Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-12-02

thoughtful citizens who may be inter
ested to know what business methods
can do for that department. of public adj
ministration which most nearly touches
all our people.
The passage OF the act to amend certain
sections of the devised Statutes relating
to lotteries, approved September 10,
1890, has been received with greet eAd
deserved popular favor.
The Navy.
The construction and equipment of the
new ships for the Navy has made very
satisfactory progress. The experiments
conducted during the year to test the
relative resisting power of armor plates
have been so valuable as to attract great
attention in Europe. Your favorable
consideration is invited to the recommen-
dations of the Secretary.
Pension Claims.
The disability pension act, which was
approved on the 9th of June last, has
been put into operation as rapidly as was
practicable. The examination and adjudi-
cation of claims have, by reason of inn
proved methods, been more rapid than
ever before. The anticipated expendi-
ture, while very large, will not, it is be-
lieved, be in excess of the estimates made
before the enactment of the law.
The increasing numbers and influence
of the non-Mormon population in Utah
are observed with satisfaction. Now, it
is quite true that the law should not at
tempt to deal with the faith or belief of
any one; but it is quite another thing,
and the only safe thing, SO to deal with
the Territory of Utah as that those who
believe polygamy to be rightful shall not
have the power to make it lawful.
Agricultural Department.
The report of the Secretary of Agricul-
ture deserves especial attention in view
of the fact that the year has been marked
in a very unusual degree by agitation
and organization among the farmers look
ing to an increase in the profits of their
business. A very substantial improve
ment in the market prices of the leading
farm products during the year is noticed.
The export trade in live animals and
fowls shows very large increase; the
total value of such exports for the year
ending June 80, 1890, was $50, 000, 900, and
the increase over the preceding year was
over $15,000,000. Nearly 100000 more
cattle and over 45, 900 more hogs were ex-
ported than in the preceding year. The
export trade in beef and pork products
and in dairy products was very largely
increased, the increase in the article of
butter alone being from 1864, 1918
pOuuuS 10 ttC,OfS anu Un0
total increase in the value of meat and
dairy products exported being $34, 900, 900.
This trade, so directly helpful to the
farmer, it is believed will be yet further
and very largely increased when the sys-
tenn of inspection and sanitary supervis-
ion now provided by law is brought fully
into operation.
Civil Service.
The law relating to the civil service
has, so far as I can learn, been executed
by those having the power of appoint
ity and impartiality, and the service has
been increasingly satisfactory. The re-
= port of the Commission shows q large
amount of good work done during the
year with very limited appropriation.
I congratulate the Congress and the
country upon the passage at the first
session of the Fifty-first Congress of an
unusual number of laws of very high
Importance.
, General Trade and Industrial ConditlO IONS.
| The general trade and industrial con-
| ditions throughout the country during
the year have shown a marked improve
ment. For many years prior to 1888 the
merchandise balances of foreign trade
had been largely in our favor, but dur
lug that year and the year following they
turned against us. 1t is very gratifying
to know that the last fiscal year again
shows a balance in our favor of over
! $69.000,000.
The value of our exports of domestic
merchandise during the last year was
! over $115, 1000, 900 greater than the proceed
ing year, and was only exceeded once in
/ our history. About 500, OOO, 900 of this
excess was in agricultural products.
! These promising influences have been
! in some degree checked by the surprising
and very unfavorable monetary events
, which have recently taken place in Eng
land. 1t is gratifying to know that these
did not grow in any degree out of the
financial relations of London with our
people or out of any discredit attached
to our securities held in that market.
| The Tariff Act.
The general tariff act has only par
| TALLY gone into operation; some of it's
important provisions being limited to
take effect at dates yet in the future.
The general provisions of the law have
been in force less than sixty days. Its
permanent effects upon trade and prices
| still largely stand in conjecture 1t is
curious to note that the advance in the
prices of articles wholly unaffected by
the tariff act was by many hastily as
cribed to that act. Notice was not taken
of the fact that the general tendency OF
Cne IndrkeGS was upward from influences
wholly apart from the recent tariff legis-
lation. The enlargement of our currency
by the silver bill undoubtedly gave an up
ward tendency to trade and had "a marked
effect on prices; but this natural and de-
sired effect of the silver legislation was
by many enormously attributed to 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 fair trial.
The transformation as to the terms Of
the act which has been so widely dissent
mated at home and abroad will be cor
rected by experience, and the evil
auguries as to its results COMPOUNDED by
the market reports, the savings banks
international trade balances, and the
general prosperity of our people. Already
we begin to hear from abroad and from
our custom-houses that the prohibitorJ
effect upon importations imputed to thu
act is not justified. The imports at thu
port of New York for the first thre'
weeks of November were nearly 8 pc
cent. greater than for the same period in