Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-06


local boards or Olfiters, the Immediate di-
rection bv the National Board Of Health
officer of measures Of suppression.
THE SPECIAL LABOR COMMISSION.
By virtue of statute of the United
States, passed in 1888, appointed in
July last Hon. John ID. Herman of the
state Of. New York, and Hon. Nicholas
u. Worthington OF tho State of Illinois, to
form with Hon. Carroll ID. Wright. Com
missioner of Labor who was designated
by said statute a commission for the pur-
pose of making careful inquiry in the
causes OF the controversies between Cer-
tain railroads and their employees, which
had resulted in an extensive and destruc-
tive strike accompanied by much violence
and dangerous disturbance with conSdera-
Bile loss of life and great destruction of
property. The report OF the commission
has been submitted to me and will be
transmitted to Congress with the evidence
taken up on their investigation. Their
work has been well done and their stand.
ing and intelligence give assurance that
the report and suggestions they make are
worthy of careful consideration.
TARIFF AMENDMENTS NEEDED.
The Tariff act passed at the last session
OF Congress needs important amendments
ii II Is to be executed effectively, and with
certainty. In addition to such necessary
amendments rs vii! not change rates oil
duty. Lam still very decided. in favor of
putting coal and iron itpna the free list.
OPPOSED TO THE SUGAR purY.
So far as'the sugar schedule il concerned
would he glad under existing aggraNa-
tions to see every particle Of tifferential
duty in favor of relincd snssr stricken ont
of our tariff law. Ii with all the favor
now accorded the sugar refining interest in
our tariff laws, il still lanEnishes to the
extent of closed refined and thousands of
discharged workmen, it would seem 10
present a hopeless case for reasonable
Legislative aid. Whatever else is done or
omitted, earnestly repeat here the recoln-
mendation have made In another portion
Of this communication, that the additional
duty of one-tenth of AGENT per pound land
upon sugar imported from countries bay
ing bounty on its export be abrogated.
1t seems To me that exceedingly important
considerations point to the propriety of
this alaendment.
With the advent of new tariff policy
not only calculated to relieve the con-
sumers of our land in the cost of their
daily life, but to invite better develop
ment of the American thrift and create for
us closer and more profitable commercial
relations with the rest of the world, it fol
lows as logical and imperative necessity
that we should at once remove the chief
il not the only obstacle which has SO long
preveitedour participation in the foreign
carrying trade of the sea.
FOR FREE SHIPS.
A tariff built upon the theory that it is
well 10 check imports and that a home
market should sound the industry and
effort Of American producers was fifty
supplemented by a refusal to allow Ameri
can registry to vessels built abroad though
owned and navigated by our people. thus
exhibiting willingness to abandon all
contest for the advantages of American
tranS-oceAnic carriage. Our new tariff
policy, built upon the theory that it is well
to encourage such importationS as our peo-
pie need, and that our products and manu-
factures should find markets in every part
of the habitable globe, is consistently sup
plemeniet by the greatest possible liberty
TO our citizens in the ownership and navi-
CATION of ships in which our products and
manufactures may be transported. The
millions now paid to foreigners for
carrying American passengers and products
across the sea should be turned into
American hands. Ship5uilding which
has been protected to strangulation, should
be revived by the prospect of profitable
employment for ships when built, and the
the American sailor should be resurreeted
anu dShlll tiht DluCC-d ,SluTdN anu III
dustrious 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 a
failure for good at every point but to be
nearer "A relic OF barbarism than anything
that exists under the permission OF a
sIn fnfa Of ha ITnttnd 7 ltr
recommend its prompt repeal.
THE TREASURY GOLD RESERVE.
During the last month the gold reserved
in the Treasury for the purpose OF redeem-
ing the notes of the government circulat-
ing rs money in the hands OF the people,
became so reduced and its further deple.
ton in the near future seemed SO certain
that in the exercise of proper care for the
public welfare it became necessary to re-
plenish this reserve and thus maintain
popular faith in the ability and determi-
nation of the government to meet as
agreed its pecuniary obligations.
It would have been well if in this emer.
gency authority had existed to issue the
bonds Of the government. bearing low
rate of interest and maturing within II
short period; but the Congress having
falled to confer such authority, resort was
necessarily had to the Resumption act of
1879, and pursuant to its provisions bonds
were issued drawing interest at the rate of
. per cent per annum aud maturing 10
years after their isslle, that being the
shortest time authorized by the act. | am
glad TO say, however, that on the sale of
these bonds the premium received operated
to reduce the rate Of interest to be paid by
the government to less than 3 per cent.
Nothing could be worse or further re-
moved from sensible finance than the re-
lations existing between the currency the
government has lssled, the gold held for
It's redemption, ami the means which must
bearcsorted to for the purpose OF replenish-
ing such redemption fund when impaired.
Even il the claims upon this fund were
confined to the obligations originally in
tended, and ii the redemption OF these
obligations meant their cancellation, the
fund would be very small. But these obli-
cations when received and redeemed in
gold are not cancelled, but are reissued and
may do duty many times by way of draw
ing gold from the Treasury. Thus we have
an endless chain in operation, constantly
depicting the Treasury's gold and ever
near final rest. AS if this was not bad
enough, we have said by statutory
declaration that 1t is the policy of the gov
ernment.
10 maintain the parity between gold
and silver aided the force and momentum
OF this eXhausting process, and added
largely to the currency obligations claim
ing this peculiar gold redemption. Our
small gold reserve is thus subject to drain
from every side. The demands thar in
crease our danger also increase the neces-
slty of protecting this reserve against de.
petion, and it is most unsatisfactory to
know that the protection afforded is only
Il temporary palliatioa.
THE RIGHT TO ISSUE BONDS.
1t is perfectly plain chat the only way
under present conditions by which this re.
serve when dangerously depleted will he
replenished, is through the issue and sale
of the bonds OF the government for gold;