Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-07
WILL BE READY TO BID AT THE SALE
Legislation Needed to Remedy Exist-
Ing Conditions in Alaska and
Indian Territory - Civil
Service Commended.

| "aSiilNGlONt Dec. 6.-The message or
| President Mckinley is as follows:
| To the Senate and House of Representa-
| tives: 1t gives me pleasure to extend greet
| ing to the Fifty-ifth congress, assembled
| in regular session at the seat of government,
with many of whose senators and representa-
| tives l have been associated in the legisla-
two service. Their meeting occurs under
| felicitous conditions, justifying sincere con-
graduation and calling for our grateful ac-
acknowledgement to a benefcent Providence
which has so sgnally blessed and prospered
us as nation. Peace and good will with all
the nations of the earth continue unbroken.
| A matter OF genuine satisfaction is the
growing feeling of fraternal regard and uni
fcation of all sections of our country, the
| lincompleteness of which has too long de-
layed realization of the highest blessings OF
the union The spirit Of patriotism Is uni
versal and is ever increasing in fervor. The
public questions which now most engross
us are lifted far above either craftsmanship
| prejudice or former sectional differences.
| They affect every part of common coun-
| try alike, and permit of no division on
ancient lines. Questions of foreign policy,
of revenue, the soundness Of the
currency, the involability of ma
tional obligations, the improvement of
| the public service, appeal to the individual
conscience of every earnest citizen to what
ever party he belongs, or in whatever section
of the country he may reside.
The extra session OF this congress which
closed during July last enacted important leg
islation, and while it's full effect
has not yet been realized, what II
has already accomplished assures us
Of its timellness and wisdom. To
test its permanent value further time will
be required and the people, satisfied with it's
operation and results, thus far, are in no
mind to withhold from it fair trial.
NEXT QUESTION TO SETTLE.
Tariff legislation having been settled by
the extra session of congress, the question
next pressing for consideration is that Of
the currency. The work of putting our
finances upon sound basis, difficult as 1t
may seem, will appear easier when re-
call the financial operations of the govern
ment since 1866. On the 30th day of June
CT that year we had outstanding demand liza
bilities in the sum of S72S, S6S, ,447.41. On
tho 1st Of January, 1879 these Liabilities had
been reduced to SAB, $50, 1898. OF our in
terest bearing obligations the figures are
even more striking. On July l, 1866, the
principal Of the interest bearing debt Of the
, |
day of July, 1898, this sum had been reduced
to $5S5, ,O37 100 or an aggregate reduction OF
81 747, ,29i,1O The interest bearing debt OF
tho United States on the 1st day of Decem-
ber. 1897, was sS47, ,365,620. The govern
ment money now outstanding December ~
consists of $346, ,GS1 ,OlG of United States notes.
, slO7, ,79S, $50 of treasury notes issued by au-
thorlty of the law of 1890, 1884 1868 ,3O4 OF
silver certificates and $6l ,76l of standard
silver dollars.
With the great resources of the govern
ment and with the honorable example of tho
past before US, we ought not to hesitate TO
enter upon a currency revision which will
make our demand obligations less onerous to
the government and relieve our financial laws
, from ambiguity aud doubt.
= The brief review of what was accomplished
| from the close of the war to 1898 makes un-
. reasonable and groundless any distrust either
. | of our financial ability or sounlness, while
the situation from 1893 to 1897 must ad-
. monish congress of the immediate necessity
: Of SO legislatlng as to make the return Of
. the conditions then prevailing impossible.
n EVILS OF CURRENCY SYSTEM.
s There are many plans proposed as a
G remedy for the evil Before we can find
d the true remedy we must appreciate the
f real evil. 1t Is not that our currency Of
evory kind is not good. for every dollar of 1t
a Is good good because the governments
c pledge Ia to keep 1t so and that pledge
= will not be broken. However, the guaranty
= OF our purpose 10 keep the pledge will be
e best shown by advancing toward ITS fulfill
n ment
a The evil Of the present system Is found
in tho great cost to the government of main
IS tanning the parity OF our different forms Of
e money, that Is, keeping all Of them at par
i with gold. We surely cannot be longer
It needless OF the burden this imposes upon the
y people, even under fairly prosperous condi-
d tions. while the past four years have GEM
e onstrated that 1t Is not only an expensive
J. charge up,n the government but dangerors
It menace TO the national credit
1t Is manifest that we must devise some
J. plan to protect the government against bond
issues for repeated redemptions. We must
. ~.