The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-02
THE TARIFF BILL.


All Our People.
congratulate the congress and the country
on the passage at the first session of the Fifty
first congress OF an unusual number Of laws of
huge Importance That the results of this legis-
lation will be the quickening and enlargement
OF our manufacturing industries. larger and bet
ter markets for our bresdstuffs and provisions.
botn at home aud abroad, more constant
employment and better wages for our
working people, and an increased sup
ply of currency for the transaction
of business / do not doubt Some of these
measures have passed at SO late period that
the beneficial effects on commerce which were
in the contemplation OF congress have as yet bat
partially manifested themselves. The general
trade and industrial conditions throughout the
country during the year have shown marked
Improvement For many years prior 10 1888 ths
merchandise balance had been largely in Gus
favor, hut during that year and that following
they tarned against us. 1t is very gratifying 10
know that the last fiscal year shows a balance
in our favor of $6s.0O0.000.
The bank clearings, which furnish q good test
of the volume OF business transacted, for the
first ten months of the year 1890 show, as COM
pared with the same months OF 1881. an increase
for the whole country OF about 81 per
cent, while the increase outside of the
city of New York was over Ii per
cent. During the month of October the
clearings of the whole country showed
an increase of 81 per cent. over October, 1859,
while outside of New York the increase was IlL
per cent These figures show that the increase
in the volume OF business was very general
throughouttne country. That this larger bust
ness was beiag conducted on q safe basis ia
shown by the fact that there were 800 less fail
ares reported in October, ls9O, than IN the same
month of tie preceding year, with Liabilities
diminished by about s5000.00o
the value OF our ports OF domestic merchan-
disc during the last year was Sis, 200
greater than the preceding year, and was only
exceeded once IN our history. About 500, 900 go
of this excess was in agricultural products.
The production of pig irons always a good
gauge OF general prosperity, is Shown by a CEN
aus bulletin 10 be l53 per cent. greater in 1890
than in 1850, and the production Of steel go
per cent greater. Mining in coal has
mad no limitation except that result
ing from the effect of transportation
The general testimony IS that labor Is every
where fully employed. and the reports for the
last year show smaller number Of employees
affected by strikes and leckouts than in any
year since 1884 The depression In the prices Of
agricultural products had been greatly re-
lived and a buoyant nopefulness was beginning
to be felt by ali our people.
These promising influences have been In some
degree checked by the surprising and very IN.
favorable monetary events which have recently
taken place in England IL ia gratifying to
know that this did not grow in any degree out
OF the financial relations OF London with our
people, or out Of any diseredit attached 70 our
securities held In that market The return OF
our bonds and stocks was caused by money
s;ringency in England. not by any loss OF value
or credit In the securities themselves We could
not, however. wholly escape the i'll effects OF
foreign monetary agitation, accompanied BY
snch incidents as cnarac5srIzed this. Il Is not
believed, however, that these evil incidents
which nave Tor tae time unisvoraoly effected
values IN this country can long Withstand ths
strong safe anu wholesome influences which
are operating to gave 70 our people profitable re-
turns IN al branches OF legitimate industry.
The apprehension 70 oar tariff may again. and
at o1ee. be subjected &c important general
changes. would undoubtedly add depressing
influence OF tbs moss sszlops character. The
general tariff act mas only partially gone into
OPERATION some of us important provisions be-
ing limited 10 take efFees oates Yet In the ia
;ure. The general provisions Of the law have
ben In force less tnsn sixty
DAYS lis permanent tFset upon trade
aud prices still s&rveiy stands in conjecture II
e curious 90 note that the adysnce m the prices
OF ARTICLES wno4iy uashsessa Dy the iaEia act