The reports of the several Executive Departments, which will be laid before Congress in the usual course, will exhibit in detail the operations of the Government for the last fiscal year. Only the more important incidents and results, and chiefly such as may be the foundation of the recommendations I shall submit, will be referred to in this annual message. The vast and increasing business of the Government has been transacted by the several Departments during the year with faithfulness, energy, and success. The revenues, amounting to above $450,000,000, have been collected and disbursed without revealing, so far as I can ascertain, a single case of defalcation or embezzlement. An earnest effort has been made to stimulate a sense of responsibility and public duty in all officers and employees of every grade, and the work done by them has almost wholly escaped unfavorable criticism. I speak of these matters with freedom because the credit of this good work is not mine, but is shared by the heads of the several Departments with the great body of faithful officers and employees who serve under them. The closest scrutiny of Congress is invited to all the methods of administration and to every item of expenditure. The friendly relations of our country with the nations of Europe and of the East have been undisturbed, while the ties of good will and common interest that bind us to the States of the Western Hemisphere have been notably strengthened by the conference held in this capital to consider measures for the general welfare. Pursuant to the invitation authorized by Congress, the representatives of every independent State of the American continent and of Hayti met in conference in this capital in October, 1889, and continued in session until the 19th of last April. This important convocation marks a most interesting and influential epoch in the history of the Western Hemisphere. It is noteworthy that Brazil, invited while under an imperial form of government, shared as a republic in the deliberations and results of the conference. The recommendations of this conference were all transmitted to Congress at the last session. The International Marine Conference, which sat at Washington last winter, reached a very gratifying result. The regulations suggested have been brought to the attention of all the Governments represented, and their general adoption is confidently expected. The legislation of Congress at the last session is in conformity with the propositions of the conference, and the proclamation therein provided for will be issued when the other powers have given notice of their adhesion. The Conference of Brussels, to devise means for suppressing the slave trade in Africa, afforded an opportunity for a new expression of the interest the American people feel in that great work. It soon became evident that the measure proposed would tax the resources of the Kongo Basin beyond the revenues available under the general act of Berlin of 1884. The United States, not being a party to that act, could not share in its revision, but by a separate act the Independent State of the Kongo was freed from the restrictions upon a customs revenue. The demoralizing and destructive traffic in ardent spirits among the tribes also claimed the earnest attention of the conference, and the delegates of the United States were foremost in advocating measures for its repression. An accord was reached the influence of which will be very helpful and extend over a wide region. As soon as these measures shall receive the sanction of the Netherlands, for a time withheld, the general acts will be submitted for ratification by the Senate. Meanwhile negotiations have been opened for a new and completed treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation between the United States and the Independent State of the Kongo. Toward the end of the past year the only independent monarchical government on the Western Continent, that of Brazil, ceased to exist, and was succeeded by a republic. Diplomatic relations were at once established with the new Government, but it was not completely recognized until an opportunity had been afforded to ascertain that it had popular approval and support. When the course of events had yielded assurance of this fact, no time was lost in extending to the new Government a full and cordial welcome into the family of American Commonwealths. It is confidently believed that the good relations of the two countries will be preserved and that the future will witness an increased intimacy of intercourse and an expansion of their mutual commerce. The peace of Central America has again been disturbed through a revolutionary change in Salvador, which was not recognized by other States, and hostilities broke out between Salvador and Guatemala, threatening to involve all Central America in conflict and to undo the progress which had been made toward a union of their interests. The efforts of this Government were promptly and zealously exerted to compose their differences, and through the active efforts of the representative of the United States a provisional treaty of peace was signed August 26, whereby the right of the Republic of Salvador to choose its own rulers was recognized. General Ezeta, the chief of the Provisional Government, has since been confirmed in the Presidency by the Assembly, and diplomatic recognition duly followed. The killing of General Barrundia on board the Pacific mail steamer Acapulco, while anchored in transit in the port of San Jose de Guatemala, demanded careful inquiry. Having failed in a revolutionary attempt to invade Guatemala from Mexican territory, General Barrundia took passage at Acapulco for Panama. The consent of the representatives of the United States was sought to effect his seizure, first at Champerico, where the steamer touched, and afterwards at San Jose. The captain of the steamer refused to give up his passenger without a written order from the United States minister. The latter furnished the desired letter, stipulating as the condition of his action that General Barrundia's life should be spared and that he should be tried only for offenses growing out of his insurrectionary movements. This letter was produced to the captain of the Acapulco by the military commander at San Jose as his warrant to take the passenger from the steamer. General Barrundia resisted capture and was killed. It being evident that the minister, Mr. Mizner, had exceeded the bounds of his authority in intervening, in compliance with the demands of the Guatemalan authorities, to authorize and effect, in violation of precedent, the seizure on a vessel of the United States of a passenger in transit charged with political offenses, in order that he might be tried for such offenses under what was described as martial law, I was constrained to disavow Mr. Mizner's act and recall him from his post. The Nicaragua Canal project, under the control of our citizens, is making most encouraging progress, all the preliminary conditions and initial operations having been accomplished within the prescribed time. During the past year negotiations have been renewed for the settlement of the claims of American citizens against the Government of Chile, principally growing out of the late war with Peru. The reports from our minister at Santiago warrant the expectation of an early and satisfactory adjustment. Our relations with China, which have for several years occupied so important a place in our diplomatic history, have called for careful consideration and have been the subject of much correspondence. The communications of the Chinese minister have brought into view the whole subject of our conventional relations with his country, and at the same time this Government, through its legation at Peking, has sought to arrange various matters and complaints touching the interests and protection of our citizens in China. In pursuance of the concurrent resolution of October 1, 1890, I have proposed to the Governments of Mexico and Great Britain to consider a conventional regulation of the passage of Chinese laborers across our southern and northern frontiers. On the 22d day of August last Sir Edmund Monson, the arbitrator selected under the treaty of December 6, 1888, rendered an award to the effect that no compensation was due from the Danish Government to the United States on account of what is commonly known as the Carlos Butterfield claim. Our relations with the French Republic continue to be cordial. Our representative at that court has very diligently urged the removal of the restrictions imposed upon our meat products, and it is believed that substantial progress has been made toward a just settlement. The Samoan treaty, signed last year at Berlin by the representatives of the United States, Germany, and Great Britain, after due ratification and exchange, has begun to produce salutary effects. The formation of the government agreed upon will soon replace the disorder of the past by a stable administration alike just to the natives and equitable to the three powers most concerned in trade and intercourse with the Samoan Islands. The chief justice has been chosen by the King of Sweden and Norway on the invitation of the three powers, and will soon be installed. The land commission and the municipal council are in process of organization. A rational and evenly distributed scheme of taxation, both municipal and upon imports, is in operation. Malietoa is respected as King. The new treaty of extradition with Great Britain, after due ratification, was proclaimed on the 25th of last March. Its beneficial working is already apparent. The difference between the two Governments touching the fur-seal question in the Bering Sea is not yet adjusted, as will be seen by the correspondence which will soon be laid before the Congress. The offer to submit the question to arbitration, as proposed by Her Majesty's Government, has not been accepted, for the reason that the form of submission proposed is not thought to be calculated to assure a conclusion satisfactory to either party. It is sincerely hoped that before the opening of another sealing season some arrangement may be effected which will assure to the United States a property right derived from Russia, which was not disregarded by any nation for more than eighty years preceding the outbreak of the existing trouble. In the tariff act a wrong was done to the Kingdom of Hawaii which I am bound to presume was wholly unintentional. Duties were levied on certain commodities which are included in the reciprocity treaty now existing between the United States and the Kingdom of Hawaii, without indicating the necessary exception in favor of that Kingdom. I hope Congress will repair what might otherwise seem to be a breach of faith on the part of this Government. An award in favor of the United States in the matter of the claim of Mr. Van Bokkelen against Hayti was rendered on the 4th of December, 1888, but owing to disorders then and afterwards prevailing in Hayti the terms of payment were not observed. A new agreement as to the time of payment has been approved and is now in force. Other just claims of citizens of the United States for redress of wrongs suffered during the late political conflict in Hayti will, it is hoped, speedily yield to friendly treatment. Propositions for the amendment of the treaty of extradition between the United States and Italy are now under consideration. You will be asked to provide the means of accepting the invitation of the Italian Government to take part in an approaching conference to consider the adoption of a universal prime meridian from which to reckon longitude and time. As this proposal follows in the track of the reform sought to be initiated by the Meridian Conference of Washington, held on the invitation of this Government, the United States should manifest a friendly interest in the Italian proposal. In this connection I may refer with approval to the suggestion of my predecessors that standing provision be made for accepting, whenever deemed advisable, the frequent invitations of foreign governments to share in conferences looking to the advancement of international reforms in regard to science, sanitation, commercial laws and procedure, and other matters affecting the intercourse and progress of modern communities. In the summer of 1889 an incident occurred which for some time threatened to interrupt the cordiality of our relations with the Government of Portugal. That Government seized the Delagoa Bay Railway, which was constructed under a concession granted to an American citizen, and at the same time annulled the charter. The concessionary, who had embarked his fortune in the enterprise, having exhausted other means of redress, was compelled to invoke the protection of his Government. Our representations, made coincidently with those of the British Government, whose subjects were also largely interested, happily resulted in the recognition by Portugal of the propriety of submitting the claim for indemnity growing out of its action to arbitration. This plan of settlement having been agreed upon, the interested powers readily concurred in the proposal to submit the ease to the judgment of three eminent jurists, to be designated by the President of the Swiss Republic, who, upon the joint invitation of the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, and Portugal, has selected persons well qualified for the task before them. The revision of our treaty relations with the Empire of Japan has continued to be the subject of consideration and of correspondence. The questions involved are both grave and delicate; and while it will be my duty to see that the interests of the United States are not by any changes exposed to undue discrimination, I sincerely hope that such revision as will satisfy the legitimate expectations of the Japanese Government and maintain the present and long-existing friendly relations between Japan and the United States will be effected. The friendship between our country and Mexico, born of close neighborhood and strengthened by many considerations of intimate intercourse and reciprocal interest, has never been more conspicuous than now nor more hopeful of increased benefit to both nations. The intercourse of the two countries by rail, already great, is making constant growth. The established lines and those recently projected add to the intimacy of traffic and open new channels of access to fresh areas of demand and supply. The importance of the Mexican railway system will be further enhanced to a degree almost impossible to forecast if it should become a link in the projected intercontinental railway. I recommend that our mission in the City of Mexico be raised to the first class. The cordial character of our relations with Spain warrants the hope that by the continuance of methods of friendly negotiation much may be accomplished in the direction of an adjustment of pending questions and of the increase of our trade. The extent and development of our trade with the island of Cuba invest the commercial relations of the United States and Spain with a peculiar importance. It is not doubted that a special arrangement in regard to commerce, based upon the reciprocity provision of the recent tariff act, would operate most beneficially for both Governments. This subject is now receiving attention. The restoration of the remains of John Ericsson to Sweden afforded a gratifying occasion to honor the memory of the great inventor, to whose genius our country owes so much, and to bear witness to the unbroken friendship which has existed between the land which bore him and our own, which claimed him as a citizen. On the 2d of September last the commission appointed to revise the proceedings of the commission under the claims convention between the United States and Venezuela of 1866 brought its labors to a close within the period fixed for that purpose. The proceedings of the late commission were characterized by a spirit of impartiality and a high sense of justice, and an incident which was for many years the subject of discussion between the two Governments has been disposed of in a manner alike honorable and satisfactory to both parties. For the settlement of the claim of the Venezuela Steam Transportation Company, which was the subject of a joint resolution adopted at the last session of Congress, negotiations are still in progress, and their early conclusion is anticipated. The legislation of the past few years has evinced on the part of Congress a growing realization of the importance of the consular service in fostering our commercial relations abroad and in protecting the domestic revenues. As the scope of operations expands increased provision must be made to keep up the essential standard of efficiency. The necessity of some adequate measure of supervision and inspection has been so often presented that I need only commend the subject to your attention. The revenues of the Government from all sources for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, were $463,963,080.55 and the total expenditures for the same period were $358,618,584.52. The postal receipts have not heretofore been included in the statement of these aggregates, and for the purpose of comparison the sum of $60,882,097.92 should be deducted from both sides of the account. The surplus for the year, including the amount applied to the sinking fund, was $105,344,496.03. The receipts for 1890 were $16,030,923.79 and the expenditures $15,739,871 in excess of those of 1889. The customs receipts increased $5,835,842.88 and the receipts from internal revenue $11,725,191.89, while on the side of expenditures that for pensions was $19,312,075.96 in excess of the preceding year. The Treasury statement for the current fiscal year, partly actual and partly estimated, is as follows: Receipts from all sources, $406,000,000; total expenditures, $354,000,000, leaving a surplus of $52,000,000, not taking the postal receipts into the account on either side. The loss of revenue from customs for the last quarter is estimated at $25,000,000, but from this is deducted a gain of about $16,000,000 realized during the first four months of the year. For the year 1892 the total estimated receipts are $373,000,000 and the estimated expenditures $357,852,209.42, leaving an estimated surplus of $15,247,790.58, which, with a cash balance of $52,000,000 at the beginning of the year, will give $67,247,790.58 as the sum available for the redemption of outstanding bonds or other uses. The estimates of receipts and expenditures for the Post-Office Department, being equal, are not included in this statement on either side. The act "directing the purchase of silver bullion and the issue of Treasury notes thereon," approved July 14, 1890, has been administered by the Secretary of the Treasury with an earnest purpose to get into circulation at the earliest possible dates the full monthly amounts of Treasury notes contemplated by its provisions and at the same time to give to the market for the silver bullion such support as the law contemplates. The recent depreciation in the price of silver has been observed with regret. The rapid rise in price which anticipated and followed the passage of the act was influenced in some degree by speculation, and the recent reaction is in part the result of the same cause and in part of the recent monetary disturbances. Some months of further trial will be necessary to determine the permanent effect of the recent legislation upon silver values, but it is gratifying to know that the increased circulation secured by the act has exerted, and will continue to exert, a most beneficial influence upon business and upon general values. While it has not been thought best to renew formally the suggestion of an international conference looking to an agreement touching the full use of silver for coinage at a uniform ratio, care has been taken to observe closely any change in the situation abroad, and no favorable opportunity will be lost to promote a result which it is confidently believed would confer very large benefits upon the commerce of the world. The recent monetary disturbances in England are not unlikely to suggest a reexamination of opinions upon this subject. Our very large supply of gold will, if not lost by impulsive legislation in the supposed interest of silver, give us a position of advantage in promoting a permanent and safe international agreement for the free use of silver as a coin metal. The efforts of the Secretary to increase the volume of money in circulation by keeping down the Treasury surplus to the lowest practicable limit have been unremitting and in a very high degree successful. The tables presented by him showing the increase of money in circulation during the last two decades, and especially the table showing the increase during the nineteen months he has administered the affairs of the Department, are interesting and instructive. The increase of money in circulation during the nineteen months has been in the aggregate $93,866,813, or about $1.50 per capita, and of this increase only $7,100,000 was due to the recent silver legislation. That this substantial and needed aid given to commerce resulted in an enormous reduction of the public debt and of the annual interest charge is matter of increased satisfaction. There have been purchased and redeemed since March 4, 1889, 4 and 4 12 per cent bonds to the amount of $211,832,450, at a cost of $246,620,741, resulting in the reduction of the annual interest charge of $8,967,609 and a total saving of interest of $51,576,706. I notice with great pleasure the statement of the Secretary that the receipts from internal revenue have increased during the last fiscal year nearly $12,000,000, and that the cost of collecting this larger revenue was less by $90,617 than for the same purpose in the preceding year. The percentage of cost of collecting the customs revenue was less for the last fiscal year than ever before. The Customs Administration Board, provided for by the act of June 10, 1890, was selected with great care, and is composed in part of men whose previous experience in the administration of the old customs regulations had made them familiar with the evils to be remedied, and in part of men whose legal and judicial acquirements and experience seemed to fit them for the work of interpreting and applying the new statute. The chief aim of the law is to secure honest valuations of all dutiable merchandise and to make these valuations uniform at all our ports of entry. It had been made manifest by a Congressional investigation that a system of undervaluation had been long in use by certain classes of importers, resulting not only in a great loss of revenue, but in a most intolerable discrimination against honesty. It is not seen how this legislation, when it is understood, can be regarded by the citizens of any country having commercial dealings with us as unfriendly. If any duty is supposed to be excessive, let the complaint be lodged there. It will surely not be claimed by any well-disposed people that a remedy may be sought and allowed in a system of quasi smuggling. The report of the Secretary of War exhibits several gratifying results attained during the year by wise and unostentatious methods. The percentage of desertions from the Army (an evil for which both Congress and the Department have long been seeking a remedy) has been reduced during the past year 24 per cent, and for the months of August and September, during which time the favorable effects of the act of June 16 were felt, 33 per cent, as compared with the same months of 1889. The results attained by a reorganization and consolidation of the divisions having charge of the hospital and service records of the volunteer soldiers are very remarkable. This change was effected in July, 1889, and at that time there were 40,654 cases awaiting attention, more than half of these being calls from the Pension Office for information necessary to the adjudication of pension claims. On the 30th day of June last, though over 300,000 new calls had come in, there was not a single case that had not been examined and answered. I concur in the recommendations of the Secretary that adequate and regular appropriations be continued for coast-defense works and ordnance. Plans have been practically agreed upon, and there can be no good reason for delaying the execution of them, while the defenseless state of our great seaports furnishes an urgent reason for wise expedition. The encouragement that has been extended to the militia of the States, generally and most appropriately designated the "National Guard," should be continued and enlarged. These military organizations constitute in a large sense the Army of the United States, while about five-sixths of the annual cost of their maintenance is defrayed by the States. The report of the Attorney-General is under the law submitted directly to Congress, but as the Department of Justice is one of the Executive Departments some reference to the work done is appropriate here. A vigorous and in the main an effective effort has been made to bring to trial and punishment all violators of the law, but at the same time care has been taken that frivolous and technical offenses should not be used to swell the fees of officers or to harass well-disposed citizens. Especial attention is called to the facts connected with the prosecution of violations of the election laws and of offenses against United States officers. The number of convictions secured, very many of them upon pleas of guilty, will, it is hoped, have a salutary restraining influence. There have been several cases where postmasters appointed by me have been subjected to violent interference in the discharge of their official duties and to persecutions and personal violence of the most extreme character. Some of these cases have been dealt with through the Department of Justice, and in some cases the post-offices have been abolished or suspended. I have directed the Postmaster-General to pursue this course in all cases where other efforts failed to secure for any postmaster not himself in fault an opportunity peacefully to exercise the duties of his office. But such action will not supplant the efforts of the Department of Justice to bring the particular offenders to punishment. The vacation by judicial decrees of fraudulent certificates of naturalization, upon bills in equity filed by the Attorney-General in the circuit court of the United States, is a new application of a familiar equity jurisdiction. Nearly one hundred such decrees have been taken during the year, the evidence disclosing that a very large number of fraudulent certificates of naturalization have been issued. And in this connection I beg to renew my recommendation that the laws be so amended as to require a more full and searching inquiry into all the facts necessary to naturalization before any certificates are granted. it certainly is not too much to require that an application for American citizenship shall be heard with as much care and recorded with as much formality as are given to cases involving the pettiest property right. At the last session I returned without my approval a bill entitled "An act to prohibit bookmaking and pool selling in the District of Columbia," and stated my objection to be that it did not prohibit but in fact licensed what it purported to prohibit. An effort will be made under existing laws to suppress this evil, though it is not certain that they will be found adequate. The report of the Postmaster-General shows the most gratifying progress in the important work committed to his direction. The business methods have been greatly improved. A large economy in expenditures and an increase of four and three-quarters millions in receipts have been realized. The deficiency this year is $5,786,300, as against $6,350,183 last year, notwithstanding the great enlargement of the service. Mail routes have been extended and quickened and greater accuracy and dispatch in distribution and delivery have been attained. The report will be found to be full of interest and suggestion, not only to Congress, but to those thoughtful citizens who may be interested to know what business methods can do for that department of public administration which most nearly touches all our people. The passage of the act to amend certain sections of the Revised Statutes relating to lotteries, approved September 19, 1890, has been received with great and deserved popular favor. The Post-Office Department and the Department of Justice at once entered upon the enforcement of the law with sympathetic vigor, and already the public mails have been largely freed from the fraudulent and demoralizing appeals and literature emanating from the lottery companies. The construction and equipment of the new ships for the Navy have made very satisfactory progress. Since March 4, 1889, nine new vessels have been put in commission, and during this winter four more, including one monitor, will be added. The construction of the other vessels authorized is being pushed both in the Government and private yards with energy and watched with the most scrupulous care. The experiments conducted during the year to test the relative resisting power of armor plates have been so valuable as to attract great attention in Europe. The only part of the work upon the new ships that is threatened by unusual delay is the armor plating, and every effort is being made to reduce that to the minimum. It is a source of congratulation that the anticipated influence of these modern vessels upon the esprit de corps of the officers and seamen has been fully realized. Confidence and pride in the ship among the crew are equivalent to a secondary battery. Your favorable consideration is invited to the recommendations of the Secretary. The report of the Secretary of the Interior exhibits with great fullness and clearness the vast work of that Department and the satisfactory results attained. The suggestions made by him are earnestly commended to the consideration of Congress, though they can not all be given particular mention here. The several acts of Congress looking to the reduction of the larger Indian reservations, to the more rapid settlement of the Indians upon individual allotments, and the restoration to the public domain of lands in excess of their needs have been largely carried into effect so far as the work was confided to the Executive. Agreements have been concluded since March 4, 1889, involving the cession to the United States of about 14,726,000 acres of land. These contracts have, as required by law, been submitted to Congress for ratification and for the appropriations necessary to carry them into effect. Those with the Sisseton and Wahpeton, Sac and Fox, Iowa, Pottawatomies and Absentee Shawnees, and Coeur d'Alene tribes have not yet received the sanction of Congress. Attention is also called to the fact that the appropriations made in the case of the Sioux Indians have not covered all the stipulated payments. This should be promptly corrected. If an agreement is confirmed, all of its terms should be complied with without delay and full appropriations should be made. The policy outlined in my last annual message in relation to the patenting of lands to settlers upon the public domain has been carried out in the administration of the Land Office. No general suspicion or imputation of fraud has been allowed to delay the hearing and adjudication of individual cases upon their merits. The purpose has been to perfect the title of honest settlers with such promptness that the value of the entry might not be swallowed up by the expense and extortions to which delay subjected the claimant. The average monthly issue of agricultural patents has been increased about 6,000. The disability-pension act, which was approved on the 27th of June last, has been put into operation as rapidly as was practicable. The increased clerical force provided was selected and assigned to work, and a considerable part of the force engaged in examinations in the field was recalled and added to the working force of the office. The examination and adjudication of claims have by reason of improved methods been more rapid than ever before. There is no economy to the Government in delay, while there is much hardship and injustice to the soldier. The anticipated expenditure, while very large, will not, it is believed, be in excess of the estimates made before the enactment of the law. This liberal enlargement of the general law should suggest a more careful scrutiny of bills for special relief, both as to the cases where relief is granted and as to the amount allowed. The increasing numbers and influence of the non-Mormon population of Utah are observed with satisfaction. The recent letter of Wilford Woodruff, president of the Mormon Church, in which he advised his people "to refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the laws of the land," has attracted wide attention, and it is hoped that its influence will be highly beneficial in restraining infractions of the laws of the United States. But the fact should not be overlooked that the doctrine or belief of the church that polygamous marriages are rightful and supported by divine revelation remains unchanged. President Woodruff does not renounce the doctrine, but refrains from teaching it, and advises against the practice of it because the law is against it. Now, it is quite true that the law should not attempt to deal with the faith or belief of anyone; but it is quite another thing, and the only safe thing, so to deal with the Territory of Utah as that those who believe polygamy to be rightful shall not have the power to make it lawful. The admission of the States of Wyoming and Idaho to the Union are events full of interest and congratulation, not only to the people of those States now happily endowed with a full participation in our privileges and responsibilities, but to all our people. Another belt of States stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The work of the Patent Office has won from all sources very high commendation. The amount accomplished has been very largely increased, and all the results have been such as to secure confidence and consideration for the suggestions of the Commissioner. The enumeration of the people of the United States under the provisions of the act of March 1, 1889, has been completed, and the result will be at once officially communicated to Congress. The completion of this decennial enumeration devolves upon Congress the duty of making a new apportionment of Representatives "among the several States according to their respective numbers." At the last session I had occasion to return with my objections several bills making provisions for the erection of public buildings for the reason that the expenditures contemplated were, in my opinion, greatly in excess of any public need. No class of legislation is more liable to abuse or to degenerate into an unseemly scramble about the public Treasury than this. There should be exercised in this matter a wise economy, based upon some responsible and impartial examination and report as to each case, under a general law. The report of the Secretary of Agriculture deserves especial attention in view of the fact that the year has been marked in a very unusual degree by agitation and organization among the farmers looking to an increase in the profits of their business. It will be found that the efforts of the Department have been intelligently and zealously devoted to the promotion of the interests intrusted to its care. A very substantial improvement in the market prices of the leading farm products during the year is noticed. The price of wheat advanced from 81 cents in October, 1889, to $1.00 3/4 in October, 1890; corn from 31 cents to 50 1/4 cents; oats from 19 1/4 cents to 43 cents, and barley from 63 cents to 78 cents. Meats showed a substantial but not so large an increase. The export trade in live animals and fowls shows a very large increase. The total value of such exports for the year ending June 30, 1890, was $33,000,000, and the increase over the preceding year was over $15,000,000. Nearly 200,000 more cattle and over 45,000 more hogs were exported than in the preceding year. The export trade in beef and pork products and in dairy products was very largely increased, the increase in the article of butter alone being from 15,504,978 pounds to 29,748,042 pounds, and the total increase in the value of meat and dairy products exported being $34,000,000. This trade, so directly helpful to the farmer, it is believed, will be yet further and very largely increased when the system of inspection and sanitary supervision now provided by law is brought fully into operation. The efforts of the Secretary to establish the healthfulness of our meats against the disparaging imputations that have been put upon them abroad have resulted in substantial progress. Veterinary surgeons sent out by the Department are now allowed to participate in the inspection of the live cattle from this country landed at the English docks, and during the several months they have been on duty no case of contagious pleuro-pneumonia has been reported. This inspection abroad and the domestic inspection of live animals and pork products provided for by the act of August 30, 1890, will afford as perfect a guaranty for the wholesomeness of our meats offered for foreign consumption as is anywhere given to any food product, and its nonacceptance will quite clearly reveal the real motive of any continued restriction of their use, and that having been made clear the duty of the Executive will be very plain. The information given by the Secretary of the progress and prospects of the beet-sugar industry is full of interest. It has already passed the experimental stage and is a commercial success. The area over which the sugar beet can be successfully cultivated is very large, and another field crop of great value is offered to the choice of the farmer. The Secretary of the Treasury concurs in the recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture that the official supervision provided by the tariff law for sugar of domestic production shall be transferred to the Department of Agriculture. The law relating to the civil service has, so far as I can learn, been executed by those having the power of appointment in the classified service with fidelity and impartiality, and the service has been increasingly satisfactory. The report of the Commission shows a large amount of good work done during the year with very limited appropriations. I congratulate the Congress and the country upon the passage at the first session of the Fifty-first Congress of an unusual number of laws of very high importance. That the results of this legislation will be the quickening and enlargement of our manufacturing industries, larger and better markets for our breadstuffs and provisions both at home and abroad, more constant employment and better wages for our working people, and an increased supply of a safe currency for the transaction of business, I do not doubt. Some of these measures were enacted at so late a period that the beneficial effects upon commerce which were in the contemplation of Congress have as yet but partially manifested themselves. The general trade and industrial conditions throughout the country during the year have shown a marked improvement. For many years prior to 1888 the merchandise balances of foreign trade had been largely in our favor, but during that year and the year following they turned against us. It is very gratifying to know that the last fiscal year again shows a balance in our favor of over $68,000,000. The bank clearings, which furnish a good test of the volume of business transacted, for the first ten months of the year 1890 show as compared with the same months of 1889 an increase for the whole country of about 8.4 per cent, while the increase outside of the city of New York was over 13 per cent. During the month of October the clearings of the whole country showed an increase of 3.1 per cent over October, 1889, while outside of New York the increase was 11.5 per cent. These figures show that the increase in the volume of business was very general throughout the country. That this larger business was being conducted upon a safe and profitable basis is shown by the fact that there were 300 less failures reported in October, 1890, than in the same month of the preceding year, with liabilities diminished by about $5,000,000. The value of our exports of domestic merchandise during the last year was over $115,000,000 greater than the preceding year, and was only exceeded once in our history. About $100,000,000 of this excess was in agricultural products. The production of pig iron, always a good gauge of general prosperity, is shown by a recent census bulletin to have been 153 per cent greater in 1890 than in 1880, and the production of steel 290 per cent greater. Mining in coal has had no limitation except that resulting from deficient transportation. The general testimony is that labor is everywhere fully employed, and the reports for the last year show a smaller number of employees affected by strikes and lockouts than in any year since 1884. The depression in the prices of agricultural products had been greatly relieved and a buoyant and hopeful tone was beginning to be felt by all our people. These promising influences have been in some degree checked by the surprising and very unfavorable monetary events which have recently taken place in England. It is gratifying to know that these did not grow in any degree out of the financial relations of London with our people or out of any discredit attached to our securities held in that market. The return of our bonds and stocks was caused by a money stringency in England, not by any loss of value or credit in the securities themselves. We could not, however, wholly escape the ill effects of a foreign monetary agitation accompanied by such extraordinary incidents as characterized this. It is not believed, however, that these evil incidents, which have for the time unfavorably affected values in this country, can long withstand the strong, safe, and wholesome influences which are operating to give to our people profitable returns in all branches of legitimate trade and industry. The apprehension that our tariff may again and at once be subjected to important general changes would undoubtedly add a depressing influence of the most serious character. The general tariff act has only partially gone into operation, some of its important provisions being limited to take effect at dates yet in the future. The general provisions of the law have been in force less than sixty days. Its permanent effects upon trade and prices still largely stand in conjecture. It is curious to note that the advance in the prices of articles wholly unaffected by the tariff act was by many hastily ascribed to that act. Notice was not taken of the fact that the general tendency of the markets was upward, from influences wholly apart from the recent tariff legislation. The enlargement of our currency by the silver bill undoubtedly gave an upward tendency to trade and had a marked effect on prices; but this natural and desired effect of the silver legislation was by many erroneously attributed to the tariff act. There is neither wisdom nor justice in the suggestion that the subject of tariff revision shall be again opened before this law has had a fair trial. It is quite true that every tariff schedule is subject to objections. No bill was ever framed, I suppose, that in all of its rates and classifications had the full approval even of a party caucus. Such legislation is always and necessarily the product of compromise as to details, and the present law is no exception. But in its general scope and effect I think it will justify the support of those who believe that American legislation should conserve and defend American trade and the wages of American workmen. The misinformation as to the terms of the act which has been so widely disseminated at home and abroad will be corrected by experience, and the evil auguries as to its results confounded by the market reports, the savings banks, international trade balances. and the general prosperity of our people. Already we begin to hear from abroad and from our customhouses that the prohibitory effect upon importations imputed to the act is not justified. The imports at the port of New York for the first three weeks of November were nearly 8 per cent greater than for the same period in 1889 and 29 per cent greater than in the same period of 1888. And so far from being an act to limit exports, I confidently believe that under it we shall secure a larger and more profitable participation in foreign trade than we have ever enjoyed, and that we shall recover a proportionate participation in the ocean carrying trade of the world. The criticisms of the bill that have come to us from foreign sources may well be rejected for repugnancy. If these critics really believe that the adoption by us of a free-trade policy, or of tariff rates having reference solely to revenue, would diminish the participation of their own countries in the commerce of the world, their advocacy and promotion, by speech and other forms of organized effort, of this movement among our people is a rare exhibition of unselfishness in trade. And, on the other hand, if they sincerely believe that the adoption of a protective-tariff policy by this country inures to their profit and our hurt, it is noticeably strange that they should lead the outcry against the authors of a policy so helpful to their countrymen and crown with their favor those who would snatch from them a substantial share of a trade with other lands already inadequate to their necessities. There is no disposition among any of our people to promote prohibitory or retaliatory legislation. Our policies are adopted not to the hurt of others, but to secure for ourselves those advantages that fairly grow out of our favored position as a nation. Our form of government, with its incident of universal suffrage, makes it imperative that we shall save our working people from the agitations and distresses which scant work and wages that have no margin for comfort always beget. But after all this is done it will be found that our markets are open to friendly commercial exchanges of enormous value to the other great powers. From the time of my induction into office the duty of using every power and influence given by law to the executive department for the development of larger markets for our products, especially our farm products, has been kept constantly in mind, and no effort has been or will be spared to promote that end. We are under no disadvantage in any foreign market, except that we pay our workmen and workwomen better wages than are paid elsewhere--better abstractly, better relatively to the cost of the necessaries of life. I do not doubt that a very largely increased foreign trade is accessible to us without bartering for it either our home market for such products of the farm and shop as our own people can supply or the wages of our working people. In many of the products of wood and iron and in meats and breadstuffs we have advantages that only need better facilities of intercourse and transportation to secure for them large foreign markets. The reciprocity clause of the tariff act wisely and effectively opens the way to secure a large reciprocal trade in exchange for the free admission to our ports of certain products. The right of independent nations to make special reciprocal trade concessions is well established, and does not impair either the comity due to other powers or what is known as the "favored-nation clause," so generally found in commercial treaties. What is given to one for an adequate agreed consideration can not be claimed by another freely. The state of the revenues was such that we could dispense with any import duties upon coffee, tea, hides, and the lower grades of sugar and molasses. That the large advantage resulting to the countries producing and exporting these articles by placing them on the free list entitled us to expect a fair return in the way of customs concessions upon articles exported by us to them was so obvious that to have gratuitously abandoned this opportunity to enlarge our trade would have been an unpardonable error. There were but two methods of maintaining control of this question open to Congress--to place all of these articles upon the dutiable list, subject to such treaty agreements as could be secured, or to place them all presently upon the free list, but subject to the reimposition of specified duties if the countries from which we received them should refuse to give to us suitable reciprocal benefits. This latter method, I think, possesses great advantages. It expresses in advance the consent of Congress to reciprocity arrangements affecting these products, which must otherwise have been delayed and unascertained until each treaty was ratified by the Senate and the necessary legislation enacted by Congress. Experience has shown that some treaties looking to reciprocal trade have failed to secure a two-thirds vote in the Senate for ratification, and others having passed that stage have for years awaited the concurrence of the House and Senate in such modifications of our revenue laws as were necessary to give effect to their provisions. We now have the concurrence of both Houses in advance in a distinct and definite offer of free entry to our ports of specific articles. The Executive is not required to deal in conjecture as to what Congress will accept. Indeed, this reciprocity provision is more than an offer. Our part of the bargain is complete; delivery has been made; and when the countries from which we receive sugar, coffee, tea, and hides have placed on their free lists such of our products as shall be agreed upon as an equivalent for our concession, a proclamation of that fact completes the transaction; and in the meantime our own people have free sugar, tea, coffee, and hides. The indications thus far given are very hopeful of early and favorable action by the countries from which we receive our large imports of coffee and sugar, and it is confidently believed that if steam communication with these countries can be promptly improved and enlarged the next year will show a most gratifying increase in our exports of breadstuffs and provisions, as well as of some important lines of manufactured goods. In addition to the important bills that became laws before the adjournment of the last session, some other bills of the highest importance were well advanced toward a final vote and now stand upon the calendars of the two Houses in favored positions. The present session has a fixed limit, and if these measures are not now brought to a final vote all the work that has been done upon them by this Congress is lost. The proper consideration of these, of an apportionment bill, and of the annual appropriation bills will require not only that no working day of the session shall be lost, but that measures of minor and local interest shall not be allowed to interrupt or retard the progress of those that are of universal interest. In view of these conditions, I refrain from bringing before you at this time some suggestions that would otherwise be made, and most earnestly invoke your attention to the duty of perfecting the important legislation now well advanced. To some of these measures, which seem to me most important, I now briefly call your attention. I desire to repeat with added urgency the recommendations contained in my last annual message in relation to the development of American steamship lines. The reciprocity clause of the tariff bill will be largely limited and its benefits retarded and diminished if provision is not contemporaneously made to encourage the establishment of first-class steam communication between our ports and the ports of such nations as may meet our overtures for enlarged commercial exchanges. The steamship, carrying the mails statedly and frequently and offering to passengers a comfortable, safe, and speedy transit, is the first condition of foreign trade. It carries the order or the buyer, but not all that is ordered or bought. It gives to the sailing vessels such cargoes as are not urgent or perishable, and, indirectly at least, promotes that important adjunct of commerce. There is now both in this country and in the nations of Central and South America a state of expectation and confidence as to increased trade that will give a double value to your prompt action upon this question. The present situation of our mail communication with Australia illustrates the importance of early action by Congress. The Oceanic Steamship Company maintains a line of steamers between San Francisco, Sydney, and Auckland consisting of three vessels, two of which are of United States registry and one of foreign registry. For the service done by this line in carrying the mails we pay annually the sum of $46,000, being, as estimated, the full sea and United States inland postage, which is the limit fixed by law. The colonies of New South Wales and New Zealand have been paying annually to these lines lbs. 37,000 for carrying the mails from Sydney and Auckland to San Francisco. The contract under which this payment has been made is now about to expire, and those colonies have refused to renew the contract unless the United States shall pay a more equitable proportion of the whole sum necessary to maintain the service. I am advised by the Postmaster-General that the United States receives for carrying the Australian mails, brought to San Francisco in these steamers, by rail to Vancouver, an estimated annual income of $75,000, while, as I have stated, we are paying out for the support of the steamship line that brings this mail to us only $46,000, leaving an annual surplus resulting from this service of $29,000. The trade of the United States with Australia, which is in a considerable part carried by these steamers, and the whole of which is practically dependent upon the mail communication which they maintain, is largely in our favor. Our total exports of merchandise to Australasian ports during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, were $11,266,484, while the total imports of merchandise from these ports were only $4,277,676. If we are not willing to see this important steamship line withdrawn, or continued with Vancouver substituted for San Francisco as the American terminal, Congress should put it in the power of the Postmaster-General to make a liberal increase in the amount now paid for the transportation of this important mail. The South Atlantic and Gulf ports occupy a very favored position toward the new and important commerce which the reciprocity clause of the tariff act and the postal shipping bill are designed to promote. Steamship lines from these ports to some northern port of South America will almost certainly effect a connection between the railroad systems of the continents long before any continuous line of railroads can be put into operation. The very large appropriation made at the last session for the harbor of Galveston was justified, as it seemed to me, by these considerations. The great Northwest will feel the advantage of trunk lines to the South as well as to the East and of the new markets opened for their surplus food products and for many of their manufactured products. I had occasion in May last to transmit to Congress a report adopted by the International American Conference upon the subject of the incorporation of an international American bank, with a view to facilitating money exchanges between the States represented in that conference. Such an institution would greatly promote the trade we are seeking to develop. I renew the recommendation that a careful and well-guarded charter be granted. I do not think the powers granted should include those ordinarily exercised by trust, guaranty, and safe-deposit companies, or that more branches in the United States should be authorized than are strictly necessary to accomplish the object primarily in view, namely, convenient foreign exchanges. It is quite important that prompt action should be taken in this matter, in order that any appropriations for better communication with these countries and any agreements that may be made for reciprocal trade may not be hindered by the inconvenience of making exchanges through European money centers or burdened by the tribute which is an incident of that method of business. The bill for the relief of the Supreme Court has after many years of discussion reached a position where final action is easily attainable, and it is hoped that any differences of opinion may be so harmonized as to save the essential features of this very important measure. In this connection I earnestly renew my recommendation that the salaries of the judges of the United States district courts be so readjusted that none of them shall receive less than $5,000 per annum. The subject of the unadjusted Spanish and Mexican land grants and the urgent necessity for providing some commission or tribunal for the trial of questions of title growing out of them were twice brought by me to the attention of Congress at the last session. Bills have been reported from the proper committees in both Houses upon the subject, and I very earnestly hope that this Congress will put an end to the delay which has attended the settlement of the disputes as to the title between the settlers and the claimants under these grants. These disputes retard the prosperity and disturb the peace of large and important communities. The governor of New Mexico in his last report to the Secretary of the Interior suggests some modifications of the provisions of the pending bills relating to the small holdings of farm lands. I commend to your attention the suggestions of the Secretary of the Interior upon this subject. The enactment of a national bankrupt law I still regard as very desirable. The Constitution having given to Congress jurisdiction of this subject, it should be exercised and uniform rules provided for the administration of the affairs of insolvent debtors. The inconveniences resulting from the occasional and temporary exercise of this power by Congress and from the conflicting State codes of insolvency which come into force intermediately should be removed by the enactment of a simple, inexpensive, and permanent national bankrupt law. I also renew my recommendation in favor of legislation affording just copyright protection to foreign authors on a footing of reciprocal advantage for our authors abroad. It may still be possible for this Congress to inaugurate by suitable legislation a movement looking to uniformity and increased safety in the use of couplers and brakes upon freight trains engaged in interstate commerce. The chief difficulty in the way is to secure agreement as to the best appliances, simplicity, effectiveness, and cost being considered. This difficulty will only yield to legislation, which should be based upon full inquiry and impartial tests. The purpose should be to secure the cooperation of all well-disposed managers and owners; but the fearful fact that every year's delay involves the sacrifice of 2,000 lives and the maiming of 20,000 young men should plead both with Congress and the managers against any needless delay. The subject of the conservation and equal distribution of the water supply of the arid regions has had much attention from Congress, but has not as yet been put upon a permanent and satisfactory basis. The urgency of the subject does not grow out of any large present demand for the use of these lands for agriculture, but out of the danger that the water supply and the sites for the necessary catch basins may fall into the hands of individuals or private corporations and be used to render subservient the large areas dependent upon such supply. The owner of the water is the owner of the lands, however the titles may run. All unappropriated natural water sources and all necessary reservoir sites should be held by the Government for the equal use at fair rates of the homestead settlers who will eventually take up these lands. The United States should not, in my opinion, undertake the construction of dams or canals, but should limit its work to such surveys and observations as will determine the water supply, both surface and subterranean, the areas capable of irrigation, and the location and storage capacity of reservoirs. This done, the use of the water and of the reservoir sites might be granted to the respective States or Territories or to individuals or associations upon the condition that the necessary works should be constructed and the water furnished at fair rates without discrimination, the rates to be subject to supervision by the legislatures or by boards of water commissioners duly constituted. The essential thing to be secured is the common and equal use at fair rates of the accumulated water supply. It were almost better that these lands should remain arid than that those who occupy them should become the slaves of unrestrained monopolies controlling the one essential element of land values and crop results. The use of the telegraph by the Post-Office Department as a means for the rapid transmission of written communications is, I believe, upon proper terms, quite desirable. The Government does not own or operate the railroads, and it should not, I think, own or operate the telegraph lines. It does, however, seem to be quite practicable for the Government to contract with the telegraph companies, as it does with railroad companies, to carry at specified rates such communications as the senders may designate for this method of transmission. I recommend that such legislation be enacted as will enable the Post-Office Department fairly to test by experiment the advantages of such a use of the telegraph. If any intelligent and loyal company of American citizens were required to catalogue the essential human conditions of national life, I do not doubt that with absolute unanimity they would begin with "free and honest elections." And it is gratifying to know that generally there is a growing and nonpartisan demand for better election laws; but against this sign of hope and progress must be set the depressing and undeniable fact that election laws and methods are sometimes cunningly contrived to secure minority control, while violence completes the shortcomings of fraud. In my last annual message I suggested that the development of the existing law providing a Federal supervision of Congressional elections offered an effective method of reforming these abuses. The need of such a law has manifested itself in many parts of the country, and its wholesome restraints and penalties will be useful in all. The constitutionality of such legislation has been affirmed by the Supreme Court. Its probable effectiveness is evidenced by the character of the opposition that is made to it. It has been denounced as if it were a new exercise of Federal power and an invasion of the rights of States. Nothing could be further from the truth. Congress has already fixed the time for the election of members of Congress. It has declared that votes for members of Congress must be by written or printed ballot; it has provided for the appointment by the circuit courts in certain cases, and upon the petition of a certain number of citizens, of election supervisors, and made it their duty to supervise the registration of voters conducted by the State officers; to challenge persons offering to register; to personally inspect and scrutinize the registry lists, and to affix their names to the lists for the purpose of identification and the prevention of frauds; to attend at elections and remain with the boxes till they are all cast and counted; to attach to the registry lists and election returns any statement touching the accuracy and fairness of the registry and election, and to take and transmit to the Clerk of the House of Representatives any evidence of fraudulent practices which may be presented to them. The same law provides for the appointment of deputy United States marshals to attend at the polls, support the supervisors in the discharge of their duties, and to arrest persons violating the election laws. The provisions of this familiar title of the Revised Statutes have been put into exercise by both the great political parties, and in the North as well as in the South, by the filing with the court of the petitions required by the law. It is not, therefore, a question whether we shall have a Federal election law, for we now have one and have had for nearly twenty years, but whether we shall have an effective law. The present law stops just short of effectiveness, for it surrenders to the local authorities all control over the certification which establishes the prima facie right to a seat in the House of Representatives. This defect should be cured. Equality of representation and the parity of the electors must be maintained or everything that is valuable in our system of government is lost. The qualifications of an elector must be sought in the law, net in the opinions, prejudices, or fears of any class, however powerful. The path of the elector to the ballot box must be free from the ambush of fear and the enticements of fraud; the count so true and open that none shall gainsay it. Such a law should be absolutely nonpartisan and impartial. It should give the advantage to honesty and the control to majorities. Surely there is nothing sectional about this creed, and if it shall happen that the penalties of laws intended to enforce these rights fall here and not there it is not because the law is sectional, but because, happily, crime is local and not universal. Nor should it be forgotten that every law, whether relating to elections or to any other subject, whether enacted by the State or by the nation, has force behind it; the courts, the marshal or constable, the posse comitatus, the prison, are all and always behind the law. One can not be justly charged with unfriendliness to any section or class who seeks only to restrain violations of law and of personal right. No community will find lawlessness profitable. No community can afford to have it known that the officers who are charged with the preservation of the public peace and the restraint of the criminal classes are themselves the product of fraud or violence. The magistrate is then without respect and the law without sanction. The floods of lawlessness can not be leveed and made to run in one channel. The killing of a United States marshal carrying a writ of arrest for an election offense is full of prompting and suggestion to men who are pursued by a city marshal for a crime against life or property. But it is said that this legislation will revive race animosities, and some have even suggested that when the peaceful methods of fraud are made impossible they may be supplanted by intimidation and violence. If the proposed law gives to any qualified elector by a hair's weight more than his equal influence or detracts by so much from any other qualified elector, it is fatally impeached. But if the law is equal and the animosities it is to evoke grow out of the fact that some electors have been accustomed to exercise the franchise for others as well as for themselves, then these animosities ought not to be confessed without shame, and can not be given any weight in the discussion without dishonor No choice is left to me but to enforce with vigor all laws intended to secure to the citizen his constitutional rights and to recommend that the inadequacies of such laws be promptly remedied. If to promote with zeal and ready interest every project for the development of its material interests, its rivers, harbors, mines, and factories, and the intelligence, peace, and security under the law of its communities and its homes is not accepted as sufficient evidence of friendliness to any State or section, I can not add connivance at election practices that not only disturb local results, but rob the electors of other States and sections of their most priceless political rights. The preparation of the general appropriation bills should be conducted with the greatest care and the closest scrutiny of expenditures. Appropriations should be adequate to the needs of the public service, but they should be absolutely free from prodigality. I venture again to remind you that the brief time remaining for the consideration of the important legislation now awaiting your attention offers no margin for waste. If the present duty is discharged with diligence, fidelity, and courage, the work of the Fifty-first Congress may be confidently submitted to the considerate judgment of the people.
The reports of the several Executive Departments, which will be laid before Congress in the usual course, will exhibit in detail the operations of the Government for the last fiscal year. Only the more important incidents and results, and chiefly such as may be the foundation of the recommendations I shall submit, will be referred to in this annual message. The vast and increasing business of the Government has been transacted by the several Departments during the year with faithfulness, energy, and success. The revenues, amounting to above $450,000,000, have been collected and disbursed without revealing, so far as I can ascertain, a single case of defalcation or embezzlement. An earnest effort has been made to stimulate a sense of responsibility and public duty in all officers and employees of every grade, and the work done by them has almost wholly escaped unfavorable criticism. I speak of these matters with freedom because the credit of this good work is not mine, but is shared by the heads of the several Departments with the great body of faithful officers and employees who serve under them. The closest scrutiny of Congress is invited to all the methods of administration and to every item of expenditure. The friendly relations of our country with the nations of Europe and of the East have been undisturbed, while the ties of good will and common interest that bind us to the States of the Western Hemisphere have been notably strengthened by the conference held in this capital to consider measures for the general welfare. Pursuant to the invitation authorized by Congress, the representatives of every independent State of the American continent and of Hayti met in conference in this capital in October, 1889, and continued in session until the 19th of last April. This important convocation marks a most interesting and influential epoch in the history of the Western Hemisphere. It is noteworthy that Brazil, invited while under an imperial form of government, shared as a republic in the deliberations and results of the conference. The recommendations of this conference were all transmitted to Congress at the last session. The International Marine Conference, which sat at Washington last winter, reached a very gratifying result. The regulations suggested have been brought to the attention of all the Governments represented, and their general adoption is confidently expected. The legislation of Congress at the last session is in conformity with the propositions of the conference, and the proclamation therein provided for will be issued when the other powers have given notice of their adhesion. The Conference of Brussels, to devise means for suppressing the slave trade in Africa, afforded an opportunity for a new expression of the interest the American people feel in that great work. It soon became evident that the measure proposed would tax the resources of the Kongo Basin beyond the revenues available under the general act of Berlin of 1884. The United States, not being a party to that act, could not share in its revision, but by a separate act the Independent State of the Kongo was freed from the restrictions upon a customs revenue. The demoralizing and destructive traffic in ardent spirits among the tribes also claimed the earnest attention of the conference, and the delegates of the United States were foremost in advocating measures for its repression. An accord was reached the influence of which will be very helpful and extend over a wide region. As soon as these measures shall receive the sanction of the Netherlands, for a time withheld, the general acts will be submitted for ratification by the Senate. Meanwhile negotiations have been opened for a new and completed treaty of friendship, commerce, and navigation between the United States and the Independent State of the Kongo. Toward the end of the past year the only independent monarchical government on the Western Continent, that of Brazil, ceased to exist, and was succeeded by a republic. Diplomatic relations were at once established with the new Government, but it was not completely recognized until an opportunity had been afforded to ascertain that it had popular approval and support. When the course of events had yielded assurance of this fact, no time was lost in extending to the new Government a full and cordial welcome into the family of American Commonwealths. It is confidently believed that the good relations of the two countries will be preserved and that the future will witness an increased intimacy of intercourse and an expansion of their mutual commerce. The peace of Central America has again been disturbed through a revolutionary change in Salvador, which was not recognized by other States, and hostilities broke out between Salvador and Guatemala, threatening to involve all Central America in conflict and to undo the progress which had been made toward a union of their interests. The efforts of this Government were promptly and zealously exerted to compose their differences, and through the active efforts of the representative of the United States a provisional treaty of peace was signed August 26, whereby the right of the Republic of Salvador to choose its own rulers was recognized. General Ezeta, the chief of the Provisional Government, has since been confirmed in the Presidency by the Assembly, and diplomatic recognition duly followed. The killing of General Barrundia on board the Pacific mail steamer Acapulco, while anchored in transit in the port of San Jose de Guatemala, demanded careful inquiry. Having failed in a revolutionary attempt to invade Guatemala from Mexican territory, General Barrundia took passage at Acapulco for Panama. The consent of the representatives of the United States was sought to effect his seizure, first at Champerico, where the steamer touched, and afterwards at San Jose. The captain of the steamer refused to give up his passenger without a written order from the United States minister. The latter furnished the desired letter, stipulating as the condition of his action that General Barrundia's life should be spared and that he should be tried only for offenses growing out of his insurrectionary movements. This letter was produced to the captain of the Acapulco by the military commander at San Jose as his warrant to take the passenger from the steamer. General Barrundia resisted capture and was killed. It being evident that the minister, Mr. Mizner, had exceeded the bounds of his authority in intervening, in compliance with the demands of the Guatemalan authorities, to authorize and effect, in violation of precedent, the seizure on a vessel of the United States of a passenger in transit charged with political offenses, in order that he might be tried for such offenses under what was described as martial law, I was constrained to disavow Mr. Mizner's act and recall him from his post. The Nicaragua Canal project, under the control of our citizens, is making most encouraging progress, all the preliminary conditions and initial operations having been accomplished within the prescribed time. During the past year negotiations have been renewed for the settlement of the claims of American citizens against the Government of Chile, principally growing out of the late war with Peru. The reports from our minister at Santiago warrant the expectation of an early and satisfactory adjustment. Our relations with China, which have for several years occupied so important a place in our diplomatic history, have called for careful consideration and have been the subject of much correspondence. The communications of the Chinese minister have brought into view the whole subject of our conventional relations with his country, and at the same time this Government, through its legation at Peking, has sought to arrange various matters and complaints touching the interests and protection of our citizens in China. In pursuance of the concurrent resolution of October 1, 1890, I have proposed to the Governments of Mexico and Great Britain to consider a conventional regulation of the passage of Chinese laborers across our southern and northern frontiers. On the 22d day of August last Sir Edmund Monson, the arbitrator selected under the treaty of December 6, 1888, rendered an award to the effect that no compensation was due from the Danish Government to the United States on account of what is commonly known as the Carlos Butterfield claim. Our relations with the French Republic continue to be cordial. Our representative at that court has very diligently urged the removal of the restrictions imposed upon our meat products, and it is believed that substantial progress has been made toward a just settlement. The Samoan treaty, signed last year at Berlin by the representatives of the United States, Germany, and Great Britain, after due ratification and exchange, has begun to produce salutary effects. The formation of the government agreed upon will soon replace the disorder of the past by a stable administration alike just to the natives and equitable to the three powers most concerned in trade and intercourse with the Samoan Islands. The chief justice has been chosen by the King of Sweden and Norway on the invitation of the three powers, and will soon be installed. The land commission and the municipal council are in process of organization. A rational and evenly distributed scheme of taxation, both municipal and upon imports, is in operation. Malietoa is respected as King. The new treaty of extradition with Great Britain, after due ratification, was proclaimed on the 25th of last March. Its beneficial working is already apparent. The difference between the two Governments touching the fur-seal question in the Bering Sea is not yet adjusted, as will be seen by the correspondence which will soon be laid before the Congress. The offer to submit the question to arbitration, as proposed by Her Majesty's Government, has not been accepted, for the reason that the form of submission proposed is not thought to be calculated to assure a conclusion satisfactory to either party. It is sincerely hoped that before the opening of another sealing season some arrangement may be effected which will assure to the United States a property right derived from Russia, which was not disregarded by any nation for more than eighty years preceding the outbreak of the existing trouble. In the tariff act a wrong was done to the Kingdom of Hawaii which I am bound to presume was wholly unintentional. Duties were levied on certain commodities which are included in the reciprocity treaty now existing between the United States and the Kingdom of Hawaii, without indicating the necessary exception in favor of that Kingdom. I hope Congress will repair what might otherwise seem to be a breach of faith on the part of this Government. An award in favor of the United States in the matter of the claim of Mr. Van Bokkelen against Hayti was rendered on the 4th of December, 1888, but owing to disorders then and afterwards prevailing in Hayti the terms of payment were not observed. A new agreement as to the time of payment has been approved and is now in force. Other just claims of citizens of the United States for redress of wrongs suffered during the late political conflict in Hayti will, it is hoped, speedily yield to friendly treatment. Propositions for the amendment of the treaty of extradition between the United States and Italy are now under consideration. You will be asked to provide the means of accepting the invitation of the Italian Government to take part in an approaching conference to consider the adoption of a universal prime meridian from which to reckon longitude and time. As this proposal follows in the track of the reform sought to be initiated by the Meridian Conference of Washington, held on the invitation of this Government, the United States should manifest a friendly interest in the Italian proposal. In this connection I may refer with approval to the suggestion of my predecessors that standing provision be made for accepting, whenever deemed advisable, the frequent invitations of foreign governments to share in conferences looking to the advancement of international reforms in regard to science, sanitation, commercial laws and procedure, and other matters affecting the intercourse and progress of modern communities. In the summer of 1889 an incident occurred which for some time threatened to interrupt the cordiality of our relations with the Government of Portugal. That Government seized the Delagoa Bay Railway, which was constructed under a concession granted to an American citizen, and at the same time annulled the charter. The concessionary, who had embarked his fortune in the enterprise, having exhausted other means of redress, was compelled to invoke the protection of his Government. Our representations, made coincidently with those of the British Government, whose subjects were also largely interested, happily resulted in the recognition by Portugal of the propriety of submitting the claim for indemnity growing out of its action to arbitration. This plan of settlement having been agreed upon, the interested powers readily concurred in the proposal to submit the ease to the judgment of three eminent jurists, to be designated by the President of the Swiss Republic, who, upon the joint invitation of the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, and Portugal, has selected persons well qualified for the task before them. The revision of our treaty relations with the Empire of Japan has continued to be the subject of consideration and of correspondence. The questions involved are both grave and delicate; and while it will be my duty to see that the interests of the United States are not by any changes exposed to undue discrimination, I sincerely hope that such revision as will satisfy the legitimate expectations of the Japanese Government and maintain the present and long-existing friendly relations between Japan and the United States will be effected. The friendship between our country and Mexico, born of close neighborhood and strengthened by many considerations of intimate intercourse and reciprocal interest, has never been more conspicuous than now nor more hopeful of increased benefit to both nations. The intercourse of the two countries by rail, already great, is making constant growth. The established lines and those recently projected add to the intimacy of traffic and open new channels of access to fresh areas of demand and supply. The importance of the Mexican railway system will be further enhanced to a degree almost impossible to forecast if it should become a link in the projected intercontinental railway. I recommend that our mission in the City of Mexico be raised to the first class. The cordial character of our relations with Spain warrants the hope that by the continuance of methods of friendly negotiation much may be accomplished in the direction of an adjustment of pending questions and of the increase of our trade. The extent and development of our trade with the island of Cuba invest the commercial relations of the United States and Spain with a peculiar importance. It is not doubted that a special arrangement in regard to commerce, based upon the reciprocity provision of the recent tariff act, would operate most beneficially for both Governments. This subject is now receiving attention. The restoration of the remains of John Ericsson to Sweden afforded a gratifying occasion to honor the memory of the great inventor, to whose genius our country owes so much, and to bear witness to the unbroken friendship which has existed between the land which bore him and our own, which claimed him as a citizen. On the 2d of September last the commission appointed to revise the proceedings of the commission under the claims convention between the United States and Venezuela of 1866 brought its labors to a close within the period fixed for that purpose. The proceedings of the late commission were characterized by a spirit of impartiality and a high sense of justice, and an incident which was for many years the subject of discussion between the two Governments has been disposed of in a manner alike honorable and satisfactory to both parties. For the settlement of the claim of the Venezuela Steam Transportation Company, which was the subject of a joint resolution adopted at the last session of Congress, negotiations are still in progress, and their early conclusion is anticipated. The legislation of the past few years has evinced on the part of Congress a growing realization of the importance of the consular service in fostering our commercial relations abroad and in protecting the domestic revenues. As the scope of operations expands increased provision must be made to keep up the essential standard of efficiency. The necessity of some adequate measure of supervision and inspection has been so often presented that I need only commend the subject to your attention. The revenues of the Government from all sources for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, were $463,963,080.55 and the total expenditures for the same period were $358,618,584.52. The postal receipts have not heretofore been included in the statement of these aggregates, and for the purpose of comparison the sum of $60,882,097.92 should be deducted from both sides of the account. The surplus for the year, including the amount applied to the sinking fund, was $105,344,496.03. The receipts for 1890 were $16,030,923.79 and the expenditures $15,739,871 in excess of those of 1889. The customs receipts increased $5,835,842.88 and the receipts from internal revenue $11,725,191.89, while on the side of expenditures that for pensions was $19,312,075.96 in excess of the preceding year. The Treasury statement for the current fiscal year, partly actual and partly estimated, is as follows: Receipts from all sources, $406,000,000; total expenditures, $354,000,000, leaving a surplus of $52,000,000, not taking the postal receipts into the account on either side. The loss of revenue from customs for the last quarter is estimated at $25,000,000, but from this is deducted a gain of about $16,000,000 realized during the first four months of the year. For the year 1892 the total estimated receipts are $373,000,000 and the estimated expenditures $357,852,209.42, leaving an estimated surplus of $15,247,790.58, which, with a cash balance of $52,000,000 at the beginning of the year, will give $67,247,790.58 as the sum available for the redemption of outstanding bonds or other uses. The estimates of receipts and expenditures for the Post-Office Department, being equal, are not included in this statement on either side. The act "directing the purchase of silver bullion and the issue of Treasury notes thereon," approved July 14, 1890, has been administered by the Secretary of the Treasury with an earnest purpose to get into circulation at the earliest possible dates the full monthly amounts of Treasury notes contemplated by its provisions and at the same time to give to the market for the silver bullion such support as the law contemplates. The recent depreciation in the price of silver has been observed with regret. The rapid rise in price which anticipated and followed the passage of the act was influenced in some degree by speculation, and the recent reaction is in part the result of the same because and in part of the recent monetary disturbances. Some months of further trial will be necessary to determine the permanent effect of the recent legislation upon silver values, but it is gratifying to know that the increased circulation secured by the act has exerted, and will continue to exert, a most beneficial influence upon business and upon general values. While it has not been thought best to renew formally the suggestion of an international conference looking to an agreement touching the full use of silver for coinage at a uniform ratio, care has been taken to observe closely any change in the situation abroad, and no favorable opportunity will be lost to promote a result which it is confidently believed would confer very large benefits upon the commerce of the world. The recent monetary disturbances in England are not unlikely to suggest a reexamination of opinions upon this subject. Our very large supply of gold will, if not lost by impulsive legislation in the supposed interest of silver, give us a position of advantage in promoting a permanent and safe international agreement for the free use of silver as a coin metal. The efforts of the Secretary to increase the volume of money in circulation by keeping down the Treasury surplus to the lowest practicable limit have been unremitting and in a very high degree successful. The tables presented by him showing the increase of money in circulation during the last two decades, and especially the table showing the increase during the nineteen months he has administered the affairs of the Department, are interesting and instructive. The increase of money in circulation during the nineteen months has been in the aggregate $93,866,813, or about $1.50 per capita, and of this increase only $7,100,000 was due to the recent silver legislation. That this substantial and needed aid given to commerce resulted in an enormous reduction of the public debt and of the annual interest charge is matter of increased satisfaction. There have been purchased and redeemed since March 4, 1889, 4 and 4 12 per cent bonds to the amount of $211,832,450, at a cost of $246,620,741, resulting in the reduction of the annual interest charge of $8,967,609 and a total saving of interest of $51,576,706. I notice with great pleasure the statement of the Secretary that the receipts from internal revenue have increased during the last fiscal year nearly $12,000,000, and that the cost of collecting this larger revenue was less by $90,617 than for the same purpose in the preceding year. The percentage of cost of collecting the customs revenue was less for the last fiscal year than ever before. The Customs Administration Board, provided for by the act of June 10, 1890, was selected with great care, and is composed in part of men whose previous experience in the administration of the old customs regulations had made them familiar with the evils to be remedied, and in part of men whose legal and judicial acquirements and experience seemed to fit them for the work of interpreting and applying the new statute. The chief aim of the law is to secure honest valuations of all dutiable merchandise and to make these valuations uniform at all our ports of entry. It had been made manifest by a Congressional investigation that a system of undervaluation had been long in use by certain classes of importers, resulting not only in a great loss of revenue, but in a most intolerable discrimination against honesty. It is not seen how this legislation, when it is understood, can be regarded by the citizens of any country having commercial dealings with us as unfriendly. If any duty is supposed to be excessive, let the complaint be lodged there. It will surely not be claimed by any well-disposed people that a remedy may be sought and allowed in a system of quasi smuggling. The report of the Secretary of War exhibits several gratifying results attained during the year by wise and unostentatious methods. The percentage of desertions from the Army (an evil for which both Congress and the Department have long been seeking a remedy) has been reduced during the past year 24 per cent, and for the months of August and September, during which time the favorable effects of the act of June 16 were felt, 33 per cent, as compared with the same months of 1889. The results attained by a reorganization and consolidation of the divisions having charge of the hospital and service records of the volunteer soldiers are very remarkable. This change was effected in July, 1889, and at that time there were 40,654 cases awaiting attention, more than half of these being calls from the Pension Office for information necessary to the adjudication of pension claims. On the 30th day of June last, though over 300,000 new calls had come in, there was not a single case that had not been examined and answered. I concur in the recommendations of the Secretary that adequate and regular appropriations be continued for coast-defense works and ordnance. Plans have been practically agreed upon, and there can be no good reason for delaying the execution of them, while the defenseless state of our great seaports furnishes an urgent reason for wise expedition. The encouragement that has been extended to the militia of the States, generally and most appropriately designated the "National Guard," should be continued and enlarged. These military organizations constitute in a large sense the Army of the United States, while about five-sixths of the annual cost of their maintenance is defrayed by the States. The report of the Attorney-General is under the law submitted directly to Congress, but as the Department of Justice is one of the Executive Departments some reference to the work done is appropriate here. A vigorous and in the main an effective effort has been made to bring to trial and punishment all violators of the law, but at the same time care has been taken that frivolous and technical offenses should not be used to swell the fees of officers or to harass well-disposed citizens. Especial attention is called to the facts connected with the prosecution of violations of the election laws and of offenses against United States officers. The number of convictions secured, very many of them upon pleas of guilty, will, it is hoped, have a salutary restraining influence. There have been several cases where postmasters appointed by me have been subjected to violent interference in the discharge of their official duties and to persecutions and personal violence of the most extreme character. Some of these cases have been dealt with through the Department of Justice, and in some cases the post-offices have been abolished or suspended. I have directed the Postmaster-General to pursue this course in all cases where other efforts failed to secure for any postmaster not himself in fault an opportunity peacefully to exercise the duties of his office. But such action will not supplant the efforts of the Department of Justice to bring the particular offenders to punishment. The vacation by judicial decrees of fraudulent certificates of naturalization, upon bills in equity filed by the Attorney-General in the circuit court of the United States, is a new application of a familiar equity jurisdiction. Nearly one hundred such decrees have been taken during the year, the evidence disclosing that a very large number of fraudulent certificates of naturalization have been issued. And in this connection I beg to renew my recommendation that the laws be so amended as to require a more full and searching inquiry into all the facts necessary to naturalization before any certificates are granted. it certainly is not too much to require that an application for American citizenship shall be heard with as much care and recorded with as much formality as are given to cases involving the pettiest property right. At the last session I returned without my approval a bill entitled "An act to prohibit bookmaking and pool selling in the District of Columbia," and stated my objection to be that it did not prohibit but in fact licensed what it purported to prohibit. An effort will be made under existing laws to suppress this evil, though it is not certain that they will be found adequate. The report of the Postmaster-General shows the most gratifying progress in the important work committed to his direction. The business methods have been greatly improved. A large economy in expenditures and an increase of four and three-quarters millions in receipts have been realized. The deficiency this year is $5,786,300, as against $6,350,183 last year, notwithstanding the great enlargement of the service. Mail routes have been extended and quickened and greater accuracy and dispatch in distribution and delivery have been attained. The report will be found to be full of interest and suggestion, not only to Congress, but to those thoughtful citizens who may be interested to know what business methods can do for that department of public administration which most nearly touches all our people. The passage of the act to amend certain sections of the Revised Statutes relating to lotteries, approved September 19, 1890, has been received with great and deserved popular favor. The Post-Office Department and the Department of Justice at once entered upon the enforcement of the law with sympathetic vigor, and already the public mails have been largely freed from the fraudulent and demoralizing appeals and literature emanating from the lottery companies. The construction and equipment of the new ships for the Navy have made very satisfactory progress. Since March 4, 1889, nine new vessels have been put in commission, and during this winter four more, including one monitor, will be added. The construction of the other vessels authorized is being pushed both in the Government and private yards with energy and watched with the most scrupulous care. The experiments conducted during the year to test the relative resisting power of armor plates have been so valuable as to attract great attention in Europe. The only part of the work upon the new ships that is threatened by unusual delay is the armor plating, and every effort is being made to reduce that to the minimum. It is a source of congratulation that the anticipated influence of these modern vessels upon the esprit de corps of the officers and seamen has been fully realized. Confidence and pride in the ship among the crew are equivalent to a secondary battery. Your favorable consideration is invited to the recommendations of the Secretary. The report of the Secretary of the Interior exhibits with great fullness and clearness the vast work of that Department and the satisfactory results attained. The suggestions made by him are earnestly commended to the consideration of Congress, though they can not all be given particular mention here. The several acts of Congress looking to the reduction of the larger Indian reservations, to the more rapid settlement of the Indians upon individual allotments, and the restoration to the public domain of lands in excess of their needs have been largely carried into effect so far as the work was confided to the Executive. Agreements have been concluded since March 4, 1889, involving the cession to the United States of about 14,726,000 acres of land. These contracts have, as required by law, been submitted to Congress for ratification and for the appropriations necessary to carry them into effect. Those with the Sisseton and Wahpeton, Sac and Fox, Iowa, Pottawatomies and Absentee Shawnees, and Coeur d'Alene tribes have not yet received the sanction of Congress. Attention is also called to the fact that the appropriations made in the case of the Sioux Indians have not covered all the stipulated payments. This should be promptly corrected. If an agreement is confirmed, all of its terms should be complied with without delay and full appropriations should be made. The policy outlined in my last annual message in relation to the patenting of lands to settlers upon the public domain has been carried out in the administration of the Land Office. No general suspicion or imputation of fraud has been allowed to delay the hearing and adjudication of individual cases upon their merits. The purpose has been to perfect the title of honest settlers with such promptness that the value of the entry might not be swallowed up by the expense and extortions to which delay subjected the claimant. The average monthly issue of agricultural patents has been increased about 6,000. The disability-pension act, which was approved on the 27th of June last, has been put into operation as rapidly as was practicable. The increased clerical force provided was selected and assigned to work, and a considerable part of the force engaged in examinations in the field was recalled and added to the working force of the office. The examination and adjudication of claims have by reason of improved methods been more rapid than ever before. There is no economy to the Government in delay, while there is much hardship and injustice to the soldier. The anticipated expenditure, while very large, will not, it is believed, be in excess of the estimates made before the enactment of the law. This liberal enlargement of the general law should suggest a more careful scrutiny of bills for special relief, both as to the cases where relief is granted and as to the amount allowed. The increasing numbers and influence of the non-Mormon population of Utah are observed with satisfaction. The recent letter of Wilford Woodruff, president of the Mormon Church, in which he advised his people "to refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the laws of the land," has attracted wide attention, and it is hoped that its influence will be highly beneficial in restraining infractions of the laws of the United States. But the fact should not be overlooked that the doctrine or belief of the church that polygamous marriages are rightful and supported by divine revelation remains unchanged. President Woodruff does not renounce the doctrine, but refrains from teaching it, and advises against the practice of it because the law is against it. Now, it is quite true that the law should not attempt to deal with the faith or belief of anyone; but it is quite another thing, and the only safe thing, so to deal with the Territory of Utah as that those who believe polygamy to be rightful shall not have the power to make it lawful. The admission of the States of Wyoming and Idaho to the Union are events full of interest and congratulation, not only to the people of those States now happily endowed with a full participation in our privileges and responsibilities, but to all our people. Another belt of States stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The work of the Patent Office has won from all sources very high commendation. The amount accomplished has been very largely increased, and all the results have been such as to secure confidence and consideration for the suggestions of the Commissioner. The enumeration of the people of the United States under the provisions of the act of March 1, 1889, has been completed, and the result will be at once officially communicated to Congress. The completion of this decennial enumeration devolves upon Congress the duty of making a new apportionment of Representatives "among the several States according to their respective numbers." At the last session I had occasion to return with my objections several bills making provisions for the erection of public buildings for the reason that the expenditures contemplated were, in my opinion, greatly in excess of any public need. No class of legislation is more liable to abuse or to degenerate into an unseemly scramble about the public Treasury than this. There should be exercised in this matter a wise economy, based upon some responsible and impartial examination and report as to each case, under a general law. The report of the Secretary of Agriculture deserves especial attention in view of the fact that the year has been marked in a very unusual degree by agitation and organization among the farmers looking to an increase in the profits of their business. It will be found that the efforts of the Department have been intelligently and zealously devoted to the promotion of the interests intrusted to its care. A very substantial improvement in the market prices of the leading farm products during the year is noticed. The price of wheat advanced from 81 cents in October, 1889, to $1.00 3/4 in October, 1890; corn from 31 cents to 50 1/4 cents; oats from 19 1/4 cents to 43 cents, and barley from 63 cents to 78 cents. Meats showed a substantial but not so large an increase. The export trade in live animals and fowls shows a very large increase. The total value of such exports for the year ending June 30, 1890, was $33,000,000, and the increase over the preceding year was over $15,000,000. Nearly 200,000 more cattle and over 45,000 more hogs were exported than in the preceding year. The export trade in beef and pork products and in dairy products was very largely increased, the increase in the article of butter alone being from 15,504,978 pounds to 29,748,042 pounds, and the total increase in the value of meat and dairy products exported being $34,000,000. This trade, so directly helpful to the farmer, it is believed, will be yet further and very largely increased when the system of inspection and sanitary supervision now provided by law is brought fully into operation. The efforts of the Secretary to establish the healthfulness of our meats against the disparaging imputations that have been put upon them abroad have resulted in substantial progress. Veterinary surgeons sent out by the Department are now allowed to participate in the inspection of the live cattle from this country landed at the English docks, and during the several months they have been on duty no case of contagious pleuro-pneumonia has been reported. This inspection abroad and the domestic inspection of live animals and pork products provided for by the act of August 30, 1890, will afford as perfect a guaranty for the wholesomeness of our meats offered for foreign consumption as is anywhere given to any food product, and its nonacceptance will quite clearly reveal the real motive of any continued restriction of their use, and that having been made clear the duty of the Executive will be very plain. The information given by the Secretary of the progress and prospects of the beet-sugar industry is full of interest. It has already passed the experimental stage and is a commercial success. The area over which the sugar beet can be successfully cultivated is very large, and another field crop of great value is offered to the choice of the farmer. The Secretary of the Treasury concurs in the recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture that the official supervision provided by the tariff law for sugar of domestic production shall be transferred to the Department of Agriculture. The law relating to the civil service has, so far as I can learn, been executed by those having the power of appointment in the classified service with fidelity and impartiality, and the service has been increasingly satisfactory. The report of the Commission shows a large amount of good work done during the year with very limited appropriations. I congratulate the Congress and the country upon the passage at the first session of the Fifty-first Congress of an unusual number of laws of very high importance. That the results of this legislation will be the quickening and enlargement of our manufacturing industries, larger and better markets for our breadstuffs and provisions both at home and abroad, more constant employment and better wages for our working people, and an increased supply of a safe currency for the transaction of business, I do not doubt. Some of these measures were enacted at so late a period that the beneficial effects upon commerce which were in the contemplation of Congress have as yet but partially manifested themselves. The general trade and industrial conditions throughout the country during the year have shown a marked improvement. For many years prior to 1888 the merchandise balances of foreign trade had been largely in our favor, but during that year and the year following they turned against us. It is very gratifying to know that the last fiscal year again shows a balance in our favor of over $68,000,000. The bank clearings, which furnish a good test of the volume of business transacted, for the first ten months of the year 1890 show as compared with the same months of 1889 an increase for the whole country of about 8.4 per cent, while the increase outside of the city of New York was over 13 per cent. During the month of October the clearings of the whole country showed an increase of 3.1 per cent over October, 1889, while outside of New York the increase was 11.5 per cent. These figures show that the increase in the volume of business was very general throughout the country. That this larger business was being conducted upon a safe and profitable basis is shown by the fact that there were 300 less failures reported in October, 1890, than in the same month of the preceding year, with liabilities diminished by about $5,000,000. The value of our exports of domestic merchandise during the last year was over $115,000,000 greater than the preceding year, and was only exceeded once in our history. About $100,000,000 of this excess was in agricultural products. The production of pig iron, always a good gauge of general prosperity, is shown by a recent census bulletin to have been 153 per cent greater in 1890 than in 1880, and the production of steel 290 per cent greater. Mining in coal has had no limitation except that resulting from deficient transportation. The general testimony is that labor is everywhere fully employed, and the reports for the last year show a smaller number of employees affected by strikes and lockouts than in any year since 1884. The depression in the prices of agricultural products had been greatly relieved and a buoyant and hopeful tone was beginning to be felt by all our people. These promising influences have been in some degree checked by the surprising and very unfavorable monetary events which have recently taken place in England. It is gratifying to know that these did not grow in any degree out of the financial relations of London with our people or out of any discredit attached to our securities held in that market. The return of our bonds and stocks was caused by a money stringency in England, not by any loss of value or credit in the securities themselves. We could not, however, wholly escape the ill effects of a foreign monetary agitation accompanied by such extraordinary incidents as characterized this. It is not believed, however, that these evil incidents, which have for the time unfavorably affected values in this country, can long withstand the strong, safe, and wholesome influences which are operating to give to our people profitable returns in all branches of legitimate trade and industry. The apprehension that our tariff may again and at once be subjected to important general changes would undoubtedly add a depressing influence of the most serious character. The general tariff act has only partially gone into operation, some of its important provisions being limited to take effect at dates yet in the future. The general provisions of the law have been in force less than sixty days. Its permanent effects upon trade and prices still largely stand in conjecture. It is curious to note that the advance in the prices of articles wholly unaffected by the tariff act was by many hastily ascribed to that act. Notice was not taken of the fact that the general tendency of the markets was upward, from influences wholly apart from the recent tariff legislation. The enlargement of our currency by the silver bill undoubtedly gave an upward tendency to trade and had a marked effect on prices; but this natural and desired effect of the silver legislation was by many erroneously attributed to the tariff act. There is neither wisdom nor justice in the suggestion that the subject of tariff revision shall be again opened before this law has had a fair trial. It is quite true that every tariff schedule is subject to objections. No bill was ever framed, I suppose, that in all of its rates and classifications had the full approval even of a party caucus. Such legislation is always and necessarily the product of compromise as to details, and the present law is no exception. But in its general scope and effect I think it will justify the support of those who believe that American legislation should conserve and defend American trade and the wages of American workmen. The misinformation as to the terms of the act which has been so widely disseminated at home and abroad will be corrected by experience, and the evil auguries as to its results confounded by the market reports, the savings banks, international trade balances. and the general prosperity of our people. Already we begin to hear from abroad and from our customhouses that the prohibitory effect upon importations imputed to the act is not justified. The imports at the port of New York for the first three weeks of November were nearly 8 per cent greater than for the same period in 1889 and 29 per cent greater than in the same period of 1888. And so far from being an act to limit exports, I confidently believe that under it we shall secure a larger and more profitable participation in foreign trade than we have ever enjoyed, and that we shall recover a proportionate participation in the ocean carrying trade of the world. The criticisms of the bill that have come to us from foreign sources may well be rejected for repugnancy. If these critics really believe that the adoption by us of a free-trade policy, or of tariff rates having reference solely to revenue, would diminish the participation of their own countries in the commerce of the world, their advocacy and promotion, by speech and other forms of organized effort, of this movement among our people is a rare exhibition of unselfishness in trade. And, on the other hand, if they sincerely believe that the adoption of a protective-tariff policy by this country inures to their profit and our hurt, it is noticeably strange that they should lead the outcry against the authors of a policy so helpful to their countrymen and crown with their favor those who would snatch from them a substantial share of a trade with other lands already inadequate to their necessities. There is no disposition among any of our people to promote prohibitory or retaliatory legislation. Our policies are adopted not to the hurt of others, but to secure for ourselves those advantages that fairly grow out of our favored position as a nation. Our form of government, with its incident of universal suffrage, makes it imperative that we shall save our working people from the agitations and distresses which scant work and wages that have no margin for comfort always beget. But after all this is done it will be found that our markets are open to friendly commercial exchanges of enormous value to the other great powers. From the time of my induction into office the duty of using every power and influence given by law to the executive department for the development of larger markets for our products, especially our farm products, has been kept constantly in mind, and no effort has been or will be spared to promote that end. We are under no disadvantage in any foreign market, except that we pay our workmen and workwomen better wages than are paid elsewhere--better abstractly, better relatively to the cost of the necessaries of life. I do not doubt that a very largely increased foreign trade is accessible to us without bartering for it either our home market for such products of the farm and shop as our own people can supply or the wages of our working people. In many of the products of wood and iron and in meats and breadstuffs we have advantages that only need better facilities of intercourse and transportation to secure for them large foreign markets. The reciprocity clause of the tariff act wisely and effectively opens the way to secure a large reciprocal trade in exchange for the free admission to our ports of certain products. The right of independent nations to make special reciprocal trade concessions is well established, and does not impair either the comity due to other powers or what is known as the "favored-nation clause," so generally found in commercial treaties. What is given to one for an adequate agreed consideration can not be claimed by another freely. The state of the revenues was such that we could dispense with any import duties upon coffee, tea, hides, and the lower grades of sugar and molasses. That the large advantage resulting to the countries producing and exporting these articles by placing them on the free list entitled us to expect a fair return in the way of customs concessions upon articles exported by us to them was so obvious that to have gratuitously abandoned this opportunity to enlarge our trade would have been an unpardonable error. There were but two methods of maintaining control of this question open to Congress--to place all of these articles upon the dutiable list, subject to such treaty agreements as could be secured, or to place them all presently upon the free list, but subject to the reimposition of specified duties if the countries from which we received them should refuse to give to us suitable reciprocal benefits. This latter method, I think, possesses great advantages. It expresses in advance the consent of Congress to reciprocity arrangements affecting these products, which must otherwise have been delayed and unascertained until each treaty was ratified by the Senate and the necessary legislation enacted by Congress. Experience has shown that some treaties looking to reciprocal trade have failed to secure a two-thirds vote in the Senate for ratification, and others having passed that stage have for years awaited the concurrence of the House and Senate in such modifications of our revenue laws as were necessary to give effect to their provisions. We now have the concurrence of both Houses in advance in a distinct and definite offer of free entry to our ports of specific articles. The Executive is not required to deal in conjecture as to what Congress will accept. Indeed, this reciprocity provision is more than an offer. Our part of the bargain is complete; delivery has been made; and when the countries from which we receive sugar, coffee, tea, and hides have placed on their free lists such of our products as shall be agreed upon as an equivalent for our concession, a proclamation of that fact completes the transaction; and in the meantime our own people have free sugar, tea, coffee, and hides. The indications thus far given are very hopeful of early and favorable action by the countries from which we receive our large imports of coffee and sugar, and it is confidently believed that if steam communication with these countries can be promptly improved and enlarged the next year will show a most gratifying increase in our exports of breadstuffs and provisions, as well as of some important lines of manufactured goods. In addition to the important bills that became laws before the adjournment of the last session, some other bills of the highest importance were well advanced toward a final vote and now stand upon the calendars of the two Houses in favored positions. The present session has a fixed limit, and if these measures are not now brought to a final vote all the work that has been done upon them by this Congress is lost. The proper consideration of these, of an apportionment bill, and of the annual appropriation bills will require not only that no working day of the session shall be lost, but that measures of minor and local interest shall not be allowed to interrupt or retard the progress of those that are of universal interest. In view of these conditions, I refrain from bringing before you at this time some suggestions that would otherwise be made, and most earnestly invoke your attention to the duty of perfecting the important legislation now well advanced. To some of these measures, which seem to me most important, I now briefly call your attention. I desire to repeat with added urgency the recommendations contained in my last annual message in relation to the development of American steamship lines. The reciprocity clause of the tariff bill will be largely limited and its benefits retarded and diminished if provision is not contemporaneously made to encourage the establishment of first-class steam communication between our ports and the ports of such nations as may meet our overtures for enlarged commercial exchanges. The steamship, carrying the mails statedly and frequently and offering to passengers a comfortable, safe, and speedy transit, is the first condition of foreign trade. It carries the order or the buyer, but not all that is ordered or bought. It gives to the sailing vessels such cargoes as are not urgent or perishable, and, indirectly at least, promotes that important adjunct of commerce. There is now both in this country and in the nations of Central and South America a state of expectation and confidence as to increased trade that will give a double value to your prompt action upon this question. The present situation of our mail communication with Australia illustrates the importance of early action by Congress. The Oceanic Steamship Company maintains a line of steamers between San Francisco, Sydney, and Auckland consisting of three vessels, two of which are of United States registry and one of foreign registry. For the service done by this line in carrying the mails we pay annually the sum of $46,000, being, as estimated, the full sea and United States inland postage, which is the limit fixed by law. The colonies of New South Wales and New Zealand have been paying annually to these lines lbs. 37,000 for carrying the mails from Sydney and Auckland to San Francisco. The contract under which this payment has been made is now about to expire, and those colonies have refused to renew the contract unless the United States shall pay a more equitable proportion of the whole sum necessary to maintain the service. I am advised by the Postmaster-General that the United States receives for carrying the Australian mails, brought to San Francisco in these steamers, by rail to Vancouver, an estimated annual income of $75,000, while, as I have stated, we are paying out for the support of the steamship line that brings this mail to us only $46,000, leaving an annual surplus resulting from this service of $29,000. The trade of the United States with Australia, which is in a considerable part carried by these steamers, and the whole of which is practically dependent upon the mail communication which they maintain, is largely in our favor. Our total exports of merchandise to Australasian ports during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, were $11,266,484, while the total imports of merchandise from these ports were only $4,277,676. If we are not willing to see this important steamship line withdrawn, or continued with Vancouver substituted for San Francisco as the American terminal, Congress should put it in the power of the Postmaster-General to make a liberal increase in the amount now paid for the transportation of this important mail. The South Atlantic and Gulf ports occupy a very favored position toward the new and important commerce which the reciprocity clause of the tariff act and the postal shipping bill are designed to promote. Steamship lines from these ports to some northern port of South America will almost certainly effect a connection between the railroad systems of the continents long before any continuous line of railroads can be put into operation. The very large appropriation made at the last session for the harbor of Galveston was justified, as it seemed to me, by these considerations. The great Northwest will feel the advantage of trunk lines to the South as well as to the East and of the new markets opened for their surplus food products and for many of their manufactured products. I had occasion in May last to transmit to Congress a report adopted by the International American Conference upon the subject of the incorporation of an international American bank, with a view to facilitating money exchanges between the States represented in that conference. Such an institution would greatly promote the trade we are seeking to develop. I renew the recommendation that a careful and well-guarded charter be granted. I do not think the powers granted should include those ordinarily exercised by trust, guaranty, and safe-deposit companies, or that more branches in the United States should be authorized than are strictly necessary to accomplish the object primarily in view, namely, convenient foreign exchanges. It is quite important that prompt action should be taken in this matter, in order that any appropriations for better communication with these countries and any agreements that may be made for reciprocal trade may not be hindered by the inconvenience of making exchanges through European money centers or burdened by the tribute which is an incident of that method of business. The bill for the relief of the Supreme Court has after many years of discussion reached a position where final action is easily attainable, and it is hoped that any differences of opinion may be so harmonized as to save the essential features of this very important measure. In this connection I earnestly renew my recommendation that the salaries of the judges of the United States district courts be so readjusted that none of them shall receive less than $5,000 per annum. The subject of the unadjusted Spanish and Mexican land grants and the urgent necessity for providing some commission or tribunal for the trial of questions of title growing out of them were twice brought by me to the attention of Congress at the last session. Bills have been reported from the proper committees in both Houses upon the subject, and I very earnestly hope that this Congress will put an end to the delay which has attended the settlement of the disputes as to the title between the settlers and the claimants under these grants. These disputes retard the prosperity and disturb the peace of large and important communities. The governor of New Mexico in his last report to the Secretary of the Interior suggests some modifications of the provisions of the pending bills relating to the small holdings of farm lands. I commend to your attention the suggestions of the Secretary of the Interior upon this subject. The enactment of a national bankrupt law I still regard as very desirable. The Constitution having given to Congress jurisdiction of this subject, it should be exercised and uniform rules provided for the administration of the affairs of insolvent debtors. The inconveniences resulting from the occasional and temporary exercise of this power by Congress and from the conflicting State codes of insolvency which come into force intermediately should be removed by the enactment of a simple, inexpensive, and permanent national bankrupt law. I also renew my recommendation in favor of legislation affording just copyright protection to foreign authors on a footing of reciprocal advantage for our authors abroad. It may still be possible for this Congress to inaugurate by suitable legislation a movement looking to uniformity and increased safety in the use of couplers and brakes upon freight trains engaged in interstate commerce. The chief difficulty in the way is to secure agreement as to the best appliances, simplicity, effectiveness, and cost being considered. This difficulty will only yield to legislation, which should be based upon full inquiry and impartial tests. The purpose should be to secure the cooperation of all well-disposed managers and owners; but the fearful fact that every year's delay involves the sacrifice of 2,000 lives and the maiming of 20,000 young men should plead both with Congress and the managers against any needless delay. The subject of the conservation and equal distribution of the water supply of the arid regions has had much attention from Congress, but has not as yet been put upon a permanent and satisfactory basis. The urgency of the subject does not grow out of any large present demand for the use of these lands for agriculture, but out of the danger that the water supply and the sites for the necessary catch basins may fall into the hands of individuals or private corporations and be used to render subservient the large areas dependent upon such supply. The owner of the water is the owner of the lands, however the titles may run. All unappropriated natural water sources and all necessary reservoir sites should be held by the Government for the equal use at fair rates of the homestead settlers who will eventually take up these lands. The United States should not, in my opinion, undertake the construction of dams or canals, but should limit its work to such surveys and observations as will determine the water supply, both surface and subterranean, the areas capable of irrigation, and the location and storage capacity of reservoirs. This done, the use of the water and of the reservoir sites might be granted to the respective States or Territories or to individuals or associations upon the condition that the necessary works should be constructed and the water furnished at fair rates without discrimination, the rates to be subject to supervision by the legislatures or by boards of water commissioners duly constituted. The essential thing to be secured is the common and equal use at fair rates of the accumulated water supply. It were almost better that these lands should remain arid than that those who occupy them should become the slaves of unrestrained monopolies controlling the one essential element of land values and crop results. The use of the telegraph by the Post-Office Department as a means for the rapid transmission of written communications is, I believe, upon proper terms, quite desirable. The Government does not own or operate the railroads, and it should not, I think, own or operate the telegraph lines. It does, however, seem to be quite practicable for the Government to contract with the telegraph companies, as it does with railroad companies, to carry at specified rates such communications as the senders may designate for this method of transmission. I recommend that such legislation be enacted as will enable the Post-Office Department fairly to test by experiment the advantages of such a use of the telegraph. If any intelligent and loyal company of American citizens were required to catalogue the essential human conditions of national life, I do not doubt that with absolute unanimity they would begin with "free and honest elections." And it is gratifying to know that generally there is a growing and nonpartisan demand for better election laws; but against this sign of hope and progress must be set the depressing and undeniable fact that election laws and methods are sometimes cunningly contrived to secure minority control, while violence completes the shortcomings of fraud. In my last annual message I suggested that the development of the existing law providing a Federal supervision of Congressional elections offered an effective method of reforming these abuses. The need of such a law has manifested itself in many parts of the country, and its wholesome restraints and penalties will be useful in all. The constitutionality of such legislation has been affirmed by the Supreme Court. Its probable effectiveness is evidenced by the character of the opposition that is made to it. It has been denounced as if it were a new exercise of Federal power and an invasion of the rights of States. Nothing could be further from the truth. Congress has already fixed the time for the election of members of Congress. It has declared that votes for members of Congress must be by written or printed ballot; it has provided for the appointment by the circuit courts in certain cases, and upon the petition of a certain number of citizens, of election supervisors, and made it their duty to supervise the registration of voters conducted by the State officers; to challenge persons offering to register; to personally inspect and scrutinize the registry lists, and to affix their names to the lists for the purpose of identification and the prevention of frauds; to attend at elections and remain with the boxes till they are all cast and counted; to attach to the registry lists and election returns any statement touching the accuracy and fairness of the registry and election, and to take and transmit to the Clerk of the House of Representatives any evidence of fraudulent practices which may be presented to them. The same law provides for the appointment of deputy United States marshals to attend at the polls, support the supervisors in the discharge of their duties, and to arrest persons violating the election laws. The provisions of this familiar title of the Revised Statutes have been put into exercise by both the great political parties, and in the North as well as in the South, by the filing with the court of the petitions required by the law. It is not, therefore, a question whether we shall have a Federal election law, for we now have one and have had for nearly twenty years, but whether we shall have an effective law. The present law stops just short of effectiveness, for it surrenders to the local authorities all control over the certification which establishes the prima facie right to a seat in the House of Representatives. This defect should be cured. Equality of representation and the parity of the electors must be maintained or everything that is valuable in our system of government is lost. The qualifications of an elector must be sought in the law, net in the opinions, prejudices, or fears of any class, however powerful. The path of the elector to the ballot box must be free from the ambush of fear and the enticements of fraud; the count so true and open that none shall gainsay it. Such a law should be absolutely nonpartisan and impartial. It should give the advantage to honesty and the control to majorities. Surely there is nothing sectional about this creed, and if it shall happen that the penalties of laws intended to enforce these rights fall here and not there it is not because the law is sectional, but because, happily, crime is local and not universal. Nor should it be forgotten that every law, whether relating to elections or to any other subject, whether enacted by the State or by the nation, has force behind it; the courts, the marshal or constable, the posse comitatus, the prison, are all and always behind the law. One can not be justly charged with unfriendliness to any section or class who seeks only to restrain violations of law and of personal right. No community will find lawlessness profitable. No community can afford to have it known that the officers who are charged with the preservation of the public peace and the restraint of the criminal classes are themselves the product of fraud or violence. The magistrate is then without respect and the law without sanction. The floods of lawlessness can not be leveed and made to run in one channel. The killing of a United States marshal carrying a writ of arrest for an election offense is full of prompting and suggestion to men who are pursued by a city marshal for a crime against life or property. But it is said that this legislation will revive race animosities, and some have even suggested that when the peaceful methods of fraud are made impossible they may be supplanted by intimidation and violence. If the proposed law gives to any qualified elector by a hair's weight more than his equal influence or detracts by so much from any other qualified elector, it is fatally impeached. But if the law is equal and the animosities it is to evoke grow out of the fact that some electors have been accustomed to exercise the franchise for others as well as for themselves, then these animosities ought not to be confessed without shame, and can not be given any weight in the discussion without dishonor No choice is left to me but to enforce with vigor all laws intended to secure to the citizen his constitutional rights and to recommend that the inadequacies of such laws be promptly remedied. If to promote with zeal and ready interest every project for the development of its material interests, its rivers, harbors, mines, and factories, and the intelligence, peace, and security under the law of its communities and its homes is not accepted as sufficient evidence of friendliness to any State or section, I can not add connivance at election practices that not only disturb local results, but rob the electors of other States and sections of their most priceless political rights. The preparation of the general appropriation bills should be conducted with the greatest care and the closest scrutiny of expenditures. Appropriations should be adequate to the needs of the public service, but they should be absolutely free from prodigality. I venture again to remind you that the brief time remaining for the consideration of the important legislation now awaiting your attention offers no margin for waste. If the present duty is discharged with diligence, fidelity, and courage, the work of the Fifty-first Congress may be confidently submitted to the considerate judgment of the people.
the reports of the several executive departments which will be laid before congress in the usual course will exhibit in detail the operations of the government for the last fiscal year only the more important incidents and results and chiefly such as may be the foundation of the recommendations i shall submit will be referred to in this annual message the vast and increasing business of the government has been transacted by the several departments during the year with faithfulness energy and success the revenues amounting to above have been collected and disbursed without revealing so far as i can ascertain a single case of defalcation or embezzlement an earnest effort has been made to stimulate a sense of responsibility and public duty in all officers and employees of every grade and the work done by them has almost wholly escaped unfavorable criticism i speak of these matters with freedom because the credit of this good work is not mine but is shared by the heads of the several departments with the great body of faithful officers and employees who serve under them the closest scrutiny of congress is invited to all the methods of administration and to every item of expenditure the friendly relations of our country with the nations of europe and of the east have been undisturbed while the ties of good will and common interest that bind us to the states of the western hemisphere have been notably strengthened by the conference held in this capital to consider measures for the general welfare pursuant to the invitation authorized by congress the representatives of every independent state of the american continent and of hayti met in conference in this capital in october 1889 and continued in session until the 19th of last april this important convocation marks a most interesting and influential epoch in the history of the western hemisphere it is noteworthy that brazil invited while under an imperial form of government shared as a republic in the deliberations and results of the conference the recommendations of this conference were all transmitted to congress at the last session the international marine conference which sat at washington last winter reached a very gratifying result the regulations suggested have been brought to the attention of all the governments represented and their general adoption is confidently expected the legislation of congress at the last session is in conformity with the propositions of the conference and the proclamation therein provided for will be issued when the other powers have given notice of their adhesion the conference of brussels to devise means for suppressing the slave trade in africa afforded an opportunity for a new expression of the interest the american people feel in that great work it soon became evident that the measure proposed would tax the resources of the kongo basin beyond the revenues available under the general act of berlin of 1884 the united states not being a party to that act could not share in its revision but by a separate act the independent state of the kongo was freed from the restrictions upon a customs revenue the demoralizing and destructive traffic in ardent spirits among the tribes also claimed the earnest attention of the conference and the delegates of the united states were foremost in advocating measures for its repression an accord was reached the influence of which will be very helpful and extend over a wide region as soon as these measures shall receive the sanction of the netherlands for a time withheld the general acts will be submitted for ratification by the senate meanwhile negotiations have been opened for a new and completed treaty of friendship commerce and navigation between the united states and the independent state of the kongo toward the end of the past year the only independent monarchical government on the western continent that of brazil ceased to exist and was succeeded by a republic diplomatic relations were at once established with the new government but it was not completely recognized until an opportunity had been afforded to ascertain that it had popular approval and support when the course of events had yielded assurance of this fact no time was lost in extending to the new government a full and cordial welcome into the family of american commonwealths it is confidently believed that the good relations of the two countries will be preserved and that the future will witness an increased intimacy of intercourse and an expansion of their mutual commerce the peace of central america has again been disturbed through a revolutionary change in salvador which was not recognized by other states and hostilities broke out between salvador and guatemala threatening to involve all central america in conflict and to undo the progress which had been made toward a union of their interests the efforts of this government were promptly and zealously exerted to compose their differences and through the active efforts of the representative of the united states a provisional treaty of peace was signed august 26 whereby the right of the republic of salvador to choose its own rulers was recognized general ezeta the chief of the provisional government has since been confirmed in the presidency by the assembly and diplomatic recognition duly followed the killing of general barrundia on board the pacific mail steamer acapulco while anchored in transit in the port of san jose de guatemala demanded careful inquiry having failed in a revolutionary attempt to invade guatemala from mexican territory general barrundia took passage at acapulco for panama the consent of the representatives of the united states was sought to effect his seizure first at champerico where the steamer touched and afterwards at san jose the captain of the steamer refused to give up his passenger without a written order from the united states minister the latter furnished the desired letter stipulating as the condition of his action that general barrundia life should be spared and that he should be tried only for offenses growing out of his insurrectionary movements this letter was produced to the captain of the acapulco by the military commander at san jose as his warrant to take the passenger from the steamer general barrundia resisted capture and was killed it being evident that the minister mizner had exceeded the bounds of his authority in intervening in compliance with the demands of the guatemalan authorities to authorize and effect in violation of precedent the seizure on a vessel of the united states of a passenger in transit charged with political offenses in order that he might be tried for such offenses under what was described as martial law i was constrained to disavow mizner act and recall him from his post the nicaragua canal project under the control of our citizens is making most encouraging progress all the preliminary conditions and initial operations having been accomplished within the prescribed time during the past year negotiations have been renewed for the settlement of the claims of american citizens against the government of chile principally growing out of the late war with peru the reports from our minister at santiago warrant the expectation of an early and satisfactory adjustment our relations with china which have for several years occupied so important a place in our diplomatic history have called for careful consideration and have been the subject of much correspondence the communications of the chinese minister have brought into view the whole subject of our conventional relations with his country and at the same time this government through its legation at peking has sought to arrange various matters and complaints touching the interests and protection of our citizens in china in pursuance of the concurrent resolution of october 1 1890 i have proposed to the governments of mexico and great britain to consider a conventional regulation of the passage of chinese laborers across our southern and northern frontiers on the 22d day of august last sir edmund monson the arbitrator selected under the treaty of december 6 1888 rendered an award to the effect that no compensation was due from the danish government to the united states on account of what is commonly known as the carlos butterfield claim our relations with the french republic continue to be cordial our representative at that court has very diligently urged the removal of the restrictions imposed upon our meat products and it is believed that substantial progress has been made toward a just settlement the samoan treaty signed last year at berlin by the representatives of the united states germany and great britain after due ratification and exchange has begun to produce salutary effects the formation of the government agreed upon will soon replace the disorder of the past by a stable administration alike just to the natives and equitable to the three powers most concerned in trade and intercourse with the samoan islands the chief justice has been chosen by the king of sweden and norway on the invitation of the three powers and will soon be installed the land commission and the municipal council are in process of organization a rational and evenly distributed scheme of taxation both municipal and upon imports is in operation malietoa is respected as king the new treaty of extradition with great britain after due ratification was proclaimed on the 25th of last march its beneficial working is already apparent the difference between the two governments touching the question in the bering sea is not yet adjusted as will be seen by the correspondence which will soon be laid before the congress the offer to submit the question to arbitration as proposed by her majesty government has not been accepted for the reason that the form of submission proposed is not thought to be calculated to assure a conclusion satisfactory to either party it is sincerely hoped that before the opening of another sealing season some arrangement may be effected which will assure to the united states a property right derived from russia which was not disregarded by any nation for more than eighty years preceding the outbreak of the existing trouble in the tariff act a wrong was done to the kingdom of hawaii which i am bound to presume was wholly unintentional duties were levied on certain commodities which are included in the reciprocity treaty now existing between the united states and the kingdom of hawaii without indicating the necessary exception in favor of that kingdom i hope congress will repair what might otherwise seem to be a breach of faith on the part of this government an award in favor of the united states in the matter of the claim of van bokkelen against hayti was rendered on the 4th of december 1888 but owing to disorders then and afterwards prevailing in hayti the terms of payment were not observed a new agreement as to the time of payment has been approved and is now in force other just claims of citizens of the united states for redress of wrongs suffered during the late political conflict in hayti will it is hoped speedily yield to friendly treatment propositions for the amendment of the treaty of extradition between the united states and italy are now under consideration you will be asked to provide the means of accepting the invitation of the italian government to take part in an approaching conference to consider the adoption of a universal prime meridian from which to reckon longitude and time as this proposal follows in the track of the reform sought to be initiated by the meridian conference of washington held on the invitation of this government the united states should manifest a friendly interest in the italian proposal in this connection i may refer with approval to the suggestion of my predecessors that standing provision be made for accepting whenever deemed advisable the frequent invitations of foreign governments to share in conferences looking to the advancement of international reforms in regard to science sanitation commercial laws and procedure and other matters affecting the intercourse and progress of modern communities in the summer of 1889 an incident occurred which for some time threatened to interrupt the cordiality of our relations with the government of portugal that government seized the delagoa bay railway which was constructed under a concession granted to an american citizen and at the same time annulled the charter the concessionary who had embarked his fortune in the enterprise having exhausted other means of redress was compelled to invoke the protection of his government our representations made coincidently with those of the british government whose subjects were also largely interested happily resulted in the recognition by portugal of the propriety of submitting the claim for indemnity growing out of its action to arbitration this plan of settlement having been agreed upon the interested powers readily concurred in the proposal to submit the ease to the judgment of three eminent jurists to be designated by the president of the swiss republic who upon the joint invitation of the governments of the united states great britain and portugal has selected persons well qualified for the task before them the revision of our treaty relations with the empire of japan has continued to be the subject of consideration and of correspondence the questions involved are both grave and delicate and while it will be my duty to see that the interests of the united states are not by any changes exposed to undue discrimination i sincerely hope that such revision as will satisfy the legitimate expectations of the japanese government and maintain the present and friendly relations between japan and the united states will be effected the friendship between our country and mexico born of close neighborhood and strengthened by many considerations of intimate intercourse and reciprocal interest has never been more conspicuous than now nor more hopeful of increased benefit to both nations the intercourse of the two countries by rail already great is making constant growth the established lines and those recently projected add to the intimacy of traffic and open new channels of access to fresh areas of demand and supply the importance of the mexican railway system will be further enhanced to a degree almost impossible to forecast if it should become a link in the projected intercontinental railway i recommend that our mission in the city of mexico be raised to the first class the cordial character of our relations with spain warrants the hope that by the continuance of methods of friendly negotiation much may be accomplished in the direction of an adjustment of pending questions and of the increase of our trade the extent and development of our trade with the island of cuba invest the commercial relations of the united states and spain with a peculiar importance it is not doubted that a special arrangement in regard to commerce based upon the reciprocity provision of the recent tariff act would operate most beneficially for both governments this subject is now receiving attention the restoration of the remains of john ericsson to sweden afforded a gratifying occasion to honor the memory of the great inventor to whose genius our country owes so much and to bear witness to the unbroken friendship which has existed between the land which bore him and our own which claimed him as a citizen on the 2d of september last the commission appointed to revise the proceedings of the commission under the claims convention between the united states and venezuela of 1866 brought its labors to a close within the period fixed for that purpose the proceedings of the late commission were characterized by a spirit of impartiality and a high sense of justice and an incident which was for many years the subject of discussion between the two governments has been disposed of in a manner alike honorable and satisfactory to both parties for the settlement of the claim of the venezuela steam transportation company which was the subject of a joint resolution adopted at the last session of congress negotiations are still in progress and their early conclusion is anticipated the legislation of the past few years has evinced on the part of congress a growing realization of the importance of the consular service in fostering our commercial relations abroad and in protecting the domestic revenues as the scope of operations expands increased provision must be made to keep up the essential standard of efficiency the necessity of some adequate measure of supervision and inspection has been so often presented that i need only commend the subject to your attention the revenues of the government from all sources for the fiscal year ending june 30 1890 were and the total expenditures for the same period were the postal receipts have not heretofore been included in the statement of these aggregates and for the purpose of comparison the sum of should be deducted from both sides of the account the surplus for the year including the amount applied to the sinking fund was the receipts for 1890 were and the expenditures in excess of those of 1889 the customs receipts increased and the receipts from internal revenue while on the side of expenditures that for pensions was in excess of the preceding year the treasury statement for the current fiscal year partly actual and partly estimated is as follows receipts from all sources total expenditures leaving a surplus of not taking the postal receipts into the account on either side the loss of revenue from customs for the last quarter is estimated at but from this is deducted a gain of about realized during the first four months of the year for the year 1892 the total estimated receipts are and the estimated expenditures leaving an estimated surplus of which with a cash balance of at the beginning of the year will give as the sum available for the redemption of outstanding bonds or other uses the estimates of receipts and expenditures for the department being equal are not included in this statement on either side the act directing the purchase of silver bullion and the issue of treasury notes thereon approved july 14 1890 has been administered by the secretary of the treasury with an earnest purpose to get into circulation at the earliest possible dates the full monthly amounts of treasury notes contemplated by its provisions and at the same time to give to the market for the silver bullion such support as the law contemplates the recent depreciation in the price of silver has been observed with regret the rapid rise in price which anticipated and followed the passage of the act was influenced in some degree by speculation and the recent reaction is in part the result of the same because and in part of the recent monetary disturbances some months of further trial will be necessary to determine the permanent effect of the recent legislation upon silver values but it is gratifying to know that the increased circulation secured by the act has exerted and will continue to exert a most beneficial influence upon business and upon general values while it has not been thought best to renew formally the suggestion of an international conference looking to an agreement touching the full use of silver for coinage at a uniform ratio care has been taken to observe closely any change in the situation abroad and no favorable opportunity will be lost to promote a result which it is confidently believed would confer very large benefits upon the commerce of the world the recent monetary disturbances in england are not unlikely to suggest a reexamination of opinions upon this subject our very large supply of gold will if not lost by impulsive legislation in the supposed interest of silver give us a position of advantage in promoting a permanent and safe international agreement for the free use of silver as a coin metal the efforts of the secretary to increase the volume of money in circulation by keeping down the treasury surplus to the lowest practicable limit have been unremitting and in a very high degree successful the tables presented by him showing the increase of money in circulation during the last two decades and especially the table showing the increase during the nineteen months he has administered the affairs of the department are interesting and instructive the increase of money in circulation during the nineteen months has been in the aggregate or about per capita and of this increase only was due to the recent silver legislation that this substantial and needed aid given to commerce resulted in an enormous reduction of the public debt and of the annual interest charge is matter of increased satisfaction there have been purchased and redeemed since march 4 1889 4 and 4 12 per cent bonds to the amount of at a cost of resulting in the reduction of the annual interest charge of and a total saving of interest of i notice with great pleasure the statement of the secretary that the receipts from internal revenue have increased during the last fiscal year nearly and that the cost of collecting this larger revenue was less by than for the same purpose in the preceding year the percentage of cost of collecting the customs revenue was less for the last fiscal year than ever before the customs administration board provided for by the act of june 10 1890 was selected with great care and is composed in part of men whose previous experience in the administration of the old customs regulations had made them familiar with the evils to be remedied and in part of men whose legal and judicial acquirements and experience seemed to fit them for the work of interpreting and applying the new statute the chief aim of the law is to secure honest valuations of all dutiable merchandise and to make these valuations uniform at all our ports of entry it had been made manifest by a congressional investigation that a system of undervaluation had been long in use by certain classes of importers resulting not only in a great loss of revenue but in a most intolerable discrimination against honesty it is not seen how this legislation when it is understood can be regarded by the citizens of any country having commercial dealings with us as unfriendly if any duty is supposed to be excessive let the complaint be lodged there it will surely not be claimed by any people that a remedy may be sought and allowed in a system of quasi smuggling the report of the secretary of war exhibits several gratifying results attained during the year by wise and unostentatious methods the percentage of desertions from the army an evil for which both congress and the department have long been seeking a remedy has been reduced during the past year 24 per cent and for the months of august and september during which time the favorable effects of the act of june 16 were felt 33 per cent as compared with the same months of 1889 the results attained by a reorganization and consolidation of the divisions having charge of the hospital and service records of the volunteer soldiers are very remarkable this change was effected in july 1889 and at that time there were cases awaiting attention more than half of these being calls from the pension office for information necessary to the adjudication of pension claims on the 30th day of june last though over new calls had come in there was not a single case that had not been examined and answered i concur in the recommendations of the secretary that adequate and regular appropriations be continued for works and ordnance plans have been practically agreed upon and there can be no good reason for delaying the execution of them while the defenseless state of our great seaports furnishes an urgent reason for wise expedition the encouragement that has been extended to the militia of the states generally and most appropriately designated the national guard should be continued and enlarged these military organizations constitute in a large sense the army of the united states while about of the annual cost of their maintenance is defrayed by the states the report of the is under the law submitted directly to congress but as the department of justice is one of the executive departments some reference to the work done is appropriate here a vigorous and in the main an effective effort has been made to bring to trial and punishment all violators of the law but at the same time care has been taken that frivolous and technical offenses should not be used to swell the fees of officers or to harass citizens especial attention is called to the facts connected with the prosecution of violations of the election laws and of offenses against united states officers the number of convictions secured very many of them upon pleas of guilty will it is hoped have a salutary restraining influence there have been several cases where postmasters appointed by me have been subjected to violent interference in the discharge of their official duties and to persecutions and personal violence of the most extreme character some of these cases have been dealt with through the department of justice and in some cases the have been abolished or suspended i have directed the to pursue this course in all cases where other efforts failed to secure for any postmaster not himself in fault an opportunity peacefully to exercise the duties of his office but such action will not supplant the efforts of the department of justice to bring the particular offenders to punishment the vacation by judicial decrees of fraudulent certificates of naturalization upon bills in equity filed by the in the circuit court of the united states is a new application of a familiar equity jurisdiction nearly one hundred such decrees have been taken during the year the evidence disclosing that a very large number of fraudulent certificates of naturalization have been issued and in this connection i beg to renew my recommendation that the laws be so amended as to require a more full and searching inquiry into all the facts necessary to naturalization before any certificates are granted it certainly is not too much to require that an application for american citizenship shall be heard with as much care and recorded with as much formality as are given to cases involving the pettiest property right at the last session i returned without my approval a bill entitled an act to prohibit bookmaking and pool selling in the district of columbia and stated my objection to be that it did not prohibit but in fact licensed what it purported to prohibit an effort will be made under existing laws to suppress this evil though it is not certain that they will be found adequate the report of the shows the most gratifying progress in the important work committed to his direction the business methods have been greatly improved a large economy in expenditures and an increase of four and millions in receipts have been realized the deficiency this year is as against last year notwithstanding the great enlargement of the service mail routes have been extended and quickened and greater accuracy and dispatch in distribution and delivery have been attained the report will be found to be full of interest and suggestion not only to congress but to those thoughtful citizens who may be interested to know what business methods can do for that department of public administration which most nearly touches all our people the passage of the act to amend certain sections of the revised statutes relating to lotteries approved september 19 1890 has been received with great and deserved popular favor the department and the department of justice at once entered upon the enforcement of the law with sympathetic vigor and already the public mails have been largely freed from the fraudulent and demoralizing appeals and literature emanating from the lottery companies the construction and equipment of the new ships for the navy have made very satisfactory progress since march 4 1889 nine new vessels have been put in commission and during this winter four more including one monitor will be added the construction of the other vessels authorized is being pushed both in the government and private yards with energy and watched with the most scrupulous care the experiments conducted during the year to test the relative resisting power of armor plates have been so valuable as to attract great attention in europe the only part of the work upon the new ships that is threatened by unusual delay is the armor plating and every effort is being made to reduce that to the minimum it is a source of congratulation that the anticipated influence of these modern vessels upon the esprit de corps of the officers and seamen has been fully realized confidence and pride in the ship among the crew are equivalent to a secondary battery your favorable consideration is invited to the recommendations of the secretary the report of the secretary of the interior exhibits with great fullness and clearness the vast work of that department and the satisfactory results attained the suggestions made by him are earnestly commended to the consideration of congress though they can not all be given particular mention here the several acts of congress looking to the reduction of the larger indian reservations to the more rapid settlement of the indians upon individual allotments and the restoration to the public domain of lands in excess of their needs have been largely carried into effect so far as the work was confided to the executive agreements have been concluded since march 4 1889 involving the cession to the united states of about acres of land these contracts have as required by law been submitted to congress for ratification and for the appropriations necessary to carry them into effect those with the sisseton and wahpeton sac and fox iowa pottawatomies and absentee shawnees and coeur tribes have not yet received the sanction of congress attention is also called to the fact that the appropriations made in the case of the sioux indians have not covered all the stipulated payments this should be promptly corrected if an agreement is confirmed all of its terms should be complied with without delay and full appropriations should be made the policy outlined in my last annual message in relation to the patenting of lands to settlers upon the public domain has been carried out in the administration of the land office no general suspicion or imputation of fraud has been allowed to delay the hearing and adjudication of individual cases upon their merits the purpose has been to perfect the title of honest settlers with such promptness that the value of the entry might not be swallowed up by the expense and extortions to which delay subjected the claimant the average monthly issue of agricultural patents has been increased about the act which was approved on the 27th of june last has been put into operation as rapidly as was practicable the increased clerical force provided was selected and assigned to work and a considerable part of the force engaged in examinations in the field was recalled and added to the working force of the office the examination and adjudication of claims have by reason of improved methods been more rapid than ever before there is no economy to the government in delay while there is much hardship and injustice to the soldier the anticipated expenditure while very large will not it is believed be in excess of the estimates made before the enactment of the law this liberal enlargement of the general law should suggest a more careful scrutiny of bills for special relief both as to the cases where relief is granted and as to the amount allowed the increasing numbers and influence of the population of utah are observed with satisfaction the recent letter of wilford woodruff president of the mormon church in which he advised his people to refrain from contracting any marriage forbidden by the laws of the land has attracted wide attention and it is hoped that its influence will be highly beneficial in restraining infractions of the laws of the united states but the fact should not be overlooked that the doctrine or belief of the church that polygamous marriages are rightful and supported by divine revelation remains unchanged president woodruff does not renounce the doctrine but refrains from teaching it and advises against the practice of it because the law is against it now it is quite true that the law should not attempt to deal with the faith or belief of anyone but it is quite another thing and the only safe thing so to deal with the territory of utah as that those who believe polygamy to be rightful shall not have the power to make it lawful the admission of the states of wyoming and idaho to the union are events full of interest and congratulation not only to the people of those states now happily endowed with a full participation in our privileges and responsibilities but to all our people another belt of states stretches from the atlantic to the pacific the work of the patent office has won from all sources very high commendation the amount accomplished has been very largely increased and all the results have been such as to secure confidence and consideration for the suggestions of the commissioner the enumeration of the people of the united states under the provisions of the act of march 1 1889 has been completed and the result will be at once officially communicated to congress the completion of this decennial enumeration devolves upon congress the duty of making a new apportionment of representatives among the several states according to their respective numbers at the last session i had occasion to return with my objections several bills making provisions for the erection of public buildings for the reason that the expenditures contemplated were in my opinion greatly in excess of any public need no class of legislation is more liable to abuse or to degenerate into an unseemly scramble about the public treasury than this there should be exercised in this matter a wise economy based upon some responsible and impartial examination and report as to each case under a general law the report of the secretary of agriculture deserves especial attention in view of the fact that the year has been marked in a very unusual degree by agitation and organization among the farmers looking to an increase in the profits of their business it will be found that the efforts of the department have been intelligently and zealously devoted to the promotion of the interests intrusted to its care a very substantial improvement in the market prices of the leading farm products during the year is noticed the price of wheat advanced from 81 cents in october 1889 to in october 1890 corn from 31 cents to 50 cents oats from 19 cents to 43 cents and barley from 63 cents to 78 cents meats showed a substantial but not so large an increase the export trade in live animals and fowls shows a very large increase the total value of such exports for the year ending june 30 1890 was and the increase over the preceding year was over nearly more cattle and over more hogs were exported than in the preceding year the export trade in beef and pork products and in dairy products was very largely increased the increase in the article of butter alone being from pounds to pounds and the total increase in the value of meat and dairy products exported being this trade so directly helpful to the farmer it is believed will be yet further and very largely increased when the system of inspection and sanitary supervision now provided by law is brought fully into operation the efforts of the secretary to establish the healthfulness of our meats against the disparaging imputations that have been put upon them abroad have resulted in substantial progress veterinary surgeons sent out by the department are now allowed to participate in the inspection of the live cattle from this country landed at the english docks and during the several months they have been on duty no case of contagious has been reported this inspection abroad and the domestic inspection of live animals and pork products provided for by the act of august 30 1890 will afford as perfect a guaranty for the wholesomeness of our meats offered for foreign consumption as is anywhere given to any food product and its nonacceptance will quite clearly reveal the real motive of any continued restriction of their use and that having been made clear the duty of the executive will be very plain the information given by the secretary of the progress and prospects of the industry is full of interest it has already passed the experimental stage and is a commercial success the area over which the sugar beet can be successfully cultivated is very large and another field crop of great value is offered to the choice of the farmer the secretary of the treasury concurs in the recommendation of the secretary of agriculture that the official supervision provided by the tariff law for sugar of domestic production shall be transferred to the department of agriculture the law relating to the civil service has so far as i can learn been executed by those having the power of appointment in the classified service with fidelity and impartiality and the service has been increasingly satisfactory the report of the commission shows a large amount of good work done during the year with very limited appropriations i congratulate the congress and the country upon the passage at the first session of the congress of an unusual number of laws of very high importance that the results of this legislation will be the quickening and enlargement of our manufacturing industries larger and better markets for our breadstuffs and provisions both at home and abroad more constant employment and better wages for our working people and an increased supply of a safe currency for the transaction of business i do not doubt some of these measures were enacted at so late a period that the beneficial effects upon commerce which were in the contemplation of congress have as yet but partially manifested themselves the general trade and industrial conditions throughout the country during the year have shown a marked improvement for many years prior to 1888 the merchandise balances of foreign trade had been largely in our favor but during that year and the year following they turned against us it is very gratifying to know that the last fiscal year again shows a balance in our favor of over the bank clearings which furnish a good test of the volume of business transacted for the first ten months of the year 1890 show as compared with the same months of 1889 an increase for the whole country of about per cent while the increase outside of the city of new york was over 13 per cent during the month of october the clearings of the whole country showed an increase of per cent over october 1889 while outside of new york the increase was per cent these figures show that the increase in the volume of business was very general throughout the country that this larger business was being conducted upon a safe and profitable basis is shown by the fact that there were 300 less failures reported in october 1890 than in the same month of the preceding year with liabilities diminished by about the value of our exports of domestic merchandise during the last year was over greater than the preceding year and was only exceeded once in our history about of this excess was in agricultural products the production of pig iron always a good gauge of general prosperity is shown by a recent census bulletin to have been 153 per cent greater in 1890 than in 1880 and the production of steel 290 per cent greater mining in coal has had no limitation except that resulting from deficient transportation the general testimony is that labor is everywhere fully employed and the reports for the last year show a smaller number of employees affected by strikes and lockouts than in any year since 1884 the depression in the prices of agricultural products had been greatly relieved and a buoyant and hopeful tone was beginning to be felt by all our people these promising influences have been in some degree checked by the surprising and very unfavorable monetary events which have recently taken place in england it is gratifying to know that these did not grow in any degree out of the financial relations of london with our people or out of any discredit attached to our securities held in that market the return of our bonds and stocks was caused by a money stringency in england not by any loss of value or credit in the securities themselves we could not however wholly escape the ill effects of a foreign monetary agitation accompanied by such extraordinary incidents as characterized this it is not believed however that these evil incidents which have for the time unfavorably affected values in this country can long withstand the strong safe and wholesome influences which are operating to give to our people profitable returns in all branches of legitimate trade and industry the apprehension that our tariff may again and at once be subjected to important general changes would undoubtedly add a depressing influence of the most serious character the general tariff act has only partially gone into operation some of its important provisions being limited to take effect at dates yet in the future the general provisions of the law have been in force less than sixty days its permanent effects upon trade and prices still largely stand in conjecture it is curious to note that the advance in the prices of articles wholly unaffected by the tariff act was by many hastily ascribed to that act notice was not taken of the fact that the general tendency of the markets was upward from influences wholly apart from the recent tariff legislation the enlargement of our currency by the silver bill undoubtedly gave an upward tendency to trade and had a marked effect on prices but this natural and desired effect of the silver legislation was by many erroneously attributed to the tariff act there is neither wisdom nor justice in the suggestion that the subject of tariff revision shall be again opened before this law has had a fair trial it is quite true that every tariff schedule is subject to objections no bill was ever framed i suppose that in all of its rates and classifications had the full approval even of a party caucus such legislation is always and necessarily the product of compromise as to details and the present law is no exception but in its general scope and effect i think it will justify the support of those who believe that american legislation should conserve and defend american trade and the wages of american workmen the misinformation as to the terms of the act which has been so widely disseminated at home and abroad will be corrected by experience and the evil auguries as to its results confounded by the market reports the savings banks international trade balances and the general prosperity of our people already we begin to hear from abroad and from our customhouses that the prohibitory effect upon importations imputed to the act is not justified the imports at the port of new york for the first three weeks of november were nearly 8 per cent greater than for the same period in 1889 and 29 per cent greater than in the same period of 1888 and so far from being an act to limit exports i confidently believe that under it we shall secure a larger and more profitable participation in foreign trade than we have ever enjoyed and that we shall recover a proportionate participation in the ocean carrying trade of the world the criticisms of the bill that have come to us from foreign sources may well be rejected for repugnancy if these critics really believe that the adoption by us of a policy or of tariff rates having reference solely to revenue would diminish the participation of their own countries in the commerce of the world their advocacy and promotion by speech and other forms of organized effort of this movement among our people is a rare exhibition of unselfishness in trade and on the other hand if they sincerely believe that the adoption of a policy by this country inures to their profit and our hurt it is noticeably strange that they should lead the outcry against the authors of a policy so helpful to their countrymen and crown with their favor those who would snatch from them a substantial share of a trade with other lands already inadequate to their necessities there is no disposition among any of our people to promote prohibitory or retaliatory legislation our policies are adopted not to the hurt of others but to secure for ourselves those advantages that fairly grow out of our favored position as a nation our form of government with its incident of universal suffrage makes it imperative that we shall save our working people from the agitations and distresses which scant work and wages that have no margin for comfort always beget but after all this is done it will be found that our markets are open to friendly commercial exchanges of enormous value to the other great powers from the time of my induction into office the duty of using every power and influence given by law to the executive department for the development of larger markets for our products especially our farm products has been kept constantly in mind and no effort has been or will be spared to promote that end we are under no disadvantage in any foreign market except that we pay our workmen and workwomen better wages than are paid elsewhere better abstractly better relatively to the cost of the necessaries of life i do not doubt that a very largely increased foreign trade is accessible to us without bartering for it either our home market for such products of the farm and shop as our own people can supply or the wages of our working people in many of the products of wood and iron and in meats and breadstuffs we have advantages that only need better facilities of intercourse and transportation to secure for them large foreign markets the reciprocity clause of the tariff act wisely and effectively opens the way to secure a large reciprocal trade in exchange for the free admission to our ports of certain products the right of independent nations to make special reciprocal trade concessions is well established and does not impair either the comity due to other powers or what is known as the clause so generally found in commercial treaties what is given to one for an adequate agreed consideration can not be claimed by another freely the state of the revenues was such that we could dispense with any import duties upon coffee tea hides and the lower grades of sugar and molasses that the large advantage resulting to the countries producing and exporting these articles by placing them on the free list entitled us to expect a fair return in the way of customs concessions upon articles exported by us to them was so obvious that to have gratuitously abandoned this opportunity to enlarge our trade would have been an unpardonable error there were but two methods of maintaining control of this question open to congress to place all of these articles upon the dutiable list subject to such treaty agreements as could be secured or to place them all presently upon the free list but subject to the reimposition of specified duties if the countries from which we received them should refuse to give to us suitable reciprocal benefits this latter method i think possesses great advantages it expresses in advance the consent of congress to reciprocity arrangements affecting these products which must otherwise have been delayed and unascertained until each treaty was ratified by the senate and the necessary legislation enacted by congress experience has shown that some treaties looking to reciprocal trade have failed to secure a vote in the senate for ratification and others having passed that stage have for years awaited the concurrence of the house and senate in such modifications of our revenue laws as were necessary to give effect to their provisions we now have the concurrence of both houses in advance in a distinct and definite offer of free entry to our ports of specific articles the executive is not required to deal in conjecture as to what congress will accept indeed this reciprocity provision is more than an offer our part of the bargain is complete delivery has been made and when the countries from which we receive sugar coffee tea and hides have placed on their free lists such of our products as shall be agreed upon as an equivalent for our concession a proclamation of that fact completes the transaction and in the meantime our own people have free sugar tea coffee and hides the indications thus far given are very hopeful of early and favorable action by the countries from which we receive our large imports of coffee and sugar and it is confidently believed that if steam communication with these countries can be promptly improved and enlarged the next year will show a most gratifying increase in our exports of breadstuffs and provisions as well as of some important lines of manufactured goods in addition to the important bills that became laws before the adjournment of the last session some other bills of the highest importance were well advanced toward a final vote and now stand upon the calendars of the two houses in favored positions the present session has a fixed limit and if these measures are not now brought to a final vote all the work that has been done upon them by this congress is lost the proper consideration of these of an apportionment bill and of the annual appropriation bills will require not only that no working day of the session shall be lost but that measures of minor and local interest shall not be allowed to interrupt or retard the progress of those that are of universal interest in view of these conditions i refrain from bringing before you at this time some suggestions that would otherwise be made and most earnestly invoke your attention to the duty of perfecting the important legislation now well advanced to some of these measures which seem to me most important i now briefly call your attention i desire to repeat with added urgency the recommendations contained in my last annual message in relation to the development of american steamship lines the reciprocity clause of the tariff bill will be largely limited and its benefits retarded and diminished if provision is not contemporaneously made to encourage the establishment of steam communication between our ports and the ports of such nations as may meet our overtures for enlarged commercial exchanges the steamship carrying the mails statedly and frequently and offering to passengers a comfortable safe and speedy transit is the first condition of foreign trade it carries the order or the buyer but not all that is ordered or bought it gives to the sailing vessels such cargoes as are not urgent or perishable and indirectly at least promotes that important adjunct of commerce there is now both in this country and in the nations of central and south america a state of expectation and confidence as to increased trade that will give a double value to your prompt action upon this question the present situation of our mail communication with australia illustrates the importance of early action by congress the oceanic steamship company maintains a line of steamers between san francisco sydney and auckland consisting of three vessels two of which are of united states registry and one of foreign registry for the service done by this line in carrying the mails we pay annually the sum of being as estimated the full sea and united states inland postage which is the limit fixed by law the colonies of new south wales and new zealand have been paying annually to these lines lbs for carrying the mails from sydney and auckland to san francisco the contract under which this payment has been made is now about to expire and those colonies have refused to renew the contract unless the united states shall pay a more equitable proportion of the whole sum necessary to maintain the service i am advised by the that the united states receives for carrying the australian mails brought to san francisco in these steamers by rail to vancouver an estimated annual income of while as i have stated we are paying out for the support of the steamship line that brings this mail to us only leaving an annual surplus resulting from this service of the trade of the united states with australia which is in a considerable part carried by these steamers and the whole of which is practically dependent upon the mail communication which they maintain is largely in our favor our total exports of merchandise to australasian ports during the fiscal year ending june 30 1890 were while the total imports of merchandise from these ports were only if we are not willing to see this important steamship line withdrawn or continued with vancouver substituted for san francisco as the american terminal congress should put it in the power of the to make a liberal increase in the amount now paid for the transportation of this important mail the south atlantic and gulf ports occupy a very favored position toward the new and important commerce which the reciprocity clause of the tariff act and the postal shipping bill are designed to promote steamship lines from these ports to some northern port of south america will almost certainly effect a connection between the railroad systems of the continents long before any continuous line of railroads can be put into operation the very large appropriation made at the last session for the harbor of galveston was justified as it seemed to me by these considerations the great northwest will feel the advantage of trunk lines to the south as well as to the east and of the new markets opened for their surplus food products and for many of their manufactured products i had occasion in may last to transmit to congress a report adopted by the international american conference upon the subject of the incorporation of an international american bank with a view to facilitating money exchanges between the states represented in that conference such an institution would greatly promote the trade we are seeking to develop i renew the recommendation that a careful and charter be granted i do not think the powers granted should include those ordinarily exercised by trust guaranty and companies or that more branches in the united states should be authorized than are strictly necessary to accomplish the object primarily in view namely convenient foreign exchanges it is quite important that prompt action should be taken in this matter in order that any appropriations for better communication with these countries and any agreements that may be made for reciprocal trade may not be hindered by the inconvenience of making exchanges through european money centers or burdened by the tribute which is an incident of that method of business the bill for the relief of the supreme court has after many years of discussion reached a position where final action is easily attainable and it is hoped that any differences of opinion may be so harmonized as to save the essential features of this very important measure in this connection i earnestly renew my recommendation that the salaries of the judges of the united states district courts be so readjusted that none of them shall receive less than per annum the subject of the unadjusted spanish and mexican land grants and the urgent necessity for providing some commission or tribunal for the trial of questions of title growing out of them were twice brought by me to the attention of congress at the last session bills have been reported from the proper committees in both houses upon the subject and i very earnestly hope that this congress will put an end to the delay which has attended the settlement of the disputes as to the title between the settlers and the claimants under these grants these disputes retard the prosperity and disturb the peace of large and important communities the governor of new mexico in his last report to the secretary of the interior suggests some modifications of the provisions of the pending bills relating to the small holdings of farm lands i commend to your attention the suggestions of the secretary of the interior upon this subject the enactment of a national bankrupt law i still regard as very desirable the constitution having given to congress jurisdiction of this subject it should be exercised and uniform rules provided for the administration of the affairs of insolvent debtors the inconveniences resulting from the occasional and temporary exercise of this power by congress and from the conflicting state codes of insolvency which come into force intermediately should be removed by the enactment of a simple inexpensive and permanent national bankrupt law i also renew my recommendation in favor of legislation affording just copyright protection to foreign authors on a footing of reciprocal advantage for our authors abroad it may still be possible for this congress to inaugurate by suitable legislation a movement looking to uniformity and increased safety in the use of couplers and brakes upon freight trains engaged in interstate commerce the chief difficulty in the way is to secure agreement as to the best appliances simplicity effectiveness and cost being considered this difficulty will only yield to legislation which should be based upon full inquiry and impartial tests the purpose should be to secure the cooperation of all managers and owners but the fearful fact that every year delay involves the sacrifice of lives and the maiming of young men should plead both with congress and the managers against any needless delay the subject of the conservation and equal distribution of the water supply of the arid regions has had much attention from congress but has not as yet been put upon a permanent and satisfactory basis the urgency of the subject does not grow out of any large present demand for the use of these lands for agriculture but out of the danger that the water supply and the sites for the necessary catch basins may fall into the hands of individuals or private corporations and be used to render subservient the large areas dependent upon such supply the owner of the water is the owner of the lands however the titles may run all unappropriated natural water sources and all necessary reservoir sites should be held by the government for the equal use at fair rates of the homestead settlers who will eventually take up these lands the united states should not in my opinion undertake the construction of dams or canals but should limit its work to such surveys and observations as will determine the water supply both surface and subterranean the areas capable of irrigation and the location and storage capacity of reservoirs this done the use of the water and of the reservoir sites might be granted to the respective states or territories or to individuals or associations upon the condition that the necessary works should be constructed and the water furnished at fair rates without discrimination the rates to be subject to supervision by the legislatures or by boards of water commissioners duly constituted the essential thing to be secured is the common and equal use at fair rates of the accumulated water supply it were almost better that these lands should remain arid than that those who occupy them should become the slaves of unrestrained monopolies controlling the one essential element of land values and crop results the use of the telegraph by the department as a means for the rapid transmission of written communications is i believe upon proper terms quite desirable the government does not own or operate the railroads and it should not i think own or operate the telegraph lines it does however seem to be quite practicable for the government to contract with the telegraph companies as it does with railroad companies to carry at specified rates such communications as the senders may designate for this method of transmission i recommend that such legislation be enacted as will enable the department fairly to test by experiment the advantages of such a use of the telegraph if any intelligent and loyal company of american citizens were required to catalogue the essential human conditions of national life i do not doubt that with absolute unanimity they would begin with free and honest elections and it is gratifying to know that generally there is a growing and nonpartisan demand for better election laws but against this sign of hope and progress must be set the depressing and undeniable fact that election laws and methods are sometimes cunningly contrived to secure minority control while violence completes the shortcomings of fraud in my last annual message i suggested that the development of the existing law providing a federal supervision of congressional elections offered an effective method of reforming these abuses the need of such a law has manifested itself in many parts of the country and its wholesome restraints and penalties will be useful in all the constitutionality of such legislation has been affirmed by the supreme court its probable effectiveness is evidenced by the character of the opposition that is made to it it has been denounced as if it were a new exercise of federal power and an invasion of the rights of states nothing could be further from the truth congress has already fixed the time for the election of members of congress it has declared that votes for members of congress must be by written or printed ballot it has provided for the appointment by the circuit courts in certain cases and upon the petition of a certain number of citizens of election supervisors and made it their duty to supervise the registration of voters conducted by the state officers to challenge persons offering to register to personally inspect and scrutinize the registry lists and to affix their names to the lists for the purpose of identification and the prevention of frauds to attend at elections and remain with the boxes till they are all cast and counted to attach to the registry lists and election returns any statement touching the accuracy and fairness of the registry and election and to take and transmit to the clerk of the house of representatives any evidence of fraudulent practices which may be presented to them the same law provides for the appointment of deputy united states marshals to attend at the polls support the supervisors in the discharge of their duties and to arrest persons violating the election laws the provisions of this familiar title of the revised statutes have been put into exercise by both the great political parties and in the north as well as in the south by the filing with the court of the petitions required by the law it is not therefore a question whether we shall have a federal election law for we now have one and have had for nearly twenty years but whether we shall have an effective law the present law stops just short of effectiveness for it surrenders to the local authorities all control over the certification which establishes the prima facie right to a seat in the house of representatives this defect should be cured equality of representation and the parity of the electors must be maintained or everything that is valuable in our system of government is lost the qualifications of an elector must be sought in the law net in the opinions prejudices or fears of any class however powerful the path of the elector to the ballot box must be free from the ambush of fear and the enticements of fraud the count so true and open that none shall gainsay it such a law should be absolutely nonpartisan and impartial it should give the advantage to honesty and the control to majorities surely there is nothing sectional about this creed and if it shall happen that the penalties of laws intended to enforce these rights fall here and not there it is not because the law is sectional but because happily crime is local and not universal nor should it be forgotten that every law whether relating to elections or to any other subject whether enacted by the state or by the nation has force behind it the courts the marshal or constable the posse comitatus the prison are all and always behind the law one can not be justly charged with unfriendliness to any section or class who seeks only to restrain violations of law and of personal right no community will find lawlessness profitable no community can afford to have it known that the officers who are charged with the preservation of the public peace and the restraint of the criminal classes are themselves the product of fraud or violence the magistrate is then without respect and the law without sanction the floods of lawlessness can not be leveed and made to run in one channel the killing of a united states marshal carrying a writ of arrest for an election offense is full of prompting and suggestion to men who are pursued by a city marshal for a crime against life or property but it is said that this legislation will revive race animosities and some have even suggested that when the peaceful methods of fraud are made impossible they may be supplanted by intimidation and violence if the proposed law gives to any qualified elector by a hair weight more than his equal influence or detracts by so much from any other qualified elector it is fatally impeached but if the law is equal and the animosities it is to evoke grow out of the fact that some electors have been accustomed to exercise the franchise for others as well as for themselves then these animosities ought not to be confessed without shame and can not be given any weight in the discussion without dishonor no choice is left to me but to enforce with vigor all laws intended to secure to the citizen his constitutional rights and to recommend that the inadequacies of such laws be promptly remedied if to promote with zeal and ready interest every project for the development of its material interests its rivers harbors mines and factories and the intelligence peace and security under the law of its communities and its homes is not accepted as sufficient evidence of friendliness to any state or section i can not add connivance at election practices that not only disturb local results but rob the electors of other states and sections of their most priceless political rights the preparation of the general appropriation bills should be conducted with the greatest care and the closest scrutiny of expenditures appropriations should be adequate to the needs of the public service but they should be absolutely free from prodigality i venture again to remind you that the brief time remaining for the consideration of the important legislation now awaiting your attention offers no margin for waste if the present duty is discharged with diligence fidelity and courage the work of the congress may be confidently submitted to the considerate judgment of the people
reports several executive departments laid congress usual course exhibit detail operations government last fiscal year important incidents results chiefly may foundation recommendations shall submit referred annual message vast increasing business government transacted several departments year faithfulness energy success revenues amounting collected disbursed without revealing far ascertain single case defalcation embezzlement earnest effort made stimulate sense responsibility public duty officers employees every grade work done almost wholly escaped unfavorable criticism speak matters freedom credit good work mine shared heads several departments great body faithful officers employees serve closest scrutiny congress invited methods administration every item expenditure friendly relations country nations europe east undisturbed ties good common interest bind us states western hemisphere notably strengthened conference held capital consider measures general welfare pursuant invitation authorized congress representatives every independent state american continent hayti met conference capital october 1889 continued session 19th last april important convocation marks interesting influential epoch history western hemisphere noteworthy brazil invited imperial form government shared republic deliberations results conference recommendations conference transmitted congress last session international marine conference sat washington last winter reached gratifying result regulations suggested brought attention governments represented general adoption confidently expected legislation congress last session conformity propositions conference proclamation therein provided issued powers given notice adhesion conference brussels devise means suppressing slave trade africa afforded opportunity new expression interest american people feel great work soon became evident measure proposed would tax resources kongo basin beyond revenues available general act berlin 1884 united states party act could share revision separate act independent state kongo freed restrictions upon customs revenue demoralizing destructive traffic ardent spirits among tribes also claimed earnest attention conference delegates united states foremost advocating measures repression accord reached influence helpful extend wide region soon measures shall receive sanction netherlands time withheld general acts submitted ratification senate meanwhile negotiations opened new completed treaty friendship commerce navigation united states independent state kongo toward end past year independent monarchical government western continent brazil ceased exist succeeded republic diplomatic relations established new government completely recognized opportunity afforded ascertain popular approval support course events yielded assurance fact time lost extending new government full cordial welcome family american commonwealths confidently believed good relations two countries preserved future witness increased intimacy intercourse expansion mutual commerce peace central america disturbed revolutionary change salvador recognized states hostilities broke salvador guatemala threatening involve central america conflict undo progress made toward union interests efforts government promptly zealously exerted compose differences active efforts representative united states provisional treaty peace signed august 26 whereby right republic salvador choose rulers recognized general ezeta chief provisional government since confirmed presidency assembly diplomatic recognition duly followed killing general barrundia board pacific mail steamer acapulco anchored transit port san jose de guatemala demanded careful inquiry failed revolutionary attempt invade guatemala mexican territory general barrundia took passage acapulco panama consent representatives united states sought effect seizure first champerico steamer touched afterwards san jose captain steamer refused give passenger without written order united states minister latter furnished desired letter stipulating condition action general barrundia life spared tried offenses growing insurrectionary movements letter produced captain acapulco military commander san jose warrant take passenger steamer general barrundia resisted capture killed evident minister mizner exceeded bounds authority intervening compliance demands guatemalan authorities authorize effect violation precedent seizure vessel united states passenger transit charged political offenses order might tried offenses described martial law constrained disavow mizner act recall post nicaragua canal project control citizens making encouraging progress preliminary conditions initial operations accomplished within prescribed time past year negotiations renewed settlement claims american citizens government chile principally growing late war peru reports minister santiago warrant expectation early satisfactory adjustment relations china several years occupied important place diplomatic history called careful consideration subject much correspondence communications chinese minister brought view whole subject conventional relations country time government legation peking sought arrange various matters complaints touching interests protection citizens china pursuance concurrent resolution october 1 1890 proposed governments mexico great britain consider conventional regulation passage chinese laborers across southern northern frontiers 22d day august last sir edmund monson arbitrator selected treaty december 6 1888 rendered award effect compensation due danish government united states account commonly known carlos butterfield claim relations french republic continue cordial representative court diligently urged removal restrictions imposed upon meat products believed substantial progress made toward settlement samoan treaty signed last year berlin representatives united states germany great britain due ratification exchange begun produce salutary effects formation government agreed upon soon replace disorder past stable administration alike natives equitable three powers concerned trade intercourse samoan islands chief justice chosen king sweden norway invitation three powers soon installed land commission municipal council process organization rational evenly distributed scheme taxation municipal upon imports operation malietoa respected king new treaty extradition great britain due ratification proclaimed 25th last march beneficial working already apparent difference two governments touching question bering sea yet adjusted seen correspondence soon laid congress offer submit question arbitration proposed majesty government accepted reason form submission proposed thought calculated assure conclusion satisfactory either party sincerely hoped opening another sealing season arrangement may effected assure united states property right derived russia disregarded nation eighty years preceding outbreak existing trouble tariff act wrong done kingdom hawaii bound presume wholly unintentional duties levied certain commodities included reciprocity treaty existing united states kingdom hawaii without indicating necessary exception favor kingdom hope congress repair might otherwise seem breach faith part government award favor united states matter claim van bokkelen hayti rendered 4th december 1888 owing disorders afterwards prevailing hayti terms payment observed new agreement time payment approved force claims citizens united states redress wrongs suffered late political conflict hayti hoped speedily yield friendly treatment propositions amendment treaty extradition united states italy consideration asked provide means accepting invitation italian government take part approaching conference consider adoption universal prime meridian reckon longitude time proposal follows track reform sought initiated meridian conference washington held invitation government united states manifest friendly interest italian proposal connection may refer approval suggestion predecessors standing provision made accepting whenever deemed advisable frequent invitations foreign governments share conferences looking advancement international reforms regard science sanitation commercial laws procedure matters affecting intercourse progress modern communities summer 1889 incident occurred time threatened interrupt cordiality relations government portugal government seized delagoa bay railway constructed concession granted american citizen time annulled charter concessionary embarked fortune enterprise exhausted means redress compelled invoke protection government representations made coincidently british government whose subjects also largely interested happily resulted recognition portugal propriety submitting claim indemnity growing action arbitration plan settlement agreed upon interested powers readily concurred proposal submit ease judgment three eminent jurists designated president swiss republic upon joint invitation governments united states great britain portugal selected persons well qualified task revision treaty relations empire japan continued subject consideration correspondence questions involved grave delicate duty see interests united states changes exposed undue discrimination sincerely hope revision satisfy legitimate expectations japanese government maintain present friendly relations japan united states effected friendship country mexico born close neighborhood strengthened many considerations intimate intercourse reciprocal interest never conspicuous hopeful increased benefit nations intercourse two countries rail already great making constant growth established lines recently projected add intimacy traffic open new channels access fresh areas demand supply importance mexican railway system enhanced degree almost impossible forecast become link projected intercontinental railway recommend mission city mexico raised first class cordial character relations spain warrants hope continuance methods friendly negotiation much may accomplished direction adjustment pending questions increase trade extent development trade island cuba invest commercial relations united states spain peculiar importance doubted special arrangement regard commerce based upon reciprocity provision recent tariff act would operate beneficially governments subject receiving attention restoration remains john ericsson sweden afforded gratifying occasion honor memory great inventor whose genius country owes much bear witness unbroken friendship existed land bore claimed citizen 2d september last commission appointed revise proceedings commission claims convention united states venezuela 1866 brought labors close within period fixed purpose proceedings late commission characterized spirit impartiality high sense justice incident many years subject discussion two governments disposed manner alike honorable satisfactory parties settlement claim venezuela steam transportation company subject joint resolution adopted last session congress negotiations still progress early conclusion anticipated legislation past years evinced part congress growing realization importance consular service fostering commercial relations abroad protecting domestic revenues scope operations expands increased provision must made keep essential standard efficiency necessity adequate measure supervision inspection often presented need commend subject attention revenues government sources fiscal year ending june 30 1890 total expenditures period postal receipts heretofore included statement aggregates purpose comparison sum deducted sides account surplus year including amount applied sinking fund receipts 1890 expenditures excess 1889 customs receipts increased receipts internal revenue side expenditures pensions excess preceding year treasury statement current fiscal year partly actual partly estimated follows receipts sources total expenditures leaving surplus taking postal receipts account either side loss revenue customs last quarter estimated deducted gain realized first four months year year 1892 total estimated receipts estimated expenditures leaving estimated surplus cash balance beginning year give sum available redemption outstanding bonds uses estimates receipts expenditures department equal included statement either side act directing purchase silver bullion issue treasury notes thereon approved july 14 1890 administered secretary treasury earnest purpose get circulation earliest possible dates full monthly amounts treasury notes contemplated provisions time give market silver bullion support law contemplates recent depreciation price silver observed regret rapid rise price anticipated followed passage act influenced degree speculation recent reaction part result part recent monetary disturbances months trial necessary determine permanent effect recent legislation upon silver values gratifying know increased circulation secured act exerted continue exert beneficial influence upon business upon general values thought best renew formally suggestion international conference looking agreement touching full use silver coinage uniform ratio care taken observe closely change situation abroad favorable opportunity lost promote result confidently believed would confer large benefits upon commerce world recent monetary disturbances england unlikely suggest reexamination opinions upon subject large supply gold lost impulsive legislation supposed interest silver give us position advantage promoting permanent safe international agreement free use silver coin metal efforts secretary increase volume money circulation keeping treasury surplus lowest practicable limit unremitting high degree successful tables presented showing increase money circulation last two decades especially table showing increase nineteen months administered affairs department interesting instructive increase money circulation nineteen months aggregate per capita increase due recent silver legislation substantial needed aid given commerce resulted enormous reduction public debt annual interest charge matter increased satisfaction purchased redeemed since march 4 1889 4 4 12 per cent bonds amount cost resulting reduction annual interest charge total saving interest notice great pleasure statement secretary receipts internal revenue increased last fiscal year nearly cost collecting larger revenue less purpose preceding year percentage cost collecting customs revenue less last fiscal year ever customs administration board provided act june 10 1890 selected great care composed part men whose previous experience administration old customs regulations made familiar evils remedied part men whose legal judicial acquirements experience seemed fit work interpreting applying new statute chief aim law secure honest valuations dutiable merchandise make valuations uniform ports entry made manifest congressional investigation system undervaluation long use certain classes importers resulting great loss revenue intolerable discrimination honesty seen legislation understood regarded citizens country commercial dealings us unfriendly duty supposed excessive let complaint lodged surely claimed people remedy may sought allowed system quasi smuggling report secretary war exhibits several gratifying results attained year wise unostentatious methods percentage desertions army evil congress department long seeking remedy reduced past year 24 per cent months august september time favorable effects act june 16 felt 33 per cent compared months 1889 results attained reorganization consolidation divisions charge hospital service records volunteer soldiers remarkable change effected july 1889 time cases awaiting attention half calls pension office information necessary adjudication pension claims 30th day june last though new calls come single case examined answered concur recommendations secretary adequate regular appropriations continued works ordnance plans practically agreed upon good reason delaying execution defenseless state great seaports furnishes urgent reason wise expedition encouragement extended militia states generally appropriately designated national guard continued enlarged military organizations constitute large sense army united states annual cost maintenance defrayed states report law submitted directly congress department justice one executive departments reference work done appropriate vigorous main effective effort made bring trial punishment violators law time care taken frivolous technical offenses used swell fees officers harass citizens especial attention called facts connected prosecution violations election laws offenses united states officers number convictions secured many upon pleas guilty hoped salutary restraining influence several cases postmasters appointed subjected violent interference discharge official duties persecutions personal violence extreme character cases dealt department justice cases abolished suspended directed pursue course cases efforts failed secure postmaster fault opportunity peacefully exercise duties office action supplant efforts department justice bring particular offenders punishment vacation judicial decrees fraudulent certificates naturalization upon bills equity filed circuit court united states new application familiar equity jurisdiction nearly one hundred decrees taken year evidence disclosing large number fraudulent certificates naturalization issued connection beg renew recommendation laws amended require full searching inquiry facts necessary naturalization certificates granted certainly much require application american citizenship shall heard much care recorded much formality given cases involving pettiest property right last session returned without approval bill entitled act prohibit bookmaking pool selling district columbia stated objection prohibit fact licensed purported prohibit effort made existing laws suppress evil though certain found adequate report shows gratifying progress important work committed direction business methods greatly improved large economy expenditures increase four millions receipts realized deficiency year last year notwithstanding great enlargement service mail routes extended quickened greater accuracy dispatch distribution delivery attained report found full interest suggestion congress thoughtful citizens may interested know business methods department public administration nearly touches people passage act amend certain sections revised statutes relating lotteries approved september 19 1890 received great deserved popular favor department department justice entered upon enforcement law sympathetic vigor already public mails largely freed fraudulent demoralizing appeals literature emanating lottery companies construction equipment new ships navy made satisfactory progress since march 4 1889 nine new vessels put commission winter four including one monitor added construction vessels authorized pushed government private yards energy watched scrupulous care experiments conducted year test relative resisting power armor plates valuable attract great attention europe part work upon new ships threatened unusual delay armor plating every effort made reduce minimum source congratulation anticipated influence modern vessels upon esprit de corps officers seamen fully realized confidence pride ship among crew equivalent secondary battery favorable consideration invited recommendations secretary report secretary interior exhibits great fullness clearness vast work department satisfactory results attained suggestions made earnestly commended consideration congress though given particular mention several acts congress looking reduction larger indian reservations rapid settlement indians upon individual allotments restoration public domain lands excess needs largely carried effect far work confided executive agreements concluded since march 4 1889 involving cession united states acres land contracts required law submitted congress ratification appropriations necessary carry effect sisseton wahpeton sac fox iowa pottawatomies absentee shawnees coeur tribes yet received sanction congress attention also called fact appropriations made case sioux indians covered stipulated payments promptly corrected agreement confirmed terms complied without delay full appropriations made policy outlined last annual message relation patenting lands settlers upon public domain carried administration land office general suspicion imputation fraud allowed delay hearing adjudication individual cases upon merits purpose perfect title honest settlers promptness value entry might swallowed expense extortions delay subjected claimant average monthly issue agricultural patents increased act approved 27th june last put operation rapidly practicable increased clerical force provided selected assigned work considerable part force engaged examinations field recalled added working force office examination adjudication claims reason improved methods rapid ever economy government delay much hardship injustice soldier anticipated expenditure large believed excess estimates made enactment law liberal enlargement general law suggest careful scrutiny bills special relief cases relief granted amount allowed increasing numbers influence population utah observed satisfaction recent letter wilford woodruff president mormon church advised people refrain contracting marriage forbidden laws land attracted wide attention hoped influence highly beneficial restraining infractions laws united states fact overlooked doctrine belief church polygamous marriages rightful supported divine revelation remains unchanged president woodruff renounce doctrine refrains teaching advises practice law quite true law attempt deal faith belief anyone quite another thing safe thing deal territory utah believe polygamy rightful shall power make lawful admission states wyoming idaho union events full interest congratulation people states happily endowed full participation privileges responsibilities people another belt states stretches atlantic pacific work patent office sources high commendation amount accomplished largely increased results secure confidence consideration suggestions commissioner enumeration people united states provisions act march 1 1889 completed result officially communicated congress completion decennial enumeration devolves upon congress duty making new apportionment representatives among several states according respective numbers last session occasion return objections several bills making provisions erection public buildings reason expenditures contemplated opinion greatly excess public need class legislation liable abuse degenerate unseemly scramble public treasury exercised matter wise economy based upon responsible impartial examination report case general law report secretary agriculture deserves especial attention view fact year marked unusual degree agitation organization among farmers looking increase profits business found efforts department intelligently zealously devoted promotion interests intrusted care substantial improvement market prices leading farm products year noticed price wheat advanced 81 cents october 1889 october 1890 corn 31 cents 50 cents oats 19 cents 43 cents barley 63 cents 78 cents meats showed substantial large increase export trade live animals fowls shows large increase total value exports year ending june 30 1890 increase preceding year nearly cattle hogs exported preceding year export trade beef pork products dairy products largely increased increase article butter alone pounds pounds total increase value meat dairy products exported trade directly helpful farmer believed yet largely increased system inspection sanitary supervision provided law brought fully operation efforts secretary establish healthfulness meats disparaging imputations put upon abroad resulted substantial progress veterinary surgeons sent department allowed participate inspection live cattle country landed english docks several months duty case contagious reported inspection abroad domestic inspection live animals pork products provided act august 30 1890 afford perfect guaranty wholesomeness meats offered foreign consumption anywhere given food product nonacceptance quite clearly reveal real motive continued restriction use made clear duty executive plain information given secretary progress prospects industry full interest already passed experimental stage commercial success area sugar beet successfully cultivated large another field crop great value offered choice farmer secretary treasury concurs recommendation secretary agriculture official supervision provided tariff law sugar domestic production shall transferred department agriculture law relating civil service far learn executed power appointment classified service fidelity impartiality service increasingly satisfactory report commission shows large amount good work done year limited appropriations congratulate congress country upon passage first session congress unusual number laws high importance results legislation quickening enlargement manufacturing industries larger better markets breadstuffs provisions home abroad constant employment better wages working people increased supply safe currency transaction business doubt measures enacted late period beneficial effects upon commerce contemplation congress yet partially manifested general trade industrial conditions throughout country year shown marked improvement many years prior 1888 merchandise balances foreign trade largely favor year year following turned us gratifying know last fiscal year shows balance favor bank clearings furnish good test volume business transacted first ten months year 1890 show compared months 1889 increase whole country per cent increase outside city new york 13 per cent month october clearings whole country showed increase per cent october 1889 outside new york increase per cent figures show increase volume business general throughout country larger business conducted upon safe profitable basis shown fact 300 less failures reported october 1890 month preceding year liabilities diminished value exports domestic merchandise last year greater preceding year exceeded history excess agricultural products production pig iron always good gauge general prosperity shown recent census bulletin 153 per cent greater 1890 1880 production steel 290 per cent greater mining coal limitation except resulting deficient transportation general testimony labor everywhere fully employed reports last year show smaller number employees affected strikes lockouts year since 1884 depression prices agricultural products greatly relieved buoyant hopeful tone beginning felt people promising influences degree checked surprising unfavorable monetary events recently taken place england gratifying know grow degree financial relations london people discredit attached securities held market return bonds stocks caused money stringency england loss value credit securities could however wholly escape ill effects foreign monetary agitation accompanied extraordinary incidents characterized believed however evil incidents time unfavorably affected values country long withstand strong safe wholesome influences operating give people profitable returns branches legitimate trade industry apprehension tariff may subjected important general changes would undoubtedly add depressing influence serious character general tariff act partially gone operation important provisions limited take effect dates yet future general provisions law force less sixty days permanent effects upon trade prices still largely stand conjecture curious note advance prices articles wholly unaffected tariff act many hastily ascribed act notice taken fact general tendency markets upward influences wholly apart recent tariff legislation enlargement currency silver bill undoubtedly gave upward tendency trade marked effect prices natural desired effect silver legislation many erroneously attributed tariff act neither wisdom justice suggestion subject tariff revision shall opened law fair trial quite true every tariff schedule subject objections bill ever framed suppose rates classifications full approval even party caucus legislation always necessarily product compromise details present law exception general scope effect think justify support believe american legislation conserve defend american trade wages american workmen misinformation terms act widely disseminated home abroad corrected experience evil auguries results confounded market reports savings banks international trade balances general prosperity people already begin hear abroad customhouses prohibitory effect upon importations imputed act justified imports port new york first three weeks november nearly 8 per cent greater period 1889 29 per cent greater period 1888 far act limit exports confidently believe shall secure larger profitable participation foreign trade ever enjoyed shall recover proportionate participation ocean carrying trade world criticisms bill come us foreign sources may well rejected repugnancy critics really believe adoption us policy tariff rates reference solely revenue would diminish participation countries commerce world advocacy promotion speech forms organized effort movement among people rare exhibition unselfishness trade hand sincerely believe adoption policy country inures profit hurt noticeably strange lead outcry authors policy helpful countrymen crown favor would snatch substantial share trade lands already inadequate necessities disposition among people promote prohibitory retaliatory legislation policies adopted hurt others secure advantages fairly grow favored position nation form government incident universal suffrage makes imperative shall save working people agitations distresses scant work wages margin comfort always beget done found markets open friendly commercial exchanges enormous value great powers time induction office duty using every power influence given law executive department development larger markets products especially farm products kept constantly mind effort spared promote end disadvantage foreign market except pay workmen workwomen better wages paid elsewhere better abstractly better relatively cost necessaries life doubt largely increased foreign trade accessible us without bartering either home market products farm shop people supply wages working people many products wood iron meats breadstuffs advantages need better facilities intercourse transportation secure large foreign markets reciprocity clause tariff act wisely effectively opens way secure large reciprocal trade exchange free admission ports certain products right independent nations make special reciprocal trade concessions well established impair either comity due powers known clause generally found commercial treaties given one adequate agreed consideration claimed another freely state revenues could dispense import duties upon coffee tea hides lower grades sugar molasses large advantage resulting countries producing exporting articles placing free list entitled us expect fair return way customs concessions upon articles exported us obvious gratuitously abandoned opportunity enlarge trade would unpardonable error two methods maintaining control question open congress place articles upon dutiable list subject treaty agreements could secured place presently upon free list subject reimposition specified duties countries received refuse give us suitable reciprocal benefits latter method think possesses great advantages expresses advance consent congress reciprocity arrangements affecting products must otherwise delayed unascertained treaty ratified senate necessary legislation enacted congress experience shown treaties looking reciprocal trade failed secure vote senate ratification others passed stage years awaited concurrence house senate modifications revenue laws necessary give effect provisions concurrence houses advance distinct definite offer free entry ports specific articles executive required deal conjecture congress accept indeed reciprocity provision offer part bargain complete delivery made countries receive sugar coffee tea hides placed free lists products shall agreed upon equivalent concession proclamation fact completes transaction meantime people free sugar tea coffee hides indications thus far given hopeful early favorable action countries receive large imports coffee sugar confidently believed steam communication countries promptly improved enlarged next year show gratifying increase exports breadstuffs provisions well important lines manufactured goods addition important bills became laws adjournment last session bills highest importance well advanced toward final vote stand upon calendars two houses favored positions present session fixed limit measures brought final vote work done upon congress lost proper consideration apportionment bill annual appropriation bills require working day session shall lost measures minor local interest shall allowed interrupt retard progress universal interest view conditions refrain bringing time suggestions would otherwise made earnestly invoke attention duty perfecting important legislation well advanced measures seem important briefly call attention desire repeat added urgency recommendations contained last annual message relation development american steamship lines reciprocity clause tariff bill largely limited benefits retarded diminished provision contemporaneously made encourage establishment steam communication ports ports nations may meet overtures enlarged commercial exchanges steamship carrying mails statedly frequently offering passengers comfortable safe speedy transit first condition foreign trade carries order buyer ordered bought gives sailing vessels cargoes urgent perishable indirectly least promotes important adjunct commerce country nations central south america state expectation confidence increased trade give double value prompt action upon question present situation mail communication australia illustrates importance early action congress oceanic steamship company maintains line steamers san francisco sydney auckland consisting three vessels two united states registry one foreign registry service done line carrying mails pay annually sum estimated full sea united states inland postage limit fixed law colonies new south wales new zealand paying annually lines lbs carrying mails sydney auckland san francisco contract payment made expire colonies refused renew contract unless united states shall pay equitable proportion whole sum necessary maintain service advised united states receives carrying australian mails brought san francisco steamers rail vancouver estimated annual income stated paying support steamship line brings mail us leaving annual surplus resulting service trade united states australia considerable part carried steamers whole practically dependent upon mail communication maintain largely favor total exports merchandise australasian ports fiscal year ending june 30 1890 total imports merchandise ports willing see important steamship line withdrawn continued vancouver substituted san francisco american terminal congress put power make liberal increase amount paid transportation important mail south atlantic gulf ports occupy favored position toward new important commerce reciprocity clause tariff act postal shipping bill designed promote steamship lines ports northern port south america almost certainly effect connection railroad systems continents long continuous line railroads put operation large appropriation made last session harbor galveston justified seemed considerations great northwest feel advantage trunk lines south well east new markets opened surplus food products many manufactured products occasion may last transmit congress report adopted international american conference upon subject incorporation international american bank view facilitating money exchanges states represented conference institution would greatly promote trade seeking develop renew recommendation careful charter granted think powers granted include ordinarily exercised trust guaranty companies branches united states authorized strictly necessary accomplish object primarily view namely convenient foreign exchanges quite important prompt action taken matter order appropriations better communication countries agreements may made reciprocal trade may hindered inconvenience making exchanges european money centers burdened tribute incident method business bill relief supreme court many years discussion reached position final action easily attainable hoped differences opinion may harmonized save essential features important measure connection earnestly renew recommendation salaries judges united states district courts readjusted none shall receive less per annum subject unadjusted spanish mexican land grants urgent necessity providing commission tribunal trial questions title growing twice brought attention congress last session bills reported proper committees houses upon subject earnestly hope congress put end delay attended settlement disputes title settlers claimants grants disputes retard prosperity disturb peace large important communities governor new mexico last report secretary interior suggests modifications provisions pending bills relating small holdings farm lands commend attention suggestions secretary interior upon subject enactment national bankrupt law still regard desirable constitution given congress jurisdiction subject exercised uniform rules provided administration affairs insolvent debtors inconveniences resulting occasional temporary exercise power congress conflicting state codes insolvency come force intermediately removed enactment simple inexpensive permanent national bankrupt law also renew recommendation favor legislation affording copyright protection foreign authors footing reciprocal advantage authors abroad may still possible congress inaugurate suitable legislation movement looking uniformity increased safety use couplers brakes upon freight trains engaged interstate commerce chief difficulty way secure agreement best appliances simplicity effectiveness cost considered difficulty yield legislation based upon full inquiry impartial tests purpose secure cooperation managers owners fearful fact every year delay involves sacrifice lives maiming young men plead congress managers needless delay subject conservation equal distribution water supply arid regions much attention congress yet put upon permanent satisfactory basis urgency subject grow large present demand use lands agriculture danger water supply sites necessary catch basins may fall hands individuals private corporations used render subservient large areas dependent upon supply owner water owner lands however titles may run unappropriated natural water sources necessary reservoir sites held government equal use fair rates homestead settlers eventually take lands united states opinion undertake construction dams canals limit work surveys observations determine water supply surface subterranean areas capable irrigation location storage capacity reservoirs done use water reservoir sites might granted respective states territories individuals associations upon condition necessary works constructed water furnished fair rates without discrimination rates subject supervision legislatures boards water commissioners duly constituted essential thing secured common equal use fair rates accumulated water supply almost better lands remain arid occupy become slaves unrestrained monopolies controlling one essential element land values crop results use telegraph department means rapid transmission written communications believe upon proper terms quite desirable government operate railroads think operate telegraph lines however seem quite practicable government contract telegraph companies railroad companies carry specified rates communications senders may designate method transmission recommend legislation enacted enable department fairly test experiment advantages use telegraph intelligent loyal company american citizens required catalogue essential human conditions national life doubt absolute unanimity would begin free honest elections gratifying know generally growing nonpartisan demand better election laws sign hope progress must set depressing undeniable fact election laws methods sometimes cunningly contrived secure minority control violence completes shortcomings fraud last annual message suggested development existing law providing federal supervision congressional elections offered effective method reforming abuses need law manifested many parts country wholesome restraints penalties useful constitutionality legislation affirmed supreme court probable effectiveness evidenced character opposition made denounced new exercise federal power invasion rights states nothing could truth congress already fixed time election members congress declared votes members congress must written printed ballot provided appointment circuit courts certain cases upon petition certain number citizens election supervisors made duty supervise registration voters conducted state officers challenge persons offering register personally inspect scrutinize registry lists affix names lists purpose identification prevention frauds attend elections remain boxes till cast counted attach registry lists election returns statement touching accuracy fairness registry election take transmit clerk house representatives evidence fraudulent practices may presented law provides appointment deputy united states marshals attend polls support supervisors discharge duties arrest persons violating election laws provisions familiar title revised statutes put exercise great political parties north well south filing court petitions required law therefore question whether shall federal election law one nearly twenty years whether shall effective law present law stops short effectiveness surrenders local authorities control certification establishes prima facie right seat house representatives defect cured equality representation parity electors must maintained everything valuable system government lost qualifications elector must sought law net opinions prejudices fears class however powerful path elector ballot box must free ambush fear enticements fraud count true open none shall gainsay law absolutely nonpartisan impartial give advantage honesty control majorities surely nothing sectional creed shall happen penalties laws intended enforce rights fall law sectional happily crime local universal forgotten every law whether relating elections subject whether enacted state nation force behind courts marshal constable posse comitatus prison always behind law one justly charged unfriendliness section class seeks restrain violations law personal right community find lawlessness profitable community afford known officers charged preservation public peace restraint criminal classes product fraud violence magistrate without respect law without sanction floods lawlessness leveed made run one channel killing united states marshal carrying writ arrest election offense full prompting suggestion men pursued city marshal crime life property said legislation revive race animosities even suggested peaceful methods fraud made impossible may supplanted intimidation violence proposed law gives qualified elector hair weight equal influence detracts much qualified elector fatally impeached law equal animosities evoke grow fact electors accustomed exercise franchise others well animosities ought confessed without shame given weight discussion without dishonor choice left enforce vigor laws intended secure citizen constitutional rights recommend inadequacies laws promptly remedied promote zeal ready interest every project development material interests rivers harbors mines factories intelligence peace security law communities homes accepted sufficient evidence friendliness state section add connivance election practices disturb local results rob electors states sections priceless political rights preparation general appropriation bills conducted greatest care closest scrutiny expenditures appropriations adequate needs public service absolutely free prodigality venture remind brief time remaining consideration important legislation awaiting attention offers margin waste present duty discharged diligence fidelity courage work congress may confidently submitted considerate judgment people
report several executive department lay congress usual course exhibit detail operation government last fiscal year important incident result chiefly may foundation recommendation shall submit referred annual message vast increase business government transact several department year faithfulness energy success revenue amount collect disburse without reveal far ascertain single case defalcation embezzlement earnest effort make stimulate sense responsibility public duty officer employee every grade work do almost wholly escaped unfavorable criticism speak matter freedom credit good work mine share head several department great body faithful officer employee serve close scrutiny congress invite method administration every item expenditure friendly relation country nation europe east undisturbed tie good common interest bind u state western hemisphere notably strengthen conference hold capital consider measure general welfare pursuant invitation authorize congress representative every independent state american continent hayti meet conference capital october 1889 continue session 19th last april important convocation mark interest influential epoch history western hemisphere noteworthy brazil invite imperial form government share republic deliberation result conference recommendation conference transmit congress last session international marine conference sit washington last winter reach gratify result regulation suggest brought attention government represent general adoption confidently expect legislation congress last session conformity proposition conference proclamation therein provide issued power give notice adhesion conference brussels devise mean suppress slave trade africa afford opportunity new expression interest american people feel great work soon become evident measure propose would tax resource kongo basin beyond revenue available general act berlin 1884 united state party act could share revision separate act independent state kongo freed restriction upon custom revenue demoralize destructive traffic ardent spirit among tribe also claim earnest attention conference delegate united state foremost advocate measure repression accord reach influence helpful extend wide region soon measure shall receive sanction netherlands time withheld general act submit ratification senate meanwhile negotiation open new complete treaty friendship commerce navigation unite state independent state kongo toward end past year independent monarchical government western continent brazil cease exist succeed republic diplomatic relation establish new government completely recognize opportunity afford ascertain popular approval support course event yield assurance fact time lose extend new government full cordial welcome family american commonwealth confidently believe good relation two country preserve future witness increase intimacy intercourse expansion mutual commerce peace central america disturb revolutionary change salvador recognize state hostility break salvador guatemala threaten involve central america conflict undo progress make toward union interest effort government promptly zealously exert compose difference active effort representative united state provisional treaty peace sign august 26 whereby right republic salvador choose ruler recognize general ezeta chief provisional government since confirm presidency assembly diplomatic recognition duly follow kill general barrundia board pacific mail steamer acapulco anchor transit port san jose de guatemala demand careful inquiry fail revolutionary attempt invade guatemala mexican territory general barrundia take passage acapulco panama consent representative united state seek effect seizure first champerico steamer touch afterwards san jose captain steamer refuse give passenger without write order united state minister latter furnish desired letter stipulate condition action general barrundia life spar tried offense grow insurrectionary movement letter produce captain acapulco military commander san jose warrant take passenger steamer general barrundia resist capture kill evident minister mizner exceed bound authority intervene compliance demand guatemalan authority authorize effect violation precedent seizure vessel united state passenger transit charge political offense order might try offense describe martial law constrain disavow mizner act recall post nicaragua canal project control citizens make encouraging progress preliminary condition initial operation accomplish within prescribed time past year negotiation renew settlement claim american citizen government chile principally grow late war peru report minister santiago warrant expectation early satisfactory adjustment relation china several year occupy important place diplomatic history call careful consideration subject much correspondence communication chinese minister bring view whole subject conventional relation country time government legation peking sought arrange various matter complaint touch interest protection citizen china pursuance concurrent resolution october 1 1890 propose government mexico great britain consider conventional regulation passage chinese laborer across southern northern frontier 22d day august last sir edmund monson arbitrator select treaty december 6 1888 rendered award effect compensation due danish government united state account commonly know carlos butterfield claim relation french republic continue cordial representative court diligently urge removal restriction impose upon meat product believe substantial progress make toward settlement samoan treaty sign last year berlin representative united state germany great britain due ratification exchange begin produce salutary effect formation government agree upon soon replace disorder past stable administration alike native equitable three power concerned trade intercourse samoan island chief justice choose king sweden norway invitation three power soon instal land commission municipal council process organization rational evenly distribute scheme taxation municipal upon import operation malietoa respect king new treaty extradition great britain due ratification proclaim 25th last march beneficial work already apparent difference two government touch question bering sea yet adjust see correspondence soon lay congress offer submit question arbitration propose majesty government accept reason form submission propose think calculated assure conclusion satisfactory either party sincerely hop open another sealing season arrangement may effect assure united state property right derive russia disregard nation eighty year precede outbreak exist trouble tariff act wrong do kingdom hawaii bound presume wholly unintentional duty levy certain commodity include reciprocity treaty exist united state kingdom hawaii without indicate necessary exception favor kingdom hope congress repair might otherwise seem breach faith part government award favor united state matter claim van bokkelen hayti render 4th december 1888 owe disorder afterwards prevail hayti term payment observe new agreement time payment approve force claim citizen united state redress wrong suffer late political conflict hayti hop speedily yield friendly treatment proposition amendment treaty extradition united state italy consideration ask provide mean accept invitation italian government take part approach conference consider adoption universal prime meridian reckon longitude time proposal follow track reform sought initiate meridian conference washington hold invitation government unite state manifest friendly interest italian proposal connection may refer approval suggestion predecessor stand provision make accept whenever deem advisable frequent invitation foreign government share conference look advancement international reform regard science sanitation commercial law procedure matter affect intercourse progress modern community summer 1889 incident occur time threaten interrupt cordiality relation government portugal government seize delagoa bay railway construct concession grant american citizen time annul charter concessionary embark fortune enterprise exhaust mean redress compel invoke protection government representation make coincidently british government whose subject also largely interested happily result recognition portugal propriety submit claim indemnity grow action arbitration plan settlement agree upon interested power readily concur proposal submit ease judgment three eminent jurist designate president swiss republic upon joint invitation government united state great britain portugal select person well qualify task revision treaty relation empire japan continue subject consideration correspondence question involve grave delicate duty see interest unite state change expose undue discrimination sincerely hope revision satisfy legitimate expectation japanese government maintain present friendly relation japan united state effect friendship country mexico bear close neighborhood strengthen many consideration intimate intercourse reciprocal interest never conspicuous hopeful increase benefit nation intercourse two country rail already great make constant growth establish line recently project add intimacy traffic open new channel access fresh area demand supply importance mexican railway system enhance degree almost impossible forecast become link project intercontinental railway recommend mission city mexico raise first class cordial character relation spain warrant hope continuance method friendly negotiation much may accomplish direction adjustment pending question increase trade extent development trade island cuba invest commercial relation united state spain peculiar importance doubt special arrangement regard commerce base upon reciprocity provision recent tariff act would operate beneficially government subject receive attention restoration remain john ericsson sweden afford gratify occasion honor memory great inventor whose genius country owe much bear witness unbroken friendship exist land bore claim citizen 2d september last commission appoint revise proceeding commission claim convention united state venezuela 1866 bring labor close within period fix purpose proceeding late commission characterize spirit impartiality high sense justice incident many year subject discussion two government dispose manner alike honorable satisfactory party settlement claim venezuela steam transportation company subject joint resolution adopt last session congress negotiation still progress early conclusion anticipate legislation past year evince part congress grow realization importance consular service foster commercial relation abroad protect domestic revenue scope operation expands increase provision must make keep essential standard efficiency necessity adequate measure supervision inspection often present need commend subject attention revenue government source fiscal year end june 30 1890 total expenditure period postal receipt heretofore include statement aggregate purpose comparison sum deduct side account surplus year include amount apply sink fund receipt 1890 expenditure excess 1889 custom receipt increase receipt internal revenue side expenditures pension excess precede year treasury statement current fiscal year partly actual partly estimate follow receipt source total expenditure leave surplus take postal receipt account either side loss revenue custom last quarter estimate deducted gain realize first four month year year 1892 total estimate receipt estimate expenditure leave estimated surplus cash balance begin year give sum available redemption outstanding bond use estimate receipt expenditures department equal include statement either side act direct purchase silver bullion issue treasury note thereon approve july 14 1890 administer secretary treasury earnest purpose get circulation early possible date full monthly amount treasury note contemplate provision time give market silver bullion support law contemplate recent depreciation price silver observe regret rapid rise price anticipate followed passage act influence degree speculation recent reaction part result part recent monetary disturbance month trial necessary determine permanent effect recent legislation upon silver value gratify know increase circulation secure act exert continue exert beneficial influence upon business upon general value think best renew formally suggestion international conference look agreement touch full use silver coinage uniform ratio care take observe closely change situation abroad favorable opportunity lose promote result confidently believe would confer large benefit upon commerce world recent monetary disturbance england unlikely suggest reexamination opinion upon subject large supply gold lose impulsive legislation suppose interest silver give u position advantage promote permanent safe international agreement free use silver coin metal effort secretary increase volume money circulation keep treasury surplus low practicable limit unremitting high degree successful table present show increase money circulation last two decade especially table show increase nineteen month administer affair department interest instructive increase money circulation nineteen month aggregate per caput increase due recent silver legislation substantial need aid give commerce result enormous reduction public debt annual interest charge matter increase satisfaction purchase redeem since march 4 1889 4 4 12 per cent bond amount cost result reduction annual interest charge total save interest notice great pleasure statement secretary receipt internal revenue increase last fiscal year nearly cost collect large revenue less purpose precede year percentage cost collect custom revenue less last fiscal year ever custom administration board provide act june 10 1890 select great care compose part men whose previous experience administration old custom regulation make familiar evil remedied part men whose legal judicial acquirement experience seem fit work interpret apply new statute chief aim law secure honest valuation dutiable merchandise make valuation uniform port entry make manifest congressional investigation system undervaluation long use certain class importer result great loss revenue intolerable discrimination honesty see legislation understood regard citizen country commercial dealing u unfriendly duty suppose excessive let complaint lodge surely claim people remedy may seek allowed system quasi smuggle report secretary war exhibit several gratify result attain year wise unostentatious method percentage desertion army evil congress department long seek remedy reduce past year 24 per cent month august september time favorable effect act june 16 felt 33 per cent compare month 1889 result attain reorganization consolidation division charge hospital service record volunteer soldier remarkable change effect july 1889 time case await attention half call pension office information necessary adjudication pension claim 30th day june last though new call come single case examine answered concur recommendation secretary adequate regular appropriation continue work ordnance plan practically agree upon good reason delay execution defenseless state great seaport furnishes urgent reason wise expedition encouragement extend militia state generally appropriately designated national guard continue enlarged military organization constitute large sense army united state annual cost maintenance defray state report law submit directly congress department justice one executive department reference work do appropriate vigorous main effective effort make bring trial punishment violator law time care take frivolous technical offense use swell fee officer harass citizen especial attention call fact connect prosecution violation election law offenses united state officer number conviction secure many upon plea guilty hop salutary restrain influence several case postmaster appoint subjected violent interference discharge official duty persecution personal violence extreme character case deal department justice case abolish suspend directed pursue course case effort fail secure postmaster fault opportunity peacefully exercise duty office action supplant effort department justice bring particular offender punishment vacation judicial decree fraudulent certificate naturalization upon bill equity file circuit court unite state new application familiar equity jurisdiction nearly one hundred decree take year evidence disclose large number fraudulent certificate naturalization issue connection beg renew recommendation law amend require full search inquiry fact necessary naturalization certificate grant certainly much require application american citizenship shall hear much care record much formality give case involve petty property right last session return without approval bill entitle act prohibit bookmaking pool sell district columbia state objection prohibit fact license purported prohibit effort make exist law suppress evil though certain found adequate report show gratify progress important work commit direction business method greatly improve large economy expenditures increase four million receipt realize deficiency year last year notwithstanding great enlargement service mail route extend quickened great accuracy dispatch distribution delivery attain report find full interest suggestion congress thoughtful citizen may interest know business method department public administration nearly touches people passage act amend certain section revise statute relate lottery approve september 19 1890 receive great deserved popular favor department department justice enter upon enforcement law sympathetic vigor already public mail largely free fraudulent demoralizing appeal literature emanate lottery company construction equipment new ship navy make satisfactory progress since march 4 1889 nine new vessel put commission winter four include one monitor add construction vessel authorize pushed government private yard energy watch scrupulous care experiment conduct year test relative resist power armor plat valuable attract great attention europe part work upon new ship threaten unusual delay armor plat every effort make reduce minimum source congratulation anticipate influence modern vessel upon esprit de corp officer seamen fully realize confidence pride ship among crew equivalent secondary battery favorable consideration invite recommendation secretary report secretary interior exhibit great fullness clearness vast work department satisfactory result attain suggestion make earnestly commend consideration congress though give particular mention several act congress look reduction large indian reservation rapid settlement indians upon individual allotment restoration public domain land excess need largely carry effect far work confide executive agreement conclude since march 4 1889 involve cession united state acre land contract require law submit congress ratification appropriation necessary carry effect sisseton wahpeton sac fox iowa pottawatomies absentee shawnee coeur tribes yet receive sanction congress attention also call fact appropriation make case sioux indian cover stipulated payment promptly correct agreement confirm term comply without delay full appropriation make policy outline last annual message relation patent land settler upon public domain carry administration land office general suspicion imputation fraud allow delay hearing adjudication individual case upon merit purpose perfect title honest settler promptness value entry might swallow expense extortion delay subject claimant average monthly issue agricultural patent increase act approve 27th june last put operation rapidly practicable increase clerical force provide select assigned work considerable part force engage examination field recall add work force office examination adjudication claim reason improve method rapid ever economy government delay much hardship injustice soldier anticipate expenditure large believe excess estimate make enactment law liberal enlargement general law suggest careful scrutiny bill special relief case relief grant amount allow increase number influence population utah observe satisfaction recent letter wilford woodruff president mormon church advised people refrain contract marriage forbidden law land attract wide attention hop influence highly beneficial restrain infraction law united state fact overlook doctrine belief church polygamous marriage rightful support divine revelation remain unchanged president woodruff renounce doctrine refrain teach advise practice law quite true law attempt deal faith belief anyone quite another thing safe thing deal territory utah believe polygamy rightful shall power make lawful admission state wyoming idaho union event full interest congratulation people state happily endow full participation privilege responsibilities people another belt state stretch atlantic pacific work patent office source high commendation amount accomplish largely increased result secure confidence consideration suggestion commissioner enumeration people united state provision act march 1 1889 complete result officially communicate congress completion decennial enumeration devolves upon congress duty make new apportionment representative among several state accord respective number last session occasion return objection several bill make provision erection public building reason expenditure contemplate opinion greatly excess public need class legislation liable abuse degenerate unseemly scramble public treasury exercise matter wise economy base upon responsible impartial examination report case general law report secretary agriculture deserve especial attention view fact year mark unusual degree agitation organization among farmer look increase profit business find effort department intelligently zealously devote promotion interest intrust care substantial improvement market price lead farm product year notice price wheat advance 81 cent october 1889 october 1890 corn 31 cent 50 cent oats 19 cent 43 cent barley 63 cent 78 cent meat show substantial large increase export trade live animal fowl show large increase total value export year end june 30 1890 increase precede year nearly cattle hog export precede year export trade beef pork product dairy product largely increased increase article butter alone pound pound total increase value meat dairy product export trade directly helpful farmer believe yet largely increased system inspection sanitary supervision provide law bring fully operation effort secretary establish healthfulness meat disparage imputation put upon abroad result substantial progress veterinary surgeon send department allow participate inspection live cattle country land english dock several month duty case contagious report inspection abroad domestic inspection live animal pork product provide act august 30 1890 afford perfect guaranty wholesomeness meat offer foreign consumption anywhere give food product nonacceptance quite clearly reveal real motive continue restriction use make clear duty executive plain information give secretary progress prospect industry full interest already pass experimental stage commercial success area sugar beet successfully cultivate large another field crop great value offer choice farmer secretary treasury concurs recommendation secretary agriculture official supervision provide tariff law sugar domestic production shall transfer department agriculture law relate civil service far learn executed power appointment classify service fidelity impartiality service increasingly satisfactory report commission show large amount good work do year limited appropriation congratulate congress country upon passage first session congress unusual number law high importance result legislation quicken enlargement manufacturing industry large good market breadstuffs provision home abroad constant employment well wage work people increase supply safe currency transaction business doubt measure enact late period beneficial effect upon commerce contemplation congress yet partially manifest general trade industrial condition throughout country year show mark improvement many year prior 1888 merchandise balance foreign trade largely favor year year follow turn u gratify know last fiscal year show balance favor bank clearing furnish good test volume business transact first ten month year 1890 show compare month 1889 increase whole country per cent increase outside city new york 13 per cent month october clearing whole country show increase per cent october 1889 outside new york increase per cent figure show increase volume business general throughout country large business conduct upon safe profitable basis show fact 300 less failure report october 1890 month precede year liability diminish value export domestic merchandise last year great precede year exceed history excess agricultural product production pig iron always good gauge general prosperity show recent census bulletin 153 per cent great 1890 1880 production steel 290 per cent great mining coal limitation except result deficient transportation general testimony labor everywhere fully employ report last year show small number employee affect strike lockouts year since 1884 depression price agricultural product greatly relieve buoyant hopeful tone begin felt people promise influence degree check surprising unfavorable monetary event recently take place england gratify know grow degree financial relation london people discredit attach security hold market return bond stock cause money stringency england loss value credit security could however wholly escape ill effect foreign monetary agitation accompany extraordinary incident characterize believe however evil incident time unfavorably affect value country long withstand strong safe wholesome influence operate give people profitable return branch legitimate trade industry apprehension tariff may subject important general change would undoubtedly add depress influence serious character general tariff act partially go operation important provision limit take effect date yet future general provision law force less sixty day permanent effect upon trade price still largely stand conjecture curious note advance price article wholly unaffected tariff act many hastily ascribe act notice take fact general tendency market upward influence wholly apart recent tariff legislation enlargement currency silver bill undoubtedly give upward tendency trade mark effect price natural desired effect silver legislation many erroneously attribute tariff act neither wisdom justice suggestion subject tariff revision shall open law fair trial quite true every tariff schedule subject objection bill ever frame suppose rate classification full approval even party caucus legislation always necessarily product compromise detail present law exception general scope effect think justify support believe american legislation conserve defend american trade wage american workman misinformation term act widely disseminate home abroad correct experience evil augury result confound market report savings bank international trade balance general prosperity people already begin hear abroad customhouses prohibitory effect upon importation impute act justified import port new york first three week november nearly 8 per cent great period 1889 29 per cent great period 1888 far act limit export confidently believe shall secure large profitable participation foreign trade ever enjoy shall recover proportionate participation ocean carry trade world criticisms bill come u foreign source may well reject repugnancy critic really believe adoption u policy tariff rate reference solely revenue would diminish participation country commerce world advocacy promotion speech form organize effort movement among people rare exhibition unselfishness trade hand sincerely believe adoption policy country inure profit hurt noticeably strange lead outcry author policy helpful countryman crown favor would snatch substantial share trade land already inadequate necessity disposition among people promote prohibitory retaliatory legislation policy adopt hurt others secure advantage fairly grow favor position nation form government incident universal suffrage make imperative shall save work people agitation distress scant work wage margin comfort always beget do found market open friendly commercial exchange enormous value great power time induction office duty use every power influence give law executive department development large market product especially farm product keep constantly mind effort spar promote end disadvantage foreign market except pay workman workwomen good wage pay elsewhere well abstractly well relatively cost necessary life doubt largely increase foreign trade accessible u without barter either home market product farm shop people supply wage work people many product wood iron meat breadstuffs advantage need good facility intercourse transportation secure large foreign market reciprocity clause tariff act wisely effectively open way secure large reciprocal trade exchange free admission port certain product right independent nation make special reciprocal trade concession well establish impair either comity due power know clause generally find commercial treaty give one adequate agree consideration claim another freely state revenue could dispense import duty upon coffee tea hide low grade sugar molasses large advantage result country produce export article place free list entitle u expect fair return way custom concession upon article export u obvious gratuitously abandon opportunity enlarge trade would unpardonable error two method maintain control question open congress place article upon dutiable list subject treaty agreement could secure place presently upon free list subject reimposition specify duty country receive refuse give u suitable reciprocal benefit latter method think possess great advantage express advance consent congress reciprocity arrangement affect product must otherwise delay unascertained treaty ratify senate necessary legislation enact congress experience show treaty look reciprocal trade fail secure vote senate ratification others pass stage year await concurrence house senate modification revenue law necessary give effect provision concurrence house advance distinct definite offer free entry port specific article executive require deal conjecture congress accept indeed reciprocity provision offer part bargain complete delivery make country receive sugar coffee tea hide place free list product shall agree upon equivalent concession proclamation fact complete transaction meantime people free sugar tea coffee hide indication thus far give hopeful early favorable action country receive large import coffee sugar confidently believe steam communication country promptly improve enlarge next year show gratify increase export breadstuff provision well important line manufacture good addition important bill become law adjournment last session bill high importance well advanced toward final vote stand upon calendar two house favor position present session fix limit measure bring final vote work do upon congress lose proper consideration apportionment bill annual appropriation bill require work day session shall lose measure minor local interest shall allow interrupt retard progress universal interest view condition refrain bringing time suggestion would otherwise make earnestly invoke attention duty perfect important legislation well advanced measure seem important briefly call attention desire repeat add urgency recommendation contain last annual message relation development american steamship line reciprocity clause tariff bill largely limited benefit retard diminished provision contemporaneously make encourage establishment steam communication port port nation may meet overture enlarge commercial exchange steamship carry mail statedly frequently offer passenger comfortable safe speedy transit first condition foreign trade carry order buyer order bought give sail vessel cargo urgent perishable indirectly least promotes important adjunct commerce country nation central south america state expectation confidence increase trade give double value prompt action upon question present situation mail communication australia illustrate importance early action congress oceanic steamship company maintain line steamer san francisco sydney auckland consist three vessel two united state registry one foreign registry service do line carry mail pay annually sum estimate full sea united state inland postage limit fix law colony new south wale new zealand pay annually line lbs carry mail sydney auckland san francisco contract payment make expire colony refuse renew contract unless united state shall pay equitable proportion whole sum necessary maintain service advise united state receive carry australian mail bring san francisco steamer rail vancouver estimate annual income state pay support steamship line bring mail u leave annual surplus result service trade united state australia considerable part carry steamer whole practically dependent upon mail communication maintain largely favor total export merchandise australasian port fiscal year end june 30 1890 total import merchandise port willing see important steamship line withdrawn continue vancouver substitute san francisco american terminal congress put power make liberal increase amount pay transportation important mail south atlantic gulf port occupy favor position toward new important commerce reciprocity clause tariff act postal shipping bill design promote steamship line port northern port south america almost certainly effect connection railroad system continent long continuous line railroad put operation large appropriation make last session harbor galveston justify seem consideration great northwest feel advantage trunk line south well east new market open surplus food product many manufacture product occasion may last transmit congress report adopt international american conference upon subject incorporation international american bank view facilitate money exchange state represent conference institution would greatly promote trade seek develop renew recommendation careful charter grant think power grant include ordinarily exercise trust guaranty company branch united state authorize strictly necessary accomplish object primarily view namely convenient foreign exchange quite important prompt action take matter order appropriation good communication country agreement may make reciprocal trade may hinder inconvenience making exchange european money center burden tribute incident method business bill relief supreme court many year discussion reach position final action easily attainable hop difference opinion may harmonize save essential feature important measure connection earnestly renew recommendation salary judge united state district court readjust none shall receive less per annum subject unadjusted spanish mexican land grant urgent necessity provide commission tribunal trial question title grow twice bring attention congress last session bill report proper committee house upon subject earnestly hope congress put end delay attend settlement dispute title settler claimant grant dispute retard prosperity disturb peace large important community governor new mexico last report secretary interior suggest modification provision pending bill relate small holding farm land commend attention suggestion secretary interior upon subject enactment national bankrupt law still regard desirable constitution give congress jurisdiction subject exercise uniform rule provide administration affair insolvent debtor inconvenience result occasional temporary exercise power congress conflict state code insolvency come force intermediately remove enactment simple inexpensive permanent national bankrupt law also renew recommendation favor legislation afford copyright protection foreign author foot reciprocal advantage author abroad may still possible congress inaugurate suitable legislation movement look uniformity increase safety use coupler brake upon freight train engage interstate commerce chief difficulty way secure agreement best appliance simplicity effectiveness cost consider difficulty yield legislation base upon full inquiry impartial test purpose secure cooperation manager owner fearful fact every year delay involve sacrifice life maim young men plead congress manager needless delay subject conservation equal distribution water supply arid region much attention congress yet put upon permanent satisfactory basis urgency subject grow large present demand use land agriculture danger water supply sit necessary catch basin may fall hand individual private corporation use render subservient large area dependent upon supply owner water owner land however title may run unappropriated natural water source necessary reservoir site hold government equal use fair rate homestead settler eventually take land united state opinion undertake construction dam canal limit work survey observation determine water supply surface subterranean area capable irrigation location storage capacity reservoirs do use water reservoir site might grant respective state territory individual association upon condition necessary work construct water furnish fair rate without discrimination rate subject supervision legislatures board water commissioner duly constitute essential thing secure common equal use fair rate accumulate water supply almost good land remain arid occupy become slave unrestrained monopoly control one essential element land value crop result use telegraph department mean rapid transmission write communication believe upon proper term quite desirable government operate railroad think operate telegraph line however seem quite practicable government contract telegraph company railroad company carry specify rate communication sender may designate method transmission recommend legislation enact enable department fairly test experiment advantage use telegraph intelligent loyal company american citizen require catalogue essential human condition national life doubt absolute unanimity would begin free honest election gratify know generally grow nonpartisan demand well election law sign hope progress must set depress undeniable fact election law method sometimes cunningly contrived secure minority control violence complete shortcoming fraud last annual message suggest development exist law provide federal supervision congressional election offer effective method reform abuse need law manifest many part country wholesome restraint penalty useful constitutionality legislation affirm supreme court probable effectiveness evidence character opposition make denounce new exercise federal power invasion right state nothing could truth congress already fix time election member congress declared vote member congress must write printed ballot provide appointment circuit court certain case upon petition certain number citizen election supervisor make duty supervise registration voter conduct state officer challenge person offer register personally inspect scrutinize registry list affix name list purpose identification prevention fraud attend election remain box till cast counted attach registry list election return statement touch accuracy fairness registry election take transmit clerk house representative evidence fraudulent practice may present law provide appointment deputy united state marshal attend poll support supervisor discharge duty arrest person violate election law provision familiar title revise statute put exercise great political party north well south file court petition require law therefore question whether shall federal election law one nearly twenty year whether shall effective law present law stop short effectiveness surrender local authority control certification establishes prima facie right seat house representative defect cure equality representation parity elector must maintain everything valuable system government lose qualification elector must seek law net opinion prejudice fear class however powerful path elector ballot box must free ambush fear enticement fraud count true open none shall gainsay law absolutely nonpartisan impartial give advantage honesty control majorities surely nothing sectional creed shall happen penalty law intend enforce right fall law sectional happily crime local universal forget every law whether relate election subject whether enacted state nation force behind court marshal constable posse comitatus prison always behind law one justly charge unfriendliness section class seek restrain violation law personal right community find lawlessness profitable community afford know officer charge preservation public peace restraint criminal class product fraud violence magistrate without respect law without sanction flood lawlessness leveed make run one channel kill united state marshal carry writ arrest election offense full prompt suggestion men pursue city marshal crime life property say legislation revive race animosity even suggest peaceful method fraud make impossible may supplant intimidation violence propose law give qualified elector hair weight equal influence detracts much qualify elector fatally impeached law equal animosity evoke grow fact elector accustom exercise franchise others well animosity ought confess without shame give weight discussion without dishonor choice leave enforce vigor law intend secure citizen constitutional right recommend inadequacy law promptly remedied promote zeal ready interest every project development material interest river harbor mine factory intelligence peace security law community home accept sufficient evidence friendliness state section add connivance election practice disturb local result rob elector state section priceless political right preparation general appropriation bill conduct great care closest scrutiny expenditures appropriation adequate need public service absolutely free prodigality venture remind brief time remain consideration important legislation await attention offer margin waste present duty discharge diligence fidelity courage work congress may confidently submit considerate judgment people