The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1899-12-08
DOMESTIC AFFAIRS.
The Country Prosperous.

The Country Prosperous.
The ffty-sixth congress convenes in tia
Ars. regular session with the country in
condition OF unusual prosperity. Of
universal good will among the people az
home, and in relations of peace and
friendship with every government of ths
world. Our foreign commerce has shown
great Increase In volume and value. The
year are the largest ever shown BY a
single year In all our history.
Agricultural Exports.
Exports of agricultural products were
t7s4.7i6.142 OF manufactured products We
exported In value 1888, 592 146, being larger
than any previous year. Ii is notewor-
thy fact that the only years In all our
history when the products OF our manu-
factories sold abroad exceeded those
bought abroad were 1858 and 1889
Receipts and Expenditures.
Government receipts from all sources
for the fiscal year ended June 80. $50.
including sil, 7ss, 3i4. IA. part payment of the
srerated $50. .oos Is. customs receipts
we're sos. l2s, 4sl.7s. and those from inter
,al revenue S2s3. 81, 1851.
Nere 500, oes. 5s4.02 leaving a deficit Of
Setll. 559.s7.
strength of the Treasury.
The present gratifying strength of the
treasury is shown by the fact that. on
December ]: 1889, the available cash bal
N.3c was In gold coin and bullion. he
conditions of confidence which prevail
throughout the country have brought gold
INTO more general use and customs re-
ee.pts are now almost entirely paid IN
hat coin.
The strong condition Of the treasury
favorable showing made by the revenues,
nave made II possible for the Sec
-etary of the treasury to take action IN.
Ter the provisions OF Section 1894 Revised
Statutes. relating TO the sinking fund
Receipts Exceeded Expenditures.
Receipts exceeded expenditures for the
1rst five months OF the current fiscal year
y si3.ii5.Sss.sl. and, as mentioned above.
.he secretary of the treasury estimates
that there will be surplus Of approxi-
nately $40 000. 900 at the end of the year.
Under such conditions IL was deemed adj
yisable and proper to resume comph-
.nce with the provisions OF the sinking
fund law, which for eight years has not
been done because OF deficiencies In the
revenues.
TO support the Gold Standard.
the existing gold standard. and to mni1-
tair. THE parity In value of the CONS
OF the two metals gold and silver and
th. equal power of every dollar at all times
In the market and In the payment of
debts" the secretary of the treasury be
given additional power and charged with
shv duty to sell United States bonds and
to errrloy such other effective means as
MAJ be necessary to these ends. The su-
thority should include the power to sell
bonds on long and short time. as con
ditions may require. and should provide
for rate of interest lower than that
fixed by the act of January, IA. 1876.
MaintalnIug the Parity.
We are maintaining the parity Of all the
money issued or coined by authority OF
things with the means at hand. Happily
at the present time we are not compelled
to resort TO loans to supply gold II mas
been done N hp
have to be done in the future. 1t be-
ho0ves us, therefore, to provide at once
vixen 1t arises and the best means are
those which are the most certain and
economical
American Merchant Marine.
The value of an American merchant
marine TO the extension OF our commercial
trade and the Strengthening of our power
upon the sea invites the immediate action
OF congress. Our national development
VIII be one-stded and unsatisfactory so
long as the remarkable growth of nu-
Inland industries remains unaccompanied
py progress on the. seas. There is no
lack of constitutional authority for legis
iation which shall give 10 the country
maritime strength commensurate with its
Industrial achievements and with it's rark
among the nations OF the earth
Combinations and Trusts.
Combinations of capital organized into
trusts TO control the conditions of trade
among our citizens. TO stife competitions
limit production and determine the prices
OF products used and consumed by the
people. are justly provoking public dis
cussion. and should early claim the at
tention of the congress
Important and Far-Reaching.
The whole question is so important and
far-reaching that / am sure no part of IL
will be lightly considered. but every
phase of II will have the studied delibera-
ton OF the congress, resulting In wise and
1udicious action.