Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-12-10

mere existence OF this fact seems to me- to ftlrn.
he statute which has made such fact possibI g.
But there are other and graver considerations
that tend in the same direction. The secretary
ayows his conviction, that unless the coinage and
the issuance of silver certificates be suspended,
silver Is likely, at no distant day, to become our
sole metallic standard, The commercial dis.
tnrbance and the impairment Of national credit
overestimated. hope that tho secretary's sug-
gestions respecting the withdrawal from circula-
ton ofthe onedollar and two. dollar notes Will
ble portion Of the silver now REMEMBERING the
vaults in the treasurymight thus find its way into
the currency. While trade dollars have ceased, for
the present at least, to be an element of active
disturbance in our currency system, some pro-
vision should be made for their surrender
70 the government. In view Of the circum-
stances under which they werecoined and of the
fact that they have never had legal tender quail
3ty.. there should be offered for them only a
slight advance over their bullion value. The
secretary, In the course of his report, considers
subsidiary silver coins and 81 SO increasipe es
weight that they may bear their due ratio of
value of the standard dollar. His conclusions
In this regard are cordially approved.
EXCISE TAxrs.
/. In my annual message of 1882, recommended
the abolition Of all excise taxes except those re-
lattng to distilled spirits. This recommendation
abolished, the revenues that will still remain to
the government will, in my opinion, not only
suffice to meet its reasonable expenditures but
win viii afford surplus large enough to permit Of
such tariff reduction as may seem to be advisable,
when the results of recent revenue laws and com.
mercial treaties shall have shown in what quar-
eers these reductions can be most judici0usly
effected.
QUE FOREIGN TRADE
One Of the gravest of the problems which ap.
peal to the wisdom of Congress for solution is the
ereasing our foreign trade and thus relieving the
depression under which our industries ere now
9nguishing. The secretary of the treasury ad-
vises that the duty Of this subject be
entrusted in The first instance to competent
commission. While fully recognizing the consid-
erations that may Ge urged against this course,
am nevertheless of the opinion that on the whole
no other would be likely to effect speedier or bet
ter results. -
OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
That portion of the secretary's report which
cannot fail to command your attention.. He en-
phatically recommends that M an incentive to
the investment of American capital in American
steamsfhips the government shall by liberal pay
Its active assistance to individual enterprise and
declares his belief that unless that course be pur-
sued, our foreign carrying trade must remain as
foreigners One phase of this subject is not espe-
cially prominent in view Of the repeal act Of June
g. 1884, OF all salutary provisions arbitrarily COM
and from the United States. AZ it is necessary to
make provision to compensate the owners of such
vessels for performing that service after April,
1885, it Is hoped that the whole subject will re-
celVe 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 500, 0O0, 900 have, since my
last animal message, been redeemed by the treas
ury. The bonds of that issue, still outstanding
amount to a little over $780, GOO, 600, about one
fourth of which will be retired through The o.
erations Of the sinking fund, during the coming
year. AS these bonds still continue the chief basis
question now to avert the contraction of the cur
rency, caused by their retirement, Is one of con-
stantly increasing importance. It seems to be
generally conceded that the law governing this
Matter exacts from the banks excessive security
and that on their present bond deposits 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
eeeretary reports decrease of more than $50 OOO
goo. OF which reduction $56 000 600 was effected In
ehe expenditures for rivers and harbors. and S.
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 MI.
merical strength of the army. The expenditure.
IN the quarermasters department can readily be
reported by the Secretary of War that as result
OF exercising such discretion in reducing the
number of draught and pack animals in the army,
the annual cost of suppand Clarifying ng for such
a ass5 Is now 80 less than it was in
=, The reports of military commanders show that
!ne last year has beennotabe for its freedom from
Indian outbreaks. In defiance of the Presidents
proclamation of JNlV I. 1894. certain 6or
sought to make settlements in the Indian Terri.
tory. They were promptly removed by detach'
ment OF troops.
During the past session OF Congress bill to
provide suitable tre.proof building for the
Army Medical Museum and the library OF the
surgeon.general's office received the approval Of
the House of representative by one of its com.
mittees is still pending before that body. It Is
hoped that during the coming session the meas,
steps may be taken to secure place of safe de.
OF insecurity.
provement Of rivers and harbors were prosecuted
during the past year were derived from the ap
Preparations OF the act of August g. 1892 together
with such few balances as were on hand from
previous appropriations. The balance in the
treasury subject to reQuisition July l. 1885, was
$l0 OF, GAG. 55. The amount appropriated during
the fiscal year 1884 was SIS, 1885, s46 q, and the
amount drawn from the treasury during the fiscal
year was $685. 70354 leaving balance Of SIS, 49,
$50 6S in the treasury subject to requisition July
The Secretary of War submits the renort of the
Chief Of Engineers as to the practicability Of
protecting our important cities on seabOard by
fortlhcatlons and other defenses able to repe
modern methods of attack. The time has now
come when such defenses can be prepared with
confidence that they will not prove abortive; 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 n0nfrrn 1vOu16 20 q
national humiliation, adequate defense, inclu.
siye 81 guns nay be IN made by the gradual ex
victorious enemy could levy as contribution
An appropriation of about one-tenth of thai
amount Is asked to begin the work, and con
cur with the Secretary of Wc2 in urging that il
The War Department Is proceeding with thu
conversion of 10-inch smooth bore guns int
s-inch rifles by lining the former with tubes o.
be thus converted with this year. This, however
does not obviate the necessity Of providing mean
tor the construction OF guns of the highest power
for the purposes Of coast defense and for tn,
armament of war vessels.
The report of the gun foundry board appointed
April O. 1883, in pursuance Of the act Of March 8
1883. was transmitted to Congress In specia
MARCH, 1ss Called attention eS the feee@
| mendation of the board that the government
| should encourage the production Of q privat
steel works of the required material for heav!
cannon, and that two government factories, on
for the army and one for the navy, should be ca
tablished for the fabrication of guns of such ma
terial. No action having been taken, the boart
was subsequently reconvened to determine
| more fully the plans and estimat
for carrying out Its recommendations
It . has received information which
indicates that there are Responsible steel manu-
| facturers in this country who, although not prO
vided at present with the necessary plant ar
| willing to construct the same and to make bid
| for contracts with the government for the suppl
| of the requisite materials for the heaviest gun
adapted to modern warfare, If guaranteed
order of sufficient magnitude. accompanied by
positive appropriation extending over ser1e
| of years. shall be made by Congress All doubt
% to the feasibility of the plan being thus re
moved, l renew my recommendation that sue
| action be taken by Congress as will enable tn
| government to construct its own ordnance upO
Its own territory, and SO to provide the arma
ments demanded by considerations of nationa
safety and honor.
| THE NAVY DEPARTMENT..
| The report of the secretary of the navy exhib
It's the progress which has been made in the neJ
steel cruisers authorized by the acts of August
| 1882, and March 5, 1885, OF the four vessels an
| der contract, one, the Chicago of 500 TONS
| more than half finished; the Atlanta, 5000 tons
has been successfully launched. and her machir
cry Is now fitting; the Boston, also OF 600 tons
ready for launching, and the Dolphin, q dispatc
steamer of 500 tons. is ready for delivery &c,
tain adverse criticisms upon the dc
signs Of these cruisers are discussed B,
! the secretary who insists that the correctnes
of the conclusions reached by the advisory boar
and by the department has been demonstrated b