The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-12-02

two countries bY raIl, alFeduy great, Is
making constant growth. The established
lines and those receltiy projected add to
the intimacy o. rraiGc and open new chan
neis of access tn fresh areas OF demand and
supply. The Importance of the Mexican
railway system will be farther advanced
TO degres almost impossible To forecast,
If 1t should become link in the projected
Intercalonlal railway. l recommend that
our mission in the City of Mexico be raised
to the first class.
OUR SPANISH RELATIONS.
The cordial character of our relations
with Spain warrants the hope that by the
continuance of methods OF friendly nego-
tiation much may be accomplished in the
direction of an adjustment of pending
questions aud of the increase OF our trade
The extent and development of our trade
with the island OF Cuba invest tie COM
mercial relations OF the Uuitel States
with Spain with ii pecaiiar Importance
JOHN ERICss0N's REMAINS.
The rest oration of the remains OF John
Ericsson Ia Sweden offered Il gratifying
occasion to honot the memory of the in.
ventor TO whose genius cur country owes
50 much, nii TO hear Witness to the un-
broken III ndship which has existed be-
tween the land which bore him and our
own With claimed hi.n as a citizen.
CLAIMS Or VENEZUELA.
On the report of Capt. Lad the commits
sion appeared IL r..vi,e the proceedings of
the commission uiiertne claims between
the United : &ie- and Venezuela of 1866
brough; its ahOr 10 Il clc.e within the
periot fiXet co that purpose. The pro-
ceedings IL 4. late commission were
characte!l3 ~ ii spirit of impartiality
and ahigi SEA < OF justice. and an incl
dent which was for many years the sub
ject of d.scussio bet cen tho two poy-
ernments has been disposed of in a manner
alike honorable and satisfactory to both
parties. For the settlement of the claim
of the Venezuela Transportation COM
pany, which was the subject of joint
resolution adopted at the last session of
congress, negotiations are still in progress,
and their early conclusion is anticipated.
THE CONSULAR SERVICE.
The legislation of the past few years has
evinced on the part Of congress a growing
realization of the Importance of the con-
sular service in fostering our commercial
relations abroad and in protecting the
domestic revenues. As the scope of the
operations expands increased provisions
must be made to keep up the essential
standard of efficiency.
OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION.
The revenues of the government from
all sources for the fiscal year ending June
&c. 1890, were 1868 963 06O. 55 and the total
expenditures for the same period were
$35S, 61S, 5S452. The postal receipts have
ment of these aggregates and for the pur-
pose of comparison the sum of $50, S82,-
097. 92 should ba deducted from both sides
of the account. The surplus for the year,
including the amount applied to the sink
ing fund, WAS $685. 344, 10000. The receipts
for 1890 were $40, 03o, 1928 70 and the expend-
itures SIS, 139, Sfl in excess OF those of 1882
The customs receipts from internal rev.
enue expenditures, that for pensions was
SIG, 3d. SO in excess of the preceding
year.
The treasury statement for the current
fiscal year, partly actual and partly es-
timated, is as follows Receipts from all
sources, S406, 900 900; total expenditures
1864, 100000, leaving surplus of $50, 000,-
600, not taking the postal receipts into the
account on either side. The loss of rev.
enue from customs for the last quarter is
estimated at S25, 900, 900, but from this is
deducted gain of about SIG, 000, 900 real
lied during the first four months of the
year. For the year 1892 the total esti-
mated receipts are 1887 100000 and .theses-
timated expenditures 1857. So, 200. AZ, leav-
ing an estimated surplus of 1917, 700. IS,
which. with a cash balance of $50, 900. 900
at the beginning of the year, will give
$67, 147, So rs the sum available for the
redemption of outstanding bonds or 9th er
uses. The estimates of receipts and ex-
penditures of the Epostofice department
being equal, are not included in this
statement on either side,
The act directing the purchase of silver
bullion and the issue of treasury notes
thereon" approved July n, 1890. has been
administered by the secretary of the
treasury with an earnest purpose TO get
into circulation at the earliest possible
date the full monthly amount of treasury
notes contemplated by its provisions, at
the same time to gite TO the market for
silver bullion such support as the law con-
templates. The receut depreciation in the
price of silver has been observed with re-
greet. The rapid rise il. price which anti
cipated aud followed the passage of the
act was influenced in some degree by spec
ulation, and the recent reaction is in part
the result OF the same cause, and in part
of the recent monetary disturbance.
The increase Of money in circulation
during the nineteen months has been in
the aggregate 500, ,Si3, or about $1.50
per capita, and of this increase only s., 100,-
600 was due to the recent silver legisla-
ton. There have been purchased and re-
deemed since March 4, 1889, 4 and 1-2 per
cent. bonds to the amount of S211 832 ,450
at a cost of $246, go, TAI, resulting in the
reduction of the annual interest char ge of
S, 1851. 900. and a total saving of interest of
s51,576, FOG.
SECRETARY OF WARS REPORT.
The report of the secretary exhibits sew
eral gratifying results attained during the
year by wise and unostentatious methods.
The percentage of assertions from the
army IAN evil for which both congress and
the department have long been seeking
remedy has been reduced during the past
year % per cent, and for the months OF
August and September during which
time the favorable effects of the act of
June IS were felt, 80 per cent. as compared
with the same months of 1889.
/ concur in the recommendation of the
secretary that adequate and regular ap-
propriatio be continued for coast-de-
Tense works and ordinance Plans have
been practically agreed upon, and there
can been no good reason for delaying the
execution of them, while the defenseless
state of our great seaports furnish an ur-
gent reason for wise expedition. The en-
enlargement that has been extended to
the militia of the states, generally and
most appropriately designated the
National Guard" should be continued
and enlarged
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The report of the attorney general is I'M
der the law submitted directly to congress,
but as the department. of justice is one of
the executive departments some reference
to the work done is appropriate here. A
vigorous and in the main, an effective eff
fort has been made TO bring to trial and
punishment all violators Of the laws; but,
at the same time, care has been taken that
frivolous and technical cffenses should not
be used to swell the fees of officers or to
harass well disposed citizens. Especial at
tentioa is called to the facts connected
with the prosecution of violations of the
election laws and offenses against United
States officers. The vacation by judicial
DEGREES of fraudulent certificates of natur-
alization upon bills in equity filed by the
attorney general in the circuit court of tho
United States is a new application of
familiar equity jurisdiction.
ROOE-NAKTNG Ann POOL SELMA
At the last session I returned without
my approval "A bill entitled, IAN act to
prohibit book-making and pool selling in
the District of Columb ia" | stated my
objection to be that it did not prohibit
but, in fact, licensed what it purported to
prohibit An effort will be made under
existing laws to suppress this evil, though
it is not certain that they will be found
adequate.
POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT.
The report of the postmaster general
shows the most gratifying progress in the
important work committed to his drec-
ton. The business methods have been
greatly improved A large economy in
expenditures and an increase of four and
tbree.quarters millions in receipts have
been realized. The deficiency this year is
IS, 57S 800, as against S6. $50, 1888 last year.
THE LOTTERY MATTER
The passage of the act to amend certain
sections of the revised statutes relating to
lotteries, approved Sept. 10, 1890, has been
received with great and deserved popular
favor. The postofiice department and the
department of justice at once entered upon
the enforcement of the law with sympa-
thetic vigor, and already the public mails
have been largely freed from the fraudu-