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In lis Annual Communioa- teMM customs revenue was lew tor. tb* year than ever before. The Silver ICtli* act Mirec im.' Hie pnrahaaeotsUver boH- fea Sufil is ue of Treasury notee tftmrMu.^ap- jpitd July, 14. l«*>, h«e lb* Sac - - Tl*< w, > > & '-:4 #, ' "*. ^ \ * lion to Congress •*w He Urges the Passage of the • Lodge Election Bifi the McKMtf ffcflf Lav Rlsst Bs 6im 1 FUr Trial JV,v • l{ 'f ••/ , -, .•" fciy dor Foreiga Bel&tloas in a Satis* fkotory Condition. {mum iS'iip - State »r the NatlenN IHseu*sed--Reciprocity In* iv dorsed. . ̂ FOREIGN RKlATlOUa^M V'j Tkfy Are Fl-lendl?* lb ft* Senate and BOOM of SepmeBWIm: Tho reports of the several cxecativft depart- *hich •will bo laid before Congr'S^ in w / *„ ;4Im usna.l course, will exhibit in detail the '.soperaWons of tbe Government for the last > ,.(Ji«r. Only ihe more important inddonts *'$ymnd results, and chiefly such as may be the - ^ouwlation 0( the recommendations I shall SWbeait, will be referred to in this annual nies- ; - is vast and increasing business of the Gov- • > Vmnent has been transacted by the several de- ." lasurtments during the year with faithfulness, -\"% inargy and success. The revenues, amounting v above four hundred and fifty million dollars, 'iUkVB beer) collated and disbursed without re- v , dealing, SO far as 1 can ascertain, a single case ,V *, * t defalcation or embezzlement. An earnest ef- •" ~ Tort has been made to stimulate a sense of re- ^ „ Sponeibility and public duty in all officers anii i ' . >B»ploy< t- of every grade, and the work done by • TO«m nas almost wholly escaped unfavorable rittdsD). I speak of these matters with free. Dm, because the credit of this good work is not but is shared bv the heads of the several ~~"S»entB with the great body of faithful and employes who serve under them. 5 closest scrutiny of Congress is invited to all ,--thodr of administration and to everv item ' Of expenditure. 'i The friendly relations of our country with the iMttons of Europe ana the East have been uu- . "ttitobtii while the ties of good- ill and com- ' Vnon interest thae bind us to the States of the Iwestcru hemisphere have been notably strenpth- Wied by the conference held iti this capia to oonsider measures for the general welfare. . ur- "nut to the invitfttii h au.hori ed by i ougress, representative of every indopendantt»ttt» ; (be American Continent and of Havti n et in ; seoBferenoe in this < at iial in Oc obex, 1889 and ?eontinucd in session until the l!»;h of last April Thia Important convocation marks a most in- tweetli.gand influeniial ep<chin the his.ory >>f tts western hemisphere. It is noteworthy that fatril, invited whil<* under an imperial form of iment, at ared as a Itepublic in the de- tioas ami results of the conference. The ; jreottmmeii< atioz«s of this conference were all Imiiiiiitlfti to Ccngress at the last session. Wvers Foreign Matters. . Theeommunicatl ns of the Chinese Minister W*ve brought into view the whole eubiectof our "«onvtntioiml relatiuus with his country, and at Jbs same ime this Governmeni, through its legation at Ptkm. tias sought to arrange vail- ttfknai n>«, .1 i • . . . ' , Ki ' }**; IS **• matters ai.d comulnints touching the intar-£5.. vi#rii8 and proi«ition or our citizens in China. • - i . V - i'M-" f Secretary of iheTressuty wltb ra purpose to g <t into ciiculatibo St tb« sarttSst possihl dat s the full monthly amount of potea contemplated by its prsvihiotas Mdi at the sntno time to give to the nMUket for Silver bullion such support as tbs law oontem- jilaU'S. lh(• receutueprtciationto tho priced Sil^r has boen obse ved witb Mgret„ Xbe tepid rise in price which anticipated acd fol­ lowed the imKsa+ie of tho act was influenosd in some dt gvee by 8i«»eulation, and tfew xsesnt re­ action is in part t he result of (be sains cause and iu part of tue recent monetary disturb- anc! s. t-ome months of rnrther trtal will be necessary to determine the )«nnauent effect of the recent legislation upon silver values, but it is gratify­ ing tukuoiv that the increased circulation se­ cured by the act has exorted and will continue to exeit amoB., beneficial influence upon busi­ ness and up1'ii g 'uerfU values. While it lias UOL been tboaght bssttorsnew forn;al.y the suggestioa of aa international conference looking to an agreement touching tlie fnl) use of si! or for ooinage at a uniform ratio, care has been taken to obeerve closely anv change in the situation abroad, and no favorable o»portunity will be lost to promote • result bich it is confidentlytwtieved woul l confer very large benefits upon the commerce of tlse world. the recent monetary disturbances in England a»e not unlikely t • suggest a re-examination of opinions «pon this subject. Our very large of. gold! will, if not lost by impulsive OBmm . OottA* theorswansqti te . . KMrt* «» bstns use. It :1s a aauns<rf «ob^ aatloIpat*d influenos of «poa the esprit ds sarps HSm ba« bsM fmUy »- 8cld» in the sbtp axpoag i a secondary batl bmslation in tbs supposed interest of silvei-, give us a position of advantage in promoting a permanent and safe international agr o«B»»t lor toa free use of silver as a coin metaJ, t <- About Circulation. The efforts of the Secretary to increase the volume of money in circulation by keeping down the Treasury surplus to the lowest prac­ ticable limit have l>een unremitting and ia a very high de.Tee successful. The tables pre­ sented by him, showing the increase during the nineteen months he has administered the affair* of the department, are interesting and instructive. The Increase of money in circulation during the nineteen months has been in the aggregate $93,806,818, or about $1.50 per capita, and of this increase only $7,100,000 was due to the recent silver legislation. That this substantial and needed aid given to commerce resulted ia an enormous reduction of the public debt and of the annual interest charge is matter of increased satisfac­ tion. There have been purchased and redeemed since March 4,1890, 4 and 4'.,, percent bonds to the amount of $211,832,450, at a cost of $ 46.620,- 741, resulting in the reduction of the annual in­ terest charge of $s %7,609, and a total saving of interest of ©51,576,706. In p;.rs'.anco of the concurrent resolution of •Oct. S, 1890, X have proposed to the Oovern- BUts of M.-xieo and Great Hritain to consider mtioi.al regulation of the passage of , laborers across our soutnern and Northern n outi. rs. _ On the 2'Zti day of August last Sis JEdmund Wroson, tha arbitrator, selected under the ; BWtro! December, WHS, rendered an award to •tbs effect that no compensation was due from 1 tbe Pan.gn Government to the United States on *Siooount of nhat iB commonly known as the Ms. Butterfly claim. Oar relaaons with the French republic con- --®ue to be entirely cordial. Our representative <•* that court has very diligently urged the re- *K>y of the restrictions place.! upon our meat pMapoti*. and it is believed that substantial '"fMOgrass has been made toward a just settie- -ttsnt. . J*t* Pamoan treaty, signed last year at Bst^ ^•9B%y the representatives of the United States, Oexntaiiy and Great Britain, after due ratifica- tton and exchange, has begun to produce saln- tf? estosts. The fonnation of the government «««wd upon will soon replace the disorder of •the past bra stable administration, alike just » to the natives and equitable to the three powers most concerned In trade and intercourse with the Samoan Islands. The Chief Justice has BSSii chosen by the King of Sweden and Norway . OB the invitation of the throa powers, and will <eoon be installed. The i^and Commission and «w Municipal Council are in process of organ- ssstfon. A rational and evenlv distributed yhems of taxation, both municipal and upon "l < is in operation. Malietoa is respected r «- ™1® new treaty of extradition with Great > Britain, after due ratification, was proclaimed 'V *Pa ^ °' ̂ March. Its beneficent wark- ," '-Inff is alxuKty apparent. lie Seal Question. > v difference between the two governments . -k.' touching the fur seai question in the Behrlag 8ea is not yet adjuoted, as will be seen by the ; -. , /,• correspondence which will soon be laid before SEP088- <>Ser to aubmit the question to jMMteation, as piojwsed by her Majesty's Gov- Mnrament, has not been accepted, for the reason tas form of submission propositi is not Tl7?.°^ ,t° be calculated to assure a conclusion " jy tp either party. It is <»iBw-r«ly 'fjibk?- "ha" uo»oru the oiwiiiuu of another seal- tfWm,' "y.^sop some arrangement mav be sffested •which will assure to the United states a prc.p- W? ISfTT'61^ 1dfriv"d from Buasia, which was not rm? ' by any nation for more than eightv Ti < lhe outbreak of the existing was done to the King- ' ' v. ,?wau 1 am bound to presume «• WhoUy unintentional. Duties were levied ' f s certain commodities which are included in . ' "ft. « «feSiKocit3r tKftty esistina between t"be ' "••3r • ^tSmtf84I, i the Kingdom of Hawaii, with- • • *> :»*£•??< *!; e ' exception in favor of "• r v iSflP S •• 1 ' 'onpress will repair what «^T,-8e/feeul to h®* bre»ch of faith on , ^tne part of thi^ (jovernment. rj r^in?a.V01'f„Ilha United States in the ' i'f ^•'15?* of thu (mini of Mr. Van Bokkelen against ....- Haytt W&h rendered on the 4th of December. 18»8 V/ i !>fiPW - t5'° and afterward pre-' * v ^ ' 5J ' - terms of payment were not < 1 r?:-' *OD*erve<'- ,A n"w agreement as to the time of ' , T . -^n^t.has been approved a»d iB now in •' riESfl* J,UM cLa""B of citizens of the • «' wgs suffered ' ; , , th* late pobtioal conflict in Hayti *111, W f it is hoped, speedily yield to friendly ta a'ment > ^ i '* .jTKi (or lbfa aiu,'IJdinent of the treaty ' g tradition between the United biates and ,f «jfy sre now under consideration. "" '*• w11,1 a8kt"<J to provide th« means of ac- ; "rOSpMng the invitation of the Italian Govern- • • V* a!:; aPP«-?Schi°e conference 1 "i * ^ ynaider the adoption of a universal prim© r- I 32"^?- 5S'.U lo/wkou l inyituae and ' ' •raa> -A* tM* proposal follows in the track of , «M Mona fought to be initiated by the mtrid- i'< • ^ Washington, held on the invi- " ' oi ***** Government, the L'nitt d States ••/ :*nouM naanifest a friendly interest in the Ital- "litti yyopo^al« i i-V In Uus connection I may refer with approval 'J ,i® *Sf suggestion of my predeteesorb that • 'stanmng provisibn be made for acee^ ting, when- : J, » oyer deemed advisable, the frequent invitations * * of foreign governments to share in conferences ' • .""8 U*® advancement of interna.ional 4 . regard to ccience, sanitation, com- it f^nstrasliaw, andprocedars, and other matters iV . i »#«WttBgthe intercourse and progress of moto t J , »commoaittes. ««««» » k" * i ^ountry'* Vlnances--Booeipts and Kx- pondlturos. revenues of the Government from all ? S2SF0®* tbe fiscal year ending June 3u. ' 1800, were »4ti3,a}3,080.55, and the total ex- Su* 1 » ^gwrea for the same period were *358,018, . . t™"*- The postal receipts have not here i?™® been included in the statement of fi'.V" tnese aggre^atas, and for the purjjose A\ ~ ^"'l>a:r;HOn the sum of »«0,8«a,097.92 ' 4. •®onid bededucled from both sides of the ac- S*t, f oonnt. 1 he surplus for the year, including the %•"* jjnomit apjjJied to the pinking fund, was $105, W i '£be receipts for 1«#0 were 310,030,- ^ *Jle,^l,euditures #15,739,871 in excess - 1 of - those of lfey. The customs receipts in- >48wfB4SL'^8. and the receiptb Jroiu in* --~r~ ^11,72>,1/1.89, while, ou the side • SL^RPIM"^ure0r, &l tor I^nftiona was $19,31±. WCW'J of tbc prccedinisf vear. " Troauury siaUment for the current fiactl ; T®"*. a"d l artly eatimated, is as follows: Becetpta rum all sources, t40 >,000,000; total sxpsndltures, -»54,U JJ.IIOO, leaving a sur­ plus of «6i,0Ju,t»00~not taking the i»»tal re- * ceipts into account t n either side. The Ions of revenue from customr for the last quarter i« «<> •' tlmatwl at tBS.O.Q.OoO, but irotn ihi» is deducted Vof ttwrear the local estimated receipts ,«», o «, and the estimated expenditures .43, leavug an estlma'ed surjilus of which, with m, cash balance of the beginning of the year, will give •s the sum am iable for the re- outstanding bonds or other uses. S^MtMof woaip*«awi expenditures for --- Jfost < ff!ce Department being equal are *Ot imlmiml. in this statnaant on eiiher side * SOMm •with great pleasure the statement gf K K~ £ ¥ \ " The ("Q4t«mi ? oivicc. The Customs Administration Board provided for by the act of June 10,1890, was selected with great care and is composed in part of men j whose previous experience in the administra­ tion of the old customs regulations had mads thsxa familiar with the evils to be remedied, and I in part of men whose legal and judicial acquire- < ments and experience biemed to fi: them for the work of inter j reting and applying the new slat- ' ute. The chief aim of the law is to secure horn st vslnations of all utiiiable lr.erchaudise, and to make these valua ions uni orm at all onr lorts of entry. It has been r> ale manifest bv a c<»ngrt>9sional investigation that a system of under ai alion hai b« en long in use by c<rift in classes of iinpor.ers, resulting not only in a ' great loss of revenue but in a most intolerable I discrimination against honesty. It is not seen 1 how this legislation, when it is i n 'erstoo.l. can , be regarded by the citi/.ens of any country having commercial dealings with us a-> unfriend­ ly. If any duty is supposed to beexcessive let the complaint be lodged there. It will surely not bo dafmed by any well-disposed people that a remedy may be sought ana allowed m a system at quasi smuggling. IMS WAS' L'EPABTMENI. Desertions I>ecroaslag. The report of the Secretary of War exhibits Several gratifying results attained! during tho year by wise and unostentatious methods. The percentage of desertions from the army (an evil Jor which both Congress and the department have long been seeking a remedy) has been re­ duced during the past year 24 per cent, and for the months of August and Heptember, during which time the favorable effects of the act of June 15 were felt, S3 per cent, as compared with the same mouths of 1889. The results attained by a reorganization and consolidation of the divisions having charge of the hospital service records of the volunteer service are very remarkable. This change was effected ia J uly, 1808, and at that time there were 40,6=4 cases awaiting attention, more than half of these being calls from the Pension Of­ fice for information necessary to the adjudica­ tion of pension claims. On the 30th day of Juno last, though ov« r 300,000 new calls had come in, not a single case that faaal on (and answered. Coast I concur in the recommendations of the Sec­ retary that adequate and regular appropria­ tions be continued for coast-defense works and ordnance. Plans have been practically agreed upon, and there can be no good reason for delay­ ing the execution of them; while the defense­ less state of our great seaports furnishes an ur­ gent reason for wise expedition. The Militia. Tbs encouragement that has been extended to the militia of the States, generally and most appropriately designated the "National Guard," should be continued and enlarged. These military organizations constitute, in a largo sense, the army ol the United States, while about live-sixths of the annual cost of tkeir maintenance is defrayed by the States. 1HE NATIONAL LAWS. Satisfactorily Administered. The report of the Attorney General is bb% the law submitted directly to Congress, hut as the Department of Justice is one of the executive departments, some reference to the work done is appropriate here. A vigorous and iu the main an effective effort has been mado to bring to trial and punish­ ment all violators of the law; but, at the same time, care has been taken that frivolous and technical offenses should not bo used to swell the fees of officers or to harass well-disposed citizens. Especial attention is called to the facta connected v.ith the prosecu­ tion of violations of the election laws an 1 of offenses against United States officers. The number of con victims se cured, very many of them upon picas of guilty, will, it is hoped have a salutiny rt straining influence. There have been several cases where I'ostmasters appointed by me have been subjected to violent interference in the discharge of thsir official duties, and to persecutions and personal violence of the most ex­ treme character. Some of these cases have been dealt with through the Department of Justice, and in some cases the postoffices have been abolished or suspended. I have directed the l'oaimaster General to pursue this course in all canes where other efforts have failed to secure tor any Postmaster, not himself in fault, an opportunity peacefully to exercise the duties of his office. But such action will not supplant the efforts of" the Department of Justice to bring the particular offendtis to pun- ishmsiit. Frsudnloiit Naturalisation. The vacation by judicial decrees of fraudulent certificates of naturalization, upon bills in equity filed by the Attorney General in the Circuit Court of the United States, is a new ap»)li< ation of a familiar equity jurisdiction. >tarly one hundred decrees have been taken during the year, the evidence disclosing that a very large number of fraudulent certificates of naturalization have been issued. And in this connection 1 beg to renew my recom­ mendation that the laws be so amended as to require & more full and searching inquiry into all the facts necessary to naturalization before any certificates are granted. It certainly ia not too much to require that an application for American citizenship shall be beard with as mucn care and recorded with as much formality jygyg-w a, POSTAL DKPABTMXMt, Methods Gieatly Improved. ./P16 report of the Postmaster General shows tae most gratifying progress in the important work committed to his direction. The business Yottf fscvovatfls consideration Is invlW tothe rsoommeadations of the secretary. > INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. -r- -• , Satisfactory Results Attained. The report of the Georetary of the Interior exhibits, with great fullness and clearness, the vast work of fcfcafc great dspartnaeat and the satisfactory result* attained. The suggestions made by him are earnestly commended to the consideraticfti of Congress, though thejr eumot all be given particular mention here. Reduction of Indian Reservatioas. The several Acts of Congress looking to the reduction of the larger Indian reserrations, to the more rapid settlement of she Indians upon individual allotments, and tbs restoration to the public domain of lands fa excess of their neeas, have been largely carried into effect, so far as the work was confided to the Execu­ tive. Agreements have been concluded since March iu 1869, involving tike esssioa to the United States of about 14,798,000 acres of land. These contracts have, as required by law, been submitted to Congress for ratification and for the appropriations neoessary to oarry them into effect. Those with the Bisseton ana Wsbp <ton, Hac and Fox, Iowa, Pottawatomles and Absentee bhawnses and Casur d'Alene tribes have not yet received the sanation Of Congress. A4 mtion is also called to the fact that tbs appropriations made in the ease of tho Sioux Indians have not covered all the stipula­ ted payments. This should be promptly cor­ rected. If an agreement is confirmed, all of its terms should be complied with without delay..' and full appropriations should be made. Affairs In Utah, The increasing numbers and influence of the non-Mormon population in Utah are observed with satisfaction. The recent letter of Wilford Woodruff, President of the Mormon Church, in which he advised his people "to refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the laws of the land," has attracted wide attention, and it is hoped that its influence will be highly bene­ ficial in restraining infractions of the laws of the United States. But the fact should not be overlooked that the doctrine or belief of the church that polygamous marriages are rightful and supported by divine revelation remains unchanged. President Woodruff does not renounce the doctrine, but refrains from teaching It, and advises against the practice of it because the law is against it. Now, it is quite true that the law should not attempt to deal with the faith or belief of any one; but it is quite another thing, and the only safe thing, so to deal with the Territory of Utah as that those who believe polygamy to be rightful shall not have the power to make it lawful. Lands for Settlers. Thepolicy ont inod in my last, annual SMI)* •age in r» lation to the patenting of lands to settlers upoTi the j ublic domain has been car­ ried out in the administration of the Land Of­ fice. No general suspicion or imputat on of fraud has beeu allowed to delay tne hearing and adfudication of individual eases upon their ii erits. The purpose has been to perfect the title of honest settlors with such proinptnc ss that the value of the entry might not be swal­ lowed up by the expenses aud extortions to which deity subjected th«» claimaut. The aver­ age monthly l.ssu® of agricultural patents has been increased about six thousand. The Pension Office, The disability pension act, which was ap­ prover* on the 27th of June last, has toaen put Into operation as rapidly as practicable. The increased clerical force provided was selected and ast-igned to work, and a considerable part of the force engaged in examinations in the field was recalled and added to the working force of the office. The examination and ad­ judication of claims have, by reason of improved methods, been more rapid than ever before. There is no economy to the Gov­ ernment in delay, while there is much hardship and injustice to the soldiers. The anticipated expenditure, while very large, will not, it is be­ lieved, be in excess o* the estimates made be­ fore the enactment of the law. This liberal gen­ eral law should suggest a mora careful scrutiny of bills for special relief, both as to the oases where relief is granted and as to the amount allowed. Useless Public Building Rills. At the last session I had occasion to return with my objections several bills making pro­ visions for the erection of public buildings, for the reason that the expenditures contemplated were, in my opinion, greatly in excess of any public need. No class of legislation is more liable to abuse, or to degenerate into an un­ seemly scramble about the public treasury, than this. 'I hare ahould be exercised in this matter a wise economy based upon some re­ sponsible and impartial examination and report as to each caaa, under a general law. THR JDKPAKTMKNT OF AGRICWLTTOCB. Farmers Prospering. The report of the Secretary of Agriculture de­ serves especial attention iu view of the fact that the year has been marked in a very un­ usual degree by agitation and organization among the farmers looking to an increase in the profits of their business. It will be found that the efforts of the Department have been intelligently and zealously devoted to the pro­ motion of the interests intrusted to its care. A very substantial improvement in the mar­ ket prices of the leading farm products during the year is noticed. The price of wheat ad­ vanced from 81 cents in October, 1B&9, to $1.00*4 in October, 18W; corn from 31 cents to 5054 cents; oats from 19% cents to 43 cents, and bar­ ley from 03 cents to 78 cents. Meats showed a substantial but not so large an increase. The ex­ port trad<? in liv> animals and fowls shows a Very large increa-.e; the total v • lite in such ex­ ports for the year ending June 30, 1890, was S3;i,000,000, and the increase over the preceding year was over $15,000,- 000. Nearly 200,000 more cattle and over 45,00) more hogs were exported than in the preceding year. The export trade in feeef and pork produots and in dairy products wss very largely increased, the increase in the articles of butter alone being from 15,504,978 pounds to 29,- 748,042 pounds, and the total increase in the value of meat and dairy prod­ ucts exported being 334,000,000. This trade, so directly helpful to the farmer, it is be­ lieved will be yet further and very latgely in­ creased when the system of inspection and sanitary supversion now provided by law is brought fully into operation. Protecting Aiuerieaa Maata. The efforts of the Secretary to establish the healthfulness of our meats against the dispar­ aging imputations that have been put upon them abroad have resulted in substan­ tial progress. Veterinary surgeons sent out " •" Dei " _ in tha same month of the iih liabilities diminished by s 153 tion. is ev< for ployei . , any year. *{&», > TN/MXPORTAR r _ Aports -ifefefr 'j&hl oaaffn rtflMI tor ii [on of coal ng from deficient •ffijjgijM ^strtk|»i2 pricei of agricultural produots England's Financial Panto. These proraisftjg influences have beaA in some degree ohecfced ;gy the surprising and »ery un- know that tefd not grow Inattj '" of the financial relations of I*ar people, or any discredit attached ties held in that market. The i bonds and stocks was caused by a geney in England, not by aortas* . credit in thesseustLfe* tJMmsslTes.W* however, wholly steep* he 111 effects <rfa mi on ttary agftatifon aocompantsd by Hush ex­ traordinary injddentp m chaiaiWritod It in not believed, Ikmever, that thsse «*|1 inei- fientsi, which hawfor tho £( wtbivwly ef­ fected Tataes In -tfeis country, can iod&ft with­ stand the strong, safe, aad wholesome jnHu- onces which are operatine to gi-fe to oar people profitable returns in all branches of ls«fUma^c trade and industry. The apprehension that our tariff may again and at once be subjected to Im­ portant general changes would undoubtedly add a depressing influence of the most serious char­ acter. The l>ate Tariff" Act. < The general Tariff act has only partially gone into operation, some of its important provlaons being limited to take effect at dates yet in the future. The general provisions of the law have been In force less tli*n;sixty days. Its perma­ nent effect upon' trade- and prices still largely stand in ci^ecture. It is curi- looalint ^ ̂ _„T. jyt or IS univen „ visw of u^ iNmStiett* I rsfmin ttonftjiat wtwjj^arsrtw*' ycrar attention to 1 - _#WtgT" " ^ those toeasuns seem to nia most important I now briefly call your attention. To l>eVa|op American ft team ship Xiaaa. :i #•!'"».to repeat With added I "90B0V the Commendations contained in my ^stannual n»«»*g» W *ria*|at to tfco dev^dop«mit of American steMnshto lines. The rec&Mor.ity ^Uw»e of tib*123F bill will be largsR lim- ited, and its benefits retarded aid flmin- ishsd, If proviston is hot contemporaneously made to •nep«ri0B &» establishment of first- class atoatta communication between our ports and the ports of such nations as may meat onr overtures for enlarged commorcial oxchanges. The steamahfp car­ rying the mails statedly and frequently, and offering to passenaars a eounbxt&ble, safe, and speedy transit, is the first con­ dition of foreign trade. It carries the order of the buyer, but not all that is ordered or bought. It gives to the sailing vesaels such cargoes as am not urgent or perishable, and, in­ directly at least, promotes that Important ad­ junct of commerce. There ia now both in this country and la the nations of Central and South America a state of expectation ami confidence as to increased trade that will give a double vain* to your prompt action upon thicquastion. Water for Arid Region*. The subject of the conservation and equal distribution of the water supply of the aria re-glons has ha£ much attention from Congrsss, ut has not as yet been put upon a permant nt and satisfactory basis. The urgency of the sub- Westara Robbers Sixty Tears A«a. to note tiiat advance _ In tha by the tfcipate in the insjiection of the live cattle apartment are now allowed to par- methods have been greatly improved. A larse economy in expenditures and an increase of lour and three-quarters millions in re­ ceipts have been realized. The deficiency this year is &>,7>«j,300 as against £6,350.183 last year, i;otwitbatanding the great enlargement of if' i 11 'OUDeB bave been extended and quickened, and greater accur&cv »nfi dia &hdin vraniii"? interest i" m'"r\ wlU be found to be full of interest aud suggestion, not only to ConKress but to tbose thoughtf <1 citizens who may be in- ^ ? what buoineBs methods can do t department of public administration which most nearly touches all our t eople. •*? lite Anti-Lottery Act. The passage of the act to amend certain aec- tiws of the lie vised Statutes relating to lot­ teries, approved eptember 19, 18 >C, has been received with great and deserved popular fav<° 1he I °st ffice IX'partnjent and the Department of Justice at once entered upon the enforce­ ment of the law with sympathetic vitror and already the public mails have bt en largely freed ^ u 1 an^ demoralizing appeals and literature emanating from the lottery com- , THE NAVT. from this country landed at the English docks, and during the several months they have tieen on duty no case of contagious pleuro-pneumonia lias l»een reported. This inspection abroad and the domestic inspection of live animals and jtork products, provided for by the act of August 30,1H90. will afford as per­ fect a guaranty for the wholuHomeiuMs of our meats offered for foreign consumption as is anywhere given to food product, and its non- acceptance will quite clearly reveal the real motive of any continued restriction for their uae • and that having been made clear, the duty of the Executive will be very plain. Beet Sugar Interests. The information given by the Kocretary of the progress and prospects of the beet sugar in­ dustry ia full of interest. It has already passed the experimental stage and is a commercial success. The area over which the sugar beet can be successfully cultivated is very large, and another field crop of great value ia offered to the choice of the farmers. The Secretary of the Treasury concurs in the recommendation of th® Hecr >tary of Agricult­ ure that the official supervision provided by the tariff law for ^ugar of domestic production shall be transferred to the Department of Agri­ culture. Th® law relating to the civil service has, so far as I can learn, been executed by those hav­ ing the power of appointment in tne classified service with fidelity and Impartiality, and the service has been increasingly satisfactory. The report of the commission shows a large amount . of good work done during the year with vary limited appropriations. THK TARIFF AND ITS EFFECTS, $ Congress Congratulated. I congratulate the Congress of the country upon the paaasge at the first session of the Fifty-first Congress of an unusual number of laws of very high importance. That the re- suits of this legislation will be the qutokening and enlargement of our manufacturing indus­ tries, larger aud better markets for our bread- stuffs and provisiona both at home and abroad, more constant employment and better wagea for our working people, and an increased aupply of safe currency for the transaction of bun- nesfc, I do not doubt. Home of these measures were enacted at so late a period. that the bene­ ficial effects upon commerce which were in tha contemplation of Congress have as yet bat partially manifested themselvea. Soine Statistics. The general trade and industrial conditions throughout the country duringtbe year have Shown a marked improvemwat. For many years prior to M» the merchandise balances of foreign trade had been largely in onr favor, but during that year and the year following they turned, against ua. It is ftarg gratifying to know that the last fiaeal yea# Again wowa ~ * gg, fayor of over M^w^oa Tbe ^ . t the £rlces of articles whoHy unaffeetod by the Tarfff act was >y many bastily asotftad to that act. Notice was not taken of the fact that the general tendency of the .markets was upward, from inflnencts wholly apart from the recent tariff legislation. Ilie enlargement of oar cur­ rency by the Silver Bill undoubtedly gave an upward tendency to trade and had a marked ef­ fect, on prices y but this natural and desired ef­ fect of the silver legislation waa by many er­ roneously attributed ta the Tariff acU Knit Have a Fair TriaL There is neither wisdow nor jnstlM In the sngwfetfon that the subject of tiuiff revision shall be owned before this law has bad a fair trial. It 1* quite true that every tariff acheduie la subject to ohjeotions. No btU was ever framed, 1 suppose that in all of its rates and classification had the full approval even of a parly ea CUHL sinee legislation is always aud necessarily the product of compromise as to de'.ai a. end the present law is uo axcep. tkn But in its eeneial scope and effect 1 think i< will jm-ti y"tbe support of thoae who believe that American legislation ahould con­ serve American trade and the wagea of work- ingmen. 'lh miWnfoimation as to ths terms of the act wbieh has been so widely dissen i- nated at home end abroad will be corrected by experience, and the evil aug'iri gas to its re­ sult-, o< nounded by ho ma.k^t r ports, the savings bai.ks, inUiTi al trade balances and the general prosperity of our peop e. Already we begin to near 'from abroad fend from our custom houses that the pro­ hibitory effect upon importations im­ puted to the act is not justified. The imports at the port of New York for the first tbrae weeks of November were nearly 8 percent, greater than for the same period in 1889, and 29 per cant, greats* than in same period of 1888. And so fa* from being an act to limit exports, I confidently believe that under it we shall secure a larger and more profitable participation in foreign tiafe tjha* we have ever enjoyefL and that we shall recover a proportionate particiD*. 4ti> «_1J^ ) *.w enrthin mmnnil ©v« comlttTim dignatioo. ject does not grow out of any largn present demand for the use of these lauds for agriculture, but out of tbe danger that the water supply and the sites for the necessary catch-basins may fall into the hands-of individuals or private corporations and bo used to render subservient the large areas dependent upon such supply. The owner of the water is the owner of the lands, however the titles may run. All unappropriated natural water sources and all neoessary reservoir sites should be held 1 by the Government for the equal use, at fair rates, of the homestead settlers who will eventually take up these lands. The United States should not, in my opinion, undertake the construction of dams or canals, but should limit its work to such surveys and observations as will determine the water supply, both surface and subterranean, the areas capable of irrigation, and the use, location of, and storage capacity of reservoirs. This done, the use of the water and of the reservoir aitea might be granted to the respective States or Territories, or to individuals or associations, upon the condition that the necessary works should be constructed and the water fur­ nished at fair rates, without discrimination, the rates to be sublect to supervision by the Legislatures or by boards of water com­ missioners duly constituted. Tbe essential thing to be secured is the common and equal use at fair rate-) of the accumulated water sup­ ply. It were almost better that these lands should remain arid than that thoae who occupy them ahould become the slaves of unrettti ained monopolies, controlling the essential elepnnttef land values and crop results. ffpiandid New »--^'IT v': ' aaut!a.« < ne V? ves- ! voiams of busimss transacted, for the first thia wi^r^urPmo«Wincd«di^S^1^ j will be added. The const r u c t i o n t h e < r t V r I w ^ ^ w n n f r r n r a S h J r i r & ^ veaaela authorized ia being pasted, b$T&£S 112SmJFS*&SL tion In the ocean carrying trade of the world/ Foreign Criticisms of the Bill. The criticisms of the bill that have come to us from foreign sources may Well tie rejected for repugnancy. If these critics really believe that the adoption ln> us of a free-trade policy, or of tariff ratea' having reference solely to revenue, would diminiah the participation of their own oountriea in the com­ merce of the world, their advocacy and the promotion by speech and other forms of organized effort ot. this movement among our people ia a rare ejchlMUon unselfishness in trade. And on tbeother hand, if they sinoerely believe that the adoption of a protective tariff policy by this country inures to their profit and our hurt, it is nottoaably atranfe that they should lead the outcry against tbe authors of a policy so helpful to their countrymen and crown with their favor those who would snatch from them a substantial share of a trade with other lands, already inadequate to their necessities. There xb no disposition among any of our peo­ ple to promote prohibitory legislation. Our Solicies are adopted not to the hurt of others, ut to secure for ourselves thoae advantages that fairly grow out of ou* favored position as a nation. Our form of government, with its inci­ dent of universal suffrage, makes it imperative that wo shall save our working people from the agitations and distresses which scant work and wages that leave no margin for comfort always beget. But after all this Is done It will be found that our markets are open to .friendly commer­ cial exchanges of cnormons value to other great powers. _______ Wagres of Working; Peopl*, From the time of my induction into offioe, ths duty of using ever*? power and influence given by law to the Executive Department lor the development of larger markets for our prod­ ucts, especially our farm products, has been kept constantly in mind, and no effort has been, or will be, spared to promote that end. We are undw no dfaadraatago in any foreign market except that we pay our workingmen and working women better wages than aro paid el wowhere--better abstractly, bet­ ter relatively to the ooat of the neoessariea of life. I do not doubt that a very largely in­ creased foreign trade ia aooessible to us without bartering for either our home market for such products of the farm and shop as our own peo­ ple can supply or the "wages Of Our working- psopie. Tbs Reciprocity Feature. In many of the products of wood and Iron,' and In meats and breadstuffs, we have advan­ tages that only need better faoilitiea ofinl course and transportation to secure for large foreign markets. The reciproqjljn of the tariff act wisely and effectively o the way to secure a large reclprt; ii irig,» in change for tho free admission to i ports of certain products The right independent nations to make special reciprocal" trade conccssious is well established, ana does not impair either the comity dus to other pow­ ers or what is known as the "favortd nati«n clause" so generally found, in commercial treat­ ies. What is given the one for an adequate agreed consideration caanot be claimed by an­ other freely. The state of the revenues waa such that wo could dispense with any Import duties upon tea, hideH, and tbe lower grades of sugar and molasses. That tbe large advantage resulting to the countries prodnotag and ex­ porting these articles by placing them on the free list entitled ua to expect a fair fcfturn in a way of customs concessiona upon articlea ex­ ported by us to tlitin.was so obvious that to have gratuitously abandoned thia opportunity to en­ large our trade would have been an unpardon­ able error. There were but two methods of maintaining control of thia queatlon open to Congress : To place all of these articles upon the dutiable list, subject to such treaty "" ite could be necured, or to plaoe tfiatn i>ll pres­ ently upon the free list, but aubjoet to the re- Impoaition of specified duties if tb* ooantries from which we received than should re­ fuse to give to us suitable reciprocal benefits. Thia latter method, I think, possesses great advantages. It expresses In advance tho consent of Cougresa to restpvooltr arrange­ ments affecting these producta, waltfb must otherwise have been delayed and unaacertained until each treaty was ratified bylhe Senate and thoneoeaaary legislation enacted by Congress. Experience $as shown that aome treaties look­ ing to reciprocal trade have failed to secure » two-thirda vote in the Senate for ratlfioeti-r<, and others having passed that stage have for years awaited the concurrence of House and Senate in such modifications of onr revenue laws as was necessary to give effect to their provisions. We now have the concurrence of Doth Houses in advance in a distinct and definite offer of free entry to our )K>rts of spe­ cific articles. Tho Executive is not required to deal in conjecturo as to what Congreas will accept. Indeed, this reciprocity pro­ vision is more than an offer. Our part of the bargain is complete; delivery has been mads, and when the countries from which we zeoeive our sugar, coffee, tea and hides have plaeed on their free lista sach of onr prodaels as shall be agreed upon, as an equivalent for our oonoession, a proclamation of that fact completes the transaction, and in the meantime onr own people have free sugar, tea, coffee and hides. LvoMng Farsvard. •The Indications thue far given are very hope, ful Of early and mvorable action by the coun­ tries from which we receive our large 1mporta of ooffee and sugar, and It is confidently be­ lieved that if steam communication with these countries can be promptly improved and so. iMged, tbs next year will .show a most gratify* ing inoraaae in our exports of breadstuffs end provisions, as well as of some Important lines of manufactured goods. Batter Election Lawe. If any intelligent and loyal company of American citizens were required to catalogue the essential human conditions of li e, I do not doubt that with absolute unanimity it would begin with "free and honest elections." And it Is gratifying to know that generally there is a growing and non-partisau demand for better el< ction laws. But against this sign of hope and progress must bo set the depressing and undeniab.e fact that elec ion la.vs and methods are sometimes cunningly contrived to secure minority control, whi © violence com­ pletes tbe shortcomings of fraad. Pass tha Election Law. ' 'In my last annual message I auggfiiiiit' fhst the development of the existing la* providing a Federal supervision of Congressional elec­ tions offered an effective method of reforming these abuses. The need of such a law has .manifested itself in many parts of the country, and its wholesome restraints and penal­ ties will be useful in all. The constitution­ ality of such legislation has been affirmed by the Supreme Court. Its probable effect- iveneas Is evidenced by the character of the opposition that is made to it. It has been denounced as if it were a new exercise of Federal power and an invasion of the rights of the States. Nothing could be further from the truth. Congress has already fixed the time for the election of members of Congress. It has declared that votes for members of Congress must be by written or printed ballots; it has provided for the appointment by the Cir­ cuit Courts in certain oases, and upon the peti­ tion of a certain nnmber of citisens, of election supervisors, and made it their duty to supervise the registratioi- of voters conducted l>y the State officers; to challenge persona offering to register; to personally Inspect and scrut­ inise the registry lista, and to affix their names to the lists for the purpose of identifica­ tion and the prevention of frauds; to attend at elections and remain with the boxes till the votes are all cast and counted; to attach to the registry list and election returns any statement touching the accuracy and fairness of the regis­ try list and election ; and to take and transmit to the Clerk of the House of liepresentatives any evidence of tho fraudulent practices which may be presented to them. Tho same law provides for tbe appointment of Deputy United Htatea Marshals to attend at the polls, Bupport the supervisors in the discharge of their duties and to arrest persons violating the election law. The provisions of this familiar title in the Revised Statutes havs been put to exercise by both the political parties, ana in the North as well us in th§ South, by the filing with the court of the petitions required by Ja-w. It is not, therefore, a question whether shall have a federal election law, for we have one, and have had for nearly twenty yed but whether we shall have an effective" la The present law stops just short of effective cess, for it surrenders to the local s.sthcrij£as all control over the certification wAiich establishes the prima facie y right , to a seat, In the HOUB@ of Kepreseotativf^.« This defsot should be cured. Eqaality at repre­ sentation and the parity of floe electors must be maintained, or everything that $u valuable in our system of government The qual­ ifications of an elector law, not in the opii any class, howi elector ambus! tr nrely it in tbe fears • f .th of the from the Ets of fraud: >t none shall Id be absolutely al. It should give ihesty and the control there is nothing »nt this creed, and if it shall liap- e penalties of laws intended to en- these rights fall hero and not there, is not because the law is sectional, but be­ cause, happily, crime Is local and not universal. Nor should it be forgotten that every law, whether relating to elections or to any other subject, whether enacted by the State or by the nation, has force behind it. Tbe courts, the marshal or constable, the posse oomitatus, the prison, are all and always be­ hind the law. One can not justly be charged with unfriend­ liness to any section or class who seeks only to reatraln violation of law and of personal right. No community will find lawleaaneaa profitable. No community can afford to have it known that the officers who are charged with the preserva­ tion of the public peace and the restraint of the criminal elaaaes aro theinaelvcs the product of fraud or violence. The magistrate i s then with­ out respect and the law without sanction. The floods of lawleaaneaa cannot be leveed and made to run In one channel. The killing of a United States Marshal carrying a writ of arrest for an election offense is full of promptiagaml sugges­ tion to men who are pursued by a City Marshal for a calms against life ana property. But It is said that thia legislation will', revive race animosities, and some have even sug­ gested that when tho peao ful methods of fraud are mads impossible they may be sup­ plemented by intimidation and violence. If the proposed law gives to any qualified elector, by a hair'e weights more than his equal influence, or detract* by so much from any other ijuatth d elector, it ia fatally impeached. But it the law is equal and ths animosities it la to evoke grow out of tbe fact that aome electors have been aocuatomed to exercise the franchise ror others ha well aa for themselvea, then tbeae aaltnosUiee ought' not to be confessed wi.hout shame and cannot be given any weight in the discussion without dishonor. No choice is left to. me but to enforce with vigor all laws intended to secure to the citizen his constitutional rights, and to recommend that the inadequacies of such laws be promptly remedied. . If to promote with zeal and ready interest every project for tho development ol Ita ma­ terial interests, its rivers, harbors, mines and factories, and the intelligence and peace aud security and its homes, Is not accepted as sufficient idence of friendliness to say State or section, I can not add eotraivanoe at election practices &„,v_ aown IM £2 ̂TfHfvftatn MM fstamfctiMf* «a»M»ies togetlisrt* 1m4 , Io^WLSotiMd. m the writer, '"• w WKn «ii -• ramarkabl* for bia ferocious countfliianoe. He had i idfee®!: a deep saber cat across bis «ere diesstid like back­ woods farmers, atid aniiigled ftfeely with tbeWaiea. They "ohsffed" & gotd ****** tbe price of A good many artieies. bnt QOthi&g seetnea to satisiy • * ,Ha^% Biade themwlves ac­ quainted with all tbe boatmen, and cawmaed witli them a good deal, thej at last disappeared. About two mouths after these ruffians had disappeared, the whole country was startled by tbe news that a large eoni}«ny of Kentuokians bad been robbed by a band ol xobbers upon the Naahviiie trace. Shortly after, three gentleman--a tether aud his two eons -started for Kentucky, and when they had got pretty well into the wilderness, they, too, were met and robbed of ©y bad # This escited the be highest pitch of in- They besought Gov. Clai­ borne to bring the power of the Gov­ ernment to bear, and arrest the robbers. He accordingly offered a large reward for them, dead or alive. Great was the merriment made by Mason--that was the bandit's name-- and his men when they read the Gov­ ernor's proclamation. They laughed and ridiculed it. How long he could have defied the authorities no one knows, if there had not been treachery in the band. The old adage that there is honor among thieves did not hold good in this case. One night they were sitting around their blazing camp-fires. They had made a successful raid upon the settlements, and Mason was dis­ tributing the booty. Little Harp crept up behind him, and buried a tomahawk in his head. Mason fell dead. The conspirators then chopped off his head, and brought it to Washington, the seat of Government, and claimed the re­ ward. When it was noised around that the great robber. Mason, was killed, and that his head was in Washington for identification, all the people in the Settlements, far and near, flocked to See it. Many of them recognized it at ©nee, and swote to it. The men who had done the deed were hailed aa pub­ lic here factors. Now, although the Governor had promised a large reward, yet, unfortu­ nately, when he called for the money, it was found that the treasury was empty. Ol course the captors of Mason were delayed in getting their pay. This led to a detection of the conspirators, for it So happened that the old gentleman Snd his two sons, who had been robbed, were among the number who came to look at the robber's head. The moment they laid their eyes on Little Harp they exchanged glances. The father •lipped out, and, in a little while, ap­ peared with an officer. Raising his voice, and pointing 1ns finger at Little Harp, he said: "I charge you, sir, as being one of Mason's band of robbers." Little Harp was seized, and his accom- Elices also. This was almost as start­ing to the crowd aa was the sight of Mason's head. At that time there was a little town in Jefferson County, near Charbley's Fork of Cole's Creek, named Greer ville, in honor of General Natliai^&l Green. This little village was the county seat; thither Littla^iiarp was taken, regularly trie^-arad con­ victed;--he was hung, aild the band of Mason, being deprived oflits most skill­ ful lieutenant, dispersed^iand was never heard of afterward. The story of "Littl^[arp"has already been writteniias, little volume called "Hall's L<gdH||j|e West." It ap­ pears two brothers of that the most daring tested Kentucky.-- by way of distinction, iittle Harp, on account. ... rence iu their size. The "Kentucky had become exas- at their outrages, and determ- to hunt them to the death. The pursuit was carried on with the patience of the sleuth-hound until, at last, they were overtaken. Big Harp was pur­ sued by a gigantic Kentuokian. They had a running fight for hours on horse­ back, until, at last, Harp's horse fell. Then came a hand-to-hand fight. It was a tremendous struggle between these two Western giants, but, at last, Harp fell mortally wounded. He died --his bead was severed from his body, and was stuck on a pole on the cross roads in Kentucky, and the spot was, for a long time, called the "Harp's Head." While the bigger brother was being thus hotly pursued, Little Harp es­ caped, and joined Mason's band. Wealth laaidr a Statue. Pygmalion, the ancient artist, could not be more overjoyed when his statue became transformed into a lovely woman than the heirs of the late Mme. Artaud, who recently died in Paris,when they dis­ covered a considerable fortune carefully hidden away in the interior of a com­ mon plaster of paris reproduction of tbe famous Venus of Milo. The history of the sudden find is curious and enter­ taining, says a Paris letter to the Lou­ don Telegraph. Mme. Artaud died without making a will, and, as she had no notary, her children and grandchil­ dren appealed to a financial adviser of ol the deceased, who used occasionally to put her money out in stock exchange speculations. That the old lady had left a fair share of lucre was certain, and as not a silver or a bank-note could be found anywhere ia her room the heirs camo to the natural conclusion that the financial agent must have been entrusted by Mme. Artaud with her money before she made her exit from the world. The agent de­ clared in the most positive man­ ner that he had received nothing for a long time from Mme. pre&erted iBy ttie family now as sit^ blem of luck and a bappy heirloom. sv:" charity en#' leal 1. »el>iy||y,-ppsjg In view of Ii# that is often aud the scant f.pontanedus exp«adit#teof „.. . ^ _ , half of the poor^oeoMdsBslly »jwei*e< tbe following example of litigation i« 4 somewhat instructive. ^ 1, < ^ In the Supreme wurt of New Zmv in­ land, a few weeks ago, an action Was j * / brought against the South Cantsrtmtjr Hospital by the father of a child sup* • « P«ed to have been inMred through Ibb - ; aeglect of the hospitai lxMted. The in- fsut> aged seven mouths, though too youag for anmissien, waa taken in as • i matter of necessity. So none could be spared for its nudtlsî ari'̂ are. UmmkY, >1 therefore, wi&k the mother's sanction, . intnuted to a yownr. riitM^alesoettfc v tient. Through some neglsei on the ' part of the latter. the infant wis sealded by a steam kettle, not very severely* j and recovered. The accident was thus*.. - as the presiding judge remarked, one '*>. such as might occur in any household in the course of treatment, and, for wliiclr the hospital board obviously could noli be held responsible. Judgment waf X" therefore given for the defendants, with;' - costs, and a sound rating, which was undoubtedly well deserved, was admin­ istered to the i.»lnintiff along wifh ths 3 verdict. • •' * • Cases of tliis kind carry their lessons^; The base ingratitude which they di**1 i close in the recipients of much kind eft*; 1 fort and skill freely extended, beeause|V. forsooth, an accident has marred ths. * course of recovery, calls for the severest condemnation. It is evident that in the minds of such persons charity is"-,, , never genuine unless it can be made al ; ,- irksome and unpalatable as possible t# J / the bestower. In view of possible cot* tingencies like the above, it might bs - well for hospital authorities to n insHnf f v whether they ought not, after tbe maor'v:. f ner of some trading companies disolainr all liability for accidental injury to par tieats who may be placed in their care, Aamour Flares. In dixcusfeing the relative value of competing armor plating for ships of war, The English Mechanic and World of Science says: The results of the armor plate com­ petition just decided in America very surprising. The Cammell com-j pound plate is said to have been stroyed by being fired at by a si gun. The thickness of the ten and a half incnes. • A French nickel-steel plate, intg three and a half per cent. is laid to have resisted mar Until further details are to" failqre of the compound plate^ to remain a mystery, as a pla lar tmckness tested withj gun ooLthe Nettle by our ties give astonishingly g< better t(ian had ever beeu any French or other firm, >rted is ̂ in continued with , firing a 210-pound tits seem to prove/ ;;<= the superiority of the steel plates. The||lt/| shell cracked the Creusot all-steel plate, the projectile being broken int<*-- ,„f- threo pieces; the projectile penetrated^, , ^ the nicklo-steel plate, which remained-*' intact, the projectile remaining in tha.^\-i hole; and the Cammell compound^" [.X plate was smashed, almost the whole of its three-inch steel plating being car*':' 1 ried away from the iron backing, thet projectile going through the iron back- ing and the oak suppor t s , and then . -> • through twelve feet of molded earth be-' hind. These tests will cause the Navy;' Department to adopt nickel-eteel armor for the new battleships. , A Bravo Western Woman. In the backwoods of Baker Biver lives '""X'; the bravest, most industrious and most .. v courageous 1fttie lady in Skagit County. • X Her husband is a mas of limited mesas, and often has to leave home to earn <V means to support them while they are Y' X' improving their home. This being the* t'.X first year their place is not self-sustain-. , ing, and iu such cases his wife stays at: " X*-- home entirely alone. All the company s h e has i s a Winches ter r i f l e and a -** fX three-pound axe. Every morning after she does her housework she takes hei ; three-pound ax aud goes to clearing, £:<Mj chopping, and burning brush. She is determined to have a self-sustaining,1 and profitable homeland when her hns-^^^ band is at home she shoulders her axs-XX"; aud goes to the clearing with him in^^f^ spite of his protests against it. She "XSX- says she can chop to the heart of a tree p nearly as quickly as he can. This lady' weighs only 106 pounds, but she has a s ton of ambition and staying qualities. She was rocked in the cradle of ease, raised in the lap of luxury, is well edu- cated, and the life she is now living is ; entirely foreign to her. She has hadj'.-»w« no experience in roughing it, but she is XX„^; • not one of the kind that sits and whines over past lore. She has strong arms, a, ^ brave heart, and a willing mind, and is '*4 determined to surmount the worst diffi* jXX^ culties and reap a reward.--La Conner X (Oregon) Mail prism mu- rim :> S't"i K Was Willi ng; to Accept Heepltollty. She was a very deaf old lady and t brought an action for damages against ." a neighbor, and was being examined when tbe Judge suggested a compromise COMlSI«i IdSOiMtATlOH. Work that QemaUie l# B» Done. Ia addition to Uio InUntttant bUls that b*. . . v.4- a l°ng time from Mme. Artaud, ESS!"' SL' VS ÎSIIOSSMUS »h°. '<»»'.(! her end .t hwd, g>v. up ' bourse speculations. - , ,TlliVlld ^Vfisfy the heirs, who that not only disturb local results but rob the plum ply accused the agent of having f : ̂ **M|r j*ppr<n>riated what did not belong to I him, but as they had no proofs against Appropriation Bills. ! him they were unable to begin legal ?aUon ?f Pf ceedings. Thev accordingly ^et to bills thould be conducted with the greatest care _,nri. .1 ,).„ f„,.„ and closest scrutiny of expenditures. Appro- «l*iue tne fui tiiture ud general priatioisK siiould be adequate to tha n. eds 01 the belongings of the deceased between ?^U4m^rMi^Ut^ey Bb°U *tSoiutely them. The diuiug-n om and salon I venture again to remind you that the brief ' chairs, table , and trappings were iu fer^S^tbnowT^^%w ea® empire stvie, and worth irom £300 to ten tion off era no and instructed her oouneel to to ask her what she would take to settle the matter. "What will yon take, madam?" asked » her lawyer. She shook her head at the counsel t, and informed the jury in confidence that she was very hard o' hearing. "His Honor wants to know what yon will take ?" asked the learned counsel again, this time bawling as loud as he > * ̂ could in the old lady's ear. ^ •"? "I thank His Honor kindly,* said the * :V ancient dame, "and if it's no trouble to • him I'll take a little hot brandy and \' vX water. frj* $ ; Something Worth Koowlngi, ' Following is a copy of the contentrfcf receiv«d by the New York Wor/d the other day: "Pleas© insert the paragraph in your newspaper, it ^ has never yet appeared in print. It * will be appropriate to insert it under general minug your at- " ., "r --. "ji," : ?ollT. ?eneral news head: Lillian for waste, if £4M), but as it would be impoaaibie to; Leslie, the great Southern ladv writni- « t o i ^ S d S r S ^ M l ^ H u o b t a m m o r e t h a n h a l f t h e i r v a l u e t b e o f A t l a n t a , A l a . , i s t h e o n l y p e r s o n i n Oantamn may beMwAdiptt|r aabmittad to tha disewa^ent among 1 he heirs increased, j the world who reads a ohapter in the 1 »wAr6,e judgment j A lottery of the eiiects having teen or-1 Bible and eomments on it every niftht mwmvK mjrnmmwS^Sm. l*wUesd, an old statue represeetNrthej before she rstirss." y% \ -