The McCook tribune., 1896-12-18

arise should plainly lead as TO avoid their
creation, either through careless disregard
of present duty or even an undue stimula-
ton and ill-timed expression of feeling.
Bet have deemed not aMiss to remind the
congress that a time may arrive when
correct policy and care for our interests
as well as regard for the interests of other
nations and their citizens. Joined by consid-
erations of humanity and desire to see
rich and fertile country intimately related
to US, spared from complete devastation.
will constrain our government to such action
as will sub5erve the interests thus involved
and at the same time promise to Cuba and
its inhabitants an opportunity to enjoy the
blessings Of peace.
VENEZUELA.
The Venezuelan boundary question has
ceased to be matter of difference between
Great Britain and the United States. their
respective governments having agreed upon
the substantial provisions of treaty be-
tween Great Britain and Venezuela submit
ting the whole controversy to arbitration
The provisions of the treaty are so emf
nently just and fair that the consent of Ven-
ezuela thereto may confidently be antici-
pated.
tration for all differences between Great
Britain and the United States are far ad-
vanced and promise to reach a successful
consummation at an early date.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT..
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 S409 ATS, ,409.7S. Dur
ing the same period its expenditures were
s434, ,67S, ,654.48. The excess of expenditures
over receipts thus amounted to s25, ,203,-
a
the year were 81 O15, 1921 less than dur
ing the preceding fiscal year. OF the re-
ceipts mentioned there was derived from
customs the sum of S16O021, ,75167 and
from internal revenue S146, $50, ,615.66. The
receipts from customs show an increase of
1868, 1892 over those from the same
source for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1895 and the receipts from internal revenue
an increase of So, ,5S4, ,537.91.
The value of our imported dutiable mer-
chandise during the last fiscal year was
1868, ,757 ,470, and the value of free goods
imported S409, OCT ,470, being an increase of
sc, ,523, CTS in the value of dutiable goods,
and s91, ,231 ,O34 in the value of free goods
over the preceding year.
Our exports of merchandise, foreign and
domestic amounted in value to S9S2, COO, ,936,
being an increase over the preceding year
of S75,06S,773. The average ad valorem
duty paid on dutiable goods imported dur
ing the year was 39.94 per cent, and on free
and dutiable goods taken together, 20.55
per cent.
The cost of collecting our internal revenue
was 2.79 per cent as against PSI per cent
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1895.
The total production of distilled spirits. ex-
elusive of fruit brandies, was 85,5S8, ,7O3
taxable gallons, being an increase of $685.
10S gallons over the preceding year. There
was also an increase of l, ,443, GIG gallons of
fr-,,i+ ,-a1
with the preceding year. The number of
barrels of beer produced was 80, ,S59.250 as
against 33, 5S9,7S4 produced in the preCed-
ing fiscal year. being an increase of 2, ,269,-
466 barrels.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
The report of the secretary of war exhibits
satisfactory conditions in the several
branches of the public service intrusted to
his charge. The various recommendations
of the secretary are indorsed.
The attorney general presents detailed
and interesting statement of the important
work done under his supervision during the
last fiscal year The ownership and man
agement by the government of peniten-
tiaries for the confinement of the convicted
in United States courts of violations of
federal laws, which for many years has been
a subject of executive recommendation, has
at last to a light extent been realized by the
utilization of the abandoned military prison
at Fort LeavenwOrth as United States
pententiarY.
Federal Penitentiarv.
This is certainly movement in the right
direction, but it ought to be at once supple
mented by the rebuilding or extensive en-
largement of this improvised prison and the
construction Of at least one more, to be
located in the southern states. The capacity
of the Leavenworth peuitentiary is SO lin
tied that the expense of its maintenance,
calculated at per capita rate upon the
nSmber of prisoners it can acc ommodate,
does not make As economical an exhibit as it
would If it were larger and better adapted
to prison purposes; but 1 am thoroughly
convinced that economy, humanity and
proper sense of responsibility and duty to-
wards those whom we punish for violations
of federal law dictate that the federal gov
ernment should have the entire control and
management of the penitentiarieS where
convicted violators are confined. 1t appears
that since the transfer of the Fort Leaven-
worth military prison to its new uses the
work previously done by prisoners confined
there, and for which expensive machinery
has been provided, Aas been discontinued.
This work consisted of the manufacture of
articles for army use, now done elsewhere
On all grounds it is exceedingly desirable
that the ConviCts confined in this peniten-
tiary be allowed to resume work of this de-
Scription.
Our postofflce department is in good condi-
ton and the exhibit made of its operations
during the fiscal year ended June 80, 1896,
if allowance is made for imperfeCtions in
the laws applicable to it, is very satisfac-
tory. The total receipts during the year
were 49, 499 2OS.+ 10 The total expenditures
were s9G. .626, ,296. S4, exclusive of 81. 559-
69a.2 27 which was earned by the Pacific rail-
roads for transportation and credited on
their debt to the government There was
an increase of receipts over the previous
year of S5,516 OSU21, or IL per cent and an
increase of expenditures of IS, 836, 124.02, or
4.43 per cent. The deficit was 81, ,679, ,956. 19
less than that of the preceding year. The
chief expenditures of the postal service are
regulated by law and are not in the control
of the postmaster general
The deficit for the last year, although
much less than that of the last and preCed-
ing years, emphasizes the necessity for leg
islation to correct the growing abuse of
second-claSs rates, to which the deficit is
mainly attributable. The transmission at
the rate of one cent pound of serial libra
ries, advertising sheets, house organs"
periodicals advertising some particular
house" or institution), sample copies and
the like, ought certainly be discontinued.
This subject is discussed at considerable
length and reforms urgently recommended.
Navy.