The Saint Paul globe., December 18, 1897, Image 1

About The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
VOL. XX.— NO. 352.
BULLETIN OF
Ttt_; ST. PflrUl^ G^OBE
SATURDAY, DEC. IS, ISO 7.
Weather for Today —
Fair and Warmer.
I\\C_E 1.
I.cci i> In Civil Service.
t nexpeetedly Large Trade.
Fund for Iliekel's Relief.
Negotiation* in a Deadlock,
la mi inn Si.inilnl Revived.
Hemetary I ui> slon AdjonrnM.
S<*« Is!, ill lin portal lon to Be Stopped.
PACE 2.
More I'risOii Miiiscn.
Site finr the Market I>lNensHed.
PACE 3.
Mlnneapolia __nttert.
Libel Suit Against tlie Timet..
Civil Service l.« ■ukhc'h Platform.
lliuloentiNt at (irnnd Fork*.
News of I lie North. ve«t.
PAGE 4.
Editorial.
Work of the Charter Commission.
Day's Society t.ossip.
PAGE K.
McCoy Knocks Oat Creedon.
Day'H Sporting; Ncivk.
Peterson Nominated.
House null Senate Work.
PAGE O.
Dullness in Stocks.
Bar Silver, 56 I-Se.
Cash Wheat In ChleaKO, 90 l-2c.
World's Markets Reviewed
PAGE 7.
Gapre Continues Currency Talk.
No Ajf reement on Pooling.
Drummers Barred From Frciffhts.
Wants of the People,
PAGE 8.
Money for Bridge Bepalr,
Few Trolleys in Mexico.
EVENTS TODAY.
Met— Heart of Maryland, 2__O f 8.15.
Grand— Piney Ridge, 2.50, 8.15.
MOVEMENTS OF STEAMSHIPS.
QUEENSTOWN— SaiIed: Pcnnland, Phila
delphia: Catalonia. Boston. Arrived: Cam
pania. .New York for Liverpool.
LIVERPOOL — Arrived: Germanic, New
York.
DELAWARE I.RI.AK WATER — Passed;
Switzerland, Antwerp, for Philadelphia.
ANTWERP— Arrived: Nedcrland, Philadel
phia.
PHILADELPHIA— Arrived: Indiana, Liver
pool.
CAPE 1 1 E\ RY— Passed: A.rsia. Hamburg.
NEW YORK— Arrived: Britannic, Liver
pool.
NAPLES— SaiIed: Werra, New York.
Dressed poultry is firm in Alaska.
The temperature is 70 degrees below
zero.
Suppose it should turn out that
Charles Gr. Dawes has mor . mustache .
than brains.
The two new spots that have ap
peared on the sun look like Klondike •
gold liuggets.
In his game of indoor base ball with
Gen. Bend, Gov. Ckugh appears to !
have scored last.
The Cuban insurgents reject auton- ;
omy. They will therefore continue to
precipitate funerals.
The legislatures appear to be Intro
ducing football bill* purely to get a j
chance to kick the stuffing out of them, j
Richard Croker doesn't hold any offi
ces, but he is holding the reins over
Greater New York like a skilled Jehu, j
If the Prince of Wales would lav
aside his title, he wouldn't be much
higher up in society than Mrs. Lang
try. _
Next summer rich finds will be made
not far from every landing of the big
steamship companies In Alaska. Watch
the returns.
Joe Leiter, the young Chicago wheat j
bull, still appears to have some money j
to burn. He has chartered five steam- j
ships in a bunch for $600,000.
m
The mercury is laughing because it j
slid down the tube 43 degrees in
twelve hours. That is a frozen fact i
which should excite only tears.
Happily, the shortness of the track ;
In the Madison Square Garden did not
shorten the receipts of the poor fel- j
lows who trundled over it six days. j
San Jose scale is over in Michigan •
destroying the peach crop. There will i
be Michigan peaches next year just I
the same, however, including Gov.
Pingree. _
So far as ran be learned up to the I
hour of going to press, the Omaha I
newspapers are in contempt of the
courts, and the courts in contempt of
the newspapers.
What a strange combination of af
fiuei.ee and poverty Alaska Is anyhow: !
Million, of dollars ln gold is being dug j
c ut of the Yukon country by one lot j
of men and congress is appropriating j
hundreds of thousands of dollars for j
the relief of another lot.
Miss Yoshi Yamaguchi, the Japanese j
student at Yale, threatens to go home j
because of the ill treatment she re- j
reives from the hoodlums of New |
Haven. She wears her native costume,
find the youngsters shout: "Look at the
China doll. Washee, washee!"
— m
The New York World has Bcored
ngalnst the Journal once more in their
ridiculous fight for scoops. The World
spirited Miller, the cyclist, away to a
hi tel and boarded him for two days,
In order that it might "pump" him
to its heart's content and exclusively.
Kansas has done something unique
again. It has granted a conditional li
cense to a boy of sever, years to prac
tice law before the supreme court of
Kansas. Come to think of it, a boy
of seven years ought to know as much
law as some of the attorneys of Kan
sas.
_.*. —
Anybody can increase the pension
list, Mr. Evans. What is wanted is a i
roan who is smart enough to spot a j
fraud, brave enough to puncture it, j
and honest enough to nnnounce it to j
the world. There are o. er 1500,000 names j
on the pension roll which should not j
be there. Mr. Evans, if you are intel
lectual, courageous and square, fix i
ycur bayonet and charge.
THE SAINT PAUL GLOBE.
CIVIL SERVICE
SAVES F|ONEY.
Great Record Made Since It Has Been Adopted
by the Government.
OTHER APPROPRIATIONS TREBLED.
In Soma Cases Four or Five Times as Great
as in 1886, but the Outlay for Departmental Work
Shows an > > Increase of
but iQ Per Facts for Hntis cent -T °
Throw Open \ r^ r»c. * r_ t the Depart
v \ TO READ. j X
ments tol ? the Hun
gry Horde Would Mean an Increase of Many
Millions in the Yearly Appropriations.
Special to the Olobe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.— One feature
in particular of the legislative,
ex< cutive and judicial appropriation
bill now before congress eleserves
marked attention. This bill provides
for the one branch of governmental
expenditure In which the increase in
the last twenty years has been so slight
as to be of little eonseejuene-e, and the
reason therefor is at this time pecu
liarly instructive. Of the fourteen
great appropriation bills, according to
Mahlon Pitney's computations, the in
crease in the decade from '87 to '96 over
that betwi en '77 and '86 has been as
follows:
Per Cent.
Agricultural G.1.9S
Diplomatic and consular 83.59
District of Columbia ."8.48
Fortifications 374. 9 i
Indians 70.32
Legislative, executive and judicial 19.08
Military academy 45.03
Naval 06.40
Pensions .131.01
Postofflce 77.97
River and liaibor 77.49
Sundry civil 25.81
Deficiencies 56.12
Miscellaneous 41.03
From this table it will be observed,
as stated above, that the "legislative"
appropriatieins are the only ones which
are not inordinately increasing. Why
is this? Simply because it is the "leg
islative" appropriation bill which pays
' for the departmental force of the gov
■ eminent, and, while Uncle Sam h_s
constantly been adding to his under
: takings arid enterprise.., the saving
j from putting the clerical force under
: the merit system has been so great
j that this branch alone, of all the ex
| pense budget of the ■ government, has
! remained normal. The constant ex
! tensions of the classified service have
resulted in a saving that has about
offset the increased business of the
government. In ISB3 the total number
of employes iv. the eight departments
i and the different bureaus, including
the government printing office, was
j 13,374, while, in 1896 it was 15,963, an in
crease of emly 19.36 per cent. In this
same time the country has grown so i
fast that the agricultural department
; costs six times as much as then, pen- j
: sioiis more than twie"' as much, forti
' ficatiems four times as much, and so
I on. The' clerical force of the govern- j
ment corresponds to the bookkeeping
staff of a large commercial establish- j
| ment. It would ordinarily be expected |
that the more business the government j
did, the greater would be the size of
its clerical force in Washington. It is ;
doubtless true that it means much I
j more work to distribute $150,000,000 a
year in pensions than it did the $70,
--1 000,000 of earlier years. There are more
i cases to be searched, more envelopes
j to be addressed, and a larger volume
iof work all around. The situation is
! the same in the other activities of the
i government. Several times as much
! matter is being turned out at the gov
'■ eminent printing office as in 1883. Anel
jot, taking the clerical force of all
I branches and bureaus, the increased
j cost over twenty years ago is very
i slight.
The following table, showing the an
nual appiopriatibns made by congress
: for legislative, executive and judicial
i expenses of the government, corrobo
rates those conclusions:
! Year. Amount. Year. Amount.
i .873 $18,021,972 74 1885 $21,556,901 63
j 1874 18.170,441 IS ISS6 *21, 495,660 70
| 1875 20.758.2.5 50 1887 20,809,781 41
I 1876 16.035.699 4» 1888 20.772,720 67
1877 16,. .7,020 82 1889 20,924.492 42
I_7s 15,756,774 05 1890 20,865.219 93
! 1879 15,868,694 50 1891 21,073,137 47
1880 16.136,230 311892 22,027,674 75
ISSI 16.785,308 93 1893 21,901,063 00
1882 17.797,397 61 1594 21,866,302 81
1883 _-,_2_,907 65 1895 21,343,976 87
1884 20,7.3,842.55 1896 21.885,818 C 8
•Includes $6, 150.061.9S for month ending
June 30, 1885.
Between 1883 and 1896 the Increase in
! the legislative bill has been only 7.69
, per cent. These figures answer effect
; ively the charge that civil service re
j form does not pay. There is no longer
a question as to how the government
j work can be most economically eon
j ducted. Let congress go ahead and
decide which of the two systems it pre
; fers. The everv-day taxpayer will be
j likely to do the same thing. And yet
I Mr. Bailey, of Texas, the Democratic
| leader, in debate a few days ago, re
ferred to the civil service reform as "a
colossal humbug." True, it is a hum
bug on the politicians, but an enor
mous gain to the people.
CIVII- SERVICE IX CEsSI S.
Senator Carter's Renson. for Oi>i>o
_ltlon.
Special to the Globe.
W _ASH INK. TON, Dec. 17.— Mr. Car
i ter, of Montana, chairman of the sen-
I ate committee on the census, in a re
] cent interview in the Washington Star
made a statement of the reasons why
he opposed drawing the clerical force
for the next enumeration from the
civil service commission. Mr. Carter is
I always plausible! His ideas are repr-^-
I sentative. and therefore merit consid
eration.
Mr. Carter says: "The bill as report
ed, provides that all employes in the
census, save the director, the assistant
director and the chief statisticians,
' shall be appointed in the discretion of
! the director, subject to such examlna-
I tion as he may, with the approval of
{ the secretary of the interior, prescribe,
j and not otherwise."
The kind of an examination here re
j ferrcd to means nothing. The same
I plan was adopted for the last census.
| and Mr. Porter, with the approval of
I the secretary of the interior, got up
SATURDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 18. 1897.
an examination. W r hen the person for
whom the politician want, d a p. ace, ;
passed the examination, all was well
and good, and when he failed to pass
provided his "influence" remained
strong he was set to work just the I
same, but on probation. He was as- j
signed a desk beside the man who I
passed, on the theory that experience
was probably all that was needed, and
after a few weeks of that, he was given I
the same salary as the man who start- !
ed in prepared for the work. This
demoralized the whole force. It will ;
be recalled that Madeline Pollard, 1
whose name is perhaps as familiar to
the public as any of the 3,000 clerks |
employed on the last census, passed
the examination when presented by
Mr. Breckinridge for a place on the !
pay roll, but t:iere is no doubt but that i
she would have been placed there in !
any event. Mr. Porter says in his I
North American Review article that ;
2,700 examinations were given; but as
the number of appointments according
to the report, was 4,465, 1,765 must have j
been admitted without even that s'.ght !
test of fitness. If examinations as to '
fitness which shall mean something!
are now really desired, the government j
is provided with a civil service com
mission for that purpose. There
should be no dodging on this point.
Mr. Carter next says: "It Is believed
that the census, being in the nature of
emergency work, In the performance
of which a large number of persons
will be engaged for only a short time,
tlie force to inrreas? rapidly for a time
and then to diminish rapidly, selections
made from the body of the people at
large by an examination specially pre
scribed by persons thoroughly conver
sant with census work, will prove mora
satisfactory than the selection of the
required number of persons from the
eligible list of the civil service. The
census work being largely technical,
it appears beyond question of dispute
that the director charged with respon
sibility for the final success of the un
dertaking can and will prepare a more
satisfactory system of examinations to
lest the efficiency of applicants than
would result from any scheme of ex
amination devised by- a commission not
possessed of special qualifications for
the task contemplated."
This paragraph is the concentrated
essence of humbug. The civil service
commission regularly prepare their ex
aminations in co-operation with pers n.
specially familiar with the work for
which an eligible list of e-andidates is
desired. A government printing office
veteran, designated for that purpose
goes over with the commission the sub
jects, topics, methods, etc., for ex
amining prospective printing office em
ployes. In the same way census ex
perts who kneiw what preparation was
wanted in the clerical force. would
join the commission in gc-tiing up th S3
e-xaminations. The commission is as
as well prepared to test fitness for this
work as for Secretary Long's assfst: nts
in the navy department, or for Mr.
Gage's finance experts in the treasury,
or any other branch of the public ser
vice.
Mr. Carter also referred to "select! ma
made from the body of the people at
large." How are such selections, pray,
to be made by examination except
through the machinery of the commis
sion? Is the new superintendent of the
census to open examination bur.au.. i:i
all the large cities of the country such
as the commission already has estab
lished, or is this "body eif the people
at large" to come on to Washington
en masse and be examined here? The
allegation that the work is in too much
of a hurry to wait for the machinery
of the commission needs no comment.
The enumeration will not take place
till June, 1900. A good many papers
can be marked between now and that
time, and as for getting the prelimi
nary corps, there would, of course, be
no trouble. It is an extraordinary thing
that the weakne:- ses and inefficiency of
the present civil service system should
be so conspicuous to the eyes of Mr.
Carter, of Montana, Mr. Grosvenor, of
MONETARY | Every Member Will Sign the
COMMISSION Report Which Is the Result
ADJOURNS. | of the Deliberations.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.— The mone
tary commission reached the conclu
sion of its deliberations today and the
chairman, Senator Edmunds, declared
the commission adjourned without day.
The closing proceedings were in
teresting. The work of going over the
ieport in detail was prolonged late into
the night of Thursday and was not
quite completed when the commission
met this morning. Such changes as
were approved were finally considered
and referred to the executive commit
tee and the secretaries for incorpora
tion in the final draft. The motion
that the report be adopted as a whole
was made by Mr. C. Stuart Patterson,
of Philadelphia, who presided over the
Indianapolis convention. There was
some question up to the last moment
whether the members would waive all
their individual preferences in regard
to minor details of the report and sign
it unanimously. Practical unanimity
waa finally due as much to the earnest
appeals of Senator Edmunds as to any
other influence. One member thought
It necessary to make emphatic his con
viction as to one feature of the report,
and Mr. Garrett, who had returned to
his home ln California and was not
Ohio, and Mr. Gallinger, of New Hamp
shire, when it is not apparent to John
D. Long, Carroll D. Wright and* James
A. Gary. The first named, whose re
cent interview sounded no uncertain
note, has had experience at the head
of a great executive department, as a
member of congress, anrl also as gov
ernor of a great state. Surely he speaks
from no one-sided polm e>f view. Mr.
Wright has conducted statistical work
under the spoils system and under the
merit system. His testimony is fami
liar. So is that of nearly all the cabi
net officers of this administration and
the last.
ONLY MADE HER GREEDY.
Widow of a Veteran Xnt Snii-lii-i!
Willi a lf__o PeiiMlon.
Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17— The senate
committee on pensions believes it has
discovered the "cheekiest" woman in
the United States. She lives in Indi
ana, and was contentedly drawing $8
a month pension, when, by a special
act of the last congress, she was placed
on the roll at $20 a month. This simply
sharpened her aDpetite. and she his
already appeared in this congress with
Panama
Scandal
Revived.
PARIS, Dec. 17. — In consequence of
the report of the parliamentary com
mittee which has been inquiring into
the financial and especially the Panama
dealing of members of parliament, M.
Antide Boyer, representing the Fifth
district of Marseilles.and MM.Planteau,
Laisant and Gaillard, formerly mem
bers of the chamber of deputies, have
| been arrested. M. Boyer was one of
, the chiefs of the Socialist party of
Marseilles and took part in the com
munistic movement of 1871. M. Henri
! Maret, member of the chamber of
THE Globe's suggestion on Tuesday morning that the depositors of the Minnesota Ravings bank make up a
purse to reimburse Mr. Bickel to the extent of the $1,100 the Institution appe.irs to owe him seems to have
struck h:.me among the creditors, and they are apparently ready to come to the front with the full amount
•without unnecessary delay. The following Hater reached us in yesterday's mall:
208 Nelson Avenue, St. Paul, Minn., Dr.. 16, 1897.— Editor of the Glob. -Dear Sir: I see in texlay's Issue of
the Globe you suggest a defe-nse fund on behalf of Mr. Bickel, to be subscribed to by the depofcltors In that late
lamented and wonderful financial Institution, the Minnesota Savings Hank. P!ca.e accept my click for $10 for tho
same. Faithfully yours, —Win. G. Hlchard.
St Paul Minn .^^c^Jh \SSX A J.o <?_-?
MINNESOTA SAVINGS BANK
fdyf.. ytlbi J___e>/_-^ '^■e^we ¥>u<iuCt or o.&ers/______.
____^.^./r?V /< ' a — ■ - — dollars.
NO MORE. SEALSKIN S_GO_J_S.
Their Importation From Any Source Absolutely Prohibited By the
Terms of the Bill Just Passed by Congress.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.— 1t has de
veloped that the bill relating to pe
lagic sealing which has just passed
be>th branches of congress and is be
fore the president contains a provision
of far-reaching Importance, which has
thus far escaped attention. This places
an absolute prohibition on the further
bringing of sealskins into the United
States from any source whatever. As
the United States is the largest mar
ket in the world for sealskins, this
complete stoppage of the trade in this
country will be a severe measure
against the British and Canadian in
elustries which take and cure the skins
and then dispose of them largely in the
United States. When the bill was pro
posed it was generally supposed that
its only purpose was to prohibit Amer
ican citizens from carrying on pelagic
sealing. This feature was the only one
to attract attention during the discus
sions. At the close of the bill, how
ever, is a section which Is not restrict
ed to Americans, but applies to seal
skins in general "taken in the waters
mentioned in this act," which includes
able to take part in the final delibera
tions, differed slightly from his assi -
ciates In regard to the treatment of the
existing silver coins and silver cer
tificates. The signatures of all the
members will be attached to the report
with the limited reservations of thet_e
two. H. H. Hanna, the chairman of the
executive committee, then took the
floor and stated that the services of
the commissioners v.ould be properly
recognized at the Indianapolis conven
tion of the business men of the coun
try, which had been called for Ja...
15. The commission was then declar
ed dissolved by Senator Edmunds, and
the members parted with mutual ex
pressions of regret that their associa
tions were to end. The final publica
tion of the commission's report will be
delayed for some days pending its com
pletion by the secretaries. A bill car
rying out fully the recommendations
of the commission is also ln course of
preparation by a subcommittee ln co
operation with the executive commit
tee and will be ready for presentation
in the house when congress reassembles,
after the holidays. Preparations for
an earnest campaign w in be begun by
the executive commit.. _ anticipa
tion of the convention which has been
called for Jan. 25, at which they hope
for enthusiastic support.
a bill which directs that her p2nsion
be raised to $50 a month. She will he
disappointed this time. Economy is
now the watchword.
I. \M) LAWS FOR ALASKA.
Committee Named by linn -i>roun l> to
Prepare Tliem.
Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17. — Senator
Hansbrough, of North Dakota, chair
man of the senate committee on public
lands, has appointed a subcommittee
consisting of Senators Carter, of Mon
tana; Mcßride, of Oregon, and McEn
ery, of Louisiana, to investigate anel
report upon the subject of extending
the United States land laws to the ter
ritory of Alaska. It is believed that
the bill covering the case will be jpre
pared during the holidays and intro
duced early in January.
Both of the Minnesota senators and
probably all of our congressmen will
remain in Washington during the
Christmas holidays.
Congressman Morris has secured, a
pension for Mrs. Mary Winn, eif Du
luth, $14 per month from Feb. 16, 1891.
—Smith D. Fry.
Six Members of the French
Chamber of Deputies Put
Under Arrest.
deputies, and Maime de Drant-Martln,
former member, have been arrested in
connection with the Panama scandal.
M. Maret represents the arondissement
of Sancerre. He belongs to the ex
treme Left in the chamber, but is
above all an independent. He first
came into prominence by his lively
criticism of the policy and personality
of Oambetta, and in 1886 he preitested
in the name e>f liberty against the- ex
pulsion of "The Pretenders" later. As
editor-in-chief of Le Radical he corn
batted the policy and dictatorial meth
ods of Gen. Beiulanger.
To Reimburse Mr. Bickel.
the whole Pacific ocean. The provision
is as follows:
Section 9. That the importation into the
United States by any person whatsoever of
fur sealskins taken in the waters mentioned
ln this act, whether raw, dressed, dyed or
manufactured, is hereby prohibited, and all
such articles imported after this act shall
take effect shall not be perm _ted to be ex
ported, but shall be seized and destroyed by
the proper officers of the United States."
Those who are thoroughly familiar
with the bill say this provision !s of
far more Importance in its effect than
the prohibition against pelagic sealing
by Americans.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.— The corre
spondence which has passed between
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Canadian
premier, and Mr. Foster, touching the
seal negotiations since the Washing
ton conference last month, has Just
been made public. It consists of two
letters. In the first, dated Ottawa,
Nov. 24, Sir Wilfrid Laurier passi S
upon the proposition from our govern
ment, which was taken back to Canada
by him at the conclusion of the con
ference. He says he is willing to enter
at once upon a review of the whole
seal question, though the Paris award
was made revisable only at the end of
five years, provided the other questions
of importance to the two countries — Im
migration, reciprocity, fish protection,
etc., be considered at the same time.
He declines, however, to suspend scal
ing meantime on the ground that th.
fleet would be dissipattd entirely; that
tlie owners of vessels would be en
titled to compensation between the dis
position of parliament to vote, and
finally that, as shown by the experts'
report, there is now a tendency to
wards equilibrium in the maintenance
of the seal herd. He suggests that if
a joint commission Xo consider all ques
tions at issue, including this, be at once
appointed, it would be possible to se
cure the necessary legislation from
parliament at the February session ana
from congress during the present ses
sion to insure the execution of any
recommendation with regard to Bering
sea next season.
The second letter is from Gen. Fos
ter to Sir Wilfrid, dated Washington,
Dec. 2. Gen. Foster says that Sir Wil
frid's answer is a declination of his
proposition and a renewal of the Can
adian proposition made at the confid
ence and the president declines to re
verse his position on that point. Should
the herd reach the equilibrium pointed
out by Sir Wilfrid it will have passed
the period when negotiations will be
of no avail; besides as the United
States will be put to the expeife of
$150,000 to maintain the patrol next
year, pelagic sealing ought to be volun
tarily given up, because it is unneigh
borly and inhumane. Gen. Foster ex
presses regret that Sir Wilfrid's visit
to Washington gives so little promise
of satisfactory results, but entertains
the hope that it may yet bear good
fruits.
PRICE TWO CENTS-J&'VJSJVS
BUSINESS SHINGLY GOOD
Trade Volume Growing at a season When
It Usually Halts.
RECORD-BREAKING
BANK PAYMENTS.
Largely Increased Production in Many Lines
of Industry— Smallest Failure Total in Five
Northwest Situation
Continues Strong.
Years and a
Condition of
Trade in
Sections Are
Favorable Features Pointed Out by the Commercial
Reviews.
NEW YORK, Dec. 17.— Dun & Co.'a
weekly review of trade will say to
morrow: Close to its annual holiday
anel halt the business eif the year is
surprisingly large. Payments through
banks are again 2.5 per cent larger
than in 1892, heretofore the year of
greatest prosperity; the production of
iron anel wool, -us anel boots and shoes
is larger than ever before, exports
eclipse all past records, anel failures for
two weeks have been the smallest for
the corresponding weeks in five years.
The treasury receipts show a steady
increase for the first half of December
over previous months, both in customs
and Internal revenue, and heavy pay
ments to the government on Union Pa
cific account caused but slight strin
gency in money markets, with prepara
tions for large cancellation of bonds.
The most weighty news of the week
is the rise of merchandise exports in
November to $1115,630,290, the excess of
exports in four months being $22.,212,
--401. while in half of December exports
are nearly as large and imports $2,500,
--000 smaller than last year, when the
excess Of exports was $58,206,366. Prob
ably all records are surpassed by ex
ports for this year, which have been
$974,600,000 In eleven months, and the
excess over imports in five months has
probably exceeded $289,000,000.
The output of pig iron Dec. 1 was the
greatest ever known. No reaction
comes in copper, and exports for the
month are estimated at 10,000 tons.
Coke production was 154,926 tons, with
contracts making for the coming year
at $1.50, and anthracite coal was weak
er at $3.75 here.
Wheat is just now the backbone of
foreign relations, and Atlantic exports
in two weeks h ive been, Hour included,
7.X 50,942 bushels against 5,413.677 bush
els last year, while receipts rose to 12,
--606,122 bushels against 6,625,3-2 bushels
last year. The price gained a fraction
in spite of the speculative decline in
Chicago. Corn exports continue to <x
c. Ed last year's, in two weeks 6,326,834
bushels against 5,074.626 bushels last
year, which Is a particularly significant
ft mure. The price rose but a fraction
and receipts in two weeks were 8,023,
--001 bushels against 5,449,181 bushels last
year.
The cotton manufacture is ln diffi
culty, owing to production last year
fai in excess Of demand and ln partial
transfer of the demand to Southern
mills. The demand for woolen goods is
Increasing, and some mills are in the
market providing for a greater reduc
tion, though most are still waiting, and
the wool market is remarkably dull,
sales at th- three chief points being
15,307,100 pounds against 18,100,100 last
year; 17. 179,110 in 1895, and 16,604,100 In
1892. \. i.ile prices are said to be held
without change, manufacturers are
hunting r r bargains and foreign wool
In cons.derable quantity is coming thia
way.
Failures for the week have been 329 In
the United Stats against 387 last year
and 2b in Canada, against 41 last year.
RETAIL TRADE BRISK.
Situation In the Northwest ot Unim-
paired Strength.
NEW YORK. Dec. 17.— Bradstreet's
tomorrow will say: A sensible quieting
of demand in wholesale lines is report
ed as the holiday season and th" an
nua! stock taking period approach,
Chi C among the favorable features ->f
the ..-•' .- has been enlarged inquiry at
higher prices for steel in various forms.
accompanied by advances in the prices
■if sorts most affected. A correspond
ingly heavy business has developed in
pig "in .i and prices show but a slight
shading in face of the current imm. :. . •
production. The wheat market has
been less feverish and prices are prac
tically unchanged from a week ago,
while corn, oats and sugar are addi
tions to the list Of the products show
ing advances. The unsatisfactory out
look for cotton goods is reflected ln
EXPORTS EXTENSIVE
BEYOND PRECEDENT.
Healthy
the Retail
Nearly all
Among the
reductions In bleached goods to tli<>
lowest point ever reached, while some
cotton yarns show weakness. Anthra
cite coal is we;k. although production
has been curtailed and talk of Further
restrictions is heard. With th.se ex
ceptions the price situation Is one of
iiuite exceptional steadiness.
At the Bast trad.- in wholesale lines
is quiet, but retail trade has been stim
ulated sufficiently to allow of a fair
record of business In seasonable lines.
Manufacturers of woolen cloths are
running on small margins and look to
a change In heavyweight goods to Im
prove the situation. The trade situa
tion West and Northwest is one ol un
impaired strength, although milder
weather checks distribution of winter
goods. Notable among favorable f< >t
ures Is the Improved Inquiry at higher
prices for Beveral kinds of steel, es
pecially billets and wire and nails.
The approach of the holiday season
has Induced fre< r realizing on cotton
by planters and others at the South
and increased activity Is noticeable In
retail lines and among Jobbers in sea
sonable cotton goods. Collections are
slightly better In consequence
from pric.- depression In its chief pro
ducts, the Southern business situation
presents many encouraging feature*,
notable among these being the active
demand and tirm or higher prices f'>r
Louisiana sugar ar.d rice and leaf t<>
bacco.
Export trade on the Pacific Is very
heavy and shipments of wheat, cotton
and lumber are of large volume.
Preparations for an Immense Alaskan
outfitting demand are being actively
pushed, while seasonable trade holds
Its own.
Wheat exports show a heavy falling
off from recently preceding weeks, ag
gregating as they do, flour im hid (J,
4, 604,3. Ii bushels from both casts of
I the United states and St. John. N. 8.,
I against 6,286,159 bushels las! week, i.
--222,714 bushels in this week a yedr ago,
2,368,323 bushels in 1895, 2,536,292 bushels
in 1894, and 3.217.000 bushels in 1 S«»:_.
Corn exports are over 1,000,000 bushels
larger than last week, aggregating „-
-129,858 bushels, against 2.814,150 bushels
In this week a ye.r ago, 2,057,780 Lush
els In 1895, 668,000 bushels in 1894, and
559,000 bushels In 1893.
Business failures show a rather
smaller than usual ante hoi Ida j total,
aggregating- 283, against 292 list week,
359 In the week a year ago, 385 in 1896,
309 in 1894, and 353 in 1893. Canadian
failures this week number 4:i. against
23 last week, :_» in the week ; ( year ago
and 42 In the year 1895.
BAD FOR BROWN.
Evidence "tending to I'mu- Him 11..
sponsible 'or Ihe London PI re.
LONDON, Dec. 17. At today's in
quiry Into the recent tire In the Crip
plegate district of London, Mr. Brown,
of the firm of Waller X- Brown, in
whose show room the lire was started
in a stock of clothing, was recalled.
He admitted that the firm was six
months In arrears in its rent and that
its stock was smaller than usual at
tie- time of the tire. The day of tie fire,
he continued, the firm sold stock be
low the usual price, ami he admitted
that a Manchester Arm hail offered to
take the whole stock under cost, i'tit
Mr. Brown denied he had offered to
sell it at 40 per cenl below cost. He
also said the stock hook was destroyed
In the flro. though the other hooks
were all saved in the safe. He hail
claimed £7.__. ($39,430) Insurance, which,
he admitted, represented a big stock.
DBADWOOD _SS\_ Ol in i:.
The Home Votes in Continue M*
B slsten «■ «• .
WASHINGTON, Dec. IT Tie house
today completed the consideration of
the legislative, executive aid judicial
appropriation hill, excepting the pi
graph relating to tie- civil service. By
agreement debate on this latter para
graph will go over until after the |, ,|j_
days. Two amendments were adopted.
The bill, as r ported, abolishes tie- as
say office at Deadwood, S. I>, and the
mints "at Carson City, Nev., aid New
Orleans, La. Today the represi nl itiv _
from the two former states made a
vigorous and successful ftghl to con
tinue the appropriations for lie;, iwood
and <'arson city. Th.. appropriations
committee was beaten in '• o li ii -;
Tie- house t. flay r el it... dto aci pt the
senate amendment to the hill !• th<
relief of the miners in the uppei Vu
!•:■ i. country, and it was s- nt t.. < , fcr
ence.
fin motion of Mr. Smil h (D m.,
a bill was passed to amend the act
granting a right of way through the
Pan Carlos Indian reservation to
Gila Valley, G.obe <. Northern rs Iroa I,
si a- to extend th- tun-- for ihe con
st, action of the road foi ars.
A bill was passed for the relief of
i Jones, of Minnesota, in th • mat
ter of a copyright. On motion of Mr.
Mi er, of Nebraska, a bill v.;, pas l
t< increase 'he cost of th m -at
building al th- trans-Mississipp expo
siiicn $12,600, and the cost of the k<,v
--r-rnment exhibit a like amount, The
speaker appointed Mr. Barham (Rep.,
Cal.) chairman of the committee on
mileage, and at 4:50 p. m., tie- houso
adjourned.
N. .» minister Presented.
ST. PETERSBURG, Dec IT. 'In. r.iirlug
V. p. minister to Russia, Clifton it. Brecken
ri_K-. wns received In auillt-iir.. in i „■ , zar
y» oi.niay and presented til_ letter! if recall.
Mr. Brecketorldge presented to bis majesty hU
nu-ce»-or, K. A. Hitchcock.
< hililr.n Bnmed.
OSKALOO-A, 1.., Dae. 17. Two children of
Albert K< liner, or Mil- hakim, ik. P risked in
a Sr. wbiefa consumed the family'i dwelling.
One Of Hie victims .a., a niii l >>ars old
and the other a baby of nine months. .
mother bml left the thlNna alone In th»
house.