Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-12-17


have reference, the first under the
tariff, was 1918, while during the pre-
ceding twelve months under the old
tariff its percentage was 34.27, an in
crease Of 1881 per cent.
If we take the six months ending
September Both last, which covers the
time during which sugars have been
admitted free of duty, the per cent of
value of merchandise imported free Of
duty is found to he 57.37, which is n
larger percentage Of free imports than
during any prior fiscal year in the his
tory Of the government. If we turn to
exports of merchandise, the statistics
are full OF qualification. The whole of
such exports for the twelve months
ending September 80, 1892 was s922,-
291 ,l31, while for the corresponding
previous twelve months, 1t was $780,
914, O21, an increase of So, 914 ,O2l, which
is fully three times the average annual
increase of exports Of merchandise.
The increase in the value of exports
of agricultural breadstuffs during the
year referred to over the corresponding
twelve months of the prior year, was
$45, SAC, 1877, while the increase in the
value of exports of manufactured pro-
ducts was $l6,s3S, 24O. There is GER
tainly nothing in the condition Of
trade, foreign or domestic, there is GER
tainly nothing in the condition of our
people of any class to suggest that the
existing tariff and revenue legislation
bears oppressively on the people or re-
tards the commercial development Of
the nation. 1t may be argued that
our condition would be Letter If our
tariff legislation were upon free trade
basis, but it cannot be denied that all
the conditions Of prosperity and of gen.
erai contentuient are present In a larger
degree than ever before in our history,
and that, too, just when it was prophe-
sled they would be In the worst state.
Agitation for radical changes in tariff
and financial legislation cannot help
but may seriously impede business, to
the prosperity of which some degree of
stability in legislation Is essential.
think there are conclusive evidences
that the new tariff has created several
great industries which will, within a
few years, give employment to several
hundred thousand American working
men and women. In view of the over
crowded condition of the labor market
in the United States, citizens should
rejoice at such result.
1.-THE report of the secretary exhib-
its with interesting fullness the condi-
tom of the territories. They have
shared with the states the great in
crease in farm products and are bring
ing yearly large areas into cultivation
by extending their irrigation canals.
This work is being done by individu-
ais, or local corporations, and without
that system which is n full preliminary
survey Of the water supply and of the
irrigable lands would enable them to
adopt the future Of the territory Of
New Mexico, Arizona and Utah in
their material growth and increase.
The independence and happiness of
their people is very largely dependent
upon wise and timely legislation, either
by congress or their own legislatures,
regulating the distribution of the water
supply furnished by their streams. If
this matter is much longer neglected,
private corporations will have unre-
stricted control Of one of the great ele-
ments of life, and the patentees of the
arid lands will be the tenants at will
Of the water companies. The United
States should part with its ownership
Of the water sources and the sites for
reservoirs whether to the states and
territories or to individuals or corpora
tons only upon conditions that will
insure to the settlers their proper water
supply upon equal and reasonable
terms. In the territories this who.e
subject Is under the full control Of con-
gress and In the states 1t il, practically,
so long as the government holds the
title to the reservoir sites and water
courses, and can grant them upon
such conditions as it chooses to impose.
The improvident granting of franchises
of enormous value without recompense
to the state or municipality to which
they proceed and without proper
protection Of the public interest is
the most noticeable and crying evil
Of present legislation. This fault
should not be committed in dealing
with q subject that will before many
years affect vitality thousands of our
people.
The legislation Of congress for repre-
sentation Of polygamy after many
years Of resistance on the part Of the
MormOns has at last brought them to
the conclusion that resistance is UNI