The morning call., 1890-09-11
EDITORIAL NOTES.

The position OF Chief OF the Ordnance Depart
ment just now is very important one. The
regular forces are likely TO be soon rearmed with
magazine guns, the manufacture OF which will
be carried on under the supervision of the de-
parlmeEt. The adoption Of smokeless powder
and various other Improvements are under con-
sidefation, besides which there is a chance for
the display of enterprise in the construction of
large guns ana mortars and their carriages foI
coast defense. The expected withdrawal OF Gen
eraI Benet from active service and the important
work to be accomplished by his successor have
resulted in more than usual attention being d.
Iected 10 the qualifications of those who aspire
TO the position Of chief OF The department. While
the claims of seniority will receive due consider
alton, it is within the possibilities that the new
chief may come from below the rank OF Colonel
The expected Congressional AppOrtonmentB BILL
which has been introduced by Chairman Durrel
of the House Committee Oh the Eleventh Census,
fixes the ratio Of representation at 10000,
which would give Congress 354 members. The
ratio of representation resulting from the tenth
census was 151 .9l2, which gave the House a
membership of 325. Under the new apportiOn.
mept California would gain member. As the
House increases In size the necessity OF econ
omiziDg time becomes more and more apparent.
With the present membership 1t takes twenty
five minutes TO call the roll. So far this session
there have been over 400 rOllcalls, OF which
Speaker Reed calculates 300 were entirely USE
less. The twenty five legislative days thus
wasted might have resulted In the passage Of
much-neeued legislation.
1t Is calculated that the new plan adopted in
the River and Harbor Bill which allows the Sec
rotary OF War to contract for certain improve
mens In he water ways of the country in excess OF
the appropriation VIII result In saving of about
40 per cent. Chairman Henderson OF the Com
mittee on Rivers ana HarbOrs believes that the
new plan applied to such harbors as the Harlem
River, Galveston barbor and the Sault Ste Marie
Canal cannot prove otherwise than beneficial 10
tile interests OF the Government. While the con-
tractor makes a bid for work and material in
bulk, it is expressly stipulated that payments
shall only be made as the appropriations are al
lowed from year to year.
A Treasury statement shows that the money in
circulation on August LIST amounted to 81 ,431,-
716367, an Increase OF S52Q00,000 for the
year. The recent scarcity OF money in Wall
street was attributed by many TO tine cancellation
OF bonds held 10 secure bank-note circulation.
but 1t is claimed that the loss of S62,000.O0O in
national bank-notes has been more than offset
by the increase In silver certificates something
like S95, 900 900. Including the money In
Government vaults, the total in the whole country
on August LIST was S2,071 ,142,364.
The South, owing to the stimulus OF Northern
capital and good times, is enjoying an era OIL
great prosperity. II is estimated that during the
past year the South produced mineral manufac-
tured and agricultural wealth amounting TO
81 9o7, 59S, 500, as against 81 ,0S9, 366,654 In
1880, an improvement OF 76 per cent.