The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-12-14


1878. The surplus in the Treasury and
the bank redemption fund.- passed by the act
OF July IA, 1890, 10 the general fund, fur
nished In large part the cash available and
used for the payments made upon the pub
lie debit Compared with the year 1891 our
receipts from customs duties fell off S42,
06l, PAL .0S, while our receipts from internal
revenue increased IS, 2s4, 500 13, leaving the
net loss OF revenue from these principal
sources s33, 754, 4l195. The net loss of
revenue from all sources was s32 675, ,972.S1.
The revenues, estimated and actual, for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, are
placed by the Secretary at s46S, 1886, $50 "A
and the expenditures at S46l, 1856, $50. A,
showing a surplus OF receipts over expendi-
lures of 81, 900, 900. The cash balance in the
Treasury at the end OF the fiscal year it is
estimated will be 500 292, 81. .03.
The estimated receots for the fiscal year
ending June, 80, 1894. are $49), 121, 365 3s
and the estimated appropriations S457 POL,
335.33 leaving an estimated surplus of re-
ceipts over expenditures of S32, $50 030 %.
This does not include any payment to the
sinking fund.
The public confidence in the purpose and
ability of the Government to maintain the
purity Of all our money issues, whether coin
or paper, must remain uushaken. The de-
mand for gold in Europe and the consequent
calls upon us are in considerable degree
the result of the efforts of some of the Euro
reserve. and these efforts should be met by
appropriate legislation on our part The
conditions that have created this drain OF
the Treasury gold are in an important de
gree political and not commercial. In view
OF the fact that a general revision OF our
revenue laws in the near future seem to be
probable, it would be better that any changes
should be part of that revision rather than
OF temporary nature.
SILVER BOUGHT AND COINED.
During the last fiscal year the Secretary
purchased under the act of July IA, 1899,
"a, 355, 748 ounces of silver, and issued in
payment therefor S54 LOG, 60S in notes. The
total purchases since the passage Of the act
have been 100, ,479, ,gS1 ounces, and the ag.
gregate of notes issued SIG, 7S3, $50. The
average price paid for silver during the year
was 81 cents per ounce the highest price be-
ing Sl.02s4 July l, 1891, an the lowest 80. S3
March 2l, 1892. In view of the fact that the
monetary conference is now sitting and that
no conclusion has yet been reached, With
hold any recomme endation as to legislation
upon this subject.
ARMY REORGANIZATION DEMANDED.
The report of the Secretary of War
brings again to the attention of Congress
some important suggestions as to the re-
organization Of the infantry AMI artillery
arms of the service, which his predeoes-
sors have before urgently presented. Our
army is small, but its organization
should all thu more be put upon the most
upon what we have called the "frontier"
have heretofore required the main
tenance of many small posts, but now
the policy of concentration is obviously the
right one. The reorganization and enlarge
ment of the Bureau of Military Information
which the Secretary has effected is a work
the usefulness OF which will become every
year more apparent. The work of building
heavy guns and the construction of coast
defenses has been well begun and sho uld be
carried on without check.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.
The aggregate of claims pending against
the Government in the Court of Claims is
enormous. Claims to the amount of nearly
S400, 0O0 600 for the taking of or injury to
the property of persons claiming to be loyal
during the war are now before that court for
examination. When to these are added the
Indian depreciation claims aud the French
spoilation claims an aggregate is reached
that is indeed startling. Ia the defense of
all these cases the Government is at great
disadvantage The claimants have preser we'd
their evidence, whereas the agents of the
Government are sent into the field to rum
mage for what they can find. The difficulty
is peculiarly great where the fact to be estab-
lished is the disloyalty of the claimant dur
ing the war. II this great threat against
our revenues is to have no other check GER
tainly Congress shouli supply the Depart
ment of Justice with appropriations suffi-
GENTLY liberal TO secure the best legal talent
in the defense of these claims AMI to pursue
its vague search for evidence effectively.
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The postal revenues have increased during
the last year nearly S., 900, 000 The deficit
for the year ending June 3D. 1897, is $S4S-
3il less than the deficiency of ths preceding
year. The deficiency of the present fiscal
year, it is estimlte1, will bs rs1uce1 to 81, =
552, 423, wnich will not only bs extinguishel
during the next fiscal year. but a surplus OF
nearly one million dollars should then be
shown. In these calculations the payments
to be made under the contracts for ocean
mail service have not been included.
The nusnber OF postoffices has been in
creased by 2790 during the year; and during
the pastfor years and up to October %
last the total increase in the number of Of
fees has been nearly nine thousand. The
number of free-1elivery Offices has been
nearly doubled in the last four years and
the number Of money-order offices moro
than doubled within that time.
For the three years ending June 3), 1892,
the postal revenue amounted to Sl91 T44, $50
which was an increase of $59 263, l50 over the
revenue for the three years ending June 30,
1888, the increase during the last three years
being more than three AMI a half times as
great as the increase during the three years
ending June 80 1888.
A whoeson, cnauge of policy anl one
having in 1t much promise, as it seems 10
me- was begun by the law of March 3, 1871.
Under this law contracts have bsen made by
the PostmaSter-G Geueral for eleven mail
routes. The expenditure involved by thess
contracts for the next fiscal year approXl-
mates $945, 1888. As one of the results al
ready reached 10 American steamships of an
aggregate tonnage of 81 400 tons, costing
~, 400 600, have been buut or contracted to
be built in American shipyards.
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. II we
could enter into conference with other COM
petitors and all would agree 90 withhold
Government aid we could perhaps take our
chances with all the rest, but our great COM
petitors have established aud maintained
their lines by Government subsidies until
they now have practically exclu led us from
participation. In my opinion no choice is
left to us but TO pursue, moderately at least
the same lines.
OUR NAVAL PROGRESS,
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 were in commission.
The vessels since put in commission and TO
be put in commission during the winter will
make a total of 10 during his administra
tion OF the Department. During the cur
rent year 10 war vessels ald navy tugs
have been launched, aud during the four
years 25 vessels win have been launched.
Two other large ships and torpedo boat
are under contract and the work upon them
well advanced, and the four monitors are
awaiting only the arrival of their armor
which has been unexpectedly delayed, or
they would have bsen before this ia com.