Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-12-10

serious monetary disturbance resulted was
most gratifying, and gave to Europe fresh
evidence of the strength and stability Of
our financial institutions. With the move.
ment of crops the outflow Of gold was speed
lily stopped and return set In.
The Surplus.
The presence OF large cash surplus in the
treasury has for many years been the sub
jcct of much unfavorable criticism and has
furnished an argument to those who have
desired to place the tariff upon u purely
revenue basis. 1t was agreed by all that
the withdrawal from circulation of SO large
an amount of money was an embarrassment
to the business Of the country, and made
necessary tho intervention OF the department
at frequent intervals to relieve threatened
monetary panics.
The surplus on March l, $780, was 1913,
1927, 1929. Tho policy OF applying this
surplus to the redemption OF the interest
bearing securities of the United States was
thought to be preferable to that of deposit
ing it without interest in selected national
banks The result of this policy OF the sill
YER legislation, and of the refunding of the
4 per cent bonds, has been large increase
OF the money in circulation. At the date
last named the circulation was 81 ,404 300,
SOB, or $25 Oh per capita; while on the first
day of September, 1891, it had increased
to 81, ST., 292, GRO, or S2A. % per capita.
Administration Of tho War Departments.
The report of the secretary OF war exhib-
its the results of an Intelligent, progressive
and business like administration of a de-
partment which has been TOO much regarded
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 n source of great
regret to me ind to his colleagues in the
cabinet, as | am sure it will DO to all those
who have had business with the department
while under his charge.
In the administration of army affairs
some especially good work has been accom-
piished. The efforts of the secretary to re-
duce the percentage of assertions by remov-
ing the causes that promoted it have been
SO successful as to enable him to report for
the last year lower percentage o., deser-
sertion than has been before reached in the
history OF the army.
The work OF securing sites for shore bat
tories for barbor defence AMI manufacture
of mortars and guns of high power to equip
them have made good progress during the
year.
We shall be greatly embarrassed in the
proper distribution and use of naval vessels
until adequate shore defences are provided
for our hurbors.
| concur i'll the recommendation of tho
secretary that the three battalion orgauiza-
tions DO adopted tor tho infantry. The
adoption of smJKeless powder and OF II
modern rifle equal IN range, precision and
rapidity OF fire to tue best now ia use will,
| hope, not be longer delayed.
The project of enlisDIng Indians and or
ganizing them into separate companies upon
the same basis as other soldiers was made
the subject oIvery careful study
10y the secretary and received my
approval. The results OF six months
training have nero than realized
the highest auticipAtlons. The msn are
readily brought under discipline, acquire
the drill with facility, and show great pride
in the right discharge oil their duties and
| perfect loyalty to their officers, who declare
| that they would take them into action with
confidence.
The great work doue in the record and
! pension division OF the war department by
Major Ainsworth of the medical corps is on
titled to honorable mention. Taking up the
work with nearly al 900 cases behind, he
closed the last fiscal year without single
case left over.
The smuggling OF Cinnamon.
There seem, 10 be satisfactory evidenc,
that the business OF passing CEiuamsr
through Canada is organized and quite &C
tive. The department Of justice has con
strued the laws to require the return of any
Chlnaman found to be unlawfully in Thu,
country TO China as the country from whlcr
he came, notwithstanding the fact that h,
| came to the United States Oy way of Can
ada but several Of the district courts have
in cases brought before them, overrulei
this view of the Ia " and deciled that sucf
persons must be returned to Canada. Th
construction robi tue law Of all effectiveness
even If the DEGREES could be executed. fol-
the men returned can the next day recro,
our borders. But the only appropriation
made is Tor seuding them back 10 China an,
the Canadian officials refuse to allow then
to re-enter Canada without the paymen
of the 500 head tax. | recommend sucl
legislation as will remedy these defects il
| the law.
The Postolice Department..
In the report OF the postmaste ter genera
some very gratifying results are exhibited
and many betterments of the service suZ
gestel. The revenues of the department
show an increase OF over -, 900, 900, will
a deficiency for the year 1892 OF less thar
$1,000, 600, while the estimate for the yea
1898 shows a surplus Of receipts over ex
pediture5
In pursuance of the ocean mail law o
March 3, 1891, and after most careful stud,
of the whole subject and frequent confer
ences with ship-owners, boards of trade an,
others, advertisements were issued by tn,
acknowledgement for 50 lines of oceal
mail service. 10 to Great Britain and tbs
continent, ~ to South America 3 to Chins
and Japan, 1 to Australia and the Pacific
islands, to the West Indies and 3 L
Mexico. The postmaster-g general estimate
that an expenditure ia American ship yard
of about $40 OUO, 900 Will be necessary t.
enable the bidders to construct the ship
called for by the service which they hav
accepted. l do not think thegs is any rea
son for encouragement or ter any turnin
back from the policy Of thi7 = gislation. in
deed, good beginning has bsru made aud
as the bject is further considered and un
derstood by capitalists and shipping people
new lines will be ready to ma,t future pro
| I,,o