Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-08

strated the usefulness of this innovation.
In connection with this plan of examina-
ton, promotions and transfers of de-
serving incumbents have been quite ex-
tensively made with excellent results.
During the past year thirty-five appoint
ments have been made in the consular
service, twenty-seven Of which were
made to fill vacancies caused by death or
resignation, or to supply newly created
posts, two to succeed incumbents remov-
ed for cause, two for the purpose of dis
placing alien consular officials by Amer
lean citizens and four merely changing
the official title of the incumbent from
commercial agent to consul Twelve of
these appointments were transfers or
promotions from other positions under
the department of state. Four of those
appointed had rendered previous service
under the department Seven were ap-
pointed to places not included in the order
of September 20, 1895, and four appoint
ments, as above stated, involved no
change of incumbency.
The inspection of consular offices, pro-
vided for by an appropriation for that
purpose at the last session of the con-
greSS, has been productive of such whole
some effects that 1 hope this important
work will in the future be continued. l
know of nothing that can be done with
the same slight expense so improving to
the service.
RESIDENCES FOR AMBASSADORS.
I desire to repeat the recommendation
contained in my last annual message in
favor of providing, at public expense,
official residences for our ambassadors
and ministers at foreign capitals. The
reasons supporting this recommendation
are strongly stated in the report of the
secretary of state, and the subject seems
of such Importance that l hope 1t may
receive the early attention, of the con-
gress.
BEHRING SEA MATTER.
We have during the last year labored
faithfully and against unfavorab bic con-
ditions to secure better preservation of
seal life in the Behring sea. Both the
United States and Great Britain have
dispa tched commissioners to these wa
ters to study the ha abits and condition of
the seal herd and the causes of their
rapid decrease. Upon the reports of
these commissioners, soon to be submit
ted, and with the exercise of patience and
good sense on the part of all interested
parties it is earnestly hoped that hearty
cooperation may be secured for the pro-
lection against threa tened determination
of seal life in the Northern Pacific and
Behring sea.
FINANCES.
The secretary of the treasury reports
that during the fiscal year ended June
80, 1896, the receipts of the government
from all sources amounted to $409, ,475,-
1873. During the same period it's ex-
penditures were $434 ,67S, 654.4S, the excess
of expenditures over receipts thus
amounting to $25,203, 2457O. The ordinary
expenditures during the year were $4,
015,S52.21 less than during the preceding
fiscal year. OF the receipts mentioned
there was derived from customs the
sum of $3.50 ,O21 ISL 81 and from internal
revenues $146,830, ,615.66. The receipts
from customs show an increase of ST.
S63, 134.22 over those from the same source
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1895,
and the receipts from internal revenue an
increase of s9,5S4,537.91.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
The value of imported dutiable mer-
chandise during the last fiscal year was
1868, ,754 ,470, and the value OF free goods
imported $409967,470 being an increase
of $6,523,675 In the value CT dutiable goods
and SAL, ,231,0S4 in the value of free goods
over the preceding year. Our exports
of merchandise, foreign and domestic,
amounted in value to 1882, ,606,93S being
an increase over the preceding year of
$75,06S,773. Tha average ad valorem
duty paid on dutiable goods imported
during the year was 1894 per cent, and
on free and dutiable goods taken together
20.55 per cent.
INTERNAL REVENUE.
Inc cost OF correcting our Internal rev
enue was 278 per cent, as against 2S1
per cent. for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1895. The total production of dis
titled spirits, exclusive of fruit brandies,
was Sc, ,1SS,703 taxable gallons, being an
increase of 6,639, ,108 gallons over the pre-
ceding year. There was also an increase
of 1,443,676 gallons of spirits produced
from fruit as compared with the preced-
ing year.
The number of barrels of beer pro-
duced was $3.50, ,250, as against $685.
7S4 produced in the preceding fiscal year,
being an increase of 2,269, 466 barrels.
GOLD AND SILVER.
The total amount of gold exported
during the last fiscal year was $112, ,409,-
crease of $45, 5,941 ,466 of gold and S13,246,-
3S4 OF silver over expectations of the
preceding fiscal year The imports of
gold were 33,525,O67 and of silver $685.
TIT 1885, being $2,S59,695 less of gold and
$856,6O 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 ended June 80, 1896, was ST.
228, ,326,O35, of which $685. 597, ,964 was in
gold and $628,72S,o71 in silver.
THE CIRCULATION.
On the 1st day of November 1896, the
total stock of money of all kinds in the
country was %, zoo, ,9IU,oJU, anu lIic dilOuul
in circulation, not including that in the
treasury holdings, was 81, ,627 ,055,641 being
1925 per capita upon an estimated pop
ulation of 100000
PRECIOUS METALS.
The products of the precious metals
In the United States during the calendar
year 1895 is estimated to have been 2,254,-
760 fine ounces of gold, of the value of
SAG, SIC, 900, and 55,727,000 fine ounces of
silver, of the commercial value of $685.
445, 900 and the coinage value of $72.051,
900.
The estimated production Of these met
ais throughout the world during the same
period was 9,6S8,S21 fine ounces of gold.
amounting to 5000, ,2S5, 700 In value, and
1863 1879 249 fine ounces of silver, of the
commercial value of $218, ,738 100 according
to our ratio.
AMOUNT OF COINAGE.
The coinage of these metals in the va
rious countries Of the world during the
same calendar year amounted to $232 701,-
43S in gold, and $121, ,996,219 in silver. The
total coinage at the mints of the United
States during the fiscal year ended June
30, 1896, amounted to ST., ,1SS, ,46S.52 Of
which $5S, ,87S ,490 was in gold coins and
$12,309, ,91S.52 in standard silver dollars,