The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-03-25
SCOTS Lecture.

s. NJ. Scott, state alliance lecturer, spoke
In the court house on Saturday, at . p. m.
The weather being bad there was not as
many present as had been anticipated, but
Mr.. Scott spoke in his usual interesting
manner and held the attention Of the audi
ence for nearly two hours. Mr.. Scott is IL
good speaker and cogent reasoner. We
hope the next time he is here the weather
will be more more favorable. We were
more particularly struck with three points
made in Mr.. Scott's speech.
The st. Louis convention demanded the
increase of the circulating medium to $50
per capita. The republican campaign docu-
ments sent out by Foster the secretary Of
the treasury, last fall denied that there had
been any contraction of the currency.
This denial was made In the face Of facts
to the contrary, the statues upon the United
States statute books, contracting and retir-
ing United States currency. The speaker
produced Secretary Hugh McCOllOch's re-
port to congress and his recommend for the
contraction of the currency, which was
carried out by congress. This report re-
commended the retiring Of $3,000,0O0 per
month for the first four months, $4,000, 600
for the second, and $40, 100000 for the third,
There was thus retired In one year $2ll 1891, =
900. Amount not in circulation $3.50, 1858, 900,
also retired and destroyed, making grand
total Of 1892 900, 900, retired and DESTROYED
in one year. Report Of fiscal year ending
June 80, 1886 On the subject of the present
silver law he said The advocates Of the
present law say that it absorbs the Ameri-
can product of silver mines. He said, this
might be so, but here was the Objectionable
feature of the law. Silver bullion is pur-
chased, and silver certificates are issued for
the amount. These silver certificates are
redeemable at the treasury Gin coin" either
gold or silver at the discretion of the secre-
tary OF the treasury, and all certificates
redeemed are DESTROYED. Senator Morrill,
of Vermont, recently said in q speech IN the
senate that they were all as Il rule redeemed
In gold. The effect OF the law then was to
retire silver and pay out the gold, not in
UreaSing the circulating medium, and to tax
the people ut large to buy up and hoard the
silver product; in as much all gold comes
into the treasury through revenue by tariff.
On government ownership Of railro IDS he
said: There are about 100000 miles Of rail
road in the United States, aud It costs on
the average $40 cooper mile, making the cost
$30O0,050,OO0. The average rae Of interest
OH railroad bonds was per cent. so that the
| 100000 annually. A large amount of this
sum goes to railroad magnates, say A ,000,-
900. Chauncey NJ. Depew gts $4,000 u
year. Other railroad presidents large sums
For uptown offices $2OOOO,OOO, for lawyers
fees $40, 1000, for special agents $20,O00,-
/ 900 and so the earnings OF the the railroads
from the people Is expended.
Now the government could buy the rail-
roads and issue its bonds ut 2 per cent. saving
to the American people $2l0, 100000 annu-
ally, provide for sinking fund Of per
cent. per annum and In the space Of thirty
three years would have paid off the origi-
nal bonds and the people would own the
road.
Under government ownership of the
roads, there would be no discharge of
railroad employees except for cause, a
graduated system of promotion, pensions
for the disabled, and for widows and or
phans. Indeed, the railooad employees
would be on tine same scale as the officers
and men Of the army or the navy.
Three thousand men annually are killed
or manned in the railway train service, and
in many cases there is little or no compen-
sation for injuries rec,1ved
Withal, Mr. ScOtt's lecture was full Of
thought and food for reflection and study.