Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-12-07

for this Is made all the more apparent when
the Government issues an Interest bearing
United States notes-a non-interest-b bearing
debt. Surely /. should not pay them out
again except on demand and for gold. II
they are put out in any other way they may
return again, TO be followed by another bond
issue TO redeem them-anpther interest-bear-
ing debt TO redeem non-interest-bearing
debit
In my judgment the present condition Of
the treasury amply justifes the immediate
enactment of the legislation recommended
one year ago, under which a portion of the
gold holdings should be placed In a trust
fund from which greenbacks should be re-
deemed upon presentation, but when once
rede~"'~d should not thereafter be paid out
except for gold.
1t is not TO be inferred that other legisla.
tion relating TO our currency is not required:
on the contrary, there Is an obvious demand
for Ii. The Importance OF adequate proyis-
ion which will insure to our future a money
standard related as our money standard now
and 10 that of our commercial rivals is gen.
eral4y recognized. The companion PROPOSE
ton that our domestic paper currency shall
be kept safe and yet be so related to the
needs of our Industries and Internal COM
merce as to be adequate and responsive to
such needs is proposition scarcely less i'm
portant.
Prompt Adoption of Maritime Policy.
The annexation of Hawaii and the
changed relations of the United States to
Cuba. Porto Rico pnd the Philippines, re-
sulting from the war, compel the prompt
adoption of maritime policy by the United
States. There shodl9 be established regu-
lar and frequent steamship communication,
encouraged by the Unite. States. under the
American flag, with the newly acquired
Islands.
Prevention of Yellow Fever.
In my last annual message / recommended
thasf aNa4h hnrtu fla int a.nf nf
a 'omn;ission for the purpose of making sys-
tematic investigations with reference to the
cause and prevention of yellow fever. 1t Is
my earnest desire that these problems may
be considered by competent experts and
that everything may be done which the
most recent advances in sanitary science
can offer for the protection of the health OF
our soldiers in Cuba and Porto Rico and OF
our citizens who are exposed to the dangers
of Infection from the Importation of yellow
fever.
Increase of Army Recon- ended.
The Importance of legislation for che per-
manent Increase of the army Is manifest,
and the recommendation of the Secretary of
War for that purpose has my unqualified ap-
proval. There can be no question that at
this tirae and probably for some time In the
future 100000 men Will be none too many to
meet the necessities of the situation. 1t Is
my purpose to muster out the entire vol
unteer army as soon as the Congress shall
provide for the increase Of the regular es-
tablishment.
Sale of the Union Pacific.
In my last annual message l stated: The
Union Pacific Railway, main nne vas sold
under the decree of the United States Court
for the District of Nebraska the 1st and I'd
of November of this year TIE amount due
the Government consisted of the principal of
the subsidy bonds, S27, ,236,512, and the ac-
crued interest thereon, S31,211, ,51107, max
Ing the total indebtedness AN %.
The bid at the sale covered the first mort
gage lien and the entire mortgage claim OF
the Government, principal and interest.
This left the Kansas Pacific case uncon-
| cuded. BY a decree of the court In that
! case an upset price fer the property was
| fixed at sum which would yield TO the
| Government only $2,5O0,000 upon Its lien.
| BY somewhat complicated transaction the
Government secured an advance of S3,So3,-
| 600 over and above the sum which the court
| had fixed as the upset price, and which the
| reorganization committee had declared was
| the maximum which they would pay for the
| property.
Growth of the Postal Service.
| The postal service of the country advances
| with extraordinary growth. Within twenty
| years both the revenues and the expendi-
| lures of the Postoffice Department have
| multiplied threefold. In the last ter years
| they have nearly doubled. Our postal busi-
| ness grows much more rapidly than our pop
| ulation. 1t now involves an expenditure or
SlOO,OOO,OO0 a year, numbers $4,000 post
offices, and enrols 100000 employees. The
war with Spain laid new and exceptional
labors on the Postoftice Department. The
mastering of the military and naval forces
of the United States required special mall
arrangements for every camp and every
campaign. This necessarily was met by the
prompt detail and dispatch of experienced
men from the established force, and by di-
recting all the lnstrumentalties of the rail-
: way mall and postofIice service so far as
necessary to this new need.
Under the same authority, when our forces
moved upon Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
ipplnes, they were attended and followed
by the postal service.
Increasing the Navy.
The following recommendations of the
Secretary of the Navy relative to the in
crease Of the navy have my earnest ap-
prevail
/. .nree sea going, sheathed and coppered
battlesh ps of about 1850 tons trial dis
placement, carrying the heaviest armor and
most powerful ordnance for vessels of their
class and to have the highest practicable
speed and great radius Of action. Estimated
cost, exclusive OF armor and armament, 3d.
100000 each.
2. Three sheathed and coppered armored
cruisers Of about 1900 tons trial displace-
ment, carryine lie heaviest armor and most
powerfr ordnance for vessels Of their class,
and g At radius of action. Estimated cost,
exclusive or armor and armament, $4,000,0 900
each.
8. Three sheathed and coppered protected
cruisers of about 5000 tons trial displace-
ment; to have the highest practicable speed
and great radius of action, and to carry the
most powerful ordnance suitable for ves-
sells of their class Estimated cost, exclu-
sve of armor and armament, 81 100000 each.
4. Six sheathed aud coppered cruisers OF
9houf IM tons trial diSDlDCpmpnts To have
the highest speed compatible with good
cruising qualities, great radius OF action and
to carry the most powerful ordnance suited
to vessels of their class. Estimated cost,
exclusive of armament. 81, ,141 900 each.
Additions to the Pension List.
There were on the pension rolls June 30,
1898, 993714 names. an increase of nearly
$4,000 over the number on the rolls the same
day of the preceding year. The amount APP
propriated by the act of Dec %, 1895, for
the payment Of pensions for the fiscal year
1898 was SI40.000.000. Eight million sew
enty thousand eight hundred and seventy
two dollars and fortyslx cents was appro-
priated by the act Of March 81, 1893, to
cover deficiencies in army pensions and re-
payments In the sum Of $12, ,020.33 making
a total of $14S,oS2 S92. 10 available for the
payment of pensions during the fiscal year
1898. The amount disbursed from that sum
was s144 6J1, $3.50, leaving a balance OF
50, 3,431 ,012.99 unexpended June 30, 1898,
which was covered into the treasury.
The total receipts of the patent office dur
ing the last year were l,253, ,94S.44. The
expenditures were s10s1, ,633.7 70. leaving
surplus Of s172,314.65
Government Lands Disposed of.
The public lands disposed of by the Gov
ernment during the year reached S,453, ,S96 92
acres, an increase Of GA IS0.26 acres cTer
the previous year. The total receipts from
public lands during the fiscal year amounted
to S2,277995.1s, an Increase of S190,063.e0
over the preceding year.
The special attention OF the Congress Is
called to that part Of the report of the Sec
retary of the Interior In relation to the Ave
civilized tribes. 1t Is noteworthy that the
general condition of the Indians shows
marked progress. But one outbreak OF q Sc
rious character occurred during the year,
and that among the Chippewa Indians of
Minnesota, which happily has been sup
pressed.
Dawes Commission Report.
While It has not yet been practicable to en-
force all the provisions Of the act Of June 2s,
1898, "for the prot ection Cf the people of
the Indian Territory and for other pur-
poses" it. Is having a salutary effect upon
the nations composing the FIVE tribes /
cannot too strongly indorse the recommen-
dation of the commission and Of the Sec
retary Of the Interior for the necessity Of
providing for the education Of the 10000
white children resident In the Indian Terri
tory.
Department of Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture has been
active in the last year. Explorers have
been sent 40 many Of the countries Of the
Eastern and Western Hemispheres for seeds
and plants hat may be useful to the United
States and with the further view of opening
up markets for our surplus products. The
forestry division OF the department is giving
special attention TO the treeess regions Of
our country and Is introducing species spe-
eialiy adapted TO semiarid regions Forest