Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-12-16

/ At the time of the passage of the act il
force requiring the coinage of silver dollars, Xin:
their value and giving them legal-tender char
aeter, it was believed by many of the supporter
| of the measure that the silver dollar, which i
! authorized, wOuld speedily become, under tn,
operations Of the law, of equivalent value to tbs
| gold dollar. There were other supporters of tht
bill, who, while they doubted as TO the probability
OF this result nevertheless were willing to give tn,
/ proposed experiment fair trial with view t
| stop the coinage, if experience should prove thai
the silver dollar authorized by the bill continued
| to be OF less commercial value than the standard
! gold dollar
The coinage Of silver dollars. under the act re-
ferred to, began in March, 1873, and has beer
| continued as required by the act. The average
| rate per month to the present time has been
S2,26, ,492. The total amount coined prior to
! the 1st of November last was So S47 $50. OF
this amount S47 ,0S4, ,450 remain in the treasury
and only S25, ,163 29l in the hands of the peo-
| pie. A constant effort has been made to keeT
this currency in circulation, and considerable eX-
penSe has been necessarily incurred for this pur.
| pose, but its return to the treasury is prompt
| and sure. Contrary TO the confident anticipation
OF the friends of the measure at the time of Its
adoption, +de value of the silver dollar containing
| 4l21a grains of silver has not increased. Dur
ing the year prior to the passage of the bill au-
| thOriZing its coinage the market value of the
| silver it contained was from 90 to 90 cents as
compared with the standard gold dollar. During
| the silver dollar has been $50 cents
| 1t is obvious that the legislation of the last
congress IN regard to silver far as it was based
on anticipated rise in the value of silver rs a
result of that legislation, has failed to produce
the effect then predicted. The longer the law re-
mains in force, requiring as it does the coinage
OF a nominal dollar, which, IL reality, is not a
dollar the greater becomes the danger that this
country will be forced to accept a single metal as
the sole legal standard of value in circulation
and this standard of less value than it puIportS
| to be worth in the recognized money of the
world.
LEGAL-TENDER MONEY.
The constitution of the United States sound
financial principles and our best interests all re-
quire that the country should have as its legal
tender money, both gold and silver CON- Of an in
trinSc value, as bullion equivalent to that which
on its face 1t purpOFts to possess. The cOnsttu-
| ton, i'll express terms, recognizes both gold and
silver as the only true legal-tender money. To
Danish either of these metals from currency is
to narrow and limit the circulating medium oi
exchange to the disparagement of important in
terests. The United States produces more silver
than any other country and is directly interested
in maintaining it as one Of the two precious met
ais which furnish the coinage of the world. 1t
Will, IN my judgment contribute to this result if
congress will repeal SO much of existing legsla-
tOn as requires the coinage of silver dollars con-
tanning only 412a grains of silver and in its stead
silver dollars of equivalent value as bullion with
gold dollars. This will defraud no man, and will
be Ill accordance with familiar precedents Con-
gress several occasions has altered the ratio of
value between gold and silver, in order to estab-
lish it more nearly in accordance with the actual
ratio of value between the two metals.
In financial legislation every measure in the di-
rectiOn of greater fidelity in the discharge of pc
cuniary obligations, has been found by experience
to diminish the rates of interest which debtors are
| ipGfgl tnf
which money can be obtained for every legitimate
purpose. Our own recent financial history shows
how surely mekey becomes alb unddnt whenever
confidence in the exact performance of moneyed
obligations is established.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The secretary OF war reports that the eXpendi-
lures of the war department for the fiscal year
ended June 30 1880 were $39, ,924 1893. The
appropriations for this department for the cur
rent calyear, amount to $41 993 ,630.40.
With respect to the army, the secretary invites
attention to the fact that its strength is limit
ed by statute (section l15, revised statutes) to
not more than 80 600 enlisted men, but that pro-
ylsOs contained in appropriation bills have limited
expenditures to the enlistment of but % 900. 1t
Is believed the full legal strength Is the least pos
SIble force at which the present organization can
be maintained having in view efficiency, disci-
pline and economy. While the enlistment of this
toree would add somewhat to the appropriation
for pay ct the army, the saving made i'll other re-
spectS would be more than an equivalent for this
additional outlay, and the efficiency of the army
would be largely increased.
The rapid extension Of the railroad system west
of the Mississippi river and the great tide of set
lers which has flowed in upon new territory, i'm
pose on the military an entire change of policy
The maintenance of small posts along wagon and
stage routes of travel is 10 longer necessary.
Permanent quarters at points selected, of a more
substantial character than those heretofore con-
StpUctai will he raGOippl fnIap nNStin0 10
permanent buildings cannot be erected without
the sanction OF congress, and when sales Of mill
tary sites and buildings have been authorized the
moneys received have reverted to the treasury,
ard could only become available through a new
appropriation. 1t is recommended that provis-
ION be made, by general statute, for the sale of
such abandoned military posts and buildings as
are found to be unnecessary, and for the applica-
tlon 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 condition Of the country, their Uccu-
patton is continued at great expense and incon-
venience, because they afford the only available
shelter for troops
The absence Of q large number of officers of
the line in active duty from their regiments is q
serious detrment to the maintenance of the
service. The constant demand for small detach-
ments, each of which should be commanded by q
commissioned officer for necessary service away
from their commands, occasions scarcity in the
number required for many company duties. With
view to lessening this drain to some extent, it
Is recommended that the law authorizing the de-
tail of officers from the active list as professors
OF tactics and military science at certain colleges
and universities, be amended as to provide that
all such details be made from the retired list of
the army.
Attention is asked to the necessity of provid-
lug by legislation for organizing. arming and
disciplning the actire militia of the country and
liberal appropriations are recommended in this be-
half The reports Of the adjutant general Of the
army and the chief Of ordinance touching this
subject fully set forth its importance.
The report of the officer in charge of edu-
cation in the army shows that there are seventy
eight schools now in operation in the army, With
an aggregate attendance Of 2,305 enlisted men
and children. The secretary recomends the en-
lstment OF one hundred and fifty schoolmasters
with the rank and pay of commissary sergeants.
An appropriation is needed to supply the judge
advocates Of the army with suitable libraries. and
the secretary FecOmends that the corps OF Judge
advocates be placed upon the same footing as to
promotion with the other staff corps of the army.
Under the existing laws the bureau OF military
justice consists Of one officer the judge advocate
general and the 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 military justice, and the corps of judge Advo-
Gates, upon Che same oasis Win tilo OIHer SIN
corps ofthe army, would remove az unjust dis
elimination against deserving officers, and sub
serve the best interests of the service.
NATIONAL DEFENsEs.
Especial attention IS asked to the report Of the
chief of engineers upon the condition of na-
tional defenses. From a personal inspection of
many of the fortifcations referred to- the secreta
ry is able TO emphasize the recommends lions
made, and to state that their incomplete and de
fenseles condition is discreditable 10 the country
While other nations have been increasing their