Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-11

this takes place, the wage-worker cannot pos
sibly gain, but must inevitably lose, since the |
price he is compelled to pay for his living will
not only be measured in q coin heavily depre-
ciated and Auctuating and uncertain 10 its
value, but this uncertainty in the value Of the |
purchasing medium will be made the preteHt
for an advance in prices beyond that justified
by actual depreciation. The words uttered
in 1884 by Daniel Webster in the Senate OF |
the United States are true to-day-"The very
man Of all others who has the deepest inter
est in a sound currency, who suffers most by
misohievous legislation in money matters, is
the man who earns his daily bread by his
daily toll"
special effort has been made by the Sec
rotary Of the treasury TO increase the amount
of our silver in circulation, but the fact that
a large share OF the limited amount thus put
out has soon returned TO the public treasury
in payment of duties leads 10 the belief that
the people do not now desire to keep It In
hand, and this, with the evident disposition
to hoard gold, gives rise to the suspicion that
there already exists a lack Of confidence
among the people touching our financial pro-
cesses.
1t il perfectly apparent that line Of action
in regard to our currency cannot wisely be
settled upon or persisted in without consider
| ing the attitude on the subject Of other ooun-
tries with whom we maintain intercourse
through commerce, trade and travel. To
give full effect to the design OF Congress on
tnis subjsc 1 have male careful and earnest
endeavors since the ad journment OF the last
Congress. To this end delegated gentle
man well instructed in fiscal science to pro-
coed to the finaI ojal oenters Of Europe, and
in con junction with our ministers to England,
France and Germany, to obtain full knowl.
edge of the attitude and interest Of those
governments in respect of the establishment
of such an international ratio as would pro-
cure free coinage of both metals at the
mints of those countries and our own. By
! my direction our consul general at Paris has
given close attention to the proceedings of
| the Congress of the Latin union in order TO
| indicate our interest in its object and report
| its action. 1t may be said in brief rs the re-
suit OF these forts that the attitude Of the
| leading powers remains substantially I'M
changed since the monetary conference OF
1881 1t is a significant fact that four OF the
five countries composing the Latin union,
mentioned in our coinage act, embarrassed
with their silver currency, have just CON-
pleted an agreement among themselves that
no more silver shall be coined by their re-
spective governments, and that such as has
been already coined and in circulation shall
| be redeemed in gold by the country of the
coinage. The resort to this expedient by
these countries may well arrest the attention
of those who suppose that we can succeed
without shock or injury in the attempt to cir
culate upon its merits all the silver we may
coin under the provisions Of our silver coin
age act.
That disaster has not already overtaken US
furnishes no proof that danger does not wait
upon a continuation OF the present silver coin
age. Prosperity hesitates upon our thtesh
old because of the dangers and uncertainties
surrounding this question. Capital timidly
shrinks from trade and investors are unwill-
ing to take the chance of the questionable
shaI Q in which their money will be returned
to them, while enterprise halts at a risk
against which care and sagacious management
do not protect. As a necessary consequence
labor lacks employment, and suffering and
distress are visited upon portion OF our fell
low citizens especially entitled to the careful
consideration of those charged with the duties
of legislation. No interest appeals to us 30
strongly for safe and stable currency as the
vast army of unemployed.
recommend the suspension Of the com
pulsory coinage of silver dollars directed by
the law passed in February, 1873.
THE LIFE SAVING SERVICE.
The most gratifying results have attended
the operations of the life-saving service dur
ing tue last fiscal year. The number OF sta
tions in commission at the close of the year
was 2030. The number of disasters to YES
sells and craft of all kinds within their field
of action was 81. The number of persons
endangered in such disasters was 2439, of
whom 242S we're saved and only IL lost.
Other lives which we're mperiled, though
not by disasters to shipping, were also res
cued, and large amount of property was
saved through the aid of this service. The
cost of its maintenance during the year was
$S2S,474.
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
The report of the secretary OF war is here.
with submitted. The attention of Congress
is invited to the detailed account which il
contains OF the administration OF his depart
ment and his recommendations and suRges-
tions for the improvement of the service.
The army consisted at the date of the last
consolidated returns of 1854 officers aud q,
705 enlisted men. The expenses Of the de-
partment for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1855, including Sl3, 1874 1874 for public works
and river and harbor improvements were
$40, $50, 500. B side the troops which were
despatched in pursuit of the small band OF
Indians who left their reservation in Arizona
and committed murders and outrages, two
regiments of cavalry and one of infantry
: were sent last June to Indian territory to pre-.
vent an outbreak. Troops were also sent to
Rock Springs in Wyoming territory, after
the massacre of Chinese there, TO prevent
further disturbance, and afterward to Seattle
in Washington territory to avert threatened
attack upon Chinese laborers and domestic
violence there. In both cases the mere pres
ence of troops had the desired effect.
1t appears that the number Of assertions
have diminished, but that during the last ifs
cal year they numbered 1927, and one in.
stance is given by the lieutenant general OF
six assertions by the same recruit. l am con-
WINGED that this number OF desertions can be
much diminished by better discipline and
treatment, but the punishment should be in
creased for repeated offsnses. These deser.
tions might also be reduced by lessening the
term of first enistments, thus allowing q dis
,, contented recruit to contemplate q nearer
discharge and the army profitable radiance.
! After one term of service a re-enlistmeni
would be quite apt to secure q contented re-
cruit and good soldier.
The military academy at West Point is re.
ported as being in a high state of efficiency,
and well equipped for the satisfactory &C.
, complishment of the purposes of its mainte.
nance.
There should be general law of Congress
prohibiting the construction of bridges oveI
navigable waters in such manner as to OBJ
struct navigation, with provisions for pre-
venting the same. It seems that under ex
listing statutes the government cannot inter
vene to prevent such a construction when en-
: tered upon without its consent, though When
: such consent is asked and granted upon con
dition, the authority to insist upon such con
dition is clear. Thus it is represented thai
while the officers of the government are with
great care guarding against the obstruction
, of navigation by bridge across the MISSES
ippi river at st. Paul, large pier for
: bridge has been built just below this place
directly in the navgable channel of the riv
i or. II such things are TO be permitted
J strong argument is presented against the ap
preparation of large sums of money to i'm
prove the navigation Of this and other i'm
= portant highways of commerce.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the secretary of the navy
) gives history of the operations of his de
:, partment, and the present condition of the
l work committed to his charge. He details il
full the course pursued by him 10 protect the
rights of the government in respect to GER
tain vessels unfinished at the time of his 40
9 cession to office, and also concerning the de
spatch boat Dolphin, claimed to be com
pleted and awaiting the acceptance of the de,
= partment. No one can fail TO see from the