The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-30
THAT FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
Secretary Foster Striving to Explain the
Inaccuracies.
L BALM FOR MINISTER BLAIR'S WOUND.
Refused by China. lie May BE Appointed to
Japan-secretary Blaine Reticent-
Washington Notes.

Secretary Foster is endeavoring 10 explain the
inaccuracies Of the financial statement re-
Gently published by Mint-Director Leech.
This statement was an absurdly exaggerated
assertion of the amount of available cash in
the Treasury. 1t was designed and put forth
solely TO relieve the last Congress of the odium
OF having wasted the public money.
Secretary Foster sees that his subordinate
has made the.entre report ridiculous by his
false.statement of the money inI he treasury,
and now Foster. with the tact of politician,
seeks 10 correct in the public mind the un-
favorable impression created. Secretary fos
ter says he did not see Leech's last published
statement. and hence did not have an OppOr-
tunity TO disapprove II.
WHAT SECRETARY FOSTER SAYS.
On discovering Director Leechs statement,
secretary Foster thus qualities II:
81 guess he is about right in the main.
Lhink it is a matter that may well be dis
Cussed / should have stated II a little differ
emily If / had been writlngit myself. | should
have said that some of the $3.50. 100000 Of
available cash might be regarded as trust
funds-might be. ! say. II would be correct
t. say that about seventy million is unques-
tionablv available cash-that IS. twenty eight
millions in the banks, twenty-one millions of
subsidiary coin, four millions IN trade dollar
bullion, twelve million Of current cash. and
Gates have been issued
THE GOLD RESERVE.
"As 10 the s1OO 900 600 of gold reserve, it is
held against the $3.50, 00) greenbacks to
make the credit of the Government impregna-
BILE for no one would be able 10 get together
enough greenbacks to take all the gold out OF
the treasury and therefore they do not take
any But these notes outstanding are legal
tender, and the Government can and would
use this gold reserve if 10 neededit on pinch.
It should, therefore, appear IN the debt state
ment as available cash
DO YOU regard the silver purchased under
the new act. against which coin certificates
have been issued as available cash that may
be used by the Government at any time ~
mo: / do not agree with Mr.. Leach there.
The certificates are issued against that and It
is in the nature Of a trust. but the profits on
the silver purchases. which amount now TO
some 1900 900, may be used
~ am in "A different position from that of
my predecessors. who have had large sur
plus ! presume that during May and June
there Will be an extraordinary expenditure
for pensions coming in June-extraordinary
in that 1t will be probably s4,OOO'OOO larger
than last year.
A TWO PER CENT. BOND.
Now as to the redemption Of the ~ per
cent bonds. l am thinking of trying to sub
sttute 2 per cents for them as Mr.. Window
proposed II il can be done there will be two
advantages in it over the redemption. To be
able 10 float per cent bonds VIII demon
strate the extraordinary sOundness or the Gov
ernment credit, and the money that would be
required 20 redeem the AZ s may be used for
the purchase of as at a saving of per cent
of the interest that would be paid on them up
TO time Of maturity.
Il talk about tnese matters freely because
believe II 10 be a good thing 20 have them
discussed well and well understood before
thew are tried. ] am getting good many
letters from bankers and others. Some Of
them are silly, but many contain valuable
opinions. II some papers crltse ia merely "A
partisan spirit II makes no difference. 1 be-
ieyO IL Is wise 10 talk these things over with
the public and get the benefit of the discus
sion"
DIANE MUM OK THE BLAIR CHINA AFFAIR.
Secretary Blaine tonight declined to talk
about Minister Blair being untavorable 70 the
Chinese Government further than 70 say that
the matter was diplomatic affair and be did
not care TO say anything about 10 for pubhca-
ton. or to uOtice and reply to newspaper spec
ulHtions about il. Minister Yen, at the
Chinese legation, would only say through
an Interpreter that lie had received a
dispatch from has home government express
ing the uuwilliugness of the Emperor % re-
ceive Mr Blair, which ne was instructed 10
Law before Secretary Blaine without delay.
This he said was the only instruction be hdd
received on the subject but he declined 10
furnish copy of the dispatch or o. state the
reasons given for the action While the dis
patch or the reasons for not desiring Mr.. BLAIR
n China. are kept profound secret, everybody
understands that 10 Is because he IS opposed
T. Chinese immigration 10 this country. Inc
published report that Mr.. Blalr's commission
had been made out with his location abroad
left blank. 50 that il he was not acceptable to
China he could be sent 10 Japan, Is regarded
AS absurd eservwhere in diplomatic circles.
MIR. Blair. II is believed has by tins time been
officially notified of the feeling OF the Chinese
Government in the matter.
ABALM 70 BLAIBs WOUND.
1t is more than probable that ex-senator
Blair viii Doe rendered the mission 20 Japan as
a balm % the wound given him by his reJec-
tion 10y China. Some weeks ago Blair came 70
Washington and he sent emissaries % pump
tho Chinese Minister. The Minister refused 10
500 the cmssaries. and they had 10 content
themselves with pumping suborinates These
eub-Ofiicials declined 10 commit themselves,
saving they knew Of no official action by their
government against Blair. The ex-senator
construed this 10 mean that he would be
warmly welcomed by China. and started tor
the fiOwery Kingdom. Now be must return
% Washington. and as the Japanese mission IS
vacant by reason of the death of Alr. swift, 1t
Is believed II Will DO rendered 20 Ar. bar
MUST GO BACH HOME.
Secretary Foster to-day informed President
Won Lingen. Of the Maryland State Board OF
immigration that Josef Piazoch must be re
turned 10 Germany unless the Norddeutscher
Ilovd Steamship Company would give BOND
in s20 900 that he shall never become pdDAc
charge PiaZeck came over win his mother
ON ths Weiman lie IS eighteen years old
aud a cripple but alleges that he earns hv-
ing as a tailor Secretary Foster however,
expresses determination 90 prevent the
United States from becoming a harbor o;
refuge for criminals. paupers and insane. ana
IN this case rs in others brought 10 his notice,
Will see that the laws are strictly enforced.
RAuM's DECISION REyEEsrD.
Assistant Secretary Bussey has reversed the
decision Of the Commissioner Of Pensions on
the appeal of Jane VI Smaley now Green
horn. widow of Richard I. Smalley, Company
+, Sixtleth Illinois volunteers. The 'ase
shows that the soldier was accidentally
wounded by tue lieutenant Of BIS company IN
1862 and died in 1853 of abscess 0t the
lungs. which. according 10 the medical tes-
timOny. resulted rs sequence OF
the wound. The Commissioning OF Pen,
fiOns rejected tho claim on the ground
that the soldier was not in The linc 81 duty at
the time he received the wound. but Assistant
Secretary Bussey holds that ID the absence OF
proof 20 the contrary it must be assumed
that he Wa 10 the performance Of his duty,as
u was customary ior soldiers during the war
u 90 on short expeditions This decision =
10 harmony with the light Of precedence OF
the department
fLoaifULJuhE BULLETIN.
Superintendent Porter TO-DAY ssued an inn