d to Congress. The completion of this
decennial enumeration devolves upon Congress the duty of making a new
apportionment of Representatives "among the several States according to
their respective numbers."

At the last session I had occasion to return with my objections several
bills making provisions 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 unseemly scramble about the public
Treasury than this. There should be exercised in this matter a wise
economy, based upon some responsible and impartial examination and
report as to each case, under a general law.

The report of the Secretary of Agriculture deserves especial attention
in view of the fact that the year has been marked in a very unusual
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 promotion of the interests intrusted to its care.

A very substantial improvement in the market prices of the leading farm
products during the year is noticed. The price of wheat advanced from
81 cents in October, 1889, to $1.00-3/4 in October, 1890; corn from 31
cents to 50-1/4 cents; oats from 19-1/4 cents to 43 cents, and barley
from 63 cents to 78 cents. Meats showed a substantial but not so large
an increase. The export trade in live animals and fowls shows a very
large increase. The total value of such exports for the year ending June
30, 1890, was $33,000,000, and the increase over the preceding year was
over $15,000,000. Nearly 200,000 more cattle and over 45,000 more hogs
were exported than in the preceding year. The export trade in beef and
pork products and in dairy products was very largely increased, the
increase in the article 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
products exported being $34,000,000. This trade, so directly helpful
to the farmer, it is believed, will be yet further and very largely
increased when the system of inspection and sanitary supervision now
provided by law is brought fully into operation.

The efforts of the Secretary to establish the healthfulness of our meats
against the disparaging imputations that have been put upon th