Evening Star Newspaper, December 6, 1886, Page 2

al THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, 7” ESIDENT’S MESSAGE. [Continued srom First Page. emphasized. As a result of the reciprocity treaty Of 1875, those islands, on the vay of Oriental ‘and Australasian traMe, are virtually an outpost of American commerce and a siepping-stone to ‘the growing trade of the Pacific. The Polynesian Island groups have been so absorbed by other and More powerful governments, that the Hawallan Islands are left almost alone in the enjoyment of thelr autonomy, which it is important for us should be preserved. Our treaty is now termin- able on one year's notice, but propositions to abro- ate wonld be, in ay Jidemeat, most thadeised. he parunonnt Influence we have there acquired, once relinquished, could only with diMeulty be regained, and 2 valuable ground of vantage for Ourselves might be converted into @ stronghold for our mamercial competitors. I earnestly Tecommend that the existing treaty stipulations | De extended for a further term of seven Years. A Teeently signed treaty to this emd is now before the Senate, ‘The importance of telegraphic communication Detween those tsiands and the United States should not be overlooked. ‘The question of a general revision of the treaties: of Japan is again under discussion at Tokio. As the first to open relations with that empire, and as the nation in most direct commercial relation ited States have lost no oppor: | stent friendship by | Japan to autonomy ms. Xtradition between the United | States and Japan, the first. concluded by that em- | pire, has been lately proclaimed. OUR OBLIGATIONS TO LIBERIA. ‘The weakness of Liberia and the difficulty of | maintaining effective sovereignty over its outly- | ing districts, have exposed that republic to en-| crouchment. It cannot be forgotten that this distant community Is an offshoot of our own sys tem, owing its origin to the associated benevo- lence of American citizens, whose praiseworthy efforts to create a nucleus of civilization In the dark continent have commanded respect and sym- pathy everywhere, especially in this country. Although a formal ctorate over Liberia is contrary to our traditional policy, the moral right | and duty of the United States ‘to assist in all PI Ways in the maintenance of its integrity 1s and has been consistently announced during nearly half a century. I recommend that, in the reorganization of our navy, a smail vessel, no longer found adequate to our needs, be pre- sented to Liberia, to be employed by it in the pro- | ‘Yeetion of its coatwise reventies. The encouraging development of beneficial and Intimate relations between the United States and Mexico, Which has been so marked within the past | Tew years, is at once the occasion of congratula- ‘tion and of friendly solicitude. I urgentiy renew my former representation of the need of speedy legislation by Congress to carry into effect the Reciprocity Commercial Convention of January i 553. bur commercial treaty of 1851 with Mexico was terminated, according to its provisions, in 1881, upon notincation given by Mexlco in pursuance of her announced poiley of recasting all her commer- cial treaties. Mexico has since concluded with several foreign governments new treaties of com- Merce and “havigation, deiuing alien rights of trade, property and residence, treatinent of ship- ping, consular privilezes and the like. Our yet Unexecuted Keeiproeit: Convention of 1883 covers hone of these points, the settlement of which 18 $0 necessary to good relationship. I propose to inl- Hate with Mexico negotlatious for fnew and. €n- Jarged treaty of commerce and navigation. THE CUTTING CASE. In compliance with a resolution of the Senate, I communicated to that body on August 2d last, and also tothe House of Representatives, the corre- spondence in the case of A. K. Cutting, an Amert- cancitizen, then imprisoned in Mexico, charged with the commission of a penal offense in Texas, of which a Mexican citizen was the object. ‘After demand had been made for his release the charge against him was amended so_as to include a vioiation of Mexican law within Mexican terri- <oThis jotnder of alleged offenses, one within and beh Romer Mexico, [reece Gl @ spectal investigation of the case, ind hb ‘Mr. Cutting was released. The incident bas, however, disclosed a claim of Jurisdiction by Mexico, novel in our history, whereby any offense, committed anywhere by a foreigner, penal in the place of its commission, and of which a Mexican is the object, may, if the offender be found in Mexico, be there tried and in conformity with Mexican laws. This jurisdiction Was sustained by the courts of Mexico in the Cutting case and approved by the | executive branch of that government, upon the authority of a Mexican statute. The appellate court, in releasing Mr. Cutting, decided that the tigen aguriceed by tne alleged crime (a Mbetous ca F the allege ny Gaotieatiny, removed the basis of further prose- eu and also declared Justice to have been sat- fsned by the enforcement of a stall Part of the original sentence. MEXICO'S PRETENSIONS INADMISSIBLE. ‘The admission of such a pretension would be at- tended with serious results, invasive of the juris- diction of this government, and highly dangerous ‘tour citizens in foreign lands; therefore I have denied ft, and protested against its attempted exercise, as unwarranted by the principles of law and international usages. A sovereign has jurisdiction of offenses which soll in violation of our laws, even though the Offense be @ subject or citizen of such Mexican statute in question ‘broadly, and the princtpie, if ‘would create a dual responsibility in the cli lead to inextricable contusion, destructive ‘that certainty in the law which isan essential of harmony Usirrevocably neighbors, and’ wisdom’ and "kind feeling should make us ti ity of both countries. removed; and I trust ‘that in the ince ‘The it of the Netherlands has ex. hibited concern in relation to certain features of ‘Our tariff laws, which are supposed by them to be aimed at a clas of tobacco produced in the Dutch East Indies. Comment would seem unnecessary upon the unwisdom of legislation appearing to Rave e.spectal ational aa for Its ob- Ject, which, aitRough unintent may give rise Yo iMjurtous retaltation.. * The estabutshment, less than four ago, of a Stable it 18 now happily restored 1 peru by the viection of a constitatusal President, ‘and period of rehabitation ts entered upon. But the recovery 1s necessarily slow from the ex- haustion caused by the late War, and civil disturb. apees. A convention to adjust, by arbitration, Deen proposed, and 15 considera a toe ee to Siberia the testi- mgonials bestowed mgress in rec ition ‘the aid given to the Jeannette survivors has suc. cco : Civil perturbations in the Samoan Islands have uring the past few years been a source of consid- brable embarrassment to the three governments— Germany, Great Britain and the United States— Whose relations and extraterritorial rizits in that important group are guaranteed by treaties. The weakness of the native administration and the ! conflict of 0 interests in the Islands have ied King Malietoa fo seek alliance or protection In ome ue quarter, regardless of the distinct en- Gagements whereby ho one of the three treaty fers MAY acquire any Paramount or exclusive Eiterest. "ia May last Malicton, offence ts place Samoa Under the protection of the United States and the late consul, without antuority, assume Yogrant tt. ‘The proceeding was promptly dis avOwed and the overzealous official recalled, ‘Special agents af the three governments have been deputed to examtne the situation In the Tslands. With & change In the representation of all three MS and & harmonious understanding between the peace, prosperity, atitonomuous andi: and neutral Of Salus can a istration, ty ean hardly tai AMERICAN TRADE IN THE WEST INDIES, It appearing that the government of Spain did ‘ able development of for the fiscal year en June 30, 14 were $242,- | Anse, belng les by gic than such ex here thetr main markets of supply and demand, | ts stated and compared with the preceding year as | mainder, amounting to $25,013,650, matured under | and gratitying improvement during the past | marked out for and they must be ted or | merit is USEFULNESS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW, ve welt: cuba ico and their pro- the calls after that date. A particular account of its trat guided until they are familiar with the way and | Be justly. It with through laws, These Gace eed ade dee eeareoty lees an poreaane 0 pees 5 ee In addition to the amount subject to payment | Joa". Nowtven in the heport’ OF tha, one | Competent to astume the duties and reepouaibt. | coaditaens fully. justity seaietien ay the eee, us than to Spain. "Thetr commercial and financial Inovements are so naturally © part of our system that no obstacle to fuller and freer intercourse should be permitted to exist. ‘The standing in- structions of our itatives at Madrid and Bsayed to further these endsy and at ho time has exsayed to further these ends, a the eqnal good desire of Spain been nore hopefully manifested than now. ‘The government of Spain, by removing the con- sular tonnage fees on cargoes shipped to the An- tllles, and by reducing passport fees, has shown its recognition of the needs of less’ trammeled intercourse. An effort has been made during the past year to remove the hinderances to the proclamation of the treaty of naturalization with the Sublime signed in 1874, which has remained inoperative owing to a disagreement of interpretation of the clauses relative to the effects of the return to and sojourn of a naturalized citizen im the, land of origin, I trust soon to be able to announce a fav‘ able settlement of the differences as to this inter- retation. Pitas been hizhly satisfactory to note the im- oved treatment of America missionaries in Markey, as has been atiested by thelr acknowledg- ments to our late minister to that government of his suecessful exertions in their behalf. ‘The exchange of ratifications of the convention of December 5, 1885, With Venezuela, for the re- opening of the awards of the Caracas Commission under the Claims Convention of 1866, has not yet been effected owing to the delay of the Executive of that repubite tn ratifying the measure, I trust that this postponement will be brief; but should it much longer continue, the delay may well be re- garded as a rescission of the compact and a failure on the part of Venezuela to complete an arrange- ment so persistently sought by her during many years and assented to by this Government ina Spirit of international fairness, although to the detriment of holders of bona fidé awards of the im- pugned commission. NATURALIZATION AND EXTRADITION. I renew the recommendation of iny last annual message, that existing legislation concerning citt- zenship and naturalization be revised. We have treaties with many states providing for the re- nunctation of citizenship by naturalized aliens, Dut no statute 1s found to give effect to such en- gagements, nor any which provides a needed cen- tral bureau for the registration of naturalized eltizens, Experiences that our statutes regulating extradition might, be advantageously amended by a provision for the transit across our territory, now a convenient thoroughfare of travel from oné foreign country to another, of fugitives surrend- ered by @ foreign government to a third state. Such provisions are not, unusual in the legislation of other countries, and tend to prevent the mis- carriage of Justice, It 18 also desirable, in order 1o retuove present, uncertainties, that authority should be conferred on the Secretary of State to issue a certiflcate in case of an arrest for the pur- pose of extradition, to the officer before whom the proceeding ts pending, showing that a requisition for the surrender of the person charged has duly made. Such a certificate, if required to be received before the prisoner's examinatton, would Prevent a long and expensive judicial taguiry into a charge which the foreign government inight not desire to press. T also recommend that express provision be made for the tinmediate dischat Irom enstody of persons committed for ext Uon where the President 1s of opinion that sur- render should not be made. INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT. ‘The drift of sentiment in civilized communities toward full recognition of the rights of property 4m the creationsof the human intellect has brought about the adoption, by many important nations, of an International Copyright Convention, which was signed at Berne on the 18th of September, 1885. Inasmuch as the Constitution gives to Congress the power “to promote tne of setence and useful arts by securing for limited times to authors and Inventors the exclusive right to their re- spective writings and discoveries,” this Govern- ment did not feel warranted in becoming a signa- tory pending the action o* Cor ‘upon measures: of international copyright, now betore it, but the nt of adhesion to the Berne Convention here. after, has been reserved. I trust the subject will Teceive at your hands the attention it deserves, and that the Just claims of authors, so urgently pressed, will be duly heeded. Representations continue to be made to me of the injurious effect upon American artists study- ing abroad and having free access. to the art col- lections of foreign countries, of m.tntaining a dis- eriminating duty against the introduction of the works of their brother artists of other countries; and Iam induced to repeat’ my recommendation for the abolition of that tax. READJUSTMENT OF CONSULAR SALARIES. Pursuant to a provision of the diplomatic and consular appropriation act. approved July 1, 1886, the estimates submitted by the Secretary of State for the maintenance of the consular service have ‘een recast, on the basis of salaries for all officers towhom such allowance ts deemed advisable. Ad- vantage has been taken of this to redistribute the salaries of the offices now appropriated for, in ac- cordance with the work performed, the importance Of the representative duties of the incur! a ‘the cost of living at each post. The last consid- eration has been too often lost sight of in the allowances heretotore made. ‘The compensation ‘which may suffice for the decent maintenance of & worthy and capable officer in a position of onerous and representative trust at a post readily accessible, and where the necessaries of life are abundant’ and cheap, may prove an inadequate pittance in distant lands, where the better part of a year's pav fs consumed in reaching the post, of duty, and where the comforts of ordinary elvilized existence can only be obtained with difliculty and ab exorbitant cost. T trust that, in considering ‘the submitted schedules, no mistaken theory economy will perpetuate a system which tn the ast has virtually closed to deserving talent many Sy are i > and 10 Rot a nes fas Drought discredit. on our national character and entafled embarrassment even suffering on those dey ‘to uphold our dignity and inter- ests al In connection with this subject I earnestly re- iterate the practical necessity of supplying some mode of trustworthy inspection and report of the manger in whica the consulates areconducted. In ‘absqnce of such reliable jnformation, e can scarvely be rewarded, or its opposite cor- rect in trade has directed at. com tention to the Valle of the cousular reports printed by the Department of State, and the efforts of the Government to extend the practical usefulness of ‘these reports have created a wider demand for them at home and a spirit of emulation abroad. Constt- ‘ating a record of the changes occurring in trade and Of the progress of the arts and invention in foreign countries, they are much sought for by all interested in the Subjects which they embrace. ‘THE NATIONAL FINANCES, The of the Secretary of the Treasury ex- hibits in detail the condition of the public finances ‘and of the several branches of the Government re- lated to his Department. I especially dtrect the attention of the Congress to the recommendations contained in this and the last preceding report ofthe Secretary, touching the simplification and amend- ment of the laws relating to the collection of our Tevenues; and in the interest of econemy and Jus- tice to the Government, I hope they may be by appropriate legislation. ‘The ordinary receipts of the Government for the fiscal year ended June 30, were $536,439,- 727.06. Of this amount $192, 023.41 was re- ceived from customs and $116,805,936.48 from in- ternal revenne. ‘The total as here stated, Were $13,749,020.68 greater than for the previous year, but the increase from customs was - ‘064.0, and from internal revenue $4,407,210. making « gain in these items for the last year of $15,841,295.04—a falling off in other resources re- ducing’the total increase to the smaller amount mentioned. ‘The expense at the different custom-houses, of collecting this increased customs revenue ‘was Jess than the expense attending the collection of ‘such revenue for the preceding year by $490,608; and the 1 receipts of Internal revenue Were collected at a cost to the Internal-Revenue Bureau $155,944.90 less than the expense of such collection for the previous year. ‘The total ordinary expenses of the Government penditures for the year preceding, and leaving a sur- lug in tne Prearary at tke cloas of the Inet, cal year of 588.56 as against $63,463,771.27 at the close of the previous year, being an increase in sueh surplus of $30,492,817. ‘The expenditures are com with those of the preceding fiscal year and classified as follows: geaag’y 22332 | 230 t2FHETS S332 g5 238233 suisister ge 28882 i 225532: : $9255 <5: # a ee gai BB ge ii ask S pS £ Bo8 ey ja 8 Bee i ER | 2 2 882 2 saz | i spe TS Ts on0'ReL‘t9 96 uso ‘oars | 60 aL0'r Ly austoLe'se 00 '0GF'S reve et Wit aeon na 7 § 4 ‘ot the Year ot ,000,000. ‘The expenditures ticipated wurpias af tae chs and the @al good will of the countries they my ated u nited. exchanges between the Ui Spanish Antilles is Rxvonta 4D Dironrs. ‘The total value of the exports from the United. ‘States to foreign countries during the fiscal year (For the eno 1 Est, ee 30, ai ‘ear, a8 Compared with the value ol Year immediately is rnishes information both inter esting and suggestive: Pir the: — Fortheyeare a june | fag, fi) ag jégj $219-985:576 00 | $213,700,040 00 i H Ianufactures.| 30,424,908 00 | 24,767,305 00 Breadstuffs,....| 125,846,558 00 | 160,570,821 00 Provisions...°.1! 0025,216 00 | Tors 456 00 Our imports during the last fiscal year, as com- pated with the previous year, were aa follows: | 1885, - Merehandise | $6:15,436,196 00 | $579,580,053 80 Gold... 20,743,349 00 | * 225,001,606 00 Sliver... 17,850,307 00 | 16,550,627 00 In my last annual message to the Congress at- tention was directed to the fact that the revenues of the government exceeded its actual needs; and taken to Reve te people tome the nnsceasy pl e_ unnecessary in view of the pressing importeoecen the lew of the Ing importance of the subject I deem it my duty to again urge its considerat! ‘THE INCKEASING SURPLUS REVENUES. ‘The income of the Government, by its increased volume and through economies in its collection, is now more than ever in excess of public necessities. ‘The application of the surplus to the payment of such portion of the public debt as is now at our option subject to extinguishment, 1f continued at the rate which has lately prevaiied, would retire that class of indel 8 within less than one Year from this date, ‘Thus a continuation of our Present revenue system would soon result in the re- ceipt of an annual income much greater than nec- essary to meet Government expenses, with no in- debtedness upon which it could be applied, We should then be confronted with a vast quantity of money, the circulating medium of the people, hoarded in the Treasury when it should be in thelt hands, or we should be drawn into wasteful public extravagance with all the corrupting national de- moralization which follows in its train. But it ts not the simple existence of this surplus and its threatened attendant evils, which furnish the strongest argument against our present scale of Federal taxation. “Its worst phase is the exac- Uon of such a surplus through a perversion of the Telations between the people and their Govern- ment, and a dangerous departure from the rules which limit the right of Federal taxation. Good government, and especially the govern- ment of which every American citizens boasts, as for its objects, the protection of every person Witirin its carein the greatest Mberty consistent ‘With the good order of society, and his perfect s¢- curity in the enjoyment of “his earnings, with the Jeast dimunition for public needs, When amore of the people's substance 13 exacted through the form of taxation than 1s necessary to ineet the Just obligations of the government and the ex- Dense of its economical administration, such ex- action becomes ruthless extortion and a’ violation of the fundamental principles of a free Govern- ‘The indirect manuer in which these exactions are made, has a tendency to conceal their true character and thetrextent, But we have arrived ata of superfluous revenue which has aroused the people to-a realization of the tact, ‘at the amount raised Professediy for the sup” ent, 15 y them as abso. Tate, in added Be chings which § ‘tothe price of thi which suppl; eda the pte orth lek ply Into the hand of the tax-gatherer, ‘Those who tot] for daily wages are beginning to understand that capital, though sometimes vaunt- ing its importance and clamoring for the protec. ton and favor of the Government, is dull and sluggish, till, touched by the magical hand of labor, tt Springs into activity, furnishing an occa- sion for Federal taxation aud galing’ the vatue which enables it to bear its urden. And the laboring man is thoughtfully inq juiring whether in these circumstances, and consi ing the trib- eae constantly pay ino the public freagary ant e receives fair share of advantages. TER GROWTH OF VAST PRIVATE FORTUNES. There is also a suspicion abroad that the surplus ofour revenues indicates abnormal and exceptional ‘business profits, which, under the system which Produces such surplus, increase without corre- ‘sponding benefit to the people at large, the vast accumulations of a few among our citizens whose fortunes rivaling the wealth of the most favored in anti-democratic nations, are not the natural growth of a steady, plain and industrious republic, Our farmers too, and those engazed directly and indirectly in supplying we products of agricul ture, see that day by day, and as often as the daily wants of their households recur, they are forced to pay excessive and needless taxation, while thetr products struggle in foreign markets with the competition of nations, which. by allow. u ee exchange of proces a than we per- . en ir people to sell for pri 5 Astrea te American farmer. eo aeplia every patriotic citizen rejoices tn the con- stantly Increasing pride of our a le in eee can citizenship and in the glory of our national achievements and progress, a sentiment prevaiis that the leading-st1 pee useful to a nation in its infancy, may well be toa great extent discarded in the present stage of American ingenuity, cour- age and fearless self-reliance. And for the privi- lege of indulging this sentiment with true Ameri- ‘can entht our citizens are quite willing to forego an idle surplus tu the publteI'reasury And all the peopie know that the avera; rate of Federal taxation upon. imports is to-day, in Ume of peace, but littie less, while upon articles Of necessary consumption it 1s actually more, than was imposed by the grievous burden eS pene ae ae ee the Governmeat maintain by war the safety integrity of the Union. f br “ REVISION OF THE TARIFF RECOMMENDED. It has been the policy of the Government to col- lect the principal part of its revenues by a tax upon imports; and nochange in this policy is de- sirable. But the present condition of affairs con- strains our people to demand, that by a revision of ur revenue laws, the recetpts of the Government ‘Shall reduc to the necessary expense of economical administration; and this demand should be recognized and obeyed by the peuple's Fepresentatives in the ative branch oh = re legisl: of the in readjusting the burdens of Federal taxatt & sound public policy requires that such of our citizens as have bulit up. and tnportant in- dustries under present conditions should not be puddenly and to their injury deprived of ‘advan- tages to which they have adapted thelr ‘business; but if the public good requires it, they should be content with such consideration as shall deal fairly gud cautiously with thelr interests white the Just demand ple ‘troni need! Hon is honestly answered pst ‘A reasonal nely submission to such a demand should certainly be possible without dis, astrous shock to any interest; and @ cheerful con cession sometimes averts abrupt and heediess action, often the outgrowth of impatience aud de= Due regard should be also accorded tn any pro- readjustment, to the interest of American bor so far as they are involved. We congratu late ourselves that there ts among us no. laborin, class, fixed within unytelding bounds and doome under all conditions to the inexorable fute of dally toll, We recognize in labor a chiet factor in the wealth of the repubitc, and we treat those who have it in their Keeping as citizens entitied to the most careful regard and thoughtful attention, ‘This regard and attention should be awarded them, not only because labor fs the capital of our workingmen, justly entitled to its shure of Gov. frament favoi, Dut for the further and not ies portant reason, laboring man sur rounded by his fainily in his humble home, asa ‘consumer is vitally interested in all that cheapens the cost of living and enables him to bring within his domestic circle additional comforts and ad- v ations suggest such an of government, Fevenues ts shall reduce the expense of living, while {t does not curtall the opportunity for work hor reduce the compensation of American labor, and injuriously affect its condition and the dign! pers it holds 1p the estimation of our eo) THR TARIFF ESPECIALLY ONEROUS TO THE FARMER. Butour farmers and agricuiturists—those who from the soll produce the things consumed by all— are perhaps more directly and plainly concerned ‘than any other of our citizens, in a just and care- ful system of Federal taxation. Those actually en- gaged in and more remotely connected with this kind of work, number nearly one-half of our pop- ulation, None labor harder or more continuously than they. No enactments Umit their hours of and no hi of the ees ih ze i and cancellation prior to November 1st; there were also paid before that day certain of these bonds, the interest thereon, amounting to $5,072,350, which were anticipated as to thelr me- turity, of which $2,604,850 had not been called, ‘Thus $107,341.80 had been actually applied prior to the Ist of November, 1886, to the extinguish- ment of our bonded aid interest-bearing debt, leaving on that day still outstanding the sum ot $1,153,443,112. Of this amount $86,! ,700 were ‘stlil represented by three per cent bonds. They, however, have been since November 1st, oF will at once be, further reduced by $22,606,150, bein bonds which have been called, as already st: ut not redeemed and canceléd before the latter ‘THE SILVER DOLLARS. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1886, there were coined under the compulsory silver-cotnage act of 1878, 29,838,905 silver dollars, and the cost of the silver used In such coinage Was $23,448,960.- OL. There had been coined up to the close of the previous fiscal year under the provisions of the law, 209,882,554 silver dollars, and on the Ist day of December, 1896, the total amount of such cotnage was $247,131,549. ‘The Director of the’ Mint reports that atthe time of the passage of the law of 1878 directing this coinage, the intrinsic value of the dollars thus coined was ninety-four and one-fourth cents each, and that on the 3ist day of July, 1886, the price of siver reached the lowest ‘stay, ever known, 59 that the intrinsic or bullton price of our standard silver dollar at that date was less than seventy. two cents. The price of silver on the 30th day of November last was such as to make these dollars intrinsically worth seventy-elght cents each. ‘These differences In valtie of the coins represent the fluctuations in the price of sliver, and they certainly do not indicate that compulsory coinage by the Government enhances the price of that commodity or secures uniformity In tts value. Every fair and legal effort has been made by the ‘Treasury department to distribute this currency among the people. Tite witudrawal of Unit States Treasury notes of small denominations, g the issuing of small silver certificates, have been resorted to in the endeavor to accomplish this re- sult, In obedience to the will and sentimentsof the Tepresentatives of the people in the Congress. On the 27th day of November, 1886, the people held of tere coins, or ‘certiicatess, representing them, the nominal sum of $106,873,041, and we still ha $79,464,345 in the “Ireastry—as against about $142,804,05 soin the hands of the people, and $72,805,376 remaining in the Treasury one’ year ago. ‘The Director of the Sfint again urges the ne- cessity of more vault room for the purpose of stor- ing these sliver dollars which are not needed for cireulation by the people. SUSPENSION OF COMPULSORY COINAGE URGED. Thave seen no reason to change the views ex- pressed in my last annual message on the subject of this compulsory colnage; and I again urge its suspension on all the grounds contained in my former recommendation, reinforeed by the signifl- cant increase of our gold exportations during the last year, as appears by the comparative state- ment herewith presented, and for the further rea- sons that the more this currency 1s distributed among te people the greater becomes our duty to protect it from disaster; hat we now have abun- dance for all our needs; and that there seems Dut ttle propriety in building vaults to store Such currency When the only pretense for its coln- fage 1s the nevessity of its use by the people as a circulating mediuin. ‘The great uuunber of sults now pending in the United States courts for the southern district of New York, growing out of the collection of cus- ‘toms revenue at the port of New York, and the number of such suits that are almost daily insti- tuted, are certainly worthy the attention of the Congress. ‘These legal controversies based upon confileting views by Importers and the collector a8 to the interpretation of our present complex and indefinite revenue laws, inight be largely ob- Viated by an amendment of those laws, But pending such amendment the present condi- tion of this ‘iitigation should be relieved. ‘There are now pending about twenty-five hundred of these sults, More than cleven hundred have been commenced within the past eighteen months, and many of the others have been at issue for more than twenty-five years, ‘These delays subject the government to loss of evidence and prevent the Preparation necessary to defeat unjust. and ficti- Uous claims, while consta: ‘ing interest threatens to double the demands involv In the present: condition of the dockets of the courts, well filled with private suits, and of the force allowed the district attorney, no greater than Js necessary for the ordinary” and current, Dusiness of his ofice, these revenue tigations can- not be considered. In default of the adoption by the Congress of a Plan for the general reorganization of tie federal courts as has been heretofore recommended, 1 lunge the propriety of passing a law permitting the appointment of An additionl rederal judge iu the district where these gov mulated, so that vy courts dévoted tothe trial be determined. It 1s entirely plain that. a great saving to the government, would be accomplished by stich a remedy, and the suitors who have honest claims would not be denied justice through delay. ‘THR WAR DEPARTMENT. ‘The report of the Secretary of War gives a de- talled account of the administration of his Depatt. ment, and contains sundry recommendations for the improvement of the service which I fully ap- prove. ‘The Army consisted at the date of the last con- solidated return, of two thousand one hundred and three oficers and twenty-four thousand nine hundred and torty-six enlisted men. ‘The expenses Of the Deparument for the last fiscal year were $36,990,003.38, Including 305.48 for public Works ‘and river and harbor im- provements. T especially direct the attention of the Congress to the recommendation that ofticers be required to subinit to an examtfnation asa preliminary to thelr Promotion, 1 see no objection but many advan tages in adopting this feacure, which has operated so beneficially tn our Navy Department, as well as in some branches of the Army. ‘The subject of coast defenses and fortifications has been fully and carefully treated by the Board on Fortifications whose report was submitted at the last seasion of Congress; but no construction work of the kind recommended by the Board has been possible during the last year from the lack of appropriations for such purpose. OUR DEFENSELESS COASTS. ‘The defenseless condition of our sea-coast and lake frontier is perfectly palpable; the examina- tions made must convince us all that certain of our cities named in the report of the board should be fortified, and that work on the most important of these fortifications should be commenced at once; the work has been thoroughly considered and jaid out the Secretary of War reports, but all 1s delayed tn default of Congressional action. ‘The absolute necessity, jtidged by all standards of prudence and foresight, of our preparation for aneffectiial resistance against the armored ships and steel guns and mortars of modern construe- tion which may threaten the cittes on our coasts, 1s 80 apparent that I hope effective steps Will be taken [n that direction immediately. ‘The valuable and suggestive treatment of this question by the Secretary ot War fs earnestly commended to the consideration of the Congress, In September and October last. the “hostile Apaches who, under the leadership of Geronimo, had for eightcen imonths been on the war path, and during that tine had committed many mur: ders and been the cause constant terror to the se tlers of Arizona, surrendered to Gen. ) military commander who succeeded the mahagement and direction of their pursuit. Under the terms of thelr surrender as then ‘re- ted, and In View of the understanding which These” murderous Savages" Seemed. to. citer. tain of the assurances given them, it Wa coustdered best to imprison them in sued manner as (o prevent thelr ever engaging in such outrages in, instead of trying them for murder. Fort fekehs having been seiected as a sate place of confinement, il the adult males were sent thither and Will be closely guarded as prisoners, In the meantime the -residue of the Dand, who though still remaining upon the reservation ‘were rded a8 unsafe, an ted of furnishing iid to tose on the War path, had beet rewnoved to Fort Marion. The women and larger children of the hostiles were also taken there, “und. arrange. ments have: Deen made for putting’the children of Proper age in Indian schoo! THE NAVY DEPARTMENT. ‘The report of the Secretary af the Navy con- tains a detafled exhibit of the condition of his Department with such a statement of the action needed to tmprove the same as should challenge the earnest attention of the Congress. ‘The present Navy of the United States, aside from the ships in course of construction, con- alsts of— ¥irst, fourteen single-turreted monitors, none of whieh are In eommisglon, hor at te presente tine serviceable, ‘The batteries of these ships are ob- solete, ond they can only be relied upon as auxil- tary ships in harbor defense, and then after such an expenditure upon them ai might not be deemed Seconds i fourth-rate vessels of tor ve ral of small toni only one‘of Which was designed as a War vost, and all of whieh are auxiliary, merely, Third, twenty-seven cruling-ships, three ot which are built of iron, of small tonnage, and twenty-four of wood. Of these wooden vessels 1t 4s estimated by the Chiet Constructor of the Navy that only three will be serviceable beyond a period of six years, at which time it may be said that of the present’ naval fore nothing worthy the name will remain. All the vessels heretofore authorized are under Srmored ships the torpedo and dyuh armot fami ler. As to the last of mnunent sults have accu- us sessions of the ese Cases, they may ne and condition Is given in the report of the Post- master-General which will be laid before you, ‘The reduction of the rate o: letter postage in 1883, rendering the I revenues inadequate to atin the enpendituae and business depression also contributing, resulted in an excess of cost for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1885, of eight and one-third millions of dollars. ‘An adilitional check upon receipts by doubling the measure of it In rating sealed correspondence and diminishing one-half the charge for newspaper carriages Ws imposed by legisiation which took effect with the beginning of the past fiscai year; while the con- stant deniand of our territorial development and ulation, for the extension and increase Gf mall "taciiities “and machinery, necessitates steady annual advance in outlay; and the careful estimate of a year ago upon the rates of expendi- ture then existing, contemplated the ve sot cal The an- tictpated reveuue for the last year failed of reall. zation by about $64,000; but proper measures of economy have so satisfactorily limited the growth of expenditure, that, the total deiicieney, ia tact, fell Delow that of 1885; and at this time the in- crease of revenue ts in a gaining ratio over the In- crease of cost, demonstrating the sufliciencs the present rates of postage ultimately to sustain the service. ‘This is the more pleasing becau: people enjoy now both cheaper postage, propor- Uonably to distances, and a vaster and more cost service, than any other upon the globe. Retrenchment has been effected in the cost of lies, Some expenditures unwarranted by law and the outiays for m: subjected to beneficial serutiny ar the expe transportation on star routes stood an annual rate of cost less by over $560,000 than at the close of the previous year; and steamboat and mail- messenger service at nearly $200,000 less. ‘The service has been in the meantime enlarged and extended by the establishinent of new offices, increase Of routes of carriage, expansion of carrier delivery conveniences, and additions to the rail- way mail facilities, in accordance with the grow- eee) of the country and the long-estab- lished policy of the Government. The Postmaster Genenral calls attention to the existing law for compensating railroads, and ex- esses the optaion that 9 method may be devised ich Will prove more just to the carriers and beneficial to the Government; and the subject ap- pears worthy of your early consideration. COMMUNICATION WITH SOUTH AMERICA, The differencies which arose during the year with certain of the ocean steamship companies, have terminated by the acquiescence of all in the policy of the Government approved by the Con- gress in the postal appropriation at its last sesstot and the Department now enjoys the utmost se vice afforded by all vessels which sail from our ports upon either ocean—a service nerall to the needs of our intercourse. Petltio have however been presented to tae Department y numerous merchant: id manufacturers forthe establlshine! » the Angentine Aispacclie’ 0 the ail; and the subject ts commended toyour consiaeration, ‘It 13 an obvious provide the means of postal communication which our commeree requires, and with prudent forecast of results, the wise extension of it may lead to stimulating Intercourse and become the harbinger of a profitable trafic, which will open new avenues for the disposition of the products of our industry. The circuinstancles of the countries at Ue far south of our continent, are such a3 to Invite our enterprise and afford the promise of suficient ad- ntages to justify an unusuul effort to bring bout the closer relations which greater freedom of communication would tend to establish. Ist ‘that as disUnguished from a grant or subsidy for the mere benefit cf any line of trade or travel, whatever outlay may be required to secure ditional postal service, necessary and proper and not otherwise attainable, should be regarded as within the limit of legitimate compensation for such service, ‘The extension of the free-delivery service as sug- gested by the Postmaster General has heretofore received my sanction, and {¢ ts to be hoped a suit able enactment may soon be agreed upon. ‘The request for an appropriation suffictent to enable the general Inspection of fourth-class offices. has my approbation, Irenew my pipcorel of the recommendation of thp Postmaster General that another assistant be provided for the Post oftice Department; and invite your attention to the several other ‘recom- mendations tn his report. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. ‘The conduct of the Department of Justice for the last fiscal year Is fully detailed in the report of the Attorney General, and I invite the earnest atten- Uon of the Congress to the same, and due consid- eration of the recommendations therein contatned. In the report submitted by this officer to the last. session of the Congress he strongly recom- mended the erection of a penitentiary for the con- tinement of prisoners convicted and sentenced In the United States court. nd he repeats the rec- ommendation in his report for the last year. This | natter of very great importance and should at once receive ressional action. United States py v confined in more than thirty different State prisons and penitentia ri tor tb ountry. ‘They ferent modes of too much re zilation of Govern- ment. So far as they ave entitied to humane treat ment and an opportunit a reformation, the. Gover: to them and society that these things are forthcom- ing. But this duty can scarcely be discharged Without more absolute control and direction than is possible under the present system, Many of our good citizens have Interested them- selves, with the most beneficial results, in the question of pee reform, The General Govern- nent should be iu a situation, since there must be United States prisoners, to furat in this movement, and should be able to fllustrate What may be practically done in the direetion of this reform and to present an example in the treatment and lmprovement of its prisoners worthy of Imitation, With prisons under its own control, the Govern- ment could deal with the soi ‘hat vexed ques- Uon of convict labor, so far as its convicts were coucerned, according to a plan of itsown adoption, and with due regard to the rights «and interests of our laboring citizens, instead of sometimes aiding in the operation of a’ system which causes among trem irritation and discontent. Upon consideration of this subject it might be thought wise to erect more than one of these insti- tutions, located in such places as would best sub- serve Lhe purposes of convenience and economy in transportation, The considerable cost of main- taining these convicts as at present, in State in- stitulons, would be saved by the adoption of the plan proposed; and by employing them in the manufacture of such articles as were needed for use by the Government, quite a large pecuniary Carre would be realized in partial return for our outlay. CHANGE IN THE FEDERAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM URGED. I again urge a change in the Federal judicial system to meet the wants of the people and obvl- ate the delays necessarily attending the present condition of affairs in our courts. All are agreed that something should be done, and much favor ts. ‘shown by those well able to advise, to the plan sug- gested by the AttorneyGeneral at the last session of the Congres ended in my last annual message. dation 1s here renewed, together with another made at the same time, touching a change in the manner of compensat- ing district attorneys and marshals; and the latter subject Is commended to the Congress tor ction, in the Interest of economy to the Gov- ernment, ’and humanity, fairness, aad justice to our people, ‘THE INTRRIOR DEPARTMENT. ‘The report of the Secretary of the Interior pre- sents a comprehensive summary of the work of the various branches of the public service con- nected with his department; and the suggestions and recommendations which it contains for the huprovement of the service should receive your careful consideration, ‘The exhibit made of the condition of our Indian population and the progress of the work for thelr enlightenment, notwithstanding the many em- barrussments Which hinder the better administra- tion of this itnportant branch of thg. service, 1s a gratifying and hopeful one. ‘The funds appropriated for the Indian service for the fiscal year just passed, with the available income from Indian land and trust moneys, amounting in all to $7,850,775.12, were ample for ‘the service under the conditions and restrictions of laws. ting their expenditure. ‘There re- mained a balance on hand on June 30, 1886, of $1,600,023.30, of which $1,337,76821 are’ pertha- nent funds for tulMiunent or treaties and_ other lke purposes, and the remainder, $222,255.09, 1s Subject to be carried to the surplus tuhd as re quired by law, ‘The estimates presented for appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year amount to $5,¢ 873.04, OF $442,386.20 less than those laid before’ the Con- gress last year. 5 ‘The present system, eect nee nla fod absolutely necessity and well adapted for the management of our indian affairs and for teends tn view when it was adopt e presen indian management inadequate, standil alone, for the accomplishment of an object wich has become pressing in its Importance—the more rapid transt- ty have been the close of the last Mscal ¥ h Amportant aid Uon from tribal o tons to citizenship, of such portions of the ‘ag are capable of clv- lized lite, ‘When the e: Was adopted the In- dian race was out organized of the limits of all efforts were mainly directed to the maintenance of friend- 1y relations and the preservation of peace and quiet miler. All Ss Sno ag the Indian frontier. Ctviliza- posaible for them to subsist by the oie EMS ata omnes 7 tf furnished with tne neds ‘and implements for proutae Res bandry, thetr tite of entire: ‘upon Gov- grmect rations trom. to: ne RO cA detective system of ig to cling to the ‘habits and castoms of thelr ancestors and struggle with persistence against the change of life oa them. | But bevattan and einai cannot re Should Boetiveoy tne same soi ealutonty of dar Gover ‘are under : and re a peculiar to the care | 1 ties of our eitizensbtp. Progress in this great work will continue the present slow pace and at great expense, un the ‘system and of management are lin- proved to meet the changed conditions and urgent The agents hav neral and e agent ing gel super. vision In many cases of more than five thousand Indians, scattered over large reservations, and burdened with the details of accountability for funds and supplies, have time to look after the Industrial training’ and improvement of a few Indians only; the many are neglected and remain Adie and depéndent—conditions not favorable for Pirke compensation. afiowed th agents and the 16 COM] on. a ese conditions of the service, are not calculated to Secure for the work men who are fitted by abliity and skill to properly plan and intelligently direct the methods best adapted to produce the most Speedy results and permanent benefits, Hence the necessity for a supplemental agency. stem, directed to the end of promoting the ‘and more rapid transition of the tribes abits and Customs of barbarism to the Ways. of civilization, THE PROPOSED INDIAN COMMIRGION. With an anxious desire to devise some plan of operation by Which tosecure the welfare of the In- dians, and to relieve the Treasury as far a8 possi- Die from the support of an idle and dependent Population, F recommended in tay previous annual Message the passage of a law authorizing the ap- pointment of 9 commission as an instrumentality auxillary to those already est of the Indians. It was desig sion should be composed of six inielligent and ¢a- Pable persons—three to be detailed from the ariny —having practical tdeas upon the subject of the treatment of Pudians, and interested in thelr wel- fare; and that {t should be charged, under the al- rection of the Secretary of the Interior, with the Management of such inatters of detail as cannot with the present organization be pt and suc- cessfully conducted, and which present different Phases, as the Indians themselves differ, in their progress, needs, disposition, and capacity for tm provement or ithmediate self-supy By the ald of stich a commission Imuch unwise {nd useless expenditure of money, waste of ma- terials, and unavailing efforts might be avoided and it is hoped that this or some measure which the wisdom of Congress may better devise, to sup- Ply the deficlency of the present system, MAY re- celve your consideration, and the appropriate legishitton be provided, ‘he te Is ripe for the work of such an agency. ‘There Is less opposition to the education and ining of the Indian youth, as shown by the in- asoxP attendance upon the Schools, and there 15, elding tendency for the individual holding ds, Development and advancement in these directions are essential, and should have every en- ement. As the rising generation are taught ugauze nd trained tp habits of industry, they should assume the duties, privi- leges and responsibilities of citizenship. LANDS IN SEVERALTY. No obstacle shouid hinder the location and set- tlement of any Indian willing to take land in seve eralty; on the contrary, the inclination to do so should be stimulated at all times when proper and expedient. But there 1s no authority of law for making allotments on some of the reservations, and on others the allotments provided for are so mall, that the Indians to settle Gown,are not 5 areas, when ‘thelr reservations contain ample lands to afford the; homesteads of sufficient size to meet their present and future needs, ‘These inequalities of existing special laws and treaties, should be corrected and some general Ieeslation on. the subject should be provided so that the more progressive members of the differ- ent tribes may be settled upon hom and by their example lead others to follow, break- ing away from tribal customs, and substituting Uérefor the love of home, the interest of the family, and the rule of the state, ‘The indian character and nature are such that {hey are not casly led. while brooding over un justed wrongs. ‘This ts especially so regardi thelr lands. Sfatters arising from the ‘construc. Uon and operation of ratiroads across some of the reservations, and claims of title and right of oc- cupancy. set up by white persons to soine of the best land within other reservations, require legis- ticn for their flnal adjustment. ‘The settlement of these matters will remove many embarrassments to progress in the work of leading the Indlans to the adoption of our institu. tions and bringing them under the operation, thé influence and the protection of the universal laws. of our country, ‘THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. ‘The recommendations of the Secretary of the Interior and the Commissioner of the General Land Office looking to the better protection of public lands and of the public surveys, the preservation Of national forests, the adjudication of grants to states and corporations and of private land claims, and the increased efficiency of the public land Service, are commended to the attention of Cor gress "To serure the widest distribution of publ lands tn United quantities among settlers for resl- and cultivation and tius make the greatest Of individual homes, Was the prima eLof the public land legislation in the early of the republie, This system was a simple Jone. Tt commenced with an admirable scheme of | | pubite surveys, by which the humblest citizen could tdentity the tract upon which he wished to Cstablish his hoine. ‘The price of lands was placed within the reach of all the enterprising, indus. I7fous, and honest ploneer citizens of the country. Tl Was soon, however, found that the object of Uh laws Was perverted under the system of cash gales, from a distribution of land among the people to an | accumulation of land capital by wealthy and spec- | ulative persons. ‘a preter- ence Tight Of purchase was given to settlers on the land, a plan which culminated tn the general ption act of 1841. ‘The foundation of this system was actual residence and cultivation. ‘Twenty years later The homestead law was de vised to more surely place actual homes in the possession of actual cultivators of the soll, ‘The land was given without price, the sole conditions being residence, improvement, and cultivation, Other laws have followed, each designed to cn- courage the acnuirement aud use of land in lin- ited individual quantities. But in later years these laws through viclous administrative meth- ‘ods and under chi.nged conditions of communica- ton and transportation, have been so evaded and violated that their beneficent. purpose 18 Uhreat- ened with entire defeat. The methods of such evasions and violations are set forth in detail in the reports of the Secretary of the Interior and Commissioner of the General Land Office. The Tupld appropriation of our public lands without bona fide settlements or cultivation, and not only. without intention of residence, but for the pur- pose of their aggregation in’ large holdings, in Many cases in the hands of invites the serious and immediate attention of the Cor ‘The energies of the land departiment have been devoted during the present administration to remedy defect and correct abuses in the public land service. ‘The results of these efforts are 50 Jangely tn the nature of reforms in the and methods of our land system as to prevent adequate estimate; but it appears by a complla- ton from the reports of the Commissioner of the General Land OMce that the iminediate effect in Teading cases which have come to a final termina- tion has been the restoration to the mass of public Jands of two million. seven hundred and fifty thou- sind acres; Unat two milion three hundred and seventy thousand acres are embraced in investiga ons now pending, before the Departwent oF tke courts, and Uhat the action of Congress has been asked to effect the restoration of two inlilion seven hundred and ninety thousand acres additional; be- sides which four million acres have been withheld from reservation, and the rights of entry thereon maintained. REPEAL OF THE PRE-EMITION AND TIMBER-CULTURE ACTS RECOMMENDED. Trecommend the repeal of the pre-emption and timber-culture acts, and that the homestead laws be so amended as to better secure compliance with their requirements of residence, improvement, and cultivation for the pertod of five years from date of entry, without commutation or provision for speculative relinquishment. T also recommend the repeal of the desert-land laws unless it shail be the pleasure of the Congress to so amend these Jaws as to render them less Hable to abuses. AS the chief motive for an evasion of the laws, and the principal cause of their result in land acum lation instead of land distribution, is the facility ‘with which transiers are made of the tended to be secured to settlers, 1t may be advisable to provide by legislation some guards at | nun pre. it In and checks upon te alienation of homestead rights and ‘covered thereby until patents issue. Last year an executive proclamation was issued directing the removal of fences which inclosed the ublic domain, Many of these have been removed. in obedience to such Order; but much of the public land still remains within the lines of these untaw- ful fences, ‘The order to continue these hood of the pretenses b; incisoures are justi! Teport of the Secretat he removal of the Dy the Congress for that purpose. WORK OF THE PENSION BUREAU. those dropped within” the same ‘various, am ecamrmllicoeeecine opt seadtiee om January 1, December “ for a special pension act to overrule the ¢ al pension act. to 0 deliberate and carctul determination of the Pet sion Bureau on the merits or to secure favorable action when It could not be expected under the Most liberal execution of general laws. it must De admitted, opens the door to the allowance of uestionable claims and presents to the legtsla- ve and executive branches of the Government applications concedediy not within the law and nly devold of merit, but go surrounded Dy seD- {ment and patriotic freling that they are hard to resist. I suppose it will not be denied that many claims for pension are made without merit_and that many have been allowed upon fraudulent representations. This has been from the Pension Bureau, a0t only i prior mi : a in this, but to ad. ¢ usefulness and the Justice system the distribution. Of pensions dep ‘upon ihe juality and uniformity of its operation. it will be seen from the report of the Commis- stoner that there are now paid by the Govern- ment one hundred and thirty-one different rates on. le estimates from the best information he can obtain Ut ‘nine thousand of those who have served tn the Army and Savy of the Uutted States are now sup) In whole oF in part, from pub- Uc funds. or by organized charities exclusive Of those in soldiers’ homes under the Girection amd control of the government. Only 13 per cent of These are pensioners, while of the entire. number of men furnished for the late war something like 20 per cent, including their widows and relatives, have been or now are in the receipt of pensions. BQUAL JUSTICE POR ALL PRRION CLAIMANTS. ‘The American people, with apatriotic and grate. ful regard for our ex-Soldiers—too broad and too Sacred to be monopolized by any special advo- cates—are not only willing but anxious that equal and exact justice should be done to all honest, claimants for pensions. In their sight the friend- Jess and destitute soldier, dependent on public charity, if otherwise entitied, has precisely the sume right to share in the provision ide for Whose who fought their country’s battles as those better able, through friends and influence, to push their clauiog. Every pension that is granfed “under our present plan Upon any other grounds than actual Service and Injury or disease Incurred in such #r- nd every instance of the many in which sions are Increased on other grounds than merits of the clalm, work an Injustice to the brave and crippled, but poor and friendiess soldier, who is entirely négiected or who must be content with the snaliest Sum allowed under general laws, ‘There are far too many neighborhoods in which are found glaring cases of Inequality of treatment in the matter of pensions; and they are largely due to & yielding in the Pension Bureau to impor- Lunity on the part of those, other than the pen- mer, who eclally interested, or they arise from special acts passed for the behefit of in- dividuals, The men who fought side by side should stand sile by side when they participate In a graterul nation’s kind remembrance, Ty consideration of fairness and Justice to our ex-soldiers, and the protection of the patriotic instinct of our’ citizens from perversion and. viola- on, Point to the adoption <t “a “pension sys prehensive i Pensions for service, and sult of the service, the allot should be restricted to cases presenting these features. ‘THE RELIRF OF DESTITCTE VETERANS. Every patriotic heart responds to a tender con- sideration for those who, having served their coun- try long and well, are reduced to destitute and dependence, not a8 an incident of their service, but with advancing age or through sickness or misfortune. We are all tempted by the contem- Plation of such a condition to. supply relief, and are often impatient of the imitations of public duty, Yielding to no one in the desire to Indi this feeling of consideration, I cannot rid myself Of the conviction that if these ex-soldiers are to be relieved, they and thelr cause are entitled to the benefit of an enactment, under which reliel- may be claimed as a right, anid that such relief should be granted under the’sanction of law, notin eva- sion of It; nor should such Worthy objects of care, all cqually entitied, be remitted to the unequal operation of sympathy, or the tender mercies of social and political influence with thelr unjust Aiseriminations, ‘The discharged soldiers and sallors of the coun- try are our fellow-clttzens, and Interested with us in the passage and faltuful execution of whole- some laws. “They cannot be swerved. from their duty of citizenship by artful appeals to thelr spirit of brotherhgod ‘born of common peril and suffering, nor will they exact as a test of devotton to thelr Welfare a willingness to neglect public duty in thelr benait. THE PATENT OFFICE CATCHING UP WITH ITS WORK. On the 4th of March, 1885, the current business of the Patent OMice was, on an average, five and a half months in arrears, and in several divisions more than twelve months behind. At the close of the last fiseal year such current work was but three months in arrears, and It 1s asserted and ve- Heved that in the next few months the delay in obtalning an examination of an application for a patent will be but nominal. ‘The number of applications for, patents during the last fiseal year, Including reissues, designs, trade-marks and labels, equals. 40,678, which 1s. jderably In excess Of the number received preceding Year. ‘The receipts of the Patent Mice during the year aggregate $1.205,167.80, enabling the office to turn into the Treasury a Surplus revenue, over and above ail expenditures, of about $163,710.30. The number of patents granted during the last fiscal year, including reissues, trade-marks, de- signs and labels, was 25,619—a nuunber also quite largely 1n excess of that of any preceding year. ‘The report of the Commissioner shows the of fice to be in a prosperous condition and constantly Increasing in its business, No nerease of force 1s asked for. ey i June 30, 1886, Was §890,7 ‘ainount es- Utiated for the year ending June 20, 1887, was $853,960. ‘The amount estimated for the ‘fiscal Year ending June 30, 1888, 18 $778,770. ‘THE SUBSIDIZED RAILROADS. ‘The Secretary of the Interlor suggests a change 4n the plan for the payment of the indebtedness of the Pacific subsidized roads to the Government. His suggestion has the unanimous endorsement of the persons selected by the Government to act as Girectors of these roads and protect: the interests Of the United States in the board of direction. In considering the plan proposed the sole matters which should "be taken Ito account, in my opinion, are the situation of the Government as a creditor, and the surest way to secure the pay ment of the principal and interest of its debt. By a recent decision of the ‘Court of the United States tt has been adj that the laws Of the several states are 1 tive to regulate rates of ‘ation upon railroads, if such reg- ulation interferes with the rate of carriage from one state into another. This important fleid of con- trol and regulation having been thus left entirely unoccupied, the expediency of Federal action upon the subject is worthy of consideration. PRDERAL INTERVENTION IN LABOR TROUBLES. ‘The relations of labor to capital and of laboring men totheir employers are of the utmost concern toevery patrioticcitizen. When they are strained and distorted, unjustifiable claims are apt to be insisted upon by both interests, and tm the con- troversy which results, the welfare of all and the rosperity of the country are jeopardized. Any Eitervention ot the general ul government, Within the limits of 1ts constitutional authority, to avert Such a condition, should be willingly accorded. In a special méssage transmitted to the C at ite last session I suggested the enlargement of Our present labor burest and adding to tts present functions the power of arbitration in cases. where differences arise between employer and employed, When these differences reach such a as tO the states the application of this remedy oy" the the sta ication 7 general goverment might be regarued as entirely Iigut reasonbly" ope hat sch “arbitrators if might reasonably ho suc) Carctully selected and it entitied to the conndehos of the to be affected, would be voluntarily called to the settlement of controversies of less infon that this suggestion is of the. ‘by the of a situation jatarorss +E 5 is. best protection Te would teach, too! that the of our people are inseparable it every citizen should, in and that violent disturbances The continued operation of the law relating to our Civil Service has added the most convincing Proofs of its necessity and usefulness. Tt Is a fact Worthy of note that every public officer who has a Just Idea of his duty to the people, testifies to the value of this reform. Ite staunchest friends are found warmest "The meaning of such Testraint and " Bot fed by those who rant plncey unit the Government regantions of ‘and efficl- should rest uy) proper te Oey Partisan work. They mean to them to attend ¢ ‘they mean to the good people fy tie counts Tt ts exceedi @tyange that the scope and nature of this afe so WIE understood, and are called by its mame, When eavil sickle mone fully to examination the system will have large among those who whderstand it best, and tte ency, nor by those who it ne = insist that the sel 4 Mf not their ti ee) Sects ‘the Devier performance of the work of thelr Gov erament. that so many Chings not ihctuded within it» plan additions te the pumber of Us friends, Our Civilservice reform may be t ‘some of Its details; It may be itsundersteed and opposed; it may not always be faithfully applied ; Mts designs may sometimes miScarry taro min take Or willful intent; It may sometimes Crembie: under the assaults of Its eneinies or languish under ‘the uiaguided zeal of impracticable friends; but It {Uwe people of thin country ever subialt to thie Dane ixhment of Its underlying ope prtnetple trom the ration of their government, Uhey Will abandon the Surest cuaranter of the safety ahd success Of Amer. tean dnstitutions, J invoke for this reform the cheerful and un grudging support of the © Lrenew my Fecouumendation made inst Year that the salaries of the Commissioners be made equal to other officers of the Government having like duties and responsibilities, and I hope that such reasonable ations may be made as Will enable thea wo the usefulness of the cause they have in charge. ‘THE PRERDWAN'S BANK. T desire to call the attention of the Congress to @ plain duty which the goverument owes to the de. Posttors in the Preedman’s Savings and ‘Trust ‘Company. This company was chartered by the Congress for the beneft of the most illtterate and humble of our people, and with the intention of encourag. ing in them industry and thrift. Most’ of tts branches were over by officers holding ‘(he co.ninissions and clothed in Che uniform af the United States, ‘These and other circumstances reasonably, I think, ted these simple to 8uy Pose that the invitation to deposit their hat earned savings in this institution implied an une Geraking on the part of their government Cat ‘their money shoul safely ki When this company failed it was lable in the mn Of FAMWMLE to GLI depositors Disk dends amounting in the aggregute to sixty-twe per cent have been declared, and Ube swum called for them, for and paid of such dividends seems to be $1,048,181.72. ‘Thts sun deducted from the entire auhouiit of 1S leaves $1,2201,744.50 still un paid. Past experience has shown that quite a large part of Unis stu are assets SM Onl mated sum of $16,000, J Unink the remutning thirty-eight per cent of Wii not be called for. There ud amounting to Uke est {tel OF thew deposits as have claimants, should e y the Government upon prine ity and fairness, AR CaN perhe MEpOrt of tie Commntestoner, sonn, to be laid fore Congress, Will give more ‘satisfactory de tails on this sunyoct. © “f REVISION OF DISTRICT LAWS RECOMMENDED. ‘The control Of the affairs of the District of Cok Umbia having been placed in the hands of purely executive officers, While the Congress still retains all legislative authority relating to its govern. ment, it becomes my duty to make known the most pressing needs of the District and recom- mend their consideration. The laws of the District appearto bein an un certain and Unsatisfactory condition, and. thelr Coditicatton or revision ts much avededt. uring the past year one of Uae bridges leads from the Disthict. to the State of Virginia beats UNM for use, and travel upon It was forbidden, ‘This leads we to suggest that the improvement of all the bridges crossing the Potomac and its Dranches, from the city of Washington, is worthy Of the attention of Congress, ‘The Commissioners Of the District. represent that the laws regulating the sale of liquor aud granting Meenses thereior should be “at. once umenied, aud Chat legislation is needed to consoll. dace, define and enlarge the scope and powers of Charitable aud penal Anstitutions within the Dis ict. 1 Suggest that the Commissioners be clothed with the power to make, witlin fixed Mruftation Police regulations. “I believe this power granted and carefuily guarded, would tend lo subserve the gvod order of the mutitcipailty. IC seems that trouble sUli exists growing out of the occupation of Uhe streets and avenues by cer tain railroads having their termint in the cfty. It r important that such laws should be ted Upon this subject as will secure To the rallroads all the facilites Uhey require for the transection of Unelr business, and at the same thwe provect citizens irom injury to Uneir persons ‘or property, The Commulssioners again complain that the ace necessary sate keep ns, are enurely tine thls condition of r District business, and for t uable books and pi suMecleut. I recommend affairs be remedied by the Congress, and tha’ sult able quarters be furnished for the needs of the District government. In conclusion, 1 earnestly Invoke such wise ace tion on the part of the people's legislators as will subserve Uhe public good and demonstrate duri the remaining days Of Uhe Congress as at. presen organized Its ability and tneiination to so meet the Peeples needs that it shall be graterully remem by an expectam. constituency. GROVER CLEVELAND, Washington, December 6, 1586, Keeping the Pot Heiling. TARIFF REFORM AGITATION TO BR KET CP THIS SESSION. ‘The activity of the tariff reformers seems to be greater even than it was at the beginning of last session, It 1s the general understanding among members that over this question will be the fight Of the session, There is no idea, even among tne Most sanguine, that any 1 tari bill will pass the House, | The reformers are coundent, jowever, thal they cin get enough votes to take ‘the matter up for consideration. Agitation! Agitation is What we want,” sald ‘one tariff reformer, What wey expect is that {here will De ahard ght, and that some sort of tariff legistation will ‘They do not look for anything in the line of Mr. Morrison or Mr. Carlisie, or any general tariff Dill, but that the tax will’ be taken Off some one or two articles—siy and tobacco, ‘This, they suy, will Keep the Thing warm, and will lead to soniething better. ‘They look for tariff reduction by a siow, tedious process. ‘There is not much hope for the passage fa geueral bill, even by the Fiftieth Congress, ‘They will try constantly to get what they want, and Will take What they can get, even ii somes {mes it is what they don't want.” “The pot will be Kept boiling.” By constant agitation they ex- pect to effect finally a reduction in the tariff that ‘Will be satisfactory. Sawe of Mr. Morrison's tole lowers have more fight in them than he hus and there Is inuch talk of calling a caucts on tue question to frighten the Randall men into line. ‘20- He Played Two Parts, BOW A TREASURY EMPLOYE EVADED THE TRON-OLAD RULES. ‘The trov-clad rules of the Treasury department Telating to tardy clerks result in laughable inct- dents sometimes, Not long ago Chief Clerk You- mans was Made acquainted with a well-known newspaper than who has been employed in tne Treasury department at some special work du- ring the recess.of ‘When informed that "young man was a y employe, Mr. ¥ Sexpressedy ttle surprise that We had noe rey for Being late in the moruing, “wen, f dont mind tefling you how I fixed it,” fold ie pencil stoves. You sce when Iam Gu Uume iz the morning T always enter at. tue door ere Tam known as a clerk, but when Zam late I enter at another door, where the bmn knows me only a8 a newspaper man.” ‘The genial chief clerk opened his eyes, but thought ita pretyy ‘good Joke. Lost 1s CHESAFEAKE BaY.—Captain Foster, of the Virginia gunboat Chesapeake arrived at Norfolk, Va., Saturday night from a cruise up Chesapeake bas; and that on Friday morning he fell im with the scl ‘Dizzy, capeized three miles of Wind Milt Point light-house. The schooner had her j1b and refed mainsail set and her staal! bout fastened bottom upward. ‘There wus no pees all the crew li into a and lay down on the floor, Web. Der got un axe and deliberately split open Collins see. -__ AN aL MARYLAND Law.—In the te i ii i & i i i : reg te i a