Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-11-13

WASHINGTON, Nov. II, 1S9'

WASHINGTON, Nov. IL, 1890.
The disappointment of those who pre-
dicted that the population of the United
States would reach 65, 900, 900 is to some
extent mtigated by the facts in the case
as stated by Superintendent Porter.
The first count of the present census
foots up the population, exclusive of
whites in the Indian territory, Indians
on the reservations, and Alaska, at g.
4S0, $40. The increase of percentage be-
tween 1880 and 1890 is 24.57 The in
crease of percentage between 1870 and
1880 was 30.0S. But the apparent re-
duction of percentage in the last decade
from the rate in the previous decade is
explained by the gross deficiency in the
census of 1870 in the Southern States.
That census by giving greatly ex-
aggerated increase between 1870 and
1880 affected materially the increase in
the republic at large. Mr.. Porter as
sumes, and he may be correct in the as
sumption that the true rate of increase
between 1870 and 1880 was not far from
25 per cent. and that the proportional
increase of population was but l.2 less in
the last decade than it was in the one
Immediately previous. This is a fairly
good showing. Mr.. Porter states the
general law to be that when not disturb
tu ny Wal, llllIlSIdllOl, c1Dl-
grafton, etc, the increase of population
goes on at continually diminishing rate.
The natural rate of increase he finds to
have been since 1880 not far from II per
cent for immigration. The percentage
of increase has steadily although not
uniformly declined in each decade. 1t
sunk from 35.06 per cent in the first ten
years of the century to 2S02 per cent,
from 80 to 40, and $3.50 per cent. in
1S40-1S50. The natural increase by the
census of 1860 was "a 46 per cent. With
the war period, observing the rule al
ready cited, the percentage sank to the
lowest point-l4.S9 natural increase,
22.65 total.
%.#
Whether the omission of the tobacco
tax rebate section from the Mckinley
bill was accidental or otherwise or
whether it invaidates the bill or not,
the tobacco manufacturers combine"
is likely to profit handsomely by it. In
the absence of rebate section in the
bill, dealers in tobacco would naturally
buy no more than they felt sure of sell
ing before Jaauary l, when the reduced
tax on tobacco goes into effect This
would cause considerable disturbance in
the tobacco trade. To prevent this the
tobacco trust, or combine, announced to
the dealers of the country a few DAYS
ago that in consequence of the omission
of the rebate section from the Tariff bill
the trust had agreed to guarantee that
no reduction whatever should be made
/ in the manufacturers prices of tobacco
and snuff as long as any tobacco and
snuff taxed at present rates remained
in the hands of the dealers. This, of
course, is good thing for the tobacco
trade generally, as dealers can, under
the guarantee of the trust, 90 on and
purchase as usual, and there will in con-
sequence be no disturbance of the trade.
But if it is a good thing for the tobacco
trade it is simply a magnificent thing for
the manufacturers trust, which will by
it be enabled to make clear additional
profit of two cents on every pound of
tobacco and snuff sold to dealers for
months to come; for while the trust is
pledged to sell at present rates, it will
after January | pay to the Government
two cents per pound less in taxes than it
is now paying. The immense profits
that the trust will thus gather in in the
course of few months may be easily
figured out when it is known that last
year taxes We're paid on over 2l3 ,000, 900
| pounds of manufactured tobacco, and
over 100000 pounds of snuff.
~
A well known New York banker,
whose house is deeply interested in the
movements of silver as any in the world,
writing to your correspondent on recent
features of the silver market, gives some
interesting and valuable points He
said "The rise in silver during the
past few days is a surprise to me and
can only be due to a speculative move
ment in anticipation of large demand
for India, and possibly a new free coin
age bill. The Indian export season is
from January to March, but the indca-
tions are that the demand for silver
will this time be very much smaller for
India and the East generally, the rise
in the price of silver having by natural
laws made it flow into the treasures of
the foreign banks, which are now full of
it and will therefore not need to buy
any more. Speculation may put the
price anywhere, but | think that these
natural laws will prevail in the end
Until the East takes its quota the sur
plus must go on accumulating, making a
heavier load all the time for spectators"
*a*
The choice bit of humor in the present
campaign was Mr. Roosevelt's "volun-
tary" contribution, and his mighty effort
to make it appear that he enjoyed the
medicine r.
John Schmucker, "A years of age,
who was visiting relatives in Reading,
! was fOun1 dead in he'd Sunday morning