The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1891-12-16

our silver mines This is more than they
themselves thought OF asking two years
ago. l believe ii Is the earnest desire OF q
great majority OF the people, as il is nina
that a full coin use shall be made of s-lvel
just as soon as the cooperation of othes
nations can be secured and ratio fixed
thet will give circulation equally TO gold
and silver.
'.Bimetallism is the desired end. and the
true friends OF silver viii be careful not TO
overrun the goal and bring in silver mono
metalisn. with its necessary attendants.
the loss of our gold to Europe and the re-
lief of the pressure there for larger cur
rency. There is, 1 am sure, a growing
sentiment in Europe in favor of a larger
use of silver, and know OF no more effec-
tual way of promoting this sentiment than
by accommodating gold here A scarcity of
gold in the European reserves will be the
most persuasive argument for the use Oh
silver.
Tho Treasury Surplus.
The presence of large cash surplus IN
the treasury has for many years been the
subject of much unfavorabIe criticism
and has furnished an argument to those
who have desired to place the tariff upon
a purely revenue basis. 1t was agreed by
all that the withdrawal from circulation
of so large amount of money was an en-
barrassment to the business of the couD-
try, and made necessary the interven-
ton OF the department ut frequent inter-
walls to Reeve threatened monetary
panics The surplus on March 1, 1859,
was SlS3. S27. 1923
There have been redeemed since the
date last mentioned of Understanding
duction of the annual interest charge of
Sll,6Sk615. The money which had been
deposited in banks without interest has
been gradually withdrawn and used in
the redemption of bonds.
The result of this policy. of the silver
legislation, and of the refunding of the
four-and-a-half per cent. bonds has been
large increase Of the money in circuia-
tion-
s'I'he offer of the secretary of the treas
ury to the holders of the four and one
half per cent. bonds TO extend the time of
redemption, at the option of the govern
ment at an interest of , per cent, was &C
cepted by the holders of about one-half
the amount. and the unextended bonds
are being redeemed on presentation
Secretary OF Wars Report.
1.-THE report of the secretary of war ex-
hibits the results of an Intelligent, pro-
gressive, and business like administration
of department which has been too much
regarded rs one of mere routine.
The separation of Secretary Proctor
from the department by reason of his APP
pointment as as a senator from the state
OF Vermont Is a source of great regret.
In the administration of army affairs
some especially good work has been ac-
complished. The work of securing sites
for shore batteries for harbor defense and
the manufacture of fnortars and guns of
oil h,gh power to equip. them have made
Work In the Pension ONCE.
He compliments Major Ainsworth, of
the medical corps, and his clerks for the
great work d ring the year. When they
began they were nearly Al 900 cases behind,
but they caught up, Notwithstanding the
increase of % per cent. over the previous
year.
should BE Limited.
''I concur in the Recommendation Of
the attorney general that the. right in
felony cases to a review by the supreme
court be limited.
1.-The judges of the court of private land
claims, provided for by the act of March
3, 1881, have been appointed and the court
Chinese Exclusion.
''The enforcement by the treasury de
partment of the law prohibiting the COM
ing of Chinese to the Uuited States has
been effective as to such as seek to land
from vessels entering our ports"
They land in Canada and Mexico and
sneak in despite all the efforts of our OIL
GERS. The question as to whether cars
tured Chinese should be returned to the
United states or to China is somewhat in
doubt, and legislation which will remedy
such defects in the law is recommended.
Too Marrow.
s'In previous messages l have called the
attention of congress to the necessity of
extending the jurisdiction Of the Uniteu
States courts as to make t1iable therein
any felony committed while in the act OF
violating law of the United States
The courts can. not have that independ
ence and eifec tiveness which the constit1-
tion contemplates. The work done by the
attorney general and the officers of his
department, cren under the present mad
equate legislation. has produced some
notable results in the interest of law and
order.
The chastity laws of the District of Co
l1mbia are inadequate, and should be
Tho Postofiice Department.
''In the report of the postmaster general
some very gratifying results are exhibited,
and many betterments of the service sug-
abundant evidence that the supervision
and direction of the postal system have
been characterized by an intelligent and
conscientious desire 10 improve the
service. The revenues of the department.
show an increase of over 5000 600, while
the estimate for the year. 1891, shows a
surplus of receipts over expenditures
Ocean NATL service between the United
States and Germany has proven n success
full experiment and viii doubtless be ex-
tended to other lines. Eight thousand
miles of new postal service have been es-
tablished on railroads. Free delivery ex-
periments in small cities and towns has
proven so successful that it is recon-
mended that free delivery be extended at
once to all towns of ) 900 population Bet
ter postal service in the rural districts Is
recommended. Concerning postal teie-
graph, he says. 81 have in n message to
tine preceding Congress, expressed my
views as to q modified use of the tele-
graph in connection with the postal SER
vice.
As many new ocean mail lines are being
established as possible, bids having been
advertised for for fifty-three, twenty
seven of which are TO South America. He
adds:
''The postmaster general estimates that
an expenditure in American ship yards of
about S10.0c0, coo will be necessary to en-
able the bidders to construct the shi-s
called for By the service which they ha
accepted. do not think there is any
reason for Encouragement or for any turn
ing back from the nnliev Of tlsis laesisle
age nearly 81, O00, 600 under the old system.
and the outlfy for ocean mail service did
not exceed 500, coo per annum."
Navy.
The report of the secretary of the navy
shows n gratifying increase of new naval
vessels in commission. Three new yes
sells have been added during the yea.
Twenty-four warships of all classes are
now under construction in the navy yar-s
and private shops, but while the work
upon them is going forward satisfactorily,
the completion of the more important
vessels viii yet require about a years
time. The work of constructing mod
ern navy was Initiated in 1888, and we
have made good progress.
Concerning the manufacture of guns
the message says the officers of the navy
and the proprietors and engineers of our