Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-12-09

nresent course is q matter Of concern
every patriotic citizen who does not desir
! his government to pay in silver such OF II
obligations as should be paid in gold, nc
should our condition be such as to ooig
us in a prudent management Of our affair
10 discontinue the calling in AM
payment of interest BETTING obligation
which we have the right now TO discharg
and thus avoid the payment OF further ID
terest thereon. 1t is q significant tact ina
four of the FIVE countries composing tn
latin union mentioned in u coinsge &C
embarrassed with their silver currency
have lust completed an agreement smonG
themselves that no more silver shall b
coined BY their respective Governments
and that such as has been already coinec
and in circulation shall be redeemed II
cold bv the country of its coinage. Ih'
report to this e~xpedient by these countries
NAV well arrest the attention of those whC
supuose we can succeed without shock Oh
ipiurv in the attempt to circulate on 1T
merits, all the silver we may coin by thu
provisions of our silver coinage act.
no FOREIGN HELP.
1t may be said in brief. as the result OF
these efforts, that the attitude OF the lead
inc powers remains substantially IN
changed since the monetary conference Of
1881, nor is it to be questioned thai the
views of these Governments are IN each
instance supported by the weight OF pub
lie opinion. The steps thus taken have
therefore, only more fully demonstrated
the uselessness of further attempts at pres
ebt to arrive at any agreement on the
subject with other nations In the mean
time, we are accommodating silver coin
based upon our own peculiar ratio, to such
an extent. and assuming so heavy o burden
10 be provided for in any international ne
gotistions, as will render US an undesir'
able party to any future monetary confer
ence Of nations.
ALL CLASSES WOULD SUFFER.
The so.called debtsr class, for whose
benefit the continued compulsory coinage
of silver is insisted upon, are not dishonest
because they are in debt, and they should
not be suspected of a desire to ~jeopardize
the financial safety Of the country In order
that they may cancel their present debts
by paving the same in deprecated dollars,
nor should it be forgotten that 1t ia not the
rich nor the money lender alone that
must submit to such a REIMBURSEMENT en-
forced BY the Government and their debt
ors. The pittance of the widow and the
orphan and the incomes Of helpless bene'
6cisries OF sll kinds would be disastrously
reduced. The depositors 10 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 order OF things, would, in their
distress, painfully realize the delusion OF
the promise made to them that plentiful
money would improve their condition. We
have now on hand all the silver dollars
necessary to supply the present needs OF
the people and TO satisfy those who from
sentiment wish to see them in circulation,
and if their coinage is suspended they can
be readily obtained BY all who desire them
If the need of more is at any time sppar'
ent their coinage may be renewed.
DISASTER LAY CONE.
That disaster has not already overtsken
Us furnishes no proof that danger does not
wait upon q continuation of the present
silver coinage. We have been saved by
The NEST careful management and unusual
expedients, by a continuation OF fortunate
| conditions and by q confident expectation
that the Government ia regard to silver
coinage would be speedily changed BY
action of Congress. Prosperity hesltatet
upon our threshold because of dangers and
uncertainties surrounding this question
Capital timidly shrinks from trade and in
vestors are unwilling to take the blame of the
questionable shape in which their money
will be returned to them, while enterprise
halts at a risk against which care ant
sagacious management do not protect. Al
q necessary consequence labor lacks EN-
ployment, and suffering aud distress are
visited upon a portion OF our fellow citizenl
especially entitled to the careful considera
ton of those charged with the duties o
legislation. No interest appears 20 us sc
strongly for a safe aud stable currency al
the vast army Of the unemployed.
SUSPEND COINAGE.
recommend the suspension Of the com
pulsory coinage Ct silver dollars directed
By the law passed in February, 1878.
H STEAMBOAT INSPECTION sEvICE
on the thirtieth day Of June, 1885, was
composed of one hundred and forty per-
sons including officers, clerks and messen
gers. The expenses of the service over
tue receipts we're Sl39, 822,22 during the
fiscal year. The special inspection of for
eign steam vessels organized under TIT
law OF 1882 was maintained during th'
wear at on expense OF $50 Gil Go. Since
the close Of the fiscal year reductions have
been made in the force employed which
will result 10 q saving during the current
year of seventeen thousand dollars without
efecting the efficiency Of the service.
MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE.
The supervising Surgeon.G eneral reports
that during the fiscal year that 4l,7l4 pa
tients have received relief through the Ma
rine Hospital service, of whom II 803 wer
treated in hospitals and 2S,9ll at dispen
saries.
Active and effective efforts have beer
made through the medium of this servfcv
to protect the country against an invasion
of cholera, mhich b as prevailed in Spail
and France, and the small POI
which recently broke out in Canada
THE LIFE SAVING SERVICE.
The most gratifying results have attend
ed the operations Of the Life Saving Ser
vice during the last fiscal year. The eS
travsgance of the provision Of law requil
ing the appointment Of the force employs
in this service to be made solely with reiel
ence to their fitness and without referenc
to their political or party utilization, hs
secured the result which may con6dentl
be expected in any branch Of public en-
oloy mert where such a rule is applied
As q consequence this service is compose'
of men we'll qualified for the Performance
Of their dangerous and exceptionally in
portant duties,
The number Of stations in commission q
the close of the year WAS 203. The nun
Der OF disasters to vessels and craft Of q
kind within their field Of action was 81
The number Of persons endangered in cue
disasters wa 2,439, OF whom 2,l28 wer