Huntsville gazette., 1891-12-12

the bu ION 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 as good as any other. II there is one
less valuable than another its sure and constant
errand will be TO pay them for their toll and for
their crops. The money lender win pro-
tect himself by stipulation for payment In
gold, but the laboref has never been able TO do
that To place business on a silver basis would
mean . sudden and severe contraction
Of the currency by the withdrawal OF gold and
golc notes of such an unsettling of all values
rs would produce a CONNIE rcial panic.
cannot believe that people SO strong and
prosperous as ours will promote such policy.
The producers of silver are entitled to just con-
sideration, bur they should not forget that the
government Is now buying and putting out Of
the market the equivalent Of the product Of
our entire silver mint.
The Surplus.
The presence of . large cash surplus in the
treasury has for many years been the subject of
much unfavorable criticism and has furnished
an argument to those who have desired TO
place the tariff upon purely revenue basis.
1t was agreed by Ali that the withdrawal from
circulation of 80 large an amount of money was
m embarrassment to the business of the coun-
try, and made necessary the Intervention OF
the department at frequent intervals to relieve
threatened monetary panics. The surplus on
March /, 1885, was $1S3,s27 ,19o %.
The 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 depositing It
without interest in selected national banks
There have been redeemed since the date last
mentioned of interest bearing securities $259,
079, $50, resulting in a reduction OF the annual
interest charge of $11.6s4.675. The money
which had been deposited in banks without in
terest has been gradually withdrawn and used
in the redemption Of bonds.
In result of the policy OF the silver legisla
tion and the refunding of the Az per cent
bonds has heen large increase Of the money in
circulation. At the date last named the circu-
lation was 81, 04205,sl6, or $23.03 per capita
while the first day of December, 1891,
it had increased to Sl,5I7 ,262,010 or S2L3s per
capita. The offer of the secretary OF the treas
ury to the holders of the IA per cent. bonds TO
extend the time Of redemption at the option OF
the govornment at an interest OF per cent
was accepted by the holders Of about one half
the amount and the unextended bonds are
being redeemed on presentation.
Felony Cases.
The president concurs in the recommendation
Of the attorney general that the rig ht in felony
cases to review by the supreme court be limited
in cases involving only fine and imprisonment,
unless a constitutional question should in some
way be involved. The court of private land
claims provided for by the last congress has
been authorized
Chinese Immg ration.
The president calls attention to the organized
importation Of Cinnamon in this country by
way Of Canada, and recommends such legisla-
ton will remedy the defects in the law
against such immigration
It IL reccmme nded that the Jurisdiction OF
the United States court be extended as to
make triabe therein any felony committed
while in the act Of violating law of the United
States.
He save: '.These courts cannot have that in
dependence and effectiveness which the consti
tuition contemplated SO long as the feionious
killing Of court officers, jurors and witnesses In
the discharge OF their duties or by reason of an
act as such is only cognizbable iu the state
courts"
The Post-Ofice Department..
The president compliments the work of ths
postmas Ter general and says that the revenues
of ths department show an increase of over
o, ,0oO, ,000 with the deficit for the year 1890 OF
less than 81, 900, 600 while the estimate for the
year 's3 shows q surplus Of receipts over eKpen-
ditures.
The president. concuIs in the recommendation
that the free delivery system be a:
once extended to towns of five thous and
population. He also endorses the
suggestion for q rural postal delivery.
The Navy Department.
The Newark, Concord, Bennington and Mian-
tanomah have been added to the navy during
the year with an aggregate of something more
than II 800 ton. Twenty-four ships OF
classes are now under construction in the navy
yard and private shop, but " hile work is gong
forward satisfactory the completion of more
important vessels will yet require about years
time.
The Interior Department.
The president discusses the Indian school
question at length, and expresses the opinion
that the bringing of Indian children In the
mixed schools will prove great advantage TO-
ward making Of the Indian a citizen.
OF the relation of the ave civilized tribes now
occupying the Indian Territory to the United
States, tho president says that he thinks it in
evitabs that there shall be before lsng some
organic changes. What fern these changes
would take he does not think 1t desirable now
to suggest They should certainly involve the
acceptance of citizenship by the Indians and
representation in congress. He recommends
commission be appointed to treat with these
tribes.
The Pension Bureau.
The president says that the administration OF
the pension bureau has been characterized dur
ing the year by great diligence. The total num-
Der of pensions upon the roll of June 80 1891
was 676,l60. The appropriation for the pay
ment OF pensions for the fiscal year 1880 and 1891
VISA Sl27,6s5, 1889, and the amount expended
was SIls.5; ,64s.26. leaving an unexpsnded sur
plus Of %, is5,144.64.
In concluding his comments on the pensions,