New-York tribune., 1889-12-31
been discovered which reflects discredit upon the
Administration
rrHrsr ArTov DIPLOMACY.

Administration.
LEGISLATION AND DIPLOMACY.
beyond the admission Of new States. Congress
ACCOMPLISHED little legislation The Senate ma
tured tariff bill, which was passed on January
90. but died in the House After much filibustcr-
ing. a direct tax bill was passed on February 2o'
and the same day the bill providing for the
Nicaragua ship canal was signed. An eXtraditioh
treaty was reported TO the Senate on January 29'
but was not approved In the States, next 10 'iic
question of ballot reform, the liquor quesuon ""S
prominent Prohibition was beaten py o'oVo
majority in New-lIampshire on March ~ III
Massachusetts, by 44,552 majority on hpIii -.'
in PENNSYLVANIA by $4,000 majority on june ~
in Rhode Island by 1855 majority on Jun" w.
and IN Connecticut by 2e, 900 majority on OCTOBER
:. but succeeded in North Dakota py 2'ooo n'-
;ori,v on October g. A stringent liquor law was
nasssd in Minnesota on May Il. In New-Jersey
the option license law was repealed on MaIch
10 with great rejoicing of the liquor interest.
A cood hill passed in New-York but was vetoed
bv Governor Hill on June 4.
The work of the departments since the he"
Admin ration came in has been decidedly irui'-
ful The State Department secured set'ieniehO
NJ Samoan affairs, and the King has Deeh estao-
,isbcd by Joint recognition of consuls OF Germany
Great Britain and the United States. Canadian
seizures of American vessels met with retaha-
tim n Canadian vessel was seized in Maine Oh
March 3. and captures Of unauthorized seaiers
in pehrinr Sea in July and August opened tne
,vav tn NEGOTIATIONS on the whole question OF
fishery rights A revolution in Iiayu In June
caused the Kcarsarge TO be sent, ana freoericN
Dourass as Minister, to defend American interests
. Congrcss of all-American Nations assemoieu
in September, and the delegates were escorou
through the country, reaching Boston carry AZ
Octobcr Minneapolis OH October 20, flts'uis
or November :. and then beginning It's iormal
sessions at Washington which are still IN progieS'
An international Marine Conference has also peen
in session at Washington since the mluore Vi
October. with promise of important rsul's'
DOMESTIC INTERESTS.
The Treasury department has rendered usei"
service by decisions on the classification ol "ooleh
coods on April 8, on woollen and wors'cd eoo"s vi
Nav % ON wool waste on June 8, and on carpet
IvooIs on September 13. Instructions regaIuing
imnorts of silver lead ores on July II causeu 'l'o
rIosin, Of many Mexican mines, but the hnai dc-
cision in October was that Congressman ac'io"
,ros roonisitc The final management OF the
Secretary throughout the summer and 1all n'eU
thp highest approval, and especially the Judicious
manner of calling in deposits in banks az 'ne Gnu
Of November. An important plan Tor the se',le-
ment of the silver question was submitted III 'ne
animal report which has received much at'ehuoh'
In the Navy Department the completion oil he"
vessels. the great speed shown by the Baliiihoie
on Septcmbcr ;, and the tests OF the Cmcaso aIin
Yorktown on September II, have marked rapi"
progress In the Postoffice Department much lin-
,rovement baa been effected in the railway mail
s.r,-;cc . tho time across the continent has twice
hoon shortened. in November by whole day
Tho condition Of the New-York PostOfice was In
vcstigated in July. with important recommends
tio,s. arrancemcnts were made for mailing le'-
tore ON optrojng steamships: and long discussion
with tho Western Union regarding charges Tor
teIeoranh service resulted in settlement ana re-
duction. The Interior Department has made specldi
progress in settling with Indian tribes reSaI"lne
tbcir land has opened Oklahoma TO settlement
and is investigating the unlawful occupancy "
city sites in April. Disagreement ocr"ec" wv
Secretary and Pensions Commissioner l"nn'i
caused ,he atter's resignation in September ahu
the Hon. Green i. Raum was afterward appoiA'e"'
VARIOUS POLITICAL CONTESTS.
Fxcpt in the new States, the elections OF tne
year have not been especially satisfactory ~
tory in Rhode Island in April was no fAolc 'i''H
was expected. Early in the year partisan begiS-
lature gerrymandcrcd Ncw-Jersey TO make hcpu"-
Icon success impossiblc and repealed the laws
for prevention OF fraud in elections lhe Demo-
catic victory in November was followed by eX-
posurcs Of extensive frauds in Hudson County ana
elsewhere. In three other states Republicans
we're subjected TO defeat by their NOMINATIONS
General Mahones candidacy in Virginia caused
revolt OF Republicans, and his defeat was over
wbclming. Tie nomination in Iowa of candi-
o.. .,r.I,., lo1 civ
ers in railroad matters caused $4,000 voters OF
,he Farmers Alliance to defeat him, and the Re
nublicans have but scanty majority Ill the Legs
Iaturc The third nomination Of Governor For
akcr in Ohio was followed by much disscnsion,
and in the campaign he was led to use document
which afterward proved to have been forged.
He WAS defeated. while other Republican candi-
dates for State officers were elected, but thc
or stature was lost In New-Yorl the influence
of the liouor interest on the one side. and the
q Dafbv of Republicans on the other, caused thelr
defeat by about the usual plurality in an oil
year. In Maryland a strong body OF Democrats
revolted against the methods of Senator German,
and some OF his tools made public confession, but
the machinery Of fraud was nevertheless success
tul In Mississippi, finding there was no posi-
bflitv OF fair election, Republican State candi-
dates withdrew.
A courteous contest between several candidates
for Speaker Of the House resulted III the nomlna-
ton of the Hon. T. B Reed, who promptly as
signed his chief opponent, Mr.. Mckinley, to the
Charmanship Of the Committee OF Ways and
Means and the leadership OF the House. The
full list of committees was announced on De-
cember 21 with prOmptness not seen for some
wears past. The Presidents message was sent -
Congress on December 3, and reviewed with
thoroughness the public business of the different
departments, making many suggestions OF value.
The year closed with all preparations made for a
busy and useful session in both branches of
Congress
THE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR.
The National prosperity enjoyed in 1889 has
never been surpassed. Happy the people whose