The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1889-12-05

Wnen a majority OF the clClZenS nave
voted for such form Of government.
REGARDING THE SURPLUS.
Report of the secretary of the treasury
shows receipts for 1889 exceed expendi-
lures $57,47O, 1889, for current yea,
$43,67S, 983.01, for 1891, estimated, $43,-
$50, 52230. Existence of so large an
actual and anticipated surplus should
have immediate attention of congress, to
reduce receipts of government to the ex.
penditures. Buying bonds at premium
is a questionable expedient, but one
which is the only resort under present
conditions. Placing government funds
in national banks without interest is q
dangerous expedient for getting the
money in circulation and should be i'm
mediately stopped.
LOWER PROTECTIVE TARIFF.
Revision of the tariff law is recon-
mended. The irregularities of the law
should be adjusted but the protective
principle should be retained and applied
to farm products as we'll as manufac-
turns. The free list can safely be ex-
tended by removal of internal revenue
tax on tobacco, and, if safeguards
against fraud can be secured, the re.
moval of the tax on spirits used in the
arts would be desirable.
SILVER COINAGE.
The net increase of money in circula-
ton in the last decade has been $500, 1894,
1913. The total coinage of silver dollars
Nov. 1. 1899, was S343, 63S, 001, of which
1888, 539, 521 are in the treasury vaults.
Silver certificates for $227, 319, 0H of the
amount in vault are outstanding. No Sec
rotary of the treasury has deemed it ex-
pedient to increase the monthly purchase
of bullion from the 81, 0O0, 900 directed by
law to the 100000 allowable. The
value of bullion used in silver dollar
has fallen in the past ten years from SO
cents to 70 cents. If silver is to be used
as a monetary medium the relative value
of gold and silver bullion must be ex-
pected to be taken into consideration in
commercial transactions. Such result
would be discreditable to our financial
management and business interests. We
should not tread on such dangerous
ground.
COAST DEFENSE.
We are practically without coast de-
tense. Our forts and other structures,
while good enough for the arms of the
day in which they were made, would be
worse than no protection for the modern
guns now under construction for harbor
use. An appropriation for new works
at the most important points should be
made at once.
RIVERS AND HARBORS.
Improvement of our important rivers
and harbors should not be allowed to
cease. A more systematic plan should
lie adopted and the work pushed more
rapidly.
The need of better protection for jur.
lists is shown in the Terry shooting case
Business of the supreme courts would
be expedited by the establishment OF
an appellate court having final jurisdic'
tiOn in certain classes of cases. The su.
preme court recommends this.
TRUSTS.
Congress should take such action as
they find they can to crush out monopolies
commonly called trusts. The enactment
of a national bankrupt law would be de-
sirable. Naturalization laws should be
revised. No emigrant should be given
citizenship who is an enemy of social
order or who has taken oaths at variance
with our laws.
POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Suggestions of the postmaster general
are approved, especially the plan of di
viding the service into districts that
shall include include instructions and
suggestions, and a rating of efficiency OF
postmasters.
THE NAVY.
The report of the secretary of the navy
shows rapid improvement but no in.
crease in the number of naval vessels as
the same number have been condemned
or lost as have been added. The country
needs more cruisers and congress should
make appropriations for them.
INDIAN QUESTION.
Substantial progress has been made II
Indian education and in allotment OF
lands. Such a course is an incentive tx
thrift and is contributing to settling the
problem of what shall be done with the
red man. Negotiations for opening g
portion of the Sioux reservation and thu
allotment in severalty of the remainder
have been successful. Its ratification by
congress is asked. The work of thu
Cherokee commission has not ye
reached conclusion.
OKLAHOMA AND ALASKA.
Oklahoma has now a population o.
10000. The City of Guthrie has 5000
Oklahoma City 5000. There are severa
other important cities and towns. Thes'
have no government but martial law
Congress should create a territorial gov
eminent.
Provisions should be made for acquisi
ton of titles to real estate in Alaska
Land laws should be extended to tina
section and the power given to levy
taxes. An appropriation for education
should be made. The population is 81
badly scattered as to offer serious obsta
cles to territorial government. The or
ganization of several sub-districts will
municipal councils would be safe anC
useful.
PENSIONS.
Many veterans who endured the hard
ships and arduous duties of our mos
bloody campaigns are now disabled from
diseases which had a real, though no
traceable, origin in the serbice. Tn
pension roll is already large, but thi
should no. deter the government from