Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-06

ISIS, and has been continued. The average rate
per month 10 the present time has been y 216-
as2 The total amount coined prior to the first
OF November last was $s2,S41,15o. or this
| amount si..0S4, ,450 remain IN the Treasury, and
only s25 56S, ,29I are In the hands OF the people
A constant effort has been made 10 keep this
currency il circulation. and considerable ex-
penSe has heen necessarily incurred for this
purpose but its return TO the Treasury Is
| prompt and sure Contrary TO the confident
anticipation OF the friends OF the measure al the
time OF It's adoption. the value Of the silver dol
lar. containing il21g grains Of silver has not
increased. During the year prior TO the pass
| age of the bin astholning its coinage the
market value OF the silver which IL contained
| was from ninety to ninety-two cents, as com.
pared with the standard gold dollar. DnrIr . the
last year the average market value OF the silver
| dollar las been eighty eight and a half cents.
1t Is obvious, that the legislation OF the last
Congress Ia regard 10 silver so far as II was
based on an anticipated rise IN the value OF Sil-
yer as result OF that legislation, has failed 10
| produce the effect then predicted. The longer
lie law remains IN force. requiring as IL does
the coinage OF nominal dollar which, IN re-
atty, is not dollar, the greater becomes the
danger that this country VIII be forced TO ac-
cept single metal as the sole legal standard OF
value In circulation, and this standard OF less
value than II purportS 10 b. worth 10 the rec
osniZed money OF the world.
The constitution OF the nitei states, sound
! financial principles, and our best interests, all
require that the country should have as its
| legal tender money, both gold and silver coin,
| Of an intrinsic value, as bullion, equivalent 10
that which, upon its face. II purportS TO possess
| The constitution. in express terms, recognizes
both gold aid silver as the only true legal tender
| money. To Danish either OF these metals from
! our currency is 10 narrow and limit the circu
| lating medium OF exchange to the disparage-
| ment OF important interests. The United States
| PfoduceS more silver than any other country,
! aid is directly interested in maintaining it as
| one OF the Two precious metals which furnish
! tie coinage or the world. It VIII, IN my iudIc-
! ment contribute TO this result IL Congress
| viii repeal so much OF existing legislation as
requires the coinage OF silver dollars containing
only 4I214 grains OF silver, and IN its stead viii
! authorize the secretary OF the Treasury 10
| coin silver dollars OF equivalent value as
| bullion, with gold dollars. This VIII defraud
| 10 man, and VIII be 10 accordance with
| familiar pfecedents. Congress, on several oc-
| caSioDS, has altered the ratio or value between
| geld and silver, in order TO establish it more
| Iearly in accordance with the actual ratio OF
! value between the two metals. The
| recommendations OF the War department, thai
| the army be Increased TO 30,e00 enlisted men.
| and that provision be made for the sales OF IN
| necessary military posts and buildings. and the
| application Of the proceeds 10 the construction
| or other posts OF value are concurred In. Ii Is
| recommended that the law authorizing the de-
tail OF officers from the active list as professors
| legeS and universities, be SO amended as TO
provide that all such "details lie made from the
retired list Of the army.
Attention is asked TO the necessity of pro-
Vlding by Legislation for organizing, aIIning and
Gisciplinirg the Gctire militia OF the country,
and Eberal appropriations are recommended in
this behalf.
Especial attention is asked to the report or
| The Chief CT Engineers upon the condition OF
our national defenceS. While other nations
have been increasing their means for carrying
on offensive warfare and attacking maritime
| cllles, we have been dormant IN preparation
| for defence.
The TWO great rivers Of the North American
! continent, the Mississippi and the Columbia,
have their naYigable waters wholly within the
limits OF the United States and are OF vast ira
porance to our internal and foreign commerce.
fav nf fhnt tyNar1
South Pass OF the Mississippi river seems now
| TO te assured.
A comprehensive improvement OF the Mfssls-
Sippl and its tributaries is matter OF trans
cendent importance. Producers and consun-
eTs alike have common interest in such
1nequalled facilities for cheap transportation.
| geographically, commercially and politically
| they are the strongest tie between the various
| sections OF the country.
The channel OF the Columbia river for dis
| tance or about one hundred miles from US
| mouth, is cbstructed by succession OF bars
which occasion serious delays IN navigation
and heavy expense for ughterage and tOwage
! A depth OF az least twenty feet at low It'd
should be secured and maintained, to meet the
| requirements OF the extensive and growing in
land and ocean commerce it SubserveS. The
/ most urgent need, however, for this grea'
waterway is permanent improvement 0f liz,
Channel at the mouth Of the river.
From Columbia river 10 san Francisco, dis
! tance OF over six hundred miles. there is no
harbor on cur Pacfic coast which can be an
priation or $50. GOO was made by the Forty-hfth
Congress for the commencement OF q break
wafer an0 harbor or refuge, 20 be located AT
some point between the Straits OF Fuca and
san Francisco, at which the necessities O. com.
melce local and general, viii be best accoHmo-
dated. The amount appropriated is thought 10
be quite 1haoequate for the purpose intended
The completion OF the new building for the
war department Is urgently needed and the
estlInat5s % lor continuing its construction are
especially recommended.
An appropriation for a new fre-proof build
Ing for the Army Medical Museum is earnestly
recommended-such building not to exceed Ia
cost $50. eco.
/ commend to the attention OF Congress the
great services OF the commander in,chief OF
our armies during the war for the union whose
wise, him, and patriotic conduct die so much TO
bring that momentOuS conflict Co a close Tine
legislation OF the United States contains many
preCedents for the recognition OF distinguished
LlI,aiy merit, authorizing rank and emolu-
ments 10 be conferred for eminent services to
the country An act OF Congress AUTHORIZING
the appointment OF captain general or The
army. with suitable provisions relating 10 com
pensation, retirement, and other details would
III ny judgment. be altogether hitting and
proper, and would be warmly approved by the
country.
The Recommendation OF The Secretary of tia
Navy, that provision be made for the establish
ment OF some form or civil government for The
people OF Alaska, is approved.
The report OF the Secretary OF the Navy con.
cludeS with valuable suggestions with respe.l
TO the building Up OF our merchant marine SER
vice. winch deserve tue favorable consideration
OF Congress.
The suggestion OF the Postmaster Genera
that 1t would be wise TO encourage by appro-
pirate legislation, the establishment OF Aineri-
can lines OF steamers by cur own citizens 10
carry the mails between our own ports and
those OF Mexico, Central America. South Amer.
lea and the traDs-PacittC countries, is commend
ed TO the serious consideration OF Congress.
The attention OF Congress is also invited to
the suggestions OF the Postmaster General In re-
gard TO postal savings.
The necessity Tor additional provision, to aid
In the transaction or the business OF the fed
eral courts. becomes each year more apparent
The docketS or the supreme Court and OF the
circuit courts, in tie greater number OF the cir
cults, are encuD bered with the constant 2cces-
sion OF cases. In the former court, and in many
instances OF the circuit courts, years intervene
before ii is practicable TO bring cases TO hear
ing.
The Attorney General recommends the es-
tabliShment OF an intermediate court OF errors
and appeals. II is recommended that the num-
Der or judges OF the circuit court IN each circuit
with the exception OF the second circuit, Should
be Increased by the addition OF another Judge:
In the second circuit that two should be ADDED
and that an Intermediate appellate court should
be formed In each circuit, 10 consist OF the CIR
cult Judges and the circuit justice and that In
the event or the absence OF either OF these
Judges the place Of the absent Judge should be
supplied by the Judge OF one OF the district