Decatur Democrat, Volume 26, Number 36, Decatur, Adams County, 8 December 1882 — Page 1

VOLUME XXVI.

H R.Ak’.iKM.rrw’t. W n Ntßucs.CMbler », Stvda»»««b, Vice Pree't. THEADAMS COUNTY BANK, DECATUR, INDIANA, Thin Bank is now open forth, transaction of a Kcncrai banking bnsiness. We buy and sell Town, Torrnsbip and County Orders. 25jy79tf ~ ATTORNEYS AT LAW, DECATUB, INDIANA. ■Will practice in Adams and adjoining eoanties. Especial attention given to coliwionfi and titles to real estate. Are Notifies Public and draw deeds and mortgages Heal estate bought, sold and rented on reaeonabla terms. Office, rooms 1 and 2, I. O 4). F. building. 25jy79tf FRANCE A KING. ~ ATTOJ&EFS AT LAW, BKCATIR, INDIANA. E. N. WICKS, ATTORNEY AT LAW, DECATUB, INDIANA. All legal business promptly attended tn Office up stairs t Q Stone a building Itbdoor. v25n24 year 1. D. BIXLER, BERNE, INDIANA. Retail Dealer in WATCHES, CLOCKS, JEWELRY, Spectacles, d?o Repairing done at lowest prices to guar antee good and sound work

Daughtsrs, Wives, Mothers, I; -as. *■“ Wt i > V* --te F r. J. B. MARCHISI, I TIC 1, N Y , bwcovEKEK <>r DR MARCHISI’B UTEKINE CATHOLICOS A POSITIVE CURE FOR FEMALE COMPLAINTS. Thi< R-»m?4y will ac in lntmnni with iho | Feinar-yet •tn at all time* »»>'• a *•> iininrd a ely P the übdotni :*»l and i.terin- muse es and re-tore the n t<» a hedthy and condition. •D- Marchi-i’s Uten .e Catholic m wi’l rare fdhn.' ' the W >•«•». L -uecorr• rei. (■'•nw ic InEam na ion and Clcerati »:i of the womb, lu< iden ui Hemo rtia/eor Floodin'.?. Painful, > apprised a'i I Irrgu'ar Menotnitixn Kid'-ey Comphret, and i- ally adapted! to Chai ge «<l Life. Send f<»r pimph et. iree. A I letter-o' h aniry Irrel y an-wered Ad<tr «* as a Foil ALL DKI MIBIX |IS | ■ r Ma Tin's Uterine Cathol co*i Ttk<* i" "'h* r.

k i cS ni SUNNYSLOPE ' \\ ’tU HANDMADE, tr // H ■ CORN r-j ■ vrackeK \\ HAND MADE. // Both ofthese famous brands of Whiskey are kept in stock for sale »• THE “OCCIDENTAL.” J. H.

paekk'B J Parker’s l Gin S er Tonic Ilf An that Never st -rerd icsa . gg I Intcxicatet. irrelevantly This delicious coni (/.nation of Ginger Buchu, 1"' r,-. and I Man- rake. Sti hngia. and many’ other of the best enure y narm- J ;.„ eUoie medicK.es k. -n. cures lem * - ( , m . kernoves -hints. Kn- niau-m. Nervot.- e.s, V., - >.n~s, Cundruff, re- and ail disoraers of u.e boweis, stomach, liver, kidnatura! nevs, a; j c. r and pre- j X .. j f vcu have lost l r. petite and are w pointed, vents baldness V suffering from age, or any mnrmitv . t..<e 1 arker s K Ginger I mic. It w <--n g then brain and bedy Sr ’ -ad give you.new lite ana vi o r. Horeston 10 O DOLLARS COLO GN E v .--CJ • ; uU( >'*^-fMw ? !-r ' ■ rcircuurlo H>x«x 4. V 0.,

4,000 TOXTS Straw Wantefl FOR W HICH— I WILL PAY THE BEST PRICES lien delivered drv ani in od condition at the Decatur FLAX VIILL. TSOS» MYLOTT-

The Decatur Democrat.

The Democrat. Official Paper of the County. A. J. HILI., Editor and Bmincns Manager. TERMS : ONE DOLLAR AND FIFTY CENTS IN ADVANCE t TWO DOLLARS PER YEAR IF NOT PAID IN ADVANCE. a. g. Holloway, m. d., — PHYSICIAN & SURGEON, DECATVR. INDIANA. Office ever Adams Co. Bink 2nd door. Wil ’■lend to all professional calls promptly, night or day. Chaiges reasonable. Rest • ence an north side of Monroe street, 4th house east of Hart s Mill. 2">jy79tf W. H. MYERS, triefc if Slone -Hason Contrac'r DECATI'H,INDIANA. iolicils work of all kinds in his line. Persons contemplating building might make r point by consulting him. Estimates on application, v25n45m3. E N WICKS. J. T. MERRYMAN. •Attorneys at Laic AND ft cal Esteite ./ gents. Deeds, Mortgages. Contractsand all Legal Instruments drawn with neatness and dispatch. I’aXition, settlement of decedent’s estates, and collections a specialty. Office up stairs in Hone s building—4th door. vol, 25, no 24, yl, DR. KITCHMILLER will be at the BURT HOUSE, DECATUR, INDIANA, Every second Tuesday and Wednesday of tach month to tieat ali * hronic Diseases. Consultation free Call and see him. All letters of inquiry re rived at the home office ai Piqua. Ohio, will leceive prompt attention. NV rite io him and make a statement of your case —v2sno<>ly. Tho ” Sftn ,R of £ raTe< ’ prolonged, happiness and health restored by ihe use of the great GERMAN INVIGORATOR

which positively and permanently cures ImpolPflCy reaus* 1 by excesses of any kina ) Seminal Weakness and all disea-es that follow us a sequence of SelfAbuse, as loss of eiieigy, 1 ss of memory, universal lassitude, pun in the b<*ck, d nines 8 of vision, jreruiiure old age, and many other diseases that lead to insanity or consumption and a premature grave. Send fur circulars with testlmonals free by mail The Invlfforatoi* is sold at $1 per box, or six boxes for $3, by all druggists, or, will be sent free by mail, j securely sealed, on receipt of price, by ad- : dressing, F J CH EX EY, Druggist, 187 Summit St., Toledo, Ohio. Sole Agent for the United States. R. A. Pierce & Co., Sole Agents at De?atat BTHmstsli.! S. The Pe«t. Cleanest ami B most Economical liairS Dressing M •■ fjak iter i' : is in r f raSSgathe yout IgaMhatf. 50c ;.nd ? i sizes al I ! gEgghuggists. f • llorfskn Cologne, p: \ ■ PARKER’S GINGERTOiC A Pure Family Medicine that (lever Intoxicates. overwot it. or a lumber run down by family ot iiounc- 1 hold duties try Paukku’s Cingkk lonic. If you are a lawyer, minister or business man exhausted l>y tnenl.il sirain OV atUCMMtS take intoxicating stuuiiiatits, but use I‘amkkr s | Gi.-gek Ion: . Tfv-.tb.xe Dyspepsia Rheamatism. Kid ©rl Gisorucrofihciungs ‘■’o ' 1 ’ ,o ' 1 erve-fc you can i.c cuteu i;■ PARK! <»: -GER t • | Ifvouare wasting away from age. dissination or r I von up from the nr-t dooe kit »111 never intoiic -. I | It has save! Il it : ■ ‘-'S yuur. i ’ UISrOX *CO■ Ml « wS: . n... York. Me. . {_ CB« UM..W >.2e-. -I .1.1 »»«■'• GREAT SAVING ELAT NG DOLLAR SIZE. j

DECATUR, ADAMS COUNTY, INDIANA, Friday, g JBS2

THE MESSAGE. Annual Communication of ths President to Congress. Gratifying Condition of Our Foreign Relations. The Executive Recommends a Reduction of Taxation. He Also Has a Word to Say in Regard to River and Harbor Bills. To the Senate and House of RerresentaTIVES OF THE UNITED STATES: It is provided by the constitution that the President shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient. In reviewinir the events of the year which has elapsed since the commencement of your sessions. I first call your attention to the gratifying condition of our FOREIGN AFFAIRS. Our intercourse with other powers has continued to be of the most friendly character. Such slight differences as have arisen during the year have been already settled, or are likely to reach an earlv adjustment. GREAT BRITAIN. The arrest of citizens of the United States in lieland under recent laws, which owe their • rigin to the disturbed condition of the country, has led to somewhat-ex tended corresponde ce with the G verninen of Great Britain. A disposition to respect our lights has been practically manifested by the relea-e of arrested parties. The claim of this nation in regard to the supervision an i control of anv interoceanic caual across the American isthmus has continued to be the subject of conference. It is likely that time will l>e more powerful than discus-ion in icmoving the divergence between the two nati ns. wh se friendship i« so closely cemented by the intima y of their relatit ns and the community of tueir interest-*. BUBBIA. Our long-established frien Hiness with Russia has remained unbroken. It has prompted me to pr ffei the earnest counsels of this Government that measures be adopted for suppressing the proscript ion which the H brew race in that country lias lately suffere L It. has not transpired that anv American citizen has been subjected to ar est or injury» but our courteous remonstrance has. nevcrt ieless, bten courteously received There is reason to be ieve the time is not far distant wh'-n Russia uili be able to se.ure toleration to all faiths within her borders. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES. At an Int rnational Convention, he d at Paris in lsßo, and attended by re resentiitives <>f the t nited Btat« s, an agreement was reached in resoect to the i r tection of trade-marks, pa-ented articles and the rights of manufacturing firms and corporations. The formulation into treaties of the recommendations thus adopted is receiving the attention which it mer its. The protection of submarine cables is a subject now under consideration by an international conference at Paris. Believing th it it is clearly the true policy of this Government to favor the neutaidization of this means of intercourse. I relies < d our Minister to France to attx n t the conventu nas a delegate. 1 also dsignated two of our eminent scientists to attend as representatives at the meeting of an International Committee at Paris for considering the adoption ot a common ui.it to measure electric force. In vi -w of the nquent occurren.-e o' conference- for the conside.a iou of impo ’ant mattet -of common interest to civilized i a ions. I respec fully suggest that the Executive be invest d by Cong e-s with discietio ary power to send dehgaus to such convention-, and that piovr io.i be made to defray the ex. eases incident thereto. SPAIN. The difference between the United States and Spain as to the effect of a judgment and certificate of naturalization,has not yet been adjusted, but it is hoj>ed and believed that th negotiations now in progre s will result in theestablishment ot th ■ position which seems to this Government so reasonable and just. 1 have already called the attention of Congress to the tact that in the exports of Spain and its colonies onero s fines have lately been imposed upon ▼easels of the United states for trivial technical offenses against local regulations. Efforts for the abatement of th se exactions have thus far proved unsuccessful. 1 regret to inform von also that the Les demanded by Spanish Consuls in Am rican ports are in some cases so large, when compar d with the value of th? cargo, as to amount in effect to a considerable export duty, and that our remonstrances in this regard have not as yet rec ived • the attention which th* y seem to deserve. GERMANY. I The German Government has Invited the I Unite l States to participate in an international exhibition of domestic cattle, to Ire held at Hamburg i - Ju.y, 18S3. If this country is to 1 be represc nted, it is important that in the early ; days < f this session Congress should make a suitable appropriation fur that purpose. ITALY. The death of Mr. Marsh, our late Minister tc Italv. has evoked from that G vernment expres- . sions of pro Lund respect for his exalted char- i arte-r and for his honorable career in the diplomatic service of his country. The Italian Government has raised a question as to the propriety of recognizing in his dual capacity the representative of this country, recently accredited, both as Secretary of Legation and as Con-ul General at Rome. He has been received as Secret ar v, but his exequatur as Consul General haa thus far been withheld. BELGIUM. The extradition convention v iih Belgium, which ha- been in operation since 1«74, has been lately supplanted by another. The Senate has signified its approval, and ratifications have been duly exchanged between the contractins countries. To the list < f extraditable criniee has been added that of the assassination, oi attempted assassination, of the chief of state. SWITZERLAND. Negotiations have been opened with Switzerland looking to a settlement by treaty of the question whether its citizens can renounce then allegiance aud become citizens of the United States without obtaining the consent of the Swiss <’»• vernment. lam happy to inform you t! a’the Immigration of pauper and cnminale ft'm certain of th cantons of Switzerland ha* substantially ceased, and is no longer sanctioned by he authorities. RETURN OF FOREIGN CONVICTS. , The consideration of this >ubject i rompts t.'t suggestion that the act of Avgust 3. 1882. whic*. has for its object the return of foreign ( onvlcts to their cwn country, should be o modified as not tote open to the into i rotation tha' it atfects the extradition ot crimlnais on preterrw BIGHTS IN FOBEIGN COt NTBIES The Ottoman Poite has not yet assented tu the inter pi etatiun which this G< vernment has put upon the treaty of 183" relative to its jurisdictional rights in Turkey. It may we Ibe believ d. however, that the difference will be adjusted bv a general i evision of these stem us iurisdic'ion of the United States in the countries of the East, a subject to which vour attention has been already ca.led by the Secretary of State. , „, VT CHIU AND JAPAN. In the interest of justice Toward Chill and Japan. I trust tha: the questi ns of the return of the indemnity fund to the Governments of those countries wil reach at the present the satisfactory so ution which I have a.ready recommended, ami which has recent y been forshadowed by Congr s ional discussion. The treaty lately concluded with Corea ax'aits the action of the Senate EGYPT. During the late dis'urbance in Egypt, the timely presence of An encau vessels served as a protection to th- persons and property ot many of our own citizens and of citizens «f other c untries, whose Governments have expressed their thanks for this assistance CHINESE IMMIGRATION. The recent legislation restricting immigration of laborers from China has given rise to tlx question whether Chinese proceeding to or from another country may lawfully pas* t‘ rough our own. In construing the act of May 6, I*Bl, in connection with the treaty of Nov 7 IM>, the restriction would «eem to lie Undo d to Chinese immigrants coming to the United States as laborers, and should not forbid a mere Iran, it across our territory. I ask the attention of Congress to the subject for such action, if any, as it may deem advisable. '1 his Governm nt has recently had occasion to manifest its interest in the REPUBLIC CF LIBERIA bv seeking to aid in the amicable settlement of the boundarv dispute now pending between that republic and the British possession of Sierra Leone. . The reciprocity treaty with HAWAII will become terminable after Sept. 9, W 3. on two months’notice by either party. While certain provisions of that compact may have proved onerous, its existence has fostered commercial relations which it is important to preserve. 1 suggest, therefore, that an early considerat on l<e given to such modifications of the treaty as I seem to be demanded by the interest of our v ew of our increas ng trade with both JLi’m AKI> feAN DOMINGO, I advi-e \hat provision be made so diploratjc i ei course with he latter. bven’*iging h« senna ’-h« miaamn Pnrt an Rrtnca I r-wmt

that certain claim* of American cit'zens as against the Government ot Hayti 1 ave thus fa been urged unavailingly. A recent agreement w th MEXICO provides for the crossing of the frontier by the armed forces of either country, in pursuit of hostile Indians. In my message of last year I | called Httention to the prevalent lawlessness up< n the borders, and to the necessity of legislation for its suppression I again invite the attention of Congress to the subject. A partial relief from these inischii fs has been sought in a conventi< n, which now awaits the approval of the Senate, as do< s also another touching tlie establishment of the international boundary between the Uniteci States ar.d Mexico. If the latter is ratified, the action of Congiess will l>e required for establishing suitable commiss’ons of survey. The boundary dispute between Mexico and Guatemala, which led the Guvei nment I > proffer its friendly counsel to both partie*, has been amicably settled. No change has occurred in our relations with VENEZL’E A. 1 again invoke your action in the matter of ‘he pendi- g awards against that republic, *o hicL reference was made by a special message from the Executive at your last session Au invitation has been received from the Government of Venezuela to send representatives, in July, 1883, to Cnruccas, for p-jriiinpauiia the cen’enntal Celeb atlon ot t*iebirth ot Bolivar, the founder ofSiuih American indej endenc • In connection with th s event, it is designed to commence the erection, at C irac a«, of a tatueof Washington, and conduct an Industrial Exhibition, vhich will beepen to American products. 1 request that the United S ates be represented, and that suitab e provision be made therefor. The elevation of the grade of onr mission in CENTRAL AMERICA to the Plenipotentiary rank, which was authorized by Congress at its Isst session has tieen since effected. >he war tie‘we<*n Peru and Bolivia on the one side, and Chili on the other, be.an more than three years ; go. on the occupation by Chili, in I>Bl. of all the littoral territory of Bolivia. Negotiations for peace were conducted under directions ot the United States. The allies refused to conce le anv territory, hut Chili has sin e become master of the whole coast of both countries, and of the capital of Peru. A year since, as you have already been an vised by correspondence transmitted to yon in January last, this Government sent a r: ecial "iisirfon to the belligerent powers to express the hop that Chili would be disposed to accept a manes Indenity for the expenses 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 did not assume to enforce, nor can it be enforced without resort t • measures which would be in keeping neither wi’h the temper of our people, nor with th? spirit of onr institutions. The power of Peru no longer extends over iti whole territory, and, in the event of our interference to dictate, peaee would need to be supplemented by the armies and navies of ths United States. Such interference would almost inevitably lead to the establishment of a protectorate,’ a result utterly at odds with our past policy, injurious to our present interests, and full of embarrassment for the future. For effecting the termination of hostilities upon the towns at once—just to the victorious nat-on and generous to its adversaries—this Government has spared no efforts save such as might involve the complica’io s which I have indicated. It ia to be greatly deplored that Chili seems to be resolved to exact such rigorous condit'on* ol 1 eace, and indi-posed to submit to arbitrat on the terms of an amicable set 1 men'. No pace Is likelv V b 1 that is not sufficiently equitabl- and jus- to co nmand he anpioval of o her nations. About one year -ince invitati >na were exten led to the nations of this continent to *e d representatives to a peac • congress, to assemble in Washington in November, IRB2. The time of meeting was then fixed at a period then remote, in the hope, as the invitation it*ell declared, that in the meantime the disturbance* between the South American republics would be a i justed. A* that expectation seemed unlixely to be realized, I asked m April last for an ex-pres-ion of opinion fr m the two houses of Congress as to the advisability of holding the proposed convention at the time appointed. Thi* act! n was prompted in part bv doubts, which mature rejection had suggested, whether the diplomatic usage and traditions of the Government did not make it fitting that the Executive should consult the represent at ites of the people before pursuing a line of policy somewhat novel in it* character and far reaching in its possible consequt-nces. In view of the fact that no acti.ri was taken by Congress in the premises, anti that no provision had been made for the necessary expanses, I subsequently’ decided to postpone Hie convocation, and -o notified the serera G ivernments which hail been invited to attend. 1 ain unwilling to discuss this subject without assuring you of my support of any meamre« tic wisiom of Congress mav devise for promotion of p- ace on this continent and throng out the world, and I trust the tin eif nigh w hen, with the universal consent ofciviliz. d jie . !■ s. all international differences shall b let rmine 1 wi hout e*ort to arms by the benignant processes of arbitration. DIPLOMATIC CHANGES. Changes have occurred in the diplomatic presentation of several foreign powers during the past v ar. N w Ministers from the Argentine Republic, Austria, Hungary, Brazil. Chili. Ci .in i. Franc •. Japa i and Mexico, the NetherI K -i i have presented their credential The missions o.’Denmark and Venezuela at this cai ital have been raised in grade. Switzraid has crea ed a pl? ipoten’iary mission to t is Government, and an Embassy from Mariana car and a Min ster from Siam will shortly a* rive. Our diplomatic intercourse has been enlarged bv the establishment of r lations with the new Kingdom o’ Servia. by the creation of a mission to Siam, nnd bv the restoration of the mission to • reece. Ti.«-Snah of Persia has expressed his gratification that a Charge d'Affaires wil shortly be sent to that country, where the rights of our citizens have been hitherto courteously guarded by the representatives of Great Britain. PREVENTION OF COLLISIONS AT SEA. I renew mv recommendation r f such legislation as will place the United States in harmony with - thei maritime powers, with respect to the in’emational rules for the prevention of collisions at sea. LONGITUDE AND TIME. Tn couformitv with your joint resolution of the 3d f kugust ast I ha edi ected he Secretary cf S’ate to address foreign G v rument« in respe it to a projiosed conf< renc ? for consl teiiru tue -ui j ct of the univ rsal adaption of a common prime meridian t )>e used in the reckoning oi Io lai nde aid in the regulation of time thr ugh r the civilized world. Their replies wil . in due time, be la d before you. An agreement was reached at Paris in 1875 between th ■ principal powers for the interchangf A omciai pnoncauons tnrougn the medium oi the r respective foreign departments. The admirable system which has been built up by the en -rpris f the Smithsonian Institution affords * practical basis for onr co-operation in this ►chcnv . and an arrangement b*-* been effected bv which that institution will i>erforni the nece*sarv labor under the direction of the Department of State. A reasonable compensation therefor should lie provided by law. DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE. A clause in ‘he act making appropriations for th<' dipl-'inatie and consular service contemplates the reorganization of both branches of such service on a salaried basis, leaving fees to in :re to th * benefit of the treasury. 1 cordialv favor such a project as likelv to correct abuse- in the pre- nt system. The Secretary of 5 ate will present to you at an early day a plan for such reorganization TH TREASURY. A full and interesting exhibit of the operationj of the Treasury Department is afforded by the report f ’he Secretary I’ ap ears that the ~r ' h irv revenii r fr m all sources for the p-esent year ended June 3>, 1882, were follows: From custom*. $220,410,730 25: from internal revenue. $116.497,5‘5.45; from sales ol pubi c lands, $1.753,14<».67; from tax on circulation and de ositsofnati nal barks. $8,956,791.45; from ie]>avmcnt of interest bv l ac tic railway com: ani s, $Bl7 from sinking fund foi I* < tie at.wav com an ••*. $796, 71.4?: from custom foes, fines,penalt es, etc . $ 34,334,800; from fe - f r C n*u ar letters patent a d linds, $2,6 8 1.97; f mpr cee-ls of sales nf Government P- . IHTt ,$314,959.85; from pn fit <n coinage. I.ul i >u tl. po-it* n i ass vs. I .116.693.73: fr -in In iantru t fun is $5,705,243.2.■; from depositi bv i: d;v:<lu Is for surveying pub ic lands. $2.(•52.3 6. 6; from r venues of the District of < oIr.inbi:; ?1.71'> 176.41;fr m mi cellaneoussources, $... s i.41j.43; total ordina y receipts, $4 3,525,I Tne ordinary expenditures for th<* same period j were: For civil expenses. $ 8,042 3-6 ‘2; f r for’e cn i urcuurse. $i 5.,5-6 19; for_ Indian- 1 , $ ■ 6 747 4 ; for pensions, s6l, <45.1'3.95; for the Imi if:-v es:abli*h mnt including river an 1I a- - bor i.nprcvenients and aise as. $13,570,4)4.19; I for the naval establishment, including vess. s. I mac' i <ry and improve ..en’s at naw yards, sl> . (>l6 26; for miscellaneous expei diture*. ' inciudin public buil lings, light-ho ses and I collecting the revenue. $34,5--9,.;.7.50; for expenditures on account of the District ■ f Columbia, $3 330,543.87; for interest on the publicd -bt. $71,1 017AW.79; t< tai < rdinarv expenditures, $257,981,43 .57. leaving a surplus revenu • «f $145,543 - 8 0.71: which, with an amount drawn from the cash balance in the treasury of $.0,737,654.84: making sl6 ,‘2Bl, 05.55. '1 here was applied t the redemption of bonds for the sinking tund, $6 •,- 079.1'0; cf fractional currency fur the sinking fund. $5 705,5 3; of loan of July and August, 1861. ?•2 572,1 50; of loan of March, 1*63. $4. (72,900; of funded loan of 18*1, $3 ,191,450: of loan of 1881 $ 100,00* 1 ; of loan of February 1861. $30:,l(00;offiv -twenties of 1862 s2lo.'> 0; of fivetwenties of 4861. #710,000; ot fivc-twe ties of 1865. $6,500; oi ten-forties of 186;. $54,550; of consols of 186 . $86,450; of consols of 1867. $408,250; of conI sols of 1868, $141,400; of Oregon war debt, $675,- : *250; of old demand compound interest and other no cs. $lB • 50; total, sl6 ~281.505.55. THE FOREIGN COMMERCE of the United States during the last fiscal year, I including imports a d exports of merchandise and -pecie. was as follows: Exports—Merch n(iise. $750,74'2.272; specie, $49,417,479; total, $799,959,736 Imports—Merchandi*e. $724,639,574; specie $42,472,390; total, $767,111.064 The excess of iXp rts ver imports of merchandise, $25,902,888. This exo-ss f less than it has teon before in anv of -he pre' 1 -ous six years. « appears by the following table: Year ended June 30. eacees of

I exports ©ver Import* of merchandise, 1876, $79,I 643,481; 1*77. $151,152,094; 187 k, $2.37,814,234: 1879, i $264,661,6(4; 188", $167,C*3,.>12; 1881, $259,712,718; 1882, $25,i62,688. NATIONAL BANKS. During the year there hav* b en organiz d 171 national banks and of the * institutions there are now in opera'i n 2,269—a larger number than eve before. The value • f th< i notes in factual circula ion on July 1, 1882. was $324,' 56.458. I commend to your attention the Secretary's views in respect to the likelihood of a serious contraction of this circulation and to the modes bv which that result may, in his judgment, be averted. CDINA'J . In respect of the coinage of silver dollars and ; tne retirement ot sIJV r c •r’iticates, 1 have seen n thug t > alter, but mu. h to coi firm, the sentiments to yhich Leave aipressi >n last year. A compari-onmetween th- respective am unts of silver dollai* in circula fc*i oi Nov 1, I*Bl, and on Nov. 1, 18R2, sinus a sight h crease of I,soh,- i o u, but during th? in e*val the e had been n the v hole number coi n d an incr. ase of $26 ()■>>.- (X'O. Oi the $1'28,0 0,('00 thus t ’Tie • mo e than $35, Mo u are in crcularion. The mass of accumulated coin ha* giown so great th t the vault room at ires nt available tor storag •is scarcely -uftioient to contain it. It is . not apparent why it is desirable to continue this caiiMMce now. enormously n excels us the public demand. SILVER CERTIFICATES As to the silver certificates, in addition to the grounds which seemed last year to justify their retirement, may be mentioned the effect which is likely to ensue from the supply of gold certificates for which issuance Congress recently made provision, and which are now in active circulation. REDUCTION OF TAXES. You cannot fail to notice with interest the discus-ion by the Seo etary as to the necessity of providing bv legi-lati n some mode o’ freeing the treasuty of an excels of ass- •*. In the event that Congress tails to reach an early agreement for the n duction of taxation, 1 heartily approve the Secretary’s recommenda ion of immediate and extensive reductions in the annual revenues of the Government. It will be re- I membered that J urged upon the attention of C'ngressat it last session the importance of ' relieving the industry and enterprise of the country iromthe pressuie from unnecessary taxation. It is one of the trit st maxims of ' political economy that all taxes are burdensome, however wisely and prudently imposed, | and thoug i there have a way* ben among our people wide differences of sentiment as to the best methods of raising the national revenues, and, Indeed, as to the principles upon which taxation sh< uld be based, the e has been substantial accord in the doctrine that onlv sucn taxes ought to be levied as are n cessary for a wise and economical dministration of the Government. Os late the public revenues have far exceeded that limit, and unless checked by appropriate Jegi*lation, such excess wili continue io increase from year to year. For the fiscal year ended June •*”. i ”1. the surplus revenue amounted to $!•<».•■• . ' Forth fi*cal year ended on the 30th of June last, th- surplus was mon* than $1 is,o> ,000. The reportof the Secretary shows what disposition has been made of these moneys. They have not only answered the requirements of the sinking fund, but have afforded a large balance applicable to o her reductions of the public debt. But I renew the expression of my conviction that such rapid extinguishment of the national indebtedness as is now taking place is by no means a cause for congratulation. It is a cause rather for serious appiehension. If it continues, it must speedily be followed by one of the evil results so clearly Bet forth in the report of the Sec. etary. Either the surplus must lie idle in the treasury, or the Government will be forced to buy, at market rates, its bonds, not then redeemable, and which, under such circumstances, cannot tail to command an enormous premium, or the swollen revenues will b devoted to extravagant exiK'nditur , which, as expert nee h;-s taught, is ever the bane of an ove fl wing t easury It va* made a; par nt in the course of th animated discussion which the question aruused at the last session of Cong ess. that the policy of diminishing the rexenu b reducing taxation commander the general approval oi the mem- i ber of l oth house* I regret that because ot conflicting views as to the best methods by which la' policy should be made ■ perative, none of its benefits have as yet been reaped In fu fitment of what I deem my constitutional duty, but with little hojx l that I can make a valnabl ■ contribution tow id* vexed question. I chall proceed to intimate briefly my own views in re ation to it: Up n the showing of our financial condition at the close of tlie last fiscal y- ar I fe t justified in iccommending to Congress the abolition of internal-revenue taxes excel t those upon tobaccc in Its various forms and upon distilled spri’s and fermented liquors, and except, also, the special tax upon the manufacturers and dealers in such articles. I venture now to suggest that unless it shall be ascertained that the probable expenditures of the Government for the coming year have been underestimated, all internal taxes save those which relate to distilled spirits, can be prudently abrogated. Such a course, if accompanle 1 by simplification of the machinery of collection. <■ inch would then be easy of accomplishment, might reasonably be expected to resu't in diminishing the cost or such collection by at least two millions and a half, and in the retirement from office of from 1,50 ) to 2,000 persons. The system of excise duties has never commended itself to the fav.-r of the American people, and has never been resorted to except for supplying deficiencies in the treasury, when, by reason of special exigencies, tlie duties on imports have proved inadequate tor the needs of the Government. The sentiment of the country doubtless commands that the present excise tax shall be ab 1ished as soon as such course can safely be pursued. It seems to me, however, f>»r various reasons, so sweeping a measure as the total abolition of internal taxes would, for the present, be an unwise step. Two of these reasons are deserving of special mention. 1. It is by no means clear that, even if the ex- i isting system of duties on imports is continued without modification, those duties alone will i yield sufficient revenue for all the ne ds of the Government. It is estimated that $100,000,000 , will ba required for pensions during the coming ' year, and it may well be doubted w hether the I maximum annual demand lor that object has | yet been reached. Uncertainty upon this ques- ' ti«»n would alone justify, in my judgment, the retention, for the present, of that portion of the system of internal revenue which is least objectionable to the i eople. 2. A total abolition of excise taxes would almost inevitably prove a serious, if not an insur- j mount able objection to a thorough revision of the tariff, and to any considerable reduction in imvort duties. THE PRE 'ENT TARIFF SYSTEM Is. in many respects, unjust. It makes unequal distribution both of its bu dens nd it* benefits i This f.«ct was prictici'lv recogniz *d by a majority ot each house of Congress, in the passage • f the act cr< ating the Tariff Commission. The report of that commission will be placed before you at the beginning of this session, and will, 1 trust, afford you such information stoth - condition and pr spect of th various commerc al. agricultural, manufac'uring. mminj and other intere ts of the country, and con ain such suggestions f r statutory revision, as wil' prac ic 1ly aid your action upon this important subject. The revenue from customs tor the fiscal ye<r ending June to. 1879, amounted to $137,000,000. It has in the three succeeding years reached first $ M wo; then $1 - finally, as ha.* been already stated, $ *20,000,0:X). The income from this source for the fiscal ? ear which wi 1 end on June 30, 188’, will doubtless be considerably in excess of the sum last mentione I. f the , tax on <lome*tic spirits i* to be retained; it i* plain, therefore, that large reductions from the i cast-ms revenue are entirelv feasible. While rec >mmending this reduction I am far from advising the abandonment of the policy of so discriminating in the adjustment of detail* a* t<> , afford atl and protection to domestic i labor. But the present system should be so revised as to equa ize the pub ic burden among ail classes an 1 occupations, aud bring it in o c o-er harmonv with the present needs ot ndu try. Without entering into mi u'e detail, wl.ich, under present circumstances, i* quite unnecessary. I recommend an enlargement of the fre * list so as to include within i: the numerous artic e* which vield inconsiderable revenue: a simplification ot the complex and inconsistent schedu e of duties upon certain nmnu acture*. j articu arly those of cotton, iro i and steel, and a substantia reduction of the duties upon those articles anti upon sugar, molasses, silk, wool and woolen goods. If a revision of the tariff shall be found to be impracticable at this session, I express the hope that at least some of the more conspicuous in- qualities of the present law’ may tie corrected before vour final ad journment. One of them is spe iallv referred to by the Secretary. i In view of the recent decision of the Supreme I Court, the necessity of amending the law by I which the Dutch standard of color is adopted as i the test of the saccharine str nsth of sugars, is too obvious to require comment. THE INDIANS I From the report of the Secretary of War it appears that the only outbreaks ot Indians during i the past year occurred in ’.rizona and in the i S nthw<-st rn part of New Mexico. They were p:oniptlv quelled, and the quiet which has pre- ■ vail d in all other parts of the country has per- ; netted -nch an addition to be made to the militarv fore * in the region endangered by the Apa- | ches that there is little reason to apprehend | trouble in the future. SEACOAST DEFENSES. Those parts of th»* Secretry’s report which relate to our seacoast defen*es and their arma- | ment suggest the gravest reflections. Our ex- ' isting fortifications are notoriously inadequate I to the defease of the great harbors and cities i for whose protection they were built. The question of providing an armament suited to our present ecessitv ha* hem the subject of conj siderati n bv aboard whose report was transmitted to Congress ar the last session. Pending I the consideration of that report the War Departmen has take i no stops for the manufacture or conversion of any heavy cannon, but the Secretary expresses the hope that authority and means to begin that important work will be goon provided. THE MILITIA. I invi e the attention of Congre s to th* 1 proprietv of piaking more adequate provisions for ar.ning arid GQulpning th* militia than are afforded by the act of 18%. w hich is still upon the etatute books. The matter has already been the

subject of discussion in the Senate, and a bill w hich seeks to supply the deficiencies of exist ing law’s is now upon its calendar. The Secretary of War calls attention to the fact that an embarrassment is grawing out of the recent get of Congress making the retirement of officers of tlie a mv compulsory at the age of 64. Th • act of 1878 is still in force, which limits to 4(h) tlie number of those who can be retired for disability or upon their own application. Ihe acts, when construed together seem to for' id the relieving, even for incaj aci’v. of officers who do not fall within the purview - f the latter statute, save at such times as there chanc • to b • less than 400 on the retired list. T ere are now 420. It is not likely that Congress intende 1 this result, and I concur with ti.e Secretary, that tne law’ ought to t>e amended THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL. The grounds that impelled rne to withhold my signature from the bill entitled, “An act making appropriations for the construction, repair and preservation of certain works on rivers and harbors," which became a law ne r the close of your last session fxoca me to express the hope that no similar mea-ure will be deemed necessary during the I present session of Congress. Indeed, such a measure would now be open to serious objection, in addition to that which was lately n ged upon your attent ion. lam informed by tlie Secretary of War that the greater portion of the sum appropriated for the various items speci.ied in that act rem ins unexpended. Os the new works which i authorized, expenses have been incurred upon two only, for which the | total appropriation was $210,000. The pre-ent avai able balance is disclosed bi’ the following able: Amount of appropriation by act of August 2, 188*2 $18,733,875 Am unt "f appropriation by act of June 19, 1882 10,000 Am unt of appropriation for payments to J B Eads 304,000 Unexjicnded balance of former appropriations 4,738,263 ! Total $23,791,138 Less amount drawn from treasury between July 1, 1882, and November 30, 1882 6,056,194 Total $17,734,914 It is apparent by this exhibit that, so far as concerns most of the i emR Uj which the act of Congress of Aug. 2, 1882, rela’es, there can be no ne *d of further appropriations until after the close of the present session. If, how. ver, any action should seem to lie necessary in respect to particular objects, it will be entirely feasible to provide for tho*e objects by appropriate legislation. It is possible, for example, that a delay until the assembling of the next Congress to make additional provision for the Mississippi rive - improvements might be attended with serious consequences. If such should appear to be the case. ? just bill relating to that subject would com nand ray approval. Thia leads me to offer a suggestion w’hich I trust will commend itself to the wiedom. of Congreßtf. Is it not advisable that grants of considerable sums of money for diverse and independent schemes of internal improvement should be marie the subjects of separate and distinct legislative enactments? It will scarcely be gainsaid, even bv those w’ho favor the most liberal exiienditures for such purposes as are sought to be accomplished by what is commonly called the River and Harbor bill, that the practice of grouping in such a bill appropriations for a great diversity of objects widely separated, either in their nature, in the locality with which they ar? c mcern d. or in both, is one which is to be deprecated. Unless it is divisible, it inevitable tends to secure the success of the bid as a whole, though many of the items, if separately considered, could scarcely fail of rejection. By the adoption of the course I have recommended, every member of Congress, when opportunity should arise for giving his influence and vote for meritorious appropriations, woind l>e enabled to do so without being called upon to sanction others undeserving his am r val. So. also, would the Executive be afforded thereby a full opportunity to exercise his constitutional prerogative of opposing whatever appropriations seemed to him objectionable, wi’hout imperiling the success of others which commend themselves to his judgment. It may be urged in opposition to these suggestions that the number of works of international improvements which are justly entitled to Governmental aid is so great as to rend r impracticable separate appropriation bills therefor, or even for such a comparatively limited number as make disposition of large sums of money This objection mav be well founded, and. whether it be or not, the advantages w hich would be likely to ensue from the adoption of the course I have recomme ided may, perhaps, l>e more effectually attained by another, which I respectfully submi to Congress as an alternative proposition. PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTI >N. It is provided by the constitutions of f urteeu of our States that the Executive may disapprove anv item or items of a bill appropriating money, whereupon the parts of the bill approved shall be a law, and the part disapproved shall fail to be< ome a law un’ess repass< d, according to the provisions prescribed for ti e passage of bills over the veto of the Executive. The States wherein some such provision as the foregoing is a part of t ie fundamental law are Alabama. Ca ifornia, Colorado. Florida, Georgia, L uisiana. Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia. I commend to j 1 r careful consideration the question whether an amendment ot t he Federal constitut <?ii in the particular indicated would nut afford the best r< mpdy for what is often a grave embar assment botn to members of Congress and to the Executive, and is sometimes a serious uublic mischief. THE NAVAL SQUADRONS. Th re< ort of the Secretary ot the Navy states the move i ents of the various squadrons during the year, in home and foreign water*, w er onrofficersand seamen with such ships a* ve pos>es* have continued to illustrate t e I igh character and excellent discipline of the n val organization. On h 21st of December. 1881, information was received that the exnlortna STEAMER JEANNETTE bad been crushed and aba o on d in the Arc ic ocean. The office's a- d crew, after a journey ov. r the ice, embarked in three boats f r the c ast of Siberia. One of the parlies, unde tie comma d of Chief Engineer Get rge W. Melville. reached the land, and, falling in vith native . vas saved. An the , unde Lieute ant Comman erDeLong landed m a ba r n region near the m< uth of the Lena river. Aft r six wee - had elaps« d all but two < f the nr.mbei bad died from fati.ue and starvation. No tidings have been received from the partv in the third boat undr the command of Lieut. Chit p, but a long a* d fruitless investigation leaves little doubt that all it* members perished in the sea. As a slight tribute to their heroism, I give in this communication the names ot the gallant men who sacrificed their lives in the expedition: Lieutenant Commander George De Long, Surgeon James M. Ambler, Jerome J Collins, Hans Haller, Ericbson Heinrich, H. Kaacke, George A. Brvd, Walter Lee, Adolph D easier, Carl A. Gortz, Nelse Iverson, the cook. Ah Sam, and the Indian, Alexy. lhe officers and men in the mlss.ng boat were Lieut Charles W. Chipp, commanding, William Dunbar, Alfred Sweetman, Walter Shartell, Albert C. Kuehne, Edwin Star, Henry D. Warren, and Peter E. Johnson. Lieut. Giles B. Harber and Master XVilliamH. Scheutzckish are nowr bringing home the remains of Lieut. De Long and his comrades. In pursuance of the directions of Congress the Rodgers (fitted out for the relief of the Jeannette, in accordance with an act of Congress of March 3, 1881' sailed from San Francisco June 16’, under the command of Lieut. Robert M. Berry. On Nov. 30 she was accidentally destroyed bv fire while in winter quarters in St Lawrence bay, but the officers and crew succeeded in escaping to the shore. Lieut Berry and one of his officers, after making a search for the Jeannette along the coast of Siberia, fell in with Chief Engineer Melville ■ rartv, and returned home byway of Europe. The other officers and the crew of the Rodgers were brought from St. Lawrence bay by the w haling steamer North Star. Master Charles F. Putnam, who had been placed in charge of a depot of supplies at Cape Serdze, returning to his post from St. Law rence bay across the ice, in a blinding snow-storm, was carried out to sea and lost, notwithstanding all efforts to rescue him. THE MAVAL FOBCHB. It appears by the Secretaiy’s report that the available naval force of the United States conpi <ts of thirty-seven cruisers, fourteen singleturreted monitors, built during the rebellion, r large number of smooth-bore guns and Parrott Titles, andeigh’v-seven rifled c-mnon. The cruising vessels should be gradually replaced by iron or steel ships, the monitors by modem-armored vessel*, and the armament by high-power rifled guns. The reconstruction of our naw, which \ as recommended in my last message, was begun by Congress authorizing, in its recent act, the construction of two large unarmored steel vessels of the charac'er reccommended bv the late Navy Advisory I < ai d. and subject to the final approval of anew Advisory Board to be organized as provided by tha’ act’. I call your attention to the recom- , mendHtion of fhe'Secretary an i the board, that < authority be given to construct two mure crutsI e s of smaller dimensions and one fleet dis-pitch-vessel, and that appropriations be made for high -ptwer rifled cannon for the torpedo service and for other harbor defenses. Pending , the consideration by Congress of the policy to in* hereafter adopted in conducting the eight large naw yards and their expensive establishments, the Secretary advocates ' the redu tion of expenditures therefor to the lowest possible amounts, and for the purpose cf affording the officers and seamen of the navy opportu lilies of exercise and discipline in their profession under appropriate control and dllecti n. the Secretory advises that the lighVh use service and coast survey be transferred, i PS now organized, from the Treasury to the i Navy Depar ment. and he also suggests, for the r< as ns w hich he assigns, that a similar transfei mav wisely be made of the cruising revenue ve-sels. COMMERCIAL MARINES. The Secretary forcibly deplete the ultimate co r.ection and inte-dependency of the navy and tl c commercial marine, and invites attention to itl e continued decadence of the latter,and the corresponding transfer of our growing commerce to l foreign bottoms. This subject is one of theut- ! rno-t impor:ance to the national wefara • of mnring American shipbuilding, and

or res ion ng the united states nag m tne oceancarrying trade, should receive the immediate attention of Congress. We have mechanical skill and abundant material for the manufacture of modern iron steamships in fair competition with our commercial rivals. Our disadvantage in building ships is the greater cost of labor and in sailing them, higher taxes and greater interest on capital. While the ocean highways are already monopolized by our formidable competitors, these obstacles should in some way be overcome, and for our rapid communication with foreign lands we should not continue to depend wholly upon vessels built in the vards of other countries and sailing under foreign flags. With no United States steamere on the principal ocean lines or to any foreign ports, our facilities for extending our commeros are greatly restricted, while the nations which build and sail the ships and carry the mails and passengers obtain thereby conspicuous advantages for increasing their trade. LETTER POSTAGE. At the last session of Congress, several Mill were introduced into the House of Representatives for the reduction of letter postage to th< rate of 2 cents per half ounce. I have givei much study and reflection to this subject, and am thoroughly persuaded that such a reduction would be for the l>est interests of the public It has l>een the policy of the Government from its foundation to defray, as far as poee bl . the expenses of carrying the mails by • direct tax jn the form of postage, and it hai never been claimed, however, that this servlci oug t to be productive of a net revenue. As ha* been stated already, the report of the Postmas* t»*r Gen* ra' shows that there is now’ a very considerable surplus in his departmenf, and thaj henceforth the receipts are likely to increase al a much greater ratio than the neces-s.-r. expenditures. Unless some changt is made in the existing laws, the profits of th< pos al service will, in a very few years, swell th< revenues of the Government many millions o dollars. Th- time seems auspicious, therefore for some reduction in the rates of postage. Ij what shall that reduction consist? A review of the legislation which has been had upon thii subject during the last thirty years disclose that domestic letters constitute the only class 0 mall matter which has never been favored bv substantial reductions of rates. lam convinced that the burden of maintaining the service falls unequally upon that class, and that more than any other it is entitled to present itself. That such relief may be extended to other public interests, w ill be discovered upon reviewing the results of former reductions. Immediately prior to the act of 1845, the postage upon a let ter composed of a single sheet was as follows: if conveyed 30 miles or less, fl cents; between 30 and 80miles, 10cents; between 8o and 150 miles, 12& cents; between 150 and 401 n lies, 18% cents; over 400 miles, 25 cents. By the act of 1845, the postage upon a single letter conveyed for any distance under xOO miles was fixed at 5 cents, and for any greater distance at 10 cents. By the act of 1851 it was provided that a single letter, if prepaid, should be earned any distance not exa eding u,ooomiles forßcents,«n« any greater distance for 6 ccuts. it will be noticed that both of these reductions were of a radical and lelativelv unite as as that which Is now proposed. In each ca e there ensued a temporary loss of revenue, but a sudden and large influx of business followed which substantially repaired that lose within three years. Unless the experience of past legislation in this country and elsewhere goes for naught, it may be safely predicted that the stimulus of 50 per cent, reduction in tax for carriage would at once increase the numbei of letters consigned to the mails. The advantage of secrecy would lead to a very general substitution of sealed packets for postal cards and open circulars, and in divers other ways the volume of first-class matter would be enormously augmented. Such increase amounted in England, in the first year after the adoption of penny postage', to more than 125 per cent. As the result of careful estimates, the details of which cannot 1 e he e set out, I have bee me convinced that tl.e deficiency f< r the first ye >t ; fter the proposed reduction would not exceed 7 percent of the expenditures, or $3,000,000, while the deficiency, after the reduction of 1845, wamorc than 14 percent., and, after that of 1851, was 27 p r cent. Another interesting comparison ; s affr rded by statistics furnished me bv th Postoffice Department. The act of 1845 was pass <1 in the sac ■ of ihe fict that there existed a deficiency of more than $30,000. That of 1851 was encouraged bv the slight surplus of $132,00 . The excess of revenue in thu- next fiscal year is likely to be $3,500 000. If Congress should approve these suggestions, it mav be deemed desirable to sudxjlv to some extent the deficiency which must for a time result by increasing the charge for carrying merchandise, which is now only 16 cents per pound But, even without such an increase, I am confident that the receipts under the diminished rates would equal the expenditures alter the lapse of three or four years. The report of the DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE blings anew to your notice the necessity of enlarging the present system of Federal jurisprudence, so as to effectually answer the requires the ever-increasing litigation with which il is called upon to deal. The Attorney General renews the suggestions of his predecessor that, in the interests of justice, biter provision than the existing laws afford should be made in certain judicial districts for fixing the fees of witnesses and jurors In my message of December last I referred to bending criminal proceedings growing out of alleged frauds—what is k»iown as the STAR-ROUTE service of the Pos'office Department—and advised you I had enjoined upon the Attorney General ami associate counsel to whom the interests of the Government were intrusted the duty of prosecuting, with the utmost vigor of the law, all persons who might be found chargeable with these offenses. A trial of one of thc-e cases has since occurred. It occupied for many weeks the attention of the Supreme Court of this dis.net, and was conducted with great zeal and ability. It resulted in a disagreement of the jury; but the cause has been again placed upon the calendar and will shortly be retried If any guilty pers ns shall finally escape punishment for their offenses, it will not be for lack of diligent and earnest efforts on the part of the prosecution. Itrus that some agreement may be reached which will speedily enable Congress, with the concurrence of the Executiv ,to afford the commercial community the benefits of a national BANKRUPT LAW. The report of ihe Secretary of the Interior, with its accompanying documents, presents a full statement of the varied operations of that department. In respect to THE INDIANS, nothing has occurred which has changed or seriously modified the views to which I devoted much space in a former communication to Congress. I renew the recommendation herein contained as to extending to the Indian the protection of the law allotting land in severalty to such as desire it, and making suitable provision for the education of youths. Such prov sion as the Secretary forcibly maintains will prove unavailing unless it is broad enough to include all who are able and willing to make use of it. and should not solely relate to intellectual training, but also to instruction in such manual labor ami simple industrial arts as can be made practically available. Among the important subjects which are included within the Secretary's' reports, which will doubtless furniih occasion for Congressional action, may be mentioned the neglect cl the railroad companies to which large gran's ol land were made by the acts of 1862 and 1861 tc take title thereto, and their consequent inequitable exemption from local taxation. EDUCATION. No survey of our matinal condition can fall t< suggest inquiries as to the moral and intelle tua progress of the people. The census return- dis close an ala-ming state of illiteracy in c< rtair parts of the country where th- provision fui schools is grossly inadequate. It 1r a moment ous question for the decision of Congress whether immediate substantial aid should 1* extended by the General Government for sup | plementing the efforts of private beneficence and of State and Territorial legislation in behal’ ' of education. The regulation of INTER-STATE COMMERCE has already been the subject of your ' tions. One of the incidents of the marveluu* extension of the railway’ system of the country I has iH-en the adoption of such measures by th< : corporations which own or control the roads a. has tended to impairth e advantages us health ful competition, and make hurtful discrlmina tions in the adjustment of freightage. The* Inequalities have been corrected in several of the States bv appropriate legislation, the effect of which is necessarily restricted to the limits of their own territory. So far as such mischiefs affect commerce between the States or between | anyone of the Statesand a foreign country, they are subjects of national concern, and Congress alone can afford relief. THE SUPPRESSION OF POLYGAMY. The results which have thus far attended the enforcement of the recent statute for the suppression of polygamy in the Territories are reported bv the Secretary of the Interior. It is hot probable that any additional legislation in this regard will be deemed desirable until the effect of existing laws shall be more close'y observed and studied. I congratulate yon that the Commissioners under whose supervision those laws have been put in operation are encouraged to believe that th * evil at which they aim may be suppressed without resort t > such radical measures as in some quarters have been thought indispensable for success. The close relation of the General Government to the Territories preparing to be great States mav well engage your special attention. It is there that the Indian disturbances mainly occur, and that polygamy has found room for its growth.. I cannot doubt that a careful survey of Territorial legislation won d be of the highest utility Life and property would l>ecome more secure. The liability of outbreaks between Indians and whites would be lessened. The public domain would he more securely guarded, and better progress be made in the instruction of the young. ALASKA. Alaska is still without anv form of civil government If means were provided for the ednation of it* pe rple. and for the pro e. t-ion of iheir lives and p:op?rty. the im ns? resources cf :he legton would invi'.e permanent settlement* and oren new field* tor Industrv and enter pnse.

NUMBER 3(i.

The report of tne ... presents an account of the labors of mat Moment during the i*ast year, and includes information of much interest to the general public. PRESERVATION OF FORESTS. The condition of the forests of the country, and the wasteful manner of their destruction taking place, give cause for serious apprehension. Their action in protecting the earths surface, in modifying the extremes of climate, and in regulating and sustaining the flow of springs and streams, is nut well understood, but their importance in relation to the grow: h and prosperity of the country cannot be safely disregarded. They are fast disappearing before destructive fires, and the legitimate requirements of our increasing population, «<t their total extinct on cannot long be delave , unless better methods than now prevail si.ail t>e adopted for their protection. The ;dtent.-n <r Congress is invited to the necessity ot additional legislation to secure the preservation ot tn s valuable forests still remaining on the pm lie domain, especially in the extreme western States and Territories, where the necessity tor their protection is area’er than inb ss mountainous regions and where the prevailing dryness of the climate renders their re*turati< n if they are once destroyed well nigh impossible. APPOINTMENTS TO PUBLIC SERVICE. The communication which I made to Congress at its first session in November last contained a somewhat full statement of my sentiments iu relation to principles and rules which ought to govern appointments to public service. Referring to the various plans which had therefore been the subject of discussion in the National Legislature, plans which in the main were modeled upon the system which obtain* in Great Britain, but which lacked certain of the prominent features whereby that system is distinguished, 1 felt bound to intimate my d' übts whether thy, or anv if them, would afford adequate remedy for the evils w’hich they aimed to correct 1 declared, nevertheless, that if the proposed measure* snould prove acceptable to Congress, tney would receive the unhesit ting support of the Executive. Since the suggestions were submitted sot your consideration, tit re has been no legislation up n the subject to which they relate, but there has me awhile been an increase in the public intere t in th t subject, and the people of the c untry, apparently without distinction of party, have, in various wavs, and upon irequent occasio- s, given exr ression to their earnest wish for j rompt and definite action. in my judgment such action should no longer be postjjoned. i may add that my •wn sense of its pressing im . ortance has q ickened by observation in a practical phase of the matter to which attention I as more than once been called by my predecessors. THE CIVIL LIST iow comprises persons, the larger part of .vhom must, under the terms of the const!tut on, be selected bv the President, ei her directly or 'hroiii/h >? own appointee* in th early y ears if the administration of the Government, the I'ersonal direction of the appointments to the •ivil service may not have been an iiksome task for the Executive, but now that the burden has increased fully a him I red fold, it has become great r than he ought to bean and it necessarily divarts his time ana attention from the proper discharge of his duties, no less delicate and responsible, and which, iu the very nature of things, cannot be delegated to other hands. In the judgment of not a few who have given study and reflection to rids matter, the nation has outgrown the provisions which the constitution has established for filling the minor offices in the public service. ut whatevc r may be thought of the w isdom or expediency of changing the fundamental law In this regard, it is certain that much relief may be afforded, not only to the President and to the heads of the departments, but to the Senators and Representatives in Congress. I trust that before h close of the preaeßt eeasion s< me decisive action mav be taken foi the correction of the evils which inhere in the present methods of appointment ; nd I assure vou of my hearty co-operation in any measures which are likely to conduce io that end as to the most appropriate term and tenure of the official life of the subordinate employes of th* Government. It seems to be generally agreed that, whatever iheir extent or character the one should be definite and the othea stable, and that neither should be regulated by zeal In the service of party or fidelity to the fortunes of an individual. It matters little to tie people at large what competent person is at the head of tills department or that bureau, if they feel assured the removal of one and the accession of an ther will not involve the retirement of honest and faithful subordinates whose duties are purely’ administrative, and have no legitimate connection with the riumpb of anv political principles or the uccess of any politc.d party or faction. It is to this latter class cf officers hat tue Senate bill, to which we have already referred, exc usively applies While neither that bill nor any other prominent scheme tor improving the cb’il service concerns the higher grade of ofl j vho are appoin ed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, I feel bound to correct a prevalent misapprehension aa to the frequency with which the present Executive has displaced the incumbent of an office and appoints! another in his stead It has been repeatedly alleged that he has in this particular signally departed from the course which liaa been pursued under recent administrations of the Government. The facte are as follows: The whole number of Executive appointments during the four ■ cars immediately preceding Mr Garfield’s accession to the I*residency, wa52,196; of this number 234, or y>er cent., involved the r mova of previous incumbents. The rates ot removals to the whole number of appoii tments was much the same during each ot those our years. In the first with TO ' appointments, there w re 71 removals, or 9.3 per cent.; in the second, with 917 appointments, there were - 5 removals, or 8.1 per cent.; in the third, with 480 app mtments, there were 418 removals or 10 per cent.; in the fourth, with 429 appointments, ti.ere were 31 •removals, or 8 6 per cent.: in the four month! of President Garfield’s administration there were • *■»'■ appointments and 87 rem: vals, 2.’.7 y>ei cent. Precisely the same number (87) have taken place iu the fourteen months which have since elapsed, but thev constitute only % ier cent of the whole number of appointments, within that period, and less than two-sixths of he entire list of officials i;', .s‘.n. exclusive of the army and navy, which is filled by Presidential appointment. POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS. I declare my approval of su< h legislation ae mav lie found necessary for supporting the existing provisions of law in relation to pclir ca] assessment. In July last I authorised a public announcement that employes of theGover ment should regard them selves as at lil>erty to exercise their pleasure in making < r refusing to make political contributions, and that their action in that regard would in no manner affect their official stations. In this announcement I acted upon the view which I had always mai tained. and still maintain, that a public officer sb? uld be as absolutely free as any other c tizen to give or to withho d a contrihu ion for the aid ol the po'itlcal party of his choice. It has, however, been urged, and doubtless not without foundation i i fa t, that, by the solicitation of sui'erion and b\ other mode*, su hc< n ribtr.ions have at times been obtained from persons whose only motive for giving has been a fear of what might befall them if they re used It goes wi:l;out saying that such contributions are not voluntary. Jn my judgment, their collection sh« uld be prohibited by law. A bill which will effectna.ly suppress them will receive my cordial approval. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. I hope that, however numerous and urgent may be the demands upon v. ur a'tention. the interest f this District will not be forgotten. >he denial to its residents f the great right of suffr ge in all its relations t national. State and muoicij»al action imposes on Congress the duty of aff< rding them the best administration which its "I-dom can devise. The report of the Di c t.rict Commissioners indicates certain measuies whose adoption would ‘ seem to be very desirable. I instance in par- . t’cnlar those which relate to arrears of taxes, to i steam railroads, and to ass< ssments of real propI erty. THE PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION Ann ng ‘ hequestions w eh have l»een tl.e topfa : of recent debate in the halls of • ongress. none I are of greater gravity than those regarding the I ascertainmen - ot the vote for Presidential i lect- ! ors and the intentment of the C'nsli' lio in ' its provision* for devolving the F-x ci >v« functions ti e Vice-Pre i l ■ .t v heu the Piesident suffers from inabdit' tn disc i tge ' thep< w< rs and di ties of his < ffice. 1 tins that n<' < mbarrassment may resu.t fir m a tai ure to , deteimine these qu<sti<nß befoie ano 1 her national election. CONCLUSION. The closing year has been replete with Ifess- ■ ings for which we owe t ■ the Giver < f a 1 g od • our reverent acknowledgirent. F<rt‘eunnI terru] ted harmony of < ur foreign re at ion* : sot the decay of sectional animosities; f r the exuberance of cur harvests, and the triumph- » f our mining and man Picturing it.du- ies; i for the prevalence of .health, the spr ad ot intelligence, and th? conservation ct the f i if credit; for the growth of the country in rll the elements ot national gre .mess-for these and countless other messings—we should 1 rejoice and be glad I trust that under [ the inspiration of this gnat prosperity, our counsels mav be harmonious and that he I dictates of prudence, patriotism, justice and economy may direct the adoption o measures in which the Congress and the Executive ma, heartily unite. Chester A. Arthur. t Washington. Dec. 4. 18S2. j 1 — —-—— • A young woman of Folsom, Cal., got ! married recently, but did not in’-ite her sister's husband to the ceremony, which so enraged that individual that ? he filled up on bad whisky, fired cobble* J stones at the house, and in resisting arrest was shot in the arm twice. * Nancy Lfe is 107 years old and lives f in Lexington, Ky. She is not the fa- - mous “sailor’s wife,” but a negre s who Lived on the site of Lexington before the tow’ii wras ever thought of.