Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-12-11

expense Of living while it does not curtaiI
| the opportunity for work nor reduce the
compensation of American labor and injur-
| iously affect its condition and the high place
| it holds in the estimation of our people.
| But our farmerN and agriculturists, those
who from the soil produce the things con-
| sumed by all, are perhaps more directly and
plainly concerned than any other of cur Ii
zens in just and careful system of federal
taxation. Those actually engaged in and
more remotely connected with this class of
work number nearly one-half our popula-
ton; none labor harder nor more contin-
uously than they; no enactments limit their
hours of toll, and no interposition of the
government enhances to any great extent
! the value of their products, and yet for many
of the necessaries and comforts of life which
the most scrupulous economy enables
and for their implements of
hlsbandry, they are obliged to pay a price
largely increased by al unnatural profit,
which, by the action of the government. ia
given to the favored manufacturer. I REQ.
Cmmend that, keeping in view all these COD
slderatlOns, the increasing and unnecessary
surplus of national income annually accu-
mulating be released to the people by an
amendment to the constitution which shall
cheaper the price of the necessaries of life
and give freer entrance to such imported
materials as by American 1ohnT may be
manufactured into marketable commodities.
Nothing can be accomplished, however, in
the direction of this much needed reform
unless the subject is approached in patri-
otto spirit of devotion TO the interests of the
entire country, and with willingness to
yield something for the public good.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
The sum paid upon the public debt during
the fiscal year ended June 3d. 1856, was
$4 1851 ,O43.36. During tire twelve months
ended October 81, 1886, 3 per cent.
bonds were called for redemption. amount
| ing to 1927 ,283, 100, of which $50, 643, 200
| was so called to answer the requirements of
the law relating to the sinking fund and
| $46, 639 800 for the purpose of reducing the
public debt by application of part of the
| surplus in the treasury to that object. OF
the bonds thus called $102, 269, 450 became
| subject under such calls TO redemption prior
to November 1, 1886; the remainder
| amounting to S25013, $50 matured under the
calls after that date. In addition to the
| amount subject to payment and collection
prior to November LIST, there were paid, be-
ore that day, certain of these bonds with
| the interest thereon amounting to $5,072,-
| $50 which were anticipated as to their
maturity, of which S2,664, $50 had not been
called. Thus $40, 341 800 had been actually
applied prior to the LIST of November 1886,
to the extinguishment of our bonded, and
still outstanding the sum of 81, 153, 443, H. OF
this amount $50, S4S, 700 were stillsrepresented
| by three per cent bonds. They, however,
| have been, since November 1st, or will at
| once be further reduced by 81, COG, $50, be-
ing bonds which have been called as already
| .tated, but not redeemed and cancelled be-
fore the latter date.
SILVER COINAGE.
During the fiscal year ending June 80,
1886, there were coined under the COM
pulsory silver coin age act of 1878, $685.
Dos silver dollars, and the cost of
ths silver used in such coinage was $23, AS
360 OIL. There had been coined up to the close
of the previous fiscal year, under the provis.
ions OF the law, 203, $50, 54 silver dollars,
and on the first day of December, 1886, the
total amount of such coinage was $247 ,131,-
$40. The director Of the mint reports that
at the time of the passage of the law of 1878
directing this coinage the intrinsic value of
the dollars thus coined was 944 cents each.
and that on the 31st day of July, 1886, the
price of silver reached the lowest stage ever
known, so that the intrinsic or bullion price
of our standard silver dollar at that date wa
less than II cents. The price of silver on the
Both day of November last was such as to
make the dollars intrinsically worth 70 cent.
each. The differences in value of the coins
represented the fluctuations in the price of
silver, and they certainly do not indicate that
compulsory coinage by the government en-
hances the price of that commodity or secures
uniformity in its value. Every fair and legal
effort has been made by the treasury depart
ment to distribute this currency among the
people. The withdrawal of United States
treasury noted OF small denominations and
sha issuing of small silver certificates have
been resorted to in the endeavor to accom-
plish this result, in obedience to the will and
sentiment of the representa- ives of the
people in congress. On the 9th day of
November, 1886, the people held Of these
Gains, or certificates representing them, tho
nominal sum of $166, S73, 04 and we still had
SIS, 464, 345 in the Treasury a. against about
$le2s s94s 05S in the& has Of the people and
Sz2 Se5 sc sazSs:: ins1 ny u,,u1
yehr AFRO. The dir Il of the mint again
urges the necessity ct moro vault room for
the purpose of storing these afver dollars.
which are not needed for circulation by the
people. I have seen no reason to change The
views expressed in my last annual message
on the subject of this compulsory coinage,
and I again urge its suspension on all the
grounds contained in my former recommsI-
dalton, reinforced by the significant increase
of our gold expectations during the last
year, as appears by the comparative state
ment herewith presented, and for the fur
distributed among the people, the greater
becomes our duty to protect it from
disaster; that we now have abund-
ance for all our needs; and that
there seems but little pEopriety in building
vaults to store such currency when the only
pretense for its coinage is the necessity of
its use by the people as a circulating me-
dunn.
OUR REVENUE LAWS.
The great number of suits now pending in
the United States courts for the southern
Iic<ri ~ Of ont nf fho co1
lection of customs revenue at the port of
New York and the number of such suits that
are almost daily instituted, are certainly
wor by the attention of congress. The legal
controversies based upon conflicting views
by importers and the collector as to the in
depreciation of our present incomplete and
indefinite revenue laws might be largely
liberated by an amendment of them, but
pending such amendment the present con-
dition of this litigation should be relieved.
There are now pending about z, 500 of these
suits. More than LOO hava been CON-
msnced within the past eighteen months,
and many of the others have been at issue
for more than twenty-five years. The de-
lays subject the government to loss of evil
dence and prevent the preparation necessary
to defeat unjust and fictitious claims, while
constantly accruing interest threat
ems to double the demands in
volved. In the present condition
OF the dockets OF the courts, well hlled with
private suits, and of the force allowed the
district attorney, no greater than is neces-
sary for the ordinary and current business
of his Office, these revenue litigations cannot
be considered. In default OF the adoption
by congress of a plan for the general re-
organization of the federal courts as has
been heretofore recommend, / urge the |
p-opriety of passing law permitting the
appointment of an additional federal Judge |
in the district where these government suits |
have accumulated SO that by continuous ses-
sions of the courts devoted to the trial of
these cases. they may be determined. 1t |
is entirely plain that a great saving to the |
government would be accomplished by such |
remedy and the suitors who have
honest claims would not be denied justice |
through delay.
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
gives detailed account of the administra-
tration of his department, and contains sun
dry recommendations for the improvement |
of the service which l fully approve. The
army consisted at the date of the |
last consolidated return of 2,1O3
officers and 24,946 enlisted men.
The expenses of the department for the
last fiscal year were S36, 99O, 9O3 80, including
Sc, 294, 3O5.43 for the public works and river
and harbor Improvements. / especially d.
rect the attention Of congress to the recon-
mendation that officers be required to sub