St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-07

and the diguited place it holds in the estima-
ton of our people. But our farmers and
agriculturists, those VINO from the soil pro-
duce the things consumed by all, are perhaps
more directly and plainly concerned than any
other OF our citizens in just and careful
system of federal taxation. Those actually
engaged in and more remotely connected
with this kind of work, number nearly
oNE-HALF OF OUR POPULATION.
None labor harder or more continuously
than they. No enactments limit their hours
of toll, and no iDterposition of the govern
ment 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
them to bring into their homes.
and for their implements Of hus-
bandry, they are obliged to pay price
Target increased by an unnatural profit,
which, by the action of the government. is
given TO the more favored manufacturer. /
recommend that, keeping in view all these
considerations, the increasing and unneces-
sary surplus of national iucome annually &C
cumnlating be released to the people by an
amendment of our revenue laws, which shall
cheaper the price of the necesSaries of life
and give freer entrance to such imported ma
teriais as by American labor may pc manu-
featured into marketable commodities. Meth
ing can be accomplished. however, in the d.
rection OF this much-needed reform unless
of devotion to the interests of the entire coun-
try. 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 30, 1856, was ST.
5j1, 04336. During the twelve months ended
Oct. III, 1886, per cent. bonds were called
for redemption amounting to Sl27. 2S3, 1OO. of
which $50, 643, 200 was to answer the require
S466, 1893 for the purpose of reducing the pub
lie debt by application of part of the sur
plus in the treasury to that object. OF the
bonds thus called SIC, 1859, $50 became subject
under such calls to n 'emption prior to Nov.
l. 1885. The re mander, amounting TO S25,-
0I3, $50, matured under the calls after that
date In addition TO the amount subject to
payment and cancellation prior to Nov. ]
there were also paid before that day certain
bonds amounting to S5,0!2 $50 which were
anticipated, and at the maturity of which
So, 664, $50 had not been called. Thus SI07,-
34l, 800 had been applied prior to the LIST of
November 1885, to the extinguishment of
our bonded and interest-bearing debt, leav-
ing on that day still outstanding the sum of
$l,l53, 443, liz. OF this account $50 SIS, 700
were still represented by the per cent.
bonds. They however, have been since Nov
IL. or will ut once be, furthur reduced by
S22, SOC $50, being bonds which have been
called, as already has been stated, but 10 re-
deemed and Cancelled before the latterf date.
COINAGE.
During the fiscal year ended June go 1885,
there were coined under the compulsory silver
coin lge act of 1878, 29, $3.50 40 silver dollars
aud the cost of the silver used in such coinage
was 20, AS, 960.0l. There had been coined up
to the close of the previous fiscal year, under
the provisions of the law, 203, 49,, 554 silver
dollars, and on the lst day of December,
1881, the total amount OF such coinage was
S247, 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 81 d cents ca b,
and that the 3lSt day of JulI, 1885, the
price of sils err reached the lowest stage ever
known, so that the intrinsic or bullion price
of our standard dollar at that date was less
than ~ cents. The price of silver on the 3Jt
day OF November last was such as to make
the dollars iutrinsically worth ~ cents each.
These differences in value of the coins rep
resent the fluctuations in the price of silver
and they certainly do not Indicate that COM
pulsory coinage b. the government enhances
the price of that commodity or secures uni
formity in its value. Every fair and legal
effort has been made by the treasu ry
department to distribute this cur
rency among the people. The with
drawal of United States treasury notes of
small denominations and the issuing Of small
silver Coles have been resorIed to in the en-
to the will and sentiments of the representa-
tiyes OF the people in congress. On the 9th
day of November. 1886, the people held Of
these coins certificates representing TO
them the nominal sum of S166, ,04l, and we
still have $79, 464,3i5 In the treasury as
a ainst about sIt2, i,055 in the hands of the
people and S72, S65,376 remaining in the treas
ur one year ago. The director of the mint
again urges the necessitr OF more vault 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 compulsory coinage, and
again urge its suspension on ali the grounds
contained in my former recommendation, re-
inforced by the significant increase of our
gold ex portations during the last year, as APP
pears by the comparative statement herewith
presented, and for the further reasons that
the more this currency l. distributed among
the people, the greater it becomes our duty
to protect it from disaster; that we now have
abundance for all our needs, and that there
seems but httlo propriety IN building vaults to
store such currency, when the only pretense
for its coinage is the necessity of its use by
the people as circulating medium.
CUSTOMS REVENUE SUITS.
The great number OF suits now pending in
the United States courts for the Southern dis
tricts of New York, growing out of the col
lections OF customs revenue at the port Of
are almost daily instituted, are certainly
worthy the attention of the congress. These
legal controversies, based upon conflicting
views by importers and the collector as 10 the
Interpretation of our present complex ana
indefinite revenue laws, might be largely
obviated by an amendment OF those laws.
By providing such amendment, the present
condition OF this litigation would De relieved.
There are now pending about 2.5OO or THESE
suits. More than LOO have been COM
menced within the past eighteen months.
and many of the others have been at issue
for more than twenty-five years These 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 threatens TO
double the demands involved. In the present
condition of the dockets of the courts, well
filed with private suits, and of the force al
lowed the district attorney, no greater than
is necessary for the ordinary and current
business of his Offices, these litigations can
not be considered. In default of the adoption
by the congress of a plan for the general re-
organization of the federal courts, as has
heretofore been recommended, / urge the pro-
priety of passing law permitting the APP
pointment OF an additional federal Judge in
the district where these Cover nment suits
have accumulated, so that by continuous
sessions Of the courts devoted to their trial
these cases may be determined. 1t is entirely
plain that a great saving to the government
would be accomplished by such n remedy,
and the suitors who have honest claims would
not be denied justice through delay.
THE ARMY.
What II Cost Last Year..The Cap.
fure of the Apaches.