The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-26
CREAM or THE PRESS.
CURRENT COMMENTS CLIPPED
AND CAREFULLY CULLED.

Biii-An onssiaI BenIface-Refermi In the
Army-The south Carolina Law-Tbe
New Republic other Topics.
THE SILVER PROBLEM. Silver. rs a
has its value fixed by the
for il 10 the London market.
ihc piice Of any commodity is settled
by the selling value OF the surplus
supply. Aud. owing TO the trade rela
tinps between Great Britain and the
silver using countries Of the East.
London has been the market for the
surplus silver of the world.
1t is Interesting TO note that the prev
alent agitation of the silver question
has produced a decided appreciation in
the market value Of the metal. AT one
time during the present year the price
for bar silver IN London was down u
about the lowest figures on record.
There has since last summer been an Rd
vance of over four cents per ounce IN
the price. TIE London quotation Is
now All pence, or about SO cents. and
from present appearances the market Ii
likely to advance sli more.
This proceeding has an important
bearing on the solution Of the silver
problem. The recent gain in price has
been IN part due to the action OF the
English Government itself. Awaken
ing 10 the necessity of doing somethi,p
20 stop the depreciation OF silver. the
Excheauer and the Bank Of England
have cO-operated to increase theciTcula
ton of subsidiary silver COINS.
This Immediately strengthened the mar
ket. and the reports that the silver
question was TO be taken up in Con
eress has caused further advance
Whether Mr.. WINDOWS extraordinary
warehousing plan for American silver
bullion will have a permanent effect on
the silver market remains 20 be seen
But II is evident from the action oil
prices that little international eHor'
would be required to put silver upon Z
much higher basis OF valJe. ANA 4
the value caa be Appropriated In any
way 10 the level at which it sold before
the great decline in the seventies. mos
of the dihiculties OF the silver problem
will be solved ~ J. Star.
THE FEDERAL ELECTION BILL.-lt !;
given out upon good authority tina
Senator Sherman contemplates the IN
PRODUCTION of Federal Election bill Il
he next Congress. The scheme. as an
nounced. provides for Federal contro
of the election of Repre- sentatives t
Congress. 1t is proposed 10 separate thu
choice Of such officers completely frcn
State politics and 10 place the ELECTION
machinery iu the hands OF the Pfeslden
and Senate of the United States.
A board Of five cdnvassers IS to be an
pointed in each State to supervise th'
elections. Another board of three is L
be prov ded for each Congressional dis
trict. Finally, registrars, judges. ant
cierSs Of pre0ints are to be appointed
and all from beginning to end are 70 b.
responsible solely TO the admlnistra
| ton.
Such q measure would appear to tn
people Of the nation as mighty lnDo
walton. In its scope and purposes II }
no less startling than il IS novel. l
would create nearly coo 600 appoiDiiy
offices. and at least on the face OF thing
would tend toward perpetuatlng on
party or another IN power much lOnge
than-is now the case. Only an outlin
of the scheme has been given. and 1t l
impossible to discuss it iutelligently
but from such glimpses as are afforded
il is not calculated to impress American
voters favorabiy.- Baltimore Herald
AN OFFICIAL BONIFACE.-N Vice Pres
dent Levi Z. Morton has built motel a
Washington. Good hotels are neede'
there. aud half a dozen or more Of then
would be OF great public convenience
Vice President MOrtOn's contribution
to the comfort of legislators, Office
see kers, claim agents ami other uBiof
Inmates whose business draws them L
the National capital is Of itself de
serving praise. But the rival hotel
keepers assert that the Vice-Prcsi
dent is himself the landlord. that h
pockets the profits Of the hosteliy, ant
lhat. although he does not show IN
pleasant face III the hotel office. he doe
the drummer business outside, an'
uses his influence to win guests from
the other houses 10 his own. Nay
more. 1t is even iusinuated that Vice
I President Morton owns the bar at tn
/ Shoreham-W hlch is the euphODiOu
me Of the Presidential hosiery
and that the hotel license is III bis owl
name. -Ner York World.
REFORM ~ THE ARMY -Secretar
Proct,r's first annual report of the con
diti0n of the army is an exceedingl
suggestive one. He advises chang
from the present regimentai formato
to the three battalion system. this coun
try being alone, with the exception G
Persia and China. in adheIing to the oil
plan. He also advises the removal q
all restrictions upon the retired lisi
Justice 10 tse Cffice who have grow
gray or become lncdpacltated IN the SCI
wee demands this bur there il a msr
potent reason which should consinc
/ the mind of the average legislator, an
that Is that il is cheaper TO support in
capacltated officers on half than on fu|
pay. To limit the retired list to fOl
HUNDRED ana 10 have fifty officers VIII
can do no service drawing full pay an
allowances IS reckless extravaganza.
Baltimore American
The SOUTH C0RoLINA LAW. Con
gress mau Hempuill. OF South Carolina
was twItted last evening by Repub
lican friend on the alleged suppression
of the colored vote in his State. III
said: Il know there is a widespread
idea in the North that such
state of affairs exists in the South
but as for South Carolina. on
elections are as fair aud orderly As
Washington Sunday. We have an ed
Vocational qualification similar to tn
one in forcoin Massachusetts,. and to b
a voter one mus be able to read hi
/ ticket and know for himself who an
Whist he is voting for, but there is n
such thing as intimidation Of the negr,
vote There Is one thing we hav
/ done which looks as If we had mad
/ arrangements for cutting our ow
Threats, and that is the superior educa
tioaal advantages we have provided II
South Carolina. We have better schoc
facilities now than we have had sire
South Carolina became State. and
/ the theory of onr Republican friends
correct this will give them an oppor
tunity TO take advantage of the school
houses. get educatlons, and outvot
US. - Washington Post.