The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-12-04

average monthly issue oil agricultural
patents has been increased about 6oOO
The Disability Pension Act.
Tho disability pension act, which was
approved ON June q last, has been put
into operation as rapidly as was practical
BILE. The Increased clerical force pro
vided Was selected and assigned to work,
and . considerable part of the force en-
gagged In examinations in the field was re-
called and added to the working force Of
the Office. The examination and adult.
cation oil claim: have. by reason OF Inn
ever before
The Morm.ns
The increasing numbers and influence
Of the non Mormon population In Utah
are observed with satsfa lion. The recent
letter Of MILFORD Woodruff, president OF
the Mormon church, in which he advised
his people TO refrain from contracting
any marriage forbidden by the laws OF the
land, has attracted wide attention, and
1t Is hoped that its influence will be high ly
beneficial In restraining infractions OF tho
laws Of the United States. But the fact
should not be overlooked that the doc
trine Or Gelief OF the church that polygam-
Gus marriages ara riKhtful and supported
by divine revelation rsmsins unchan yed
Our New states-
The admission Of the states OF Wyoming
and Idaho TO the Union are events full Of
interest and congratulation, not only te
the people OF those states, but 10 ali our
people. Another belt Of states stretches
from the Atlantic TO the Pacific.
Patent OMoe.
Tho work OF the patent Office has won
from all sources very high oommendation.
The amount accomplished has been very
largely increased, and all the results have
been such a. to secure confidence and con.
sideration for the suggcstions Of the com
missioner.
The Census
The enumeration OF the people Of the
United States uader the provisions At the
act OF March l, lsp, has boon completed,
and the result will te at once ofaciauy
don of this decs nnial enumeration do
wolves upon congress the duty Of making
. new apportionmest Of representatives
among the several states according 10
their respective numbers.
Psblss Buildings.
At the last session had occasion TO no
turn with my objections several bills
making provisions for the erection Of pub |
nc buildings, for the reason the expendi- |
lures contem plated, were, IN my opiaion,
greatly In excess OF airy public need. No
class Of legislation Is liable to moro abuse, |
or to degenerate into an unseemly scram |
BILE about the public treasury than this
There should BE- exercised In this matter
wise economy, based upon some re.ponsi-
bic aid impartial examination, and report |
as to each case under . special law.
Agricultural Ansirs.
The report Of the secretary Of agricul- |
ture deserves especial attention, In view |
OF the fact that the year has been marked |
in very unusual degree by agitation and
organization among tho farmers looking |
to an increase IN the profits OF their bust
the market prices Of the leading farm
products during the year is noticed. The
price Of whoat advanced from 81 cents In
October, 1889. to 81 90 "a in October, $780,
corn, from 81 cents to 50 "A cents; oats,
from IS to IS cents. Meats showed a sub
stantial but not so large an increase. The
export trade in live animals and fowls
shows very large increase.
The total value of such exports for tho
year ending June 80, 1880, was $33 900. 900,
was over Sl50Oo,0OO. Nearly 10000 moro
cattle and ov er 500 more hogs were ex-
ported than in the preceding year. The
export trade in beef and pork produces
and in dairy products was very largely in
ter alone being from 15,5O4.978 pounds to
%, 74S 042 pounds. and the total increase in
the value OF meat and dairy products ex-
ported being $34,ooO,0JO.
Civil Service Reform.
The law relating to the civil service has,
so far As can learn, been executed by
those having the power OF appointment in
the classified service with fidelity and i'm
Partially, and the service has been in
creasing satisfactory. Tho report Of the
commission shows q large amount OF
good work done during the year with very
limited appropriations.
Labors Of the Fifty-hrst Congresa
congratulate the congress and the
country upon the passage vt the first ses-
sion OF the Fifty-frst congress- Of an un::
usual number Of laws Of very high i'm
portance. That the results OF this legis.
lation will he the quickening and enlarge
ment of our manufacturing industries,
larger and better markets for our bread
stuffa and provisions, both at home and
abroad, more constant employment aud
better wArea for working .,se:si. .... &c &c. !
the transaction OF business. 1 do not doubt
Tho general trade and industrial condi-
tions throughout the country during the
year have shown a marked improvement.
For many years prior to 1888 the merchan-
disc balances Of foreign trade had been
and the year following they turned against
us. 1t is very gratifying to know that the
last fiscal year again shows q balance in
our favor Of over e6s 100000 The bank
clearings, which show good test of the
volume OF business transacted, for the
hrst ten mouths OF the year 1890 show, -
with the same months Of 1889,
an increase for the whole country of about
81 per can't, while tho increase outside |
tho city OF New York was over Is per
cent. During tho month of October the
clearings q the whole country showed an
while outside Of New York the increase
was l1.5 per cent.
The value Of onr exports Of domestic
during the last year was
el15 ,OoO.U greater IMAM the proceeding
history. About sioo zoo, oO5 Of this excess
was In agricultural products. The pro-
duction OF pig-iron-always a good gauge
Of general .prosperity-is shown by u ro-
cent census bulletin to have been l5S per
cent. greater in 1890 than in 1880, and the
production Of steel 20o per cent. greater.
Mining in coal has had no Limitation ex-
cept that resulting from deficient trans
portation. The general testimony In that
labor il everywhere fully employed, and
the reports for the last year show .
smaller number Of employees affected by
strikes and lock-outs than In any year
since 1884.
The depression In the prices Of agricul-
tural products had been greatly relieved,
and buoyant and hopeful tone was be-
ging to be felt by all our people.
The New Tariff.
The general tariff act has only partially
gone into operation, some Of its important
provisions being limited to take effect at
dates yet In future. The general provi
sions Of tho law have been in force less
than sixty days. Its permanent enect
upon trade and prices still largely stand
In conjecture. It 10 curious to note that
the advance In tho prices Of articles
wholly unaffected BY the tariff act was by
49, Hsv ~ lad AL.k -
was not taken Of The fact that the general
tendency Of the markets WAS upwards
from influences wholly apart from the re-
cent tariff legislation. The enlargement
Of our currency by tho silver bill un-
doubtedly gave NJ upward tendency to
but this natural and desired effect OF the
silver legislation was by many srrone-
ously attributed to the tariff act.
There II neither wisdom nor justice In
the Suggestion that the subject OF tariff re-
y, vision shall all % again opened before this
that every tariff schedule Is subject to sb-
1ectionA No bill WAS ever framed, sup
pose, that IN all q il rates and clxssincA-
lions had the full approval even Of party
caucus. Such Agislation II always and
70 detail. 40: sns sSs pSs. ~ la1 e ns az
exception. But n IL general scope and
those who believed that American legisla-
ton should conserve and defend Ameri-
can trade aud the wages of American
workmsn.
Tho misinformstion = TO the terms
Of the act which ha4 been 10 widely dis
ssminatsi II home snd abroad will BE- cor
rectsd By experience, and the evil augu-
ries - TO It's results eonfounded by the
market reports, the ssvinas banks. Inter
national trade balances and tho general
prosperity Of out people. Already W b.
GIN 70 hear from abroad cad from our Gus
tom houses that she -pfohibitory eject
upon impoTtAtipns imputed - the aot u
NOT iustined. The imDorta 1t the mort of L