Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-12-09
Opening Of Congress.

| in both houses, the desks oil many OF the
members were decked with flowers; 224
members of the House responded to roll
call, Committees were appointed to notify
the President that both houses were ia
session, the credentials of newly elected
members were presented, and they were
sworn in; several well known Pennsyl-
varians not members were present; a
Penn'a member introduced bill to cover
q possible deficit in the treasury; an Illi-
nois member introduced joint resolution
providing for opening the Worlds Fair on
Sunday. The resolution prohibits the use
on Sundays of machinery, unnecessary
manual labor, and all merchandising. pro-
vides that the art gallary, horticultural
building and all other buildings in which
exhibits of art are installed shall be thrown
open to the public every day during the
entire term of the exposition, and that
each employe OF the exposition shall be
given one days rest in each week; quite
number of other bills and resolutions were
introduced; the Postmaster Generals re-
port was made public; he summarizes the
results achieved by his department as fol-
lows. Five million dollars added to the
gross revenue; the deficit reduced nearly
million money order Offices increased two
thirds, or from 10, ,070 to 1860; SO cities
supplied with free delivery; 1872 new
offices established; 263 Offices advanced to
the Presidential grade; 1882 new mail
routes established, embracing $500 miles
of new service; ocean mail service extend
ed and pneumatic tube service introduced.
or his proposition to divide the country
into postal districts, Mr.. Wanamaker says
its adoption can only be question of time.
Each district would be put in charge of
postal supervisor or director, and the
regular inspectors of the department should
assist these supervisors, as they might be
needed. The district supervisor could act
under rules, without reference to the de-
partment at Washington and without use
less delay. The department would come
directly in touch with the postal employees,
and they in turn would be better in touch
with the people served.
THE MESSAGE.
President Harrison's last message to
Congress was read in both houses, Tuesday
afternoon. 1t is an interesting document,
gives complete review of the business Of
the National Government during the past
year, fully states the condition OF the
Treasury, deals largely with industrial
questions, and makes but few recommen-
dations other than those regarding our
immigration and quarantine laws
From the message we make the follow
ing extracts:
To the Senate and House of Represent
atives:
In submitting my annual message to
Congress I have great satisfaction in being
able to say that the general condition af-
fecting the commercial and industrial in
terests of the United States are in the
highest degree favorable. A comparison
of the existing conditions with those OF the
most favored period in the history of the
country will, believe, show that SO high
q degree of prosperity and so general diff
fusion of the comforts of life were never
before enjoyed by our people.
The total wealth of the country in 1850
was SIG, ,159 ,6O6, ,06s. In 1890 it amounted
to $62, GIG. .000. 900, an increase of 2s7 per
cent. The total mileage of railways in the
United States in 1860 was 30, 626; in 1890 it
was 167, TAI, an increase of 448 per cent,
an1 it is estimated that there will be about
10000 miles of track added by the close of
the year, 1892. The official returns of the
eleventh census and those of the tenth
census for rs leading cities furnish the
basis for the following comparisons: in
1880 the capital invested in manufacturing
wss 81 ,232, ,S39, $40. In 1890 the capital
invested in manufacturing was So, 300, 1856
SS4. In 1880 the number of employees was
1,30., 1888. In 1890 the number of employees
was 2,25I, ,134. In 1880 the wages earned
we're S.. .Ol9. .65O,778. In 1890 the wages
earned were 81. .22I, ITO, 454. In 1880 the
value Of the product was $2,711 ,579, 500
In 1890 the value of the product was 81,
$50, ,2s6, ,s37.
am informed by the superintendent Of
the census that the omission of certain in
dnstries in 1880, which were included in
1890, accounts in part for the remarkable
increase thus shown. But, after making
full allowance for differences Of method
and deducting the returns for all industries
not included in the census of 1880, there
remain in tie reports from these 75 cities
an increase in the capital employed of 81,
500, 745. .604; in the value Of the product OF
81, 04, 236, 1885,; in wages earned of $677,
943, 929, and in the number of wage earn-
ers employed of $50, ,029.
The wage earninges not only show an
increased aggregate, but an increase per
capita from 1887 in 1880 to $40 in 1890, or
4l-71 per cent.
The new industrial plants established
since October 6, 1890, and up to October
%, 1892, number 345. and the extension
of existing plants los; the new capital in
vested amounts to $40, AS, $50, and the
number of additional employees to Al, 285.
STATE OF THE TREASURY.
The report of the secretary of the treas
ury will attract special intererest in view
have been made as to the state of the pub
lie revenues. Three preliminary facts
should not only be stated, but emphasized,
before looking into details: First, that the
public debt has been reduced since March
4, 1889. $3.50, ,074, 200, and the annual inter
charge II, 684, 469; second, that there have
been paid out for pensions during this ad-
ministration up to November l. 1892, $432,-
564, 1870, an excess of STA, 466, 1856 90
over the sum expended during the period
from March l, 1885. to March l. 1889; and
third, that under tho existing tariff up to
December l, about 500, O00, 900 of revenue
which would have been collected upon
sugar, if the duty had been maintained has
gone into the pockets of the people and
not into the public treasury as before. II
there are any who still think that the sur
plus should have been kept out of circula-
tion by boarding it in the treasury or de-
posted in favored banks without interest.
while the government continued to pay to
these very banks interest upon the bonds
deposited as security for the deposits. or
who think that the extended pension legis-
latiOn was q public robbery, or that the
duties upon sugar should have been main
tanned. l am content to leave the argu.
mant where it now rests, while we wait t.
see whether these criticisms " ill take the
form Of legislation.
The revenues for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1892, from all sources, were $425,-
86S, 260 %, and the expenditures for all
purdoses $415, ,953, ,806 Sc, leaving a balance
of So, 81, Ass. .66. There were paid during
the year upon the public debt $40, $40, ,467.-
49, The surplus in the treasury and the
bank redemption fund, passed by the act
Of July IA, 1890. to the general fund, furn-
iSh0d in large mart tha eash available ard