The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-08

THE VENEZUELAN BOUNDARY.
The Venezuelan boundary question has
I ceased to be matter of difference be-
Il tween Great Britain and the United
States their respective governments
4 having agreed upon the substantial
provisions of treaty between Great
8 Britain and Venezuela submitting the
+ whole controversy to arbitration. The
I provisions of the treaty are so eminent
i ~ Just and fair. that the assent of Vene-
4 znela thereto may be confidently antici-
4 pated.
W. Negotiations for treaty of general
q arbitration for all differences between
Great Britain and the United states are
4 far advanced and promise to reach
date.
us EXTENSION OF CIVIL SERVICE.
The SCENE of examining applicants for
certain consular positions, to test their
SScompetency and fitness. adopted under
ian executive order issued on the goth of
sSeptemher. 1895. has fully demonstrated
i the usefulness of this innovation. In con-
nection of this plan of examination pro-
Z motions and transfers of deserving ii
{ cump ents have been quite extensively
q made, with excellent results.
During the past year thirty-1ve APP
i continents have been made in the con
i5ssusar service, twenty of which
Were made to fill vacancies caused by
I death or resignation or to supply new
4 iyScreated posts, two to succeed inCum-
DENTS removed for cause. two for the
4 PURPOSE of displacing alien consular Of
Z fciais by American citizens and four
merely changing the official title of in
Scunbent from commercial agent to con-
Ssular. Twelve OF these appointed were
5 transfers or promotions from other po-
ssitions under the Department OF State
Your OF those appointed had rendered
previous service under the department.
i eigth were made OF persons who passed
q satisfactory examination. seven were
appointed to places not included in the
order of September 20, 1885, and four
& appointments, as above stated, involved
mo NO gchange OF fncumbency. The inspec-
\ ton OF consular offices provided for by
/, an appropriation for that purpose at
the last session OF the Congress-. has
4 been productive of such wholesome eff
!. feGts, that I hope this important work
Will In the future be continued. know
q OF nothing that can be done with the
I same slight expense SO improving to the
sseryice.
9 RESIDENCES FOR AMBASSADORS.
4 desire to repeat the recommendation
contained in my last annual message. in
\ layori OF providing at public expense
4 omc1al residences for our Amba doris
s and Ministers. at foreign capitals The
reasons supporting this recommends
Lon I,s are strongly stated in the report of
seems of such Importance that hope it
4 may receive the early attention of the
congress.
BEHRING SEA SEALS.
We have during the last year labored
1atthfully and against unfavora bic con
5nttions. to secure better preservation of
Z seal life In the Behrng Sea. Both the
United States and Great Britain have
lately dispatched commissioners to
{ Inese waters, to study the habits and
scondttion of the seal herd and the causes
81 their rapid decrease Upon the re
! gor.s OF these commissioners. soon to be
and with the exercise of
tapattence and good sense on the part of
I Saii interested porties 1t Is earnestly
ghoped that hearty cooperation may be
secured Tor the protection against threat
aened extinction of seal life in the North
3ern Pacific and Behring Sea.
{ astiftSsEIiPTS AND EXPENDITURE
The Secretary Of the Treasury reports
that during the fiscal year ended June
aSQ 1885, the receipts of the Government
{ rom all sources amounted to s4O9. as
ss405.f8, During the same period its ex-
spenuttures We're S43467s, 654.4s, the ex-
SeesS5nf expenditures over receipts thus
amounting to $25,203 245.70. The ordinary
expenditures during the year were S4.-
sg5 Y. .S52i2l less than during the proceeding
sI Isse year OF the receipts mentioned
there were derived from customs the
sum of $3.50, 021 .751.67 and from internal
revenue SAG. s36.615.66 The receipts
from customs show an increase of ST.
.S6S, 34.22 over those from the same
n5souree for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1895. and the receipts from interna,
SreYenue an Increase of SO, 5S4 1891
g9Ihs value of our imported dutiable
aneFcnandise during the last fiscal year
$3e9757.47o, and the value of free
goods imported S409.967.470, being an in
grease OF $685. 75 in the value of dutia-
ebie goods and s4l,23l034 in the value of
8 gee goods over the preceding year.
e0ur exports OF merchandise, foreign and
Eaomestic, amounted In value to 1885,, 6O6.-
I sSS, Being an increase over the proceed
ang year of $75.06s,773. The average ad
yaiorem duty paid on dutiable goods i'm
! ported during the year was 1884 per
sGent. and on free and dutiabIe goods
Naken together 20.55 per cent.
The cost of collecting our internal
sfevenue was 2.78 per cent. as against
Isl per cent for the fiscal year ending
n Tune 30, 1885, The total production of
s1latilled spirits. exclusive OF frIif bran
sidess was s6.5sS,703 taxable gallons.
sbsins an increase of 6,S39l0S gallons
over the preceding year. There was
also an Increase of 1,443667 gallons of
Hpir3ts. produced from fruit. az com
sFared With the preceding year. The
ss1nnper9of barrels of beer produced was
zSbssSss250, as against 33.5s97S4 produced
"a the preceding fiscal year, being an
increase OF 2 269,4e6 barrels.
lsSs MOVEMENT OF GOLD.
the total amount of gold exnorted