Huntsville gazette., 1891-12-12

aDiensss OF tnis position, which seems 20 rest -
much on the unacceptability Of our legislation
as on that of the person chosen and which if ad-
mitted, would practically debar the selection Of
any representatives so long as the existing laws
remain in force.
The Arbitration Treaty.
The arbitration treaty formulated by the In
ternational American conference lapsed by
reason of the failure to exchange ratifcations
fully within the limit of time provided, but sew
eral of the governments concerned have
expressed . desire to save this i'm
portant result OF the conference by
an extension Of the period. 1t is in my judg-
ment incumbent upon the United States TO
conserve the influential initiative it has taken
In this measure by ratifying the instrument and
by advocating the proposed extension Of the
time tor exchange. These views lad been
made kno wn 10 the other signarories.
The Russian jews.
Concerning the influx of exile Russian Jews
into this country, which the president estimates
Will amount to over one million in the
next few years, he says: Some other
considerations Is well as the suR-
gestions of humanity furnish ample grounds
for the remonstrances which this government
presented to Russia. While our historic friend
ship for that government cannot fail to give as
surance that our representations are those OF .
sincere Wisher.
The Nfcaraugus Canal.
The president recommends that the govern
ment guarantee the bonds oil the Maritime Canal
company, engaged in building the Nicaragua
canal, and says that he does not doubt that
built upon these business methods,
the canal would earn its
fixed charges and operating expenses.
He says, l am quite willing to recommend gov
in ha
work which if no other means offered for Sc
curing its completion 10 of such transcendent
interest that the government should in my
opinion secure it by direct appropriation from
its treasury.
International Copyright.
International copyright Will be secured in ac-
cordancs with the conditions of the act of March
3, 1891. with Belgium France and Great Britain
and the British possessions and Switzerland.
The laws of these countries permitting TO our
citizens the benefit of copyright upon substan-
tally the same basis to their own citizens or
subjects and with Germany special conven-
tion has been negotiated upon this subject
which will bring that country within the recip-
rocal benefit of the legislation.
Tie Mckinley Law.
Concerning the effect Of the Mckinley tariff
act of the last congress the president says: "a
brief examination of the statistics of the treas
ury and general advance of the state of busi-
ness throughout the country will, think satisfy
any impartial enquiry that its results have dis
appointed the evil prophesies Of its opponents
aud In large measure realized a hopeful pre-.
diction Of its friends.
Rarely, if ever before In the history of the
country, has there been time when the pro-
ceeds of one days labor or the product of one
farmed acre would purchase SO large an amount
of those things thatenter into the living of the
masses of the people. L believe that full test
will develop the fact that the tariff act of the
fifty first congress is very favorable in its
age effect on the prices of articles entering into
common use.
During the twelve months from October /,
1880. to September 80 1885,, the total value OF
foreign commerce imports and exports COM
bined-was Sl47 SOC, ,446 which was the largest of
any year in the history O. the United tates. the
largest in anr previous year was in 1890, when
our commerce amounted 10 Sl657, ,l59, ,093, and
the last year exceeds this enormous aggregate
by over one hundred millions.
1t is interesting and to some will be
surprising to know that during
the year ending September 60
1891. our imports of merchandise amounted TO
SS- -4,I15.270, which was increase of more
than / coo, 600 over the value of the imports of
the coTresl onding months Of the preceding
year, when the imports of merchandise were
unusually large in anticipation of the tariff leg
islation then pending. The average annual
value of the imp irts of merchandise for the ten
wears from 1881 to 1890 was $685., 1S6, ,922, and
during the year ending September 30, 1884, this
annua average was exceeded by 1892, ,52S, ,46a.
The value of free imports during the twelve
months ending September 80 1894, was S1lS, ,G32.-
9S7, more than the value of free i'm
| ports during the corresponding twelve months
| Of the preceding year and there was during the
same period decrease of Sl06s46, sos in the
| value of imports of dutiable merchandise. The
| percentage of merchandise admitted free of
| duty during the year to which l have referred
| the first under the new tariff, was 4Sis while
| during the preceding twelve months, under the
| old tariff, the percentage was 34.27, an increase
| OF 13. 81 per cent.
| If we take the six months ending September
| 80 last, which covers the time during which
sugars have been admitted free of duty, the
per cent OF value of merchandise impor1ed free
| of duty is found to be 55. 81 which Is a larger
per centage of free imports than during
| any period fiscal year in the history OF
| the government If turn to exports
| of merchandise the statistics are full of grAtifi-
cation The value of such exports Of merchan-
| disc for the twelve months ending September
| 80 1891 was S923, ,094136, while for the CORES
| pondng twelve months it was $50. 0.17T, iI5 ;
| an increase of sj2,9l4,02l, which is
nearly three times the average
annual increase of exports of merchandise for
the preceding twenty years. This exceeds in
| amount and value the exports of merchandise
during any year in the history of the govern
neut The increase in the value of exports
| of agricultural products during the year
| referred to over the corresponding
twelve months of the prior year was si5,S46 1877
while the increase in the value of exports OF
manufactured products was $16,s3S.240
| There is certainly nothing in the condition of
| trade, foreign or domestic. there is certainly
nothing IN the condition of our people of any
| GLASS to suggest that the existing tariff and
revenue legislation bears oppressyely on the
| people.
! The report of the secretary of the treasury
shows that the total receipts of the government
from all sources sor the fiscal year, ending June
60 1891. were S45s, 544, 233.03. While the ex-
penditures for the same period, were s42l, ,304-
F40.s6 leaving surplus of s37 ,239 1921. The
receipts Of the fiscal year ending June 80. 1892
actual and estimated. are S+S3 0o0, coo, and the
expenditures. "a 90o0,0Oo For the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1898, The estimated receipts are
sI55 3s6, $50 and the expenditures $40 800. .0s3.
The silver Question.
Concerning b effect of the silver act of the
last congress, the president says