Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-12-18

posing an International conference. There IL,
however. i am sure, "A growing sentiment In
Europe in favor of larger use of silver, and
| know OF no more effectual way of promoting
this sentiment than by accumulating gold
serves will be 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,O00,0OO That no serious monetar, dis
turbance 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, aud return set in.
gold loss at the port of New York SCI $4,000
and IL is confidently believed that during the
winter and spring this aggregate VIII be steadi-
ly and largely increased.
CASH SURPLUS N tn TREASURY.
The presence Of IA lar, cash surplus in the
treasury has tor many years been the subject
OF much unfavorabl' "iiticism and has fur
nished an argument ., those who have desired
To place the tariil ~ purely revenue basis.
Ii was agreed az 81 mai the withdrawal from
circulation of So trge an amount OF money
was an cmbar'r', .ipcnt to the business of the
country and nhic n cessary the inter vention
of the depat'u al at frequent intervals TO re-
lieve Threatened y onCtary panics. The sur
plus on Mach !. 1880 WAS SlS3S27. 100 -. The
policy OF applying this surplus to the redemp-
lion OF tie interest hearing securities of the
United states was thought to be preferable TO
that of depositing il without interest in selected
national banks. I, ere have been redeemed
since the date last mentioned of interest-bear-
ing securities s2j9,O793iO. resulting in a reduc-
ton of the annual interest charge of Sll.6S4,-
575. 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withdrawn and used in the redemption OF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-
tion and of the refunding of the AZ per cent
bonds has been a large increase OF the money
In circulation At the o date tee last named ed the
capita, while on the LIST day of December, 1891.
IL had increased TO Sl,5.7 5000. or s24 - per
capita; The offer Of the secretary S OF the
bonds TO extend the time of redemption. at the
option of the government, ut 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-lke administration of 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 rs senator from the state OF
Vermont is a source of great regret to Iae and
to his colleagues in the Cabinet, as am sure
it will be TO 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 10 vessels entering the ports Of Brit
ish Columbia, whence passage into the United
al. n hn mi
boundary l. easy. \ very considerable num-
Der Of Chinese laborers have, during the past
year. entered the United States from Canada
and Mexico.
The officers of the Trealury Department and
of the Department of Justice have used
every means at their command TO intercept this
immigration; but the impossbility OF perfect
ly guarding our extended frontier is
apparent The Dominion g9 eve 9re
e eStfS'' cSinams en' e 4f cana FG%
and thus derives considerable revenue from
these who only use its ports TO reach posi-
tion 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 to be unlawfully in
which he came, notwithstanding the fact that
he came by way OF Canada; 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 10 re-euter Canada without the payment
of the $50 head tax. j recommend such legis-
lation as will remedy these defects in the law.
JURISDICTION OF UNITED STATES COURTS.
In previous messages 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-General 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-General 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 have been characterized by an intelli-
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 1898
shows n surplus Of receipts over expenditures.
The Postmaster-Gcneral 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 TO give these commu-
mites a fuller participation in the benefits of
the postal service are worthy of your careful
consideration.
OCEAN MAIL SERVICE.
In pursuance of the ocean mail law OF March
90, 1891 and after p most careful study of the
whole subject and frequent conferences with
ship owners, boards of trade and Others, adj
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 and Japan, four 10 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 n condition OF
giving TO them the benefits OF the law. This
in all instances has been attained The Post
master-Gencral estimates that an expendi-
ture in American shipyards of about Sl0,U0OO
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
or from