The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-19

anu Improve OuE OppOksoAAsA0o w e'e.- 49,
selves of their benefits.
I earnestly recommend the Inauguration
of q National Board Of Health, or Similar
National linstruuentality, believing the same
to be a needed preoaution against conta-
pous disease and In the interest OF the safety
and health Of our people.
RAILROADS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES.
By virtue OF statue Of the United States,
passed in 1883, I appointed in July last Hon.
John D. Herman, OF the State OF New ioIKI
State of Illinois, to form with with Hon. Car
roll D, Wright, Commissioner OF Labor, VINO
was designated by said statute, commission
| for the purpose OF making careful inquiry
| into the causes Of the controversies between
certain railroads and their employees, which
| had resulted in an extensive and destructive
strike. accompanied by much violence ana
dangerous disturbance, with considerable
loss OF life and great destruction OF properly.
The report OF the commissioners has been
submitted to me and will be transmitted to
the Congress with the evidence saken upon
their Investigation.
Their work has been we'll done and their
standing and intelligence give assurance tnat
the report and suggestions they make are
worthy Of careful consideration.
YAvoRs FEE COAL AND IRON.
The tariff act passed at the last session Of
the Congress needs important amendments
II II Is to be executed effectively and Win
certainty. In addition to such. necessary
amendments as will not change rates ofduty,
I am still very decidedly In favor OF putting
coal and iron upon the free list.
So far as the sugar schedule Is concerned,
I would be glad, under exiting aggravations
to see every particle Of dtferentisl dnty In
favor of refined sugar stricken out OF our
tariff law. II with all the favor now ac-
corded the sugar-refning interests IN our
tariff laws It still lsnguishes to the extent OF
closed refneries and thousands OF discharged
workmen, 1t would sesm to present hope
less case for reasonable legislative aid.
Whatever else Is done or omitted,
I earnestly repeat here the recommendation
I have made in another portion OF this com.
municatioT ttat the additional duty OF one
tenth Of ceas per pound laid upon sugar
imported from countries paying bounty on
its export, be sbrogate4 It seems to me
that exceedingly important considerations
point to the propriety Of this amendment:
With the advent OF new tarln policy
not only calculated to relieve the con-
sumers Of our land In the cost OF their
dailv life. but to invite better develop
ment Of American thrift and create
for Us closer and more profitable com
mercial relations with the rest OF the
world, It follows as q logical and Inn
peratiye necessity that we should at
once remove the chief II not the only
obstacle which has 30 long prevented our
participation In the foreign carrying trade
Of the sea-a tariff built upon the theory
that It Is we'll TO check imports and that
home market should bound the industry and
effort OF American registry to vessels built
abroad though owned and navlgated By our
people, thus exhibiting a willingness TO
abandon all contest for the advantages OF
American transoceanio carriage: Our
new tariff policy, built 1pon the theory that
It Is wellto encourage such tmportat1ons as
our people need. and that our products and
manufactures should find markets IN every
part Of the habitable globe, Is consistently
supplemented by the greatest possible lib:
erty to our citizens in the ownership and
navigation Of ships in which our products
and manufactures may be transported. The
millions now paid to foreigners for car
rying American passengers and prod
ucts across the sea should be turned
into American hands. Shipbuilding, which
has been protected to strangulation, should
be revived by the prospect Of profitable en-
ployrnent for ships when built, AMI the
American sailor should be resurre cted and
again take his plRce-a sturdy and industri-
GUS citizen IN time OF peace and patriotic
and safe defender Of American interests In
the day Of conflict. -
The ancient provision Of our law denying
American registry to ships built abroad and
owned by Americans, appears In the light OF
present conditions not only to be failure
for good at every point, but to be nearer
relic OF barbarism than anything that exists
under the permission OF statute OF the
United States. 7 earnestly recommend Its
prompt repeal.
-"%'-i THE BOND ISSUE.
During the last month the gold reserved
IN the Treasury for the purpose OF redeem
ing the notes Of the Government circulating
as money in the hands OF the people became
so reduced, and its further depletion In the
near future seemed 80 certain, that In the
exercise OF proper care for the puplic well
fare, II became necessary to replentsh this
reserve and thus maintain popular faith In
the ability and determination OF the Govern
ment to meet, as agreed, its pecuniary obll-
cations.
It would have been we'll, If In this emer.
gency. authority, had existed to issue the
bonds OF the Government bearing a low rate
of interest and maturing within short
period; but the CongreSs having failed to
confer such authority, resort was necessarily
had to the resumption act OF 1875. and pur.
suant to Its provisions, bonds were issued
drawing interest at the rate OF five per cent.
per annum and maturing ten years after
their Issue, that being the shortest time
authorized by the act. I am glad to say,
however, that on the sale OF these bonds, the
premiums received, operated 10 reduce the
rate OF interest to be paid by the Government
to less than three per cent.
cannot for q moment believe that any Of
our citizens are deliberately willing that
their Government should default in its Pc
cuniary obligations or that Its financial oper-
ations should be reduced to q silver basis.
At any rate should not feel that my duty
was done IL omitted any effort I could
make to avert such calamity. As long
therefore as no provision is made for the
final redemption or the putting aside OF the
currency obligation now used to repeat
edly and constantly draw from the Govern
ment its gold, and as long as no better au-
thorlty for bond issues Is allowed than at
present exists, such authcftY will be utilized
whenever and as often az It becomes neces-
sary to maintain q sufficient gold reserve,
and In abundant time to save the credit OF
our country and make good the financial
declarations Of our Government.
DIVORCE GOVERNMENT AND BANKS.
The absolute divorcement OF the Govern
ment from the business OF banking fs the
ideal relationship OF the Government to the
circulation Of the currency OF the country.
This condition cannot be Immediately
reached but as step In that direction and
as means Of securing more elastic cur
rencY and obvlating other objections to the
present arrangement of bank circulation,
the Secretary of the Treasury presents in
his report scheme modifying present bank
Ing laws and providing for the issue OF cir.
culating notes by State banks, free from tax
alton under certain limitations.
ExEMPTINa STATE BANKS.