The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-04

SZlS,0ZJ.0S, l6dNlHS d uSIClCliSy VI W,
529.59. Of this expenditure, $43, 3,4S0.3O
represents the cost of deportation OF
Chinese persons who have entered the
United States in violation OF law
across the Canadian boundary ana
$1O,619.79 the cost of deporting those
who entered unlawfully at other points,
The total number thus deported was
596, of whom 3S7 came from Canada
and 209 from other sources. There was
expended for salaries and expenses OF
officers and miscellaneous items the
sum of $165, ,429.50.
During the year smallpox was re-
ported as occurring in A states and
territories of the Union. The number
of cases reported for the year ended
June 80, 1902, was 55,357. The deaths
were 1852, q mortality of 3.31 Per cent
as compared with 38,50S cases and 68S
deaths during the year ended June 80,
1907
Navigation
"On June sc, 1902, the merchant ma
rine of the United States, including all
kinds of documsnteG shipping, ccm-
prised 24,273 vessels, of 5,797,902 gross
TONS On June 80. 1901. it comprised
24,057 vessels, of 5,524,218 gross tens.
American SHIPPING was greater in vel
ume on June 80, 1902, than ever he
fore in our history. The tonnage losses
of the Civil war have been more than
made good. New vessels of the year
have been of superior types, including,
the largest transatlantic steamer ever
built in theUnited States, the fastest
steamer for Asiatic trade yet built In
any country, and the largest steamer
ever launched into the waters OF the
Pacific
1.-The total tonnage completed was
trif1e less than in 1901, but the ship
building in progress during the year,
in the value of materials ana amount
of wages, has never been equaled in
this country. If the rate of progress
during the past few years could he
maintained, the United States would
in time become a competitor with Ger
many for the second place as a ship
building nation. The outlook for the
current fiscal year is not, however, so
promising. A large amount of un-
finished tonnage will be launched and
completed. Few new contracts for
ocean steamers have been reported.
1.-The growth of American shipping
has been entirely within the domestic
trade. The tonnage registered for for
eign trade is smaller than a year ago,
but it is more efficient, as the proper
ton of steamers has increased. Amer
lean vessels carried 8.S per cent of our
exports and imports, "a small gain over
the percentage of 1901. These modest
figures show the small share of our ma
tional shipping in our foreign trade,
but they fall far short of showing the
place held by American capital in
ocean navigation.
Metric System.
Attention is again called to the nee
eSSity for a reform in our present sys-
tenn of weights and measures. The
greater part of the world has already
oR 1a into
tenn. The many advantages to be
gained by the introduction of such O.
system in place of the several hetero-
geneous systems now in use, none Oh
which are decimal or international in
character, would prove of the greatest
value to the manufacturing, CONNER
cial, scientific and educational interests
of the country. 1t is believed that the
introduction of the international or
metric system of weights and meas
ures in the departments of the govern
ment, allowing reasonable time for
the change, will not only greatly ia
cilitate the work of these departments,
but will bring about it's general adop-
ton by the public without further leg
iSlatiOn.
The Currency.
"Any coin that the government gra-
tuitously and in unlimited quantity
coins for the bullion owner will be
worth exactly the same as the material
of which it is produced. 1t is true that
by acts of congress silver is receiv-
able for customs dues and other debts,
but the same law existed in 1898; and
it reserves to the government the right
to pay in silver and compels its cred
itorS to accept the same at par. 1t is
doubtful if the solvency of a business
man could be established by his agree
ing to accept his own obligations on
debts due to himself, while refusing to
redeem the same in any money his
creditors might designate. He might
escape litigation so long as he remain
ed a great creditor and small debtor,
but not afterWard and at no time
would his business standing fail to
suffer.
National bank notes are secured by
a special deposit of government bonds,
the principal and interest Of most OF
which are payable in gold, but the
notes themselves are payable in "law-
full money!" which includes irredeem-
able silver dollars, more than sc per
cent fiat.
ExchanqeahiIity of Geld and Silver.
'rThe peril involved in this condition
may be averted for a time, and pos
sibiy for all time. The evils that pre-
cipitated the disaster of 1898 escaped
popular, though not universal, reccgnl-
ton so long as public revenues exceed
ed expenditures. The reason assigned
why the exchangea5ility OF gold and
silver should not be established is that
it would entail 50 large an obligation
that the national credit would be en-
dangered. This comedies the argument,
but pleads the preference that the
government which has coined this sill
yer and profited thereby shall be pro-
tected regardless of possible danger to
the citizens and the peril to business.
1.-THE statute now provides that par
ity between all forms Of money snail
be maintained. former secretary OF
the treasury expressed the opinion that
a. somewhat similar statute authorized
the redemption of silver in gold. Il
that be the intention I submit it would
be better to express the same In spe-
cific terms It has been found neces-
sarv. in order to maintain the parity
of greenbacks and treasury notes, 10
expressly provide for the redemption
thereof in gold. I am not unmindful OF
the claim that parity will naturally
continue so long as the government
accents silver in payment of revenues.
If this be true there would be no dan
GER to the government should the two
coins be made interchangeable.
Express Provision Wanted.
.I believe the treasury of the Unit
ed States would be in less danger with
an express provision for the exchange
ability of gold and silver than under
existing laws At the present time the
treasury furnishes all the gold needed,
whatever the purpose for which it is
demanded, and certainly no more
would be required for commerce, and
not as much for boarding, should all
doubt as to the status of silver be re-
moved. On the contrary, If all forms
of money were made the equivalent OF
gold, then all occasion for boarding
one coin more than another would
vanish and the danger to the treas