WILLBE NO DEFICIT.
democratic screams about
THE FAILURE UNFOUNDED.
Tta« Formal “Estimate" of tfao Secretary
of War Show* an Apparent, Deficit
for 1898 of •91,000,000, bat the Facte
Poiat to a Probable Sarplue In That
Tear of ■30,000,000.
Washington, D. C., December, 1897.
“And hereafter the secretary of war
shall annually submit estimates In de
tail for river and harbor Improvements
required for the ensuing fiscal year,
to the secretary of the treasury, to be
included In and carried into the sum
total of the book of estimates." From
the sundry civil appropriation act for
the fiscal year 1897.
The above quotation from the last
sundry civil appropriation bill as it
became a law and stands upon the
statute books, explains the apparent
prospect of a deficit In the fiscal year
which is to begin July 1st of next
year. '
A good deal of professed distress has
been manifested in certain quarters
over the figures of the report of the
secretary of the treasury which indi
cate a deficit in the next fiscal year.
The people indulging in these evi
dences of distress will perhaps be
gratified to know that the apparent
deficit Is only apparent, and that the
figures when considered In light of the
paragraph quoted above, warrant the
assertion that the fiscal year begin
ning July 1st, 1898, will show a sur
plus of 830,000,000, instead of a deficit
of $21,000,000.
The explanation of the apparent de
ficit is found in a single line on page
12 of the secretary’s report. It is aa
follows:
"Public works, war department, $63,
400,409.81.”
The above is the formal "cstlmato”
' for river and harbor Improvements In
.the fiscal year In question now re
quired by the paragraph quoted at the
beginning of this dispatch, to be in
serted In the annual estimates sent
•to Congress by the secretary of the
.treasury. Prior to the adoption of
this new requirement the secretary of
war'made his estimates of the amount
requlred for the river and harbor Im
provement upon the judgment of the
chief of engineers. Now he Is required
Ito Insert In the annual estimates ev
ery 'dollar that any and every subor
;dlnate-*fflcer In charge of .the various
Improvements the country ever may
jchoqfltotaame as the amount that can
jbe "pragtably expended” during ihe
.coming fiscal year.
| Everybody familiar with the reports
<c* the Officers In charge of river and
jbarbor works knows that It Is the hn
jbtt to recommend the appropriation of
jlargq sums, usually two or three times
as much as Is expected to be obtained,.,
fcfr the “Vrorks of which they are iu
charge. ’ * This custom magnifies to a
certain degree the apparent importance
of the work of which the officer in
question Is In chargo, makes him ex
tremely'popular with the people of ihe
city or Ideality In which the work is
(being cagTed on, and where ho usually
.resides during the prograss of the
.work' Itself, and Is looked upon as a
Charmless way of pleasing the surround
ing public and making the official in
question both popular and his duties
^apparently important. The result is
Tthat Is has been the habit of the war
department for many years to reduce
.to about one-third of their dimensions
jthe estimates made by these subordin
ate officers.
{ An example of this may be found
in the total estimates for river and
lharbor works as sent to congress in
December, 1891, to cover the expendi
tures of the fiscal year 1893, in which
.the secretary recommends an appro
priation. of $13,208,393 for river and
harbor, wtjyks. On the very same
.page' however, began a lengthy table
which gave the detailed estimates pre
sented for the various riveri and har
bors, the total of these figures being
$52,489,950. That table was preceded
;by the following note:
| “Diver and harbor, showing the
Amount that can be profitably expended
tin the next fiscal year—The following
statement is not furnished as a part
of the annual estimates for the public
service required by the act of March
;3, U75, to be presented by the secre
tary of war to the secretary of the
.treasury, but Is inserted as a conveni
ent «nd oustomary summary of items
taken from the annual report of the.
chief of engineers for the fiscal year
1891, showing under the provision of
the act of congress approved March
Z, 1867, the amount that can be profit
•i‘ ably expended In the next fiscal year
on each of the works mentioned.”
In the above case it will be seen that
the figures covering the “amount that
can be profitably expended In the next
fiscal year” were $52,489,954, while the
amount that was actually estimated
was $13,208,293. Tho result was that
the total estimates in that year as they
went to congress obtained for river
and harbor improvement only the con
densed item of $13,208,393, instead of
the elaborate estimate of “profitable
expenditures" amounting to $52,489,
950. This has been the annual cus
tom for many years to put into the es
timates simply the amount which in
the judgment of the war department
should be expended. This year, how
ever, tho new law enacted by last con
gress compels tho secretary to put in
to the annual estimates the entire 3um
named in these statements of the
“amount that can be profitably expend
ed In the next fiscal year.” The re
sult is that the sum “estimated” for
the river and harbor works alone in
the next fiscal year is $65,400,409.81,
while nobody expects that tho appro
priations will be more than one-third
of this sum.
Since the figures of the secretary of
the treasury, including the $65,400,
409.81 for river and harbor works, on
ly estimate a deficit of $21,647,885, and
since it is absolutely certain that the
actual expenditures for rivers and
harbors will fall nearly or quite $49,
000,000 below tho enforced estimate, it
Is quite apparent that tho actual ap
propriations for the fiscal year will be
$20,000,000 less than tho estimated re
ceipts, instead of $20,000,000 more, as
would appear, in the absence of the
explanation offered by this new re
quirement of the law.
GEORGE WILLIAMS.
Sowing.
i
i
Reaping.
r~y, »
T.-t r i l1 i n t .1 i'i.i.h
Reciprocity Prospect*.
The Dingle? law Is only about (our
months old. It has not had time to
Justify Itself as a revenue producer,
owing to the heavy anticipatory Im
ports during the time that congress
was giving It final Bhape, but Its pro
visions have been clear from the day
it was signed by the president, and
foreign countries are fully advised as
to Its bearing and significance. Is
there a single sign of a tariff war
against tho United States on the hor
izon? Is there not, on the contrary,
a sign,of commercial good will in every
direction? Foreign governments are
pitting the same high value on our
markets that we ourselves In the
Dlngley law have -put upon them, in
stead of making war on us, they are
making overtures to trade with us on
terms of mutual benefit. The reci
procity clause of tho new law prom
ises to be one of the most useful fea
tures. Great Britain Invokes it in the
Interests of her possessions in the
West Indies. Sir Wilfrid Laurler Is
now in Washington willing to discuss
terms for Increased trade between
Canada and the United States. France
desires to negotiate a reciprocity treaty
and Peru does also. It Is not too much
to say. Indeed, that the United States
has only to show a willingness on the
subject to extend her trade by means
of reciprocity on advantageous terms
In nearly any direction.—Washington
“Star.”
&!;♦.
THE PERSONAL EFFECT8 CLAUSE.
■
Ma&iAu* Tourist (before July 24.
i&ft \ “HKi It Call; there Is no duty
V to My. afcA 1 woe't hare to buy any
thin* at house for the best two years.”
vr • '< v
£ : ;
v- V "
Returning Tourist (after July 24,
1887): "No, sir; not this time, 1*11
wait till I get back to America, where
the finest and the best fitting clothes
to Um sk:1 &rs nade."
REPUBLICAN OPINION.
A good deal of distress has been felt
in the mind3 of democratic editors for
the past f?w days over the fact that
j the estimates of the treasury depart*
meat sent to congress at the opening ct
the session indicate an apparent de
ficit of $21,647,885 during the fiscal year
which ends June 30, 1899. It Is proper,
to say, with reference to this estimate,
that a recently enacted law requires
the war department to put into its esti
mate for the expenditures of the com
ing year all estimates made by subor
dinate officers of needed expendlturfs
upon the river and harbor works where
they are employed. The result of this
is that the estimates for river and har
bor improvements alone amounted to
$65,400,409.00, which, of course, is from
forty to fifty million dollars more than
will be appropriated for that purpose.
Notwithstanding the fact that these
figures were excessive, the treasury de
partment was compelled under the law
to Include them in its so-called esti
mates, knowing full well they were
absolutely excessive, and that the ap
propriation for this work would fall
probably $50,000,0uu below the flgur«
named. These circumstances account
for the fact that the official figures es
timate an apparent deficit of $21,000,
000, when, In fact, It Is expected that
there will be a surplus of at least that
amount In the year In question.
President McKinley Is still hopeful
of definite and valuable results from
the efforts in behalf of international
bimetallism which were inaugurated
by the Republican party immediately
following his election. In his message
he discusses briefly the work of the
commission sent abroad for that pur
pose, expresses gratification that our
great sister republic of France was
willing to join with this country in an
attempt to bring about an agreement
upon this subject, and closes his dis
cussion of this question by saying that
he has still reason to hope that the la
bqps of this commission "may result in
an international agreement which will
bring about recognition of both gold
and silver money upon such terms and
with such safeguards as will secure the
uso of both metals upon a basis which
will work no injustice to any class of
our citizens.”
President McKinley speaks in hope
ful terms, in his message, of the pros
pects regarding reciprocity treaties
with European and American coun
tries. He expresses the belief that “by
a careful exercise of the powers con
ferred by the recent tariff act some
grievances of our own and other coun
tries, in our mutual trade relations,
may be either removed or largely elim
inated and the volume of our commer
cial exchanges enlarged with advan
tage to both contracting parties.”
“The recent victory of the fuslonlsts
in Nebraska,” said Editor Edward
Rosewater of the Omaha Bee, “was In
no sense a victory for Bryanism. It
was a protest of the voters against the
disgraceful boodlerism that had char
acterized stato and municipal officials
who happened to be Republicans. The
state treasurer, the state auditor and
the city treasurer of Omaha had all
been guilty of purloining tho public
funds, and the Republican party had
to suffer for their sins.
“The voters thought that the best
way to rebuke such conduct was to de
feat the party to which these men be
longed, and there was no thought of
any other issue. Mr. Bryan, of course,
claims the fusion success as a personal
triumph, but those who know the real
conditions in Nebraska laugh at his
pretensions. The Republican party has
undergone its ordeal, and henceforth
it will push to the fore. The people of
Nebraska are with it on all the leading
questions, and It is certain to come
back into power.”
sainco protection is ordained to stand
as our national policy for an indefinite
period, will our free tradg contempo
raries contend that the tailors and
other makers of and dealers in gar
ments, are less entitled to share the
benefits of that policy than their fel
low-citizens engaged in other kinds of
business? Is there any more reason
why A should bring in a year’s stock
of clothing for himself and family free
of duty than for permitting B to bring
In an Importation of wlneB, olive oil,
cheese, or pickles?
The free trade newspapers are sneer
ing at the small amount of revenue
collected under this clause of the tar
iff. The Springfield Republican, for
instance, says: “Some $74,200 in cus
toms duties was collected during Oc
tober on the personal baggage of re
turning American travelers who land
ed at New York. At this rate the
yearly revenue from that source would
| be less than $900,000, against Mr.
Dingley’s estimate of $10,000,000.’’
Well, a yearly revenue of $900,000 is
by no means a contemptible item. But
that, considerable as it is at a time
when revenues are behind expenditures
is no gauge of the effect of that tax.
There is every reason to believe that
but for the personal baggage tax many
millions’ worth of goods would have
been brought home In trunks, free of
duty, that have come and will con
tinue to come as freight. This is '.he
chief benefit of that provision. It
subjects to the duties imposed the
vast amount of wearing apparel that
under previous tariffs escaped taxa
tion.—Washington Post.
Ho* ■ Bod Showing.
The customs collections at the port
of San Francisco for the month of Oc
tober were $432,167, or $140,000 more
than they were in September. Not a
bad showing for the third month of
, the Ding ley Bilk
DAIRY AND POULTRY.
INTERESTING CHAPTERS FOR
OUR RURAL READERS.
How Successful Farmers Operate This
Department of the Farm-’-A Few
Hints as to the Care of Lire Stock
and Poultry.
Experiments tVIth Poultry.
ORTH DAKOTA
Experiment Station
report: January 1,
1896, we began a
series of experi
ments to detcr
| mine, if possible,
what effect, if any.
heating the poul
try house would
have upon the pro
- auction oi
and the food requirements. On De
ceiuuer l, we yui. iuuj-oja
chickens, including several varie
ties of birds into the poultry
house. The weather at that time was
quite warm and they were fed per day
five pounds of feed in the morning and
two pounds in the evening, the morn
ing feed being table scraps, such as
meat, pieces of bread, boiled and fried
potatoes, and such material as usually
comes from a boarding table. Their
ration of grain consisted of wheat
screenings, which was composed prin
cipally of' small berries of wheat and
cracked wheat. As the weather got
colder, their food gradually increased
until they took on the 31st day of De
cember eleven and three-fourths
pounds of scraps in the morning, and
eleven and a half pounds of wheat in
the evening. During the month of
January the feed ration remained
about the same. January 20 a large
stovq was put into the house, and a
fire started with lignite coal. On the
31st of January the feed had decreas
ed to six pounds in the morning and
eight and three-fourths in the even
ing. The last of March four and a halt
pounds mornings and four and three
fourths evenings. The total amount of
fuel burned from the 20th of January
to the 1st of April cost $4.50. During
the month of January previous to the
use of the stove, the average number
of eggs per day was 2%, the remain
ing of the month from the 21st to the
end, it was 6 3-11, showing the influ
ence thqt heat exerted upon the pro
duction of eggs. The question natur
ally arises, can the farmer, under the
conditions existing on the ordinary
farm, afford to take care of his poultry
by furnishing artificial heat? An ex
amination of the above figures shows
that but half the food is consumed,
and that the egg production is more
than doubled. With eggs worth 25
cents per dozen at this season of the
year and food at the ordinary prices,
it should seem to me that it would
not only be economy to heat the poul
try house, but would be a source of
great profit, especially after arrange
ments had once been completed, so
that it would require but little extra
work.
Feeding for Eggs.—That food has aa
much to do with the egg production as
it has with beef or butter, there is but
little question. We placed two pens of
fowls, under exactly the same condi
tions, as far as the temperature, room
and care were concerned, but fed them
with an entirely different object in
▼lew. One pen we wished for breed
ing purposes and did not want them to
lay until the breeding season opened,
so that we can get a more steady egg
production than if they were made to
lay during the entire winter. The
other pen it was not Intended to use at
all for breeders, but to produce the
greatest number of eggs possible, at
the time of year when they would
bring the highest price. During the
month of December, 1895,the pen which
was intended for laying experiment,
contained nineteen pullets, and the
one intended for breeding purposes
contained sixteen pullets. During this
month the laying pen laid sixty-three
eggs, the non-laying pen no eggs. Dur
ing the month of January the laying
pen 124 eggs, the nonlaying pen seven
eggs. During the month of February,
the laying pen 109 eggs and the non
laying pen twelve eggs. During the
month of March the laying pen 16S
and the non-laying pen forty-three.
During the month of April, the laying
pen 129, and the non-laying 189.
We began the last of March to get
our breeding pen, which has been so
far designated as the “non-laying pen,"
into good laying trim, with the results
as above stated. From this time on^
the breeders, although less in number
than the other pen, laid a great many
more eggs. For the month of May the
laying pen laid 142 eggs, the non-lay
ing pen 381 eggs. The method of feed
ing that was employed to bring this
about was substantially as follows:
The morning feed for those which
were Intended to produce eggs consist
ed of boiled lean meat, scraps from the
table, the fat having been removed,
wheat screenings, with constant drink
ing water. For the evening feed, wheat
screenings what they wanted to eat,
mixed with corn twice per week.
Those which were not intended for
producing eggs were fed on wheat
screenings of poorer quality with corn.
These gradually Increased in weight
until they had the appearance of being
over-fat. This pen, although not put to
laying until the 1st of April, averaged
150% eggs per hen during the season.
They were pure bred Plymouth
Rocks. The other which was put to
laying during the entire winter aver
aged 153 eggs per hen. The average
price of the eggs was 18 cents per
doxen. The average price of those
which did not begin until April 1 was
11% cents per doien, at regular mar
ket prices. This shows a marked dif
ference in the average price, due prin
cipally to the high price of eggs dar
ing the months of December, January,
February and the for part of Varch.
Care of Covi at Calvin*
A critical time In the cow’s existence
is at her periodical calving time. This
porlod is the culmination of a season’s
devotion to the growth and develop
ment of her young and, incidentally,
making preparation for milk giving.
In her natural state, the cow feeds her
calf a short time only, so that it is
early taught to be self-reliant. This is
necessary, since if the calf were to de
pend upon the dam for sustenance long,
in colder latitudes at least, winter
would prove too severe for it. The
aim of man in domesticating the cow
for his use has been to lengthen the
milking period against the cow’s habit
of reducing her flow of milk after be
coming pregnant again. And his greed
for a long milking period in dairy
cows, especially, has entailed disease
upon the cow and a weakened consti
tution in her offspring. Now, with a
steadily Increasing population without
a corresponding increase in the num
ber of cows in the United States, it
seems reasonable that it will not only
pay to take good care of the cow, but to
care for her in such a manner as to
enable her to give birth to a robust,
vigorous calf. In order that all this
may be brought about, the cow should
have a respite from milking of two
or three months before the next calf is
born. From the writer’s personal ex
perience and observation, there is rea
son to believe that the cow which goes
dry for sixty or ninety days before
calving will make equally good returns
for food and care as one that is milked
to within a month of .parturition.
wun ul nua-iaciaiion
the cow should be fed good, nutritious
food; and with most animals it is de
sirable that even a half-fat condition be
reached before the calf is born. A cow
in which the maternal instinct of milk
giving is well developed draws upon
this store of fat to augment her yield.
And it is pretty good evidence of qual
ity in cows when they fall away in
Uesh while giving milk—provided they
are fairly and generously fed. As ma-i
turlty approaches the cow's physical
condition should be closely watched
A properly fed and well-treated cow
seldom fails to "do well" at calving’
time. Cows fed largely on corn or such,
carbonaceous foods are apt to be fev
erish or constipated. This must be
avoided or overcome by the best means
possible. Oats or bran are foods which
will bring about a las condition of the
bowels and largely help to avoid the
complications Incident to calving. Ep
som salts or glauber salts should be
among the medical stores of every well
regulated farm. A pound of either of
these salts dissolved in water and given
as a drench soon before this event will
have a cooling effect on the system. Yet
it has been observed the same quantity
given in, say, two ounce doses daily
in a bran slop, for a week or so pre
viously will have equally, if not bet
ter, effects. One reason for which is
that this detail would ensure closer
observation of individual condition.
Every farm ought to have a place
where a cow about to calve may be
turned into in anticipation of this in,
teresting event. And she should be put
there long enough beforehand that she
may become accustomed to her quar
ters before the calf is born. It is an
inhumane way of treating a brute,
even, to let a cow endure the pangs of
labor while confined by a rigid stanch
eon. Usually, the calf is delivered
without assistance of the attendant, yet
it is always desirable that help be
given if needed; and when such is re
quired, be deliberate and patient in so
doing. After the calf is born give the
cow a thin bran slop, which may be
repeated until the cow has had enough
to quench her thirst. If the afterbirth
is not expelled within an hour or so
give her a pailful of dry whole oats.
This quantity of grain will not injure
the cow and seems to act favorably to
the desired end. The calf may be left
with its mother during the period when
the milk is unfit for use except as de
signed by nature. To strip the cow at
this time is to unduly excite the mam
mary glands and often conduces to an
increased feverish condition of the ud
der. It is well, however, to have the
quarters emptied uniformly; else trou
ble of another kind may result. The
cow’s food for a week or ten days
should be of a light character, after
which the food may be gradually in
creased. Cows treated in a rational
manner are not likely to be victims
of milk fever, and the plan here out
lined will go far toward insuring valua
ble stock from this dread disease.
Water for Poultry In Winter.
The subject of how to water the poul
try In winter is worthy the best
thought of the poultry keeper. If the
house be warm and the weather mild
water will stand for some time with
out freezing and if the birds are wa
tered twice a day they will probably
get all the water needed. We have
known houses that were so warmly
built .that water would not freeze In
the coldest weather,; but there are few
houses of that kind. Most of them are
of single thickness of boards, and
through these the cold soon penetrates./
There are upon the market different,
kinds of water heaters, which prob
ably are quite effective in keeping the
water at a temperature above freezing.
But most of our farmers will hardly^
care to Invest. Taking all things to-'
gether, the best means for watering
fowls in cold weather is to use water'
that is as hot as they can drink with
comfort and taking it away by the time
it has cooled sufficiently to freeze. Wa
tering them in this way twice a day
will probably give all the water neces
sary, but we do not consider it the
best, as we believe the hen should
have constant access to water.
Some Hog Feeds.—Do not make a
hog eat a bushel of filth in order to
get a bushel of grain. A clean feeding
flour is not difficult to have, and your
grain will go further and the health of
your hogs will be better for having it.
Neither is dishwater a very hearty
food, and must never be made to take
the place of fresh, clean water.—Ex.
Scrofula and
All other blood
Diseases are promptly
And Permanently Cured
By Hood’s Sarsaparilla.
If you suffer from
Any form of Blood
Disorder, you should \ '
Inventor, at the Traat-Mluiutppl Eip»
■Itlon.
Take Hood’s and
Only Hood’s.'
The United States Patent Office will
expend $20,000 in making a display of
models at the Trans-Mississippi and
International Exposition, to be held at
Omaha from June to November, 189&,
To bring this exhibit up to date. In
ventors will be invited to exhibit
their meritorious inventions, and in
this connection, Inventor Thomas A.
Edison has pledged himself to mako
an exhibit of one of his latest inven
tions. Inventors having models of ^
clever inventions, should address
Sues & Co., Patent Experts, Omaha,
in charge of the section of inventions,
for free information.
The monument which the members
of the “Iron Brigade” will erect to
the memory of General John Gibbon
in the Arlington cemetery across the
Potomac from the national capital
Is rapidly nearing completion. A
bas-relief of General Gibbon appears
on the front of the granite and ths
whole will be one of the handsomest
monuments in the cemetery.
, FARMER'S HARDY FEED COOKER.
iWe desire to call our readers’ atten
tion to the Farmer’s Handy Feed
Cooker, which is sold at the low price
of $12.50 for 50 gallon capacity
By feeding poultry and stock with
cooked food during the winter months.,
kt least one-third of the food Is saved^
also having stock in a healthy condi
tion, preventing hog cholera among
your hogs, and insuring the hens lay
ing freely during the winter months
when eggs are always wanted at high
prices. This Cooker will pay for itself
in one week’s time and is without
doubt the best and cheapest on the
market—just what its name implies, &
Farmer’s Handy Feed Cooker. Upon
application to the Empire Manufactur
ing Co., C15 H street. Quincy, 111., a cat
alogue. giving a full description, may
be obtained. They are made in all sizes.
Diggs—They say that it is lawful
for a man to gamble his wife away in
Siam. Biggs—A law like that would
be of no benefit in this country. Diggs
—Why not? Biggs—It wodld be im
possible to find a man to take the bet.
Do You Dance To-Night?
Shake into your Shoes Allen’s Foot
Ease, a powder for the feet. It makes
tight or New Shoes feel Easy. Cures
Corns, Bunions, Chilblains and Sweat
ing Feet. At all Druggists and Shoo
Stores, 25c. Sample sent FREE. Ad
dress, Allen S. Olmsted..LeRoy, N. Y.
Recent Insurance statistics show
that if tbe wife dies first the feusband
on an average survives nine years,
while if the husband dle3 first tho
wife survives eleven years.
TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAT.
Take Laxative Dromo Quinine Tablets. AS
Druggists refund the money if it falls to cure. 256
Ruskin’s sixty-four books bring hint
in $20,000 a year.
- . NN
Man is creation’s masterpiece'! But
who says so? Man! •' - *
Smoke Sledge Cigarettes, 20 for 5 eta.
Swinburne, who writes very little,
makes $5,000 a year by his poems.
In Greenland potatoes never got
larger than marbles.
Go to your grocer to-day
and get a 15c. package of
Grain-0
It takes the place of co£>
fee at £ the cost.
Made from pure grains it
is nourishing and health
ful.
Insist that roar grocer gives yon
Aooept no imitation. r-. .f
GRAJN-O.
PENSIONS
Get your PettsHw
DOUBLE QUICK
Write C APT. O’FARRELL, Pension Agent,
1423 New York Avenne. WA5HINQT0N, D.C.
When Answering Advertisements Kindly
Hetties This Taper.