Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-12-16

ed since 1t was called In special session
by President Mckinley have been ex-
tremely satisfactory In their develop
ments. The tariff law, which was plac-
ed upon the statute books by the action
Of the special session, has fully justi-
fed the predictions of Its trainers and
supporters, the administration has
made splendid progress In its work
with reference to foreign affairs, while
the reports which members Of Con-
gress bring from all parts of the coun-
try show vastly improved business con-
ditions.
Increased earnings among farmers,
increased earnings by railroads and
railroad men, increased earnings among
mine operators and mine workers, In
creased earnings among manufacture
ers; these are the reports which mem
bers bring from every part Of the coun-
try. From Kansas alone comes an ON
cial report placing the value Of farm
products In that State this year at over
SOC, 100000, an increase of more than
30 per cent as compared with last year,
while the reports of mortgages can
celled In that and all of the farming
States are equally gratifying. From
the manufacturing and mining sections
the reports are quite as favorable.
Members from the manufacturing Sec
tons of New England and the Ohio
valley report large increases in num-
Der of people employed and that an in
crease in wages is now also being had
in many cases. Naturally the first eff
feet OF q protective tariff is to increase
the number of people employed, and 1t
is not until the second stage of Its
work has been reached that the effect
is felt in the increase in wages. This
is now making itself apparent, for re-
ports of increased wages come not
alone from the manufacturing centers,
but from the great iron mines of Penn
sylvania, Michigan and elsewhere, and
from other Industries of this character
in the Ohio valley.
Ore subject for which members Of
Congress of both parties are looking
with interest is the statement of Sen
ators Pettigrew, Mantle and Dubois,
who hurried away from Washington
visit Japan. 1t was announced that
their object in making this trip was 70
examine into the causes which led
Japan to abandon the silver standard
and fall In line with the progressive
gold standard nations Of the world.
Japan, 1t will be remembered. was
shining example Of free silver prosper
ity during the discussions Of 1896 and
no single incident since the defeat of
1896 so much disturbed the silver advo-
Gates as the loss of Japan from their
list of silver standard countries. 1t
was because Of this fact that the silver
advocates scurried away to interview
these Yankees of the Orient and find
out just how they had been taken in
by the gold schemers of Europe. These
gentlemen, although they returned
from Japan weeks ago. have been alb
solutely silent, and their coming to
Washington is looked forward to with
much interest, as there Will be dispo-
sition on the part of members of both
parties to insist upon either definite
report or an explanation of their ST.
lence. The fact that they have had
nothing to say since they returned is
considered, to say the least, suggestive
Of failure to find in Japan any sufficient
argument in support of their silver the
DRY.
Another subject which interests
members of Congress much on their
return Is the announcement that all
American prisoners in Cuba have now
been set at liberty. 1t will be remem-
bered that this administration. when
1t came into Office nine months ago,
found that a very large number Of
American citizens were confined in
Cuban prisons and had been so con-
fined in many cases for months.
Within less than single month many
of these were released, and now Con-
gress finds upon reassembling that
through the firm, but conservative,
course of the administration every
American citizen who was thus con-
fined in Cuban prisons and had been
so confined for months, IL not years,
has been set at liberty. This fact Is
already having it's effect in modifying
the disposition on the part of certain
people to criticise the course of the
administration in regard to Cuban af-
fairs and to lead to a feeling that the
President and his advisers, if permit
ted to carry out their plans, will shape
the matter in n satisfactory way.
The operations Of the tariff law DUR
ing the four months since Congress
placed 1t upon the statute books and
left 1t to begin its career in the face
Of adverse conditions, have been very
satisfactory. With hundred million
dollars worth of surplus foreign i'm
portations upon the markets of the
country, the conditions In which It en-
tered upon its work were, of course,
extremely unfavorable. In the face
Of that fact, however, its earnings
have steadily increased, beginning
with little over $19,0O0,OO0 in its first
month, and now reaching more than
So, 100000 In November. In each
month since the tariff bill was placed
upon the statute books the earnings
have increased, and the Treasury of
ficials who have been studying the
! new law carefully are thoroughly sat
isfied with Its prospects as a revenue
producer. Probably no man In the
Treasury Department is better capa-