The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1893-12-07

end. Thus Tar no information OF tne &C
complishment of any definite results has |
been received from him. Additional advlces |
are soon expected When received they will /
be promptiy sen. to the Congress sa fo asco
panied by a special executive message fuliS |
detailing all the facts necessary complete |
history Of all the material events leading up !
to the present situation.
Arbitration of National Disputes.
BY concurrent resolution. passed by the
resen,atives on the Sd of April following the
President was requested To invite from
time to time as tit occasions may ari i;.t
negotiations with any government with
which the United states mas or
may have diplomatic relations to
the end that any differences or disputes
can not adjusted by diplomatic agency
may be referred to arbitration and be peacea-
the International American Confer
ence of WASHINGTON, by resolu-
ton. expressed the wish that all controversies
between the republics of America and the
nations of Europe might be settled by arbitra-
ton and recommended that the government
Of eae h nation represented in that conference
should communicate this wish 70 all friendly
powers. a favorable response has been re-
celved from Great Britain in the shape OF a
resolution adopted by Parliament July Ii last,
cordially sympathlZlng with the purpose IN
view.
The monetary conference which assembled
At Brussels, upon our lIvit alton. was adjourned
to the 3Oth cay OF November il the present
year. The considerations just stated. and the
fact that a definite proposition from us seemed
conference. led me to express willingness TO
have the meeting st!ll further postponed
wise seems 1 tive to seuera authority to the
President to invite other nations to
such a conference, at any time when there
should be fair prospect of accomplishing an
international agreement on the subject OF
coinage l desire also to earnestly suggest
the wisdom of amending existing statutes i'll
I'd n he isS nj
The authority now vested i'll the secretary OF
the Treasury to issue bonds IL not az clear as
it should be, and the bonds authorized are dis
advantageous 70 the Government, both as to
the time of their maturity and rate OF inter
/ est.
National Quarantine.
The admonitions of the last two years touch
ing public health. and the demonstrated
danger OF the Introduction of contagious dis
eases from foreign ports. has Invested the sub
| lect of national quarantine with increased in
! terest. A more general and harmon Gus system
than now exists, acting promptly and directly
! everywhere. and constantly operating by pre-
| ventive means to shield our country from the
| invasion of disease, and at the same time hav-
ing due regard to the rights and duties of local
! agencies, would, believe, add greatly to Tie
| safety of our people.
Peace Within Our BORDERS.
Neither Indian outbreaks l.or domestic vlO-
! lence have called the army into service during
| the wear. and the only active military duty re-
| quired of it has been in the department OF
| Texas, where violations of the neutrality laws
| of the United States and Mexico were prompt
ly and efficiently dealt with by the troops ellc-
| iting the warm approval OF the civic and
! military authorities of both countries.
| The adoption of battalion formation for
| infantry regiments. the STRENGTHENING Of the
! artillery forces, the abandonment of small and
| unnecessary posts, and the masslng of the
| troops at important and accessible stations
! all promise to promote the usefulness of the
| army In the Judgment of army officers, with
but few exceptions. the operation OF the law
! fOrbiduing the re-enlistment of men after ten
| years of service has no. proved it's WISDOM
! and while the arguments that led to its ad"p-
! tion were not without merit. the experience of
| the wear cOnStrains me to join in the recon-
| mendatiOn for its repeal.
| Repeal of Silver Purchase.
| The recent repeal of the provision of law
| recurring the purchase of silver bullion by
| the Government as feature of our none
| tarv scheme, has made an entire change in
| the complexion of our currency affairs. l do
| not doubt that the ultimate result of this &C
| ton will he most salutat and far-reaching.
| In the nature of things. however, it il lmpos
| sible to know at this time precisely what
conditions will be brought about by the
| lation may, in the light of such conditions,
| appear to be essential or expedient. OF course.
after the recent financial pertnrbation time
| ness confidence. When. however through
| this restored confidence. the money which has
been frightened into hoardingplacss is re-
| of the situation will probably dis
close a safe path leading to a per
sufficient to meet every requirement of our in
creasing population and business. In the
pursuit of this object we should resolutely
| turn away from allurng and temporary eX-
| pedients, determined to be content with moth
| ing less than lasting and comprehensive
financial plan. In these circumstances | an,
! convinced that Il reasonable delay in dealing
with this subject. instead OF being in furious,
will increase the probability of wise action.
Sea Coasts Defensc~.
1t is gratifying to note that we have begun
to attain complete results in the conprehen-
sive scheme of sea coast defense and f"rtifica-
tion. entered upon eight years ago. Al the end
of the current calendar year the War Depart
ment will have nine Pinch, twenty 1u-inCl
and thirtyfour s-inch guns ready to be
mounted on gun-lfts. and carriage and seven.
ty-tive Il inch mortars. The manufacture of
needs: but to render these guns available fol
the purposes they designed to meet en-
placements must he prepared for them.
, After much preliminary work and much eN-
haustive examination in accordan .e with the
requirements of the law, the board appointed
to select magazine rifle of modern type with
which to replace the obsolete Springfield rifle
| of the infantry service. completed its labor,
during the last year and tne work Of manu-
| featuring Is now in progress at the NatiOna
! Ar;nory at Springfield. 1t is confidently ex
| pected that by the end of tie current year oul
| infantry will be supplied with weapon eaua
| to that Of the most progressive armies OF the
world.
PostotiiCe Department..
The report of the Postmaster General con
| tainS detailed statement OF the operations
| of the Postotfce Department during the las
t>ca! year and much interesting information
| touching this important branch of the pablo
service. At date when better times were an
ticipated it esi innate! by his predecessor
that the deficiency the 10Th Gay Of June
1923 would be but a little over mll1o,
| and half dollars. II amounted. however
| to more than five millions. At the same time
and under the influence of like anticipa- ions
| estimates were made for the current hsca
year ending June 81 1874, which exhibited
surplus of revenue over expenditures Of So.
o45.7l: but now. in view of the actual receip,
and expenditures during that part Of the eur
rent fiscal yea7 already expired. the presen
Postmaster General estimates that at it
close. instead of a surplus. there will be .ie
tciency OF nearly eight million dollars.
Forty-two free delivery offices were addet
during the year to those already existing
making a total OF 80 cities and towns pro
vided with free delivery on June "a. lsaa
Ninety-three other cities and towns are nov
entitled TO this service under the law ou
1t has not been accorded them &C
count of insufficient, funds 80 meet the expeus
of its establishment l am decidedly o
the opinion that the provisions of tn
present law percai, As general an introductio
OF this feature Of mail service as is necessar