Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-07
TUESDAY.........DECE 7, 1897.
THE pREsIDEyT,s yESs,cE


The President sends 70 Congress his an
nual message at d time when he is mo-
mentarily expecting the death Of his be-
loved mother; but, of course. there is
nothing In the document which breathes
aught of his personal sorrow. His COM
munication to Congress is purely official
and was probably prepared before the
President heard of his mothers Illness
We find the Presidents language calm
and dlgniiied and his view of the coun-
try's future hopeful. The message is
shorter than usual. and very properly
omits many Of those matters of detail as
to which the departmental reports give
abundant information.
Very properly. too, the currency oues- |
tion occupies the foremost place I'm the !
message. The views presented are I'm the |
main those which the Presidents secro- |
tary Of the Treasury is well known TO |
hold.
The President recommends that "as
soon o. the receipts of the government are
quite sufficient to pay all of the ex-
penses of the government" when United
States notes are presented for redemptiop
in gold, and are redeemed in gold. such
notes shall be kept 2pd set apart and only
PAID out in exchange for gold. He also
urges that national banks be authorized
to issue notes TO an amount equal
10 the face value of the bonds
which they have deposited to secure
their note circulation. At present the
banks can only issue 30 per cent. of the
face value Of such bonds. The President
further recommends that the tax upon
the national-bank circulation be reduced
from per cent. TO one-half of one per
cent Also that the minimum national
bank capital be reduced from $4,000 to 1.
$4,000
Again, the President recommends thai :,
the national banks be allowed TO issue no =
note of less denomination than SO The
effect of such a law would be to give ),
greater circulation than at present to sill .
yer and gold. and, particularly, to silver :
certificates OF denominations less than SO. =
And IL these recommendations be n
adopted he would have the bank notes +,
all made redeemable in gold. y,
II the way were clear for the adoption !,
Of these recommendations of the Presi- :.
dent, II is probable that some measure of =,
relief would thus be afforded to our bust g.
ness world; but everybody knows that not :,
one OF these measures can pass the Senate ~
as that body is now constituted Mr. %
Reed may pass them through the House -
but In the Senate they will be side -,
tracked by the votes OF the senator's who -
hink that justice should be done to silver
10 t,Iy.
ng question. 70
on the Cuban question the Presidents he
Message is pacific. not TO say cheerful de-
10 reports that we now have a better IN,
understanding with Spain than in a long an
Tine before. He is assured that hence NJ
orth the military operations there will 200
9 conducted humanely and with regard ma
D private rights, and that they will be In
ccompanied by political action looking bol
, the autonomy OF Cuba yet guarding not
panlsh sovereignty. The President but
lates, that as far as he knows. no Amer.
an is now imprisoned in Cuba. and de- A
ares 1t is our duty 10 give Spain fun Cut
TO work out her present plans Yor
" the government OF that island. Mean ing
lille. however. the President resents the 81
timation Of Spain that the United states pen
ave not done their duty IN the matter any
suppressing filibustering expeditions. nv
Q holds that we have done our fun duty =
the promises. and at much cost 49, 49,
The Nicaragua-canal project is referred 49,
In non-committal way. The Presl- 49,,
mt prefers 10 await the report of the
'vernment Commissioners before dis
ssng tho subject deliberately. IN
The work OF The commissioners appoint Han
20 negotiate with Other nations on the item
bject OF international coinage is re- vest
fred 10. The President reports that up min
this time they have not been able TO
cure an agreement such as is contem- 80
ted by their mission" Gratitude is ex- the
essed for the kindly help ahat France Han
8 given. idea,
sense OF official dignity, no doubt. clean
events the President from saying that
ernational coinage ie a dead cock In the TIL
. but we say Il for him legis
ne everlasting sealing question occu. for q
= considerably space IN the message iessn
s''auons ere pending with England IRE.
!. . other nations. which. 81 Is boned
WIZ DO pre- Telol