Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-12-15

sucn conference az any time when tnere
should be :. tair prospect of accomplishing an
international agreement on the subject of
coinage. l desire also to earnestly suggest
the wisdom NO Of amending g. existtnE statutes stat IN
The authority now vested in the Secretary of
the Treasury to issue bonds is not as clear ms
advantageous to the Government, both as to
the time Of their maturity and rate Of inter-
est.
National Quarantine.
The ad.nonitions of the last two years touche
ing our public health, and the demonstrated
danger of the introduction of contagious dis
cases from foreign ports: has invested the sub
terest. more general and harmon GUS system
than now exists. acting promptly aud directly
everywhere. and constantly operating by pre-
ventive means 10 shield our country from the
invasion of disease. and III tine same time hav-
ing due regard to the rights and duties of local
agencies. would, believe, add greatly to tLo
safety of our people.
Pcace Within Our Borders
Neither Indian outbreaks Aor domestic vio-
lence have called the army into service during
the year, and the only active military duty re-
CURED of it has. been in the department OF
of the United Stntes and Mexico were pro,npt-
lyand efficiently dealt with by the troops, clic-
ting the warm aau,a approvai OF tho ciyis I and
The adoption of battalion formation for
intan'ry regiments, the strengthening of the
artillery forces the abandonment of small and
-.
troops at important and accessible stations,
all promise to promote the usefulness of the
army. In the Judgment of army officers, with
forbidding the re-enlist,nent of men after ten
years of service has not proved its wisdom,
and while the arguments that led to Its adop-
tion were not without merit, the experience OF
the year cOnstrains me to join in the recOn-
mendatiOn for Its repeal.
purchase of Silver.
The purchases of silver under the law of July
y, 1sso, during NJ the last fiscal year aggregated
53. The total amount of silver purchased from
the time that tax became operative until the
1sss On she ase day
ounces, which cost sl55, 5,G,O. .gio.sl. between
the 1st day of March, 1873. and the 1st day Of
der alllaws 5O3,OH37 III fine ounces of silver at
cost Of s5lC 2a.9is. The silver dollars that have
been coined under the act. of July u, $50,
such coinage was S6,917 ,098.3y, leaving on hand
3, the mints ".6'a go fine ounces of silver,
which cost 81 6,75S,21s.
last fiscal year consisted of 97,2so,S75 pieces,
valued at S43,6s5 1850, of which there was
s0,ossl.o in gold coin, Sss.s.7l5 in silver dol
and 81 ,OsG. .l02. 30 in minor coins.
During the calendar year 1892 the produce
tions Of precious metals in the United States
was estimated to be 59G,3T5 fine ounces of gold
of the commercial and coinage value of $685.
100000 and IS ,O00U0D nline ounces of silver Of
the bullion or market value Of $50, $4,000
and of the coinage value of S74 9s9,gO0 1t is es-
ttmated that on July l, 1888, he metallic stock
of money in the United States, consisting of
coin and s9 51li0n a4 on ans 1 to
silver.
One hundred and nineteen national banks
isss With capital Of rs 81 e1s Fopsysix ss
went into voluntary liquidation and 1853 sus-
pended. SiXty-fivc Of tho suspended banks
and seven remained in the hands Of bank ex-
aminers, with prospects of speedy resumption.
OF the new banks organized forty-four were 10.
the Mississippi River, and thirty-four in the
Central and Southern States. The total num-
Der Of national banks in existence on the 31st
day OF October, 1879, was 3,796. having m agre-
gate capital of Ss95, ,55s. 100. The net increase
In the circulation Of these banks during the
year was s3G,ss6,9T2.
requiring the purchase of silver bullion by
the Government as o feature of our none
tary scheme, has made an entire change in
the complexion of our currency affairs. do
not doubt that the ultimate result OF this ac-
tion will be most salutatory and 3ar-reaching.
sbIe e Sne% 9f At 9s e 1t IL
conditions will be brought about by the
change, or what, If any, supplementary leeis-
appear to be essential or eSpedient. 81 course,
after the recent financial perturbation time
is necessary for the ne @re-establishmeat Of busi-
been frightened into boarding -pfaces is re-
turned to trade aud enterprise, q survey
close = safe path leading to per
eufaoient to meet every requirement Of our in
pursuit Of this object we should resolutely
turn away from alluring and temporary ex-
pedients, Determined to be content with noth-
financial plan. In these circumstances am
convinced that reasonable delay in dealing
with this subject, instead OF being injurious.
Sea Coasts Dcfenses.
It is gratifying to noto that we have begun
sive scheme Of sea coast defense and fOrtifca.
tton, entered upon eight years ago. At the end
ment mt viii % have nine isnch S twenty 1einci
and thirty-four 8-inch guns ready TO be
mounted on gun-lifts, and carriage, and seven.
ty-ave 12-inch mortars. The manufacture of
heavy ordnance keeps pace with current
needs; but to render these guns available fol
the purposes they are designed to meet, EN-.
placements must be prepared for them.
After much preliminary work and much ex-
haustive examination in accordan 20 with the
requirements of the law, the board appointed
which to replace the obsolete Springfield rifle
| Of the infantry service. completed its labor:
during the last year and the work Of manu-
Armory at Springfield. II is confidently ex
pected that by the end of the current year oul
1nfantry W1u pc supplied with weapon eQua
to that OF the most progressive armies of the
world.
Postofice Department.
Tho report of the Postmaster General con
Trims detailed statement of the operation.
Of the Postofhce Department during the las
| fiscal yenr and much interesting information
f, touching this important branch Of the publ,
service. AZ date when better times were an
| ticipated 1t was estimated by his predecessor
that the deficiency on the goth day Of June
/, 1893, would be but q little over millior
/! and a half dollars. It amounted, however
! to more than five millions. At tho same time
and under the influence Of like anticipstionss
estimates were made for the current flsca
year ending june so. 1894. which exhibited ,
| surplus Of revenue over expenditures OF $s72,
| 2457l; buS now, in view of the actual receipti
and cxpend ditures during that part Of the cur
| rent fiscal year already expired, the presen
| Postmaster General estimates that at IT.
y close, instead Of o surplus, there will be de
4 dclency OF nearly eight million dollars.
\ Forty.two free delivery offices were addet
| during tho year to those already existing
making . total Of 6l0 cities aud towns pro
| vtded with free delivery on June 80. 1885
Ninety.thSee other cities and towns are nov
| entitled 10 this service under the law. bu
1t has not been accorded them on &C
count Of lpsuf1cient funds to meet the expens
Of its estsblishment. am decidedly o
the opinion that the provisions Of th
present law permit as general an introductio
Of this feature OF mail service ~ 10 necessar
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