The National tribune., 1890-12-04


not have the power 10 mako IL lawful"
The country is congratulated upon the ad-
mission Of Wyoming and Idaho. The Patent
Office is complimented. and Congress is re-
minded that il has the duty Of making the ap-
portionment according 10 the recent census.
A wise economy is urged in regard 10 the APP
propri&tions for public buildings.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The efforts Of the Department of Agriculture
"have been inteligently and zealOusly devoted
10 the promotion Of the interests entrusted to
its care" The very substantial improvement
IN the market price OF leading farm products
is noted. The export trade in live animals and
fowls shows a large increase-thatis S33 0O0,000
for the iscal year ending June, 1899. this being
Sl5OO0000 more than that OF 1889. Nearly
100000 more cattle aud 45, 900 more hogs were
exported. The export Of beef and pork and
dairy products was largely increased: that Of
butter alone rising from l5.50i,97S pounds
90 29,74s,0i2. while the total increase in value
OF meat and dairy exports was S3i.000O00. The
efforts of the Secretary 10 demonstrate the
bealthfulness Of our meats TO foreign buyers
have been quite successful
HOME MADE SUGAR.
"The information given by tho Secretary Of
the progress and prospects Of the beet-sugar
industry is full Of interest. 1t has already
passed the experimental stage and Is com
sugar beet can be successfully cultivated is
very large and another field crop Of great
value is offered 10 the choice of the farmer"
MATTER FOR GENERALIZATION.
a. congratulate the Congress and the country
upon the passage az the first session OF the 5lst
Congress of an unusual number Of laws of very
high Importance. That the results Of this
legislation will be the quickening and enlarge
ment of our manufacturing industries, larger
and better markets for our breadstuGs aud
provisions both at home and abroad more con-
slant employment aud better wages for our
working people, aud an increased supply Of a
safe currency for the transaction of business,
j do not dOubt. Some OF these measures were
enacted at so late period that the beneficial
effects upon commerce which were in the con-
temptation of Congress have as yet but par
TALLY manifested themselves.
The general trade aud industrial condi-
tions throughout the country during the year
have shown a marked improvement. For
many years prior TO 1853 the merchandise bal
suces of foreign trade had been largely In our
favor, but during that year and the year follow
ing they turned against rs. Ii is very graft
flying 10 know that the last fiscal year again
shows a balance in our favor Of over So, OO0-
600. The bank clearngs, which furnish good
test of the volume of business transacted, for
the first 10 months of the year 1880 show,
compared with the same months of 1882 an
Increase for the whole country of about S4 per
cent, while tle increase outside of the city OF
New York was over - per cent. During the
month Of October the clcarings OF the whole
country showed IN increase Of 81 per cent.
over October, 1883, while outside Of New York
the increase was III per cent These figures
show that the increase IN the volume OF bust
ness was very general throughout the country.
That this larger business was being conducted
upon q safe and profitable basis is shown by tho
fact that there were 800 less failures reported
ina Oct 1890, than in the same month Of the
preceding year, with liabilities diminished by
about SJ,O00000.
" The value Of our exports OF domestic mer-
chau3ise during the last year was over SlI5,-
100000 greater than the preceding year. and
was only exceeded once in our history. About
Sl000O0,000 OF this excess WAS in agricultural
products. The production Of pig-iTOn-always
good gage Of general prosperiy-is shown
by recent census bulletin 20 have been l53
per cent. greater in 1890 than in 1850, aud the
production Of steel 300 per cent. greater.
Mining in coal has had no limitation except
that resulting from deficient 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 aud lOck0uts than ia any
year since 1854 The depression in the prices
OF agricultural products had been greatly re-
lioycd and buoyant and hopeful tone was bo-
ginning 20 be felt by all our people.
These promising influences have been Ia
some degree checked by the surprising and very
uniavOrable monetary events which have re-
Gently taken place in England. IL is crafty.
ing - know that these did not grow IN any
degree out o. the financial relations Of London
with our people or out Of any diseredit at
tached 10 our securities held in that market.
The return Of our bonds aud stocks was caused
luy.
loss 81 value or credit in the securities them
selves. We could not, however, wholly escape
the III effects Of foreign monetary agitation
accompanied by such extraordinary incidents
as characterized this. Ii is not believed, how
ever, that these evil incidents which have for
the time uniavorably affected values in this
country, can long Withstand the strong, safe
and wholesome Influences which are operating
10 give 10 our people profitable returns in all
branches Of legitimate trade and industry.
The apprehension that our tariff may again
and Al once be subjected 70 important general
changes would undoubtedly add a depressing
influence Of the most serious character.
" The general tariff act has only partially
gone into operation, some OF its important pro-
visions being limited 10 take effect az dates vet
in the future. The general provisions Of the
law have been in force less than 60 days It's
permanent effects upon trade and prices still
largely stand i'm conjecture. 10 is curious 10
note that the advance in the prices Of articles
wholly unaffected by the tariff act was by
many hastily ascIibed 10 that act. Notice was
not taken Of the fact that the general tendency
Of the markets was upward from Influences
wholly apart from the recent tariff legislation.
The enlargement OF our currency by the silver
bill undoubtedly gave an upward tendency TO
trade and had a marked eject on prices: but
this natural aud desired effect Of the silver legis-
latiOn was by many erroneously attributed 20
the tariff act.
There is neither wisdom nor Justice in the
suggestion that the subject Of tariff revision
/ shall be again opened before this law has had n
| fair trial II is quite true that every tariff
! schedule is subject 10 objections. No bill was
ever framed, i suppose, that in all Of its rates
sud classIfCations had the iuil approval even Of
a party caucus. such legislation is always and
necessarily the product Of compromise as to de-
! tails, and the present law is 40 exception. But
| Ia Its general scope and effect think 10 will
justify the support Of those who believe that
/ American legislation should conserve aud de-
/ ieud American trade and the wages Of American
workmen.
Tho misiuformation as 10 the terms Of the
act which has been SO widely disseminated at
| nome aud abroad Will be corrected by expert
eBce, and the evil auguries 10 its results con-
/ founded by the market reports the savings
| banks, international trade balances, aud the
| general prosperity Of cur people. Already VIC
1 begin 10 hear from abroad and from our GUS
tom houses that the prohi0itOry effect upon lin.
/ pOrtatlOns imputed 10 the act is not justified
| The imports at tho port OF New York for the
I first three weeks OF November were nearly {
per cent. greater than for the Same period in
1859, and - per cent. greater than in the same