Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-01-07

D"iiCh uullllS tne colombian re-
volution.
The general administration of the de.
partments has been conducted with an
ostentatious display of business like ca.
pacity and of practical ability. In three
OF them, in addition to the State Depart
ment, there have been lamentable admin.
istrative failures. The Postmaster Gen
| eral declined to pay to American steam
ship lines an appropriation of $400, ,000
which Congress had designed exclusive
ly for them as legitimate compensation
for carrying foreign mails. The compa.
MES refused to do the work for made,
quate rates and the Government, in max.
ing clumsy and artificial arrangements
for mail transportation, has caused seri
GUS inconvenience to the business com.
munity, besides discriminating unjustly
against American shipping. The aban.
donment OF the Australian line was an.
other development of the same hostile
policy. Secretary Whitney meanwhile
was conducting similar warfare upon
the American shipbuilding industry.
The Dolphin was rejected, the Advisory
Board was discredited, the completion OF
the cruisers delayed, and the contractor
for the four vessels driven into bankrupt
cy in series of systematic attempts to
make political capital for the Admins.
tration without reference to the REQUIRE.
ments of the Navy or to common Justice.
The Attorney General not only cooper.
ated with Secretary Whitney in this war
upon great industry, but brought last.
ing reproach upon the Administration by
allowing his department to be used to
promote the speculative ends Of tele-
phone company in which he was fnan-
cially interested. In view Of these un-
business-like and reckless proceedings
the claim that the Government, has been
conducted on plain, practical common
sense principles has been successfully
traversed by the opponents of the Ad-
ministration.
The Presidents avowed interest in
Civil Service reform in reality constitute.
the main ground upon which it is en-
titled to respectful consideration There
have been many conspicuously bad ap-
pointments and the plea of offensive par
tisanship has been transparent device
for removing efficient public servants and
rewarding working politicians; but it is
nevertheless true that fewer changes
have been made than were anticipated a
year ago, and that the President has
evinced sincerity of purpose and pains
taking care in selecting men for office.
The confirming power of the Republican
Senate has undoubtedly exercised a
wholesome restraint upon the Executive
and he has not been unwilling to have
the reputation of being more advanced
on this subject than his party, which has
shown little sympathy with practical re-
forms in the civil service. While the
President held his own State in the No
vember election the nomination of Gov
ernor Hill was distinctive triumph for
the spoils element in the Democratic
party, which is also hostile to reform in
State or Nation.
The Republicans carried Ohio, in the
face of election frauds in Cincinnati, and
showed themselves to be in good fighting
order in other States. Elections were
held by twenty Legislatures for United
States Senators, the most interesting con-
tests being in New York and Illinois,
where Mr.. Evarts and General Logan
were chosen, the latter on the 11Sth bal
lot. General Logan was the choice of
the Republicans for presiding officer of
the Senate after the death of the Vice
President, but declined to serve. Sena-
tor Sherman was thereupon elected. The
immediate passage by the Senate Of the
Hoar Succession bill, under which the
Secretary Of State will succeed the Presi-
dent in case of death indicated that the
Republicans were unwilling to make q
political use of the Vice President death
and were influenced by a commendable
desire to settle constitutional question
OF momentous importance. The Vice
Presidents death was only second in in
terest to that of General Grant, which
produced aprofound impression through
out the country. Congress assembled in
December to receive an exhaustive re-
view of the Administrations perform
ance and recommendations Speaker
Carlisle was reelected and revision of
the rules was carried by which general
legislation in appropriation bills is pro-
hibited, and the chances of increased
grants for all purposes are promoted. The
Republican Senate will be q barrier
against extravaganza and already shows
signs of adopting conservative course
on all public questions, including the
Presidents nominations.
The year opened with great dishearten-
ment in business circles, the result of the
panic of 1884, and of the prostration of
industries which followed the Presiden-
tial election. During the first half of the
year there was no recovery, and the
gloom was increased by reports of great
injury to the wheat crop. The prices of
stocks wavered with but little change
from the low average of the preceding
December, rallying about 81 per share
near the end of February, but declining
to the lowest point of the year early in
May. Nearly two months of uncertainty
followed, with little change in prices.
Foreign imports were smaller in January
and February than in any two months
since early in 1879, while domestic eX-
ports, though large in January, were
lower in February and March than in the
corresponding months for eight years,
and contiued low through the summer.
The stagnation of business was reflected
in the accumulation of idle money in the
banks, which was s125,OOO,OOO, larger
than ever before, at the beginning of the
year, but rose to $144, ,000, 900 in February,
and after some decline to $161, 900, 900 in
July. The price of wheat, which had
been lower in 1884 than in any other year
for more than a century in Great Britain,
remained almost stagnant about 90 to 90
cents until April, and then rapidly rose
above 81 with the reports of injury to
the crop, but further advance was stop
ped by large supplies. The exchanges
outside of New York were lower
than for several years previous during
the first half OF the year, and were scarce
ly up to the average of 1884 in June.