The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-08

less sacrifice of human life and the utter
destruction of the very subtect-matter
| of the conflict, a situation will be present.
ed in which our obligations to the sover-
| eighty OF Spain will be superseded Dy
higher obligations. which We can hardly
| hesitate to recognize and discharge. De-
| ferring the choice of ways and methods
| until the time for action arrives. we
should make them depend upon the pre-
| else conditions then existing; and they
! should not be determined upon without
| giving careful heed to every consideration
involving our honor and interest, or the
| international duty We owe to Spain. un-
til we face the contingencies suggested.
or the situation Is by other incidents i'm
| perativey changed, we should continue
in the line of conduct heretofore pursued.
| thus in all circumstances exhibiting our
lie law and our regard for the duty en-
Joined upon us by the position We occupy
| in the family of nations.
contemplation of emergencies that
may arise should plainly lead us to avoid
their creation, either through careless
| disregard of present duty or even an un-
| due stimulation and ill-timed expression
| of feeling. But | have deemed 1t not
| amisS to remind the congress that Il time
may arrive when II correct policy and
care for our interests, as well as a regard
for the interests of other nations and
| their citizens Joined by considerations of
humanity and a desire to See Il rich and
| fertile country. intimately related to us
saved from complete devastation, Will
cohtrain our government 10 such actloh
| as will subserve the interests thus in
volved and at the same time promise to
| Cuba and its inhabitants an opportunity
to enjoy the blessings of peace.
VENEZUELAN BOUNDARY.
The Venezuelan boundary question has
ceased to be matter of difference be-
tween Great Britain and the United
| States, their respective governments hav
| ing agreed the substantial provisions of a
/ treaty between Great Rrif1in and Npua-
Zuela submitting the whole controversy to
arbitration. The provisions of the treaty
are so eminently just and fair. that the
assent of Venezuela thereto may conf-
IDENTIFY be anticipated.
Negotiations for a treaty of general ar
bitration for all differences between Great
Britain and the United States are far
advanced and promise to reach a success
ful elimination at an early date.
The scheme of examining applicants for
certain consular positions, to test their
competency and fitness. adopted under an
executive order issued on the Goth OF
September, 1896, has fully demonstrated
the usefulness of this innovation. In con-
nection with this plan of examination pro-
motions and transfers of deserving in
cumbents have been quite extensively
| made. with excellent results.
During the past year thirty-five ap-
poiniments have been made in the con-
sular service.
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 ] hope. this important
work will in the future he continued. I
desire to repeat the recommendation con-
taned In my last annual message in favor
of providing at public expense official resi-
ienceS for our ambassadors and ministers
at foreign capitals. The reason support
ing this recommendation are strongly
stated in the report of the secretary of
state and the subject seems of such i'm
NOR hDt I h.,N Z
early attention of the congress.
We have during the last year labored
| faithfully and against unfavorable con-
ditionS,. to secure better preservation Of
Seal life in the Behring Sea. Both the
! United States and Great Britain have
lately dispatched commissioners to these
waters to study the habits and condition
of the Seal herd and the causes of their
rapid decade. It is earnestly hoped that
+ hearty cooperation may be secured for
the protection against threatened extinc-
| tion of seal life in the Northern Pacific
and Behrng Sea.
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 SOO, iI5 lOS.7s.
| During the same period its expenditures
were $l3i.dlS,6Ji.iS, the excess of eXpendi-
| lures over receipts thus amounting to
|. S25. .2O3, ,ei5.70. The ordinary expenditures
during the year were 81 i,0l5, j22l less than
during the preceding fiscal year. OF the
( receipts mentioned there was derived from
customs the sum of $3.50, ,O2l, ,75l. .G7, and from
internal revenue Slii,SSO O,6l5.65. The re-
/ $685. 1872 over those from the same
| source for the fiscal year ended June so.
! 1895, and the receipts from internal rev.
| enue an increase $S,5Si.5SI9l.
THE TARIFF RECEIPTS.
| The value of our imported dutiabe mer-
! chandise during the last fiscal year was
1868, %! 40, and the value of free goods i'm
ported $I@,9 40, being an increase of So
| 523Gl5 in the value of dutiable goods. and
| $il, ,223l .Oi in the value of dutiable goods.
| and SAL .23l,O 1854 in the value of free goods
over the preceding year. our exports of
| merchandise. foreign and domestic.
amounted in value to $SS2, ,6O6 s3s, being an
| increase over the preceding year OF SIJ,
06S713. The average ad valorem duty paid
on dutiabe goods imported during the
| year was 1894 per cent.
The cost of collecting our internal rev.
enue was 2.IS per cent. as against 2.Sl
per cent. for the fiscal year ending June
| 30, 1885,
The total amount of gold exported dur
Ing the last fiscal year was $ll2, 400, ,Ji7
and of silver $50, 54l go, being an increase
of Sb,94l ,466 of gold. and $l3,2i6,34 of silver
! over the expectations of the preceding rs-
| cal year. The imports of gold We're $32,-
525,oe5, and Of silver $2S,777l 1856, being s2s59,-
G95 less of gold and IS, ,56G 0O7 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 on the thirtieth day CT
June. 1896, was 81 90. 1876 035. of which s599.-
591,sa was in gold. and $62s 72S,01 in sill
Yer.
On the first day Of November, 1896, the
total stock of money of all kinds In the
country was s.. 2s5, 40, 590 and the amount
In circulation: not including that In the
| treasury holdings was $l.627. .055,G41, being
S22;6S per capita upon an estimated popu-
lation of 1885,, 900.
The production Of the precious metals in
the United States during the calendar
year 1895 is estimated to have been 2,254,-
| ltO fine ounces of gold, of the value of
Sl6.6l0,OOO. and 55.7G.0OO fine ounces of sill
yer. OF the commercial value of $780, AS. 900.
and the coinage Of $72o5l,OoO. The esti-
mated production of these metals through
out the world during the same period
was S.6SS,2l fine ounces OF gold, amount
ing to s2W,2S5.1O in value. and .69, ,lS9, 2i9
value of $ll0,654,Oo0 The tota! coinage at
the mints of the United States during the
fiscal year ended June 30. 1895. amounted
to S7llSS S,iGs.57. Of which S5Ss7s,i $50 was in
gold coins and $l2,3C9.97S.52 in standard
silver dollars. subsidiary coins and minor
coins. The number of National banks or
ganized from the time the law authorized
their creation was passed. up to October
| 81, 1876. was 5,Ool, and of this number
1868 were at the date last mentioned in
active operation. having authorized cap
ital stock of s650.Oli,Ssj held by 2Ss.9o2
amounting to s2li. .4l2,G2O
The total outstanding circulation notes
of all National banks on the 3lst day of
October 1896. amounted to 1924, ,553, ,SO7 in
cluding, unredeemed. but fully secured
notes OF banks insOlvent and in process of
liquidation. The increase in National
bank circulation during the year ending
ON that day was $2l, ,039. 429. On October G,
1886. when the condition of National banks
was last reported. the total resources uf
the 1868 active institutions was $3,263,
6S5.3l3.S3.
REGARDING THE MILITARY.
The report of the secretary Of war ex-
hibtts satisfactory conditions in the sew
erai branches of the public intrusted in