Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-12-09

the passage for Unitsd States revenue cutters
| from the Great Lakes TO the Atisntic coast BY
way OF the Canadian canal and the st. Lawrence
| river The vessels had reached Lake Ontario,
and were there awaiting he opening Of naviga.
| tion when war was declared between the
United States and Spain. Her majesty's
government thereupon, by q communication
OF the latter part OF April, stated that the per
| mission granted before the outbreak Of HOSTILE
| ties would not be withdrawn, provided the Unit
| Cd States government gave assurance that the
| VESSELS i'd question will proceed direct to
| United States port without engaging in any
| hostile operati IN. This the government
promptly agreed to the stipulated condition,
| 1t being understood that the vessels would not
be prohibited from resisting any hostile Ut
| tack
| 1t will give me special salts action II l shall
BIO authorized 10 communicated you favor
| able co ,cluSion of the pending negotiations
| with Great Britain in respect to the Dominion
of Canada. 1t is the earnest wish of this gov
| eminent to remove all sou. ces OF discord and ir
! ritaton in the relations with the ncighboring
| dominion. he trade between the two countries
| is constantly increasing and IL is importat to
| both coun ries that all rcpso liable facilities
should ge granite for its development.
MONETARY MATTERS.
The secretary Of the treasury reports that the
receipts OF the government from all sources
| during the fiscal year ending June 80. 1898. in
GLIDING S3I, 75l s23 re eved from sale Of Pacific
| railroads. amounted to Si05 81, 335 and its ex-
renditures to sii3 ,5S2. There was obtained
from customs Sli9,57j,O52, and from internal
revenue Sl7J,s0J,8il. Our dutiab,e imports
amounted 70 1923, $40, Il de rease OF SIS, 1885,
| 60 over the preceding year, and importations
| free OF duty amounted 10 S9I ,4li,l7' decrease
from the preceding year Of 80, .0ss. Internal
| revonue receipts exceeded those OF the proceed
| ing year by S!l,.i2,0B
The total tax collected on distilled spirits
was - ,'46,099; on manufactured tobacco &c.,
| 2!O522, and on fermentsd liquors 1884, ia, i2l.
We exported merchandise during the year
amounting to IL 23i, iS2, 40, an increase OF $751;
| 4sS. IA from the preceding year
1t Is estimated upon the basis OF present rev.
enue laws that the receipts of tho government
| for the year endin. June 81 1892 will be S,77.-
| S7i COZ, md its expenditures S83s,s74 ,5i7, re-
sulting in deficiency Of sl?, 10000.
On the LIST OF December 1893, there was hold
in tbs treasury gold coin amounting to $780,
AL ,54s, gold bullion amounting to 1888 ,5i5,
silver bullion amounting to SsJ,3oe,2jO and
| other forms Of money amounting to Sioi,9j3,-
s8i.
| On the same date the amount Of money OF all
| kinds In circulation or not nc!u ed in treasury
holding. was IL 1886 so, 504 an increase for the
year OF SlA,7Oi,9 Estimating our population
at rs, Ji, COZ at the time mentioned the per cap
| ita circulation was s5.
On the same date there was in thu treasury
| gold bullion amounting to Sl3s, 5J2bi5.
The provisions made for strengthening the
| resources of the treasury in connection with
| the war has given increased confidence in the
| purpose and power of the COVE; nment to main
| tain the p cseit S andard and has established
more firmly than ever the national credit at
| home and abroad \ marked evidence of this
| is found in the inflow of gold to the treasury.
| Its net go d holdings on November /, 1893, were
i IA nj n ON
| November /, 1897, and an increase Of net cash
OF S.U7 756, lU0. November |, 1897, to $50 23S75,
| November |, 1893. The present ratio OF net
| treasury gold outstanding government labil-
| ities including United States treasury notes Of
1880 silver certificates, currency certificates.
standard silver dollars and fractional silver
coin, November /, hes, was % s. per cent as COM
| p red with IS 70 per cent Novembe: l, 1897.
renew so much of my recommendation Of
| December, 1877, us follows:
THAT when any of the United States notes
are pres.n ted for redemption and ere redeemed
in gold such notes shall be kept and set apart
and only paid out in exchange for gold. This Is
an obvious duty. II the holder Of the United
States note prefer, the gold and gets it from
| the government he should not receive back
| from the government United States note
| without paying gold in exchange for it. Tho
resson for this Is made all the more apparent
when the government issues an interest bear
| In debt to provide gold for the redemption Of
United States notes-a non-intercst bearing
| debt Surely 1t should not pay them out again
except on demand a d for gold If they arc
put out in any other way they may return
again, to BIO followed by another bond issue TO
redeem them another interest-bearing debt to
redeem q non interest bearing debt"
This Recommendation was made in the belief
that such provisions Of law would insure TO .
greater degree the safety Of the present stan
dard and better protect our currency from tho
IA, to ,talf fnrh-
nnce in tho general business conditions OF the
country.
In my judgment the present condition OF the
treasury amply iustifes the immediate enact
mcnt Of the lcgisla!io ion recommended one year
ago, under which portion Of the gold holdings
should be placed in trust fund from which
greenbacks should be redeem ID upon presenta-
ton but when once redeemed should not there
after be paid out except 70 gold.
1t Is not to be inferred that other legislation
relating to our currency is not required. On
the ontrary, there is an obvious demand for 1t.
The imp srtance Of adequate provision which
will insure to our future money standard re-
lated as our money standard now and to that Of
commercial rivals is generally recognized
The companion proposition that our domestic
paper currency shall be kept safe and yet be SO
related to the needs OF our industries ald in
I rnal commerce as to be adequate and respons-
i've 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.
ARMY INCH EASE.
The Importance of legislation for tho perma-
nent increase OF the army is manifest AMI tho
rec mmendation Of the secretary of war for
that purpose has my unqualified approval
There can be no question that at this time and
probably for some time in the future 100000
men will be none too many to meet the neces-
sites of the situation At all events, whether
that number shall be required permanently or
not, the power should be given to the Presi-
dent to enlist that fore, IT, in his discr sion, IL
should be necessary, and the further discretion
should be given him to recruit within the above
limit from the inhabitants of the islands with
the government of which VIC are charged.
1t is my purpose to muster out the entire
volunteer army as soon as the Congress shall
provide for the increase Of the regular e'tab-
lishment. This will be only IN act OF Juice
AMI will be much appreciated by the brave men
who left their homes and employments to help
the country in its emergency.
Tho following recommendations Of the Secro-
tary OF the nav relative to the increase OF the