Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-12-08
BENNY'S LAST LETTER.


been made as to the state of the public rev.
enues Three preliminary facts should not
only be stated but emphasized before look
ing into the details-frst that the public
1ebt has been reduced since March 4, 1889,
| F259,Oi4,2OO, and the annual interest
Sharge ESll ,6S4, ,469; second that there
! have been paid out for pensions
/ during this administration up to
! Nov. /, 1892, 1892, ,564, 1870, an excess of
| Sl14, 4G6, $500 over the sum expended dur
/ ing the period from March l. 1885, to March
/ l, 1889, and, third, that under the existing
tariff up to Dec. about $4,000 600 of rev.
/ enue, which would have been collected
upon imported sugars if the duty had been
/ maintained, has gone into the pockets of
! the people and not into the public treasury,
/ as before
| If there are any who still think that the
surplus should have been kept out of cir.
/ culation by boarding it in the treasury or
deposited in favored banks without inter
est while the government continued to
/ pay to these very banks interest upon the
/ bonds deposited as security for the depos-
its, or who think that the extended pension
/ legislation was public robbery, or that
the duties upon sugar should have been
maintained, am content to leave the argu-
ment where it now rests while we wait to
see whethe' these criticisms will take the
form of legislation
During the last fiscal year the secretary
purchased under the act of July IA, 1890,
81 ,355, ,1tS ounces of silver and issued in
payment therefor SOL lO6, Sos in notes. The
total purchases since the passing of the act
have been 12O,419,9Sl ounces, and the
aggregate of notes issued SIG, $50. The
average price paid for silver during the year
was 81 cents per ounce, the highest price
being Sl.02%, July 1, 1891, and the lowest
S3 cents, March 81 1892 In view of the fact
that the monetary conference is now sit
ting, and that no conclusion has yet been
reached, / withhold any recommendation
as to legislation upon the subject
The report of the secretary of war brings
again to the attention of congress some inn
portant suggestions as to the reorganiza-
tion of the infantry and artillery arms of
the service which his predecessors have
before urgently presented Our army is
small, but its organization should all the
more be put upon the most approved mod
ern basis
/ The report of the postmaster general
shows most gratifying increase and u
most efficient and progressive management
of the great business of that department..
The postal revenues have increased during
the last year nearly S5,0O0000 The deficit
for the year ending June 30, 1892, is SS4S, ,3i1
less than the deficiency of the preceding
year.
Ever since our merchant marine was
driven from the sea by the rebel cruisers
during the war of the rebellion the United
States has been paying an enormous an
nual tribute to foreign countries in the
shape of freight and passage moneys.
I -l.,1,
having in it much promise, as it seems to
me, was begun by the law of March 3, 1891.
Under this law contracts have been made
by the postmaster general for eleven mail
routes, The expenditure involved by these
contracts for the next fiscal year approx
mates S954, 1888. AS one of the results al
ready reached, sixteen American steam
ships of an aggregate tonnage of 51,4OO
tons, costing S14OO,0OO, have been built or
contracted to be built in American ship
yards
| earnestly urge a continuance of the
policy naugurated by this legislation, and
that the appropriations required to meet
the obligations of the government under
the contracts may be made promptly, so
that the lines that have entered into these
engagements may not be embarrassed.
The report of the secretary of the navy
exhibits great progress in the construction
of our new navy. When the present secre-
tary entered upon his duties only three
modern steel vessels We're in commission
The vessels since put in commission and to
be put in commission during the winter
will make a total of nineteen during his
administration of the department.
The recommendations of the secretary
will, do not doubt, receive the friendly
4 Inpufip, of fp, an,
ioyed, as he has deserved the confidence of
all those interested in the development of
our navy without any division upon parti-
san lines. | earnestly express the hope
/ that work which has made such noble
/ progress may not now be staid.
The report Of the commissioner of pen
/ sions, to which extended notice is given by
/ the secretary OF the interior in his report
! VIII attract great attention Judged by
/ the aggregate amount of work DONE the
last year has been the greatest in the his
tory OF the Office lbelieve that the organ
ization of the Office is efficient, and that the
work has been done with fidelity.
The passage of what is known as the dis
ability bill has, as was foreseen, very large
! ly increased the annual disbursements to
the disabled veterans of the civil war. The
estimate for this fiscal year was $l44 $50, 600,
and that amount was appropriated. A de
ficiency amounting to $40, sos, 62l must be
provided for at this session. The estimate
for pensions for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1894, is Sl65, 100000.
The commissioner of pensions believes
that if the present legislation and methods
are maintained and further additions to
the pension laws are not made the maxi
mum expenditure for pensions will be
reached June 3d. 1894, and will be at the
highest point $lSS 100000 per annum.
adhere to the views expressed in pre-
Nious messages that the care of the dis
abled soldiers of the war of the rebellion is
"A matter of national concern and duty.
4 The subject of quarantine regulations,
inspection and control was brought sud
denly to my attention by the arrival at
our ports in August last of vessels infected
with cholera. Quarantine regulations
should be uniform at all our ports. Under
the constitution they are plainly within
the exclusive federal jurisdiction when and
so far as congress shall legisate.
/ In my opinion the whole subject should