The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-04
EDITORIAL NOTES.

The annual report of the public
printer shows that during the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1882, the total
expenses of the office was &, 635, 1905.
The aggregate amount expended is
S419,2l9.81 larger than the expense in
any previous year.
The extent to which land grant rail-
ways are subject to local and state
taxation will be determined at an ear
ly day by the supreme court. The
case involving this inquiry is entitled
San Mateo, California VS.. The South
ern Pacific railway company"
Since the government established
the savings deposit system in the
army, ten years ago, 1888, O81.7S have
been received from soldiers on deposit.
Last year about half a million dollars
were deposited. The system Is to be
extended to the commissioned officers
to see if they can't be induced to save
some Of their money.
The tax on tobacco collected by the
federal governments since 1862 amounts
to the enormous sum of $3.50, 750, 447.
The average tax for the last ten years
has been about $4,000 per year. For
the current year it is "a, 39l 1888. Is
it not about time to give the tobacco
industry rest from this excessive
contribution to the public revenue?
The attention of capitalists is di-
rected, as never before, to the produc-
tiveneSS OF cotton-Seed Oil miles. The
taxing machinery federal power has
not grasped this newly-born industry,
and 1t grows apace. Seventy miles or
more are in operation, and the product
is seen everywhere. it having sup
planted olive oil. 1t is used in lubri-
eating machinery, and made of every
degree of tineness and purity. 1t is
estimated that the product this year
is worth fifty millions, soon to be
doubled. These oil factories, in the
midst OF the cotton-growing districts,
will soon have cotton spinning and
weaving establishments beside them,
and the world will be oiled and cloth
ed more cheaply than ever before.
Apparently authentic rumors in
volve managers of the late Garfield
fair in most discreditable scandals.
Generals Swain and MuSSey and Col.
Corbin are involved A court mar
tial is talked ABOUT. There are most
damaging reports relating to the dis
appearance of goods and articles
given to swell the receipts Of the fair.
so numerous and apparently well
grounded are those rumorS that the
inquiry is likely to be made into their
truth. The tair grew out of the
action of the Society OF the Army OF
the Cumberland, to which Garfield be-
longed at Chattanooga. A committee
was selected to solicit contributions
for monument to Garfield, and con-
siderable sums were contributed, in
ali $20,OO0, it is said. Members of the
Society OF the Army of the Cumber-
land express concern lest the fund
previously contributed has been en-
croached on, if not sW'a4ped, by the
fair managers.
Commander Glass, of our navy, is
very enthusiastic about the timber
and mineral and fishing resources OF
Alaska, and he says there certainly
should be some kind of government
there. AT present the treasury de-
partment and the Alaska CONNER
cial company monopoly control the
vast region, or, rather, the south
shore OF the territory. Under any
other government but ours, Alaska
would long ago have been
placed under civil law and its re-
sources would be Systematically devel-
Oped. There is neither law nor court
there to adjudicate mining disputes
and claims, and that is the chief reason
why abundant capital has not gone
there to work the gold and other mines.
AS it is, gold dust to the amount OF
$2OO.OOO has been taken out of one dis
trict, and there is really no limit to the
gold, silver and copper, while vast for
ests of fir. yellow cedar, spruce and
alder have barely been touched by the