The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-05
NEWS, PROVIDENCE r. H. MONDAY, DECENBER s. 1898.

transportation of destitute American
seamen In these countries under our con-
sular regulations will in consequence
terminate. IL Is p-oper therefore. that
new legislation should be enacted upon
this subject In order TO meet the changed
conditions.
The claims OF owners of American
sealing vessels fos seizure, by Russian
cruisers in Behring sea are being pressed
to a settlement.
The newly accredited envoy OF the
United States TO the Ottoman porte car
ries instructions looking 10 the disposa!
of matters I'm controversy with Turkey
for a number OF years. He Is es-
pecially charged TO press for just set
tlement OF our claims for indemnity by
reason of the destruction of the prop
erty OF American missionaries, resident
I'm that country during the Armenia
troubles OF 1895. as well as for the rec
ognition Of older claims OF equal just
ness
After more than two years from the
arpointment OF consul Of this country
10 Erzeroum, he has receiver his exc
quater.
The commercial arrangement made
with France on May 2s. 1898 went into
effect on June following. II his relieved
n portion Of our export trade from serl-
ous embarrassment Further negotia-
tions are now pending with view 10 the
Increase OF trade between the two coun-
sries to their mutual advantage Ne
eotiations with other governments In
rart interrupted by the war with Spain.
are in progress under both sections or
the tariff act.
Negotiations To the same end with Ger
MANY have beenJset on foot. Meanwhile
no effort has been relaxed TO convince
the imperial government or the thor
oughness OF our inspection or pork prod
ucts for expectation and 1t is trusted that
the efficient administration OF this meas
ure by the department of agriculture VIII
no recognized as a guarantee or the
healthfulness Of the food staples we send
abroad TO countries where their use is
large and necessary.
Th., experiences of the last year bring
forci bly, home to us sense OF the bur-
dens and the waste OF war. We desire
IN common with most civilized nations,
TO reduce to the lowest possible point the
damage sustained i'm time Of war by
peaceful trade and commerce. IL should
| be our object TO minimize so far as prac-
! ticable this inevitable loss and disturb
| ance This purpose can probably best
| he accomplished by an international
| agreement to regard all private property
! at sea as exempt from capture or de-
struction by the forces of beligerent
| powers.
| The secretary Of the treasury reports
that the receipts Of the government from
al sources during the fiscal year ended
| June 80, lS9s including sGi,151 ,22S re-
ceived from sale OF Pacific railroaos.
amounted TO $s05 32l. 1886. and It's e='
| pendtures to $443, $685. 5s2. There was
| collected from customs S149,075,O62, and
| from internal revenue sI70 Gal. Our
| dutiable imports amounted to S32f,6So,
479 decrease of s5S l56,69o over the pre-.
ceding year. and importations free oi
duty amounted TO $29l .414, ,175, a decrease
from the preceding year OF S90,524 ,0oS
Internal revenue receipts exceeded those
of the preceding year by s2f, ,2l2,o61.
1t Is estimated upon the basis or the
| present revenue laws that the receipts
OF the government FOR the year ending
June 30, 1898 will be sS71,S74.647 and It's
expenditures $6ssS7i,64I. resulting In q
deficiency of sll2,0o000o.
The provisions made for strengthening
the resources OF the treasury in connec
ton with the war has given increased
confidence in the purpose and power o
the government to maintain the presen
standard and has established more frml,
the national credit at home and abroad
A marked evidence OF this is found In tn
inflow of gold TO the treasury.
l renew so much of my recommenda
ton of December. 1897, as follows: Tha
when any Of the United States notes ar
presented for redemption In gold and ar
redeemed in gold such notes shall o
kept and set apart and only paid out Al
exchange for gold. This is an obviou
duty. IL the holder OF the United state
note prefers the gold and gets ii from
the government he should not receiv
hack from the government Unite
States note without paying gold IN ex
change for 1t. The reason for this J
made all the more apparent when IN
, government issues an interest bearln
| n fAv tanf f@gf a m n
of United states notes. non-1nteres
bearing debt. Surely II should not pa
them out again except on demand an
for gold. III they are put out In an
, other way they may return again 10
followed by another bond issue TO re
!, Deem another interest bearing dept
redeem a non-interest bearing debt.
In my judgment the present conditio
, OF the treasury amply justihes the In
mediate enactment OF the legislation rec
commended one year ago. under whlcn
norton of the gold holdings should 3
placed in trust fund from which greer
backs should be redeemed upon presei
! tation but when once redeemed shoul
. not thereafter be paid out except fc
. gold. II Is not to be inferred that otht
legislation relating TO our currency IS M
required; on the contrary, there Is
obvious demand for H.
The companion proposition that OF
. domestic paper currency shall be keI
!, safe and yet be so related to the neec
u u OF our industries and internal con
c merce as to be adequate and responsi,
, To such needs Is a proposition scareel
less important The subjects, in all ]
parts, is commended TO the wise col
sideration OF the congress.
!. The annexation of Hawaii and II
changed relations of the United Stat
to Cuba. Porto Rico and the Philippine
resulting from the war. compel "
. prompt adoption OF a maritime polio
: by the United States There should
u established regular and frequent steam
b. snip communication, encouraged by u
II United states, under the American fla
o with the newly acquired Islands.
= Under the act of congress approve
n April 26, 1898. I'directed the increase
!, the regular army to the maximum
II g. 900. authorized In said act There a
now in the regular army 5l,Ss2 office
, and men. The Importance OF legislatic
u for the permanent increase or the arm
a. manifest and the ndation
i the secretarMo OF war for that purpose h;
q my unqualified approval There can
no question that at this time, and pro
ably for some time In the future. l00O
~ p,an will he uore too rnnny 10 meet Il