The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-16
ADVENT OF NEW CENTURY.

L N
With the advent of the new century
appeared legislation creating the de-
partments of state, of the treasury, of
war, of justice and the postoffice. Acts
were passed for the regulation of sea-
men, commerce, tonnage duties. light
house, intercourse with the Indians.
territories, and the militia. A national
capital was selected, a national bank
chartered, the national debt funded.
The first tariff act passed contained
the principle of protection, injected by
Hamilton, for the purpose of creating
class of manufacturers running
through all the states, but dependent
Tor prosperity upon the new federal
government and the tariff. This would
be a force which would make strongly
for the national government and
against any attempt to secede.
But the political atmosphere was not
clear nor wholesome. We find leading
men accusing the establishment of the
national capital on the Potomac as
having been secured by corrupt means,
and accusations of bribery were heard
on every side. Later it was asserted
that the English government corruptly
interfered in American affairs and die
tated who should be selected for our
first representative at St. James. So
also were certain Americans accused
of having sold themselves to the French
government in order to aid in bringing
about recognition of the new republic
there, Washington being %for neutral
ity.
France broke off all relations with
us and we commenced a naval war
against her in which we were distinctly
the victors. Napolean made peace with
us later, and it has never been broken
since. Few will remember that at this
time we had laws passed by congress
which raised the number of years nee
essary for naturalization from five to
fourteen; that the president could Or
der out of the country for period n
two years any alien whom he might
consider dangerous to our peace; that
any foreign subject within the boun-
daries of the United States might be
arrested by order of the president
when we We're at war with the power
to which he claimed allegiance. Fur
ther, there was a law in existence
which made it a crime, punishable
with fine or Imprisonment, for any one
in print to ridicule or defame the presi-
dent, the general government, or either
branch of congress.
Jefferson and Madison overturne1
these laws, and they have never found
a place on the statute books again.
PLACE FOR DRYING CLOTHES.
Think, ye fashionable danes of to-
day, of a national capital in 1880, in
| which the audience room was used by
Mrs. President Adams as a place for
| drying clothes. Congressman lodged
wherever board could be found. yell
| low fever drove the population of New
York and Philadelphia into the coun-
| try. Grass grew in the streets while
| they were away. The population OF
Ohio was 45,OOO of Tennessee LOG, 900,
| of Kentucky POI, 900.
The number of post offices was 903,
miles of post routes 21 900 and the an
nual revenues 1921 ,O0O The annual
revenues of the post office are now $685.
| 900 000 and the number of pounds of
second-class matter handled, 352, 703, 900.
| The miles of post routes now lin exist
ence are 496,94s. The amount of mail
now handled on railway trains ex-
| ceeds 5000, 20, 900 pieces annually.
The acquisition OF the Louisiana pur-
! chase and the opening of the immense
| domain of the West to the settlers was