Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-07

pulSOTy coinage Dy Tue S"ONeInuhehl GU
hances the price of that commodity or Sc
cures uniformity in its value. Every fair
and legal effort has been made by the
Treasury Department to distribute TINS
currency among the people. The with
drawal u the United States Treasury notes
of small denominations and the issuing of
small silver certificates have been resOrted
to in the endeayOr to accomplish this re
suit, in obedience to the will and senti-
ment of the representatives OF the people
in Congress. On the 9th day of NOvem-
Der, 1856, the people held of these
coins or certificates representing them, the
nominal sum of Si66, S73, 04l, and we still
had S79, AGA, 345 in the treasury, as against
about SAP, S9I, 055 in the hands of the
people and S72, 565, $40 remaining IN the
treasury one year ago. The director OF
the mint again urges the necessity OF more
room for the purpose of storing
these silver dollars which are not
needed for circulation by the people. l
have seen no reason to change the views
expressed in my last annual message on
the subject of this compulsory coinage. l
AGAIN URGE ITS SUSPENSION
upon all the grounds contained in my
former recommendation reinforced by the
significant increase of our gold exporta-
tiOns during the last year as compared by
the comparative statement herewith
presented, and by the further reason that
the more this currency is distributed
among the people the greater becomes our
duty to protect it from disaster. That we
now have abundance for all our need and
that there seems but little prOpriety i'll
building vaults to store such currency
where the only pretense for its coinage is
the necessity of its use by the people us a
circulating medium.
NEW YORE CUSTOM SUITS.
The great number of suits now pending
in the United States courts for the South
ern district of New York, growing out Of
the collection of customs revenue at the
port OF New York, and the number Of
s~uclnsuits that are almost daily instituted
are certainly worthy the attention of
| 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 obviated by an
amendment OF these laws. But pending
such an amendment the present condition
of this litigation should be relieved. There
are now pending about twenty-five nun
bred of these suits. More than eleven
hundred have been commenced within the
past eighteen months and many of the
Others have been at an issue for
more than twenty-five years. These
DELAYS subject the Government to
loss of evidence and prevent the prepara-
ton necessary to de<eat unjust and iicti-
tious claims while constantly ACQUIRING IN
terest to double the demands involved. In
the present condition of the dOcketS of the
Courts, well filled with private suits, and
of the course allowed the District Attorney
no greater than is necessary for the
ordinary and current business OF his office.
These revenue litigations can not be con-
sidcred in default Of the adoption by Con-
grcSs OF plan of general reorganization of
the Federal Courts rs has been heretofore
recommended. / urge the propriety of
passing a law permitting appointment OF
ADDITIONAL FEDERAL AID
In the district where these Government
suits have accumulated, so that by con-
tinuouS sessions Of the courts devoted to
the trial Of these cases, that they
may he determined. 1t Is entirely
plain that a great saving TO the Govern
ment would be accomplished by such 4
remedy, and the SuitOrS who have honest
claims would be denied justice through
delay.
OUR RMY
The report of the secretary OF war, gives
a detailed account OF the administration OF
his Department and contains Sundrv recon-
mendations for the improvement Of the
service, which | fully approve. The army
consisted ut the date of the last cOn>oli-
dated return of two thousand one hundred
and three officers, and tw~cnty-iOur thOuS-
and ninc-hundrcd and tOrty-siN enlisted
men.
The expenses Of the department for the
last fiscal year were S36, 800, 903.3S, III
Guiding St., 2Si, 1914 for public worksand
river and harbor improvements. | eSpe-
cially direct the attention of Congress to
the recommendation that officers be
required to submit to an examination rs a
/ preliminary to their promotion. | see no
objection, but many advantages, in adopt
ing this feature which has SO operated 50
beneficially in our Navy Department, as
well rs in some branches of the army.
The subject Of
COAST DEFENSES AND FORTIFICATISNS
has been fully and carefully treated by the
| BOARD of FOrtilications, whose report was
| submitted ut the last session OF Congress;
but no construction of the work OF the
| kind recommended by the Board has been
possible during the last year from the lack
vi appropriations for such purpose. The
defenseleSS condition of our sea coast and
lake frontier is perfectly palpable; the eN-
aminatiOnS made convince us all that GER
tain of Il cities named inthe report of the
Board, should be fortified and that
work on 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 fault of congressional action. The alb
solute necessity Judged by all standards of
prudence and foresight of Il preparation
for IN eflectual resistance against the ar
armored ships and steel guns and mOrtarS
of modern constructions which may threat
en- the cities on our coasts, is so apparent
lllll 4 nope CutCllNC SNNlS VIA NC 'SNSi III
that direction. Immediately the valuable
and suggestive treatment Of this question
by the Secretary of War is earnestly COM
mended to the consideration of Congress.
GERONIMO'S SURRENDER.
In September and October last the hos
tile Apaches who under the leadership OF
Geronimo had for eighteen months been
ON the war-path and during that time had
committed many murders and been the
cause of constant terror to the settlers of
Arizona, surrendered to General Miles,
the military commander who succeeded
| General Crook in the management and
direction of their pursuit. Under the
terms of their surrender rs then reported
and in view of the understanding which
these murderOus savages seemed to enter
| tain of the assurances given them, It
was considered best to I'M
prison them in such manner
rs TO prevent their ever engaging in such
outrages again, instead of trying them for
murdsr Fort pickenS having been Sc