With the beginning of the new year, the ...

With the beginning of the new year, the new rates of duty on all kinds of woolen goods became operative. Most of the changes made by the new tariff went into effect at once, when the bill became law, on the 28th of last August, but the woolen schedules were not to become operative until January rïrst, in order to give the manufacturers time to make up the wool upon which they had paid duty and dispose of the product. The effect of the new tariff rates should and no doubt will be to make all woolens much cheaper to the people. When the people have once had a taste of the benefits of the reduced rates, there will be no disposition to return to the outrageous McKinley duties. The tariff rates on woolens carried by the McKinley act were the most extravagant perhaps of any in that superlatively bad law. Representatives of the wool growers and woolen manufacturers. were invited to prepare such a schedule as would give them such protection as they desired. This they did and the monstrous schedules which they constructed were incorporated into the McKinley act. They placed a duty of 278.66 per cent. on yarns worth not more than 30 cents a pound. Yarns worth from 30 to 40 cents carried a duty of 118.79 Per cent. Yarns above 40 cents, 105.42 per cent. On knit fabrics, shawls and cloths the duty ranged from 82 to 163 per cent. The Wilson bilí reduces these to from 35 to 50 per cent, the higher rates being on the better quality of goods. The McKinley duty on blankets varied from 80 to 104 per cent. The new rates are from 25 to 40 per cent. The McKinley rates on wool hats were from 86 to 106 per cent; !iamici: lui uiiuci wcdi , o ifj ivy2 per cent. The new rates on these range from 25 to 40 per cent. The new law makes corresponding reductions throughout the schedule, excepting on carpets, where the cut is not so marked. These changes, by largely reducing the cost of woolens, will enable many people to substitute woolen clothing for shoddy and opérate as a blessing to thousands. According to Director of the Mint Preston, the world's production of gold during 1893 was $155,522,000, the largest yearly product on record. Of this amount $35, 995,000 was the yield of the United States. Mr. Preston estimates that the world's product will be increased this year by $20,000,000 and the product of this country by 89,045,000. The product of the American mines this year is expected to be greater than for any previous year since 1878, and but twenty millions under the maximum yield in 1853. With such a large annual increase, it ought not to be difficult to maintain the gold reserve, were it not for the fact that the country has such an enormous amount of credit currency which must be maintained at par. In order to prevent gold from leaving us, our credit and half-credit currency must be so adjusted as to allay all susDicion of a change of monetary basis, it is not necessary for actual depreciation to take place in order to drive the intrinsically more valuable money out of circulation, but the mere suspicion that events are tending in the direction of an unsound monetary basis will cause it. The second national conference for good city government, which recently niet in Minneapolis, under the auspices of the National MunicT ipal League, has attracted able attention. ■ The papers read were excellent and have been widely reported and commented upon. Just at present, in view of the revelations as to the condition of Xew York municipal affairs, the people are thinking earnestly along these Unes and henee the interest manifested. It is generally conceded that one of the weakest points in our . whole scheme of government is I the government of our cities. The problem of how to secure good city government with universal manhood suffrage is one that we have not been able to solve as yet. The need of solution is a crying one and it is to be hoped that the organization above mentioned, and others with similar purposes, may succeed in giving ímpetus to public opinión on the subject and result in creating a public sentiment that will demand reform. The senatorial fight at Lansing is on in dead earnest. It has become apparent that Mr. Burrows has not the sure thing that many of his followers claimed, yet it is by no means certain that he will not carry off the short-term senatorship. His opponents seem to have pooled their issues, as against hini at least, and appear at present to have a little the best of the situation. Every influence is being exerted by the friends of the respective candidates to win success. The friends of Mr. Olds claim for their favorite the powerful support of Senator McMillan. On the other hand the Patton forces apparently have the warm support of Gov. Rich. The result is not easy to foretell. A great deal of bitterness in the republican household is likely to grow out of it, however, whoever receives the persimmon. In the meantime the democratie minority of the legislature remains united, harmonious and possessed of the utmost good nature. ' For the first time in twenty-two years New York City has a chief executive who is not of the democratie persuasión. The causes which resulted in elevating Wm. L. Strong to the mayorality are quite similar to those which in 1872 brought about the election of Wm. F. Havemeyer. In each instance the people had been thoroughly aroused by the existing corruption in municipal affairs. In each instance the sentiment which developed and finally overthrew the corruptionists was aroused and crystallized through a committee of seventy. The unearthing of corruption in municipal affairs is not all that this committee, in the present instance, has in view. It hopes to do much in the changing for the better all state laws relating to the jovernment of cities. That it has agreat field for labor is unquestioned. That it may succeed in setting in motion a movement that will result n better city government throughout the country, is the wish of all good citizens. The elected state officers were worn in on New Year's day with considerable eclat. While the change from the simplicity of former inauguration exercises was coniderable, the innovation was no doubt in the line of public sentiment and altogether proper. It is itting that the induction into office of the chief officials of a great state should be attended with such ceremony as will tend to impress upon them the weight of their responsibilities to the people, and serve also to inspire the people with confidence in and love for their institutions. The impressiveness of such an occasion, and the thoughts awakened, tend to the advantage of all concerned. One of the most impressive features of the inauguration ceremonies at Lansing last Tuesday was the presence and the spaech of the venerable ex-Governor Felch, of this city. The long and brilliant public services of the ex-governor, coupled with his great age and beautiful character, could not fail to strongly impress all in his presence. May he liye to witness many more inauguráis of Michigan governors. Judge Cordon, of Midland, will preside over the Michigan house of representatives during the present session. He has had previous legislative experience, and this, coupled with the strength that he developed among his fellow members, would imply that he will make a good speaker.