Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-03

THE
THE WORK OF CONGRESS-.
Congress has assembled in regular ses-
sion, and the people generally will watch its
course with anxiety; for it cannot be de-
MED that much of the prosperity of the coun-
try will depend upon its action. If it shall
act wisely on all questions that are
brought before it for consideration, it can
assist in promoting the business activity
that has already set in, but if it shall act
otherwise it can cause q revulsion that will
result in disaster and ruin to thousands of
our business men. IT. .-eH
Both MIR. Hayes and Mr.. Sherman have
advocated action OH the currency-the re-
tirement of the legal tender notes and the
placing Of restriction on the coinage of
silver. The advice is injudicious. If any
part of the paper currency is to be retired,
that part should be the national bank notes,
for the reason that they do not possess as
great uniformity as tho. greenbaok; that
they are more easily counterfeited; and for
the reason that they can be contracted or ex-
banded at the pleasure of small syndicate
of spectators who may desire to manipu-
late the money markets. The greenbacks
are not liable to such vicissitudes. Their
maximum and minimum issus is fixed by
law, and if they were the only currency in
existence the business public would know
precisely what to expeot-would have no
occasion to fear that there would be either
sudden contraction or sudden expansion
of its volume. Only such portion
rs might not be needed in the trans
action of business would find its
way into the banks, but it would be subject
to withdrawal whenever the necessities of
trade demanded. It thus possesses two of
the most desirable-though seemingly para
doxical-qualities, stability and fexibility-
stability IN SO far that by no possibility can
the country be flooded by it, and flexible be-
cause of the fact that it can be retired
to the banks by business men whenever
it is not Immediately needed, and called into
trade again the moment the necessity arises.
If the national bank bills are ;gradually re.
tired from circulation their place would be
rapidly supplied by silver and gold. 1t is
false to state that every effort has been made
to force silver into circulation without sue
cess, for every business man knows that
there is great dearth of small change, and
that silver has always been gladly welcomed.
This will do away with the necessity of linn
ting in any way the coinage of silver. To
do 80, in fact, would seriously embarrass
business, as large number of small bills
have already been retired, and all of those
issued by national banks will be destroyed
under the law as soon as they shall b. pre-
sented.
There is some talk of attempting to re-
wise the tariff. Such measure is fraught
with danger to the business interests of the
country. It will inevitably result in unset
Ting values of all articles affected by the
tariff, and they comprise nine-tenths of all
that the people use. Sach revision should
not be attempted unless it can be made final
and thorough. A partial settlement of the
questions in dispute would only serve to
inspire the fear that at the next session OF
Congress the sans thing would be gone
through with again, and as consequence
there would be no confidence among import
ers or dealers, values would be constantly
auctuating, and there would be inaugurated
a season of speculation that could not fail
to be disastrous. 1t would be we'll to leave
tinkering alone.
The attempt to change the tax on spirits
will, in all probability, be renewed. We have
already shown that the existing tax of ninety
cents gallon is the most productive to the
government and the least oppressive to the
distillers that can be imposed. There is but
small inducement to avoid its payments
temptation not great enough to warrant the
risk of oonfscation that is prescribed as the
punishment for violations of law. We trust
Congress will let whisky alone.
The effort will be made to create new
rank in the army superior to that of general,
and to confer it upon Gen. Grant. 1t must
have been apparent to every thinking man
that our army is already top-heavy. For a
total force of less than twenty-five Thousand
men we already have one general, one lieu
tenant general, three major generals, fifteen
brigadier generals, sixty-six colonies, eighty
six lieutenant colonies, and majors, aides
de-camp, captains and lieutenants to the
number of 1897, making total of commits
Stoned officers, outside of adjutants, quarter
masters, chaplains, etc., of 1869, or about
ono commissioned officer for every ten men,
There are political considerations besides
which should deter Congress from creating
this rank, which should have powerful in
duence.
The Republicans will no doubt endeavor
to draw the Democrats into partisan and
sectional disputes, with the purpose of MAX
ing political capital for the Presidential cam
paign. These should be avoided as far as
possible. There is work enough to engage
the attention! of Congress without indulging
in the buncombe of political harangues, and
the party that has the least to say on those
topics will be most highly regarded by the
people at large.
SENATOR HILL ON TIE SITUATION
We print elsewhere letter from Senator
Hill, of Georgia, to the editor of an Illinois
paper which it will pay every reader to
peruse. 1t is to an extent temperate, we'll
considered document, and save for the as
1nvfS $1v H. IL