The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-12-07

Congress Reassembies.
The members of Congress, ON reas-
sembling at the national capitol, find
that the few months which have
passed since it was called i'm special
session by President Mckinley have
been extremely satisfactory in their
developments The tariff law, which
was placed upon the statute books by
the action of the special session, has
fully justified the predictions of its
trainers and supporters. the Admins
tration has made splendid progress
in its work with reference to foreign
affairs, while the reports which mem
bers of Congress bring from ali parts
Of the country show vastly improved
business conditions
Increased earnings among farmers,
increased earnings by railroads and
railroad men, increased earnings
among mine operators and mine
workers, increased earnings among
manufactures these are the reports
which members bring from every
part of the country. From Kansas
alone comes an official report placing
the value of farm products i'm that
state this year at over $6G, 100000 an
increase of more than 30 per cent as
compared with last year, while the
reports of mortgages cancelled in
that and all of the farming states are
equally gratifying. From the manu-
featuring and mining sections the re
ports are quite as favorable.
Naturally the first effect of a pro
tective tariff is to increase the mum
ber OF people employed, and it is not
until the second stage of its work has
been reached that the effect is felt in
theincrease in wages. This is now
making itself apparent, for reports Of
increased wages come not alone from
the manufacturing centers, but from
the great iron mines of Pennsylvania,
Michigan, and elsewhere, and from
other industries of this character in
the Ohio Valley.
One subject for which members of
Congress of both parties are looking
with interest is the statement Of
Senators Pettigrew, Mantle and Du-
bois. who hurried away from Wash
ington at the close of the special ses-
sion to visit Japan. 1t was an
nounced that their object in making
this trip was to examine into the
causes which led Japan to abandon
the silver standard and fall in line
with the progressive goldstan-
dard nations of the world. Japan it
will be remembered, was a shining
example of free-siIver prosperity dur
ing the discussions OF 1896, and no
single incident since the defeat of
1896 so much disturbed the silver adj
vocates as the loss of Japan from
their list of silver-standard countries.
These gentlemen will be called upon
to give a definite report or an explain
alton OF their silence.
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
IL came into Office nine months ago,
found thfiU very large number OF
American citizens were confined in
Cuban prisons, and had been SO
confined, in many cases, for months
Within less than a single month
many of these were released and now
CONGRESS finds, upon reassembliug,
that through the firm but conserva
tive course of the administration
everv American citizen who was thus
confined in Cuban prisons, and had
been so confined for months if NOT
wears. has been set at liberty.
The operations Of the tariff law
during the four months since Con
eress placed it upon the statue books
and left it to begin its career in the
face of adverse conditions, have been
very satisfactory. With a hundred
million dollars worth of surplus for
eipn importations upon the markets
Of the country, the conditions iu
which it entered upon its work were,
of course, extremely unfavorable. In
the face Of that fact. however, its
earnings have steadily increased, be-
ginning with little over $4,000, OOC
in its first month, and now reaching
more than 500, 900, 900 in November
In each month since the tariff bill
was placed upon the statue books
the earnings have increased, and the
Treasury officials who have beer
studying the new law carefully are
thoroughly satisfied with its pros
Dects as "a revenue producer.
rrl,,,,i n eee,,s that members of Con