Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1898 — War Talk. [ARTICLE]

War Talk.

Laura—Papa, they are going to introduce military figures in the german this winter. Mr. Figg—l presume that means an Increase ia your appropriation bills.— Indianapolis Journal.

ivetlon of the vast military establishment* that weigh so heavily upon many peoples in time of peace was communicated to this Government with an earnest invitation to be represented in the conference which it is conteinplaied to assemble with a view to discussing the means of accomplishing so desirable a result. His Majesty was at once informed of the cordial sympathy of this Government with the principle involved In his exalted proposal and of the readiness of the United States to take part in the conference. The claims of owners of American sealing vessels for seizure by Russian cruisers in Behring Sea are being pressed to a settlement. The recommendation made in my special message of April 27 last is renewed, that appropriation be made to reimburse the master and owners of i he, Russia U bark Haus for wrongful arrest of the master aud detention of the vessel in February, 1893, by officers of the United States District Court.for the Southern Dis'.r e: of Mississippi. Immediately upon the outbreak of the war with Spain th? Swiss Government, fulfilling the high mission it lias deservedly assumed as the jatrui of the International Red Cross, prop s-d to the United States and Spain that they should severally recognize and carry into execution, as a modus vivendi, during the cbntinuatiOD of hostilities the additional articles proposed by the International conference of Geneva, Oct. 20. 1868. extending the effects of the existing Red Cross convention pf 18151 to the conduct of naval war. The Swiss proposal was promptly and cordially accepted by us and simultaneously by Spain. The newly accredited envoy of the United States to the Ottoman Porte carries instructions looking to the disposal of matters in controversy with Turkey for a number of years.• He is estiecially charged to press for aijust settlement of our cfiiims for indemnity by reasonoT the destruction of the property of American missionaries resident in that dbuntry during the Armenian troubles of 1895, as well as for the recognition of older claims of equal justn ss. -The arbitral tribunal appointed under the treaty of February, 1897, between Great Britain and Venezuela to determine the boundary line between the latter and the colony of British Guiana, is to convene at Paris during the present month. It is a source of much gratification to this ment to see the friendly resort to arbitration applied to the settlement of this controversy.

Bureau of American Republics. I have ihe satisfaction of being able to state that the Bureau of American Republics, created in 1899 ns the organ for promoting commercial intercourse and fraternal relations among the countries of the Western Hemisphere, has become a m-re efficient instrument of the w.se purposes of its founders, and is receiving the cordial support of the contributing members of the international union which are actually represented lu its board of managemeht. During the last year the important work of collecting Information of practical benefit to American industries and trade through the agency of the diplomatic and consular officers lias been steadily advanced, and in order to lay such data before the public with the least delay the practice was begun in January, 1898, of issuing the commercial reports from day to day. as they are received by the Department of State. We desire, in common with most civilized nations, to reduce to the lowest possible point the damage‘Sustained in time of war by peaceable trade aud commerce. This purpose can probably be best accomplished by au international agreement to regard all private property at sea as exempt from capture or destruction by'the forces of belligerent powers-.

Condition of the Treasury. The Secretary of the Treasury reports that the receipts of the Government from all sources during the-fiscal year ended June 30, 1800, including received from sale of Pacific railroads, amounted to $405.321,335. and its expenditures to $443.36.8,582. There was collected from customs $149,575,062 and from internal revenue $170,900,641. Our dutiable imports-amounted to $324,735,479, a decrease of $58,156,690 over the preceding year, -and importations free of duty amounted to $291,414,175. a decrease from the preceding year of $90,524,068. Internal revenue receipts exceeded those of the preceding year by $24,212,068. The total collected on distilled Spirits was $92,546,999, on manufactured tobacco $36,230,522 and on fermented liquors $39,515,421. We exported merchandise during the year amounting to $1,231,482,330. an increase of $180,488,774 over the preceding year. On the Ist of December, IS9S. the amount of money of al! kinds in circulation or not included in treasury holdings, was $1,836.879,504, an increase for the year of $165.794.966. Estimating our population at 75,194.000 at the time mentioned the per capita circulation was $35.09, The provisions made for strengthening the resources of the treasury in connection with the war have-given increased confidence in the purpose an.l power of the Government to maintain the present standard, and has established more firmly than ever the national credit at home and abroad. A marked evidence of this Is found in the inflow of gold to the treasury. I renew so much of my recommendation of December. 1897. as follows: ■'That - tvhen any of the United States notes are presented for redemption in gold and are redeemed in gold, such notes shall be kept nnd set apart and only paid out in exchange for gold. This is an obvious duty. If the holder of the United States note prefers the gold nnd gets it from the Government, he should not receive back from the Government a United States note without paying gold in exchange for it. The reason for this is made all 'he more apparent when the Government issues an interest-bearing debt to provide gold for the redemption of United States notes—a non-interest-bearing debt. Surely it should not pay them out again except on demand and for gold. If they are put out in any other way they may return again, to be followed by another bond issue to redeem them—anotht r interest-baar-Ing debt to redeem a non-interest-bearing debt.” In my judgment the present condition of the treasury amply justifies the immediate enactment of the legislation recommended one year ago, under which a portion of the gold holdings should be placed in a trust fund from, which greenbacks should be redeemed upon presentation, but when once redeemed should not thereafter be paid out except for gold. It is not to be inferred that other legislation relating to our currency is not required: on the contrary, there is an obvious demand for it. The importance of adequate provision which will Insure to our future a money standard related as our money standard now and to that of our commercial rivals is generally recognised. The companion proposition that our domestic paper currency shall be kept safe and yet be so related to the needs of our Industries and Internal commerce as to be adequate and responsive to such needs is a proposition scarcely less important Prompt Adoption of Maritime Volley, The annexation of Hawaii and the changed relations of the United States to Cuba, I‘orto Rloo and the Philippines, resulting from the war, compel the prompt adoption of a maritime policy by the United States. There should be established regular and frequent steamship communication, encouraged by the United States, under the Amerlcau flag, with the newly acquired Islands. Prevention of Yellow Fever. In my last annual message I recommended that Congress authorize the appointment of a commission for the purpose of making systematic Investigations with reference to the cause and prevention of yellow fever. It is my earnest desire that ’these problems may be considered by’ competent experts and that everything may be done which the most recent advances In sanitary science can offer for the protection of the health of our soldiers in Cuba and Porto Hico aud of our citizens who are exposed to the dangers of infection from the importation of yellow fever.

Increase of Army Rr com mended. The Importance of legislation for the permanent Increase of the army is manifest, and the recommendation of the Secretary of War for that purpose has my unquallßed approval. There can be no question that at this time and probably for some time in the future 100,000 men will be none too many to meet the necessities of the situation. It is my purpose to muster out the entire volunteer army as soon as the Congress shall provide for the Increase of the regular establishment.

I* my last annual message I stated: “Th* Union Pacific Railway, main line, was sold under the decree of the United States Court for the District of Nebraska the Ist and 2d of November of this year. The amount due the Government consisted of the principal of the subsidy bunds, $27,233,512. and the accrued interest thereon. P31.211.511.0T. making the total indebtedness $58.4482=3.75. The bid at the sale covered the first mortgage Hen and the entire mortgage claim of the Government, principal and Interest." This left the Kansas Pacific Case uneonclnded. By a decree of the court in that case au upset price for the property was fixed at a sum wki<-h would yield to the Government only $2.5 upon its Hen. By a somewhat complicated transaction the Government secured an advance of $3.&.i3,000 over aud above the sum which the court had fixed - as the tip*?* price, and which the reorganization committee had declared was the maximum which they would pay for the property. Department of Justice Buildin—. I deem it my duty to cal! to the attention of Congress the condition of th? present buildings occupied by the Department of Justice. The building new occupied by It Is pronounce d unsafe anil nnsuited for the use to which it is put. A proper regard for the safety, comfort atid convenience of the Officers aud employes would justify the expenditure of a libera! sum of money in the erection of a new building. In this connection I may likewise refer to the inadequate accommodations provided for the Supreme Court in the Capitol. Growth of the Postal Service. The postal service of the country advance* with extraordinary growth. Within twenty years both the revenues and the expenditures of the I’estoffi'e Department have multiplied threefold, In the last ten years they have nearly doubled. our postal business grows much more rapidly than our population. I- now involves an expenditure of $160,000,0' 0 a year, numbers 73,00 u p>«totHces. and enrolls StO.OoO employes. The war with Spain laid new attd labors on the Postoffiee Department. The” mustering of the military aud naval force* of the United States required special mail arrangements for every camp and every campaign. This necessarily met by the prompt detail and dispatch of experienced mea from the established force, aud by directing all the instrumentalities of the railway mail and p st'ffie service s» far a* necessary to this new need. Under the same authority, when our forces moved upon Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines, they were attend -d and followed by the postal service. Increasing tjtc Navy. The following rei orumendaiions of the Secretary of the Navy relative to the increase of the navy have my earnest approval: x 1. Three sea-going, sheathed and coppered battleships of about IXiXM tons trial displacement. carrying the heaviest armor and most powerful ordnance for vessels of their class, and to have the highest practicable speed and great radius of action. Estimated cost, exclusive of armor and armament, $3,(DO.dOO each. 2. Three -hcatb«d and e ppered armored cruisers of about 12.4)00 tons trial displacement, Carrying the heaviest armor and most powerful orjnahee for vessels of their class, and to have she highest practicable speed and great radius of action. Estimated cost, exclusive or armor aud armamept, s4A<M>.4fih) each. 3. Three sheathed and coppered protected cruisers of about 6,090 tons trial displacement; to have the highest practicable speed and great radius of action, aud to carry the mast powerful ordiiatiee suitable for vessels of their class. Estimated cost, exclusive of arm r and armament, KhI&MMN) each. 4. Six sheathed aud coppered cruisers of about 2,500 tons trial displacement: to have the highest speed compatible wkh good criusing qualities, great radius of action and to carry the most powerful ordnance suited to vessels of their class. Estimated .cost, exclusive of armament. $1.141,wb each. Additious to the Pension List. There were on the pension roils June 30, 1898, 993,714 names, an increase of nearly 18,000 over the number on the rails the same day of the preceding year. The ancunt appropriated by the act of Dec. 22. 18u6, for the payment of pensions for the fiscal year 1898 was $140,"00.0 o. Eight million seventy thousand eight hundred and setentytwo dollars and forty-six cents was appropriated by the act of March 31. 184»s. to cover deficiencies in army pensions and repayments in the «tun of SI2.<XM.3S. making a total of $l4B. -82 soj.'S ava lable for the payment of pensions during the fis.al year 1898. The am -unt disbursed from that sum was $144,071,879 80. leering a balance of $3,431,012.99 unexpended June So. IS9B. which was covered into the tr asury. The total receipts of the patent office during th" last year were 51.253,918.44. The expenditures were $1 oSl.fSiTt*, leaving a surplus of $172,314-<>s. _--

Government L.-uaJs Disposed Of. The public lands disposed of by the Government during the year reached S4S3.SJkJ.9c acres, an increase of 614,789.26 acres over .the previous year. The total receipts tram public lands during the fiscal year am unted to $2£.’77.9>*5.15. an incß’as- of $19)1.0634*0 over the preceding year. The special attention of the Congress Is called to that part of the report of the Secretary of the Interior in relation to the five civilized tribes. It is uoiew tr;by that the general condltfon of the Indians shows marked progress. But one outbreak of a serious character occurred during the year, and that among the Clapp >wa Indians of Minnesota, which happily has been suppressed. Itawea Commies',an Ifepart. While it has not ye; been practicable to enforce all the provisions of !he act of June 28. 1898, “for the protection of the people of the Indian Territory and for other purposes.” it is having a salutary effect upon the nations composing the five tribes. I cannot too strongly indorse the recommendation of the commission aud of the Secretary of the Interior f.r the necessity of providing for the education of the So.OOO white children resident in the Indian Territory. Department of Agricultare. The Department of Agriculture has been active In the last year. Explorers have been sent to many .of the countries of the Eastern aud Western; Hemispheres for seeds and plants '.liar may be useful to tbe-United States and with the further view of opening up markets fur our surplus products. The forestry division of the department is giving special attention to the tr.-elees regions of onr country and Is introducing species specially adapted to seml-arid regions. Forest tiros, which seriously interfere with pnodnettou, especially in irrig-sted regions, are be-, ing studied that the 1 «soa fr<m this cause may be avoided. Tbc department is inquiring into the use and abuse of water in many States of the West and collecting information regarding the laws of the States, the decisions of and the customs of the people in this regard, st that uniformity may lie secured. Experiment stations are becoming more cffer.r.e every year. The annual appropriation of $720,090 by Congress is supplemented by $40(».0(M» from the States. Nation-wide experiments have been conduced to ascertain the suitableness as to soil and climate and States for growing sugar beets. The number of sugar factories has been doubled tn the last two years and the ability of the United States to produce its own sugar from this source has been clearly demonstrated.

Wrsbiactoa Centennial. In the year 1900 will occur the centennial anniversary of the founding of the city of Washington for the permanent capital of the Government of the United States. A movement lately inaugurated by the citizens to have the anniversary celebrated with fitting ceremonies, including, perhaps, the establishment of a handsome permanent memorial to mark so historical an occasion and to-give it more thap local recognition, has met with general favor on the part of the public. . I recommend to the Congress the granting of an appeepriation for this purpose and the appointment of a committee from its respective bodies. The alien contract law is .shown by experience to need some amendment; a measure providing better protection for seamen is proposed; the rightful application of the eight-hour law for the benefit of labor and of the principle of arbitration are suggested for consideration, and I commend these subjects to the careful attention of the Congress. WILLIAM M KINLET.