gent nod earliest efforts oti the part of tho
prosecution.
A rUTIOJUt, EANKBOTT Ui
I trust t lint mine ngrecmont may bo reached
wlileli Mil speedily enable Congress, with
the concurrence of tho Executive, to offortl
the commercial community tho uenollts of n
nnllonal bankrupt law.
imtkhnu, Arritni.
The report uf tha necretary of tho Inlorlor,
with ttn nec.mi Kinylns documents, present
n full statement of tho varloil operations of
that department. In respect to Indian af
fairs nuihlnif has occurred which lias
changed or seriously modified the viows
to which I dovotod much space iu n former
communication to Oonjjross. I renew tho
recommendations therein contained ns to ex
tending to the Indian the protection of
tho law, nllotina land in foverally to such as
desire it, and making suitable provision for
tho education of youth. Such provision, its
theseciotary forcibly maintains, will prove
unaTnili.ic unless it Is broad enough to in
cludo all those who nro able nnd wlllino to
make me of it, and should not solely rotate
to intellectual training, but also to instruc
tion in Rurli manual labor and simple indus
trial arts ns can bo mada practically nvnil
nblo.
Amnuj other important subjscts whichnre
included within the secretary's report, and
which will doubtless furnish occasion for
congressional action, may bo mentioned tho
ncfilcct of the railroad companies to which
larjie ftranti of land wcro made by the acts
of IMS.' and IWJt to take titlo theroto, and
their coni.i'uent inequltablo exemption from
local taxation.
lIAITEnlOT.
No survey of our material condition can
fail to stireest inquiries as to the moral and
intellectual pnireis of tho people. The
census returns di'closo nn alarming stato of
illiteracy in certain portions of tiio country
whero tho provision for schools is uros'ly in
adequate. It is n momentous question for
tho decision of Congress whether immodlato
nnd substantial aid should not be extended
by tho ceneral government for supplemont
ini: tho effoits of private beneficence and of
stato and territorial legislation in bclmlf of
education.
INTEn-STATE coirunr.cn.
The question of inter-Stato commerco has
Already breu tho subject of your deliber
ations. Ono of the incidents of the uiarvcl
ouh extension of tho railway system of tho
country linslnentlio adoption of such moas
utcs by the corporations which own or con
trol tho roads ns has tended to impair
the advantages of healthful competl
lion, and to mako hurtful discriminations iu
tho adjustment of freightnero. Theso
inequalities have been corrected in several
of the States by appropriate legislation, tho
effect of whicli is necessarily restricted to
the limits of their own territory. So far ns
Fuch mischiefs arTect commeice between tlio
States, or between any ono of tho States nnd
n foroign country, they are subjects of na
tional concern, and Congress nlono can nf
ford relief.
rOLIOAMY.
Tho results which hnvo thus far attended
the enforcement of tho prosont statuto
for tho suppression of polygamy in tho
Territories nro reported by the secretary
of the interior. It is not probablo that
any additional legislation in this regard will
bo deemed desirable until tho eifect of
exiptinir laws shnll bo more clofcly observed
and Btudied. I congratulate yon that tho
commissioners under whom supervision tlioso
laws lmve been put in operation are encour
aged to beliovo that tho ovil nt which they
are aimed may bo suppressed without resort
to such radical measures ns In somo quarters
laveboen thought indispensable for success.
THE TEBKITOBIUS.
Tho closo relation of tho general govern
ment to tho Territories preparing to bo
great states may well engage your special
attention. It is thero that tho Indian dis
turbances mainly occur and that polygamy
lias found room for its growth. i I cannot
doubt that a carofal survey of territorial leg
islation would be of tho highest utility. Life,
nnd proiierty would becomo moio pocuro ;
tho liability of outbreaks betwoon Indians
and whites would bo losscned ; the publio
domain would be more securely guardod, and
better progress bo inado in the instruction of
tho young.
AUuskn is still without any form of civil
government. If means were provided for
tho education of its people nnd for tho pro
tection of their lives and property, tho
immense resources of tho region would invito
pormanout settlements nnd open now lields
for industry and enterprise.
AontcmyraiUL.
The report of the commissioner of agricul
ture presents nn nceount of tho labors of
that department during the past year, and
includes information of much interest to
tho goueral public. The condition of tho
forests of tho country, and tho waste
ful manner in which their destruc
tion is tnking place, gio cause for
serious apprehension. Their notion in pro
tecting the earth's sorface, in modifying tho
extiemes of climate, and in legulatiug and
sustaining tho flow of springs and streams,
is now well understood, and their im
portance iu relation to tho growth and pros
perity of tho country cannot bo safely
disregarded. They are fast disappearing
"wwtu Mwuiitinumw aim uiu luiiiuiuiu re
quirements ot our increasing
noim ation and
K 52 I
i?,rni.i.Mii I
tnoir total extinction cannot bo
unless hotter met hod than now provail shall bo
auopteu lor ttielr protection and cultivation.
The attention of Congress is invited to tho
necessity of additional legislation to securo
tho preservation of tho valuablo forests still
remaining on tho public domains, specially
iu tho extreme Western States and Ter
ritories, whero the necessity for their
preservation is greater than in loss moun
tainous regions, and whero tho prevailing
dryness of tho climate renders
their restoration, if they aro onco de
stroyed, well ulgh impossible.
T1IB CIVII, KEUVICE.
The communication which 1 mado to Con
gress nt its iirst session in Doeember last con
tained a Fomewhat full statement of my sou-tl-.nents
in relation to tho principles nnd
rules whicli ought to govern appointments to
public service. Iteferring to tho various
plans whicli had therctoforo been the ui
ject of discussion in tho national legisj.
ture. plans wldch iu tho main were
modelod upon the system which obtains in
Great Hritaiu, but which lacked certain of
tho prominent features whcieby that sjstcm
i umuuKuiMieu, i icit uouim 111 intimate my
doubts whether they, or any of them, would j
afford ntUtnsnta remedy for the evils which
win milieu 10 correct, i. neciareu, uovertlio
less, that if tho proposed measures should
prove acceptable to Congress, they would
receive tho unhesitating support of tho
Executive. Piuco theso suggestions were
submitted fur your consideration there lias
been no lobulation upon the subjoct tg which
they relate; but there has meanwhile beon
anincrcaso iu tho public interest in that
subject, nnd tho people of tho country, lip-
parontly without distinction of party, liavo
!!irnnrTnr
given expressions to their onrutst wish for
prompt mid definite action. In my jud-'inent
such action should no longer be po(tioned.
I may add that my own sense ot its
pressing importance has been quickened by
observation of a practical phase of tho mat -
tcr, to which attention has more Hum onoo
own appointees. In tha
early years
ui uiu uuuuuisiraiiou or tlio govern-
incut tho perronnl direction of nm,, I
menla Ut the civil-service mny not have- been
timo and attention from the proper dischurgo
of othor duties no less delicate nnd respond.
mv, miu wnieu m mo very iiatnro or tilings
amnot bo delegated to other hands.
In the judgment of not n few who havo
given study and reflection to this runttor, tho
nation has outgrown tho provisions which
tho Oonstuition has established forflllhi"
tho minor offices in tho public service. Hut
whatever may be thought of tho wisdom or
een canon uy my preuecessors. The civil show only 'J,0W loot; Urton, In lbbV.
ihlTarir reduced to 0 250 feet, and
terms of the Constitution, be .selected I by ,1, ! llullSS aml Stl1'"'1 ilS('ert"Incl. lato
President, either directly or through his ' as 1870, that it hail actually shrunk to
ui ukmiiuu iasK in mo ii-.xecumo; but, now i marKutiio lact npnearrf: lrom ilellnlto
that . tho burden has increased fully n hun- iletcrmln.-.tlons that its enter 1ms
drcdfold, it has become greater thnn he i V i , , , , , V.ns
ouirbt to bear, and it nneesriiv .uL.J. i E sunk not less than 425 feet dur nir tho
expediency of changing the fundamental
law in this retard, It is certain that much
relief may bo afforded, not only to tho
lVosldent and io tho beach of the depart
ments, but to Senators nnd Representatives
in Congress bv discrcot legislation. They
would be protected in a great measure by
tho bill now pending bofoio the Souate, or
by any othor which should embody its im
portant features, from tho pressure of per
sonal importunity nnd from tho labor of ex
amining conflicting claims and pretensions
of candidates. I trust that beforo the closo
of the proent session soma decisive notion
maybe taken for the correction of the evils
which inhero in tho prosont methods
of nppointment, anil I nssuro you
of my hearty co-opcraliou in any
measures whicli nro likely to couduco to
that end. As for the most appropriate terms
and tenure of tho oHlcinl Ufo of tho subordi
nate employes of the government, it seems
to bo genornlly agrooil that, whatever tholr
oxteut or character, tho ono should bo defi
nite ami tho other stabto, nnd that neither
should be rcguLited by zeal in the service of
party or fidelity to tho fortunes of nn ItrJl
vidual. It matters little to tho people at
large what compotont person is at tho
head of this department or of that
bureau if they feel assured that
tho removal of ono nnd tho accession of
nuothor will not involvo the retirement of
honest and faithful subordinates whoso
duties aro purely administrative nnd hive no
legitimate connection with tho triumphs of
any political principles or the succosi of any
political party or faction. It is to this latter
class of officer that tho Senato bill to which
I have Already referred exclusively applies.
While neither that bill nor nny other
prominent schema for improving tho
civil service concerns tho higher grado
of officials, who nro appointed by
tho President nnd confirmed by tho
Senate, 1 feel hatind to correct a prevalent
misapprehension ns to tho frequency with
which tho present Executive lias displaced
tho incumbent of an ollleo nnd appointed
another in his stead. It has been repeatedly
alleged that he has in this particular signally
departed from tho course which has been
pursued under recent administrations of tho
government. Tho facts nro ns follows i Tho
whole number of Executive appointments
during tlio four J ears immediately preceding
Mr. Garfield's accession to the presidency was
2,W0. Of this number 2(1, or nine per cent.,
involved tho romoval of previous incum
bents. The ratio of removals to the whole
number of appointments was much thosamo
during each of those four yoars. In tho first
eur, with 700 appointments, there wcro
sovonty-four removal', or !).!! per coat. ; in
the second, with '.117 appointments, thero were
eijihty-fivo removals, or H.fi per oent. Ontho
third, with 4S0 appointments thero were
forty-oight removals, or ton per cent. ; on
tho fourth, with 43!) appointments thero wero
thirty-soven removals, or 8.0 par cent.
Iu tho four months of l'rosldent Gar
field's administration there wero !X,0 apyolnt
mcuts nnd eighty-nine removals, or "-.7
por cent. Precisely tho same number of re
movnls (olghty-niue) has taken place iu tho
fourteen months which have since olapsid;
but they constitute only 7-3 per cent, of tho
whole number of appointments (11-8) within
that period and loss than l!-6 per cent, of tho
entiro list of officials (3,4K)) exclusive of tho
nrmy nnd navy, which aru filled by presiden
tial appointments.
rOLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
1 declare my approval of such legislation
ns may be found necessary for supplement
ing the existing provisions of law in relation
to political assessments. In July Inst I au
thorized n pnblio announcement that em
ployes of tho government should regard
themselves ut liberty to oxcrciso their pleas
ure in making or refusing to mnko politi
cal contributions, nnd that their action
in that regard would iu no manner
nlTect their official status. In this announce
ment I noted upon the view which I had al
ways maintained, nnd still maintain, that n
public officer should bo as absolutely free as
nny other citizen to give or to withhold a
contribution for tho aid of tho political party
of his choice. It has, however, been urged, nnd
doubtless not without foundation in fnct,
that by solicitation of suiK-riors and by
other modes, such contributions have nt times
been obtained from persons whoso only
motive for giving has been the fear of what
might befall them if they refused. It goes
without saying that such contributions nro
not voluntary, and in my judgment the col
lection should bo prohibited by law. A bill
which will effectually suppress thorn will ro
coive my cordial approval.
niSTKIOT AFFAIRS.
I horo that however numerous nnd urgent
may bo the demands upon your attention,
tho interests of this district will not bo for
gotten. Tho denial of its residents tho great
right of sullrago in nil its relation to national,
Stato nnd municipal nction imposes on Con
gress tho duty of affording them tho bestnd
ministr.ition whicli its wisdom can devise.
Tho roport of tho District commissioners in
dicates certain measures whose adoption
would seem to bo very doiirable. I instance
in particular those which relate to arrears of
taxes, to steam railroads, and to assessments
of real proporty.
Tim lT.hSIDENTUIi VOTE.
Among tho questions which have beon tho
tonic of recent dobato in tho halls of Con-
f-'r,03s, "no nr0 of K"ator gravity than those
relating to tho ascertainment of the voto for
Presidential electors and the amondmcntof
tho constitution in its provisions for devolv
ing Execnr.vo functions upon tho Vice
President wnon tho Preaidennt suffers from
inability to dlschargo tho powers nnd duties
of his ollleo. I trust that no embarrassment
may rosnlt from a failure to dolerinino
these questions beforo another national elec
tion. n moNAt, ni.ussrNas.
Tho closing year has beon repleto with
bles'ings, for which wo owo to tho Giver of
all Good our reverent acknowledgment. For
tho uninterrupted harmony of our foreign
rotations j for tho decay of sectional animos
ities j for tho exuberance of our harvests
and tho triumphs of our mining and
manufacturing industries; for tho prov
nlenco of health, tlio spread of
intelligence nnd the conservation of
tho publio credit, for the growth of the coun
try in nil olomonts of national greatness
for these- nnd comities othor blessings wo
should rejoice and be glad. I trust that,
under tho inspiration of this great prosperity,
our councils inny be harmonious, nnd thai
tho dictntos of prudence, patriotism, justico
nnd economy may lead to tho adoption of
measures in which tlio Congress and tho
Executive may heartily unite.
CiiEsrna A. Abthdh.
M ashington, Dceomber 4, 18S2.
Mountains Diminishing
A foreign journal presents a singu
lar statement in regard to diminished
mutinies tlio Antics, it appears, .iltow-
j ing a senslblo decline. According to
tills statement Quito was found by Lit
n.,.i.,,i.. i7ir ... ,, artu'r l
Lndumlne, 111 lil.i, to bo 9,500 feet
! alio vo tlio sea; llllinlioldt, in 180o,
could only mnko 9,750 feet of It, or
j t,vr.ntv k!y less- lt,nilnm,nH In isti
1 twcm-hX Rf Ijoiiss ng.llllt, in 1HJ1,
Ww surprised to llnd the measurement
i),rti feet. Quito, It !,cems, had shrunk
tup i i.ir i nt i t t
lect in 125 years, anil 1'ichlneha
I -18 lett 111 tll SillllO period. Tho ri!'
last twtnty.six. years, ami Antisina 105
leet iu sixty-lour years.
Hawaiian coins to tho nmount of
200,000, and corresponding in valuo
ami Denomination with our silver coin
nge, aro to bo bt'ruek at tho San Fran-
Cisco mint.
Tlio Trc.nurT Department.
We publish below the moro important
parM of Secretary Folder's annual reno-tt
The receipt from all sourci'S for the 'Uril I
jenr ended Juno i!0, 1182, wero $(0 ),r!.i,.
of which $22t,(li),7:).L"i Worn de-!
riven lrom cus'oins. ant $liu,t:i7,
(O'M from Internal revenue. The
ordinary expenditures for the
same period Wero $:.,:7,!l,tfi0.i"7,
and the amount applied to redemption of the
publio debt 10t!,!iHl,n0,,..o.-i. Of this Utter
nmount f 20, 7.17,0!) (.84 was drawn from tho
cah balance in tho treasury. Tho amount
paid for interest otlhe publio debt (Includod
in tho ordinary oxpcndflures) was $71,07?,
20G.71). Tho net increnso in the rovenne for
the year was. ?42,742,!);7.J1, and tho net de
crease iu expenditures !2,7;il,4tS.02. Tho
net reduction of the interest charge on tho
public debt for tho year has been ii,4!'J,fill.
HTANDAHD SILVER POLL IRS AND EILVlta L'Ell
TIFIOATE1. There had been coined on No
vember 1, 1882, under tha net
of February 28, 1873, of stan
dard silver dollars $128,n23,8S0
Thero wero iu tho treasury
at that date 02,!)lri,(M
And in circulation fJ3o,38;i,7S(l
Thero wero in circulation No
vember 1, 1881, about nt.000,000
Increase SI,!K1,78G
Thusupply of silver dollars in tlio aggre
gate, nnd furnished yearly, is much more
thnn tho demand.
Tho socrstary repeats his recommendation
of lust year, that tlio provision for tho coin
n go of u fixed amount of standard filter dol
lars each month bo repoaled and the depntt
meut authorized to cein only so much as will
be necessary to supply tho demand.
The recommendation is renewed for tho
repoal of the net requiring tho issuo ef silver
certificates, and for n law authorizing meas
ures for their early retirement from circula
tion. NATIONAL HANKS,
Tho national banks hold $220,003,000 of
United States bonds which are payable nt the
plcasuro of tho government. This i3 moro
than ono-half of tho whole amount outstand
ing of this class of bonds. If tho publio
debt is to be paid ns rapidly ns it has beon of
late, it is likely that all of theso bonds
will be paid during the next thrcs years.
Whenever thoy nro called for payment
tho banks holding them, to keep up the cir
culation of their notes, must either deposit
lawful money in tho treasury amounting in
the nggrognte to nt least !J200,000,000, or pur
chase nnd deposit theso other United States
bonds. The choapest of those bonds aro at
a high premium in the market.
The comptroller gives statisticics of tho
taxation of the national banks, and ngaiu
recommends a repeal of tho tax upon capi
tal nnd deposits, in wldch recommendation
tho secretary concurs. The capital invested
in national bankn is $(G2,!!41,(j01. Tho taxes
assessed upon them by tho United States
and tlio States for the year 18S1 wero 517,
16U,00, being nt tho rato of three and soven
teuths por cent. Tho nmount assessed by
the United Stntos is nearly one-half of tho
whole. A repeal of the laws providing for
it would still leave ihoso banks liable to nn
assessment by tho States of over eight mil
lions of dollars pur annum.
The interest-bearing funded debt of tho
United States was, on November 1, S1.41H,.
ObO,200. Tho total amount of bonds held by
tho national banks, stato banks and savings
banks nt the nearest corresponding date that
could bo ascertained was $U.V.),U88,82(i,- which
amount is not greatly les.i than one-half of
ho whole interest-bearing do bt.
REDUCTION OF TAXATION.
Speaking of suggestions made of modes
of freeing tho treasury from tho excess of
assets, Secretary Folger says : "Tho radical
cure for the ovil, is iu tho reduction of tax
ation, fo mat no more willDotalcen Iromtlio
peoplo than enough to carry on tho govern
ment witn economy; to meet nil its obliga
tions that must bo met from year to year; to
pay oil with reasonable celerity tho part of
tho dobt which it may pay at ploasure, and
to provido through tho sinking fund for tho
payment of that which will become pnyablo
by and by. The evil comes from the likeli
hood of the government holding from time
to timo n largo surplus to lie pourcu out in
voluino at uncertain and unforeseen
times, nnd nt times often moppor
tuno for tho business of tho country. There
could not bo that surplus, surely not so great
none, if tho subjects of taxation wero les
sened nnd tho rates mado smaller upon theso
retained.
In connection herewith should bo borno in
mind tho increasing expenditure for pen
sions as likely to atlcct in somo degree tho
increase of surplus.
PAYMENTS TOR TENSIONS.
Tho commissioner of pensions has fur
nished to this department nn estimate based
upon tacts on ins record wiucli gives tlieso
flgnres:
Number of claims filed to Juno CO,
1882 817,722
Number admitted 472,77G
Numboron rejected files.. 7!,2M
Number pending 2,(78
017,722
Of the numbor pendiuff, 1D7.G2.'! nro en
titled to " arrears," and tho first payment iu
tho same, compiled from dischurgo or death
to dato, would not fall below 200,000,000.
The remaining 72.0..1) were tiled rubsequcnt
to Juno 'M, 1880, and pension, when allowed,
w ould commence from dato of filing.
.hast year lio estimated mat tlio average
valno on tlio 1st duvof January. 18S4. of each
claim allowed out of tho class iu which nro
the 1U7,u23 ubove, would bo $I,!i.i0, ami bo
then reoltonod that about fire-sixths of that
class would bo found valid claims, and
would bo allowed.
INTERNAL REVENUE.
Upon tho stit ject of internal revenue tho
secretary says: I respectfully refer tot my
last report for my views upon this subject.
They hnve not materially changed. Now, as
then, it is recommended to retain n tax on
spirits, tobacco mid fermented liquors, ns
legitimate subjects of needful taxation.
Propositions hnvo recently been uiude to
abolish tho whole system of internal revenue,
but neither public sentiment nor political
nction indicates n doslto on the part of tnx
pajing citizens to strike out (his class of
taxes. All tho other subjects of internal
revenue, may bf released from taxation, un
less bank circulation bo retained. It is n
franchise, n privilego to furnish that, and it
is of profit to the banks and ot expense to
the government, nnd hence is n preferable
subject of taxation.
Tlio whole amount ot internal
revenue for tho year ended
Juno a), 1882, besides tlioso
from spirits, fermented li
quors nnd tobacco, is $in,073,0M 21
The tax on circulation and do
posits of national banks for
tho sumo period i j 8,950,7!) I CG
Making 22,o;U),7) 87
Deduct this amount from our surplus
rovenno, and wo havo still a surplus of about
!)8,000,000.
To complelo an effectual reduction of
taxation, it must be made on tome principal
source of revenue, and suchnn one is tho
duties on imports collected under the tarilf
laws, and nil additional obvlmis method ot
avoiding a surplus iu the treasury is u reduc
tion of the revenues from tliO'C,
THE TAIIU'E.
The rovonnes from customs for tho cur
rent yoar nro estimated at $2.i.",OOJ,000, and
under oxisling laws, and without u disturb,
ing cause now unforseen, wo may expect
that they will not diuiiuisli iu future lears.
It f-oems, therefore, that n reduction should
be made in tho lovenuo from tlio custoniB.
Tho wholo nmount of revenue from cus.
toms for the fiscal year ended Juno !K), 1882,
lias already been stated at something more
than 220,000,000. Tlio classes of nior
rlmmlisn imvhiL' the Inmost nmount of duties
from customs nro the following, iu tho order
named s Sugar and molasses, wool nnd
lrmmifucturcs from it. iron mid fteel, mid
tho manufactures from them, maniifac
turca of silk, inanuraciures ot coiton,
umounting to nuout ono liunuro.1 mm tinny
seven uud a halt millions. A substantial re
dnctlontipon each of tlio olass of nrliclos
named is rccom nB'ido.l. And it Is behoved
flint tho time liv arrived when it reduction of
dutius on nen )-all iirtioloi in oir luriit is
d" nandod ir.' I is feis.ble. I,i addltio i to
thi'. n en e'ul revision of ihrtiiritl should bo
made wil'a n view io placing up. m the free
ji.-1 tunny nittcios now pa) ing n uuty.
The Iitt?riuil Itovcmte It. 'port.
Tho ropottof (1. 11, It mm, comuiissbnor
of internal revenue, stales that llu internal
revenuo receipts, slues 187!), have increased
year by year fclO.OYM.OJO to !J 12,000.000. In
187!) the receipts wcro Sllil.OUU.WX), ill 1831
they wcro SI.fi,220,O'X), nnd in tho fiscnl yeir
hint ended thoy wero SM'i.fiOO.OOO. Tho
receipts for tho currout fiscal year will prob
ably fall below last year's total, but nr
likely to reach $ I !.,) X),o:0, if tho present
taxes nro retained. The commissioner calls
attention to the uinxini that no moro revonuo
should bo raised thnn is neoded to support
tlio government economically, nnd to gradu
ally redtico it' debt, and nlso to tho fact Hint
at tho present rate of paying tlio dobt all
bonds subject to call will bo paid within thrco
jenrs, after which, in order to disposo of its
surplus revenue, the government will havo to
buy four nud one-half nnd four per cent.
bond3 in tha open inn 'ket, which would prob- j
nbly ndvanco their price twenty-five to thirty !
percent., to pay which would be n waste of
tho people's monoy. Tho debt should bo
extinguished only nt n rato to meet tho re
quirements of the sinking fund, viz., nbotit
!jr-,(X)0,(l00 per niinuin. A 1 eduction ot $00,.
000,uXKto $70,000,01)0 in our animal revenues
is urgently callel for. IIo ofiers tho follow
ing suggestions s
"In remitting taxation tho relief should fall
ns far ns pos-iblo upon nocescariei of life.
The great bulk of internal taxation is do
rived from liquors and tobacco. Tho.'-o nro
nrticlos of luxury, nnd the doalcrs therein
aro proper subjects for luxation. Public
opinion soems to bo strongly in favor of tho
retention of these taxes. The otlnr objocw
ot internnl taxation, with the amounts re
alized in the past yoar, are: Friction inatchos,
.;.'I,272,2.".S; patent medicines, otc, $1,078,
W.m; bank checks, 2,1118, 155. 11; hauls de
posits, $4,007,701,113: savings bank deposits,
!J8S,4(I0.47; hank capital. $l,l:U,M0.8f ; sav
ings bank capitnl, &U,72!).!I3; total, $12,
7M,fi21.40. Add to this the taxes collected by
the treasurer of the United .States from na
tional banks, and there h n total derived
from those sourcos of $18,743,22.'t.77. These
laxo3 should be repoaled. Tho tax on savings
bank deposits is n tax on thrift. Tho tax on
patent medicines, etc., is vexatious, being
levied upon innumerable articles. The taxes
on bank capital, deposits and checks nro not
needed for revenue. Tho ropoal of tlieso taxes
would greatly simplify tho internal revenuo
system."
Mr. Itaum ndvifos n reduction of forty per
cent, in the special taxei paid by dealers ;
nlso n reduction of !1 per thousuid on
cigars. All tha repealed taxes and redactions
recommended above, if carried into cfl'ect,
would reduce tho internal revenue taxes $23,
502,123. IIo thinks it desirable to consider
tho practicability of taking tho duty off
sugar, which now yields n revenuo of $15,
OUO.0O0 pornnnum.
Frnuds in the manufacture nnd ealo of
whisky nnd tobacco have become tho excop
tion rather than the rule, nud taxes nro col
lected with but little litigation. Tho grant
ing of pensions to persons disabled wlulo en
forcing tho revenuo laws, or to their families
if killed, is recommended. Thirty-one
officers havo been killed nnd sixty-four
wounded in the illicit whisky troubloi.
During tlio year 50!) stills v,ero seized, 1,171
persons arrested and four killed.
Tho estimated expenses for tho fiscnl year
ending Juno !J0, 1881, nro: Collectors,
$2,100,000 ; revenuo agents, gangers, etc.,
$2,!SO0,O00; dies, stamps, etc., $500,000: detec
tion of fraud, $75,000 ; salaries iu ollleo of
commissioner, $2'J'.1S0. Total, $5,271,100.
A Christian Chinese Wedding.
Mrs. J. U. llatcer, a missionary at
Tungchow, China, has written to
friends in tho United States :
"A fortnight ago 1 went a day's
journey into tho country to attend a
wedding. The hrido graduated a year
ago in the girl's school. The bride
groom was several years a pupil of
ours. IIo left school a littlo beforo
tho end of his courso becauso ho could
not get on with his mathematics. IIo
is a good writer and speaker, anil an
earnest, aetivo Christian. IIo has been
engaged a year its an evangelist, anil
litis tlono good service so far. Accord
ing to Chinese custom tho wedding
ceicmony takes place tit tho bride
groom's house. Ho invites tho brjde
malds, who are lis relatives, and al
ways married women. Tlio brido
chooses the groomsmen, who aro
always her near relatives, and may bu
of any ago from ten to eighty. They
escort her from her homo to iter hus
band's, then wait upon him through all
tho ceremony. Tho bridemaids meet
tlio bride on her arrival, escort her
lrom her chair through all tlio cere
monies and into tho bridal chamber,
anil seat her on tho bed, and then, with
the assistance, of tho bridcgooin, remove
her veil. This was tho llrst Christian
wedding in alltltat region. The homes
woro seven or eight miles aj.art. Tho
young man should have guno to her
homo In a red-curtained srdan chair,
followed by another similar ono in
wjilch to bring homo his bride, but
being a poor man ho hired a mule litter
lor her. An he could not allord two.
and it would bo a breach of propriety
to ride with her, and not the tltiug to
walk on that occasion, ho staid at homo
and sent his cousin, who could very
properly wiuk. At aayureau tlio litter
started, anil after breakfmt the bride
was put into it and all tho curtains
closely drawn, am' the bridal party
started. They were expected by noon.
The dinner was ready and tho bride
groom was dressed, ami the two ciders
who wero to perform the ceremony
wero robed In their long whitB gowns
anil everything was ready. Hut it rained.
Wo had heavy showersduring tho night
and two during the forenoon, and thero
wernseveralstreams to cross, ono ipille
largo one, and all bridgeless. Eight men
wero sent to help tho pafty over tho
last anil longest one. Xoo'n past, anil
tho sun sank behind tho western hills,
and no brldo came. From timo to
timo a messenger camo in, but tho
message always was, 'Thero is no
shadow.' At 8 v, it. it was announced,
'Tho brido has come.' Wo all took our
places In tho room adjoining tho bridal
chamber. Tho bridegroom should havo
been calmly fanning himself and look
ing serenely through his chamber irto
distant vacancy awaiting his brido; but
being an excitable young man, and,
withal, much in love, ho forgot his fan,
and had to apply his handkerchief to
tho streaming perspiration. No could
not cover witlt it, his frequent and anx
lous glances over his shoulder into tlio
open court. Presently a report came,
'The litter has fallen into tho river and
tho brldo Is wi t totho noso,' and then
another, 'Sho Is coming from tho river
on foot,' but almost immediately shu ap
peared lad by her two britlemaltls.
Plainly iv serious accident had befall
en 1it. Tiio ceremony pas'i'd off beau
tifully. We sang tlio marring') hymn;
tlio ciiitpln wcro pwn mured husband
mid wife, ifvl we closed with tip) long
muter tloxology,"
Til Larded Ui lilie.
Tho San Francisco I'oU solemnly
asserts that tho hero of tho following
story was Governor Dutler, vf .Massa
chusetts. Humorists, however, are
fond of introducing Into their effusions
tlio names of noted men ; hut as the
story will stand on Its own merits
without artificial aid wo givo It. Says
thoo; '
It appears that young l'.utlcr was
4i)uch enamored of a pretty girl who
lived on a farm about six miles from
that of the. 1 Jitthir family in tho western
part of Massachusetts. Tho country
beauty was a coquette, however, and
kept quite a large train of admirers in
suspense, each rival doing his best to
gain tho advantage of tho others! At
last matters weru brought to a climax,
mil tho damsel iappolnt,,(l a certain
night when sho would render her II mil
decision as to which suitor she preferred.
It goes without saying that they
were till better-looking than Hen, but
the lattcMletermitiPil to put tlio inside,
of his head against tho outsldo of
those of his opponents. Tlio nearest
way to tho fair lllrt's home, and tho
ono taken by all her easer iollowers,
was over a bridgo formed by a singlo
nnd somewhat slippery log placed
across a deep brook in tho rear of tho
house. Young Ilutler repaired to tills
bridge an hour earlier than tho ac
customed " courtln' time," carrying a
pall of lard with which ho carefully
annointetl tlio log by the mellow moon
light, backing himself across it as
traddle.
As ho afterward sat with his sweet
heart, waiting for tho other suitors to
appear, a loud splash camo from the
direction of tho brook. Hen's eye
twinkled, and in imagination ho could
sco ono of his gorgeously gotten-up
fellow candidates climbing up tho op
posite bank with Ills teeth chattering
anil heading for homo across lots ; but
tho conspirator looked as innocent as
a cat in tlio dairy and said nothing.
Pretty soon thero came another
souse, and after awhile another. The
beauty began to look at tlio clock and
show cvidencos of decided piqito at
tho negligence of her other admirers
a circuinstanco lien did not fail to turn
to his own profit. "
1'rcsently ho could faintly hear
voices in tho distance, and ho know
that tho last two swains wero approach
ing together, Pretty soon enmo a tre
mendous double splash.
"Dear me," said the young lady,
" how the fish arc jumping to-night I"
Tho upshot of it was that when the
future governor roso to go the
slighted beauty gave him her hand.
Sealing tho bargain with an old
fashioned husking-bee kiss, Hutler left
his prize in such a stato of exultation
that ho forgot all about the greased
log, and tho llrst thing ho knew both
heels hit him in th'i back of his head
and ho took a header down below, just
as his victims had done. IIo climbed
up tho already well-clawed bank and
made six miles to home, uttering Kear
neyisms unlit for publication. IIo was
taken with chills ami fever as a result,
imd when ho got well, found his
fiancee had eloped with a hired man.
liutler tells this as tho narrowest
escape- of his life, as he says the girl
began eating onions tlio very next day
after sho became engaged.
Six t Kicking JIiilcs.
A Standard reporter has heard tho
following from tlio lips of a well
known citizen: While In Guatemala
recently I was traveling front Fsqulntla
to tho capital city over ono of tho most
rugged and villainous roads to bo found
probably tho wlilo world over. On
nearing'the Summit of a wldo rango of
hills, where a turn of tlio road revealed
an immense ravino or chasm somo five
hundred feet deep, I overtook a lexi
cal! riding a mule, with a string of live
moro attached to tho leader. Tlio cus
tom of leading mules in that country Is
as follows; Their tails are tied in knots,
with a hunch of grass or cornstalk
leaves fastened to each as a bait. A
strip of cowhide is firmly tied from tho
tall ot tho leading mulo around tho
neck of tho ono following, and so on
to tho last. Tlio rider mounts tho
leader and urges him on by a vigorous
application of whip ami spur, tlio
batted tails enticing tlio rest to follow.
Tho leading mulo stumbling over it
boulder, the rider commenced to yell,
whip and spur. This unlooked-for in
dignity made tho mule lush out, reach
ing the head of Xn. t! with a t"rrillc
whack. Iloarouspd and insultid, did
llkowlse, with like result to Xo. !), who
followed suit on to Xo. Ditto from
4 to 5 and .1 to 0, who, being last, had
to kick at vacancy. Hero thero wero
six mules till kicking behind, as mules
never kicked before. Tlio Mexican
swore, spurred and whipped to ids ut
most. It was soon evident they wero
hacking down tho hill with tlio sheer
force of kicking. It was tho most
ludicrous sight 1 over saw. 1 expected
every moment something would givo
way, but rider, mules, tails anil cow
hide held togctlnr.
At last tlio edgo of tho precipice
was reaciieit by tiio limn mule, aviio
tumbled over, dragging tho next after
him still kicking. IIo pulled tlio ono
preceding over, still kicking, and soon
until tho first was reached all kick
ing. Looking down tho ravine,! could
dimly discern thonnissof mulanity all
in a 1 1 cup, still kicking, and, for aught
I know, aro still kicking thero to this
day, as a Gnutcmala mulo nover tires
of kicking. Portland (Oreyon)
Standard.
Tliero aro said to bo 800 professional
gunners residing at JIavro-do-Grace,
.Mil., who mako a comfortable living
by shooting red-head and canvasback
UUCKS.
KIUIII) ON THE STAflE.
HtiorlibiK Ocriirrenrr ItrTnrr nn Auitlrnce lot
n C'liicl ii null 1 licnll e.
Th play of "Hi Slocum" ended with r
real tragedy lit tho end of tho fourth net
nt the mnliiioo in tho Coliseum Thcnlro,
Cincinnati, on Thanksgiving Day. Frank
Fniyiie's comp.my was playing, with
Frayno ns "Si Slocum," nnd Miss Annio
Von llahro.i ns "Mm. Ltioy Slooum." It.
being Thanksgiving D.iy, tlio pooplo ami
tho performers wore in a goal liuinormul
in apparently full nympiilhy with each
other. Tho luulionco appeared to bo de
lighted nnd npplniuled generously, ntul
tho performers wero Btimufntcd to tho
top of their bent. Everything wont off
brilliantly till tiio end of tho fourth net,
when tlio villitiu Miirkham, who has cap
tured Si Sloeiun, says, ''I'll havo you
shoot tho iippli oirymir wlfu's lioad, nuil
vtith the backward Miot."
Miss Von Ucliren, who had been per
forming in that role siuco (ho death of
Frank Frnyno's own wit, soiim two
years ngo, was tnking tho clinrncter of
Lucy. Sho stopped lightly to her post,
where she stood with tho nppl cm her
liend, looking tho very porsonillcntioii of
wifijy trustfulness mid confidence. Si
Slocum adjusted his mirror slowly. Tho
nife was thirty feot nwny. His nim wna
deliberate nnil slow nud ho was nover
moro steady (if nerve. Dang I went tho
rillc. Tho apple didn't full, but tho girl
dropped full length backward with a
dull, heavy thud on tho iloor mid tho
npplo rolled nwny toward tho footlights.
Her faco was partly hidden Ixihind n
wing of tho scones. With tho Hash of
his rifle Frayno himself sprang ns if ho
had been shot, mid turning toward tho
prostrnto girl, run iu n wild, plunging,
staggering suit of way, till ho fell on tho
floor beside her, with one nrm resting oa
her body. The curtain fell over all.
Immediately tho lnnnitgci' camo out
and announced that a slight accident had'
occurred mid it wits thought best not to
givo tho fifth net, for viliich reason tho
play would now end. Tho audience hail
np to this time suspected this was n sur
prise introduced into tho play, nnd that
it was niero feigning. Somo had np
plnttded. Many, however, suspected nn
i.ccident, but none seemed to h.ivo imown
it. Up to this timo not n nioati or n, cry
had boon uttered on tho stun-.
"Mrs. Slocum" fell without n moan
and lny motionless. "Si Slocum" lay
in n swoon behind her. Tlio actors
wera discreetly silent. As soon ns tho
curtain fell Miss Von Beliren was care
fully borno to her stateroom. A surgeon
arrived immediately. It wns of no uso ;
sho never moaned or spoko nnd sourcely
mowd. In fifteen minutes nfter tha
bullet struck her sho wns a corpso.
Frayno was nlso carried to a stateroom.
As soon ns ho recovered sufficiently ho
camo nnd knelt by tho sido of tho almost
lifeless girl nnd" pleaded witlt her to
speak. Sho hoard nothing nnd gnvo no
sign of consciousness. That stage wns a
chamber of death with nil its accompani
ments. Tho actors rushed to their rooms
after tlio death scsno and gnvo wny to
'overwhelming grief.
Frank Frnyno was taken to tho station,
and locked up on n chargo of murder.
When taken thero ho said to tho olllccrer
"Mnko tho chargo ns severe ns you
cud, Mnko it tlio worst."
Tho ball entered Miss Von Bohrcn'a
forehead twoiuches nbovo tho left oyo
nnd half nn inch to tho left of tho me
dian line. Tho npplo on her head rested
on n lint and the bottom of tho npplo
wns four inches nbovo tho top of tho
girl's head, though with, tho make-up of
her hair nnd hat it nppenred much nearer.
Tho distnuco wns thirty feet, tho width
of tho littlostage. Tho shotwns Fruyno's
usual bnck shot, using tho mirror. Tho
ph'.eo where tho ball struck tlio girl's
lorehend was directly in n plumb lino
below tho centre of the npplo, Tho rillo
used was n, 32-calibro breechloading
cnrlridgo rillc, mndo for Frank Frayno
and used by him six years iu this net.
Frayno says the spring catch nonr tho
breech of tho barrel, which holds it down
after loading, broko or failed, nud that
tho strokoof tho hammer on the cartridge)
threw tho breech up and depressed tho
muzzlo nt tlio moment of firing so as to
throw the ball downward. IIo nlso says
that tho npple. placed ns it was n fairly
good shot would never miss it except by
feomo such accident as this.
WHAT WE A EE THANKFUL I'OH.
Home lutcrchlliiK SiulUlli'x from I lie Hiirrnn
III WllNllillKtllll.
Mr. Nimmo, chief of tho Bureau of
Statistics of tho Treasury Department,
in a Thanksgiving letter, says : Tlio De
partment of Agriculture estimates tho
corn crop of this venr nt l.fibO.OOO.OOO
bushels, as against 1,101,910,000 in 1881.
Tho latest cbtiinnto of tho wheat crop of
tho season of 18S2 is 500,000,000, as
ngninst 3S0,aS0,0001msliclsiu 1G81. Tho
vnliio of our domcstio exports during tho
fiscal year euded Juno 80, 188U, wna
870:1,230,732, ns ngninst 88:1,925,017
during 1881, a fulling off of $1&0,G8G,
215. This, howover, was duo almost en
tirely to tho failure of tho crops of tho
season of 1881, a result uttribulablo to
tho drought.
Tho vnluo of our exports of bread nnd,
brendstuIVs diuiug tlio year ended Juno
30,1882, tho snmo being tho product of
tho crop of 1881, amounted to $182,070,
528, Tho vnlin of our exports of cotton
was $199,812, 011.
Tlio quantity of coal marketed during
tho year 1881, tho latest year for whicli
we hiivo statistics, nmonutod to 79,905,
000 tons, as ngniust 09,200,931 tous dur
ing tho preceding year.
Tho railroad milengo of ilia United
States on tlio 1st of January, 1882, wns
101,813 miles. There wero built in tho
United States dining tho year 1881, 0,-
tim miles of main lino, or nearly twenty
six miles of railroad per day.
Tho number of pupils cnrollod in tho
publio schools in 1880 was 9,781,520,
constituting sixty-throe per cent, of tlio
total school population of the United
States in 18S0. The total nmmVr of
pupils ourolled in colored pulilio schools
in tho recent Slnvo Stntos in 1880 wna
781,709, nud constituted -ll por cent, of
Iho total colored school population iu
tlioso States.
Tlio population of tho United Stntr
was in 1870, 88,008,371, nnd in 1880, 50,
155,783 an increase of 11,5!)7,'H2. Binou
tho world began thero has not been seen
iu nny other country a material develop
ment so grandly compliant with tho
Divino edict '"llo fruitful urd uiultij ly
aud replenish the earth and subdue it,"