Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-12-18

posing an international conference. There Is,
however, am sure, a growing sentiment in
Europe IN favor OF a larger use OF silver, and
know OF no more effectual way of promoting
this sentiment than by accommodating gold
here. A scarcity OF gold In the European re-
serves Will he the most persuasive argument
tor the use Of silver.
EXPORT OF GOLD.
The exports of gold TO Europe, which began
In February last and continued until the close
Of July, aggregated over S70OOO,OOO. The net
loss Of gold during the fiscal year was nearly
s6S,00O0O0. That no serious monetary dis
turbauce resulted was most gratifying and
gave to Europe fresh evidence OF the strength
and stability OF our financial institutions.
With the movement of crops the outflow OF
gold was speedily stopped, and n return set in
Up TO December i we had recovered of our
gold loss at the port of New York S2I; So4,OO,
and IL is confidently believed that during the
winter and spring this aggregate will be steadi-
ly and largely increased.
CASH SURPLUS IL Tnp TREASURY.
The presence Of lartt cash surplus in the
treasury has for many wears been the subject
Of much unfavorahlr criticism and has fur
nished an argument a. those who have desired
TO place the tariff u - II purely revenue basis.
IL was agreed hy all that The withdrawal from
circulation of er Mrge an amount OF money
was an embarrassment To the business of the
country ana tu4ae necessary the nteivention
OF the depaT IA nj at frequent intervals To re-
plus on Match /. 1850, was siS3, s27, 100 20. The
policy Of APPLYING this surplus to the redemp-
ton of the Understanding securities of the
United States was thought to be preferable TO
that ~ depositing II without interest In selected
national banks. II ere have been redeemed
ing Securities 40 Tesntinp in resSc
ton OF the annual interest charge of 81. 6S4, :
SIS. The money which has been deposited In
banks without interest has been gradually
withdrawn and used in the redemption OF
bonds.
THE CIRCULATION.
The result of this policy, of the silver legisla-
ton and of the refunding of the AZ per cent
bonds has been a large increase of the money
in circulation. At the date last named the
circulation was 81. 4Oi, 205,s96, or S23 03 per
capita, while on the LIST day OF December, 1891,
it had increased TO Sl,577 262. 070 or S24 80 per
capita. The offer of the Secretary Of the
Treasury to the holders Of the AZ per cent
bonds To extend the time Of redemption, at the
option of the government, at an interest of
per cent was accepted by the holders of about
one-half the amount, and the unextended
bonds are being redeemed on presentation.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report OF the Secretary of War exhibits
the results of an intelligent, progressive and
business-like administration of a department
which has been too much regarded as one Of
mere routine. The separation of Secretary
Proctor from the department by reason of his
appointment as a Senator from the State OF
Vermont is a source of great regret 10 me and
to his colleagues in the Cabinet, as / am sure
it will be 10 all those who have had business
with the department while under his charge.
In the administration OF army affairs some es-
pecially good work has been accomplished.
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
The enforcement by the Treasury Depart
ment Of the law prohibiting the coming OF
Chinese to the United States has been effect
i've as TO men as seek TO land from vessels en-
tering our ports. The result has been to divert
the travel to vessels entering the ports of Brit
ish Columbia, whence passage into the United
States at obscure points along the Dominion
boundary Is easy A very considerable num-
Der Of Chinese laborers have, during the past
year, entered the United States from Canada
The officers of the Treatury Department and
of the Department Of Justice have used
every means at their command 70 intercept this
immigration; but the impossibility OF perfect
ly guarding our extended frontier is
apparent. The Dominion government
collects "a, head tax OF $50 from
and thus derives considerable revenue from
these who only use its ports TO reach a posi-
ton of advantage to evade our exclusion laws.
There seems to be satisfactory evidence that
the business OF passing Cinnamon through
Canada to the United States Is organized and
is quite active. The department of Justice
has construed the laws 10 require the return
of any Cinnamon found 20 be unlawfully in
this country TO China as the country from
which he came, notwithstanding the fact that
he came by way OF CanduNs out several OF the
district courts have, in cases brought before
them, overruled this view of the law and de-
cided that such persons must be returned TO
Canada. This construction robs the law of all
effectiveness even IL the DEGREES could be ex-
ecuted for the men returned can the next day
recross our border. But the only appropria-
ton made is for, sending them back to China,
and the Canadian officials refuse TO allow
them TO re-enter Canada without the payment
of the $50 head tax. recommend such legiS-
lation as will remedy these defects in the law.
JURISDICTION OF UNITED STATES COURTS.
In previous messages l have called the at
tention Of Congress to the necessity Of so ex-
tending the jurisdiction OF the United States
courts as to make triable therein any felony
committed while in the act OF violating law
OF the United States. These courts can not
have that independence and effectiveness
which the Constitution contemplates so long
as the feloniOus killing Of high court officers,
jurors and witnesses in the discharge of their
duties, or by reason of their acts as such, are
only cognizable in the state courts; The work
doing by the Attorney-Generala and the officers
OF his department under present inadequate
legislation has produced some notable results
In the interest of law and order.
THE PosToFFIcE DEPARTMENT..
In the report of the Postmaster-Gs neral some
very gratifying results are exhibited and many
betterments Of the service suggested, A peru
sal of the report gives abundant evidence that
the supervision and direction of the postal
system nave Deen ny dn
gent and conscientious desire to improve the
service. The revenues OF the department
show an increase Of over five millions of dol
lars, while the estimate for the year 1888
shows a surplus of receipts over expenditures.
The Postmaster-General recommends, and
concur in the recommendation, that the free
delivery system be at once extended to towns
of 5000 population. His discussion Of the IN
adequate facilities extended under our
present system to rural communities and his
suggestions with view 10 give these commu-
nit fu1 n ~
the postal service are worthy OF your careful
consideration.
OCEAN MAIL SERVICE.
In pursuance of the ocean mail law Of March
80, 1891, and after a most careful study of the
whole subject and frequent conferences with
ship owners. boards Of trade and others, ad.
vertsements were issued by the Postmaster
General for fifty-three lines of ocean mail SER
vice; ten TO Great Britain and the continent,
twenty-seven 10 South America, three to Chi
ma aud Japan, four TO Australia and the
Pacific Islands, seven TO the West Indies, and
two to Mexico. The policy of the department
was TO secure from the established lines an
Improvement of the service as q condition Of
giving TO them the benefits of the law. This
In ali instances has been attained. The Post
master-General estimates that an expendi.
ture in American shipyards of about SlO.OOO,OOt
will be necessary to enable the bidders To con-
struct the ships called for by the service which
they have accepted.
do not think there is any reason for dis
enlargement or for any turning back from
the policy OF this legislation. Indeed n good
beginning has been made, and, as the subject
H. still further considered and understood by
IN ifa cts nd al manila naW lfnaa Ei