Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-06
mainder amounting to sa5, ols, $50, matured under

4 the calls after tnaG 02fc.
In addition to the amount subject to payment
and cancellation prior to November 1st; there
were also paid before that day certain OF these
s5O7s,35o, which were anticipated as to their ms
turity. OF which S2,664,S5O had not been called.
Thus s1o7, 81 500 had been actually applied prior
TO the LIST OF November, 1886, to the extinguish-
| ment OF our bonded and interest bearing debt,
leaving on that day still outstanding the sum OF
| still represented by three per cent bonds They.
however, have been since November 1st, will at
once be- further reduced by s,2,6o6. 150. being
bonds which have been called as already stated,
date.
THE SILVER DOLLARS
During the fiscal year ended June 80, 1885, there
were coined under the compulsory siver-cOinage
act OF 1878, % SS 9Oo silver dollars, and the cost
of the silver used In such coinage was $3 44S $780,
Oh. There had been coined up to the close Of the
previous fiscal year under the provisions Of the
law POS sso 5o4 silver dollars and on the 1st day
OF December, 1885, the total amount Of such
coinage was $147, 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 ninety-four and one-fourth cents each.
and that on the 31st day of july 1885, the price OF
silver reached the lowest stage ever known, so
silver dollar at that date was less than seventy
two cents. The price of silver on the Both day of
November last was such as to make these dollars
fntrinsically worth seventy-eight cents each.
These differences in value OF the coins represent
the fluctuations in the price Of silver, and they
certainly do not Indicate that compulsory coinage
by the Government enhances the price OF that
commodity Or secures uniformity in its value
Every fair and legal effort has been made by the
Treasury department to distribute this currency
among the people. Tile withdrawal OF United
States Treasury notes OF small denominations, and
the issuing OF small silver certificates have been
reSOrted to in the endeavOr to accomplish this
suit in obedience to the will and sentiments OF the
the 9TH day OF November 1886, the people held
OF these COINS or certificates representing them,
the nominal sum Of sl66 s730 41, and We still had
S142, Ss4, 0o5 so in the hands OF the people, and
So, 865 ,,76 remaining in the Treasury one year
ago. The Director OF the Mint again urges the ne
cessity OF more vault room for the purpose Of stOr
Ing these silver dollars which are not needed for
circulation by the people.
SUSPENSION OF COMPULSORY COINAGE URGED.
have seen no reason to change the views ex-
pressed in my last annual message on the subject
of this compulsory coinage; and again urge It's
suspension on all the grounds contained in my
former recommendation, reinforced by the signif1-
cant increase Of our gold expectations during the
last year, as appears by the comparative state
ment herewith presented, and for the further rea-
sons that the more this currency is distributed
among the people the greater becomes our duty to
protect it from disaster; that we now have abun-
but little prOpr1ety in building vaults to store
such currency when the only pretense for its coin
age is the necessity OF its use by the people as a
circulating medium.
The great number OF suits now pending in the
United States courts for the southern district Of
New York, growing out OF the collection OF GUS
toms revenue at the port OF New York, and the
number OF such suits that are almost daily insti-
tuted, are certainly worthy the attention OF the
Congress- These legal controversies based upon
conflicting views by importers and the collector
as to the Interpretation of our present complex
and indefinite revenue laws, might be largely OBJ
Waited by an amendment OF those laws.
But pending such amendment the present condi-
ton OF this litigation should be relieved. There
are now pending about twenty-five hundred OF
these suits. More than eleven hundred have been
commenced within the past eighteen months, and
many OF the Others have been at issue for more
than twenty five years. These delays subject the
government to loss Of evidence and prevent the
preparation necessary to defeat unjust and ficti-
tiOuS claims, while constantly accruing interest
threatens to double the demands involved.
In the present condition OF the dockets OF the
force allowed the district attorney, no greater
than is necessary for the ordinary and current
business OF his Office, these revenue htgatons can
In default OF the adoption by the Congress of a
plan for the general reorganization OF the federal
courts as has been 1 heretofore recommended
appointment OF an additional federal judge in the
district where these government suits have accu-
mulated, so that Dy continuous sessions OF the
courts devoted to the trial or these cases. they may
be determined.
1t is entirely plain that great saving to the
government would be accomplished by such a
remedy, and the suitors who have honest claims
| would not be denied justice through delay.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the Secretary OF War gives de-
tailed account OF the administration OF his Depart
ment, and contains sundry recommendations for
the improvement Of the service which fully ap-
prove.
The Army consisted at the date OF the last con-
solidated return, of two thousand one hundred
and three officers and twenty-four thousand nine
hundred and forty-six enlisted men.
The expenses OF the Department for the last
fiscal year were $50 $50 9G}3a, including S6,29
3O5. 43 for public works and river and harbor i'm
especially direct the attention of the Congress
to the recommendation that officers be required to
submit to an examination as preliminary to their
promotion. l see no objection but many advan-
tages in adopting this feature which has operated
so beneicially in our Navy Department, as well
In some branches OF the Army.
The subject OF coast defenses and Notifications
| has been fully and carefully treated by the Board
| on Fort1fications whose report was submitted at
the last session OF Congress-; but no construction
work OF the kind recommended by the Board has
been possible during the year from the lack OF
appropriations for such purpose
OUR DEFENsELEss COASTS.
The defenseless condition of our sea-coast and
lake frontier is perfectly palpable; the examina-
lions made must convince US all that certain OF
our cities named In the report OF the board should
be fortified, and that work the most important
| Of these Notifications should be commenced at
| once; the work has been thoroughly considered
and laid out the Secretary OF War reports but all
| is delayed In default OF Congressional action.
The absolute necessity, judged by all standards
OF prudence ana foresight, OF our preparation FOR
an efectual resistance against the armo,ed ships
and steel guns and mOrtars OF modern eOnStruc-
tiOn which may threaten the cities on our coasts,
Is apparent that hope effective steps will be
taken In that direction Immediately.
The valuable and suggestive treatment OF this
| question by the Secretary OF War is earnestly
commended to the consideration OF the Congress-
In september and October last the hostile
ApacheS who, under the leadership OF Geronimo,
had for eighteen months been on the war path,
and during that time had committed many muir
derS and been the cause constant terror to the set
tiers OF Arizona, surrendered to Gen. Miles, the
military commander who succeeded Gen. Crook in
the management and direction OF their pursuit.
Under the terms OF their surrender as then re-
ported, and In view OF the understanding which
these numerous savagcs seemed to enter
| tain OF the assurances given them. it was
considered best to imprisOn them in sucn manner
to prevent their ever engaging in such Outrages
again, instead OF trying them for murder. Fort
Pickens having been selected as safe place of
confinement, all the adult males We're sent
In the meantime the residue of the band who
though still remaining upon the reservation Were
regarded as unsafe, and suspected OF furnishing
aid TO those on the war PATH had been removed TO
Fort Marion. The women and larger children Of
the hOstiles were also taken there, and arrange
| ments have been made for putting the children OF
proper age in Indian schools.
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the Secretary Of the Navy con-
tains detailed exhibit of the condition of his
Department with such n statement of the action
needed to improve the same as should challenge
| the earnest attention Of the Congress.
The present Navy OF the United States aside
| from the ships in course Of construction con-
| StStS Of
First fourteen single-turreted monitors, none of
Which are In commission. nor nt the nrpSant tfp,o