The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-08

silver coin in circulation, but the fact that .
large share At thu limited amount thus put out
!-eut 4 dattea, ads 10 the belief that the PEG.
p do not 40" desire t. X 'op it on hand. and
ia, With t. g evident disposition to hoard gold,
Vi es III" 90 the su5Wci3n that There al
really C2lsr@ lax Of conhdpnce among
VITO people touching our financial processes.
Tue. Is rerta14ly not enough silver now in cir
culAtiou 10 cause unGusiness. and the whole
amount cor ned and nov on hand might. after a
time b. sbsurhel by tt people without Appre-
henelop, buy it il the cease less stream that
tlruat,tis ~ overflow the land which causes fear
and uncertainty. What has been thus far sub
uttol upon this subject lates almost entirely
TO considerations Of Il hOint slature, unconnected
with tho pogriug which thu policies OF other ma
tiCus hHvo upon the quest on, but It is perfectly
apparent ttltt IA line OF action in regard TO our
currency cannot wisely be settled upon or per
sisted in without considering the attn
tries with whom maintain inter
course through commerce, trade, and travel
An Acknowledgement OF this il found in the act
by virtue Of which silver is compulsorty
coined, It provides TINT: "The President shall
invite the Governments of rhe countries compos-
other European nations as he may deem adj
vtsablr, to JON tho United States In conference
70 adopt common ratio between gold and sill
yer for the purpose of establishing internatton-
ally the uses Of binetallic money and securing
h1ety OF relative value between these metals.
THIS conference absolutely failed, and Il SINH
lar fate has awaited AL subsequent efforts In the
same direction, and still We continue our coin
egs Of silver at u ratio different from that OF any
other nation. The most vital part OF the Silver
CoiuRgs Act remains imperative and uneI-
secuted and without an ally or friend we battle
contest. TO give fun effect TO the design Of
Congress on this subject have made careful
and earnest endeavor since the adjournment Of
ths last Congress
To this end delegated gentleman well tn
strcted in fiscal science TO proceed to the imam
cial ce,lt"rs of Europe, and in con junction with
oar Ministers to ENGLAND France and Germany,
to Obtain full knowledge Of the attitude and
intent Of these governments respecting the es-
a
would procure free coinage Of both metals ut the
mints OF those countries and our own. By my
direction Our Consul General at Paris has given
close attention :" the proceedings OF the Con-
,ress " tn" Latin Union in order TO indicate QUE
interest in its objects and report its action
II my be said i'll brief as the result of these
efforts that the attitude of the leading powers
remain substantially unchanged since the Mon
etnry Conference of 1881 nor ia TO be questioned
that the views of those Governments are In each
instance supported by the weight of public optn-
ion. The stops thus taken have therefore, only
more fully demonstrated the uselessness OF fur
ther attempts Mt present to arrive Mt any agree
mont on the subject with other nations. In the
meantime we ARE accommodating silver coin based
upon our peculiar ratio to such an extent and
assuming so heavy burden to be provided for
in my international negotiations, AS will render
Us All undesirable party to any future monetary
conference of nations.
1t IL n significant fact thut four OF the ave
countries comprising the Latin Union mon-
toned in our coinage act. embarrassed with
their silver currency, have Just completed
agreement among themselves that no more
silver shall be coined by their respective gov
er1lments and that such mas been already
coined and i'll circulation shnll be redeemed In
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
the provisions Of tho silver-coinage act
The condition III which Treasury may be
placed by persistence in our present course ia
u pIAtter of concern to every patriotic citizen
who docs not desire his Government to pay In
I1,,l DT Dl ~ hu n
gold Nor should our condition be such ~ to
ohlige us, ia prudent management Of our
affairs to discontinue the calling In and pay
Inent Of interest bearing obligations which We
have tho right now to discharge and thus avoid
tho pay nent of further interest thereon
The so-called debtor GLASS for whose benefit
tho continued compulsory coinage of silver 10 In
slated upon not dishonest because they are
in debt and they should not be suspected Of q
desire to jeopnrtl2e the financial safety of the
country in order that they may cancel their
present debts by paying the same in dspre ciatsd
dollars: should it be forgotten that 1t ID not
the rich nor the money -lencer alone that must
submit TO such a readJuStment, enforced by
the Government and their debtors, The
pittance OF tho widow and the orphan, and
the incomes of helpless benehoiaries OF
all kinds, would be disastrously, reduced.
The depositors in savings banks and In other
institutions which hold in trust the savings OF
The poor whom their little accommodations are
scaled down to meet the new order of things,
would, i'll their distress painfully realize the de-
lu6iOu of the PROMISE made to them that plen-
tiful money would improve their condition. We
hnye now hani MI the silly dollars neces-
sary TO supply the present needs o! the people,
and to satisfy thos" who from sentiment wish
to see them III circIlati0n, and If their coinage
Is snslehned th"N olil 'e rehdily obtained by
all who iesire them If the need of more is at
any time apparent their coinage may be re-
moved.
That disaster has not already overtaken Us
furnishes proof that danger does not wait
upon IL continuation of the present silver coin
ago We hue boon saved by the most careful
management and unusual eSpedicnts by Il COM
bination OF ,rtunntp conditions and by a conf
~ tt pf a rCa n ia
ertlment in regard to silver coinage would be
speedily changed by an action Of Congress.
Prosperity h,situte5 upon our thres hold because
of dangers and uncertainties surrounding this
question.
Capital tmidiy shruks from trade, and invest
ors are unW Hing To take the chance of the ques-
tionable shape in which their money will be re-
turned to them, whiln enterprise halts at n risk
against which care and shgucious management
do not protect. As IL necessary consequence,
labor lacks employ Lnent, ana suffering and dis
tress are visited upon IL portion of our fellow-ct-
liens especially entitled to the careful consider
alton of those charged with the duties of legsla-
ton. No inter' st appeals to us so strongly for
unemployed
/ recommend the suspension of compulsory
coinage Of silver dollars directed 10y the law
passed in February, 1873.
STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE,
The steamboat inspection service on the SOth
day of june. 1885 composed Of 40 persons,
including officers, clerks and messengers. The
expenses of the service over the receipts
Sljssg2 u during the fiscal wear. The special
inspection of foreign steam vessels. organized
under the law passed III 1889, was maintained
during the year ut expense S36,641, 90.
Since the close of the fiscal year reductions
have becu made i'll the forces employed, which
will result in saving during the current year
of $1,000 without affecting the efficiency of the
service.
MARINE HOSPITALS.
Tho supervising Surgeon General reports that
during the tiscel year TIA patients have g.
ceiyed relief through murine hospital service, of
whom Il, COS treated in hospitals and % Oil
at disponsaTies.
PROTECTION FROM CHOLERA AND SMALLPOX.
Active and effective efforts have been made
through the medium of this service to protect
the country against invasion Of 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 the life-saving service during tho
last fiscal year. Tie observance of the provision
of law requiring the appointments Of the force
employed i'll tine service To be made solely with
reference their fitness and without reference
to the political or party utilization, has secured
the result which may confidently be expected In
any branch Of public employment where such q
rule is upf lied, As consequence this service
is composed Of men well qualified for the per-
fornauce OF their dangerous and exceptionally
important duties.
The number of stations in commission at the
close OF the year 2uS. The number of dtsas-
tiers to vessels and crafts Of all kind within their
held Of action was 37l. The number Of persons
endangered in such disasters was !, 40. OF whom
2,tls were saved and only IL lost, Other lives
which wore imperiled, though not by disasters
20 shipping were also rescued. and large
amount Of property WIS saved through the aid