Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-12-09

Based upon our own peculiar ratio, to such
an extent and assuming so heavy bur
den TO be provided for in any internation-
nj negotiations as will render us an unde-
sirable party to any future monetary
conference of nations.
tits a significant fact that four OF the
five countries composing the Latin Union,
mentioned in our coinage act, embarrass-
ed with their silver currency, have Just
completed an agreement among them.
selves that no more silver shall be coined
by their governments, and that such as
has already been coined and is in circula-
ton shall be redeemed in gold by the
, country of its coinage. The resort to this
expedient by these countries may well
arrest the attention of those who suppose
we can succeed without a shock or in
Jury in the attempt to circulate, upon its
merits, all the silver we may coin under
the provisions of our silver coinage act.
THE CONDITION IN WHICH OUR TREASURY
MAY BE PLACED.
BY q persistence in our present course is
matter OF concern to every patriotic
citizen who does not desire his Govern
ment to pay in silver such of its obliga.
tons as should belpaid in gold, nor should
our condition be such as to oblige us in u
prudent management OF affairs to discon-
tinue the calling-in and payment OF
interest-bearing obligations which we
have the right now to discharge, and thus
avoid the payment of further interest
thereon.
The so-called debtor class, for whose
benefit the continued compulsory coinage
OF silver is insisted upon, are not dishon-
est because they are in debt, and they
should not be suspected of a desire to
jeopardze the financial safety of the
country in order that they may cancel
their present debts by paying the same
in deprecated dollars nor should it be
forgotten that it is not the rich nor the
money-lender alone that must submit to
such REIMBURSEMENT enforced by the
government and their debtors. The
pittance of the widow and orphan, land the
incomes of helpless beneticiaries of all
kinds, would be disastrously reduced.
THE DEPosIToRs IN SAVINGS BANKS
And other institutions which hold in trust
the savings of the poor, when their little
accommodations are scaled down to meet
the new order of things would, in their
distress, painfully realize the delusion Of
their promise made to them that plentiful
money would improve their conditions.
We have now on hand all the silver
dollars necessary to supply the present
need of the people and to satisfy those
who, from sentiment, wish to see them in
circulation, and ii their coinage is sus-
pended, they can be readily obtained by
those who desire them. III the need OF
more is ut any time apparent their coin
age may be resumed. That the disaster
has not already overtaken us furnishes
no proof that danger does not wait upon
a continuation of the present silver coin
age. We have been saved by the most
careful management and unusual expedi-
ents, by q combination of fortunate con-
ditions and by confident expectation
that the commerce of the Government in
regard to silver coinage would be speedi-
ly changed by the action of Congress.
PROSPERITY HEsITATEs UPON OUR IHREsH-
HOLD
Because OF the dangers surrounding this
question. Capital timidly shrinks from
trade and investors are unwilling to take
the chance of the questionable shape in
which their money will be returned to
them, while enterprise halts at the risk
against which care and sagacious man
agement do not protect. AS necessary
consequence labor lacks employment and
suffering and distress are visited upon
portion of our fellow citizens especially
entitled to the careful consideration OF
those charged with the duties of legisla-
ton. No interest appeals to us so strongly
for safe and stable currency as the vast
army OF unemployed. l recommend the
suspension of the compulsory coinage of
silver dollars directed by the law passed
in February, 1878.
STEAMBOAT INSPECTION.
The steamboat inspection service on the
30th day of June, 1885, was composed of
l40 persons, including officers, clerks and
messengers. The expenses of the service
over the receipts were $l3S, S2227 during
the fiscal year. The special inspection OF
foreign vessels, organized under the law
passed in 1882, was maintained during
the year at an expense OF 1866, 416 80.
Since the close of the fiscal year reduc-
lions have been made in the force en-
| ployed which will result in saving dur
ing the current year OF ST., 200, without
affecting the efficiency OF the service.
THE MARINE HOSPITAL.
The supervising Surgeon-General re-
ports that during the fiscal year Al ia
patients have received relief through the
Marine Hospital service, OF whom Il, SOB
were treated in the hospitals, and 2S,9ll
at the dispensaries. Active and effective
! efforts have been made through the
medium OF this service to protect the
country from an invasion of cholera.
which has prevailed in Spain and France
and the smallpox, which recently broke
out in Canada.
THE LIFE SAVING sppvtrp
The most gratifying results have at
tended the operations Of the Life Saving
Service during the past fiscal year. The
observance OF the provision of law re-
curing the appointment of the force en-
ployed in the service to be made "solely
| with reference to their fitness, and with
out reference to their political or party
Affiliations" has secured the result which
may confidently be expected in any
branch OF public employment where such
rule is applied. AS a consequence this
service IS composed of men well
qualified for the performance of their
dangerous and exceptionally important
duties. ''''''
Inc number OF stations i'm commission
at the close oil the year was 2O3.
The number OF disasters to vessels and
crafts OF all kinds within their field of ac.
ton was 39l.
The number OF person endangered in
such disaster was 2,439, OF whom 2 .42S
were saved, and only eleven lost. Other
lives which We're imperiled, though moi
by disasters to shipping, were also
rescued, and Il large amount of propertv
was saved through the aid of this service
The cost of its mointonn,oa I,,.: a,