Connecticut western news., 1881-12-14

act, ask its attention to the pendin
 questions affecting the distribution (
 the sums thus far received. y.. -''s
 The relations between Venznela an
 France, growing out of the same debt
 have been for some time past in an UT
 satisfactory state, and this Government
 as the neighber and one of tn
 largest creditors of Venzuela, has inter
 posed itself with the French Govern
 ment, with. the view of producing <
 friendly aud honorable adjustment. .
 l regret that the commercial interest
 between the United States and Brazil
 from which great advantages were hopet
 year ago, have suffered from the with
 drawal of the American lines of com
 munication between the Brazilian port
 and our own. Through the effort
 of our Minister resident, at Bue nos Ayres and the United States Minister at Santiago treaty has bsen concluded betwee1 the Argentine Republic and Chil, dis posing of the long pending Patagoniar boundary question. It is matter O congratufation that our government has been afforded the opportunity of sue cessfully exerting its good influence fol the prevention. of disagreements be tween these republics of the American continent. .'' '-l THE SOUTH AMERICAN WAR, .G*
 This Government sees with great con. cern the continuance of the hostile re. lations between Chili, Bolivia and Peru. An early peace between these republics is much to be desired, not only that they themselves be spared fur ther misery and bloodshed, but because their continued antagonism threatens consequences, which are, il my judgment, dangerous to the interest of republican Government on this con tinent, and calculated to destroy the best elements of our free and peaceful civilization. "7' i-' !" 2.....i '.l ..f
 I am glad to inform you that the treaties lately negotiated with China have been duly ratified on both sides q and the exchange made | at Peking. Legislation is necessary to carry the provision into effect. The prompt and friendly spirit with which the Chinese Government, at the request of the United States, conceded the modifi. cation of existing treaties should secure careful regard for the interests and susceptibilities of the Government in the enactment of any laws relating to Chinese immigration. .-.' 2-' ... il Those clauses of the treaties which forbid the participation of citizens or vessels of the United States in the opium trade will doubtless receive your ap- proval. They will attest the sincere in- terest which our people and government feel in the commendable effort of the Chinese Government to put 8 stop to this demoralizing and destructive traffic. THE RETIREMENT OF SILVER oERT1F1-
 GATES.
 l approve the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasury, that provi- sion be made for the early retirement of silver cer tificates and that the act requiring their issue be repealed. They were issued in pursuance of the policy of the. Government to maintain silver at or near the gold standard, and were accordingly made receivable for all cus- toms, taxes, and public dues. About $66, ,O00, 900 of them are now outstand- ing. They form an unnecessary addi- tion to the paper currency, sufficient amount of which may be readily SUD- piled by the national banks.
 THE COINAGE OF SILVER DOLLARS.
 In accordance with the Act of February 28, 1878, the Treasury De- partment has monthly caused at least $2, ,O00, 900 in value of silver bullion to be coined into standard silver dollars. SIC, 900, 900 of these dollars have been already coined, while only about $34,- OOO,O are in circulation. For. the reasons which he specifies, I concur in the Secretary's recommendation that the provision for coinage of fixed amount each month, be repealed, and that hereafter only so much be coined as shall be necessary to supply the de- mand. The Secretary advises that the ssue of gold certificates should not for the present be resumed, and that the national banks may properly be forbidden oy law to retire their currency, except 1pon reasonable notice of their inten- ion to do. Such legislation would 'eem to be justified by the recent action >f certain banks on the occasion referred Q in the Secretary's report of the $15,- )00,00 of fractional currency still only about $8O,O0O has 'een redeemed the past year. The sug- yestion that this amount may properly ,e dropped from future statements of he public debt seems worthy of ap- ,roval. So also does the suggestion of he Secretary as to the advisability of the calendar of the United States courts in the Southern district of New York, by the transfer to another of the numerous suits there 'ending against collectors. -
 FUNDING. ... ... |
 In the last annual report of the Sec etary of the Treasury, the attention of Congress was called to the fact that l ;469. 651 ,050 in five per cent bonds l nd $203, 573, 750 in six per cent. bonds | would become redeemable during the | ear, and Congress was asked to au- | horize the refunding of these bonds at lower rate of interest. The bill for uch refunding having failed to become } law, the Secretary of the Treasury in April last notified the holders of the '199, 690, 400 six per cent. bonds, then that the bonds would be 'aid at par on the list day of July oHowing, or that they might be coon inued" at the pleasure of the Govern nent to bear interest at the rate of hree and one-half per cent. per, annum. Under this notice $178, ,055, 150 of the K per cent. bonds were continued at he lower rate, and, $17, ,635, 250 were edeemed. In May like notice was iven respecting the redemption or con- inuance of the $439, 841, $50 of five per ent. bonds then outstanding, and of hese $401 ,504, 900 were continued at hree and one half per cent. per annum, nd $38, ,336, 450 redeemed. The six per ent. bonds of the loan of February 8, 661, and of the Oregon war debt, together to $14, 125, 800, aving matured during the year, the 'ecretary of the Treasury gave notice f his intention to redeem the same, nd such as have been presented have