Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-03


| the plan which will be presented by the Secre-
| tary 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
| other matters and to the fact that it has been
| so recently formulated The details of such q
law require careful consideration, but the gen.
eral plan suggested by him seems to satisfy the
purpose-to continue the use of silver in con-
nection 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.
THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT.
The enforcement Of the Chinese exclusion
act has been found to be very difficult on the
| northwestern frontier. Cinnamon, landing al
Victoria, find it easy to pass our border, owing
to the impossibility, with the force at the COM
| mand OF the customs officers, Of guarding so
long an inland line. The Secretary Of the
| Treasury has authorized the employment 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
fifty dollars 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.
The proclamation required by section 5 Of
the act Of March 2. 1889. relating to the killing
OF seals and other fur-bearing animals was is
sued by me on the 2lst day of March. and a
revenue vessel was dispatched to enforce the
laws and protect the interests of the United
States. The establishment of refuge station
at Point Barrow, as directed by Congress, was
successfully accomplished
OUR COAST DEFENsEs.
Judged by modern standards, we are practi-
coll nit 10 L.
structures we have would enhance rather than
diminish the perils Of their garrisons if sub
lected to the fire OF improved guns, and very
few are so located as to give full effect to the
greater range of such guns we are now max
ing for coast-defense uses. This general sub
ject has had consideration in Congress for
some years, aud the appropriation for the con-
ago, was, l am sure, the expression of a pur-
pose 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
elgn attack should not rest altogether in the
friendly disposition Of other nations. There
should be second line wholly in our own keep
ing. very urgently recommend an appropri-
alton at this session for the construction of such
works IN our most exposed harbOrs
approve the suggestion of the Secretary Of
War that provision be made for encamping
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
force of the Army is desirable is also in this
connection commended to the consideration of
Congress.
RIVER AND HARBoR IMPROVEMENTS.
The improvement of our important rivers
and harbors should be promoted by the neces-
sary appropriations. Care should be taken
that the Government is not committed to the
prosecution of works not of public and general
advantage, and that the relative usefulness of
works OF that class is not overlooked. SO far as
this work can ever be said to be completed, I
do not doubt that the end would be sooner and
more economically reached if fewer separate
works were undertaken at the same time, and
those selected for their greater general interest
were more rapidly pushed to completion.
work once considerably begun should not be
subjected to the risks and deterioration which
interrupted or insufficient appropriations neces-
sarily occasion.
PROTECTION OF FEDERAL OFFICERS.
The assault made by David s. Terry upon the
of the United States, at Lathrop, California, in
August last and tie killing of the assailant 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 followed, suggest
questions which, in my Judgment, are worthy
of the attention of Congress.
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 In recon-
mending such legislation l do not at all i'm
peach either the general adequacy of the pro-
vision made by the State laws for the protec-
ton of all citizens or the general good DISPOSE
ton OF those charged with the execution of
such laws to give protection to the officers of
the United States. The duty OF protecting its
officers, as such, and Of Furnishing those who
assault them on account of their official acts,
should not be devolved expressly or by acqui-
escence upon the local authorities
Events, which have been brought to my at
tention happening In other parts of the coun-
try, have also suggested the propriety of ex-
tending, by legislation, fuller protection to
those who may be called as witnesses in the
courts of the United States. The law compeis
those who are supposed to have knowledge of
public ofenses to attend upon our courts and
grand jurles and to give evidence. There is a
manifest resulting duty that these witnesses
shall be protected from injury on account of
their testimony. The Investigations of Grim
inal offenses are often rendered futile, and the
punishment OF crime impossible, by the in-
tiInidation OF witnesses
THE OVER CROWDED SUPREME COURT
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
urgent. The plan of providing some inter-
mediate courts, having final appellate juris-
diction OF certain classes of questions and cases.
has, think, received more general approval
from the bench and bar of the country than
any other. without attempting to discuss
Details 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. recommend that all such
salaries now below five thousand dollars per
annum be increased to that amount. 1t is
quite true that the amount of labor performed
by these judges Is very unequal, but as they
can not properly engage in other pursuits to
supplement their incomes, the salaries should
be such in all cases as to provide an indie
pendent and comfortable support.
THE TRUSTS"
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, to crush out all healthy competition and
to monopolize 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 pro-
hibitory and even penal legislation
The subject OF an international copyright
has been frequently commended to the atten-
ton OF Congress by my predecessors. The en-
anAyR. zx.t ~ II. l.. 4