Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-12-16


have been maintained. l am content TO
leave the argument where 1t now rests.
while we wait to see whether these crit
tclsms Will take the form OF legislation.
The revenues for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1892. from all sources were $i2o,.
$500 ~. and the expenditures for all
purposes were SALE, 1884, $50 IS. leaving q
balance of s9.sii.4o3 CO. There were paid
during the year upon the public dsot sio.-
bIo,f6l So. The surplus In the treasury
and the bank redemption fund, passed by
the act of July IA. 1870, to the general
fund. furnished In large part the cash
available and used for the payments
with the year is9i. our receipts from Gus
toms duties fell OFF $42. 06s.2u 0S, while
our receipts from internal revenue IN
OF revenue from these principal sources
SS3,ISi.4iI 95. The net loss OF revenue
from all sources was s32.oi5.s72 81.
The revenues. estimated and actual, Tor
the fiscal year ending June 30. 1898; are
and the expenditures at si6i' $50 a.
Of fups o. TT he cash BALANCE
In the treasury at the end OF the fiscal
year. II is estimated. VIII be 800 ,9s2, 81 W.
ending June 80, 1894. are $3.50, ~. S65 81. and
the estimated appropriations, N5I .26l.-
$50 50. leaving an estimated surplus or re-
ceipts. over expenditures of $3.50, go %.
This does not include any payment TO the
sinking fund. In the recommendation of
the secretary that the sinking fund law
ne TtDcdleu, Il concur. Inc redemption VI
bonds since the passage of the law to June
30, 1892 has already exceeded the require
ments by the sum OF S9O.5l0.6Sl 40. The
retir ement of bonds In the future before
maturity should be a matter of conven-
fence, not OF compulsion. We should not
collect revenue for that purpose, but only
use any casual surplus. To the balance
OF $50 SGo.OS0 o5 of receipts over expendi-
lures for the year 1894, should be added
the estimated surplus at the beginning OF
the year. $50 992, 81 %. and from this ag-
IA 6anIIRfa1 stated
the secretary, about $A000,oc0 of esu-
mated unexpended appropriations.
The public confidence In the purpose
and ability Of the government TO maintain
the parity OF all our money issues, whether
coin or paper. must remain mistaken.
SILVER.
During the last fiscal year the secretary
purchased, under tAe act OF July II, 1880.
54355.7iS ounces OF silver. and issued in
payment therefor sd. 106,G0S in notes. The
total purchases since the passage of the
act have been 100, 1881 ounces, and the
aggregate of notes issued Sll6. 1884, $50. The
average price PAID for silver during the
year was "a cents per ounce, the highest
price being 81 OF "a, July l, 16sl. and the
lowest, SO cents. March n, 1892. In view OF
the fact that the monetary conference H.
now sitting. and that no conclcs.on has
vet been reached. 1 withhold any recon-
mendation as to legislation upon this sub
ject.
The report of the Secretary OF War
brings again to the attention OF Congress
some important suggestions as to the
reorganization OF the infantry and artil-
lery arms of the service, which his pre-
decessors have before urgently present.
ed our army as small. but It's organiza-
ton should all the more be put upon the
most approved modern basis. The con-
dltions upon what we have called the
frontier haze heretofore required the
maintenance of many small posts, but
ously the right one. The new posts
should have the proper strategic rela-
tons to the only frontiers" we now
have, those of the sea coasts and OF our
northern and part OF our southern bound
ary dc not think that any question OF
advantage to localities or TO states should
determine the location OF the new posts
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report or the Attorney General is
by law submitted directly to Congress-
but | can not refrain from saying that
the Department OF Justice with great
professional skill. He has in several di-
rections secured from the courts deci-
sions giving increased protection TO the
officers OF the United States and bring
ing some classes of crime that escaped
local cognizance and punishment into the
tribunals OF the United States, where
they could be tried with impartialty.
1 recommend chat Congress prescribe n
uniform credit for good behavior on the
part of United states prisoners confined
in the various state penitentiaries.
| have before expressed my concur
renee in the recommendation OF the At
torney- General that degrees OF murder
should be recognized in the federal stat
utes as they are, / believe, ia all the
states. These grades are founded on
correct distinctions in crime. The recog-
milton of them would enable the courts
TO exercise some discretion in apportion-
ing punishment, and would greatly re-
lieve the executive OF what is coming 10
be a very heavy burden-the eXamina-
ton OF these cases on application Tor
Communication.
PoSToFFICE DEPARTMENT..
The report of the Postmaster-General
shows a most gratifying increase and
most efficient and progressive manage
ment OF the great business or that depart
ment. The remarkable increase in reve-
nues, In the number OF poStofices and in
the miles of mail carriage. furnishes fur
Their evidence OF the high state of pros
perity which our people are enjoying.
New offices mean new hamlets and towns,
new routes mean the extension of our bor-
der settlements, and Increased revenues
mean an active commerce. The PostmaS-
ter-General reviews the whole period OF
his administration OF the office and brings
some OF his statistics down to the month
OF November last. The postal revenues
have increased during the last year near
ly So 600 600. The deficit for tho year end
ing June 20. 1892. is sSlS,3u less than the
deficiency of the preceding year. The de-
heiency OF the present fiscal year. u Is
estimated, will be reduced 10 Sl,552. f2S.
which will not only be extinguished during
the next fiscal year, but surplus of near
ly 100000 should then be shown. In
made under the contracts for ocean mail
service have not been included. There
have been added l.590 new mail routes
during the year. with a mileage of S,5G3
miles, and the total number OF new miles
OF mail trips added during the year is
nearly 100000. The number Of miles OF
mail Journeys added during tho last four
years is about 76.G00,000, this addition being
q 100000 Of miles more than were in opcr-
alton in the whole country in 1851. The
number of postofces has been increased
by 2.790 during the year; and during the
past four years and up TO October %
last, the total increase in the number of
offices has been nearly 5000. The number
of free-delivery offices has been near'y
doubled in the past four years, and t..e
number OF moncy-order Offices more than
doubled within that time.
OUR MERCHANT MARINE.
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.
Our grain and meats have been taken at
our own docks and our large imports
their laid down by foreign shipmasters.
An increasing torrent Of American travel
to Europe has contributed q vast sum an
nually to the dividends of foreign ship
owners. The balance OF trade shown by