The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-12-12


this, with the evident Al position to head gold,
gives rise to tua sia.. cien TINT there H.
ready exists Ia OF confidence among
tho people touching or financial process Il.
Thofo rs certainly not enough silver now IN cir
cuatou to CnuH' UucasingsS and the whole
nmuuut coined aud nov on knud might, after 20
time bt uhrOruoI by tie people without apprn-
hrn-iuu, l~t II - tho eoas less stream That
t4r.ut.u. t1 overflow tho land which causes fruf
aud uncertainty, What u,s been thus fHr sub
mit.od upon lIs subject ~. ties almost entirely
D. cons i.Ta.i.us ui q hum nture, uucOnuoc., ed
with th. bearing which th"' policies Of other uu-
tIu.4 have urou the quest on, but IL IL perfectly
aIJpr.ri. ..H. a. line ~ notion in regard o. our
c..r.u.N cannot wisely to settled upon or per-
sH.pl Iu wi.luJt considering tho n:tl-
taio u. t.t subject OK "iiivr couD-
t.,3 N.tA whom Wo m0iutan inter
course through commerce. rldc. ana travel.
"A acknowledgment ~ this is found il the a't
bv virtue oi which our silver il compul.orly
invite the Governments of the countries cumpos-
ing the Latin Union, so called and Of such
other European nations ~ he may doom oi-
visible 10 ioin tho United states In n conference
/ 10 pdu,t o. common Ut.o between gold and all
| Yer for the purpose uf establishing information
ully the usos of bimaouliic money end securing
Gl.ty Of relative yHllo between these metals.
This conference absolutely failed. oud Il sltnl-
lrr fate has awaited all subsequent efforts in the
same direction, and still We continue our coin
agc Of silver 90 u ratio ditarCut from that ~ amy
/ Other nation. Tho most vital part Of the silver
| Coinage Act remains imperative and uncN-
/ tcutrd, and without mn ally or friend wo battlai
ujon the silver held in an illogical and losing
/ contest To give fun effect u the design Of
| Congress uu this subject, / have made careful
| md earnest eudoRNur since the adjournment Of
/ tie last Congress.
! To this ,ud delegated n eontlcmHn well in
/ struCtod m fiscal science TO proceed - the imam
/ cial coutcrs ~ Europe, and in conjunction with
! our Ministers 10 England France, and Germany,
/ 10 Obtnin II fun knowledge Of the attitude und
! intent ~ tho SO governments respecting tho c5-
| tablishmcut Of such nm international ratio RS
| would procure free coinage Of both metals nj the
| mnts Of those countries and our own. ny my
! direction our Consul General a. Paris has given
| close attention to the proceedings of the Con-
gress Of the Latin Union in order to Indicate our
| interest IN it, objects and report its action,
! II may be- sud in brief as the result of these
/ efforts that the attitude ~ the leading powers
remain substantially unchanged since the Mon
etary Conference OF 1881 nor IL To be questioned
| that the views Of these Governments are in each
| instance supported by the weight Of public opin-
| ion. The steps thus taken have. therefore, only
more fully demonstrated the uscltsSnrss OF fur
ther attempts ut present 10 arrive nj amy agree
mput on the subject with other nnlon@. In the
meantime We are accommodating silver coin based
upon our peculiar ratio 10 such an eNttu', and
assuming 50 heavy u burden tO be provided for
IN any international negotiations, rs VIII render
US an undesirable party TO any future monetary
conference OF nations.
1t is u significant fact that four Of the hye
countries comprising the Latin Union men
toned IN our coinage act, embarrassed with
their silver currency hHye just completed IN
agreement among Themselves that no moro
SILVER hiNu TO ttllltl ny Llt II respective Cow
enrnonts, ana that such as has been already
coined and in circulation shall he redeemed in
gold by the country uf IT'S coinage. Tie resort
to this cVp,di,ut by these countries may well
arrest the attention of those who sup
pose that We cum succeed without shock
or injury In the attempt to circulate, uIO
its merits, all the silver We may com under
tho provisions 81 the silNcr-coiuage net
The condition IN whlrh our Treasury II ny be
placed by \. ralstouce IN our present course Is
II matter of concern 20 every patriotic citizen
.l.. loci :. WORN ~
silver such ut Us obligations as should be paid in
gold Nor should our condition be such as Ia
onligo Us, an prudent mnnrgr mont ~ our
affairs, to discontinue the calling IN and pay
Iurut Of interest bearing obligations which We
have the ri lht now u discharge md thus avoid
thu payment of further Interest thereon.
The so-culled debtor class, for whose benefit
the continued compulsory coinage Of silver is IN
sisted upon, ure not dishonest because they are
in debt, and they should not be susp ctcd of
d,sre 20 jeopGriilc tine financial safety Of the
country in order that they may cancel their
present debts by paying the same n d"rrociiItcd
dollars; should Il be forgotten that IL is not
| the rich nor the money -irncat alou' thHt must
submit to such renGlUrtmeur, enforced 10y
the Government and their debtors Tie
pit,Auco Of the widow and the orphan, and
tho maomcs Of helpless benefciarics of
all kinds, would he dsHs.r0usiy reduced.
/ The dcposltJfs IN savings hunks and in other
institutions which hoid IN trust the savings Of
| the poor Whom their little accommodations are
scaled down - meet the new order Of things,
would, IN their distress painfully realize the dc-
| fusion of the promise on .Gu % thelu that p.en-
! tful money would improve their condition. We
have now on hanj al! the silver dollars neces-
Bary 10 supply tho present needs OF the people,
and to satisfy Jitl7" " no rom SrntinenJ wash
to see them IN circulation, and II their coinage
ia suspended tu"y can be readily obtained 10y
| all who desire them. II the need OF more Is no
any tnuo apparent, their coinage muy DO re-
ucWed.
That disaster has not already overtakcn rs
| furnishes proof thuJ danger does not witt
/ "a
! age. We have been saved by the most careful
| management and unusual eypudieuts by II COM
blnntiuu of FIR innate conditions, and by conf
| dent expectation that tho commerce OF the Gov
. eminent IN II gard tN silver coinage would be
4 speedily changed by nm action II Congress.
Prosperity hositute5 UIOu our threshold because
| Of dangers and uncertainties surrounding this
! question,
| Capitul tnnidly shrnks from trade, and invest
ors are unwilling e. take the oaunce of the ques-
| tiouable shuIc in which their money viii be re-
turned to them, while enterprise hGlts n, Il risk
| against which care and sngacous management
do not protect. As n necessary consequence,
/ labor lacks employment and suffering aud dis
tress visited upon II portion Of our fellow-cit-
liens especially entitled to the careful consider
| alton OF those charged with the duties Of l"gsla-
ton No interest appeals to Us so strongly for u
snto and stable currency rs tho vast army OF tho
! recommend the suspension Of compulsory
| coinage Of silver dollars directed by the law
! passed in February, 1873.
STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE
! The stoiaiubOnt inspection service ON the 3Dth
| day II June, lo,, Was composed Of li0 persons,
/ including officers, clerks nnd messengers. The
| expenses Of the service over the receipts We're
| slIS SO y during the fscal year The special
| inspection Of foreign steam vessels, organized
under the law PASSED III 1892, was maintained
| during the year at an expense Ot >G,6ilG3
| Since the close ~ the fiscal year reductions
| havs been made in tho forces employed, which
| will result in usaNiug during the current year
OF SlT 900 wioLoIt affecting the efficiency II the
! service.
MARINE HOSPITALS.
| The supervising Surgeon General reports TINT
| during the fiscal year I'll, IA patients have re-
ceiyed relief through marine hospital service, Of
whom II. JI5 were treated IN hospitals and y ,Jn
| n dtspensHrieS,
| PROTECTION FROM CHOLERA AND sHALL-ruY.
Active and effective efforts have been made
through the medium Of this service 10 protect
! tho country against an invasion OF cholera,
which has prevailed In Spain and France, and
| tho smallpox which recently broke out in
| Canada.
| THE LIFE-StvING SERVICE,
! The most gratifying results have attended the
I operations on tho life-saviLR service during tho
| last fiscal year. The observance OF the provision
OF law requiring the appointments Of the force
| employed in tho service TO DO made solely with
| reference to their fitness, and without reference
b. the political or party afiliattOn has secured
the result which may confidently be expected III
! any branch OF public employment where such u
rule is applied, As u consequence this service
is composed Of mon we'll qualified for the per-
fOrmHncs II their dangerous and exceptionally
important duties.