Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, December 26, 1896, Page 3

a ee cet Se OUR MONEY VAULTS REPORT PRES! \'PED BY THE SECRE- TARY OF FITE TREASURY, Mr. Carlisle, in Discussing the Fi- nancial Question, Says That the Greenbacks Should Be Retired— ! He Repeats His Former Reeom- mendations for Legislation With Respect to the Nation's Currency, _ Washington, Dee. 21 secretary Carlisle, ‘in h annual report en the state of the ‘finances, shows the revenues of the* gov- ernment from all sources to have been 408, and the expenditures $43 + leaves a deficit for the vending June 1896, of $25,203,245. In ad- dition to the ordinary revenues collected during the year the eash in the treasury was increased by the following sums: From the sale of $100,000,000 4 per cent thirty-year bonds, $11, and from the issues of 4 per t bonds in liquidation of interest accrued on refunding certificates converted durin: 130, making a total of $111,17¢ fiseal year 1895 creased $19,10: toms, $7, 192; ete., ‘There the The cnr the b: From From intern: Miscellaneon: From posts 4; internal revenue, ‘on coinage, bullion depos service, e becn a decrease in ditures of $4,( of the government for the y re thus estimated upon ervice. Total estimated revenues nenditures for the estimated at $47: mated deficiency for t mated that upon the ba s the revenues for the 1898 will : rom customs...... oe 4 irom internal revenue 5 ‘ous sourc m postal service Total estimated revenues... Issue of Bonds. ce March 1, 1893, United States bonds ne amount of $262,315,400 have been 1 and sold for 81,894 in gold, the same time notes have been ed in gold to the amount of $45 . and on the first day of December, there was free goid in the treasury to the amount of $13 0. Since the tion of specie pa} son the first a January, 1879, United States notes to the amount of $470,490,987 d tre ury notes issued und the act of 18% the of § $81, making 919,868 in the aggregate, have been re- deemed in gold, and since Aug. 1, 1893, notes to the amount of $35,121 » been cancelled and retired from on king no deductions on account of the loss or destruction of note the total amount of United States currency in exist- ence on the first day of December, 1896, was $4 3,296, consisting of $346,681,016 in United States notes and $121,677,280 in ‘treasury notes of 1890, and, consequently, it appears that the entire volume of such notes has been once redeemed in gold, and more than $98,561,000 have been twice re- deemed. The estimates of appropriations required for the same period, exclusive of sinking fund, amount to $46,946,047, which leaves an estimated deficiency for the year ending June 30, 1808, of $45,718,970. These esti- mates of tecelpts and expenditures, the secretary says, are made on the assumption that there will be no substantial change in existing business conditions, and that the present scale of public expenditures will not be reduced. But if our ordinary busi- ness activity should be resumed and the consumption of articles subject to taxa- tion should Increase to its normal propor- tions, there may be in fact, the secretary says, no deficiency in our revenues. In his review of the reports of the bu- reau officers of the department, the secre- tary pays a high compliment to the reve- nue cutter service, and says: There has not been a single year in the history of the service when, with its old and badly adapted class of vessels and de- pleted personnel, its resources ‘have been so severely taxed, and yet an incomparable record of service rendered is presented. The secretary recommends that enlisted men of the revenue cutter service who have been or may be wounded or disabled while in the actual discharge of thelr duties, be entitled to be placed upon a pension list, on the same footing as enlisted men of the navy. As to the fur seal fisheries the secre- tary states that the seal herd is threat- ened with rapld extermination, unless changes are speedily made in the Paris award resolutions, and he expresses the hope that the respective governments may agree upon the needed changes to effectu- ally preserve the herd and protect this valu- able Industry and Its product for the use of mankind. The secretary in reviewing the work of the nevigation bureau, renews his recom- mendation for the repeal of the law for- bidding American registry to vessels owned by Americans and engaged in the foreign trade, unless built in the United States. The Currency Question. In his discussion of-the currency question, the secretary makes an exhaustive argu. ment in favor of the retirement from cir- culation of United States and treasury notes, in the course of which he says: Our experience since the resumption of specie payments has so thoroughly demon- strated the impolicy of attempting to main- tain the circulation of these notes as a per- manent part of our currency, that further argument upon the question’ seems to be unnecessary, except for the purpose of again pressing the subject upon the attention of congress and urging the prompt adoption of such measures as will, within a reason- able time, eliminate this clement of weak- ness from our system. The use of these notes as a circulating medium compels the government to pro- vide a large gold reserve for their current redemption, and as they are reissued when redeemed, such reserve «ust be replenished from time to time in order to afford the public a reasonable assurance that no de- fault will be made in the discharge of our public obligations. The difficulty of procuring gold for this purpose is greatly increased at the very times when its pos- session is most necessary and, consequently, the government being at such times entirely deprived of gold receipt from the ordinary Hes of revenue, is compelled to Issue sell bonds upon terms less favorable an might be procured under other ¢ir- cumstances. The annual interest upon Wie addition to the public debt which has byen made to procure and maintain the reserve amounts to $16,312,616, and the aggregate of the principal and interest at the maturity of the bonds will be more than $641,000,000, and yet the notes themselves, on account of which this enormous indebtedness has been incurred, will, if our present policy is maintained, remain unpaid. But it cannot be safely assumed that this will be the whole measure of the burden f sed upon the people; because, if provision is not made for the cancellation of this currency, it is reasonably certain that emergencies will hereafter arise, from time to time, compelling the issue and sale of additional bonds to replenish the reserve, thus in- creasing our interest-bearing debt, without in the least diminishing our obligations on account of the notes. ‘The maintenance of a policy which neces- sarily imposes upon the government the Durden of furnishing gold at the pubile ex: ! pense to all who may demand it for use ot hoarding at home, or for export to other countries, cannot be justified upon any ground of expediency or sound financial principle, and even if the periodical and frequently recurring demands for gold did not weaken the foundations of our entire { 1 currency system, thus impairing confidence | and depressing business, it would, neverthe- tess, be the duty of all who are charged with any degree of responsibility for the adopt'on of proper financial methods, to in- sist upon the reformation of our laws on this subject at the earliest possible day. Retire the Greenbacks. There is but one absolutely certain way to remove this delicate and dangerous ques- tion from our party politics, and that is to retire and cancel the notes. All attempts to hoard them permanently by the govern- ment must fail, for the obvious reason that oir people will not consent to be taxed merely for the purpose of accumu- lating and holding a large and useless surplus fy the t uy. With a liberal commercial policy, pro- moting the profi introduction of our 1 surplus prod into the markets of other countries, and a sound currency system, promising safe investments for foreign capital in our domestic enterprises, we may contidently rely upon the operation vf the natural laws of trade and finance for on abundant supply of good money to transact all the business of the people and fully develop all the g resources ut our conmand. In my last annual report it was recom- mended that the secretary of the treasuzy should be authorized to issue from time to time bonds payable in gold, bearing in- terest at a rate not exceeding 3 per cent per annum, and having a long time to run, and to exchange such bonds for United States and treasury notes upon such terms as might be most advantageous to the goyv- ernment, or to sell the bonds abroad for gold neneyer, in his judgment, it might be ad ble to do so, and use the gold thus obtained in making redemptions of outstanding notes. ‘The terms in which this ‘commendation was made and the suggestions submitted in support. of it, showed that it did not contemplate the retirement of all the outstanding notes at one time, but that the process should be so conducted as to avold any danger of an improper contraction of the currency. Be- lieving that this plan of redeeming the notes, and at the same time submitting an absolutely sound currency in place of them promises the most certain means of accomplishing the desired result within a reasonable time, I adhere to the views then expressed; but the object to be at- tained is so essential to the future finan- cial safety of the country that it ought not, in my judgment, to be defeated or aban- doned simply on account of differences of opinion concerning the methods of secur- ing it. While an act conferring express and plen- ary authority upon the secretary to issue bonds and use them or the proceeds of their szle for the purpose of retiring a certein amount of the notes each year, would, in my opinion, be the most effectual and economical ject, and it n be that so radical a meas- mre wou'd not receive the assent of con- gress, in the present state of the public mind upon the subject, and if so, It Is sub- mitted that, at che very least, authority skowld be given to retire and cancel a 2 amount of notes each year when presented ly the holders and ld; and if the maximum ould not be year by re- s out of the gold reserve, the sec- authority to apply to in the treasury, and in f Mdition, if ne ry, to issue the char- reter of bonds above described to a sufil- Cent amotut to comply with the-provisions «2 the law. Circulating Notes. Yor reasons which were submitted at rome length in my last annual report, and which it is unnecessary to repeat, I recom- mend auch amendments to the national yanking laws as would permit the issue of cireniating notes equal in amount to the face value of the bonds deposited, and re- duce the tax on notes to one-fourth of 1 per cent per aunum, and that authority be given to establish branch banks for the t action of all kinds of business now d, except the issue of circulating itation upon the required amount of banks should, in the judgment secretary, be reduced to $25,000. In the course of his report on the public expen- ditures and revenues, the secretary says: At the close of the fiscal year 1805 the yailable cash’ balance in the treasury, after deducting all current abilities, but inchiing the gold reserve of $100,000,000, was .240.153, and at the close of the fiscs! year 1896 the available cash balance, exciuding the current Habilities, but includ~ ing ‘he gold reserve of $100,000,000, was 482,096, an Increase of $72,191,942. The excess of enditures over receipts dur- ing the was $25,208,245, while the deficieicy during the fiscal years 1804 and 1895 was $69,803,260 and $42,895,223 respectively, making the total excess of expenditures over re- celpis from the ordinary sources of reve- nue curing the three years $17,811,729. The © Unary expenditures of the govern- ineluding pensions and interest on the prdile debt, were $31,298,508 less dur- ing t fiscal year than during the fiscal closed on the g0th day of June, 1, B45, Jess than in 18094, and less than during the year 1895. ‘Phe total receipts from the ordinary sources of revenue, including the postal service, for the fiscal year 1895 were $17,570,705 great- er than in 1894, and for the year 1896 they were $19,102,205 greater then in 1895, mak- ing an aggregate Increase of $36,672,913 in 1896 over the year 1894. The increase in the receipts from customs during the year 1896 was $28,203,221 over the receipts from the same source in 1894, and $7,863,134 in excess of the receipts of 1895; but érring the first five months of the current fiscal year the receipts from all sources have been $9,628,628 less than during the cor- responding five months of last year, while the expenditures for the same time have increased $14,448,891, resulting in a defi- to accomplish that ob- | y of the treasury should be clothed | that purpose fund to insure the regular conduct of the ordinary fiscal operations of the govern- ment. The fact that this money was not collected by taxation, but was procured by the issue of bonds, for a purpose other than the payment of ordinary expenses, docs not affect the situation in the least. What is most needed at present Is not more taxes, but more economy tn appropri- ations and expenditures. The great increase in the ordinary expenditures of the govern- ment during the last seven years has been without precedent in our history tn iime of peace, and presents a subject which impera- tively demands the most serious considera- tion of congress. An examination of the expenditures and objects for which they were made shows that during the first period of four years— 1886, 1887, 1888 and 1889—the average an- nual payments on account of civil and mis- cellaneous items wete $78,262,020; on ac- count of the war department, $38,960,721; on account of the navy department, $16,- 838,568; on account of Indians, $6,358,799; on account of pensions, $76,576,813, and on account of interest on the public debt, $46,- 009,553, while the average amount of ex- penditures for the same objects during the succeeding period of seven years was: For clyil and miscellaneous items, $96,730,865; for the war department, $49,577,677: for the navy department, $27,868,164; for Indians, $10,304,314; for pensions $135,328,561, and for interest.on the public debt, $31,215,34 The average annual excess of expe iditures during the last period uver the expenditures for the same purposes during the first peri- od was: For civil and miscellaneous items, $18,518,845; for the war department, $10,- 616,956; for the navy department, $10,029,- 498; for Indians, $3,945,515, and for pen- sions, $58,751,748, the only decrease being in the amount paid for interest on the public debt, which was $14,796,211 less per annum than’ during the first period. It does not appear that there has been any such necessary extension or substantial improvement of our public service as to justify these »normous increases in expendi- tures, and, in my opinion, we have reached a situation which not only forbids the favor- able consideration of measures calculated to augment our annual outlay, but which ob- viously demands a thorough revision of our permanent appropriation 'aws and the en- forcement of strict economy in futare annual legislation upon the subject. But unless our annual receipts are in- creased by improved business conditions or our annual expenditures are reduced, a time will arrive when provision must be made for additional revenue, and if the ex- penditure of the government shall be in- creased by acts of congress the necessity for such a measure will arise earlier than the present situation seems to indicate. Protection. On the subject of protection in this con- nection, the secretary says in part: So long as the income of the government from customs and Internal taxes exceeded its expenditures, the fact that protective du- ties were destructive of revenue, although clearly apparent to all who observed the practical operation of the system, did not attract the attention of the public general- ly, but the situation has been materially changed since 1892, and hereafter it will not be possible to sacrifice revenue to pro- tection without seriously embarrassing the fiscal affairs of the government, by de- priving it of an income sufficient to defray its necessary expenditures. If the usual ap- propriations of this income is hereafter to j be derived from taxes on imported goods, the protective idea must be abandoned as ‘the basis of our legislation upon the sub- ject, and a well considered and consistent revenue system must be substituted in its place; and in my opinion this can be done without material injury to any trade or industry now existing in this country. The danger of a large foreign competition in our home market, and the alleged injurious effects of such competition upon the in- terests of domestic labor, have not only been greatly exaggerated in the past, but are less now than at any time heretofore, and must continue to grow less hereafter. The number of our people in gainful occu- pations increased from 17,382,009 in 1880 to 22,735,661 in 1890, a gain of 5,343,562; and, while the increase in all such occupations during the ten years was 30.72 per cent, the increase in manufacturing and mechan- ical industries, which are supposed to be most subject to foreign competition, was 49.13 per cent. A further and most gratify- ing evidence of our growing Industrial pow- er is to be found in the greatly increased exports of the products of domestic manu- facture, which now constitute, for the first time in our bistory, more than one-fourth the total sales of all our sales in foreign markets. If these products were not, at least, equal in quality to similar products of other parts of the world, and if the prices at which they were sold were not as low as the prices demanded by our foreign competitors, they could not find a market outside the limits of our own country. The exportation of manufactured products would not go on continuously year after year at an increasing rate unless there was @ profit for our people in the operation, nor unless the markets in which they are sold are in some manner benefited by giving a preference to the American article over like articles produced elsewhere. The annual increases since 1892 in the quantities and values of exported manufactures, notwith- standing the extremely low prices which have prevailed in all the markets of the world, are without a parallel in our com- mercial history, and furnish such conclusive evidence of industrial power and a capacity to compete successfully with the outside world in production and trade as ought to convince our people that protective duties on imported goods cannot be hereafter justi- fied or excused upon the plea that they are | necessary for the encouragement of capital ; reach the proportions ciency of $39,946,845 on the Ist day of | December. The decrease in the receipts from customs during the five months was $12,980,244, while the receipts from inter- nal taxes were about the same as during the corresponding period of last year. For ine eleven months next preceding De- cember. 1896, the total value of our impor- tations. ‘utlable and free, was $116,800,000 less th » during the corresponding eleven months in the calendar year 1895, the de- crease in free goods being $65,300,000 and in dutiab'e goods $51,500,000. More than four-fifths of these large decreases occurred | in the first five months of the present fiscal year, the falling off during that period be- ing $50,251,000 In free goods and $44,697,000 in dutiable goods. It is believed that a careful consideration of the existing situation and a conserva- tive alllance upon improved business con- ditions in the future fully justify the con- clusion that the estimated deficiencies for | the current year and for the year 1898 will not be realized, unless our public expendi- tures shall be very materially increased by acts of congress, and that, with proper economy in administration and such re- ductions in appropriations as might be made without detriment to the public serv- ice, the receipts will be equal to the dis- bursements in 1898. Revenue Legislation. But however this may be, the condition of the treasury is such that no revenue legisla- tion is immediately necessary, or can be- come necessary for a considerable time, in order to enable the government promptly to mect all its ordinary obligations. Much the greater part of the estimated deficiency for the current fiscal year has already been in- curred, and has been paid, leaving still in the treasury, on the first day of December, a balance of $225,897,008, which, after de- ducting the gold reserve, is about $100,000, 000 more than Is necessury 18 a permanent or the security of labor in‘this country. With a Revival in Business While a revival of business and a return to more prosperous conditions would in- crease the income of the government from customs, under the existing rates of duty, on manufactured articles, it is reasonably certain that the quantities and values of such articles hereafter imported will be less than they were before the depression began, and that they will not in the future under any rate that may be established of ten or fifteen years. ago. If this view of the subject is correct, it is evident that new objects of taxation must be included in our tariff schedules, or the attempt to secure the usual proportion of revenue from customs must be abandoned and some other method of raising means to support the government must be adopt- ed; but, whether revenues shall be raised by duties on imported goods or by the im- position of taxes in some other form, there are certain fundamental rules and principles applicable to the subject, which cannot be isregarded without injustice to the people from whom the exactions are to be made. The first and most important one is that no tax should be leid except for public pur- poses, and that all sums paid by the people should be recelved by the government. Any tax, whether impost or excise, which in- creases the cost of commodities to Tie «@n- sumer, beyond the amount collected by the government, is unjust and indefensible upon any correct economic principle. When the true principles of taxation are recognized and applied in our fiscal legisla- tion there will be no difficulty in securing an ample revenue for the support of the government, in the exercise of all its proper functions, without subjecting our industries to,injurious and unnecessary burdens, or cur trade to injurious and unnecessary restric- tions, Although the number of purely revenue articles has been much diminished by the economic: changes that have taken place during the last few years, such ur- ticles are still sufficient in number, and they are and must continue to be imported in such quantities as te afford, under mod- erate rates of duty, all additions to the in- come of the government that future exigen- cies may prove to be necessary; and, no matter what may be the preferences of any part of our people upen the subject, the necessities of the situation demand the adoption of a system of taxation which will utilize these resources. WORK OF CONGRESS. Condensed Proceedings of the Na- tional Law Mill. Washington, Dec. 16.—The final vote on the immigration bill will be taken in the senate day after to-morrow, ac- cording to an agreement reached to- day. Little doubt is entertained as to the passage of the measure, and as it already has passed the house, it will be in conference before the holidays. Mr. Call (Dem., Fla.) renewed atten- tion to the Cuban question by three resolutions, one being a bitter denunci- ation of the manner in which it is al- leged Gen. Maceo had been killed while under a flag of truce. Other res- olutions by Mr. Call requested the president to demand the release of United States prisoners at the Spanish penal settlement on the Island of Ceuta, and also asked the secretary of state for a list of Americans held in Spanish prisons. The Call resolutions went to the committee on foreign re- lations. Several spirited political colloquies oceurred on the floor during the day. Mr. Allen’s speech protesting against intemperate criticism of Populism in Nebraska led to a passage between him and Mr. Hoar, in whichi the Massa- chusetts senator declared that it was a new and novel departure for senators to appear as the representatives of political parties instead of representa- tives of their states. In the course of Mr. Allen’s remarks he paid a glowing tribute to William J. Bryan as the foremost citizen of Nebraska, and the greatest orator since the days of Web- ster and Clay. Later in the day Mr. Chandler and Mr. Mitchell had a good-natured encounter. Beyond agreeing to a resolution for a two weeks’ holiday recess beginning Dec. 22, the proceedings in the house to-day were almost entirely devoid of public interest. Most of the day was spent in a struggle over the bill of Mr. Morse of Massachusetts to render the laws relating to the sale of intoxicat- ing liquors in the District of Columbia more stringent. The opposition was inclined to filibuster against the measure, but it was finally passed. The president's veto of a bill to pen- sion Lydia A. Taft, “a divorced wid- ow,” was sustained—98 to 85—two- thirds not voting to over-ride the pres- ident’s disapproval. Several minor re- lief bills were passed. Washington, Dec. 17.—Senator Mor- gan (Ala.) held the attention of the senate and well filled galleries for an hour by his earnest tdvocacy of a strong and decisive policy in dealing with the Cuban question. The promi- nence of Mr. Morgan in the Cuban de- bate of last session, when he had charge of the Cuban resolutions re- ported from the committee on foreign relations, gave special interest to his speech to-day. He spoke in dispassion- ate style, although his words had a di- rectness and severity in picturing the horrors existing in Cuba such as is seldom heard in the senate. Mr. Mor- gan spoke freely of the possibilities of war, welcoming it if necessary, to guarantee the protection of American citizens. He asserted that Spain’s bankruptck would prevent the collec- tion of any indemnity for wrongs. The senator questioned the wisdom of the president’s position that granting of belligerent rights would be “untimely.” At the close of Mr. Morgan’s speech his resolution was adopted requesting the secretary of state for papers and information relative to the Competitor prisoners and other American citizens held in Cuba by the Spanish authori- ties. The question of passing the bill granting Nancy Allabach a pension, the veto of the president notwithstand- ing, occasioned considerable debate, but was finally passed over the veto— 41 to 11. Early in the day Mr. Allen introduced a resolution for the appoint- ment of a committee of nine senators to investigate the extent to which money was used in the recent presi- dential election. The house devoted the day to the consideration of the Loud bill to deny ‘the admission of serial novels to the mails as second-class mstter. Washington, Dec. 18.—The session of the senate developed the n ost eventful and exciting debate that either branch of congress has heard in a long time. It brought forward the recognized leaders of the various parties and ele- ments, including such conspicuous figures’ as Messrs. Sherman, Frye, Teller, Gorman, Vest, Aldrich, Platt, Mitchell of Oregon, Chandler, Hale and Allen in notable statements on the leading questions which have en- gaged the attention of congress and country of late. Not only were the lines laid down on tariff and finance, but the debate partook of all the pent- up feelings resulting from the recent national contest. Often it was dra- matic in its intensity, and at all times absorbingly interesting to the crowded galleries and intent body of debaters. Political differences came in for a fair share of attention, and the names of Mr. McKinley and Mr. Bryan often were heard. President Cleveland also came in for a share of attention. Mr. Allen declared that the president was one who rejoiced with Republicans over the recent victory. Throughout the debate the sentin ent had prevailed that the Dingley bill was dead, and to give this final and apparently official sanction, Mr. Platt, of the finance com- mittee, announced that no effort would be made to urge that bill to passage. The superintendent, Mr. Sherman, promptly arose and said that in view of what had been said, he acquiesced in the general sentiment that no fur- ther effort should be made on the Dingley bill. ‘This was regarded as the final disposition of the bill. The day in the house was productive of little progress. The army appro- priation bill was urder discussion, but a deadlock occurred over the proposi- tion for the abandonment of the army and navy hospital at Hot Springs, Ark., and the house adjourned. Washington, Dec. 19. — The senate passed the immigration bill known as the Lodge bill, with a new section pro- viding that the exclusion shall not ap- ply to persons arriving from Cuba dur- ing the continuance of the present dis- orders there. The strength of the bill was greater than had been expected, the final vote being 52 to 10. As passed the bill amends the immigration laws so as to exclude from admission to the United States all persons over 16 years of age who cannot read and write the language of their native country or some other language, but an admissi- Ro ble immigrant over the age of 16 may bring in with him or send for his wife or parent or grandparent or minor ‘child or grandchild, notwithstanding the inability to read and write. For the purpose of testing the ability of the immigrant to read and write as re- quired by the foregoing section, the in- spection officers shall be furnished copies of the constitution of the United States printed on numbered uniform pasteboard slips, each containing five lines of the constitution printed in the various languages of the immigrants in double small pica type. These slips shall be kept in boxes made for that purpose and so constructed as to con- ceal the slips from view, each box to contain slips of but one language, and the immigrant may designate the lan- guage in which he prefers the test shall be made. No immigrant failing to read and write out the slip thus drawn by him shall be admitted, but he shall be returned to the country whence he came. The héuse passed the third of the regular appropriation bills (that for the support of the army), and entered upon the consideration of the legisla- tive, executive and judicial bill. The latter bill carries $21,669,369, or $36,- 399 more than the law for the current year. Fair progress was made to-day. It is expected that this bill and the military academy appropriation Dill will be passed before the holiday re- cess. The army bill as passed makes no provision for the army and navy hospital at Hot Springs, Ark. The house also passed several bills relating to the District of Columbia and three resolutions for the use of flags of the war department, governinent reserva- tions, etc., on the occasion of Mr. Me- Winley’s inauguration. Washington, Dec. 28. — The senate was literally deluged for half an hour with reports, resolntions and spirited colloquies on the Cuban question. The intense public interest in this subject was shown by the presence of the largest crowds seen since the opening day of the session. All available space in the public galleries was taken and the diplomatic gallery had such distinguished occupants as Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British ambassador; Baron von Hengelmuller, the <Aus- trian minister; Mr. Hatch, the Hawaii- an minister, accompanied by the suites and ladies of the embassies and leza- tions. The main event, of the day was the presentation by Mr. Cameron of the report of the committee on for- eign relations favorable to his resolu- tion recognizing the independence of Cuba. The proceeding was brief and perfunctory, the report not being read, and an agreement speedily reached by which the resolution and report go over until after the holidays. Aside from the Cameron report, Mr. Morgan of Alabama presented a further report on the same lines, embodying the views of himself and Mr. Mills. The offering of the report served as a prelude to several brisk exchanges between the senators. Mr. Hill of New York de- sired to know whether the reports went into the constitutional question of the legislative power of recognition of independence. Mr. Cameron prompt- ly answered that everybody conceded this power, and Mr. Morgan pointedly added that a denial of such a power Views. Mr. Vest also came forward with some remarks which promised to give a sharp personal turn to the debate. He spoke of his astonishment in see- ing Secretary Olney’s public statement declaring that the executive alone had the power to recognize independence. Mr. Vest had hardly begun when Mr, Hale of Maine made a point of order against him on the ground that de- bate was out of order. The Missouri senator willingly yielded, announcing that he would speak to-morrow on the resolution he had offered declaring that recognition of independence is a joint power of the legislative and exe- cutive branches. Several other Cuban resolutions were offered, those by Mr. Hill and Mr. Chilton declaring that a state of war existed in Cuba, warranting the rec- ognition of the belligerent rights of both parties and calling for the observ- ance of strict neutrality by the United States, and one by Mr. Bacon declaring that the power of recognizing inde- pendence is a prerogative belonging exclusively to the congress. Mr. Sherman, from the committee on foreign relations, reported favorably the resolutions of Mr. Call asking for information relative to American citi- zens confined in Spanish prisons, nd this was agreed to by the senate. The house non-concurred in the sen- ate amendments to the immigration bill, and agreed to a conference. The consideration of the legislative appro- priation bill was then resumed. TWO NEW LINES. The N. P. Will Open Some Large Feeders in North Dakota. Fargo, N. D., Dec. 23.—It is authori- tatively stated that the Northern Pa- cific will make two extensions in North Dakota as soon as the snow is off in the spring. One wilt be from Leeds to Dunseith, an extension of the James- town Northern, which will open the best part of the Turtle Mountain coun- try. A longer extension will be on the Fargo Southwestern branch from Edgeley to the Missouri river via Kulm, Ashby and Eureka. The line - will open a splendid section of country throughout McIntcsh. county, where farmers now have to haul wheat forty. miles. Train Robbery in Tex: San Antonio, Tex., Dec. 23. — The Southern Pacific west-bound passen- ger train was held up by masked men about 200 miles west of here at 10 o’clock last night. When about half a mile from Comstock Station three masked men ordered the engi- neer to stop the train, and while one stood guard at the engine, the two others went through the express car and secured $70. The through safe was not opened. The sheriff of Val- verde county, with a large posse, im- mediately started in pursuit of the rob- bers and the state rangers have taken up the trail. Shortage in Des Moines. Des Moines, Dec. 23.—Investigation made by experts shows shortages in several of the departments of the city administration. The city clerk is re- ported short some $7,000, and the un- accounted moneys in the police court for a single year amount to $1,662, The investigations will be pushed. Get _ ‘Most for your money and save needless ses now. It is true economy to build up yow Be Hoods Sarsaparilla The Best—in fact the One True Blood Purifier Hood’s Pills 2277275. Scena Through St. Bernard Pa: Mrs. Herman Davis of New York is the first woman to ride a bicycle through the great St. Bernard Pass. She and her husband, who is a profes- sor of astronomy in Columbia college, traveled 2,000 miles on their wheels in Europe during their summer outing, making about sixty-five miles each day, When she dismounted at this historic hospice of St. Bernard, the young priest who welcomed them exclaiined: “A woman! You are the first woman who ever came over that road on a wheel. And you are an American. Well, we might have known an Ameri- can would have been the first to ac- complish the feat. There are but few men who have ever tried it.” How's This! We offer One Hundred Dollars reward for any case of catarrh that cannot be cured 4 Hall's Catarrh Cure. . J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O. We, the undersigned, have known F. J. Cheney for the last 15 years, and believe him perfectly honorabie in’all business transactions and financially able to carry out any obligations made 4 their firm. West & ‘l'ruax, Wholesale Druggists, To- ledo, O. Walding, Kinnan & Marvin, Wholesale Druggists, ‘roledo, O. Hall's Catarrh Cure is taken internally, acting directly upon the blood and mu- cous surfaces of the system. Testimo- nials sent free. Price 75c per bottle. Sold by all druggists. Hall's Family Pills are the best. Prices of Farm Products. California agriculturists are adopting a modification of the trust system to secure higher prices for their products. Combinations among the raisin-grow- ers and the wine makers have resulted in an advance in rates for each of them. Following this example, the lima bean growers of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties have formed an association which plans to hold this year’s crop for 2 cents a pound, at which rate they are willing to make contracts with Eastern buyers in cat load lots. It is probable also that a large proportion of the orange and lemon crops will be disposed of on the same combination plan.—Boston Tran- script. The Modern Mother Has found that her little ones are im- proved more by the pleasant Syrup of Figs, when in need of the laxative ef- fect of a gentle remedy than by auy other, and that it is more acceptable to them. Children enjoy it and it benefits them. The true remedy, Syrup of Figs, is manufactured by the California Fig Syrup Company only. A Conscientious Patient. At a certain London hospital a pa. tient was recently given some extract of malt, with instructions to take a teaspoonful twice a day, commencing on the following morning, and to re port himself at the end of a fortnight. At the expiration of this time he pre. sented himself and said to the physi- cian: “Please, sir, am I to go on tak- ing them insects you gave me?” “In- sects!” said the astonished physician; “what insects “Why, them cock- roaches, sir. I have taken one night and morning in a teaspoonful of the sticky stuff.” Inquiry elicited that the cockroaches had not been dispensed, but had got into the jar during the first night of its stay in the patient's house. —London Lancet. Borne Down With Infirmities, Age finds its surest solace in the benignant tonic afforded by Hostetter's Stomach Bit- ters, which counteracts rheumatic and ma- larial tendencies, relieves growing inactivity of the kidneys, and is the finest remedy ex- tant for disorders of the stomach, liver and bowels. Nervousness, too, with which old people are very apt to be afflicted, is promptly relieved by it. Although the Suez canal is only thirry-nine miles long, it reduces the distance from Great Britain to India by sea nearly 4,000 mies. When the Siberian railway is completed the journey around the world will occupy not more than forty days. Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup For children teathing, softens theguma, reduces inflam- mation, allays pain, cure wind colic. 25 cents a bottle. Baroness Hirsch has promised $400,000 to found a pension fund for officials of the oriental railways. Piso’s Cure for Consumption is the best of all cough cures.—George W. Lotz, Fa- bucher, La., Aug. 26, 1895. In proportion to population the greatest number of telegraphic dispatches are sent in Australia. TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY. Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All Druggists refund the money if it fails tocure. 25¢ Norway was visited last year by 27,139 tourists, of whom 10,869 were British and 1,876 Americans. Honey should be kept in the dark, else It will granulate. Cape ‘Colony exports annually $100,000 worth of dried flowers. Awarded Highest Honors—World’s Fair, Gold Medal, Midwinter Fair. pnlces A Pure Grape Cream of Tartar Powder. 40 YEARS THE STANDARD,