The leader., 1898-12-14

other way they may return again, 20 %
followed BY another bond issue to redeem
fbem-another interest bearing debt to 70
deem a noninterest bearing debt"
This recommendation was made In thu
bslief that such provisions of law would
insure q greater degree the safety Of Tho
present standard and better protect oul
eurreucy from the dangers to which It Il
sub,ected from disturbance In the gen
sral business conditions Of the country.
In INV judgment the present condition
Of the treasury amply justihes the imme.
diats enactment Of the legislation recon-
mended one year ago, under which por
tion of the gold holdings should be placed
in a trust FUND. from which greenbacks
should be redeemed upon presentation,
but when once redeemed should not there
after be paid out except for gold.
II IN not TO b inferred that other legis
lation relating to our currency Is not ~
quired; on the contrary, there is an OBJ
vious demand for It.
The Importance of adequate provision
which will insure to our future q money
standard, related as our money standard
now is to that Of our commercial rivals, y
generally recognized. The companion
proposition that our domestic paper cur
rency shall be kept safe and yet be 30 70.
lated to the needs of our industries and
internal commerce as to be adequate and
responsive to such needs Is q proposition
scarcely less important. The subject, In
all its parts, is commended TO the wiss
consideration of the congress.
For Big Standing Army.
Under the act of congress approved
April %, 1898 authorizing the president,
In his discretion, upon declaration Of
war by congress, or declaration by con.
gress that war exists" directed the in.
crease of the regular army to the maxi
mum of GO 900, authorized in said act.
There are now in the regular army ST.
S62 officers and men. In said act it was
provided that at the end of any war In
which the United States may become in.
volved the army shall be reduced to
peace basis by the transfer of the same
arm of the service or absorption by pro-
motion or honorable discharge under such
regulations as the secretary of war may
establish of supernumerary commissioned
officers and the honorable discharge or the
transfer Of supernumerary enlisted men,
and nothing contained in this act shall b
construed as authoring the permanent In
crease Of the commissioned or enlisted
force of the regular army beyond that
now provided by the law in force prior to
the passage of this act, except as to the
increase Of % majors provided for in sec.
ton hereof"
permanent increase of the army is there.
fore manifest and the recommendation OF
the secretary of war for that purpose has
my unqualified approval. There can bs
no question that at this time and probably
for some time in the future 100, 900 men
will be none too many to meet the neoessi.
ties Of the situation. At all events,
whether that number shall be required
permanently or not, the power should be
given to the president to enlist that force
II in his discretion it should be necessary,
and the further discretion should be given
him to recruit for the army within the
above limit from the inhabitants of the
islands with the government of which We
are charged.
1t is my purpose to muster out the en-
tire volunteer army as soon as the con-
gress shall provide for the increase Of the
regular establishment. This will DO only
an act of justice and will be much appre.
ciated by the brave men who left their
homes and employment to help the coun-
try in its emergency.
Washington's Centennial.
In the year 1900 will occur the centen.
NAL anniversary of the founding Of tho
city of Washington for the permanent
capital of the government of the United
States by authority of an act of congress
approved July l6, 1890 In May 1900 the
archives and general offices of tho fed.
eral government was removed to this
place. On Nov. II, 1900, the national con-
gress met here for the first time and a.
sumed exclusive control of the federal dis
trict and city. This interesting event as
sumes all the more significance when we
recall the circumstances attending the
choosing of the site, the naming Of the
capital in honor Of the father of his coup-
try and the interest taken by him in the
adoption of plans for its future develop
ment on magnificent scale.
A movement lately inaugurated by the
citizens to have the anniversary cele-
brated with fitting ceremonies including
perhaps the establishment of handsome
permanent memorial to mark so historical
an occasion and to give it more than local
recognition has met with general favor on
the part of the public. recommend to
the congress the granting of an appropria-
ton for this purpose and tho appointment
OF committee from its respective bodieA
It might also be advisable to authorize
tho president to appoint committee from
the country at large. which. acting with
the congressional and District of Colum.
bia committees. can complete the plans for
an appropriate national celebration.
Pension Statistics.
There were on the pension rolls on June
80, 1893, 993, IA names, an increase Of
nearly 900 over the number of the rolls
for the same day of the preceding year
The amount appropriated by tho act OF
Dec. %, 1896, for the payment of pensions
for the fiscal year 1898 was sl4O, 900, 900.
By the act of March 81, 1898, q, 070, s72. 40
was appropriated to cover deficiencies in
army pensions and repayments in the
sum of 81, .35, making total Of $lAS,.
0S2 ,S92.79 available for the payment Of
pensions during the fiscal year 1898. The
amount disbursed from that sum was
S44, 65l $3.50, leaving balance Of s., 49,
O12.99 unexpended on June 80. 1893, which
was covered into the treasury.
There were $3.50 men added to the rolls
during the year by special acts at the Sec
ond session of the FIfty-fifth congress,
making total Of 6, 1876 pensioners by con.
gressional enactments since 1861.
Supreme Courtroom.
deem it my duty to call to the atten-
ton of congress the condition of the pres
ent building occupied by the department
of justice. A proper regard for the safety,
comfort and convenience of the officers
and employees would justify tho expendi-
ture of liberal sum of money in the
erection of a new building.
The Twelfth Census.
l earnestly urge upon congress the i'm
portance of early legislation providing for
the taking of the twelfth census. This 10
necessary In view of the large amount Of
work which must be performed In the