Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-12-14

ton from our people The payment there
fore, of any deficiency in the revenue from
this fund is nothing more than its proper
and legitimate USE The government thus
applying surplus fortunately in its treas
ury to the payment of expenses not met
by its current revenues, is not at all to be
/ likened to man living beyond his income
! and thus mourning debt or encroaching on
his principal.
The Governments Functions.
1t is not one of the functions of our gov
eminent to accumulate and make additions
to fund not needed for immediate ex4
penditure. With individuals it is the chief
object of struggle and effort. The appli-
i cation of an accumulated fund by the gov
eminent to the payment of its running
expenses is duty. An individual living
beyond his income and embarrassing him
self with debt or drawing upon his accu-
mulated fund of principal is either un-
fortunate or improvident. The distinction
is between a government charged with the
! duty of expending for the benefit OF the
people and for proper purposes all the
money it receives from any source and the
individual who is expected to manifest
natural desire to avoid debt or to accu-
mulate as much as possible and to live
within the income derived from Such ac-
cumulations to the end that they may be
! increased or at least remain unimpaired
| for the future use and enjoyment OF h1m-
self and objects of his love and affection
who may survive him.
It is UNNECESSARILY better to appropriate
! our surplus to the payment of juSt1fiable
expenses than to allow it to become an
] invitation to reckless appropriations and
| extravagant expenditures. | suppose 1t
i will not be denied that under the present
law our people obtain the necessaries of
comfortable existence at a cheaper rate
than formerly. This is a matter of SUI
ia cin iS
BILE duty Of every just government to make
the burdens of taxation as light as posi-
| BILE. The people should not be required to
relinquish this privilege of cheap living
except under the stress of their govern
ment's necessity made plainly manifest.
Vicious Financial T-ethOtls.
The reference to the condition of
revenues naturally suggests an allu-
sion to the weaknesses and vices OF
our financial methods. They have fire.
quently been pressed upon the attention OF
Congress in previous executive commune
cations, and the inevitable danger of their
continued liberation pointed out. Without
now repeating these details l cannot re-
/ frain FROM again earnestly presenting the
necessity of the prompt reform OF sys-
tenn opposed to every rule Of sound finance
and shown by experience to be fraught
| with the gravest peril and perpleXity. The
terrible Civil war, which shook the foun-
dations of our government more than th1r-
/ ty years ago, brought in it's train the de-
| struction Of property, the wasting of our
| country's substance and the estrangement
Of brethren. These are now past and for
gotten. Even the distressing loss of life
the conflict entailed is but a sacred mem
DRY which fosters patriotic sentiment and
keeps alive a tender regard for those who
nobly died. And yet there remains with
us to-day in full strength and activity as
a n nj
a feature Of it's financial necessities, not
only unsuited to our present circum-
stances, but manifestly a disturbing men
ace to business security and an ever pres
ent agent of monetary distress. Because
we may be enjoying a temporary relief
from its depressing influence, this should
not lull us into false security nor lead us
to forget the suddenness of past vista
lions.
I am more convinced than ever that we
can have no assured financial peace and
safety until the government currency OBJ
legations upon which gold may be de-
marEed from the treasury are withdrawn
/ from circulation and cancelled. This might
be done, as has been heretofore recon-
mended by their exchange for long term
bonds bearing low rate of interest or by
their redemption with the proceeds OF
bonds Even if only the United States
notes known as greenbacks were thus
retired, it is probable that the treas
ury notes issued in payment of silver
purchases under the act of July A.
1890, now paid in gold when demanded,
would not create much disturbance, as
/ they might from time to time when re-
ceived in the treasury, by redemption in
gold or otherwise, be gradually and pru-
IDENTIFY replaced by silver coin.
Bonds to Redeem Greenbacks.
This plan of issuing bonds for the pur-
pose of redemption certainly appears to be
the most effective and direct path to the
needed reform. In default OF this, how
! ever, it would be step in the right direc-
ton if currency obligations redeemable in
| gold, whenever so redeemed, should be
cancelled, instead Of being reissued. This
operation would be a slow remedy, but it
would improve present conditions.
| National banks should redeem their own
notes. They should be allowed to issue
| circulation to the par value of bonds de-
! posted as security for it's redemption and
| the tax on their circulation should be re-
duced to Il of per cent
| In considering projects for the retire
ment of United States notes and treasury
| notes issued under the law Of 1890, am OF
| the opinion that we have placed too much
stress upon the danger of contracting the
| currency and have calculated too little
on the gold that would be added to our
circulation if invited to us by better and
safer financial methods.
| 1t is not so mucn contraction OF our
| currency that should be avoided as it's
| unequal distribution. This might be Obvi-
ated and any fear Of harmful contraction
at the same time removed by allowing the
| organization of smaller banks and in less
| populouS communities than are now per-
mitted and also authorizing existing banks
to establish branches in small communities
under proper restrictions.
| The entire case may be presented by the
statement that the day of sensible and
| sound financial method will not dawn upon
us until our government abandons the
banking business and the accumulation of
| funds, and confines it's monetary opera
| lions to the receipt of the money con
! tributed by the people for it's support and
| to the expenditure of such money for the
peoples benefit. Our business interests and
all good citizens long for rest from the
| feverish agitation and the inauguration by
| the government Of a reformed financial
| policy which will encourage enterprise and
make certain the rewards Of labor and in
| I1,c tYv