Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-12-19

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agreed. think. as to the causes that brought
their hopeful predictions to naught. Some
facts are known. The exports OF silver from
London to India during the first nine months
OF this calendar year fell eff over 80 per cent.
or SI7, 2022 80. compared with the same months
of the preceding year.
..The exports OF domestic silver bullion from
this country, which had averaged for the last
ten years over 1900 CO., fell in the last fiscal
year TO Si3 739, 3a9. while. for the first time in
recent years, the imports OF silver into this
country exceeded the exports by the sum Of
$2.T45.365. In the previous year the net ex-
ports of silver from the United States
amounted TO Ss,545,455. The production of the
United States increased from SEQ GOO ounces
in 1889 to 81. 50l,O09 in 1881. The government is
now bnying and putting aside annually 5tOe0-
0O0 ounces, which. allowing for 7,l40,0t0 ounces
of new bullion used in the arts, $685. 900 more
than our domestic product available for coin
age. hope the depression in the price of sill
YER is temporary, and that further trial OF
this legislation viii more favorably affect il.
Il am still of the opinion that the free coin
age of silver under existing conditions would
disastrously affect our business interests at
home and abroad. We could not hope to MAIN
tain an equality in the purchasing power OF
the gold and silver dollar in our own markets,
and in foreign trade the stamp gives added
value to the bullion contained in coins. The
producers OF the country, its farmers and la
borers, have the highest interest that every
dollar. paper or coin. issued by the government
shall be good as any other. The money
lender viii protect himself by STIMULATING for
payment in gold, but the laborer has never
been able to do that. To place business upon
silver basis would mean sudden and severe
contraction Of the currency
1.-THE presence OF y large cash surplus in the
treasury has for many years been the subject
Of much unfavorabie criticism Tho surplus
on March l, 1889, was Sls3,ss1 1922. The
policy OF applying this surplus to the redemp-
ton of the interest bearing securities of the
United States was thought 10 be preferable TO
that of depositing it without interest in select
ed national banks. There have been redeemed
since the date last mentioned of interest bear
ing securities $3.50 1853, resulting in reduc-
ton of the annual interest charge Of Sil,6S4-
Co.
1.-THE report of the secretary of war exhibits
the results of an intelligent, progressive and
businesslike 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 as senator from the state of
Vermont is a source of great regret TO me-
Extension of the mail service in country dis
tricts is thus urged:
IN the report of the postmaster general
some very gratifying results are exhibited and
many betterments OF the service suggested. A
perusal of the report gives abundant evidence
that the supervision and direction of the pos
tai system have been characterized by an in
telligent and conscientious desire to improve
the service. 1t is not just that the farmer,
who receives his mail at neighboring town,
should not only be compelled to send to- the
postoffice for it, but to pay considerable rent
for box in which to place it or to wait his,
turn at a general delivery, while the city resi-
dent has his mail brought to his door, II is
stated that over Observation-Disclosures are under
the present system receiving mail at postoiiices
where money orders and postal notes are not
issued. The extension Of this system to these
communities is especially desirable
Regarding our growing navy the president
says:
THE report of the secretary of the navy shows
gratifying increase of new naval vessels in
commission. The Newark Concord, Benning-
ton and Miantonomoh have been added during
the year, with an aggregate of something more
than 1903 tons. Twenty-four warships OF all
classes are now under construction in the navy
yards and private shops, but, while the work
upon them is going forward satisfactorily, the
completion of the more important vessels will
yet require about years time Some of the
vessels now under construction, il is believed,
will be triumphs of naval engineering"
There is this to say of the pension bureau:
1.-THE administration of the pension bureau
has been characterized during the year by
great diligence The total number of pen
sioners upon the roll on the 39th day of June,
1891, was d1G,ld0 There were allowed during
the fiscal year ending at that time go 565 cases
OF this number lt2,3S7 were allowed under the
law Of June III 1890 The issuing OF certificates
has been proceeding at the rate of about 5000
per month, about % Per cent. Of these being
cases under the new law. The commissioner
expresses the opinion that he will be able TO
carefully adJu6icate and allow $4,000 claims
during the present fiscal year. The appropria-
ton for the payment of pensions for the fiscal
year 1901 was SIT 6S5, 703S9 and the amount
expended Sis, $50. 649.25, leaving an unexpended
surplus Of S9,l5l, lA.0t. The commissioner is
quite confident that there will be no call this
year for a deficiency appropriation. The esti-
mate for pension expenditures Tor the fiscal
year ending june 30, 1896, is $l44, 958, o00"
OF the department of agriculture he says:
IF the establishment Of the department of
agriculture was regarded by any one as a mere
concession to the unenlightened demand of a
worthy class of people, that impression has
been most effeetually removed by the great re-
suits already attained. Its home influence has
been very great in disseminating agricultural
and horticultural information; in stimulating
and directing further diyersifcation of crops:
in detecting and eradicating diseases Of do
nestle animals; and, more than all, in the close
and informal contact which it has established
and maintains with the farmers and stock
raisers Of the whole country.
The civil service is commended thus:
''The civil service commission invites per-
sonal inspection by senators and represent
atives OF its records and methods. II is not
claimed that the system or its administration
is perfect, but believe that the law is being
executed with impartiality, and that the sys-
tenn is incombarably better and fairer than
that of appointments upon favor"
'Gerrymandering" is thus protested against.
THE method Of appointment by the states of
electors OF president and vice president has re-
Gently attracted renewed interest by reason Of
departure OF the state OF Michigan from the
method which had become uniform ia all the
states. Prior to lS32 various methods had been
used by the different states and even by the
same state.
'south Carolina until the civil war, con
tinued TO choose Is electors by a vote of the
legislature, but after the war changed its
method and conformed to the practice Of the
other states.
s'After fnil test Of other methods. without
important division or dissent Ia any state and
without any purpose OF party advantage, As
we must believe, but solely upon the consider
atoms that uniformity was desirable and that
general election in territorial divisions not
subject TO change was most consistent with
the popular character Of our Institutions, best
preserved the equality OF the voters and per-
fectly removed the choice OF president from
the haneful influence of the 'gerrymandsr,'
the practice of all the states WAS brought into
harmony.
"That this concurrence should now be
broken is, think, an unfortunate aud even
threatening episode. and one that may well
suggest whether the states that still give their
approval to the old and prevailing method
ought not to secure. By a constitutional
| amendment, practice which has had the ap-
! proval of all. The recent Michigan legislation
| was Of course accompanied By a new congress
/ sional appOrtionment and the two statutes
bring the electoral vote Of the state under the
/ influence Of the gerrymander.'
Nothing just now is more important than TO
provide every guarantee for the absolutely fair
and free choice by an equal suffrage, within
the respective states, Of all the officers OF the
national government. Respect for public Off
GERS and obedience to law Will not cease to be
the characteristics Of our people until our cleo
lions cease to declare the will OF fnajorities
| fairly ascertained. without fraud, suppression
or gerrymander."
Mr.. Green-No. my dear, ! will
not tell you what Pm going to give
you for Christmas. Why can't you
women be content to wait and be
surprised
Mrs. Green-Oh. tell me now. II
YOU keep your word, III be surpris.