Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-12-09


per month since the passage of the
"silver BILL" AT November LIST &72,.
s4T,75o were coined and S47, os4, 45O
of them remain in the treasury. Con.
slant effort and considerable expense
has been incurred in attempts to put
this coin in circulation, but its return
TO the treasury is prompt and sure.
Contrary to the confident anticipa-
tons of the friends of the measure
the value of the new silver dollar
has not increased. Before the pas
sage of the bill its market value
was 80 to go cents. Since then
its average market value has
been sS3 cents. The longer
the law is in force the greater be.
comes the danger that the country
will be forced to accept single met
al as the sole legal standard. The
Constitution recognizes both gold
and silver as the only true legal.
tender money. To Danish either is
to narrow the circulation medium.
The U. S. produces more silver than
any other country and is interested
in maintaining it as one of the prec-
ious metals which furnishes the coin
age Of the world. Abolish the 4123
grain dollar and coin silver dollers
equal in value to gold dollars will
contribute to this result. In fnan-
cial legislation every measure in the
direction of greater fidelity in the
discharge of pecuniary obligations,
has been found by experience to di-
minish the rates of interest which
debtors are required to pay and to
increase the facility for obtaining
money for legitimate purposes.
The War Department expenses
the past year were $39, 924 1853.
The law limits the army to 80. 900
men. Congress permitted appropri-
atoms for only $4,000 men. The
full legal force is needed, and the
President thinks the additional ex.
psnse would be more than saved by
it's greater efficiency. 1t is recon.
mended that provision be made by
general statute for the sale of aban-
doned military posts and buildings
and for the application of the pro-
ceeds to posts in use. Posts of but
little value are in some cases held
because they afford the only availa-
BILE shelter for troops. 1t is recon-
mended that the law authorizing the
detail of officers from the active lat
as professors of tactics and military
science at certain colleges and uni.
versities, be so amended as to pro.
vide that such appointments be made
from the retired list. Organizing,
arming and disoiplining the active
militia of the country and literally
sppropriating therefor is suggested.
There are 78 schools now in the ar
my, with an attendance OF 2 305 en-
listed men and children.
The Secretary of the Navy re.
ports the defences of the country to
be in condition discreditable to the
country. Nothing done towards
strengthening our casemated works
since the war.
Permanent improvement is effect
ed in the South Pass of the Missis.
sippi. A maximum channel was
maintained during six months end
ing August 9. Producers and con-
sumers alike have common inter-
est in the improvement of our great
waterways. They are the property
of the nation. Special mention is
made of the Columbia river. Con-
gress is asked for sufficient appro-
pristion to establish q harbor be-
tween the Columbia river and San
Francisco.
The completion of the new build.
ing for the War Department is
urged. The library has 81 900 vol.
umes and a larger number of psmph-
let's. There are $4,000 specimens
in the army medical museum. There
are 16 600 bound volumes of hospital
records, embracing the original
records oil the hospitals during the
civil war. They are daily searched
both for the protection Of the gov
eminent and the benefit of honest
claimants. They need fire.proof
building costing s250,O0O.
A suggestion is made to Congress
TO authorize the appointment Of q
Captain General of the army, with
the view of appointing Gen. Grant
to the place.
Our Navy cost the past year s12,-
sl6, 500.
A government for Alaska is rec
commended.
Naval coaling stations have been
established at the 1sthmus of Pam
ANA.
The postal department is in spIen.
did condition. The receipts in 1860
were sS,518.067. In the past year
they were s33 1854 Recommer.
dations favoring the universal pos.
tai move are made. The whole
world is to be one postal territory
and postage rates are to be the
same throughout the world.
Establishing American lines to
carry mails between our ports and