The leader., 1889-12-07

| tations which the process of reduction puts
| upon both capital and labor. The free list
can very safely be extended by placing
thereon articles that do not offer injurious
competition to such domestic products as our
home labor can supply. The removal of the
internal tax upon tobacco would relieve an
| important agricultural product from a bur-
| den which was imposed only because our
revenue from customs duties was insufficient
for the pnblic needs. If safe provision against
fraud can be devised the removal of the tax
| upon spirits used in the arts and in manufac-
lures would also offer an unobjectionable
method of reducing the surplus
THE COINAGE OF SILVER DOLLARS
The total coinage OF silver dollars was. on
November /, 1889, $343, ,63S, 001, of which
1888, $50 521 were in the Treasury vaults
and SEQ, 09S, 4S0 were in circulation. OF the
amount i'll the vaults, SET, ,319, 944 were
represented by outstanding silver ccrtifi-
Gates leaving $6,2l9,5T not in circulation
and not represented by certificates.
The law requiring the purchase by the
Treasury of s., 600, 900 worth of silver bull
lion each month to be coined into silver dol
lars of 4121% grains, has been observed by
the department, but neither the present
Secretary nor any of his predecessors has
deemed it safe to exercise the discretion
given by law to increase the monthly pur-
chases to 81, 100000.
l have always been an advocate Of the use
of silver in our currency. Weare large pro-
ducers of that metal, and should not dis
credit it. To the plan which will be pre-
sented by the Secretary of the Treasury for
the issuance of notes or certificates upon the
deposit OF silver bullion at its market value
have been able to give only hasty exam
ination, owing to the press of other matters
and to the fact that it has been so recently
formulated The details of such q law re
quire careful consideration, but the general
plan suggested by him seems to satisfy the
purpose-to continue the use of silver in con-
necuion with our currency, and at the same
time to obviate the danger of which I have
spoken At later day may communicate
further with Congress upon this subject.
EXCLUDING THE CHINESE.
The enforcement of the Chinese exclusion
act has been found to be very difficult on the
Northwestern frontier Cinnamon landing
at Victoria find it easy to pass our border
owing to the impossibility, with the force at
the command of the customs officers, of
guarding so long an inland line. The Secre-
tary of the Treasury has authorized the em-
ployment of additional officers, who will be
assigned to this duty, and every effort will
be made to enforce the law. The Dominion
exacts head tax of $50 for each Chinaman
landed, and when these persons, in fraud of
our law, cross into our territory and are
apprehended, our officers do not know what
to do with them, as the Dominion authorities
will not suffer them to be sent back without
a second payment Of the tax. An effort will
be made to reach an understanding that will
remove this difficulty
WITHOUT COAST DEFENsES.
Judged by modern standards, we are prac-
tically without coast defenseS. Many of the
structures we have would enhance rather
than diminish the perilS of thair Garri5ons if
subjecte TO the fire OF improved guns: and
very few are So located as 20 give full effect
to the greater range OF such guns as we are
now making for coast defense. uses. This
general subject has had consideration in
Congress for some years, and the appropria-
ton Tor the construction of large Iitled guns
made one year ago, was | am sure, the ex-
preston Of q purpose TO provide suitable
works in which these guns might be mounted
An appropriation now made for that purpose
would not advance the completion of the
works beyond our ability to supply them
with fairly effective guns.
The security of our coast cities against for
eign attack should not rest altogether in the
friendly disposition OF other nations. There
should be second line wholly in our own
keeping. very urgently recommend APP
preparation at this session for the COnstruC-
tion of such works in our most exposed har-
bors.
.Iapprove the suggestion of the Secretary
of War that provision be made for encamp-
coast works for a specified time each year
and for their training in the use of heavy
guns. His suggestion that all increase of the
artillery force of the army is desirable is
also i'll this connection commended to the
consideration of Congress.
The Improvement of our important rivers
and harbors should be promoted by the nee
eSsary appropriations
THE PROTECTION OF FEDERAL OFFICERS.
The assault made by David S. Terry upon
the person of Justice Field, of the Supreme
Court Of the United States. at Lathrop, Cal,
in August last, and the killing of the assail-
ant by deputy United States marshal who
had been deputed to accompany Justice
Field and to protect him from anticipated
violence at the hands of Terry, in connection
with the legal proceedings which have fol-
lowed, suggest questions which, in my judg-
ment, are worthy the attention of Congress.
L recommend that more definite provision
be made by law, not only for the protection
of Federal officers, but for full trial of such
cases in the United States courts.
Events, which have been brought to my
attention. happening in other parts Of the
country, have also suggested the propriety of
extending by legislation, fuller protection
to those who may be called as witnesses i'll
the courts Of the United States. The law
cOnlpels those who are supposed to have
knowledge of public offenses to attend upon
our courts and grand juries and to give evi-
dence. There is a manifest resulting duty
that these witnesses shall be protected from
injury on account of their testimony The
Investigations of criminal offenses are often
rendered futile, and the punishment of crime
impossible, by the intimidation of witnesses
TRUSTS AND THE COPYRIGHT LAWS.
Earnest attention should be given by Con-
gress to a consideration of the question how
far the restraint of those combinations of
capital commonly called trusts is matter
of Federal jurisdiction. When organized, as
they often are, 20 crush out all healthy COM
petition and>to Inonopolize the production or
sale OF an article of commerce. and general
necessity they are dangerous conspiracies
against the public good and should be made
the subject of pgohibitory and even penal
legislation.
The subject of an international copyright