Morning journal and courier., 1880-12-17
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. OUR FOREIGN COMMERCE. A Good Showing for the
 Last Fiscal Year. LARGE EXPORTS OF BREADsTUFFS. THE UNITED STATES AHEAD
 IN THIS LINE. Payments for Arrears of Pensions. A Startling Statement in the
 House.
LARGE EXPORTS OF BREADsTUFFs.
Payments for Arrears of Pensions.
A Startling Statement in the
 House.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
 General Grant in Congress-His Recep- l tiOn in Both HOuses-Exports and Im-
 ports-Rapid Growth of Our Export
 Trade in Certain Staples-A Holiday
 Recess of fCongress-Other Matters.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.-After the pension
 bill had been disposed of in the House to- day, and few bills had been introduced by unanimous consent, it was whispered about | that General Grant was about to enter the hall and in moment he appeared at the north door accompanied by Representative Fort of Illinois Some one had made mo- tlon to adjourn, but the Speaker took no mo- tice of it but recognized MT. Fort, who nov l ed recess of ten minutes in order that mem bers might be presented to the ex-President
 Mr. Sparks of Illinois, who was sitting to the right of the Speaker, demanded the regu- lar order. The Speaker said the motion for recess was in the regular order. MT. Sparks inquired whether that took prece- dence of a motion to adjourn. The Speaker saw at once that there were a good many 1 members who were not disposed to take re- I cess for the purpose indicated by Mr. Fort, | good many responses in the negative, but the motion was quickly declared carried The Speaker then hastened to the north entrance, near where the General was seated. and es corted him to the area in front of the Sneak er's desk in order that the members might be presented to him. As the two walked down 1 the aisle the Republicans applauded with clapping of hands. The galleries were not unusually filled, but those that were there craned their necks to get good look at the General. A good many of the Democroats who occupied seats well to the front arose and went further back. The Republicans were the first to greet the visitor, but after awhile large number of southern Democrats ming led with them. It was noticed that more of the northern than of southern Democrats refused to be presented. Toward the close of the re- ception MT. Phister, of Kentucky, created a good deal of amusement by holding the Gen. eral in an apparently confidential converse t1on for nearly two minutes, thus blocking the way to others who wanted to be present. ed. The General shook hands in his usual stohd manner with all who were presented and had very little to say. After the mem bers the pages were presented and that seemed to be enjoyed more than everything else. After recess the General was escorted to Mr. Crittenden's desk, where he engaged in conversation with members until adjourn ment which shortly followed, and for some time thereafter. He left the building accom- panied by General McCook and others.
 The chief of the bureau of statistics pre- sented to the Secretary of the Treasury his annual report in regard to the foreign con- merce and shipping interests of the United States. With reference to the export trade of the country he says the five leading arti- cles of export during the year ending June 30, 1880, were: Bread and breadstuffs -f,o ,535, ,905; provisions, $127, ,043, PAP; mineral oils, $36, ,21s, ,625; tobacco and manufactured, SIS. .442, ,273.
 During the last fiscal year the exports of cotton amounted to only about 26 per cent of the total value of the exports of domestic merchandise. This is due not to any falling off in the value of the exports of cotton but to the rapid increase in the exports of breadstuffs, provisions and mineral oil. The value of exports of breadstuffs increased from $24, AZ, BIO during the fiscal year 1860 to $2Ss ,036, 1885 during the fiscal year 1880. The exportatlon of mineral oils, which has been entirely developed since the year 1860, amounted to $36, 219, ,625 during the year ending June 30, 1880. During the last three years the value of exports of breadstuffs has exceeded the value of exports of cotton. The United States al- ready surpasses every other country in the magnitude of it's exports both of breadstuffs and provisions. The conditions which have led to these important branches of commerce are unknown to the country generally. It is believed that the market for American bread stuffs and provisions in Europe can be still further extended. Certain tables are here presented showing that of the following com modities imported into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland the percentage imported from the United States is as follows; wheat, 686 per cent, Indian corn, 90 per cent, live animals, A per cent, beef salted, vaov 1or1& .1oEG G.1 -1s 9S per cent, butter, 12 per cent, cheese 644 per cent. bacon 84 per cent, hams 9S per cent, lard 96 per cent, meat preserved other than salted 72 per cent, pork salted 87 per cent. In relation to the decadence of vessels in foreign traffic he states that the building of ships and barks employed in our foreign commerce fell from the annual ave- rage of 233 during the ten years from 1851 to 1860 to an annual average of 56' during the ten years from 1871 to 1880. During the year ending June 30, 1880, there were only 23 ships and barks built. The iron steamship is now the controlling vessel of commerce on the ocean. The tonnage of iron vessels built In this country during the past five years amounted to but 1O1, ,S23 tons, almost entirely for the coastwise trade, where foreign com petition IS excluded, whereas the iron ship building of ten years amounted to 1, 500, 193 tons. The total tonnage of the United States employed in the foreign trade fell from g.
 
 tonnage entered at American seaports since 1856 there has been an increase of every tion except the American. Of the commodi- ties transported (exports and inports) in 1S6O-66, fifty five per cent. of the value was by American vessels, and in 1880 17-6 per cent. This decline is attributed to the fol- lowing causes: First, the cost of building iron in vessels; second the ship owners of other countries are able to operate vessels at less cost than American ship owners; and third, under the act of March 24, 1868, for ! elgn vessels with their cargoes are permitted to enter at American seaports, from foreign countries upon precisely the same terms as to port charges, tonnage, dues and duties upon merchandise as apply to American vessels. This enables the nation which can build and I navigate vessels at the least cost to gain an ascendency in the carrying trade. To this is added the fact that the capital finds abun- dant and makes more profitable employment | in the industries and varied resources of the | country than in the employment of vessels on | the ocean. The report concludes as follows: l The abundance and superiority of natural agencies and forces in this country, essential to success in ship building and navigation, | afford ground for the belief that prosperity will at some future time dawn upon the mari l time interests of the United States Refer ence is here had especially to our vast re- sources of coal and iron, the extent to which inventive genius has gone in manufacturing of iron and 1n the construction of ships.
 There Is but little doubt that Congress will
 adjourn on the 22d inst, not to meet again until the 9th of January. The Committee of
 Ways and Means at 8 meeting this morning agreed to report resolution for the holiday recess, embracing the period mentioned. The resolution was reported and passed the House
 by vote of 125 yeas to 54 nays. The reso-
 lution will be considered blythe Senate Com
 mittee on Appropriations tomorrow and re-
 ported without amendment. Opposition to
 its passage in the Senate will be proportion
 ately no greater than in the House.
 Adjutant- General Drum, who has been act
 ing chief signal officer, turned that office over
 to General Hagen to-day.