Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-04-14
He ExpOunds his Views on the
Tariff and Free Coinage.
CORONERS INQUEST on CURTIS.
Robbery at Turner, State News,
House Blown up, Burglars Cap
tured at Astoria, Etc.
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.


a letter read at the Commercial con-
gress to-day; President Harrison
said: The extraordinary develop
ments in the productionofagriculture
which has taken place in a recent
period in this country by reason Of
the rapid enlargement Of the area Of
lillage under the favoring land laws
Of the United States very naturally
has called attention to the value and
indeed Of necessity of larger markets
I am one of those who believe the
home market must necessarily be
the best for producers as it usually
emancipates him, in proportion to its
nearness, from exacting transporta-
ton companies. If the farmer
could deliver his surplus produce to
the consumer out of his farm wagon
his independence and his profits
would be larger and surer. Ii
seems to me quite possible to attain
a larger increased market for our
staple farm products without i'm
pairing our home market by open
ing manufacturing trades in a COM
petition in which foreign producers,
paying q lower scale of wages would
have the advantage. A policy that
would retire a number of people en-
gagged in mercantile pursuits or dim
inish their ability to purchase food
products by reducing wages cannot
be helpful to those now engaged in
agriculture.
Passing to the consideration of
currency the president said: 1.-THE
question at the base of all my con-
sideration of currency is that any
dollar, !paper or coin, issued by the
United States must be made and
kept in its commercial use as good
as any other dollar. If we have
dollars of different values, only the
poorest will circulate. l have al
ways believed, and do now, more
than ever, believe in bi-metalism
, and favor full use Of silver in con-
nection with our currency, that lie
compatible with the maintenance of
the parity of the gold and silver
dollar in their commercial uses
Nothing, in my judgment, would
so much retard restoration in the
world as legislation attempted by
the United States that would result
in placing this country upon the
basis Of mono-metalism. The legis-
lation adopted by the fifty-first con-
gress, l was assured by leading ad-
vocates of free coinage and repre-
sentatlyes of the silver states, would
promptly and permanently bring
silver to l,20 per ounce and keep il
there. That anticipation has not
been realized. Our larger use of
silver has apparently, and for rea-
sons not agreed upon, diminished
the demand for silver in China and
India.
CoRoNERs INQUEST ON JOHN
CURTIS.
PORTLAND April l4,-For the
purpose of inquiring into and det-
ermning the death of John Il. Curtis,
the bartender, who was found dead
with a bullet wound in his forehead
!, at Harrlngton's lodging honse, in
East Portland, last Saturday morn
ing, Coroner River held an inquest
beginning yesterday. Many wit
nesses We're examined but little in
formation was obtained. Marshal
A. NJ. Cox testified MS to the disoov'
cry of the body. He found II lying
face downward in the corner of IN,
room with the pistol lying on leve
with the feet. Nothing about the
room was disturbed and the deceased
mnst evidently have died instantly
, The witness knew that Curtis hat
been quite friendly with Mrs. Jennie
Gibbs and not long ago had had
some trouble with her. Outside oi
this he knew nothing of the relation,
existing between them, except what
had been rumored about the town,
II, b. West, the husband Of Mrs,
West, stated that he knew Curtis
by sight, but he was not aware that
there were any criminal relations
existing between the deceased and
his wife. The witness saw the latter
about IL o'clock Friday night. lie
left DeBoest's saloon aud went TO
has room. His wife was there at the