact that there existed a deficiency
! of more than $30,000. That of lssl was eii
i epuraged by the light surplus of $132,000.
j The excess of revenue in the next
fiscal year Is likely to be #3,500,000.
If Congress should approve tl f ee suggestions,
it maybe deented desirable to supply to some
| extent the deficiency, which must for a time
[ result, by Increasing the charge for carrying
, merchandise, which is noxv only sixteen cents
per pound. But, even without such an in
! crease, 1 am confident that the receipts under
| the diminished rates xvould equal the ex
j penditures of the lapse of four or five years.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report of me Department of Justice
brings anew to your nolice the necessity of en
larging the present system of Federal juris
prudence so as effectually to answer the re
quirements of the ever-increasing litigation
with w hich it is called upon to deal. The At
torney General renews the suggestions of his
predecessor, that, in the interest of justice,
better provision than the existing laws afford
should be made in certain judicial districts for
llxiug the fee* of witnesses and Jurors,
THE STAR ROUTE PROSECUTIONS.
In my message of December last I referred
to the pending criminal proceedings grow ing
out of alleged frauds in w hat is known as (he
star route service of the Post Office Depart
ment, and advised you that I had enjoined
upon tlie Attorney General and tlie associate
counsel, to whom the interests of the govern
ment were intrusted, the duty of prosecuting
with the utmost rigor of the law all persons
xvho might be found chargeable w ith those
offenses. A trial of one of these eases has since
occurred, ft Occupied for many weeks the at
tentuiii qf tlicbnprenie lAittrt of this District i
and was conducted with great zeal arid ability.
It resulted in a disagreement of the jury, lnit
the cause has been ftgaiu placed upon the cal
endar and will shortly be retried. If any
guilty person shall Anally escape punishment
for the offense, it w ill not be for lack of dili
gent and earnest effort on the part of the
prosecution.
NEED OF A BANKRUPT LAW'.
I Irust that some agreement may lie reach
ed, >yhtf.)i will speedily enable Congress, xvith
thfc concurrence of the IsxecittiVe.To afford
the commercial community the benellt of a
national bankrupt law,
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the secretary of the Interior,
with its accompanying documents, presents
a full statement of the varied
operations in that department. In
respect to Indian affairs. nothing
has occurred xvliioh has changed or seriously
modified the views to which I devoted much
spare in a former communication to Congress.
I renexv the recommendation therein con
tained as to extending to the Indian the pro
tection of the law, allotting land in severalty
to such as deserve it, arid making suitable pro
vision for tlie education of youths. Such pro
vision,as the Secretary forcibly maintains, will
prove unavailing] unless it is broad enough to
include all those who are able and w illing to
make use of it, and should not solely relate to
intellectual training, but also to instruction in
such manual labor and simple industrial art
as can be made practically available.
1 AND OR X NTS TO RAILROADS.
Among other iiiiporiant subjects which are
includea in the Secretary’s report and w hich
w ill, doubtless, furnish occasion for Congres
sional action, may lie mentioned the neglect
of the railroad companies to which large
grants of land were made by the acts of 1862
and 1864, to take title thereto,and their conse
quent inequitable exemption from local taxa-
tion.
EXTENSION OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.
No survey of onr material condition can fail
to suggest inquiries as to the morel ami intel
lectual progress of the people. The census re
turns disclose an alarming state of illiteracy
in certain portions of the country, where the
provision for schools is grossly inadequate. It
is a momentous question for the decision of
Congress whether immediate and substantial
aid should not be extended by the General
Government for supplementing the efforts of
private bene licence.ami ot state, mm territorial
legislation in behalf of education.
INTER-STATE COMMERCE.
The regulation of Jnter-Htate commerce has
already been the subject of your deliberations.
One of the incidents of the marvelous exten
sion of the railway system of the country has
the adoption, of such measures by the
corporations which 6WII or control the roads
as ioi, tended to impair the advantages of
healinnit compoiitjqii and to make hurtful
discriminations in the adjustment of freight
age. These inequalities have been corrected
iu several of the states by appropriate legis
lation, the effect of which is necessarily re
stricted to the limits of their own territory.
So far hm such Mischief* affect eounijeree be
tween tlie States or between any’ one of the
States and a foreign country they are subjects
of national concern, and Congress alone can
afford relief.
THE MORMON PROBLEM.
The results which have thus far attended
the enforcement of the recent statute for the
suppression of polygamy in the Territories are
reported 1 % the Secretary of the Interior. It
is not probable that anv additional legis
lation in this regard will be deemed de
sirable until the effect of the existing laws
shall ho mqre closely observed and studied. 1
congratulate you that the Commissioners
under whose supervision those laws have
lieen put in operation are encouraged to be
lieve that the evil at which they are aimed
mav be suppressed without resort to such
radical measures as in some quarters have
been thought indispensable for success. The
close relation of the General Government to
the Territorial* preparing to become great
States may well engage your special atten
tion. It is there that the Indian disturbances
mainly occur and that is where polygamy has
found room for its growth. I cannot doubt
that a careful survey of territorial legislation
would be of the Highest utility. Life and
property would become more secure, the
liability of outbreaks between Indians and
whites'would be lessened, the public do
main would he more securely guarded and
better progress be made in the instruction of
the young.
TIJE NEEDS OF ALASKA.
Alaska is still without any form of civil
government. If means were provided for
the education of its people and for the pro
tection'of tlieir liye“ and property, the im
mense resources of the region would invite
permanent settlement and open new fields for
industry and enterprise.
THE CLAIMS OF AGRICULTURE.
Tlie report of the Commissioner of Agricul
ture presents an account of the labors of that
department during the past year, and in
cludes information of much interest to
tlie general public. The condition of
the forests of the country, and the waste
ful manner in which tfieir destruction
is taking place give caiise'for serious appre
hension, Their action in protecting the
earth's surface in regulating and sustaining
tlie flow of springs and streams Is now well
understood, and their importance in relation
to the growth and prosperity of the country
cannot lie safelv disregarded. They are fas't
disappearing before tlie destructive fires
and the legitimate requirements of our
increasing population, and their total extinc
tion cannot lie long delayed unless better
methods that now prevail snail lie adopted for
their protection and cultivation, The atten
tion of Congress Is invited to the necessity of
additional legislation for the preservation of
the valuable forests still remaining on the
public domain, especially in the extreme
Western States and Territories, where the
necessity for their preservation is greater than
in the less mountainous regions, and where
the prevailing dryness of the climate renders
their restoratton.’if they are once destroyed,
well nigh impossible.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The communication which I made to Con
gress at its first session in December last con
tained a somew hat full statement of mv senti
ments in relation to the principles and rules
which ought to govern appointments to the
public service. Referring to the various plans
which had heretofore been The subject of dis
cussion in the National Legislature—plans
which, in the main, were modeled upon the
system which obtains in Great Britain, but
which lacked certain of tlie prominent features
whereby the system is distinguished—l
felt bound to Intimate my doubts whether thev
or any of them would' afford an adequate
remedy for the evils they aimed to correct. I
declared, nevertheless, 'that if the proposed
measures should prove acceptable to Congress,
they would receive the unhesitating support
of the Executive. Since these suggestions
were submitted for your consideration, there
has been no legislation upon the subject to
which they relate, but there has hteanwhile
been an increase in the public interest iu that
subject, and the people of the country appar
ently, without distinction of party, have in va
rious xvays and u)xni frequent occasions given
expression to theirearnest xvish for prompt and
definite action. In mv judgment such action
should no longer lie jjostponed. I mav add
that my own sense of its pressing importance
has been quickened by observation of a prac
tical phase of the matter to w hich attention
has more than once been called by mv prede
cessor. The civil list noxv comprises about
one hundred thousand persons, the larger part
of w hom must, under the terms of the Consti
tution, be selected by the President, either di
rectly or through his own appointees. In tlie
early years of the administration of
the goi'ernment the personal direction
of appointments to the civil service
may not haxe been an irksome task
for the Executive, but now that
the burden has increased fully a hundredfold
it has become greater than he "ought to bear,
and it necessarily diverts his time and atten
tion from the proper discharge of other duties
no lec-s delicate And'responsible, and which in
the very nature of things cannot he delegated
tq other hands. In the judgment of not a fexv
xvho have given study and reflection to this
matter, the nation has "outgrow n the provis
ions which the Constitution has established
for filling the minor offices in the public ser
vice. But whatever maybe thought of the
wisdom and expediency of changing the fun
damental laxv iu this regard, it is certain that
much relief may lie afforded not onlv
to the President atjd to the
head-, of the departments, but to
Senator* and Kepresentatixes iii Congress In
discreet legislation. They would be protected
in a great measure bv the bill now* pending
liefore Dm sinuate or’by any utner, ’which
should embody Its Important features, front
the pressure of personal importunity and from
the labor of examining the conflicting claims
and pretensions of candidates. I trust that
before the dose of the present session some de
cisive action may be taken for the correction
of the evils which inhere in the present
methods of appointment, and 4 assnre you of
mv hearty co-operation in anv measures
xvhieli are likely to conduce to that end. As
to the most appropriate term and tenure
of tlie official life of the subordinate
employes of the government it seems to be
generally agreed that, whatever their extent
or character, the one should be definite and
the other stable, and that neither should he
regulated by zeal in the service of party or
fidelity to the fortunes of an individual. It
matter* little to the people at largo what
competent person is at tho head of this de
partment or of that bureau, if they feel as
sured thot the removal of one and the acces
sion of another will not involve the retire
ment of honest and faithful subordinates,
whose duties are purely administrative, and
have nq legitipiate connection with the tri
umph of any political or the success
of any political party or faction. It is to this
latter class of officers that the Senate hill
w hich I have already referred exclusively
applies, while neither that hill nor anv
other prominent scheme for improving the
civil service concerns the higher grade of offi
cials, who are appointed l>y the President and
continued by the Senate.
A FLEA FOB HIMSELF,
1 foci bound to correct a prevalent misap
prehension as to tliefreqnencv with which the
present Executiveha displaced the incumbent
or an office amt appointed another in his stead.
It Ims boon repeatedly alleged that ho has in
this particular signally departed from the
course which has been pursued under recent
administrations of the government. The
facts are as follows: The whole
number pt oxefutitivo appointments
during the four years immediately preceding
Me. Garfield's accession to the Presidency was
2,<59(). Of this number, 244, or 9 per cent., in
volved the removal of previous incumbents.
The ratio of removals to the whole number of
appointments was much the same during each
of these four years. In the tirst year, with 790
appointments, there were 74 removals, or 9.3
per cent. In the second, with sl7 appoint
ments, there were 85 removals, or 8.5 per
cent. In the third, with 480 apjioiut
ments. there were 48 removals, or 10
per cent. In the fourth, with 429 appoint
ments, there were 37 removals, or 8.0
per cent. In the four months of President
Garfield’s administration there were 390 ap
pointments and rewovuMCpr 22.7'per cent.
Precisely the same number of removals (8.9 per
cent.) has taken place in (he fourteen months
which have since elapsed, but the} constitute
only 7,8 peV cent, of the whole" number of
appointments (1,118) within that period, and
less titan 2.0 per cent, of the entire list of offi
cials (3,459, exclusive of tlie army tint! navy),
which is filled by Presidential appointment.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
1 declare my approval of such legislation as
may lie found necessary for supplementing
the existing provisions of the law in relation
to political assessments. In July last 1 au
thorized a public announcement that em
ployes of the government should regard them
selves as at liberty to exercise their
pleasure In making or refusing to make
political contributions, and that their action
in that regard w ould in no manner affect their
official status, fn this announcement 1 acted
upon the view which I had always maintain
ed, and still maintain, that a public officer
should l>e as absolutely free as any other citi
zen to give or withhold a contribution for the
aid of the political party of his choice. It
has, however, been urged, and, doubt
less not without foundation, in fact,
that by solicitation of official
superiors and by other modes sneh contribu
tions have at times been obtained from per
sons whose only motive for giving them has
been the fear of What might befall them if
they refused. It goes without saying, that such
contributions are not voluntary, and, in my
judgment, their collection should he prohib
ited by law. A bill which will effectually sup
press them will receive my cordial approval.
THE DISTRICT'S NEEDS.
I hope that, however numerous and urgent
may tie the demands upon your attention, the
interest of this District will not he forgotten.
The denial to its residents of the great right
of suffrage in all its relation to nation
al. State and municipal action imposes upon
Congress the duty of affording them the best
administration which its wisdom can devise.
The report of the District Commissioners in
dicates certain measures, v.buse adoption
would seem tu ho very desirable. 1 in
stance in particular those which relate to
arrears of taxes, to steam railroads and to as
sessment of real property.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
Among the questions which have been the
topic of recent debate in the lull’s of Congress
none are of greater gravity than those relat
ing to the ascertainment o.f the vote for Presi
dential Electors and the intendment of the
Constitution in its provisions for devolving
the executive functions upon the Vice Presi
dent when the President suffers from ina
bility to discharge the powers ami the duties
of his office. I trust that no embarrassment
may result from a failure to determine these
questions before another national election
CONCLUSION.
The closing year has been replete with bless
ings, tor which we owe to the Giver of All
Good our reverent acknowledgment for
the uninterrupted harmony of our foreign re
lations, for the decay of sectional animosities
for the exuberance of our harvest and the
triumphs of our mining' and manufacturing
nidi' in*' f.r tip, prevalence ft* health, the
spread cifhitetlijjenoe and the conservation of
the public credit, for the growth of the coun
try in all the elements of national greatness
for these and boundless other blessings we
should rejoice and be glad. 1 trust that under
uid inspiration of this great prosperity our
counsels may be liannonioiy, g U( , |the
dictates of prudeqcc, patriotism, justice and
economy may lead to the adoption of measures
in which the Congress and the Executive mav
heartily unite.
Chester a. Abthck.
Washington , December 4, • '
MR. (L'HAMIUiH'H HE PORT.
Our Helpless Tubs—How They Should
be Replaced—The Restoration of Our
Merchant Marine.
Washington, Dee. 4.— The report of
the Secretary of the Navy begins with a
stateiqeut qt the ai ailable cruising ves
sels of the navy, There are thirty
seven of these, of from iOO to 4,xhl
tons displacement. Only four have iron
hulls. They are sufficient for giving prac
tice to the officers and men, and for dis
playing the flag abroad, hut they have no
speed, no modern engines, and none of
the capabilities of modem war ves
sels. They should be replaced by
modern iron' or street cruisers.
Repairs of tlierie vessels should be limited
to Suall amounts and vessels gradually
put out of commission. The available ar
mored vessels are thirteen single turreted
monitors. Mult in 1862 and' 1&3, with no
speed and little power 1 . The most of them
have been laid up for several years, hut a
trial has recently been made of three
with indifferent results. The guns' of the
navy include a large number of smooth
bore muzzle loaders, some 40-pound and
80-pound Parrott rifles, and HJ converted
rifles of fair power. There is not one mod
ern high-powered gun among them, and
only 85 converted guns are worth retain
ing.
The report urges that Congress au
thorize the construction of steel armored
vessels, recommended by the late
Advisory Board, and advises the transfer
to the Navy Department of the lighthouse,
coast survey, revenue niariwe and marine
hospital bureau. Considerable space is
devoted to the condition of the American
merchant marine. Three forms of
remedy are suggested to arrest the decav
of our shipping. First* the removal of
impositions; second, protection for a
neglected industry; and third, reform "in
administration through the establishment
of a Injreau of mercantile xuarine in the
Navy Department.
Weather Indications.
Office Chief Signal Observer,
Washington, Dec. 4.—lndications for
Tuesdayi
In the South Atlanta States, slightly
warmer, fair weather, lower barometer,
and variable winds, mostly from east to
south, shifting to westerly in the northern
portions,
In the Gulf States, slightly warmer
generally fair weather, southeast to south
west winds in the eastern portion, and
lower barometer.
Thomas M. Walsh, Savannah, Ga., says:
‘T was annoyed with an eruption on mv
face. Iw as promptly relieved by Brown’s
Iron Bitters.”
CONGRESS COX VEXED.
A RATHER BUSY OPEMNG DAY
IN BOTH HOUSES.
Nexv Members Sworn In—A Variety of
Fresh Legislation Proposed—A Bill
for Prohibiting Political Assessments
—Free Ships and Cheaper Ship-build
ing Materials—The Deaths of Senator
Hill and Representatives Lowe and
l Integra tf Announced.
M ashington, Deo. 4.—ln consequence
of an nnrescinded order of the last session,
fixing the hour of 11 a, in. for the daily
assembling of the House, the second ses
sion of tlie Forty-seventh Congress xvas
to-day opened by the Speaker at that hour.
I'he galleries, though not crowded, were
comfortably filled, and on the floor a bust
ling throng ot members engaged in friendly
greetings and in exchanging jocular re
marks in reference to the recent election,
ihe appearance of the chamber is not
changed. The same dingy cariiet covers
the floor, though the revarnishing of the
desks tends to make the hall look some
what wighter, The desk occupied during
the last session by the late Representative
I pdegran, of Ohio, was tastefully dressed
in black and ornamented with a "basket of
flowers,
In his opening prayer the Chaplain of
the House alluded to the deaths of Repre
sentatives Lowe and UjidegrafF, and gave
thanks that the other members had been
preserved during the recess in health and
prosperity.
Ihe Speaker then formally declared the
session opened and the Clerk proceeded to
call the roll of members.
The roll call disclosed the presence of
‘-O', members. The following gentlemen
were then sworn in as members of the
House to fill vacancies: IL R. Hitt, of Il
linois, to succeed Mr. 1 Jaxvk; Seaborn
Reese, of Georgia, to succeed Mr. Ste
phens; CUas. M. Shelley, of Alabama, to
succeed himself.
Mr. Calkins, of Indiana, presented bv
request a memorial against the swearing
in of Mr. Shelley, but asked for no action
beyond the reference of the memorial to
the Committee on Elections, which was
done.
The Speaker laid before the House the
report of the Tariff Commission, and Mr.
Kelley, of Pennsylvania, moved its refer
ence to the Committee of XV ays and Means.
The report is submitted in manuscript,
making a very voluminous document of
2,000 pages.
-■lf. Uox, of New York, inquired whether
it was a complete report..
Mr. Kelley—lt is a finished work.
Mr. Cox—Docs tiiis discharge the com
mission ?
Air. Kelley—That is the understanding of
the commission. The if leaves
Washington to-day ett route to Europe,
Air. Cox 1 an) very happv to hear it.
[La tighter. |
The report was referred to the Commit
tee of Ways and Means and ordered
printed.
Air. Ryan, of Kansas, from the Commit
tee on Appropriations, reported vhe In
dian appropriation bill, and it was re
ferred to the committee of the whole.
The Speaker then as the regular order
proceeded to call the States for bills,
which were introduced and referred in
large number. Among them was one in
troduced by Air. Herbert, of .Alabama, to
further protect the executive officers and
employed of tlie United States Government
from political assessments, It prohibits
any Senator or Uepresemutive in Con
gress, or officer appointed by the Presi
dent, from requesting or demanding from
any of the officers or employes of the gov
ernment money or other tiling of value for
political purposes.
Air. A'ance, of Norvh Carolina, intro
duced a hill io repeal the internal revenue
laws.
Air. Ilouk, of Tennessee—To preserve
the purity of the franchise, and to punish
bribery and other offenses against a free
ballot.
Air. Dinglev, of Maine—To remove cer
tain burdens on the American merchant
marine, and to amend the laws relating to
the discharge of seamen, and also a bill
providing for the importation in bond free
ot duty of iron materials necessary for
the construction of sail or steam vessels
to be employed in the foreign carrx'ing
trade, such vessels to be built after Jan
uary 1,188:), and before January 1, 1890.
Air. Cox, of New York—To authorize
the purchase of foreign built ships Ivy
citizens of the United States for use in the
foreign carrying t-atfe. Also giving
notice of the termination of tlie treaty of
1868 with the North German Confedera
tion.
By Mr. Gibson, of Louisiana—Amend
ing the rules of the House so that
all subjects relating to the improve
ment of tlie Mississippi river shall be
referred to the Committee on Levees and
Improvement of the Mississippi River,
and granting that committee the same
privileges in reporting bills making ap
propriations for the improvement of- that
river as are accorded Jo the Committee on
Commerce iu reporting bills for the im
provement of rivers and harbors, or to the
Committee on Appropriations in reporting
general appropriation bills.
A resolution was adopted changing, the
daily hour for the meeting of the House
to 12 o’clock nootj, .
At 1 :3b the President’s message was re
ceived and immediately read. The read
ing of the message was completed at 3
o’clock, and, together with the accom
panying documents, it was ordered printed
and referred to the committee of the whole.
The testimony taken by the special com
mittee upon the Mississippi improvement
was ordered printed.
Mr. Herbert, of Alabama,then arose and
announced to the House the death o’f Hon.
Wm. Lowe, of Alabama, and was followed
by Mr. Taylor, of Ohio, who announced
the death of lion. .1. T. Updegraff, and the
House, as a mark of respect tu the memo
ry of the deceased, at 3:10 adjourned.
SRNaTM proceedings.
The Senate was called to order at noon
by the President pro tern., Senator Davis,
of Illinois. After prayer by the Chaplain’
the customary resolutions wca*> adbpted
for the appointment ot committees to
notify tho President and House of Repre
sentatives respectively, that the Senate
had convened and was ready for business.
The President pro tern, sulonitted the
reports of the Secretary, hetoanUat-Arum
and Etuanee Clerk of the senate, which
were laid on the table,
A resolution to print twenty thousand
copies of the report ol' the Tariff Com- i
mission was referred to the Committee on i
Printing.
The calendar was then fakeu U p. I
After disposing of one or two private bills 1
the Senate, at l p. m., took a recess for I
half an hour.
At 1:30 the Senate was agafh, ..ailed to !
order, and the president’s message was
read and ordered to lie printed.
Mr. Brown, of Georgia, then, in a solemn
and feeling manner, announced the death
of his colleague, Senator Hill, of Georgia.
He said:
“ Mr. President: It becomes p-y most
painful duty in this official hirin' to an
nounce to the Senate'the death of my late j
colleague, Hon. Benj. 11. Hill. That pa
triotic citizen, grand orator, able states
man and Christian gentleman died at
his residence in the city of Atlanta j
on the 16th day of August last. :
The intelligence of the death of Senator j
Hill was read with profound regret !
throughout the whole country, hut the !
people of Georgia, w hom he Had so ably !
served and who had so long delighted to !
honor him, were the greatest sufferers, i
Grief stricken, they boweff thoir heads in j
sorrow, and w ill long mourn their irrepar- j
able loss,”
Mr. Brown then offered the customary ]
resolution of regret, which was unani'- i
mously adopted, and then, on motion of !
Mr. Brown, the Senate, at 2:50 p. m„ as a '
token of respect for the memory of the :
dead Senator, adjourned.
ARM'PTOV
TUe Title of General Lee’s Heirs to the
Estate Confirmed by the Supreme
Court.
\\ ashington, Dec. 4.—A decision was
rendered by the United States Supteme
Court this afternoon ip, the tax 'sale ease
of the United fta&s, plaintiff in error,
against George W. C. Lee, which involves
the title to the tract of land in Alexan
ana county, v a., known as the Arlington
estate, which was brought hero bv writ
of error to the Circuit Court of the United
States to. the Eastern district of Virginia.
Ihe judgment of the court below in favor
ot Gen. Lee and his heirs is affirmed.
Opinion by Mr. Justice Miller, Chief
Justice Waite and Justices Gray. Bradley
and Woods dissenting.
TilE TELFAIR WILL. CASE.
Xo Decision aw Yet oil the Appeal.
"Washington, Dec. 4.—The decision of
the Supreme Court i the Telfair will case
was not rendered to-day as was expected.
The Celluloid Eye Glasses are the light
est, handsomest and most durable made!
Gat a pair. For sale by all leading jewel
ers and opticians.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Secretary LlucoD^Tßeport-Tl.e Armv-
Mississippi Improvement —The Signal
Service.
At ashington, Nov. 4.—The report of
the Secretary of War says that tlie esti
mates of the amounts which may tie
expended during the next fiscal year on
the work of improving tlie .Mississippi
river under tlie Mississippi River Com
mission aggregates $33,889,000. These
estimates are prepared and ready for sub
mission when called for. The Secretary
concurs in the recommendation of General
Sherman that the army he increased to
30,000 men. In regard to the improvement
ot the South pass of the Alississippi river
the Secretary says:
‘‘ rite last annual report from tiiis de
partment brought tlie historv of the work
to August 13, 1881. During tlie three-
August 14. 1881, to Mav
13, 188 both dates inclusive, the channel
required by law xvas maintained xvithout
interruption. During the forth quarter,
from May 14, 1882, to September 9, 1882.
both dates inclusive, there were excluded
from computation twenty-seven davs in
which the required dtmtfi of tlie channel
was not maintained. The four ouarterlv
payments of $25,000 each for the main
tenance, and two semi-annual payments
ot $25,000 each for interest on $1,000,000
retained, have accordingly been made to
Air. Eads. The total expenditures of the
government up to the latter date on ac
count of this improvement is $4,700,000."
Referring to the Signal Bureau, Secre
tary Lincoln says:
‘•The Chief Signal Officer renews his
recommendation for a distinct organiza
tton sufficiently large to perform the
work of the Weather Bureau. In this olt
ject l concur xvith him, but for reasons,
some of which tire set fortli in
my report of last year, ! recutn
mend that the Weather Bureau be
wholly separate from the army and
from its appropriations. Asa step in this
direction, and in accordance xvith the pro
vjstojn, of the act of August 7, 1882, esti
mates for the next fiscal vear
•'Vi, i- e . ~V' , '™ itted the sunt
of $1,351,159 08 to carrv on the work
of this bureau, which has here
tofore been largely paid for out of various
appropriations for the support (if the
army. It is said that for the pro,tier conduct
"ork military t\i§#sijiltne is necessa
ry. To this it may *>e replied that tiiere is no
more reason for weather observers being
subject to the articles ofxvar than there is
tor the numerous and widely scattered
employes of the Treasury, Dost office and
Interior Departments, or the agents of
the express and telegraph companies
bejng so subject, and, in fact, out of the
number of persons— 96o in all—actually
employed in May, 1882, in this work, 388
were civilians, and in addition there were
in the year 1881 about 325 Yuluufcarv ob
servers iu regular correspondence with
the Chief Signal u%'er. y
*Hi; POSTAL SERVICE.
Self Sustaining— star Route Savings—
Cheaper Postage—Small Money Orders
—Postal Telegraphs.
M ashington, Dec, 4.—The report of
the Postmaster general for the fiscal year
ended .June 30, 1882, shows a total reve
nue front all sources of $41,870,410, and
disbursements for the postal service of
$40,482,021. The report says that for the
first time in thrity-one years the postal
service is not a burden on the Treasury.
In order tq determine the real cost of tlie
postii) service for the past year, three
important modifications of the foregoing
figures should he made; First. There
should be deducted from the total dis
bursements the sum of $442,39f1, which
though paid out during the last vear, was
for service rendered during previous years
and was an outstanding liability on the
30th of June, 1881. Second. There
should be added the sum of $328 530
estimated to lie due for service
rendered during last year, and which was
an outstanding liability on the 30th of
June last, Third. There should also be
added the sum 0f51,178,i74 earned by cer
tain railway companies for transportation
of mails between the .Missouri fiver and
the Pacific. The earninga of those com
panies are not paid lay the Post Office De
partment but pursuant to the act of
March 3, 1879, are passed to the credit of
the several companies upon the books of
the Treasury, and therefore have not as
heretofore been computed with the annual'
statement ol disbursements. The account
thus staled showy an excess of earnings
ft,r the year ending June
„ n-- a } -J ,osta ) r ? venue i* estimated
tie iI,K tllc ‘ expenditures at
nlu' Vff'i-i (i-to oi- 11 ”7* 11 estimated net reve
nue of $3.929,340. In the year under re
view the decrease in the cost of the star
route vey\iye, as compared with the vear
I*l, was $1,403,501), and the decrease in
• > ftP ber ° f lniles of Kucl * service was
The Postmaster General renews his
former recommendation that a system of
small pngta) orders to be called postal
notes he established for sums under five
dollars at a cost of three cents. U<- again
recommends the abolition of postage on
second class matter, the Increase of tlie
rate on fourth Class matter and the sale of
threejcont stamped envelopes at the price
of stamps alone.
The Postmaster General shows, a de
cided leaning toward a two cent rate of
letter postage, but in view of the existing
opposition to this measure and practical
objections to it, he suggests the stamped
envelope scheme. He again recommends
the establishment of postal aaviugs banks,
and concludes with a long and strong ar
gument in favor of the government acquir
mg ail telegraph lines and combining them
with the postal service.
THE TARIFF COMMISSION.
An Exceedingly Gratifying Report.
M ashington, Dec. 4.—The report of
ihe Tariff'Commission says: “The com
mission has sought to prevent a scheme
of tariff duties ip w'hioh a substantial re
duction shall be a distinguishing feature.
An average reduction in rates, including
that from the enlargement of the free list
and the abolition of duties and charges,
and commission at which the commission
lias aimed, is not less on au average than 20
per cent., and it 15, the opinion of the com
mission that Hie reduction will reach 25
per cent. The reduction is in manv cases
trow 40 to 60 per cent.”
Jl >U’I,D THE TRACK.
A rawsfnjjpr and a Brakeinan Injured.
Thomasvillk, Dec. 4.—'The cab of the
freight train on the Savannah,Florida and
Western Railway ran off the track to-day
near the 203 mile-.post, injuring a Mr.
West, of Brooks, breaking his left arm,
apd also seriously injuring a brakeman.
Mr. West was brought here, and i. mow
lying at the Gulf House, The railroad
authorities are doipg everything they can
for the injured, persons.
THE STORM OF THE CENTURY.
Startling Prediction,, of a Canadian
Astronomer.
The President has received a communi
cation from Prof. E. Stone Wiggins LL
D., Astronomer of the Canadian Fiuauce
Department, as follows:
... ~ „ Ottawa, Nov. 27, 1882.
JoHis Excellency President Arthur,Presi
dent of the United States, Washington:
o^k Y ooj PLEASE TOUR EXCELLENCY:
On the 23d of September last I announced
through the Cauadian press that a great
storm would oecur in March next, that it
would first be felt in the Northern Pacific,
would appear, in the Gulf of Mexico on
the night of- tbo hth, and, being reflected
by the Rocky mountains, would cross this
meridian from the west at noon of March
11, 1883.
No vessel, whatever her dimensions,
will be safe out of harbor, and mine of
small tonnage can koi>e to survive the
tidal wara and fury of this tempest. As
. two wind will blow from the southeast, the
j planetary force will lie sufficient to sub
merge the low lands of the American
coast, especially those hindering on the
I Gulf of Mexico ami washed by the
i Gulf Stream, while the air currents for
several hundred miles along the east side
of the Rocky Mountain range, owing to
the atmospheric pressure in those regions,
will spread universal destruction,
The New England State* wifi also suffer
severely from the wind and floods. No
point outside of harbor, in the whole area
of the Atlantic, especially north of the
equator, will lea place of safety , for this
will l>e pre-eminently the greatest storm
that has visited this continent sauce the
davs of your illustrious first President
In view of this event, therefore, I take
the great liberty of representing to vour
Excellency the advisability of ordering all
United States ships into safe harbors not
Cater than the sth of March till this storm
be passed.
.Pag* & Turner, Hartwell, Ga., sav:
**We find a ready sale, with perfect satis
faction, for Brown’s Iron Bitters.”
I BRICE SIO A TEAR. I
I 5 CENTS A COPY. |
FLASHES FROM ATLANTA.
YESTERDAY'S WORK IX THJ
LEGISLATURE.
Proposal for a Constitutional Conven
tion—Senator Brown’s Gift to the
University Refused—Redlstrioting the
State—Appropriation of Lands for
Lighthouse Purposes—Abatement of
Nuisances in Savannah.
Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 4.— ln the House
yesterday, Mr. Wright, of Floyd, moved a
reconsideration of the action of Saturday
I striking out the tax on foreign corpora
tions loaning money in Georgia.
A resolution was adopted for an after*
i noon and night session.
A message from the Governor was read
covering a letter from the Postmaster
General as to the mailing of interroga
tories and their delivery by Postmasters
in Georgia.
Mr. Dart, ot Glynn, wishing to settle
the constitutional convention question in
tlie best manner possible, introduced the
following joiut resolution:
“Whereas, The present constitution of
the State has been found, after several
years trial, to be defective in main re
spects. and productive of numerous draw
backs in connection with attempts at eco
nomical and prompt legislation; therefore,
be it
I,'i‘solced, That a committee of three
from the Senate and five from the House
| be appointed to consider the propriety of
calling a constitutional convention, and
report by bill or otherwise.
A resolution was adopted for a call of
counties on rhursday fbr the introduction
of new bbsmess.
The Military Committee reported
against the State loaning guns to the
Buena A ista School, as setting &
bad precedent.
The rules were suspended, and several
local bills were introduced.
The special order of the day was the
bill perfecting Senator Brown's donation
of fifty thousand dollars to the University.
Mr. Rountree, of Brooks, moved to table
the resolution of Mr. McGregor, of B ar
ren, to refer the matter to the Judiciary
Committee, but Mr. Lofton, of Bibb, spoke
against both propositions, and they were
defeated by 84 nays to fit) yeas, after a
contest which was sharp and’ bitter. rfThe
debate was opened by Mr. Lofton, who
spoke until the hour of adjournment in
favor of the bill.
At the afternoon session, Messrs. Reese,
of Wilkes, Watts, of Stewart, and Bart
lett of Bibb, opposed the bill as uncon
stitutional and exacting in its provisions.
Mr. Harris, of BiliL, made a very brilliant
speech in supjiort of the bill, which was
replied to in a strong argument by Mr.
Little, of Muscogee, The Chair
man of the Finance Committee, as a
member of the constitutional convention,
amply explained the constitutional objec
tions to the bill. Hearty applause fol
lowed many of his strong and clear ex
positions. Mr. Sweat, of Clinch, moved
that the committee of the whole rise und
report the bill back with a recommenda
tion that it do not pass. Mr. Crenshaw,
of Troup, moved to amend so that it do
pass, but his amendment was lost by 36
yeas, 78 nays, and by a large majority Mr.
Sweat’s motion was adopted.
The action of the House was delayed by
speeches of Messrs. Calvin, of Richmond,
and Russell, of Clark,, of the Educational
Committee, in behalf of the bill. The final
vote was 94 yea* and 44 nays on adopting
the ad verso report, wbich'killed the bill.
Messrs. McDonough and Falligant, with a
majority of the South Georgia memljers,
voted yea. Some of Senator Brown’s
worst opponents voted for the bill, and it
was defeated purely on constitutional
grounds.
A glance at the sections of the consti
tution referring to the bonds of the State,
and then at the provisions of the bill, will
show where they come in conflict.
In the Senate tlie following new bills
were introduced:
Bv Mr.Rolhill—A bill raising the salary
of the Secretary of the Railroad Commis
sion to $1,860.
By Mr. Smith—Amending the act regu
lating the practice of medicine in Geor
gia; also, exempting doctors from a pro
tessional tax,
A resolution was offered by Mr. Du-
Bignon for a joint committee on redistrict
mg the State, to meet during the recess
and re [tort to the July session, adopted.
Also, a joint resolution by Mr. Barks me
morializing Congress to improve Bruns
wick harbor.
A bill compelling railroads to erect
warehouses and put agents at their sta
tions by direction of tlie Ralroad Commis
sion was passed after an able argument bv ■
Mr. Meldrim. J
The following were also passed: The
JJouse lull allowing llancoc*k county to
issue bonds to build a court house; a bill
incorporating the Spring Creek Canal and
Improvement Company; the Senate bill
changing the time of holding the Superior
Courts of the Northeastern Circuit:
a bill transferring Laurens from the
Oconee to the Oemulgee Circuit:
A lull declaring of full force the act of
1857 encouraging persons making wills to
provide a permanent fund for the col
legiate education of poor boys; a bill pre
scribing the fees of Judges and Bailiffs of
County Courts in certain cases, and pro
viding for their payment.
Hie following House bills were also
passed: A bill changing the time of bold
ing the Crawford Sujierior Court, and a
bill chartering the Canton and Hawkins
vilie Railroad.
The House bill allowing the Judges of
County Courts to sit in other courts was
tabled.
Commissioners from the Boston Me
chanics and Manufacturers Association
were on the floor of the Senate and House
to-day to secure a Georgia display at their
exposition next year.
The House is holding a night session.
NIGHT SESSION.
In the House, at the night session, Mr.
Rountree, of Brooks, moved to recommit
the minority and majority reports upon
the Wilson-Proctor contested election
case from Camden, for further considera
tion, but the motion was not carried.
The special order, the bill authorizing
the State Treasurer to sell sixteen bonds
of SIO,OOO each, derived from the purchase
| of the Macon and Brunswick Railroad
and apply the proceeds to the redemption
of maturing ls.iids, was passed without
debate. Also, the bill exempting the Floyd
Rifles, of Macon from jurv duty. Also
the bill chartering the Metropolitan Street
Railroad, of Atlanta. Also, the bill fixing
the liquor license in Berrien county out
side Alapaha.
Mr. McDonough succeeded in getting
the Judiciary Committee together, and
rcportMl at this point favorably on
the bill to take the lands iff private parties
for lighthouse and beacon purposes. Read
a second time.
Ihe House passed the bill amending the
chat ter of Macon as to officers ana the
moe of electing the same. Also the bill
amending section 4,875 of the Code, re
quiring the Mayor and Aldermen of Sa
vannah to abate nuisances. Also the bill
repealing the act regulating the liquor li
cense in Eastman. Also the bill amend
ing the charter of Atlanta. Also the bill
allowing the Commissioners of Commons
in Columbus to grant land for railroad
purposes. Also the bill reducing the
capital stock of the Bank of Augusta.
All motions to adjourn were voted down,
The House got thin and a messenger was
sent out and a quorum secured. The
Speaker ordered the doors dosed, hut after
the passage of g few local bills the Ilouee
adjourned at 10:30, having done a hard
day’s work.
More “Slow” Mails,
Sloat’s Mill, Clinch cqcnty, Dec. 3.
—Editor Morning Ne u>s; I don’t like to be
ranked with the clgaa of grumblers so com
mon to every community, but when a man
is in the woods and his mail is the only
source of communication with the outside
world, both socially and for business, and
then has to lie depriv ed of it for a week at
a time, what can he do but growl ?
The finn of S., B. & Cos. have not receiv
their mail since Monday.
Who is to blame? Alapaha.
Miss Mary J. Windle, once a popular
writer at the South and in Washington, is
?:‘‘d 'J® living in poverty and want in
1 hiladelptua. Almost any fine day she is
to be seen on Chestnut street, dressed in a
blue and black plaid dress, w ith small
fur cape and a huge poke bonnet, from be
neath whieh fall her long gray curls.
Sometimes she carries in her haud a huge
umbrella, sometimes a bandanna hand
kerchief, and sometimes a slice of bread
and butter, which she eats as she walks.
She lives in a half-furnished attic, and her
only sure income amounts to $7 a month.
From twenty to thirty years ago her books*
“Life in Washington,” “Lite at White
Sulphur,” “Glances Here and There ”
and “Sketches of Women of the South’”'
had a wide sale, and she realized much
money therefrom. But she lent it to a
relative, aud thus lost it all.
" Bucbupaiba.”
Qtiiek, complete cure, ail annoying Kid
ney, Bladder and Urinarv Diseases. SI.
Druggists. *