Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-12-13

| changes in the laws by which their circulation
course is preferable. commend to your at
| tention the very interesting and thoughtful
suggestlons on this subject which appear IN
| he urges against the acceptance of other
securities than the obligations of Govern
| ment itself as foundation for national bank
circulation, seem to me in-uperabie.
For avertiEg the threatened contraction.
two courses have been suggested, either OF
which is probably feasible. One of these is
the issuance of new bonds, having many
| years to run, bearing low rate of interest,
tss
which commends itself to my own Judgment
| as the better, is the enactment of a law re-
| peallng the tax on circulation and permitting
| the banks to issue notes for an amount equal
| to 80 per cent. of the market value instead OF
as now the face value of their deposited
belief that the adoption of this plan would
AFFORD the necessary relief.
| THE TRADE DOLLAR
was coined for the purpose of traffic in couIl-
tries where silver passed at its value, as ascer-
tanned by its weight and business. 1t never
had legal tender quality. Large numbers of
these coins entered, however, into the volume
of our currency By common consent their
circulation in domestic trade has now ceased
and they have; thus become a disturbing ele-
ment. They should not be longer permitted
to embarrass our currency system. i recon-
mend that provision be made for their recep-
ton by the Treasury and minis as bullion, at
a small percentage above the current market
price of silver of like fineness.
CUSTOMS DISTRICTS.
The Secretary of the Treasury advises a
consolidation Of certain of the customs dis
tricts of the country, and suggests that the
President be vested with such power in reia-
ton thereto as is now given him in respect to
collectors CT internal revenue by section !, AL
of the Revised Statutes. The statistics on
this subject which are contained in his report
defense of his views. At the adjournment of
Congress the number of internal revenue col
lection districts was 126. By executive orders
DOT vrprn a&oSrf1 .,% vfnsrr Of
these districts be consolidated. The result
has been a reduction of one-third their num-
Der, which at present is but eighty-three.
INDIAN TRIBES.
From the report of the Secretary of War it
will be seen that in only single instance has
there been any disturbance of the quiet condi-
ton of our Indian tribes-a raid from Mexico
into Arizona by small party of indians, which
was pursued by Gen. Crook into the mountain
region from which they had come. 1t is con-
fidently hoped that serious Outbreaks will not
again occur, and that the Indian tribes which
have for SO many years terrified the West will
remain in peaceable submission.
SEA COAST DEFENsEs.
again call your attention to the present
condition of our extended sea coast, upon
which there are so many large cities whose
wealth and Importance to the country would.
in time of war, invite attacks from modern
armored ships, against which our existing de-
fensive works could give no adequate protec
PRODUCTION of modern heavy rifed guns into
maritime warfare. and it they are not put in
an efficient condition we may easily be sub
jected to humiliation by hostile power great
ly inferior to ourselves. AS german to this
subject call your attention to the import
ance of perfecting our su bmarine torpedo
defenseS. The board authorized by the last
Congress to report on the method which should
be adopted for the manufacture of heavy ord
ed the principal iron and steel works in this
country and Europe. 1t is hoped that its
report will soon be made, and that Con-
gress will thereupon be disposed to provide
suitable facilities and plans for the manufac-
ture of such guns as are now imperatively
needed.
STATE MILITIA.
On several occasions during the past year
officers of the army have, at the request of the
State authorities, united their military en-
the reports of these officers, am induced to
believe the encouragement of the State mill
tia organization by the National Government
would be followed by very gratifying results,
and would afford it in sudden emergencies the
aid of large body of volunteers, educated in
the performance of military duties.
THE NAVY.
The Secretary of the Navy reports that I'M
der the authority of the acts of August 3, 1882,
and March 3, 1888 the work of strengthening
our navy by the construction of modern yes
sells has been auspiciously begun. Three
cruisers are in process of constructions; the
Chicago of 1880 tons displacement, and the
Boston and Atlanta, each of $500 tons. They
are to be built of steel, with the tensile
strength and duetility prescribed by law, and
combination of speed, endurance and arm
ament are expected to compare favorably
with the best unarrned war vessels of other
nations. A fourth vessel, the Dolphin, is to
be constructed of similar material, and is in
tended to serve as fleet dispatch boat. The
double-turreted monitors Puritan, Amphitrite
and Terror have been launched on the Della
ware River, and q contract has been made for |
the supply of their machinery. A similar |
monitor, the Monadnock, has been launched |
in California The Naval Advisory Board and |
the Secretary recommend the completion Of |
the monitors, the construction of four gun |
boats and three additional steel vessels like |
A<,i,.
portant measure of defense. The Secretary
urges also the immediate creation of an
INTERIOR CoAsr-LINE OF WATERWAYS
across the peninsula of Florida, along the |
tween the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware |
River, and through Cape Cod. feel bound to |
necessity Of continued progress in the recon
of the navy: The condition of the |
public treasury, as I have already intimated, |
makes the present an suspicious time for put |
ting this branch of service in a state if eff |
cheney. 1t is no part of our policy to create |
and maintain a navy able to cope with that of |
no wish for foreign conquest, and the peace |
which we have long enjoyed is in no seeming |
should be made adequate for the de-
tense of our harborS, the protection of our |
interests and the maintenance of
our national honor, is proposition from
which no patriotic citizen can withhold his
assent.
THE POST OFFICE.
tains a gratifying exhibit of the condition
and prospects of this interesting branch of
the public service committed to his care. 1t
appears that on June 80, 1883, the whole num-
Der Of Post-offices was Al S63, of which 1852
we're established during the previous year.
The number of offices operating under
The system Of free delivery was 1884, |
At these latter offices the postage on local
natter amounted to 81, 1875, go 81, a sum ex-
seeding by 81, OH 1894 OIL the entire cost of the
carriers service of the country. The rate of
postage on drop letters passing through these
,ffices is now 1xed by law at two cents per
half ounce or fractions thereof. In Offices
where the carrier system has not been estab-
ished the rate is only half as large. 1t will be
that in 1868, when free delivery
vas first established by law, the uniform single
ate postage upon local letters was one cent,
md SO it remained until 1872, when in those
cities where carrier service was established
was increased in order to defray the ex-
,enses of such service. It seems5to me that
he old rate may now with propriety be re-
stored, and that too even at the risk of dimin-
shing, for a time at least, the receipts from
postage upon local letters. 1 can see no rea-
ION why that particular class of mail matter
hould be held accountable for the entire cost
II not only its own collection and delivery, but
he collection and delivery of all other classes, |
L Of f,,ll H. |