Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-08
To Gradually Rst,r. ore.nb,ck.

a portion OF the gold holdings should
be placed In trust fund from which
greenbacks should re redeemed upon pre-
sentation, but when once redeemed should
not thereafter be paid out except for
gold. IL is not to be inferred that other
legislation relating 10 our currency is
not required; on the contrary. there is
an obvious demand for IT, The impor-
lance OF adequate provision which will
insure 10 our future a money standard
related as our money standard now is
TO that or our commercial rivals Is gem
orally recognized The companion prop
osition that our domestic paper currency
shali DE Kept safe and yet be so related
10 the needs or our industries and in
ternal commerce as to be adequate and
responsive to such needs is a proposition
scarcely less important. The subject, in
all It's parts is commended to the wise
consideration OF the congress-"
Increase of Regular Army Recon-
mended.
Recommending an increase in the army.
the president uses the following language:
Under the act of congress approved
April rs, 1898, authorizing the president.
in ms discretion, upon a declaration of
war py congress, or a declaration by con-
gress that war exists i directed the in
crease OF the regular army to the maxi
mum OF $1,000, authorized by said act.
Ihere are now in the regular army
51s62 officers and men. In said act Ii was
provided that at the end of any war in
which the United States NAV become in
volved the army shall be reduced TO a
peace basis by the transfer in the same
arm OF the service or absorption by pro-
motlon or honorable discharge under such
regulations as the secretary of war may
establish OF supernumerary commissioned
officers and the honorable discharge or
transfer OF supernumerary enlisted men;
and nothing contained in this act shall be
construed as authorizing the permanent
increase of the commissioned or enlisted
force OF the regular army beyond that
now provided for by the law in force
prior 10 the passage of this act, except
as 10 the increase of twenty-five majors
provided for in section / hereof
The Importance of legislation for the
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
be no question that at this time and prob
ably for some time in the future 100, 900
men VIII be none too many TO meet the
necessities OF the situation. AT all events.
whether the number shall be required
permanently or not, the power should be
given TO the President TO enlist that force
IL III MS NlScTellOn II should De neceS-
sary. and the further discretion should be
given him to recruit within the above linn
it from the inhabitants of the islands
with the government of which we are
charged.
1T is my purpose TO muster out the
entire volunteer army as soon as the con-
gress shall provide for the increase of
the regular establishment This will be
only an act of justice and viii be much
tot. H.. l.fe
their homes and employments to help the
country in its emergency"
Union Pacific Railway.
In reference to sale Of Union Pacific
railways, he says:
1T is a gratifying fact that the result
of these proceedings against the Union
Pacific system and the Kansas Pacific
Line is that the government has received
on account of It's subsidy claim the sum
of $64. ISL 22375, an increase of 1897, 163. IS
over the sum which the reorganization
committee originally agreed to bid for the
joint property, the government receiving
it's whole claim, principal and interest.
on the Union Pacific and the principal of
its debt on the Kansas Pacific Railroad.
Steps had been taken to foreclose the
governments lien upon the Central Pa
cfic Railroad Company, but before action
was commenced congress passed an act,
approved July Z 1885, creating a commits
sion, consisting OF the secretary Of the
treasury, the attorney general and the
secretary of the interior and their sue
cessors in office. with full power 10 settle
the Indebtedness to the government grow
ing out of the issue of bonds IN ala OF
construction OF the Central Pacific and
Western Pacific bond-aided railroads.
subject TO the approval of the president.
No report has yet been made to me by
the commission thus created. Whatever
action is had looking to a settlement of
the Indebtedness in accordance with the
act referred to will be duly submitted to
congress.
Growth of the Postal Service.
"'The postal service OF the country ad-
vances with extraordinary growth. With
in twenty years both the revenues and
the expenditures of the postofiice de-
partment have multiplied threefold. In
the last ten years they have nearly dou-
bled. Our postal business grows much
more rapidly than our population. 1t now
involves an expenditure of 0000, 900 a
year. numbers 1900 postoffices, and en-
rolls 200 600 employees. This remarkable eX-
tension Of a service. which is an accurate
index Of the public conditions, presents
gratifying evidence of the advancement
of education. of the increase of communi-
cation and business activity and of the
improvement OF mail facilities leading to
their constantly augmenting use.
1.-THE war with Spain laid new and ex-
ceptiona labors I'm the postoffce depart
ment. The mastering of the military and
naval forces OF the United States re-
quired special mail arrangements for ev-
cry camp and every campaign. The COM
munication between home and camp was
naturally eager and eXpectant. In some
OF the larger places Of rendezvous as
many as $4,000 letters a day required
handling. This necessity was met by the
prompt detail and dispatch of expe-
rieneed men from the established force.
and by directing all the instrumentali-
ties OF the railway mail and postoffice
service so far as necessary to this new
need Congress passed an act empower
ing the postmaster general to establish
offices or branches at every military camp
or station. and under this authority the
postal machinery was speedily put into
effective operation.
Under the same authority, when our
forces moved upon Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines, they were attended and
followed by the postal service Though
the act of congress authorized the APP
pointment of postmasters where neces-
sary IL was early determined that the
public interests would be best subserved
not by new designations. but by the de-
tail Of experienced men familiar with ev-
cry branch OF the service, and this pol
Icy was steadily followed When the
territory which was the theater OF con-
fiict came into our possession. IL became
necessary to re-establsh mail facilities
for the resident population. as well as to
provide them for our forces OF occupa-
Hon