The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-12-18
= the friends Of the measure at the tim0

of the bill authorizing It's ColndSSf bne market
value of the silver which it contained was frar,
40 TO % cents. as compared with the standsrt
gold dollar. During the last year the avtrsoe
market value of the silver dollar has been ST.
cents.
1t is obvious that the legislation OF the last
Congress in regard TO silver, so FAR as 1t was
based on an anticipated rise in the value ~
silver as 2 result of that legislation, has fai'
to produce the effect then predicted. Tho
longer the law remains III force, requiring a. II
does the coinage of nominal dollar, which in
reality is not a dollar, the greater becomes tho
danger that this country will be forced to ar-
cept single metal as the sole legal STANDARD
Of value, in circulation. and this standard Of
less value than it purports 10 be worth in the
recognized money Of the world.
The constitution OF the United States, souDF
financial principles, and our best interests. al
require that the country should have as its legal
tender money both gold and silver coin Of d..
intrinsic value, as bullion, equivalent 10 tst
which, upon its face. il purports to possess. Tbs
constitution, in express terms, recognizes bot.
gold and silver as the only true legal-tcu5er
money To Danish either Of these metals fIa.
our currency is to narrow and limit the cIea-
latlng medium of exchange to the disparaet-
ment of important interests. The United Stat.
produces more silver than any other Can-
try. and Is directly interested in maintain.
It ~ one of the two precious metals which glr-
nlsh the coinage of the world. 1t will IN ms
! judgment, contribute to this result If Con1r,s.
viii repeal so much of existing legislation a-
requires the coinage of silver dollars. contain
ing only 1925 grains of silver, and IN It's stead
viii authorize the Secretary of the Treasury r.,
coin silver dollars of equivalent value as Eun-
ion with gold dollars. This Will dcfraud nj
/ man. and Will be in accordance with faml.s
prccedents Congress, on several occasions
has altered the ratio of value between gold sHi
silver, in order to establish it more nearly Is
accordance with the actual ratio of vape 9a-
tween the two metals.
In financial legislation every measure in TIN,
direction of greater fidelity in the dlschargo II
pecunlary obligations has been found by eAp-
ncnce TO diminish the rates OF interest Wla4.
debtors are required 10 pay. and to increase tie
facility with which money can be obtained fl.
every legitimate purpose. Our own recea
financial history shows how surely money d.
comes abundant whenever confidence in the tx
act performance Of moneyed Obligations Is
tabhshtd.
The Secretary of War reports that tic e.
penditures Of the War Department for the It's
cal wear ended June 80. 1880. were S39q2f
1888. The appropriations for this depart
ment, for the current fiscal year, amount 81
81. 1893 5000.
With respect to the army the Secretary in
vites attention to the fact that Its strengths
limited by statute (Section 1,115, Revised Sta
utes) to not more than 10000 enlisted u..
but that provisos contained IN appropriation
bills have limited expenditures Il
the enlistment of but $4,000. II is believe.
that full legal strength Is the least possible
force at which the present organization can b.
maintained, having in view efficiency, discipline
and economy. While the enlistment Of tits
4 force would add somewhat to the APPROPRIATION
for pay of the army, the saving made III other
respects would he more than an equivalent tr
this additional outlay, and the efficiency If u.a
army would be largely increased.
+ The rapid extension Of thp railroad .v-f.,.
west of the Mississippi river, and the c1r.t
tide Of settlers which has flowed in upon n,r
territory impose on the military an tut-.
change of policy. The maintenance of .n..
posts along wagon and stage routes Of trsv
Is no longer necessary Permanent Quarttr-
at points selected, of a more suhstauua
character than those heretofore constructed
viii be required. Under existing laws. per-
manent buildings cannot be erected N!tlot
the sanction of Congress, and when salt t
military sites and buildings have been auth.r-
lzed, the moneys received have ryy,rt-.
to the treasury, and could ouly become ava.-
able through new appropriation. 1t Is recon.
mended that provision be made, by a gcut..
statute, FOR the sale OF such abandoned uHH,alT
posts and buildings as are found TO 10 uuu,r..-
sary, and for the application Of the proceeds
the construction OF other posts. While mHs
OF the present posts are Of but slight value f.
military purposes. owing to the changed cuat
ton OF the country, their occupation is cont.
Ged at great expense and inconvenience d.
cause they afford the only available shelter fit
troops.
The absence Of large number Of Officers II
the line, III active duty, from their regiment ,
serious detrlment to the maintenance Of d..
service. The constant demand for small d.
tachments, each of which should be command
d by commissioned officer and the yaru.
details of officers for necessary service away
from their commands occasions a scarcity "a
the number required for company dute-
With Wow TO l"sscning this drain to s0ee
extent, it Is recommended that the law aut ~
ling the detail Of officers from the acty, lt
az professors Of tactics and military science 81
certain colleges and universities be so amend.
as to provide that all such details be made l.a
the retired list of the army.
Attention II asked to tEe necessity of rr-
yldlng by legislation for organizing arm
and dlsclplnlnG the dc'ire militia Of the
try. and liberal appropriations are recommea..J
in this behalf. The reports of the .@
General Of the army and the Chief o Nr'-
nance touching this subject fully set forth II
importance.
The report Of the officer III charge Of cla'.-
ton IN the army shows that there are ecEra.-
eight schools now IL operation III the army.
with an aggregate attendance of 1905 enlist
men and children. The Secretary RECOMMENDS
the enlistment Of $50 schOumaaters, with a-
rank and pay of Commissary Scrgcant7
! appropriation is needed to supply the jg
/ Advocates of the army with suitable IaraI.
/ and the Secretary recOmmends that the corp
/ Judge Advocates be placed upon the same t..-
! ing to promotion with the other stan c.g-
of the army. Under the existing law
Bureau Of Military Justice consists Of one r.
fcor the Judge Advocate General, and the cog.
Of Judge Advocate. Of eight officers of u.
rank (Maiors) with provision that TIN .
/ Of the corps shall remain at four, when rcd
( by casualty or resignation to that uu.
! The consolidation Of the Bureau Of Nh.
! Justice and the corps of Judge Advcca'..
/ upon tho same basis with the other stan corr
7 Of the army, would remove an unjust d7cl
nation against deserving officers, and sui
the best interests Of the service.
+ Especial attention Is asked to the report
/ the Chief Of Engineers upon the conduoa
our national defensos From a persona.
/ spectlon Of many Of the Notifications referee
/ to- the Secretary i able to emphasize the re- .
/ concentrations made, and to state that tier f
4 incomplete and defenseless condition j dr. i
eredltable to the country. While other nations i
4 have been increasing their means for carry.
4 on offensive warfare and attacking iA
/ thine cities, we have been doula
4 N preparation for defense nothing q
portance has been done toward strengthen
and finishing our casemated works since
I late civil war, during which the grsst ~
/ OF modern warfare and the heavy afflE ~
modern Notifications and ships caua
use among the nations, and our car
/ left, by sudden failure Of spprorr.'.
SEINE years since III all stages Of Ius."
+ ton, are now being rapidly destroyed tF
elements
/ The two great rivers Of the North Amer
/ continent, the Mississippi and the C7uA
/ have their navig4bie waters wholly within -
! limits Of the United States, ard are Of vat .
} portance to our internal and foreign comm.
! The TcrmaueucV of the important