There are few transactions in the administration of the Government that are even temporarily held in the confidence of those charged with the conduct of the public business. Every step taken is under the observation of an intelligent and watchful people. The state of the Union is known from day to day, and suggestions as to needed legislation find an earlier voice than that which speaks in these annual communications of the President to Congress. Good will and cordiality have characterized our relations and correspondence with other governments, and the year just closed leaves few international questions of importance remaining unadjusted. No obstacle is believed to exist that can long postpone the consideration and adjustment of the still pending questions upon satisfactory and honorable terms. The dealings of this Government with other states have been and should always be marked by frankness and sincerity, our purposes avowed, and our methods free from intrigue. This course has borne rich fruit in the past, and it is our duty as a nation to preserve the heritage of good repute which a century of right dealing with foreign governments has secured to us. It is a matter of high significance and no less of congratulation that the first year of the second century of our constitutional existence finds as honored guests within our borders the representatives of all the independent States of North and South America met together in earnest conference touching the best methods of perpetuating and expanding the relations of mutual interest and friendliness existing among them. That the opportunity thus afforded for promoting closer international relations and the increased prosperity of the States represented will be used for the mutual good of all I can not permit myself to doubt. Our people will await with interest and confidence the results to flow from so auspicious a meeting of allied and in large part identical interests. The recommendations of this international conference of enlightened statesmen will doubtless have the considerate attention of Congress and its cooperation in the removal of unnecessary barriers to beneficial intercourse between the nations of America. But while the commercial results which it is hoped will follow this conference are worthy of pursuit and of the great interests they have excited, it is believed that the crowning benefit will be found in the better securities which may be devised for the maintenance of peace among all American nations and the settlement of all contentions by methods that a Christian civilization can approve. While viewing with interest our national resources and products, the delegates will, I am sure, find a higher satisfaction in the evidences of unselfish friendship which everywhere attend their intercourse with our people. Another international conference having great possibilities for good has lately assembled and is now in session in this capital. An invitation was extended by the Government, under the act of Congress of July 9, 1888, to all maritime nations to send delegates to confer touching the revision and amendment of the rules and regulations governing vessels at sea and to adopt a uniform system of marine signals. The response to this invitation has been very general and very cordial. Delegates from twenty-six nations are present in the conference, and they have entered upon their useful work with great zeal and with an evident appreciation of its importance. So far as the agreement to be reached may require legislation to give it effect, the cooperation of Congress is confidently relied upon. It is an interesting, if not, indeed, an unprecedented, fact that the two international conferences have brought together here the accredited representatives of thirty-three nations. Bolivia, Ecuador, and Honduras are now represented by resident envoys of the plenipotentiary grade. All the States of the American system now maintain diplomatic representation at this capital. In this connection it may be noted that all the nations of the Western Hemisphere, with one exception, send to Washington envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary, being the highest grade accredited to this Government. The United States, on the contrary, sends envoys of lower grades to some of our sister Republics. Our representative in Paraguay and Uruguay is a minister resident, while to Bolivia we send a minister resident and consul-general. In view of the importance of our relations with the States of the American system, our diplomatic agents in those countries should be of the uniform rank of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. Certain missions were so elevated by the last Congress with happy effect, and I recommend the completion of the reform thus begun, with the inclusion also of Hawaii and Hayti, in view of their relations to the American system of states. I also recommend that timely provision be made for extending to Hawaii an invitation to be represented in the international conference now sitting at this capital. Our relations with China have the attentive consideration which their magnitude and interest demand. The failure of the treaty negotiated under the Administration of my predecessor for the further and more complete restriction of Chinese labor immigration, and with it the legislation of the last session of Congress dependent thereon, leaves some questions open which Congress should now approach in that wise and just spirit which should characterize the relations of two great and friendly powers. While our supreme interests demand the exclusion of a laboring element which experience has shown to be incompatible with our social life, all steps to compass this imperative need should be accompanied with a recognition of the claim of those strangers now lawfully among us to humane and just treatment. The accession of the young Emperor of China marks, we may hope, an era of progress and prosperity for the great country over which he is called to rule. The present state of affairs in respect to the Samoan Islands is encouraging. The conference which was held in this city in the summer of 1887 between the representatives of the United States, Germany, and Great Britain having been adjourned because of the persistent divergence of views which was developed in its deliberations, the subsequent course of events in the islands gave rise to questions of a serious character. On the 4th of February last the German minister at this capital, in behalf of his Government, proposed a resumption of the conference at Berlin. This proposition was accepted, as Congress in February last was informed. Pursuant to the understanding thus reached, commissioners were appointed by me, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who proceeded to Berlin, where the conference was renewed. The deliberations extended through several weeks, and resulted in the conclusion of a treaty which will be submitted to the Senate for its approval. I trust that the efforts which have been made to effect an adjustment of this question will be productive of the permanent establishment of law and order in Samoa upon the basis of the maintenance of the rights and interests of the natives as well as of the treaty powers. The questions which have arisen during the past few years between Great Britain and the United States are in abeyance or in course of amicable adjustment. On the part of the government of the Dominion of Canada an effort has been apparent during the season just ended to administer the laws and regulations applicable to the fisheries with as little occasion for friction as was possible, and the temperate representations of this Government in respect of cases of undue hardship or of harsh interpretations have been in most cases met with measures of transitory relief. It is trusted that the attainment of our just rights under existing treaties and in virtue of the concurrent legislation of the two contiguous countries will not be long deferred and that all existing causes of difference may be equitably adjusted. I recommend that provision be made by an international agreement for visibly marking the water boundary between the United States and Canada in the narrow channels that join the Great Lakes. The conventional line therein traced by the northwestern boundary survey years ago is not in all cases readily ascertainable for the settlement of jurisdictional questions. A just and acceptable enlargement of the list of offenses for which extradition may be claimed and granted is most desirable between this country and Great Britain. The territory of neither should become a secure harbor for the evil doers of the other through any avoidable shortcoming in this regard. A new treaty on this subject between the two powers has been recently negotiated and will soon be laid before the Senate. The importance of the commerce of Cuba and Puerto Rico with the United States, their nearest and principal market, justifies the expectation that the existing relations may be beneficially expanded. The impediments resulting from varying dues on navigation and from the vexatious treatment of our vessels on merely technical grounds of complaint in West India ports should be removed. The progress toward an adjustment of pending claims between the United States and Spain is not as rapid as could be desired. Questions affecting American interests in connection with railways constructed and operated by our citizens in Peru have claimed the attention of this Government. It is urged that other governments in pressing Peru to the payment of their claims have disregarded the property rights of American citizens. The matter will be carefully investigated with a view to securing a proper and equitable adjustment. A similar issue is now pending with Portugal. The Delagoa Bay Railway, in Africa, was constructed under a concession by Portugal to an American citizen. When nearly completed the road was seized by the agents of the Portuguese Government. Formal protest has been made through our minister at Lisbon against this act, and no proper effort will be spared to secure proper relief. In pursuance of the charter granted by Congress and under the terms of its contract with the Government of Nicaragua the Interoceanic Canal Company has begun the construction of the important waterway between the two oceans which its organization contemplates. Grave complications for a time seemed imminent, in view of a supposed conflict of jurisdiction between Nicaragua and Costa Rica in regard to the accessory privileges to be conceded by the latter Republic toward the construction of works on the San Juan River, of which the right bank is Costa Rican territory. I am happy to learn that a friendly arrangement has been effected between the two nations. This Government has held itself ready to promote in every proper way the adjustment of all questions that might present obstacles to the completion of a work of such transcendent importance to the commerce of this country, and, indeed, to the commercial interests of the world. The traditional good feeling between this country and the French Republic has received additional testimony in the participation of our Government and people in the international exposition held at Paris during the past summer. The success of our exhibitors has been gratifying. The report of the commission will be laid before Congress in due season. This Government has accepted, under proper reserve as to its policy in foreign territories, the invitation of the Government of Belgium to take part in an international congress, which opened at Brussels on the 16th of November, for the purpose of devising measures to promote the abolition of the slave trade in Africa and to prevent the shipment of slaves by sea. Our interest in the extinction of this crime against humanity in the regions where it yet survives has been increased by the results of emancipation within our own borders. With Germany the most cordial relations continue. The questions arising from the return to the Empire of Germans naturalized in this country are considered and disposed of in a temperate spirit to the entire satisfaction of both Governments. It is a source of great satisfaction that the internal disturbances of the Republic of Hayti are at last happily ended, and that an apparently stable government has been constituted. It has been duly recognized by the United States. A mixed commission is now in session in this capital for the settlement of long-standing claims against the Republic of Venezuela, and it is hoped that a satisfactory conclusion will be speedily reached. This Government has not hesitated to express its earnest desire that the boundary dispute now pending between Great Britain and Venezuela may be adjusted amicably and in strict accordance with the historic title of the parties. The advancement of the Empire of Japan has been evidenced by the recent promulgation of a new constitution, containing valuable guaranties of liberty and providing for a responsible ministry to conduct the Government. It is earnestly recommended that our judicial rights and processes in Korea be established on a firm basis by providing the machinery necessary to carry out treaty stipulations in that regard. The friendliness of the Persian Government continues to be shown by its generous treatment of Americans engaged in missionary labors and by the cordial disposition of the Shah to encourage the enterprise of our citizens in the development of Persian resources. A discussion is in progress touching the jurisdictional treaty rights of the United States in Turkey. An earnest effort will be made to define those rights to the satisfaction of both Governments. Questions continue to arise in our relations with several countries in respect to the rights of naturalized citizens. Especially is this the case with France, Italy, Russia, and Turkey, and to a less extent with Switzerland. From time to time earnest efforts have been made to regulate this subject by conventions with those countries. An improper use of naturalization should not be permitted, but it is most important that those who have been duly naturalized should everywhere be accorded recognition of the rights pertaining to the citizenship of the country of their adoption. The appropriateness of special conventions for that purpose is recognized in treaties which this Government has concluded with a number of European States, and it is advisable that the difficulties which now arise in our relations with other countries on the same subject should be similarly adjusted. The recent revolution in Brazil in favor of the establishment of a republican form of government is an event of great interest to the United States. Our minister at Rio de Janeiro was at once instructed to maintain friendly diplomatic relations with the Provisional Government, and the Brazilian representatives at this capital were instructed by the Provisional Government to continue their functions. Our friendly intercourse with Brazil has therefore suffered no interruption. Our minister has been further instructed to extend on the part of this Government a formal and cordial recognition of the new Republic so soon as the majority of the people of Brazil shall have signified their assent to its establishment and maintenance. Within our own borders a general condition of prosperity prevails. The harvests of the last summer were exceptionally abundant, and the trade conditions now prevailing seem to promise a successful season to the merchant and the manufacturer and general employment to our working people. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, has been prepared and will be presented to Congress. It presents with clearness the fiscal operations of the Government, and I avail myself of it to obtain some facts for use here. The aggregate receipts from all sources for the year were $387,050,058.84, derived as follows: The ordinary expenditures for the same period were $281,996,615.60, and the total expenditures, including the sinking fund, were $329,579,929.25. The excess of receipts over expenditures was, after providing for the sinking fund, $57,470,129.59. For the current fiscal year the total revenues, actual and estimated are $385,000,000, and the ordinary expenditures, actual and estimated, are $293,000,000, making with the sinking fund a total expenditure of $341,321,116.99, leaving an estimated surplus of $43,678,883.01. During the fiscal year there was applied to the purchase of bonds, in addition to those for the sinking fund, $90,456,172.35, and during the first quarter of the current year the sum of $37,838,937.77, all of which were credited to the sinking fund. The revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, are estimated by the Treasury Department at $385,000,000, and the expenditures for the same period, including the sinking fund, at $341,430,477.70. This shows an estimated surplus for that year of $43,569,522.30, which is more likely to be increased than reduced when the actual transactions are written up. The existence of so large an actual and anticipated surplus should have the immediate attention of Congress, with a view to reducing the receipts of the Treasury to the needs of the Government as closely as may be. The collection of moneys not needed for public uses imposes an unnecessary burden upon our people, and the presence of so large a surplus in the public vaults is a disturbing element in the conduct of private business. It has called into use expedients for putting it into circulation of very questionable propriety. We should not collect revenue for the purpose of anticipating our bonds beyond the requirements of the sinking fund, but any unappropriated surplus in the Treasury should be so used, as there is no other lawful way of returning the money to circulation, and the profit realized by the Government offers a substantial advantage. The loaning of public funds to the banks without interest Upon the security of Government bonds I regard as an unauthorized and dangerous expedient. It results in a temporary and unnatural increase of the banking capital of favored localities and compels a cautious and gradual recall of the deposits to avoid injury to the commercial interests. It is not to be expected that the banks having these deposits will sell their bonds to the Treasury so long as the present highly beneficial arrangement is continued. They now practically get interest both upon the bonds and their proceeds. No further use should be made of this method of getting the surplus into circulation, and the deposits now outstanding should be gradually withdrawn and applied to the purchase of bonds. It is fortunate that such a use can be made of the existing surplus, and for some time to come of any casual surplus that may exist after Congress has taken the necessary steps for a reduction of the revenue. Such legislation should be promptly but very considerately enacted. I recommend a revision of our tariff law both in its administrative features and in the schedules. The need of the former is generally conceded, and an agreement upon the evils and inconveniences to be remedied and the best methods for their correction will probably not be difficult. Uniformity of valuation at all our ports is essential, and effective measures should be taken to secure it. It is equally desirable that questions affecting rates and classifications should be promptly decided. The preparation of a new schedule of customs duties is a matter of great delicacy because of its direct effect upon the business of the country, and of great difficulty by reason of the wide divergence of opinion as to the objects that may properly be promoted by such legislation. Some disturbance of business may perhaps result from the consideration of this subject by Congress, but this temporary ill effect will be reduced to the minimum by prompt action and by the assurance which the country already enjoys that any necessary changes will be so made as not to impair the just and reasonable protection of our home industries. The inequalities of the law should be adjusted, but the protective principle should be maintained and fairly applied to the products of our farms as well as of our shops. These duties necessarily have relation to other things besides the public revenues. We can not limit their effects by fixing our eyes on the public Treasury alone. They have a direct relation to home production, to work, to wages, and to the commercial independence of our country, and the wise and patriotic legislator should enlarge the field of his vision to include all of these. The necessary reduction in our public revenues can, I am sure, be made without making the smaller burden more onerous than the larger by reason of the disabilities and limitations which the process of reduction puts upon both capital and labor. The free list can very safely be extended by placing thereon articles that do not offer injurious competition to such domestic products as our home labor can supply. The removal of the internal tax upon tobacco would relieve an important agricultural product from a burden which was imposed only because our revenue from customs duties was insufficient for the public needs. If safe provision against fraud can be devised, the removal of the tax upon spirits used in the arts and in manufactures would also offer an unobjectionable method of reducing the surplus. A table presented by the Secretary of the Treasury showing the amount of money of all kinds in circulation each year from 1878 to the present time is of interest. It appears that the amount of national-bank notes in circulation has decreased during that period $114,109,729, of which $37,799,229 is chargeable to the last year. The withdrawal of bank circulation will necessarily continue under existing conditions. It is probable that the adoption of the suggestions made by the Comptroller of the Currency, namely, that the minimum deposit of bonds for the establishment of banks be reduced and that an issue of notes to the par value of the bonds be allowed, would help to maintain the bank circulation. But while this withdrawal of bank notes has been going on there has been a large increase in the amount of gold and silver coin in circulation and in the issues of gold and silver certificates. The total amount of money of all kinds in circulation on March 1, 1878, was $805,793,807, while on October 1, 1889, the total was $1,405,018,000. There was an increase of $293,417,552 in gold coin, of $57,554,100 in standard silver dollars, of $72,311,249 in gold certificates, of $276,619,715 in silver certificates, and of $14,073,787 in United States notes, making a total of $713,976,403. There was during the same period a decrease of $114,109,729 in bank circulation and of $642,481 in subsidiary silver. The net increase was $599,224,193. The circulation per capita has increased about $5 during the time covered by the table referred to. The total coinage of silver dollars was on November 1, 1889, $343,638,001, of which $283,539,521 were in the Treasury vaults and $60,098,480 were in circulation. Of the amount in the vaults $277,319,944 were represented by outstanding silver certificates, leaving $6,219,577 not in circulation and not represented by certificates. The law requiring the purchase by the Treasury of $2,000,000 worth of silver bullion each month, to be coined into silver dollars of 412 1/2 grains, has been observed by the Department, but neither the present Secretary nor any of his predecessors has deemed it safe to exercise the discretion given by law to increase the monthly purchases to $4,000,000. When the law was enacted (February 28, 1878) the price of silver in the market was $1.204 per ounce, making the bullion value of the dollar 93 cents. Since that time the price has fallen as low as 91.2 cents per ounce, reducing the bullion value of the dollar to 70.6 cents. Within the last few months the market price has somewhat advanced, and on the 1st day of November last the bullion value of the silver dollar was 72 cents. The evil anticipations which have accompanied the coinage and use of the silver dollar have not been realized. As a coin it has not had general use, and the public Treasury has been compelled to store it. But this is manifestly owing to the fact that its paper representative is more convenient. The general acceptance and the use of the silver certificate show that silver has not been otherwise discredited. Some favorable conditions have contributed to maintain this practical equality in their commercial use between the gold and silver dollars; but some of these are trade conditions that statutory enactments do not control and of the continuance of which we can not be certain. I think it is clear that if we should make the coinage of silver at the present ratio free we must expect that the difference in the bullion values of the gold and silver dollars will be taken account of in commercial transactions; and I fear the same result would follow any considerable increase of the present rate of coinage. Such a result would be discreditable to our financial management and disastrous to all business interests. We should not tread the dangerous edge of such a peril. And, indeed, nothing more harmful could happen to the silver interests. Any safe legislation upon this subject must secure the equality of the two coins in their commercial uses. I have always been an advocate of the use of silver in our currency. We are large producers of that metal, and should not discredit it. To the plan which will be presented by the Secretary of the Treasury for the issuance of notes or certificates upon the deposit of silver bullion at its market value I have been able to give only a hasty examination, owing to the press of other matters and to the fact that it has been so recently formulated. The details of such a law require careful consideration, but the general plan suggested by him seems to satisfy the purpose--to continue the use of silver in connection with our currency and at the same time to obviate the danger of which I have spoken. At a later day I may communicate further with Congress upon this subject. The enforcement of the Chinese exclusion act has been found to be very difficult on the northwestern frontier. Chinamen landing at Victoria find it easy to pass our border, owing to the impossibility with the force at the command of the customs officers of guarding so long an inland line. The Secretary of the Treasury has authorized the employment of additional officers, who will be assigned to this duty, and every effort will be made to enforce the law. The Dominion exacts a head tax of $50 for each Chinaman landed, and when these persons, in fraud of our law, cross into our territory and are apprehended our officers do not know what to do with them, as the Dominion authorities will not suffer them to be sent back without a second payment of the tax. An effort will be made to reach an understanding that will remove this difficulty. The proclamation required by section 3 of the act of March 2, 1889, relating to the killing of seals and other fur-bearing animals, was issued by me on the 21st day of March, and a revenue vessel was dispatched to enforce the laws and protect the interests of the United States. The establishment of a refuge station at Point Barrow, as directed by Congress, was successfully accomplished. Judged by modern standards, we are practically without coast defenses. Many of the structures we have would enhance rather than diminish the perils of their garrisons if subjected to the fire of improved guns, and very few are so located as to give full effect to the greater range of such guns as we are now making for coast-defense uses. This general subject has had consideration in Congress for some years, and the appropriation for the construction of large rifled guns made one year ago was, I am sure, the expression of a purpose to provide suitable works in which these guns might be mounted. An appropriation now made for that purpose would not advance the completion of the works beyond our ability to supply them with fairly effective guns. The security of our coast cities against foreign attacks should not rest altogether in the friendly disposition of other nations. There should be a second line wholly in our own keeping. I very urgently recommend an appropriation at this session for the construction of such works in our most exposed harbors. I approve the suggestion of the Secretary of War that provision be made for encamping companies of the National Guard in our coast works for a specified time each year and for their training in the use of heavy guns. His suggestion that an increase of the artillery force of the Army is desirable is also, in this connection, commended to the consideration of Congress. The improvement of our important rivers and harbors should be promoted by the necessary appropriations. Care should be taken that the Government is not committed to the prosecution of works not of public and general advantage and that the relative usefulness of works of that class is not overlooked. So far as this work can ever be said to be completed, I do not doubt that the end would be sooner and more economically reached if fewer separate works were undertaken at the same time, and those selected for their greater general interest were more rapidly pushed to completion. A work once considerably begun should not be subjected to the risks and deterioration which interrupted or insufficient appropriations necessarily occasion. The assault made by David S. Terry upon the person of Justice Field, of the Supreme Court of the United States, at Lathtop, Cal., in August last, and the killing of the assailant by a deputy United States marshal who had been deputed to accompany Justice Field and to protect him from anticipated violence at the hands of Terry, in connection with the legal proceedings which have followed, suggest questions which, in my judgment, are worthy of the attention of Congress. I recommend that more definite provision be made by law not only for the protection of Federal officers, but for a full trial of such cases in the United States courts. In recommending such legislation I do not at all impeach either the general adequacy of the provision made by the State laws for the protection of all citizens or the general good disposition of those charged with the execution of such laws to give protection to the officers of the United States. The duty of protecting its officers, as such, and of punishing those who assault them on account of their official acts should not be devolved expressly or by acquiescence upon the local authorities. Events which have been brought to my attention happening in other parts of the country have also suggested the propriety of extending by legislation fuller protection to those who may be called as witnesses in the courts of the United States. The law compels those who are supposed to have knowledge of public offenses to attend upon our courts and grand juries and to give evidence. There is a manifest resulting duty that these witnesses shall be protected from injury on account of their testimony. The investigations of criminal offenses are often rendered futile and the punishment of crime impossible by the intimidation of witnesses. The necessity of providing some more speedy method for disposing of the cases which now come for final adjudication to the Supreme Court becomes every year more apparent and urgent. The plan of providing some intermediate courts having final appellate jurisdiction of certain classes of questions and cases has, I think, received a more general approval from the bench and bar of the country than any other. Without attempting to discuss details, I recommend that provision be made for the establishment of such courts. The salaries of the judges of the district courts in many of the districts are, in my judgment, inadequate. I recommend that all such salaries now below $5,000 per annum be increased to that amount. It is quite true that the amount of labor performed by these judges is very unequal, but as they can not properly engage in other pursuits to supplement their incomes the salary should be such in all cases as to provide an independent and comfortable support. Earnest attention should be given by Congress to a consideration of the question how far the restraint of those combinations of capital commonly called "trusts" is matter of Federal jurisdiction. When organized, as they often are, to crush out all healthy competition and to monopolize the production or sale of an article of commerce and general necessity, they are dangerous conspiracies against the public good, and should be made the subject of prohibitory and even penal legislation. The subject of an international copyright has been frequently commended to the attention of Congress by my predecessors. The enactment of such a law would be eminently wise and just. Our naturalization laws should be so revised as to make the inquiry into the moral character and good disposition toward our Government of the persons applying for citizenship more thorough. This can only be done by taking fuller control of the examination, by fixing the times for hearing such applications, and by requiring the presence of some one who shall represent the Government in the inquiry. Those who are the avowed enemies of social order or who come to our shores to swell the injurious influence and to extend the evil practices of any association that defies our laws should not only be denied citizenship, but a domicile. The enactment of a national bankrupt law of a character to be a permanent part of our general legislation is desirable. It should be simple in its methods and inexpensive in its administration. The report of the Postmaster-General not only exhibits the operations of the Department for the last fiscal year, but contains many valuable suggestions for the improvement and extension of the service, which are commended to your attention. No other branch of the Government has so close a contact with the daily life of the people. Almost everyone uses the service it offers, and every hour gained in the transmission of the great commercial mails has an actual and possible value that only those engaged in trade can understand. The saving of one day in the transmission of the mails between New York and San Francisco, which has recently been accomplished, is an incident worthy of mention. The plan suggested of a supervision of the post-offices in separate districts that shall involve instruction and suggestion and a rating of the efficiency of the postmasters would, I have no doubt, greatly improve the service. A pressing necessity exists for the erection of a building for the joint use of the Department and of the city post-office. The Department was partially relieved by renting .outside quarters for a part of its force, but it is again overcrowded. The building used by the city office never was fit for the purpose, and is now inadequate and unwholesome. The unsatisfactory condition of the law relating to the transmission through the mails of lottery advertisements and remittances is clearly stated by the Postmaster-General, and his suggestion as to amendments should have your favorable consideration. The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows a reorganization of the bureaus of the Department that will, I do not doubt, promote the efficiency of each. In general, satisfactory progress has been made in the construction of the new ships of war authorized by Congress. The first vessel of the new Navy, the Dolphin, was subjected to very severe trial tests and to very much adverse criticism; but it is gratifying to be able to state that a cruise around the world, from which she has recently returned, has demonstrated that she is a first-class vessel of her rate. The report of the Secretary shows that while the effective force of the Navy is rapidly increasing by reason of the improved build and armament of the new ships, the number of our ships fit for sea duty grows very slowly. We had on the 4th of March last 37 serviceable ships, and though 4 have since been added to the list, the total has not been increased, because in the meantime 4 have been lost or condemned. Twenty-six additional vessels have been authorized and appropriated for; but it is probable that when they are completed our list will only be increased to 42--a gain of 5. The old wooden ships are disappearing almost as fast as the new vessels are added. These facts carry their own argument. One of the new ships may in fighting strength be equal to two of the old, but it can not do the cruising duty of two. It is important, therefore, that we should have a more rapid increase in the number of serviceable ships. I concur in the recommendation of the Secretary that the construction of 8 armored ships, 3 gunboats, and 5 torpedo boats be authorized. An appalling calamity befell three of our naval vessels on duty at the Samoan Islands, in the harbor of Apia, in March last, involving the loss of 4 officers and 47 seamen, of two vessels, the Trenton and the Vandalia, and the disabling of a third, the Nipsic. Three vessels of the German navy, also in the harbor, shared with our ships the force of the hurricane and suffered even more heavily. While mourning the brave officers and men who died facing with high resolve perils greater than those of battle, it is most gratifying to state that the credit of the American Navy for seamanship, courage, and generosity was magnificently sustained in the storm-beaten harbor of Apia. The report of the Secretary of the Interior exhibits the transactions of the Government with the Indian tribes. Substantial progress has been made in the education of the children of school age and in the allotment of lands to adult Indians. It is to be regretted that the policy of breaking up the tribal relation and of dealing with the Indian as an individual did not appear earlier in our legislation. Large reservations held in common and the maintenance of the authority of the chiefs and headmen have deprived the individual of every incentive to the exercise of thrift, and the annuity has contributed an affirmative impulse toward a state of confirmed pauperism. Our treaty stipulations should be observed with fidelity and our legislation should be highly considerate of the best interests of an ignorant and helpless people. The reservations are now generally surrounded by white settlements. We can no longer push the Indian back into the wilderness, and it remains only by every suitable agency to push him upward into the estate of a self-supporting and responsible citizen. For the adult the first step is to locate him upon a farm, and for the child to place him in a school. School attendance should be promoted by every moral agency, and those failing should be compelled. The national schools for Indians have been very successful and should be multiplied, and as far as possible should be so organized and conducted as to facilitate the transfer of the schools to the States or Territories in which they are located when the Indians in a neighborhood have accepted citizenship and have become otherwise fitted for such a transfer. This condition of things will be attained slowly, but it will be hastened by keeping it in mind; and in the meantime that cooperation between the Government and the mission schools which has wrought much good should be cordially and impartially maintained. The last Congress enacted two distinct laws relating to negotiations with the Sioux Indians of Dakota for a relinquishment of a portion of their lands to the United States and for dividing the remainder into separate reservations. Both were approved on the same day--March 2. The one submitted to the Indians a specific proposition; the other (section 3 of the Indian appropriation act) authorized the President to appoint three commissioners to negotiate with these Indians for the accomplishment of the same general purpose, and required that any agreements made should be submitted to Congress for ratification. On the 16th day of April last I appointed Hon. Charles Foster, of Ohio, Hon. William Warner, of Missouri, and Major-General George Crook, of the United States Army, commissioners under the last-named law. They were, however, authorized and directed first to submit to the Indians the definite proposition made to them by the act first mentioned, and only in the event of a failure to secure the assent of the requisite number to that proposition to open negotiations for modified terms under the other act. The work of the commission was prolonged and arduous, but the assent of the requisite number was, it is understood, finally obtained to the proposition made by Congress, though the report of the commission has not yet been submitted. In view of these facts, I shall not, as at present advised, deem it necessary to submit the agreement to Congress for ratification, but it will in due course be submitted for information. This agreement releases to the United States about 9,000,000 acres of land. The commission provided for by section 14 of the Indian appropriation bill to negotiate with the Cherokee Indians and all other Indians owning or claiming lands lying west of the ninety-sixth degree of longitude for the cession to the United States of all such lands was constituted by the appointment of Hon. Lucius Fairchild, of Wisconsin, Hon. John F. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, and Hon. Alfred M. Wilson, of Arkansas, and organized on June 29 last. Their first conference with the representatives of the Cherokees was held at Tahlequah July 29, with no definite results. General John F. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, was prevented by ill health from taking part in the conference. His death, which occurred recently, is justly and generally lamented by a people he had served with conspicuous gallantry in war and with great fidelity in peace. The vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of Hon. Warren G. Sayre, of Indiana. A second conference between the commission and the Cherokees was begun November 6, but no results have yet been obtained, nor is it believed that a conclusion can be immediately expected. The cattle syndicate now occupying the lands for grazing purposes is clearly one of the agencies responsible for the obstruction of our negotiations with the Cherokees. The large body of agricultural lands constituting what is known as the "Cherokee Outlet" ought not to be, and, indeed, can not long be, held for grazing and for the advantage of a few against the public interests and the best advantage of the Indians themselves. The United States has now under the treaties certain rights in these lands. These will not be used oppressively, but it can not be allowed that those who by sufferance occupy these lands shall interpose to defeat the wise and beneficent purposes of the Government. I can not but believe that the advantageous character of the offer made by the United States to the Cherokee Nation for a full release of these lands as compared with other suggestions now made to them will yet obtain for it a favorable consideration. Under the agreement made between the United States and the Muscogee (or Creek) Nation of Indians on the 19th day of January, 1889, an absolute title was secured by the United States to about 3,500,000 acres of land. Section 12 of the general Indian appropriation act approved March 2, 1889, made provision for the purchase by the United States from the Seminole tribe of a certain portion of their lands. The delegates of the Seminole Nation, having first duly evidenced to me their power to act in that behalf, delivered a proper release or conveyance to the United States of all the lands mentioned in the act, which was accepted by me and certified to be in compliance with the statute. By the terms of both the acts referred to all the lands so purchased were declared to be a part of the public domain and open to settlement under the homestead law. But of the lands embraced in these purchases, being in the aggregate about 5,500,000 acres, 3,500,000 acres had already, under the terms of the treaty of 1866, been acquired by the United States for the purpose of settling other Indian tribes thereon and had been appropriated to that purpose. The land remaining and available for settlement consisted of 1,887,796 acres, surrounded on all sides by lands in the occupancy of Indian tribes. Congress had provided no civil government for the people who were to be invited by my proclamation to settle upon these lands, except as the new court which had been established at Muscogee or the United States courts in some of the adjoining States had power to enforce the general laws of the United States. In this condition of things I was quite reluctant to open the lands to settlement; but in view of the fact that several thousand persons, many of them with their families, had gathered upon the borders of the Indian Territory with a view to securing homesteads on the ceded lands, and that delay would involve them in much loss and suffering, I did on the 23d day of March last issue a proclamation declaring that the lands therein described would be open to settlement under the provisions of the law on the 22d day of April following at 12 o'clock noon. Two land districts had been established and the offices were opened for the transaction of business when the appointed time arrived. It is much to the credit of the settlers that they very generally observed the limitation as to the time when they might enter the Territory. Care will be taken that those who entered in violation of the law do not secure the advantage they unfairly sought. There was a good deal of apprehension that the strife for locations would result in much violence and bloodshed, but happily these anticipations were not realized. It is estimated that there are now in the Territory about 60,000 people, and several considerable towns have sprung up, for which temporary municipal governments have been organized. Guthrie is said to have now a population of almost 8,000. Eleven schools and nine churches have been established, and three daily and five weekly newspapers are published in this city, whose charter and ordinances have only the sanction of the voluntary acquiescence of the people from day to day. Oklahoma City has a population of about 5,000, and is proportionately as well provided as Guthrie with churches, schools, and newspapers. Other towns and villages having populations of from 100 to 1,000 are scattered over the Territory. In order to secure the peace of this new community in the absence of civil government, I directed General Merritt, commanding the Department of the Missouri, to act in conjunction with the marshals of the United States to preserve the peace, and upon their requisition to use the troops to aid them in executing warrants and in quieting any riots or breaches of the peace that might occur. He was further directed to use his influence to promote good order and to avoid any conflicts between or with the settlers. Believing that the introduction and sale of liquors where no legal restraints or regulations existed would endanger the public peace, and in view of the fact that such liquors must first be introduced into the Indian reservations before reaching the white settlements, I further directed the general commanding to enforce the laws relating to the introduction of ardent spirits into the Indian country. The presence of the troops has given a sense of security to the well-disposed citizens and has tended to restrain the lawless. In one instance the officer in immediate command of the troops went further than I deemed justifiable in supporting the de facto municipal government of Guthrie, and he was so informed, and directed to limit the interference of the military to the support of the marshals on the lines indicated in the original order. I very urgently recommend that Congress at once provide a Territorial government for these people. Serious questions, which may at any time lead to violent outbreaks, are awaiting the institution of courts for their peaceful adjustment. The American genius for self-government has been well illustrated in Oklahoma; but it is neither safe nor wise to leave these people longer to the expedients which have temporarily served them. Provision should be made for the acquisition of title to town lots in the towns now established in Alaska, for locating town sites, and for the establishment of municipal governments. Only the mining laws have been extended to that Territory, and no other form of title to lands can now be obtained. The general land laws were framed with reference to the disposition of agricultural lands, and it is doubtful if their operation in Alaska would be beneficial. We have fortunately not extended to Alaska the mistaken policy of establishing reservations for the Indian tribes, and can deal with them from the beginning as individuals with, I am sure, better results; but any disposition of the public lands and any regulations relating to timber and to the fisheries should have a kindly regard to their interests. Having no power to levy taxes, the people of Alaska are wholly dependent upon the General Government, to whose revenues the seal fisheries make a large annual contribution. An appropriation for education should neither be overlooked nor stinted. The smallness of the population and the great distances between the settlements offer serious obstacles to the establishment of the usual Territorial form of government. Perhaps the organization of several sub-districts with a small municipal council of limited powers for each would be safe and useful. Attention is called in this connection to the suggestions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating to the establishment of another port of entry in Alaska and of other needed customs facilities and regulations. In the administration of the land laws the policy of facilitating in every proper way the adjustment of the honest claims of individual settlers upon the public lands has been pursued. The number of pending cases had during the preceding Administration been greatly increased under the operation of orders for a time suspending final action in a large part of the cases originating in the West and Northwest, and by the subsequent use of unusual methods of examination. Only those who are familiar with the conditions under which our agricultural lands have been settled can appreciate the serious and often fatal consequences to the settler of a policy that puts his title under suspicion or delays the issuance of his patent. While care is taken to prevent and to expose fraud, it should not be imputed without reason. The manifest purpose of the homestead and preemption laws was to promote the settlement of the public domain by persons having a bona fide intent to make a home upon the selected lands. Where this intent is well established and the requirements of the law have been substantially complied with, the claimant is entitled to a prompt and friendly consideration of his case; but where there is reason to believe that the claimant is the mere agent of another who is seeking to evade a law intended to promote small holdings and to secure by fraudulent methods large tracts of timber and other lands, both principal and agent should not only be thwarted in their fraudulent purpose, but should be made to feel the full penalties of our criminal statutes. The laws should be so administered as not to confound these two classes and to visit penalties only upon the latter. The unsettled state of the titles to large bodies of lands in the Territories of New Mexico and Arizona has greatly retarded the development of those Territories. Provision should be made by law for the prompt trial and final adjustment before a judicial tribunal or commission of all claims based upon Mexican grants. It is not just to an intelligent and enterprising people that their peace should be disturbed and their prosperity retarded by these old contentions. I express the hope that differences of opinion as to methods may yield to the urgency of the case. The law now provides a pension for every soldier and sailor who was mustered into the service of the United States during the Civil War and is now suffering from wounds or disease having an origin in the service and in the line of duty. Two of the three necessary facts, viz, muster and disability, are usually susceptible of easy proof; but the third, origin in the service, is often difficult and in many deserving cases impossible to establish. That very many of those who endured the hardships of our most bloody and arduous campaigns are now disabled from diseases that had a real but not traceable origin in the service I do not doubt. Besides these there is another class composed of men many of whom served an enlistment of three full years and of reenlisted veterans who added a fourth year of service, who escaped the casualties of battle and the assaults of disease, who were always ready for any detail, who were in every battle line of their command, and were mustered out in sound health, and have since the close of the war, while fighting with the same indomitable and independent spirit the contests of civil life, been overcome by disease or casualty. I am not unaware that the pension roll already involves a very large annual expenditure; neither am I deterred by that fact from recommending that Congress grant a pension to such honorably discharged soldiers and sailors of the Civil War as, having rendered substantial service during the war, are now dependent upon their own labor for a maintenance and by disease or casualty are incapacitated from earning it. Many of the men who would be included in this form of relief are now dependent upon public aid, and it does not, in my judgment, consist with the national honor that they shall continue to subsist upon the local relief given indiscriminately to paupers instead of upon the special and generous provision of the nation they served so gallantly and unselfishly. Our people will, I am sure, very generally approve such legislation. And I am equally sure that the survivors of the Union Army and Navy will feel a grateful sense of relief when this worthy and suffering class of their comrades is fairly cared for. There are some manifest inequalities in the existing law that should be remedied. To some of these the Secretary of the Interior has called attention. It is gratifying to be able to state that by the adoption of new and better methods in the War Department the calls of the Pension Office for information as to the military and hospital records of pension claimants are now promptly answered and the injurious and vexatious delays that have heretofore occurred are entirely avoided. This will greatly facilitate the adjustment of all pending claims. The advent of four new States--South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Washington--into the Union under the Constitution in the same month, and the admission of their duly chosen representatives to our National Congress at the same session, is an event as unexampled as it is interesting. The certification of the votes cast and of the constitutions adopted in each of the States was filed with me, as required by the eighth section of the act of February 22, 1889, by the governors of said Territories, respectively. Having after a careful examination found that the several constitutions and governments were republican in form and not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States, that all the provisions of the act of Congress had been complied with, and that a majority of the votes cast in each of said proposed States was in favor of the adoption of the constitution submitted therein, I did so declare by a separate proclamation as to each--as to North Dakota and South Dakota on Saturday, November 2; as to Montana on Friday, November 8, and as to Washington on Monday, November 11. Each of these States has within it resources the development of which will employ the energies of and yield a comfortable subsistence to a great population. The smallest of these new States, Washington, stands twelfth, and the largest, Montana, third, among the forty-two in area. The people of these States are already well-trained, intelligent, and patriotic American citizens, having common interests and sympathies with those of the older States and a common purpose to defend the integrity and uphold the honor of the nation. The attention of the Interstate Commerce Commission has been called to the urgent need of Congressional legislation for the better protection of the lives and limbs of those engaged in operating the great interstate freight lines of the country, and especially of the yardmen and brakemen. A petition signed by nearly 10,000 railway brakemen was presented to the Commission asking that steps might be taken to bring about the use of automatic brakes and couplers on freight cars. At a meeting of State railroad commissioners and their accredited representatives held at Washington in March last upon the invitation of the Interstate Commerce Commission a resolution was unanimously adopted urging the Commission" to consider what can be done to prevent the loss of life and limb in coupling and uncoupling freight cars and in handling the brakes of such cars." During the year ending June 30, 1888, over 2,000 railroad employees were killed in service and more than 20,000 injured. It is competent, I think, for Congress to require uniformity in the construction of cars used in interstate commerce and the use of improved safety appliances upon such trains. Time will be necessary to make the needed changes, but an earnest and intelligent beginning should be made at once. It is a reproach to our civilization that any class of American workmen should in the pursuit of a necessary and useful vocation be subjected to a peril of life and limb as great as that of a soldier in time of war. The creation of an Executive Department to be known as the Department of Agriculture by the act of February 9 last was a wise and timely response to a request which had long been respectfully urged by the farmers of the country; but much remains to be done to perfect the organization of the Department so that it may fairly realize the expectations which its creation excited. In this connection attention is called to the suggestions contained in the report of the Secretary, which is herewith submitted. The need of a law officer for the Department such as is provided for the other Executive Departments is manifest. The failure of the last Congress to make the usual provision for the publication of the annual report should be promptly remedied. The public interest in the report and its value to the farming community, I am sure, will not be diminished under the new organization of the Department. I recommend that the weather service be separated from the War Department and established as a bureau in the Department of Agriculture. This will involve an entire reorganization both of the Weather Bureau and of the Signal Corps, making of the first a purely civil organization and of the other a purely military staff corps. The report of the Chief Signal Officer shows that the work of the corps on its military side has been deteriorating. The interests of the people of the District of Columbia should not be lost sight of in the pressure for consideration of measures affecting the whole country. Having no legislature of its own, either municipal or general, its people must look to Congress for the regulation of all those concerns that in the States are the subject of local control. Our whole people have an interest that the national capital should be made attractive and beautiful, and, above all, that its repute for social order should be well maintained. The laws regulating the sale of intoxicating drinks in the District should be revised with a view to bringing the traffic under stringent limitations and control. In execution of the power conferred upon me by the act making appropriations for the expenses of the District of Columbia for the year ending June 30, 1890, I did on the 17th day of August last appoint Rudolph Hering, of New York, Samuel M. Gray, of Rhode Island, and Frederick P. Stearns, of Massachusetts, three eminent sanitary engineers, to examine and report upon the system of sewerage existing in the District of Columbia. Their report, which is not yet completed, will be in due course submitted to Congress. The report of the Commissioners of the District is herewith transmitted, and the attention of Congress is called to the suggestions contained therein. The proposition to observe the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by the opening of a world's fair or exposition in some one of our great cities will be presented for the consideration of Congress. The value and interest of such an exposition may well claim the promotion of the General Government. On the 4th of March last the Civil Service Commission had but a single member. The vacancies were filled on the 7th day of May, and since then the Commissioners have been industriously, though with an inadequate force, engaged in executing the law. They were assured by me that a cordial support would be given them in the faithful and impartial enforcement of the statute and of the rules and regulations adopted in aid of it. Heretofore the book of eligibles has been closed to everyone, except as certifications were made upon the requisition of the appointing officers. This secrecy was the source of much suspicion and of many charges of favoritism in the administration of the law. What is secret is always suspected; what is open can be judged. The Commission, with the full approval of all its members, has now opened the list of eligibles to the public. The eligible lists for the classified post-offices and custom-houses are now publicly posted in the respective offices, as are also the certifications for appointments. The purpose of the civil-service law was absolutely to exclude any other consideration in connection with appointments under it than that of merit as tested by the examinations. The business proceeds upon the theory that both the examining boards and the appointing officers are absolutely ignorant as to the political views and associations of all persons on the civil-service lists. It is not too much to say, however, that some recent Congressional investigations have somewhat shaken public confidence in the impartiality of the selections for appointment. The reform of the civil service will make no safe or satisfactory advance until the present law and its equal administration are well established in the confidence of the people. It will be my pleasure, as it is my duty, to see that the law is executed with firmness and impartiality. If some of its provisions have been fraudulently evaded by appointing officers, our resentment should not suggest the repeal of the law, but reform in its administration. We should have one view of the matter, and hold it with a sincerity that is not affected by the consideration that the party to which we belong is for the time in power. My predecessor, on the 4th day of January, 1889, by an Executive order to take effect March 15, brought the Railway Mail Service under the operation of the civil-service law. Provision was made that the order should take effect sooner in any State where an eligible list was sooner obtained. On the 11th day of March Mr. Lyman, then the only member of the Commission, reported to me in writing that it would not be possible to have the list of eligibles ready before May 1, and requested that the taking effect of the order be postponed until that time, which was done, subject to the same provision contained in the original order as to States in which an eligible list was sooner obtained. As a result of the revision of the rules, of the new classification, and of the inclusion of the Railway Mail Service, the work of the Commission has been greatly increased, and the present clerical force is found to be inadequate. I recommend that the additional clerks asked by the Commission be appropriated for. The duty of appointment is devolved by the Constitution or by the law, and the appointing officers are properly held to a high responsibility in its exercise. The growth of the country and the consequent increase of the civil list have magnified this function of the Executive disproportionally. It can not be denied, however, that the labor connected with this necessary work is increased, often to the point of actual distress, by the sudden and excessive demands that are made upon an incoming Administration for removals and appointments. But, on the other hand, it is not true that incumbency is a conclusive argument for continuance in office. Impartiality, moderation, fidelity to public duty, and a good attainment in the discharge of it must be added before the argument is complete. When those holding administrative offices so conduct themselves as to convince just political opponents that no party consideration or bias affects in any way the discharge of their public duties, we can more easily stay the demand for removals. I am satisfied that both in and out of the classified service great benefit would accrue from the adoption of some system by which the officer would receive the distinction and benefit that in all private employments comes from exceptional faithfulness and efficiency in the performance of duty. I have suggested to the heads of the Executive Departments that they consider whether a record might not be kept in each bureau of all those elements that are covered by the terms "faithfulness" and "efficiency," and a rating made showing the relative merits of the clerks of each class, this rating to be regarded as a test of merit in making promotions. I have also suggested to the Postmaster-General that he adopt some plan by which he can, upon the basis of the reports to the Department and of frequent inspections, indicate the relative merit of postmasters of each class. They will be appropriately indicated in the Official Register and in the report of the Department. That a great stimulus would thus be given to the whole service I do not doubt, and such a record would be the best defense against inconsiderate removals from office. The interest of the General Government in the education of the people found an early expression, not only in the thoughtful and sometimes warning utterances of our ablest statesmen, but in liberal appropriations from the common resources for the support of education in the new States. No one will deny that it is of the gravest national concern that those who hold the ultimate control of all public affairs should have the necessary intelligence wisely to direct and determine them. National aid to education has heretofore taken the form of land grants, and in that form the constitutional power of Congress to promote the education of the people is not seriously questioned. I do not think it can be successfully questioned when the form is changed to that of a direct grant of money from the public Treasury. Such aid should be, as it always has been, suggested by some exceptional conditions. The sudden emancipation of the slaves of the South, the bestowal of the suffrage which soon followed, and the impairment of the ability of the States where these new citizens were chiefly found to adequately provide educational facilities presented not only exceptional but unexampled conditions. That the situation has been much ameliorated there is no doubt. The ability and interest of the States have happily increased. But a great work remains to be done, and I think the General Government should lend its aid. As the suggestion of a national grant in aid of education grows chiefly out of the condition and needs of the emancipated slave and his descendants, the relief should as far as possible, while necessarily proceeding upon some general lines, be applied to the need that suggested it. It is essential, if much good is to be accomplished, that the sympathy and active interest of the people of the States should be enlisted, and that the methods adopted should be such as to stimulate and not to supplant local taxation for school purposes. As one Congress can not bind a succeeding one in such a case and as the effort must in some degree be experimental, I recommend that any appropriation made for this purpose be so limited in annual amount and as to the time over which it is to extend as will on the one hand give the local school authorities opportunity to make the best use of the first year's allowance, and on the other deliver them from the temptation to unduly postpone the assumption of the whole burden themselves. The colored people did not intrude themselves upon us. They were brought here in chains and held in the communities where they are now chiefly found by a cruel slave code. Happily for both races, they are now free. They have from a standpoint of ignorance and poverty--which was our shame, not theirs--made remarkable advances in education and in the acquisition of property. They have as a people shown themselves to be friendly and faithful toward the white race under temptations of tremendous strength. They have their representatives in the national cemeteries, where a grateful Government has gathered the ashes of those who died in its defense. They have furnished to our Regular Army regiments that have won high praise from their commanding officers for courage and soldierly qualities and for fidelity to the enlistment oath. In civil life they are now the toilers of their communities, making their full contribution to the widening streams of prosperity which these communities are receiving. Their sudden withdrawal would stop production and bring disorder into the household as well as the shop. Generally they do not desire to quit their homes, and their employers resent the interference of the emigration agents who seek to stimulate such a desire. But notwithstanding all this, in many parts of our country where the colored population is large the people of that race are by various devices deprived of any effective exercise of their political rights and of many of their civil rights. The wrong does not expend itself upon those whose votes are suppressed. Every constituency in the Union is wronged. It has been the hope of every patriot that a sense of justice and of respect for the law would work a gradual cure of these flagrant evils. Surely no one supposes that the present can be accepted as a permanent condition. If it is said that these communities must work out this problem for themselves, we have a right to ask whether they are at work upon it. Do they suggest any solution? When and under what conditions is the black man to have a free ballot? When is he in fact to have those full civil rights which have so long been his in law? When is that equality of influence which our form of government was intended to secure to the electors to be restored? This generation should courageously face these grave questions, and not leave them as a heritage of woe to the next. The consultation should proceed with candor, calmness, and great patience, upon the lines of justice and humanity, not of prejudice and cruelty. No question in our country can be at rest except upon the firm base of justice and of the law. I earnestly invoke the attention of Congress to the consideration of such measures within its well-defined constitutional powers as will secure to all our people a free exercise of the right of suffrage and every other civil right under the Constitution and laws of the United States. No evil, however deplorable, can justify the assumption either on the part of the Executive or of Congress of powers not granted, but both will be highly blamable if all the powers granted are not wisely but firmly used to correct these evils. The power to take the whole direction and control of the election of members of the House of Representatives is clearly given to the General Government. A partial and qualified supervision of these elections is now provided for by law, and in my opinion this law may be so strengthened and extended as to secure on the whole better results than can be attained by a law taking all the processes of such election into Federal control. The colored man should be protected in all of his relations to the Federal Government, whether as litigant, juror, or witness in our courts, as an elector for members of Congress, or as a peaceful traveler upon our interstate railways. There is nothing more justly humiliating to the national pride and nothing more hurtful to the national prosperity than the inferiority of our merchant marine compared with that of other nations whose general resources, wealth, and seacoast lines do not suggest any reason for their supremacy on the sea. It was not always so, and our people are agreed, I think, that it shall not continue to be so. It is not possible in this communication to discuss the causes of the decay of our shipping interests or the differing methods by which it is proposed to restore them. The statement of a few well-authenticated facts and some general suggestions as to legislation is all that is practicable. That the great steamship lines sailing under the flags of England, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, and engaged in foreign commerce, were .promoted and have since been and now are liberally aided by grants of public money in one form or another is generally known. That the American lines of steamships have been abandoned by us to an unequal contest with the aided lines of other nations until they have been withdrawn, or in the few cases where they are still maintained are subject to serious disadvantages, is matter of common knowledge. The present situation is such that travelers and merchandise find Liverpool often a necessary intermediate port between New York and some of the South American capitals. The fact that some of the delegates from South American States to the conference of American nations now in session at Washington reached our shores by reversing that line of travel is very conclusive of the need of such a conference and very suggestive as to the first and most necessary step in the direction of fuller and more beneficial intercourse with nations that are now our neighbors upon the lines of latitude, but not upon the lines of established commercial intercourse. I recommend that such appropriations be made for ocean mail service in American steamships between our ports and those of Central and South America, China, Japan, and the important islands in both of the great oceans as will be liberally remunerative for the service rendered and as will encourage the establishment and in some fair degree equalize the chances of American steamship lines in the competitions which they must meet. That the American States lying south of us will cordially cooperate in establishing and maintaining such lines of steamships to their principal ports I do not doubt. We should also make provision for a naval reserve to consist of such merchant ships of American construction and of a specified tonnage and speed as the owners will consent to place at the use of the Government in case of need as armed cruisers. England has adopted this policy, and as a result can now upon necessity at once place upon her naval list some of the fastest steamships in the world. A proper supervision of the construction of such vessels would make their conversion into effective ships of war very easy. I am an advocate of economy in our national expenditures, but it is a misuse of terms to make this word describe a policy that withholds an expenditure for the purpose of extending our foreign commerce. The enlargement and improvement of our merchant marine, the development of a sufficient body of trained American seamen, the promotion of rapid and regular mail communication between the ports of other countries and our own, and the adaptation of large and swift American merchant steamships to naval uses in time of war are public purposes of the highest concern. The enlarged participation of our people in the carrying trade, the new and increased markets that will be opened for the products of our farms and factories, and the fuller and better employment of our mechanics which will result from a liberal promotion of our foreign commerce insure the widest possible diffusion of benefit to all the States and to all our people. Everything is most propitious for the present inauguration of a liberal and progressive policy upon this subject, and we should enter upon it with promptness and decision. The legislation which I have suggested, it is sincerely believed, will promote the peace and honor of our country and the prosperity and security of the people. I invoke the diligent and serious attention of Congress to the consideration of these and such other measures as may be presented having the same great end in view.
There are few transactions in the administration of the Government that are even temporarily held in the confidence of those charged with the conduct of the public business. Every step taken is under the observation of an intelligent and watchful people. The state of the Union is known from day to day, and suggestions as to needed legislation find an earlier voice than that which speaks in these annual communications of the President to Congress. Good will and cordiality have characterized our relations and correspondence with other governments, and the year just closed leaves few international questions of importance remaining unadjusted. No obstacle is believed to exist that can long postpone the consideration and adjustment of the still pending questions upon satisfactory and honorable terms. The dealings of this Government with other states have been and should always be marked by frankness and sincerity, our purposes avowed, and our methods free from intrigue. This course has borne rich fruit in the past, and it is our duty as a nation to preserve the heritage of good repute which a century of right dealing with foreign governments has secured to us. It is a matter of high significance and no less of congratulation that the first year of the second century of our constitutional existence finds as honored guests within our borders the representatives of all the independent States of North and South America met together in earnest conference touching the best methods of perpetuating and expanding the relations of mutual interest and friendliness existing among them. That the opportunity thus afforded for promoting closer international relations and the increased prosperity of the States represented will be used for the mutual good of all I can not permit myself to doubt. Our people will await with interest and confidence the results to flow from so auspicious a meeting of allied and in large part identical interests. The recommendations of this international conference of enlightened statesmen will doubtless have the considerate attention of Congress and its cooperation in the removal of unnecessary barriers to beneficial intercourse between the nations of America. But while the commercial results which it is hoped will follow this conference are worthy of pursuit and of the great interests they have excited, it is believed that the crowning benefit will be found in the better securities which may be devised for the maintenance of peace among all American nations and the settlement of all contentions by methods that a Christian civilization can approve. While viewing with interest our national resources and products, the delegates will, I am sure, find a higher satisfaction in the evidences of unselfish friendship which everywhere attend their intercourse with our people. Another international conference having great possibilities for good has lately assembled and is now in session in this capital. An invitation was extended by the Government, under the act of Congress of July 9, 1888, to all maritime nations to send delegates to confer touching the revision and amendment of the rules and regulations governing vessels at sea and to adopt a uniform system of marine signals. The response to this invitation has been very general and very cordial. Delegates from twenty-six nations are present in the conference, and they have entered upon their useful work with great zeal and with an evident appreciation of its importance. So far as the agreement to be reached may require legislation to give it effect, the cooperation of Congress is confidently relied upon. It is an interesting, if not, indeed, an unprecedented, fact that the two international conferences have brought together here the accredited representatives of thirty-three nations. Bolivia, Ecuador, and Honduras are now represented by resident envoys of the plenipotentiary grade. All the States of the American system now maintain diplomatic representation at this capital. In this connection it may be noted that all the nations of the Western Hemisphere, with one exception, send to Washington envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary, being the highest grade accredited to this Government. The United States, on the contrary, sends envoys of lower grades to some of our sister Republics. Our representative in Paraguay and Uruguay is a minister resident, while to Bolivia we send a minister resident and consul-general. In view of the importance of our relations with the States of the American system, our diplomatic agents in those countries should be of the uniform rank of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. Certain missions were so elevated by the last Congress with happy effect, and I recommend the completion of the reform thus begun, with the inclusion also of Hawaii and Hayti, in view of their relations to the American system of states. I also recommend that timely provision be made for extending to Hawaii an invitation to be represented in the international conference now sitting at this capital. Our relations with China have the attentive consideration which their magnitude and interest demand. The failure of the treaty negotiated under the Administration of my predecessor for the further and more complete restriction of Chinese labor immigration, and with it the legislation of the last session of Congress dependent thereon, leaves some questions open which Congress should now approach in that wise and just spirit which should characterize the relations of two great and friendly powers. While our supreme interests demand the exclusion of a laboring element which experience has shown to be incompatible with our social life, all steps to compass this imperative need should be accompanied with a recognition of the claim of those strangers now lawfully among us to humane and just treatment. The accession of the young Emperor of China marks, we may hope, an era of progress and prosperity for the great country over which he is called to rule. The present state of affairs in respect to the Samoan Islands is encouraging. The conference which was held in this city in the summer of 1887 between the representatives of the United States, Germany, and Great Britain having been adjourned because of the persistent divergence of views which was developed in its deliberations, the subsequent course of events in the islands gave rise to questions of a serious character. On the 4th of February last the German minister at this capital, in behalf of his Government, proposed a resumption of the conference at Berlin. This proposition was accepted, as Congress in February last was informed. Pursuant to the understanding thus reached, commissioners were appointed by me, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who proceeded to Berlin, where the conference was renewed. The deliberations extended through several weeks, and resulted in the conclusion of a treaty which will be submitted to the Senate for its approval. I trust that the efforts which have been made to effect an adjustment of this question will be productive of the permanent establishment of law and order in Samoa upon the basis of the maintenance of the rights and interests of the natives as well as of the treaty powers. The questions which have arisen during the past few years between Great Britain and the United States are in abeyance or in course of amicable adjustment. On the part of the government of the Dominion of Canada an effort has been apparent during the season just ended to administer the laws and regulations applicable to the fisheries with as little occasion for friction as was possible, and the temperate representations of this Government in respect of cases of undue hardship or of harsh interpretations have been in most cases met with measures of transitory relief. It is trusted that the attainment of our just rights under existing treaties and in virtue of the concurrent legislation of the two contiguous countries will not be long deferred and that all existing causes of difference may be equitably adjusted. I recommend that provision be made by an international agreement for visibly marking the water boundary between the United States and Canada in the narrow channels that join the Great Lakes. The conventional line therein traced by the northwestern boundary survey years ago is not in all cases readily ascertainable for the settlement of jurisdictional questions. A just and acceptable enlargement of the list of offenses for which extradition may be claimed and granted is most desirable between this country and Great Britain. The territory of neither should become a secure harbor for the evil doers of the other through any avoidable shortcoming in this regard. A new treaty on this subject between the two powers has been recently negotiated and will soon be laid before the Senate. The importance of the commerce of Cuba and Puerto Rico with the United States, their nearest and principal market, justifies the expectation that the existing relations may be beneficially expanded. The impediments resulting from varying dues on navigation and from the vexatious treatment of our vessels on merely technical grounds of complaint in West India ports should be removed. The progress toward an adjustment of pending claims between the United States and Spain is not as rapid as could be desired. Questions affecting American interests in connection with railways constructed and operated by our citizens in Peru have claimed the attention of this Government. It is urged that other governments in pressing Peru to the payment of their claims have disregarded the property rights of American citizens. The matter will be carefully investigated with a view to securing a proper and equitable adjustment. A similar issue is now pending with Portugal. The Delagoa Bay Railway, in Africa, was constructed under a concession by Portugal to an American citizen. When nearly completed the road was seized by the agents of the Portuguese Government. Formal protest has been made through our minister at Lisbon against this act, and no proper effort will be spared to secure proper relief. In pursuance of the charter granted by Congress and under the terms of its contract with the Government of Nicaragua the Interoceanic Canal Company has begun the construction of the important waterway between the two oceans which its organization contemplates. Grave complications for a time seemed imminent, in view of a supposed conflict of jurisdiction between Nicaragua and Costa Rica in regard to the accessory privileges to be conceded by the latter Republic toward the construction of works on the San Juan River, of which the right bank is Costa Rican territory. I am happy to learn that a friendly arrangement has been effected between the two nations. This Government has held itself ready to promote in every proper way the adjustment of all questions that might present obstacles to the completion of a work of such transcendent importance to the commerce of this country, and, indeed, to the commercial interests of the world. The traditional good feeling between this country and the French Republic has received additional testimony in the participation of our Government and people in the international exposition held at Paris during the past summer. The success of our exhibitors has been gratifying. The report of the commission will be laid before Congress in due season. This Government has accepted, under proper reserve as to its policy in foreign territories, the invitation of the Government of Belgium to take part in an international congress, which opened at Brussels on the 16th of November, for the purpose of devising measures to promote the abolition of the slave trade in Africa and to prevent the shipment of slaves by sea. Our interest in the extinction of this crime against humanity in the regions where it yet survives has been increased by the results of emancipation within our own borders. With Germany the most cordial relations continue. The questions arising from the return to the Empire of Germans naturalized in this country are considered and disposed of in a temperate spirit to the entire satisfaction of both Governments. It is a source of great satisfaction that the internal disturbances of the Republic of Hayti are at last happily ended, and that an apparently stable government has been constituted. It has been duly recognized by the United States. A mixed commission is now in session in this capital for the settlement of long-standing claims against the Republic of Venezuela, and it is hoped that a satisfactory conclusion will be speedily reached. This Government has not hesitated to express its earnest desire that the boundary dispute now pending between Great Britain and Venezuela may be adjusted amicably and in strict accordance with the historic title of the parties. The advancement of the Empire of Japan has been evidenced by the recent promulgation of a new constitution, containing valuable guaranties of liberty and providing for a responsible ministry to conduct the Government. It is earnestly recommended that our judicial rights and processes in Korea be established on a firm basis by providing the machinery necessary to carry out treaty stipulations in that regard. The friendliness of the Persian Government continues to be shown by its generous treatment of Americans engaged in missionary labors and by the cordial disposition of the Shah to encourage the enterprise of our citizens in the development of Persian resources. A discussion is in progress touching the jurisdictional treaty rights of the United States in Turkey. An earnest effort will be made to define those rights to the satisfaction of both Governments. Questions continue to arise in our relations with several countries in respect to the rights of naturalized citizens. Especially is this the case with France, Italy, Russia, and Turkey, and to a less extent with Switzerland. From time to time earnest efforts have been made to regulate this subject by conventions with those countries. An improper use of naturalization should not be permitted, but it is most important that those who have been duly naturalized should everywhere be accorded recognition of the rights pertaining to the citizenship of the country of their adoption. The appropriateness of special conventions for that purpose is recognized in treaties which this Government has concluded with a number of European States, and it is advisable that the difficulties which now arise in our relations with other countries on the same subject should be similarly adjusted. The recent revolution in Brazil in favor of the establishment of a republican form of government is an event of great interest to the United States. Our minister at Rio de Janeiro was at once instructed to maintain friendly diplomatic relations with the Provisional Government, and the Brazilian representatives at this capital were instructed by the Provisional Government to continue their functions. Our friendly intercourse with Brazil has therefore suffered no interruption. Our minister has been further instructed to extend on the part of this Government a formal and cordial recognition of the new Republic so soon as the majority of the people of Brazil shall have signified their assent to its establishment and maintenance. Within our own borders a general condition of prosperity prevails. The harvests of the last summer were exceptionally abundant, and the trade conditions now prevailing seem to promise a successful season to the merchant and the manufacturer and general employment to our working people. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, has been prepared and will be presented to Congress. It presents with clearness the fiscal operations of the Government, and I avail myself of it to obtain some facts for use here. The aggregate receipts from all sources for the year were $387,050,058.84, derived as follows: The ordinary expenditures for the same period were $281,996,615.60, and the total expenditures, including the sinking fund, were $329,579,929.25. The excess of receipts over expenditures was, after providing for the sinking fund, $57,470,129.59. For the current fiscal year the total revenues, actual and estimated are $385,000,000, and the ordinary expenditures, actual and estimated, are $293,000,000, making with the sinking fund a total expenditure of $341,321,116.99, leaving an estimated surplus of $43,678,883.01. During the fiscal year there was applied to the purchase of bonds, in addition to those for the sinking fund, $90,456,172.35, and during the first quarter of the current year the sum of $37,838,937.77, all of which were credited to the sinking fund. The revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, are estimated by the Treasury Department at $385,000,000, and the expenditures for the same period, including the sinking fund, at $341,430,477.70. This shows an estimated surplus for that year of $43,569,522.30, which is more likely to be increased than reduced when the actual transactions are written up. The existence of so large an actual and anticipated surplus should have the immediate attention of Congress, with a view to reducing the receipts of the Treasury to the needs of the Government as closely as may be. The collection of moneys not needed for public uses imposes an unnecessary burden upon our people, and the presence of so large a surplus in the public vaults is a disturbing element in the conduct of private business. It has called into use expedients for putting it into circulation of very questionable propriety. We should not collect revenue for the purpose of anticipating our bonds beyond the requirements of the sinking fund, but any unappropriated surplus in the Treasury should be so used, as there is no other lawful way of returning the money to circulation, and the profit realized by the Government offers a substantial advantage. The loaning of public funds to the banks without interest Upon the security of Government bonds I regard as an unauthorized and dangerous expedient. It results in a temporary and unnatural increase of the banking capital of favored localities and compels a cautious and gradual recall of the deposits to avoid injury to the commercial interests. It is not to be expected that the banks having these deposits will sell their bonds to the Treasury so long as the present highly beneficial arrangement is continued. They now practically get interest both upon the bonds and their proceeds. No further use should be made of this method of getting the surplus into circulation, and the deposits now outstanding should be gradually withdrawn and applied to the purchase of bonds. It is fortunate that such a use can be made of the existing surplus, and for some time to come of any casual surplus that may exist after Congress has taken the necessary steps for a reduction of the revenue. Such legislation should be promptly but very considerately enacted. I recommend a revision of our tariff law both in its administrative features and in the schedules. The need of the former is generally conceded, and an agreement upon the evils and inconveniences to be remedied and the best methods for their correction will probably not be difficult. Uniformity of valuation at all our ports is essential, and effective measures should be taken to secure it. It is equally desirable that questions affecting rates and classifications should be promptly decided. The preparation of a new schedule of customs duties is a matter of great delicacy because of its direct effect upon the business of the country, and of great difficulty by reason of the wide divergence of opinion as to the objects that may properly be promoted by such legislation. Some disturbance of business may perhaps result from the consideration of this subject by Congress, but this temporary ill effect will be reduced to the minimum by prompt action and by the assurance which the country already enjoys that any necessary changes will be so made as not to impair the just and reasonable protection of our home industries. The inequalities of the law should be adjusted, but the protective principle should be maintained and fairly applied to the products of our farms as well as of our shops. These duties necessarily have relation to other things besides the public revenues. We can not limit their effects by fixing our eyes on the public Treasury alone. They have a direct relation to home production, to work, to wages, and to the commercial independence of our country, and the wise and patriotic legislator should enlarge the field of his vision to include all of these. The necessary reduction in our public revenues can, I am sure, be made without making the smaller burden more onerous than the larger by reason of the disabilities and limitations which the process of reduction puts upon both capital and labor. The free list can very safely be extended by placing thereon articles that do not offer injurious competition to such domestic products as our home labor can supply. The removal of the internal tax upon tobacco would relieve an important agricultural product from a burden which was imposed only because our revenue from customs duties was insufficient for the public needs. If safe provision against fraud can be devised, the removal of the tax upon spirits used in the arts and in manufactures would also offer an unobjectionable method of reducing the surplus. A table presented by the Secretary of the Treasury showing the amount of money of all kinds in circulation each year from 1878 to the present time is of interest. It appears that the amount of national-bank notes in circulation has decreased during that period $114,109,729, of which $37,799,229 is chargeable to the last year. The withdrawal of bank circulation will necessarily continue under existing conditions. It is probable that the adoption of the suggestions made by the Comptroller of the Currency, namely, that the minimum deposit of bonds for the establishment of banks be reduced and that an issue of notes to the par value of the bonds be allowed, would help to maintain the bank circulation. But while this withdrawal of bank notes has been going on there has been a large increase in the amount of gold and silver coin in circulation and in the issues of gold and silver certificates. The total amount of money of all kinds in circulation on March 1, 1878, was $805,793,807, while on October 1, 1889, the total was $1,405,018,000. There was an increase of $293,417,552 in gold coin, of $57,554,100 in standard silver dollars, of $72,311,249 in gold certificates, of $276,619,715 in silver certificates, and of $14,073,787 in United States notes, making a total of $713,976,403. There was during the same period a decrease of $114,109,729 in bank circulation and of $642,481 in subsidiary silver. The net increase was $599,224,193. The circulation per capita has increased about $5 during the time covered by the table referred to. The total coinage of silver dollars was on November 1, 1889, $343,638,001, of which $283,539,521 were in the Treasury vaults and $60,098,480 were in circulation. Of the amount in the vaults $277,319,944 were represented by outstanding silver certificates, leaving $6,219,577 not in circulation and not represented by certificates. The law requiring the purchase by the Treasury of $2,000,000 worth of silver bullion each month, to be coined into silver dollars of 412 1/2 grains, has been observed by the Department, but neither the present Secretary nor any of his predecessors has deemed it safe to exercise the discretion given by law to increase the monthly purchases to $4,000,000. When the law was enacted (February 28, 1878) the price of silver in the market was $1.204 per ounce, making the bullion value of the dollar 93 cents. Since that time the price has fallen as low as 91.2 cents per ounce, reducing the bullion value of the dollar to 70.6 cents. Within the last few months the market price has somewhat advanced, and on the 1st day of November last the bullion value of the silver dollar was 72 cents. The evil anticipations which have accompanied the coinage and use of the silver dollar have not been realized. As a coin it has not had general use, and the public Treasury has been compelled to store it. But this is manifestly owing to the fact that its paper representative is more convenient. The general acceptance and the use of the silver certificate show that silver has not been otherwise discredited. Some favorable conditions have contributed to maintain this practical equality in their commercial use between the gold and silver dollars; but some of these are trade conditions that statutory enactments do not control and of the continuance of which we can not be certain. I think it is clear that if we should make the coinage of silver at the present ratio free we must expect that the difference in the bullion values of the gold and silver dollars will be taken account of in commercial transactions; and I fear the same result would follow any considerable increase of the present rate of coinage. Such a result would be discreditable to our financial management and disastrous to all business interests. We should not tread the dangerous edge of such a peril. And, indeed, nothing more harmful could happen to the silver interests. Any safe legislation upon this subject must secure the equality of the two coins in their commercial uses. I have always been an advocate of the use of silver in our currency. We are large producers of that metal, and should not discredit it. To the plan which will be presented by the Secretary of the Treasury for the issuance of notes or certificates upon the deposit of silver bullion at its market value I have been able to give only a hasty examination, owing to the press of other matters and to the fact that it has been so recently formulated. The details of such a law require careful consideration, but the general plan suggested by him seems to satisfy the purpose--to continue the use of silver in connection with our currency and at the same time to obviate the danger of which I have spoken. At a later day I may communicate further with Congress upon this subject. The enforcement of the Chinese exclusion act has been found to be very difficult on the northwestern frontier. Chinamen landing at Victoria find it easy to pass our border, owing to the impossibility with the force at the command of the customs officers of guarding so long an inland line. The Secretary of the Treasury has authorized the employment of additional officers, who will be assigned to this duty, and every effort will be made to enforce the law. The Dominion exacts a head tax of $50 for each Chinaman landed, and when these persons, in fraud of our law, cross into our territory and are apprehended our officers do not know what to do with them, as the Dominion authorities will not suffer them to be sent back without a second payment of the tax. An effort will be made to reach an understanding that will remove this difficulty. The proclamation required by section 3 of the act of March 2, 1889, relating to the killing of seals and other fur-bearing animals, was issued by me on the 21st day of March, and a revenue vessel was dispatched to enforce the laws and protect the interests of the United States. The establishment of a refuge station at Point Barrow, as directed by Congress, was successfully accomplished. Judged by modern standards, we are practically without coast defenses. Many of the structures we have would enhance rather than diminish the perils of their garrisons if subjected to the fire of improved guns, and very few are so located as to give full effect to the greater range of such guns as we are now making for coast-defense uses. This general subject has had consideration in Congress for some years, and the appropriation for the construction of large rifled guns made one year ago was, I am sure, the expression of a purpose to provide suitable works in which these guns might be mounted. An appropriation now made for that purpose would not advance the completion of the works beyond our ability to supply them with fairly effective guns. The security of our coast cities against foreign attacks should not rest altogether in the friendly disposition of other nations. There should be a second line wholly in our own keeping. I very urgently recommend an appropriation at this session for the construction of such works in our most exposed harbors. I approve the suggestion of the Secretary of War that provision be made for encamping companies of the National Guard in our coast works for a specified time each year and for their training in the use of heavy guns. His suggestion that an increase of the artillery force of the Army is desirable is also, in this connection, commended to the consideration of Congress. The improvement of our important rivers and harbors should be promoted by the necessary appropriations. Care should be taken that the Government is not committed to the prosecution of works not of public and general advantage and that the relative usefulness of works of that class is not overlooked. So far as this work can ever be said to be completed, I do not doubt that the end would be sooner and more economically reached if fewer separate works were undertaken at the same time, and those selected for their greater general interest were more rapidly pushed to completion. A work once considerably begun should not be subjected to the risks and deterioration which interrupted or insufficient appropriations necessarily occasion. The assault made by David S. Terry upon the person of Justice Field, of the Supreme Court of the United States, at Lathtop, Cal., in August last, and the killing of the assailant by a deputy United States marshal who had been deputed to accompany Justice Field and to protect him from anticipated violence at the hands of Terry, in connection with the legal proceedings which have followed, suggest questions which, in my judgment, are worthy of the attention of Congress. I recommend that more definite provision be made by law not only for the protection of Federal officers, but for a full trial of such cases in the United States courts. In recommending such legislation I do not at all impeach either the general adequacy of the provision made by the State laws for the protection of all citizens or the general good disposition of those charged with the execution of such laws to give protection to the officers of the United States. The duty of protecting its officers, as such, and of punishing those who assault them on account of their official acts should not be devolved expressly or by acquiescence upon the local authorities. Events which have been brought to my attention happening in other parts of the country have also suggested the propriety of extending by legislation fuller protection to those who may be called as witnesses in the courts of the United States. The law compels those who are supposed to have knowledge of public offenses to attend upon our courts and grand juries and to give evidence. There is a manifest resulting duty that these witnesses shall be protected from injury on account of their testimony. The investigations of criminal offenses are often rendered futile and the punishment of crime impossible by the intimidation of witnesses. The necessity of providing some more speedy method for disposing of the cases which now come for final adjudication to the Supreme Court becomes every year more apparent and urgent. The plan of providing some intermediate courts having final appellate jurisdiction of certain classes of questions and cases has, I think, received a more general approval from the bench and bar of the country than any other. Without attempting to discuss details, I recommend that provision be made for the establishment of such courts. The salaries of the judges of the district courts in many of the districts are, in my judgment, inadequate. I recommend that all such salaries now below $5,000 per annum be increased to that amount. It is quite true that the amount of labor performed by these judges is very unequal, but as they can not properly engage in other pursuits to supplement their incomes the salary should be such in all cases as to provide an independent and comfortable support. Earnest attention should be given by Congress to a consideration of the question how far the restraint of those combinations of capital commonly called "trusts" is matter of Federal jurisdiction. When organized, as they often are, to crush out all healthy competition and to monopolize the production or sale of an article of commerce and general necessity, they are dangerous conspiracies against the public good, and should be made the subject of prohibitory and even penal legislation. The subject of an international copyright has been frequently commended to the attention of Congress by my predecessors. The enactment of such a law would be eminently wise and just. Our naturalization laws should be so revised as to make the inquiry into the moral character and good disposition toward our Government of the persons applying for citizenship more thorough. This can only be done by taking fuller control of the examination, by fixing the times for hearing such applications, and by requiring the presence of some one who shall represent the Government in the inquiry. Those who are the avowed enemies of social order or who come to our shores to swell the injurious influence and to extend the evil practices of any association that defies our laws should not only be denied citizenship, but a domicile. The enactment of a national bankrupt law of a character to be a permanent part of our general legislation is desirable. It should be simple in its methods and inexpensive in its administration. The report of the Postmaster-General not only exhibits the operations of the Department for the last fiscal year, but contains many valuable suggestions for the improvement and extension of the service, which are commended to your attention. No other branch of the Government has so close a contact with the daily life of the people. Almost everyone uses the service it offers, and every hour gained in the transmission of the great commercial mails has an actual and possible value that only those engaged in trade can understand. The saving of one day in the transmission of the mails between New York and San Francisco, which has recently been accomplished, is an incident worthy of mention. The plan suggested of a supervision of the post-offices in separate districts that shall involve instruction and suggestion and a rating of the efficiency of the postmasters would, I have no doubt, greatly improve the service. A pressing necessity exists for the erection of a building for the joint use of the Department and of the city post-office. The Department was partially relieved by renting .outside quarters for a part of its force, but it is again overcrowded. The building used by the city office never was fit for the purpose, and is now inadequate and unwholesome. The unsatisfactory condition of the law relating to the transmission through the mails of lottery advertisements and remittances is clearly stated by the Postmaster-General, and his suggestion as to amendments should have your favorable consideration. The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows a reorganization of the bureaus of the Department that will, I do not doubt, promote the efficiency of each. In general, satisfactory progress has been made in the construction of the new ships of war authorized by Congress. The first vessel of the new Navy, the Dolphin, was subjected to very severe trial tests and to very much adverse criticism; but it is gratifying to be able to state that a cruise around the world, from which she has recently returned, has demonstrated that she is a first-class vessel of her rate. The report of the Secretary shows that while the effective force of the Navy is rapidly increasing by reason of the improved build and armament of the new ships, the number of our ships fit for sea duty grows very slowly. We had on the 4th of March last 37 serviceable ships, and though 4 have since been added to the list, the total has not been increased, because in the meantime 4 have been lost or condemned. Twenty-six additional vessels have been authorized and appropriated for; but it is probable that when they are completed our list will only be increased to 42--a gain of 5. The old wooden ships are disappearing almost as fast as the new vessels are added. These facts carry their own argument. One of the new ships may in fighting strength be equal to two of the old, but it can not do the cruising duty of two. It is important, therefore, that we should have a more rapid increase in the number of serviceable ships. I concur in the recommendation of the Secretary that the construction of 8 armored ships, 3 gunboats, and 5 torpedo boats be authorized. An appalling calamity befell three of our naval vessels on duty at the Samoan Islands, in the harbor of Apia, in March last, involving the loss of 4 officers and 47 seamen, of two vessels, the Trenton and the Vandalia, and the disabling of a third, the Nipsic. Three vessels of the German navy, also in the harbor, shared with our ships the force of the hurricane and suffered even more heavily. While mourning the brave officers and men who died facing with high resolve perils greater than those of battle, it is most gratifying to state that the credit of the American Navy for seamanship, courage, and generosity was magnificently sustained in the storm-beaten harbor of Apia. The report of the Secretary of the Interior exhibits the transactions of the Government with the Indian tribes. Substantial progress has been made in the education of the children of school age and in the allotment of lands to adult Indians. It is to be regretted that the policy of breaking up the tribal relation and of dealing with the Indian as an individual did not appear earlier in our legislation. Large reservations held in common and the maintenance of the authority of the chiefs and headmen have deprived the individual of every incentive to the exercise of thrift, and the annuity has contributed an affirmative impulse toward a state of confirmed pauperism. Our treaty stipulations should be observed with fidelity and our legislation should be highly considerate of the best interests of an ignorant and helpless people. The reservations are now generally surrounded by white settlements. We can no longer push the Indian back into the wilderness, and it remains only by every suitable agency to push him upward into the estate of a self-supporting and responsible citizen. For the adult the first step is to locate him upon a farm, and for the child to place him in a school. School attendance should be promoted by every moral agency, and those failing should be compelled. The national schools for Indians have been very successful and should be multiplied, and as far as possible should be so organized and conducted as to facilitate the transfer of the schools to the States or Territories in which they are located when the Indians in a neighborhood have accepted citizenship and have become otherwise fitted for such a transfer. This condition of things will be attained slowly, but it will be hastened by keeping it in mind; and in the meantime that cooperation between the Government and the mission schools which has wrought much good should be cordially and impartially maintained. The last Congress enacted two distinct laws relating to negotiations with the Sioux Indians of Dakota for a relinquishment of a portion of their lands to the United States and for dividing the remainder into separate reservations. Both were approved on the same day--March 2. The one submitted to the Indians a specific proposition; the other (section 3 of the Indian appropriation act) authorized the President to appoint three commissioners to negotiate with these Indians for the accomplishment of the same general purpose, and required that any agreements made should be submitted to Congress for ratification. On the 16th day of April last I appointed Hon. Charles Foster, of Ohio, Hon. William Warner, of Missouri, and Major-General George Crook, of the United States Army, commissioners under the last-named law. They were, however, authorized and directed first to submit to the Indians the definite proposition made to them by the act first mentioned, and only in the event of a failure to secure the assent of the requisite number to that proposition to open negotiations for modified terms under the other act. The work of the commission was prolonged and arduous, but the assent of the requisite number was, it is understood, finally obtained to the proposition made by Congress, though the report of the commission has not yet been submitted. In view of these facts, I shall not, as at present advised, deem it necessary to submit the agreement to Congress for ratification, but it will in due course be submitted for information. This agreement releases to the United States about 9,000,000 acres of land. The commission provided for by section 14 of the Indian appropriation bill to negotiate with the Cherokee Indians and all other Indians owning or claiming lands lying west of the ninety-sixth degree of longitude for the cession to the United States of all such lands was constituted by the appointment of Hon. Lucius Fairchild, of Wisconsin, Hon. John F. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, and Hon. Alfred M. Wilson, of Arkansas, and organized on June 29 last. Their first conference with the representatives of the Cherokees was held at Tahlequah July 29, with no definite results. General John F. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, was prevented by ill health from taking part in the conference. His death, which occurred recently, is justly and generally lamented by a people he had served with conspicuous gallantry in war and with great fidelity in peace. The vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of Hon. Warren G. Sayre, of Indiana. A second conference between the commission and the Cherokees was begun November 6, but no results have yet been obtained, nor is it believed that a conclusion can be immediately expected. The cattle syndicate now occupying the lands for grazing purposes is clearly one of the agencies responsible for the obstruction of our negotiations with the Cherokees. The large body of agricultural lands constituting what is known as the "Cherokee Outlet" ought not to be, and, indeed, can not long be, held for grazing and for the advantage of a few against the public interests and the best advantage of the Indians themselves. The United States has now under the treaties certain rights in these lands. These will not be used oppressively, but it can not be allowed that those who by sufferance occupy these lands shall interpose to defeat the wise and beneficent purposes of the Government. I can not but believe that the advantageous character of the offer made by the United States to the Cherokee Nation for a full release of these lands as compared with other suggestions now made to them will yet obtain for it a favorable consideration. Under the agreement made between the United States and the Muscogee (or Creek) Nation of Indians on the 19th day of January, 1889, an absolute title was secured by the United States to about 3,500,000 acres of land. Section 12 of the general Indian appropriation act approved March 2, 1889, made provision for the purchase by the United States from the Seminole tribe of a certain portion of their lands. The delegates of the Seminole Nation, having first duly evidenced to me their power to act in that behalf, delivered a proper release or conveyance to the United States of all the lands mentioned in the act, which was accepted by me and certified to be in compliance with the statute. By the terms of both the acts referred to all the lands so purchased were declared to be a part of the public domain and open to settlement under the homestead law. But of the lands embraced in these purchases, being in the aggregate about 5,500,000 acres, 3,500,000 acres had already, under the terms of the treaty of 1866, been acquired by the United States for the purpose of settling other Indian tribes thereon and had been appropriated to that purpose. The land remaining and available for settlement consisted of 1,887,796 acres, surrounded on all sides by lands in the occupancy of Indian tribes. Congress had provided no civil government for the people who were to be invited by my proclamation to settle upon these lands, except as the new court which had been established at Muscogee or the United States courts in some of the adjoining States had power to enforce the general laws of the United States. In this condition of things I was quite reluctant to open the lands to settlement; but in view of the fact that several thousand persons, many of them with their families, had gathered upon the borders of the Indian Territory with a view to securing homesteads on the ceded lands, and that delay would involve them in much loss and suffering, I did on the 23d day of March last issue a proclamation declaring that the lands therein described would be open to settlement under the provisions of the law on the 22d day of April following at 12 of the clock noon. Two land districts had been established and the offices were opened for the transaction of business when the appointed time arrived. It is much to the credit of the settlers that they very generally observed the limitation as to the time when they might enter the Territory. Care will be taken that those who entered in violation of the law do not secure the advantage they unfairly sought. There was a good deal of apprehension that the strife for locations would result in much violence and bloodshed, but happily these anticipations were not realized. It is estimated that there are now in the Territory about 60,000 people, and several considerable towns have sprung up, for which temporary municipal governments have been organized. Guthrie is said to have now a population of almost 8,000. Eleven schools and nine churches have been established, and three daily and five weekly newspapers are published in this city, whose charter and ordinances have only the sanction of the voluntary acquiescence of the people from day to day. Oklahoma City has a population of about 5,000, and is proportionately as well provided as Guthrie with churches, schools, and newspapers. Other towns and villages having populations of from 100 to 1,000 are scattered over the Territory. In order to secure the peace of this new community in the absence of civil government, I directed General Merritt, commanding the Department of the Missouri, to act in conjunction with the marshals of the United States to preserve the peace, and upon their requisition to use the troops to aid them in executing warrants and in quieting any riots or breaches of the peace that might occur. He was further directed to use his influence to promote good order and to avoid any conflicts between or with the settlers. Believing that the introduction and sale of liquors where no legal restraints or regulations existed would endanger the public peace, and in view of the fact that such liquors must first be introduced into the Indian reservations before reaching the white settlements, I further directed the general commanding to enforce the laws relating to the introduction of ardent spirits into the Indian country. The presence of the troops has given a sense of security to the well-disposed citizens and has tended to restrain the lawless. In one instance the officer in immediate command of the troops went further than I deemed justifiable in supporting the de facto municipal government of Guthrie, and he was so informed, and directed to limit the interference of the military to the support of the marshals on the lines indicated in the original order. I very urgently recommend that Congress at once provide a Territorial government for these people. Serious questions, which may at any time lead to violent outbreaks, are awaiting the institution of courts for their peaceful adjustment. The American genius for self-government has been well illustrated in Oklahoma; but it is neither safe nor wise to leave these people longer to the expedients which have temporarily served them. Provision should be made for the acquisition of title to town lots in the towns now established in Alaska, for locating town sites, and for the establishment of municipal governments. Only the mining laws have been extended to that Territory, and no other form of title to lands can now be obtained. The general land laws were framed with reference to the disposition of agricultural lands, and it is doubtful if their operation in Alaska would be beneficial. We have fortunately not extended to Alaska the mistaken policy of establishing reservations for the Indian tribes, and can deal with them from the beginning as individuals with, I am sure, better results; but any disposition of the public lands and any regulations relating to timber and to the fisheries should have a kindly regard to their interests. Having no power to levy taxes, the people of Alaska are wholly dependent upon the General Government, to whose revenues the seal fisheries make a large annual contribution. An appropriation for education should neither be overlooked nor stinted. The smallness of the population and the great distances between the settlements offer serious obstacles to the establishment of the usual Territorial form of government. Perhaps the organization of several sub-districts with a small municipal council of limited powers for each would be safe and useful. Attention is called in this connection to the suggestions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating to the establishment of another port of entry in Alaska and of other needed customs facilities and regulations. In the administration of the land laws the policy of facilitating in every proper way the adjustment of the honest claims of individual settlers upon the public lands has been pursued. The number of pending cases had during the preceding Administration been greatly increased under the operation of orders for a time suspending final action in a large part of the cases originating in the West and Northwest, and by the subsequent use of unusual methods of examination. Only those who are familiar with the conditions under which our agricultural lands have been settled can appreciate the serious and often fatal consequences to the settler of a policy that puts his title under suspicion or delays the issuance of his patent. While care is taken to prevent and to expose fraud, it should not be imputed without reason. The manifest purpose of the homestead and preemption laws was to promote the settlement of the public domain by persons having a bona fide intent to make a home upon the selected lands. Where this intent is well established and the requirements of the law have been substantially complied with, the claimant is entitled to a prompt and friendly consideration of his case; but where there is reason to believe that the claimant is the mere agent of another who is seeking to evade a law intended to promote small holdings and to secure by fraudulent methods large tracts of timber and other lands, both principal and agent should not only be thwarted in their fraudulent purpose, but should be made to feel the full penalties of our criminal statutes. The laws should be so administered as not to confound these two classes and to visit penalties only upon the latter. The unsettled state of the titles to large bodies of lands in the Territories of New Mexico and Arizona has greatly retarded the development of those Territories. Provision should be made by law for the prompt trial and final adjustment before a judicial tribunal or commission of all claims based upon Mexican grants. It is not just to an intelligent and enterprising people that their peace should be disturbed and their prosperity retarded by these old contentions. I express the hope that differences of opinion as to methods may yield to the urgency of the case. The law now provides a pension for every soldier and sailor who was mustered into the service of the United States during the Civil War and is now suffering from wounds or disease having an origin in the service and in the line of duty. Two of the three necessary facts, viz, muster and disability, are usually susceptible of easy proof; but the third, origin in the service, is often difficult and in many deserving cases impossible to establish. That very many of those who endured the hardships of our most bloody and arduous campaigns are now disabled from diseases that had a real but not traceable origin in the service I do not doubt. Besides these there is another class composed of men many of whom served an enlistment of three full years and of reenlisted veterans who added a fourth year of service, who escaped the casualties of battle and the assaults of disease, who were always ready for any detail, who were in every battle line of their command, and were mustered out in sound health, and have since the close of the war, while fighting with the same indomitable and independent spirit the contests of civil life, been overcome by disease or casualty. I am not unaware that the pension roll already involves a very large annual expenditure; neither am I deterred by that fact from recommending that Congress grant a pension to such honorably discharged soldiers and sailors of the Civil War as, having rendered substantial service during the war, are now dependent upon their own labor for a maintenance and by disease or casualty are incapacitated from earning it. Many of the men who would be included in this form of relief are now dependent upon public aid, and it does not, in my judgment, consist with the national honor that they shall continue to subsist upon the local relief given indiscriminately to paupers instead of upon the special and generous provision of the nation they served so gallantly and unselfishly. Our people will, I am sure, very generally approve such legislation. And I am equally sure that the survivors of the Union Army and Navy will feel a grateful sense of relief when this worthy and suffering class of their comrades is fairly cared for. There are some manifest inequalities in the existing law that should be remedied. To some of these the Secretary of the Interior has called attention. It is gratifying to be able to state that by the adoption of new and better methods in the War Department the calls of the Pension Office for information as to the military and hospital records of pension claimants are now promptly answered and the injurious and vexatious delays that have heretofore occurred are entirely avoided. This will greatly facilitate the adjustment of all pending claims. The advent of four new States--South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Washington--into the Union under the Constitution in the same month, and the admission of their duly chosen representatives to our National Congress at the same session, is an event as unexampled as it is interesting. The certification of the votes cast and of the constitutions adopted in each of the States was filed with me, as required by the eighth section of the act of February 22, 1889, by the governors of said Territories, respectively. Having after a careful examination found that the several constitutions and governments were republican in form and not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States, that all the provisions of the act of Congress had been complied with, and that a majority of the votes cast in each of said proposed States was in favor of the adoption of the constitution submitted therein, I did so declare by a separate proclamation as to each--as to North Dakota and South Dakota on Saturday, November 2; as to Montana on Friday, November 8, and as to Washington on Monday, November 11. Each of these States has within it resources the development of which will employ the energies of and yield a comfortable subsistence to a great population. The smallest of these new States, Washington, stands twelfth, and the largest, Montana, third, among the forty-two in area. The people of these States are already well-trained, intelligent, and patriotic American citizens, having common interests and sympathies with those of the older States and a common purpose to defend the integrity and uphold the honor of the nation. The attention of the Interstate Commerce Commission has been called to the urgent need of Congressional legislation for the better protection of the lives and limbs of those engaged in operating the great interstate freight lines of the country, and especially of the yardmen and brakemen. A petition signed by nearly 10,000 railway brakemen was presented to the Commission asking that steps might be taken to bring about the use of automatic brakes and couplers on freight cars. At a meeting of State railroad commissioners and their accredited representatives held at Washington in March last upon the invitation of the Interstate Commerce Commission a resolution was unanimously adopted urging the Commission" to consider what can be done to prevent the loss of life and limb in coupling and uncoupling freight cars and in handling the brakes of such cars." During the year ending June 30, 1888, over 2,000 railroad employees were killed in service and more than 20,000 injured. It is competent, I think, for Congress to require uniformity in the construction of cars used in interstate commerce and the use of improved safety appliances upon such trains. Time will be necessary to make the needed changes, but an earnest and intelligent beginning should be made at once. It is a reproach to our civilization that any class of American workmen should in the pursuit of a necessary and useful vocation be subjected to a peril of life and limb as great as that of a soldier in time of war. The creation of an Executive Department to be known as the Department of Agriculture by the act of February 9 last was a wise and timely response to a request which had long been respectfully urged by the farmers of the country; but much remains to be done to perfect the organization of the Department so that it may fairly realize the expectations which its creation excited. In this connection attention is called to the suggestions contained in the report of the Secretary, which is herewith submitted. The need of a law officer for the Department such as is provided for the other Executive Departments is manifest. The failure of the last Congress to make the usual provision for the publication of the annual report should be promptly remedied. The public interest in the report and its value to the farming community, I am sure, will not be diminished under the new organization of the Department. I recommend that the weather service be separated from the War Department and established as a bureau in the Department of Agriculture. This will involve an entire reorganization both of the Weather Bureau and of the Signal Corps, making of the first a purely civil organization and of the other a purely military staff corps. The report of the Chief Signal Officer shows that the work of the corps on its military side has been deteriorating. The interests of the people of the District of Columbia should not be lost sight of in the pressure for consideration of measures affecting the whole country. Having no legislature of its own, either municipal or general, its people must look to Congress for the regulation of all those concerns that in the States are the subject of local control. Our whole people have an interest that the national capital should be made attractive and beautiful, and, above all, that its repute for social order should be well maintained. The laws regulating the sale of intoxicating drinks in the District should be revised with a view to bringing the traffic under stringent limitations and control. In execution of the power conferred upon me by the act making appropriations for the expenses of the District of Columbia for the year ending June 30, 1890, I did on the 17th day of August last appoint Rudolph Hering, of New York, Samuel M. Gray, of Rhode Island, and Frederick P. Stearns, of Massachusetts, three eminent sanitary engineers, to examine and report upon the system of sewerage existing in the District of Columbia. Their report, which is not yet completed, will be in due course submitted to Congress. The report of the Commissioners of the District is herewith transmitted, and the attention of Congress is called to the suggestions contained therein. The proposition to observe the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by the opening of a world's fair or exposition in some one of our great cities will be presented for the consideration of Congress. The value and interest of such an exposition may well claim the promotion of the General Government. On the 4th of March last the Civil Service Commission had but a single member. The vacancies were filled on the 7th day of May, and since then the Commissioners have been industriously, though with an inadequate force, engaged in executing the law. They were assured by me that a cordial support would be given them in the faithful and impartial enforcement of the statute and of the rules and regulations adopted in aid of it. Heretofore the book of eligibles has been closed to everyone, except as certifications were made upon the requisition of the appointing officers. This secrecy was the source of much suspicion and of many charges of favoritism in the administration of the law. What is secret is always suspected; what is open can be judged. The Commission, with the full approval of all its members, has now opened the list of eligibles to the public. The eligible lists for the classified post-offices and custom-houses are now publicly posted in the respective offices, as are also the certifications for appointments. The purpose of the civil-service law was absolutely to exclude any other consideration in connection with appointments under it than that of merit as tested by the examinations. The business proceeds upon the theory that both the examining boards and the appointing officers are absolutely ignorant as to the political views and associations of all persons on the civil-service lists. It is not too much to say, however, that some recent Congressional investigations have somewhat shaken public confidence in the impartiality of the selections for appointment. The reform of the civil service will make no safe or satisfactory advance until the present law and its equal administration are well established in the confidence of the people. It will be my pleasure, as it is my duty, to see that the law is executed with firmness and impartiality. If some of its provisions have been fraudulently evaded by appointing officers, our resentment should not suggest the repeal of the law, but reform in its administration. We should have one view of the matter, and hold it with a sincerity that is not affected by the consideration that the party to which we belong is for the time in power. My predecessor, on the 4th day of January, 1889, by an Executive order to take effect March 15, brought the Railway Mail Service under the operation of the civil-service law. Provision was made that the order should take effect sooner in any State where an eligible list was sooner obtained. On the 11th day of March Mr. Lyman, then the only member of the Commission, reported to me in writing that it would not be possible to have the list of eligibles ready before May 1, and requested that the taking effect of the order be postponed until that time, which was done, subject to the same provision contained in the original order as to States in which an eligible list was sooner obtained. As a result of the revision of the rules, of the new classification, and of the inclusion of the Railway Mail Service, the work of the Commission has been greatly increased, and the present clerical force is found to be inadequate. I recommend that the additional clerks asked by the Commission be appropriated for. The duty of appointment is devolved by the Constitution or by the law, and the appointing officers are properly held to a high responsibility in its exercise. The growth of the country and the consequent increase of the civil list have magnified this function of the Executive disproportionally. It can not be denied, however, that the labor connected with this necessary work is increased, often to the point of actual distress, by the sudden and excessive demands that are made upon an incoming Administration for removals and appointments. But, on the other hand, it is not true that incumbency is a conclusive argument for continuance in office. Impartiality, moderation, fidelity to public duty, and a good attainment in the discharge of it must be added before the argument is complete. When those holding administrative offices so conduct themselves as to convince just political opponents that no party consideration or bias affects in any way the discharge of their public duties, we can more easily stay the demand for removals. I am satisfied that both in and out of the classified service great benefit would accrue from the adoption of some system by which the officer would receive the distinction and benefit that in all private employments comes from exceptional faithfulness and efficiency in the performance of duty. I have suggested to the heads of the Executive Departments that they consider whether a record might not be kept in each bureau of all those elements that are covered by the terms "faithfulness" and "efficiency," and a rating made showing the relative merits of the clerks of each class, this rating to be regarded as a test of merit in making promotions. I have also suggested to the Postmaster-General that he adopt some plan by which he can, upon the basis of the reports to the Department and of frequent inspections, indicate the relative merit of postmasters of each class. They will be appropriately indicated in the Official Register and in the report of the Department. That a great stimulus would thus be given to the whole service I do not doubt, and such a record would be the best defense against inconsiderate removals from office. The interest of the General Government in the education of the people found an early expression, not only in the thoughtful and sometimes warning utterances of our ablest statesmen, but in liberal appropriations from the common resources for the support of education in the new States. No one will deny that it is of the gravest national concern that those who hold the ultimate control of all public affairs should have the necessary intelligence wisely to direct and determine them. National aid to education has heretofore taken the form of land grants, and in that form the constitutional power of Congress to promote the education of the people is not seriously questioned. I do not think it can be successfully questioned when the form is changed to that of a direct grant of money from the public Treasury. Such aid should be, as it always has been, suggested by some exceptional conditions. The sudden emancipation of the slaves of the South, the bestowal of the suffrage which soon followed, and the impairment of the ability of the States where these new citizens were chiefly found to adequately provide educational facilities presented not only exceptional but unexampled conditions. That the situation has been much ameliorated there is no doubt. The ability and interest of the States have happily increased. But a great work remains to be done, and I think the General Government should lend its aid. As the suggestion of a national grant in aid of education grows chiefly out of the condition and needs of the emancipated slave and his descendants, the relief should as far as possible, while necessarily proceeding upon some general lines, be applied to the need that suggested it. It is essential, if much good is to be accomplished, that the sympathy and active interest of the people of the States should be enlisted, and that the methods adopted should be such as to stimulate and not to supplant local taxation for school purposes. As one Congress can not bind a succeeding one in such a case and as the effort must in some degree be experimental, I recommend that any appropriation made for this purpose be so limited in annual amount and as to the time over which it is to extend as will on the one hand give the local school authorities opportunity to make the best use of the first year's allowance, and on the other deliver them from the temptation to unduly postpone the assumption of the whole burden themselves. The colored people did not intrude themselves upon us. They were brought here in chains and held in the communities where they are now chiefly found by a cruel slave code. Happily for both races, they are now free. They have from a standpoint of ignorance and poverty--which was our shame, not theirs--made remarkable advances in education and in the acquisition of property. They have as a people shown themselves to be friendly and faithful toward the white race under temptations of tremendous strength. They have their representatives in the national cemeteries, where a grateful Government has gathered the ashes of those who died in its defense. They have furnished to our Regular Army regiments that have won high praise from their commanding officers for courage and soldierly qualities and for fidelity to the enlistment oath. In civil life they are now the toilers of their communities, making their full contribution to the widening streams of prosperity which these communities are receiving. Their sudden withdrawal would stop production and bring disorder into the household as well as the shop. Generally they do not desire to quit their homes, and their employers resent the interference of the emigration agents who seek to stimulate such a desire. But notwithstanding all this, in many parts of our country where the colored population is large the people of that race are by various devices deprived of any effective exercise of their political rights and of many of their civil rights. The wrong does not expend itself upon those whose votes are suppressed. Every constituency in the Union is wronged. It has been the hope of every patriot that a sense of justice and of respect for the law would work a gradual cure of these flagrant evils. Surely no one supposes that the present can be accepted as a permanent condition. If it is said that these communities must work out this problem for themselves, we have a right to ask whether they are at work upon it. Do they suggest any solution? When and under what conditions is the black man to have a free ballot? When is he in fact to have those full civil rights which have so long been his in law? When is that equality of influence which our form of government was intended to secure to the electors to be restored? This generation should courageously face these grave questions, and not leave them as a heritage of woe to the next. The consultation should proceed with candor, calmness, and great patience, upon the lines of justice and humanity, not of prejudice and cruelty. No question in our country can be at rest except upon the firm base of justice and of the law. I earnestly invoke the attention of Congress to the consideration of such measures within its well-defined constitutional powers as will secure to all our people a free exercise of the right of suffrage and every other civil right under the Constitution and laws of the United States. No evil, however deplorable, can justify the assumption either on the part of the Executive or of Congress of powers not granted, but both will be highly blamable if all the powers granted are not wisely but firmly used to correct these evils. The power to take the whole direction and control of the election of members of the House of Representatives is clearly given to the General Government. A partial and qualified supervision of these elections is now provided for by law, and in my opinion this law may be so strengthened and extended as to secure on the whole better results than can be attained by a law taking all the processes of such election into Federal control. The colored man should be protected in all of his relations to the Federal Government, whether as litigant, juror, or witness in our courts, as an elector for members of Congress, or as a peaceful traveler upon our interstate railways. There is nothing more justly humiliating to the national pride and nothing more hurtful to the national prosperity than the inferiority of our merchant marine compared with that of other nations whose general resources, wealth, and seacoast lines do not suggest any reason for their supremacy on the sea. It was not always so, and our people are agreed, I think, that it shall not continue to be so. It is not possible in this communication to discuss the causes of the decay of our shipping interests or the differing methods by which it is proposed to restore them. The statement of a few well-authenticated facts and some general suggestions as to legislation is all that is practicable. That the great steamship lines sailing under the flags of England, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, and engaged in foreign commerce, were .promoted and have since been and now are liberally aided by grants of public money in one form or another is generally known. That the American lines of steamships have been abandoned by us to an unequal contest with the aided lines of other nations until they have been withdrawn, or in the few cases where they are still maintained are subject to serious disadvantages, is matter of common knowledge. The present situation is such that travelers and merchandise find Liverpool often a necessary intermediate port between New York and some of the South American capitals. The fact that some of the delegates from South American States to the conference of American nations now in session at Washington reached our shores by reversing that line of travel is very conclusive of the need of such a conference and very suggestive as to the first and most necessary step in the direction of fuller and more beneficial intercourse with nations that are now our neighbors upon the lines of latitude, but not upon the lines of established commercial intercourse. I recommend that such appropriations be made for ocean mail service in American steamships between our ports and those of Central and South America, China, Japan, and the important islands in both of the great oceans as will be liberally remunerative for the service rendered and as will encourage the establishment and in some fair degree equalize the chances of American steamship lines in the competitions which they must meet. That the American States lying south of us will cordially cooperate in establishing and maintaining such lines of steamships to their principal ports I do not doubt. We should also make provision for a naval reserve to consist of such merchant ships of American construction and of a specified tonnage and speed as the owners will consent to place at the use of the Government in case of need as armed cruisers. England has adopted this policy, and as a result can now upon necessity at once place upon her naval list some of the fastest steamships in the world. A proper supervision of the construction of such vessels would make their conversion into effective ships of war very easy. I am an advocate of economy in our national expenditures, but it is a misuse of terms to make this word describe a policy that withholds an expenditure for the purpose of extending our foreign commerce. The enlargement and improvement of our merchant marine, the development of a sufficient body of trained American seamen, the promotion of rapid and regular mail communication between the ports of other countries and our own, and the adaptation of large and swift American merchant steamships to naval uses in time of war are public purposes of the highest concern. The enlarged participation of our people in the carrying trade, the new and increased markets that will be opened for the products of our farms and factories, and the fuller and better employment of our mechanics which will result from a liberal promotion of our foreign commerce insure the widest possible diffusion of benefit to all the States and to all our people. Everything is most propitious for the present inauguration of a liberal and progressive policy upon this subject, and we should enter upon it with promptness and decision. The legislation which I have suggested, it is sincerely believed, will promote the peace and honor of our country and the prosperity and security of the people. I invoke the diligent and serious attention of Congress to the consideration of these and such other measures as may be presented having the same great end in view.
there are few transactions in the administration of the government that are even temporarily held in the confidence of those charged with the conduct of the public business every step taken is under the observation of an intelligent and watchful people the state of the union is known from day to day and suggestions as to needed legislation find an earlier voice than that which speaks in these annual communications of the president to congress good will and cordiality have characterized our relations and correspondence with other governments and the year just closed leaves few international questions of importance remaining unadjusted no obstacle is believed to exist that can long postpone the consideration and adjustment of the still pending questions upon satisfactory and honorable terms the dealings of this government with other states have been and should always be marked by frankness and sincerity our purposes avowed and our methods free from intrigue this course has borne rich fruit in the past and it is our duty as a nation to preserve the heritage of good repute which a century of right dealing with foreign governments has secured to us it is a matter of high significance and no less of congratulation that the first year of the second century of our constitutional existence finds as honored guests within our borders the representatives of all the independent states of north and south america met together in earnest conference touching the best methods of perpetuating and expanding the relations of mutual interest and friendliness existing among them that the opportunity thus afforded for promoting closer international relations and the increased prosperity of the states represented will be used for the mutual good of all i can not permit myself to doubt our people will await with interest and confidence the results to flow from so auspicious a meeting of allied and in large part identical interests the recommendations of this international conference of enlightened statesmen will doubtless have the considerate attention of congress and its cooperation in the removal of unnecessary barriers to beneficial intercourse between the nations of america but while the commercial results which it is hoped will follow this conference are worthy of pursuit and of the great interests they have excited it is believed that the crowning benefit will be found in the better securities which may be devised for the maintenance of peace among all american nations and the settlement of all contentions by methods that a christian civilization can approve while viewing with interest our national resources and products the delegates will i am sure find a higher satisfaction in the evidences of unselfish friendship which everywhere attend their intercourse with our people another international conference having great possibilities for good has lately assembled and is now in session in this capital an invitation was extended by the government under the act of congress of july 9 1888 to all maritime nations to send delegates to confer touching the revision and amendment of the rules and regulations governing vessels at sea and to adopt a uniform system of marine signals the response to this invitation has been very general and very cordial delegates from nations are present in the conference and they have entered upon their useful work with great zeal and with an evident appreciation of its importance so far as the agreement to be reached may require legislation to give it effect the cooperation of congress is confidently relied upon it is an interesting if not indeed an unprecedented fact that the two international conferences have brought together here the accredited representatives of nations bolivia ecuador and honduras are now represented by resident envoys of the plenipotentiary grade all the states of the american system now maintain diplomatic representation at this capital in this connection it may be noted that all the nations of the western hemisphere with one exception send to washington envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary being the highest grade accredited to this government the united states on the contrary sends envoys of lower grades to some of our sister republics our representative in paraguay and uruguay is a minister resident while to bolivia we send a minister resident and in view of the importance of our relations with the states of the american system our diplomatic agents in those countries should be of the uniform rank of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary certain missions were so elevated by the last congress with happy effect and i recommend the completion of the reform thus begun with the inclusion also of hawaii and hayti in view of their relations to the american system of states i also recommend that timely provision be made for extending to hawaii an invitation to be represented in the international conference now sitting at this capital our relations with china have the attentive consideration which their magnitude and interest demand the failure of the treaty negotiated under the administration of my predecessor for the further and more complete restriction of chinese labor immigration and with it the legislation of the last session of congress dependent thereon leaves some questions open which congress should now approach in that wise and just spirit which should characterize the relations of two great and friendly powers while our supreme interests demand the exclusion of a laboring element which experience has shown to be incompatible with our social life all steps to compass this imperative need should be accompanied with a recognition of the claim of those strangers now lawfully among us to humane and just treatment the accession of the young emperor of china marks we may hope an era of progress and prosperity for the great country over which he is called to rule the present state of affairs in respect to the samoan islands is encouraging the conference which was held in this city in the summer of 1887 between the representatives of the united states germany and great britain having been adjourned because of the persistent divergence of views which was developed in its deliberations the subsequent course of events in the islands gave rise to questions of a serious character on the 4th of february last the german minister at this capital in behalf of his government proposed a resumption of the conference at berlin this proposition was accepted as congress in february last was informed pursuant to the understanding thus reached commissioners were appointed by me by and with the advice and consent of the senate who proceeded to berlin where the conference was renewed the deliberations extended through several weeks and resulted in the conclusion of a treaty which will be submitted to the senate for its approval i trust that the efforts which have been made to effect an adjustment of this question will be productive of the permanent establishment of law and order in samoa upon the basis of the maintenance of the rights and interests of the natives as well as of the treaty powers the questions which have arisen during the past few years between great britain and the united states are in abeyance or in course of amicable adjustment on the part of the government of the dominion of canada an effort has been apparent during the season just ended to administer the laws and regulations applicable to the fisheries with as little occasion for friction as was possible and the temperate representations of this government in respect of cases of undue hardship or of harsh interpretations have been in most cases met with measures of transitory relief it is trusted that the attainment of our just rights under existing treaties and in virtue of the concurrent legislation of the two contiguous countries will not be long deferred and that all existing causes of difference may be equitably adjusted i recommend that provision be made by an international agreement for visibly marking the water boundary between the united states and canada in the narrow channels that join the great lakes the conventional line therein traced by the northwestern boundary survey years ago is not in all cases readily ascertainable for the settlement of jurisdictional questions a just and acceptable enlargement of the list of offenses for which extradition may be claimed and granted is most desirable between this country and great britain the territory of neither should become a secure harbor for the evil doers of the other through any avoidable shortcoming in this regard a new treaty on this subject between the two powers has been recently negotiated and will soon be laid before the senate the importance of the commerce of cuba and puerto rico with the united states their nearest and principal market justifies the expectation that the existing relations may be beneficially expanded the impediments resulting from varying dues on navigation and from the vexatious treatment of our vessels on merely technical grounds of complaint in west india ports should be removed the progress toward an adjustment of pending claims between the united states and spain is not as rapid as could be desired questions affecting american interests in connection with railways constructed and operated by our citizens in peru have claimed the attention of this government it is urged that other governments in pressing peru to the payment of their claims have disregarded the property rights of american citizens the matter will be carefully investigated with a view to securing a proper and equitable adjustment a similar issue is now pending with portugal the delagoa bay railway in africa was constructed under a concession by portugal to an american citizen when nearly completed the road was seized by the agents of the portuguese government formal protest has been made through our minister at lisbon against this act and no proper effort will be spared to secure proper relief in pursuance of the charter granted by congress and under the terms of its contract with the government of nicaragua the interoceanic canal company has begun the construction of the important waterway between the two oceans which its organization contemplates grave complications for a time seemed imminent in view of a supposed conflict of jurisdiction between nicaragua and costa rica in regard to the accessory privileges to be conceded by the latter republic toward the construction of works on the san juan river of which the right bank is costa rican territory i am happy to learn that a friendly arrangement has been effected between the two nations this government has held itself ready to promote in every proper way the adjustment of all questions that might present obstacles to the completion of a work of such transcendent importance to the commerce of this country and indeed to the commercial interests of the world the traditional good feeling between this country and the french republic has received additional testimony in the participation of our government and people in the international exposition held at paris during the past summer the success of our exhibitors has been gratifying the report of the commission will be laid before congress in due season this government has accepted under proper reserve as to its policy in foreign territories the invitation of the government of belgium to take part in an international congress which opened at brussels on the 16th of november for the purpose of devising measures to promote the abolition of the slave trade in africa and to prevent the shipment of slaves by sea our interest in the extinction of this crime against humanity in the regions where it yet survives has been increased by the results of emancipation within our own borders with germany the most cordial relations continue the questions arising from the return to the empire of germans naturalized in this country are considered and disposed of in a temperate spirit to the entire satisfaction of both governments it is a source of great satisfaction that the internal disturbances of the republic of hayti are at last happily ended and that an apparently stable government has been constituted it has been duly recognized by the united states a mixed commission is now in session in this capital for the settlement of claims against the republic of venezuela and it is hoped that a satisfactory conclusion will be speedily reached this government has not hesitated to express its earnest desire that the boundary dispute now pending between great britain and venezuela may be adjusted amicably and in strict accordance with the historic title of the parties the advancement of the empire of japan has been evidenced by the recent promulgation of a new constitution containing valuable guaranties of liberty and providing for a responsible ministry to conduct the government it is earnestly recommended that our judicial rights and processes in korea be established on a firm basis by providing the machinery necessary to carry out treaty stipulations in that regard the friendliness of the persian government continues to be shown by its generous treatment of americans engaged in missionary labors and by the cordial disposition of the shah to encourage the enterprise of our citizens in the development of persian resources a discussion is in progress touching the jurisdictional treaty rights of the united states in turkey an earnest effort will be made to define those rights to the satisfaction of both governments questions continue to arise in our relations with several countries in respect to the rights of naturalized citizens especially is this the case with france italy russia and turkey and to a less extent with switzerland from time to time earnest efforts have been made to regulate this subject by conventions with those countries an improper use of naturalization should not be permitted but it is most important that those who have been duly naturalized should everywhere be accorded recognition of the rights pertaining to the citizenship of the country of their adoption the appropriateness of special conventions for that purpose is recognized in treaties which this government has concluded with a number of european states and it is advisable that the difficulties which now arise in our relations with other countries on the same subject should be similarly adjusted the recent revolution in brazil in favor of the establishment of a republican form of government is an event of great interest to the united states our minister at rio de janeiro was at once instructed to maintain friendly diplomatic relations with the provisional government and the brazilian representatives at this capital were instructed by the provisional government to continue their functions our friendly intercourse with brazil has therefore suffered no interruption our minister has been further instructed to extend on the part of this government a formal and cordial recognition of the new republic so soon as the majority of the people of brazil shall have signified their assent to its establishment and maintenance within our own borders a general condition of prosperity prevails the harvests of the last summer were exceptionally abundant and the trade conditions now prevailing seem to promise a successful season to the merchant and the manufacturer and general employment to our working people the report of the secretary of the treasury for the fiscal year ending june 30 1889 has been prepared and will be presented to congress it presents with clearness the fiscal operations of the government and i avail myself of it to obtain some facts for use here the aggregate receipts from all sources for the year were derived as follows the ordinary expenditures for the same period were and the total expenditures including the sinking fund were the excess of receipts over expenditures was after providing for the sinking fund for the current fiscal year the total revenues actual and estimated are and the ordinary expenditures actual and estimated are making with the sinking fund a total expenditure of leaving an estimated surplus of during the fiscal year there was applied to the purchase of bonds in addition to those for the sinking fund and during the first quarter of the current year the sum of all of which were credited to the sinking fund the revenues for the fiscal year ending june 30 1891 are estimated by the treasury department at and the expenditures for the same period including the sinking fund at this shows an estimated surplus for that year of which is more likely to be increased than reduced when the actual transactions are written up the existence of so large an actual and anticipated surplus should have the immediate attention of congress with a view to reducing the receipts of the treasury to the needs of the government as closely as may be the collection of moneys not needed for public uses imposes an unnecessary burden upon our people and the presence of so large a surplus in the public vaults is a disturbing element in the conduct of private business it has called into use expedients for putting it into circulation of very questionable propriety we should not collect revenue for the purpose of anticipating our bonds beyond the requirements of the sinking fund but any unappropriated surplus in the treasury should be so used as there is no other lawful way of returning the money to circulation and the profit realized by the government offers a substantial advantage the loaning of public funds to the banks without interest upon the security of government bonds i regard as an unauthorized and dangerous expedient it results in a temporary and unnatural increase of the banking capital of favored localities and compels a cautious and gradual recall of the deposits to avoid injury to the commercial interests it is not to be expected that the banks having these deposits will sell their bonds to the treasury so long as the present highly beneficial arrangement is continued they now practically get interest both upon the bonds and their proceeds no further use should be made of this method of getting the surplus into circulation and the deposits now outstanding should be gradually withdrawn and applied to the purchase of bonds it is fortunate that such a use can be made of the existing surplus and for some time to come of any casual surplus that may exist after congress has taken the necessary steps for a reduction of the revenue such legislation should be promptly but very considerately enacted i recommend a revision of our tariff law both in its administrative features and in the schedules the need of the former is generally conceded and an agreement upon the evils and inconveniences to be remedied and the best methods for their correction will probably not be difficult uniformity of valuation at all our ports is essential and effective measures should be taken to secure it it is equally desirable that questions affecting rates and classifications should be promptly decided the preparation of a new schedule of customs duties is a matter of great delicacy because of its direct effect upon the business of the country and of great difficulty by reason of the wide divergence of opinion as to the objects that may properly be promoted by such legislation some disturbance of business may perhaps result from the consideration of this subject by congress but this temporary ill effect will be reduced to the minimum by prompt action and by the assurance which the country already enjoys that any necessary changes will be so made as not to impair the just and reasonable protection of our home industries the inequalities of the law should be adjusted but the protective principle should be maintained and fairly applied to the products of our farms as well as of our shops these duties necessarily have relation to other things besides the public revenues we can not limit their effects by fixing our eyes on the public treasury alone they have a direct relation to home production to work to wages and to the commercial independence of our country and the wise and patriotic legislator should enlarge the field of his vision to include all of these the necessary reduction in our public revenues can i am sure be made without making the smaller burden more onerous than the larger by reason of the disabilities and limitations which the process of reduction puts upon both capital and labor the free list can very safely be extended by placing thereon articles that do not offer injurious competition to such domestic products as our home labor can supply the removal of the internal tax upon tobacco would relieve an important agricultural product from a burden which was imposed only because our revenue from customs duties was insufficient for the public needs if safe provision against fraud can be devised the removal of the tax upon spirits used in the arts and in manufactures would also offer an unobjectionable method of reducing the surplus a table presented by the secretary of the treasury showing the amount of money of all kinds in circulation each year from 1878 to the present time is of interest it appears that the amount of notes in circulation has decreased during that period of which is chargeable to the last year the withdrawal of bank circulation will necessarily continue under existing conditions it is probable that the adoption of the suggestions made by the comptroller of the currency namely that the minimum deposit of bonds for the establishment of banks be reduced and that an issue of notes to the par value of the bonds be allowed would help to maintain the bank circulation but while this withdrawal of bank notes has been going on there has been a large increase in the amount of gold and silver coin in circulation and in the issues of gold and silver certificates the total amount of money of all kinds in circulation on march 1 1878 was while on october 1 1889 the total was there was an increase of in gold coin of in standard silver dollars of in gold certificates of in silver certificates and of in united states notes making a total of there was during the same period a decrease of in bank circulation and of in subsidiary silver the net increase was the circulation per capita has increased about 5 during the time covered by the table referred to the total coinage of silver dollars was on november 1 1889 of which were in the treasury vaults and were in circulation of the amount in the vaults were represented by outstanding silver certificates leaving not in circulation and not represented by certificates the law requiring the purchase by the treasury of worth of silver bullion each month to be coined into silver dollars of 412 grains has been observed by the department but neither the present secretary nor any of his predecessors has deemed it safe to exercise the discretion given by law to increase the monthly purchases to when the law was enacted february 28 1878 the price of silver in the market was per ounce making the bullion value of the dollar 93 cents since that time the price has fallen as low as cents per ounce reducing the bullion value of the dollar to cents within the last few months the market price has somewhat advanced and on the 1st day of november last the bullion value of the silver dollar was 72 cents the evil anticipations which have accompanied the coinage and use of the silver dollar have not been realized as a coin it has not had general use and the public treasury has been compelled to store it but this is manifestly owing to the fact that its paper representative is more convenient the general acceptance and the use of the silver certificate show that silver has not been otherwise discredited some favorable conditions have contributed to maintain this practical equality in their commercial use between the gold and silver dollars but some of these are trade conditions that statutory enactments do not control and of the continuance of which we can not be certain i think it is clear that if we should make the coinage of silver at the present ratio free we must expect that the difference in the bullion values of the gold and silver dollars will be taken account of in commercial transactions and i fear the same result would follow any considerable increase of the present rate of coinage such a result would be discreditable to our financial management and disastrous to all business interests we should not tread the dangerous edge of such a peril and indeed nothing more harmful could happen to the silver interests any safe legislation upon this subject must secure the equality of the two coins in their commercial uses i have always been an advocate of the use of silver in our currency we are large producers of that metal and should not discredit it to the plan which will be presented by the secretary of the treasury for the issuance of notes or certificates upon the deposit of silver bullion at its market value i have been able to give only a hasty examination owing to the press of other matters and to the fact that it has been so recently formulated the details of such a law require careful consideration but the general plan suggested by him seems to satisfy the purpose to continue the use of silver in connection with our currency and at the same time to obviate the danger of which i have spoken at a later day i may communicate further with congress upon this subject the enforcement of the chinese exclusion act has been found to be very difficult on the northwestern frontier chinamen landing at victoria find it easy to pass our border owing to the impossibility with the force at the command of the customs officers of guarding so long an inland line the secretary of the treasury has authorized the employment of additional officers who will be assigned to this duty and every effort will be made to enforce the law the dominion exacts a head tax of 50 for each chinaman landed and when these persons in fraud of our law cross into our territory and are apprehended our officers do not know what to do with them as the dominion authorities will not suffer them to be sent back without a second payment of the tax an effort will be made to reach an understanding that will remove this difficulty the proclamation required by section 3 of the act of march 2 1889 relating to the killing of seals and other animals was issued by me on the 21st day of march and a revenue vessel was dispatched to enforce the laws and protect the interests of the united states the establishment of a refuge station at point barrow as directed by congress was successfully accomplished judged by modern standards we are practically without coast defenses many of the structures we have would enhance rather than diminish the perils of their garrisons if subjected to the fire of improved guns and very few are so located as to give full effect to the greater range of such guns as we are now making for uses this general subject has had consideration in congress for some years and the appropriation for the construction of large rifled guns made one year ago was i am sure the expression of a purpose to provide suitable works in which these guns might be mounted an appropriation now made for that purpose would not advance the completion of the works beyond our ability to supply them with fairly effective guns the security of our coast cities against foreign attacks should not rest altogether in the friendly disposition of other nations there should be a second line wholly in our own keeping i very urgently recommend an appropriation at this session for the construction of such works in our most exposed harbors i approve the suggestion of the secretary of war that provision be made for encamping companies of the national guard in our coast works for a specified time each year and for their training in the use of heavy guns his suggestion that an increase of the artillery force of the army is desirable is also in this connection commended to the consideration of congress the improvement of our important rivers and harbors should be promoted by the necessary appropriations care should be taken that the government is not committed to the prosecution of works not of public and general advantage and that the relative usefulness of works of that class is not overlooked so far as this work can ever be said to be completed i do not doubt that the end would be sooner and more economically reached if fewer separate works were undertaken at the same time and those selected for their greater general interest were more rapidly pushed to completion a work once considerably begun should not be subjected to the risks and deterioration which interrupted or insufficient appropriations necessarily occasion the assault made by david terry upon the person of justice field of the supreme court of the united states at lathtop in august last and the killing of the assailant by a deputy united states marshal who had been deputed to accompany justice field and to protect him from anticipated violence at the hands of terry in connection with the legal proceedings which have followed suggest questions which in my judgment are worthy of the attention of congress i recommend that more definite provision be made by law not only for the protection of federal officers but for a full trial of such cases in the united states courts in recommending such legislation i do not at all impeach either the general adequacy of the provision made by the state laws for the protection of all citizens or the general good disposition of those charged with the execution of such laws to give protection to the officers of the united states the duty of protecting its officers as such and of punishing those who assault them on account of their official acts should not be devolved expressly or by acquiescence upon the local authorities events which have been brought to my attention happening in other parts of the country have also suggested the propriety of extending by legislation fuller protection to those who may be called as witnesses in the courts of the united states the law compels those who are supposed to have knowledge of public offenses to attend upon our courts and grand juries and to give evidence there is a manifest resulting duty that these witnesses shall be protected from injury on account of their testimony the investigations of criminal offenses are often rendered futile and the punishment of crime impossible by the intimidation of witnesses the necessity of providing some more speedy method for disposing of the cases which now come for final adjudication to the supreme court becomes every year more apparent and urgent the plan of providing some intermediate courts having final appellate jurisdiction of certain classes of questions and cases has i think received a more general approval from the bench and bar of the country than any other without attempting to discuss details i recommend that provision be made for the establishment of such courts the salaries of the judges of the district courts in many of the districts are in my judgment inadequate i recommend that all such salaries now below per annum be increased to that amount it is quite true that the amount of labor performed by these judges is very unequal but as they can not properly engage in other pursuits to supplement their incomes the salary should be such in all cases as to provide an independent and comfortable support earnest attention should be given by congress to a consideration of the question how far the restraint of those combinations of capital commonly called trusts is matter of federal jurisdiction when organized as they often are to crush out all healthy competition and to monopolize the production or sale of an article of commerce and general necessity they are dangerous conspiracies against the public good and should be made the subject of prohibitory and even penal legislation the subject of an international copyright has been frequently commended to the attention of congress by my predecessors the enactment of such a law would be eminently wise and just our naturalization laws should be so revised as to make the inquiry into the moral character and good disposition toward our government of the persons applying for citizenship more thorough this can only be done by taking fuller control of the examination by fixing the times for hearing such applications and by requiring the presence of some one who shall represent the government in the inquiry those who are the avowed enemies of social order or who come to our shores to swell the injurious influence and to extend the evil practices of any association that defies our laws should not only be denied citizenship but a domicile the enactment of a national bankrupt law of a character to be a permanent part of our general legislation is desirable it should be simple in its methods and inexpensive in its administration the report of the not only exhibits the operations of the department for the last fiscal year but contains many valuable suggestions for the improvement and extension of the service which are commended to your attention no other branch of the government has so close a contact with the daily life of the people almost everyone uses the service it offers and every hour gained in the transmission of the great commercial mails has an actual and possible value that only those engaged in trade can understand the saving of one day in the transmission of the mails between new york and san francisco which has recently been accomplished is an incident worthy of mention the plan suggested of a supervision of the in separate districts that shall involve instruction and suggestion and a rating of the efficiency of the postmasters would i have no doubt greatly improve the service a pressing necessity exists for the erection of a building for the joint use of the department and of the city the department was partially relieved by renting quarters for a part of its force but it is again overcrowded the building used by the city office never was fit for the purpose and is now inadequate and unwholesome the unsatisfactory condition of the law relating to the transmission through the mails of lottery advertisements and remittances is clearly stated by the and his suggestion as to amendments should have your favorable consideration the report of the secretary of the navy shows a reorganization of the bureaus of the department that will i do not doubt promote the efficiency of each in general satisfactory progress has been made in the construction of the new ships of war authorized by congress the first vessel of the new navy the dolphin was subjected to very severe trial tests and to very much adverse criticism but it is gratifying to be able to state that a cruise around the world from which she has recently returned has demonstrated that she is a vessel of her rate the report of the secretary shows that while the effective force of the navy is rapidly increasing by reason of the improved build and armament of the new ships the number of our ships fit for sea duty grows very slowly we had on the 4th of march last 37 serviceable ships and though 4 have since been added to the list the total has not been increased because in the meantime 4 have been lost or condemned additional vessels have been authorized and appropriated for but it is probable that when they are completed our list will only be increased to 42 a gain of 5 the old wooden ships are disappearing almost as fast as the new vessels are added these facts carry their own argument one of the new ships may in fighting strength be equal to two of the old but it can not do the cruising duty of two it is important therefore that we should have a more rapid increase in the number of serviceable ships i concur in the recommendation of the secretary that the construction of 8 armored ships 3 gunboats and 5 torpedo boats be authorized an appalling calamity befell three of our naval vessels on duty at the samoan islands in the harbor of apia in march last involving the loss of 4 officers and 47 seamen of two vessels the trenton and the vandalia and the disabling of a third the nipsic three vessels of the german navy also in the harbor shared with our ships the force of the hurricane and suffered even more heavily while mourning the brave officers and men who died facing with high resolve perils greater than those of battle it is most gratifying to state that the credit of the american navy for seamanship courage and generosity was magnificently sustained in the harbor of apia the report of the secretary of the interior exhibits the transactions of the government with the indian tribes substantial progress has been made in the education of the children of school age and in the allotment of lands to adult indians it is to be regretted that the policy of breaking up the tribal relation and of dealing with the indian as an individual did not appear earlier in our legislation large reservations held in common and the maintenance of the authority of the chiefs and headmen have deprived the individual of every incentive to the exercise of thrift and the annuity has contributed an affirmative impulse toward a state of confirmed pauperism our treaty stipulations should be observed with fidelity and our legislation should be highly considerate of the best interests of an ignorant and helpless people the reservations are now generally surrounded by white settlements we can no longer push the indian back into the wilderness and it remains only by every suitable agency to push him upward into the estate of a and responsible citizen for the adult the first step is to locate him upon a farm and for the child to place him in a school school attendance should be promoted by every moral agency and those failing should be compelled the national schools for indians have been very successful and should be multiplied and as far as possible should be so organized and conducted as to facilitate the transfer of the schools to the states or territories in which they are located when the indians in a neighborhood have accepted citizenship and have become otherwise fitted for such a transfer this condition of things will be attained slowly but it will be hastened by keeping it in mind and in the meantime that cooperation between the government and the mission schools which has wrought much good should be cordially and impartially maintained the last congress enacted two distinct laws relating to negotiations with the sioux indians of dakota for a relinquishment of a portion of their lands to the united states and for dividing the remainder into separate reservations both were approved on the same day march 2 the one submitted to the indians a specific proposition the other section 3 of the indian appropriation act authorized the president to appoint three commissioners to negotiate with these indians for the accomplishment of the same general purpose and required that any agreements made should be submitted to congress for ratification on the 16th day of april last i appointed hon charles foster of ohio hon william warner of missouri and george crook of the united states army commissioners under the law they were however authorized and directed first to submit to the indians the definite proposition made to them by the act first mentioned and only in the event of a failure to secure the assent of the requisite number to that proposition to open negotiations for modified terms under the other act the work of the commission was prolonged and arduous but the assent of the requisite number was it is understood finally obtained to the proposition made by congress though the report of the commission has not yet been submitted in view of these facts i shall not as at present advised deem it necessary to submit the agreement to congress for ratification but it will in due course be submitted for information this agreement releases to the united states about acres of land the commission provided for by section 14 of the indian appropriation bill to negotiate with the cherokee indians and all other indians owning or claiming lands lying west of the degree of longitude for the cession to the united states of all such lands was constituted by the appointment of hon lucius fairchild of wisconsin hon john hartranft of pennsylvania and hon alfred wilson of arkansas and organized on june 29 last their first conference with the representatives of the cherokees was held at tahlequah july 29 with no definite results general john hartranft of pennsylvania was prevented by ill health from taking part in the conference his death which occurred recently is justly and generally lamented by a people he had served with conspicuous gallantry in war and with great fidelity in peace the vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of hon warren sayre of indiana a second conference between the commission and the cherokees was begun november 6 but no results have yet been obtained nor is it believed that a conclusion can be immediately expected the cattle syndicate now occupying the lands for grazing purposes is clearly one of the agencies responsible for the obstruction of our negotiations with the cherokees the large body of agricultural lands constituting what is known as the cherokee outlet ought not to be and indeed can not long be held for grazing and for the advantage of a few against the public interests and the best advantage of the indians themselves the united states has now under the treaties certain rights in these lands these will not be used oppressively but it can not be allowed that those who by sufferance occupy these lands shall interpose to defeat the wise and beneficent purposes of the government i can not but believe that the advantageous character of the offer made by the united states to the cherokee nation for a full release of these lands as compared with other suggestions now made to them will yet obtain for it a favorable consideration under the agreement made between the united states and the muscogee or creek nation of indians on the 19th day of january 1889 an absolute title was secured by the united states to about acres of land section 12 of the general indian appropriation act approved march 2 1889 made provision for the purchase by the united states from the seminole tribe of a certain portion of their lands the delegates of the seminole nation having first duly evidenced to me their power to act in that behalf delivered a proper release or conveyance to the united states of all the lands mentioned in the act which was accepted by me and certified to be in compliance with the statute by the terms of both the acts referred to all the lands so purchased were declared to be a part of the public domain and open to settlement under the homestead law but of the lands embraced in these purchases being in the aggregate about acres acres had already under the terms of the treaty of 1866 been acquired by the united states for the purpose of settling other indian tribes thereon and had been appropriated to that purpose the land remaining and available for settlement consisted of acres surrounded on all sides by lands in the occupancy of indian tribes congress had provided no civil government for the people who were to be invited by my proclamation to settle upon these lands except as the new court which had been established at muscogee or the united states courts in some of the adjoining states had power to enforce the general laws of the united states in this condition of things i was quite reluctant to open the lands to settlement but in view of the fact that several thousand persons many of them with their families had gathered upon the borders of the indian territory with a view to securing homesteads on the ceded lands and that delay would involve them in much loss and suffering i did on the 23d day of march last issue a proclamation declaring that the lands therein described would be open to settlement under the provisions of the law on the 22d day of april following at 12 of the clock noon two land districts had been established and the offices were opened for the transaction of business when the appointed time arrived it is much to the credit of the settlers that they very generally observed the limitation as to the time when they might enter the territory care will be taken that those who entered in violation of the law do not secure the advantage they unfairly sought there was a good deal of apprehension that the strife for locations would result in much violence and bloodshed but happily these anticipations were not realized it is estimated that there are now in the territory about people and several considerable towns have sprung up for which temporary municipal governments have been organized guthrie is said to have now a population of almost eleven schools and nine churches have been established and three daily and five weekly newspapers are published in this city whose charter and ordinances have only the sanction of the voluntary acquiescence of the people from day to day oklahoma city has a population of about and is proportionately as well provided as guthrie with churches schools and newspapers other towns and villages having populations of from 100 to are scattered over the territory in order to secure the peace of this new community in the absence of civil government i directed general merritt commanding the department of the missouri to act in conjunction with the marshals of the united states to preserve the peace and upon their requisition to use the troops to aid them in executing warrants and in quieting any riots or breaches of the peace that might occur he was further directed to use his influence to promote good order and to avoid any conflicts between or with the settlers believing that the introduction and sale of liquors where no legal restraints or regulations existed would endanger the public peace and in view of the fact that such liquors must first be introduced into the indian reservations before reaching the white settlements i further directed the general commanding to enforce the laws relating to the introduction of ardent spirits into the indian country the presence of the troops has given a sense of security to the citizens and has tended to restrain the lawless in one instance the officer in immediate command of the troops went further than i deemed justifiable in supporting the de facto municipal government of guthrie and he was so informed and directed to limit the interference of the military to the support of the marshals on the lines indicated in the original order i very urgently recommend that congress at once provide a territorial government for these people serious questions which may at any time lead to violent outbreaks are awaiting the institution of courts for their peaceful adjustment the american genius for has been well illustrated in oklahoma but it is neither safe nor wise to leave these people longer to the expedients which have temporarily served them provision should be made for the acquisition of title to town lots in the towns now established in alaska for locating town sites and for the establishment of municipal governments only the mining laws have been extended to that territory and no other form of title to lands can now be obtained the general land laws were framed with reference to the disposition of agricultural lands and it is doubtful if their operation in alaska would be beneficial we have fortunately not extended to alaska the mistaken policy of establishing reservations for the indian tribes and can deal with them from the beginning as individuals with i am sure better results but any disposition of the public lands and any regulations relating to timber and to the fisheries should have a kindly regard to their interests having no power to levy taxes the people of alaska are wholly dependent upon the general government to whose revenues the seal fisheries make a large annual contribution an appropriation for education should neither be overlooked nor stinted the smallness of the population and the great distances between the settlements offer serious obstacles to the establishment of the usual territorial form of government perhaps the organization of several with a small municipal council of limited powers for each would be safe and useful attention is called in this connection to the suggestions of the secretary of the treasury relating to the establishment of another port of entry in alaska and of other needed customs facilities and regulations in the administration of the land laws the policy of facilitating in every proper way the adjustment of the honest claims of individual settlers upon the public lands has been pursued the number of pending cases had during the preceding administration been greatly increased under the operation of orders for a time suspending final action in a large part of the cases originating in the west and northwest and by the subsequent use of unusual methods of examination only those who are familiar with the conditions under which our agricultural lands have been settled can appreciate the serious and often fatal consequences to the settler of a policy that puts his title under suspicion or delays the issuance of his patent while care is taken to prevent and to expose fraud it should not be imputed without reason the manifest purpose of the homestead and preemption laws was to promote the settlement of the public domain by persons having a bona fide intent to make a home upon the selected lands where this intent is well established and the requirements of the law have been substantially complied with the claimant is entitled to a prompt and friendly consideration of his case but where there is reason to believe that the claimant is the mere agent of another who is seeking to evade a law intended to promote small holdings and to secure by fraudulent methods large tracts of timber and other lands both principal and agent should not only be thwarted in their fraudulent purpose but should be made to feel the full penalties of our criminal statutes the laws should be so administered as not to confound these two classes and to visit penalties only upon the latter the unsettled state of the titles to large bodies of lands in the territories of new mexico and arizona has greatly retarded the development of those territories provision should be made by law for the prompt trial and final adjustment before a judicial tribunal or commission of all claims based upon mexican grants it is not just to an intelligent and enterprising people that their peace should be disturbed and their prosperity retarded by these old contentions i express the hope that differences of opinion as to methods may yield to the urgency of the case the law now provides a pension for every soldier and sailor who was mustered into the service of the united states during the civil war and is now suffering from wounds or disease having an origin in the service and in the line of duty two of the three necessary facts viz muster and disability are usually susceptible of easy proof but the third origin in the service is often difficult and in many deserving cases impossible to establish that very many of those who endured the hardships of our most bloody and arduous campaigns are now disabled from diseases that had a real but not traceable origin in the service i do not doubt besides these there is another class composed of men many of whom served an enlistment of three full years and of reenlisted veterans who added a fourth year of service who escaped the casualties of battle and the assaults of disease who were always ready for any detail who were in every battle line of their command and were mustered out in sound health and have since the close of the war while fighting with the same indomitable and independent spirit the contests of civil life been overcome by disease or casualty i am not unaware that the pension roll already involves a very large annual expenditure neither am i deterred by that fact from recommending that congress grant a pension to such honorably discharged soldiers and sailors of the civil war as having rendered substantial service during the war are now dependent upon their own labor for a maintenance and by disease or casualty are incapacitated from earning it many of the men who would be included in this form of relief are now dependent upon public aid and it does not in my judgment consist with the national honor that they shall continue to subsist upon the local relief given indiscriminately to paupers instead of upon the special and generous provision of the nation they served so gallantly and unselfishly our people will i am sure very generally approve such legislation and i am equally sure that the survivors of the union army and navy will feel a grateful sense of relief when this worthy and suffering class of their comrades is fairly cared for there are some manifest inequalities in the existing law that should be remedied to some of these the secretary of the interior has called attention it is gratifying to be able to state that by the adoption of new and better methods in the war department the calls of the pension office for information as to the military and hospital records of pension claimants are now promptly answered and the injurious and vexatious delays that have heretofore occurred are entirely avoided this will greatly facilitate the adjustment of all pending claims the advent of four new states south dakota north dakota montana and washington into the union under the constitution in the same month and the admission of their duly chosen representatives to our national congress at the same session is an event as unexampled as it is interesting the certification of the votes cast and of the constitutions adopted in each of the states was filed with me as required by the eighth section of the act of february 22 1889 by the governors of said territories respectively having after a careful examination found that the several constitutions and governments were republican in form and not repugnant to the constitution of the united states that all the provisions of the act of congress had been complied with and that a majority of the votes cast in each of said proposed states was in favor of the adoption of the constitution submitted therein i did so declare by a separate proclamation as to each as to north dakota and south dakota on saturday november 2 as to montana on friday november 8 and as to washington on monday november 11 each of these states has within it resources the development of which will employ the energies of and yield a comfortable subsistence to a great population the smallest of these new states washington stands twelfth and the largest montana third among the in area the people of these states are already intelligent and patriotic american citizens having common interests and sympathies with those of the older states and a common purpose to defend the integrity and uphold the honor of the nation the attention of the interstate commerce commission has been called to the urgent need of congressional legislation for the better protection of the lives and limbs of those engaged in operating the great interstate freight lines of the country and especially of the yardmen and brakemen a petition signed by nearly railway brakemen was presented to the commission asking that steps might be taken to bring about the use of automatic brakes and couplers on freight cars at a meeting of state railroad commissioners and their accredited representatives held at washington in march last upon the invitation of the interstate commerce commission a resolution was unanimously adopted urging the commission to consider what can be done to prevent the loss of life and limb in coupling and uncoupling freight cars and in handling the brakes of such cars during the year ending june 30 1888 over railroad employees were killed in service and more than injured it is competent i think for congress to require uniformity in the construction of cars used in interstate commerce and the use of improved safety appliances upon such trains time will be necessary to make the needed changes but an earnest and intelligent beginning should be made at once it is a reproach to our civilization that any class of american workmen should in the pursuit of a necessary and useful vocation be subjected to a peril of life and limb as great as that of a soldier in time of war the creation of an executive department to be known as the department of agriculture by the act of february 9 last was a wise and timely response to a request which had long been respectfully urged by the farmers of the country but much remains to be done to perfect the organization of the department so that it may fairly realize the expectations which its creation excited in this connection attention is called to the suggestions contained in the report of the secretary which is herewith submitted the need of a law officer for the department such as is provided for the other executive departments is manifest the failure of the last congress to make the usual provision for the publication of the annual report should be promptly remedied the public interest in the report and its value to the farming community i am sure will not be diminished under the new organization of the department i recommend that the weather service be separated from the war department and established as a bureau in the department of agriculture this will involve an entire reorganization both of the weather bureau and of the signal corps making of the first a purely civil organization and of the other a purely military staff corps the report of the chief signal officer shows that the work of the corps on its military side has been deteriorating the interests of the people of the district of columbia should not be lost sight of in the pressure for consideration of measures affecting the whole country having no legislature of its own either municipal or general its people must look to congress for the regulation of all those concerns that in the states are the subject of local control our whole people have an interest that the national capital should be made attractive and beautiful and above all that its repute for social order should be well maintained the laws regulating the sale of intoxicating drinks in the district should be revised with a view to bringing the traffic under stringent limitations and control in execution of the power conferred upon me by the act making appropriations for the expenses of the district of columbia for the year ending june 30 1890 i did on the 17th day of august last appoint rudolph hering of new york samuel gray of rhode island and frederick stearns of massachusetts three eminent sanitary engineers to examine and report upon the system of sewerage existing in the district of columbia their report which is not yet completed will be in due course submitted to congress the report of the commissioners of the district is herewith transmitted and the attention of congress is called to the suggestions contained therein the proposition to observe the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of america by the opening of a world fair or exposition in some one of our great cities will be presented for the consideration of congress the value and interest of such an exposition may well claim the promotion of the general government on the 4th of march last the civil service commission had but a single member the vacancies were filled on the 7th day of may and since then the commissioners have been industriously though with an inadequate force engaged in executing the law they were assured by me that a cordial support would be given them in the faithful and impartial enforcement of the statute and of the rules and regulations adopted in aid of it heretofore the book of eligibles has been closed to everyone except as certifications were made upon the requisition of the appointing officers this secrecy was the source of much suspicion and of many charges of favoritism in the administration of the law what is secret is always suspected what is open can be judged the commission with the full approval of all its members has now opened the list of eligibles to the public the eligible lists for the classified and are now publicly posted in the respective offices as are also the certifications for appointments the purpose of the law was absolutely to exclude any other consideration in connection with appointments under it than that of merit as tested by the examinations the business proceeds upon the theory that both the examining boards and the appointing officers are absolutely ignorant as to the political views and associations of all persons on the lists it is not too much to say however that some recent congressional investigations have somewhat shaken public confidence in the impartiality of the selections for appointment the reform of the civil service will make no safe or satisfactory advance until the present law and its equal administration are well established in the confidence of the people it will be my pleasure as it is my duty to see that the law is executed with firmness and impartiality if some of its provisions have been fraudulently evaded by appointing officers our resentment should not suggest the repeal of the law but reform in its administration we should have one view of the matter and hold it with a sincerity that is not affected by the consideration that the party to which we belong is for the time in power my predecessor on the 4th day of january 1889 by an executive order to take effect march 15 brought the railway mail service under the operation of the law provision was made that the order should take effect sooner in any state where an eligible list was sooner obtained on the 11th day of march lyman then the only member of the commission reported to me in writing that it would not be possible to have the list of eligibles ready before may 1 and requested that the taking effect of the order be postponed until that time which was done subject to the same provision contained in the original order as to states in which an eligible list was sooner obtained as a result of the revision of the rules of the new classification and of the inclusion of the railway mail service the work of the commission has been greatly increased and the present clerical force is found to be inadequate i recommend that the additional clerks asked by the commission be appropriated for the duty of appointment is devolved by the constitution or by the law and the appointing officers are properly held to a high responsibility in its exercise the growth of the country and the consequent increase of the civil list have magnified this function of the executive disproportionally it can not be denied however that the labor connected with this necessary work is increased often to the point of actual distress by the sudden and excessive demands that are made upon an incoming administration for removals and appointments but on the other hand it is not true that incumbency is a conclusive argument for continuance in office impartiality moderation fidelity to public duty and a good attainment in the discharge of it must be added before the argument is complete when those holding administrative offices so conduct themselves as to convince just political opponents that no party consideration or bias affects in any way the discharge of their public duties we can more easily stay the demand for removals i am satisfied that both in and out of the classified service great benefit would accrue from the adoption of some system by which the officer would receive the distinction and benefit that in all private employments comes from exceptional faithfulness and efficiency in the performance of duty i have suggested to the heads of the executive departments that they consider whether a record might not be kept in each bureau of all those elements that are covered by the terms faithfulness and efficiency and a rating made showing the relative merits of the clerks of each class this rating to be regarded as a test of merit in making promotions i have also suggested to the that he adopt some plan by which he can upon the basis of the reports to the department and of frequent inspections indicate the relative merit of postmasters of each class they will be appropriately indicated in the official register and in the report of the department that a great stimulus would thus be given to the whole service i do not doubt and such a record would be the best defense against inconsiderate removals from office the interest of the general government in the education of the people found an early expression not only in the thoughtful and sometimes warning utterances of our ablest statesmen but in liberal appropriations from the common resources for the support of education in the new states no one will deny that it is of the gravest national concern that those who hold the ultimate control of all public affairs should have the necessary intelligence wisely to direct and determine them national aid to education has heretofore taken the form of land grants and in that form the constitutional power of congress to promote the education of the people is not seriously questioned i do not think it can be successfully questioned when the form is changed to that of a direct grant of money from the public treasury such aid should be as it always has been suggested by some exceptional conditions the sudden emancipation of the slaves of the south the bestowal of the suffrage which soon followed and the impairment of the ability of the states where these new citizens were chiefly found to adequately provide educational facilities presented not only exceptional but unexampled conditions that the situation has been much ameliorated there is no doubt the ability and interest of the states have happily increased but a great work remains to be done and i think the general government should lend its aid as the suggestion of a national grant in aid of education grows chiefly out of the condition and needs of the emancipated slave and his descendants the relief should as far as possible while necessarily proceeding upon some general lines be applied to the need that suggested it it is essential if much good is to be accomplished that the sympathy and active interest of the people of the states should be enlisted and that the methods adopted should be such as to stimulate and not to supplant local taxation for school purposes as one congress can not bind a succeeding one in such a case and as the effort must in some degree be experimental i recommend that any appropriation made for this purpose be so limited in annual amount and as to the time over which it is to extend as will on the one hand give the local school authorities opportunity to make the best use of the first year allowance and on the other deliver them from the temptation to unduly postpone the assumption of the whole burden themselves the colored people did not intrude themselves upon us they were brought here in chains and held in the communities where they are now chiefly found by a cruel slave code happily for both races they are now free they have from a standpoint of ignorance and poverty which was our shame not theirs made remarkable advances in education and in the acquisition of property they have as a people shown themselves to be friendly and faithful toward the white race under temptations of tremendous strength they have their representatives in the national cemeteries where a grateful government has gathered the ashes of those who died in its defense they have furnished to our regular army regiments that have won high praise from their commanding officers for courage and soldierly qualities and for fidelity to the enlistment oath in civil life they are now the toilers of their communities making their full contribution to the widening streams of prosperity which these communities are receiving their sudden withdrawal would stop production and bring disorder into the household as well as the shop generally they do not desire to quit their homes and their employers resent the interference of the emigration agents who seek to stimulate such a desire but notwithstanding all this in many parts of our country where the colored population is large the people of that race are by various devices deprived of any effective exercise of their political rights and of many of their civil rights the wrong does not expend itself upon those whose votes are suppressed every constituency in the union is wronged it has been the hope of every patriot that a sense of justice and of respect for the law would work a gradual cure of these flagrant evils surely no one supposes that the present can be accepted as a permanent condition if it is said that these communities must work out this problem for themselves we have a right to ask whether they are at work upon it do they suggest any solution when and under what conditions is the black man to have a free ballot when is he in fact to have those full civil rights which have so long been his in law when is that equality of influence which our form of government was intended to secure to the electors to be restored this generation should courageously face these grave questions and not leave them as a heritage of woe to the next the consultation should proceed with candor calmness and great patience upon the lines of justice and humanity not of prejudice and cruelty no question in our country can be at rest except upon the firm base of justice and of the law i earnestly invoke the attention of congress to the consideration of such measures within its constitutional powers as will secure to all our people a free exercise of the right of suffrage and every other civil right under the constitution and laws of the united states no evil however deplorable can justify the assumption either on the part of the executive or of congress of powers not granted but both will be highly blamable if all the powers granted are not wisely but firmly used to correct these evils the power to take the whole direction and control of the election of members of the house of representatives is clearly given to the general government a partial and qualified supervision of these elections is now provided for by law and in my opinion this law may be so strengthened and extended as to secure on the whole better results than can be attained by a law taking all the processes of such election into federal control the colored man should be protected in all of his relations to the federal government whether as litigant juror or witness in our courts as an elector for members of congress or as a peaceful traveler upon our interstate railways there is nothing more justly humiliating to the national pride and nothing more hurtful to the national prosperity than the inferiority of our merchant marine compared with that of other nations whose general resources wealth and seacoast lines do not suggest any reason for their supremacy on the sea it was not always so and our people are agreed i think that it shall not continue to be so it is not possible in this communication to discuss the causes of the decay of our shipping interests or the differing methods by which it is proposed to restore them the statement of a few facts and some general suggestions as to legislation is all that is practicable that the great steamship lines sailing under the flags of england france germany spain and italy and engaged in foreign commerce were and have since been and now are liberally aided by grants of public money in one form or another is generally known that the american lines of steamships have been abandoned by us to an unequal contest with the aided lines of other nations until they have been withdrawn or in the few cases where they are still maintained are subject to serious disadvantages is matter of common knowledge the present situation is such that travelers and merchandise find liverpool often a necessary intermediate port between new york and some of the south american capitals the fact that some of the delegates from south american states to the conference of american nations now in session at washington reached our shores by reversing that line of travel is very conclusive of the need of such a conference and very suggestive as to the first and most necessary step in the direction of fuller and more beneficial intercourse with nations that are now our neighbors upon the lines of latitude but not upon the lines of established commercial intercourse i recommend that such appropriations be made for ocean mail service in american steamships between our ports and those of central and south america china japan and the important islands in both of the great oceans as will be liberally remunerative for the service rendered and as will encourage the establishment and in some fair degree equalize the chances of american steamship lines in the competitions which they must meet that the american states lying south of us will cordially cooperate in establishing and maintaining such lines of steamships to their principal ports i do not doubt we should also make provision for a naval reserve to consist of such merchant ships of american construction and of a specified tonnage and speed as the owners will consent to place at the use of the government in case of need as armed cruisers england has adopted this policy and as a result can now upon necessity at once place upon her naval list some of the fastest steamships in the world a proper supervision of the construction of such vessels would make their conversion into effective ships of war very easy i am an advocate of economy in our national expenditures but it is a misuse of terms to make this word describe a policy that withholds an expenditure for the purpose of extending our foreign commerce the enlargement and improvement of our merchant marine the development of a sufficient body of trained american seamen the promotion of rapid and regular mail communication between the ports of other countries and our own and the adaptation of large and swift american merchant steamships to naval uses in time of war are public purposes of the highest concern the enlarged participation of our people in the carrying trade the new and increased markets that will be opened for the products of our farms and factories and the fuller and better employment of our mechanics which will result from a liberal promotion of our foreign commerce insure the widest possible diffusion of benefit to all the states and to all our people everything is most propitious for the present inauguration of a liberal and progressive policy upon this subject and we should enter upon it with promptness and decision the legislation which i have suggested it is sincerely believed will promote the peace and honor of our country and the prosperity and security of the people i invoke the diligent and serious attention of congress to the consideration of these and such other measures as may be presented having the same great end in view
transactions administration government even temporarily held confidence charged conduct public business every step taken observation intelligent watchful people state union known day day suggestions needed legislation find earlier voice speaks annual communications president congress good cordiality characterized relations correspondence governments year closed leaves international questions importance remaining unadjusted obstacle believed exist long postpone consideration adjustment still pending questions upon satisfactory honorable terms dealings government states always marked frankness sincerity purposes avowed methods free intrigue course borne rich fruit past duty nation preserve heritage good repute century right dealing foreign governments secured us matter high significance less congratulation first year second century constitutional existence finds honored guests within borders representatives independent states north south america met together earnest conference touching best methods perpetuating expanding relations mutual interest friendliness existing among opportunity thus afforded promoting closer international relations increased prosperity states represented used mutual good permit doubt people await interest confidence results flow auspicious meeting allied large part identical interests recommendations international conference enlightened statesmen doubtless considerate attention congress cooperation removal unnecessary barriers beneficial intercourse nations america commercial results hoped follow conference worthy pursuit great interests excited believed crowning benefit found better securities may devised maintenance peace among american nations settlement contentions methods christian civilization approve viewing interest national resources products delegates sure find higher satisfaction evidences unselfish friendship everywhere attend intercourse people another international conference great possibilities good lately assembled session capital invitation extended government act congress july 9 1888 maritime nations send delegates confer touching revision amendment rules regulations governing vessels sea adopt uniform system marine signals response invitation general cordial delegates nations present conference entered upon useful work great zeal evident appreciation importance far agreement reached may require legislation give effect cooperation congress confidently relied upon interesting indeed unprecedented fact two international conferences brought together accredited representatives nations bolivia ecuador honduras represented resident envoys plenipotentiary grade states american system maintain diplomatic representation capital connection may noted nations western hemisphere one exception send washington envoys extraordinary ministers plenipotentiary highest grade accredited government united states contrary sends envoys lower grades sister republics representative paraguay uruguay minister resident bolivia send minister resident view importance relations states american system diplomatic agents countries uniform rank envoy extraordinary minister plenipotentiary certain missions elevated last congress happy effect recommend completion reform thus begun inclusion also hawaii hayti view relations american system states also recommend timely provision made extending hawaii invitation represented international conference sitting capital relations china attentive consideration magnitude interest demand failure treaty negotiated administration predecessor complete restriction chinese labor immigration legislation last session congress dependent thereon leaves questions open congress approach wise spirit characterize relations two great friendly powers supreme interests demand exclusion laboring element experience shown incompatible social life steps compass imperative need accompanied recognition claim strangers lawfully among us humane treatment accession young emperor china marks may hope era progress prosperity great country called rule present state affairs respect samoan islands encouraging conference held city summer 1887 representatives united states germany great britain adjourned persistent divergence views developed deliberations subsequent course events islands gave rise questions serious character 4th february last german minister capital behalf government proposed resumption conference berlin proposition accepted congress february last informed pursuant understanding thus reached commissioners appointed advice consent senate proceeded berlin conference renewed deliberations extended several weeks resulted conclusion treaty submitted senate approval trust efforts made effect adjustment question productive permanent establishment law order samoa upon basis maintenance rights interests natives well treaty powers questions arisen past years great britain united states abeyance course amicable adjustment part government dominion canada effort apparent season ended administer laws regulations applicable fisheries little occasion friction possible temperate representations government respect cases undue hardship harsh interpretations cases met measures transitory relief trusted attainment rights existing treaties virtue concurrent legislation two contiguous countries long deferred existing causes difference may equitably adjusted recommend provision made international agreement visibly marking water boundary united states canada narrow channels join great lakes conventional line therein traced northwestern boundary survey years ago cases readily ascertainable settlement jurisdictional questions acceptable enlargement list offenses extradition may claimed granted desirable country great britain territory neither become secure harbor evil doers avoidable shortcoming regard new treaty subject two powers recently negotiated soon laid senate importance commerce cuba puerto rico united states nearest principal market justifies expectation existing relations may beneficially expanded impediments resulting varying dues navigation vexatious treatment vessels merely technical grounds complaint west india ports removed progress toward adjustment pending claims united states spain rapid could desired questions affecting american interests connection railways constructed operated citizens peru claimed attention government urged governments pressing peru payment claims disregarded property rights american citizens matter carefully investigated view securing proper equitable adjustment similar issue pending portugal delagoa bay railway africa constructed concession portugal american citizen nearly completed road seized agents portuguese government formal protest made minister lisbon act proper effort spared secure proper relief pursuance charter granted congress terms contract government nicaragua interoceanic canal company begun construction important waterway two oceans organization contemplates grave complications time seemed imminent view supposed conflict jurisdiction nicaragua costa rica regard accessory privileges conceded latter republic toward construction works san juan river right bank costa rican territory happy learn friendly arrangement effected two nations government held ready promote every proper way adjustment questions might present obstacles completion work transcendent importance commerce country indeed commercial interests world traditional good feeling country french republic received additional testimony participation government people international exposition held paris past summer success exhibitors gratifying report commission laid congress due season government accepted proper reserve policy foreign territories invitation government belgium take part international congress opened brussels 16th november purpose devising measures promote abolition slave trade africa prevent shipment slaves sea interest extinction crime humanity regions yet survives increased results emancipation within borders germany cordial relations continue questions arising return empire germans naturalized country considered disposed temperate spirit entire satisfaction governments source great satisfaction internal disturbances republic hayti last happily ended apparently stable government constituted duly recognized united states mixed commission session capital settlement claims republic venezuela hoped satisfactory conclusion speedily reached government hesitated express earnest desire boundary dispute pending great britain venezuela may adjusted amicably strict accordance historic title parties advancement empire japan evidenced recent promulgation new constitution containing valuable guaranties liberty providing responsible ministry conduct government earnestly recommended judicial rights processes korea established firm basis providing machinery necessary carry treaty stipulations regard friendliness persian government continues shown generous treatment americans engaged missionary labors cordial disposition shah encourage enterprise citizens development persian resources discussion progress touching jurisdictional treaty rights united states turkey earnest effort made define rights satisfaction governments questions continue arise relations several countries respect rights naturalized citizens especially case france italy russia turkey less extent switzerland time time earnest efforts made regulate subject conventions countries improper use naturalization permitted important duly naturalized everywhere accorded recognition rights pertaining citizenship country adoption appropriateness special conventions purpose recognized treaties government concluded number european states advisable difficulties arise relations countries subject similarly adjusted recent revolution brazil favor establishment republican form government event great interest united states minister rio de janeiro instructed maintain friendly diplomatic relations provisional government brazilian representatives capital instructed provisional government continue functions friendly intercourse brazil therefore suffered interruption minister instructed extend part government formal cordial recognition new republic soon majority people brazil shall signified assent establishment maintenance within borders general condition prosperity prevails harvests last summer exceptionally abundant trade conditions prevailing seem promise successful season merchant manufacturer general employment working people report secretary treasury fiscal year ending june 30 1889 prepared presented congress presents clearness fiscal operations government avail obtain facts use aggregate receipts sources year derived follows ordinary expenditures period total expenditures including sinking fund excess receipts expenditures providing sinking fund current fiscal year total revenues actual estimated ordinary expenditures actual estimated making sinking fund total expenditure leaving estimated surplus fiscal year applied purchase bonds addition sinking fund first quarter current year sum credited sinking fund revenues fiscal year ending june 30 1891 estimated treasury department expenditures period including sinking fund shows estimated surplus year likely increased reduced actual transactions written existence large actual anticipated surplus immediate attention congress view reducing receipts treasury needs government closely may collection moneys needed public uses imposes unnecessary burden upon people presence large surplus public vaults disturbing element conduct private business called use expedients putting circulation questionable propriety collect revenue purpose anticipating bonds beyond requirements sinking fund unappropriated surplus treasury used lawful way returning money circulation profit realized government offers substantial advantage loaning public funds banks without interest upon security government bonds regard unauthorized dangerous expedient results temporary unnatural increase banking capital favored localities compels cautious gradual recall deposits avoid injury commercial interests expected banks deposits sell bonds treasury long present highly beneficial arrangement continued practically get interest upon bonds proceeds use made method getting surplus circulation deposits outstanding gradually withdrawn applied purchase bonds fortunate use made existing surplus time come casual surplus may exist congress taken necessary steps reduction revenue legislation promptly considerately enacted recommend revision tariff law administrative features schedules need former generally conceded agreement upon evils inconveniences remedied best methods correction probably difficult uniformity valuation ports essential effective measures taken secure equally desirable questions affecting rates classifications promptly decided preparation new schedule customs duties matter great delicacy direct effect upon business country great difficulty reason wide divergence opinion objects may properly promoted legislation disturbance business may perhaps result consideration subject congress temporary ill effect reduced minimum prompt action assurance country already enjoys necessary changes made impair reasonable protection home industries inequalities law adjusted protective principle maintained fairly applied products farms well shops duties necessarily relation things besides public revenues limit effects fixing eyes public treasury alone direct relation home production work wages commercial independence country wise patriotic legislator enlarge field vision include necessary reduction public revenues sure made without making smaller burden onerous larger reason disabilities limitations process reduction puts upon capital labor free list safely extended placing thereon articles offer injurious competition domestic products home labor supply removal internal tax upon tobacco would relieve important agricultural product burden imposed revenue customs duties insufficient public needs safe provision fraud devised removal tax upon spirits used arts manufactures would also offer unobjectionable method reducing surplus table presented secretary treasury showing amount money kinds circulation year 1878 present time interest appears amount notes circulation decreased period chargeable last year withdrawal bank circulation necessarily continue existing conditions probable adoption suggestions made comptroller currency namely minimum deposit bonds establishment banks reduced issue notes par value bonds allowed would help maintain bank circulation withdrawal bank notes going large increase amount gold silver coin circulation issues gold silver certificates total amount money kinds circulation march 1 1878 october 1 1889 total increase gold coin standard silver dollars gold certificates silver certificates united states notes making total period decrease bank circulation subsidiary silver net increase circulation per capita increased 5 time covered table referred total coinage silver dollars november 1 1889 treasury vaults circulation amount vaults represented outstanding silver certificates leaving circulation represented certificates law requiring purchase treasury worth silver bullion month coined silver dollars 412 grains observed department neither present secretary predecessors deemed safe exercise discretion given law increase monthly purchases law enacted february 28 1878 price silver market per ounce making bullion value dollar 93 cents since time price fallen low cents per ounce reducing bullion value dollar cents within last months market price somewhat advanced 1st day november last bullion value silver dollar 72 cents evil anticipations accompanied coinage use silver dollar realized coin general use public treasury compelled store manifestly owing fact paper representative convenient general acceptance use silver certificate show silver otherwise discredited favorable conditions contributed maintain practical equality commercial use gold silver dollars trade conditions statutory enactments control continuance certain think clear make coinage silver present ratio free must expect difference bullion values gold silver dollars taken account commercial transactions fear result would follow considerable increase present rate coinage result would discreditable financial management disastrous business interests tread dangerous edge peril indeed nothing harmful could happen silver interests safe legislation upon subject must secure equality two coins commercial uses always advocate use silver currency large producers metal discredit plan presented secretary treasury issuance notes certificates upon deposit silver bullion market value able give hasty examination owing press matters fact recently formulated details law require careful consideration general plan suggested seems satisfy purpose continue use silver connection currency time obviate danger spoken later day may communicate congress upon subject enforcement chinese exclusion act found difficult northwestern frontier chinamen landing victoria find easy pass border owing impossibility force command customs officers guarding long inland line secretary treasury authorized employment additional officers assigned duty every effort made enforce law dominion exacts head tax 50 chinaman landed persons fraud law cross territory apprehended officers know dominion authorities suffer sent back without second payment tax effort made reach understanding remove difficulty proclamation required section 3 act march 2 1889 relating killing seals animals issued 21st day march revenue vessel dispatched enforce laws protect interests united states establishment refuge station point barrow directed congress successfully accomplished judged modern standards practically without coast defenses many structures would enhance rather diminish perils garrisons subjected fire improved guns located give full effect greater range guns making uses general subject consideration congress years appropriation construction large rifled guns made one year ago sure expression purpose provide suitable works guns might mounted appropriation made purpose would advance completion works beyond ability supply fairly effective guns security coast cities foreign attacks rest altogether friendly disposition nations second line wholly keeping urgently recommend appropriation session construction works exposed harbors approve suggestion secretary war provision made encamping companies national guard coast works specified time year training use heavy guns suggestion increase artillery force army desirable also connection commended consideration congress improvement important rivers harbors promoted necessary appropriations care taken government committed prosecution works public general advantage relative usefulness works class overlooked far work ever said completed doubt end would sooner economically reached fewer separate works undertaken time selected greater general interest rapidly pushed completion work considerably begun subjected risks deterioration interrupted insufficient appropriations necessarily occasion assault made david terry upon person justice field supreme court united states lathtop august last killing assailant deputy united states marshal deputed accompany justice field protect anticipated violence hands terry connection legal proceedings followed suggest questions judgment worthy attention congress recommend definite provision made law protection federal officers full trial cases united states courts recommending legislation impeach either general adequacy provision made state laws protection citizens general good disposition charged execution laws give protection officers united states duty protecting officers punishing assault account official acts devolved expressly acquiescence upon local authorities events brought attention happening parts country also suggested propriety extending legislation fuller protection may called witnesses courts united states law compels supposed knowledge public offenses attend upon courts grand juries give evidence manifest resulting duty witnesses shall protected injury account testimony investigations criminal offenses often rendered futile punishment crime impossible intimidation witnesses necessity providing speedy method disposing cases come final adjudication supreme court becomes every year apparent urgent plan providing intermediate courts final appellate jurisdiction certain classes questions cases think received general approval bench bar country without attempting discuss details recommend provision made establishment courts salaries judges district courts many districts judgment inadequate recommend salaries per annum increased amount quite true amount labor performed judges unequal properly engage pursuits supplement incomes salary cases provide independent comfortable support earnest attention given congress consideration question far restraint combinations capital commonly called trusts matter federal jurisdiction organized often crush healthy competition monopolize production sale article commerce general necessity dangerous conspiracies public good made subject prohibitory even penal legislation subject international copyright frequently commended attention congress predecessors enactment law would eminently wise naturalization laws revised make inquiry moral character good disposition toward government persons applying citizenship thorough done taking fuller control examination fixing times hearing applications requiring presence one shall represent government inquiry avowed enemies social order come shores swell injurious influence extend evil practices association defies laws denied citizenship domicile enactment national bankrupt law character permanent part general legislation desirable simple methods inexpensive administration report exhibits operations department last fiscal year contains many valuable suggestions improvement extension service commended attention branch government close contact daily life people almost everyone uses service offers every hour gained transmission great commercial mails actual possible value engaged trade understand saving one day transmission mails new york san francisco recently accomplished incident worthy mention plan suggested supervision separate districts shall involve instruction suggestion rating efficiency postmasters would doubt greatly improve service pressing necessity exists erection building joint use department city department partially relieved renting quarters part force overcrowded building used city office never fit purpose inadequate unwholesome unsatisfactory condition law relating transmission mails lottery advertisements remittances clearly stated suggestion amendments favorable consideration report secretary navy shows reorganization bureaus department doubt promote efficiency general satisfactory progress made construction new ships war authorized congress first vessel new navy dolphin subjected severe trial tests much adverse criticism gratifying able state cruise around world recently returned demonstrated vessel rate report secretary shows effective force navy rapidly increasing reason improved build armament new ships number ships fit sea duty grows slowly 4th march last 37 serviceable ships though 4 since added list total increased meantime 4 lost condemned additional vessels authorized appropriated probable completed list increased 42 gain 5 old wooden ships disappearing almost fast new vessels added facts carry argument one new ships may fighting strength equal two old cruising duty two important therefore rapid increase number serviceable ships concur recommendation secretary construction 8 armored ships 3 gunboats 5 torpedo boats authorized appalling calamity befell three naval vessels duty samoan islands harbor apia march last involving loss 4 officers 47 seamen two vessels trenton vandalia disabling third nipsic three vessels german navy also harbor shared ships force hurricane suffered even heavily mourning brave officers men died facing high resolve perils greater battle gratifying state credit american navy seamanship courage generosity magnificently sustained harbor apia report secretary interior exhibits transactions government indian tribes substantial progress made education children school age allotment lands adult indians regretted policy breaking tribal relation dealing indian individual appear earlier legislation large reservations held common maintenance authority chiefs headmen deprived individual every incentive exercise thrift annuity contributed affirmative impulse toward state confirmed pauperism treaty stipulations observed fidelity legislation highly considerate best interests ignorant helpless people reservations generally surrounded white settlements longer push indian back wilderness remains every suitable agency push upward estate responsible citizen adult first step locate upon farm child place school school attendance promoted every moral agency failing compelled national schools indians successful multiplied far possible organized conducted facilitate transfer schools states territories located indians neighborhood accepted citizenship become otherwise fitted transfer condition things attained slowly hastened keeping mind meantime cooperation government mission schools wrought much good cordially impartially maintained last congress enacted two distinct laws relating negotiations sioux indians dakota relinquishment portion lands united states dividing remainder separate reservations approved day march 2 one submitted indians specific proposition section 3 indian appropriation act authorized president appoint three commissioners negotiate indians accomplishment general purpose required agreements made submitted congress ratification 16th day april last appointed hon charles foster ohio hon william warner missouri george crook united states army commissioners law however authorized directed first submit indians definite proposition made act first mentioned event failure secure assent requisite number proposition open negotiations modified terms act work commission prolonged arduous assent requisite number understood finally obtained proposition made congress though report commission yet submitted view facts shall present advised deem necessary submit agreement congress ratification due course submitted information agreement releases united states acres land commission provided section 14 indian appropriation bill negotiate cherokee indians indians owning claiming lands lying west degree longitude cession united states lands constituted appointment hon lucius fairchild wisconsin hon john hartranft pennsylvania hon alfred wilson arkansas organized june 29 last first conference representatives cherokees held tahlequah july 29 definite results general john hartranft pennsylvania prevented ill health taking part conference death occurred recently justly generally lamented people served conspicuous gallantry war great fidelity peace vacancy thus created filled appointment hon warren sayre indiana second conference commission cherokees begun november 6 results yet obtained believed conclusion immediately expected cattle syndicate occupying lands grazing purposes clearly one agencies responsible obstruction negotiations cherokees large body agricultural lands constituting known cherokee outlet ought indeed long held grazing advantage public interests best advantage indians united states treaties certain rights lands used oppressively allowed sufferance occupy lands shall interpose defeat wise beneficent purposes government believe advantageous character offer made united states cherokee nation full release lands compared suggestions made yet obtain favorable consideration agreement made united states muscogee creek nation indians 19th day january 1889 absolute title secured united states acres land section 12 general indian appropriation act approved march 2 1889 made provision purchase united states seminole tribe certain portion lands delegates seminole nation first duly evidenced power act behalf delivered proper release conveyance united states lands mentioned act accepted certified compliance statute terms acts referred lands purchased declared part public domain open settlement homestead law lands embraced purchases aggregate acres acres already terms treaty 1866 acquired united states purpose settling indian tribes thereon appropriated purpose land remaining available settlement consisted acres surrounded sides lands occupancy indian tribes congress provided civil government people invited proclamation settle upon lands except new court established muscogee united states courts adjoining states power enforce general laws united states condition things quite reluctant open lands settlement view fact several thousand persons many families gathered upon borders indian territory view securing homesteads ceded lands delay would involve much loss suffering 23d day march last issue proclamation declaring lands therein described would open settlement provisions law 22d day april following 12 clock noon two land districts established offices opened transaction business appointed time arrived much credit settlers generally observed limitation time might enter territory care taken entered violation law secure advantage unfairly sought good deal apprehension strife locations would result much violence bloodshed happily anticipations realized estimated territory people several considerable towns sprung temporary municipal governments organized guthrie said population almost eleven schools nine churches established three daily five weekly newspapers published city whose charter ordinances sanction voluntary acquiescence people day day oklahoma city population proportionately well provided guthrie churches schools newspapers towns villages populations 100 scattered territory order secure peace new community absence civil government directed general merritt commanding department missouri act conjunction marshals united states preserve peace upon requisition use troops aid executing warrants quieting riots breaches peace might occur directed use influence promote good order avoid conflicts settlers believing introduction sale liquors legal restraints regulations existed would endanger public peace view fact liquors must first introduced indian reservations reaching white settlements directed general commanding enforce laws relating introduction ardent spirits indian country presence troops given sense security citizens tended restrain lawless one instance officer immediate command troops went deemed justifiable supporting de facto municipal government guthrie informed directed limit interference military support marshals lines indicated original order urgently recommend congress provide territorial government people serious questions may time lead violent outbreaks awaiting institution courts peaceful adjustment american genius well illustrated oklahoma neither safe wise leave people longer expedients temporarily served provision made acquisition title town lots towns established alaska locating town sites establishment municipal governments mining laws extended territory form title lands obtained general land laws framed reference disposition agricultural lands doubtful operation alaska would beneficial fortunately extended alaska mistaken policy establishing reservations indian tribes deal beginning individuals sure better results disposition public lands regulations relating timber fisheries kindly regard interests power levy taxes people alaska wholly dependent upon general government whose revenues seal fisheries make large annual contribution appropriation education neither overlooked stinted smallness population great distances settlements offer serious obstacles establishment usual territorial form government perhaps organization several small municipal council limited powers would safe useful attention called connection suggestions secretary treasury relating establishment another port entry alaska needed customs facilities regulations administration land laws policy facilitating every proper way adjustment honest claims individual settlers upon public lands pursued number pending cases preceding administration greatly increased operation orders time suspending final action large part cases originating west northwest subsequent use unusual methods examination familiar conditions agricultural lands settled appreciate serious often fatal consequences settler policy puts title suspicion delays issuance patent care taken prevent expose fraud imputed without reason manifest purpose homestead preemption laws promote settlement public domain persons bona fide intent make home upon selected lands intent well established requirements law substantially complied claimant entitled prompt friendly consideration case reason believe claimant mere agent another seeking evade law intended promote small holdings secure fraudulent methods large tracts timber lands principal agent thwarted fraudulent purpose made feel full penalties criminal statutes laws administered confound two classes visit penalties upon latter unsettled state titles large bodies lands territories new mexico arizona greatly retarded development territories provision made law prompt trial final adjustment judicial tribunal commission claims based upon mexican grants intelligent enterprising people peace disturbed prosperity retarded old contentions express hope differences opinion methods may yield urgency case law provides pension every soldier sailor mustered service united states civil war suffering wounds disease origin service line duty two three necessary facts viz muster disability usually susceptible easy proof third origin service often difficult many deserving cases impossible establish many endured hardships bloody arduous campaigns disabled diseases real traceable origin service doubt besides another class composed men many served enlistment three full years reenlisted veterans added fourth year service escaped casualties battle assaults disease always ready detail every battle line command mustered sound health since close war fighting indomitable independent spirit contests civil life overcome disease casualty unaware pension roll already involves large annual expenditure neither deterred fact recommending congress grant pension honorably discharged soldiers sailors civil war rendered substantial service war dependent upon labor maintenance disease casualty incapacitated earning many men would included form relief dependent upon public aid judgment consist national honor shall continue subsist upon local relief given indiscriminately paupers instead upon special generous provision nation served gallantly unselfishly people sure generally approve legislation equally sure survivors union army navy feel grateful sense relief worthy suffering class comrades fairly cared manifest inequalities existing law remedied secretary interior called attention gratifying able state adoption new better methods war department calls pension office information military hospital records pension claimants promptly answered injurious vexatious delays heretofore occurred entirely avoided greatly facilitate adjustment pending claims advent four new states south dakota north dakota montana washington union constitution month admission duly chosen representatives national congress session event unexampled interesting certification votes cast constitutions adopted states filed required eighth section act february 22 1889 governors said territories respectively careful examination found several constitutions governments republican form repugnant constitution united states provisions act congress complied majority votes cast said proposed states favor adoption constitution submitted therein declare separate proclamation north dakota south dakota saturday november 2 montana friday november 8 washington monday november 11 states within resources development employ energies yield comfortable subsistence great population smallest new states washington stands twelfth largest montana third among area people states already intelligent patriotic american citizens common interests sympathies older states common purpose defend integrity uphold honor nation attention interstate commerce commission called urgent need congressional legislation better protection lives limbs engaged operating great interstate freight lines country especially yardmen brakemen petition signed nearly railway brakemen presented commission asking steps might taken bring use automatic brakes couplers freight cars meeting state railroad commissioners accredited representatives held washington march last upon invitation interstate commerce commission resolution unanimously adopted urging commission consider done prevent loss life limb coupling uncoupling freight cars handling brakes cars year ending june 30 1888 railroad employees killed service injured competent think congress require uniformity construction cars used interstate commerce use improved safety appliances upon trains time necessary make needed changes earnest intelligent beginning made reproach civilization class american workmen pursuit necessary useful vocation subjected peril life limb great soldier time war creation executive department known department agriculture act february 9 last wise timely response request long respectfully urged farmers country much remains done perfect organization department may fairly realize expectations creation excited connection attention called suggestions contained report secretary herewith submitted need law officer department provided executive departments manifest failure last congress make usual provision publication annual report promptly remedied public interest report value farming community sure diminished new organization department recommend weather service separated war department established bureau department agriculture involve entire reorganization weather bureau signal corps making first purely civil organization purely military staff corps report chief signal officer shows work corps military side deteriorating interests people district columbia lost sight pressure consideration measures affecting whole country legislature either municipal general people must look congress regulation concerns states subject local control whole people interest national capital made attractive beautiful repute social order well maintained laws regulating sale intoxicating drinks district revised view bringing traffic stringent limitations control execution power conferred upon act making appropriations expenses district columbia year ending june 30 1890 17th day august last appoint rudolph hering new york samuel gray rhode island frederick stearns massachusetts three eminent sanitary engineers examine report upon system sewerage existing district columbia report yet completed due course submitted congress report commissioners district herewith transmitted attention congress called suggestions contained therein proposition observe four hundredth anniversary discovery america opening world fair exposition one great cities presented consideration congress value interest exposition may well claim promotion general government 4th march last civil service commission single member vacancies filled 7th day may since commissioners industriously though inadequate force engaged executing law assured cordial support would given faithful impartial enforcement statute rules regulations adopted aid heretofore book eligibles closed everyone except certifications made upon requisition appointing officers secrecy source much suspicion many charges favoritism administration law secret always suspected open judged commission full approval members opened list eligibles public eligible lists classified publicly posted respective offices also certifications appointments purpose law absolutely exclude consideration connection appointments merit tested examinations business proceeds upon theory examining boards appointing officers absolutely ignorant political views associations persons lists much say however recent congressional investigations somewhat shaken public confidence impartiality selections appointment reform civil service make safe satisfactory advance present law equal administration well established confidence people pleasure duty see law executed firmness impartiality provisions fraudulently evaded appointing officers resentment suggest repeal law reform administration one view matter hold sincerity affected consideration party belong time power predecessor 4th day january 1889 executive order take effect march 15 brought railway mail service operation law provision made order take effect sooner state eligible list sooner obtained 11th day march lyman member commission reported writing would possible list eligibles ready may 1 requested taking effect order postponed time done subject provision contained original order states eligible list sooner obtained result revision rules new classification inclusion railway mail service work commission greatly increased present clerical force found inadequate recommend additional clerks asked commission appropriated duty appointment devolved constitution law appointing officers properly held high responsibility exercise growth country consequent increase civil list magnified function executive disproportionally denied however labor connected necessary work increased often point actual distress sudden excessive demands made upon incoming administration removals appointments hand true incumbency conclusive argument continuance office impartiality moderation fidelity public duty good attainment discharge must added argument complete holding administrative offices conduct convince political opponents party consideration bias affects way discharge public duties easily stay demand removals satisfied classified service great benefit would accrue adoption system officer would receive distinction benefit private employments comes exceptional faithfulness efficiency performance duty suggested heads executive departments consider whether record might kept bureau elements covered terms faithfulness efficiency rating made showing relative merits clerks class rating regarded test merit making promotions also suggested adopt plan upon basis reports department frequent inspections indicate relative merit postmasters class appropriately indicated official register report department great stimulus would thus given whole service doubt record would best defense inconsiderate removals office interest general government education people found early expression thoughtful sometimes warning utterances ablest statesmen liberal appropriations common resources support education new states one deny gravest national concern hold ultimate control public affairs necessary intelligence wisely direct determine national aid education heretofore taken form land grants form constitutional power congress promote education people seriously questioned think successfully questioned form changed direct grant money public treasury aid always suggested exceptional conditions sudden emancipation slaves south bestowal suffrage soon followed impairment ability states new citizens chiefly found adequately provide educational facilities presented exceptional unexampled conditions situation much ameliorated doubt ability interest states happily increased great work remains done think general government lend aid suggestion national grant aid education grows chiefly condition needs emancipated slave descendants relief far possible necessarily proceeding upon general lines applied need suggested essential much good accomplished sympathy active interest people states enlisted methods adopted stimulate supplant local taxation school purposes one congress bind succeeding one case effort must degree experimental recommend appropriation made purpose limited annual amount time extend one hand give local school authorities opportunity make best use first year allowance deliver temptation unduly postpone assumption whole burden colored people intrude upon us brought chains held communities chiefly found cruel slave code happily races free standpoint ignorance poverty shame made remarkable advances education acquisition property people shown friendly faithful toward white race temptations tremendous strength representatives national cemeteries grateful government gathered ashes died defense furnished regular army regiments high praise commanding officers courage soldierly qualities fidelity enlistment oath civil life toilers communities making full contribution widening streams prosperity communities receiving sudden withdrawal would stop production bring disorder household well shop generally desire quit homes employers resent interference emigration agents seek stimulate desire notwithstanding many parts country colored population large people race various devices deprived effective exercise political rights many civil rights wrong expend upon whose votes suppressed every constituency union wronged hope every patriot sense justice respect law would work gradual cure flagrant evils surely one supposes present accepted permanent condition said communities must work problem right ask whether work upon suggest solution conditions black man free ballot fact full civil rights long law equality influence form government intended secure electors restored generation courageously face grave questions leave heritage woe next consultation proceed candor calmness great patience upon lines justice humanity prejudice cruelty question country rest except upon firm base justice law earnestly invoke attention congress consideration measures within constitutional powers secure people free exercise right suffrage every civil right constitution laws united states evil however deplorable justify assumption either part executive congress powers granted highly blamable powers granted wisely firmly used correct evils power take whole direction control election members house representatives clearly given general government partial qualified supervision elections provided law opinion law may strengthened extended secure whole better results attained law taking processes election federal control colored man protected relations federal government whether litigant juror witness courts elector members congress peaceful traveler upon interstate railways nothing justly humiliating national pride nothing hurtful national prosperity inferiority merchant marine compared nations whose general resources wealth seacoast lines suggest reason supremacy sea always people agreed think shall continue possible communication discuss causes decay shipping interests differing methods proposed restore statement facts general suggestions legislation practicable great steamship lines sailing flags england france germany spain italy engaged foreign commerce since liberally aided grants public money one form another generally known american lines steamships abandoned us unequal contest aided lines nations withdrawn cases still maintained subject serious disadvantages matter common knowledge present situation travelers merchandise find liverpool often necessary intermediate port new york south american capitals fact delegates south american states conference american nations session washington reached shores reversing line travel conclusive need conference suggestive first necessary step direction fuller beneficial intercourse nations neighbors upon lines latitude upon lines established commercial intercourse recommend appropriations made ocean mail service american steamships ports central south america china japan important islands great oceans liberally remunerative service rendered encourage establishment fair degree equalize chances american steamship lines competitions must meet american states lying south us cordially cooperate establishing maintaining lines steamships principal ports doubt also make provision naval reserve consist merchant ships american construction specified tonnage speed owners consent place use government case need armed cruisers england adopted policy result upon necessity place upon naval list fastest steamships world proper supervision construction vessels would make conversion effective ships war easy advocate economy national expenditures misuse terms make word describe policy withholds expenditure purpose extending foreign commerce enlargement improvement merchant marine development sufficient body trained american seamen promotion rapid regular mail communication ports countries adaptation large swift american merchant steamships naval uses time war public purposes highest concern enlarged participation people carrying trade new increased markets opened products farms factories fuller better employment mechanics result liberal promotion foreign commerce insure widest possible diffusion benefit states people everything propitious present inauguration liberal progressive policy upon subject enter upon promptness decision legislation suggested sincerely believed promote peace honor country prosperity security people invoke diligent serious attention congress consideration measures may presented great end view
transaction administration government even temporarily hold confidence charge conduct public business every step take observation intelligent watchful people state union know day day suggestion need legislation find earlier voice speaks annual communication president congress good cordiality characterize relation correspondence government year close leave international question importance remain unadjusted obstacle believe exist long postpone consideration adjustment still pending question upon satisfactory honorable term dealing government state always mark frankness sincerity purpose avow method free intrigue course borne rich fruit past duty nation preserve heritage good repute century right deal foreign government secure u matter high significance less congratulation first year second century constitutional existence find honor guest within border representative independent state north south america meet together earnest conference touch best method perpetuate expand relation mutual interest friendliness exist among opportunity thus afford promote closer international relation increase prosperity state represent used mutual good permit doubt people await interest confidence result flow auspicious meeting ally large part identical interest recommendation international conference enlighten statesman doubtless considerate attention congress cooperation removal unnecessary barrier beneficial intercourse nation america commercial result hop follow conference worthy pursuit great interest excite believe crowning benefit find good security may devise maintenance peace among american nation settlement contention method christian civilization approve view interest national resource product delegate sure find high satisfaction evidence unselfish friendship everywhere attend intercourse people another international conference great possibility good lately assembled session capital invitation extend government act congress july 9 1888 maritime nation send delegate confer touch revision amendment rule regulation govern vessel sea adopt uniform system marine signal response invitation general cordial delegate nation present conference enter upon useful work great zeal evident appreciation importance far agreement reach may require legislation give effect cooperation congress confidently rely upon interest indeed unprecedented fact two international conference bring together accredited representative nation bolivia ecuador honduras represent resident envoy plenipotentiary grade state american system maintain diplomatic representation capital connection may note nation western hemisphere one exception send washington envoys extraordinary minister plenipotentiary high grade accredited government unite state contrary sends envoys low grade sister republic representative paraguay uruguay minister resident bolivia send minister resident view importance relation state american system diplomatic agent country uniform rank envoy extraordinary minister plenipotentiary certain mission elevate last congress happy effect recommend completion reform thus begin inclusion also hawaii hayti view relation american system state also recommend timely provision make extend hawaii invitation represent international conference sit capital relation china attentive consideration magnitude interest demand failure treaty negotiate administration predecessor complete restriction chinese labor immigration legislation last session congress dependent thereon leave question open congress approach wise spirit characterize relation two great friendly power supreme interest demand exclusion laboring element experience show incompatible social life step compass imperative need accompany recognition claim stranger lawfully among u humane treatment accession young emperor china mark may hope era progress prosperity great country call rule present state affair respect samoan islands encouraging conference hold city summer 1887 representative united state germany great britain adjourn persistent divergence view develop deliberation subsequent course event island give rise question serious character 4th february last german minister capital behalf government propose resumption conference berlin proposition accept congress february last informed pursuant understand thus reach commissioner appoint advice consent senate proceed berlin conference renew deliberation extend several week result conclusion treaty submit senate approval trust effort make effect adjustment question productive permanent establishment law order samoa upon basis maintenance right interest native well treaty power question arise past year great britain united state abeyance course amicable adjustment part government dominion canada effort apparent season end administer law regulation applicable fishery little occasion friction possible temperate representation government respect case undue hardship harsh interpretation case meet measure transitory relief trust attainment right exist treaty virtue concurrent legislation two contiguous country long defer exist cause difference may equitably adjust recommend provision make international agreement visibly mark water boundary united state canada narrow channel join great lakes conventional line therein trace northwestern boundary survey year ago case readily ascertainable settlement jurisdictional question acceptable enlargement list offense extradition may claim grant desirable country great britain territory neither become secure harbor evil doer avoidable shortcoming regard new treaty subject two power recently negotiate soon lay senate importance commerce cuba puerto rico united state near principal market justifies expectation exist relation may beneficially expand impediment result vary due navigation vexatious treatment vessel merely technical ground complaint west india port remove progress toward adjustment pending claim united state spain rapid could desire question affect american interest connection railway construct operated citizen peru claim attention government urge government press peru payment claim disregard property right american citizen matter carefully investigate view secure proper equitable adjustment similar issue pending portugal delagoa bay railway africa construct concession portugal american citizen nearly complete road seize agent portuguese government formal protest make minister lisbon act proper effort spar secure proper relief pursuance charter grant congress term contract government nicaragua interoceanic canal company begin construction important waterway two ocean organization contemplates grave complication time seem imminent view suppose conflict jurisdiction nicaragua costa rica regard accessory privilege concede latter republic toward construction work san juan river right bank costa rican territory happy learn friendly arrangement effect two nation government hold ready promote every proper way adjustment question might present obstacle completion work transcendent importance commerce country indeed commercial interest world traditional good feeling country french republic receive additional testimony participation government people international exposition hold paris past summer success exhibitor gratify report commission lay congress due season government accept proper reserve policy foreign territory invitation government belgium take part international congress open brussels 16th november purpose devising measure promote abolition slave trade africa prevent shipment slave sea interest extinction crime humanity region yet survives increase result emancipation within border germany cordial relation continue question arise return empire german naturalized country consider disposed temperate spirit entire satisfaction government source great satisfaction internal disturbance republic hayti last happily end apparently stable government constitute duly recognize united state mixed commission session capital settlement claim republic venezuela hop satisfactory conclusion speedily reach government hesitate express earnest desire boundary dispute pending great britain venezuela may adjust amicably strict accordance historic title party advancement empire japan evidence recent promulgation new constitution contain valuable guaranty liberty provide responsible ministry conduct government earnestly recommend judicial right process korea establish firm basis provide machinery necessary carry treaty stipulation regard friendliness persian government continue show generous treatment american engage missionary labor cordial disposition shah encourage enterprise citizen development persian resource discussion progress touch jurisdictional treaty right unite state turkey earnest effort make define right satisfaction government question continue arise relation several country respect right naturalize citizen especially case france italy russia turkey less extent switzerland time time earnest effort make regulate subject convention country improper use naturalization permit important duly naturalize everywhere accord recognition right pertain citizenship country adoption appropriateness special convention purpose recognize treaty government conclude number european state advisable difficulty arise relation country subject similarly adjust recent revolution brazil favor establishment republican form government event great interest unite state minister rio de janeiro instruct maintain friendly diplomatic relation provisional government brazilian representative capital instruct provisional government continue function friendly intercourse brazil therefore suffer interruption minister instruct extend part government formal cordial recognition new republic soon majority people brazil shall signify assent establishment maintenance within border general condition prosperity prevail harvest last summer exceptionally abundant trade condition prevail seem promise successful season merchant manufacturer general employment work people report secretary treasury fiscal year end june 30 1889 prepare present congress present clearness fiscal operation government avail obtain fact use aggregate receipt source year derive follow ordinary expenditure period total expenditure include sink fund excess receipt expenditures provide sink fund current fiscal year total revenue actual estimate ordinary expenditure actual estimate make sink fund total expenditure leave estimate surplus fiscal year apply purchase bond addition sinking fund first quarter current year sum credit sink fund revenue fiscal year end june 30 1891 estimated treasury department expenditures period include sink fund show estimate surplus year likely increase reduce actual transaction write existence large actual anticipate surplus immediate attention congress view reduce receipt treasury need government closely may collection money need public us impose unnecessary burden upon people presence large surplus public vault disturb element conduct private business call use expedient put circulation questionable propriety collect revenue purpose anticipate bond beyond requirement sink fund unappropriated surplus treasury use lawful way return money circulation profit realize government offer substantial advantage loan public fund bank without interest upon security government bond regard unauthorized dangerous expedient result temporary unnatural increase banking capital favor locality compels cautious gradual recall deposit avoid injury commercial interest expect bank deposit sell bond treasury long present highly beneficial arrangement continue practically get interest upon bond proceeds use make method get surplus circulation deposit outstanding gradually withdraw applied purchase bond fortunate use make exist surplus time come casual surplus may exist congress take necessary step reduction revenue legislation promptly considerately enact recommend revision tariff law administrative feature schedule need former generally concede agreement upon evil inconvenience remedied best method correction probably difficult uniformity valuation port essential effective measure take secure equally desirable question affect rate classification promptly decide preparation new schedule custom duty matter great delicacy direct effect upon business country great difficulty reason wide divergence opinion object may properly promote legislation disturbance business may perhaps result consideration subject congress temporary ill effect reduce minimum prompt action assurance country already enjoy necessary change make impair reasonable protection home industry inequality law adjust protective principle maintain fairly apply product farm well shops duty necessarily relation thing besides public revenue limit effect fix eye public treasury alone direct relation home production work wage commercial independence country wise patriotic legislator enlarge field vision include necessary reduction public revenue sure make without make small burden onerous large reason disability limitation process reduction put upon capital labor free list safely extend place thereon article offer injurious competition domestic product home labor supply removal internal tax upon tobacco would relieve important agricultural product burden impose revenue custom duty insufficient public need safe provision fraud devise removal tax upon spirit use art manufacture would also offer unobjectionable method reduce surplus table present secretary treasury show amount money kind circulation year 1878 present time interest appear amount note circulation decrease period chargeable last year withdrawal bank circulation necessarily continue exist condition probable adoption suggestion make comptroller currency namely minimum deposit bond establishment bank reduce issue note par value bond allow would help maintain bank circulation withdrawal bank note go large increase amount gold silver coin circulation issue gold silver certificate total amount money kind circulation march 1 1878 october 1 1889 total increase gold coin standard silver dollar gold certificate silver certificate united state note make total period decrease bank circulation subsidiary silver net increase circulation per caput increase 5 time cover table referred total coinage silver dollar november 1 1889 treasury vault circulation amount vault represent outstanding silver certificate leave circulation represent certificate law require purchase treasury worth silver bullion month coin silver dollar 412 grain observe department neither present secretary predecessor deem safe exercise discretion give law increase monthly purchase law enact february 28 1878 price silver market per ounce make bullion value dollar 93 cent since time price fallen low cent per ounce reduce bullion value dollar cent within last month market price somewhat advance 1st day november last bullion value silver dollar 72 cent evil anticipation accompany coinage use silver dollar realize coin general use public treasury compel store manifestly owe fact paper representative convenient general acceptance use silver certificate show silver otherwise discredit favorable condition contribute maintain practical equality commercial use gold silver dollar trade condition statutory enactment control continuance certain think clear make coinage silver present ratio free must expect difference bullion value gold silver dollar take account commercial transaction fear result would follow considerable increase present rate coinage result would discreditable financial management disastrous business interest tread dangerous edge peril indeed nothing harmful could happen silver interest safe legislation upon subject must secure equality two coin commercial us always advocate use silver currency large producer metal discredit plan present secretary treasury issuance note certificate upon deposit silver bullion market value able give hasty examination owe press matter fact recently formulate detail law require careful consideration general plan suggest seem satisfy purpose continue use silver connection currency time obviate danger speak later day may communicate congress upon subject enforcement chinese exclusion act find difficult northwestern frontier chinaman land victoria find easy pas border owe impossibility force command custom officer guard long inland line secretary treasury authorize employment additional officer assign duty every effort make enforce law dominion exact head tax 50 chinaman land person fraud law cross territory apprehend officer know dominion authority suffer send back without second payment tax effort make reach understanding remove difficulty proclamation require section 3 act march 2 1889 relate kill seal animal issue 21st day march revenue vessel dispatch enforce law protect interest united state establishment refuge station point barrow direct congress successfully accomplish judged modern standard practically without coast defense many structure would enhance rather diminish peril garrison subject fire improve gun locate give full effect great range gun make us general subject consideration congress year appropriation construction large rifle gun make one year ago sure expression purpose provide suitable work gun might mount appropriation make purpose would advance completion work beyond ability supply fairly effective gun security coast city foreign attack rest altogether friendly disposition nation second line wholly keep urgently recommend appropriation session construction work expose harbor approve suggestion secretary war provision make encamp company national guard coast work specify time year training use heavy gun suggestion increase artillery force army desirable also connection commend consideration congress improvement important river harbor promote necessary appropriation care take government committed prosecution work public general advantage relative usefulness work class overlook far work ever say complete doubt end would sooner economically reach few separate work undertaken time select great general interest rapidly push completion work considerably begin subject risk deterioration interrupt insufficient appropriation necessarily occasion assault make david terry upon person justice field supreme court unite state lathtop august last killing assailant deputy united state marshal depute accompany justice field protect anticipate violence hand terry connection legal proceeding follow suggest question judgment worthy attention congress recommend definite provision make law protection federal officer full trial case united state court recommend legislation impeach either general adequacy provision make state law protection citizens general good disposition charge execution law give protection officer united state duty protect officer punish assault account official act devolve expressly acquiescence upon local authority event bring attention happen part country also suggest propriety extend legislation fuller protection may call witness court united state law compels suppose knowledge public offense attend upon court grand jury give evidence manifest result duty witness shall protected injury account testimony investigation criminal offense often render futile punishment crime impossible intimidation witness necessity provide speedy method dispose case come final adjudication supreme court become every year apparent urgent plan provide intermediate court final appellate jurisdiction certain class question case think receive general approval bench bar country without attempt discus detail recommend provision make establishment court salary judge district court many district judgment inadequate recommend salary per annum increase amount quite true amount labor perform judge unequal properly engage pursuit supplement income salary case provide independent comfortable support earnest attention give congress consideration question far restraint combination capital commonly call trust matter federal jurisdiction organize often crush healthy competition monopolize production sale article commerce general necessity dangerous conspiracy public good make subject prohibitory even penal legislation subject international copyright frequently commend attention congress predecessor enactment law would eminently wise naturalization law revise make inquiry moral character good disposition toward government person apply citizenship thorough do take fuller control examination fix time hear application require presence one shall represent government inquiry avow enemy social order come shore swell injurious influence extend evil practice association defies law deny citizenship domicile enactment national bankrupt law character permanent part general legislation desirable simple method inexpensive administration report exhibit operation department last fiscal year contain many valuable suggestion improvement extension service commend attention branch government close contact daily life people almost everyone use service offer every hour gain transmission great commercial mail actual possible value engage trade understand save one day transmission mail new york san francisco recently accomplish incident worthy mention plan suggest supervision separate district shall involve instruction suggestion rating efficiency postmaster would doubt greatly improve service press necessity exist erection build joint use department city department partially relieve rent quarter part force overcrowd building use city office never fit purpose inadequate unwholesome unsatisfactory condition law relate transmission mail lottery advertisement remittances clearly state suggestion amendment favorable consideration report secretary navy show reorganization bureau department doubt promote efficiency general satisfactory progress make construction new ship war authorize congress first vessel new navy dolphin subject severe trial test much adverse criticism gratify able state cruise around world recently return demonstrated vessel rate report secretary show effective force navy rapidly increase reason improve build armament new ship number ship fit sea duty grow slowly 4th march last 37 serviceable ship though 4 since add list total increase meantime 4 lose condemn additional vessel authorize appropriate probable complete list increase 42 gain 5 old wooden ship disappear almost fast new vessel add fact carry argument one new ship may fight strength equal two old cruise duty two important therefore rapid increase number serviceable ship concur recommendation secretary construction 8 armor ship 3 gunboat 5 torpedo boat authorize appal calamity befall three naval vessel duty samoan islands harbor apia march last involve loss 4 officer 47 seaman two vessel trenton vandalia disable third nipsic three vessels german navy also harbor share ship force hurricane suffer even heavily mourn brave officer men die face high resolve peril great battle gratify state credit american navy seamanship courage generosity magnificently sustain harbor apia report secretary interior exhibit transaction government indian tribes substantial progress make education child school age allotment land adult indian regret policy break tribal relation deal indian individual appear earlier legislation large reservation hold common maintenance authority chiefs headman deprive individual every incentive exercise thrift annuity contribute affirmative impulse toward state confirm pauperism treaty stipulation observe fidelity legislation highly considerate best interest ignorant helpless people reservation generally surround white settlement longer push indian back wilderness remain every suitable agency push upward estate responsible citizen adult first step locate upon farm child place school school attendance promote every moral agency fail compel national school indian successful multiply far possible organize conducted facilitate transfer school state territory locate indian neighborhood accept citizenship become otherwise fitted transfer condition thing attain slowly hasten keep mind meantime cooperation government mission school wrought much good cordially impartially maintain last congress enact two distinct law relate negotiation sioux indian dakota relinquishment portion land united state divide remainder separate reservation approve day march 2 one submit indian specific proposition section 3 indian appropriation act authorize president appoint three commissioner negotiate indian accomplishment general purpose require agreement make submitted congress ratification 16th day april last appointed hon charles foster ohio hon william warner missouri george crook united state army commissioner law however authorize direct first submit indian definite proposition make act first mention event failure secure assent requisite number proposition open negotiation modify term act work commission prolong arduous assent requisite number understood finally obtain proposition make congress though report commission yet submit view fact shall present advised deem necessary submit agreement congress ratification due course submit information agreement release united state acre land commission provide section 14 indian appropriation bill negotiate cherokee indian indian own claim land lie west degree longitude cession united state land constitute appointment hon lucius fairchild wisconsin hon john hartranft pennsylvania hon alfred wilson arkansas organize june 29 last first conference representative cherokee hold tahlequah july 29 definite result general john hartranft pennsylvania prevent ill health take part conference death occur recently justly generally lament people serve conspicuous gallantry war great fidelity peace vacancy thus create filled appointment hon warren sayre indiana second conference commission cherokee begin november 6 result yet obtain believe conclusion immediately expect cattle syndicate occupy land graze purpose clearly one agency responsible obstruction negotiation cherokee large body agricultural land constitute know cherokee outlet ought indeed long hold grazing advantage public interest best advantage indian united state treaty certain right land use oppressively allow sufferance occupy land shall interpose defeat wise beneficent purpose government believe advantageous character offer make united state cherokee nation full release land compare suggestion make yet obtain favorable consideration agreement make united state muscogee creek nation indian 19th day january 1889 absolute title secure united state acre land section 12 general indian appropriation act approve march 2 1889 make provision purchase united state seminole tribe certain portion land delegate seminole nation first duly evidenced power act behalf deliver proper release conveyance united state land mention act accept certified compliance statute term act refer land purchase declared part public domain open settlement homestead law land embraced purchase aggregate acre acre already term treaty 1866 acquire united state purpose settle indian tribe thereon appropriate purpose land remain available settlement consist acre surround side land occupancy indian tribe congress provide civil government people invite proclamation settle upon land except new court establish muscogee united state court adjoin state power enforce general law united state condition thing quite reluctant open land settlement view fact several thousand person many family gather upon border indian territory view secure homestead cede land delay would involve much loss suffer 23d day march last issue proclamation declare land therein describe would open settlement provision law 22d day april follow 12 clock noon two land district establish office open transaction business appoint time arrive much credit settler generally observe limitation time might enter territory care take entered violation law secure advantage unfairly seek good deal apprehension strife location would result much violence bloodshed happily anticipation realize estimated territory people several considerable town spring temporary municipal government organize guthrie say population almost eleven school nine church establish three daily five weekly newspaper publish city whose charter ordinances sanction voluntary acquiescence people day day oklahoma city population proportionately well provide guthrie church school newspaper town village population 100 scattered territory order secure peace new community absence civil government direct general merritt command department missouri act conjunction marshal united state preserve peace upon requisition use troop aid execute warrant quiet riots breach peace might occur direct use influence promote good order avoid conflict settler believe introduction sale liquor legal restraint regulation exist would endanger public peace view fact liquor must first introduce indian reservation reach white settlement direct general command enforce law relate introduction ardent spirit indian country presence troop give sense security citizen tend restrain lawless one instance officer immediate command troop go deem justifiable support de facto municipal government guthrie inform directed limit interference military support marshal line indicate original order urgently recommend congress provide territorial government people serious question may time lead violent outbreak await institution court peaceful adjustment american genius well illustrated oklahoma neither safe wise leave people longer expedient temporarily serve provision make acquisition title town lot town establish alaska locate town site establishment municipal government mine law extend territory form title land obtain general land law frame reference disposition agricultural land doubtful operation alaska would beneficial fortunately extended alaska mistaken policy establish reservation indian tribes deal begin individual sure good result disposition public land regulation relate timber fishery kindly regard interest power levy tax people alaska wholly dependent upon general government whose revenue seal fishery make large annual contribution appropriation education neither overlook stinted smallness population great distance settlement offer serious obstacle establishment usual territorial form government perhaps organization several small municipal council limited power would safe useful attention call connection suggestion secretary treasury relate establishment another port entry alaska need custom facility regulation administration land law policy facilitating every proper way adjustment honest claim individual settler upon public land pursue number pending case precede administration greatly increase operation order time suspend final action large part case originate west northwest subsequent use unusual method examination familiar condition agricultural land settle appreciate serious often fatal consequence settler policy put title suspicion delay issuance patent care take prevent expose fraud impute without reason manifest purpose homestead preemption law promote settlement public domain person bona fide intent make home upon select land intent well establish requirement law substantially comply claimant entitle prompt friendly consideration case reason believe claimant mere agent another seek evade law intend promote small holding secure fraudulent method large tract timber land principal agent thwart fraudulent purpose make feel full penalty criminal statute law administer confound two class visit penalty upon latter unsettled state title large body land territory new mexico arizona greatly retard development territory provision make law prompt trial final adjustment judicial tribunal commission claim base upon mexican grant intelligent enterprising people peace disturbed prosperity retard old contention express hope difference opinion method may yield urgency case law provide pension every soldier sailor muster service united state civil war suffer wound disease origin service line duty two three necessary fact viz muster disability usually susceptible easy proof third origin service often difficult many deserve case impossible establish many endured hardship bloody arduous campaign disable disease real traceable origin service doubt besides another class compose men many serve enlistment three full year reenlisted veteran add fourth year service escape casualty battle assaults disease always ready detail every battle line command muster sound health since close war fight indomitable independent spirit contest civil life overcome disease casualty unaware pension roll already involve large annual expenditure neither deterred fact recommend congress grant pension honorably discharge soldier sailor civil war render substantial service war dependent upon labor maintenance disease casualty incapacitate earn many men would include form relief dependent upon public aid judgment consist national honor shall continue subsist upon local relief give indiscriminately pauper instead upon special generous provision nation serve gallantly unselfishly people sure generally approve legislation equally sure survivor union army navy feel grateful sense relief worthy suffer class comrade fairly care manifest inequality exist law remedied secretary interior call attention gratify able state adoption new good method war department call pension office information military hospital record pension claimant promptly answer injurious vexatious delay heretofore occur entirely avoid greatly facilitate adjustment pending claim advent four new state south dakota north dakota montana washington union constitution month admission duly choose representative national congress session event unexampled interesting certification vote cast constitution adopt state file require eighth section act february 22 1889 governor say territory respectively careful examination find several constitution government republican form repugnant constitution united state provision act congress complied majority vote cast say propose state favor adoption constitution submit therein declare separate proclamation north dakota south dakota saturday november 2 montana friday november 8 washington monday november 11 state within resource development employ energy yield comfortable subsistence great population small new state washington stand twelfth large montana third among area people state already intelligent patriotic american citizen common interest sympathy older state common purpose defend integrity uphold honor nation attention interstate commerce commission call urgent need congressional legislation well protection live limb engage operate great interstate freight line country especially yardmen brakeman petition sign nearly railway brakeman present commission ask step might take bring use automatic brake coupler freight car meet state railroad commissioner accredit representative hold washington march last upon invitation interstate commerce commission resolution unanimously adopt urging commission consider do prevent loss life limb couple uncoupling freight car handle brake car year end june 30 1888 railroad employee kill service injured competent think congress require uniformity construction car use interstate commerce use improve safety appliance upon train time necessary make need change earnest intelligent begin make reproach civilization class american workman pursuit necessary useful vocation subject peril life limb great soldier time war creation executive department know department agriculture act february 9 last wise timely response request long respectfully urged farmer country much remain do perfect organization department may fairly realize expectation creation excite connection attention call suggestion contain report secretary herewith submit need law officer department provide executive department manifest failure last congress make usual provision publication annual report promptly remedied public interest report value farm community sure diminish new organization department recommend weather service separate war department establish bureau department agriculture involve entire reorganization weather bureau signal corp make first purely civil organization purely military staff corps report chief signal officer show work corps military side deteriorate interest people district columbia lose sight pressure consideration measure affect whole country legislature either municipal general people must look congress regulation concern state subject local control whole people interest national capital make attractive beautiful repute social order well maintain law regulate sale intoxicate drink district revise view bring traffic stringent limitation control execution power confer upon act make appropriation expense district columbia year end june 30 1890 17th day august last appoint rudolph hering new york samuel gray rhode island frederick stearns massachusetts three eminent sanitary engineer examine report upon system sewerage exist district columbia report yet complete due course submit congress report commissioner district herewith transmit attention congress call suggestion contain therein proposition observe four hundredth anniversary discovery america open world fair exposition one great city present consideration congress value interest exposition may well claim promotion general government 4th march last civil service commission single member vacancy fill 7th day may since commissioner industriously though inadequate force engage execute law assure cordial support would give faithful impartial enforcement statute rule regulation adopt aid heretofore book eligibles close everyone except certification make upon requisition appoint officer secrecy source much suspicion many charge favoritism administration law secret always suspect open judge commission full approval member open list eligibles public eligible list classify publicly post respective office also certifications appointment purpose law absolutely exclude consideration connection appointment merit test examination business proceeds upon theory examining board appoint officer absolutely ignorant political view association person list much say however recent congressional investigation somewhat shake public confidence impartiality selection appointment reform civil service make safe satisfactory advance present law equal administration well establish confidence people pleasure duty see law execute firmness impartiality provision fraudulently evade appoint officer resentment suggest repeal law reform administration one view matter hold sincerity affect consideration party belong time power predecessor 4th day january 1889 executive order take effect march 15 bring railway mail service operation law provision make order take effect sooner state eligible list sooner obtain 11th day march lyman member commission report write would possible list eligibles ready may 1 request take effect order postpone time do subject provision contain original order state eligible list sooner obtain result revision rule new classification inclusion railway mail service work commission greatly increase present clerical force find inadequate recommend additional clerk ask commission appropriate duty appointment devolve constitution law appoint officer properly hold high responsibility exercise growth country consequent increase civil list magnify function executive disproportionally deny however labor connect necessary work increase often point actual distress sudden excessive demand make upon incoming administration removal appointment hand true incumbency conclusive argument continuance office impartiality moderation fidelity public duty good attainment discharge must add argument complete hold administrative office conduct convince political opponent party consideration bias affect way discharge public duty easily stay demand removal satisfy classified service great benefit would accrue adoption system officer would receive distinction benefit private employment come exceptional faithfulness efficiency performance duty suggest head executive department consider whether record might keep bureau element cover term faithfulness efficiency rating make show relative merit clerk class rating regard test merit making promotion also suggest adopt plan upon basis report department frequent inspection indicate relative merit postmaster class appropriately indicate official register report department great stimulus would thus give whole service doubt record would best defense inconsiderate removal office interest general government education people find early expression thoughtful sometimes warn utterance able statesman liberal appropriation common resource support education new state one deny grave national concern hold ultimate control public affair necessary intelligence wisely direct determine national aid education heretofore take form land grant form constitutional power congress promote education people seriously question think successfully question form change direct grant money public treasury aid always suggest exceptional condition sudden emancipation slave south bestowal suffrage soon follow impairment ability state new citizen chiefly find adequately provide educational facility present exceptional unexampled condition situation much ameliorate doubt ability interest state happily increase great work remain do think general government lend aid suggestion national grant aid education grow chiefly condition need emancipate slave descendant relief far possible necessarily proceed upon general line apply need suggest essential much good accomplish sympathy active interest people state enlist method adopt stimulate supplant local taxation school purpose one congress bind succeed one case effort must degree experimental recommend appropriation make purpose limited annual amount time extend one hand give local school authority opportunity make best use first year allowance deliver temptation unduly postpone assumption whole burden color people intrude upon u bring chain hold community chiefly find cruel slave code happily race free standpoint ignorance poverty shame make remarkable advance education acquisition property people show friendly faithful toward white race temptation tremendous strength representative national cemetery grateful government gather ash die defense furnish regular army regiment high praise command officer courage soldierly quality fidelity enlistment oath civil life toiler community make full contribution widen streams prosperity community receive sudden withdrawal would stop production bring disorder household well shop generally desire quit home employer resent interference emigration agent seek stimulate desire notwithstanding many part country color population large people race various device deprive effective exercise political right many civil right wrong expend upon whose vote suppress every constituency union wrong hope every patriot sense justice respect law would work gradual cure flagrant evils surely one suppose present accepted permanent condition say community must work problem right ask whether work upon suggest solution condition black man free ballot fact full civil right long law equality influence form government intend secure elector restore generation courageously face grave question leave heritage woe next consultation proceed candor calmness great patience upon line justice humanity prejudice cruelty question country rest except upon firm base justice law earnestly invoke attention congress consideration measure within constitutional power secure people free exercise right suffrage every civil right constitution law united state evil however deplorable justify assumption either part executive congress power grant highly blamable power grant wisely firmly use correct evils power take whole direction control election member house representative clearly give general government partial qualified supervision election provide law opinion law may strengthen extended secure whole good result attain law take process election federal control color man protect relation federal government whether litigant juror witness court elector member congress peaceful traveler upon interstate railway nothing justly humiliate national pride nothing hurtful national prosperity inferiority merchant marine compare nation whose general resource wealth seacoast line suggest reason supremacy sea always people agree think shall continue possible communication discus cause decay shipping interest differ method propose restore statement facts general suggestion legislation practicable great steamship line sail flags england france germany spain italy engage foreign commerce since liberally aid grant public money one form another generally know american line steamship abandon u unequal contest aid line nation withdraw case still maintain subject serious disadvantage matter common knowledge present situation traveler merchandise find liverpool often necessary intermediate port new york south american capital fact delegate south american state conference american nation session washington reach shore reverse line travel conclusive need conference suggestive first necessary step direction fuller beneficial intercourse nation neighbor upon line latitude upon line establish commercial intercourse recommend appropriation make ocean mail service american steamship port central south america china japan important island great ocean liberally remunerative service render encourage establishment fair degree equalize chance american steamship line competition must meet american state lie south u cordially cooperate establish maintain line steamship principal port doubt also make provision naval reserve consist merchant ship american construction specify tonnage speed owner consent place use government case need arm cruiser england adopt policy result upon necessity place upon naval list fast steamships world proper supervision construction vessel would make conversion effective ship war easy advocate economy national expenditure misuse term make word describe policy withholds expenditure purpose extend foreign commerce enlargement improvement merchant marine development sufficient body train american seaman promotion rapid regular mail communication port country adaptation large swift american merchant steamship naval uses time war public purpose high concern enlarge participation people carry trade new increase market open product farms factory fuller good employment mechanic result liberal promotion foreign commerce insure wide possible diffusion benefit state people everything propitious present inauguration liberal progressive policy upon subject enter upon promptness decision legislation suggest sincerely believe promote peace honor country prosperity security people invoke diligent serious attention congress consideration measure may present great end view