Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-04-06
Communicated.

1N.ssrs Editors:
In my letter of the 9th inst, through
some mistake, the amounts recovered
and to be recovered by the Government
on the whisky suits, were printed So
$4,000, and 100000, instead of So
$50, 100000, and S3,OOO,0O0,O0 which
are the correct amounts.
Congress has been in session nearly
four months and what has been ac-
complished ? They have passed the
Centennial Bill. How little has been
done for the length Of time.
The indications are that they will
authorize the Secretary of the Treasury
to issue silver, to take the place of
Fractionalcurrency. lis true, although
to many unaccountable, that greenbacks
are worth more in the markets of the
world than silver. 1t is very doubt
full whether the citizens of this country
will ever consent to do away with the
convenience offractional currency. IF
it can be converted into silver, at the
option Of the holder, nine-tenths Of
the business community would prefer
the fractional currency. No one would
think, when starting on journey, of
carrying twenty or twenty-five dollars
IN silver, but all will admit the conven-
fence Of having that amount of frac-
tional currency when starting upon a
long journey-The loss of fractional
currency by fire, shipwreck and wear
and tear will pay the entire cost of
printing it, which loss is only loss to
the individual losing it, while the loss
of silver is not only loss to the indi-
viduai, but is also a loss Of that much
wealth to the world.
The printing and engraving Bureau
of the Treasury Department was oblig-
ed to stop work in February last, for
the want of funds to pay the expenses
Of keeping it in operation, notwith-
standing the Secretary of the Treasury
called the attention Of the House Of
Representatives, with whom all appro-
priations originate, to the fact, at the
unless a deficiency appropriation was
made at once, he would be obliged to
close said Bureau.-It is not claimed
that they can dispense with the work
to be done in this Bureau but in order
that the rebel democracy may show a
small saving Of expenses in this Bureau
they throw over seven hundred persons
out of employment who were earning
FROM twenty to fifty dollars month
a large portion of whom have more or
less persons dependent upon them for
a living, -they are nearly all women,
and many of them are widows who
lost their husbands, in consequence of
the efforts Of the southern democracy
to destroy this noble government. The
appeals of these persons, thus thrown
out of employment by the democracy,
for assistance, are heart rendering. [
give one instance, from tho six hundred
cases, which the National Republican,
Of this city, has received for publica
tion. 81 am the widow of a soldier
| ''who served in the Union army
ssthroughout the war; died this March,
'-two years. He was wounded twice
swhile in the army. [ am entirely in a
"destitute condition. with one little
''girl with the consumption, and my
'shealth not at all good. [ am in a
''sufering condition; no money, fuel
cor food, and no way to pay room rent,
sand no one to go to for support. [
ssexpect to be turned out Of my room
sat the end of the month, and where
81 am to go [ know not. [ was earn
s'ing in the Printing Bureau only one
'.dollar day, and am now deprived
'sof that
Every employee of the Government
will be called upon to help relieve these
unfortunate persons of the closed
Printing Bureau. It is one of the
first duties of every good government
to do all in it's power to alleviate the
wants of the suffering poor of the ma
ton, not by donations, but by furnish
ing them, either directly or Indirectly
employment, but the rebel democracy
delay this needed appropriation, there
by throwing, at least, two thousand
persons upon the charities of the COM