Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-31

ways ana means committee some lime pre-
Vlously and which bore the popular name
OF Its chairman, Mr.. Dingey was intro
duced, and after considerable debate and
number of amendments was finally pass
&c. go by the Senate On July by a vote Of
81 yeas and % nays. The most important
amendment offered was that by Cen Gros-
Venor of Ohio, who proposed to make the
Dill retroactive. so as to apply to all goods
imported afte. April !. whether the bill
should become law by that time or not
rms amendment was adopted by tie
House by vote of 200 to 40
The Senate added clauses providing for
bonds and certificates of stock. The bill
TEEN went to a conference committee of
the two houses and work was begun on
1t July ., 1897. The conference commit
finally passed the House July 10 and the
Senate on July ~, becoming a law at i:O4
pm or the latter day, when the President
affixed his name to the bill
While the bill was under consideration in
the Senate several efforts were made to add
them failed.
The protective features of the bill
brought out numerous protests from for
e1sn nations against the proposed increase
OF rates and the discriminatory features of
the bill. No less than fifteen foreign gov
errments either made formal diplomatic
protests against the bill expressed lis
satisfaction in their legislative assemblies
In anticipation of the increased duties
which would attach to many imported ar
ucles heaVy fmportations were made by
merchants prior to the passage of the bill.
On this account largely 1t is now esti-
mated that the present tariff will scarcely
become producer of revenue sufficient to
meet the necessities of government for
another year.
But while the bill in measure proved a
disappointment in this regard it's effect
on the industries OF the country was i'm
mediate and strongly marked for the bet
ter. Almost form pf ind fo1x
its beneficent effect at cnce and factor
les which had been closed down Tor
months, and, in some instances, years,
started up again, giving employment to
Thousands of idle workmen. Altogether
the advent Of the Mckinley administra-
ton marks distinct era in the history of
the country.
THE DIMETALLIC COMMISSION,
In accordance with an act passed by
Congress and approved March 3, 1897,
President Mckinley. April -, announced
the appointment of Senator E. o. Wolcott
of Colorado, Gen. Charles j. Paine of Mas
sachusetts and ex-Vice President Adlai E.
Stevenson of Illinois, commission to sound
the sentiment of the commercial nations
OF Europe upon the. advisability of inter-
national bimetallism and the holding of
monetary conference. The commissioners
reached Europe in May, and held confer
NANSo WIN TIC CISuCH, SeTIndn ana English
governments. The response of France was
readily given in favor Of the proposition
The commissioners were authorized to rem
resent France as being willing to take the
initiative in the proposal to restore silver
10 It's use as money metal at the RI ito of
lJ.j TO of geld. Tho response of GERMANY
was less ready. and made dependent upon
the action of Great Britain in the matter
July II the commissioners met in a con-
ference at the British foreign office in Lon
don There were present: Premier Sails
bury, Lord George Hamilton, secretary of
state for India; Sir Michael Hicks-Beach.
chancellor en OF the exchequer; A. J. Balfour,
hrst lord of the treasury. Col. John Hay.
our ambassador to the court Of St James.
aiso attended the conference. On the fnyj-
tatlon or the British premier, Senator VOL
cot explained the object of the missioe.
AT later meeting. July Is, the French am
bassador to England was invited to declare
the position Of the French government, and
ne explained that while France was ready
70 reopen her mints to the coinage Of silver
Il the other commercial nations adopted the
same course. he said his government would
not consider the reopening Of the mirts of
Indla alone as sufficient guarantee for the
french government to take such action
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach announced def
nltely that Great Britain would not agree
10 open the English minis to the unlimited
coinage OF silver. The French ambassador
suggested That Great Britain should open
the Indian minis and agree to purchase an
nuaily about $10.OOO.0OO of silver for a series
OF years October - Lord Salisbury hand
ed to the United States ambassador the 70
ply of the government of India. which in
long list Of reasons, emphaticalIy de-
chhed the proposal to reopen the mints as
suggested. 49,
This ended the negotiations and the com.
inlssionsrs returned home.
GREATER NEW YORK,
TIE event of the year which attracted
most attention in the United States was
the formation Of the city Of Greater New
iorK. This was the climax Of city build
ing Oh which much note has been taken
curing the Past twenty or thirty years of
tae nations history. 1t was the consolida-
ton under one municipal government of
haif dozen or more cities and towns, with
their adjoining territories. Under the
| charter. which was finally passed by the
| New York state senate April Ii, 1897 the
territory Of what Is now known as Greater
New York comprises the county of Kings.
winch includes Brooklyn; the county of
Richmond. Long Island City, the towns of
Newton, Flushing and Jamaica. and the
westerly portion OF the town of Hemp
stead. in the county of Queens. This terri
tory embraces 359 square miles, and a pop
uiation. In round numbers, of 500, 900 peo-
pie. This consolidation was not ACCOM-
| plished without serious opposition on the
part not only of the people of the original
city, but also OF the territory whichy was
sought 10 De embraced within the enlarged
limits.
The act under which the new municfnal-
ity was formed WINS vetoed by Mayor
Strong Of the old city Of New Yorl-. Int
vas passed by the legislature over hik dis.
sent. Gov. Black. before signing the char:
ter. examined great mass Of lavSers's
briefs and other documents which Bhad
been submitted to Kim by the advocates
| and opponents Of the proposed chatter:
end II was current rumor up till kbe
time that his signature was affixed mai