The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-12-05
would alsc Offer an unobjectionable method OF


present time, is of interest It appears that
the amount of national-bank notes in circula-
ton has decreased during that period $114, 109,-
729 of which 37 799 229 is 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 certi1-
Gates.
The total amount of money of all kinds In cir
culation March 1, 1878, $S05, 1913 807, while
on Oct. /, 1889, the total was 81, 405 OILS, 900.
There was an increase of 1888, AT, 552 in gold
CON- of 57 1884, 100 in standard silver dollars, OF
$72 81, 249 in gold certificates Of $276 619 us in
silver certificates and of $14, 073 1877 in United
States notes, making a total of $713 o76, 403.
There was during the same period a decrease of
$114, 209 100 in bank circulation and of $642 481
in subsidiary silver. The net increase was $685.
224 1913. The circulation per capita has increased
about SIS during the time covered by the table
referred to.
The Coinage of Silver.
The total coinage of silver dollars was
November /, 1885, $343 63S DOL, of which 1928, $780,,
SCI were in the Treasury. vaults, $50, 09S, 4S0
were in circulation. OF the amount in the
vaults, $277, ,944 were represented by out
standing silver certificates leaving S. 219 SIT not
in circulation and not represented by certificates.
The law recurring the purchase, by the
treasury, of So, 100000 worth of silver bullion
each month, to be coined into silver dollars, has
been observed by the department; but neither
the present Secretary any of his predecessors
has deemed it safe to exercise the discretion
given by law to increase the monthly purchases
to 81 000, 600. The evil anticipations which have
accompanied the coinage and of the silver
dollar have no. been realized. As a coin it
has not had general use, and the public
treasury has been compelled to store 1t.
But this is manifestly owing to the fact
that it's 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 IL 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 1egis-
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
have spoken. At g. later day I may con1nuni-
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
ditional soldiers, who wifi be assigned to this
duty and every effort will be made to enforce
the law. The Dominion exacts head tax OF $5O
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 a
second payment of the tax. An effort will be
made to reach 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
coast 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. 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 Score
tary of War that provision be made for encamp
ing companies of the National Guard in
coast works for specified time each year and
for their training in the use of heavy guns. His
suggestion that 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-
sary appropriations. Care should be taken
that ~ the e5oyeranent is not committed e
lie and general advantage, and that the
relative usefulness of works of that class
is not overlooked. So far this
work cen ever be said to be completed, lido not
doubt that the end wouaG be sooner and more
economically reached ii fewer separate works
selected for their greater general interest
rapidly pushed to completion 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. Terrw
upon the person of Justice Field, of the SUI
preme Court of the United States at IIathrop
Cal, in August last, and the killing of the
sailant by a Deputy United States Marshal I
recommend that more definite provision be
made by law, not only for the protection of
Federal officers, but for a 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 1egisla-
ton, 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 mare speedy
method for disposing of the cases which now
come for final adjudication to the Supreme
Court becomes every year more apparent and
urgent. The plan of providing intermediate
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. 1 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 judy
ment, inadeq l recommend thatGll such
salaries ROW below s., 900 be Increased to that
amount.
hSSafuInS 1EtkSdSs
Earnest attention should be given by Congress
to consideration of the question how far the
restraint of those combinations of capital COM
monty called trusts" is q matter of federal
jurisdiction. When organized, as they often aEe
to crush out aM healthy competition and to
monopolize the production sale of an article
of commerce and general necessity, they are
dangerous conspiracies against the public good,
and should be made the subject of prohibitory
andewen penal legislation.
The subject of an International copyright has
been frequently commended to the attention of
Congress by my predecessors. The enactment
of such q law would be eIninently wise and
just.
Our naturalization laws should he so revised
TO make the inquiry into the naOra1 character
and good disposition toward Govern
ment of the persons applying for citi-
zensldp 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
eminent in the inquiry. Those who are the
avowed enemies of social orCe:, or who come to
our shores to swell the injurious influence and
to extend the evil practices of any association
that defies our laws should not only be denied
citizenship, but a donicile.
The enactment of a national bankrupt law of
character TO be permanent part of our gen. |
eral legislation is desirable. 1t should be sim
pie in its methods and inexpensive in it's adj