, 1900-02-01

young orator who distinguished him
self during the last Congress In an ora
torical duel with Mr.. Johnson of his
state. won new laurels. He charged
that Utah had been admitted to the
Union as n result of n Mormon con
spiracy. and reviewed the history OF
the apostles of the church. whom he
charged with living in open and flag
rant violation OF the state law against
polygamy. To show that they had base
ly broken their solemn pledge to the
government.
A report prepared by Frank II.
Hitchcock of the Agricultural Depart
ment shows there has been n great
development of our trade with China
and Japan during the past decade. In
the fiscal year 1899, the value of the
merchandise exchanged with these wv
countries, including the port of Hons
Kong. reached SST. 30J. 6SS. against
only Si6,29i, 1GT in 1899. Figures given
show that in the decade there was n
gain of S2S.3o3, 1856. or 25G per cent.
in exports. while the increase in i'm
ports amounted to only S12,G1S.36J. or
thirty-siN per cent. During the last
few years. in fact. the imports dis
closed an actual falling OF. the value
for 500 being sligo, 131 less than that
for 1896. which was recorded ut SIS
9I9.lG6. Our exports. on the other
hand, more than doubled during the
three years succeeding 1896.
Mr.. Traccwell. the comptroller of the
treasury, has rendered "A decision TO the
effect that common carriers which DO
an Interstate business and give party
rates TO theatrical and other OrganiZa-
lions. must give the same rates to the
general public under similar condi-
tions. and also to the government i'll
the transportation Of troops. He says:
"a second question involved Is whether
these party rates are subject to ToduC
ton when the service Is rendered to
the government by the free or the fif-
ty per cent. land grant railroads. The
ground upon which | hold that the gov
party rates is that said rates ARE avail
able for the general public and there
fore for the government. As party
rates are charges. the general public
i'll cases like those now under consider
alton no more than fifty per cent. of
said rates cal bc charged"
The War Department has made pub
lie II statement showing the imports
nj the port of Manila for the three
months of July. August and Septem-
Der last, being the first official data re
lating to imports during so long Il pc
Rod since American occupation. Tho
total value of merchandise entered al
the Manila custom house from tho
three months named was S5.SO2.5 Sl. In
addition there was S52.52O in gold coin
and S25J.29I in silver coin from Brit.
iSh India, and $3.50. TOT in silver coin
from China, bringing the aggregate of
imports up to SG,i43. 1O2. or at the rate
of more than So. 100000 IL year from
MANILA alone The growing nature of
the trade Is shown by II comparison
with the FOR all Philippine
ports for the fifteen years ending with
1891. during which time the average
yearly imports of he archipelago only
amounted to S1T .O39,O44, az approx
matrly two-thirds Of the valuation in
dicntcd by the trade of three months
ending with September, 1889. for Ma
Mia alone.
The fiat has gone forth from both
Senate and White House that the re-.
ciprOcilN treaties. against which vigOr.
oliS protests have recently been filed by
western senators and representatives,
are 10 be abandoned. The State De
partment has discovered that there is
little chance for the ratification of the
treaties, owing to the act thar unless
this action is taken within the next six
~ days, the treaties will expire by lin
itnt!On. When the treaties We're negO.
tlatCd II period WAS fixed in ench with
in which ratification must take place or
the treaty will fail. The Argentine
treaty was concluded on July 10Th Inst.
II required To he ratified within seven
months from date. or by February
10Th; that with France requires ratiii.
cation before March 9th; those with
the British West Indies before March
22nd. With the unlimited debate rule
in the Senate and the well organized
opposition to the treaties 1t is recog.
nized that ratification before the dates
of expiration ~ Limitation is out Of the
question. and senators are advising
their constituents, Whose interests were
threatened by the reduction of tariff
duties proposed by the treaties. thai
danger from this cause Is ended.
The Senate committee ON Puerto Rice
has decided. so far AS 1t can decide.
that the island whose affairs it has un.
der its particular care shall he known
as Porto Rico and not Puerto Rico. MS
fixed by Il recent executive order. The
question came mp saturday in the meet.
ing of the committee in connection with
the Foraker bill providing for II form of
government for the island, and the de.
cisiOn on II spelling of the name was
unanimous. The committee went over
the bill in detail, deciding upon many
changes in phraseolOgy and some alter,
ations in the general provisions of the
measure. Probably of the most i'm.
pOrtnnt changes vas TO strike out the
word constitution wherever it mp,
pcarcd in the original print of the bill.
which extended the provisions of the
constitution Ms well as of The laws 10
the Island. The change was made he.
cause of the opinion generally express.
ed by the members Of the committee
that II constitution is not suited to
the Puerto Rice people. The opinion
was also quite general that the rNtcn,
sion of the constitution was not ncccs.
sary. Some of the senators expressed
the opinion that the natives of the
island We're not yet prepared for jury
trials. Another important amendment
provides for the retirement of Puerto
Rican coins and substitutes for them
the coins of the United States.
The cas" of Brigham II. Roberts. the
Mormon rcprcsentative.clcct from
I IF,.I. .aII.1. 4,.H ,4.ttfAI AZ. ,.N,,,1. -