The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-10
VIGOROUS And TIMELY.
IcoxrrNuED FROM FIRST pAor.l

speedily stopped and return scr solq was
~ per n ISL we 3sa recovered Of our gid
1t is conf iently believed that curing ~ and.
and spring THIS aggregate VIII be stasdiiy nd
largely increased. ools ana
IN THE NATIONS STRONG ROY
The presence OF large cash surplns in ,ha
treasury, has for many years been The subj.
of much unfavorable criticism and has frrn;ss
ed an argument to those who have t,esl,ad -
place the tariff npon purely revenue hasis r.
Was agreed by all that the withdrawal sron, a..
culation of so LUCE an amount OF money wao on
embarrassment TO the business of the CONT,
nastmsnt at Ine intervention of the de-
threatened monetary panics The Snr nssneVe
Msrcn !, 1859. was SlSs, 1927, 100. 2s The Se
p0c n q ib sppyg ms surplus to the edemp
united states was thoughtto b. prefsre H., wy t
that OF depositng It without interest in selec ID
1,nno IA 6anSs: Ihere nave been redeemed
ing securities $2b9,u79,35O, Resulting !, pea az
auction OF the annual interest cha, pe ~ q
o4 S Inc money which had been depSsited
IN pankS without interest has been orr Snn,i
Withdrawn and used In the redemption ~ bonds
The result of this policy of The silver eeis o1in
ana Of tne refundiDg I the tour aud hall Der
cent bonds has been large Increase ~ Ros
money In circulation. AT the date last nsm s,t1
the circulation was s ,404 2O5, S98 or Sax ~
sF Saptd a %Ie on the first Of december
- Id -
S2435 per caplta. The offer of the Sacrstar ~
OF the treasury to the holders of the AZ nay
cent bonds TO extend the time of redemptl ion at
lne optlon or the government at an interast 81
per cent was accepted by the holders Of eSov ~
one,half the amount and the unextended honSs
are pelng redeemed on presentation.
AFFAIRS OF THE ARMY.
The report of the Secretary of War exb,b,,s
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 Senator from the state of Yer
mont. Is source of great regret to me and to
Vii ba "a M IN tne cabinet as am sure it
Inc department. while under his charge. In the
administration OF army affairs, some esnecialiv
s ", WIKI 81 mas Deen accomplished. The efforts
OF the Secretary TO reduce the percentage ~
uesertiVns by removing the causes that promot
"a IL nave been so successful as to enable him
70 report ior tne last year lower percentage OF
army. The result in money saving Il consider.
aDle, but the Improvement In The morale of the
ennsted men Is the most valuable Incident of
suit
DEFENDING THE COAST.
The work of securing sites for shore Latter les
for harbor defense and the manufacture of NOR
tarsand guns of high power to equip them has
made good progress during the year. The pre-.
liminary work of tests and plans which so long
delayed start, is now out of the way. Some
guns have been completed, end with an en-.
larged shop and a more complete continent at
Watervlet, the army will soon be abreast OF the
navy In gun construction. Whatever unayoIda
pie causes OF delay may arise there should be
none from delayed or insufficient approDria-
lions, We shall be greatly embarrassad III the
proper distribution and use OF naval vessels m
III adequate shore defenses are provided for
our harb0rs.
concur in the recommendation of the secra-
tary that the three battalion Organization he
adopted for infantry. The adoption of a smoke
less powder ana 81 modern rifle, equal in
range, precision and rapidity of fire TO the hest
now In use, will: hope, not be longer DELAYED.
Inc project OF enlisting Indians, and Organiz-
l hsi them INTO separate companies on the same
oasis as otner soldiers, was made the subject Of
very careful study by the secretary, and re.
celved my approval Seven Companies have
been completely organized, and seven more are
months training have more than realized the
nlgnest anticipatlons. The men are readily
tnroangnt under discipline, acquire the drill with
Iaillly' ana snow great pride in the right dis
charge of their duties and perfect LOYALTY TO
thelr officers, who declare that they would take
tnem into action with confidence. The disci-
pune, order and cleanliness of the mi itary
posts VIII have wholesome and eleyatiu Q in
nuence upon the men enlisted and through
tnem upon their tribes, while a more friendly
the government Will certainly be promoted.
Inc great work done in the record and pension
DIVISION OF the War Department by Major Aims
wo nth OF the medical corps and the clerks IN.
der him, Is entitled to honorable mention. TAX
lug up the work with nearly Al, 90 cases be-
hind, he closed the last fiscal year without a
slngle case cit over, though the new cases had
Increased 81 per cent in number over the brew.
Gus year ~ reason of the pension legislation OF
the last Congress,
IN THE COURTS.
m ba
hey General that the right IN felony cases to a
revisw by the Supreme Court be limited 1t
would seem that personal liberty would have a
safe guaranty if the right of review In cases in
volving only fine and Imprisonment were limit
ed to the circuit court of appeals, unless con-
stitutional question should, in some way, be in
volved. The judges of the court of private
land claims, provided for by the act OF Marcn 3,
1891, have been appOinte1 and the court or
gained. 1t is now possible to give early relief
IT, communities ong repressed in their develop
ment by unsettled land titles and to establish
the possession and right of settlers whose lands
unfounded CLAIMS.
The act of July o, 1888, provided for the in
corporation and management of a reform school
for girls in the District of Columbia, but it has
remained imperative for the reason that no ap-
preparation has been made for its construction
or maintenance. The need of such an institu
t0n Is very urgent. Many girls could be saved
from depraved lives by the wholesome influ-
ences and restrain of such school. recon-
mend That the necessary appropriation be made
LOT site and for construction.
KEEPING OUT THE CHINESE.
The enforcement by the Treasury Depart
ment Of the law prohibiting the coming of the
Chinese to the United States has been effective
as to such as seek to land from vessels entering
our ports. The result has been to divert the
travel to vessels entering the ports of British
Columbia, whence passage into the United
States at obscure points along the dominion
boundary is easy. A very considerable number
Of Chinese laborers have, during the past year.
entered the United States from Canada and
Mexico. he officers of the Treasury Depart
ment and OF the Department of Justice have
used every means at their command to inter
cept this immigration, but the impossibillty OF
perfectly guarding our extended frontier is ap-
parent. The Dominion Government collects a
mead tax Of $50 from every Chinaman entering
Canada, and thus derives considerable reye-
nue. from those who only use its ports to reach
a position OF advantage to evade our exclusion
laws. There seems 10 be satisfactory evidence
that the business Of passing Cinnamon through
canada Is organized and quite active The 4 e.
partment of Justice has construed the laws to
require the return of any Chinaman found to be
an uni s n this country to uhina as the conn-
Try IRON which he came, Notwithstanding the
lact that he came to the United States by way
Vi Oaiiada, but several of the district courts
nay nave, IN cases brought before them overruled
sons must be returned to canada. This con
structon rObs the law of all effectiveness, even
II Ihe DEGREES could be executed, for the men
returned can the next day recross our border.
bul tne only appropriation made is for sendlng
Lnem back 10 China and the Canadian ofnclals
refuse to allow them to re-enter Canada without
the payment of the $50 head tax. recommend
sucn legislation as will remedy these defects In
the law.
JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS.
In previous message have called the at
tentlon OF Congress ID 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 cannot have
that independence and effectiveness which the
constitution contemplates, so long as the telo-
NOUS killing Of court officers, jurors and Wit
nesses ID the discharge OF their duties, or by
III the state courts.
. The work done by the Attorney General and
Ihe olncers OF his department even under Inc
present inadequate legislation has produced
sone nOtaDle results in The interest OF law anu
oIutr. Inc Attorney General, and also tne
commissioners of the District of Columbia, call
attention TO the Effectiveness and inadequacy
VI tne laws relating to crimes against cnastlly
III Tue District of Columbia stringent code
upon this subject has been provided by Con-
greSs Tor U tab, and it is a matter of surprise
That the needs of this District should have been
SO long overlooked.
CARRYING THE MAILS.
In the report of the Postmaster General some
very gratifying results are exhibited and many
Detterinents Of the service suggested. A peru
sal OF the report gives abundant evidence that
the supervision and direction of the postal sys