Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-12-05

The minerals at t,...:..........,. 47,i03,s4;
During the same period
THE IMPORTS
were as follows:
Merchandise .........-...... :. CO., GO. .69s
Gold and silver. Sc, ,426, ,262
Total. ..........-.......--...... 5 7u5. .1s3, ,955
More than 63 per cent of the entire value of i'm
ported merchandise consisted of the following ar
ticles:
Sugar and molasses ............ 5 s1a3,SS4.a74
| Wool and wooen manufactures, 53, 81. 22sesll
Silk and its manufactures. ..-...... 49. .999, ,12S
SOIee ....--..- ~, ,oJo, 1u1
| Iron and steel and manufactures
thereot -. -...-..-.- -'....-.- 4l,gOf, ,o9g
| Chemicals s..............-.......... IS, ,464 965
Flax, hemp jute and Ike subStan-
ces and manufactures thereof. 49, 39S
Cotton and manufactures OF cotton 30, ,404, ,416
| Hides and skins, other than fur
THE SILVER DOLLAR
concur with the secretary of the treasury in
rec mmendng the immediate suspension of coin
age of silver dollars and of the issuance of silver
| certificates, and this is matter to which in for
mer communications / have more than once in
voked the attention of the national legislature
1t appears that annually, foI the past six years
there have been coine in compliance with the
requirements of the act of Feb. 2S 1873, more
than twenty seven million silver dollars, and the
number now coined is reported by the secretary
to be nearly one hundred and eighty five million,
whereof but little more than forty million, less
than twenty-five per cent, are in actual circula-
| ton. The mere existence of this fact seems to
me TO furnish of itself cogent argument for the
| repeal of the statute, which has made such a
| fact possible, but there are other and graver
| considerations that tend in the same direction,
| The secretary avows his conviction that unless
this coinage and the issuance of silver certificates
be suspended silver is likely at no distant day to
| become our sole metallic standard.
| The commercial disturbance and the impair
| ment of the national credit that would thus be
occasioned can scarcely be over estimated. 1
| hope that the secretary S suggestion respecting
the withdrawal from circulation of the one dollar
| and two-dolar notes will receive your approval.
1t is likely that considerable portion of the sill
| yer now incumberng the vaults in the treasury
| might thus find its way into the currency. While
TRADE DOLLARS
have ceased for the present at least to be an ele
! meEt of active disturbance in our currency Sys-
| tem some provision should be made for their
| surrender to the government. In view of the
circumstances under which they were coined,
and of the fact that they have never had a legal
| tender quality there should be offered for them
| Cnly slight advance over their bullion value.
The secretary, in the course of his report, con-
| slders the proprlety OF
BEAUTIFYING THE DESIGNS OF OUR SUBSIDIARY
SILVER COINS,
and of so increasing their weight that they NAV
bear due ratio of value of the standard dollar
His conclusions in this regard are cordially ap-
proved.
In my annual message of 1892 recommended
the abolition of all excise taxes except those re
lating to distilled spirits This recommendation
is now renewed. In case these taxes shall be
the government will, in my opinion, net only Suf
flee to meet its reasonable expenditures, but will
afford surplus large enough to permit such tar
lH reduction as may seem TO be advisable when
the results of recent revenue laws and CONNER
cial treaties shall have shown in what quarters
these reductions can be most judiciouSly effected
OUR FOREIGN TRADE.
One of the gravest of the problems W iich ap-
peal to the wisdom Of congress for solution is the
ascertainment of the most effective means of in
creasing our foreign trade and thus relieving the
dpDreSSiOn unlpr which industries mo-
languishing Tie secretary OF the treasury advises
that the duty of investigating this subject be
to to- a. competent ''-l commission Shie While
fully recognizing the considerations that
may be urged against this course, am neverthe
less of the opinion, that on the whole, no other
would be likely to effect speedier and better re-
suits. That portion of the Secretary sreport which
concerns that condition of our shipping interests
cannot fail to command your attention. He
phaticaily recommends that as incentive to the
investment of Americas capital in American
steamships, the government shall by liberal
payments for mail transportation, or otherwise,
lend its active aSSiStace to individual enterprise
and declares his belief that snless that course be
pursued, our foreign carrying trade must remain
as it IS to day, almost exclusively in the hands of
fo eignerS
one phase of this subject is not especially prom
inent in view of the repeal act of June 26, 1884,
of all Salutary provisions arbitrarily compelling
American vessels to carry the N ais to and from
the United States. AS it is necessary to make pro-
visions to compensate the owners of such vessels
for performing that service after April 1885, it is
hoped that the whole subject will receive early
consideration that will lead 10 the enactment of
such measures for the revival of our merchant
marine as the wisdom of congress may devise.
THE BONDS.
The three per cent. bends of the government
to the amount of more than S10e, 900, 600 have,
since my last annual message, been redeemed
by the treasury. The bonds of that issue still
outstanding amount to little over 00O00,000,
about one fourth of which will be retired through
the operations of the sinking fund during the com
AS these bonds still continue fhH chief
basis for the circulation of the national banks
the question how to avert the contraction of the
currency caused by their returnment, is one of
constantly increasing Importance.
II seems to be generally conceded that tho law
governing this matter eXacts from banks exces-
Sive security and that in their present bond de-
poSitS a larger circulation than is allowed
may be granted with safety. | hope that bill
which passed the senate at last session permitting
the issue of.notes equal to face value of deposit
ed bonds, will commend itself TO the approval of
the house of representatives.
IN THE EXPENSES OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT
the secretary reports a decrease of more than
S9,0000OO OF which a reduction of S5,600,000 was
effected in expenditures for rivers and harbors,
and S2,5OO0o0 in expenditures for the quarter
master department Outside of that department
the annual expenses of all the army bureaus
proper, except possibly, the ordinance bureau,
are substantially fixed charges, which cannot be
materially diminished without change in the
nu mef lcal strength of the army.
The expenditures in the QuartermaSter'S de-
partment caIl readily be subjected to admins
IfaINe ulScreJlOfl, ana IL Is reported by the sec
Ietary of war that result of exercising suca
discretion in reducing the number of draught
and pack animals in the army, the annual cost of
supplying and caring for such animals Is
S1,10S, ,0S5 90 less than it was in 1892
The reports of military commanders SLOW that
the last year has been notable for its freedom
from Indian. outbreaks. In defiance of the presi-
dents proclamation of July 1st 1884, certain in
truders sought to make settlements in the Indian
Territory They were promptly removed by
detachment of troops.
During the past session OF congress a bill TO
provide q suitable fire proof building for the
army medical museum and the library of the
surgeon generals office received the approval of
the senate. A similar bill reported favorably
To the house OF representatives by one
that body. 1t Is hoped that
during the coming session the measure may be-
come law, and thereafter immediate steps may
be taken to secure place of safe deposit for
these valuable collections, now in a state of inse-
curity.
The funds with which the works for the
IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS AND HARBoRs
were prosecuted during the past year were de-
rived from the appropriations of the act of Au-
gust 2, 1882, together with such few balances as
were on hand from previous appropriations.
The balance in the treasury subject to requiSi-
tion July lst, 1883. was SO, ,G21,649. So.
The amount appropriated during the fiscal year
1891 was Sl3,196,345 %
The amount drawn from the treasury during
the fiscal year was S., ,22S 3.5.
Leaving a balance Of s3,l12, sO.G3 in the treas
ury subject TO requisition July l. 1881.
COAST DEFENSES
The secretary of war submits the report of
chief of engineers to the practicabity of pro-
tectinS our important ciIiss the seaboard by
.ortifications and other defences able to repel
modern meiho of attack The time has now
come when such defences can be prepared with
the confidence that they will not prove abortive
and when the possible results of delay in making
such preparations is seriously considered, delay
seems inexcusable For the most important cit
ies-those whose destruction or capture would be
a national humiliation adequate defences in
| elusive of guns, may be made by the gradual ex-
victorious enemy could levy as contribution.
! An approximation of about one tenth of that
/ an1Int is asked to begin the work, and / concur
| with the secretary Of war in urging that it be
granted
! The war department is proceeding with the
( conversion of 10-inch smooth bore guns into s
| inch rifles by lining the former with tubes of
forged or Of cold wrought iron. Fifty guns will
| be thus converted within the year. This how
| ever does not obviate the necessity of providing
means for the construction OF guns of the highest
power, but for the purposes of coast defense and
! for the armament of war vessels
| The report of the gun fousdry board appointed
April > 1SS3 in pursuance Of the act of March 3,
| lSS3 was transmitted TO congress in a special
J message of February S, 1884 In my message Of
| March 26, 1884. called attention TO the recon-
| mendation 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 established for