The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-08

prompt action since they know that a
business revival cannot be expected by
anyobdy until the tariff can be put into
operation and the immense stock Of for
cign goods now coming into the country
disposed of and the market opened to our
own manufacturers.
The department of agriculture is re-
ceiving very gratifying reports from the
farming community. The continuation Of
high prices for wheat. the unusual foreign
demand for corn and the activity among
farmers in preparing to make an earnest
experiment In the production or sugar
beets, combine to make the condition
among that class of population unusually
healthful and encouraging. Dollar
wheat" for " hich farmers had scarcely
dared to hope, was coincldent with the in
coming of Mckinley, while the eXtraor-
dinary demand for their os.H adds to their
general encouragement. Coupled with
this comes the activity and interest felt
i'm the exoeriments which are to be made
in all parts of the country in the produc-
tton of our own sugar, and 1t is apparent
that the farming community is not only
feeling the return of prosperity, but Is
occupying its mind with cheerful thoughts
and prospects rather than the gloomy ones
which were consant feature or the -FOUR
years of the Cleveland administration.
The farmer is likely to be well taken
care Of by that dignihed body, the United
States senate. The tariff bill, reported
from the Finance committee OF that body
on Tuesday. has added a duty of liz cents
per pound on hides, increased the rate on
wool of the third class. and cut out the
clause in the house bill which exempted
Hawaiian sugar from duties. thus reduc-
ing that competition with teet sugar. The
duty put on. hides, tea, and other articles
which were formerly on the free-list will
improve the opportunities for advantage
Gus reciprocity treaties for which the
senate will provide, and which will great
ly benefit the farmer. 1t is believed the
house rates on woods of the first and sec
ond class will be restored by the senate or
conference committee.
1--WE respectfully suggest that the Re-
publican party, as the dominant party in
the state and in the legislature, has thus
become responsible to the people of the
commonwealth not simply for the passage
of legislation which may to some extent
l'incorporatc into law the principles of re-
form, but emphatically for the adoption
of these very bills; and that every mem
ber elected upon the Republican platform
is thereby pledged to vote for them. We
believe that the citizens of Pennsylvania
earnestly desire this legislation and we
found this belief upon the fact that whoc-
ever the people have had the opportunity
of voting upon such measures they have
given them their hearty approval.
I'VE respectfully call your attention es-
pecially to the adoption of stringent civil
service laws by the people of the state Of
New York, and of the cities of Chicago
and New Orleans. In Chicago, the law,
submitted to popular vote, was adopted
by $4,000 majority; and in the state Of
Massachusetts,, where similar law was
enacted in 1885, the people have repeatedly
shown their approval of its provisions. 1t
cannot reasonably be doubted that the
citizens of our own commonwealth are as
sincerely anxious as those of other Amerl-
can communities to improve the political
conditions by which they are surrounded.
We therefore respectfully, but most earn
est.y, urge upon you favorable action upon
the Civil Service bill as it now stands, and
upon other reform measures which will
como before your honorable body"