r V , * - # * . * * V'i /-'i . t\ TUB OMAHA DAILY BEJIk VJEDNESDAY , DECEMBER 5 , 180-1. during the last two years to Impair the credit of the government and the people of the United States at homo and abroad and to check our Industrial and commercial progress , more than all other things com bined , and our first and plainest duty is to provide , If possible , some effective method for the prtmpt and permanent relief of the country from the consequences of the pres ent unwise policy. A brief statement of the practical and unavoidable results of the existing legislation will demonstrate Its In jurious effects upon our'financial affairs nrre clearly than any argument that could bo sub mitted. " ABOUT THR BOND ISSUES. The secretary then" reviews the circum stances leading up to the first $50,000,000 issue of bonds as a means ot replenishing the gold reserve , yielding $58,060,917 and In creasing the free gold In the treasury to J107.44C.802. The lowest point reached by the reserve since the resumption cf specie payments wai on the 7th day of August , 1891 , when by reason of withdrawals In the redemption of notes It was reduced to $52- 189..BOO. "Aftor that It was slowly re plenished by voluntary exchanges of gold c-ln for United States notes by the banks' and by small receipts of gold In the payment of duties to the government until the 14th of November , 1891 , when It reached the sum .of $61,878,371. In the meantime , however , the frequent presentation of notes for re- dcmpll'n In gold by Individuals and Institu tions not desiring It for export clearly indl- jcatoil the existence ot a feeling ot uneasiness In the public mind , while foreign exchange was almost constantly at or near a rate which made It more profitable to expert gold than to purchase bllh , and conscqently with drawals for shipments were dally threatened. In addition to these causes of anxiety the vast accumulation of money at our financial centers and the general depress ! n In busi ness which prevailed In tills country had so reduced the rates of discount that the In ducement to keep funds abroad , where bet ter Investments could be made , were much greater than In ordinary times , and this , together with the other facts stated , made It highly Imprudent to neglect any precaution which appeared necessary to Insure the safety of our financial position. Therefore the second Issue ot $50,000,000 was decided upon. For this Issue , proposals for which were is sued last month , 480 bids were received , amounting to $178,830,050 , nearly all of-which were at rates which would yield to the In vest r 3 per cent or less. One bid was for the whole sum of $50,000,000 upon the basis of 2.878 per csnt. and being the most ad vantageous offer for th i government that was made , either singly or by agiregatlng the separate bids , was accepted , and the pro ceeds of the sab , $53,533,500 , have nearly all been paid Into the treasury ncctrdltig to the terms of the sale. The transaction Justified the opinion that a 2 % per cent bond having reasonable time to run could probably have been sold at par , and certainly that a 3 per cent bond could have been dlspcsed of at or above that rate. "As the authority to Issue and sell bonds already exists and" the present state of our financial legislation compos its occasional ex ercise , I repeat the rec mmemlatlon made In my last annual report that In the Interest of the government and people power be con ferred upon the secretary of the treasury to negotiate loans at a lower rate of interest and f r a shoitr time than are naw allowed. The existence of such authority Instead of increasing the probability of a frequent resort to that means of raising money w , uld have the contrary effect , because when the secretary of the treasury Is clothed with ample power and facilities to procure means for the maintenance of the reserve , public confidence In the ability of the government to meet promptly all demands upon It will 1 bo much stronger than under present cir cumstances. Besides the policy of limiting the government to the sale of an antiquated bond bearing a rate of Interest wholly Incon sistent with the existing state of the pub lic credit and having a longer time tq run than ts apparently necessary at the date of Us Issue cannot bo Justified , . ASKS FOR MORE POWERS. , "Tho law should be so amended as to conform - -form to the conditions and requirement ! of the pub'.lo credit and service at the present Ime. and I earnestly hope that congress will , take early and favorable action upon this sub let. So long as there are In circulation jynder the authority of the government two coins unequal In value , but equal In legal litpnder qualities , every consideration of good faith and sound policy requires the prompt .redemption of the notes on presentation In -the kind of coin demanded by the holder , and , the constant observanca of such administra tive methods as may be recsssary to pre serve the purchasing power of the less valu able metal. This Is essential to the con tinued circulation of our standard silver dollars - lars and their paper representatives at par , dwd to abandon this policy without sub- -stltutlng a better ono In Its place would not .only fall to euro many of the evils now ex- Jstlng , bnt would entail upon the people of .the country additional and greater ones. Thla situation I.s the necessary result of these .features of our currency legislation , and It .cannot be permanently avoided , or even tcm- 'Pararlly ' Improved without material changes In our laws relating to that subject. Thess features are : " 1. The circulation' ' of United States notes as currency , and their current redemption In coin on demand. " 2. The compultory relssuo of such notes after redemption. " 3. The excessive accumulation and coinage t sliver nnd the Issue of notes nnd cortlfl- cates against it upon a ratio which greatly overvalues that metal as compared with the etandard unit of value In this and the other principal countries. "Frequent Issues of bonds for the purpose of procuring gold , which cannot bo kept after U has been obtained , will certainly cause In creased distrust among our own people as Well.as among the people ot other countries , nnd not only swell th ? yqlmne of our se- Vjurltles returning from abT-oad , for sale or redemption , but Increase the withdrawal ot foreign capital heretofore Invested In our domestic enterpriser. 1 "Ordinarily when there is no distrust of our currency or other discouraging Influence , a considerable part of the Interest and dlvl- 'dends earned by foreign capital In this coun try is annually or seml-annua'ly reinvested , and this , together with the fact that under normal conditions the bal.inci ot trade Is In our favor , enables our people to meet their obligations abroad wlthojjt reducing their stock ot money at home. But when distrust arises either a to our ability to pay or as to the value of the money with which wo Intend to pay , the foreign capitalist not only ceases to reinvest , but proceeds to withdraw all hla money by disposing of his American securi ties in order to protect bath capital and In come ngalnst threatened depreciation. There are but two ways lu which this withdrawal can ba affected ; one Is for our people to ex port and sell their commodities in foreign markets to a lufflclent amount to create a balance of credit tn their favor equal to the amount to ba withdrawn , and. the. other is to ship gold , that being the only money recog nized In the settlement of the International balances. v MAINTENANCE OF GOLD STANDARD. "But Independently of these considerations our own people have tv clear right to demand ft sound and stable currency for usu In the transaction of their business at home , while their purely commercial relations with the people of other countries upon whom the producers of exportab'e commodities are com p lied to rely for tha consumption of their surplus , cannot be profitably maintained pnless they are alwayj In a condition to pay for what they buy In as good money as they receive for what they sell. We cannot therefore preserve our trade relations with the best customers tor our surplus products unless we maintain a monetary system sub- ' stantlally in accord with thcln. and until they manifest a disposition to co-operate with us In effecting a change upon terms Just and fair to all our Interests , wo ought to continue our adhesion to the gold stand ard otalue with as largea use ot silver as U consistent with the strict maintenance of that policy. Since the resumption of tpecla payments United States legal tender and treasury notes ao redeemed have been re issued and are now outstanding. They are a constant menace to the-gold reserve and no Echome ot financial reform can be compleU or effectual which does not provide at least for their gradual elimination from our cur rency system. I am convinced that the In terests ot the country require such changes In our legiilatloo as will dUchargu the cor < eminent entirely from tba buslnett of Issuing or reissuing circulating notes , and thuu reller * Its fUcal department ot the periodical demands on Its resources which under the exlitlng system must contlnua to disturb the financial and general business affairs ot the people "Arn trary regulation ot the. volume of clr- nutation to be kept cutatandlug U wholly In- consistent with the malntcnanca ot a healthy Inanclal condition nnd Is the exercise ot n 'unction ' which dees not properly belong to .ho government or any other public author- ty. Its effect Is to ( orco paper currency upon the people when It Is not needed and deprive them of It when It Is needed , thus establishing and maintaining an Improper and unwarranted connection between the gov ernment and the private business affairs of ts citizens and their successful prosecution argely dependent upon the judgment or caprice of a superior authority having no In- orost In the transaction , except , perhaps , a mrtltan Interest not In harmony with scund Inanclal arrangements. PRESENT METHOD HAS FAILED. "Under our present currency system , so far as It consists of notes Issued by the United States government , the volume ot circulation was Intended to bo and Is In fact unchange able. It Is unalterably fixed at a certain anuunt , and no matter how great the emergency may bo It can bo neither enlarged nor diminished. The only part of the cur rency possessing In any degree the quality if elasticity Is that Issued by the national banking associations , and It ts now generally conceded , I believe , that in this particular at least It has failed to meet the requlro- ncnts of the situation at 4omo of the most critical periods In the business affairs of the country. Its failure Is creditable. In my oplnlcn , to those principal causes : " 1. To the large volume of United States currency of various kinds kept constantly outstanding , making the contraction or ex- lansion of the comparatively small national rank circulation less effective than it would ctliorwlsa have been. " 2. The difficulty and delay In producing and , to some extent , In retiring clrulatlon. " 3 ( and mainly ) . The provisions of the law which require the- deposit of United States jotuta to eccuro circulation and restricting .ho Issue cf notes to 90 per cent ot the par value of the bonds. "With $ ! )00,000.000 ) In United States notes ; treasury notes of 1S90 , sliver certificates and gold certificates , besides about $625,000,000 In ; old and silver coins constantly outstanding , none of which can be lawfully retired by the government without the substituting ot ether currency in Its place , tha national bank notes , which amount to only $207,500,000 , or about 12 per cent of'tho whole , cannot exert a very effective Influence upon the volume of out- itandlng currency at any time , especially at : lmes when largo contractions or expansions are most needed , but the greatest ilifllcultles are encountered , and the national banking system as now organized Is least effective when the business of the country demands quick cxpaneLns ot the currency to meet sudden emergencies. "In addition to existing obstructions to the prompt Increase 'and decrease of circulation .lie ninth section of the act of July 12 , 1882 , which provides for the extension ct the cor porate existence of national banks , expressly prohibits them from retiring their notes to a Greater amount than $3,000,000 In the ag gregate per month and advocates that no bank which has made a deposit of lawful money In order to withdraw its circulation shall be permitted to make any Increase In its circulation fcr a period of six months [ hereafter. These provisions are so mani festly in conflict with the dictates cf sound policy that they require no comment. OUTLINES OP THC NEW PLAN. "In view ot the foregoing considerations and many others that might bo urged in favor of a reorganization and formation of our paper currency system I have prepared the outllnea cf a. plan which , In my opinion , will relieve the government to a great extent from the burdens now imposed upon it EO- cura within a reasonable time a safe and elastic national and Btato bank currency nnd result ultimately In the permanent re tirement of United States legal tender notes of various classes. It is , in brief , as follows : " 1. Repeal all laws requiring or authorizing the deposit of United States bonds as se curity for circulation. " 2. Permit national banks to Issue notes to an amount pot exceeding 75 per centum of their paid up-and unimpaired capital , but require each bank before receiving notes to deposit a gua.-anty fund , consisting of United States legal tender notes , Including treasury notes of 1890 , to the amcunt of 30 per centum upon the circulating notes outstanding to be maintained at all times , and whenever a bank retires Its circulation Its guaranty fund to be returned to It In proportion to the aracunt of notes retired. " 3. Retain the provls'on of the law making stockholders individually liable and provide that the circulation notes shall constitute a first lien upon all the assets of the bank. " 1 Impose a lax of one-half of 1 per centum per annum , payable seml-annually , upon the averags amount of notes In circulation to defray the expenses of printing notes , ot the supervision , cancellation ; etc. " 5. No national hank note , to be of less denomination than $10 , and all notes of the same denomination to bo uniform In design , but banks desiring to redeem their notes In gold may have them ma-'e payable in that coin. The secretory of the treasury to have authority to prepare and keep orv-liand , ready for issue upon application , a reserve of blank , national bank notes for each banking association having circulation. " 6. Require each national banking insti tution to redeem its notes at its pton ofllco or at its own omclal agencies , to be designated by it. " 7. To provide a safety fund for the im mediate redemption of tha circulating notes of failed banks , Impose a tax of per centum per annum upon the average circu lation of each bank until the fund amounts to G per cent of the total circulation out standing. Require each new bank and each bank taking out additional circulation to deposit Its proper proportion of this fund before receiving notes. When a bank falls Its guaranty fund held on deposit to be paid Into the safety fund and used In the re demption of Its notes , and If this fund shall be Impaired by the redemption of the notes of a failed bank .or banks to 'reimburse the atcly available cash assets of sucli banks are Insufficient to establish the fund , it shall at once bo made good by pro rata assessments upon the. other banks , according to the amount of their outstanding circulation , but there shall be a first Hen upon all the assets of a failed bank or banks to reimburse the contributing banks. The safety fund may bo Invested In outstanding United States bonds having the longest time to run ; the bonds and the interest upon them to be held as part of the fund and sold when necessary to redeem notea ot failed banks. "S. Repeal the provisions ot the reorganiza tion and extension act of July 12 , 1892 , Im posing limitations upon the reduction and increase of national bank circulation. " 9. Repeal all provisions of the law re quiring banks to keep a reserve on account of deposits. " 10. The secretary of the treasury may , In his discretion , use any surplus revenue of the United States in the redemption and retire ment of United States legal tender notes , but such redemptions shall not In the ag gregate exceed an amount equal to 70 per cent of the original circulation taken out by national and state banks under the system herein proposed , " 11. Circulating notes Issued by a banking corporation duly organized under the laws of each state , and which transacts no other than a banking business shall bo exempt from taxation under the laws of the United States when It is shown to the satisfaction of the secretary of the treasury and the comptroller , (1) ( ) that such bank at no time had outstanding circulating notea In excess of 75 per cent of Its paldup and unimpaired capital , (2) ( ) that Its stockholders are Indi vidually liable for the redemption of Its circulation notes to the full extent of their ownership of stock , (3) ( ) that the circulating notes constitute by law a first lien upon all the assets of the bank , ( < ) that the bank at all times have the guaranty fund In United States legal tender notes. Including treasury notes of 1890 , equal to 30 per centum of Its outstanding circulating notes , and (5) ( ) that It has promptly redeemed Us notes on de mand at Its principal office , or at one or moro of Its branch offices. It It has branch * ! . " 12. The secretary of the treasury may , under proper rules and regulations , to be es tablished by him , perm.it state banks to pro cure and UEQ In tha preparation of their notes the distinctive paper used In printing securities , but no ttate. bank shall printer or engrave Its notes In similitude ot a United States note , or certificate or national bank note , . RETIRING UNITED STATE3 MONEY. "Whatever may be. tha objections to the Issue and circulation of United States legal tender paper upon either constitutional or financial grounds , It has become so Incor porated Into our currency system and con stitutes so largo a. part of our active circu lation that It could not ba suddenly with drawn without producing , Jn the ptesent state ot our laws , considerable disturbance In the financial operations ot the govern ment as well as th business ot the people , and , therefore , the plan now suggested pro vides for Its gradual retirement by the use of surplus revenues hereafter received , a process which will probably require toveral years for Its completion. As these notes cannot be retired until other forms of cur rency to an equal amount have token their place , there will bo neither a forced con traction nor expansion of the circulation on account of the change. "As the plan suggested proposes to exempt the government of the United States from all liability for the redemption of national jank notes and place the solo responsibility upon the banks themselves , a guaranty fund of not less than 30 per centum upon the out standing circulation Is regarded as a very proper and necessary feature of the system , tn my opinion the Imposition of a tax by the 'edcral government upon the Issue ot circulat ing notes , lawfully ( sued by state banks , Is an unjustifiable If not an unconstitutional In terference with the authority of the several states ; but Its validity has been Judicially sustained and as It does not appear to bo practicable to repeal It absolutely at this time It Is proposed to avoid Its prohibitory effect by exempting from taxation the notes ) f such banking Institutions as may be organ- zed and conducted under conditions which will amply protect the holders ot their paper. Whllo direct governmental supervision Is not and ought not to be provided for , the require ments that a bank In order to secure exemp tion from taxation must satisfy the secretary of the treasury and the comptroller ot the currency that It has complied with all the conditions Imposed will enable those officials to adopt such measures as may be necessary In each case to secure every material fact involved In the Inquiry. It will bo observed that the plan submitted proposes the repeal of all provisions of existing laws which re quire national banks to hold a fixed reserve against deposits , and , as this Is a departure train the practice which has prevailed con tinuously for more than thirty years , It Is proper to state briefly the reasons which liave prompted me to make this suggestion. "When the national banking system was originally authorized It was regarded by many as a doubtful experiment at first , and various precautionary restrictions were Im posed for the security of the note holders and depositors which practical experience has since shown to be unnecessary and sometimes harmful. Among these ore the requirements that bonds shall bo deposited to secure 90 per cent ot their par value In circulating notes and that a fixed reserve which cannot bo law fully diminished shall be held on account of deposits. The consequence of this last re quirement ij that when a bank stands in need of all Its resources It cannot uao them with out violating the law. The necessity for holdIng - Ing a sufficient reserve against deposits Is not questioned , and In fact the business of re ceiving deposits and discounting paper ought never to be conducted without it , but It should be held for actual use when the occa sion requires and not made legally Inacces sible at the very time It was theoretically supposed to be beneficial In sustaining the credit of the bank and affording relief to Its customers , BANKS CRIPPLED BY THE LAW. 'Under the present law when a bank finds Its reserve In danger of reduction below the legal requirement on account ot the demands of Its depositors It is compelled at once to call in its loans , thereby Increasing the dis trust and aggravating the situation which a Judicious use of the reserve would have re lieved ; and besides at such times. In crder to protect the reserve which is then practically useless for all practical ' purposes , clearing house certificates , various forms of time checks and bills and other devices of doubtful legality are habitually resorted to for the purpose of supplying Circulation to take the place ot lawful money lying Idle In tha vaults of the banks. To provide for a reserve which cannot be utilized , even at a time of the greatest stringency and distrust , without Incurring the penalties of forfeiture , affords a most striking illustration of the impolicy of legislative Interference with the. naturalla.ws _ ot trade and finance. It Is not the duty cr province of the government to control or- reg ulate the private affairs of the people , except for certain well defined purposes. As th'e custody and use ot funds belonging to depos itors are matters which affect only the Inter ests ot the Immediate parties they should ba left to their own Judgment and discretion. The duty of the government , so far as it has any duty In the premises , , la simply to pro vide that all the currency Isued under US authority Is sufficiently secured to prevent Itfi loss or depreciation In the hands of the people ple who are compelled to receive and pay ft out in the transaction ot business. But 'a bank is not dependent upon the government for authority to receive deposits and Its u for that purpose by the public Is as purely voluntary as the credit extended to a coiv pcratlon or to an individual. Every prudently managed bank , if left free to conduct It8 own deposit and discount business In thj manner most advantageous to Its own Interests and the interests of its deposit ors , will keep on hand a reasonable reserve to meet net only the ordinary demands upon It but to provide for such emergencies as are liable to occur in the community where It ( s located , but It ought not to be pro hibited by law from "using suci reserve for the only purpose it was deslgnad to accomplish. The requirements that toe banks shall pay their own obligations Imposes upon them no greater hardship than ts Im posed by law upon every other business and financial Institution In the country and the only argument that could be plausibly urged against It In the case of the banks Is that as the government has undertaken through their agency to secure a sound circulating medium it should pledge its credit to keep it good under all circumstances. The conclusive answer to this Is that the government has discharged its whole duty in the matter wheji it has by its legislation provided such safe , guards as will , with honest and competent management , guarantee the safety of the notes isued by Uts authority , and this Is one of the results which the- proposed plan Is in tended to accomplish. "In order to provide a wider field for the active circulation of our silver coins nnd certificates , which now constitute one-fifth cf the entire volume of our currency , and to protect the treasury as far at possible against the accumulation of certificates re turned in payment of customs and other duties to the government It is proposed that no national bank note ct a less denomina tion than $10 shall be Issued. The bank notes under that denomination now outstand ing amount to $63,258,949 , and there are also In circulation $64,419,831 in old United States legal tender notes In denominations less than $10 , $ GO,193C53 In treasury nots. of 1890 and $131,047,547 In silver certificates , mak ing In the aggregate $318,618,985 In small notes , or only about $19,000,000 less than the entire Issue of silver certificates. The fact that our circulating medium Is composed of so many different kinds of currency would seem to require the enactment of such legis lation as will provldo a place In which each can bo safely and conveniently used , and as this can bo done without discrimination against any ot them It ought not to be omitted from any plan which proprsea per manent changes In the system. The policy of various other countries in this respect appears to have enabled them to avoid the difficulties encountered hero In the attempt to keoi ; tha less valuable cclns and their representatives In circulation without de rangement ot the currency or disturbance of the public finances. K WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES DO. "Great Britain , * lth $555,000,000 In gold and only $112,000.000 In sliver , none ot which Is full legal tender , authorizes the Issue etna na notes cf a less denomination than 5 , equal to $24.33 ; France , Belgium and Italy , with $976,000,000 In cold and ? 518,300.000 In legal tender silver. Issue no notes ot a less denomi nation than 20 francs , or $3.S6 ; Holland , with $27,600,000 in cold and $53,400,000 tn legal tender silver. Issues no paper below 25 flcrlns , equal to $10.65 ; Spain , with $10,000.000 In gold and $126,000,000 In legal tender silver , Issues nothing below 25 pesetas , or $4.72 ; Den mark , Sweden and Norway , with $28,000,000 In gold and $1,200,000 In limited legal tender sliver , have no paper under 10 kroenen , or $2.68 , and Austria-Hungary , with $130,000- 000 In g Id and $81,000,000 In legal tender silver , Is Gradually retiring all notes under 10 crowns , or $4.04. None ot those countries have any paper based exclusively upon silver as wo have , and consequently all payments made In sums less than the denominations of n-tca mentioned must be made , lii actual coin , which would not bo the taso ; here It the recommendation now made should be compiled with. Our stock of full legaj tender sliver cilns is larger. In proportion to. the stock ot eold than in nay ot tbe .coun tries named except Holland. Belgium and Spain , and yet wa continue'fa obstruct ( heir circulation by tbe issue of small United States nites and bank notes which scrvthe purposes of tha people In their dally * trans actions no better than the colna or certifi cates based upon them. The experience ot this country under the act ot February 8 , 1874 , which 1'mlted silver certificate ! to denominations ot $10 , and under the act of . August 4. 18S6 , whlch removed that restric tion , Justlflttf tfe belief \hat the change now propostxl iwpuld result In a greatly In creased uso.ot gllver coins nnd certificates and that thcV wpuld bo much less likely to return and rtfr/Mn / tn the treasury than at the present ; " ! yt ( the Umo ot the passing ot the act lastjBrnfijrred to permitting the use of silver co&iffe not represented by certifi cates Jn denominations of $1 , $2 and $5 standard slf erf dollars had accumulated In the treasury. . taf the nmcunt ot $83,953,880 , although thpitbfal coinage up to that date was only $23SH3,286. Within four months after that ta'to ! , . although In the meantime the colnagoi\vo.t progressing at the usual rate , the amount , of free stiver held In the treasury was1 reduced to $71,259,568. nnd it continued to WtFcaSe ! on account of the de mand for small ) certificates until It became so reduced that- further Issues ot certificates had to bo limited practically to the current coinage of the dollars. " TO MAKD TRADE FREER. On the subject of revenue reform , the secretary continues : "If this country is to utilize to the fullest extent the opportunities offered by Its geographical posltUn , natural resources and the mechanical skill nnd com mercial enterprise bt Its people It must adhere - hero steadfastly and aggressively to the rev enue policy Inaugurated by the present con gress nt Its laH session. The reduction of taxation to the fewest point compatible with the collection of a revenue sufficient to main tain an efficient public service Is a duty which , upon the plainest principles ot Jus tice , every government owes to its citizens under all circumstances , but when the taxa tion Is imposed In such form and at such rates os to Increase the ccat of living and obstruct the processes of Industry and trade this duty becdmes still more Imperative , and a failure to discharge It when tha power exists Is a gross violation ot public trust and confi dence. For many years our tariff laws have been framed upon the Iheory that the wealth of the country could be Increased by Impos ing burdens upon the people nnd that the prosperity of our Industries could be promoted by Increasing the cost of production , and the result has been that net profits of labor and capital constancy diminished until they reached a point which made further develop ment of our resources almost Impossible. But little opportunity was afforded for the extension of our manufacturing and mechan ical Industries or foil the growth of our trade at home or abroatl , nnd thus the farmers and other producers of the 'country were confront ed by a situation which compelled them to receive diminished rewards for Increased pro duction. A change was demanded by every consideration ot public duty and private In terest , and although the recent legislation did not accomplish in that was expected or de sired It Inaugurated a policy which It is hoped and believed will ultimately result In a great Improvement in our Industrial condition and a corresponding enlargement of our Inter national and Internal commerce. In tha pros-1 ecutlon of this policy no temporary character or apparent diversion of the public mind to other subjects should be permitted to dimin ish our confidence in our financial success1 or weaken our determination to maintain a con sistent advocacy of Its claims to the favorabje consideration of : thepeople. . On the contrary reverses should stimulate increased efforts and every movement hereafter made should be a step forward In the direction or freer trade and a more equitable distribution of the. rewards of Industry. The raw materials used In the production ot commodities for the use of the people In their homes and In their va rious industrial pursuits should bo fre&Jrom taxation In ord r. that the burdens of labor may bo llghtenftl , the opportunities for em ployment InqafiJsi and the necessaries of life made mortf Titiarfdant and less expensive. If our Industries era to bo profitably con ducted , reduQ sL.c95tflt product mustprecede. or accompany reduced price of the finished product , and ; ' iMVke'ap dommodltles increase consumption the Jlnterests of all classes , Will be promoted of removing the obstructions which deny our skilled laborers and artisans access to the world's store of raw materials. The late act , whllo.lt places upon the free list a conslderablQpJtfJ of moat Ipfporfant jaw materials used In our manufactures , left iron and lead ores and bituminous coal and sev eral other articles at less consequence still du tiable , thus no.L gnly falling to put In force a " levenua reform , but ttMt valuabli-mduBrtles ilajgt&g > lSi&v'ant8Ke ) as cpnipared- with their irlvals dllfereaily located. " * . "There are other "defects , consisting of am- blguoos. 'phraseology in some of tho-paja- graphs , and fnconslsjenf ami excessive , rates of , ddty. In soinp otlj.h6 schedules , a correc tion of which , would , b9 In harmony with a pollcjr ot progressive reform nppn a. basis of equal Justice to producers and consumers nnd would not affect the revenue to apy , con siderable extent. J Advantage should * < be promptly taken"of every opportunity to re move all these objectionable features' from 'the act In order that our legislation may b'emade , , to conform , as speedily as possible , , to1 the pledges given to the people and to vtho de mands of public sentiment on this subject. " CU4KO1SU WITH F.irOKtTISJt. ' Defense In A. 11. 17. Cases Ask to Have Unltoil Mutes Attornojs Itoninvcd. SAN FRANCISCO , Dec. 4.-A sensation was created yesterday In the United States court before" which Main and Cas- sldy , American .Hallway union men , are on trial for conspiracy. Attorney Montleth , their counsel , formally moved to have United States District Attorney darter and Assistant District Attorney Samuel Krtlsht removed from their positions as prosecutors In the case on tbe ground of bias nnd undue friendliness fpr the Southern Pacific Rail road company. Two of the 'Jefendants were Introduced. It was charged that through all UK ; recent strike trouble the district at torney and his assistants conspired with the Southern 1'afltlo officers anil that they took such unwarranted action on behalf of the railroads in this matter and became so biased that the conviction at the men now on trial is essential to the vindication of the district attorney. It was further charged that the district attorney and his assist ants have a personal Interest tn suppressing evidence on behalf of the accused men , and that when thd matter won under Investiga tion before the United States grand Jury the district attorney's Influence was wrong fully used to prevent the grand jury from hearing material evidence on behalf of the strikers. It was also charged that District Attorney Garter owes his appointment to the lute Senator Stanford and railroad In fluence , and that throush all of the recent trouble he was -active in their behalf. The motion to remove District Attorney Garter and his assistant , KnlRht , and to substitute special counsel for the prosecution was denied by Judge Morrow and the trial was ordered to proceed. General Swiilm' * L'roliable Successor. WASHINGTON , Dec. 4. The announce ment of the president's determination to retire Judge Advocate General Swalm this month has raused much speculation In mil itary circles as to the succession. Under ordinary circumstances General Swalm would not retire before 1895. The president has adopted a course which , while perfectly legal , has very few precedents In the his tory of tha army. Up to this time but two names have been prominently mentioned for the succession. 7 Qnp , Is Joseph Doe of Wis consin , assistant secretary ot war. and the other is ColoneirCJ3I. Liber of South Carolina lina , Mr. Doe has , liowever , publicly denied any asplratlori to the place , and It seems very probably .tpat the olllce will fall to Colonel Liber , who has , since General Swulm's suspension , discharged the duties ot Judge advocate general. Ileflnerlcn Kllnftlny on llulf Force. NEW YORKJ Da& 4. An afternoon paper prints the follovylpg : as emanating from President Havemeyer of the American Sugar company1 : ' "Work has been resumed In the rennerK-s- a very reduced scale. I do not antlduau- the passage of. a free sugar bill. ThpM'ranUlln refinery of Phil adelphia Is wiltklns with a reduced force. The Spreckela K-llnery' Is not working at all. The Boston refinery is working with about half the usuafc * icrce. The. Madison and Welchers refinery Is workinir with about half force. The Brooklyn refinery la Idle , The Havemeyer > and Elder refinery is warx- inc with nearly full force. " Mr. Havemeyer denied the reports of dlf- ference with other directors. He also denied having a conference with senators at the Fifth Avenue hotel. Oregon Kidney Te cures all kldnty 'ran * bltt. Trial Ue , 25 cents. All drugglsti. Think Tlwjr Ilavo Jloeu bwlmllcil. WABHINQTONi Dec. 4.-An equity bill { or the appointment of a receiver and an Injunction against , the Fidelity Building and Loan and Investment association , the Co lumbia Building , Loan and Inveutment as Hoclatlari , Harrison D. Ingman. Andrew Wall and other * was filed In the dUtrlot court today by stockholders. The bill charges fraud1 and mismanagement , that the corporations are Insolvent , that Bharos ore now worth but half the amounts paid on them , so that further payments would bs useless , and asks for a receiver. In cidentally It erases that stockholders ore kept In Ignorance ot the affairs of the corporation. S J- * 1H * A STARTLING EX1IIBIT ( Continued from Pago. ) their particular session ot 1891 paid for enough Jacknlves to entitle each member to six of the Implements swear upon their honor that they never saw one. It Is known that persons who did obtnlit knives drew them by means -requisitions made out by Eric Johnson , chief clerk of the house , nnd the secretary ot the senate. It Is not known what the result would bo If this were followed up all along the line. Tliero was a large army of employes , who are credited with assisting In consuming such stuff. stuff.Whllo Whllo unprecedented frugality 1ms pre vailed In all of the state's Institutions In the past two years the largo and expensive pay rolls would seem to justify the belief that material reductions might be brought about In the salaries without Impairing the public service. The wages paid the state's ser vants arc better than any other class of employes receive during these times , and especially Is that true of these employed In the Institutions which board the employes at the expense of the state. A conservative reduction of the pay where It can be done without Injury to the service will result In an aggregate saving of many thousands an nually. FIRB INSURANCE. During my Incumbency I have sought to learn more of the affairs ot the Insurance companies transacting ) business In this statq than Is disclosed by their annual statements filed in this department , and I have caused practical and thorough examinations to bo made of nineteen foreign and domestic com panies , with very satisfactory results. ID 1893 four lire Insurance companies were ad mitted to the state , and the same number retired , and In this year two companies were admitted and fourteen either volunT tarlly withdrew or failed. In 1893 Sl : ( Farmers' Mutuals were admitted and ton In 1894 , Four 'miscellaneous companies were- admitted In 1893 , ono withdrawing , and ono was admitted In 1891. I am very thoroughly of the opinion that our present Insurance laws should be re * pealed and a mora comprehensive law enacted affecting all forms ot underwriting. Our present law is too vague and uncertain. It Is difficult to safely conduct this depart ment with laws that are subject to di verse constructions and make It as effective as It should be. The penalties for viola tions of our insurance laws should be definite nnd severe , and the authority ought to be fully and certainly lodged In this office or somewhere else , to prosecute Infractions of the law to a conviction. I have made strenuous efforts to prevent the Lloyds and other unauthorized alleged Insurance asso ciations , companies or corporations from soliciting pr procuring business .In our state , and have directed the attention ot all con cerned to the unreliability of that class of presumed Insurance and the hazard they assume in dealing with any of these wildcat schemes that refuse to comply with our laws , and have also done all I could to ap prehend some of these unlawful under writers and bring them to Justice. In view ot the alarming Increase of the loss rate , as compared with the premiums received since the enactment of sections 43 to 4G , both inclusive , of chapter 43 ot the An notated Statutes of 1893 , I am .forced to the conclusion that equity and fa'lr dealing as between the two parties to an insurance contract roako It almost imperative that . .the sections referred to be repealed , and , If deemed necessary , substituted by a more ratlotial and less partial act. I can't resist the conclusion that the effect of this act It1 to create an incentive for incendiarism , and thereby greatly Increase the moral hazard o ! th ? risk written , as well as to Jeopardize the property of the neighbor , which neces sarily must result In advanced Insurance/ rates for the honest insurer to pay or a ( Withdrawal of the companies from the Held. ( Were all men above the suspicion of avail- ling themselves of the advantages they might gain financially by the valued policy law , its effects would bo beneficent and there would bo no reason to suppose that this or any ( othec-slawiwould place a premium on arson * LIFE INSURANCE. ' Our life and accident insurance laws are qulto as imperfect as those pertaining to fire Insurance and should be replaced with new , crisp laws , free from all ambiguity and tdoubt as to their meaning. Our present laws are relics of our territorial days and wholly Inadequate. They fall to enlighten either tba companies or this office ot the dujjes devolving upon each , as they should. In 1893 three life and accident insurance companies were admitted and ono wlth- , drew , and In 1894 flvo new companies were admitted ! and one withdrew. Nineteen fraternal orders have been admitted and six have withdrawn during the present blen- nlum. I recommend the enactment of a rigid law for the guidance of soliciting and other agents of all manner ot Insurance com- .panics , and making any misrepresentations on their part amenable to severs penalties , and until some such wholesome legislation is had the mad rush for business will be con tinued , under a disadvantage by the really conscientious and truthful agent. BONDS. Bonds of all classes and fonns , aggre gating J1,935.0G7 , have been registered in this office in the past two years. About $200,000 in bonds have been refused registra tion , owing to legal defects. I desire to call your especial attention to our existing laws governing the issuing If Internal im provement' ' bonds. Under section 9 , chapter 93 , page 647 , Annotated Statutes of 1893 , canals constructed for Irrigating or water power purposes are declared to be works of Internal Improvement , and they are created under the provisions of chapter 45 of the same statute. Recently , for obvious rea sons , large quantities of county , precinct and village bonds have been Issued for Irri gation , purposes In the hope of getting relief for the agricultural districts of the state. I respectfully urge that section 9 of chapter 93 , above cited , be repealed , and a special law enacted under which Irrigation bonds shall be Issued , prescribing the amount , rate and manner of voting , and requiring that the bonds so voted shall not be de livered to any company or corporation until It shall have entered into a contract and bond with the county , township or village so voting ing such aid to complete the canal and de liver the water therein within a stipulated time , according to the specifications to ba filed In the office of the county clerk before the election Is called. BANKING DEPARTMENT. I wish to especially emphasize the neces sity of a vigorous law regarding bond Invest ment companies. Nebraska has been flooded with circulars and representatives ot so- called bond Investment companies , offering alluring Inducements to 'Investors. The banking board has exerted all possible effort to rid the state of those swindlers , by resolu tion and otherwise , and a pungent law on this subject will be of great good to all. The banks ot the state maintain excellent solvency in these depressing times and at test to the efficiency of the censorship given them by those who are charged with their control. Our laws governing building and loan associations should be made more specific and less cumbersome , the better to enable their correct Interpretation and there by enhance their usefulness. Very re spectfully submitted. submitted.EUOENE EUOENE MOORE , Auditor Public Accounts. U3QISI.TIVi : SUIM'LIIM I'UltOIIASKU. Secretary of Stnte Allen lias Let the Com tract * for tlio Season Already , LINCOLN. Dec. 4. ( Special. ) To a repre sentative ot The Bee today , Secretary of State /lien said that he had , already con tracted for supplies for the coming state legislature , Including the work ot renovating the chambers of the senate and house of representatives , stationery , etc. On being asked to see thes * contract * ha replied that be woud | not submit them for Inspection until they were laid before the legislature it Its opening next January. In regard to these contract ! ) State Auditor Eugene Moore said that they would not come under hi * official observation until the bllli were pre sented for his action on the same. As the nutter now stands , the various contracts for next session' * legislative lupplln , amounts ot same and prices , will not be given to the publlo save through the regular channels of the record Ot the Uglslatlve Journals. In section 4 , chapter Ixxxlll ot the Com piled Statutes of Nebraska , th only authority for th * purchut of th supplies given to the secretary of state. Is s follows : It shall ba the Outy of the secretary of state to furnish th < > toglMnturo nnd the ofll- cors thereof nil necessary Mel nnd stft- t onery xyhcn t > directed by resolution of the legislature , or elllir-r branch thereof. So far as lias developed there has been no resolution of the legislature to this effect , as the old legislature Is , practically , dead , and the now ono cannot resolve until It has con vened and ascertained what supplies are required for its service. But under nrtlclo 12 , chapter Ixxxlll , section 2 , board of ( supply proposal It la provided that : At lenst ono month previous to the 1st ot January , April , July nnd October , respect ively , In each ywir , a bonnl , ronilstltiK of povernor , commissioner of publlo lands ami buildings , secretary of state. treas urer nnd attorney general , shall meet with the warden of the stnto prison and the superintendents of each of the asylums or other Institutions fur nished by the state nnd determine the sup plies that may be necessary for three month ! ) , except articles which may bp per- Islmtilo nnd cannot l > e kept. Said bo.inl shall designate clearly the quantity nnd quality of the articles , and shall then n < l- vcrtlse for ten days In pome newspaper published at the capital having general clri dilation ln > the state. If Secretary of State Allen Is acting under this provision , which In nowise affects legis lative supplies , it would seem that an ad vertisement covering such ground should have been , printed Ithln the ten-day limit and Incorporating In Its provisions the com ing session ot the legislature MBS. BAMAOOIOXTl'S WILL. Effort llolng Mndo to Knock It Out III Dlitrlcl c urt , The disposition of the property of the late Mrs. Mary E. Ramacclottl U the subject of a law suit that is being tried before a Jury In Judge Ambrose's court , the action being In the form of a contest of the will ot the de ceased. Mrs. Ramaccloltl was the wife of H. L. Ramacclottl , and was possessed of property valued at about $25,000 , the result of careful Investments made of money left her at the death of her first husband. Before her death Mrs. Ramacclottl and her husband had had much domestic trouble , and she had made , at 'least ono attempt upon his lite , It is alleged , and they had practically separated. Mrs. Ramacclottl died suddenly , about a year ago , and left a will , by the terms of which her property was bequeathed to an adopted son , Harry E. Ogle , a foundling , who had been cared for by Mrs. Ramacclottl , but had never been formally adopted , according to law. Some ot the property was also left to Mrs. Gibson , a sister of the deceased. When the will was filed for probate the brother and sisters ot Mrs. Ramacclottl com menced contest proceedings to have the will set ; aside , alleging that the deceased was not competent at the time of the making of the will , and alleging that her mind had been unbalanced by her domestic troubles. The case was taken to the district court on the question of admitting the will to probate. The trial of the case will last for several days. days.Harry Harry E. Ogle has been legally adopted by Dr. Ramacclottt since the death ot Mrs. Ramacciottl. The Note Meant Nothing. In Judge Duffle's court the case of the Omaha Loan nnd Trust company against George B. Green. Is on trial. Green was a stock , broker in South Omaha , and did busi ness with Joseph J. Hunter ot Chicago. After several years' transactions an accountIng - Ing was had , which showed that Green was In Hunter's debt to the tune of $7,701. This was secured by a mortgage , which was sold to the Omaha Loan and Trust company by Hunter. Green offers a defense that the In debtedness to Hunter was In the shape of accommodation , notes , and Is resisting the col lection of the claim. Minor Legal Mutters. Henry Henderson was called for trial In the criminal section of the district court yester day , but failed fo put in an appearance , and his bond was declared forfeited , Henderson is. a , colored man who. wen.ttq hi a , home a , fcw weeks ago ami found anoUierjjiian , named Green , there talking to Mrs. . Henderson. A fight ensued , and Green had an eye destroyed by a blow from Henderson , who had a big ring on his striding .hand. He gave bonds for his appearance for trial , but weakened yesterday and skipped the town. , Little Mary Griffith Is In Iowa , and the habeas corpus case commenced by her father for her possession Is temporarily hung up In Judge Scott's court. Mrs. St. John , who has had possession ot the child since Its mother's death , sent the little one to Correctlonvllle with a friend to spend Thanksgiving before the papers In the case were served upon her. She hag been cited to appear In court this morning and account for the whereabouts of the child. A Diphtheria Cure. WASHINGTON , D. C. , Dec. 3. The noti fication to the Marine Hospital service that Parko Davis & Co. , the Detroit chemists , wore preparing to manufacture antl-toxlne the new remedy for diphtheria , has been fully confirmed , and has awakened great Interest - terest here. Dr. Roux's discovery has created such a sensation In Europe that American physicians are anxious to put it to a thorough test. Payment on Account Ordered. MILWAUKEE. Dec , 4. Judge Jenkins Is sued an order today requiring the Wisconsin Central receivers to pay the charge of the Northon Pacific receivers J110.000 on account. The Chicago & Northern Pacific receivers were also ordered to Intervene in the main suit and to answer the Northern Pacific pe tition concerning the matter of supplies. Oregon Kidney Tea cures nervous head aches. Trial size , 25 rents. All druggists. Nnvlgntlon Employes tn Court. PORTLAND , Dec. 4.-In the United States court today a. hearing began in the Oregon Hallway and Navigation company wage schedule case , in which the engineers , fire men , conductors , brakemen and telegraph operators petition the court for un order re straining Receiver McNeltl from reducing their wages. Ivy Poisoning Eight Yearo of Suffering Perfect Cure by Hood's Sarsaparllla " 0. 1. Hood It Co. , Lowell , Masj.t " Dear Sirs : Wo have tried Hood's Sarsaparilla - rilla and find It to be all you claim ( or It. My vrlfo was poisoned by Ivy when a young woman , and ( or eight years was troubled every season Hood'ssv > Cures rrlth tbo breaking out and terrible Itching and lutrnlng. I thought hers was as bad a caie as anyone ever had. Bus was In this dlitrcsilng condition cvery year until the began to Uka Hood's Bmaparllla , which has effected a per fect cut9 , without leaving any scars , and eha has had hadNo No Sign of the Poison Slnco. Bhalswejl and hearty , I have UWen Hood's Sarsaparllla alter the grip with gocd results , and have aho given it to our ( pur children. VT are all pictures of perfect health and owe Itto Hood's S riaFarH | . " J. 0. tfiiEZMAH , Van- N , b. If you decide to take Hood's Sariapa- rllla do not DO. Induced tn buy any oth.tr laitead. Hood's Pllta * ro hand made , and parted la proportion and appearance. 8Cc , f-a bgi COMPLEXIONS 1 . . _ _ . . . _ _ Dark MHlln * * * ll. lt.u ! -l \ ' \ , yellow , oily , mothy skin , pim ples , blackheads , roughness , redness , dry , thinand fallinghalrnml8lmplo baby blemishes prevented and cured by the celebrated The most effective skin purifying and beautifying soap In the world , as well as purest and sweetest for toilet , bath , and nursery. It Is so bocmisa it strikes at the CAUSK of most com- ploxlonal disfigurations , vlz.t the CLOOOED , IXVLAUKD , IHnlTATED , OVEKWOUKKD , Or BLCOOISIt PORK. Bold throughout the world , POT-TEH Dnoo AND CiIKU. COUP , > ola proprietors , Ilonton. iff "All About the lllocxl ldu , Bcslp.and llilr"mailed fre . CONVENIENT AND ECONOMICAL ! t T . : Fmt * j.n& l Z ! ! tM ii r ursaiii t t hi The best way to 1m- provo nnd strongh- cn Soups , Dishes of nil kinds U to add a little of the famous i Leibig COMPANY'S Extract of Beef For Improved and Economic Oookory. For delicious , Refreshing Beef Tea. OCT SEARLES & SEARLES- SPECIALISTS. Clironls WE Nervous Private W0. CURE Diseases Trcalnientby Mail , Consultation Free Catarrh , all diseases of the nose , Throat. Chcst.Stomacli.Llver.Ulood Skin and Kidney diseases , Lost Manhood and all Private Dis eases of Men , Cull on or addresi , Dr. Searles & Scarlos , TiERVE SEEDS _ .jl 1'iiinouii ' Uemetlr euros quickly and perraa- _ _ - . . iiontly all nervous * sw alsoatoB , Bitch as Vvo-ile Memory , Ix > of Drain I'ower. Iloadarlie , Woliofulncjs , Lost Vltnlliy , nluUllyomlsBloiwovlldream .lm- polenor nnd wastlntf diseases caused bjr > an thrill errors or xc r * . Contains no oplnt 9. IIH litrvo Cuulo uu < l blood biillitvr. Makes tha pala anil puny strong atid plnmp. Kaallr carried In vctt pookou 81 pcrboxi O rorSff. iff mall r wllh a irrltten KUHrantea toeura or monor refunded. Wrltotufar rreo meillcul book , tent oenlod In nlnln wnippar , whlcti comnlns taittlruonluli and unanclnl reforcnooa. No churire ni' cmitultii- tlouv * Rcwan of ( mitatfntij. Hold br our advor * tiled n ent , or adilren * A jKVU HUI1U CO. , Maeonlo Temple , Vbloniro. 111. BOLD IN OMAHA , NEn. , nVfiUEUMAN & Me. CORNELL , 1515 nODGK. KUHN 4 CO. . IBt VICKERS & MERCHANT. ICtb cnt TOWAKD BTKEBTB. TODAY AT 2:30. : POPULAR PRICES. Everybody Como and Brine the Children to See DONMELLY & GIRARD IN THE RAINMAKERS ORCHESTRA : BALCONY : SOc. Last performance Tonight. THHEE NIGHTS SATURDAY MAT. .6. EUGENETOMPKINS' Grand 1'roductioa ot THE BLACK CROOK The Magnificent Uallct. Hpectacl * . A Dazzllnc Ilumanco In 4 Acts and It Tableaux. 100 People and Carloads of Scenery. Undtr the direction ot LAWHENCIJ Mc- CAUTV. Identically the uamo projucllou th t wan liero last February , Hale openi Wedneednr at the following prletj : Kir it naor , It.OO and II.W ; balcony , Ua and lie. EMPIRE THEATRE " 'Sfta * ( Formerly People's Theater ) . W. J. DDIIOESB . . . . MAHAor.ii UhO. U.T-S , .SATURDAY MATINKH. EZRA KENDALL lu liln Now Ploy , "THE SUBSTITUTE. " Th FunnlMt II * Uver IIiuL n. Hvery Iwly Itendlny tli t l ThurtJar mornlnif , Ure. fill , Uawttii tUu hour * ot | and 10 , will r 9. tv , mt ft , t : <