Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-12-18
sively upon the people or retards the CONNER
cial development of the nation.

III may be argued that our condition would
be better if our tariff legislation were upon a
free trade basis; but 1t cannot be denied that
all the conditions of osperity and of general
contentment are present in n larger degree
than ever before in our history, and that, too,
just when II was pronh" led IA " would be in
the worst state. Agitation for radical changes
IN tariff aud financial legislation cannot help,
but may seriously impede business, to the
prosperity of which some degree of stability in
legislation is ential. think there are con-
elusive evidences that the new tariff has Gre
atcd several great industries which will,
within II few years, give employment to sew
,ral hundred thousand American wOrkingmen
and women. In view of the somewhat over
crowded condition of the labor market of the
United states, every patriotic citizen should
rejoice at such "a result.
Last Years Revenues and Expenses.
The report of the secretary of the treas
ury shows that the total receipts of the
government, from all sources, for the fis-
cal year ending June 80, 1901 were 1853,
54 03, while TIE expenditures for the
same period were S421 1904, 40 IS, leaving a
surplus of s37 ,239, 1921 The receipts of
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892. actual
and estimated. are s433. GOO 900, and the eX-
penditures S4O9 100000. For the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1893, the estimated re-
ceipts are S455, 1886, $50, and the eXpendi-
lures S441, 300,093.
Silver Bullion.
With regard to the prophecies of the anti
silver men, that the coinage of s2,000000
per month would create disaster, they were
4 not wide of the mark. The president says
that he is still of the opinion that the free
coinage of silver, under existing condi-
lions, would disastrously affect our bust
ness interests mt home and abroad, and
that we could not hope to maintain an
/ equality in the purchasing power of the
gold and silver dollar in our markets, and
in foreign trade the stamp gives no added
| value to the bullion contained in coins
The producers of the country, its farmers
and laborers, have the highest interest
that every dollar paper or coin, is
sued by the government, shall he as good
as any other. If there is one less valuable
than another, its sure and constant errand
will he to pay them for their toll and Tor
their crops.
Our silver Exports Exports Reduced.
After comparing our silver standard
with Englands, and referring to the re-
duction of the export of domestic silver
during the past year. the president says:
The producers of silver are entitled to your
considerations but they should not forget that
/ the government is now buying and putting out
! of the market what is the equivalent OF the
! entire product of our silver mines. This is
more than they Themselves thought of asking
/ two years ago. believe it is the earnest de-
sire of a great majority of the people, as it is
mine. that a full coin use shall he made of sill
yer lust as soon as the cooperation of other
nations can he secured and n ratio fixed that
/ will give circulation equally to gold and silver.
/ The business of the world requires the use of
| both metals; but | do not see any prospect of
gain, but much of loss, by giving up the pres
cnt system, in which full use is made of gold
! and n large use of silver, for one in which sill
yer alone will circulate. Such an event would
he at once fatal to the further progress of the
silver movement.
Europe Wants silver.
The true friends of silver will he careful not
to overrun the goal and bring its silver none
tizltion. with the necessary attendant loss of
our gold to Europe. and the relief of the pres
sure there for larger currency | have en-
deavore1, by the use of official and unofficial
agencies, to keep ii close observation OF the
state of public sentiment in Europe upon this
question and have not found ii to be such as
to justify me in preparing an international con-
ference There is, however. | am sure,
growing sentiment in Europe in favor of
larger use of silver, and | know of no more
efIrctual way of promoting this sentiment
than by accumulating gold here. \ scarcity
of gold in the European reserves will he the
most persuasive argument tor the use OF silver.
The president alludes to the retirement
of Secretary Proctor from the cabinet, and
SAYS that his report exhibited the results
OF an intelligent, progressive, and business
like administration of Il department which
has been too much rcgardedu> one of mere
routine The separation of Secretary Proc
tor from the department by reason of his
appointment as a senator from the state
OF Vermont was a source of great regret
to him and to his colleagues in the cabi-
net and he was sure it was to all those
who have had business with the depart
ment under his charge. In the administra-
ton of army affairs some especially good
work has been accomplished. The efforts
of the secretary to reduce the percentage of
desertons by removing the causes that
promoted it have been so successful as to
enable him to report for the last year a
lower percentage of de-ertion than has
been before reached in the history of the
army. The resulting money Savingis con-
siderable, but the improvement in the NOR
ais of the enlisted men is the most valu-
able incident of the reforms which have
brought about this result.
Our Harbor Defenses.
The work of securing sites for shore bat
teries for harbor defense and the manu-
facture of mortars and guns of high power
to equip them have made good progress
during the year. The preliminary work of
tests and plans, which so long delayed
start, is now ont of the way. Some guns
have been completed, and with an en-
larged shop and "A more complete equip
ment AT Wateryliet the army will soon be
abreast of the navy in gun construction.
Pensions and Records.
The erea; work done in the record and PEN
sion division of the department by Major
An-wurth of the medical clrl-,ahd the clerks
under him. j. entitled to honorable mention.
Taking up the work with nearly 1000 cases
behind, lac closed the last fl, al year without a
single case left oysr, though the new cases had
increased ~ per cent. in number over the
previous year by reason of the pension legisla-
lation of the last congress.
The president concurs in the recon-
mendation of the attorney general that
the right in felony cases to a review by
the supreme court be limited.
The Chinese Exclusion Act.
The enforcement by the treasury depart
inent of the law prohibiting the coming of the
Chinese to the United States has been effec-
tive a. to such as seek to land from vessels en-