Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-07

capacity of legal tender in private contracts,
is step to be taken in our progress towards a
safe and stable currency, which should be ac-
cepted as the policy and duty of the govern
ment and the interest and security of the
people.
At the time of the passage of the act now in
force requiring the coinage of silver dollars,
fixing their value and giving them legal ten
der character, it was believed by many sup
pOrters of the measure that the silver dollar
which it authorized would speedily become,
under the operations of the law, of equivalent
value to the gold dollar. There were other
supporters of the bill who, while they doubted
as to the probability of this result nevertheless
were willing to give the proposed experiment
falr trial with a view to stop the coinage if
experience should prove the silver dol
lar authorized by the bill continued
to be of less commercial value than the stan
dard gold dollar. The coinage of silver
dollars under the act referred to began in
March, 1873, and has been continued as requir-
ed by the act The average rate per month to
the present time has been $2,276, ,492. The
total amount coined prior to the 1st of Novem-
Der last was $72, ,847 $50. OF this amount $47,-
Oo4, 45O remains in the treasury ard only $685.
763, ,29l are in the hands of the people. A con-
slant effort has been made to keep the curren-
cy in circulation and considerable expense
has been necessarily incurred for
this purpose. but its return to
the treasury is prompt and sure. Contrary to
the cOntiden.7 anticipation of the friends of the
measure at the time of its adoption, the value
of the silver dollar containing 4121& grains of
silver has not increased. During the year
prior to the passage of the bill authorizing its
coinage the market value of the silver which it
contained was from ninety to ninety-two cents,
as compared with the stand
ard gold dollar. During the last year the aver
age market value of the silver dollar has been
eighty eight and one-half cents. 1t is obvi-
GUS that the legislation of the last Congress in
regard to silver 30 far as
it was based on an anticipated
rise in the value of silver as result of that
legislation, has failed to produce the effect then
predicted. The longer the law remains ia
force requiring as it does the coinage of q nom
lnal dollar, which in reality is not dollar, the
greater becomes the danger that this country
WILL be flrst to accept single metal as the real
legal standard of value in circulation, and this
standard of less value than it purports to be
worth in the recognized money of the world.
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 to that which upon its face
1t purports to possess. The constitution in
express terms recognizes both gold and silver
as the only true legal tender money, To
Danish either of these metals from our curren-
cy is to narrow or limit the circulating medi-
um Of exchange to the disparagement of i'm
portant interests. The United States produces
more silver than any other country and is di-
rectly interested in maintaining it as one of
the two precious metals which furnish the
coinage of the world. Il will in my judgment
contribute to this result if Congress will re
peal so much of the existing
legislation as requires the coinage of silver
dollars containing only 4l21s grains of silver,
and in its stead will authorize the secretary of
the treasury to coin silver dollars of equiva-
lent value as bullion with gold dollars. This
vii! defraud no man and will be in accordance
with familiar precedents Congress, on sew
eral occasions, has altered the ratio of
value between gold and silver, in order to es-
tabllsh 1t more nearly in accordance with the
actual rate of value between the Two metals.
In financial legislation every measure in the
direction of greater fidelity in the discharge of
pecuniary obligations has been found by ex-
perlence to determine the rate of interest debt
ors have to pay and to increase the facility
with which money can be obtained for every
legitimate purpose. Our own recent financial
history shows how surely money becomes
abundant whenever confidence in the exact
performance of mOneyed obligations is estab.
ished.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT..
The secretary Of war reports that the expen
ditures of the war department for the isca
year ended June 80, 1880, were $39, ,924, 773. .O3.
The appropriations for this department for the
ervice year amount to $41, 1898, 1904 Will
espect to the army the secretary invites atten
tion to the fact that its strength is limited by
section l16, revised statute 49, to not more tn ar
$4,000 enlisted men, but that a proviso CON.
tanned in the appropriation bills have limited
the expenditures to the enlistment of but 25..
700. 1t is believed the full legal strength is
the least possible force st which the present
organization can be maintained. having in view
efficiency, discipline and economy. While the
enlistment of this force would add somewhat
to the appropriation for pay of the army, the
saving made IN other respects would be more
than an equivalent for this additional outlay,
and the efficiency of the army would be greatly
increased.
The rapid extension of the railroad sytem of
the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, and the
great tide of emigration which has flowed in
on new territory has imposed on the military
an entirely new change of policy. The estab-
llshment OF posts along wagon roads and roads
frequently travelled is no longer necessary.
Permanent quarters at points selected of q
more substantial character than those hereto.
fore constructed will be required. Under ex.
listing laws permanent buildings cannot be
erected without the sanction of Congress, and
when sales of military sites and buildings have
reverted to the treasury and could only
become available through new appropriation.
1t is recommended that provisions be made by
| general statute for the sale of such aban-
doned military posts and buildings as are
found to be unnecessary, and for the applica-
ton OF the proceeds to the construction OF
other posts. While many of the present posts
are of but slight value for military purposes
| owing to the changed conditions of the coun.
| try, their occupation is continued at great ex-
pense and inconvenience because they affol d
the only available shelter for the troops.
ABSENT OFFICERS.
| The absence of large number of officers oi
the line in active duty from their regiments
| is serious detriment to the maintenance oi
the service. The constant demand for small
| detachments, each of which should be com
| manded by commissioned officer, and the
various details of officers for necessary serviot
away from their commands occasions a scare
| 1ty In the number required for company duty
With view to lessening this drain to som,
extent. it is recommended that the law author
| lzlng the detail of officers from the active lis
as professors of tactics and military science a
certain colleges and universities, be SO amend
ed as to provide that all such details be mad
from the retired list of the army.
| THE MILITIA.
Attention is asked to the necessity of pro
viding by legislation for organizing, arming
and disciplining the active militia of the coun
try, and liberal appropriations are reoem
mended in this behalf. The reports of the ad
jutant general of the army and the chief o
ordnance touching this subject fully set forth
its Importance.
ARMY SCHOOLS.
The report of the officers in charge of educa
ton in the army shows that there.are seventy
eight schools now in operation in the army
with an aggregate attendance of 2,3O5 enlisted
men and children. The secretary recommend
the enlistment of $50 school masters with thu
rank and pay of commissary sergeants.
| JUDGE ADVOCATES.
An appropriation is needed to supply th,
| judge advocate of the army with suitable Ii
braries, and the secretary recommends thai
| the corps of Judge advocates be placed unor