The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-12-17
NEW SERIES. VOL. I, NO. ga.

ident strongly advocates that this i'm
pOrtant work be completed as soon as
possible.
The revolt at the Island of Navassa,
III which the laborers therein killed
some OF the agents of the guano colnpa
ny, is alluded to. The trial at Balti-
more OF the rioters is referred to- and
also the report of a naval commission
sent to Navassa in which the commits
sion states that the discipline on the
| island seems to be that of a convict es-
/ adjustment. The President recon-
mends the enactment of a law placing
all such islands under court commits
sion.
International copyright has been Sc
cured III accordance with the conditions
OF the act of March 3rd, 1891, with Bels
GUM, France and Great Britain and the
British possessions and Switzerland.
In regard to the tariff and other legis-
lation of the last session the President
says the results have disappointed the
evil prophecies of it's opponents and in
large measure realized the hopeful pre-
dlctions of its friends. He then gives a
| long array of facts and figures to show
that the tariff legislation of the last
Congress was both wise and patriotic
| The report of the Secretary of. the
| Treasury shows that the total receipts
OF the government from all sources for
the fiscal year ending June &c. 1891,
| were $458, 554 ,233,03, while the expendi
lures for the same period were $421 ,304.>
40 As, leaving surplus of $37, 239. 1862 81.
The receipts of the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1891, actual and estimated, are
$433, 900, 600 and the expenditures $780,
| 100000 For the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1893, the estimated receipts are
1856, 1886, $780, and the expenditures S44O,s
300,O93 Under the law of July 18th,
1890, the Secretary of the Treasury has
purchased since August 10, during the
fiscal year, 4S,393,113 ounces of silver
bullion at an average cost of $1.045 per.
ounce. The highest price paid during
the year was $1.2025, and the lowest
$O.9436. In exchange for this silver bul>
lion there have been issued $50, SIT, 498
OF the treasury notes authorized by the
act. The lowest price of silver reached
during the fiscal year was so. 1886 on
April 90, 1891. but on November 1st the
market price was only $0.96, which
would give the silver dollar bullion
value of 74s cents.
The president devotes large part of
his message to the discussion of the free
silver question, quoting various facts
against such policy being pursued by
the Government. He is still of the opin-
ion that the free coinage of silver under
existing conditions would disastrously
affect our business interests at home
and abroad.
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
WAR
exhibits the results of an intelligent, pro
gressive and business like administra-
ton of a department which has been
too much regarded as one of mere rou>
tine. The separation of Secretary Proc
tor from the Department by reason of
his appointment as a Senator from Ver-
mont is a source of great regret to me
and to his colleagues in the Cabinet, as
l am sure it will be to all those who had
business with the Department while I'M
der his charge. He calls attention to
the recommendations of the Secretary
of War, and cordially concurs in all CT
them.
The President concurs in the recon-
mendation of the Attorney General that
the right in felony cases to review by
the Supreme Court be limited. Other
matters in the same line are commend
ed to Congress for favorable action.
The enforcement of the law prohibit
ing the landing of Chinese has been eff
fective to such as seek to land from yes
sells, but such people continue to come
in along the Dominion boundary The
President recommends suitable legisla.
ton in that regard
The President again calls the atten-
ton of Congress to the necessity of so ex-
tending the Jurisdiction Of the United
States Courts as to make triable there
any felony committed while in the act
of violating law of the United States
In the report of the Postmaster Gen
eral some very gratifying results are eX-
hibited and many betterments of ser
vice suggested. A perusal of the report
gives abundant evidence that the super
vision and direction of the postal sys-
TEN have been characterized by an in
telligent and conscientious desire 10 i'm
prove the service. The revenues of the
Department show an increase of over
five million dollars, with a deficiency for
the year 1899 of less than four millions
of dollars, while the estimate for the
year 1898 shows surplus of receipts
over expenditures.
He calls attention to the various rec
concentrations of the Postmaster Gen
eral, especially to that part in regard. to
ocean mail routes.
The report of the Secretary of the Ma
Wy shows a gratifying increase of new
naval vessels in commission. The New
ark, Concord, Bennington and Miano-
tonomon have been added during the
year, with an aggregate of something
more than 1900 tons. Twenty-four
war ships of all classes are now under
construction in the navy-yards and pri-
vate shops, but while the work upon
them is going forward satisfactorily the
completion of the more important ves>
sells will yet require about years time.
Some of the vessels now under construc-
ton it is believed, will be triumphs of
naval engineering.
The President cordially endorses the
recommendations of the Secretary of
the Navy, and says there should be no
hesitation in promptly completing na>
| Wy of the best modern type and large
enough to enable this country to dis
play its flag in all seas, for the protec-
| ton of it's citizens and of its extending
commerce. The world, needs no assu-
rance of the peaceful purposes of the
| United States, but we shall probably be
| in the future more largely competitor
| in the commerce of the world and it is
| essential to the dignity of this nation
and to that peaceful influence which it
| should exercise on this hemisphere that
it's navy should be adequate both on the
shores of the Atlantic and the Pacific.
The report of the Secretary of the In
terror shows that gratifying progress has
! been made in all the bureaus which
make up that complex and difficult de-
/
Attention is called particularly to the
various matters covered in the report,
and favorable legislation recommended
in almost every particular.
PENSIONS.
The administration of the Pension
Bureau has been characterized during
the year by great diligence. The total
number of pensions upon the roll on the
3Oth day of June, 1891, was SIC, 100.
There were allowed during the fiscal year
ending at that time 250,565 cases. OF
this number 109, 387 were allowed under
the law of June 9th, 1890. The issuing
of certificates has been proceeding at
the rate of about 10000 per month,
about rs per cent. of these being cases
under the new law. The commissioner
expresses the opinion that he will be
able to carefully adjudicate and allow
$50, 900 claims during the present fiscal
year. The appropriation for the pay
inent of pensions for the fiscal year
1890-91 was $1s7,6s5, 1880, and the
amount expended $118,530, 649.25 leaving
an unexpended surplus of 50, 10, 444. "a.
Tho GourniesiOnor is O1iIa confident