The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-12-09


bonds deposited as security for the depos-
its, or who think that the extended pension
legislation was q 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 whether these criticisms will take the
form Of legislation
Money.
The public confidence In the purpose and
ability of tho government to maintain the
parity of all our money issues, whether
coin or paper, must remain unshaken. The
demand for gold In Europe and the conse
quent calls upon Ms are in a considerable
degree the result Of the efforts of some of
the European governments to increase their
gold reserves, and these efforts should be
met by appropriate legislation on our part.
The conditions that have created this
drain of the treasury gold arc in an impor-
tant degree political and not commercial.
In view of the fact that general revision
of our revenue laws in the near future
seems to be probable, it would be better
that any changes should be part OF that
revision rather than of n temporary nature.
During the last fiscal year the secretary
purchased under the act of July IA, 1890,
&,355, 74S ounces of silver. and issued in
payment therefor S5l, ,106, sos in notes. The
total purchases since the passing of the act
have been l2O479,9Sl ounces, and the
aggregate of notes issued SIG, 7S3, 500. The
average price paid for silver during the year
was ~ cents per ounce, the highest price
being $l02A, July |, 1891, and the lowest
S3 cents, March 81, 1899 In view of the fact
shat 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 reorgani2a-
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 conditions upon what we have called
the frontier" have heretofore required the
maintenance of many small posts, but now
the policy of concentration is obviously the
right one. The new posts should have the
proper strategic relations to the only "fron-
tiers" we now have, those of the seacoast
and of our northern and part Of our south
ern boundary
do not think that any question Of ad-
vantage to localities or states should de-
terinine the location of the new posts. The
reorganization and enlargement of the bu-
reau of military information which the
secretary has effected is IA work the useful
ness of which will become every year more
apparent. The work OF building heavy
guns and the construction of coast de
fensos has been we'll begun and should be
carried on without check
Marine.
The report of the postmaster general
shows n most gratifying increase and
most efficient and progressive management
of the great business of that department
The postal revenues have increased during
the last year nearly =, 100000. The deficit
for the year ending June 80 1892, is $S4S, ,3il
less than the deficiency of the preceding
year The deficiency of the present fiscal
year it is estimated will be reduced to 81,
552, ,i23, which will not only be extinguished
during the next fiscal year, but a surplus
OF nearly 100000 should then be shown.
In these calculations the payments to be
made under the contracts for ocean mail
service have not been included.
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.
In the year 1892 only 1913 per cent. of our
imports were brought in American vessels
These great foreign steamships maintained
by our traffic are many Of them under con
tract with their respective governments by
which in time of war they will become Il
part of their armed naval establishments.
Proliting by our commerce III peace, they
will become the most formidable destroyers
of our commerce in time Of war. | have
felt and have before expressed the feeling
that this condition OF things was both in
tolcrable and disgraceful.
a wholesome change of policy and one
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 approxi-
mates S95i, 1888 AS one OF the results al
ready reached, sixteen American steam
ships Of an aggregate tonnage Of 57,40O
tons, costing 81 40O, 900, have been built or
contracted to be built in American ship
yards.
l earnestly urge continuance of the
policy inaugurated 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. No
subject, think, more nearly touches the
pride, the power and the prosperity of our
country than this Of the development of
our merchant marine upon the sea-
If we could enter into conference with
other competitors, and all would agree to
withhold government aid, we could per-
haps take our chances with the rest, but
our great competitors have established and
maintained their lines by government sub
sides until they now have practically ex-
cluded us from participation. In my opin-
ion no choice is left to us but to pursue,
moderately at least, the same lines
Navy.
The report Of the secretary of the navy
exhibits great progress in the construction
of our new Eayy. When the present secre-
tary entered upon his duties only three
modern steel vessels were in commission
The vessels since put in commission and to