The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-25
Statement from United states Treas
urer Roberts, Who Says There Is a
Prejudice Against Gold Coin.
RELIEF NEEDED BY CHINESE
GREAT DISTRESS CAUSED BY THE
YELLOW RIVER FLOODS.
Two Million People Sufiering-The
Pcars Claim Against Honduras
senate Secretaryship.

| WASHINGTON, March 2i.-United States
| Treasurer Ellis S. Roberts said to-day that
| the impression that the lack of paper money
| is due to enforced Withdrawals of notes by
| the treasury is not true. THE total circula-
| ton per capita IN the country, including
coin and paper said Mr.. Roberts. has
| increased from s23s3 March /, 1898. to $25.5l
| March l. 1899. This increase has been
progressive for several years. The increase
| has ii is true, been largely in gold coin,
from s45 293 591 March /, 1885, to S102 800 269 at
| the first of the current month. You will OBJ
| serve that the growth of gold coin has been
| 1851 OIL ,67S, but in total circulation for that
| period the growth has been $ioO,loO,555,
| showing a net increase of S1i3 0SS, ,S77 outside
| of gold con There has been an increase
| within these years In every item of circula-
| tion except gold certificates, treasury notes,
| and currency certificates. The silver certif-
| Gates in the hands of the people are more
now thar in 1896 by $685. So; the United
| States notes more by So, ,Si6 So. and the ma
| tional bank notes more by $30.72i,3H. The
gold bullion in the treasury ran up from
s2s s2l ASA March l. 1896, to sl27, ,3S5 067 March
!, 1889.
| cheney in the circulating medium. The
abundance of gold coin does not give relief
| because CT the prejudice of bankers and
| their customers against it's use. AS
remedy the national banks might add to
the volume of their notes, but they do not
| see the profit to attract them to such
| policy. The only other pathway under ex-
sting laws to additional circulation is in
| the use OF gold. Coin IS, with our habits
| less convenient than paper, but other coun-
| tries it.
THE endless chain is no longer in opera
| ton. No legal-tender notes have been Of
fered for gold in a long time. That kind of
| demand for redemption is for the present
| obsolete. Indeed. my impression is that the
prospect of it's revival is slight. The excess
| of our exports over our imports are 80 large
and continuous that we are not likely to
have TO ship gold TO the old world for some
years to come Besides that and even more
important the increase in our production of
gold is strong safeguard for the treasury.
| 1t is at present and promises to be an en-
during break OF the endless chain Gold
is i'm such relative excess that no one wants
| to give up legal-tender notes or indeed any
sort of paper for it. The Treasury Depart
| ment strains every nerve TO meet the de-
| mands for notes, and especially those of
small denominations. At the request of the
treasury the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing is printing and delivering to the
treasury only notes of SO and UNDER
|
The friends of Gen. Ret Clarkson, form
erly of Des Moines, are industriously push
ing his candidacy for secretary of the Sen
ate when that body is reorganized the
reassembling of Congress. Efforts are be-
| inc do ut 70 hrin aho
bination which will result in the retention
of Colonel Bright as sergeant-at-arms, al
though ex-Congressman Valentine, of Ne
braska, who formerly filled this place, is
still active candidate to succeed Bright.
OF course, If Clarkson succeeds Cox as sec
retary other Western is likely to
secure one of these chief places under the
Senate, and to-day 1t is announced semi
officially that Clarkson has enough pledges
of support to secure his nomination for sec
retary in the forthcoming Republican sena-
torial caucus.
Louis Blish was to-day appointed an at
tendant in the Marine Hospital at Evans
vile.
Privates William Myers. Company d. now
at Madison, and George M. Bruce, Company
b, at Fort Branch. both of the One-hundrcd-
and-sixty-first Indiana, were to-day honor
ably discharged.
David Cammack's bond as postmaster at
Muncie has been approved and his commits
sion will issue as soon as the President
signs it.
Interesting facts concerning the army are
contained in the Army Register for 1899,
published to-day by the War Department.
The new register still places Major General
c. p Eagan at the head of the commissary
department. and no mention of his military
punishment appears in the volume. The reg
ular force sustained loss of twenty COM
missioned officers killed in action; six died
as a result of wounds received in action:
seventy-five died from other causes and
one dropped. There will be great deal
of criticism throughout the army at the
omission from the new register of the list of
those who have received medals OF honor.
and the exposition of the reasons which in
duced the President 10 confer brevet rank
upon many officers. There is no change in
the list of major generals of the regular
service, but in the list of brigadier generals
the name Of General Guy V. Henry is in
serted. he having taken the place vacated
in consequence of the retirement of General
j. j. Coppinger. Brigadier General NJ. p.
Miller. recently appointed. will retire on
Monday next. OF the general and STAFF OFF,
GERS of volunteers. twenty-one resigned be-
fore Jan. l, thirty-nine declined appoint
ments. twelve died and 275 were honorablv
discharged.
An all-American mail route to Alaska
from Prince Williams sound 10 Circle
through the Copper-river region has been
determined On by the postal authorities. and
the postmaster general has issued n circular
calling for proposals for the service. POST
Office Inspector Wayland has been detailed