The National tribune., 1896-12-10

ssrvation, the abuses which have bsen allowed
70 creep into our pension system have done In.
calculable harm il demoralixfng our people ana
undermining good citizenship. / have endeav-
ored, within my sphere Of official duty, to pro.
tect our pension roll and make IL what it should
be, . roll of honor, containing the names OF
those disabled in their country's service and
worthy of their country's sfectionats rcmem-
brance. When have seen those who pose -
the soldiers friend, active and alert in urging
greater laxity and more reckless pension ex-
penditure. while nursing selfish schemes, ] have
deprecated the approach of situation when
necessary retrenchment and enforced economy
may lead to an attack upon pension abuses 20
determined as to overlook the discrimination
due to those who. worthy of Nations care,
ought to live and die under the protection OF .
Nations gratitude"
He recommends the discontinuance Of the
seed distribution by the Agricultural Depart
ment recommends the suggested amendments
of the Interstate Commerce laws. congratuIates
the country that there are now S4,OOO places
and Offices under the Civil Service laws, more
than half of which has been so placed by him,
and recommends that the fourth class Postmas-
tiers be included.
THE TARIFF.
He says that the present tariff. while faulty
in many respects, is yet an Improvement on
its predecessors, and 81 believe our present
tariff law, if allowed fair opportunity, will
in the near future yield revenue which, with
reasonable economical expenditures, will over
come ali deficiencies In the meantime, no de-
felt that has occurred or may occur need excite
or disturbus To meet any such deficit we have
in the Treasury, in addition to gold reserve OF
500, .000 surplus of more than $12S.OOO.-
600 applicable to the payment OF the expenses
of the Government, and which must, unless
expended for that purpose, remain useless
hoard, or. if not extravagantly wasted, must In
any event be perverted from the purpose OF Its
exactiou from our people. The payment,
therefore, of any deficiency in the revenue
from this fund is nothing more than its proper
and legitimate use. The Government thus APP
plying surplus fortunately in its Treasury to
the payment of expenses not met by its cur
rent revenues is not at all to be likened to q
man living beyond his income, and thus IN.
curing debt or encroaching on his principal
RETIREMENT OF THE GREEN BACKS.
AZ amdhore convinced than ever that we can
have no assured financial peace and safety
until the Government currency obligations
upon which gold may be demanded from the
Treasury are Withdrawn from circulation and
Cancelled. This might be done, as has been
heretofore recommended, by their exchange
for long-term bonds bearing low rate of in
terest or by their redemption with the pro-
ceeds of snc CHI bonds Even if only the United
States notes known as greenbacks were thus
retired, il is probable that the Treasury notes
issued in payment of silver purchases under
the act of July Ia, $780, 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 prudently re-
placed by silver coin.
"Ths plan of issuing bonds for the purpose
of redemption certainly. appears to be the mos
effective and direct path to the needed reform
| In default of this. however. it would be steI
! in the right direction, if currency obligation
redeemable in gold, whenever so redeemed
| should be Cancelled instead of being reissued.
"This operation would be slow remedy
but it would improve present conditions.
National banks should redeem their owl
notes. They should be allowed to issue circu
lation to the par value of bonds deposited q
| security for its redemption, and the tax OF
| their circulation should be reduced to one
| fourth of per cent"
| The Message concludes with . homiiy OF
trusts and monopolies and an exhortation Il
greater economy in public expenditures.