The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-12-17


has soon returned TO the public treasury in pay
ent OF duties leads To the belief that the peo-
y 90 not now desire 70 keep IL ON hand, and
lia. with the evident disposition 20 hoard gold.
,ises rise to the suspicion that there al
ready exists a lack OF conndonco among
the people touching our financial processes.
ouation 10 cause uneasiness. and the whole
amount coined and now ON hand might after
time, be absorbed by the people without appre-
hension; but it Is the ceaseless stream that
threatens to overflow the land which causes fear
and uncertainty. What has been thus far sub
mitted upon this subject relates almost entirely
to considerations OF a home aature, unconnected
with the bearing which the policies OF other ma
tons have upon the question. but IL Is perfectly
apparent that line Of action In regard TO our
currency cannot wisely be settled upon or per-
sisted in without considering the atti-
t trds S with the whom a0e %s mantain inser
course through commerce. trade. and travel.
An acknowledgment of this is found In the act
by virtue of which our silver Is compulsorily
coined 1t provides that: -rhe President shall
invite the Governments of the countries compos-
ing the Latin Union, SO called, and OF such
visable, to Join the United States IN conference
10 adopt n common ratio between gold ana sill
Yer for the purpose OF establishing Information
ally the uses OF bimetallic money and securing
hxety OF relative value between these metals.
This conference absolutely failed, and n SINH
lnr fate has awaited all subsequent efforts in the
same direction. and still we continue our COIN
age of silver at ratio different from that OF any
other nation. The most vital part OF the Silver
ecuted and without an ally or friend we battle
upon the silver field in an illogical and losing
contest. To give full effect to the design OF
Congress on this subject, have made careful
and earnest endeavor since the adjournment OF
the last Congress.
To this end delegated gentleman well in
structed in fiscal science to proceed to the fnan-
cial centers of Europe and in conjunction with
our Ministers to England, France, and Germany,
TO obtain full knowledge OF the attitude and
intent OF these governments respecting the es-
Enlistment of such an international ratio as
would procure free coinage OF both metals at the
minis of those countries and our own. by my
direction our Consul General at Paris has given
close attention to the proceedings OF the Con-
gress of the Latin Union in order to indicate our
interest in its objects and report its action.
IL may be said in brief rs the result of these
efforts that the attitude of the leading powers
remain substantially unchanged since the Mon
etary Conference OF 1881 nor is 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 uselcssness of fur
Their attempts at present to arrive Mt any agree
ment on the subject with other nations In the
meantime we are accommodating silver coin based
upon our peculiar ratio to such nm extent, and
assuming so heavy n burden to be provided for
in any international negotiations. as Will render
US an undesirable party to any future monetary
conference of nations.
1t is a significant fact that four of the FIVE
countries comprising the Latin Union men,
toned in coinage act, embarrassed with
their silver currency, have just completed an
agreement among themselves that no more
ernments, and that such as has been already
coined and in circulation shall be redeemed in
gold by the country of its coinaee. The resort
to this expedient by these countries may well
arrest the attention of those who sup
pose that We can succeed without shock
or injury in the attempt to circulate upon
its merits, all the silver may coin under
tho provisions of the siver-coinage act.
The condition in which our Treasury may be
placed by persistence in our present course is
matter of concern to every patriotic citizen
who does not desire his Government to pay in
silver such of its obligations should be paid in
gold. Nor should oar condition be such to
oblige us, III prudent management of our
affairs to discontinue the calling in and pay
ment 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 coinageof silver is in
sisted upon, are not dishonest because they are
in debt and they should not be suspected of II
desire to ieopardize the financial safety of the
country in order that they may cancel their
present debts by paying the same in deprecated
dollars nor should ii be forgotten that it is not
the rich nor the money -lencer alone that must
submit to such a readjustment. enforced 10y
the Government and their debtors. The
pittance of the widow and the orphan, and
the incomes OF helpless benehoiaries of
all kinds, would DO disGstrously reduced.
The depositors in savings banks and in 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 de-
fusion Of the promise made to them that plen-
tiful money would improve their condition. We
have now on hand all the silver dollars neces-
sary to supply the present needs of the people,
and TO satisfy those who from sentiment wish
to see them in circulation, and iftheir coinage
is suspended they be readily obtained by
all who desire them. If the need al more is Mt
any time apparent, their coinage may be re-
newed.
That disaster has not already overtaken us
furnishes no proof that danger does not wait
upon n continuation of the present silver coin
age. We have been saved by the most careful
management. end unusual eXpedients by COM
bination of fortunate conditions and by conf
dent expectation that the commerce of the Gov
eminent in regard to silver coinage would be
speedily changed by an action of Congress.
Prosperity heFitates upon our threshold because
of dangers and uncertainties surrounding this
Capital timidly shrinks from trade. and invest
ors are unwilling 10 take the chance of the ques-
tionable shape in which their money Will be re-
turned to them, while enterprise halts at n risk
against which care and sagacious management
do not protect As "a necessary consequence,
labor lacks employment, and suffering and dis
tress are visited upon portion of our fellowcit-
liens especially entitled 60 the careful consider
alton of those charged with the duties of legisla-
ton. No interest appeals TO us strongly for n
safe and stable currency as the vast army of the
1 recommend the suspension OF compulsory
coinage of silver dollars directed by the law
passed in February 1873.
STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE.
The steamboat inspection service on the 3Gh
day Of June, 1885, was composed of 40 persons,
including officers, clerks and messengers. The
expenses of the service over the receipts were
S13s, 22H during the fiscal year. The special
inspection Of foreign steam vessels, organized
under the law passed in 1882, was maintained
during the year ut expense OF $50 6il go.
Since the close of the fiscal year reductions
have been made in the forces employed, which
will result in saving during the current year
OF 1900 without affecting the efficiency of the
service.
MARINE HOSPITALS.
The supervising Surgeon General reports that
during the fiscal year LIZA patients have re-
ceived relief through marine hospital service, of
whom IL, 003 were treated ia hospitals and p, 9l1
at dispensaries.
PROTECTION FROM CHOLERA AND SMALLPOX
Active and effective efforts have been made
through the medium Of this service 70 protect
the country against an invasion q cholera
which has prevailed in Spain and France, and
the smallpox which recently broke out in
Canada
THE LIFE-sAvING SERVICE.
The most gratifying results have attended the
operations OF tho life-saving service during the
last fiscal year. The observance of the provision
of law requiring the appointments Of the force
employed in the service to be made solely with
reference TO their fitness, and without reference
TO the political or party affilatiOn" has secured
the result which may confidently be expected in
any branch OF public employment whore such n
rule is applied. AS n consequence this service
Il. Is composed Of men well qualified for the per-
formance Of their dangerous and exceptionally
important duties.
The number OF stations in commission at the