Huntsville gazette., 1893-12-09
By ARBITRATION.

That the sentiment Of two great aud kindred
nationS is thus authoritalively manifested in
favor OF the rational and peaeeable settlement
ol u International quarrels by honorable resort
10 arbitration.
RAISED THE GRADE.
Since the passage of the act of March s. 1898
authorizing the president TO raise the grade or
our enyoyS to correspond with the rank in
which foreign countries accredit their
agents here, Great Britain. France.
Italy and Germany have conferred upon
enelr representatives at the capitol the title Of
etnDassadof'and we have responded by aecredit-
ing the agents of the United States in those
countries with the same title
A IKE elevation of mission is announced by
MusSla, ana when made will be similarly met
rms step tittingly com PORTS with the position
tne United States holds in the family of ma
tiens.
REVENUE RECEIPTS.
Ii Is estimated upon the basis OF present
revenue laws that the receipts of the govern
ment Tor the year ending June 30 1924, will be
ssu s III, ,3o,5s, and Its expenditures S438. III,
800; 80 resulting in deficiency Of saso0l,O00
On November !. 1893, the amount Of money
OF all kinds IN circulation, or not included in
treasury holdings, was sl.7l8.544, ,6S2, an in
crease for the year of Sl12404,9F Estimating
our population at 81. .426C00 at the time men.
toned, the per capita circulation was S25 49,
On The same date there was in the treasury
gold bullion amounting to S98 657 .273 and silver
26l, ,553
The purchase Of silver under the law OF
July IA, 1890, during the last fiscal year, aggre-
gated "a ,0O8, so fine ounces, which cost $i5
531 .34 So. The total amount OF silver pur-
chased from the time law became operative
until the repeal OF its purchasing
clauSe, on November ], 1893. was 16S, Ga $50. 40
fine ounces, which cost sl55. $50 9iU.S4 Between
the lst day of March, 1873, and the lst day OF
November. 1893, the government purchased un-
der all laws, 503003,7E fine ounces of silver at
o cost OF S5l6,6s29fS. The silver dollars that
hcQft naita Tf,l~
number 360S7, 2S5 The seigniorage arising
from such coinage was S6.977 SO, leaving on
hand in the mints 0.699 760 fine ounces OF sill
yer, which cost 1926, 75S ,3la.
Our total coinage OF all metals during the
last fiscal year consisted OF 997 2SG s75 pieces.
valued at S43. .6S5, 1850 of which there was
$50, O5s 40 in gold coin, S5,3f3715 in silver dol
lars. S,217 090 in subsidiary silver coin and
81 .0S6 10o 30 in minor coins
During the calendar year 1892 the production
OF precious metals in the United States was eS-
timated to be l596,375 fine ounces OF gold Of the
commercial and coinage value of s33 0000 0 and
50,OO0OOO fine ounces OF silver of the bullion or
market value OF $50. 10000 and OF the coinage
value of S749S9, 800.
THE SHERMAN LAW REPEAL.
The recent repeal of the provision of law re
quIring the purchase of silver bullion by the
government as feature of our monetary
scheme has made an entire chs nge in the com
plexlon of our currency affairs. The president
mas no doubt that the ultimate result of this ac-
tion will be most salutary and far-reaching.
In the nature OF things, however it is i'm
possible to know at this time precisely what
conditions will be brought about by the
change, or what, If any, supplementary legisla-
tion may. in the light of such conditions, ap
pear to be essential or expedient.
The president fayors a general confereslc ssf
nations to secure an International agreement
on the subject of coinage
GOVERNMENT BONDS.
The president urges the wisdom Of amending
the existing statutes in regard to the issuing of
government bonds. The authority now vested
in the secretary of the treasury to issue bonds
is not clear as it should be, and the bonds
authorized are disadvantageous to the govern
ment. both as to the time of their maturity and
rate OF interest.
AGAINST EP1DEMICs.
The president urges more general and har
moniouS system than now exists for the shield
ing of our country from the invasion OF dis
ease.
THE ARMY.
The adoption OF battalion formations for in
fantry regiments the strengthening OF the ar
tillery force, the abandonment OF smaller and
unnecessary posts and the massing OF the
troops at important aud accessible stations all
promise TO promote the usefulness of the
army. In the judgment of army officers, with
few exception, the operation of the law for
bidding the re-enlistment of men after ten
years service has not proved its wisdom, and
the president joins in the recommendation for
its repeal.
AGAINST THE FEE SYSTEM.
torney-general for the abolition OF the vicious
fee system as applicable to the compensation
OF United States attorneys, marshals. clerks OF
federal courts and United States commission
erS
In addition to this reform il another was in
augurated which would give to United States
commissioners the final disposition Of petty
offenses within the grade of miSdemeanors,
especially those coming under the internal rev.
enue laws, great advance would be made to-
ward a more decent administration of the
criminal law.
The president also heartily joins the attor
ney-general in recommending legislation fix
ing the degrees of the crime Of murder within
federal jurisdiction, as has been done in many
of the states, authorizing wrltS OF error on be-
half of the government in cases where final
Judgment is rendered against the insufrciency
of an Indictment or against the government
upon any other question arising before actual
trial: limiting the right of review in cases Of
felony punishable only by fine and lmpr1son-
mentto the circuit court OF appeals, and making
speedy provisions for the construction OF sucn
prisons and refOrmatOrleS as may be necessary
for the confinement of United States convicts.
PENSION FRAUDS.
The discovery having been made that many
names had been put upon the pension roll by
means of wholesale and gigantic frauds the
commissioner suspended payments upon a
number of pensions which seemed to be fraud
ulent or unauthorized pending complete ex-
animation, giving notice to the pensioners, in
order that they might have an opportunity to
establish, if possible. the justice OF their
claims. notwiths tanding apparent 1nvalid1ty.
The president is unable to understand why
frauds in the pension rolls should not be ex-
posed and corrected with thoroughness and
yigor Every name fraudulently put upon
these rolls is a wicked imposition upon the
kindly sentiment in which pensions have
their origin: every fraudulent pensioner has
become bad citizen; every false oath IN sup
port of pension has made perjury more COM
mon and false and undeserving pensions rob
the people not only Of their money, but OF pat
riotic sentiment.
THE INDIAN PROBLEM.
The solution of the Indian problem depends
very largely upon good administration The
persopal fitness of agents and their adapta-
hilitv 10 the peculiar duty of caring for their
wards is Of the utmost importance.
PUBLIC LANDS.
The vast area of land which but short time
ago constituted the public domain is rapidly
falling into private hands. 1t lis certain that
in fhe transfer the benefcent intention OF the
government to supply from its domain homes
fo the industrious and worthy home seekers IS
often frustrated. Though the speculator, who
stands with extortionate purpose between the
land office and those who, with their families,
are invited by the government to settle on the
nuhlic lands is a despicable character who
ought not to be tolerated. yet 1t IS dlH1cult TO
thwart his schemes.
PRESERVING FORESTS.
The president commends the attention OF
congress to the statements contained IN tne
serretarys report concerning forestry. ne
time has come when efficient measures snoulu
- .,I,ar for the preservation OF our forests