The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-11-29
WASHINGTON ITEMS.


As congress re-assembles next Monday
Washington is rapidly filling with member
and their families and with the usual horde O
Lobbyists, pimps and hangcrs-on. The Pres
dent has his message written upand submitted
1t to inspection and amendment by his cab
net, and all the various cabinet officers hav
their reports prepared and most Of them hay
allowed reporters of the press to look owe
them and transmit the salient points TO thci
papers.
The message Of His Frauduency, it Is said
will be mainly devoted to Qualification OF re
sumption and an apology for the glazing fan
urc of one OF the Presidents earlier hobbies
civil service reform. While the President wi
not venture to lrge the withdrawal OF Tn
grccnback from circulation, he will take th'
ground that it Is no longer needed for curren
cy and suggests IT'S gradual withdrawal A
to civil service reform, the president Will main
tain that substantial progress has been maGc
in that direction, though not IS much AS III
famous Order No, promised, but that order
was he will say, greatly misunderstood,
Secretary Sherman has not allowed the news
paper men TO abstract his report IN advance
but he is understood, in regard to the green.
back, to oppose its withdrawal from crcuIa.
ton, though he will urge that it he diycstel OF
It's legal tender quality.
Pap Thompson'S naval report says news
paper report Of its contents, indignantly de.
mes that our fleet is in dilapidated condition,
and asserts that it is only necessary to autlor.
Ize the annual expenditure Of a few millions to
keep it in constant readiness for good service.
AS to iron vessels the Secretary says they ire
doomed, rs no arm or can be made 50 thick that
iron craft goes to the bottom with too great "a.
pdity for safety to the crew or profit to me
victor. The attempt to induce American boys
to enter the service has been very successful.
In closing his report Mr.. Thompson poins
with pride to the fact that he is prepared o
cover into the treasury $500 900 Of uneXpenl.
ed appropriations. On the strength of this lie
asks that liberal provision be made for his d.
partment for the next fiscal year.
Secretary of War McCrary reports that tn
actual expenditures of the department for the
twelve months ending June 30, 1879, were $12
653 1913 62. The estimates for the service fol-
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881, are $40,
3S042S 93. Congress is again urged to prof.
vide adequate coast deienses, arsenals, and ord
nance, and furnish means for experiments with
small arms of various kinds. Most of the sec
retary's suggestions have been made in pre-
vlous reports.
The report of the chief Of the bureau of sta
tistics shows that the foreign commerce of the
United States during the past year was the
largest of any previous yearexcept 1873, The
exports reached larger figure than ever be.
fore, amounting to G9S ,00O, 900, exceeding the
imports by over 5000 1000 The excess of
the value Of exports Of merchandise over the
value of imports during the last four years has
amounted to $7j3,000, 600 THIS excess has so
largely wiped out all our foreign debt that now
sulu must De imported 10 sctue balances IN
stead of bonds, as formerly.