The Mena weekly star., 1896-12-09

 spective governments having agreed upon the substantial provisions of a treaty between Great Britain and Venezuela submitting the whole controversy to arbitration. The provi- sions of the treaty are so eminently just and fair that the assent of Venezuela thereto may confidently be anticipated.
 Government Revenues and Expenses.
 The secretary of the treasury reports that during the fiscal yeor ended June 30 isgG the receipts of the government from all sources amounte to s4o9,i7s,4iS7s During the same period it's expenditures were S43i 6S7. .654 4g The excess of expenditures over receipts thus amounted to S25, 5,20a.asi.sa The ordinary ex- penditures during the year were s4.0Is ,s5e gI less than during the preceding fiscal year. Of the receipts mentioned fthere were derived from customs the sum of si60,0sl 7ai.8T and from internal revenue, Sl45 $50, 5l6.G6. The re- ceipts from customs show an increase of ST. s6S,i3t22 over those from the same source for the fiscal year ended Jure 30, 1883, and the re- ceipts from internal revenue an increase of B. 5S4 637.91.
 The value of our imported dutiable merehan- disc during the last fiscal year was 3s9, ,7s7 go and the value Of free Roots imported RI l9,9GT 40, being n increase of sd.ag3.s7 in the value of dutiaoie ood aud 9i.e3l. 03i in the value oi free goods over the preceding year. Our ex- ports of merchandise foreign and domestir
 
 crease over tae preceding year of S7 ,0es772 The average ad vaorem duty paid on dutiable goods imported during the year was 3994 per cent and on free and dutiable goods taken to- gether 205h per cent
 The total amount of gold exported was s1fa.- 409,9i7 and of silver Ssl,a4 6U. being an increase of SiS,9ll, ,&i6 Of gold and Si22it,S8t of silver over the expo~taton os the preceding fiscal year The imports of gold were 33.h25.9G anG Of silver S,2,7ITls6. being s2,s 9.9 less of gold and iS.h66.n07 more of silver than during the preceding year The total stock of metallic money in the United States at the close of the last fiscal year ending on the 30th day of June ls96 was g. ,22s,S260s5. of which S599 9T 9j4 was of gold and s6.s.72se7l of silver
 On the lst day of November lS96, the total stock of money of all kinGs in the country was s3-6 .iia @ aud the amount in circulation not lncud ag hat ia the treasury holdings was fi,f27,o 9fli. being s2tdi per capita upon an estimated population of 1i.Nje,9
 The production of the precious metals in the United States during tho calenGar year lsl is estimated to have been ..gai.sil fine ounces of gold of the value os siec1n90i. al .sTc4e fine ounces of silver, of the comAicgcl vasuc of SS6445,030 and the coinage value of S7..- 051 ,000
 The total coinage at the hints of the United States during the hse year ended June ao lS9j, amounted to S7l isS. iGS :. of which ,5s.- e7s,s99 was in gold coia and 3iGs sW.9;Ssa in standard silver dollars and minor coins The number of national banks organized from the time tue law authorizing their creation was passed up to October II, 1896 was s051. and of this number 3,679 were at the date last men toned in active operation, having au- thorized capital stock of s6s0.0IlS95, held by 2ssGJ, shareholders, and cir culating notes amounting to seiL4lg,eso. The total outstanding circulating notes of all national banks on tie slst Of October, is05 amounted to s234.a5s.sO7. including unredeened. but fully secured note.acf banks insolvent and in process of liquidation The increase ir na- tional bank circulation during the year ended on that day was tal,t994.0 On October, 1895, when the condition of national banks was Inst reported, the total resources or the 3G79 active institutions was ss,253.dS 33.sS, which in- cluded Sl .s93.2 .26S, ,Si9 Sl in loans and discounts and SS6',l6s,7SS85 85 in money of all kinds on hand Of their liabilities Si .a97s9l .0is was due to individual depositors and ~gO9.e4t0i9 con- sisted of outstanding circulating notes
 The War Department.
 The report of the secretary of war exhibits satisfactory conditions in the several branches of the public service intrusted to his charge. The limit of our artillery force as fixed by law is constantly and readily maintained. The present discipline and morals of the army are excellent and marked progress and efficiency are apparent throughout it's entire organiZa- tion With the exception of delicate duties in the suppression of slight Indian disturbances along our southwestern boundary iu which the Mexican troops co-operated and the compul- sory, but peaceful return with the consent of Great Britain of band Of Cree Tn ,ians from Montana to the British possessions no active operation have been required of tho army dur ing the pastyear.
 The organized militia numbers l12,s79 men, The appropriations for it's support by the sev- eral states approximate S380g,0N annually and Sio000 is contributed by the general govern ment Investigation shows these troops to be unusually well drilled and inspired with much military interest and in many instances they are so deficient in proper arms and equipment that sudden call to active duty would hn1 them inadequately prepared for field service. therefore recommend that prompt measures be taken to remedy this condition and that every encouragement be given to this deserv- ing body of unpaid and voluntary citizen sol- ders upon whose assistance we must largely rely in time Of trouble.
 During the past year rapid progre $ has been made toward the completion of the scheme adopted for the erection and armament of for tihcations along our sea coast. while equal progress has been made in providing the mate rial for submarine defense in connection with these works. This improved situation is largely due to the recent generous response of congress 10 the recommendations Of the war department.
 The Attorney y-Generai's Department.
 The attorney presents de tailed and statement of the important work done under his supervision during the last fiscal year. The ownership and management by the government of penitentiaries for the confinement of the convicted in the United States courts of violations of federal laws, which for many years has been subject of executive recommendation, has at last to a slight extent been realized by the utiliza- ton of the abandoned military prison at Fort as United States penitentiary. This is certainly movement in the right d. rection: but it ought to be at once supple