The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-12-14

ouBnt not 10 De longer without a ma
tlonal board of health or national
health officer charged with no other
duties than such as pertain to the
protection of our country from the
invasion of pestllence and disease.
The tariff act passed at the last
session of the Congress needs impor
tant amendments if 1t is to be execut.
ed effectively and with certainty. In
addition to such necessary amendments
as will not change rates of duty,
am still very decidedly in favor of
putting coal and iron upon the free
list.
So far as the sugar schedule is con.
cerned, l would be glad, under exist.
ing aggravations, to see every particle
of differential duty in favor of refined
sugar stricken out of our tariff law.
II with all the favor now accorded
the sugar refining interest in our
tariff laws it still languishes to the ex
tent of closed rehneries and thousands
of discharged workmen. it would
seem to present a hopeless case for
reasonable legislative aid.
With the advent of a new tariff
policy not only calculated to relieve
the consumers of our land in the
cost of their daily life, but to invite
better development of American
thrift and create for us closer and
more profitable commercial relations
with the rest of the world, it follows a
logical and imperative necessity that
we should at once remove the chief
If not the only obstacle which has so
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 indus.
try and effort of American producers,
was fifty supplemented by refusal
to allow American registry to vessels
built abroad though owned and navi-
gated by our people, thus exhibiting a
willingness to abandon all contest for
the advantages of American
transoceanic carriage. Our new
tariff policy, built upon the theory
that it is well to encourage such i'm
portatlons 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
liberty to cnr citizens in the owner
ship and navigation 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. Shipbuildlng,
which has been protected to strangu-
lation, should be revived by the pros
pect of profitable employment for
ships when built, and the American
sailor should be resurrected and
again take his place-a sturdy and
industrious citizen in time of peace
and patriotic and safe defender of
American interests in the day of con-
flict.
During the last month the gold
reserved in the treasury for the pur-
pose of redecming the notes of the
government circulating as money In
the hands of the people became Sc
reduced, and its further depletion in
the near future seemed so certain
that in the exercise Of proper care fol
the public welfare it became neces
sary to replenish this reserve and thus
maintain popular faith in the ability
and determination of the government
to meet, as agreed, its pecuniary OBJ
legations.
1t would have been we'll if in this
emergency authority had existed to
issue the bonds of the government
bearing low rate of interest maturing
within short period; but the con
gress having failed to confer such
authority, resort was necessarily had
to the resumption act of 1875, and
pursuant 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. l 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 three pei
cent.
conclude this communication
fully appreciating that the response
bility for all legislation affecting the
people of the United States rests up
on their representatives in the con-
gress, and assuring them that, whether
in accordance with recommendations
have made or not, shall be glad to
co.onerate in Derfectino anv lepisla