The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-12-09

Of the entire country, and with a WiIling-
Ness to yield something for the public
good.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
The sum paid upon the public debt
during the 1ecal year ending June so,
twelve months ending October 81,
1885, three per cent bonds were
called fSr redemption amounting
to 81 ,272, S31 600, Of which ESQ, 643 400
was 30 called 60 answer the requirements
OF the Law relating to the sinking fund.
ana $40 ,6s6, 800 for the purpose Of reduc-
ing the pubic debt by application Of Q
Object. OF the bonds thus called9 100, 269, =
$50 becAme subject under such calls 10
redemption prior TO November l, 1886 !;
the remainder amounting to $780,
136 80 mAsured under the calls
after that date In addition to the am sunt
subject TO psyment and cancellation
prior 20 N0Vembes 1st. There were paid
befOfS that day certain Of theee bonds
with the interest thereon amounting TO
e4s072 $50, which were anticipated, a. to
the maturity Of which 426. $50 $50. had
not Been called, thus SlO7 Gal 800 had
6e0n actually applied prior 70 the Ist Of
November, 1886, 20 tie extinguishment
Oh Oaf bonded and interest bearing
at. leaving on that, day still
a Andirg the sum. 81 153. 40, 112.
OF his amount $50. $40, 700 were sun rep
resented by 3 per cent bonds. They,
however. have been since November 1,
or viii at once be, further reduced by
S2a, 6O6, 150, being bonds which have been
called as already stated, but not redeem
ed and cAOCelled before the latter date.
SILVER COINAGE.
During the fscal year ended June,
1883, there was coined under the CONF
pusory silver cOinsge act Of 1873, $685.
SS8 sos silver dollars, and the cost Of
the silver used in such coinage was
e243, 4S9 600. There had been COINED
upto the close Of the previous Hscal year
under the provisions OF the law 203, 1872,
6Sz silver dollars, and on the 1st day Of
December, 1886, the total amount of
such coinage was s247, 131 $40. The
director OF the mint reports tnss at the
ume OF the passage OF the
law Of 1873 directing this
coinage, the intrinsic value OF the dollars
on the Slsf day OF July, 1886, the price
of silver reached the lowest stage ever
known, SO that the intrinsic or bullion
prtCe 81 our standard silver dollar al
thar date was less than "a cents. The
price Of silver on the 30th day of Novem.
Der hast was such az to mSke the dollars
inxinsically worth 70 cents each. The
difference In value Of the coins r. pre-.
sented fluctuations In price Of silver and
they certainly do not indicate that the
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. The with.
drawel OF United States treasury notes Of
s1Au denominations and the issuing Of
small silver certificates have been re-
sorted TO In the endeevor TO accomplish
this result In obedience to the will and
sentiments OF the representatives Of the
people In the congress. On the 9th day
OF November, 1886, the people had Of these
coins o: cert. ncates, representing them
the nomiDsl sum OF &166, 1873 ,041, and we
still had 479. z64, 345 in the treasury, as
against about s142. s9S.055. so in the
hands OF the people, and S72 ,S65, 1915 re-
naming In the treasury one year ago.
The director of the mint again urges the
necessity Of more vault room for the pur-
pose OF storing these sill
needed tor circulation by the people, and
l have seen no reason TO change the views
expressed in my last annual message on
the subject of this compulsory coins ge,
and again uTg7 its suspension on all the
grounds contained In my former recon-
mendstiOD, reinforced by the significant
increase Of our gold expectations last
statement herewith presented, and for
the further reasons that the more this
currency is distributed among the peo-
pie the greater becomes our
duty TO protect 1t from dis
aster. That we now have an ebund-
ance for all our needs and that
there seems but little propriety in build
Ing vaults to store such currency when
the only pretenee for the coinage is the
necessity Of Its use by the people as a
circulating medium. The great number
OF suits now pending In the United States
court for the southern district Of New
York growing out Of the collection of
customs revenues At the port Of New
York, and the number Of such suits that
are almost daily instituted, are certainly
worth the attention Of congress. The
legal controversies based upon con-
1tct1ng views by importers and collector
ae to the Interpretation Of our present
complex and indt naite revenue laws
might be largely obviated by an amend.
menS OF those laws, but pending such
amendment the present condition Of this
hbg ation should be relieved. There are
now pending about q. Geo Of these suits ;
more than J, 100 have been commenced
within the past eighteen months and
more than twenty-five years. These de-
lays Subject the government to loss Of
evidence and prevent the preparation
necessary TO defeat unjust and flctiOus
claims, while constantly accruing inter.
est threatens 10 double the demands
involved. In the present condition
OF the dockets of the courts, well filed
with private suits and OF the force
allowed the district attorney, no greater
than Ia necessary for the ordinary
current business OF his Office the revenue
Mtigations cannot be considered In de-
fault Of the adoption Of congress OF q
plan for the general reO1ganiz alton OF
the federal courts, a. heretofore recon-
mended. urge the pTopriety Of pass
ing law permitting the appointment OF
an additional court judge ia the district
where the government suits have &C.
cumulsted % that by continuous sessions
OF the courts devoted to the trial
Of these cases they may be determined.
1t Is entirely plain that . great saving to
the governments would be Accomplished
by such remedy and the suitors who
have honest claims would not be denied
justice through delay.
TEE WAX DEPARTMENT.
The report Of the secretary of wal
gives detailed account of the admins
Taticn Of his department, and contains
eundry recommendations for the i'm
provement Of the service which fully
approve. The army consisted Gt the
date OF the last consolidated returns z, I0S
officers and 24,S4e enlisted men.
The expenses of the department for the
last hscal year were 936, 990, 903 80, in
Guiding %, 294 1896 q for public WorkG
and river and harbOR improvements.
especially direct the attention OF con-
gress to the recommendation that officers
be required 70 submit 20 an examination
| - . preliminary to theis promotion.
see no objection bus many advantages II
adopting this feature which has operated
50 benefciAlly In oar navy department g
well - In some branches Of the army.
| TEE COAST DEFEMsEs.
The subject Of coast defenaes and forti
| 6cati0ns has been fully and CAREFUL,
1 treated by the board on Notifications
Whose report was submitted At the las
session Of congress, but no construction
work 0f the kind recommended by tn
board has been possible during the Las
year nom lack OF appropriation for sucl
purpose. The detenseless condition O