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 reviewing 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 early adjustment. The arrest of citizens of the United States in Ireland under recent laws which owe their origin to the disturbed condition of that country has led to a somewhat extended correspondence with the Government of Great Britain. A disposition to respect our rights has been practically manifested by the release of the arrested parties. The claim of this nation in regard to the supervision and control of any interoceanic canal across the American Isthmus has continued to be the subject of conference. It is likely that time will be more powerful than discussion in removing the divergence between the two nations whose friendship is so closely cemented by the intimacy of their relations and the community of their interests. Our long-established friendliness with Russia has remained unshaken. It has prompted me to proffer the earnest counsels of this Government that measures be adopted for suppressing the proscription which the Hebrew race in that country has lately suffered. It has not transpired that any American citizen has been subjected to arrest or injury, but our courteous remonstrance has nevertheless been courteously received. There is reason to believe that the time is not far distant when Russia will be able to secure toleration to all faiths within her borders. At an international convention held at Paris in 1880, and attended by representatives of the United States, an agreement was reached in respect to the protection of trade-marks, patented articles, and the rights of manufacturing firms and corporations. The formulating into treaties of the recommendations thus adopted is receiving the attention which it merits. The protection of submarine cables is a subject now under consideration by an international conference at Paris. Believing that it is clearly the true policy of this Government to favor the neutralization of this means of intercourse, I requested our minister to France to attend the convention as a delegate. I also designated two of our eminent scientists to attend as our representatives at the meeting of an international committee at Paris for considering the adoption of a common unit to measure electric force. In view of the frequent occurrence of conferences for the consideration of important matters of common interest to civilized nations, I respectfully suggest that the Executive be invested by Congress with discretionary powers to send delegates to such conventions, and that provision be made to defray the expenses incident thereto. 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 hoped and believed that negotiations now in progress will result in the establishment of the position which seems to this Government so reasonable and just. I have already called the attention of Congress to the fact that in the ports of Spain and its colonies onerous fines have lately been imposed upon vessels of the United States for trivial technical offenses against local regulations. Efforts for the abatement of these exactions have thus far proved unsuccessful. I regret to inform you also that the fees demanded by Spanish consuls in American ports are in some cases so large, when compared with the value of the cargo, as to amount in effect to a considerable export duty, and that our remonstrances in this regard have not as yet received the attention which they seem to deserve. The German Government has invited the United States to participate in an international exhibition of domestic cattle to be held at Hamburg in July, 1883. If this country is to be represented, it is important that in the early days of this session Congress should make a suitable appropriation for that purpose. The death of Mr. Marsh, our late minister to Italy, has evoked from that Government expressions of profound respect for his exalted character 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 consul-general at Rome. He has been received as secretary, but his exequatur as consul-general has thus far been withheld. The extradition convention with Belgium, which has been in operation since 1874, has been lately supplanted by another. The Senate has signified its approval, and ratifications have been duly exchanged between the contracting countries. To the list of extraditable crimes has been added that of the assassination or attempted assassination of the chief of the State. Negotiations have been opened with Switzerland looking to a settlement by treaty of the question whether its citizens can renounce their allegiance and become citizens of the United States without obtaining the consent of the Swiss Government. I am glad to inform you that the immigration of paupers and criminals from certain of the Cantons of Switzerland has substantially ceased and is no longer sanctioned by the authorities. The consideration of this subject prompts the suggestion that the act of August 3, 1882, which has for its object the return of foreign convicts to their own country, should be so modified as not to be open to the interpretation that it affects the extradition of criminals on preferred charges of crime. The Ottoman Porte has not yet assented to the interpretation which this Government has put upon the treaty of 1830 relative to its jurisdictional rights in Turkey. It may well be, however, that this difference will be adjusted by a general revision of the system of jurisdiction of the United States in the countries of the East, a subject to which your attention has been already called by the Secretary of State. In the interest of justice toward China and Japan, I trust that the question of the return of the indemnity fund to the Governments of those countries will reach at the present session the satisfactory solution which I have already recommended, and which has recently been foreshadowed by Congressional discussion. The treaty lately concluded with Korea awaits the action of the Senate. During the late disturbance in Egypt the timely presence of American vessels served as a protection to the persons and property of many of our own citizens and of citizens of other countries, whose governments have expressed their thanks for this assistance. The recent legislation restricting immigration of laborers from China has given rise to the question whether Chinese proceeding to or from another country may lawfully pass through our own. Construing the act of May 6, 1882, in connection with the treaty of November 7, 1880, the restriction would seem to be limited to Chinese immigrants coming to the United States as laborers, and would not forbid a mere transit across our territory. I ask the attention of Congress to the subject, for such action, if any, as may be deemed advisable. This Government has recently had occasion to manifest its interest in the Republic of Liberia by seeking to aid the amicable settlement of the boundary dispute now pending between that Republic and the British possession of Sierra Leone. The reciprocity treaty with Hawaii will become terminable after September 9, 1883, on twelve 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. I suggest, therefore, that early consideration be given to such modifications of the treaty as seem to be demanded by the interests of our people. In view of our increasing trade with both Hayti and Santo Domingo, I advise that provision be made for diplomatic intercourse with the latter by enlarging the scope of the mission at Port au Prince. I regret that certain claims of American citizens against the Government of Hayti have thus far been urged unavailingly. A recent agreement with 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 attention to the prevalent lawlessness upon 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 mischiefs has been sought in a convention, which now awaits the approval of the Senate, as does also another touching the establishment of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico. If the latter is ratified, the action of Congress will be required for establishing suitable commissions of survey. The boundary dispute between Mexico and Guatemala, which led this Government to proffer its friendly counsels to both parties, has been amicably settled. No change has occurred in our relations with Venezuela. I again invoke your action in the matter of the pending awards against that Republic, to which reference was made by a special message from the Executive at your last session. An invitation has been received from the Government of Venezuela to send representatives in July, 1883, to Caracas for participating in the centennial celebration of the birth of Bolivar, the founder of South American independence. In connection with this event it is designed to commence the erection at Caracas of a statue of Washington and to conduct an industrial exhibition which will be open to American products. I recommend that the United States be represented and that suitable provision be made therefor. The elevation of the grade of our mission in Central America to the plenipotentiary rank, which was authorized by Congress at its late session, has been since effected. The war between Peru and Bolivia on the one side and Chile on the other began more than three years ago. On the occupation by Chile in 1880 of all the littoral territory of Bolivia, negotiations for peace were conducted under the direction of the United States. The allies refused to concede any territory, but Chile has since become master of the whole coast of both countries and of the capital of Peru. A year since, as you have already been advised by correspondence transmitted to you in January last, this Government sent a special mission to the belligerent powers to express the hope that Chile would be disposed to accept a money indemnity for the expenses of the war and to relinquish her demand for a portion of the territory of her antagonist. This recommendation, which Chile declined to follow, this Government did not assume to enforce; nor can it be enforced without resort to measures which would be in keeping neither with the temper of our people nor with the spirit of our institutions. The power of Peru no longer extends over its whole territory, and in the event of our interference to dictate peace would need to be supplemented by the armies and navies of the 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 embarrassments for the future. For effecting the termination of hostilities upon terms at once just to the victorious nation and generous to its adversaries, this Government has spared no efforts save such as might involve the complications which I have indicated. It is greatly to be deplored that Chile seems resolved to exact such rigorous conditions of peace and indisposed to submit to arbitration the terms of an amicable settlement. No peace is likely to be lasting that is not sufficiently equitable and just to command the approval of other nations. About a year since invitations were extended to the nations of this continent to send representatives to a peace congress to assemble at Washington in November, 1882. The time of meeting was fixed at a period then remote, in the hope, as the invitation itself declared, that in the meantime the disturbances between the South American Republics would be adjusted. As that expectation seemed unlikely to be realized, I asked in April last for an expression of opinion from the two Houses of Congress as to the advisability of holding the proposed convention at the time appointed. This action was prompted in part by doubts which mature reflection had suggested whether the diplomatic usage and traditions of the Government did not make it fitting that the Executive should consult the representatives of the people before pursuing a line of policy somewhat novel in its character and far reaching in its possible consequences. In view of the fact that no action was taken by Congress in the premises and that no provision had been made for necessary expenses, I subsequently decided to postpone the convocation, and so notified the several Governments which had been invited to attend. I am unwilling to dismiss this subject without assuring you of my support of any measures the wisdom of Congress may devise for the promotion of peace on this continent and throughout the world, and I trust that the time is nigh when, with the universal assent of civilized peoples, all international differences shall be determined without resort to arms by the benignant processes of arbitration. Changes have occurred in the diplomatic representation of several foreign powers during the past year. New ministers from the Argentine Republic, Austria-Hungary, Brazil, Chile, China, France, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Russia have presented their credentials. The missions of Denmark and Venezuela at this capital have been raised in grade. Switzerland has created a plenipotentiary mission to this Government, and an embassy from Madagascar and a minister from Siam will shortly arrive. Our diplomatic intercourse has been enlarged by the establishment of relations with the new Kingdom of Servia, by the creation of a mission to Siam, and by the restoration of the mission to Greece. The Shah of Persia has expressed his gratification that a charge' d'affaires will shortly be sent to that country, where the rights of our citizens have been hitherto courteously guarded by the representatives of Great Britain. I renew my recommendation of such legislation as will place the United States in harmony with other maritime powers with respect to the international rules for the prevention of collisions at sea. In conformity with your joint resolution of the 3d of August last, I have directed the Secretary of State to address foreign governments in respect to a proposed conference for considering the subject of the universal adoption of a common prime meridian to be used in the reckoning of longitude and in the regulation of time throughout the civilized world. Their replies will in due time be laid before you. An agreement was reached at Paris in 1875 between the principal powers for the interchange of official publications through the medium of their respective foreign departments. The admirable system which has been built up by the enterprise of the Smithsonian Institution affords a practical basis for our cooperation in this scheme, and an arrangement has been effected by which that institution will perform the' necessary labor, under the direction of the Department of State. A reasonable compensation therefor should be provided by law. A clause in the act making appropriations for the diplomatic and consular service contemplates the reorganization of both branches of such service on a salaried basis, leaving fees to inure to the benefit of the Treasury. I cordially favor such a project, as likely to correct abuses in the present system. The Secretary of State will present to you at an early day a plan for such reorganization. A full and interesting exhibit of the operations of the Treasury Department is afforded by the report of the Secretary. It appears that the ordinary revenues from all sources for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1882, were as follows: 
 The ordinary expenditures for the same period were-- 
 Leaving a surplus revenue of $145,543,810.71, which, with an amount drawn from the cash balance in the Treasury of $20,737,694.84, making $166,281,505.55, was applied to the redemption-- 
 The foreign commerce of the United States during the last fiscal year, including imports and exports of merchandise and specie, was as follows: 
 This excess is less than it has been before for any of the previous six years, as appears by the following table: 
 During the year there have been organized 171 national banks, and of those institutions there are now in operation 2,269, a larger number than ever before. The value of their notes in active circulation on July 1, 1882, was $324,656,458. 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 by which that result may, in his judgment, be averted. In respect to the coinage of silver dollars and the retirement of silver certificates, I have seen nothing to alter but much to confirm the sentiments to which I gave expression last year. A comparison between the respective amounts of silver-dollar circulation on November 1, 1881, and on November 1, 1882, shows a slight increase of a million and a half of dollars; but during the interval there had been in the whole number coined an increase of twenty-six millions. Of the one hundred and twenty-eight millions thus far minted, little more than thirty-five millions are in circulation. The mass of accumulated coin has grown so great that the vault room at present available for storage is scarcely sufficient to contain it. It is not apparent why it is desirable to continue this coinage, now so enormously in excess of the public demand. 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 whose issuance Congress recently made provision, and which are now in active circulation. 
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You can not fail to note with interest the discussion by the Secretary as to the necessity of providing by legislation some mode of freeing the Treasury of an excess of assets in the event that Congress fails to reach an early agreement for the reduction of taxation. I heartily approve the Secretary's recommendation of immediate and extensive reductions in the annual revenues of the Government. It will be remembered that I urged upon the attention of Congress at its last session the importance of relieving the industry and enterprise of the country from the pressure of unnecessary taxation. It is one of the tritest maxims of political economy that all taxes are burdensome, however wisely and prudently imposed; and though there have always been 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 should be based, there has been substantial accord in the doctrine that only such taxes ought to be levied as are necessary for a wise and economical administration of the Government. Of late the public revenues have far exceeded that limit, and unless checked by. appropriate legislation such excess will continue to increase from year to year. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1881, the surplus revenue amounted to $100,000,000; for the fiscal year ended on the 30th of June last the surplus was more than one hundred and forty-five millions. The report of 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 other 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 apprehension. If it continues, it must speedily be followed by one of the evil results so clearly set forth in the report of the Secretary. 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 can not fail to command an enormous premium, or the swollen revenues will be devoted to extravagant expenditure, which, as experience has taught, is ever the bane of an overflowing treasury. It was made apparent in the course of the animated discussions which this question aroused at the last session of Congress that the policy of diminishing the revenue by reducing taxation commanded the general approval of the members of both Houses. I regret that because of conflicting views as to the best methods by which that policy should be made operative none of its benefits have as yet been reaped. In fulfillment of what I deem my constitutional duty, but with little hope that I can make valuable contribution to this vexed question, I shall proceed to intimate briefly my own views in relation to it. Upon the showing of our financial condition at the close of the last fiscal year, I felt justified in recommending to Congress the abolition of all internal revenue taxes except those upon tobacco in its various forms and upon distilled spirits and fermented liquors, and except also the special tax upon the manufacturers of 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 accompanied by a simplification of the machinery of collection, which would then be easy of accomplishment, might reasonably be expected to result in diminishing the cost of such collection by at least $2,500,000 and in the retirement from office of from 1,500 to 2,000 persons. The system of excise duties has never commended itself to the favor of the American people, and has never been resorted to except for supplying deficiencies in the Treasury when, by reason of special exigencies, the duties on imports have proved inadequate for the needs of the Government. The sentiment of the country doubtless demands that the present excise tax shall be abolished as soon as such a course can be safely pursued. It seems to me, however, that, for 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: First. It is by no means clear that even if the existing system of duties on imports is continued without modification those duties alone will yield sufficient revenue for all the needs of the Government. It is estimated that $100,000,000 will be required for pensions during the coming year, and it may well be doubted whether the maximum annual demand for that object has yet been reached. Uncertainty upon this question 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 people. Second. A total abolition of excise taxes would almost inevitably prove a serious if not an insurmountable obstacle to a thorough revision of the tariff and to any considerable reduction in import duties. The present tariff system is in many respects unjust. It makes unequal distributions both of its burdens and its benefits. This fact was practically recognized by a majority of each House of Congress in the passage of the act creating the Tariff Commission. The report of that commission will be placed before you at the beginning of this session, and will, I trust, afford you such information as to the condition and prospects of the various commercial, agricultural, manufacturing, mining, and other interests of the country and contain such suggestions for statutory revision as will practically aid your action upon this important subject. The revenue from customs for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1879, amounted to $137,000,000. It has in the three succeeding years reached, first, $186,000,000, then $198,000,000, and finally, as has been already stated, $220,000,000. The income from this source for the fiscal year which will end on June 30, 1883, will doubtless be considerably in excess of the sum last mentioned. If the tax on domestic spirits is to be retained, it is plain, therefore, that large reductions from the customs revenue are entirely feasible. While recommending this reduction, I am far from advising the abandonment of the policy of so discriminating in the adjustment of details as to afford aid and protection to domestic labor. But the present system should be so revised as to equalize the public burden among all classes and occupations and bring it into closer harmony with the present needs of industry. Without entering into minute detail, which under present circumstances is quite unnecessary, I recommend an enlargement of the free list so as to include within it the numerous articles which yield inconsiderable revenue, a simplification of the complex and inconsistent schedule of duties upon certain manufactures, particularly those of cotton, iron, and steel, and a substantial reduction of the duties upon those articles and. upon sugar, molasses, silk, wool, and woolen goods. If a general 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 inequalities of the present law may be corrected before your final adjournment. One of them is specially referred to by the Secretary. In view of a recent decision of the Supreme Court, the necessity of amending the law by which the Dutch standard of color is adopted as the test of the saccharine strength of sugars is too obvious to require comment. From the report of the Secretary of War it appears that the only outbreaks of Indians during the past year occurred in Arizona and in the southwestern part of New Mexico. They were promptly quelled, and the quiet which has prevailed in all other parts of the country has permitted such an addition to be made to the military force in the region endangered by the Apaches that there is little reason to apprehend trouble in the future. Those parts of the Secretary's report which relate to our seacoast defenses and their armament suggest the gravest reflections. Our existing fortifications are notoriously inadequate to the defense of the great harbors and cities for whose protection they were built. The question of providing an armament suited to our present necessities has been the subject of consideration by a board, whose report was transmitted to Congress at the last session. Pending the consideration of that report, the War Department has taken no steps 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 soon provided. I invite the attention of Congress to the propriety of making more adequate provision for arming and equipping the militia than is afforded by the act of 1808, which is still upon the statute book. The matter has already been the subject of discussion in the Senate, and a bill which seeks to supply the deficiencies of existing laws is now upon its calendar. The Secretary of War calls attention to an embarrassment growing out of the recent act of Congress making the retirement of officers of the Army compulsory at the age of 64. The act of 1878 is still in force, which limits to 400 the number of those who can be retired for disability or upon their own application. The two acts, when construed together, seem to forbid the relieving, even for absolute incapacity, of officers who do not fall within the purview of the later statute, save at such times as there chance to be less than 40 names on the retired list. There are now 420. It is not likely that Congress intended this result, and I concur with the Secretary that the law ought to be amended. The grounds that impelled me 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 near the close of your last session, prompt me to express the hope that no similar measure will be deemed necessary during the present session of Congress. Indeed, such a measure would now be open to a serious objection in addition to that which was lately urged upon your attention. I am informed by the Secretary of War that the greater portion of the sum appropriated for the various items specified in that act remains unexpended. Of the new works which it authorized, expenses have been incurred upon two only, for which the total appropriation was $210,000. The present available balance is disclosed by the following table: 
 It is apparent by this exhibit that so far as concerns most of the items to which the act of August 2, 1882, relates there can be no need of further appropriations until after the close of the present session. If, however, any action should seem to be necessary in respect to particular objects, it will be entirely feasible to provide for those 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 River improvements might be attended with serious consequences. If such should appear to be the case, a just bill relating to that subject would command my approval. This leads me to offer a suggestion which I trust will commend itself to the wisdom of Congress. Is it not advisable that grants of considerable sums of money for diverse and independent schemes of internal improvement should be made the subjects of separate and distinct legislative enactments? It will scarcely be gainsaid, even by those who favor the most liberal expenditures 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 or in the locality with which they are concerned, or in both, is one which is much to be deprecated unless it is irremediable. It inevitably tends to secure the success of the bill 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, whenever opportunity should arise for giving his influence and vote for meritorious appropriations, would be enabled so to do without being called upon to sanction others undeserving his approval. So also would the Executive be afforded thereby full opportunity to exercise his constitutional prerogative of opposing whatever appropriations seemed to him objectionable without imperiling the success of others which commended themselves to his judgment. It may be urged in opposition to these suggestions that the number of works of internal improvement which are justly entitled to governmental aid is so great as to render impracticable separate appropriation bills therefor, or even for such comparatively limited number as make disposition of large sums of money. This objection may be well founded, and, whether it be or not, the advantages which would be likely to ensue from the adoption of the course I have recommended may perhaps be more effectually attained by another, which I respectfully submit to Congress as an alternative proposition. It is provided by the constitutions of fourteen of our States that the executive may disapprove any item or items of a bill appropriating money, whereupon the part of the bill approved shall be law and the part disapproved shall fail to become law unless repassed according to the provisions prescribed for the passage of bills over the veto of the executive. The States wherein some such provision as the foregoing is a part of the fundamental law are Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. I commend to your careful consideration the question whether an amendment of the Federal Constitution in the particular indicated would not afford the best remedy for what is often a grave embrassment both to members of Congress and to the Executive, and is sometimes a serious public mischief. The report of the Secretary of the Navy states the movements of the various squadrons during the year, in home and foreign waters, where our officers and seamen, with such ships as we possess, have continued to illustrate the high character and excellent discipline of the naval organization. On the 21st of December, 1881, information was received that the exploring steamer Jeannette had been crushed and abandoned in the Arctic Ocean. The officers and crew, after a journey over the ice, embarked in three boats for the coast of Siberia. One of the parties, under the command of Chief Engineer George W. Melville, reached the land, and, falling in with the natives, was saved. Another, under Lieutenant-Commander De Long, landed in a barren region near the mouth of the Lena River. After six weeks had elapsed all but two of the number had died from fatigue and starvation. No tidings have been received from the party in the third boat, under the command of Lieutenant Chipp, but a long and fruitless investigation leaves little doubt that all its members perished at sea. As a slight tribute to their heroism I give in this communication the names of the gallant men who sacrificed their lives on this expedition: Lieutenant-Commander George W. De Long, Surgeon James M. Ambler, Jerome J. Collins, Hans Halmer Erichsen, Heinrich H. Kaacke, George W. Boyd, Walter Lee, Adolph Dressier, Carl A. Gortz, Nelse Iverson, the cook Ah Sam, and the Indian Alexy. The officers and men in the missing boat were Lieutenant Charles W. Chipp, commanding; William Dunbar, Alfred Sweetman, Waiter Sharvell, Albert C. Kuehne, Edward Star, Henry D. Warren, and Peter E. Johnson. Lieutenant Giles B. Harber and Master Willliam H. Scheutze are now bringing home the remains of Lieutenant De Long and his comrades, in pursuance of the directions of Congress. The Rodgers, fitted out for the releif of the Jeannette in accordance with the act of Congress of March 3, 1881, sailed from San Francisco June 16 under the command of Lieutenant Robert M. Berry. On November 30 she was accidentally destroyed by fire while in winter quarters in St. Lawrence Bay, but the officers and crew succeeded in escaping to the shore. Lieutenant Berry and one of his officers, after making a search for the Jeannette along the coast of Siberia, fell in with Chief Engineer Melville's party and returned home by way of Europe. The other officers and the crew of the Rodgers were brought from St. Lawrence Bay by the whaling 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. Lawrence Bay across the ice in a blinding snow storm, was carried out to sea and lost, notwithstanding all efforts to rescue him. It appears by the Secretary's report that the available naval force of the United States consists of 37 cruisers, 14 single-turreted monitors, built during the rebellion, a large number of smoothbore guns and Parrott rifles, and 87 rifled cannon. The cruising vessels should be gradually replaced by iron or steel ships, the monitors by modern armored vessels, and the armament by high-power rifled guns. The reconstruction of our Navy, which was recommended in my last message, was begun by Congress authorizing, in its recent act, the construction of two large unarmored steel vessels of the character recommended by the late Naval Advisory Board, and subject to the final approval of a new advisory board to be organized as provided by that act. I call your attention to the recommendation of the Secretary and the board that authority be given to construct two more cruisers of smaller dimensions and one fleet dispatch vessel, and that appropriations be made for high-power rifled cannon for the torpedo service and for other harbor defenses. Pending the consideration by Congress of the policy to be hereafter adopted in conducting the eight large navy-yards and their expensive establishments, the Secretary advocates the reduction of expenditures therefor to the lowest possible amounts. For the purpose of affording the officers and seamen of the Navy opportunities for exercise and discipline in their profession, under appropriate control and direction, the Secretary advises that the Light-House Service and Coast Survey be transferred, as now organized, from the Treasury to the Navy Department; and he also suggests, for the reasons which he assigns, that a similar transfer may wisely be made of the cruising revenue vessels. The Secretary forcibly depicts the intimate connection and interdependence of the Navy and the commercial marine, and invites attention to the continued decadence of the latter and the corresponding transfer of our growing commerce to foreign bottoms. This subject is one of the utmost importance to the national welfare. Methods of reviving American shipbuilding and of restoring the United States flag in the ocean carrying 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 yards of other countries and sailing under foreign flags. With no United States steamers on the principal ocean lines or in any foreign ports, our facilities for extending our commerce are greatly restricted, while the nations which build and sail the ships and carry the mails and passengers obtain thereby conspicuous advantages in increasing their trade. The report of the Postmaster-General gives evidence of the satisfactory condition of that Department and contains many valuable data and accompanying suggestions which can not fail to be of interest. The information which it affords that the receipts for the fiscal year have exceeded the expenditures must be very gratifying to Congress and to the people of the country. As matters which may fairly claim particular attention, I refer you to his observations in reference to the advisability of changing the present basis for fixing salaries and allowances, of extending the money-order system, and of enlarging the functions of the postal establishment so as to put under its control the telegraph system of the country, though from this last and most important recommendation I must withhold my concurrence. At the last session of Congress several bills were introduced into the House of Representatives for the reduction of letter postage to the rate of 2 cents per half ounce. I have given much study and reflection to this subject, and am thoroughly persuaded that such a reduction would be for the best interests of the public. It has been the policy of the Government from its foundation to defray as far as possible the expenses of carrying the mails by a direct tax in the form of postage. It has never been claimed, however, that this service ought to be productive of a net revenue. As has been stated already, the report of the Postmaster-General shows that there is now a very considerable surplus in his Department and that henceforth the receipts are likely to increase at a much greater ratio than the necessary expenditures. Unless some change is made in the existing laws, the profits of the postal service will in a very few years swell the revenues of the Government many millions of dollars. The time seems auspicious, therefore, for some reduction in the rates of postage. In what shall that reduction consist? A review of the legislation which has been had upon this subject during the last thirty years discloses that domestic letters constitute the only class of mail matter which has never been favored by a substantial reduction of rates. I am convinced that the burden of maintaining the service falls most unequally upon that class, and that more than any other it is entitled to present relief. That such relief may be extended without detriment to other public interests wilt be discovered upon reviewing the results of former reductions. Immediately prior to the act of 1845 the postage upon a letter composed of a single sheet was as follows: 
 By the act of 1845 the postage upon a single letter conveyed for any distance under 300 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 carried any distance not exceeding 3,000 miles for 3 cents and any greater distance for 6 cents. It will be noticed that both of these reductions were of a radical character and relatively quite as important as that which is now proposed. In each case there ensued a temporary loss of revenue, but a sudden and large influx of business, which substantially repaired that loss 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 33 1/3 per cent reduction in the tax for carriage would at once increase the number of letters consigned to the mails. The advantages 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 a result of careful estimates, the details of which can not be here set out, I have become convinced that the deficiency for the first year after the proposed reduction would not exceed 7 per cent of the expenditures, or $3,000,000, while the deficiency after the reduction of 1845 was more than 14 per cent, and after that of 1851 was 27 per cent. Another interesting comparison is afforded by statistics furnished me by the Post-Office Department. The act of 1845 was passed in face of the fact that there existed a deficiency of more than $30,000. That of 1851 was encouraged by the slight surplus of $132,000. The excess of revenue in the next fiscal year is likely to be $3,500,000. If Congress should approve these suggestions, it may be deemed desirable to supply 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 after the lapse of three or four years. The report of the Department of Justice brings anew to your notice the necessity of enlarging the present system of Federal jurisprudence so as effectually to answer the requirements of the ever-increasing litigation with which it is called upon to deal. The Attorney-General renews the suggestions of his predecessor that in the interests of justice better 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 pending criminal proceedings growing out of alleged frauds in what is known as the star-route service of the Post-Office Department, and advised you that I had enjoined upon the Attorney-General and 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 those offenses. A trial of one of these cases has since occurred. It occupied for many weeks the attention of the supreme court of this District 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 persons shall finally escape punishment for their offenses, it will not be for lack of diligent and earnest efforts on the part of the prosecution. I trust that some agreement may be reached which will speedily enable Congress, with the concurrence of the Executive, to afford the commercial community the benefits of a national bankrupt law. The report of the Secretary of the Interior, with its accompanying documents, presents a full statement of the varied operations of that Department. In respect to Indian affairs 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 recommendations therein 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 youth. Such provision, as the Secretary forcibly maintains, will prove unavailing unless it is broad enough to include all those 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 and simple industrial arts as can be made practically available. Among other important subjects which are included within the Secretary's report, and which will doubtless furnish occasion for Congressional action, may be mentioned the neglect of the railroad companies to which large grants of land were made by the acts of 1862 and 1864 to take title thereto, and their consequent inequitable exemption from local taxation. No survey of our material condition can fail to suggest inquiries as to the moral and intellectual progress of the people. The census returns disclose an alarming state of illiteracy in certain portions of the country, where the provision for schools is grossly inadequate. It is a momentous question for the decision of Congress whether immediate and substantial aid should not be extended by the General Government for supplementing the efforts of private beneficence and of State and Territorial legislation in behalf of education. The regulation of interstate commerce has already been the subject of your deliberations. One of the incidents of the marvelous extension of the railway system of the country has been the adoption of such measures by the corporations which own or control the roads as have tended to impair the advantages of healthful competition and to make hurtful discriminations in the adjustment of freightage. These inequalities have been corrected in several of the States by 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 any one of the States and a foreign country, they are subjects of national concern, and Congress alone can afford relief. The results which have thus far attended the enforcement of the recent statute for the suppression of polygamy in the Territories are reported by the Secretary of the Interior. It is not probable that any additional legislation in this regard will be deemed desirable until the effect of existing laws shall be more closely observed and studied. I congratulate you that the commissioners under whose supervision those laws have been put in operation are encouraged to believe that the evil at which they are aimed may be suppressed without resort to such radical measures as in some quarters have been thought indispensable for success. The close relation of the General Government to the Territories preparing to be great States may well engage your special attention. It is there that the Indian disturbances mainly occur and that polygamy has found room for its growth. I can not doubt that a careful survey of Territorial legislation would be of the highest utility. Life and property would become more secure. The liability of outbreaks between Indians and whites would be lessened. The public domain would be more securely guarded and better progress be made in the instruction of the young. Alaska is still without any form of civil government. If means were provided for the education of its people and for the protection of their lives and property, the immense resources of the region would invite permanent settlements and open new fields for industry and enterprise. The report of the Commissioner of Agriculture presents an account of the labors of that Department during the past year and includes information of much interest to the general public. The condition of the forests of the country and the wasteful manner in which their destruction is taking place give cause for serious apprehension. Their action in protecting the earth's surface, in modifying the extremes of climate, and in regulating and sustaining the flow of springs and streams is now well understood, and their importance in relation to the growth and prosperity of the country can not be safely disregarded. They are fast disappearing before destructive fires and the legitimate requirements of our increasing population, and their total extinction can not be long delayed unless better methods than now prevail shall be adopted for their protection and cultivation. The attention of Congress is invited to the necessity of additional legislation to secure the preservation of the valuable forests still remaining on the public domain, especially in the extreme Western States and Territories, where the necessity for their preservation is greater than in less mountainous regions, and where the prevailing dryness of the climate renders their restoration, if they are once destroyed, well-nigh impossible. The communication which I made to Congress at its first session, in December last, contained a somewhat full statement of my sentiments in relation to the principles and rules which ought to govern appointments to public service. Referring to the various plans which had theretofore been the subject of discussion in the National Legislature (plans which in the main were modeled upon the system which obtains in Great Britain, but which lacked certain of the prominent features whereby that system is distinguished), I felt bound to intimate my doubts whether they, or any of them, would afford adequate remedy for the evils which they aimed to correct. I declared, nevertheless, that if the proposed measures should prove acceptable to Congress they would receive the unhesitating support of the Executive. Since these suggestions were submitted for your consideration there has been no legislation upon the subject to which they relate, but there has meanwhile been an increase in the public interest in that subject, and the people of the country, apparently without distinction of party, have in various ways and upon frequent occasions given expression to their earnest wish for prompt and definite action. In my judgment such action should no longer be postponed. I may add that my own sense of its pressing importance has been quickened by observation of a practical phase of the matter, to which attention has more than once been called by my predecessors. The civil list now comprises about 100,000 persons, far the larger part of whom must, under the terms of the Constitution, he selected by the President either directly or through his own appointees. In the early years of the administration of the Government the personal direction of appointments to the civil service may not have been an irksome task for the Executive, but now that the burden has increased fully a hundredfold it has become greater thin he ought to bear, and it necessarily diverts his time and attention from the proper discharge of other duties no less delicate and responsible, and which in the very nature of things can not be delegated to other hands. In the judgment of not a few who have given study and reflection to this matter, the nation has outgrown the provisions which the Constitution has established for filling the minor offices in the public service. But whatever may be thought of the wisdom 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 Senators and Representatives in Congress, by discreet legislation. They would be protected in a great measure by the bill now pending before the Senate, or by any other which should embody its important features, from the pressure of personal importunity and from the labor of examining conflicting claims and pretensions of candidates. I trust that before the close of the present session some decisive action may be taken for the correction of the evils which inhere in the present methods of appointment, and I assure you of my hearty cooperation in any measures which are likely to conduce to that end. As to the most appropriate term and tenure of the official life of the subordinate employees of the Government, it seems to be generally agreed that, whatever their extent or character, the one should be definite and the other stable, and that neither should be regulated by zeal in the service of party or fidelity to the fortunes of an individual. It matters little to the people at large what competent person is at the head of this department or of that bureau if they feel assured that the removal of one and the accession of another will not involve the retirement of honest and faithful subordinates whose duties are purely administrative and have no legitimate connection with the triumph of any political principles or the success of any political party or faction. It is to this latter class of officers that the Senate bill, to which I have already referred, exclusively applies. While neither that bill nor any other prominent scheme for improving the civil service concerns the higher grade of officials, who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, I feel bound to correct a prevalent misapprehension as to the frequency with which the present Executive has displaced the incumbent of an office and appointed another in his stead. It has been repeatedly alleged that he has in this particular signally departed from the course which has been pursued under recent Administrations of the Government. The facts are as follows: The whole number of Executive appointments during the four years immediately preceding Mr. Garfield's accession to the Presidency was 2,696. Of this number 244, or 9 per cent, involved the removal of previous incumbents. The ratio of removals to the whole number of appointments was much the same during each of those four years. In the first year, with 790 appointments, there were 74 removals, or 9.3 per cent; in the second, with 917 appointments, there were 85 removals, or 8.5 per cent; in the third, with 480 appointments, there were 48 removals, or 10 per cent; in the fourth, with 429 appointments, there were 37 removals, or 8.6 per cent. In the four months of President Garfield's Administration there were 390 appointments and 89 removals, or 22.7 per cent. Precisely the same number of removals (89) has taken place in the fourteen months which have since elapsed, but they constitute only 7.8 per cent of the whole number of appointments (1,118) within that period and less than 2.6 of the entire list of officials (3,459), exclusive of the Army and Navy, which is filled by Presidential appointment. I declare my approval of such legislation as may be found necessary for supplementing the existing provisions of law in relation to political assessments. In July last I authorized a public announcement that employees of the Government should regard themselves as at liberty to exercise their pleasure in making or refusing to make political contributions, and that their action in that regard would in no manner affect their official status. In this announcement I acted upon the view, which I had always maintained and still maintain, that a public officer should be as absolutely free as any other citizen to give or to withhold a contribution for the aid of the political party of his choice. It has, however, been urged, and doubtless not without foundation in fact, that by solicitation of official superiors and by other modes such contributions have at times been obtained from persons whose only motive for giving has been the fear of what might befall them if they refused. It goes without saying that such contributions are not voluntary, and in my judgment their collection should be prohibited by law. A bill which will effectually suppress them will receive my cordial approval. I hope that, however numerous and urgent may be the demands upon your attention, the interests of this District will not be forgotten. The denial to its residents of the great right of suffrage in all its relations to national, State, and municipal action imposes upon Congress the duty of affording them the best administration which its wisdom can devise. The report of the District Commissioners indicates certain measures whose adoption would seem to be very desirable. 1 instance in particular those which relate to arrears of taxes, to steam railroads, and to assessments of real property. Among the questions which have been the topic of recent debate in the halls of Congress none are of greater gravity than those relating to the ascertainment of the vote for Presidential electors and the intendment of the Constitution in its provisions for devolving Executive functions upon the Vice-President when the President suffers from inability to discharge the powers and duties of his office. I trust that no embarrassments may result from a failure to determine these questions before another national election. The closing year has been replete with blessings, for which we owe to the Giver of All Good our reverent acknowledgment. For the uninterrupted harmony of our foreign relations, for the decay of sectional animosities, for the exuberance of our harvests and the triumphs of our mining and manufacturing industries, for the prevalence of health, the spread of intelligence, and the conservation of the public credit, for the growth of the country in all the elements of national greatness--for these and countless other blessings we should rejoice and be glad. I trust that under the inspiration of this great prosperity our counsels may be harmonious, and that the dictates of prudence, patriotism, justice, and economy may lead to the adoption of measures in which the Congress and the Executive may heartily unite.
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 reviewing 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 early adjustment. The arrest of citizens of the United States in Ireland under recent laws which owe their origin to the disturbed condition of that country has led to a somewhat extended correspondence with the Government of Great Britain. A disposition to respect our rights has been practically manifested by the release of the arrested parties. The claim of this nation in regard to the supervision and control of any interoceanic canal across the American Isthmus has continued to be the subject of conference. It is likely that time will be more powerful than discussion in removing the divergence between the two nations whose friendship is so closely cemented by the intimacy of their relations and the community of their interests. Our long-established friendliness with Russia has remained unshaken. It has prompted me to proffer the earnest counsels of this Government that measures be adopted for suppressing the proscription which the Hebrew race in that country has lately suffered. It has not transpired that any American citizen has been subjected to arrest or injury, but our courteous remonstrance has nevertheless been courteously received. There is reason to believe that the time is not far distant when Russia will be able to secure toleration to all faiths within her borders. At an international convention held at Paris in 1880, and attended by representatives of the United States, an agreement was reached in respect to the protection of trade-marks, patented articles, and the rights of manufacturing firms and corporations. The formulating into treaties of the recommendations thus adopted is receiving the attention which it merits. The protection of submarine cables is a subject now under consideration by an international conference at Paris. Believing that it is clearly the true policy of this Government to favor the neutralization of this means of intercourse, I requested our minister to France to attend the convention as a delegate. I also designated two of our eminent scientists to attend as our representatives at the meeting of an international committee at Paris for considering the adoption of a common unit to measure electric force. In view of the frequent occurrence of conferences for the consideration of important matters of common interest to civilized nations, I respectfully suggest that the Executive be invested by Congress with discretionary powers to send delegates to such conventions, and that provision be made to defray the expenses incident thereto. 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 hoped and believed that negotiations now in progress will result in the establishment of the position which seems to this Government so reasonable and just. I have already called the attention of Congress to the fact that in the ports of Spain and its colonies onerous fines have lately been imposed upon vessels of the United States for trivial technical offenses against local regulations. Efforts for the abatement of these exactions have thus far proved unsuccessful. I regret to inform you also that the fees demanded by Spanish consuls in American ports are in some cases so large, when compared with the value of the cargo, as to amount in effect to a considerable export duty, and that our remonstrances in this regard have not as yet received the attention which they seem to deserve. The German Government has invited the United States to participate in an international exhibition of domestic cattle to be held at Hamburg in July, 1883. If this country is to be represented, it is important that in the early days of this session Congress should make a suitable appropriation for that purpose. The death of Mr. Marsh, our late minister to Italy, has evoked from that Government expressions of profound respect for his exalted character 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 consul-general at Rome. He has been received as secretary, but his exequatur as consul-general has thus far been withheld. The extradition convention with Belgium, which has been in operation since 1874, has been lately supplanted by another. The Senate has signified its approval, and ratifications have been duly exchanged between the contracting countries. To the list of extraditable crimes has been added that of the assassination or attempted assassination of the chief of the State. Negotiations have been opened with Switzerland looking to a settlement by treaty of the question whether its citizens can renounce their allegiance and become citizens of the United States without obtaining the consent of the Swiss Government. I am glad to inform you that the immigration of paupers and criminals from certain of the Cantons of Switzerland has substantially ceased and is no longer sanctioned by the authorities. The consideration of this subject prompts the suggestion that the act of August 3, 1882, which has for its object the return of foreign convicts to their own country, should be so modified as not to be open to the interpretation that it affects the extradition of criminals on preferred charges of crime. The Ottoman Porte has not yet assented to the interpretation which this Government has put upon the treaty of 1830 relative to its jurisdictional rights in Turkey. It may well be, however, that this difference will be adjusted by a general revision of the system of jurisdiction of the United States in the countries of the East, a subject to which your attention has been already called by the Secretary of State. In the interest of justice toward China and Japan, I trust that the question of the return of the indemnity fund to the Governments of those countries will reach at the present session the satisfactory solution which I have already recommended, and which has recently been foreshadowed by Congressional discussion. The treaty lately concluded with Korea awaits the action of the Senate. During the late disturbance in Egypt the timely presence of American vessels served as a protection to the persons and property of many of our own citizens and of citizens of other countries, whose governments have expressed their thanks for this assistance. The recent legislation restricting immigration of laborers from China has given rise to the question whether Chinese proceeding to or from another country may lawfully pass through our own. Construing the act of May 6, 1882, in connection with the treaty of November 7, 1880, the restriction would seem to be limited to Chinese immigrants coming to the United States as laborers, and would not forbid a mere transit across our territory. I ask the attention of Congress to the subject, for such action, if any, as may be deemed advisable. This Government has recently had occasion to manifest its interest in the Republic of Liberia by seeking to aid the amicable settlement of the boundary dispute now pending between that Republic and the British possession of Sierra Leone. The reciprocity treaty with Hawaii will become terminable after September 9, 1883, on twelve 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. I suggest, therefore, that early consideration be given to such modifications of the treaty as seem to be demanded by the interests of our people. In view of our increasing trade with both Hayti and Santo Domingo, I advise that provision be made for diplomatic intercourse with the latter by enlarging the scope of the mission at Port au Prince. I regret that certain claims of American citizens against the Government of Hayti have thus far been urged unavailingly. A recent agreement with 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 attention to the prevalent lawlessness upon 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 mischiefs has been sought in a convention, which now awaits the approval of the Senate, as does also another touching the establishment of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico. If the latter is ratified, the action of Congress will be required for establishing suitable commissions of survey. The boundary dispute between Mexico and Guatemala, which led this Government to proffer its friendly counsels to both parties, has been amicably settled. No change has occurred in our relations with Venezuela. I again invoke your action in the matter of the pending awards against that Republic, to which reference was made by a special message from the Executive at your last session. An invitation has been received from the Government of Venezuela to send representatives in July, 1883, to Caracas for participating in the centennial celebration of the birth of Bolivar, the founder of South American independence. In connection with this event it is designed to commence the erection at Caracas of a statue of Washington and to conduct an industrial exhibition which will be open to American products. I recommend that the United States be represented and that suitable provision be made therefor. The elevation of the grade of our mission in Central America to the plenipotentiary rank, which was authorized by Congress at its late session, has been since effected. The war between Peru and Bolivia on the one side and Chile on the other began more than three years ago. On the occupation by Chile in 1880 of all the littoral territory of Bolivia, negotiations for peace were conducted under the direction of the United States. The allies refused to concede any territory, but Chile has since become master of the whole coast of both countries and of the capital of Peru. A year since, as you have already been advised by correspondence transmitted to you in January last, this Government sent a special mission to the belligerent powers to express the hope that Chile would be disposed to accept a money indemnity for the expenses of the war and to relinquish her demand for a portion of the territory of her antagonist. This recommendation, which Chile declined to follow, this Government did not assume to enforce; nor can it be enforced without resort to measures which would be in keeping neither with the temper of our people nor with the spirit of our institutions. The power of Peru no longer extends over its whole territory, and in the event of our interference to dictate peace would need to be supplemented by the armies and navies of the 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 embarrassments for the future. For effecting the termination of hostilities upon terms at once just to the victorious nation and generous to its adversaries, this Government has spared no efforts save such as might involve the complications which I have indicated. It is greatly to be deplored that Chile seems resolved to exact such rigorous conditions of peace and indisposed to submit to arbitration the terms of an amicable settlement. No peace is likely to be lasting that is not sufficiently equitable and just to command the approval of other nations. About a year since invitations were extended to the nations of this continent to send representatives to a peace congress to assemble at Washington in November, 1882. The time of meeting was fixed at a period then remote, in the hope, as the invitation itself declared, that in the meantime the disturbances between the South American Republics would be adjusted. As that expectation seemed unlikely to be realized, I asked in April last for an expression of opinion from the two Houses of Congress as to the advisability of holding the proposed convention at the time appointed. This action was prompted in part by doubts which mature reflection had suggested whether the diplomatic usage and traditions of the Government did not make it fitting that the Executive should consult the representatives of the people before pursuing a line of policy somewhat novel in its character and far reaching in its possible consequences. In view of the fact that no action was taken by Congress in the premises and that no provision had been made for necessary expenses, I subsequently decided to postpone the convocation, and so notified the several Governments which had been invited to attend. I am unwilling to dismiss this subject without assuring you of my support of any measures the wisdom of Congress may devise for the promotion of peace on this continent and throughout the world, and I trust that the time is nigh when, with the universal assent of civilized peoples, all international differences shall be determined without resort to arms by the benignant processes of arbitration. Changes have occurred in the diplomatic representation of several foreign powers during the past year. New ministers from the Argentine Republic, Austria-Hungary, Brazil, Chile, China, France, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Russia have presented their credentials. The missions of Denmark and Venezuela at this capital have been raised in grade. Switzerland has created a plenipotentiary mission to this Government, and an embassy from Madagascar and a minister from Siam will shortly arrive. Our diplomatic intercourse has been enlarged by the establishment of relations with the new Kingdom of Servia, by the creation of a mission to Siam, and by the restoration of the mission to Greece. The Shah of Persia has expressed his gratification that a charge' d'affaires will shortly be sent to that country, where the rights of our citizens have been hitherto courteously guarded by the representatives of Great Britain. I renew my recommendation of such legislation as will place the United States in harmony with other maritime powers with respect to the international rules for the prevention of collisions at sea. In conformity with your joint resolution of the 3d of August last, I have directed the Secretary of State to address foreign governments in respect to a proposed conference for considering the subject of the universal adoption of a common prime meridian to be used in the reckoning of longitude and in the regulation of time throughout the civilized world. Their replies will in due time be laid before you. An agreement was reached at Paris in 1875 between the principal powers for the interchange of official publications through the medium of their respective foreign departments. The admirable system which has been built up by the enterprise of the Smithsonian Institution affords a practical basis for our cooperation in this scheme, and an arrangement has been effected by which that institution will perform the' necessary labor, under the direction of the Department of State. A reasonable compensation therefor should be provided by law. A clause in the act making appropriations for the diplomatic and consular service contemplates the reorganization of both branches of such service on a salaried basis, leaving fees to inure to the benefit of the Treasury. I cordially favor such a project, as likely to correct abuses in the present system. The Secretary of State will present to you at an early day a plan for such reorganization. A full and interesting exhibit of the operations of the Treasury Department is afforded by the report of the Secretary. It appears that the ordinary revenues from all sources for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1882, were as follows: The ordinary expenditures for the same period were-- Leaving a surplus revenue of $145,543,810.71, which, with an amount drawn from the cash balance in the Treasury of $20,737,694.84, making $166,281,505.55, was applied to the redemption-- The foreign commerce of the United States during the last fiscal year, including imports and exports of merchandise and specie, was as follows: This excess is less than it has been before for any of the previous six years, as appears by the following table: During the year there have been organized 171 national banks, and of those institutions there are now in operation 2,269, a larger number than ever before. The value of their notes in active circulation on July 1, 1882, was $324,656,458. 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 by which that result may, in his judgment, be averted. In respect to the coinage of silver dollars and the retirement of silver certificates, I have seen nothing to alter but much to confirm the sentiments to which I gave expression last year. A comparison between the respective amounts of silver-dollar circulation on November 1, 1881, and on November 1, 1882, shows a slight increase of a million and a half of dollars; but during the interval there had been in the whole number coined an increase of twenty-six millions. Of the one hundred and twenty-eight millions thus far minted, little more than thirty-five millions are in circulation. The mass of accumulated coin has grown so great that the vault room at present available for storage is scarcely sufficient to contain it. It is not apparent why it is desirable to continue this coinage, now so enormously in excess of the public demand. 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 whose issuance Congress recently made provision, and which are now in active circulation. . You can not fail to note with interest the discussion by the Secretary as to the necessity of providing by legislation some mode of freeing the Treasury of an excess of assets in the event that Congress fails to reach an early agreement for the reduction of taxation. I heartily approve the Secretary's recommendation of immediate and extensive reductions in the annual revenues of the Government. It will be remembered that I urged upon the attention of Congress at its last session the importance of relieving the industry and enterprise of the country from the pressure of unnecessary taxation. It is one of the tritest maxims of political economy that all taxes are burdensome, however wisely and prudently imposed; and though there have always been 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 should be based, there has been substantial accord in the doctrine that only such taxes ought to be levied as are necessary for a wise and economical administration of the Government. Of late the public revenues have far exceeded that limit, and unless checked by. appropriate legislation such excess will continue to increase from year to year. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1881, the surplus revenue amounted to $100,000,000; for the fiscal year ended on the 30th of June last the surplus was more than one hundred and forty-five millions. The report of 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 other 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 because for congratulation; it is a because rather for serious apprehension. If it continues, it must speedily be followed by one of the evil results so clearly set forth in the report of the Secretary. 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 can not fail to command an enormous premium, or the swollen revenues will be devoted to extravagant expenditure, which, as experience has taught, is ever the bane of an overflowing treasury. It was made apparent in the course of the animated discussions which this question aroused at the last session of Congress that the policy of diminishing the revenue by reducing taxation commanded the general approval of the members of both Houses. I regret that because of conflicting views as to the best methods by which that policy should be made operative none of its benefits have as yet been reaped. In fulfillment of what I deem my constitutional duty, but with little hope that I can make valuable contribution to this vexed question, I shall proceed to intimate briefly my own views in relation to it. Upon the showing of our financial condition at the close of the last fiscal year, I felt justified in recommending to Congress the abolition of all internal revenue taxes except those upon tobacco in its various forms and upon distilled spirits and fermented liquors, and except also the special tax upon the manufacturers of 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 accompanied by a simplification of the machinery of collection, which would then be easy of accomplishment, might reasonably be expected to result in diminishing the cost of such collection by at least $2,500,000 and in the retirement from office of from 1,500 to 2,000 persons. The system of excise duties has never commended itself to the favor of the American people, and has never been resorted to except for supplying deficiencies in the Treasury when, by reason of special exigencies, the duties on imports have proved inadequate for the needs of the Government. The sentiment of the country doubtless demands that the present excise tax shall be abolished as soon as such a course can be safely pursued. It seems to me, however, that, for 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: First. It is by no means clear that even if the existing system of duties on imports is continued without modification those duties alone will yield sufficient revenue for all the needs of the Government. It is estimated that $100,000,000 will be required for pensions during the coming year, and it may well be doubted whether the maximum annual demand for that object has yet been reached. Uncertainty upon this question 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 people. Second. A total abolition of excise taxes would almost inevitably prove a serious if not an insurmountable obstacle to a thorough revision of the tariff and to any considerable reduction in import duties. The present tariff system is in many respects unjust. It makes unequal distributions both of its burdens and its benefits. This fact was practically recognized by a majority of each House of Congress in the passage of the act creating the Tariff Commission. The report of that commission will be placed before you at the beginning of this session, and will, I trust, afford you such information as to the condition and prospects of the various commercial, agricultural, manufacturing, mining, and other interests of the country and contain such suggestions for statutory revision as will practically aid your action upon this important subject. The revenue from customs for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1879, amounted to $137,000,000. It has in the three succeeding years reached, first, $186,000,000, then $198,000,000, and finally, as has been already stated, $220,000,000. The income from this source for the fiscal year which will end on June 30, 1883, will doubtless be considerably in excess of the sum last mentioned. If the tax on domestic spirits is to be retained, it is plain, therefore, that large reductions from the customs revenue are entirely feasible. While recommending this reduction, I am far from advising the abandonment of the policy of so discriminating in the adjustment of details as to afford aid and protection to domestic labor. But the present system should be so revised as to equalize the public burden among all classes and occupations and bring it into closer harmony with the present needs of industry. Without entering into minute detail, which under present circumstances is quite unnecessary, I recommend an enlargement of the free list so as to include within it the numerous articles which yield inconsiderable revenue, a simplification of the complex and inconsistent schedule of duties upon certain manufactures, particularly those of cotton, iron, and steel, and a substantial reduction of the duties upon those articles and. upon sugar, molasses, silk, wool, and woolen goods. If a general 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 inequalities of the present law may be corrected before your final adjournment. One of them is specially referred to by the Secretary. In view of a recent decision of the Supreme Court, the necessity of amending the law by which the Dutch standard of color is adopted as the test of the saccharine strength of sugars is too obvious to require comment. From the report of the Secretary of War it appears that the only outbreaks of Indians during the past year occurred in Arizona and in the southwestern part of New Mexico. They were promptly quelled, and the quiet which has prevailed in all other parts of the country has permitted such an addition to be made to the military force in the region endangered by the Apaches that there is little reason to apprehend trouble in the future. Those parts of the Secretary's report which relate to our seacoast defenses and their armament suggest the gravest reflections. Our existing fortifications are notoriously inadequate to the defense of the great harbors and cities for whose protection they were built. The question of providing an armament suited to our present necessities has been the subject of consideration by a board, whose report was transmitted to Congress at the last session. Pending the consideration of that report, the War Department has taken no steps 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 soon provided. I invite the attention of Congress to the propriety of making more adequate provision for arming and equipping the militia than is afforded by the act of 1808, which is still upon the statute book. The matter has already been the subject of discussion in the Senate, and a bill which seeks to supply the deficiencies of existing laws is now upon its calendar. The Secretary of War calls attention to an embarrassment growing out of the recent act of Congress making the retirement of officers of the Army compulsory at the age of 64. The act of 1878 is still in force, which limits to 400 the number of those who can be retired for disability or upon their own application. The two acts, when construed together, seem to forbid the relieving, even for absolute incapacity, of officers who do not fall within the purview of the later statute, save at such times as there chance to be less than 40 names on the retired list. There are now 420. It is not likely that Congress intended this result, and I concur with the Secretary that the law ought to be amended. The grounds that impelled me 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 near the close of your last session, prompt me to express the hope that no similar measure will be deemed necessary during the present session of Congress. Indeed, such a measure would now be open to a serious objection in addition to that which was lately urged upon your attention. I am informed by the Secretary of War that the greater portion of the sum appropriated for the various items specified in that act remains unexpended. Of the new works which it authorized, expenses have been incurred upon two only, for which the total appropriation was $210,000. The present available balance is disclosed by the following table: It is apparent by this exhibit that so far as concerns most of the items to which the act of August 2, 1882, relates there can be no need of further appropriations until after the close of the present session. If, however, any action should seem to be necessary in respect to particular objects, it will be entirely feasible to provide for those 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 River improvements might be attended with serious consequences. If such should appear to be the case, a just bill relating to that subject would command my approval. This leads me to offer a suggestion which I trust will commend itself to the wisdom of Congress. Is it not advisable that grants of considerable sums of money for diverse and independent schemes of internal improvement should be made the subjects of separate and distinct legislative enactments? It will scarcely be gainsaid, even by those who favor the most liberal expenditures 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 or in the locality with which they are concerned, or in both, is one which is much to be deprecated unless it is irremediable. It inevitably tends to secure the success of the bill 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, whenever opportunity should arise for giving his influence and vote for meritorious appropriations, would be enabled so to do without being called upon to sanction others undeserving his approval. So also would the Executive be afforded thereby full opportunity to exercise his constitutional prerogative of opposing whatever appropriations seemed to him objectionable without imperiling the success of others which commended themselves to his judgment. It may be urged in opposition to these suggestions that the number of works of internal improvement which are justly entitled to governmental aid is so great as to render impracticable separate appropriation bills therefor, or even for such comparatively limited number as make disposition of large sums of money. This objection may be well founded, and, whether it be or not, the advantages which would be likely to ensue from the adoption of the course I have recommended may perhaps be more effectually attained by another, which I respectfully submit to Congress as an alternative proposition. It is provided by the constitutions of fourteen of our States that the executive may disapprove any item or items of a bill appropriating money, whereupon the part of the bill approved shall be law and the part disapproved shall fail to become law unless repassed according to the provisions prescribed for the passage of bills over the veto of the executive. The States wherein some such provision as the foregoing is a part of the fundamental law are Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia. I commend to your careful consideration the question whether an amendment of the Federal Constitution in the particular indicated would not afford the best remedy for what is often a grave embrassment both to members of Congress and to the Executive, and is sometimes a serious public mischief. The report of the Secretary of the Navy states the movements of the various squadrons during the year, in home and foreign waters, where our officers and seamen, with such ships as we possess, have continued to illustrate the high character and excellent discipline of the naval organization. On the 21st of December, 1881, information was received that the exploring steamer Jeannette had been crushed and abandoned in the Arctic Ocean. The officers and crew, after a journey over the ice, embarked in three boats for the coast of Siberia. One of the parties, under the command of Chief Engineer George W. Melville, reached the land, and, falling in with the natives, was saved. Another, under Lieutenant-Commander De Long, landed in a barren region near the mouth of the Lena River. After six weeks had elapsed all but two of the number had died from fatigue and starvation. No tidings have been received from the party in the third boat, under the command of Lieutenant Chipp, but a long and fruitless investigation leaves little doubt that all its members perished at sea. As a slight tribute to their heroism I give in this communication the names of the gallant men who sacrificed their lives on this expedition: Lieutenant-Commander George W. De Long, Surgeon James M. Ambler, Jerome J. Collins, Hans Halmer Erichsen, Heinrich H. Kaacke, George W. Boyd, Walter Lee, Adolph Dressier, Carl A. Gortz, Nelse Iverson, the cook Ah Sam, and the Indian Alexy. The officers and men in the missing boat were Lieutenant Charles W. Chipp, commanding; William Dunbar, Alfred Sweetman, Waiter Sharvell, Albert C. Kuehne, Edward Star, Henry D. Warren, and Peter E. Johnson. Lieutenant Giles B. Harber and Master Willliam H. Scheutze are now bringing home the remains of Lieutenant De Long and his comrades, in pursuance of the directions of Congress. The Rodgers, fitted out for the releif of the Jeannette in accordance with the act of Congress of March 3, 1881, sailed from San Francisco June 16 under the command of Lieutenant Robert M. Berry. On November 30 she was accidentally destroyed by fire while in winter quarters in St. Lawrence Bay, but the officers and crew succeeded in escaping to the shore. Lieutenant Berry and one of his officers, after making a search for the Jeannette along the coast of Siberia, fell in with Chief Engineer Melville's party and returned home by way of Europe. The other officers and the crew of the Rodgers were brought from St. Lawrence Bay by the whaling 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. Lawrence Bay across the ice in a blinding snow storm, was carried out to sea and lost, notwithstanding all efforts to rescue him. It appears by the Secretary's report that the available naval force of the United States consists of 37 cruisers, 14 single-turreted monitors, built during the rebellion, a large number of smoothbore guns and Parrott rifles, and 87 rifled cannon. The cruising vessels should be gradually replaced by iron or steel ships, the monitors by modern armored vessels, and the armament by high-power rifled guns. The reconstruction of our Navy, which was recommended in my last message, was begun by Congress authorizing, in its recent act, the construction of two large unarmored steel vessels of the character recommended by the late Naval Advisory Board, and subject to the final approval of a new advisory board to be organized as provided by that act. I call your attention to the recommendation of the Secretary and the board that authority be given to construct two more cruisers of smaller dimensions and one fleet dispatch vessel, and that appropriations be made for high-power rifled cannon for the torpedo service and for other harbor defenses. Pending the consideration by Congress of the policy to be hereafter adopted in conducting the eight large navy-yards and their expensive establishments, the Secretary advocates the reduction of expenditures therefor to the lowest possible amounts. For the purpose of affording the officers and seamen of the Navy opportunities for exercise and discipline in their profession, under appropriate control and direction, the Secretary advises that the Light-House Service and Coast Survey be transferred, as now organized, from the Treasury to the Navy Department; and he also suggests, for the reasons which he assigns, that a similar transfer may wisely be made of the cruising revenue vessels. The Secretary forcibly depicts the intimate connection and interdependence of the Navy and the commercial marine, and invites attention to the continued decadence of the latter and the corresponding transfer of our growing commerce to foreign bottoms. This subject is one of the utmost importance to the national welfare. Methods of reviving American shipbuilding and of restoring the United States flag in the ocean carrying 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 yards of other countries and sailing under foreign flags. With no United States steamers on the principal ocean lines or in any foreign ports, our facilities for extending our commerce are greatly restricted, while the nations which build and sail the ships and carry the mails and passengers obtain thereby conspicuous advantages in increasing their trade. The report of the Postmaster-General gives evidence of the satisfactory condition of that Department and contains many valuable data and accompanying suggestions which can not fail to be of interest. The information which it affords that the receipts for the fiscal year have exceeded the expenditures must be very gratifying to Congress and to the people of the country. As matters which may fairly claim particular attention, I refer you to his observations in reference to the advisability of changing the present basis for fixing salaries and allowances, of extending the money-order system, and of enlarging the functions of the postal establishment so as to put under its control the telegraph system of the country, though from this last and most important recommendation I must withhold my concurrence. At the last session of Congress several bills were introduced into the House of Representatives for the reduction of letter postage to the rate of 2 cents per half ounce. I have given much study and reflection to this subject, and am thoroughly persuaded that such a reduction would be for the best interests of the public. It has been the policy of the Government from its foundation to defray as far as possible the expenses of carrying the mails by a direct tax in the form of postage. It has never been claimed, however, that this service ought to be productive of a net revenue. As has been stated already, the report of the Postmaster-General shows that there is now a very considerable surplus in his Department and that henceforth the receipts are likely to increase at a much greater ratio than the necessary expenditures. Unless some change is made in the existing laws, the profits of the postal service will in a very few years swell the revenues of the Government many millions of dollars. The time seems auspicious, therefore, for some reduction in the rates of postage. In what shall that reduction consist? A review of the legislation which has been had upon this subject during the last thirty years discloses that domestic letters constitute the only class of mail matter which has never been favored by a substantial reduction of rates. I am convinced that the burden of maintaining the service falls most unequally upon that class, and that more than any other it is entitled to present relief. That such relief may be extended without detriment to other public interests wilt be discovered upon reviewing the results of former reductions. Immediately prior to the act of 1845 the postage upon a letter composed of a single sheet was as follows: By the act of 1845 the postage upon a single letter conveyed for any distance under 300 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 carried any distance not exceeding 3,000 miles for 3 cents and any greater distance for 6 cents. It will be noticed that both of these reductions were of a radical character and relatively quite as important as that which is now proposed. In each case there ensued a temporary loss of revenue, but a sudden and large influx of business, which substantially repaired that loss 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 33 1/3 per cent reduction in the tax for carriage would at once increase the number of letters consigned to the mails. The advantages 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 a result of careful estimates, the details of which can not be here set out, I have become convinced that the deficiency for the first year after the proposed reduction would not exceed 7 per cent of the expenditures, or $3,000,000, while the deficiency after the reduction of 1845 was more than 14 per cent, and after that of 1851 was 27 per cent. Another interesting comparison is afforded by statistics furnished me by the Post-Office Department. The act of 1845 was passed in face of the fact that there existed a deficiency of more than $30,000. That of 1851 was encouraged by the slight surplus of $132,000. The excess of revenue in the next fiscal year is likely to be $3,500,000. If Congress should approve these suggestions, it may be deemed desirable to supply 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 after the lapse of three or four years. The report of the Department of Justice brings anew to your notice the necessity of enlarging the present system of Federal jurisprudence so as effectually to answer the requirements of the ever-increasing litigation with which it is called upon to deal. The Attorney-General renews the suggestions of his predecessor that in the interests of justice better 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 pending criminal proceedings growing out of alleged frauds in what is known as the star-route service of the Post-Office Department, and advised you that I had enjoined upon the Attorney-General and 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 those offenses. A trial of one of these cases has since occurred. It occupied for many weeks the attention of the supreme court of this District and was conducted with great zeal and ability. It resulted in a disagreement of the jury, but the because has been again placed upon the calendar and will shortly be retried. If any guilty persons shall finally escape punishment for their offenses, it will not be for lack of diligent and earnest efforts on the part of the prosecution. I trust that some agreement may be reached which will speedily enable Congress, with the concurrence of the Executive, to afford the commercial community the benefits of a national bankrupt law. The report of the Secretary of the Interior, with its accompanying documents, presents a full statement of the varied operations of that Department. In respect to Indian affairs 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 recommendations therein 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 youth. Such provision, as the Secretary forcibly maintains, will prove unavailing unless it is broad enough to include all those 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 and simple industrial arts as can be made practically available. Among other important subjects which are included within the Secretary's report, and which will doubtless furnish occasion for Congressional action, may be mentioned the neglect of the railroad companies to which large grants of land were made by the acts of 1862 and 1864 to take title thereto, and their consequent inequitable exemption from local taxation. No survey of our material condition can fail to suggest inquiries as to the moral and intellectual progress of the people. The census returns disclose an alarming state of illiteracy in certain portions of the country, where the provision for schools is grossly inadequate. It is a momentous question for the decision of Congress whether immediate and substantial aid should not be extended by the General Government for supplementing the efforts of private beneficence and of State and Territorial legislation in behalf of education. The regulation of interstate commerce has already been the subject of your deliberations. One of the incidents of the marvelous extension of the railway system of the country has been the adoption of such measures by the corporations which own or control the roads as have tended to impair the advantages of healthful competition and to make hurtful discriminations in the adjustment of freightage. These inequalities have been corrected in several of the States by 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 any one of the States and a foreign country, they are subjects of national concern, and Congress alone can afford relief. The results which have thus far attended the enforcement of the recent statute for the suppression of polygamy in the Territories are reported by the Secretary of the Interior. It is not probable that any additional legislation in this regard will be deemed desirable until the effect of existing laws shall be more closely observed and studied. I congratulate you that the commissioners under whose supervision those laws have been put in operation are encouraged to believe that the evil at which they are aimed may be suppressed without resort to such radical measures as in some quarters have been thought indispensable for success. The close relation of the General Government to the Territories preparing to be great States may well engage your special attention. It is there that the Indian disturbances mainly occur and that polygamy has found room for its growth. I can not doubt that a careful survey of Territorial legislation would be of the highest utility. Life and property would become more secure. The liability of outbreaks between Indians and whites would be lessened. The public domain would be more securely guarded and better progress be made in the instruction of the young. Alaska is still without any form of civil government. If means were provided for the education of its people and for the protection of their lives and property, the immense resources of the region would invite permanent settlements and open new fields for industry and enterprise. The report of the Commissioner of Agriculture presents an account of the labors of that Department during the past year and includes information of much interest to the general public. The condition of the forests of the country and the wasteful manner in which their destruction is taking place give because for serious apprehension. Their action in protecting the earth's surface, in modifying the extremes of climate, and in regulating and sustaining the flow of springs and streams is now well understood, and their importance in relation to the growth and prosperity of the country can not be safely disregarded. They are fast disappearing before destructive fires and the legitimate requirements of our increasing population, and their total extinction can not be long delayed unless better methods than now prevail shall be adopted for their protection and cultivation. The attention of Congress is invited to the necessity of additional legislation to secure the preservation of the valuable forests still remaining on the public domain, especially in the extreme Western States and Territories, where the necessity for their preservation is greater than in less mountainous regions, and where the prevailing dryness of the climate renders their restoration, if they are once destroyed, well-nigh impossible. The communication which I made to Congress at its first session, in December last, contained a somewhat full statement of my sentiments in relation to the principles and rules which ought to govern appointments to public service. Referring to the various plans which had theretofore been the subject of discussion in the National Legislature (plans which in the main were modeled upon the system which obtains in Great Britain, but which lacked certain of the prominent features whereby that system is distinguished), I felt bound to intimate my doubts whether they, or any of them, would afford adequate remedy for the evils which they aimed to correct. I declared, nevertheless, that if the proposed measures should prove acceptable to Congress they would receive the unhesitating support of the Executive. Since these suggestions were submitted for your consideration there has been no legislation upon the subject to which they relate, but there has meanwhile been an increase in the public interest in that subject, and the people of the country, apparently without distinction of party, have in various ways and upon frequent occasions given expression to their earnest wish for prompt and definite action. In my judgment such action should no longer be postponed. I may add that my own sense of its pressing importance has been quickened by observation of a practical phase of the matter, to which attention has more than once been called by my predecessors. The civil list now comprises about 100,000 persons, far the larger part of whom must, under the terms of the Constitution, he selected by the President either directly or through his own appointees. In the early years of the administration of the Government the personal direction of appointments to the civil service may not have been an irksome task for the Executive, but now that the burden has increased fully a hundredfold it has become greater thin he ought to bear, and it necessarily diverts his time and attention from the proper discharge of other duties no less delicate and responsible, and which in the very nature of things can not be delegated to other hands. In the judgment of not a few who have given study and reflection to this matter, the nation has outgrown the provisions which the Constitution has established for filling the minor offices in the public service. But whatever may be thought of the wisdom 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 Senators and Representatives in Congress, by discreet legislation. They would be protected in a great measure by the bill now pending before the Senate, or by any other which should embody its important features, from the pressure of personal importunity and from the labor of examining conflicting claims and pretensions of candidates. I trust that before the close of the present session some decisive action may be taken for the correction of the evils which inhere in the present methods of appointment, and I assure you of my hearty cooperation in any measures which are likely to conduce to that end. As to the most appropriate term and tenure of the official life of the subordinate employees of the Government, it seems to be generally agreed that, whatever their extent or character, the one should be definite and the other stable, and that neither should be regulated by zeal in the service of party or fidelity to the fortunes of an individual. It matters little to the people at large what competent person is at the head of this department or of that bureau if they feel assured that the removal of one and the accession of another will not involve the retirement of honest and faithful subordinates whose duties are purely administrative and have no legitimate connection with the triumph of any political principles or the success of any political party or faction. It is to this latter class of officers that the Senate bill, to which I have already referred, exclusively applies. While neither that bill nor any other prominent scheme for improving the civil service concerns the higher grade of officials, who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, I feel bound to correct a prevalent misapprehension as to the frequency with which the present Executive has displaced the incumbent of an office and appointed another in his stead. It has been repeatedly alleged that he has in this particular signally departed from the course which has been pursued under recent Administrations of the Government. The facts are as follows: The whole number of Executive appointments during the four years immediately preceding Mr. Garfield's accession to the Presidency was 2,696. Of this number 244, or 9 per cent, involved the removal of previous incumbents. The ratio of removals to the whole number of appointments was much the same during each of those four years. In the first year, with 790 appointments, there were 74 removals, or 9.3 per cent; in the second, with 917 appointments, there were 85 removals, or 8.5 per cent; in the third, with 480 appointments, there were 48 removals, or 10 per cent; in the fourth, with 429 appointments, there were 37 removals, or 8.6 per cent. In the four months of President Garfield's Administration there were 390 appointments and 89 removals, or 22.7 per cent. Precisely the same number of removals (89) has taken place in the fourteen months which have since elapsed, but they constitute only 7.8 per cent of the whole number of appointments (1,118) within that period and less than 2.6 of the entire list of officials (3,459), exclusive of the Army and Navy, which is filled by Presidential appointment. I declare my approval of such legislation as may be found necessary for supplementing the existing provisions of law in relation to political assessments. In July last I authorized a public announcement that employees of the Government should regard themselves as at liberty to exercise their pleasure in making or refusing to make political contributions, and that their action in that regard would in no manner affect their official status. In this announcement I acted upon the view, which I had always maintained and still maintain, that a public officer should be as absolutely free as any other citizen to give or to withhold a contribution for the aid of the political party of his choice. It has, however, been urged, and doubtless not without foundation in fact, that by solicitation of official superiors and by other modes such contributions have at times been obtained from persons whose only motive for giving has been the fear of what might befall them if they refused. It goes without saying that such contributions are not voluntary, and in my judgment their collection should be prohibited by law. A bill which will effectually suppress them will receive my cordial approval. I hope that, however numerous and urgent may be the demands upon your attention, the interests of this District will not be forgotten. The denial to its residents of the great right of suffrage in all its relations to national, State, and municipal action imposes upon Congress the duty of affording them the best administration which its wisdom can devise. The report of the District Commissioners indicates certain measures whose adoption would seem to be very desirable. 1 instance in particular those which relate to arrears of taxes, to steam railroads, and to assessments of real property. Among the questions which have been the topic of recent debate in the halls of Congress none are of greater gravity than those relating to the ascertainment of the vote for Presidential electors and the intendment of the Constitution in its provisions for devolving Executive functions upon the Vice-President when the President suffers from inability to discharge the powers and duties of his office. I trust that no embarrassments may result from a failure to determine these questions before another national election. The closing year has been replete with blessings, for which we owe to the Giver of All Good our reverent acknowledgment. For the uninterrupted harmony of our foreign relations, for the decay of sectional animosities, for the exuberance of our harvests and the triumphs of our mining and manufacturing industries, for the prevalence of health, the spread of intelligence, and the conservation of the public credit, for the growth of the country in all the elements of national greatness--for these and countless other blessings we should rejoice and be glad. I trust that under the inspiration of this great prosperity our counsels may be harmonious, and that the dictates of prudence, patriotism, justice, and economy may lead to the adoption of measures in which the Congress and the Executive may heartily unite.
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 reviewing 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 early adjustment the arrest of citizens of the united states in ireland under recent laws which owe their origin to the disturbed condition of that country has led to a somewhat extended correspondence with the government of great britain a disposition to respect our rights has been practically manifested by the release of the arrested parties the claim of this nation in regard to the supervision and control of any interoceanic canal across the american isthmus has continued to be the subject of conference it is likely that time will be more powerful than discussion in removing the divergence between the two nations whose friendship is so closely cemented by the intimacy of their relations and the community of their interests our friendliness with russia has remained unshaken it has prompted me to proffer the earnest counsels of this government that measures be adopted for suppressing the proscription which the hebrew race in that country has lately suffered it has not transpired that any american citizen has been subjected to arrest or injury but our courteous remonstrance has nevertheless been courteously received there is reason to believe that the time is not far distant when russia will be able to secure toleration to all faiths within her borders at an international convention held at paris in 1880 and attended by representatives of the united states an agreement was reached in respect to the protection of patented articles and the rights of manufacturing firms and corporations the formulating into treaties of the recommendations thus adopted is receiving the attention which it merits the protection of submarine cables is a subject now under consideration by an international conference at paris believing that it is clearly the true policy of this government to favor the neutralization of this means of intercourse i requested our minister to france to attend the convention as a delegate i also designated two of our eminent scientists to attend as our representatives at the meeting of an international committee at paris for considering the adoption of a common unit to measure electric force in view of the frequent occurrence of conferences for the consideration of important matters of common interest to civilized nations i respectfully suggest that the executive be invested by congress with discretionary powers to send delegates to such conventions and that provision be made to defray the expenses incident thereto 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 hoped and believed that negotiations now in progress will result in the establishment of the position which seems to this government so reasonable and just i have already called the attention of congress to the fact that in the ports of spain and its colonies onerous fines have lately been imposed upon vessels of the united states for trivial technical offenses against local regulations efforts for the abatement of these exactions have thus far proved unsuccessful i regret to inform you also that the fees demanded by spanish consuls in american ports are in some cases so large when compared with the value of the cargo as to amount in effect to a considerable export duty and that our remonstrances in this regard have not as yet received the attention which they seem to deserve the german government has invited the united states to participate in an international exhibition of domestic cattle to be held at hamburg in july 1883 if this country is to be represented it is important that in the early days of this session congress should make a suitable appropriation for that purpose the death of marsh our late minister to italy has evoked from that government expressions of profound respect for his exalted character 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 at rome he has been received as secretary but his exequatur as has thus far been withheld the extradition convention with belgium which has been in operation since 1874 has been lately supplanted by another the senate has signified its approval and ratifications have been duly exchanged between the contracting countries to the list of extraditable crimes has been added that of the assassination or attempted assassination of the chief of the state negotiations have been opened with switzerland looking to a settlement by treaty of the question whether its citizens can renounce their allegiance and become citizens of the united states without obtaining the consent of the swiss government i am glad to inform you that the immigration of paupers and criminals from certain of the cantons of switzerland has substantially ceased and is no longer sanctioned by the authorities the consideration of this subject prompts the suggestion that the act of august 3 1882 which has for its object the return of foreign convicts to their own country should be so modified as not to be open to the interpretation that it affects the extradition of criminals on preferred charges of crime the ottoman porte has not yet assented to the interpretation which this government has put upon the treaty of 1830 relative to its jurisdictional rights in turkey it may well be however that this difference will be adjusted by a general revision of the system of jurisdiction of the united states in the countries of the east a subject to which your attention has been already called by the secretary of state in the interest of justice toward china and japan i trust that the question of the return of the indemnity fund to the governments of those countries will reach at the present session the satisfactory solution which i have already recommended and which has recently been foreshadowed by congressional discussion the treaty lately concluded with korea awaits the action of the senate during the late disturbance in egypt the timely presence of american vessels served as a protection to the persons and property of many of our own citizens and of citizens of other countries whose governments have expressed their thanks for this assistance the recent legislation restricting immigration of laborers from china has given rise to the question whether chinese proceeding to or from another country may lawfully pass through our own construing the act of may 6 1882 in connection with the treaty of november 7 1880 the restriction would seem to be limited to chinese immigrants coming to the united states as laborers and would not forbid a mere transit across our territory i ask the attention of congress to the subject for such action if any as may be deemed advisable this government has recently had occasion to manifest its interest in the republic of liberia by seeking to aid the amicable settlement of the boundary dispute now pending between that republic and the british possession of sierra leone the reciprocity treaty with hawaii will become terminable after september 9 1883 on twelve 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 i suggest therefore that early consideration be given to such modifications of the treaty as seem to be demanded by the interests of our people in view of our increasing trade with both hayti and santo domingo i advise that provision be made for diplomatic intercourse with the latter by enlarging the scope of the mission at port au prince i regret that certain claims of american citizens against the government of hayti have thus far been urged unavailingly a recent agreement with 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 attention to the prevalent lawlessness upon 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 mischiefs has been sought in a convention which now awaits the approval of the senate as does also another touching the establishment of the international boundary between the united states and mexico if the latter is ratified the action of congress will be required for establishing suitable commissions of survey the boundary dispute between mexico and guatemala which led this government to proffer its friendly counsels to both parties has been amicably settled no change has occurred in our relations with venezuela i again invoke your action in the matter of the pending awards against that republic to which reference was made by a special message from the executive at your last session an invitation has been received from the government of venezuela to send representatives in july 1883 to caracas for participating in the centennial celebration of the birth of bolivar the founder of south american independence in connection with this event it is designed to commence the erection at caracas of a statue of washington and to conduct an industrial exhibition which will be open to american products i recommend that the united states be represented and that suitable provision be made therefor the elevation of the grade of our mission in central america to the plenipotentiary rank which was authorized by congress at its late session has been since effected the war between peru and bolivia on the one side and chile on the other began more than three years ago on the occupation by chile in 1880 of all the littoral territory of bolivia negotiations for peace were conducted under the direction of the united states the allies refused to concede any territory but chile has since become master of the whole coast of both countries and of the capital of peru a year since as you have already been advised by correspondence transmitted to you in january last this government sent a special mission to the belligerent powers to express the hope that chile would be disposed to accept a money indemnity for the expenses of the war and to relinquish her demand for a portion of the territory of her antagonist this recommendation which chile declined to follow this government did not assume to enforce nor can it be enforced without resort to measures which would be in keeping neither with the temper of our people nor with the spirit of our institutions the power of peru no longer extends over its whole territory and in the event of our interference to dictate peace would need to be supplemented by the armies and navies of the 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 embarrassments for the future for effecting the termination of hostilities upon terms at once just to the victorious nation and generous to its adversaries this government has spared no efforts save such as might involve the complications which i have indicated it is greatly to be deplored that chile seems resolved to exact such rigorous conditions of peace and indisposed to submit to arbitration the terms of an amicable settlement no peace is likely to be lasting that is not sufficiently equitable and just to command the approval of other nations about a year since invitations were extended to the nations of this continent to send representatives to a peace congress to assemble at washington in november 1882 the time of meeting was fixed at a period then remote in the hope as the invitation itself declared that in the meantime the disturbances between the south american republics would be adjusted as that expectation seemed unlikely to be realized i asked in april last for an expression of opinion from the two houses of congress as to the advisability of holding the proposed convention at the time appointed this action was prompted in part by doubts which mature reflection had suggested whether the diplomatic usage and traditions of the government did not make it fitting that the executive should consult the representatives of the people before pursuing a line of policy somewhat novel in its character and far reaching in its possible consequences in view of the fact that no action was taken by congress in the premises and that no provision had been made for necessary expenses i subsequently decided to postpone the convocation and so notified the several governments which had been invited to attend i am unwilling to dismiss this subject without assuring you of my support of any measures the wisdom of congress may devise for the promotion of peace on this continent and throughout the world and i trust that the time is nigh when with the universal assent of civilized peoples all international differences shall be determined without resort to arms by the benignant processes of arbitration changes have occurred in the diplomatic representation of several foreign powers during the past year new ministers from the argentine republic brazil chile china france japan mexico the netherlands and russia have presented their credentials the missions of denmark and venezuela at this capital have been raised in grade switzerland has created a plenipotentiary mission to this government and an embassy from madagascar and a minister from siam will shortly arrive our diplomatic intercourse has been enlarged by the establishment of relations with the new kingdom of servia by the creation of a mission to siam and by the restoration of the mission to greece the shah of persia has expressed his gratification that a charge will shortly be sent to that country where the rights of our citizens have been hitherto courteously guarded by the representatives of great britain i renew my recommendation of such legislation as will place the united states in harmony with other maritime powers with respect to the international rules for the prevention of collisions at sea in conformity with your joint resolution of the 3d of august last i have directed the secretary of state to address foreign governments in respect to a proposed conference for considering the subject of the universal adoption of a common prime meridian to be used in the reckoning of longitude and in the regulation of time throughout the civilized world their replies will in due time be laid before you an agreement was reached at paris in 1875 between the principal powers for the interchange of official publications through the medium of their respective foreign departments the admirable system which has been built up by the enterprise of the smithsonian institution affords a practical basis for our cooperation in this scheme and an arrangement has been effected by which that institution will perform the necessary labor under the direction of the department of state a reasonable compensation therefor should be provided by law a clause in the act making appropriations for the diplomatic and consular service contemplates the reorganization of both branches of such service on a salaried basis leaving fees to inure to the benefit of the treasury i cordially favor such a project as likely to correct abuses in the present system the secretary of state will present to you at an early day a plan for such reorganization a full and interesting exhibit of the operations of the treasury department is afforded by the report of the secretary it appears that the ordinary revenues from all sources for the fiscal year ended june 30 1882 were as follows the ordinary expenditures for the same period were leaving a surplus revenue of which with an amount drawn from the cash balance in the treasury of making was applied to the redemption the foreign commerce of the united states during the last fiscal year including imports and exports of merchandise and specie was as follows this excess is less than it has been before for any of the previous six years as appears by the following table during the year there have been organized 171 national banks and of those institutions there are now in operation a larger number than ever before the value of their notes in active circulation on july 1 1882 was i commend to your attention the secretary views in respect to the likelihood of a serious contraction of this circulation and to the modes by which that result may in his judgment be averted in respect to the coinage of silver dollars and the retirement of silver certificates i have seen nothing to alter but much to confirm the sentiments to which i gave expression last year a comparison between the respective amounts of circulation on november 1 1881 and on november 1 1882 shows a slight increase of a million and a half of dollars but during the interval there had been in the whole number coined an increase of millions of the one hundred and millions thus far minted little more than millions are in circulation the mass of accumulated coin has grown so great that the vault room at present available for storage is scarcely sufficient to contain it it is not apparent why it is desirable to continue this coinage now so enormously in excess of the public demand 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 whose issuance congress recently made provision and which are now in active circulation you can not fail to note with interest the discussion by the secretary as to the necessity of providing by legislation some mode of freeing the treasury of an excess of assets in the event that congress fails to reach an early agreement for the reduction of taxation i heartily approve the secretary recommendation of immediate and extensive reductions in the annual revenues of the government it will be remembered that i urged upon the attention of congress at its last session the importance of relieving the industry and enterprise of the country from the pressure of unnecessary taxation it is one of the tritest maxims of political economy that all taxes are burdensome however wisely and prudently imposed and though there have always been 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 should be based there has been substantial accord in the doctrine that only such taxes ought to be levied as are necessary for a wise and economical administration of the government of late the public revenues have far exceeded that limit and unless checked by appropriate legislation such excess will continue to increase from year to year for the fiscal year ended june 30 1881 the surplus revenue amounted to for the fiscal year ended on the 30th of june last the surplus was more than one hundred and millions the report of 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 other 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 because for congratulation it is a because rather for serious apprehension if it continues it must speedily be followed by one of the evil results so clearly set forth in the report of the secretary 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 can not fail to command an enormous premium or the swollen revenues will be devoted to extravagant expenditure which as experience has taught is ever the bane of an overflowing treasury it was made apparent in the course of the animated discussions which this question aroused at the last session of congress that the policy of diminishing the revenue by reducing taxation commanded the general approval of the members of both houses i regret that because of conflicting views as to the best methods by which that policy should be made operative none of its benefits have as yet been reaped in fulfillment of what i deem my constitutional duty but with little hope that i can make valuable contribution to this vexed question i shall proceed to intimate briefly my own views in relation to it upon the showing of our financial condition at the close of the last fiscal year i felt justified in recommending to congress the abolition of all internal revenue taxes except those upon tobacco in its various forms and upon distilled spirits and fermented liquors and except also the special tax upon the manufacturers of 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 accompanied by a simplification of the machinery of collection which would then be easy of accomplishment might reasonably be expected to result in diminishing the cost of such collection by at least and in the retirement from office of from to persons the system of excise duties has never commended itself to the favor of the american people and has never been resorted to except for supplying deficiencies in the treasury when by reason of special exigencies the duties on imports have proved inadequate for the needs of the government the sentiment of the country doubtless demands that the present excise tax shall be abolished as soon as such a course can be safely pursued it seems to me however that for 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 first it is by no means clear that even if the existing system of duties on imports is continued without modification those duties alone will yield sufficient revenue for all the needs of the government it is estimated that will be required for pensions during the coming year and it may well be doubted whether the maximum annual demand for that object has yet been reached uncertainty upon this question 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 people second a total abolition of excise taxes would almost inevitably prove a serious if not an insurmountable obstacle to a thorough revision of the tariff and to any considerable reduction in import duties the present tariff system is in many respects unjust it makes unequal distributions both of its burdens and its benefits this fact was practically recognized by a majority of each house of congress in the passage of the act creating the tariff commission the report of that commission will be placed before you at the beginning of this session and will i trust afford you such information as to the condition and prospects of the various commercial agricultural manufacturing mining and other interests of the country and contain such suggestions for statutory revision as will practically aid your action upon this important subject the revenue from customs for the fiscal year ended june 30 1879 amounted to it has in the three succeeding years reached first then and finally as has been already stated the income from this source for the fiscal year which will end on june 30 1883 will doubtless be considerably in excess of the sum last mentioned if the tax on domestic spirits is to be retained it is plain therefore that large reductions from the customs revenue are entirely feasible while recommending this reduction i am far from advising the abandonment of the policy of so discriminating in the adjustment of details as to afford aid and protection to domestic labor but the present system should be so revised as to equalize the public burden among all classes and occupations and bring it into closer harmony with the present needs of industry without entering into minute detail which under present circumstances is quite unnecessary i recommend an enlargement of the free list so as to include within it the numerous articles which yield inconsiderable revenue a simplification of the complex and inconsistent schedule of duties upon certain manufactures particularly those of cotton iron and steel and a substantial reduction of the duties upon those articles and upon sugar molasses silk wool and woolen goods if a general 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 inequalities of the present law may be corrected before your final adjournment one of them is specially referred to by the secretary in view of a recent decision of the supreme court the necessity of amending the law by which the dutch standard of color is adopted as the test of the saccharine strength of sugars is too obvious to require comment from the report of the secretary of war it appears that the only outbreaks of indians during the past year occurred in arizona and in the southwestern part of new mexico they were promptly quelled and the quiet which has prevailed in all other parts of the country has permitted such an addition to be made to the military force in the region endangered by the apaches that there is little reason to apprehend trouble in the future those parts of the secretary report which relate to our seacoast defenses and their armament suggest the gravest reflections our existing fortifications are notoriously inadequate to the defense of the great harbors and cities for whose protection they were built the question of providing an armament suited to our present necessities has been the subject of consideration by a board whose report was transmitted to congress at the last session pending the consideration of that report the war department has taken no steps 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 soon provided i invite the attention of congress to the propriety of making more adequate provision for arming and equipping the militia than is afforded by the act of 1808 which is still upon the statute book the matter has already been the subject of discussion in the senate and a bill which seeks to supply the deficiencies of existing laws is now upon its calendar the secretary of war calls attention to an embarrassment growing out of the recent act of congress making the retirement of officers of the army compulsory at the age of 64 the act of 1878 is still in force which limits to 400 the number of those who can be retired for disability or upon their own application the two acts when construed together seem to forbid the relieving even for absolute incapacity of officers who do not fall within the purview of the later statute save at such times as there chance to be less than 40 names on the retired list there are now 420 it is not likely that congress intended this result and i concur with the secretary that the law ought to be amended the grounds that impelled me 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 near the close of your last session prompt me to express the hope that no similar measure will be deemed necessary during the present session of congress indeed such a measure would now be open to a serious objection in addition to that which was lately urged upon your attention i am informed by the secretary of war that the greater portion of the sum appropriated for the various items specified in that act remains unexpended of the new works which it authorized expenses have been incurred upon two only for which the total appropriation was the present available balance is disclosed by the following table it is apparent by this exhibit that so far as concerns most of the items to which the act of august 2 1882 relates there can be no need of further appropriations until after the close of the present session if however any action should seem to be necessary in respect to particular objects it will be entirely feasible to provide for those 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 river improvements might be attended with serious consequences if such should appear to be the case a just bill relating to that subject would command my approval this leads me to offer a suggestion which i trust will commend itself to the wisdom of congress is it not advisable that grants of considerable sums of money for diverse and independent schemes of internal improvement should be made the subjects of separate and distinct legislative enactments it will scarcely be gainsaid even by those who favor the most liberal expenditures 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 or in the locality with which they are concerned or in both is one which is much to be deprecated unless it is irremediable it inevitably tends to secure the success of the bill 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 whenever opportunity should arise for giving his influence and vote for meritorious appropriations would be enabled so to do without being called upon to sanction others undeserving his approval so also would the executive be afforded thereby full opportunity to exercise his constitutional prerogative of opposing whatever appropriations seemed to him objectionable without imperiling the success of others which commended themselves to his judgment it may be urged in opposition to these suggestions that the number of works of internal improvement which are justly entitled to governmental aid is so great as to render impracticable separate appropriation bills therefor or even for such comparatively limited number as make disposition of large sums of money this objection may be well founded and whether it be or not the advantages which would be likely to ensue from the adoption of the course i have recommended may perhaps be more effectually attained by another which i respectfully submit to congress as an alternative proposition it is provided by the constitutions of fourteen of our states that the executive may disapprove any item or items of a bill appropriating money whereupon the part of the bill approved shall be law and the part disapproved shall fail to become law unless repassed according to the provisions prescribed for the passage of bills over the veto of the executive the states wherein some such provision as the foregoing is a part of the fundamental law are alabama california colorado florida georgia louisiana minnesota missouri nebraska new jersey new york pennsylvania texas and west virginia i commend to your careful consideration the question whether an amendment of the federal constitution in the particular indicated would not afford the best remedy for what is often a grave embrassment both to members of congress and to the executive and is sometimes a serious public mischief the report of the secretary of the navy states the movements of the various squadrons during the year in home and foreign waters where our officers and seamen with such ships as we possess have continued to illustrate the high character and excellent discipline of the naval organization on the 21st of december 1881 information was received that the exploring steamer jeannette had been crushed and abandoned in the arctic ocean the officers and crew after a journey over the ice embarked in three boats for the coast of siberia one of the parties under the command of chief engineer george melville reached the land and falling in with the natives was saved another under de long landed in a barren region near the mouth of the lena river after six weeks had elapsed all but two of the number had died from fatigue and starvation no tidings have been received from the party in the third boat under the command of lieutenant chipp but a long and fruitless investigation leaves little doubt that all its members perished at sea as a slight tribute to their heroism i give in this communication the names of the gallant men who sacrificed their lives on this expedition george de long surgeon james ambler jerome collins hans halmer erichsen heinrich kaacke george boyd walter lee adolph dressier carl gortz nelse iverson the cook ah sam and the indian alexy the officers and men in the missing boat were lieutenant charles chipp commanding william dunbar alfred sweetman waiter sharvell albert kuehne edward star henry warren and peter johnson lieutenant giles harber and master willliam scheutze are now bringing home the remains of lieutenant de long and his comrades in pursuance of the directions of congress the rodgers fitted out for the releif of the jeannette in accordance with the act of congress of march 3 1881 sailed from san francisco june 16 under the command of lieutenant robert berry on november 30 she was accidentally destroyed by fire while in winter quarters in lawrence bay but the officers and crew succeeded in escaping to the shore lieutenant berry and one of his officers after making a search for the jeannette along the coast of siberia fell in with chief engineer melville party and returned home by way of europe the other officers and the crew of the rodgers were brought from lawrence bay by the whaling steamer north star master charles putnam who had been placed in charge of a depot of supplies at cape serdze returning to his post from lawrence bay across the ice in a blinding snow storm was carried out to sea and lost notwithstanding all efforts to rescue him it appears by the secretary report that the available naval force of the united states consists of 37 cruisers 14 monitors built during the rebellion a large number of smoothbore guns and parrott rifles and 87 rifled cannon the cruising vessels should be gradually replaced by iron or steel ships the monitors by modern armored vessels and the armament by rifled guns the reconstruction of our navy which was recommended in my last message was begun by congress authorizing in its recent act the construction of two large unarmored steel vessels of the character recommended by the late naval advisory board and subject to the final approval of a new advisory board to be organized as provided by that act i call your attention to the recommendation of the secretary and the board that authority be given to construct two more cruisers of smaller dimensions and one fleet dispatch vessel and that appropriations be made for rifled cannon for the torpedo service and for other harbor defenses pending the consideration by congress of the policy to be hereafter adopted in conducting the eight large and their expensive establishments the secretary advocates the reduction of expenditures therefor to the lowest possible amounts for the purpose of affording the officers and seamen of the navy opportunities for exercise and discipline in their profession under appropriate control and direction the secretary advises that the service and coast survey be transferred as now organized from the treasury to the navy department and he also suggests for the reasons which he assigns that a similar transfer may wisely be made of the cruising revenue vessels the secretary forcibly depicts the intimate connection and interdependence of the navy and the commercial marine and invites attention to the continued decadence of the latter and the corresponding transfer of our growing commerce to foreign bottoms this subject is one of the utmost importance to the national welfare methods of reviving american shipbuilding and of restoring the united states flag in the ocean carrying 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 yards of other countries and sailing under foreign flags with no united states steamers on the principal ocean lines or in any foreign ports our facilities for extending our commerce are greatly restricted while the nations which build and sail the ships and carry the mails and passengers obtain thereby conspicuous advantages in increasing their trade the report of the gives evidence of the satisfactory condition of that department and contains many valuable data and accompanying suggestions which can not fail to be of interest the information which it affords that the receipts for the fiscal year have exceeded the expenditures must be very gratifying to congress and to the people of the country as matters which may fairly claim particular attention i refer you to his observations in reference to the advisability of changing the present basis for fixing salaries and allowances of extending the system and of enlarging the functions of the postal establishment so as to put under its control the telegraph system of the country though from this last and most important recommendation i must withhold my concurrence at the last session of congress several bills were introduced into the house of representatives for the reduction of letter postage to the rate of 2 cents per half ounce i have given much study and reflection to this subject and am thoroughly persuaded that such a reduction would be for the best interests of the public it has been the policy of the government from its foundation to defray as far as possible the expenses of carrying the mails by a direct tax in the form of postage it has never been claimed however that this service ought to be productive of a net revenue as has been stated already the report of the shows that there is now a very considerable surplus in his department and that henceforth the receipts are likely to increase at a much greater ratio than the necessary expenditures unless some change is made in the existing laws the profits of the postal service will in a very few years swell the revenues of the government many millions of dollars the time seems auspicious therefore for some reduction in the rates of postage in what shall that reduction consist a review of the legislation which has been had upon this subject during the last thirty years discloses that domestic letters constitute the only class of mail matter which has never been favored by a substantial reduction of rates i am convinced that the burden of maintaining the service falls most unequally upon that class and that more than any other it is entitled to present relief that such relief may be extended without detriment to other public interests wilt be discovered upon reviewing the results of former reductions immediately prior to the act of 1845 the postage upon a letter composed of a single sheet was as follows by the act of 1845 the postage upon a single letter conveyed for any distance under 300 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 carried any distance not exceeding miles for 3 cents and any greater distance for 6 cents it will be noticed that both of these reductions were of a radical character and relatively quite as important as that which is now proposed in each case there ensued a temporary loss of revenue but a sudden and large influx of business which substantially repaired that loss 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 33 per cent reduction in the tax for carriage would at once increase the number of letters consigned to the mails the advantages 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 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 a result of careful estimates the details of which can not be here set out i have become convinced that the deficiency for the first year after the proposed reduction would not exceed 7 per cent of the expenditures or while the deficiency after the reduction of 1845 was more than 14 per cent and after that of 1851 was 27 per cent another interesting comparison is afforded by statistics furnished me by the department the act of 1845 was passed in face of the fact that there existed a deficiency of more than that of 1851 was encouraged by the slight surplus of the excess of revenue in the next fiscal year is likely to be if congress should approve these suggestions it may be deemed desirable to supply 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 after the lapse of three or four years the report of the department of justice brings anew to your notice the necessity of enlarging the present system of federal jurisprudence so as effectually to answer the requirements of the litigation with which it is called upon to deal the renews the suggestions of his predecessor that in the interests of justice better 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 pending criminal proceedings growing out of alleged frauds in what is known as the service of the department and advised you that i had enjoined upon the and 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 those offenses a trial of one of these cases has since occurred it occupied for many weeks the attention of the supreme court of this district and was conducted with great zeal and ability it resulted in a disagreement of the jury but the because has been again placed upon the calendar and will shortly be retried if any guilty persons shall finally escape punishment for their offenses it will not be for lack of diligent and earnest efforts on the part of the prosecution i trust that some agreement may be reached which will speedily enable congress with the concurrence of the executive to afford the commercial community the benefits of a national bankrupt law the report of the secretary of the interior with its accompanying documents presents a full statement of the varied operations of that department in respect to indian affairs 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 recommendations therein 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 youth such provision as the secretary forcibly maintains will prove unavailing unless it is broad enough to include all those 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 and simple industrial arts as can be made practically available among other important subjects which are included within the secretary report and which will doubtless furnish occasion for congressional action may be mentioned the neglect of the railroad companies to which large grants of land were made by the acts of 1862 and 1864 to take title thereto and their consequent inequitable exemption from local taxation no survey of our material condition can fail to suggest inquiries as to the moral and intellectual progress of the people the census returns disclose an alarming state of illiteracy in certain portions of the country where the provision for schools is grossly inadequate it is a momentous question for the decision of congress whether immediate and substantial aid should not be extended by the general government for supplementing the efforts of private beneficence and of state and territorial legislation in behalf of education the regulation of interstate commerce has already been the subject of your deliberations one of the incidents of the marvelous extension of the railway system of the country has been the adoption of such measures by the corporations which own or control the roads as have tended to impair the advantages of healthful competition and to make hurtful discriminations in the adjustment of freightage these inequalities have been corrected in several of the states by 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 any one of the states and a foreign country they are subjects of national concern and congress alone can afford relief the results which have thus far attended the enforcement of the recent statute for the suppression of polygamy in the territories are reported by the secretary of the interior it is not probable that any additional legislation in this regard will be deemed desirable until the effect of existing laws shall be more closely observed and studied i congratulate you that the commissioners under whose supervision those laws have been put in operation are encouraged to believe that the evil at which they are aimed may be suppressed without resort to such radical measures as in some quarters have been thought indispensable for success the close relation of the general government to the territories preparing to be great states may well engage your special attention it is there that the indian disturbances mainly occur and that polygamy has found room for its growth i can not doubt that a careful survey of territorial legislation would be of the highest utility life and property would become more secure the liability of outbreaks between indians and whites would be lessened the public domain would be more securely guarded and better progress be made in the instruction of the young alaska is still without any form of civil government if means were provided for the education of its people and for the protection of their lives and property the immense resources of the region would invite permanent settlements and open new fields for industry and enterprise the report of the commissioner of agriculture presents an account of the labors of that department during the past year and includes information of much interest to the general public the condition of the forests of the country and the wasteful manner in which their destruction is taking place give because for serious apprehension their action in protecting the earth surface in modifying the extremes of climate and in regulating and sustaining the flow of springs and streams is now well understood and their importance in relation to the growth and prosperity of the country can not be safely disregarded they are fast disappearing before destructive fires and the legitimate requirements of our increasing population and their total extinction can not be long delayed unless better methods than now prevail shall be adopted for their protection and cultivation the attention of congress is invited to the necessity of additional legislation to secure the preservation of the valuable forests still remaining on the public domain especially in the extreme western states and territories where the necessity for their preservation is greater than in less mountainous regions and where the prevailing dryness of the climate renders their restoration if they are once destroyed impossible the communication which i made to congress at its first session in december last contained a somewhat full statement of my sentiments in relation to the principles and rules which ought to govern appointments to public service referring to the various plans which had theretofore been the subject of discussion in the national legislature plans which in the main were modeled upon the system which obtains in great britain but which lacked certain of the prominent features whereby that system is distinguished i felt bound to intimate my doubts whether they or any of them would afford adequate remedy for the evils which they aimed to correct i declared nevertheless that if the proposed measures should prove acceptable to congress they would receive the unhesitating support of the executive since these suggestions were submitted for your consideration there has been no legislation upon the subject to which they relate but there has meanwhile been an increase in the public interest in that subject and the people of the country apparently without distinction of party have in various ways and upon frequent occasions given expression to their earnest wish for prompt and definite action in my judgment such action should no longer be postponed i may add that my own sense of its pressing importance has been quickened by observation of a practical phase of the matter to which attention has more than once been called by my predecessors the civil list now comprises about persons far the larger part of whom must under the terms of the constitution he selected by the president either directly or through his own appointees in the early years of the administration of the government the personal direction of appointments to the civil service may not have been an irksome task for the executive but now that the burden has increased fully a hundredfold it has become greater thin he ought to bear and it necessarily diverts his time and attention from the proper discharge of other duties no less delicate and responsible and which in the very nature of things can not be delegated to other hands in the judgment of not a few who have given study and reflection to this matter the nation has outgrown the provisions which the constitution has established for filling the minor offices in the public service but whatever may be thought of the wisdom 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 senators and representatives in congress by discreet legislation they would be protected in a great measure by the bill now pending before the senate or by any other which should embody its important features from the pressure of personal importunity and from the labor of examining conflicting claims and pretensions of candidates i trust that before the close of the present session some decisive action may be taken for the correction of the evils which inhere in the present methods of appointment and i assure you of my hearty cooperation in any measures which are likely to conduce to that end as to the most appropriate term and tenure of the official life of the subordinate employees of the government it seems to be generally agreed that whatever their extent or character the one should be definite and the other stable and that neither should be regulated by zeal in the service of party or fidelity to the fortunes of an individual it matters little to the people at large what competent person is at the head of this department or of that bureau if they feel assured that the removal of one and the accession of another will not involve the retirement of honest and faithful subordinates whose duties are purely administrative and have no legitimate connection with the triumph of any political principles or the success of any political party or faction it is to this latter class of officers that the senate bill to which i have already referred exclusively applies while neither that bill nor any other prominent scheme for improving the civil service concerns the higher grade of officials who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate i feel bound to correct a prevalent misapprehension as to the frequency with which the present executive has displaced the incumbent of an office and appointed another in his stead it has been repeatedly alleged that he has in this particular signally departed from the course which has been pursued under recent administrations of the government the facts are as follows the whole number of executive appointments during the four years immediately preceding garfield accession to the presidency was of this number 244 or 9 per cent involved the removal of previous incumbents the ratio of removals to the whole number of appointments was much the same during each of those four years in the first year with 790 appointments there were 74 removals or per cent in the second with 917 appointments there were 85 removals or per cent in the third with 480 appointments there were 48 removals or 10 per cent in the fourth with 429 appointments there were 37 removals or per cent in the four months of president garfield administration there were 390 appointments and 89 removals or per cent precisely the same number of removals 89 has taken place in the fourteen months which have since elapsed but they constitute only per cent of the whole number of appointments within that period and less than of the entire list of officials exclusive of the army and navy which is filled by presidential appointment i declare my approval of such legislation as may be found necessary for supplementing the existing provisions of law in relation to political assessments in july last i authorized a public announcement that employees of the government should regard themselves as at liberty to exercise their pleasure in making or refusing to make political contributions and that their action in that regard would in no manner affect their official status in this announcement i acted upon the view which i had always maintained and still maintain that a public officer should be as absolutely free as any other citizen to give or to withhold a contribution for the aid of the political party of his choice it has however been urged and doubtless not without foundation in fact that by solicitation of official superiors and by other modes such contributions have at times been obtained from persons whose only motive for giving has been the fear of what might befall them if they refused it goes without saying that such contributions are not voluntary and in my judgment their collection should be prohibited by law a bill which will effectually suppress them will receive my cordial approval i hope that however numerous and urgent may be the demands upon your attention the interests of this district will not be forgotten the denial to its residents of the great right of suffrage in all its relations to national state and municipal action imposes upon congress the duty of affording them the best administration which its wisdom can devise the report of the district commissioners indicates certain measures whose adoption would seem to be very desirable 1 instance in particular those which relate to arrears of taxes to steam railroads and to assessments of real property among the questions which have been the topic of recent debate in the halls of congress none are of greater gravity than those relating to the ascertainment of the vote for presidential electors and the intendment of the constitution in its provisions for devolving executive functions upon the when the president suffers from inability to discharge the powers and duties of his office i trust that no embarrassments may result from a failure to determine these questions before another national election the closing year has been replete with blessings for which we owe to the giver of all good our reverent acknowledgment for the uninterrupted harmony of our foreign relations for the decay of sectional animosities for the exuberance of our harvests and the triumphs of our mining and manufacturing industries for the prevalence of health the spread of intelligence and the conservation of the public credit for the growth of the country in all the elements of national greatness for these and countless other blessings we should rejoice and be glad i trust that under the inspiration of this great prosperity our counsels may be harmonious and that the dictates of prudence patriotism justice and economy may lead to the adoption of measures in which the congress and the executive may heartily unite
provided constitution president shall time time give congress information state union recommend consideration measures shall judge necessary expedient reviewing events year elapsed since commencement sessions first call attention gratifying condition foreign affairs intercourse powers continued friendly character slight differences arisen year already settled likely reach early adjustment arrest citizens united states ireland recent laws owe origin disturbed condition country led somewhat extended correspondence government great britain disposition respect rights practically manifested release arrested parties claim nation regard supervision control interoceanic canal across american isthmus continued subject conference likely time powerful discussion removing divergence two nations whose friendship closely cemented intimacy relations community interests friendliness russia remained unshaken prompted proffer earnest counsels government measures adopted suppressing proscription hebrew race country lately suffered transpired american citizen subjected arrest injury courteous remonstrance nevertheless courteously received reason believe time far distant russia able secure toleration faiths within borders international convention held paris 1880 attended representatives united states agreement reached respect protection patented articles rights manufacturing firms corporations formulating treaties recommendations thus adopted receiving attention merits protection submarine cables subject consideration international conference paris believing clearly true policy government favor neutralization means intercourse requested minister france attend convention delegate also designated two eminent scientists attend representatives meeting international committee paris considering adoption common unit measure electric force view frequent occurrence conferences consideration important matters common interest civilized nations respectfully suggest executive invested congress discretionary powers send delegates conventions provision made defray expenses incident thereto difference united states spain effect judgment certificate naturalization yet adjusted hoped believed negotiations progress result establishment position seems government reasonable already called attention congress fact ports spain colonies onerous fines lately imposed upon vessels united states trivial technical offenses local regulations efforts abatement exactions thus far proved unsuccessful regret inform also fees demanded spanish consuls american ports cases large compared value cargo amount effect considerable export duty remonstrances regard yet received attention seem deserve german government invited united states participate international exhibition domestic cattle held hamburg july 1883 country represented important early days session congress make suitable appropriation purpose death marsh late minister italy evoked government expressions profound respect exalted character honorable career diplomatic service country italian government raised question propriety recognizing dual capacity representative country recently accredited secretary legation rome received secretary exequatur thus far withheld extradition convention belgium operation since 1874 lately supplanted another senate signified approval ratifications duly exchanged contracting countries list extraditable crimes added assassination attempted assassination chief state negotiations opened switzerland looking settlement treaty question whether citizens renounce allegiance become citizens united states without obtaining consent swiss government glad inform immigration paupers criminals certain cantons switzerland substantially ceased longer sanctioned authorities consideration subject prompts suggestion act august 3 1882 object return foreign convicts country modified open interpretation affects extradition criminals preferred charges crime ottoman porte yet assented interpretation government put upon treaty 1830 relative jurisdictional rights turkey may well however difference adjusted general revision system jurisdiction united states countries east subject attention already called secretary state interest justice toward china japan trust question return indemnity fund governments countries reach present session satisfactory solution already recommended recently foreshadowed congressional discussion treaty lately concluded korea awaits action senate late disturbance egypt timely presence american vessels served protection persons property many citizens citizens countries whose governments expressed thanks assistance recent legislation restricting immigration laborers china given rise question whether chinese proceeding another country may lawfully pass construing act may 6 1882 connection treaty november 7 1880 restriction would seem limited chinese immigrants coming united states laborers would forbid mere transit across territory ask attention congress subject action may deemed advisable government recently occasion manifest interest republic liberia seeking aid amicable settlement boundary dispute pending republic british possession sierra leone reciprocity treaty hawaii become terminable september 9 1883 twelve months notice either party certain provisions compact may proved onerous existence fostered commercial relations important preserve suggest therefore early consideration given modifications treaty seem demanded interests people view increasing trade hayti santo domingo advise provision made diplomatic intercourse latter enlarging scope mission port au prince regret certain claims american citizens government hayti thus far urged unavailingly recent agreement mexico provides crossing frontier armed forces either country pursuit hostile indians message last year called attention prevalent lawlessness upon borders necessity legislation suppression invite attention congress subject partial relief mischiefs sought convention awaits approval senate also another touching establishment international boundary united states mexico latter ratified action congress required establishing suitable commissions survey boundary dispute mexico guatemala led government proffer friendly counsels parties amicably settled change occurred relations venezuela invoke action matter pending awards republic reference made special message executive last session invitation received government venezuela send representatives july 1883 caracas participating centennial celebration birth bolivar founder south american independence connection event designed commence erection caracas statue washington conduct industrial exhibition open american products recommend united states represented suitable provision made therefor elevation grade mission central america plenipotentiary rank authorized congress late session since effected war peru bolivia one side chile began three years ago occupation chile 1880 littoral territory bolivia negotiations peace conducted direction united states allies refused concede territory chile since become master whole coast countries capital peru year since already advised correspondence transmitted january last government sent special mission belligerent powers express hope chile would disposed accept money indemnity expenses war relinquish demand portion territory antagonist recommendation chile declined follow government assume enforce enforced without resort measures would keeping neither temper people spirit institutions power peru longer extends whole territory event interference dictate peace would need supplemented armies navies united states interference would almost inevitably lead establishment protectorate result utterly odds past policy injurious present interests full embarrassments future effecting termination hostilities upon terms victorious nation generous adversaries government spared efforts save might involve complications indicated greatly deplored chile seems resolved exact rigorous conditions peace indisposed submit arbitration terms amicable settlement peace likely lasting sufficiently equitable command approval nations year since invitations extended nations continent send representatives peace congress assemble washington november 1882 time meeting fixed period remote hope invitation declared meantime disturbances south american republics would adjusted expectation seemed unlikely realized asked april last expression opinion two houses congress advisability holding proposed convention time appointed action prompted part doubts mature reflection suggested whether diplomatic usage traditions government make fitting executive consult representatives people pursuing line policy somewhat novel character far reaching possible consequences view fact action taken congress premises provision made necessary expenses subsequently decided postpone convocation notified several governments invited attend unwilling dismiss subject without assuring support measures wisdom congress may devise promotion peace continent throughout world trust time nigh universal assent civilized peoples international differences shall determined without resort arms benignant processes arbitration changes occurred diplomatic representation several foreign powers past year new ministers argentine republic brazil chile china france japan mexico netherlands russia presented credentials missions denmark venezuela capital raised grade switzerland created plenipotentiary mission government embassy madagascar minister siam shortly arrive diplomatic intercourse enlarged establishment relations new kingdom servia creation mission siam restoration mission greece shah persia expressed gratification charge shortly sent country rights citizens hitherto courteously guarded representatives great britain renew recommendation legislation place united states harmony maritime powers respect international rules prevention collisions sea conformity joint resolution 3d august last directed secretary state address foreign governments respect proposed conference considering subject universal adoption common prime meridian used reckoning longitude regulation time throughout civilized world replies due time laid agreement reached paris 1875 principal powers interchange official publications medium respective foreign departments admirable system built enterprise smithsonian institution affords practical basis cooperation scheme arrangement effected institution perform necessary labor direction department state reasonable compensation therefor provided law clause act making appropriations diplomatic consular service contemplates reorganization branches service salaried basis leaving fees inure benefit treasury cordially favor project likely correct abuses present system secretary state present early day plan reorganization full interesting exhibit operations treasury department afforded report secretary appears ordinary revenues sources fiscal year ended june 30 1882 follows ordinary expenditures period leaving surplus revenue amount drawn cash balance treasury making applied redemption foreign commerce united states last fiscal year including imports exports merchandise specie follows excess less previous six years appears following table year organized 171 national banks institutions operation larger number ever value notes active circulation july 1 1882 commend attention secretary views respect likelihood serious contraction circulation modes result may judgment averted respect coinage silver dollars retirement silver certificates seen nothing alter much confirm sentiments gave expression last year comparison respective amounts circulation november 1 1881 november 1 1882 shows slight increase million half dollars interval whole number coined increase millions one hundred millions thus far minted little millions circulation mass accumulated coin grown great vault room present available storage scarcely sufficient contain apparent desirable continue coinage enormously excess public demand silver certificates addition grounds seemed last year justify retirement may mentioned effect likely ensue supply gold certificates whose issuance congress recently made provision active circulation fail note interest discussion secretary necessity providing legislation mode freeing treasury excess assets event congress fails reach early agreement reduction taxation heartily approve secretary recommendation immediate extensive reductions annual revenues government remembered urged upon attention congress last session importance relieving industry enterprise country pressure unnecessary taxation one tritest maxims political economy taxes burdensome however wisely prudently imposed though always among people wide differences sentiment best methods raising national revenues indeed principles upon taxation based substantial accord doctrine taxes ought levied necessary wise economical administration government late public revenues far exceeded limit unless checked appropriate legislation excess continue increase year year fiscal year ended june 30 1881 surplus revenue amounted fiscal year ended 30th june last surplus one hundred millions report secretary shows disposition made moneys answered requirements sinking fund afforded large balance applicable reductions public debt renew expression conviction rapid extinguishment national indebtedness taking place means congratulation rather serious apprehension continues must speedily followed one evil results clearly set forth report secretary either surplus must lie idle treasury government forced buy market rates bonds redeemable circumstances fail command enormous premium swollen revenues devoted extravagant expenditure experience taught ever bane overflowing treasury made apparent course animated discussions question aroused last session congress policy diminishing revenue reducing taxation commanded general approval members houses regret conflicting views best methods policy made operative none benefits yet reaped fulfillment deem constitutional duty little hope make valuable contribution vexed question shall proceed intimate briefly views relation upon showing financial condition close last fiscal year felt justified recommending congress abolition internal revenue taxes except upon tobacco various forms upon distilled spirits fermented liquors except also special tax upon manufacturers dealers articles venture suggest unless shall ascertained probable expenditures government coming year underestimated internal taxes save relate distilled spirits prudently abrogated course accompanied simplification machinery collection would easy accomplishment might reasonably expected result diminishing cost collection least retirement office persons system excise duties never commended favor american people never resorted except supplying deficiencies treasury reason special exigencies duties imports proved inadequate needs government sentiment country doubtless demands present excise tax shall abolished soon course safely pursued seems however various reasons sweeping measure total abolition internal taxes would present unwise step two reasons deserving special mention first means clear even existing system duties imports continued without modification duties alone yield sufficient revenue needs government estimated required pensions coming year may well doubted whether maximum annual demand object yet reached uncertainty upon question would alone justify judgment retention present portion system internal revenue least objectionable people second total abolition excise taxes would almost inevitably prove serious insurmountable obstacle thorough revision tariff considerable reduction import duties present tariff system many respects unjust makes unequal distributions burdens benefits fact practically recognized majority house congress passage act creating tariff commission report commission placed beginning session trust afford information condition prospects various commercial agricultural manufacturing mining interests country contain suggestions statutory revision practically aid action upon important subject revenue customs fiscal year ended june 30 1879 amounted three succeeding years reached first finally already stated income source fiscal year end june 30 1883 doubtless considerably excess sum last mentioned tax domestic spirits retained plain therefore large reductions customs revenue entirely feasible recommending reduction far advising abandonment policy discriminating adjustment details afford aid protection domestic labor present system revised equalize public burden among classes occupations bring closer harmony present needs industry without entering minute detail present circumstances quite unnecessary recommend enlargement free list include within numerous articles yield inconsiderable revenue simplification complex inconsistent schedule duties upon certain manufactures particularly cotton iron steel substantial reduction duties upon articles upon sugar molasses silk wool woolen goods general revision tariff shall found impracticable session express hope least conspicuous inequalities present law may corrected final adjournment one specially referred secretary view recent decision supreme court necessity amending law dutch standard color adopted test saccharine strength sugars obvious require comment report secretary war appears outbreaks indians past year occurred arizona southwestern part new mexico promptly quelled quiet prevailed parts country permitted addition made military force region endangered apaches little reason apprehend trouble future parts secretary report relate seacoast defenses armament suggest gravest reflections existing fortifications notoriously inadequate defense great harbors cities whose protection built question providing armament suited present necessities subject consideration board whose report transmitted congress last session pending consideration report war department taken steps manufacture conversion heavy cannon secretary expresses hope authority means begin important work soon provided invite attention congress propriety making adequate provision arming equipping militia afforded act 1808 still upon statute book matter already subject discussion senate bill seeks supply deficiencies existing laws upon calendar secretary war calls attention embarrassment growing recent act congress making retirement officers army compulsory age 64 act 1878 still force limits 400 number retired disability upon application two acts construed together seem forbid relieving even absolute incapacity officers fall within purview later statute save times chance less 40 names retired list 420 likely congress intended result concur secretary law ought amended grounds impelled withhold signature bill entitled act making appropriations construction repair preservation certain works rivers harbors became law near close last session prompt express hope similar measure deemed necessary present session congress indeed measure would open serious objection addition lately urged upon attention informed secretary war greater portion sum appropriated various items specified act remains unexpended new works authorized expenses incurred upon two total appropriation present available balance disclosed following table apparent exhibit far concerns items act august 2 1882 relates need appropriations close present session however action seem necessary respect particular objects entirely feasible provide objects appropriate legislation possible example delay assembling next congress make additional provision mississippi river improvements might attended serious consequences appear case bill relating subject would command approval leads offer suggestion trust commend wisdom congress advisable grants considerable sums money diverse independent schemes internal improvement made subjects separate distinct legislative enactments scarcely gainsaid even favor liberal expenditures purposes sought accomplished commonly called river harbor bill practice grouping bill appropriations great diversity objects widely separated either nature locality concerned one much deprecated unless irremediable inevitably tends secure success bill whole though many items separately considered could scarcely fail rejection adoption course recommended every member congress whenever opportunity arise giving influence vote meritorious appropriations would enabled without called upon sanction others undeserving approval also would executive afforded thereby full opportunity exercise constitutional prerogative opposing whatever appropriations seemed objectionable without imperiling success others commended judgment may urged opposition suggestions number works internal improvement justly entitled governmental aid great render impracticable separate appropriation bills therefor even comparatively limited number make disposition large sums money objection may well founded whether advantages would likely ensue adoption course recommended may perhaps effectually attained another respectfully submit congress alternative proposition provided constitutions fourteen states executive may disapprove item items bill appropriating money whereupon part bill approved shall law part disapproved shall fail become law unless repassed according provisions prescribed passage bills veto executive states wherein provision foregoing part fundamental law alabama california colorado florida georgia louisiana minnesota missouri nebraska new jersey new york pennsylvania texas west virginia commend careful consideration question whether amendment federal constitution particular indicated would afford best remedy often grave embrassment members congress executive sometimes serious public mischief report secretary navy states movements various squadrons year home foreign waters officers seamen ships possess continued illustrate high character excellent discipline naval organization 21st december 1881 information received exploring steamer jeannette crushed abandoned arctic ocean officers crew journey ice embarked three boats coast siberia one parties command chief engineer george melville reached land falling natives saved another de long landed barren region near mouth lena river six weeks elapsed two number died fatigue starvation tidings received party third boat command lieutenant chipp long fruitless investigation leaves little doubt members perished sea slight tribute heroism give communication names gallant men sacrificed lives expedition george de long surgeon james ambler jerome collins hans halmer erichsen heinrich kaacke george boyd walter lee adolph dressier carl gortz nelse iverson cook ah sam indian alexy officers men missing boat lieutenant charles chipp commanding william dunbar alfred sweetman waiter sharvell albert kuehne edward star henry warren peter johnson lieutenant giles harber master willliam scheutze bringing home remains lieutenant de long comrades pursuance directions congress rodgers fitted releif jeannette accordance act congress march 3 1881 sailed san francisco june 16 command lieutenant robert berry november 30 accidentally destroyed fire winter quarters lawrence bay officers crew succeeded escaping shore lieutenant berry one officers making search jeannette along coast siberia fell chief engineer melville party returned home way europe officers crew rodgers brought lawrence bay whaling steamer north star master charles putnam placed charge depot supplies cape serdze returning post lawrence bay across ice blinding snow storm carried sea lost notwithstanding efforts rescue appears secretary report available naval force united states consists 37 cruisers 14 monitors built rebellion large number smoothbore guns parrott rifles 87 rifled cannon cruising vessels gradually replaced iron steel ships monitors modern armored vessels armament rifled guns reconstruction navy recommended last message begun congress authorizing recent act construction two large unarmored steel vessels character recommended late naval advisory board subject final approval new advisory board organized provided act call attention recommendation secretary board authority given construct two cruisers smaller dimensions one fleet dispatch vessel appropriations made rifled cannon torpedo service harbor defenses pending consideration congress policy hereafter adopted conducting eight large expensive establishments secretary advocates reduction expenditures therefor lowest possible amounts purpose affording officers seamen navy opportunities exercise discipline profession appropriate control direction secretary advises service coast survey transferred organized treasury navy department also suggests reasons assigns similar transfer may wisely made cruising revenue vessels secretary forcibly depicts intimate connection interdependence navy commercial marine invites attention continued decadence latter corresponding transfer growing commerce foreign bottoms subject one utmost importance national welfare methods reviving american shipbuilding restoring united states flag ocean carrying trade receive immediate attention congress mechanical skill abundant material manufacture modern iron steamships fair competition commercial rivals disadvantage building ships greater cost labor sailing higher taxes greater interest capital ocean highways already monopolized formidable competitors obstacles way overcome rapid communication foreign lands continue depend wholly upon vessels built yards countries sailing foreign flags united states steamers principal ocean lines foreign ports facilities extending commerce greatly restricted nations build sail ships carry mails passengers obtain thereby conspicuous advantages increasing trade report gives evidence satisfactory condition department contains many valuable data accompanying suggestions fail interest information affords receipts fiscal year exceeded expenditures must gratifying congress people country matters may fairly claim particular attention refer observations reference advisability changing present basis fixing salaries allowances extending system enlarging functions postal establishment put control telegraph system country though last important recommendation must withhold concurrence last session congress several bills introduced house representatives reduction letter postage rate 2 cents per half ounce given much study reflection subject thoroughly persuaded reduction would best interests public policy government foundation defray far possible expenses carrying mails direct tax form postage never claimed however service ought productive net revenue stated already report shows considerable surplus department henceforth receipts likely increase much greater ratio necessary expenditures unless change made existing laws profits postal service years swell revenues government many millions dollars time seems auspicious therefore reduction rates postage shall reduction consist review legislation upon subject last thirty years discloses domestic letters constitute class mail matter never favored substantial reduction rates convinced burden maintaining service falls unequally upon class entitled present relief relief may extended without detriment public interests wilt discovered upon reviewing results former reductions immediately prior act 1845 postage upon letter composed single sheet follows act 1845 postage upon single letter conveyed distance 300 miles fixed 5 cents greater distance 10 cents act 1851 provided single letter prepaid carried distance exceeding miles 3 cents greater distance 6 cents noticed reductions radical character relatively quite important proposed case ensued temporary loss revenue sudden large influx business substantially repaired loss within three years unless experience past legislation country elsewhere goes naught may safely predicted stimulus 33 per cent reduction tax carriage would increase number letters consigned mails advantages secrecy would lead general substitution sealed packets postal cards open circulars divers ways volume matter would enormously augmented increase amounted england first year adoption penny postage 125 per cent result careful estimates details set become convinced deficiency first year proposed reduction would exceed 7 per cent expenditures deficiency reduction 1845 14 per cent 1851 27 per cent another interesting comparison afforded statistics furnished department act 1845 passed face fact existed deficiency 1851 encouraged slight surplus excess revenue next fiscal year likely congress approve suggestions may deemed desirable supply extent deficiency must time result increasing charge carrying merchandise 16 cents per pound even without increase confident receipts diminished rates would equal expenditures lapse three four years report department justice brings anew notice necessity enlarging present system federal jurisprudence effectually answer requirements litigation called upon deal renews suggestions predecessor interests justice better provision existing laws afford made certain judicial districts fixing fees witnesses jurors message december last referred pending criminal proceedings growing alleged frauds known service department advised enjoined upon associate counsel interests government intrusted duty prosecuting utmost vigor law persons might found chargeable offenses trial one cases since occurred occupied many weeks attention supreme court district conducted great zeal ability resulted disagreement jury placed upon calendar shortly retried guilty persons shall finally escape punishment offenses lack diligent earnest efforts part prosecution trust agreement may reached speedily enable congress concurrence executive afford commercial community benefits national bankrupt law report secretary interior accompanying documents presents full statement varied operations department respect indian affairs nothing occurred changed seriously modified views devoted much space former communication congress renew recommendations therein contained extending indian protection law allotting land severalty desire making suitable provision education youth provision secretary forcibly maintains prove unavailing unless broad enough include able willing make use solely relate intellectual training also instruction manual labor simple industrial arts made practically available among important subjects included within secretary report doubtless furnish occasion congressional action may mentioned neglect railroad companies large grants land made acts 1862 1864 take title thereto consequent inequitable exemption local taxation survey material condition fail suggest inquiries moral intellectual progress people census returns disclose alarming state illiteracy certain portions country provision schools grossly inadequate momentous question decision congress whether immediate substantial aid extended general government supplementing efforts private beneficence state territorial legislation behalf education regulation interstate commerce already subject deliberations one incidents marvelous extension railway system country adoption measures corporations control roads tended impair advantages healthful competition make hurtful discriminations adjustment freightage inequalities corrected several states appropriate legislation effect necessarily restricted limits territory far mischiefs affect commerce states one states foreign country subjects national concern congress alone afford relief results thus far attended enforcement recent statute suppression polygamy territories reported secretary interior probable additional legislation regard deemed desirable effect existing laws shall closely observed studied congratulate commissioners whose supervision laws put operation encouraged believe evil aimed may suppressed without resort radical measures quarters thought indispensable success close relation general government territories preparing great states may well engage special attention indian disturbances mainly occur polygamy found room growth doubt careful survey territorial legislation would highest utility life property would become secure liability outbreaks indians whites would lessened public domain would securely guarded better progress made instruction young alaska still without form civil government means provided education people protection lives property immense resources region would invite permanent settlements open new fields industry enterprise report commissioner agriculture presents account labors department past year includes information much interest general public condition forests country wasteful manner destruction taking place give serious apprehension action protecting earth surface modifying extremes climate regulating sustaining flow springs streams well understood importance relation growth prosperity country safely disregarded fast disappearing destructive fires legitimate requirements increasing population total extinction long delayed unless better methods prevail shall adopted protection cultivation attention congress invited necessity additional legislation secure preservation valuable forests still remaining public domain especially extreme western states territories necessity preservation greater less mountainous regions prevailing dryness climate renders restoration destroyed impossible communication made congress first session december last contained somewhat full statement sentiments relation principles rules ought govern appointments public service referring various plans theretofore subject discussion national legislature plans main modeled upon system obtains great britain lacked certain prominent features whereby system distinguished felt bound intimate doubts whether would afford adequate remedy evils aimed correct declared nevertheless proposed measures prove acceptable congress would receive unhesitating support executive since suggestions submitted consideration legislation upon subject relate meanwhile increase public interest subject people country apparently without distinction party various ways upon frequent occasions given expression earnest wish prompt definite action judgment action longer postponed may add sense pressing importance quickened observation practical phase matter attention called predecessors civil list comprises persons far larger part must terms constitution selected president either directly appointees early years administration government personal direction appointments civil service may irksome task executive burden increased fully hundredfold become greater thin ought bear necessarily diverts time attention proper discharge duties less delicate responsible nature things delegated hands judgment given study reflection matter nation outgrown provisions constitution established filling minor offices public service whatever may thought wisdom expediency changing fundamental law regard certain much relief may afforded president heads departments senators representatives congress discreet legislation would protected great measure bill pending senate embody important features pressure personal importunity labor examining conflicting claims pretensions candidates trust close present session decisive action may taken correction evils inhere present methods appointment assure hearty cooperation measures likely conduce end appropriate term tenure official life subordinate employees government seems generally agreed whatever extent character one definite stable neither regulated zeal service party fidelity fortunes individual matters little people large competent person head department bureau feel assured removal one accession another involve retirement honest faithful subordinates whose duties purely administrative legitimate connection triumph political principles success political party faction latter class officers senate bill already referred exclusively applies neither bill prominent scheme improving civil service concerns higher grade officials appointed president confirmed senate feel bound correct prevalent misapprehension frequency present executive displaced incumbent office appointed another stead repeatedly alleged particular signally departed course pursued recent administrations government facts follows whole number executive appointments four years immediately preceding garfield accession presidency number 244 9 per cent involved removal previous incumbents ratio removals whole number appointments much four years first year 790 appointments 74 removals per cent second 917 appointments 85 removals per cent third 480 appointments 48 removals 10 per cent fourth 429 appointments 37 removals per cent four months president garfield administration 390 appointments 89 removals per cent precisely number removals 89 taken place fourteen months since elapsed constitute per cent whole number appointments within period less entire list officials exclusive army navy filled presidential appointment declare approval legislation may found necessary supplementing existing provisions law relation political assessments july last authorized public announcement employees government regard liberty exercise pleasure making refusing make political contributions action regard would manner affect official status announcement acted upon view always maintained still maintain public officer absolutely free citizen give withhold contribution aid political party choice however urged doubtless without foundation fact solicitation official superiors modes contributions times obtained persons whose motive giving fear might befall refused goes without saying contributions voluntary judgment collection prohibited law bill effectually suppress receive cordial approval hope however numerous urgent may demands upon attention interests district forgotten denial residents great right suffrage relations national state municipal action imposes upon congress duty affording best administration wisdom devise report district commissioners indicates certain measures whose adoption would seem desirable 1 instance particular relate arrears taxes steam railroads assessments real property among questions topic recent debate halls congress none greater gravity relating ascertainment vote presidential electors intendment constitution provisions devolving executive functions upon president suffers inability discharge powers duties office trust embarrassments may result failure determine questions another national election closing year replete blessings owe giver good reverent acknowledgment uninterrupted harmony foreign relations decay sectional animosities exuberance harvests triumphs mining manufacturing industries prevalence health spread intelligence conservation public credit growth country elements national greatness countless blessings rejoice glad trust inspiration great prosperity counsels may harmonious dictates prudence patriotism justice economy may lead adoption measures congress executive may heartily unite
provide constitution president shall time time give congress information state union recommend consideration measure shall judge necessary expedient review event year elapse since commencement session first call attention gratify condition foreign affair intercourse power continue friendly character slight difference arise year already settle likely reach early adjustment arrest citizen united state ireland recent law owe origin disturb condition country lead somewhat extended correspondence government great britain disposition respect right practically manifest release arrested party claim nation regard supervision control interoceanic canal across american isthmus continue subject conference likely time powerful discussion remove divergence two nation whose friendship closely cemented intimacy relation community interest friendliness russia remain unshaken prompted proffer earnest counsels government measure adopt suppress proscription hebrew race country lately suffer transpired american citizen subject arrest injury courteous remonstrance nevertheless courteously receive reason believe time far distant russia able secure toleration faith within border international convention hold paris 1880 attend representative united state agreement reach respect protection patent article right manufacturing firm corporation formulate treaty recommendation thus adopt receive attention merit protection submarine cable subject consideration international conference paris believe clearly true policy government favor neutralization mean intercourse requested minister france attend convention delegate also designate two eminent scientist attend representative meet international committee paris consider adoption common unit measure electric force view frequent occurrence conference consideration important matter common interest civilize nation respectfully suggest executive invest congress discretionary power send delegate convention provision make defray expense incident thereto difference united state spain effect judgment certificate naturalization yet adjust hop believe negotiation progress result establishment position seem government reasonable already call attention congress fact port spain colony onerous fine lately impose upon vessel unite state trivial technical offense local regulation effort abatement exaction thus far proved unsuccessful regret inform also fee demand spanish consul american port case large compare value cargo amount effect considerable export duty remonstrance regard yet receive attention seem deserve german government invite united state participate international exhibition domestic cattle hold hamburg july 1883 country represent important early day session congress make suitable appropriation purpose death marsh late minister italy evoke government expression profound respect exalt character honorable career diplomatic service country italian government raise question propriety recognize dual capacity representative country recently accredit secretary legation rome receive secretary exequatur thus far withheld extradition convention belgium operation since 1874 lately supplant another senate signify approval ratification duly exchange contract country list extraditable crime add assassination attempt assassination chief state negotiation open switzerland look settlement treaty question whether citizen renounce allegiance become citizen united state without obtain consent swiss government glad inform immigration pauper criminal certain canton switzerland substantially cease longer sanctioned authority consideration subject prompt suggestion act august 3 1882 object return foreign convict country modify open interpretation affect extradition criminal prefer charge crime ottoman porte yet assent interpretation government put upon treaty 1830 relative jurisdictional right turkey may well however difference adjust general revision system jurisdiction united state country east subject attention already call secretary state interest justice toward china japan trust question return indemnity fund government country reach present session satisfactory solution already recommend recently foreshadow congressional discussion treaty lately conclude korea awaits action senate late disturbance egypt timely presence american vessel serve protection person property many citizen citizen country whose government express thanks assistance recent legislation restrict immigration laborer china give rise question whether chinese proceed another country may lawfully pass construe act may 6 1882 connection treaty november 7 1880 restriction would seem limited chinese immigrant come united state laborer would forbid mere transit across territory ask attention congress subject action may deem advisable government recently occasion manifest interest republic liberia seek aid amicable settlement boundary dispute pending republic british possession sierra leone reciprocity treaty hawaii become terminable september 9 1883 twelve month notice either party certain provision compact may prove onerous existence foster commercial relation important preserve suggest therefore early consideration give modification treaty seem demanded interest people view increase trade hayti santo domingo advise provision make diplomatic intercourse latter enlarge scope mission port au prince regret certain claim american citizen government hayti thus far urged unavailingly recent agreement mexico provide cross frontier arm force either country pursuit hostile indian message last year call attention prevalent lawlessness upon border necessity legislation suppression invite attention congress subject partial relief mischief seek convention awaits approval senate also another touch establishment international boundary united state mexico latter ratify action congress require establish suitable commission survey boundary dispute mexico guatemala lead government proffer friendly counsel party amicably settle change occur relation venezuela invoke action matter pending award republic reference make special message executive last session invitation receive government venezuela send representative july 1883 caracas participate centennial celebration birth bolivar founder south american independence connection event design commence erection caracas statue washington conduct industrial exhibition open american product recommend united state represent suitable provision make therefor elevation grade mission central america plenipotentiary rank authorize congress late session since effect war peru bolivia one side chile begin three year ago occupation chile 1880 littoral territory bolivia negotiation peace conduct direction united state ally refuse concede territory chile since become master whole coast country capital peru year since already advise correspondence transmit january last government send special mission belligerent power express hope chile would dispose accept money indemnity expense war relinquish demand portion territory antagonist recommendation chile decline follow government assume enforce enforce without resort measure would keep neither temper people spirit institution power peru long extend whole territory event interference dictate peace would need supplemented army navy united state interference would almost inevitably lead establishment protectorate result utterly odds past policy injurious present interest full embarrassment future effect termination hostility upon term victorious nation generous adversary government spar effort save might involve complication indicate greatly deplore chile seem resolve exact rigorous condition peace indisposed submit arbitration term amicable settlement peace likely last sufficiently equitable command approval nation year since invitation extend nation continent send representative peace congress assemble washington november 1882 time meet fixed period remote hope invitation declare meantime disturbance south american republic would adjust expectation seem unlikely realize ask april last expression opinion two house congress advisability hold propose convention time appoint action prompt part doubt mature reflection suggest whether diplomatic usage tradition government make fitting executive consult representative people pursue line policy somewhat novel character far reach possible consequence view fact action take congress premise provision make necessary expense subsequently decide postpone convocation notify several government invite attend unwilling dismiss subject without assure support measure wisdom congress may devise promotion peace continent throughout world trust time nigh universal assent civilize people international difference shall determine without resort arm benignant process arbitration change occur diplomatic representation several foreign power past year new minister argentine republic brazil chile china france japan mexico netherlands russia present credential mission denmark venezuela capital raise grade switzerland create plenipotentiary mission government embassy madagascar minister siam shortly arrive diplomatic intercourse enlarge establishment relation new kingdom servia creation mission siam restoration mission greece shah persia express gratification charge shortly send country right citizen hitherto courteously guard representative great britain renew recommendation legislation place united state harmony maritime power respect international rule prevention collision sea conformity joint resolution 3d august last direct secretary state address foreign government respect propose conference consider subject universal adoption common prime meridian use reckon longitude regulation time throughout civilized world reply due time laid agreement reach paris 1875 principal power interchange official publication medium respective foreign department admirable system build enterprise smithsonian institution affords practical basis cooperation scheme arrangement effect institution perform necessary labor direction department state reasonable compensation therefor provide law clause act make appropriation diplomatic consular service contemplates reorganization branch service salaried basis leave fee inure benefit treasury cordially favor project likely correct abuse present system secretary state present early day plan reorganization full interesting exhibit operation treasury department afford report secretary appear ordinary revenue source fiscal year end june 30 1882 follow ordinary expenditure period leave surplus revenue amount drawn cash balance treasury make applied redemption foreign commerce unite state last fiscal year include import export merchandise specie follow excess less previous six year appear follow table year organize 171 national bank institution operation large number ever value note active circulation july 1 1882 commend attention secretary view respect likelihood serious contraction circulation mode result may judgment averted respect coinage silver dollar retirement silver certificate see nothing alter much confirm sentiment give expression last year comparison respective amount circulation november 1 1881 november 1 1882 show slight increase million half dollar interval whole number coin increase million one hundred million thus far minted little million circulation mass accumulate coin grown great vault room present available storage scarcely sufficient contain apparent desirable continue coinage enormously excess public demand silver certificate addition ground seem last year justify retirement may mention effect likely ensue supply gold certificate whose issuance congress recently make provision active circulation fail note interest discussion secretary necessity provide legislation mode free treasury excess asset event congress fail reach early agreement reduction taxation heartily approve secretary recommendation immediate extensive reduction annual revenue government remember urge upon attention congress last session importance relieve industry enterprise country pressure unnecessary taxation one tritest maxims political economy tax burdensome however wisely prudently impose though always among people wide difference sentiment best method raise national revenue indeed principle upon taxation base substantial accord doctrine tax ought levy necessary wise economical administration government late public revenue far exceed limit unless checked appropriate legislation excess continue increase year year fiscal year end june 30 1881 surplus revenue amount fiscal year end 30th june last surplus one hundred million report secretary show disposition make money answered requirement sink fund afford large balance applicable reduction public debt renew expression conviction rapid extinguishment national indebtedness take place mean congratulation rather serious apprehension continue must speedily follow one evil result clearly set forth report secretary either surplus must lie idle treasury government force buy market rate bond redeemable circumstance fail command enormous premium swollen revenue devote extravagant expenditure experience teach ever bane overflow treasury make apparent course animate discussion question arouse last session congress policy diminish revenue reduce taxation command general approval member house regret conflict view best method policy make operative none benefit yet reap fulfillment deem constitutional duty little hope make valuable contribution vexed question shall proceed intimate briefly view relation upon show financial condition close last fiscal year felt justified recommend congress abolition internal revenue tax except upon tobacco various form upon distilled spirit ferment liquor except also special tax upon manufacturer dealer article venture suggest unless shall ascertain probable expenditure government come year underestimate internal tax save relate distil spirit prudently abrogate course accompany simplification machinery collection would easy accomplishment might reasonably expect result diminish cost collection least retirement office person system excise duty never commend favor american people never resort except supply deficiency treasury reason special exigency duty import prove inadequate needs government sentiment country doubtless demand present excise tax shall abolish soon course safely pursue seem however various reason sweep measure total abolition internal tax would present unwise step two reason deserve special mention first mean clear even exist system duty import continue without modification duty alone yield sufficient revenue need government estimate required pension come year may well doubt whether maximum annual demand object yet reach uncertainty upon question would alone justify judgment retention present portion system internal revenue least objectionable people second total abolition excise tax would almost inevitably prove serious insurmountable obstacle thorough revision tariff considerable reduction import duty present tariff system many respect unjust make unequal distribution burden benefit fact practically recognize majority house congress passage act create tariff commission report commission place begin session trust afford information condition prospect various commercial agricultural manufacture mining interest country contain suggestion statutory revision practically aid action upon important subject revenue custom fiscal year end june 30 1879 amount three succeed year reach first finally already state income source fiscal year end june 30 1883 doubtless considerably excess sum last mentioned tax domestic spirit retain plain therefore large reduction custom revenue entirely feasible recommend reduction far advise abandonment policy discriminate adjustment detail afford aid protection domestic labor present system revise equalize public burden among class occupation bring close harmony present need industry without enter minute detail present circumstance quite unnecessary recommend enlargement free list include within numerous article yield inconsiderable revenue simplification complex inconsistent schedule duty upon certain manufacture particularly cotton iron steel substantial reduction duty upon article upon sugar molasses silk wool woolen good general revision tariff shall find impracticable session express hope least conspicuous inequality present law may correct final adjournment one specially refer secretary view recent decision supreme court necessity amend law dutch standard color adopt test saccharine strength sugar obvious require comment report secretary war appear outbreaks indian past year occur arizona southwestern part new mexico promptly quell quiet prevailed part country permit addition make military force region endanger apache little reason apprehend trouble future part secretary report relate seacoast defense armament suggest grave reflection exist fortification notoriously inadequate defense great harbor city whose protection build question provide armament suit present necessity subject consideration board whose report transmit congress last session pending consideration report war department take step manufacture conversion heavy cannon secretary express hope authority mean begin important work soon provide invite attention congress propriety make adequate provision arm equip militia afford act 1808 still upon statute book matter already subject discussion senate bill seek supply deficiency exist law upon calendar secretary war call attention embarrassment grow recent act congress make retirement officer army compulsory age 64 act 1878 still force limit 400 number retire disability upon application two act construe together seem forbid relieve even absolute incapacity officer fall within purview later statute save time chance less 40 name retired list 420 likely congress intend result concur secretary law ought amend ground impelled withhold signature bill entitle act make appropriation construction repair preservation certain work river harbor become law near close last session prompt express hope similar measure deem necessary present session congress indeed measure would open serious objection addition lately urge upon attention inform secretary war great portion sum appropriate various item specify act remain unexpended new work authorize expense incur upon two total appropriation present available balance disclose follow table apparent exhibit far concern item act august 2 1882 relates need appropriation close present session however action seem necessary respect particular object entirely feasible provide object appropriate legislation possible example delay assemble next congress make additional provision mississippi river improvement might attend serious consequence appear case bill relate subject would command approval lead offer suggestion trust commend wisdom congress advisable grant considerable sums money diverse independent scheme internal improvement make subject separate distinct legislative enactment scarcely gainsay even favor liberal expenditure purpose seek accomplish commonly call river harbor bill practice group bill appropriation great diversity object widely separate either nature locality concern one much deprecate unless irremediable inevitably tend secure success bill whole though many item separately consider could scarcely fail rejection adoption course recommend every member congress whenever opportunity arise give influence vote meritorious appropriation would enable without call upon sanction others undeserving approval also would executive afforded thereby full opportunity exercise constitutional prerogative oppose whatever appropriation seem objectionable without imperil success others commend judgment may urge opposition suggestion number work internal improvement justly entitle governmental aid great render impracticable separate appropriation bill therefor even comparatively limited number make disposition large sum money objection may well found whether advantage would likely ensue adoption course recommend may perhaps effectually attain another respectfully submit congress alternative proposition provide constitution fourteen state executive may disapprove item item bill appropriate money whereupon part bill approve shall law part disapprove shall fail become law unless repassed accord provision prescribe passage bill veto executive state wherein provision forego part fundamental law alabama california colorado florida georgia louisiana minnesota missouri nebraska new jersey new york pennsylvania texas west virginia commend careful consideration question whether amendment federal constitution particular indicate would afford best remedy often grave embrassment member congress executive sometimes serious public mischief report secretary navy state movement various squadron year home foreign water officer seaman ship possess continue illustrate high character excellent discipline naval organization 21st december 1881 information receive explore steamer jeannette crush abandon arctic ocean officer crew journey ice embark three boat coast siberia one party command chief engineer george melville reach land fall native save another de long land barren region near mouth lena river six week elapse two number die fatigue starvation tidings receive party third boat command lieutenant chipp long fruitless investigation leave little doubt member perish sea slight tribute heroism give communication name gallant men sacrifice life expedition george de long surgeon james ambler jerome collins han halmer erichsen heinrich kaacke george boyd walter lee adolph dressy carl gortz nelse iverson cook ah sam indian alexy officer men miss boat lieutenant charles chipp command william dunbar alfred sweetman waiter sharvell albert kuehne edward star henry warren peter johnson lieutenant giles harber master willliam scheutze bring home remain lieutenant de long comrade pursuance direction congress rodgers fit releif jeannette accordance act congress march 3 1881 sail san francisco june 16 command lieutenant robert berry november 30 accidentally destroyed fire winter quarter lawrence bay officer crew succeeded escape shore lieutenant berry one officer make search jeannette along coast siberia fell chief engineer melville party return home way europe officer crew rodgers bring lawrence bay whale steamer north star master charles putnam place charge depot supply cape serdze return post lawrence bay across ice blinding snow storm carry sea lose notwithstanding effort rescue appear secretary report available naval force united state consist 37 cruiser 14 monitor build rebellion large number smoothbore gun parrott rifle 87 rifled cannon cruise vessel gradually replace iron steel ship monitor modern armor vessel armament rifle gun reconstruction navy recommend last message begin congress authorize recent act construction two large unarmored steel vessel character recommend late naval advisory board subject final approval new advisory board organize provide act call attention recommendation secretary board authority give construct two cruiser small dimension one fleet dispatch vessel appropriation make rifled cannon torpedo service harbor defenses pending consideration congress policy hereafter adopt conduct eight large expensive establishment secretary advocate reduction expenditures therefor low possible amount purpose afford officer seaman navy opportunity exercise discipline profession appropriate control direction secretary advise service coast survey transfer organized treasury navy department also suggest reason assigns similar transfer may wisely make cruise revenue vessel secretary forcibly depict intimate connection interdependence navy commercial marine invite attention continue decadence latter correspond transfer grow commerce foreign bottom subject one utmost importance national welfare method revive american shipbuilding restore united state flag ocean carry trade receive immediate attention congress mechanical skill abundant material manufacture modern iron steamship fair competition commercial rival disadvantage build ship great cost labor sail high tax great interest capital ocean highway already monopolize formidable competitor obstacles way overcome rapid communication foreign land continue depend wholly upon vessel build yard country sail foreign flag united state steamer principal ocean line foreign port facility extend commerce greatly restrict nation build sail ship carry mails passenger obtain thereby conspicuous advantage increase trade report give evidence satisfactory condition department contain many valuable data accompany suggestion fail interest information affords receipt fiscal year exceed expenditure must gratify congress people country matter may fairly claim particular attention refer observation reference advisability change present basis fix salary allowance extend system enlarge function postal establishment put control telegraph system country though last important recommendation must withhold concurrence last session congress several bill introduce house representative reduction letter postage rate 2 cent per half ounce give much study reflection subject thoroughly persuade reduction would best interest public policy government foundation defray far possible expense carry mail direct tax form postage never claim however service ought productive net revenue state already report show considerable surplus department henceforth receipt likely increase much great ratio necessary expenditure unless change make exist law profit postal service year swell revenues government many million dollar time seem auspicious therefore reduction rate postage shall reduction consist review legislation upon subject last thirty year disclose domestic letter constitute class mail matter never favor substantial reduction rate convince burden maintain service fall unequally upon class entitle present relief relief may extend without detriment public interest wilt discover upon review result former reduction immediately prior act 1845 postage upon letter compose single sheet follow act 1845 postage upon single letter convey distance 300 mile fixed 5 cent great distance 10 cent act 1851 provide single letter prepay carry distance exceed mile 3 cent great distance 6 cent noticed reduction radical character relatively quite important propose case ensue temporary loss revenue sudden large influx business substantially repair loss within three year unless experience past legislation country elsewhere go naught may safely predict stimulus 33 per cent reduction tax carriage would increase number letter consign mail advantage secrecy would lead general substitution seal packet postal card open circular diver way volume matter would enormously augmented increase amount england first year adoption penny postage 125 per cent result careful estimate detail set become convinced deficiency first year propose reduction would exceed 7 per cent expenditure deficiency reduction 1845 14 per cent 1851 27 per cent another interesting comparison afford statistic furnish department act 1845 pass face fact exist deficiency 1851 encourage slight surplus excess revenue next fiscal year likely congress approve suggestion may deem desirable supply extent deficiency must time result increase charge carry merchandise 16 cent per pound even without increase confident receipt diminish rate would equal expenditure lapse three four year report department justice bring anew notice necessity enlarge present system federal jurisprudence effectually answer requirement litigation call upon deal renews suggestion predecessor interest justice good provision exist law afford make certain judicial district fix fee witness juror message december last referred pending criminal proceeding grow allege fraud know service department advise enjoin upon associate counsel interest government intrust duty prosecute utmost vigor law person might find chargeable offense trial one case since occur occupy many week attention supreme court district conduct great zeal ability result disagreement jury place upon calendar shortly retry guilty person shall finally escape punishment offense lack diligent earnest effort part prosecution trust agreement may reach speedily enable congress concurrence executive afford commercial community benefit national bankrupt law report secretary interior accompany document present full statement vary operation department respect indian affair nothing occur change seriously modify view devote much space former communication congress renew recommendation therein contain extend indian protection law allot land severalty desire make suitable provision education youth provision secretary forcibly maintain prove unavailing unless broad enough include able willing make use solely relate intellectual training also instruction manual labor simple industrial art make practically available among important subject include within secretary report doubtless furnish occasion congressional action may mention neglect railroad company large grant land make act 1862 1864 take title thereto consequent inequitable exemption local taxation survey material condition fail suggest inquiry moral intellectual progress people census return disclose alarm state illiteracy certain portion country provision school grossly inadequate momentous question decision congress whether immediate substantial aid extend general government supplement effort private beneficence state territorial legislation behalf education regulation interstate commerce already subject deliberation one incident marvelous extension railway system country adoption measure corporation control roads tend impair advantage healthful competition make hurtful discrimination adjustment freightage inequality correct several state appropriate legislation effect necessarily restrict limit territory far mischiefs affect commerce state one state foreign country subject national concern congress alone afford relief result thus far attended enforcement recent statute suppression polygamy territory report secretary interior probable additional legislation regard deem desirable effect exist law shall closely observed studied congratulate commissioner whose supervision law put operation encourage believe evil aim may suppress without resort radical measure quarter think indispensable success close relation general government territory prepare great state may well engage special attention indian disturbance mainly occur polygamy find room growth doubt careful survey territorial legislation would high utility life property would become secure liability outbreak indians white would lessen public domain would securely guard good progress make instruction young alaska still without form civil government mean provide education people protection live property immense resource region would invite permanent settlement open new field industry enterprise report commissioner agriculture present account labor department past year include information much interest general public condition forest country wasteful manner destruction take place give serious apprehension action protect earth surface modify extreme climate regulate sustain flow spring streams well understood importance relation growth prosperity country safely disregard fast disappear destructive fire legitimate requirement increase population total extinction long delay unless good method prevail shall adopt protection cultivation attention congress invite necessity additional legislation secure preservation valuable forest still remain public domain especially extreme western state territory necessity preservation great less mountainous region prevail dryness climate render restoration destroy impossible communication make congress first session december last contain somewhat full statement sentiment relation principle rule ought govern appointment public service refer various plan theretofore subject discussion national legislature plan main model upon system obtain great britain lack certain prominent feature whereby system distinguish felt bound intimate doubt whether would afford adequate remedy evil aim correct declare nevertheless propose measure prove acceptable congress would receive unhesitating support executive since suggestion submit consideration legislation upon subject relate meanwhile increase public interest subject people country apparently without distinction party various way upon frequent occasion give expression earnest wish prompt definite action judgment action longer postpone may add sense press importance quicken observation practical phase matter attention call predecessor civil list comprises person far large part must term constitution select president either directly appointees early year administration government personal direction appointment civil service may irksome task executive burden increase fully hundredfold become great thin ought bear necessarily diverts time attention proper discharge duty less delicate responsible nature thing delegate hand judgment give study reflection matter nation outgrown provision constitution establish fill minor office public service whatever may think wisdom expediency change fundamental law regard certain much relief may afford president head department senator representative congress discreet legislation would protect great measure bill pending senate embody important feature pressure personal importunity labor examine conflict claim pretension candidate trust close present session decisive action may take correction evils inhere present method appointment assure hearty cooperation measure likely conduce end appropriate term tenure official life subordinate employee government seem generally agree whatever extent character one definite stable neither regulated zeal service party fidelity fortune individual matter little people large competent person head department bureau feel assure removal one accession another involve retirement honest faithful subordinate whose duty purely administrative legitimate connection triumph political principle success political party faction latter class officer senate bill already refer exclusively apply neither bill prominent scheme improve civil service concern higher grade official appoint president confirm senate feel bound correct prevalent misapprehension frequency present executive displace incumbent office appoint another stead repeatedly allege particular signally departed course pursue recent administration government fact follow whole number executive appointment four year immediately precede garfield accession presidency number 244 9 per cent involve removal previous incumbent ratio removal whole number appointment much four year first year 790 appointment 74 removal per cent second 917 appointment 85 removal per cent third 480 appointment 48 removal 10 per cent fourth 429 appointment 37 removal per cent four month president garfield administration 390 appointment 89 removal per cent precisely number removal 89 take place fourteen month since elapse constitute per cent whole number appointment within period less entire list official exclusive army navy fill presidential appointment declare approval legislation may find necessary supplement exist provision law relation political assessment july last authorized public announcement employee government regard liberty exercise pleasure make refuse make political contribution action regard would manner affect official status announcement act upon view always maintain still maintain public officer absolutely free citizen give withhold contribution aid political party choice however urge doubtless without foundation fact solicitation official superior modes contribution time obtained person whose motive give fear might befall refuse go without say contribution voluntary judgment collection prohibit law bill effectually suppress receive cordial approval hope however numerous urgent may demand upon attention interest district forget denial resident great right suffrage relation national state municipal action imposes upon congress duty afford best administration wisdom devise report district commissioner indicate certain measure whose adoption would seem desirable 1 instance particular relate arrears tax steam railroad assessment real property among question topic recent debate hall congress none great gravity relate ascertainment vote presidential elector intendment constitution provision devolve executive function upon president suffers inability discharge power duty office trust embarrassment may result failure determine question another national election close year replete blessing owe giver good reverent acknowledgment uninterrupted harmony foreign relation decay sectional animosity exuberance harvest triumph mine manufacturing industry prevalence health spread intelligence conservation public credit growth country elements national greatness countless blessing rejoice glad trust inspiration great prosperity counsel may harmonious dictate prudence patriotism justice economy may lead adoption measure congress executive may heartily unite