Sacramento daily record-union., 1880-12-07

| of time has been S2,z76, ,492. The total amount
coined prior to the 1st of November last S72,
si715O OF this amount SIT ,oS4, $50 remain in the
treasury, and only s25 7e3 29l are in the hands Of
the people. A constant effort has been made to
keep this currency in circulation and considerable
expense necessarily undergone for the purpose but
its return to the treasury IS prompt and sure. Con-
ray to the confident anticpations of friends of the
measure at the time OF its adoption, the value OF
the silver dollar containing 4l2l 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 contains from 90 to 92
cent?, as compared with the standard gold dollar.
During the last year the average and market value
of the silver dollar has been sss cents 1t is obVi-
Gus that the legislation OF the last Congress in regard
to silver, SO far as it was based the anticipation
of an increase in the value of silver as result OF
| that legislation, has failed to produce the effect
predicted. The longer the law remains in
| force, requiring, as it does, the coinage OF
| a nominal dollar which in reality is not
dellar, the greater becomes the danger that this
county will be forced to accept the metal as the
sole LEGAL standard value in circulation, and thus
standard of less value than it purpors to be would
| be recognized in the money markets OF the world.
The Constitution OF the United States, sound fnan-
cial principles and our best interests, all require
currency which will serve as legal tender money.
To Danish either of these metals from currency
| is to narrow and limit the circulating medium OF
exchange to the disparagement of important inter-
ests The United States produces more silver than
| any other country, and is directly interested in
| maintaining it as o: che two precious metals
which furnish the coinage of the world 1t
will, in my judgment, contribute to this result
il Congress will repeal much Of the existing legs
ation as requires the coinage of silver dollars OF
equivalent with the gold dollar. This will defraud
no man, and will be in accordance with familiar pre-
cedents Congress, several occasions has altered
the ratio OF value between gold and silver in order
to establish it nearly in accordance with the
actual ratio 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 experience to dimin
ish the rates of interest which debtors required
to pay, and increase the facility with which money
can be obtained for every legitimate purpose. Our
ewn recent financial history shows how surely
money becomes abundant whenever confidence in
the exact performance of moneyed obligations is
established
THE WAR DEPARTMENT..
The Secretary OF War reports that the expendi
lures of the War Department for the fiscal year end
ing June so, 1880, s39,924, 773. The appropri-
ations for this Department for the current fiscal
year amounted to S41, 1893 $50. With respect to the
army the Secretary invites attention to the fact that
its strength is limited by statute Section 115 OF the
Revised Statutes) TO not than 10000 enlisted
men, but that the provisos contained in the appro-
priatien bills have limited the expenditure to an
enlistment of but $4,000. 1t is believed that the
full legal strength is the least possible force at
which the present organization can be maintained,
having i'll view efficiency, discipline and economy.
While the enlistment of this force would add some
what to the appropriation for the pay OF the army,
| the saving made in other respects would be more
than equivalent for this additional outlay ond the
efficiency of the army would be largely increased
The rapid extension OF the railroad system west of
the Mississippi river, and the great line of settlers
which has flowed in upon the new territory, impose
| on the military an entire change of policy. The
maintenance OF small posts along the wagon and
stage routes of travel is no longer necessary. Per-
manent quarters at points selected of more SUBJ
stsnta character than those heretofore constructed
will be required. Under the existing laws perma-
nent buildings cannot be erected without the sane
| ton OF Congress, and when the sale of military
sites and buildings has been authorized the
moneys received have reverted TO the Treasury and
\ could only becOlse available through new appro-
priations. 1t is recommended that provisions be
made by general statement for the sale of such
abandoned military posts and buildings found
unnecessary and for application OF the proceeds
| the construction of ether posts While MANY of
the present posts are OF but slight value for mill
| tary purposes, owing to the changed condition OF
the country their occupation is continued at great
expense and great Inconvenience, because they
afford the only available shelter for the troops.
! The absence of large number of officers of the
line active duty from their regiments is serious
detriment to the maintenance of the service. The
constant demand for small detachments, each of
which should be commanded by commissioned
officer and the various details OF officers for neces-
sary service away from their commands, occasions
scarcity in the number required for company duties
With a view to les ening this drain to some extent
it is recommended that law authorizing tie detail
of officers from the active list Professor of Tactics
and Military Science a, certain colleges and uni
versities be SO amended to provide that all such
details be made from the retired list OF the army.
Attention is asked to the necessity OF providing leg
isation for organic the army and disciplning the
active militia of the country, and liberal appropra-
tions are recommended in this behalf. The reports
of the Adjutant General Of the Army and Chief of
Ordnance, touching this subject fully set forth its
Importance The report of the officers in charge of
education in the army shows that there seventy
eight schools IN operation in the army, with an
aggregate attendance of 2,3o5 enlisted and
children. The Secretary recommends the enlist
ment of $50 schoolmasters, with the rank pay
and commission of sergeant. An appro.
priation is needed to supply the Judge
Advocate of the army with suitable libra.
ries, and the Secretary recommends that the
corps OF the Judge Advocates be placed upon the
same footing to promotion with other staff corps
of the army. Under the existing laws the Bureau
of Military Justice consists Of one officer Judge Ad
vccate- General, and corps of Judge Advocates OF
eight officers Of equal rank (Majors), with pro-
vision that the limit of the corps shall remain at four
when reduced by casualty or resignation to that
number The consolidation of the Bureau of Mill.
tary Justice aud the corps of the Judge Advocates
upon the same basis with other staff corps of the
| army would remove unjust discrimination
against deserving officers, and subserve the best
| interests OF ic usheu
to the report of the Chief of Engineers upon the
condition of our national defenses. From personal
inspection Of many of the fortications referred to-
| the Secretary is able TO emphasize the recommend
ations made, and state that their incomplete and
efenseess condition is dscreditable to the country
| While other nations have been increasing their
means for carrying offensive warfare and attack
| ing maritime cities, we have been dormant in
! preparation for defense. Nothing Of importance
has been done toward Strengthening and finishing
our casemated works our late civil war, during
which the great guns of modern warfare and the
heavy armor of modern Notifications and ships came
into use among nations. and our earthworks left
by the sudden failure of appropriations some
years since in all stages OF ineompetion, now
beng rapidly destroyed by the elements
MISSISSIPPI AND COLUMBIA RIVERS.
Two great rivers Of the North American Cont
nent, the Mississippi and Columbia, have their
navigable waters wholly within the limits of the
United States, and are of vast Importance to our
internal and foreign commerce. The perrnanency
of the important work in the South Pass Of the
Mississippi river seems to be assured. There
has been no failure whatever in the maintenance OF
the maximum channel during the six months ended