Evening Star Newspaper, December 4, 1893, Page 17

THE EVENING STAR PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, no Avenue, corner 11th St., by The Evening Star Ne Company, S. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres’t ‘Tae EvExtxe STAR is served to subscribers in the city by carriers, on their own account, ar 10 conte week. or $42. per month. Copies at the connter iy mail—aaywhers in the United 30 cents per SATURDAY QUINTUPLE SHEET STAR 81.00 per year: with foreirn postage added, $3.00. on ea (Entered at the Post Offies at Washington, D. C.. as secondt-cloms tail matter.) 2-01 mail subscriptions must be patd in advance. Rates of vertisas mad> know: on ann’ Ghe Evening Star. Vor. 83, No 20,746. IWASHINGTON, D. ©, MONDAY. DECEMBER 4, 1893. TWO CENTS. An index to - advertise- ments will be found om Page 3. —_———____ THE MESSAGE inna iiari ae The President to Con- OTESS. a in PUBLIC AFFAIRS DISCUSSED The Administration's Policy. AN INTERESTING DOCUMENT. Waiting for News From Hawaii. TARIFF REFORM AT HAND, The Fresident Urges That Reform Be Ap- Died With Discriminating Care. OUR RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN POWERS NEED FOR PUBLIC ECONOMY. Gratifying Progress of the. New Navy. The Civil Service Law and Its, Execution. REVENUE MEASURES PROPOSED. THE DEPLETED TREASURY. At the opening of Congress today the President’s annual message was delivered and read to both houses. Following is the full text of the message: To the Congress of the United States—The constitutional duty which requires the President from time to time to give to the Congress information of the state of the) Union, and recommend to their considera- tion such measures as he shall judge neces- sary and expedient, is fittingly entered upon | by commending to the Congress a careful examination of the detailed statements and | well-supported recommendations contained | in the reports of the heads of Departments, who are chietly charged with the executive work of the Government. In an effort to abridge this communication as much as is consistent with its purpose, I shall supple- ment a brief reference to the contents of | these departmental reports by the mention of such executive business and incidents as are not embraced therein, and by such rec-| ommendations as appear to be at this par-_ ticular time appropriate. Foreign Relations. While our foreign reiations have not at! all times during the past year been entirely free from perpl no embarrassing situa- tion remains that will not yield to the spirit of fairness and love of justice, which, join-| ed with consistent firmness, characterize a truly American foreign policy. My predecessor having accepted the office of arbitrator of the long-standing missions boundary dispute, tendered to the President by the Argentine Republic and Brazil, it has been my agreeabie duty to receive the special envoys commissioned by those states to lay before evidence and argumenis in behalf their respective Governments. The outbrea mestic hostilities in the Republic of Brazil found the United States alert to watch the interests of our citizens in that country, with which we carry on important cominerce. Several vessels of our Bew Navy are now, and fer some time have been, st Janeiro. The > de Struggle being between the established gov- ernment, which controls the machinery of admin: m, and with which we main- tain friendly rel: i certain officers of the navy empi e vessels of their command in an attack upon the national capital and ch rt, d lacking, as it does, the ivided administra- tion, I have at the insur- gents can ri im recognition as positi our G entive b rnment fan a itn | continue to be intimate unauthorized action of our late naval com- mander in those waters in saluting the re- voited Brazilian admiral, being indisposed to countenance an act calculated to give | Sratuitous sanction to the local insurrec- tion, Chile. The convention between our Government and Chile, having for its cbject the settle- ment and adjustment of the demands of the two count-ies against each other, has been made effective by the organization of the Claims Commission provided for. The two Governments failing to agree upon the third member of the Commission, the good offices of the President of the Swiss Republic were invoked, as provided in the treaty, and the selection of the Swiss representative in thi: country to complete the organization was gratifying alike to the United States and Chile. The vxatious question of so-called lega- tion asylum for offenders against the State | and its laws was presented anew in Chile by the unauthorized action of the late Unit- ed States minister in receiving into his offi- cial residence two persons who had just | actuated by a sense of justice, and in a spirit of the utmost friendship, promptly disavowed the illegal conduct of its officers, |and expressed sincere regret for the oc- currence. It is confidently anticipated that a sat- isfactory adjustment will soon be reached of the questions arising out of the seizure and use of American vessels by insurgents in Honduras and the subsequent denial by the successful Government of commercial privileges to those vessels on that account. A notable part of the southeasterly coast of Liberia between the Cavally and San | Pedro rivers, which for nearly half a cen- | tury has been generally recognized as be- |longing to that Republic by cession and | purchase, | the protectorate of France in virtue of has been claimed to be under | buildings of Anatolia College, established by citizens of the United States at Mar- sovan, and the apparent indifference of the Turkish Government to the outrage, not- withstanding the complicity of some of its officials, called for earnest remonstrance, which was followed by promises of repara- tion and punishment of the offenders. | Indemnity for the injury to the buildings j|has aiready been paid, permission to re- build given, registration of the school prop- jerty in the name of the American owners | Secured, and efficient protection guaran- teed. Missionaries in Turkey. Information received of maltreatment | suffered by an inoffensive American woman engaged in missionary work in Turkish | Koorlistan was followed by such represen- agreements entered into by the native | taticns to the Porte as resulted in the is- tribes over whom Liberia's control has not Suance of orders for the punishment of her | been well maintained. More recently, negotiations between the | Liberian representative and the French Government resulted in the signature at | Paris of a treaty whereby as an adjust- | t, certain Liberian territory is ceded lassaliants, the removal of a delinquent | official, and the adoption of measures for the protection of our citizens engaged in | mission and other lawfal work in that | quarter. | Turkey complains that her Armenian failed in an attempt at revolution and | to France. ‘This convention at last advices | Subjects obtain citizenship in this tie against whom criminal charges were pend- | had not been ratitied by the Liberian legis-|0t to identify themselves in good fait ing growing out of a former abortive dis- |jature and executive. | with our people, but with the intention of turbance. The doctrine of asylum as ap-| Feeling a sympathetic interest in the | Feturning to the land of their birth and Plied to this case is not sanctioned by the | fortunes of the little commonwealth, the | there engaging in sedition. This complaint best precedents and, when allowed, tends to | establishment and development of which |!8 Not wholly without foundation. A jour- encourage sedition and strife. Under no circumstances can the representatives of this Government be permitted, under the ill-defined fiction of extraterritoriality, to interrupt the administration of criminal justice in the countries to which they are accredited. A temperate demand having been made by the Chilean Government for the correction of this conduct in the in- stance mentioned, the minister was in- structed no longer to harbor the offenders. Chinese Legislation. The legislation of last year, known the Geary law, requiring the registration of all Chinese labo-ers entitled to residence in the United States, and the deportation of all not complying with the provisions of the act within the time prescribed, met with much opposition from Chinamen in this country. Acting upon the advice of eminent counsel that the law was unconstitutional, the great mass of Chinese laborers, pending judicial inquiry as to its validity, in good faith de- clined to apply for the certificates required by its provisions: A test case upon proceed- ing by habeas corpus was brought before the Supreme Court, and on May 15, 1893, a decision was made by that tribunal sus- taining the law. It is belived that under the recent amend- | Tegistration, the Chinese laborers thereto entitled, who desize to reside in this coun- try, will now avail themselves of the re- main, and that thereby the necessity of en- forced deportation may to a great degree be avoided. It has devolved upon the United States minister at Peking, as dean of the diplo- matic body, and in the absence of a repre- sentative of Sweden and Norway, to press upon the Chinese Government reparation for the recent murder of Swedish mission- aries at Sung-pu. This question is of vital interest to all countries whose citizens en- gage in missionary work in the inte-ior, The African Slave Trade. By Article XII of the General Act of Brussels, signed July 2, 18), Zor the sup- pression of the slave trade und the restric Uon of certain injurio1s commerce in the Independent State of the Congo and in the adjacent zone of central Africa, the United States and the other signatory powers agreed to adopt appropiate means for the punishment of persoas selling arms and ammunition to the natives and for the cun- fiscation of the inhibited articles. It being the plain duty of this coverament to aid in suppressing the nefarious waffic, impair- ing as it does the praiseworthy and civi- lizing efforts now in progress in that region, I recommend that an act be passed prohib- iting the sale of arms and :ntoxieants to natives in the regulated zone by cur citi- zens. Costa Rica has lately testifled its friend- Iness by surrendering to te United States in the absence of a convention of extradi- of tion, but upon duly submitted evidence criminality, a noted fugitive from ju It is trusted that the negotiation of a tr with that country to meet recur countries with which the United Siates 1 not already conventional arrangements of that character. I have deemed it fitting to express to the Governments of Costa Rica and Colombia the kindly desire of the United Staies to see thelr pending boundary dispute fina!ly closed by arbitration in conformity with the spirit of the treaty concluied between them some years ago. Our reiations with the Frenc nd cord cerely hope that the extradition treaty with that country, as amended by the Senate, will soon be operativ While occasional questions naturalized citiz ffeeting our i to the land The questions affecting our relations with Great Britain have been treated in a spirit of friendliness. egoulations are in progress between the two Govesnments with a current action as will make the regulations agreed upon by the Behrin Tribunal of ArbitrAtion practically ive; and it fs not doubted that Gr: j ain will co-operate freely with this country | for the accomplishment of that purpose. The dispute growing out of the éiscrim- inating tolls imposed in the Weliand Canal, upon cargoes of cereals bound to and from the lake ports of the United Sta was adjusted by the substitution of a more equitable schedule of charges, and my | decessor thereupon suspended his proc mation imposing discriminating tolls upon British transit through our canals. A request for additions to the list cf ex- traditable offenses covered by the treaty between the two countries, is under was finally liberated ment of the act extending the time for | newed privilege thus afforded of establish- | ing by lawful procedure their right to re- of their birth, have arisen in our inier- 5 course with Germany, eur relativas with | fr ived the three that country continue actory. pitated by King Great Britian. sent camp. | were largely aided by the benevolence of our countrymen, and which constitutes the only independently sovereign state on the West Coast of Africa, this Government has suggested to the French Government its earnest concern lest territorial impairment in Liberia should take place without her unconstrained consent. Our relations with Mexico continue to be of that close and friendly nature which should always characterize the intercourse of two neighboring republics. The work of relocating the monuments marking the boundary between the two countries from Paso del Norte to the Pacific is now nearly completed. The Commission recently organized under | the conventions of 1884 and ISN) it Is ex- pected will speedily settle disputes growing out of the shifting currents of the Rio Grande River east of El Paso. Miearagua and the Canal Nicaragua has recently passed through ‘0 revolutions, the party at first success- ful having in turn been displaced by anoth- er. Our newly appointed minister, by his timely good offices, aided in a peaceful ad- | justment of the controversy involved in the | frst conflict. The large American interests |established in that country in connection with the Nicaragua Canal were not molested. The canal company has, unfortunately, become financialiy seriously embarrassed, but a generous treatment has deen extended to it by the government of Nicaragua. The United States are especially interested in | dertaking this company has in charge. That it should be accomplished under distinctive- ly American auspices, and its enjoyment assured not oniy to the ve: the ships of the worid in the interests of civilization, is a proposition which, in my judgment, does not admit of question. Guatemala has also been visited by the political vicissitudes which have afflicted her Central American neighbors; but the disso- j lution of its legislature and the proclama- | ton of a dictatorship have been unattended with civil war. An ext best been exchanged and prociaimed. The extradition treaty with Russie signed | in March, i887, and amended and contirmed | by the Senate in February last, was duly proclaimed last June. The Samoan Protectorate. Led by 2 desire to compose differences and contribute to the restoration of order in Samoa, which for some years previous had | been the scene of conflicting foreign preten- jsions and native strife, the United States, |departing from its policy consecrated by a jeentury of observance, entered four years | | our Atlantic and Pacific seaboards, but to | jcoming joindy bound with Emgland and | Germanf to establish and maintain Malie- toa Laupepa as King of Samoa. The treaty provided for a foreign court of justice; a municipal council for the district of Apia, with a foreign president thereof, author- ized to advise the king; a tribunal for the | {settlement of native and foreign land at Sila tnd 40h aon bo liched, In tiles, and a revenue system for the king- say Opmilons, (weakiels for “eck wtiead adtracl oon aes yes ee nares Domes tion should be concluded with ail those |that part of the cost of the new :govern- | ment not met by the revenue of the islands. | Early in the life of this triple protectorate the native dissensions it was designed to queil revived. Rivals defied the authority |of the new king, refusing to pay taxes and | demanding the election of a ruler by native Mataatfa, an irant to the throne, and a large numbe inerents were in open rebellion on one of |the islands. Quite lately, at the request of the other powers, and in fulfillment of its {treaty obli to unite in a joint jsuch dimensions as would probably the surrender of jth insurge bloc delphia w 3 for Sam: under orde: pat of an a number c de- i chief and ten of his principal sup- porters were Geported to German island hall group, where they are heid responsibility | tangling alliances with foreign powers. Claims Against Spain. | More than fifteen years ago this govern- [ment preferred a claim against Spain, in i of one of our citizens, for property 3 ted in Cuba. gi 1886 the claim was adjusted, Spain agreeing to pay, junconditionally, as a fair indemnity, »,000, A respectful but earnest note recently addre behal 1and conti: tion. consideration. | red by the United | During the past year an American citi- 8 asainst Spain, in behalf of Ameri- zen, employed in a subordinate commercial Greg ee ala gets Mie a a position in Haiti, after su‘fering a pro- pave bees See Se eee 2s tracted Imprisonment on an unfounded | At thé time Spain's title to the ammonite charge of smugzlin a s was confirmed by arbitration, that on judicial e min ion. Upon urgent rep- resentation to the Haitian Government, ernment agreed that the rights which had been acquired there by American mi: " t sionaries should be recognized and re- suitable indemnity was paid to the suifer ea. It is sincerely hoped that this By a law of Haiti, a s ailing vessel, hav: rved by allowing our ing discharged her cargo, is refused clear- : ance until the duties on such cargo } been p: The hardshi> of this me upon American shipowners who conduct sh garrison and the bulk of the carrying tr of that! petern to their tield of u country has been insisted on with a view| tne reproduced caravel, of securing the removal of this cause of nt. receiving authentic information of the firing upon an American touching at the port of Am; her captain refused to de senger in built by & Exposition, ha been present d to the United s in token of amity and in commem- on of the event it was designe] to c Congress friendship w ch prompted it. mala upon « Important matte @ demanded atten ties of Hondui our tion in cur relations with the Ottoman country under ate: paiea: against the wanton act and demanded The firing and partial destruction, by an unrestrained mob, of one of the school the successful achievement of the vast un- | els of this coun- | try as a channel of communication between | adition treaty with Norway has | ago into the treaty of Berlin, thereby be- | of his native | d to the Spanish gov- | rnment insisting upon prompt fulfiliment | |nal published in this country in the Arme- |nian language openly counsels its readers to arm, organize, and participate in move- ments for the subversion of Turkish author- Government has announced its intention have obtained naturalization in the United States since 1863. The right to exclude any or all classes of aliens is an attribute of sovereignty. It is a right asserted and, to a limited extent, enforced by the United States, with the ‘sanction of our highest court. There being {no naturalization treaty between the United | States and Turkey, our minister at Constan- |tinople has been instructed that, while rec- ‘ognizing the right of that government to en- force its deciared policy against natural- |ized Armenians, he is expected to protect them from unnecessary harshness of treat- ment. in view of the impaired financial resources of Venezuela, consequent upon the recent [revolution there, a modified arrangement \for the satisfaction of the awards of the jlate revisory Claims Commission, in pro- gressive installments, has been assented to, and payments are being regularly made thereunder, jand British Guiana is yet unadjusted. A [restoration of diplomatic intercourse |between that republic and Great Britain and reference of the question to impar- |tial arbitration would be a most gratify- ing consummation, | ‘The ratification by Venezuela of the con- |vention for the arbitration of the long-de- |ferred claim of the Venezuelan Transporta- |tion Company ts awaited. Waiting for News From Hawail. It is hardly necessary for me to state that the question arising from our relations |with Hawaii have caused serious embarrass- jment. Just prior to the insta.iution of the present administration the exisung govern- jment of Hawaii had been suddenly over- |thrown, and a treaty of annexation had ‘been negotiated between the provisional [government of the islands and the United |States, and submitted to the Senate for |ratiucation. This treaty I withdrew for examination, and dispatched Hon, James {ia of Georgia to Honolulu as a |Special commissioner to make an impar- |Ual investigation of the circumstances at- jtending the change of government, and of Jail the conditions bearing upon the sub- ject of the treaty. exhaustive examination Mr, Blount sub- mitted to me his report, showing beyond all question that the constitutional govern- | [ment of Hawaii had been subverted with | the active aid of our representative to that |Sovernment and through the intimidation raused. by the presence of an armed naval force of the United States which was land- ed for that purpose at the instance of our minister. Upon the facts developed it seemed to me the only honorable course for our government to pursue was to undo the jwrong that had been done by those repr |senting us and to restore as far as prac- licable the status existing at the time of our forcible ix ention. With a view of accomplishing this result within the cor |sibilities growing out of any changed con-| ditions brought about by our unjustifiable interference, our preseat minister at Hon: lulu has received appropriate instructiox to that end. Thus far no information oi |the accomplishment of any definite resulis |has been received from him, | Additional advices are soon expected. When received they will be promptly at « together with all other in- ccompanied by a sage fully detailing y tO a complete cial executive the facts all under- standing case, and presenting a his- | tory of all the material events leading up to | the pre situation, | - Arbitration Movement. By a concurrent resolution, passed by the ate February 14, 1890, and by Hous of Representatives on the 3d of April fol- | lowing, the President was requested “to vite, from » to time, as fit y avise, negotiations with an ment with which the United States ay have diplomatic relations, to the end | that any differences or disputes arising between the two Governments which can not be adjusted by diplom: agency may | be referred to arbitration and be peaceably | adjusted by such means.” April 1, 1890, | the International American Conference of | Washington, by resolution expressed the h that all controversies between the re- | publics of America and the nations of Eu- rope might be settled by arbitration and | recommended that the government of ea | nation represented in that conference shou! | communicate this wish to all friendly pow- ers. A favorable response has been re- ceived from Great Britain in the shape of a resolution adopted by Parliament July | 16 last, cordially sympathizing with the pur- | pose in view, ahd expressing the hope that | Her Majesty's Government will lend ready | co-operation to the Government of the | United States upon the basis of the con- current resolution above quoted. It affords me signal pleasure to lay this parliamentary resolution before the Con- | gress and to express my sincere gratitica- | tion that the sentiment of two great and kindred nations is thus authoritatively man- ifested in favor of the rational and peace- le settlement of international quarrels by honorable resort to arbitration. Since the pi @ of the act of March 1 } authori: = the Pre: nt to raise the grade of our envoys to correspond with | the rank in which foreign countries accredit their agents here, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Germany nave conferred upon their representatives at this capitai the title of ambassador, and 1 have responded by | accrediting the agents of the United States in those countries with the same title. like elevation of mission is announced b Russia, and when made will be similarly | | met. This step fittingly comports with the position the United States holds in the | family of nations. The Consalar Service. During my former administration I took ity in the Asiatic provinces. The Ottoman | to expel from its dominions Armenians who | The boundary dispute between Venezuela | After a thorough and | | occasion to recommend a re-cast of the |laws relating to the consular service, in | order that it might become a more efficient agency in the promotion of the interests it was intended to subserve. The duties and | Power's of consuls have been expanded with the growing requirements of our foreign | trade. Discharging important duties affect- |ing our commerce and American citizens abroad, and in certain countries exercising | judicial functions, these officers should be men of character, intelligence, and ability. Upon proof that the legislation of Den- mark secures copyright to American citi- zens on equal footing with its own, the privileges of our copyright laws have been extended by proclamation to subjects of | that country. The Treasury. The Secretary of the Treasury reports | that the receipts of the Government from ail sources during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1893, amounted to $461,716,561.94 and its expenditures to $459,374,674.29. There | was collected from customs $205,355,016.73 | and from internal revenue $161,027,623.93. | Our dutiable imports amounted to $4: 711, an increase of $52,453,907 over the pre- ceding year, and importations free of duty | amounted to $i44,544,2i1, a decrease from | the preceding year of $13,455,447. Internal- | revenue receipts exceeded those of the pre- ceding year by $7,147,445.32. The total tax collected on distilled spirits was $94, 720,260.55, on manufactured tobacco, $31,589,711.74, and on fermented liquors, $32,548,98° We exported mer- chandise during the year amounting to $847,605,194, a decrease of $182,612,054 from the preceding year. The amount of gold exported was larger than any previous year in the history of the Government, amount- ling to $18,680,844, and exceeding the | amount exported during the preceding year | .y $58,485,517. ; The sum paid from the Treasury for sugar bounty was $9, 130.88, an increase over the preceding year of $2,033,053.09. It is estimated upon the basis of present revenue laws that the receipts of the Gov- ernment for the year ending June 30, 1894, | will be $430,121,365.38 and its expenditures $458,121,365.38, resulting in a deficiency of $28,000,000, On the first day of November, 1898, the tion, or not included in Treasury holdings, Was $1,715,514,682, an increase for the year of $112,404,947, Estimating our population at 67,426,000 at the time mentioned the per capita circulation was $25.49. On the same date there was in the Treasury gold bul- lion amounting to $06, and silver } bullion which was purchased at a cost of $126,261,553, Silver Purchases, The purchases of silver under the law of July 14, 1890, during the last fiscal year, | aggregated fine ounces, which | cost $45,533 The total amount of sil- ver purchased from the time that law be- came operative until the repeal of its pur- ‘hasing clause, on the Ist day of November, jl » Was 168,¢ .46 fine ounces, which | cost $155,030,40.S1, Between the Ist day of March, 1873, and the Ist day of November, 1 the Government purchased, under all laws, TK 7 fine ounces of silver at a cost of MS. The silver dollars that have been coined under the act of July 14, 1890, number 36,087, The seigniorage arising from such coinage was $6, leaving on hand in the mints 140,609, fine ounces of silver, which cost $12 18, Our total coinage of all metals during the last fiscal year consis: pieces valued at $43.6 ‘there was $30,098,140 in gold coin, $5,243,715 jin silver dollars, $7.21 0 in subsidiary silver coin, and $1,086,102.90 in minor coins. During the calendar year 1802 the pro- uctfon of precious metals in the United States was estimated to be 1,596,375 fine | ounces of gold of the commercial and coin- age value of $53,000,000, and 58,000,000 fine ; ounces of silver of the bullion or market | Value of $50,750,000 and of the coinage value of It is estimated that on the first day of | July, 180, the metallic stock of money in |the United States, consisting of coin and | bullion, amounted to $1 5.169, of which > was gold and $615,861,484 was 80, of which ia |= | One hundred and nineteen national banks | Were organized during the year ending | October 31, 1803, with a capital of $11,230,- | 000. Forty-six went into voluntary Nquida- | tion and one hundred and fifty-eight sus- | pended. Sixty-five of the suspended banks insolvent, eighty-six resumed busi- en remain in aminers, With prospects of spesty resumption, Of the new banks organized 44 were located in the Eastern States, j4l west of the Mississippi Riv: and 34 ‘in the Central and Southern States. The total number of national banks in existence on the 31st day of October, 1808, was 3,7! j having an aggregate capital of $05,555,120. | The net increase in the circviation of these | banks during the year was &36,S86,07 ect of the Silver Re; The recent repeal of the provision of 2w requiring the purchase of silver bul- 1 by the government as a feature of our ‘monetary scheme has made an entire hange in the comptexion of our evrrency s. I do not doubt that the ultimate t of this action will be mhost salutary In the nature of things, however, It is impossible to know at this time precisely what tions will be ange, or what, if ation may, in the of such conc ppear to be es- tial or expedient. Of course, after the nt financial perturbation, time is neces- y for the re-establishment of business coniidence, When, however, through thi. restored contidence the money which hes been frightened into hoarding places is returned to trade and enterprise, a survey of the situation will probably disclose a afe path leading to a permanently sound currency, abundantly sufficient to meet every requirement of our increasing popu- lation and business. | In the pursuit of this object we should resolutely turn away from alluring and temporary expedients, determined to be |brought about by the ny, supplementary content with nothing less than a lasting | and comprehensive financial plan. In these circumstances I am convinced that a rea- sonable delay in desling with this subject, instead of being injurious, will increase the | probability of wise action. The Monetary Confe bled at Bras pon our invitation was ourned to the 30th day of November in 2 present year. The considerations just | Stated and the fact that a definite proposi- tion from us seemed to be expected upon the reassembling of the conference, led me to express a willingness to have the meet- ing still further postponed, ; 1t seems to me that it would be wise to |give general authority to the President to invite other nations to such a conference at any time when there should be a fair prospect of accompiishing an international agreement on the subject of coinage. The Bond Question. | I desire also to earnestly Suggest the wisdom of amending the existing statutes in regard to the issuance of government bonds. The authority now vested in the Secretary of the Treasury to issue bonds jis not as clear as it should be, and the bonds authorized are disadvaniageous to the government both as to the time of | their maturity and rate of interest. The Superintendent of Immigration, | through the Secretary of the Treasury, re. | ports that during the last fiscal year there arrived at our ports 440,793 immigrants. Of these 1,063 were not permitted to land | of the community that the business of the under the limitations of the law, and 577 | courts, both civil and criminal, shall be as were returned to the countries from whence small and as inexpensively transacted as they came by reason of their having be- | come public charges. The total arrivals | were 141,034 less than for the previous year. National Quarantine. The Secretary in his report gives an ac- count of the operation of the Marine-Hos- pital Service and of the good work done. under its supervision in preventing the en- trance and spread of contagious diseases. The admonitions of the last two years touching our public health and the demon- | strated danger of the introduction of con- tagious diseases from foreign ports have in- vested the subject of national quarantine with increased interest. A more general | and harmonious system than now exists, | the ends of justice will allow. The system is therefore thoroughly vi- cious which makes the compensation of court officials depend upon the volume of such business, and thus creates a conttict between a proper execution of the law and Private gain, which can not fail to be dan- serous to the rights and freedom of the citizen and an irresistible temptation to the unjustifiable expenditure of public funds. If in addition to this reform another was inaugurated which would give to United States commissioners the final disposition of petty offenses within the graée of mis- demeanors, especially those coming under the internal revenue laws, a great advance acting promptly and directly everywhere, | would be made toward a more decent ad- amount of money of all kinds in circula- | |and constantly operating by preventive | means to shield our country from the inva- sion of disease, and at the same time hav- ing due regard to the rights and duties of local agencies, would, I believe, add greatly to the safety of our people. The Army. The Secretary of War reports that the strength of the Army on the 30th day of September last was 25,778 enlisted men and 2,144 officers. The total expenditures of the Department for the year ending June 30, 1893, amounted | to $51,966,074.89. Of this sum, $1,992,581.95 | | was for salaries and contingent expenses, | | $23,877,828.35 for the support of the military | establishment, $6,077,033.18 for miscellaneous | objects, and 320,518,631.41 for public works. | This latter sum includes $15,296,876.46 for | river and harbor improvements and $3.266,- | 141.20 for fortifications and other works of defense, The total enrollment of the militia of the | several States was, on the 3lst of October of the current year, 112,597 officers and en- | listed men. The officers of the Army de- tailed for the inspection and instruction of | this reserve of our military force report | that increased interest and marked prog- ress are apparent in the discipline and efficiency of the organization. Neither Indian outbreaks nor domestic violence have called the Army into service during the year, and the only active mili- tary duty required of it has been in the) Department of Texas, where violations of | |the neutrality laws of the United States | land Mexico were promptly and efficiently | dealt with by the troops, eliciting the warm |approval of the civil and military authori- ties of both countries. The operation of wise laws and the in- fluences of civilization constantly tending to relieve the country from the dangers of Indian hostilities, together with the increas- ing abijity of the States, through the effi- ciency of the National Guard organizations, to protect their citizens from domestic vio- lence, lead to the suggestion that the time is fast approaching when there should be a/ reorganization of our Army on the lines of the present necessities of the country. This change contemplates neither increase in |number nor added expense, but a redistri- bution of the force and an encouragement of measures tending to greater efficiency among the men and improvement of the service. The adoption of battalion formations for infantry regiments, the strengthening of the artillery foree, the abandonment of smaller and unnecessary posts, and the massing of the troops at important and accessible sta- tions, all promise to promote the usefulness of the Army. Im the judgment of Army officers, with but few exceptions, the opera-_ | ton of the law forbidding the re-enlist- ment of men after ten years’ service has not | |Proved its wisdom, and while the argu-| ments that led to its adoption were not! without merit, the experience of the year constrains me to join in the recommenda- tion for its repeal. Sen Const Defenses. It is gratifying to note that we have be- gun to attain completed results in the com-| prehensive scheme of seacoast defense and | fortification, entered upon eight years ago. | A large sum has been already expended, but | | | ministration of the criminal law. In my first message to Congress, dated December 8, 1885, I strongly recommended these changes and referred somewhat at length to the evils of the present system. Since that time the criminal business of the Federal courts and the expense attend- ing it have enormously increased. ‘The number of criminal prosecutions pending in the circuit and district courts of the United States on the first day of July, 1886, was three thousand eight hundred and eight, of which one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four were for violations of the internal-revenue laws, while the number of such prosecutions pending on the first day of July, 1893, was nine thousand five hun- dred, of which four thousand two hundred were for violations of the internal-revenue laws. The expense of the United States courts, exclusive of judges’ salaries, for the year ending July 1, 1885, was $2,874,788.11, and for the year ending July 1, 1883, $4,528,- 676.87. It is therefore apparent that the reasons given in 1885 for a change in the manner of enforcing the Federal criminal law, have gained cogency and strength by lapse of time. I also heartly join the Attorney-General in recommending legislation fixing degrées of the crime of murder within Federal ju- risdiction, as has been done in many of the States; authorizing writs of error on behalf of the Government in cases where final judgment is rendered against the sufficiency of an indictment or against the Government upon any other question arising before ac- tual trial; limiting the right of review in cases of felony punishable only by fine and imprisonment to the circuit court of ap- peals, and making speedy provision for the construction of such prisons and reforma- tories as may be necessary for the confine- ment of United States convicts. The Post: Service. The report of the Postmaster-General con- tains a detailed statement of the operations of the Post-Office Department during the last fiscal year and much interesting formation touching this important branch of the public service. The business of the mails indicates with absolute certainty the condition of the busi- ness of the country,and depression in finan- cial affairs inevitably and quickly reduces the postal revenues. Therefore a larger discrepancy than usual between the post office receipts and expenditures is the ex- pected and unayoidable result of the dis- tressing stringency which has prevailed throughout the country during much of the time covered by the Postmaster Gen- eral’s report. At a date when better times were anticipated it was estimated by his predecessor that the deficiency on the 30th day of June, 1993, would be but a little over a million and a half dollars. It amounted, however, to more than five millions. At the same time, and under the influence of like anticipations, estimates were made for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, which exhibited a surplus of revenue over expenditures of $872,245.71, but now, in view of the actual receipts and expendi- tures during that part of the cur rent fiscal year already expired, the preb- ent Postmaster-General estimates that at its close instead of a surplus there will be the cost of maintenance will be inconsider-| @ deficiency of nearly eight million dollars. able as compared with the expense of con-| The post-oftice receipts for the last fischl struction and ordnance. At the end of the | Year amounted to $75,896,933.16 and its ex- curzent calendar year the War Department Penditures to §81,074,104.90. This post-office will have nine 12-inch guns, twenty 10-inch, ‘eficiency would disappear or be immensely and thirty-four 8-inch guns, ready to be | decreased if less matter was carried free mounted on gun lifts and carriages, and through the mails, an item of which is up- | Seventy-five 12-inch mortars. In addition W@d of three hundred tons of seeds and the hands of | ence which assem- | to the product of the Army Gun Factory, | now completed at Watervliet, the Govern- | jment has contracted with private parties | for the purchase of one hundred guns of | these calibers, the first of which should be. delivered to the Department for test before | July 1, 1894, The manufacture of heavy ordnance keeps pace with current needs; but to render these | Suns available for the purposes they are de-| |S.gned to meet, emplacements must be pre-| pared for them. Progress has been made in this direction, and it is desirable that Con- sress by adequate appropzistions should vide for the uninterrupted prosecution | of this necessary work. i After much preliminary work and ex-! |haustive examination in accordance with the requirements of the law, the board ap- pointed to select a magazine rifle of mod- ern type with which to replace the obsolete ringtield rifle of the infantry service, pmpleted its labors during the last year, and the work of manufacture is now in progress at the National Armory at Spring- field. It is confidentiy expected that by the |end of the current year our infantry will be | Supplied with a weapon equal to that of the | most progressive armies of the world. | | The work on the projected Chickamauga | and Chattanooga National Military Park has been prosecuted with zeal and judg- ment, and its opening will be celebrated during the coming year. Over nine square | miles of the Chickamauga battle field have been acquired, twenty-five miles of roadw: have been constructed and permanent tab- lets have been placed at many historical | points, while the invitation to the states to mark the positions of their troops partic- inating in the battle has been very gener- |ally accepted, | The work of locating and preserving the lines of battle at the Gettysburg battle field is making satisfactory progress on the plans directed by the last Congress, The reports of the Milltary Academy at |West Point and the several schools for special instruction of officers, show marked advance in the education of the army and a commendable ambition among its officers to excel in the military profession and to fit themseives for the highest service to the country. | Under the supervision of Adjt. Gen. Rob-| |ert Williams, lately retired, the bureau of | military information has become well estab- jlished, and 1s performing a service that will put in possession of the government in | time of war most valuable information, and | at all times serve a purpose of great utility. |in keeping the army advised of the world’s | Progress in all matters pertaining to the art of war. The Department of Justice. The report of the Attorney General con- | tains the usual summary of the affairs and | proceedings of the Department of Justice | \for the past year, together with certain recommendations as to needed legislation | |on various subjects. I cannot too heartily | indorse the proposition that the fee system | | 88 applicable to the compensation of United | States attorneys, marshals, clerks of fed- |eral courts and United States <ommission- jer. should be abolished with as little de- lay as possible. It is clearly in the interest grain from the Agricultural Department. The total number of post-offices in the United States on the 30th day of June, 1898, was 68,403, an increase of 1,284 over the preceding year. Of these 3,360 were Presi- dential, an increase in that class of 204 over the preceding year. Forty-two free-delivery offices were added during the year to those already on making a total of six hundred and ten - ies and towns provided with free delivery on June 30, 1893. Ninety-three other citi and towns are now entitled to this service under the law, but it has not been accorded them on account of insufficient funds te meet the expense of its establishment. 1 am decidedly of the opinion that the Provisions of the present law permit as seneral an introduction of this feature ¢f mail service as is necessary or justifiablé, and that 't ought not to be extended to smailer communities than are now desig- nated. ; The expense of free delivery for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894, will be more than $11,000,000, and under legislation now existing there must be a constant increase in this item of expenditure, There were 6,401 additions to the domes- tc money-order offices during the last fiscal year, being the largest increase in any yea since the inauguration of the system. The total number of these offices at the close | of the year was 18,434. There were 13,390,- 735 money orders issued from these offices, being an increase over the preceding year of 1,240,293, and the value of these orders amounted to $127,576,433.65, an increase of $7,509,632.58. There were also issued during the year postal notes amounting to $12. (KIS,076. 73. During the year 195 international money~ | order offices were added to those already provided, making a total of 2,407 in opera~ tion on June 30, 1893. The number of in- ternational money orders issued during the | year was 1,055,009, an increase over the preceding year of 72,525, and their value Was $16,341,837.86, an increase of $1,221,- 506.31. The number of orders paid was 300,917, an increase over the preceding year of 13,503, and their value was $5,283,- 3 , an increase of $4,004.83, From the foregoing statements it appears that the total issue of money orders and postal notes for the year amounted to $156,821,348.24. The number of letters and packages mailed during the year for special delivery Was 3,375,603, an increase over the preced- ing year of nearly 22 per cent. The spec jal-delivery stamps used upon these let> ters and packages amounted to $337,569.30, and the messengers’ fees paid for their de livery amounted to $256,592.71, leaving @ profit to the Government of $80,976.59. The Railway Mail Service not only adds to the promptness of mail delivery at all offices, but it is the especial instrumental~ ity which puts the smaller and way places in the service on an equality in that re- gard with the larger and terminal offices, This branch of the postal service has there fore received much attention from the Postmaster-General, and though it is grat- ifying to know that it is in a condition of high efficiency and great usefulness, | am .