United States to secure legislation on this vexed question. Our hopes for the passage of the bill agreed upon, and before the House of Representatives, have been again disappointed. The subject attracts an equal attention among commercial bodies abroad.

In January of the present year the Chamber was honored by a visit from Mr. ELISHA SMITH, President of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce. In a brief address to the Chamber this gentleman dwelt forcibly upon the importance of homogeneous legislation with respect to Bills of Lading, Average Adjustment and kindred subjects in England and America, and used words which it would be well that our legislators should hold ever in mind: "In trade all uncertainty costs money.'

NATIONAL QUESTIONS.

Inter-State Commerce Bill.-At last the Congress of the United States has assumed its right of control over commerce between the States, and asserted practically its right of eminent domain. Hardly since the beginning of the government has any legislative act aroused so varied comment or been interpreted so differently as that which became law at the last session of the Forty-ninth Congress.

While yet before Congress the bill received the most careful attention from a Special Committee of the Chamber. They had the advantage of the experience of the Railroad Commission of the State of New-York, and of the application of the principles advised by them to the railroad managers of our great State system. Approving the general idea of a National Commission, the Chamber nevertheless concurred in the views of its Committee on two of the provisions of the bill-that touching the long and short haul, which cannot but seriously affect the marketing of the surplus of western product, and that touching pooling, which in reality equalizes rates.

The bill, however, with these objectionable provisions, is now law. A satisfactory Commission is already in operation, and its first act was to suspend the operation of the obnoxious clause over a large section of country. Expe

rience will soon show where the balance of wisdom lies. In the general outcome of this legislation to a good result we have no doubt.

National Ordnance.-Secure as we have always felt from any danger of foreign aggression in the past, it cannot be denied that we are by no means beyond the reach of European complications. Indeed, there has never been a period in the history of modern Europe when force was as supreme as it is to-day. Sooner or later that force will be turned against the liberty of the people, and its directors may find their interest in an attempt to humiliate the United States, as the representative of popular rights. Never were we in a better condition to prepare for defence -an overflowing Treasury, an insignificant debt at a low rate of interest, and the experience of thoroughly trained officers and experts in every part of the science of offensive and defensive war by land or sea.

The Chamber, sharing the general solicitude as to the condition of our seacoast, in December last appointed a Special Committee to make a thorough inquiry into the efficiency of ordnance on which we must rely for defence. In January this Committee brought in an exhaustive report, fortified by communications to it from the highest military authorities. The report was ordered to be printed, and its consideration deferred until the February meeting, when it was unanimously adopted, and copies directed to be sent to every member of Congress. While it is not expected that such recommendations shall always receive immediate attention, the Chamber in this manner gathers and preserves invaluable information, authentic and authoritative opinions from experts, and is thus ready at every stage of legislation to take its legitimate share in the influence of public opinion.

Jelties in Charleston Harbor.-In this same general direction the Chamber, at its February meeting, heartily endorsed the proposal before Congress for an immediate and liberal appropriation to expedite the completion of the jetties in Charleston Harbor, and urged its importance

on the Senators and Representatives in Congress from the State of New-York.

National Bankrupt Law.-The Special Committee in charge of this subject, again disappointed in their renewed efforts to secure the needed legislation by direct appeal to Congress, brought in a resolution recommending the merchants of New-York to urge the subject on their Western and Southern correspondents, and obtain their influence with their several Representatives in Congress.

Revenue Reform.-The indisposition of the leaders of both of the great national political parties to touch the tariff question in any manner at the last session was so marked, that no action of the Chamber seemed advisable on this subject; but the Committee in charge, recognizing the value of the suggestions of reform in the collection of the revenue, made by the late Secretary of the Treasury, obtained and distributed a large number of his special report on this subject. The Chamber has for years maintained that the first duty of Congress in this matter is the simplification of the modes of collection-a question quite independent of the rates of tariff.

Legalization of Invoices.-At its last meeting a communication from the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce in relation to the abolition by the United States of the requirement that certified invoices should accompany duty free goods, and a simplification of the forms required in other cases, was laid before the New-York Chamber and referred to its Standing Committee on Foreign Commerce.

Over thirty-three per cent. of the total foreign importations into the United States are of merchandise free of duty, and it would seem to be public policy to exempt this growing trade as far as possible from obstruction or

annoyance.

Disinfection of Rags.-The Chamber, in June, 1885, endorsed an application to the Secretary of the Treasury for a regulation that rags imported into the United States shall be disinfected at foreign ports prior to shipment. In May last,

complaint was made to the Chamber that the rules established by the Health Officer of the Port of New-York on this subject were new in kind, onerous in their operation, and detrimental to the commerce of the City. A Committee examined the question, and it was found that during the prevalence of cholera in the Mediterranean Sea in 1884, the Treasury Department laid down certain regulations touching the importation of rags. In 1885, Mr. Secretary MANNING revoked these regulations and left the burthen of local protection on the Health Officers at each port. Looking into the complaints made against the subsequent regulations of our Health Officer at New-York, and comparing them with those in force at other ports, the Chamber, while of opinion that, unless accompanied by a proper sanitary certificate from the port of shipment, rags should be disinfected on arrival, were unanimous in considering that all quarantine regulations "should be uniform at all ports of entry in the United States," and be "under the sole control and management of the United States Government."

Parcels Post Delivery.-In January the Chamber adopted a resolution urging upon the Post Office Department the inauguration of a system of transmission by mail to and from foreign countries of samples and small articles of merchandise by means of a parcels post; existing postal arrangements practically excluding them from the mails. The resolution was favorably received by the Postmaster-General, who promised a consideration of the subject.

Safety Rockets.—In January the Chamber unanimously adopted a resolution requesting its Committee on the Harbor and Shipping to consider the advisability of petitioning Congress for a law compelling all American Ocean and Lake steamships to carry bombs or rockets, by which lines may be thrown to the shore in cases of extreme peril to life or property.

Indian Warehouse.-In October of last year the Chamber received a communication from the Indian Commis

sioner, stating that a request had been made for the removal of the Indian Warehouse from New-York to some Western City. A Committee was appointed to represent the Chamber at the hearing proposed. This Committee, in December, made a carefully considered report, showing the extent of the purchases annually made, and the points at which they can be made at the cheapest rates. Their conclusions were, that the interests of the Indians and of the Government would be best served by retaining the warehouse at New-York. These views were concurred in by the Chamber, and the report sent to the authorities at Washington. The Commissioner decided the question by retaining the warehouse at New-York, while indicating St. Louis as the point where bids shall in future be received for provisions of various kinds named.

Francis Medal.-In the year 1885 the Chamber petitioned Congress to examine into the services of JOSEPH FRANCIS to commerce and mankind in the invention of the life-saving machines known by his name. The joint resolution of thanks and for the presentation of a gold medal, adopted by both Houses, not having received the approval of the President of the United States, the Chamber, at its April meeting, unanimously adopted a resolution of regret. What reasons of high public policy governed the President in withholding his signature to this Act of Congress do not appear.

HARBOR OF NEW-YORK.

The Committee charged with this important subject have been active in their efforts to preserve the integrity of the harbor. That the matter may be intelligently examined, they have caused a model to be prepared, covering an area of eight hundred square miles, which will remain in the possession of the Chamber.

Harbor Defence.-In October the subject of the defenceless condition of the seacoast about and adjacent to NewYork was brought before the Chamber in an interesting communication from the Hon. JOSEPH NIMMO, Jr. The Committee examined this paper, approved its suggestions, and