Evening journal., 1889-03-02
AFFAIRS OF THE NATION
Considerable Increase in the
Public Debt.
cOMMERcIALUNION WITH CANADA

Condition Of the Governments Finances
UP to Date-Increased Pension Pay
nnents-President CIeveIand's Last Public
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Outlook for Crops
WASHINGTON, March 2-Jrhe public debt.
according to the statemeE issued from tbe
treasury department, has increased s6,4f3,-
33i during the past month. Unusually
heavy pension payments, amounting to $20,-
9l4954, Is assigned as the chief reason for an
increase instead of decrease IN the debt since
Feb /. The net cash or surplus In the treas
ury has decreased about Si7,000,000 during
the month"; and amounts 10 e4S,O96, 1853. Ma
tionnl bank depositaries hold s4S.Sls, 991 Of
government funds, or about &l.500,000 less
than on Feb. /. The gold fund balance in
the treasury has increased about $2,0O0O00
during the past month and amoHnts to $780,
2i5 $50, and the silver fund balance, exclu-
siye Of sG,0oo0oo trade dollar bullion, has in
creased s2,5O0000, and now amounts to
SCI ,50l,965.
Government receipts during February past
were $50 lSS, l5a, against SS ,l5l ,03l in Febru-
airy, 1855, the decrease being due to dimin-
ished customs receipts which this year in
February were s1s, 76s 0ss, against $40, ,69l ,064
IN February, 1888 Expenditures during tho
past month were unusually large, owing to
heavy pension payments, and amounted to
S,ri, 7s6,5l1, or about SlAG00, 600 more than in
February, 1855 The total receipts and ex-
panditures for the first eight months OF the
current fiscal year, compared with the cor
responding months OF the previous year, were
a. follows; Receipts, 1885, s25s, 1885, ola; ex-
penditures, sisS, iiG,929 Receipts, 1889 $685.
el0, ,423, expenditures, S2e,, ,434, 625. This
shows an increase In receipts for the eAght
months Of the current year over those Of tic
corresponding period Of the previous fiscal
year OF about 81 l,OO00O0; and ON the other
hand an increase Of s30,OO0,0OO IN expendi-
lures 80 far this year over expenditures for
the eight months Of last year.
COMMERCIAL UNION WITH CANADA.
In the house the joint resolution was passed
TO promote commercial union with Canada
II provides that whenever il shall be duly
certified to the president that the government
OF Canada has declared a desire 10 establish
commercial union with the United States,
having a uniform revenue system, like inter-
nal taxes 70 be collected and like import
duties 20 be imposed on goods 70 be brought
into either country from other nations, with
no duties upon trade between the United
States and Canada he shall appoint three
commissioners, with those who may be like
wise designated 20 represent the government
Of Canada, 70 prepare plan for the assimila-
ton of the import duties and internal revenue
taxes Of the two countries and an equitable
division Of receipts ia a commercial union;
and said commissioners shall report 20 the
| president who shall lay the report before
congress
CLEyELAND's LAST RECEPTION.
The presidents last public reception drew
fully 1000 people, mostly strangers in tho
city, 10 the White House When about 500
had been admitted the outside doors OF tho
mansion were closed. The president shook.
hands with those who were so fortunate as To
get inside, and after this ordeal was over de-
cided not 10 receive theothefs Many old ac-
quantances Of the president were among
those who called 10 say good-by.
THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.
The signal Office monthly weather crop bul-
letin reports that generally the weather for
February and season up 70 the first OF March
has been favorable and notwithstanding tha
deficiency Of moisture In the winter wheat
section, the resulting crop conditions are more
favorable than those of last year athough
the success Of the crops depend largely on tho
weather Of the current month.
Mrs. Cleveland Talks Of Her Future.
WASHINGTON, March 2-The Post pub
hshcs an Interview with Mrs Cleveland in
which she is quoted as denying that she has