Newspaper Page Text
VOL. 1.
PRESIDENT HARRISON'S REC
OMMENDATIONS.
1 Proposed Elections Commission—
Against Michigan’s Method of Choos
ing Electors—The McKinley Tariff
Law-—Civil Service and Pensions—
Foreign Relations—The Baltimore
Incident, etc., etc.
The message begin* by calling attention tc
the reports of the heads of departments. Con
cerning the work of the state department the
president says that it has been characterized
by an unusual number of important negotia
tions and by diplomatic results of a notable and
highly beneficial character, ard among
these are the reciprocal trade arrange
ments which have been concluded in
the cxeroise of the powers conferred by the use
of the tariff law with the republic of Brazil, with
Spain for its West India possessions, and with
San Domingo, Dike negotiations with other
countries have been much advanced, and it is
hoped that before the close of the year further
trade arrangements of great value will be con
cluded.
The Behring Sea Question.
The president announces the completion of an
agreement with tho British gyvermnent for a
close season in the seal fisheries in Behring sea
until May 1, 1692. Terms satisfactory to this
government have been agreed upon for the ad
justment of the long pending controversy as to
the seal fisheries, and an agreement as to the
arbitrators is all that is necessary to the com
pletion of the convention.
Our Frontier Fine.
The president recommends that division bo
made for a joint demarcation of the frontier
line between Canada and the United States
wherever required by the increasing border
settlement.
The American Hog.
The president says: “It is gratifying to be
•ble to state that Germany, Denmark, Italy,
Austria and France, in the order named,
have opened their ports to inspected
pork products. The removal of these restric
tions in every instance wus asked end given
solely upon the ground that we had now pro
vided a neat inspection that should he accepted
as adequate to the complete removal of the
dangers, real or fancied, which had been pre
viously urged.
The Now Orleans Lynching.
The lynchtntr at o-iam.- *- last ot
eleven men of Italian nationality by a mob of
citizens was a most deplorable and discredita
ble incident. It did not, however, have its
origin in any general animosity to the
Italian people, nor in any disrespect to
the government ot Italy, with which our rela
tions were of the most friendly character. The
fury of the mob was directed against these men
as the supposed participants or accessories in.
the murder of a city officer. Ido not allude to
this as mitigating in any degree this offense
against law and humanity, but oDly as affect
ipg the international questions which grew out
Of it.
It was at once represented by the Ita'-Ua niin-
Ister that several of those whose lives had been
taken by the mob, were Italian subjects. A
Jemaud was made for punishment of the par
ticipants and for an indemnity to the families of
those who were killed. It is regretted that
the manner in which those claims were pre
sented was not such as to promote a calm
discussion of the questions involved, but this
may be attributed to the excitement and In
dignation which the crime naturaily evoked.
The views of this government as to its ouliga
tions to foreigners domiciled here were
fully stated in the correspondence as
well as its purpose to mase an
investigation of the affair with a view to deter
mine whether they would present circum
stances that could uuder such rules ot duty as
we had indicated create an obligation on the
United States.
The temporary absence of a minister pleni
potentiary of Itsly at this capital has retarded
th further correspondence,but it is not doubted
that a friendly conclusion is attainable.
The president recommends that congress
make offenses against the treaty rights of for
eigners domiciled in the United States cogniz
able in the federal courts.
The Chilian War.
The president rehearses the history of the
Chilian revolution and of the Itata Incident,
and says: The instructions to our naval
officers and to our minister at Santiago from
first to last of this snuggle enjoined on tl.e—
the most impartial treatment and absolute non
interference.
I am satisfied that these instructions were ob
served, and that our representatives were always
watchful to use their influence impartially in
the interest of humanity, and on more than one
occasion did so effectively. We could not for
get, however, that this government was in dip
lomatic relations with the then established gov
ernment of Chili, as it is now in such relations
with the successor of that government.
I am quite sure that .President Montt, who
has, under circumstances of promise for the
peace of Chili, been installed as president of
that republic, will not desire that, in the unfor
tunate event of any revolt against his authority
the policy of this government should be other
than that which we have recently observed.
No official complaint of the conduct of our
minister or of our naval officers during the
struggle has been preaentod to this government
It is a matter of regret that so many of our
own people should liavo given ear to unofficial
oharges and complaints that manifestly had
their origiu in rival interests and in a wish to
prevent the relations of the United States with
Chill.
The “Baltimore” Incident.
Concerning the attack on the sailors of the
United States man of war, Baltimore, in the
harbor of Valparaiso on the 16th of October,
and the killing ot several of their number, the
president recites the demand for reparation
made by this government on the Chilian au
thorities and says:
It is to be regretted that the reply of the sec
retary for foreign affairs of the provisional gov
ernment was couched in an offensive tone. To
this no response has been made.
This government is now awaiting the result
of an investigation which has been conducted
by the criminal court at Valparaiso. It is re
ported unofficially that the investigation is
about completed, and it is expected
that the result will soon be communicated to
this government, together with some adequate
and satisfactory respon -e to the note by which
the attention of Chill was called to this inci
dent.
1 * these just expectations should be disap
pointed or further needless delay intervene,
I will, by a special message, bring this mattoi
State of lafie ffcnfo
r
again to the attention of congress for such ac
th n as may bo necessary.
Mr. Blair's Rejection.
The Chinese government has decided to re
ceivo Mr. Blair as the minister of the United
States on the ground that as a participant,
while a senator in the enactment of the exist
ing legislation against the introduction of Chi
nese laborers, he has become unfriendly and ob
jectionable to China. I have felt constrained to
point out to the Chinese government the unten
ableness of this position, which seems to rest as
much on the unacceptability of our legislation
as on that of the person chosen and which if ad
mitted, would practically debar the selection of
any representatives so long as the existing laws
remain in force.
The Arbitration Treaty,
The arbitration treaty formulated by the In
ternational American conference lapsed by
reason of the failure to exchange ratifications
fully within the limit of time provided, but sev
eral of the governments concerned have
expressed a desire to save this im
portant result of the conference by
an extension of the period. It is in my judg
ment incumbent upon the United States to
conserve the influential initiative it has taken
in this measure by ratifying the instrument and
by advocating the proposed extension of the
time tor exchange. These views had been
made known to the other signatories.
The Russian Jews.
Concerning the influx of exile Bussian Jews
into this country, which the president estimates
will amount to over one million in the
next few years, he says: Some other
considerations as well as the sug
gestions of humanity furnish ample grounds
for the remonstrances which this government
presented to Russia. While our historic friend
ship for that government cannot fail to give as
surance that our representations are those of a
sincere wisher.
The Nlcaraugua Canal.
The president recommends that the govern
ment guarantee the bonds of the Maritine Canal
company, engaged in building tho Nlcaraugua
canal, and says that he does not doubt that
built upon these business methods,
the canal would earn its
fixed charges and operating expenses.
He says, lam quite willing to recommend gov
ernment promotion in the prosecution of a
work which if no other means offered for se
curing its completion is of such transcendent
interest that the government should in my
opinion, secure it by direct appropriation from
its treasury.
International Copyright,
International copyright will be secured in ac
cordance with the conditions of the act of March
3,1891, with Belgium, France and Great Britain
and tho British possessions and Switzerland.
The laws of these countries permitting to our
citizens the benefit of copyright upon substan
tially the same basis as to their own citizen* or
subjects, and with Germany a special conven
tion has been negotiated upon this subject
which will bring that country within the recip
rocal benefit of the legislation.
The McKinley Daw.
Concerning the effect of the McKinley tariff
act of the last congress the president says: “A
brief examination of the statistics of the treas-
t think'satisfy
any impartial enquiry that its results have dis.
appointed the evil prophesies of its opponents
and in a large measure realized a hopeful pre
diction of its friends.
Itarely, if ever before in the history of the
country, has there been a time when the pro
coeds of one day's labor or the product of one
farmed acre would purchase so large an amount
of those things that enter i*to the living of the
masses of the people. I believe that a full test
will develop the fact that the tariff act of the
fifty-first congress is very favorable in its aver
age effect on the prices of articles entering into
common use.
During the twelve months from October 1>
18 o, to September 30,1391, the total value ot our
foreign commerce—import! and exports com
bined—was $1.47,308,416, which was the largest of
any year in the history of the United Btates.the
largest in anr previous year was in 1890, when
our commerce amounted to $1,657,139,093, and
the last year exceeds this enormous aggregate
uy over one hundred millions.
It is interesting and to some will be
surprising to know that during
the year ending September 30,
1891. our imports of merchandise amounted to
$834,715,270, which was an increase of more
than 11,000,000 over the value of the imports of
the corresponding months of the preceding
year, when the imports of merchandise were
unusually large in anticipation of the tariff leg
islation then pending. The average annual
value of the imports of merchandise for the ten
years from 1881 to 1890 was $692,186,922, and
during the year ending September 30, 1891, this
annual averago was exceded by $132,628,469.
The value of free imports during the twelve
months ending September 30,1891, was $118,092,-
jB7, more than the value of free im
ports during the corresponding twelve months
of the preceding year and there was during the
same period a decrease of $106,846,508 in the
value of Imports of dutiable merchandise. The
percentage of merchandise admitted free of
duty during the year to which I have referred,
the first under the new tariff, was 48.18, while
during the preceding twelve months, under the
old tariff, the percentage was 34.27, an increase
ot 13.91 per cent.
If we take the six months ending September
30 last, which covers the time during which
sugars have been admitted free of duty, the
per cent. of value of merchandise imporjed free
of duty is found to be 55.37, which is a larger
ner centage of free imports than during
any period fiscal year in the history of
the government If we turn to exports
of merchandise the statistics are full of gratifi
cation. The value of such exports of merchan
dise for the twelve months ending September
30, 1891, was $923,091,130, while for the oorres
oonding twelve months it was $800,1T7,1151
an increase of $02,914,021, which is
nearly three times the average
annual Increase of exports of merchandise for
the preceding twenty years. This exceeds in
amount and value the exports of merchandise
during any year in the h'story of the govern
ment The increase in the value of exports
of agricultural products during the year
reterred to over the corresponding
twelve months of the prior year was $45,846,197
while the increase in the value of exports of
manufactured products was f 16,g38.240.
There is certainly nothing in the condition of
trade foroign or domestic, there is certainly
nothing m the condition of our people of any
class to suggest that the existing t*ff “
revenue legislation bear* oppressively on the
' UTmreport of the secretary of the treasury
Bhows that the total receipts of the government
from all sources for the fiscal year, ending June
nenditures for the same period, were $4.1,304,-
-40 46 leaving a surplus of $37,239,762.57. The
‘ pints of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892,
actual and estimated, are $433 000 000. and the
expenditures, $4)9,000.000. For Ithe fiscal year
P , " Tune 30 1893, the estimated receipts ale
the expenditures $440,300,093.
The Silver Question.
Concerning rbJ effect of the silver act of the
■try<•
* b p n( . a further trial of this legls
■"* '*• V”
incrraed value of currency thus supplied for
the use of tfee people wm Jll*l
TRENTON, GA. FRDAY, DECEMBER 18,1891.
beneficial results upon trade and prices ,ve
followed this legislation I think must be ry
clear to every one; nor should It bo forguen
that for every dollar of these notes
a full dollar’s worth of silver bullion wa*t
the time deposited in the treasury as
cuiity for its redemption.
Upon this subject as as upon the tariff, y
recommendation is that the existing laws e
given a full trial, and that our business inf
ests be saved the distrsesing influence whh
threats of radical change always impart. Untr
existing legislation It is in
power of the treasury department o
maintain that essential ondition of nattoll
finance as well as of commercial prosperity, is
parity in use of the coin dollars and their pan
r<j -entatives.
assurance that these powers would e
freely and unhesitatingly used has done mih
to produce and sustain the present favors
business conditions.
I am still of the opinion that the free cointe
of silver under existing conditions world t
astronsly affect our business interests at hijie
and abroad. We could not hope to maintaiqm
equality in the purchasing power of the (fa
and silver dollar in our own mirkets, anl;.
foreign trade the stamp gives no added valutp>
the bullion contained in coins. 1.
producers of the country, its farmers and l
borers have the highest interest that evfy
dollar, paper or coin, issued by the govcrnnwjt
shall be as good as any other. If there is
less valuable than another its sure and constat
errand will be to pay them for their toll and fc
their crops. The money lender will pro
tect himself by stipulation for payment i)
gold, but the laborer has never been able to d*
that. To place business on a silver basis would
mean a sudden and severe contraction
of the currency by the withdrawal of gold and
gold notes of such an unsettling of all values
as would produce a commercial panic.
I cannot believe that a people so strong and
prosperous as ours will promote such a policy.
The producers of sliver are entitled to just con
sideration, but they should not forget that the
government is now buying and putting out ot
the market tho equivalent of the product of
our entire silver mint.
The Surplus.
The presence of a large cash surplus in the
treasury has for many years been the subject of
much unfavorable criticism and has furnished
Bn argument to those who have desired to
place the tariff upon a purely revenue basis.
It was agreed by all that tho withdrawal from
circulation of so large an amount of money was
an embarrassment to the business of the coun
try, and made necessary the intervention of
the department at frequent intervals to relieve
threatened monetary panics. The surplus on
March i, i9, was $183,827,190.29.
The poli6v of applying this surplus to
the redemption of the interest bearing
securities of the United States was
thought to be preferable to that of depositing it
without interest in selected national banks.
There have been redeemed since the aato last
mentioned of interest bearing securities $259,-
079,350, resulting in a reduction of the annual
interest charge of $11,681,075. Tho money
which had been deposited in banks without in
terest has been gradually withdrawn and used
in the redemption of bonds,
uOft ana the refunding of the 4Vi per cent,
bonds has been a large increase of the money in
Circulation. At the date last named the circu
lation was $1,104,206,816, or $23.03 per capita,
while on the first day of December, 1881,
It bad increased to $1,577,262,070 or $21.38 per
oapita. he offer of the secretary of the treas
ury to the holders of the 4% per cent, bonds to
extend the time of redemption at the option of
the government at an interest of 2 per cent,
was accepted by the holders of about one-half
the amount, and the unextended bonds are
being redeemed on presentation.
Felony Cases.
The president concurs in the recommendation
of the attorney general that the right in felony
cases to review by the supreme court be limited
in cases Involving only fine and imprisonment,
unless a constitutional question should in some
way be involved. The court of private land
claims provided for by the last congress has
been authorized.
Chinese Immigration.
The president calls attention to the organized
Importation of Chinamen in this country by
way of Canada, and recommends suclv legisla
tion as will remedy the defects in the law
against such immigration.
It is recommended that the jurisdiction of
the United States court be so extended as to
make triable therein any felony committed
while in the act of violating a law of the United
States.
He says: “These courts cannot have that in
dependence and affectiveness which the consti
tution contemplated so long as the felonious
killing of court officers, jurors and witnesses m
the discharge of their duties or by reason of an
act as such is only cognizbable iu the state
courts.”
The Post-Office Department,
The president compliments the work of the
postmaster general and says that the revenues
of the department show an increase of over
$5,000,000, with the deficit for the year 1890 of
less than $4,000,000, while the estimate for the
year '93 shows a surplus of receipts over expen
ditures.
The president concurs in the recommendation
that the free delivery system be at
once extended to towns of five thousand
population. He also endorses the
suggestion for a rural postal delivery.
The Navy Department. .
The Newark, Concord, Bennington and Mlan
tanoraah have been added to the navy during
the year with an aggregate of something more
than 11,900 ton!. Twenty-four war ships of
classes are now under construction in the navy
yard and private shop, but while work is going
forward satisfactory the completion of more
important vessels will yet require about a year's
time.
The Interior Department.
The president discusses the Indian school
question at length, and expresses the opinion
that the bringing of Indian children in the
mixed schools will prove a great advantage to
ward making of the Indian a citizen.
Of the relation of the five civilized tribes now
occupying the Indian Territory to the United
States, the president says that he thinks it in
evitable that there shall be before long some
organic changes. What form these changes
would take he does not think it desirable now
to suggest. They should certainly involve the
acceptance of a citizenship by tbe Indians and
representation in congress. He recommends a
commission be appointed to treat with these
tribes.
The Pension Bureau.
The president says that the administration of
the pension bureau has been characterized dur
ing the year by great diligence. The total num
ber of pensions upon the roll of Juno 30,1891
was 676,160. The appropriation for the pay
ment of pensions for the fiscal year 1830 and 1831
wsa $127,685,793.89, and tho amount expended
was $118,530,649.25, leaving an unexpended sur
plus of $8,155,144.64.
In concluding his comments on the pensions,
the president says:
“While these disbursements to the disabled
soldiers of the great civil war are large, they do
not realize the exaggerated estimate of those
who oppose this beneficent legislation.
Tbe Census.
Of the work of the census bureau, the presi
dent says, “the methods pursued have been
fair, careful *nd intelligent, and have secured
the approval of the statustician, who have fol
lowed them scientific and non-partisan
interest.
Folygamy In Utah.
The president says that the legislation of con
gress for the repression of polygamy has, after
years of persistence on the part of tho Mor
mons, at last brought them to the conclus on
that resistance is impossible and unavailing.
He recommends that congress do not relax its
control over this subject.
The establishment of a department of agri
culture is referred to as having had. a great in
fluence in distributing agricultural and horti
cultural information, and in encouraging tho
diversification of crops.
Civil Service.
Concerning the workings of the civil service
commission the president says: “It is not
claimed that it is perfect, but I be
lieve the law is being executed
with impartiality, and that the system is in
comparably fairer and better than that of ap
pointments by faTor. I have, during the year,
extended the olassifledi service to include su
perintendents, teachers, matrons, and
physicians in thb Indian service. The
heads of the several executive depart
ments I have directed to establish
at once an efficiency record as the foundation of
a comparative rating of the clerks within the
classified service with a view to placing promo
tions therein upon the basis of merit. He re
commends that the appropriation for the civil
service commission be made adequate for in
creased work for the next yoar.
Bailway .Employes.
The president renews his recommendation for
egislation for the protect ion of the lives of
railroad employes.
Fi-esldential Electors.
The president calls attention to the departure
taken by the state of Michigan in changing the
mode of selecting presidential electors so as to
elect them by district! instead of for the
state at large, which he regards a3 an
unfortunate and even a threatening episode,
nd one that may well suggest whether the
) states who have given tlieir approval to the old
prevailing method ought not to secure by a
constitutional amendment a practice which has
had the approval of all. The Michigan method,
the president says, brings the selection of eieo
‘.c s under tbe influence of a gerymander and
establishes a minority rule that only a political
convulsion can overthrow.”
“It is not my purpose here to discuss the
ijuestion whether a choice by the legislature or
by the Toters of equal single districts is a choice
by the state, hut only to recommend such regu
lation of this matter by constitutional amend
jeent as will secure uniformity and prevent
that disgraceful partisan jugglery to which
Such a liberty of choice, if it exists, offers a
temptation.”
The Election Question.
Nothing just now is more important :han to
provide every guaranty for tne absolute fair
and free choice by an equal suffrage within the
respective states of all the officers of the na
tional government, whether that suffrage Is
directly, as in the choice of members cf the
house of representatives, or indirectly, as in
the choice of senators and electors of president.
k*w wiunnt and obedience to
our people unlJinyur n Jwrha Ai.am'tArifitini nf
the will ot the majority faddy ascertained with
out fraud, suppression or gerrymander.
If I were called upon to declare wherein our
chief national danger lies, I should say without
hesitation, in the overthrow of majority control
by the suppression or perversion of tho popu
lar suffrage. That there is a
real danger here all mustopgree, hut the ener
gies of those who see it have been cbieffy ex
pended in trying to fix the responslbilit,J upon
the opposite party rather than in effiTts to
make such practices impossible by either party
it not possible now to adjourn that intermina
ble and inconclusive debate, while we take by
consent one step In the direction of reform by
eliminating the gerrymander, which has been
denounced by all parties as an Influence in the
selection of electors of president and members
of congress. All the states have, act
ing freely and separately, deter
mined that the choice of electors by a
general ticket Is the wisest and safest method
and it would seem there could be no objection
to a constitutional amendment making the
method permanet. If a legislature in one year
upon purely local questions should,
pending a presidential contest must
rescind the law for a choice for a general ticket
and provide for the choice ot electors by the
legislature and this trick should determine the
result. It is not too much to say that the pub
lic peace might he seriously and widely endan
gered.
The Force Bill.
I have alluded to “gerrymander” as affecting
the method of selecting electors of presi
dent by congressional districts, but the
primary intent and effect of this form of politi
cal robbery have relation to the selection of
members of the fiou.,o of representatives. The
power of congress is ample to deal with this
threatening and intolera. le abuse. The unfail
ing test of sincerity in election reform will be
found in a willingness to con
fer as to remecies and to put into
force such measures as will most effectually
preserve the right of the people to free and
equal representation.
An attempt was made in the last congress to
bear the constitutional powers of the general
government for the correction of frauds against
the suffrage. It is impossible to know whether
the opposition to such measures is
really vested in particular leatures
supposed to be objectionable, or includes any
proposition to give to the election laws of the
United States adequacy to the correction of
grave and acknowledged evils.
I mast yet entertain the hope that it is possi
ble to secure a calm, patriotic consideration
of such constitutional or statutory
changes as may be necessary to a
choice of officers of the government
to the people by fair appointment and full elec
tions. I believe it would be impossible to con
stitute a commission non partisan in its mem
bership and composed of patriotic, wise and
Impartial men to whom a consideration of the
question of the evils connected with our elec
tion system and methods might lie committed
with a good prospect of securing unanimity in
a plan for removing or mitigating those evils.
The constitution would permit the selection
of tiie committee to be vested in the supreme
court if that method would give the best guar
anty of Impartiality.
This commission should be charged with the
duty of Inquiring into the whole subject of the
law of elections, as related to the choice of offi
cers of the natidnal government with a view to
securing to every elector a free and unmolested
exercise of the suffrage and as near an approach
to an equality of value in each ballot cast as is
attainable.
While the policies of the general government
upon the tariff, upon the restoration of our
merchant marine, upon river and harbor im
provements, and other such matters of grave
andlgcneral concern are liable to be turned this
way, or that by the results of congressional
elections and administration policies sometimes
Involving isfues that tend to peace or war, to
be turned this way or that by the results of a
presidential election. There is a tightful in
terest in all tbe states* and in every congres
sional district that will not be deceived or
silenced by the audacious pretense tba c the
question of the r.gbt of any body of
legal voters in any state or in mv
eiflSgresslonsi district to give meir suffrages
freely upon these general questions is a matter
inly of local concern or control.
The demand that the limitations of suffrage
lhall be found in tho law and only there is a
|ust demand, and no just man should resent or
resist it. My appeal is, and will continue
to be, for a consultation that
lhall proceed with candor, calmness and pa
tience upon the lines of justice and humanity,
not of prejudice and cruelty.”
To the consideration of the e very grave
questions, I invite not only the attention of
congress, but that of all patriotic citizens. Wo
must not entertain the delusion that our people
have ceased to regard a lree ballot and equal
representation as the price of their allegiance
to laws and to civil magistratien.
I have been greatly rejoiced to notice many
evidences of the increased unification of our
people and of a revived natioual spirit. The
vista that now opens to us is wider and more
glorious than ever before. Gratification and
amazement struggle for supremacy as we con
template the population, wealth and moral
strength of our country. A trust, momentous
in its influences upon our people and upon the
world is for a brief time committed by us, and
we must not be faithless to its first condition,
and tbe defense of the free and equal influence
of the people in the choice of public officers and
In the control of public affairs.
Bexj. habbisos,
Executive Mansion, December 9.
REVIEW OF TRADE.
Don’s Report Shows a More Hopeful
Outlook.
R. G. Dun & Cos. say that trade is in a
more healthy condition. Their report
for week ended Dec. 11, says: As the
holidays draw near all signs indicate a
large volume of business at present, with
agrowing confidence of improvement in
the future, except in parts of the south
where unusual accumulation of cotton
and its low price have a depressing influ
ence. At tne east there is again a dis
tinct, though moderate improvement in
the leading branches of industry; at the
west trade continues in a volume never
approached in any previous year; and
even at the south, in spite of some em
barrassment, the volume of trade is on
the whole large, though not equal to last
year’s. There is no lack of money in any
part of the country, except at some
Southern points, and the mere fact that
the cotton now accumulated at a few
ports and interior towns represents
fully $60,000,000 in value paid
to planters at once explains the difficulty,
ana suggest that it is not permanent. It
is a good sigD, also, that collections are,
on the whole, improving, though slow
a£ New Orleans and some southern points,
&hd only fair in some lines at eastern cities.
Reports from all parts of the country
tion in the prices of carpets has come
from ten cents on body brussels to five
cents on ingrains, which are now said to
bs cheaper in New York than in Eng
land. Among clothiers the better class
of goods as in excellent demand. Print
cloths show some improvement and prints
are more active. Boot and shoe business
clearly increases. The iron business is
more active. Cotton is unchanged, the
receipts being still beyond those
of the same weeks last year.
Eqrk products are slightly stronger. Cof
teb is a quarter of a cent and oil 1 5-8
cents higher, without great activity in any
branch of speculative trade. Exports of
domestic products continue unchanged,
and for last week were 44 per cent more
than the first week of December last year.
Favorable monetary prospects strengthen
the market for securities, especially as it
is evident that disbursements in divi
dends, interest and profits about January
Ist will be large, and will weaken new
investments. With better tone, some
securities have advanced, and there is no
feeling of apprehension regarding the
monetary future. Business failures oc
curring throughout the country during
last week, as reported to R. G. Dun &
Cos., number, for the United States, 280;
Canada, 40; total, 320, against 330 last
week.
ABRAHAM BACKER DEAD.
His Financial Embarrassment Hastened
His Taking Off.
Abraham Backer, well known
dealer in commercial paper, of No. 285
Broadway, New Yorflf whose failure of
August Bth, with liabilities of several
millions of dollars astonished the coun
try, died at his residence in that city
Wednesday.
He brooded greatly over bis misfor
tunes and inability to get a settlement
from bis creditors, and could not bear up
under tbe heavy strain. The proceedin_s
brought in the court of general sessions,
by Judge W. D. Harding, of Savannah,
affected him more than anything else, and
his relatives say that it precipitated his
death. It is said he caught cold the day
he went to court to plead not guilty to
the indictment against him. He has fre
quently said with pride that in all his
business career he had never pushed a
man to the wall, but, on the contrary, had
saved many a firm in the south from fail
ure by ample loans of money and endorse
ments. Backer leaves eight children.
FOREIGN COMMENT
Bn President Harrison’s Message to the
52d Congress.
A London cablegram of Wednesday
says; In commenting upon President
Harrison’s message, the Post notices,
with satisfaction, the absence of signs
of bluster towards foreign nations, and
says that if the message meets the ideas
of the president’s party, Mr. Blaineja
cbances have seriously diminished.
The London Daily News of Wednes
day says: The president’s me-sage
leaves nothing to be desired, either iu
tone or temper. Mr, Harrison is less
exasperating than Mr. Blaine, and con
sequently more statesman-like. He
would not speak so tenderly of reciproc
ity if his protection policy was a suc
cess.
NO U
THROUGH DIXIE.
NEWS OF THE SOUTH BRIEFLY
PARAGRAPHED
Forming an Epitome of Daily
Happenings Here and There.
The Orleans rice mills, at New Or-i
leans, burned Bturday night. Loss
estimated at $40,000.
John P. Richardson, one of the largest
and best known cotton planters in the
south, died at Dallas, La., Monday.
The epidemic of influeuza in St. Louis
is becoming very pronounced, and hun
dreds of cases are under treatment.
A dispatch of Thursday says that Aus
tralian influenza, which is similar to the
grip, has made its appearance in Califor
nia.
Joseph McKay, in jail at Uklah, Cal.,
charged with stage robbery, has been
found to bo the son of Joaquin Miller,
the “poet of the Sierras.”
The anti-subtreasury men have post
poned their convention, which was to
meet at Memphis on December 26th, to
some day to he yet named.
The steamer Herbert, of Chattanoiga,
from St. Louis, was sunk Monday morn
ing at Florence, Ala., after having suc
cessfully passed through Muscle Shoals
canal.
Senator Call, of Florida, on Mouday
introduced a bill authorizing the secre
tary of war to construct the necessary
buildings for a military post at St. Au
gustine, Fla.
The ofiicial returns, cast at the late
election for railroad commissioners in
Mississippi, show up on population a<
follows: McLaurin, 31,98 e; Sessions,
31,553; Askew, 31,475.
A dispatch from Dallas, Texas, says:
The initiative step was taken toward
booming Mills for the senate against
Senator-appointed Chilton in the Dallas
city council Thursday night by the adop
tion of a resolution endorsing Mr.
Mills for the United States senate.
A Nashville telegram announces that
Charles Nelson, the millionaire distiller,
died Sunday morning of congestion of the
lungs, after one week’s illness. Ho was
born in Hagerow-Mccklenburg-Schwerin,
Germany, July 4, 1835, and came to
America with his parents when fifteen
years old.
A Columbia, S. C., dispatch says: The
aay mgnt tne senate juuimtrry*cumuiT l tw*.,
to whom was referred the general prohi
bition bill recently passed by the house,
unanimously resolved to report it back
to the senate with the recommendation
that it do not pass.
Dispatches from Louisville state that
up to a late hour Thursday night no bod
ies of the fireman killed Wednesday have
been found. The names of the missing
firemen are: William Davis, Thomas
Moore, Samuel Baker, Tony Stack.
Chief Hughes, who was hurt at the fire,
is suffering from concussion of the brain,
and is reported to bo in a critical condi
tion.
A dispatch from San Antonio, Tex.,
says: The grand jury, after spendiui;
twenty-eight hours in jail for the non
payment of a tine of SSO each, imposed
by Judge King for contempt, were on
Thursday evening, released on a telegram
received from John P. White, judge of
the court of appeals in session at Tyler.
The bond of applicants is fixed at SIOO
each, pending a hearing of the applica
tion by the court of appeals.
Emma, Lulie and Lizzie Don, specialty
artists in the “Two Old Cronies” theatri
cal company, had a narrow escape from
death by asphyxiation at Columbia, 8.
C., Thursday morning. When they were
called to take the train there was no an
swer. The porter crawled in through
the transom, lighted the gas and found
the w'oinen to all appearances dead ; one
lay stretch on the floor. Physicians were
summoned, and after hard work suc
ceeded in reviviug them. The only ex
planation that can be given is that when
they retired they failed to turn the gas
off completely.
STARTLING FIGURES.
Lowest Average Price Ever Paid for
Cotton.
The cotton returns of December to tbe
department of agriculture at Washington
relate to the average prices on plantations.
The complaint of unremuuerative values
is general, and the declaration is frequent
that the crop does not return cost of pro
duction. A feeling of discouragement
pervades the report, and a disposition to
reduce the area is expi eased. The plant
ation price, which is the actual rate for
cotton sold at a gin, averages 7.3 cents
per pound.
For the five years preceding tbe range
was from 8.1 to 8.6, and averaged nearly
8.4 cents. This decline is echoed in the
record of exportation, which averaged in
October value of 8.9 cents, against 10.11
cents for October of last year, a drop of
12 per cent. Ihe state averages areas
follows:
Virginia, 7 cents; North Carolina, 7.4}
South Carolina, 7.4; Georgia, 7.4; Flor
ida, 7.3; Alabama, 7.8; Mississippi, 7.3;
Louisiana, 7.8; Texas, 7.0; Arkansas,
9.8; Tennessee, 7.3.
An almost unexampled season for har
vesting is reported, with packing, gin
ning and marketing far advanced. While
the fibre is at many pointa short, it is
tlean aud of good color.
One of the most interesting exhibits
at the World’s Fair, Chicago, HI., will
be the models now being made by the
Smithsonian Institute showing the vari
ous phases in seal and walrus catchieg
aud killing in Alaskan waters.