Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-12-06


The act directing the purchase of silver
/ bullion and the issue of Treasury notes there
on approved July IA, 1890, has been ad-
! ininistered by the Secretary of the Treasury
| with an earnest purpose to get into circula-
| ton at the earliest possible date the full
monthly amounts of Treasury notes contem-
plated by its provisions aud at the same time
TO give TO the market for silver bullion such
support as the law contemplates. The re-
cent depreciation in tae prics of silver has
! been observed with regret. The rapid rise
] in price whica anticipated and followed the
passage of the act was influenced in some
degree by speculation and the recent reac-
ton is in part the result OF the same cause
and in part OF the recent monetary disturb
ances. Some months of further trial will be-
necessary to determine the permanent effect
of the recent legislation UPON silver values.
but it is gratifying to know that the increased
circulation secured by the act has exertsd
and will continue to exert most beneficial
influence upon business and upon general
values
While it has not been thought best to
renew formally the suggestion of an inter
national conference looking to an agreement
touching the full use of silver for coinage at
a uniform ratio, care has been taken to OBJ
serve closely any change in the situation
abroad ana no favorable opportunity will be
lost to promote result which it is confident
! ly believed would confer very large benefits
upon the commerce Of the world.
The recent monetary disturbances in Eag-
land are not unlikely 70 suggest a re-ex ami
nation of opinions upon this subject. Our
very large supply OF gold will if not lost by
| impulsive legislation in the supposed interest
of silver, give us position of advantage in
promoting a permanent aud safe interna-
tional agreement for the free use Of silver as
a coin metal
The efforts of the Secretary to increase she
volume of money in circulation by keeping
down the Treasury surplus to the lowest
practicable limit have been unremtting aud
in a very nigh degree successful. The tables
presented by him. showing the increase Of
money in circulation during the last two
decades, and especially the table show
ing the increase duriag the nineteen
months he has administered the aft irs
Of the department. are interesting and
instructive. The increase OF money in circu-
1ation during the ninet en- months has been
in the aggregate S93, 1866 S13, or about $50
per capita and of this increase only 81, 0J0, 900
was due to the recent silver legislation. That
this substantial and nee led aid given to COM
! merce resulted in an enormous reduction of
the public debt and of the annual interest
charge is matter of increased satisfaction.
There have been purchased and redeemed
since March 4, 1889 4 and AZ per cent.
bonds to the mount Of $211 1872, $50, at cost
the annual interest charge of SS,9j7, 609 and
total saving of interest of S5l, 575, 706.
| notice with grelt pleasure the statement
of the SecretarT that the receipts from inter
nal revenue have increased during the last
fiscal year nearly $l2 900, 900 and that the cost
of collecting tais larger revenue was less by
800 617 than for the sams purpose in the pre-
ceding year. The percentage OF cost OF col
1ecting the custo rs revenue was less for the
last fiscal year than ever before.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of War ex-
hioits several gratifying results attained
during the year by wise aud unostentatious
methods The percentage OF assertions from
the army ian evil for wJica both Congress
and the department have long been seeking
a remedy has been reduced during the past
year "A per cent, and for the months of Au
gust and September, during which tins the
favorable effects of the act Of June 90 were
felt, 50 per cent, as compared with the same
months of 1889
1 concur in the recommendations of the
Secretary that adequate and regular appro-
prations be continued for coast defence
works and ordnance. Plans have been prac-
tically agreed upon, and there eau be no
good reason for delaying the execution of
them; while the defenceless state of our
great seaports furnishes an urgent reason for
wise expedition.
ed to the militia OF the States. generally and
most appropriately designated the National
Guard" should be continued aud enlarged.
These military organizations constitute, in
large sense, the army of the United States,
while about fve-sixths OF the annual cost Of
their maintenance is betrayed by the States
PUNISHMENT OF vIoLAToRs OF THE LAW.
The report of the Attorney-General is I'M
der the law submitted directly to Congress,
IL. 80 l.
the Executive Departments some reference
to the work done is appropriate here.
A vigorous AMI, in the MAN, an effective
effort has been made to bring to trial and
punishment all vio!ators OF the laws; but, at
the same time care has been taken that friv-
plous and technical offenses should not b.
used to swell the fees OF officers or to aarass
well-disposed citizens. Especial attention is
called to the facts connected with the prose-
cution of violations OF the election laws and
of offenses against United States officers.
The number of convictions secured, very
many of them upon pleas OF guilty. will, it
is hoped. have a salutary restraining in
huenre. There have been several cases where
postmasters appointed by me have been
Subjected to violent Interference in the
discharge of their official duties and to
prosecutions and personal violence of
the most extreme character. Some
of these cases have been dealt with through
cases the postoffices have been abolished
Or suspended. l have directed the Post
master-General to pursue this course in all
cases where other efforts failed to sscure for
any postmaster, not himself in fault, an op.
/ portuniGy peacefully to exercise the duties
of his office. But such action will not sup
plant the efforts of the Department OF JUS
tice to bring the particular offenders to
punis hment
The vacation by julicial DEGREES of fraulu-
lent certificates of naturalization upon bills
in equity filed by the Attorney General in
the Circuit Court of the United States is a
new application of familiar equity jurisdic-
ton. Nearly one hundred such DEGREES have
been taken during the year, the evidence dis
closing that very large number OF frau1u-
lent certificates O, naturalization have been
issued And in this connection 1 beg
to renew my recommendation that the laws
be so amended as to require moro full and
searching inquiry into all the facts necessary
to naturalization before any certificates ara
granted. 1t certainly is not too much to re-
quire that an application for American cit:-
zenship shall be heard with as much care and
recorded with as much formality as are
given to cases involving the pettiest prop
erty right.
At the last session | returned, without nv
approval. bill entitled IAN act to prohibit
bookmaking and pool selling in thu District
of Columbia" and stated my objection to be
/ that it did not prohibit but. in fact licensed
what it purported to prohibit. An effort will
be made under existing laws to suppress this
evil, though it is not certain that they will be
found adequate.
WORK OF THE PosToFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Postmaster General shows
the most gratifying progress in the important
work committed to his direction. The bust
ness methods have been greatly improved. A
large economy in expenditures and an in
crease of four and three-quarter millions in
receipts have been realized. The deficiency
this year is S., 7s6, 800, as against 81, $50 tSs
last year, notwithstanding the great en-
largement OF the sarvice. Mail routes have
been extended and quicSened, and great
accuracy and dispatch in distribution and
delivery have been attained.
The passage of the act to anlenl certain
sections Of the Revised Statutes relating to
lotteries, approved September 49, 1880, has
been received with great aud deserved popu-
lar favor The Postoffics Department and the
Department of Justice at once entered Ipon
the enforcement of the law with sympathetic
vigor, and already the public mails have been
largely freed fro the fraudulent and demon
alizing appeals and literature eInsnating
from the lottery companies.
OUR NEW NAVY.
The construction and equipment of the
new ships for the navy have made very sat
isfactory progress. Since March 4, 1880
nine new vessels have been put in com
mission. and during this winter four more,
including one monitor, viii be added Til
construction of the other vessels authorize
is being pushed, both in the government AMI
4 private yards, with energy, and watched
with the most scrupuious care.
The experiments conducted during tbs