Decatur Democrat, Volume 35, Number 38, Decatur, Adams County, 11 December 1891 — Page 6

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. MANY RECOMMENDATIONS OFFERED TO CONOR SS. A Careful Review of the Chilian Com- * Ppfleatlona — Other Foreign Relations — Tariff Legislation—H la Views on the 811r ver Question—Concerning Suffrage* Etc. The Annual Document. To thu Ebnath and Housb of Representat TTVEB: ' . . ■ The reports of the heads of the several ex“oeutivedepaitmentß, required by la» to be submitted to me, which are herewith transmitted, and the reports of the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, trade directly to Congress, furnish a comprehensive view of the administrative work of the last fiscal year relating to internal affairs. It would be of groat advantage if these reports could have an attentive neiusal by every member of Congress, and by all who take an interestin public auairs. Such a perusal could not fail to excite a high appreciation of the vast labor and conscientious effort which are given to the conduct of our civil administration. The reports will. I believe, show that every question has been approached, considered and decided from the standpoint of public duty and upon considerations affecting the public interests alone. Again I invite to every branch of the service the attention and scrutiny of congress. j he work of the State Department during the last year has been characterized by an unusual Humber of important negotiations and by diplomatic results of a notable and highly beneficial Character. Among these are the reciprocal trade arrangements which have been concluded, In the exercise of the powers conferred by section 8 of the Tariff law, with the Bepubl c of Brazil, with Spain for its West India possesStone, and with San Domingo. Like negotiations with other countries have been much advanced, and it is hoped that before the close of the year f urther definite trade e rrangemeuts of groat value will be concluded. i In view of the reports which had been received as to the diminution of the seal herds in the Behring Sea, I deemed it wise to propose to her Majesty’s Government in February last that an agreement for a closed season should be made, pending the negotiations which then seemed to be approaching a favorable conclusion. After much correspondence, aud delays for which this Government was not responsible, an agreement was reached and . signed on the 15th of Juue, by which Groat Britain undertook, from that date and until May 1, 1892, to prohibit the killing by her subjects of seals in the Behring Sea, and the Government of the United States during the same period to enforce its existing prohibition against pelagic Sealing, and to limit the catch by the Fur Seal Company upon the island to 7,600 skins. If this agreement could have been reached earlier, fn response to the strenuous endeavors of this Government, it would have been more effective; but, coming as late as 16 did, it unquestionably resulted In greatly diminishing the destruction oi the seals ’by the Canadian sealers. In my last annual message I stated that the ...basis of arbitration proposed by her Majesty’s Government for the adjustment of the long- -=■ pending controvery as to the seal fisheries was not acceptable. lam glad now to bo able to announce that terms satisfactory to this Government have been agreed upon aud that an agreement as to arbitrators is all that is necessary to the completion of the convention. Provision should boa e for a joint demarcation of the frontier line between <. auada and the United dates wherever required by the increasing border settlements, and especially for the exact location of the water boundary in the ■tmits and rivers. I should have been glad to announce some favorable disposition or the boundarydispute between Great Britain and Venezuela, touching the western frontier of Britisu Guiana, but the friendly efforts ot tnu United State* in that direction’ have thus far been unavailing. This Government will continue to express its concern at any appearance of foreign encroachment on territories long undo rtho administrative control of American states. The law of the last < ongi-ess providing a system of inspection for our meats intended for export and clothing the President with power to exclude foreign products from our ma ket in case the country sending them should perpetuate unjust discriminations against any product of the United States, placed tide Government in a position to effectively urge the removal of such discriminations against our moats. It is gratifying to bo able to state that Germany, Denmark, Italy, Austria and France, in the order named, have opened their ports to inspected American pork products. The removal ot these restrictions in every instance was asked for aud given solely upon the ground that wo had- now provided a meat inspection that should be accepted as adequate to the coms pleto removal of tho dangers, real or fancied, which had been previously urged. The State Department, our Ministers abroad aud the (Secretary of Agriculture have co-opoiated with unflagging and intelligent zeal for the accomplishment of this great result. Tho outlines of an agreement have been reached with Germany looking to equitable trade concessions in consideration of the continued free Importation of her sugars, but the time has not yet arrived when this correspondence can bo submitted to Congress. The recent political disturbances iu the republic of Brazil have excited regret end solici- ' tude. The information wo possessed was tco meager to enable us to form a satisfactory judgment of tho causes leading to the temporary assumption of supremo power by President Fonseca; but this Government did not fail to express to him its anxious solicitude for tho peace of Brazil and for the maintenance of the free political institutions which had recently been establishtd there, nor to offer our advice that great moderation should bo observed in the clash of parties and the contest for leadership. These counsels were received in the most friendly spiiit. and the latest information is that constitutional government has been reestablished without Bloodshed. The lynching at New Orleans in March last of eleven men of Italian nativity by a mob of citizens was a most deplorable and discreditable incident. It did not, however, have its origin in any general animosity to the Italian neople, nor in any disrespect to the Government of Italy, with which our relations were of the most friendly cnarocter. The fury of the mob was directed against these men as the supposed participants or accessories m the murder of a city officer. Ido not allude to this as mitigating in any degree this offense against law and humanity, but only ns affecting the interuaI tional questions which grew out of it. It was I represented by the Italian Minister that several of those whoso lives had been taken by the mob were Italian subject, and a demand was made for the punishment i f the participants a,. d for an indemnity to the families of those who were killed, it is to regretted that the manner in which these claims were presented was not such as to promote a culm discussion of tho questions involved ; but this may well be attributed to the excitement and indignation which the crime naturally evoked. The views of this government as to its obligations to foreigners domiciled hero were fully stated in .he correspondence, as well asTt.s purpose to make an investigation of the affair witli a view to determine whether there were present any circumstances that could, under such rules of duty as we had indicated, create an obligation upon the United States. The temporary absence ot a Minister Plenipotentiary of Italy at this capital has re larded tho further correspondence, but it Is not doubted that a friendly conclusion is attainable. • Some suggestions growifig out of this unhappy Incident are wortuy the attention of Congress. It Would, I believe.be entirily competent for Congress to make effenses against the treaty rights of loretgners domiciled in the United States cognizable iu the Federal courts. This has note however, been done, and the Federal officers and courts have no power in such cases to Intervene either for the protection of a foreign citizen or for the punishment Fit his slayora. It seems to me to follow in this state of aw that officers ot the State c barged with police and Judicial powers iu such cases must, in the eonaideration of international questions, growing out of such incidents, be regarded in such sense as Federal agents as to make this Government answerable for their acts in cases where it would be answerable if the United States had used its constitutional power to define and punish crimes against treaty rights. ; Tho Chilian Complications. ■ The civil war in Chili, which began in January last, was continued, but fortunately with infrequent and not important armed collisions, until August 28, when the congressional forces landed near Valparaiso, and after a bloody engagement captured that city. President Balma- ‘ eoaaat once recognized that his cause was lost, and provisional government was speedily established by the v ictorlous party. Our Minister was promptly directed to recognize and put hlmsejf in communication with this government as It should have established its de facto character, which was done. During the pendency of this civil contest frequent indirect appeals were mode to this Government to extend belligerent rights to the insurgents and to give audience to their representatives. This was declined, and that policy was pursued throughnut which this Government, when wrenched by civil war so strenuously insisted upon on the part of European nations. The Itata, an armed vessel commanded by a naval officer of the insurgent fleet, tnanni. by its sailors and with soldiers on board, was seized under process of the United States Court at San Diego, Cal, for a violation of our neutrality laws. While in tho custody ot an officer of tho court, the vessel was forcibly wrested from his control and put to St a. It would h ve been inconsistent wtth the dignity and selfrespect of this Government not t have insisted that tho Itata should be returned to San Diego to abide the judgment of the court.. This was so clear to the Junta of toe Congressional party, established at Iquiquc, that, before the arrival ot the Itata at that port, the Secretary of ForX Relations of the Provisional Government med to Bear Admiral BrJwn, commanding the United States naval forces, a communication, from which the following is an extract: “The Provisional Government has learned by the cableg ams of the Associated Press that tho transport Itata, detained at San Diego by order of the United States for taking on board munitions of war, and in possession of the marshal, left the port carrying on board thia official, who was landed at a point near the coast, and thus continued her voyage. If this nows be correct, this Government would deplore the conduct of the Itata, and as an evi-

dence that it is not disposed to support or agree to the infraction ot the laws ortho United States, the undersigned takes advantage of the personal relations you have been good enough to maintain with him since your arival in this port to declare to you that as soon as she is within reach of our orders thia Government will put the Itata. with the arms and munitions she took on board in San Diego, at the disposition of the United States," A trial in the District Court of the United States for the. Southern District of California has recently resulted in a decision holding, among other things, that, inasmu h as the Congressional party had not been recognized as a belligerent, the acts done in its interest could not be a violation of our neutrality laws. From this judgment the United States has appealed, not t; at tue condemnation of the vessel is a matter of importance, but that we may know what the present state of our law is; for, if this construction of the statute is correct, there is obvious necessity for revision and amendment. During the progress of the war in Chili this Government tendered its good offices to bring about a peaceful adju tment, and it was at one time hoped that a good result might be reached; but in this we were disappointed. The instructions to our naval officers and to our Minister at bautlago. from the first to the last of this struggle, enjoiu d upon them the most impartial treatment and absolute nominterference. lam satisfied that these instru» ) tions were observed and that our representatives were always watchtul to use their influ-' ence impartially in the interest of humanity, aud on more than one occasion did so effectively. We could not forget, however, that this Government was in diplomatic relations with the then established Government of Chili, as it is now in such relations with the successor ot that Government. I am quite sure that President Mon it, wbo ha-, under circumstances of promise lor the peace ot Chili, been installed as President ot that Republic, will not desire t at, in the unfortunate event of any revolt against hie authority, the policy of this Government should bo > tner than that which we have recently observed. No official complaint of the conduct of our Minister or our navai offlcers during the struggle has been presented to this Govern mint, an . it Is a matter of regret that so many of our people have give i ear to unofficial o ;urges and complaints t at manifestly had i heir origin in rival interests and in a wish to pervert the relations of States with Chili. The col apse of the government ot Balmaceda brought about a condition which is unfortunately too familiar in the hisiory of the Central and South American States. With the overthrow ot the Balmacedu Government, he aud many of his councillors and officers became at once fugitive b for their lives and appealed to the commanding officers O the foreign naval vessels in the harbor ot Valparaiso and to the resident foreign ministers at Santiago for asylum. Tbis asylum was freely given, according to my information, by the naval vessels of several foreign powers and by several of the legations at SunThe American Minister, as well as his colleagues, acting upon the impulses of humanity, extended asylum to political refugees whose lives were in peril. 1 have not been willing to direct the surrender of such of these persons as are still in the American Legation without suitable conditions. It is believed that the Government of Chili is not in a position, in viaw of the precedents with which it has been connected, to broadly deny the right of asylum, and the correspondence has not thus far presented any men denial, The treatment of our Minister for a time was such as to call for a decided protest, and it was very gratifying to observe that unfriendly measures, which were undoubtedly the result ot the prevailing excitement, ware at once rescinded or suitably relaxed. On the 16th of October an i event occurred in Valparaiso so serious and tragic in its circumstances and results as to very justly excite the indignation of our people and to call for prompt and decided action on the part of this Government. A considerable number ot the sailors of the United States steamship Baltimore, then iu the ba bor of Valparaiso, being upon shore leave and unarmed, were assaulted by armed men nearly simultaneously in different localities in the city. One petty officer was killed outright and seven or eight seamen were seriously wounded, one ot whom has since died. So far as x have yet been able io learn no other explanation of this bl ody work has been suggested than that it had its origin iu hostility to these men as sailors of the United States, wearing the uniform of their gov> rnment, and not in any indi vi uul act or personal animosity. The attention of the Chilian government was at once called to this affair, aud a statement of the facts obtained by the investigation we had conducted was submitted, accompanied by a re?iuest to bo advised of any other or qualifying acts in the possession of the Chiliau government that might tend to relieve this affair of the appearance of an insult to this Government. The Chilian government was also advised that if such qualifying facts did not exist this Government could confidently expect full and prompt reparation. It is to be regretted that the reply of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the provisional .overnment was couched in an offensive tone, io this no response has been made. Our Government is now awaiting the result of au investigation which has been conducted by the Criminal (ourt at Valparaiso. It is reported unofficially that the investigation is about copipleted, and it is expected that the result will soon be communicated to this Government, together with some adequate and satisfactory respouse to the note by wuieh the attention of Chili was called to this incident. It tbes > j st expectations should be disappointed or further needless di lay intervene, t will, by a speci 1 messa e, bring this mat er agsin to the attentu aof Congres o such action as may be necessary The entire correspondence with the Gov. rumen of Chili will at an early day be submitted to Congress. Other Foreign Relations. I renew the recommendation of my special message dated January 16, In'jj, f. r the adoption of the necessary legislation to enable this Government to apply in the case of Sweden and Norway tbe same rule in respect to tho levying of tonnage dues as was claimed and secured to the shipping of the United States in 1828 under Article 8 of the treaty of 1827. The adjournment of the Senate without action on the pending acts for the suppression of the slave traffic in Africa, and toi the reform of the revenue tariff of the independent State of the Congo left this Government unable to excha; ge those acts on the date fiied, July 2,1891, A modus vivendi has been concluded by which the power of tho Congo state to levy duties on imports is left unimpaired, and, by agreement of nil the signatories to the general slave trade act, the time for the exchange of ratifications on the part of the United States has been extended to Feb. 2, 1892. The late outbreak against foreigners in various parts of the Chinese Empire has been the causo of deep concern in vie . of the numerous establishments of our citizens in the interior of that country. This Government can do no less than insist upon a continuance of the protective and punitory measures which the Chinese Government has heretofore applied. No effort will be omitted to protect our citizens peaceably sojourning in China, but recent unofficial information indicates that what was at first regarded as an out! reak of mob violence against foreigners has assumed the large form of an insurrection against public order. The Chinese Government has declined to receive (Mr. Blair as the. Minister of the United States on the ground that, as participant, while a Senator, in the enactment of tue existing legislation against the introduction of Chinese laborers, he has become unfriendly and objectionable to China. I have felt constrained to point out to the Chinese government the untenableuess of this position, which seems to to rest as much on the unaoceptability of our legislation as on that of the person chosin and which if admitted, would practically debar the selection of any representative so long as tho existing laws remain in force. You will be called upon to consider the expediency of making special provision by law for temporary admission of some Chinese artisans and laborers in connection with the exhibit of Chinese in uetries at the approaching Columbian Exposition. I regard ft as desirable that the Chinese exhibit be facilitated in every proper way. The government and people of Spain propose to celebrate the four hundredth anniversary ot the discovery of America by holding au exposition at Madrid, which will open on the 12th ot September and continue until the 81st of December, 18 iB. A cordial invitation has been extended to the United States to take part in this commemoration and, as fcpala was one of the first nations to express the intention to participate in tho World’s Columbian Exposition at Chicago, it would be appropriate for this government to give thia invitation its friendly promotion. Surveys for the connecting links of the projected Inter-Continental Ra Iway are in progress, not only in Mexico, but at various points along the course mapped out. Three surveying parties are now in the field under the direction of the commission. Nearly 1.090 miles of the proposed road have been surveyed. Including tbe most difficult part, that through Equador and the southern part of Colombia. The reports of the engineers are very satisfactory and show that no insurmountable obstacles have been met with. On Nov. 12,1884, a treaty was concluded with Mexico reaffirming the boundary between the two countries as describe I in the treaties ot Feb. 2.1848, and Dec. 80, 1858. March 1,1889, a further treaty was negotiated to facilitate the carrying out of Um principles of the .reatyof 1884. The death of King Kalakaua in the United States afforded occasion to testlty our friendship for Hawaii by conveying the King's body to his own land in a naval vessel with all honors. The Government of bis successor, Queen Liliuokalani, is seeking to promote closer commercial relations with the United States. This Government has found a reason to express in a friendly spirit, but wl h much earnestness, to the government f the Csar, its serious concern because ot the harsh measures now being enforced against the Hebrews in Russia. The immigration of these people to the United t tat os—many other countries being closed to them -is largely increa ing, and is likely prop ortions which may make it difficult to find homes and employment for them here, and to seri usly affect the labor market. The annual report of the Maritime Canal Company of Nicaragua shows that much cosay and necessary preparatory work has been done during the year in the construction of shops, railroad tracks and harbor piers aud breakwaters, and that the work in the canal's construction has made some progress. I deem it to be a matter oftho highest con*

Oceans end giving us water commutation between our ports on these two great sea* should bo speedily constructed, and at the smallest practjcable limit of coot. , International Copyright. In’ernationsl copyright has been secured, in accordance with the conditions of the act of March 8,1891, with Belgium, France, Great Brit* ain and tbe Briti-h posses ions, and vriteerland, tbe laws ot these countries permitting to our citizens the benefit of copyright on substantially the same basi* a< to their own oiti. sens or subjects. With Germany a special convention has bee > negotiated upon this subject, which will bring that country within tho reciprocal benefits of our legislation. Tariff Legislation. The general interest in the operations of tho Treasury Department has been much augmented during the last vear by reason of the conflicting predictions, which accompanied and folio wed the tariff and other legislation of the last Congress affecting the revenues, as to the results of this legislation upon the treasury and upon the country. it is not my purpose to enter at any length into a discussion of the effects of tbe legislation to which I have referred; but a brief examineItion of the statistics of the Treasury and a . general glance at the state of business throughout the country will, I think, satisfy anvluupartial Inquirer that its results have disappointed the evil prophecies of its opponents and in a large measure realized the hopeful predictions of its friends. During the twelve months from October 1, 1890, to September 80,1891, the total value of our foreign commerce (imports aud exports) was $1,747,816,406, which was tho largest of auy year in the history of the United States, The largest in any previous year was in 1810, when our commerce amounted to 81 647,139,693, and tbe last year exceeds this enormous aggregate by over one hundred millions.* The average annual value of the imports of merchandise for the ten yean from 1881 to 1893 was (632,180,522, and during the year ending Sept. 89, 1891, this annual average was exceeded by 8182,528,469. The value of free imports during the twelve months ending Sept. 80, 1891, was 8118,092,387 more than the value of free imports during the corresponding twelve months of the preceding year, and there wa< during the same period a decrease of 8106,846,503 in the value of imports of dutiable merchandise. The percentage ot merchandise admitted free of duty during the year to which I have referred, the first under the new tariff, was 48,18, while duriugthe preceding twelve months, under the old tariff, the percentage was 84.27, an increase of 13,91 per cent. If we take the six months ending Sept. 20 last, which covers the time during which sugars have been admitted free ot duty, the per cent, of value of merchandise imported free of duty is found to be 55,27, which is a larger percentage of free imports than during any prior fiscal year in the history of tbe Government. If we return to exports of merchandise the statistics are full of gratification. The value of sucu exports of merchandise for the twelve mouths ending September 3 ~ 1891, was $923,091,136, while for the corresponding previous twelve months it was $860,177,115, an Increase of $62,914,(21, which is nearly three times the average increase of exports of merchandise during any year in t ie history of the Government. The increase in the value of exports of agriculture products during the year referred to over the corresponding twelve months of the prior year was $45,846,197, while the increase in the value of exports of manufactured products was $16,8118,240. There is certainly nothing in the condition of trade, foreign or .domestic, there is certainly nothing in the condition of our people of any class, to suggest that the existing tariff and revenue legislation bears oppressively upon the people, or retards tho commercial development of the nation. I think there are conclusive evidences that the new tariff has created several great industries which will, within a few years, give employment to several hundred thousand American workingmen and women. In view ol the somewiiat overcrowded condition of the labor market of the United States, every patriotic citizen should rejoice at such a result. Receipts and Expenditures. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury shows tnat the total receipts of the Government, from all sources, for the fiscal year ending June 80, 8 1, were $458,544,233.03, while the expenditures lor the same period were $421,304,470.46, leaving a surplus of $37,289,762.57. Toe receipts of the fiscal year ending June 80, 1892, actual and estimated, are $438,000,600 and the expenditures 8409,000,600 lor the fiscal year ending Juue 3v, 1893, the estimated receipts are $455,386,350 and the expenditures $441,806,093. Silver as Currency. Under the law of July 14, 1890, the Secretary of the Treasury has purchased since Aug. 13, during the fiscal year, 43,393,113 ounces of silver bullion at an average cost of $1,045 per ounce. The highest price paid during the year was $1 2025, and the lowest $3.9636. In exchange for this silver bullion there have been issued $ 0,577,498 of the treasury notes authorized by the act. The ablest advocates of free coinage in the last Congress were most confident in their prediction that the purchase by the Government required by the law vould at once bring the price of silver to $1,2929 per ounce, which would make the bullion vane of a dollar 100 cents and hold it there. The prophecies of the anti-silver men of di Tasters to result from the coinage of 82,000,000 per month were not wider fom the mark. The friends of free silver are not agreed, I think, as to the causes that brought their hopeful predictions to naught. Some facts are known. The exports of silver from London to India during the first nine months of this calendar year fell off over 20 per cent., or $17,2 2,730 compared with the same months of the preceding year. The exports of domestic silver bullion from this country, which had averaged for the last ten years over $17,00j,060. fell in the last fiscal year to $13,797,391; while, for the first time in recent years, the imports of silver into this country exceeded the exports by the sum of $2,745,365 In the previous year the net exports of silverfrom the United States amounted to 88,545,455. The production of the United ttales increased from 50,090 009 ounces in 1889 to 54,500,0(0 in 1890. The Government is now buying and putting aside annually 54,000,00 u ounces, which, allowing for 7,140,(09 ounces of new bullion used in the arts, is 6,640,000 more than our domestic product available for coinage. I hope the depression in the price of silver is temporary and that n. further trial of this legislation will more favorably affect it. I an still of the opinion that the free coinage of silver under existing conditions would disastrously affect our business interests at home and abroad. We could qot hope to maintain au equality in the purchasing power of the gold aud silver dollar in our own markets, and in foreign trade the stamp gives no added value to the bullion contained in coins, The producers of the country, the farmers and laborers, have the highest interest that every dollar, paper or coin, issued by the government shall be as good as any other. If there is one less valuable than another its sure and constant errand will be to pay them for their toil and for their crops. The money-lender will protect himself by stipulating for payment in gold, but the laborer has never been able to do that. To place business upon a silver basis would mean a sudden aud severe dontraction of the currency by the withdrawal of gold and gold notes, ana such an unsettling of all values as would produce a financial panic. I cannot believe that a people so strong and prosperous as ours will promote such a policy. 1 believe it is the earnest desire of a great majority of the people, as it is mine, that a full coin use shall be made of silver just as soon as the co-operation of other nations can be secured a d a ratio fixed that will give circulation equally to gold and silver. 81-metalism is the desired end, and the true friends of silver will be careful not taripverrun the goal and bring in silver monometallism, with its necessary attendants, the loss of our gold to Europe and the relief of the pressure there for a larger currency. The Flow of Gold. The exports of gold to Europe, which began in February last and continued until the close of July, aggregated over 70,900,000. The net loss of gold during the fiscal year was nearly 868,000,000. That no serious monetary disturbance resulted was most gratifying, and gave to Europe fresh evidence of the strength and stability of our financial institutions. With the movement of crops he outflow of gold has speedily stopped, ana a return set in. Up to Dec. Iwe had reoov* gold loss at the port of New York Surplus Revenues, The presence of a large cash surplus in the Treasury has for many years been the subject of much unfavorable criticism and has nr* nlshed an argument to those wbo have desired to place the tariff upon a purely revenue basis. It was agreed by all (hat tho withdrawal from circulation of so large an amount of money was an embarrassment to tho business of the country and made necessary the intervrntion of tbe department at frequent intervals to relieve the threatened monetary pules. The surplus ou March 1, 1889, was 8183,827.190.29. The policy of applying this surplus to the redemption of the interest-bearing securities of the United States is thought to he preferable to that of depositing it without interest in selected national banks. There have been redeemed since the date last mentioned of inter-est-bearing securities *959,079,88 , resulting in a reduction of the annv nterest charge of BU,694,675 The money wz-.jhhad been deposited in banks without interest has been gradually withdrawn and need in tho redemption ox bonds. The result of thio policy, of the silver legielaMon, and of the refunding of the 4Mper cent, bonds, has been a large increase of the money in circulation. At the date last named the circulation was 81,404.2 5.806, or 828.03 nor capita: while on the first day of December, 1891, it nad increased to 81,877,962,071), or BM.HB per capita The offer at the Secretary of the Treasury to the holders ot the 4fe per cent, bonds to extend tho time ot redemption, at the option of the Got- ’ erament, at aulnterest of 2 per cent., was accepted by the holders of about one-half the amount, and tbe unextended bonds are being redeemed on presentation. The Army. The report at the Secretary of War exhibits tae rssults of /an intelligent, progressive, and business-like'administration of a department which has bten too much regarded as one of mere snutine Hoe work of securing sites tor shore batteries for harbor defense ana the manufacture of mortars and guns of high power to equip them have made good progress duriugthe 7 mis project <tf enlisting Indiana received my

approve!. Bma companies hve been oonZT training have more than realised tho highest anticipations. Private Land Claims. The Judges of tho Court of Privatelanl Claims provided for by th act of March 8,1891, have boon appoints land the court organised. Xo io now possible to give early relief to communities long repressed in their development by unsettled land titles, and to establish the possession and right of settlers whose lands have been rendered valueless by adverse and unfounded claims. The Chinese Question. The enforcement of the Treasury Department of the law prohibiting tho coming of Chinese to the United States has been effective as to such as seek to land' from vessels entering our ports. The result has been to divert the travel to vessels entering the ports of British Columbia, whence a passsge into the United States at obscure points along the Dominion boundary is easy. The Dominion Government collects a head tax of SSO from every Chinaman entering Canada, and thus derives a considerable revenue from those who only u e iti porta to reach a position of advantage to evade our exclusion laws. There seems to be satisfactory evidence that the business of passing Chinamen through Canada to the United States is organized and quite active. The Department ot Justice has construed tbe laws to require the return of any Chinaman found to be unlawfully in this country to China as the country from which became, notwithstanding the fact that he came byway of Canada. This construction robs the law of all effectiveness, and I recommend such legislation as will remedy defects in the law. The Postal Service. In the report of the Postmaster General some very gratifying results are exhibited and many betterments of the service suggested. Ocean mail postoffioes have been established upon the steamers of the North German Lloyd and Hamburg Lines, saving, by the distribution on ship - board, from two to fourteen hours' time Eight thousand miles of new postal service have been established-upon railroads, the car distribution to substations in the great cities have been increased about 12 per cent., while the percentage of errors iu distribution has, during the past year, been reduced over onehalt. An appropriation was given by the last Congress for the purpose of making some experiments in free delivery in the smaller cities and towns, The results of those experiments have been so satisfactory that the Postmaster General recommends, and I concur in the recommendation, that the free delivery system be at once extended to towns of 5,0j0 population. It is not just that the farmer who receives his mail at a neighboring towu should not only be compelled to send to the postoffice for it, but also to pay oonsiaerable rout for a box in wblch to place it or to wail his turn at a general delivery window, while the city resident has his mail brought to his door. I also recommend the extension of the money order system. The Navy. The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows a gratifying increase of new naval vessels in commission. When it is recollected that the work of building a modern navy was only initiated in 1883, that our naval constructors and ship-builders were practically without experience in the construction of large iron or steel ships, the progress that has been made is highly satisfactory. I commen to your favorable consideration the recommendations of tue Secretary, who has, I am sure, given to them most conscientious study. There should be no hesitation iu promptly completing a navy of the best modern type, large enough to enable this country to display its flag in all seas for the protection of its citizens dfid of its extending commerce. ® Indian Affair*. The report of the Secretary of the Interior shows that a very gratifying progress has been made in all of the bureaus which make up that complex and difficult department. The work in the Bureau of Indian Affairs was perhaps never so large as now by reason of the numerous negotiations which have been proceeding with the tribes for a reduction of the reservations. The providing of adequate school facilities for Indian children and the locating of adult Indians upon farms involve the solution of the “Indian question.* Tho Land Office. Early in this administration a special effort was begun to bring up the work ot the General Land Office. By faithful work the arrearages have been rapidly reduced. At tbe end of the last fiscal year only 84,172 final agricultural entries remained undisposed of. Your attention is called to the difficulty presented by the Secretary of the Interior as to the administration of the law of March 3, 1891, establishing a court of private land claims. The small holdings intended to be protected by the law are estimated to be more than 15,06j0 in number. The claimants are a most deserving class, and their titles are supported by the strongest equities. The Pension Bureau. The administration of the Pension Bureau has been characterized during the year by great diligence. The total number of pensioners upon the rolls on tho 36th day of June, 1691, was 676,160. There were allowed during the fiscal year ending at that time 250,575 oases. Os this number 102,387 were allowed under tbe act of June 27, 1830. The issuing of certificates has been proceeding at the rate of about 80,000 per month, about 75 per cent, of those being cash under the new law. The Commissioner expresses the opinion that he will be able to carefully adjudicate and allow 810,000 claims during the present fiscal year. The appropriation for the payment of pensions for the fiscal year 183. -91 was $127,685,793.89, and the amount expended $118,530,649.25, leaving an unexpended surplus of $9,155,144,64. The Commissioner is quite confident that there will be no call this year for a deficiency appropriation, notwithstanding the rapidity with which the work is being pushed. The mistake which has been made by many in their exaggerated estimates of the cost of pensions is in not taking account of the diminished value of first payments under the recent legislation. These payments, under the general law, have been for many years very large, as the pensions, when allowed, dated from the time of filing the claim, and most or these claims had been pending for years. The first payment under the law of June, 1890, are relatively small, and, us the per cent, of these oases increases and that of the old cases diminishes, the annual aggregate of first payments is largely reduced. The t ommlssloner, under date of Nov. 13, furnishes me with the statement that during the ast lour months 113,175 certificates were issued, 27,893 under the general law and 25,282 . under the act of June 27,1890. The average first payment during these four months was $131.8., while the average first payment upon cases allowed during the year ending June 30,1891, was $239.33. The estimate for pension expenditures for the next fiscal year ending June 30,1893, is $144,956,000, which, after a careful examination of tho subject, the Commissioner is of the opinion will be sufficient. Subsidized Railroads. The report of the Commissioner of Railroads shows that the total debt of tho subsidized railroads to the United States was, on Dec. 81. 1890, $112,512,613. A large part of this debt is now fast approaching maturity, with no adequa’e provision for its payment, some policy lor dealing with this debt, with a view to its ultimate collection, should be at once adopted. Progress of the Census, The work of the (ensue Bureau is now far in advance and the great bulk of the enorihous labor involved completed. It will be more strictly a statistical exhibit and less incumbered by essays than its immediate predecessors. The methods pursued have been fair, careful and intelli ent, and have secured the approval of the statisticians, who have followed them with a scientific and non-partisan interest. Irrigating Arid Territories. The repo, t of the Secretary exhibits, with in • foresting.fullness, the condition of tbe Territories. They have shar d with the States the great increase in products, and are bringing yearly large areas into cultivation by extending their irrigating canals. This work is being done by individuals or local corporations, ana without that system which a full preliminary eurvey of tue water supply and of the irrigable lands would enable them to adopt. The future of tho Territories ot New Mexico. Arizona and Utah in their material growth and in the increase, independence and happiness of their people is very largely dependent upon wise and timely legislation, eltber by Congress or their own Legislatures. regulating tbe distribution of the water supply furnished by their streams. If this matter is much longer neglected, private corporations will nave unrestricted control of one of the elements of life of the arid lands. The United States should part with its ownership of the water sources and tho sites for reservoirs, whether to the States and Territories or to individuals or corporations, only upon conditions that will insure to the settlers their groper water supply upon equal and reasonable Utah and Polygamy. The legislation of Congress for the repression of polygamy has, after years of resistance on the part of the Mormons, at last brought them to the conclusion that resistance is unprofitable and unavailing. The power of Congress over this subject should not be surrendered until we have satisfactory evidence that tho people of the State to bo created would exer«»h»iwpower of the State over this subject in the same way. Tho question is not whether these people now obey the l»wsof Congress against polygamy, but rather would they make, enforce and maintain such . laws themsclve if absolutely free to regulate the subject? We cannot afford to experiment with this subject, for when a State is once constituted the act 1$ final, and any mistake irretntvftolf). Department of Agidculture. establishment of the Department of Agriculture waa regarded by any one as a mere concession to the unenllghttned demand of a iBSSEKS agricultural and tofarmstton; in stimulating and deteettag and cradioaUug ttleeases of dwn!itto •almelsiand. more tlMm til. in thoctosoand

tetanMlecntaot which it has eetablisbed and maintains with thetomers andatock-railoro ot tbe whole eountr#rß’«J request for Informotion has had prompt attention and every The inspection by this department of cattle and pork products intenued for shipment abroad haa been tho basis of the success which hasatte. aed our efforts to secure the removal Os the restrictions maintained by the European governments. It is particularly fortunate that tho increased demand for food products, resulting from the removal of tho restrictions upon our meats and from the reciprocal trade arrangements to which I have re. ferred, should have come at a time when the agricultural surplus is so large. Without the help thus derived, lower prices would have prevailed. The Secretary ot Agriculture ostimates that the restrictions upon the importation of our pork products into Europe lost us a market for $20,000,003 worth of these products aunu&Uyo The grain crop of this year was tbe largest in our history, 50 per cent, greater than that of last year, and yet the new markets that have been opened and the larger demand resulting from short crops in Eu ope, have sustained prices to such an extent that the enormous surplus of meals and breadstuffs will be marketed at good prices bringing relief and prosperity to an industry that was much depressed. The value of the grain crop of the United States is estimated by the secretary to be this year five hundred million dollars more than last; of meats, one hundred n"* fifty millions more; and of all products of t' farm, seven hundred millions more. It is - inappropriate, I think, here to suggest that our satisfaction in the contemplation of this marvelous addition to the national wealth is unclouded by any suspicion of the currency by which it is measured and in which the farmer ie pa d for the product of bls fields. Civil Service. The reprrt of the Civil Service Commission should receive the careful attention of the opponent*, as well as the friends, of thia reform. The commission invitee a personal inspection of its records and methode. The efforts of the several executive departments have been directed to establish at once an efficiency record as the basis of a comparative >ating of the clerks within the da sided service, with a vi-w to placing promotions therein upon the basis of merit. I am confident that such a record, fairly kept and open to the inspection ot those interested, will powerfully stimulate the work of the departments and will be accepted by all as placing the troublesome matter of promotions upon a just basis. I recommend that the appropriations for the. Civil Service Commission be made adequate to the increased work of the next fiscal year. Protection for Railroad Employes. I have twice before urgently called tbe attention of Congress to the necessity of legislation for the protection of the lives of railroad employes. but nothing has yet been done. During the year ending June 30, 1890, 869 brakemen were killed and 7,841 maimed while engaged in coupling oars. The total number of railroad employes killed <iuring the year was 2,451, and ths num bee injured 22,890. This is a cruel and largely a needless sacrifice. A law requiring of every railroad engaged in interstate commerce the equipment each year of a given per cent, of its freight care with automatic couplers and air brakes to be used would very soon and very greatly reduce the present fearful death rate among railroad employee. Constitutional Amendment Suggested. The method of appointment by the States of Electors of President and Vice President has recently attracted renewed interest by reason of a departure by the State of Michigan from the method which had become uniform iu all the States. Prior to 1832 various methods had been used by the different States, and even by the some State. After a full test of other methods, without important division or dissent la any State and without any purpose of party advantage, as we must believe the practice of all the States was brought into harmony. That this concurrence should now by broken is, I think, an unfortunate and even threatening episode, add one that may well suggest whether the States that still give their approval to the old and prevailing methods ought not to secure by a constitutional amendment, a practice which has had the approval of all. The recent Michigan legislation provides for choosing what are popularly known as the Congressional Electors for President by Congressional districts, and the two Senatorial Electors by districts created for that purjioae This legislation was, of course, accompanied by a new Congressional apportionment, and the two statutes bring the electoral vote of tho State under the influence of the gerrymander. These gerrymanders for Congressional purposes re in most cases outtra-sed by a gerrymander of the legislative diet lots, thus making it impossible far a majority of t ie 1 gal voters of tue State to correct the apportionment and to equalize the Congressional representation of ° all the dl tricts. A minority rule is established that only a politic 1 convulsion can overthrow. I have recently been advised that in one county of a certain State throe districts for the election of members of the Legislature are constituted as follows : One has 65,000 population, one 15,060, and one 10,060, while in another county, detached non-cofitiguous sections have been united to make a legislative district. These methods have already found effective application to the choice of Senators and enresentatlves in Congress, and now au evil start has been made in the direction of applying Hum to the choice by the States ot Electors of President and Vice President. If this is accomplished we shall then have three great departments of the Government in the grasp of the "gerrymander.” the legislative and tbe executive directly and the judiciary indirectly through the power of appointment. An election implies a body or electors electors having prescribed qualifications—each of whom has an equal status and influence in determining the result. So when the Constitution provides that each State shall appoint (elect) in such manner as tho Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, etc,, an unrestricted power was not given to he Legislatures in tbe selection of the methods to be used, “Arepublican form of government” is guaranteed by the Constitution to each State, and the power given by the same instrument to the legislatures of the States to prescribe methods for the choice, by the State, of electors, must be exercised under that limitation. The essential features of such a government are the right of the people to choose their own officers and tbe nearest practicable equality of value in the suffrages given in determining that choice. Nothing just now is more important than to provide every guarantee for the absolutely fair and free choice by au equal suffrage, with the respective States, of all the officers of the National Government, whether that suffrage is applied directly, as in the choice of members ot the House ot Representatives, or indirectly, as in the choice of Senators and electors of President. Respect for public officers and obedience to the law will not cease to -be the characteristics of our people until our elections cease to declare the will of majorities fairly ascertained, without fraud, suppression, or gerrymander. All Che States have, acting freely and separately, determined that the choice of elections by a general ticket is the wisest and safest method, and it would seem there could be no objection to a constitutional amendment making that method parmanent. If a legislature chosen in one year upon purely local questions should, pending a Presidential contest, rescind the law for a choice upon a general ticket and provide for the choice of electors by the Leglslatu e and this trick should determine the re■ult, it is not too much to say that the public peace might be seriously aud widely endangered. ' Frauds Against the Suffrage. An attempt was made in the last Congress to bring to bear the constitutional powers of the General Government for the correction of frauds against the suffrage, it ia important to know whether the opposition to such measure* la really rested in particular features supposed to be objectionable or include* anyproposition to give to the election law* of the united States adequacy to the correotion of grave and acknowledged evils. I must yet en ertain the hope that it 1* possible to secure a calm, patriotic consideration of such constitutional or statutory changes as may be necessary to secure the choice of the officers of the Government to th* people by fair appointments aud free elections, I believe it would be possible to constitute a commission non-partisan in its membership, and composed of patriotic, wise and impartial men, to whom a consideration of the question of the evil* oounec'ed with our election system and method* might bo committed with a good prospect of securing unanimity in some plan for removing or mitigating those evils. The Constitution would permit, the selection of th* commission to be vested in tho Supreme Court, if that method would give th* boat guaranty oi ixnpMrtliUtys while th* policies of the General Government upon the tariff, upon the restoration of our merchant marine, upon river and harbor improvement* and other such matters of grava and general concern are liable to be turuoa this way or that by the results of Congressional elections and administrative policies, sometimes involving issues that tend to peace or war, to bo turned this wav or that by the results of a Presidential election, there is a rightful interest in all the states and in every Congressional district that will not be deceived or silenced by the audacious pretense that tho question of th* right of any body ot legal voters in any State, or in any Congressional district, to give their suffrage* freely upon these general questions is a matter only of local concern or control. The demand that the limitation of suffrage shall ba found *i the law, and only there, is a just demand, and no lust man should resent or resist it. My appeal is, and must continue to be, for a consultation that shall “proceed wtth candor, calmness and patience upon the lines of justice and humanity, not of prejudice and cruelly.* To the consideration of these very grave question* 1 invito not only the attention of Congress, but that of all patriotic citizens. A trust, momentous in its influence upon our people and upon the world, is tor a brief time committed to us. and we must not be faithless to its first conditlon-the defense of the free and equal influence of the people in o ® oewi * ud in W* eontrol (Signed) Benjamin Hammon. ’a. ‘b’ a iiittifihfijLsA.-V

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