The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-12-13

/ there have been coined in compliance with re-
quirements of the act OF February y, 1873, more
1 than 100000 silver dollars. The number OF
/ silver dollars outstanding IS reported by
( the secretary to be nearly 1S5 100000,
whereof but little more than 40,OO, 600, or less
than % per cent. are in actual circulation. The
mere existence of this fact seems TO me, 10 furn-
ISL OF itself cogent argument for the repeal OF
/ the statute which has made such fact possible.
But there are other and grayer considerations
that tend in the same direction. The secretary
avows his conviction that unless the Coinage and
the issuance of silver certificates be suspended,
silver is likely at no distant day. 10 become our
sole metallic standard The commercial dis
turbance and the impairment Of national credit
that would be thus ucCasioned, scarcely be
oyerestinated. hope that the secretary sug-
gestions respecting the withdrawal IRON circula-
ton OF the one-dollar and tWo-dollar notes VIII
receiyeyour approval II is likely that considera
bic portion of the silver now incumber'ng the
vaults in the treasurymight thus find its way into
the currency. While trade dollars have ceased, for
the present at least, 10 be an element of active
disturbance in our currency system, some pro-
vision should be made for their surrender
TO the government. In view OF the clrcum-
stances under which they were coined and of the
TACT that they have never had legal tender quail
ity there should be offered for them only a
slight advance over Their bullion value. The
secretary, in the course OF his report considers
the EropTiety OF beautifying he designs of our
subsidiary silver coins and OF so increasing their
weight that they may bear their due ratio of
value of the standard dollar. His conclusions
in this regard are cordially approved.
ENCISE TAX ).
In my annual message of 1882 I recommended
the abolition Of all excise taxes except those re-
lating 10 distilled spirits. This recommendation
is now renewed, and i'll case these taxes shall be
abolished, the revenues that vii still remain 10
the government Will, in my opinion, not only
suffice meet Its reasonable expenditures but
win afford a surplus large enough TO permit Of
such tariff reduction may 10 be advisable,
when the res Its OF recent revenue laws and COM
mercial. treaties shall have shown i'll what quar-
ters these reductions can be most judiciously
effected.
QUE FOREIGN TRADE.
Ono f tha Oft b.A n trhiah
peal to the wisdom of Congress for solution is the
aSceTtainment of the most effective meapS of in
creasing our foreign trade and thus relieving the
depression under which our industries sre now
lauguishing- The secretary of the treasury ad-
vises that the duty of this subject be
entrusted i'll the first instance 10 a competent
commission. While fully recognizing the consid-
erations That may be urged against this course,
am nevertheless of the opinion that on the whole
no other would be likely to elect speedier or bet
ter results.
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
That portion of the secretary's report which
concerns the condition OF our shipping interests
cannot fail 10 command your attention. He en-
phaticaily recommends that incentive to
the investment of American capital in American
steamships. the government shall by liberal pay
ments for mail transportation, otherwise, lend
lis active assistance To individual enterprise, and
declares his belief that unless that be pur-
sued, our foreign carrying trade must remain as
il is to-day, almost exclusively in the hands of
foreigners. One phase of this subject Is not espe
clay prominent IN view OF the repeal act of June
20 1881. OF all salutary provisions arbitrarily COM
pelling American vessels TO carry the mails to
and from the United States. As it is necessary to
make provision To compensate the owners of such
vessels for performing that service after April
1885, il IS 9ped that the whole subject Will re-
ceive early consideration that will lead to the
enactment of such measures for the revival of our
merchant marine as the wisdom of Congress may
devise.
THE REDEMPTION OF BONDS.
The per cent. bonds of the government TO the
amount OF more than SlOO,O0o,GOO have, since my
last animal message been redeemed by the treas
ury. The bonds OF that issue, still outstanding
amount to a little over 500 100000. about one
fourth of which viii be retired through the op-
erations of the sinking fund, during the coming
year AS these bonds still continue the chief basis
the circulation of the national banks the
question now to avert the contraction of the cur
rency, caused by their retirement, one of con-
stantly increasing importance II seems to be
generally conceded that the law governing this
matter exacts from the banks excessive security
and that on their present bond deposits q larger
circulation than is now allowed, may be granted
with safety. hope that the bill which passed
the Senate at the last session, permitting the is
sue of notes equal to the face value of deposited
bonds, will commend itself TO the approval of
the House of Representatives.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
In the expenses OF the War Department the
secretary reports decrease of more than $50 0O0,
600 OF which reduction $50 600 600 was effected in
the expenditures for rivers and harbors, and 81
100000 in the expenditures for the quartermas-
ter's department Outside of that department
the annual expenses of all the army bureaus
proper Except possibly the ordnance bureau) are
materially diminished without change in the nu-
merical strength of the army. The expenditures
In the guar ermasters department can readily be
SUBJECTED 10 administrative discretion, and it is
reported by the Secretary of War that, a result
of exercising such discretion in reducing the
number Of dTaug Int and pack animals in the army,
the annual cost OF suppand Clarifying ng for such
1889. 49, ' - was
The reports of military commanders show that
the last year has becnnOtable for its freedom from
Indian outbreaks. In defiance OF the Presidents
proclamation of July J, 1854, certain intruders
sought to make settlements in the Indian Terri
tory. They were promptly removed by a detach-
ment of troops
During the past session of Congress n bill to
provide a suitable fire proof building for the
Army Medical Museum and the library OF the
surgeou-geneTnl's office received the approval of
the senate. similar bill reported tavorably to
the House OF Representatives by one of its com
mittees is still pending before that body. II is
hoped that during the coming session the meas
ute may become law, and thereafter immediate
steps may be taken to secure a place of safe &C.
post tor these valuable collections now IN state
Of insecurity.
The funds with which the works (, 4. the i'm
proyement of rivers and harbors We're prosecuted
during the past year were derived from the APP
prOpratOns of the act of August 2, 1882, together
with such few balances as were on hand from
previous appropriations The balance in the
treasury subject to Tequisition July l, 1888. was
slUO2Lb49.55. The amount appropriated during
the fiscal year 1884 was Sl3,l96.3I6 p. and the
amount drawn from the treasury during the fiscal
year was eS,22S 1u35i leaving balance of s. ll2
,-y' III tlAS LittiSulg SuDJ6CL ~
!, 1884.
The Secretary of War submits the report of the
Chief of Engineers rs to the practicability of
protecting cur important cities on seaboard by
foIthcations and other defenses able to repel
modern methods of attack. The time has now
come when such defenscS can be prepared with
confidence that they Will not prove abortiye; and
when the possible result of delay in making such
preparations IS seriously considered, delay seems
IneXCusable. For the most important cities
those whose destruction or capture would be
national humiliation, adequate defense, inclu-
sive Of guns, may be made by the gradual ex-
pendituTe of $50 90, 600 a sum much less than
victorious enemy could levy a contribution.
An appropriation of about one-tenth of that
amount is asked 10 begin the work, and l CON
cur with the Secretary of War in urging that ii
be granted
The War Department is proceeding with the
conversion of l0-iuCh smooth bore guns into
s-inCh rifles by lining the former with tubes of
forge or of cold wrought iron. Fifty guns will
be thus converted with this year This however,
does not obviate the necessity OF providing means
Tor the construction OF guns Of the highest power
for the purposes Of coast defense and for the
armament Of war vessels.
The report of the gun foundry board appointed
April ., 1888 in pursuance of the act of March .,
| 1888, was transmitted to CONGRESS in a special
message of February 8, 1884. In my message of
| March 20 1885, called attention to the recon-
mend6tou of the board that the government
| should encourage the production OF private
| steel WORKS OF the required material for heavy
| cannon, and that two government factories, one
/ for the army and one for the navy should be es-
tablished for the fabrication of guns of such ma
I was subsequently reconvened to determine
! more fully the plans and estimate
for carrying out Its recommendations
II has received information which
! indicates that there are responsible steel manu-
tacturcTs in this country who although not pro-
yided at present with the necessary plant, are
/ willing to onstruct the same and TO make bids
/ for contracts with the government for the supply
! of the requisite materials for the heaviest guns
/ adapted to modern warfare, ii a guaranteed
/ order of sufficient magnitude. accompanied by n
! positive Appropriation extending over a series
/ OF years, shall be made by Congress All doubts
/ Is TO the feasibility or the plan being thus re-
moved, / renew my recommendation that such
action be taken by Congress win enable the
government to construct its ordnance upon
/ its own territory, and TO provide the arma-
/ mentS demanded by considerations Of national
/ safety and honor
/ THK NAVY DEPARTMENT
| The report of the secretary of the navy exhib-
/ its the progress which has been made in the new
steel cruisers authorized by the acts Of August s.
1852, aud March 3, lSS}. OF the four vessels I'M
der contract. one, the Chicago, of 800 TONS is
more than halt finished the Atlanta, 5000 tons
/ has been successfully launched. and her machin-
cry is fitting, the Boston, also OF 900 tons is