Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-12-05

table presented by tho Secretary Of the
4 Treasury, showing the amount Of money Of all
kinds in circulation each year from I;7s to the
I present time, IL Of interest. 1t applars that
| the amount Of national-bank notes in circula-
tion has decreased during that period slll. 100 !.
10 OF which So 100 229 "a chargeable TO the last
year. But while this withdrawal Of bank notes
has been going on, there has been large increase
in the amount Of gold and silver coin In circula-
tiOn and In the issues OF gold and silver certin-
Gates.
The total amount Of money Of ali kinds In cir
culation on March /, 1873 was ssO6 793 8O7 while
on Oct l, 1880, the total was a, ,405 Ols, 900
There was an increase OF s2s3 Az, $50 I'm gold
coin Of s57 55l loo in standard silver dollars of
S723l1, ,2l9 in gold certihcates OF S27B6 us In
silver certificates and Of S14, ,073 T67 in United
States notes, making a total of S713976. .403.
There was during the same period q decrease of
S1l4, 200 729 In bank circulation, and Of S6l2 4S1
In subsidiary silver. The net increass was S529.-
224, 1873. The circulation per capita has increased
about s5 during the time covered by the table
The Coinage of silver.
The total coinage OF silver dollars was, on
November l. 1889, S343 63s 0OI, of which S253 539
52l were In the Treasury vaults, sG009s, 45O
were In circulation. OF the amount in the
vaults, S2T, ,319, ,9i4 were represented by out
standing silver certificates leaving 50 l9577 not
In circulation and not represented by certificates.
t9s law Of g 1ne TerS Ot By the
each month, to be coined into silver dollars has
been observed by the department; but neither
the present Secretary or any of his predecessors
has deemed 1t safe TO exercise the discretion
given by law to increase the monthly purchases
to q, 100000. The evil anticipations which have
accompanied the coinage and use of the silver
dollar have no. been realized. As coin it
has not had general use, and the public
treasury has been compelled to store it.
But this is manifestly owing to the fact
that its paper representative is more convenient.
The general acceptance and use of the silver
certificate shows that silver has not been other
wise discredited. think it is clear that II we
should make the coinage of silver at the present
ratio free, We must expect that the difference in
the bullion values of the gold and silver dollars
will be taken account of in commercial trans
actions, and fear the same result would follow
any considerable increase OF the present rate OF
coinage such result would be discreditable
to our financial management and disastrous
to all business interests. Any safe legis-
lation upon this subject must secure
the equality OF the two coins in their CONNER
cial uses. have always been an advocate of
the use of silver in our currency. We are large
producers of that metal, and should not dis
credit it. The details of perfect law require
careful consideration, but the general plan sug-
gested by the Secretary Of the Treasury seems
to satisfy the purpose-to continue the use of
silver in connection with our currency. and at
the same time to obviate the danger of which l
have spoken. At later day may communi-
cate further with Congress upon this subject.
Exclusion of the Chinese.
The enforcement of the Chinese exclusion act
has been found to be very difficult on the
Northwestern frontier. The Secretary of the
Treasury has authorized the employment of ad-
ditional soldiers, 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, 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
second payment of the tax. An effort will be
made to reach an understanding that will re-
move this difficulty.
Our Coast Defenses.
Judged by modern standards we are practical
ly without coast defenses. Many of the struct-
ures We have would enhance rather than dimin-
ish the perils of their garrisons If subjected to
the fire of improved guns The security of our
cities against foreign attack should not rest
altogether in the friendly disposition Of other
nations. There should be a second line wholly
in our own keeping. l very urgently recon-
mend an appropriation at this session for the
construction of such works in our most exposed
harbors. approve the suggestion of the Secre-
tary of War that provision De made for encamp-
ing companies of the National Guard in our
coast works for specified time each year and
for their training in the use of heavy guns. His
suggestion that an increase OF the artillery
force of the army is desirable is also in this
connection commended to the consideration of
Congress.
River and Harbor Improvement.
The Improvement Of our important rivers
and harbors should be promoted by the neces-
Sdry appfOprlablOnB. care SuOulQ DO GaKeQ
that the Government is not committed
to the prosecution of works not of pub
lie and general advantage, and that the
relative usefulness Of works of that class
work can ever be said to be completed I do not
doubt that the end wo.ld be sooner and more
economically reached II fewer separate works
were undertaken at the same time, and those
selected for their greater general interest were
more rapidly pushed to completion. A work
once considerably begun should not be subjected
to the risks and deterioration which interrupted
or insufficient appropriations necessarily occa-
sion.
The Law Department..
In view of the assault made by David S. Terry
upon the person of Justice Field, of the Su-
preme Court of the United States at Lathrop,
Cal, in August last and the killing of the
sailant by Deputy United States Marshal,
recommend that more definite provision be
made by law, not only for the protection OF
Federal officers, but for q 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 sug-
gested the propriety of extending, by legisla-
tion, fuller protection to those who may be
calledas witnesses in the courts of the United
States. The Investigations of criminal offenses
are often rendered futile by the intimidation of
witnesses.
The necessity of providing some more speedy
method for disposing of the cases which now
come for final adjudication to the Supreme
Court becomes every year more apparent and
courts, having final appellate Jurisdiction of
certain classes of questions and cases. has,
think, received q more general approval from
the bench and bar of the country than any
other. | recommend that provision be made for
the establishment of such courts.
The salaries of the Judges of the District
Courts in many of the districts are, in my judg-
ment. inadequate. l recommend that oil such
amount.
Regarding Trusts.
Earnest attention should be given by Congress
| to o consideration of the question how far the
restraint of those combinations of capital COM
| monty called trusts" is matter OF federal
jurisdiction. When organized, as they often are,
| to crush out all healthy competition and to
| monopoize the production or sale of an article
| of commerce and general necessity, they are
| dangerous Gonspiracies against the public good,
| and should be made the subject of prohibitory
| and even penal legislation.
The subject of an International copyright has
| been frequently commended to the attention OF
| Congress by my predecessors. The enactment
| of such a law would be eminently wise and
| just.
Our naturalization laws should be 30 revised
and good disposition toward our Govern
zenship more thorough. This can only
be done by, taking fuller control of the ex-
animation, by fixing the times for hearing
such applications, and by requiring the pres.
ence of some one who shall represent the Gov
ernment in the inquiry. Those who are the
avowed enemies OF social order, or who come tc
our shores to swell the injurious influence and
to extend the evil practices of any association
that defes our laws should not only be denied
citizenship, but domicile.
The enactment of national bankrupt law o1
a character to be q permanent part of our gen
eral legislation Is desirable II should be sim
pie in its methods and Inexpensive in its ad
ministration
The Postofice Department.