The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-12-16
to extend its sphere of usefulness In accu
racy of it's forecasts
Civil Service.

The progress made in civil service reform
furnishes a cause for the utmost congrat,l-
! IatiOn. 1t lS,s survived the doubts OF its
! friends as well as the rancor OF its enemies,
and has gained permanent place among
| the agencies destined to cleanse our po-
litics and improve, economic and elevate
the public service. There are now in the
comparative classified service upward OF
! 81, 600 places. More than half these have
| been included from time to time since
March A. 1919.
Interstate Commission.
The annual report OF the commissioners
will be duly transmitted, and commend
| the important matter they have in charge
to the careful consideration of congress.
! The interstate commerce commission has,
during the last year, supplied abundant
| evidence of its usefulness and the lmpor-
lance of the work committed to its charge.
desire to refer to the statements else
where made concerning the government 8
receipts and expenditures for the purpose
| of venturing upon some suggestions touch
! ing our present tariff lazy and its opera"
| ton
Tariff Reform.
This s.atutc took effect on the 23th day
of August, 1894 Whatever may be It's
| shortcomings rs a comp!ate measure OF
| tariff reform. it must he conceded that 1t
has opened the way to frcer and greater
exchange of commodities between us aid
other countries, and thus furnished Il wider
market for our products and manuf.c-
turers.
The only entire fiscal year during which
| this law has been in force ended OH the 30tii
day of June, 1886. In that year our I'M
ports increas 4 over those of the previo IS
! - Ef5 VIII 10 thn va
of the domestic products we exported ard
which found markets abroad, was nearly
! $40, NO, 600 more than during the preceding
! year
The situation was such in December last,
seven months before the close of the fiscal
| year, that the secretary of treasury foretCid
deficiency of sl17 100000. The great Il d
| increasing apprehension and timidity IN
business cir les and the depression in all
activities intervening since that time, le-
sulting from causes perfectly well under
tariff law or its operation, seriously
checked the IMPORTS we would have othsr-
wise received, and readily account for the
difference b~tween this estimate OF the SEQ
rotary and the actual deficiency, us well Is
| for a continued deficit
| To meet a.y such deficit we have in tina
! treasury. In addition to II gold reserve OF
| Sl00,000,OO0, surplus of more than sl2S,-
GEO. M applicable TO the payment OF the
expenses of the government, and which
| must, unless expended for that purpose,
remain useless hoard, or, if not eXtras d.
gantly wasted, must in any event be pei
verified from the purpose OF its exaction from
our people. The payment, therefore, of
any deficiency in the revenue from this
fund is nothing more than it's proper and
legitimate use.
Monetary Question.
This reference to the condition and pros
poets of our revenues naturally suggests
an allusion , the weakness and vices If
our financial methods. They have been
! frequently l.essed upon the attention OF
the congress II previous executive comma
nications ana the inevitable danger of thrir
continued liberation pointed out. Withcu3
now repeating these details, cannot 40
frain from again earnestly presenting tie
necessity of The prompt reform OF systt n
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
foundations of our government more than
thirty years ago brought IN its train tho
destruction of property. There remains
with us to day, in full strength and ..ct "
ity as an incident OF that tremendous
struggle, feature Of It's financial neces3l-
ties not only unsuited to our present cir
cumstances, but manifestly II disturbing
menace to business security and an ever
present ageny of monetary distress.
Because we may be enjoying temper
should not lull us into false security nor
lead us to forget the suddenness Of past
yisitations.
] am more convinced than ever that ws
can have 10 assured financial peace and
safety until tne government currency obi
cations upon which gold may be demanded
from the treasury, are withdrawn from
circulation and cancelled.
This might be done, rs has been hereto
fore reconim nded, by their exchange IL
long-term bonds bearing low rate Of n.
terest, or by their redemption with the p4o-
ceeds OF sue. bonds.
1t would be step in the right direction
If currency obligations, redeema bic in geld
whenever so redeemed. should be cancelled
instead of r, ssued This operation would
be slow remedy, but it would improve
present conditions.
National banks should redeem their own
notes. They should be allowed to issM
circulation to the par value of bonds de-
posted rs security for its redemption and
the tax on II cir circulation should be re-
duced to one-fourth of one per cent.
In considering projects for the treatment
of United States notes and treasury notea
issued under the new law of 1890, am OF
the opinion we have placed too much stress
upon the danger OF contracting the cur
rency and have calculated too little upon
the gold that would be added to our clrcu-
lation if invited to us by better and safe
financial methods 1t is not so much c.. u
traction OF our currency that should DO
avoided as i unequal distribution. T..i5
might be OBJ, .ated and fear of harnlfut con-
traction at the same time removed by al-
lowing the ganization of small banks
and i'll less populous communities than ara
now permits /. and also authorizing exist
ing 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 methods will not dam
upon us until cur government aband. as
the banking business and the accumu'G u.
ton OF funds, and confines its monett =
operations to the receipt of The money c. =.
tributed by the people for it's support, aid
to the expenditure of such money for the
peoples benefit.
Trusts. $50
Another topic in which our people right
fully take a deep interest may be E:re
briefly considered refer to the existence
OF trusts and other huge aggrcgations Of
capital, the object of which is to secure tho
monopoly of some particular branch OF
trade, industry or commerce, and to sti1o
wholesome competition.
Their tendency is to crush out individual
independence and to hinder and to prevent
the free use of human faculties and the
full Development of human character.
Through them the farmer, the artisan and
the small trader is in danger Of dislodsne-
ment from the proud position Of being Ills
own master. Though congress has ut
tempted to deal with this matter by leg,s-
lation the laws passed have thus lar
proven ineffective.
In cnncln Ing this communication its