New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-31
THE UNITED STATES.


1888 was the tenth wear from the last financial
crisis and was ominous that account, belief IN
the cyclcal movement of panics being one OF INC
accented traditions of American trade. AS the year
advanced many disquietng elements appeared In
business circles. There were indications oil over
induction in manufacturing, and prostraton OF the
iron. cotton and woollen industries; there were
numerous failures bank embaTassments and
betravals of trust; there was collapse OF the
wheat and lard speculation and there were Ill
timed combinations of labor aiming TO make pro-
duction more costly, the most remarkable stfike
taking the form of a general embargo upon the
transaction and dispatch of business, when Iz'ooo
telegraph operators deserted their instruments on
July 10. The year has closed without the fulhi-
ment of the gloomy forebodings to which these
causes gave rise. While distrust still prevails,
there is an improved feeling In the business CON-
munity The result is due largely to
the excellence of the crops, by which
the export trade has profted, and also the great
surplus of National revenue, which has been used
for the redemption of bonds. That surplus amounts
ed to over 1884 100000 during the year ending
July 1, aud is estimated at $sO,0O0OCO for the
current fiscal year with strong probability of its ex-
ceeding that amount notwithstanding the immense
reductions in customs and internal taxes. Public
confidence has also been strengthened by the COM
plete failure OF the labor conDInatOns, noodpIy
that of the telegraph operators.
WORK OF THE LAST CONGRESS.
Political causes have not been without their effect
upon the commercial situation. The houses of
Congress met Oh the second day of the year with
ffty-one working days at their disposal and three
great measures to be enacted. The first was the
Civil Service bill, which had already passed the
Senate. The Pendleton bill had been prepared by
the Civil Service Reformers themselves. and there
was general disposition. at least among Republic
cans 20 givethem what they wanted and toh hold them
responsible for the results. The bill passed the
House on January 4 by vote OF 155 TO AZ, the
minority including z Republicans and 40 Dem
ocrats. The President appointed Dorman Is.
Eaton, representative Civil Service Reformer, as
the head of the Commission. series of rules was
prepared by the Commission and the act went into
effect ON July 16, being applicable to the classified
clerkships in the executive departments at Wash
ington and to eleven customs districts and
twenty-three post Offices. The vacancies in
the Civil service had been previously
filed in anticipation of the new system. In the
departments at Washington the act is generally
pronounced efficient and beneficial. similar
measure passed at the last session of the New
York Legislature
The revision of the tariff and the reduction of in
ternal taxation the other great measures upon
which Congress was called upon TO act. herepOrt
of the Tariff Commission was made the basis for
committee action in each chamber. The
reductions proposed by the House Committee
were smaller than those recommended by
the Senate Committee On February 10 the
weaker measure failed to receive two-thirds vote
in the House, and consequently the Senate bill
made the ground of action by conference commit
tee. The latter measure passed the Senate on
February 20, 33 out of 81 Republicans
for ~ of
and s ont Of 26 Democrats The Democrats
gave abundant evidence of the insincerty of their
attempts to reduce taxation, but did not venture to
defeat the measure outright. The Tariff and Tax
bill providng for reduction of tariduties and In
ternal taxation to the amount of $75 900 000a year.
was reported from the conference committee in
March, and passed the House by vote of 152 to
49, 1873 Republicans and 10 Democrats contribut-
ing the majority, and IL Republicans and 105
Democrats the minority. The Tariff act went into
effect on July /.
In addition to these great measures. Congress re-
duced the rates of postage from three to two CENTS
the act taking effect on October l. Bills relating
to postal notes and the return of the japanese in
dennity also passed. the session being
one of the most fruitful in practical legislation
ever held at Washington. Among the defeated
measures was the Shipping act which was amended
In the Senate and then rejected because the Demo-
cratic Representatives would not contribute the
few votes required for quorum. The Presidential
Succession bin, the National Bankruptcy act and
the bills prohibiting the collection of political
assessments and creating an intermediate court of
appeal also failed.
POLITICAL MOVEMENTS.
Notwithstanding the excellent record Of the Re-
publican majority in Congress, the October election
in Ohio resulted in Democratic triumph. General
apathy and the temperance question were respon-
sible for the Republican defeat. The majority
against the proposed amendment prohibiting +" the
manufacture of and traffic IN intoxicating
liquors to be used as beverage" was
oyer 10000. The Democratic majority
exceeded 10000. This result. while attribui able
partly to the temperance agitation, increased the
probability that Democratic Congress would take
up the Tariff act at the present session and make
radical changes in the direction of Free Trade The
election of an avowed Free Trader as Speaker over
n candidate committed to policy of inaction res
pecting the tariff tended TO trengthen this belief.
While majority of the Committee of Ways and
Means appointed by Speaker Carlisle is made up of
Free Traders and Revenue Reformers and deliber-
ate attempt TO scale down the Tariff schedules may
be expected before the close Of another session. 1t Is
not probable thai there will be any legislation OF
this nature pending the Presidential election.
and PARTISAN greed are removed, the Democrats may
Venture to menace the business interests OF the
country with radical measure OF free irade.
The November elections have indicated, however.
that the Republicans will be able 70 make sue,
sessfl stand against tariff revolution and sectional
politics The reversal Of s5s %S9G5y g 81
hI;can legislature and Secretary of State, was
an earnest Of What the party would be expected to
90 in Presidential year when hl dne business business
tn,g nv Democratic success. The defeat
X Goyernor Butler after o year OF cheap
1sa,ssoeisn, farclcal Investigations !. and MS "a
SoiIo6a0u6 scandais Wes en9t1er ins s 's isr =