Huntsville gazette. [volume], December 11, 1886, Image 1

About Huntsville gazette. [volume] (Huntsville, Ala.) 1879-1894

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HUNTSVILLE GAZETTE
BY HUNTSVILLE GAZETTE COMPANY. "With Charity for All, and Malice Towards None.1* SUBSCRIPTION: 51.60 n.r Annum.
VOM'ME VIII. _ HUNTSVILLE, ALA., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1886. NUMBER 1.
TOPICS OF THE DAI.
News from Everywhere.
\ BRixt»n Cabinet council on the 3d dis
pissedtho advisability of further prose
cutions >n Ireland. _
Sever arrests have been made at
yew York for attempts to tamper xvirh
the 3IcQxiade jury
The convention at Philadelphia laid out
, nian for eelebrut ing the centenniaLnf th®
.< >v-. Federal Constitution.
ircmW to our Monterey (Mexico)
correspondent, a bloody civil war is among
the probabilities for our sister republic.
THE San Francisco mining boom eon
tiuues unabated, the excitement permeat
,„g all classes.. Several failures are re
ported. t__
lu no me sr "'as rendered at Boston on i
j.1 ’.craiust Bon Butler in favor of the
Soldiers^ Home for over $16,000. He will
appeal. ___
\ .f.S'Ai ros' has been created in Peru by
the publication of a pamphlet referring to
recurrences within the walls of the Merced
I monastery.
TTv.Kxapp. of Groveton. Ind., applied
i tn tie Government for back pay as a sol
dier. and is now locked up as a deserter
during theTvar.
The Comptroller of the Currency has au
thorized the First National Bank of
Shreveport, La., to begin business with a
capital of *300,000.
A delegation’ of tobacco men are in
Washington urging the arriving Congress
men to modify the tariff provisions in ref
erence to leaf tobacco.
Mu tun. J. Hess, a laborer, jumped off
| the Brooklyn bridge on the 4th and won a
wager of twenty-five dollars. He escaped
without apparent injury.
| It is rumored at Belgrade that the Bul
garian regency will make overtures to
' King Milan to induce him to become a can
didate for the Bulgariau throne.
Reports from Albany. N. Y., are to the
effect that thirteen grain-laden boats en
route for tidewater are frozen in the canal
between that point and Little Falls.
| A private government circular has
been issued to the police throughout Ire
land forbidding them to assist in any man
net \n the inforcement of evictions.
TntKF.T has sent a noto to the Powers
Biting advice on the solution of the Bul
rarian difficulty. The note betrays an en
tente between the Porto and Russia.
The will of the late President Arthur
ms filed for probate in New York on the
4th. With the exception of a few minor
bequests, his estate is left, to his two child
ren.
■ ~
Tin: American Opera Company, Theo
< ' Thomas, president, ceased to exist on
cull. Its successor is the National Op
era Company. Theodore Thomas, first-vice
president.
The customs officers at San Francisco on
the 2d seized *20,000 wort h of opium on the
steamer Rio Janeiro, recently arrived
from China. The drug was found in the
coal bunkers.
-•
Tin: Secretary of War, by direction of
fte President, has ordered Lieutenant A.
^ Greely to take charge of the Signal
bffiv during the temporary absence of
l ' rral Hazen, the chief signal officer.
Jktotal receipts from internal revenue
the first fo ur mouths of the present
year were 129,465,441, a decrease
'• us compared with the receipts
e‘.rmg ft,, corresponding period of last
Trk official canvass of Michigan shows
as: votes were cast for Governor at
'■ lute election, of which Luce (Rep.) re
ared IS 1,474. Yaple (Fusion). 174,012;
'etc (Pro. i. 23.179: scattering. 190. Luce's
Lurality, 7,4:J2.
T'"oriunt; to the report of Treasurer
iipts of the United States
Ir,.'asi"7 fm- the year were $12,749,029
■'1V' and the expenditures $17,743,796
titan last vear—increase in net re
*3t).4!t2.S'25.
I •. >1PUTHi:kia is epidemic at Wilkinson
I j, r?i an eastern suburb of Pittsburgh,
f « ?ver hundred eases have been
! ort0('. nuny of them quite serious. The
of the trouble seems to ’oe a defeet
" system of drainage.
Jj ’he will of James Gordon, a wealthy
‘.n.ed Cincinnati merchant who died re
wh'cU was probated on the 2d.
V t.S a Request of §5.000 to the Home of
,'>«,dlcsv and a like sum to the col
‘ ,rr>lum asylum at Cincinnati.
-.
-m.mvn\j: James, of New York,
the indorsement of various
tj,-,'1 reform associations and philau- j
d i^rgauizations for his bill toestab
^-•“onal penitentiary and will en
r o secure its passage this winter.
, t• *’• T. U. of St. Louis adopted a
^ inn'vsat 11 ’neeti“e °n 'be :,d. express
tH.p ^'bcaiiun that- Mrs. Whitney, wife
s ■ivt,' <;T1'l'*u:'y °f the Navy, gaveadin
' , ""as attended by Mrs. Cleveland
"ite “ ' ’"'lies, anti whereat all drank
utt.0!:11' during mill, at St. Cloud,
ls ''"recked aud burned by an ex
HHJ; in l“e hight of the 2d. Loss. $00,
>bt „ ?1:>.00o. Lus Krause, the
pfobabh- i°1' " ,as badly burned, ami will
oftvW, le' f'-renty thousand bushels
' "’ere burued.
"fjrse -^tShleul'8 rheumatic leg was
’'ted t<,cn‘n "U !.be so that he was con
flate Hr.v,1' private apartments of the
b suftor-~ ct'\* ll0.1 ‘ecelve visitors,
frtur'' 7dre pains in the tendons run
fbe cail .°f 'be leg up under
'e to di t aDa bas so far been una
^ remedy that w ould quiu
PERSONAL AND GENERAL.
Bishop Baoshaw of the Catholic diocese
of Nottingham, England, recommends
Catholics to resist payment of church
tithes as an unjust Protestant tax.
Willie Arnold, the twelve-vear-old son
of a wealthy resident of Reading, Pa., is
missing, and is thought to have been kid
naped.
Congressman Price, of Wisconsin,'died
at his home in Black River Falls on the titlr
Ihe loss on the Lyons mansion at Lyons
tails, N. Y., which was burned on the night
of the 5th. will amou nt to over vr.T^jr*’
inrce^Tftlvif It. was one of the finest resi
dences in the State.
J. L. Loiselle, proprietor of the Bijou
dry goods store at Worcester, Mass., has
gone to Canada, leaving creditors behind.
Shortly before his flight Loiselle raised
$8,100 by mortgage on his stock. The stock
and fixtures are worth $15,000, and the
debts are 515,000 above the mortgage.
L. R. Herzog & Son’s tannery, at South
Berwick, N. H., was burned on the 6th.
The fire started in the packing-room and
spread very rapidly. The loss is estimat
ed at from $75,000 to $100,000: insurance,
*25,000. The fire is supposed to have been
of incendiary origiu.
Mrs. Lucy' Madison, mother of Fanny
Lillian Madisou, Cluverius’ victim, has
written to Governor Lee of Virginia, beg
ging him to let the law take its course.
A parxellite member has declared that
they will not permit the consideration of
any business in the Commons until Dil
lon’s case is considered.
Senator Vest, of Missouri, is to see the
President about Colonel Benton's case as
soon as Mr. Cleveland’s health will permit
the reception of visitors.
The will of Ann Wain Ryeras. leaving a
legacy of 570,(XX) in trust to the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to
found an infirmary for sick animals, was
admitted to probate at Philadelphia on the
6th.
The issue of standard dollars from the
mints during the week ended December 4
was $581,011. The issue during the corrc
sponding period of last year was $690,393.
The shipments of fractional silver coin
during November amounted to *747,491.
M. Ribeau, for a number of years, chair
man of the committee on appropriations of
the French National Assembly, was on the
floor of the Senate at Washington on the
Oth, and was presented to a number of
Senators by Senator Allison.
Information was received on the Oth by
United States Consul-General Phelan at
Halifax, N. S., that the fine of 5400 in the
Marion-Grimes case would bo repaid by
the Dominion Customs Department.
Mn. T. Mercier, the celebrated Alaskan
traveler and explorer, is in Ottawa, Ont.,
on business connected with the geological
survey. Mr. Mercier spent fourteen years
in Alaska and lias attained a wide reputa
tion for research in the history raid cus
1 toms of that country.
XLIXTH CONGRESS.
IS the Senate ou the eth the reports of Reads
of departments were presented and ordered
printed. The oath of otliee was administered
to Senator Williams, of California. Sev
eral bills were introduced and re
ferred. The President's message was re
ceived and read.In the House
Hr. S. S. Cox was sworn in: Henry W. Rusk,ot
Maryland, and Henry Bacon, of New York, also
qualified. The President's message was read
and ordered printed. A committee was ap
pointed to attend the funeral of the late Con
gressinan Price, of Wisconsin.
LATE NEWS ITEMS.
The Secretary of the Treasury esti
mates the amount required to defray the
expenses of the government for the fiscal
year ending July next, at *325,185,794.
Slit. E. Virdzk, of Jackson, Miss., has
closed a sale of 42,000 acres of land lying
iti Tallahatchie county, Miss., to a Chicago
capitalist named Merriman.
The great stove works of Perry & Co.,
of Albany, N. Y., are to he removed to
Chattanooga, Tenn.
■The Forty-ninth Congress met ou the
0th, the President’s message was read and
a general hand-shaking indulged in, but
little business was done.
The issue of standard silver dollars front
the mints during the week ending on the
4th was $581,011. The issue during the
corresponding period of last year was
$099,393.
Rioting was renewed in Cork, lreiauu,
on the Gtb. The police were hooted by
large mobs, but so far as known nobody
was injured.
Gov. Hughes on the (,ih appointed Mrs.
Emma 1). Mills, of New York City, com
missioner of deods for the Stato of Ar
kansas.
Ten business houses were destroyed ty
fire at Yazoo City, Miss., on the Oth.
The President is not near so ill as re
ported; he is subject to infrequent attack
of rheumatism which usually settle iu the
tendons about the kueo.
The commissions of s.xty presidential
postmasters will expire during the pres
ent month. Ou the reassembling of Con
gress the President will have the appoint
ments of about 150 postmasters made dur
ing the recess to send to the Senate for
confirmation.
John Miller, aged 80 years, was frozen
to death iu Summit county, Ohio, ou the
3d. He attempted to cross a swamp, and
fell into the mire. When found his body
was frozen fast in the mud.
Citizens of Chicago arc organizing to
build an opera-house to cost .$1,000,0*10,
greatly exceeding the usual size.
The steamboat) St. John dropjped her
guards on the 4th forty miles below Mon
roe, I .a., precipitating 1000 bales o' cotton
into the river.
Snow fell at Huntsville, Ala., ou the
5th to the depth of eight inches.
One hundred and seventy-two bales oi
cotton and a box car were Lurned at
Greenville, Miss., ou the 4lh. The lire was
die work of an incendiary.
The steamboat Charles Morgan, plying
betweeu Cincinnati and New Orleans,
burned at Fulton, Ky., on the 4th. I.os»
$50,000; partly insured. She bad not made
anv trips this fall
Tre fiftieth Congress consists ot 1*<
Democrat?, 152 Republicans aud four in
dependents.
SOUTHERN GLEANINGS.
Southern hotel-keepers, it is said, fear
that the earthquake will decrease their
chances of beeomir g rich this winter.
A farmer near Manchester, Tenn., has
an eight-months old heifer calf which
gives oue-half a gallon of milk per day.
lu Decatur, Ala., recently, a man was ar
rested who put a counterfeit in dollar the
contribution box and took out genuine
coins in change.
The jail at Somerville, Tenn., was de
, strojggii by- .x- ffrtsrfff.fTU
lew clays ago. Nine men in confinement
there were transferred to Memphis.
Louisiana boasts the largest plantation
on earth—one hundred miles long by twen
ty-live wide.
F. M. Levy, a prosperous merchant at
Baton Itouge. was accidentally shot and
killed a few evenings since.
A. & S. Rosenfeld, clothiers at Atlanta,
Ga., are insolvent, them debts and assets
balancing at *45,000.
Granville Brown, a boy of Mt. Vernon,
K>.. was caught in a burning barn a few
days ago, and perished in the flames.
In a quarrel at Petersburg, Va., a few
days ago. Mary Sprigg threw a lighted
kerosene lamp at Susan Sparloclc, who was
almost roasted alive by the burning liquid.
A collision of trains near Greenwood,
Mo., a few days ago, caused the death of
Eljah A. Magoffin, postal clerk, a nephew
of the ex-Governor of Kentucky.
The destruction of the Winn Parish (La.)
court-house by a fire of incendiary origin
occurred a few days since. The building
bad been saturated with coal-oil, and burned
so rapidly that no time was given to save
the records, all of which were destroyed.
What is known as “the wholesale block,”
in Montgomery, Ala., a new building occu
pied by wholesale merchants in different
branches of business, was burned a few
nights ago. The block is situated in the
centre of the business portion of the city.
The wind was very high and the fire was a
fierce one.
Fresh encumbers are being shipped from
Florida to Northern markets.
A Georgia fanner has a partridge that
follows a hen and her chickens about the
yard.
There are only thirty-three inmates in
the Mississippi Blind Asylum. The build
ing cost the State 800,000.
A couple of sportsmen in Lowndes Coun
ty. Ala., recently killed 143 squirrels in one
day.
The Arkansas Supreme Court has decid
ed that Sunday can not be ignored by those
who observe Saturday as Sunday.
Little Maggie Hill, of Fayetteville, Tenn.,
although only six years old, pla3*s the
violin almost as well as the host teacher
in the State.
During the past few 3-ears land in many
Florida counties has doubled in price. The
population has also doubled.
One of the richest men in San Antonio,
Tex., is Chop Hop, a Chinaman, Mho has
an English wife. He is now on a visit to
the Flowery kingdom.
Mayor Guillotte of New Orleans has sus
pended Chief of Police Pacliemin for in
competency, charging him also with em
bezzlement.
Dr. Bradshaw, of Longview. Tex., was
recently relieved of his wallet, containing
8-4. (XX), at Dallas, by pickpockets.
The Cape Uatteras (N. C.) fishery was
very successful in catching porpoises this
season. In six days over four hundred
porpoises were caught. They are caught
for their skins, which are converted into
leather.
The recent fire at Raleigh, N. C., in tho
cotton yard, in the heart of the city, de
stroyed 1,319 bales, causing a loss of ¥48,
(XX). all save 88,(XX) covered b3’ insurance.
Salvage will not exceed ten per cent.
A negro in male 01 me poor-nouse ai
Anniston. Ala., is attracting a great ileal
of attention by his peculiar actions, which
are said to be similar to those of a dog.
He eats, drinks aud barks like a canine,
and it seems to be his chief pleasure to as
sociate with one.
Four years ago Fred Therwanger was
the poorest man in Jeffersonville, Kv. He
didn't have a dollar, but his son had four
teen dollars, and with this Fred bought a
keg of beer, a jug of whisky, some glasses,
and rigged up a rough bur. He is now
worth over *10,000.
The cotton planters in lower North Caro
lina are said to luive experienced much
trouble in securing labor this season. Last
year laborers were paid thirty-five cents
per hundred pounds for picking, but this
year they demanded fifty cents i-er hun
dred. and a number of planters refused tc
pay that amount.
On J.ookout mountain, a few days since
a man named Bryant lost bis life by thaw
ing dynamite in a fire. Both his legs were
torn off by the explosion which followed.
Immense forest fires recently ravaged
Bladen,- Brunswick and Columhus coun
ties, N. C., and large tracts of timber have
! been burned.
Two Chinamen secured wives by eloping
with white girls from Augusta, Ga. Out
of these events grew a feeling of hostility
which led to attempts with fire and dyna
mite on the houses occupied by the Chine.,3
colony.
In Winston Count*. Miss., recently, u
young man concluded to get married in a
new suit of clothes without paying for
them. He went to a tailor, obtained the
clothes on credit, got married, and re
turned them to the tailor the next day,
claiming that they did not fit him.
Willie Hines, the seventeen-year-eld son
of a well-to-do farmer of West Point, Ga.,
eloped with and married Miss New-some,
ten vears his senior, a few days ago. In
order to keep his father from following
him. the young man smashed the family
carriage and threw the saddle into the
well. _
There was a serious fire at Aiken, 3. C.,
a few- days ago. Fight buildings were de
stroyed. * The total iosses are estimated at
$24,000, aud the insurance at $22,000.
The residence of Mr. George Phillip*
near Oudville, Harris County. Ky- burned
to the ground a few days ago. with all its
contents. Loss about $2,500. on which
there was an insurance of $500. The lire
is supposed to have been the work of an
incendiary.
\ parti-colored baby is reported to have
been born recently at Aberdeen. Miss. Its
father is a very black negio: its mother a
light mulatto. Half the child s body ys
black the other half nearly white: the
ha*r on one sUle of its head is irintfy: on
the other, light aud straight, while on«
eye is black and thc ot>'r blue.
i PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Interesting Synopsis of a Lengthy
Public Document.
, Oar Foreign and Domestic Feint ions lie
viewed -The Tariff and Silver Oues
tions, and Others of Equal Oeu
eral.Imereti ninnssed.
m
; ■**-»-.»«**: atv.i.w. * -President Cleveland's
| message opens with the usual survey of for
eign relations, and one-third of the document is
! devoted to discussion and review of this im
- portant lopie. Our Government, he says,
j has consistently maintained its relations of
; friendship toward all other powers, and a
| neighborly interest toward those whose posses
i Kions are contiguous to our own. Few ques
tions have uriseu during the past >ear with
j other governments and none of those arc be
I jond the reach of settlement in friendly
I council.
The cruel treatment of inoffensive Chinese in
the far West, is alluded to, and in speaking of a
remedy he says the paramount duty of main
taining public order and defending the interests
of our own people may require the adoption of
measures of restriction, but they should not
tolerate the oppression of individuals of a spe
cial race.
Discussing the fisheries question, so long a
Subject of anxious difference between the
United States and Great Britain, the President
says the questions involved are o' great
consequence, and from time to time,
for nearly three-quarters of a century, have
given rise to earnest international discussions,
not unaccompanied by irritation. Temporary
arrangements by treaties have served to allay
friction which, however, has revived as each
treaty was terminated. While desirous that
frieudly relations should exisi between the
people nr Hie United States and Canada, the
action of Canadian officials during the past
season towards our fishermen has been
such, the President thinks, as to threaten
their continuance: and although disappointed
in his efforts to secure a satisfactory settlement,
of the question, negotiations are still pending"
w ith reasonable hope that before the close of
the present session of Congress the announce
ment may be made that an acceptable conclu
sion lias been reached.
Alluding to our relations w ith Hawaii, the
President recommends an extension for seven
years of the reciprocity treaty of lb 13. He ur
gently renews his recommendation of legisla
tion to carry into effect the American recipro
city treaty of January. and proposes to
Jntiate negotiations with Mexico for a new and
enlarged treaty of commerce and legislation.
Referring to the Cutting case, he says the in
cident lias disclosed a claim of jurisdiction by
Mexico novel in our history, whereby an offense
committed any where by a foreign penal in the
place of its commission.^ ml of which a Mexi
can is the object, may. ip he offender be found
in Mexico, be there tieeu and punished in con
formity tvilli Mexican laws. This jurisdiction
was sustained by the courts of Mexico and ap
proved by the executive branch of that Govern
ment upon tiio authority of a Mexican statute.
The Appellate Court, in releasing Mr, Cutting,
decided that a band- nment of the complaint by
the Mexican citizen aggrieved by the alleged
crime in libelous publication), removed the
basis of further prosecution, and also declared
justice to have been satisfied by the enforce
ment ot a “fr ail part of the original sentence.
The admission of such a pretense, the President
argues, would be attended with serious results,
invasive of the jurisdiction of this Government,
anil highly dangerous to our citizens in for
eign lauds: therefore, be has denied it. and
protested against its attempted exercise as
unwarranted by the principles of law and inter
national usages. A sovereign has jurisdiction
of offenses, which take effect in his territory,
although concocted or commenced outside of it,
but the right is denied of any: foreign sovereign
to punish a citizen of Ibe United States for an
offense consummated on our soil in violation of
our laws, even though the offense be against
a subject or citizen of such foreign sovereign.
The Mexican statute in question makes the
claim broadly, and the principle, if conceded,
would make a dual responsibility in the citizen
and lead lo inextricable discussion destructive
of that certainty in the law which is an es
sential of liberty.
When citizens of the United .Slates volun
tarily go to a foreign country they must abide
,y the laws there in force and must not be pro
tected by iheirown government from the conse
quence of an offense against those laws com
mitted in such foreign country, bin watchful
0,.,-e ,id ini crest of-this Government over its
citizens are not relinquished because they have
g<ini> abroad, and. if charged with crime com
mitted in the foreign land, a fair and open trial,
conducted with decent regard for justice; and
humanity, will be demanded for Ihetu. With
le5s tii.iii thai tlie Government will not be con
vent when the life or liberty of its citizens is at
stake.
What oilier degree to which extra-territorial
criminal jurisdiction may have been formerly
allowed by consent and reciprocal agreement
among certain of the European States, no
such doctrine or practice was ever known to
the laus of this country, nor 1o that from
which our institutions have been mainly de
r>ln ihe case nr Mexico, there are reasons espe
Ciidiv strong for perfect harmony in the mutual
exercise of jurisdiction. Nature has made us
irrevocably neighbors, and wisdom and hind
feeling should make us friends. The overflow
of capita! ami enterprise from the United
Stales is a potent factor in assisting the devel
opment of '.he recourccs of Mexico and in
building up the prosperity of both
countries. To assist this good work all
grounds of apprehension for the security of
person and property should be removed, and
the President trusts that in the interests of
good neighborhood the statute referred to will
be so modified as to eliminate the present pos
sibilities of danger to the peace of the two coun
tries. . , .
TliC President reconimenus me placing ui me
consular svMen- on a better footing, and reiter
ates the necessity of some mode or inspection
and report of the manner in which the con
sulates are conducted.
He trusts the subject of an internation :
copyright will receive the attention it de-erv -s
Vv Congress. ,
'lie recommends that proviso)!! • maue for
tie immediate disclmi-- ■ •••'■ ustudy of per
sons committed tor - - ’ ii111> . where th
president is of opinion that a sur
render should nut be made, and re
news his recommendation of last year
that legislation concerning citization and
naturalization be revised. We have, he says.
•l0 ities with many States providing for the re
nunciation of citization by naturalized alien--,
but uo statute is found to give effect to such
engagements, nor any which provides a needed
control or a bureau for registration of natural
ized citizens.
Reaching domestic affairs, the tirst subject
discussed is the tariff, and to this the President
devotes a great deal of space, arguing that the
necessity for a reduction of the tariff is more
urgent than ever. • The income of the Govern
ment." he say-, "by its Increased volume and
thorough economies in its collection, is now
more than ever in excess of the public neces
silie-. The application of the surplus to ihe
payment ot such portion of the
public debt as i- now at our o ption
1 subject to extinguishment, if continued at the
i rate which ha- lately prevailed, would retirv
! that class of indebtedness within less than one
year from this date. Thu* a continuance of our
present i*‘ V6uu6 systcoj would soon result in tbc
receipt of an annual income much greater than
necessary to meet Government expenses,
with no indebtedness upon which it
could bb applied. We should be
th- p confront-..! with a vast quantity of money,
the circulating medium of the people, boarded
In the treasury when it should be in their hands,
or we should be drawn into wasteful public ex
travagance. with nil the corrupting National
demoralization which follows in its track.
But it is not the simple existence of this sur
plus and its threatened attendant evils whiea
furnish the strongest argument against our
present scale of Federal taxations: its worst
phase Is the exaction of such a surplus through
a perversion of the relations bet ween the peo
plt and their government, and a dangerous dr
pasture from the rules which limit the
right of Federal taxation. Good gov
ernm&nt jvoJ especially the govern
mem of which every .-merican citizen
boasG has tvr its objects the protection s t
every person within :ts c are in the great-, t
liberty consistent with the good ci der et *<■
Cletv and his j,erfect security in the enjoy
ment of his earnings, with the least possible,
timinutibu for public needs. When more ul
the people's substance Is exacted through the
forms of taxation than is necessary to
meet the just obligations of the Government
and the expense of its economical administra
tion, such exaction becomes ruthless extortion
and a violation of the fundemental principles of
a free Government.
The indirect manner in which these exactions
arc made has a tendency to conceal their true
character and extent, but we have arrived at a
stage of supetluous revenue which has aroused
llie people to a realization of the tact
1hat the amount raised professedly
for the support of the Government is paid bv
them as absolutely, if added to the price of
things which supply their daily wants, as ifit
was paid at fixed periods into the hand ct the
tax gatherer.
Those who toil for daily wages are beginning
to understand that capital, though sometimes
vaunting its importance and clamoring tor the
protection and favor of the Government, is dull
und sluggish-till, touched by the magical hand of
labor, it springs into activity, furnishing an oc
casion for Federal taxation und gaining the
value which enables it to bear its burden, and
the laboring man is thoughtfully inquiring
Whether, under these circumstances, and con
i sidering the tributes he pays in the treasury as
i he supplies his daily wants 5>e receives his fair
I share of advantages.
There is also a suspicion abroad that the sur*
! plus of our revenues indicates abnormal and
i exceptional business profits which, under the
system which produces such surplus, increase,
without corresponding benefit to the people at
large, the vast accumulations ol a few among
our citizens whose fortunes, rivaling the wealth
of the most favored in anti-democratic na
tions, are not a natural growth in a steady,
plain and industrious republic.
Oar farmers, too. and those engaged directly
and indirectly In supplying the products of
agriculture, see that day by day, and as often
as the daily wants of their, household recur,
they are forced to pay excessive and needless
taxation, while their products struggle in for
eign markets with the competition of nations
which, by allowing a freer exchange of
productions than we permit, enable
their people to sell for prices
which distress tlio American farmer. As
every patriotic citizen rejoices in the constantly
Increasing greatness of our people in American
citizenship, and in the glory of onr National
achievements and progress, the sentiment pre
vails that the leading-strings useful to a nation
In its infancy may be well to'a great extent dis
carded in the present stage of American
ingenuity, courage and fearless self-reliance,
and for the privilege of indulging this
sentiment with true American enthusiasm, our
citizens are quite willing to forego an idle sur
plus in the public treasury. And all the people
know that the average Federal taxation upon
imports is to-day, in time of peace, but little
less, while upon some articles of necessary
consumption it is actually more, than was im
posed by the grievous burden willingly borne at
a time when the Government needed minions
to maintain by war the safety and integrity of
the Union.
It has been the policy of the Government to
collect the principal part of its revenues by a
fax upon Imports and no change in this policy
is desirable. But the present condition of af
fairs constrains our people to demand that by a
revision of our revenue laws the receipts of the
Government shall tie reduced to the necessary
expense of its economical administration, and
this demand should be recognized and obeyed
by the people’s representatives in the legis
lative branch of the government.
In readjusting the burdens of Federal taxa
tion. a sound public policy requires that such
of onr citizens us have built up iarge and Im
portant industries under the present conditions
should not be suddenly, and to their injury, de
prived of advantages to which they have adapt
ed their business;" but if the public good re
quires. it they should be content with such con
sideration as shall deal fairly anti cautiously ;
with their interests, while the just demand !
of the people for relief from needless taxation ;
fs honestly answered. A reasonable and timely |
submission to such a demand should certainly j
he possible without disastrous shock to any in- I
terest; and a cheerful concession sometimes ;
averts abrupt and heedless action, often the j
outgrowth of impatience and delayed justice.
Due regard should be also accorded in any !
proposed readjustment of the tariff to the in- j
tcrests of American labor, so far us they are in
volved.
We congratulate ourselves tliai there is ■
among us no laboring class, llxed within un
yielding bounds, amt doomed under conditions |
to the inexorable fate of daily toil. We recog- j
hize in labor a chief factor in the wealth of the :
Republic; and we treat those who have it in J
their keeping as citizens entitled to care- j
ful regard and thoughtful attention. This j
regard and attention should be award- :
ed them, not only because labor is j
the capital of our workingmen. just- i
ly entitled to its share, of Government favor, 1
but for the further and not less important rea- 1
son that the latioring mau. surrounded by bi» 1
family in his humble home, as a consumer, is :
vitally interested in all that cheapens the cost
of living affd enables him to bring within his ,
domestic circle additional comforts and ad
vantages. This relation of the workingman to :
the revenue laws ot the country.and the manner
*n which it palpably influences the question of ;
wages, should not be forgotten in the justifiable j
prominence given to the proper maintenance of ■
the supply und protection of well-paid labor. I
And these considerations suggest such an ar
rangement of government revenues as shall re- j
dure the-expense of living while it does not ;
curtail !he opportunity for work nor reduce the
compensation of American labor, or injuriously j
affect its condition and the dignified place it ;
holds ill the estimation of our people.
But oar farmers und agriculturists—those ;
who from the sen! produce the things consumed ;
by all—are perhaps more directly and plainly \
concerned than any other of our citizens in a .
just and careful system of Federal taxation. I
Those actitually engaged and more remotely i
connected with this kind of work number i
nearly one half of our population. None labor ,
harder and more continuously than they. No
enactments limit their hours of toil und no in
terposition of the Government enhances to any (
great extent the value of their products. And ,
Vet. formany of the necessaries und comforts of ,
life which the most scrupulons economy en- i
able them to bring into their homes, and for
their implements of husbandry, they are ,
o’. ■ .1 tu pay a price largely Increased by an i
i . ...iurul protit which, by the action of the I
government. is given to the more favored man- .
ufaeturer. .. .
I recommend that, keeping :u view an luese
considerations, the increasing and unnecessary
surplus of National income annually accumu
lating be released to the people by au amend
ment to our revenue laws which shall cheapen
the price of the necessaries of iife and give
freer entrance to such imported materials as
bv American labor may be manufactured into
marketable commodities. Nothing can be ac
complished. however, in the direction of this
much-needed reform unless the subject is ap
proached in a patriotic spirit of devotion to the
interests of the entire country and with a wiil
iugness to yield something for the public good. ;
While on the subject of tariff and revenue the j
President especially directs the attention of ■
Congre-- to the recommendations of the Secre- -
taiyof the Treasury touching the simplifica
tion and amendment of laws relating to the col- .
lection of the revenues.
Less space <s devoted to the silver question j
this year than last, but his opposition to compul
sory coinage is no less prom- incccl. l tie u.rrcr
ence in the bullion price of the standard collar
—9!'« cents—when first coined, ami its bullion
value—78 gents—on the -JOtli of last November,
certainly doc- not indicate, the Presi
dent says, that compulsory coinage by
the Government enhances the price of that
commodity or secures uniformity in its value.
He has seen no reason to change the views ex
pressed a year ago on tlie subjectoi compulsory
coinage, and again urges its suspension on all
the grounds contained in hi- former recomenda
tion. reinforced by ttie: significant increase of
our gold exportations during the last year, and
for ihe further reasons, that the more
this currency is distributed among
the people, the greater becomes our duty to
protect it Irum cii-asteri that we now have an
abundance for all our needs, and that there
seems but little propriety in building vaults to
store such currency when the ouly pretense for
its coinage is the necessity of its use by the
people as a circulating medium.
The attention of Cony i ess s called to the
great number of suits in New York growing out
i of con dieting views by importers and collectors
| us to the interpretation -it our complex anil in
definite revenue laws, and an amendment is
recommenced b> which the present condition
of this litigation should be relieved by a law
permitting trie appointment an Rduitlon i
Federal judge in New York where these eas- *
1 have accumulated. ' „
Of coast defenses and fortifications, the Pr< -
i idem ‘nv< the defenseless condition of our
I sca cOkiUJ&afcUke frontier is perfectly paipa
ble, fttui the work laid out by the board on for
tification is delayed in default of Congressional
action. The absolute necessity of our prepara
tion for effectual resistance against armored
ships and steel guns, which may threaten our
sea coast cities, is so apparent that he hopes
effective steps will be taken in that direction at
once.
The condition of our navy, as shown by the
secretary of that department, should challenge
the earnest attention of Congress. The produc
tion in the United States of armor and gun
steel is a question which it seems necessary to
settle at an early day, if the armored war ves
sels are to be completed with those material-,
of home manufacture. In the wept *'«>*• Urn
present invitation of die department lor ,e(k>.o
furnish such of this material as " v
authorized shall fail to induce
domestic manufacturers to undertake
the large expenditures required to prepare for
this new manufacture, and no other steps are
taken by Congress at its coming session, the
Secretary contemplates with dissatisfaction the
necessity of obtaining abroad the armor and
the gun steel for the authorised ships.
It would seem desirable, the President adds,
that the wants of the army and navy in this re
gard should lie reasonably met and. by uniting
their contracts such inducements might be of
fered as would result in securing the domesti
cation of these important interests.
Postal service affairs snow nan.™ auu grati
fying improvement during ihc past year, tho
increase of revenue gaining in u ratio over tin
increase of cost, demonstrating the sufficiency
of the present cheap rates of postage ultimately
to sustain the service. The differences with
certain ocean steamship companies were ter
minated by the acquiescence of all in the po* y
of the Government, thus affording a service
generally adequate to the needs of the inter
oceanic mail business.
The question of establishing ocean postal
service to Brazil and the Argentine Republic
is commended to the consideration of Congress,
and the suggestion is offered that, as distin
guished from a grant or subsidy for the mere
benefit of any line whatever, the outlay thai
may be r * aired to secure additional necessary
and proper service, should be regarded as
within the limit of legitimate compensation for
such service. . ..
The President indorses the recommendation
of the Attorney-General for the erection of a
penitentiary for the confinement of prisoners
convicted in the United States courts. lie
considers it a matter of very great importance,
which should at once receive Congressional ac
tion. More than one of these institution j
might be erected, and. by employing the pris
oners in the manufacture of articles needed for
use by the Government, quite a large pecuniary
benerit might lx- derived in partial return forex,
penditures.
He indorses Hie recommendation of the
Attorney-General for a change in the Federal
judicial system, to obviate the delays neces
sarily attending the present condition of affairs
in ou r courts.
Of Indian affairs he says the present system
of agencies standing alone is inadequate for tho
accomplishment of an object which has become
pressing in its importance—the mon
rapid transition from tribal organization to
citizenship or such portions of the
Indians as are capable of civilized hte. and
hence the necessity for the supplemental
agency, a commission of six intelligent per
sons—three from the army—charged with tho
management of such matters of detail as enn
not. with the present organization, be properly
and successfully conducted. The time is ripe,
the President tells Congress, for the work of
such an agency. , , ..
The President recommends the repeal or tin
pre-emption and Timber-Culture acts, and that
the homestead laws be so amended as to better
secure compliance with their requirements of
residence, improvement and cultivation furtive
years from date of entry, without commutation
til provision for -peculation or relinquishment.
Referring to the satisfactory exhibit of the
operations of the Pension Bureau during the
last fiscal year, and to pension matters gener
•ally, the President says the usefulness and the
justice of any system for the distribution of
pensions depends upon the equality and uni
formity of its operation, and as long as we ad
here to the principle of granting pensions for
service and disabilty as the result of the serv
ice. the allowance of pensions should be re
stricted to cases presenting these features.
■J-:vt-r\ patriotic heart,” he says, “responds
to a tender consideration for those who, bavin v
served their country long and well, are rcduceii
tn destitution and dependence, not as an iuri
dent of their service, but with advancing age or
misfortune. We are all tempted by the con
templation of such a condition to supply relief,
and are often impatient of the limitations
of public duty. Yielding to no one
in the desire to indulge this feeling of consider
ation. I can not rid myself of the conviction
that if these ex-i-oldiers are to be relieved, they
and their cause arc entitled to the benefit of
an enactment under which relief should he
■-laimed as a right, and that such relief may be
granted under the sanction, not the invasion,
of it: dor should such worthy
objects of care, all equally entitled, be remitted
to the unequal operation of sympathy, or tin
tender mercies of social and political influence
with their uujust discrimination.
Of the Pacific railroad debt extension propo
sition. lie says, that in considering the plan
suggested bv the Secretary of the Interior and
indorsed by the board of Government directors,
the sole matters which should be taken into
account are: ‘ The situation of the Govern
ment as a creditor and the s>-est way to se
cure the payment of the principal and interest
on its debt.'
Of inter state commerce, be says that by a
recent decision of the Supreme Court of the
United States it has been adjudged that the
laws of the several States arc inoperative to
regulate rates of transportation upon railroads,
if such regulation interferes with the rate of
carriage from one State into another. This im
portant Held of control and regulation having
been left thus unoccupied, the expediency or
Federal action upon the subject is worthy of
consideration. , , _
Of the relations of labor lo capital, the I resi
dent thinks -that when these differences be
tween employer and employed reaeh such a
stage as to result in the interruption of com
merce between the States, the application of
arbitration by the General Covernn-ierit might
be regarded as entirely within its constitutional
powers anil lie thinks we might reasonably
hope that such arbitrator-, if carefully selected,
and if entitled to the confidence of the parties
to be affected, would be voluntarily called to
the settlement of controversies ot less ext< n
and not necessarily within the domain of ten
eral regulation.
The President recommends, as a piam uui>
on the part of the Government, the payment of
a million anti a quarter dollars still due to the
Freedman's Savings Bank depositors.
Civil-Service reform is the last important topic
discussed in the message. The continued
operation of the Civil-Service law, he asserts.
ha> added the most convincing proof of Its
necessity and usefulness. Bvcry public
officer who hu* a ju*t ide«i or
his duty to the people testifies to the value of
this reform. Its staunchest friends are found
among those 'vbo understand it best, and its
wannest supporters are those who are re
strained and protected by its requirements
The meaning of such restraint and protection
is not appreciated by those who want places
under the Government, regardless of merit and
efficiency, nor by those v.ho insist that the se
lection for such places should rest upon a
proper credential showing active partisan
work. They mean to public officers, if not,
their lives the only opportunity afforded them
to attend the public business, and they mean
to the good of the country the letter perform
ance of the work of their Government. It is
exceedingly strange, the President thinks, that
Uie scope aud nature of this reform are so little
understood, and that ~o
eluded within its plan are called by Us name.
When cavil yields more full) to examination,
the system will have large additions to the
number of its friends.
Uur Civil-Service reform, the President says,
mav be imperfect in some of its details; it may
be misunderstood and opposed, it may not al
ways be faithfully applied: its designs may
sometimes miscarry through mistake or wilful
intent- ri mav sometimes tremble under the as
saults of it* enemy or languish tinder
rile misguided /cal of impracticable
friend,; but .1 the people of this country ever
-ubrnit to the banishment of its underlying
principle from the operation of Ilnur Govern
inent mey will abandon the surest guarantee
of the saiet) and suwccrs oi American ins tit n
"in conclusion, he invokes tor this teform the
cheerful and ungrudging support of Congress
iraesan increase of the salaries of the Con,
; missioners, and expresses liver hope that such
l I't'tifrOii&fcjifc ftppi opricitioii" uiiiV be Jttiuic fts will
enable them to increase the usefulness of live
I cause they have in charge.