REVENUE BILL–54th Congress—Continued. On Feb. 13, 1896, the Senate refused to consider the substitute, by a vote of 29 nays to 21 yeas. Four Republicans, Carter (Mont.), Dubois (Idaho), Mantle (Mont.), and Teller (Colo.), voted with the Democrats and Populists to prevent consideration. On Feb. 25, 1896, the Democrats, with the aid of five Republicans, Cannon, Carter, Dubois, Mantle, and Teller prevented consideration, the vote being 33 nays to 22 yeas. The bill was before the Senate Mar. 13 and 16, also April 9, for the purpose of allowing remarks to be made. The session closed without further action being taken. The bill failed by the combined opposition of the free-silver Republicans with the Democrats and Populists. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES-Under Arthur, Cleveland, and Harrison Compared. No. 326. Condition of Treasury for the four-year periods ending March 1, 1885, March 1, 1889, and March 1, 1893. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES-Continued. Cleveland, for the years 1893, 1894, and 1895, makes the following The comparative statement of the Treasury Department for the fiscal year closing June 30, 1896, shows the total receipts from all sources during the fiscal year just closed to have been $326,189,226, and the expenditures, $352,231,470, which leaves a deficit for the year of $26,042,244. Although there was a surplus for June of $2,349,430, it is expected that the figures for July will show a deficit of at least $10,000,000, and probably more. The appropriation of $5,000,000 for sugar bounty payments is now available, and it is the expectation that all the claims will have been settled and paid before the end of the month. During July the payments on account of interest, pensions, and naval appropriations will be exceptionally large, so that the deficit for the month is likely to be above $10,000,000 rather than less. EXCESS OF EXPENDITURES. The excess of expenditures over receipts since January 1, 1893, aggregate $140,635,123, which is divided as follows: Last half of fiscal year 1893, $1,984,396; fiscal year 1894, $69,803,260; fiscal year 1895, $42,805,223; fiscal year 1896, $26,042,244. FUTURE OFFERS NO ENCOURAGEMENT. The showing for the year is far from satisfactory to the Treasury officials, and what is equally as disquieting is the fact that the immediate future promises nothing better. The receipts from internal revenue during the year amounted to $146,508,264, nearly $11,500,000 less than the Secretary's estimate sent to Congress. The customs yielded $160,534,351, or $11,465,649 less than the Secretary's estimate. The total receipts for the year, however, show a gain of about $12,800,000 over 1895. The customs increased about $8,250,000, the internal revenues about $3,000,000. The receipts from miscellaneous sources make up the balance. No. 328. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES, Receipts and expenditures, first twenty-two months of Wilson law, showing deficiency in revenues. No. 329. REVENUE-Receipts of. Total Treasury receipts first twenty-two months of Wilson law compared with first twenty-two months of McKinley law. Production, 1893, in United States..pounds.. 237,546,900 Importations dutiable, 1893.... Importations free of duty, 1893. Value, imported in 1893.. Duty collected in 1893.. ..do.... 72,558,144 .do.... 8,473,800 $2,354,586 $1,184,454 Per capita consumption in Italy. .....do.... The duty under the old law was 75.69 average ad valorem. 13.7 3084 RUSSIA. No. 331. In Russia the nominal standard is silver, but paper is the actual standard, measured by gold; the monetary unit is the ruble; the value in United States coin is gold, $0.77.2; silver, $0.49.1. The coins are gold, imperial ($7.71.8) and half imperial ($3.86); silver: quarter, half, and one ruble. The ratio of gold to silver is 1 of gold to 151⁄2 of silver, or 1 of gold to 15 of limited-tender silver. The old law fixed a duty of 8 cents in bulk and 12 cents in packages per 100 pounds. The new law places all salt on the free list. The value of salt imported in 1894 was $1,663,831; the value in 1893 was $692,493. A million dollars goes abroad instead of to our own producers. In 1895 the imports of salt were 392,423,175 pounds, of the value of $561,490. The exports were 2,827,992 pounds, of the value of $6,009. No. 333. SALT-Cost to Farmers. There was a duty on coarse salt of 8 cents per 100 pounds, or $1.60 per ton. The farmer, if a large one, may use 500 pounds, and here would be a saving of 40 cents. The duty on fine salt, used for dairying purposes, was 12 cents per 100 pounds. One pound of salt is usually added to 16 pounds of butter, so the duty on the salt in one pound is one-sixteenth of a cent. If the farmer makes a ton of butter he will use 125 pounds of salt, on which the duty would be 7 13-16 cents. So the farmer saves on his salt the princely sum of 47 13-16 cents annually. No. 334. SALT-Manufacture and Cost. Take the article of salt, which is sold in Saginaw at 60 cents for 280 pounds, including the barrel, which is worth 20 cents, leaving 40 cents for the salt. If the President is correct when he says the duty is a tax, or, to use his own words, those who buy domestic articles of the same class pay a sum at least approximately equal to this duty to our home manufacturers, then if the duty is deducted, |