The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1886-12-07


such coinage was $247,13l, $40.
The director Of the mint reports
that at the time of the
passage of the law of 1878, directing
this
the intrinsic value of the dollars thus
coined was 9il cents each, and that on
the 3lst day Of July, 1886, the price of
silver reached the lowest stage ever
known, so that the intrinsic, or bull
lion, price of our standard silver dol
lar at that date was less than ~ cents
The price of silver on the 30th day Of
November last was such as to make
the dollars intrinsically worth rs cents
each. The differences in the value Of
the coins represented the fluctuations
in the price Of silver. They certainly
do not indicate that compulsory coin
age by the government enhances the
pri 20 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. The
withdrawal of United States treasury
notes of small denominations and the
issuance of small silver certificates
have been resorted to in the effort to
accomplish this result, in obedience to
the will and sentiment of the repre-
sentatives Of the people in congress.
On the 9th day of November, 1886,
the people held of these coins, or GER
tificates representing them, the nomi-
nal sum of $166,S73,04l, and we still
had $7O,46l,3i5 in the treasury as
against about $142, 1894, 055 in the hands
of the people, and $72,S65,376 remain
ing in the treasury one year ago. l
again urge its suspension on all the
grounds contained in my former re-
commentator, reinforced by the
significant increase of our gold cxpor-
tations during the year.
/ urge the propriety of passing n
law permitting the appointment of an
additional federal judge in the dis
tricts where government suits OH Gus
toms revenues have accumulated, so
that by continuous sessions 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 accomplish
ed by such remedy. and the suitors
who have honest claims would not be
denied justice through delay.
Navy Department.
Reference is made to the complete
ness of the report of the secretary of
the navy, his recommendations etc;
who contcmplates with dissatisfaction
the necessity of obtaining abroad the
armor and gun steel of the authorised
ship. 1t would seem desirable that
wants of the army and the navy in this
regard should be reasonably met, and
that by uniting their contracts such
inducements might be offered as
would in securing the domestication
of these important interests.
Postal Affairs.
There have been marked improve
ments in the past year. The rcduc-
ton Of the rate of letter postage in
1888 resulted in an excess of cost for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1885, of
eight and one-third millions of dol
lars. In the careful estimate of year
ago upon the rates Of expenditure
then existing was contemplated and
unavoidable augmentation of that
deficiency in the last fiscal year by
nearly $2,OO0OOO. Anticipated revenue
for the year failed of realization by
about $4,000, but proper measures of
economy has so satisfactorily limited
the growth of the expenditures that
the total deficiency in fact will be be-
low that of 1885, and in this time the
increase in the revenue is gaining over
cost, which demonstrates the suffi-
cheney Of the present rate of postage
ultimately to sustain the service. The
expenses of the Star Route service was
last year less than $560,000. and steam
boat and messenger service nearly
100000 less; the subject of establish
ing direct service TO the Argen-
tine Republic, and also to Brazil is
commended TO the consideration of
congress. Extension Of free delivery
service receives my sanction, also the
recommendation of the Postmaster
General that another assistant be pro-
vided for the postofiice department.
Department of Justice.
The attention of congress is called
to the recommendation of the attor-
ney general, and ask that they be duly
considered. The matter of a peniten-
tiary for United States prisoners is of
very great Importance and should at
once receive congressional action.
United States prisoners are NOW con-
fined in more than thirty different
state prisons and penitentiaries
scattered in every part of the
country. The question of prison
reform is attracting universal atten-
4;ou Tho novarnmnnf shoull ha in a