The reports of the heads of the several Executive Departments required by law to be submitted to me, which are herewith transmitted, and the reports of the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney-General, made directly to Congress, furnish a comprehensive view of the administrative work of the last fiscal year relating to internal affair. It would be of great advantage if these reports could have an alternative perusal by every member of Congress and by all who take an interest in public affairs. Such a perusal could not fail to excite a higher appreciation of the vast labor and conscientious effort which are given to the conduct of our civil administration. The reports will, I believe, show that every question has been approached, considered, and decided from the standpoint of public duty upon considerations affecting the public interests alone. Again I invite to every branch of the service the attention and scrutiny of Congress. The work of the State Department during the last year has been characterized by an unusual number of important negotiations and by diplomatic results of a notable and highly beneficial character. Among these are the reciprocal trade arrangements which have been concluded, in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the tariff law, with the Republic of Brazil, with Spain for its West India possessions, and with Santo Domingo. Like negotiations with other countries have been much advanced, and it is hoped that before the close of the year further definitive trade arrangements of great value will be concluded. In view of the reports which had been received as to the diminution of the seal herds in the Bering Sea, I deemed it wise to propose to Her Majesty's Government in February last that an agreement for a closed season should be made pending the negotiations for arbitration, which then seemed to be approaching a favorable conclusion. After much correspondence and delays, for which this Government was not responsible, an agreement was reached and signed on the 15th of June, by which Great Britain undertook from that date and until May 1, 1892, to prohibit the killing by her subjects of seals in the Bering Sea, and the Government of the United States during the same period to enforce its existing prohibition against pelagic sealing and to limit the catch by the fur-seal company upon the islands to 7,500 skins. If this agreement could have been reached earlier in response to the strenuous endeavors of this Government, it would have been more effective; but coming even as late as it did it unquestionably resulted in greatly diminishing the destruction of the seals by the Canadian sealers. In my last annual message I stated that the basis of arbitration proposed by Her Majesty's Government for the adjustment of the long-pending controversy as to the seal fisheries was not acceptable. I am glad now to be able to announce that terms satisfactory to this Government have been agreed upon and that an agreement as to the arbitrators is all that is necessary to the completion of the convention. In view of the advanced position which this Government has taken upon the subject of international arbitration, this renewed expression of our adherence to this method for the settlement of disputes such as have arisen in the Bering Sea will, I doubt not, meet with the concurrence of Congress. Provision should be made for a joint demarcation of the frontier line between Canada and the United States wherever required by the increasing border settlements, and especially for the exact location of the water boundary in the straits and rivers. I should have been glad to announce some favorable disposition of the boundary dispute between Great Britain and Venezuela touching the western frontier of British Guiana, but the friendly efforts of the United States in that direction have thus far been unavailing. This Government will continue to express its concern at any appearance of foreign encroachment on territories long under the administrative control of American States. The determination of a disputed boundary is easily attainable by amicable arbitration where the rights of the respective parties rest, as here, on historic facts readily ascertainable. The law of the last Congress providing a system of inspection for our meats intended for export, and clothing the President with power to exclude foreign products from our market in case the country sending them should perpetuate unjust discriminations against any product of the United States, placed this Government in a position to effectively urge the removal of such discriminations against our meats. It is gratifying to be able to state that Germany, Denmark, Italy, Austria, and France, in the order named, have opened their ports to inspected American pork products. The removal of these restrictions in every instance was asked for and given solely upon the ground that we have now provided a meat inspection that should be accepted as adequate to the complete removal of the dangers, real or fancied, which had been previously urged. The State Department, our ministers abroad, and the Secretary of Agriculture have cooperated with unflagging and intelligent zeal for the accomplishment of this great result. The outlines of an agreement have been reached with Germany looking to equitable trade concessions in consideration of the continued free importation of her sugars, but the time has not yet arrived when this correspondence can be submitted to Congress. The recent political disturbances in the Republic of Brazil have excited regret and solicitude. The information we possessed was too meager to enable us to form a satisfactory judgment of the causes leading to the temporary assumption of supreme power by President Fonseca; but this Government did not fail to express to him its anxious solicitude for the peace of Brazil and for the maintenance of the free political institutions which had recently been established there, nor to offer our advice that great moderation should be observed in the clash of parties and the contest for leadership. These counsels were received in the most friendly spirit, and the latest information is that constitutional government has been reestablished without bloodshed. The lynching at New Orleans in March last of eleven men of Italian nativity by a mob of citizens was a most deplorable and discreditable incident. It did not, however, have its origin in any general animosity to the Italian people, nor in any disrespect to the Government of Italy, with which our relations were of the most friendly character. The fury of the mob was directed against these men as the supposed participants or accessories in the murder of a city officer. I do not allude to this as mitigating in any degree this offense against law and humanity, but only as affecting the international questions which grew out of it. It was at once represented by the Italian minister that several of those whose lives had been taken by the mob were Italian subjects, and a demand was made for the punishment of the participants and for an indemnity to the families of those who were killed. It is to be regretted that the manner in which these claims were presented was not such as to promote a calm discussion of the questions involved; but this may well be attributed to the excitement and indignation which the crime naturally evoked. The views of this Government as to its obligations to foreigners domiciled here were fully stated in the correspondence, as well as its purpose to make an investigation of the affair with a view to determine whether there were present any circumstances that could under such rules of duty as we had indicated create an obligation upon the United States. The temporary absence of a minister plenipotentiary of Italy at this capital has retarded the further correspondence, but it is not doubted that a friendly conclusion is attainable. Some suggestions growing out of this unhappy incident are worthy the attention of Congress. It would, I believe, be entirely competent for Congress to make offenses against the treaty rights of foreigners domiciled in the United States cognizable in the Federal courts. This has not, however, been done, and the Federal officers and courts have no power in such cases to intervene, either for the protection of a foreign citizen or for the punishment of his slayers. It seems to me to follow, in this state of the law, that the officers of the State charged with police and judicial powers in such cases must in the consideration of international questions growing out of such incidents be regarded in such sense as Federal agents as to make this Government answerable for their acts in cases where it would be answerable if the United States had used its constitutional power to define and punish crime against treaty rights. The civil war in Chile, which began in January last, was continued, but fortunately with infrequent and not important armed collisions, until August 28, when the Congressional forces landed near Valparaiso and after a bloody engagement captured that city. President Balmaceda at once recognized that his cause was lost, and a Provisional Government was speedily established by the victorious party. Our minister was promptly directed to recognize and put himself in communication with this Government so soon as it should have established its de facto character, which was done. During the pendency of this civil contest frequent indirect appeals were made to this Government to extend belligerent rights to the insurgents and to give audience to their representatives. This was declined, and that policy was pursued throughout which this Government when wrenched by civil war so strenuously insisted upon on the part of European nations. The Itata, an armed vessel commanded by a naval officer of the insurgent fleet, manned by its sailors and with soldiers on board, was seized under process of the United States court at San Diego, Cal., for a violation of our neutrality laws. While in the custody of an officer of the court the vessel was forcibly wrested from his control and put to sea. It would have been inconsistent with the dignity and self-respect of this Government not to have insisted that the Itala should be returned to San Diego to abide the judgment of the court. This was so clear to the junta of the Congressional party, established at Iquique, that before the arrival of the Itata at that port the secretary of foreign relations of the Provisional Government addressed to Rear-Admiral Brown, commanding the United States naval forces, a communication, from which the following is an extract: 
  The Provisional Government has learned by the cablegrams of the Associated Press that the transport Itata, detained in San Diego by order of the United States for taking on board munitions of war, and in possession of the marshal, left the port, carrying on board this official, who was landed at a point near the coast, and then continued her voyage. If this news be correct this Government would deplore the conduct of the Itata, and as an evidence that it is not disposed to support or agree to the infraction of the laws of the United States the undersigned takes advantage of the personal relations you have been good enough to maintain with him since your arrival in this port to declare to you that as soon as she is within reach of our orders his Government will put the Itata, with the arms and munitions she took on board in Sail Diego, at the disposition of the United States.
 A trial in the district court of the United States for the southern district of California has recently resulted in a decision holding, among other things, that inasmuch as the Congressional party had not been recognized as a belligerent the acts done in its interest could not be a violation of our neutrality laws. From this judgment the United States has appealed, not that the condemnation of the vessel is a matter of importance, but that we may know what the present state of our law is; for if this construction of the statute is correct there is obvious necessity for revision and amendment. During the progress of the war in Chile this Government tendered its good offices to bring about a peaceful adjustment, and it was at one time hoped that a good result might be reached; but in this we were disappointed. The instructions to our naval officers and to our minister at Santiago from the first to the last of this struggle enjoined upon them the most impartial treatment and absolute noninterference. I am satisfied that these instructions were observed and that our representatives were always watchful to use their influence impartially in the interest of humanity, and on more than one occasion did so effectively. We could not forget, however, that this Government was in diplomatic relations with the then established Government of Chile, as it is now in such relations with the successor of that Government. I am quite sure that President Montt, who has, under circumstances of promise for the peace of Chile, been installed as President of that Republic, will not desire that in the unfortunate event of any revolt against his authority the policy of this Government should be other than that which we have recently observed. No official complaint of the conduct of our minister or of our naval officers during the struggle has been presented to this Government, and it is a matter of regret that so many of our own people should have given ear to unofficial charges and complaints that manifestly had their origin in rival interests and in a wish to pervert the relations of the United States with Chile. The collapse of the Government of Balmaceda brought about a condition which is unfortunately too familiar in the history of the Central and South American States. With the overthrow of the Balmaceda Government he and many of his councilors and officers became at once fugitives for their lives and appealed to the commanding officers of the foreign naval vessels in the harbor of Valparaiso and to the resident foreign ministers at Santiago for asylum. This asylum was freely given, according to my information, by the naval vessels of several foreign powers and by several of the legations at Santiago. The American minister as well as his colleagues, acting upon the impulse of humanity, extended asylum to political refugees whose lives were in peril. I have not been willing to direct the surrender of such of these persons as are still in the American legation without suitable conditions. It is believed that the Government of Chile is not in a position, in view of the precedents with which it has been connected, to broadly deny the right of asylum, and the correspondence has not thus far presented any such denial. The treatment of our minister for a time was such as to call for a decided protest, and it was very gratifying to observe that unfriendly measures, which were undoubtedly the result of the prevailing excitement, were at once rescinded or suitably relaxed. On the 16th of October an event occurred in Valparaiso so serious and tragic in its circumstances and results as to very justly excite the indignation of our people and to call for prompt and decided action on the part of this Government. A considerable number of the sailors of the United States steamship Baltimore, then in the harbor at Valparaiso, being upon shore leave and unarmed, were assaulted by armed men nearly simultaneously in different localities in the city. One petty officer was killed outright and seven or eight seamen were seriously wounded, one of whom has since died. So savage and brutal was the assault that several of our sailors received more than two and one as many as eighteen stab wounds. An investigation of the affair was promptly made by a board of officers of the Baltimore, and their report shows that these assaults were unprovoked, that our men were conducting themselves in a peaceable and orderly manner, and that some of the police of the city took part in the assault and used their weapons with fatal effect, while a few others, with some well-disposed citizens, endeavored to protect our men. Thirty-six of our sailors were arrested, and some of them while being taken to prison were cruelly beaten and maltreated. The fact that they were all discharged, no criminal charge being lodged against any one of them, shows very clearly that they were innocent of any breach of the peace. So far as I have yet been able to learn no other explanation of this bloody work has been suggested than that it had its origin in hostility to those men as sailors of the United States, wearing the uniform of their Government, and not in any individual act or personal animosity. The attention of the Chilean Government was at once called to this affair, and a statement of the facts obtained by the investigation we had conducted was submitted, accompanied by a request to be advised of any other or qualifying facts in the possession of the Chilean Government that might tend to relieve this affair of the appearance of an insult to this Government. The Chilean Government was also advised that if such qualifying facts did not exist this Government would confidently expect full and prompt reparation. It is to be regretted that the reply of the secretary for foreign affairs of the Provisional Government was couched in an offensive tone. To this no response has been made. This Government is now awaiting the result of an investigation which has been conducted by the criminal court at Valparaiso. It is reported unofficially that the investigation is about completed, and it is expected that the result will soon be communicated to this Government, together with some adequate and satisfactory response to the note by which the attention of Chile was called to this incident. If these just expectations should be disappointed or further needless delay intervene, I will by a special message bring this matter again to the attention of Congress for such action as may be necessary. The entire correspondence with the Government of Chile will at an early day be submitted to Congress. I renew the recommendation of my special message dated January 16, 1890, for the adoption of the necessary legislation to enable this Government to apply in the case of Sweden and Norway the same rule in respect to the levying of tonnage dues as was claimed and secured to the shipping of the United States in 1828 under Article VIII of the treaty of 1827. The adjournment of the Senate without action on the pending acts for the suppression of the slave traffic in Africa and for the reform of the revenue tariff of the Independent State of the Kongo left this Government unable to exchange those acts on the date fixed, July 2, 1891. A modus vivendi has been concluded by which the power of the Kongo State to levy duties on imports is left unimpaired, and by agreement of all the signatories to the general slave-trade act the time for the exchange of ratifications on the part of the United States has been extended to February 2, 1892. The late outbreak against foreigners in various parts of the Chinese Empire has been a cause of deep concern in view of the numerous establishments of our citizens in the interior of that country. This Government can do no less than insist upon a continuance of the protective and punitory measures which the Chinese Government has heretofore applied. No effort will be omitted to protect our citizens peaceably sojourning in China, but recent unofficial information indicates that what was at first regarded as an outbreak of mob violence against foreigners has assumed the larger form of an insurrection against public order. The Chinese Government has declined to receive Mr. Blair as the minister of the United States on the ground that as a participant while a Senator in the enactment of the existing legislation against the introduction of Chinese laborers he has become unfriendly and objectionable to China. I have felt constrained to point out to the Chinese Government the untenableness of this position, which seems to rest as much on the unacceptability of our legislation as on that of the person chosen, and which if admitted would practically debar the selection of any representative so long as the existing laws remain in force. You will be called upon to consider the expediency of making special provision by law for the temporary admission of some Chinese artisans and laborers in connection with the exhibit of Chinese industries at the approaching Columbian Exposition. I regard it as desirable that the Chinese exhibit be facilitated in every proper way. A question has arisen with the Government of Spain touching the rights of American citizens in the Caroline Islands. Our citizens there long prior to the confirmation of Spain's claim to the islands had secured by settlement and purchase certain rights to the recognition and maintenance of which the faith of Spain was pledged. I have had reason within the past year very strongly to protest against the failure to carry out this pledge on the part of His Majesty's ministers, which has resulted in great injustice and injury to the American residents. The Government and people of Spain propose to celebrate the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by holding an exposition at Madrid, which will open on the 12th of September and continue until the 31st of December, 1892. A cordial invitation has been extended to the United States to take part in this commemoration, and as Spain was one of the first nations to express the intention to participate in the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, it would be very appropriate for this Government to give this invitation its friendly promotion. Surveys for the connecting links of the projected intercontinental railway are in progress, not only in Mexico, but at various points along the course mapped out. Three surveying parties are now in the field under the direction of the commission. Nearly 1,000 miles of the proposed road have been surveyed, including the most difficult part, that through Ecuador and the southern part of Colombia. The reports of the engineers are very satisfactory, and show that no insurmountable obstacles have been met with. On November 12, 1884, a treaty was concluded with Mexico reaffirming the boundary between the two countries as described in the treaties of February 2, 1848, and December 30, 1853. March 1, 1889, a further treaty was negotiated to facilitate the carrying out of the principles of the treaty of 1884 and to avoid the difficulties occasioned by reason of the changes and alterations that take place from natural causes in the Rio Grande and Colorado rivers in the portions thereof constituting the boundary line between the two Republics. The International Boundary Commission provided for by the treaty of 1889 to have exclusive jurisdiction of any question that may arise has been named by the Mexican Government. An appropriation is necessary to enable the United States to fulfill its treaty obligations in this respect. The death of King Kalakaua in the United States afforded occasion to testify our friendship for Hawaii by conveying the King's body to his own land in a naval vessel with all due honors. The Government of his successor, Queen Liliuokolani is seeking to promote closer commercial relations with the United States. Surveys for the much-needed submarine cable from our Pacific coast to Honolulu are in progress, and this enterprise should have the suitable promotion of the two Governments. I strongly recommend that provision be made for improving the harbor of Pearl River and equipping it as a naval station. The arbitration treaty formulated by the International American Conference lapsed by reason of the failure to exchange ratifications fully within the limit of time provided; but several of the Governments concerned have expressed a desire to save this important result of the conference by an extension of the period. It is, in my judgment, incumbent upon the United States to conserve the influential initiative it has taken in this measure by ratifying the instrument and by advocating the proposed extension of the time for exchange. These views have been made known to the other signatories. This Government has found occasion to express in a friendly spirit, but with much earnestness, to the Government of the Czar its serious concern because of the harsh measures now being enforced against the Hebrews in Russia. By the revival of antisemitic laws, long in abeyance, great numbers of those unfortunate people have been constrained to abandon their homes and leave the Empire by reason of the impossibility of finding subsistence within the pale to which it is sought to confine them. The immigration of these people to the United States--many other countries being closed to them--is largely increasing and is likely to assume proportions which may make it difficult to find homes and employment for them here and to seriously affect the labor market. is estimated that over 1,000,000 will be forced from Russia within a few years. The Hebrew is never a beggar; he has always kept the law--life by toil--often under severe and oppressive civil restrictions. It is also true that no race, sect, or class has more fully cared for its own than the Hebrew race. But the sudden transfer of such a multitude under conditions that tend to strip them of their small accumulations and to depress their energies and courage is neither good for them nor for us. The banishment, whether by direct decree or by not less certain indirect methods, of so large a number of men and women is not a local question. A decree to leave one country is in the nature of things an order to enter another--some other. This consideration, as well as the suggestion of humanity, furnishes ample ground for the remonstrances which we have presented to Russia, while our historic friendship for that Government can not fail to give the assurance that our representations are those of a sincere wellwisher. The annual report of the Maritime Canal Company of Nicaragua shows that much costly and necessary preparatory work has been done during the year in the construction of shops, railroad tracks, and harbor piers and breakwaters, and that the work of canal construction has made some progress. I deem it to be a matter of the highest concern to the United States that this canal, connecting the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and giving to us a short water communication between our ports upon those two great seas, should be speedily constructed and at the smallest practicable limit of cost. The gain in freights to the people and the direct saving to the Government of the United States in the use of its naval vessels would pay the entire cost of this work within a short series of years. The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows the saving in our naval expenditures which would result. The Senator from Alabama (Mr. Morgan) in his argument upon this subject before the Senate at the last session did not overestimate the importance of this work when he said that "the canal is the most important subject now connected with the commercial growth and progress of the United States." If this work is to be promoted by the usual financial methods and without the aid of this Government, the expenditures in its interest-bearing securities and stock will probably be twice the actual cost. This will necessitate higher tolls and constitute a heavy and altogether needless burden upon our commerce and that of the world. Every dollar of the bonds and stock of the company should represent a dollar expended in the legitimate and economical prosecution of the work. This is only possible by giving to the bonds the guaranty of the United States Government. Such a guaranty would secure the ready sale at par of a 3 per cent bond from time to time as the money was needed. I do not doubt that built upon these business methods the canal would when fully inaugurated earn its fixed charges and operating expenses. But if its bonds are to be marketed at heavy discounts and every bond sold is to be accompanied by a gift of stock, as has come to be expected by investors in such enterprises, the traffic will be seriously burdened to pay interest and dividends. I am quite willing to recommend Government promotion in the prosecution of a work which, if no other means offered for securing its completion, is of such transcendent interest that the Government should, in my opinion, secure it by direct appropriations from its Treasury. A guaranty of the bonds of the canal company to an amount necessary to the completion of the canal could, I think, be so given as not to involve any serious risk of ultimate loss. The things to be carefully guarded are the completion of the work within the limits of the guaranty, the subrogation of the United States to the rights of the first-mortgage bondholders for any amounts it may have to pay, and in the meantime a control of the stock of the company as a security against mismanagement and loss. I most sincerely hope that neither party nor sectional lines will be drawn upon this great American project, so full of interest to the people of all our States and so influential in its effects upon the prestige and prosperity of our common country. The island of Navassa, in the West Indian group, has, under the provisions of Title VII of the Revised Statutes, been recognized by the President as appertaining to the United States. It contains guano deposits, is owned by the Navassa Phosphate Company, and is occupied solely its employees. In September, 1889, a revolt took place among these laborers, resulting in the killing of some of the agents of the company, caused, as the laborers claimed, by cruel treatment. These men were arrested and tried in the United States court at Baltimore, under section 5576 of the statute referred to, as if the offenses had been committed on board a merchant vessel of the United States on the high seas. There appeared on the trial and otherwise came to me such evidences of the bad treatment of the men that in consideration of this and of the fact that the men had no access to any public officer or tribunal for protection or the redress of their wrongs I commuted the death sentences that had been passed by the court upon three of them. In April last my attention was again called to this island and to the unregulated condition of things there by a letter from a colored laborer, who complained that he was wrongfully detained upon the island by the phosphate company after the expiration of his contract of service. A naval vessel was sent to examine into the case of this man and generally into the condition of things on the island. It was found that the laborer referred to had been detained beyond the contract limit and that a condition of revolt again existed among the laborers. A board of naval officers reported, among other things, as follows: 
  We would desire to state further that the discipline maintained on the island seems to be that of a convict establishment without its comforts and cleanliness, and that until more attention is paid to the shipping of laborers by placing it under Government supervision to prevent misunderstanding and misrepresentation, and until some amelioration is shown in the treatment of the laborers, these disorders will be of constant occurrence.
 I recommend legislation that shall place labor contracts upon this and other islands having the relation that Navassa has to the United States under the supervision of a court commissioner, and that shall provide at the expense of the owners an officer to reside upon the island, with power to judge and adjust disputes and to enforce a just and humane treatment of the employees. It is inexcusable that American laborers should be left within our own jurisdiction without access to any Government officer or tribunal for their protection and the redress of their wrongs. International copyright has been secured, in accordance with the conditions of the act of March 3, 1891, with Belgium, France, Great Britain and the British possessions, and Switzerland, the laws of those countries permitting to our citizens the benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to their own citizens or subjects. With Germany a special convention has been negotiated upon this subject which will bring that country within the reciprocal benefits of our legislation. The general interest in the operations of the Treasury Department has been much augmented during the last year by reason of the conflicting predictions, which accompanied and followed the tariff and other legislation of the last Congress affecting the revenues, as to the results of this legislation upon the Treasury and upon the country. On the one hand it was contended that imports would so fall off as to leave the Treasury bankrupt and that the prices of articles entering into the living of the people would be so enhanced as to disastrously affect their comfort and happiness, while on the other it was argued that the loss to the revenue, largely the result of placing sugar on the free list, would be a direct gain to the people; that the prices of the necessaries of life, including those most highly protected, would not be enhanced; that labor would have a larger market and the products of the farm advanced prices, while the Treasury surplus and receipts would be adequate to meet the appropriations, including the large exceptional expenditures for the refunding to the States of the direct tax and the redemption of the 4 1/2 per cent bonds. It is not my purpose to enter at any length into a discussion of the effects of the legislation to which I have referred; but a brief examination of the statistics of the Treasury and a general glance at the state of business throughout the country will, I think, satisfy any impartial inquirer that its results have disappointed the evil prophecies of its opponents and in a large measure realized the hopeful predictions of its friends. Rarely, if ever before, in the history of the country has there been a time when the proceeds of one day' s labor or the product of one farmed acre would purchase so large an amount of those things that enter into the living of the masses of the people. I believe that a full test will develop the fact that the tariff act of the Fifty-first Congress is very favorable in its average effect upon the prices of articles entering into common use. During the twelve months from October 1, 1890, to September 30, 1891, the total value of our foreign commerce (imports and exports combined) was $1,747,806,406, which was the largest of any year in the history of the United States. The largest in any previous year was in 1890, when our commerce amounted to $1,647,139,093, and the last year exceeds this enormous aggregate by over one hundred millions. It is interesting, and to some will be surprising, to know that during the year ending September 30, 1891, our imports of merchandise amounted to $824,715,270, which was an increase of more than $11,000,000 over the value of the imports of the corresponding months of the preceding year, when the imports of merchandise were unusually large in anticipation of the tariff legislation then pending. The average annual value of the imports of merchandise for the ten years from 1881 to 1890 was $692,186,522, and during the year ending September 30, 1891, this annual average was exceeded by $132,528,469. The value of free imports during the twelve months ending September 30, 1891, was $118,092,387 more than the value of free imports during the corresponding twelve months of the preceding year, and there was during the same period a decrease of $106,846,508 in the value of imports of dutiable merchandise. The percentage of merchandise admitted free of duty during the year to which I have referred, the first under the new tariff, was 48.18, while during the preceding twelve months, under the old tariff, the percentage was 34.27, an increase of 13.91 per cent. If we take the six months ending September 30 last, which covers the time during which sugars have been admitted free of duty, the per cent of value of merchandise imported free of duty is found to be 55.37, which is a larger percentage of free imports than during any prior fiscal year in the history of the Government. If we turn to exports of merchandise, the statistics are full of gratification. The value of such exports of merchandise for the twelve months ending September 30, 1891, was $923,091,136, while for the corresponding previous twelve months it was $860,177,115, an increase of $62,914,021, which is nearly three times the average annual increase of exports of merchandise for the preceding twenty years. This exceeds in amount and value the exports of merchandise during any year in the history of the Government. The increase in the value of exports of agricultural products during the year referred to over the corresponding twelve months of the prior year was $45,846,197, while the increase in the value of exports of manufactured products was $16,838,240. There is certainly nothing in the condition of trade, foreign or domestic, there is certainly nothing in the condition of our people of any class, to suggest that the existing tariff and revenue legislation bears oppressively upon the people or retards the commercial development of the nation. It may be argued that our condition would be better if tariff legislation were upon a free-trade basis; but it can not be denied that all the conditions of prosperity and of general contentment are present in a larger degree than ever before in our history, and that, too, just when it was prophesied they would be in the worst state. Agitation for radical changes in tariff and financial legislation can not help but may seriously impede business, to the prosperity of which some degree of stability in legislation is essential. I think there are conclusive evidences that the new tariff has created several great industries, which will within a few years give employment to several hundred thousand American working men and women. In view of the somewhat overcrowded condition of the labor market of the United States, every patriotic citizen should rejoice at such a result. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury shows that the total receipts of the Government from all sources for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, were $458,544,233.03, while the expenditures for the same period were $421,304,470.46, leaving a surplus of $37,239,762.57. The receipts of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, actual and estimated, are $433,000,000 and the expenditures $409,000,000. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the estimated receipts are $455,336,350 and the expenditures $441,300,093. Under the law of July 14, 1890, the Secretary of the Treasury has purchased (since August 13) during the fiscal year 48,393,113 ounces of silver bullion at an average cost of $1.045 per ounce. The highest price paid during the year was $1.2025 and the lowest $0.9636. In exchange for this silver bullion there have been issued $50,577,498 of the Treasury notes authorized by the act. The lowest price of silver reached during the fiscal year was $0.9636 on April 22, 1891; but on November 1 the market price was only $0.96, which would give to the silver dollar a bullion value of 74 1/4 cents. Before the influence of the prospective silver legislation was felt in the market silver was worth in New York about $0.955 per ounce. The ablest advocates of free coinage in the last Congress were most confident in their predictions that the purchases by the Government required by the law would at once bring the price of silver to $1.2929 per ounce, which would make the bullion value of a dollar 100 cents and hold it there. The prophecies of the antisilver men of disasters to result from the coinage of $2,000,000 per month were not wider of the mark. The friends of free silver are not agreed, I think, as to the causes that brought their hopeful predictions to naught. Some facts are known. The exports of silver from London to India during the first nine months of this calendar year fell off over 50 per cent, or $17,202,730, compared with the same months of the preceding year. The exports of domestic silver bullion from this country, which had averaged for the last ten years over $17,000,000, fell in the last fiscal year to $13,797,391, while for the first time in recent years the imports of silver into this country exceeded the exports by the sum of $2,745,365. In the previous year the net exports of silver from the United States amounted to $8,545,455. The production of the United States increased from 50,000,000 ounces in 1889 to 54,500,000 in 1890. The Government is now buying and putting aside annually 54,000,000 ounces, which, allowing for 7,140,000 ounces of new bullion used in the arts, is 6,640,000 more than our domestic products available for coinage. I hope the depression in the price of silver is temporary and that a further trial of this legislation will more favorably affect it. That the increased volume of currency thus supplied for the use of the people was needed and that beneficial results upon trade and prices have followed this legislation I think must be very clear to everyone. Nor should it be forgotten that for every dollar of these notes issued a full dollar's worth of silver bullion is at the time deposited in the Treasury as a security for its redemption. Upon this subject, as upon the tariff, my recommendation is that the existing laws be given a full trial and that our business interests be spared the distressing influence which threats of radical changes always impart. Under existing legislation it is in the power of the Treasury Department to maintain that essential condition of national finance as well as of commercial prosperity--the parity in use of the coined dollars and their paper representatives. The assurance that these powers would be freely and unhesitatingly used has done much to produce and sustain the present favorable business conditions. I am still of the opinion that the free coinage of silver under existing conditions would disastrously affect our business interests at home and abroad. We could not hope to maintain an equality in the purchasing power of the gold and silver dollar in our own markets, and in foreign trade the stamp gives no added value to the bullion contained in coins. The producers of the country, its farmers and laborers, have the highest interest that every dollar, paper or coin, issued by the Government shall be as good as any other. If there is one less valuable than another, its sure and constant errand will be to pay them for their toil and for their crops. The money lender will protect himself by stipulating for payment in gold, but the laborer has never been able to do that. To place business upon a silver basis would mean a sudden and severe contraction of the currency by the withdrawal of gold and gold notes and such an unsettling of all values as would produce a commercial panic. I can not believe that a people so strong and prosperous as ours will promote such a policy. The producers of silver are entitled to just consideration, but they should not forget that the Government is now buying and putting out of the market what is the equivalent of the entire product of our silver mines. This is more than they themselves thought of asking two years ago. I believe it is the earnest desire of a great majority of the people, as it is mine, that a full coin use shall be made of silver just as soon as the cooperation of other nations can be secured and a ratio fixed that will give circulation equally to gold and silver. The business of the world requires the use of both metals; but I do not see any prospect of gain, but much of loss, by giving up the present system, in which a full use is made of gold and a large use of silver, for one in which silver alone will circulate. Such an event would be at once fatal to the further progress of the silver movement. Bimetallism is the desired end, and the true friends of silver will be careful not to overrun the goal and bring in silver monometallism with its necessary attendants--the loss of our gold to Europe and the relief of the pressure there for a larger currency. I have endeavored by the use of official and unofficial agencies to keep a close observation of the state of public sentiment in Europe upon this question and have not found it to be such as to justify me in proposing an international conference. There is, however, I am sure, a growing sentiment in Europe in favor of a larger use of silver, and I know of no more effectual way of promoting this sentiment than by accumulating gold here. A scarcity of gold in the European reserves will be the most persuasive argument for the use of silver. The exports of gold to Europe, which began in February last and continued until the close of July, aggregated over $70,000,000. The net loss of gold during the fiscal year was nearly $68,000,000. That no serious monetary disturbance resulted was most gratifying and gave to Europe fresh evidence of the strength and stability of our financial institutions. With the movement of crops the outflow of gold was speedily stopped and a return set in. Up to December 1 we had recovered of our gold lost at the port of New York $27,854,000, and it is confidently believed that during the winter and spring this aggregate will be steadily and largely increased. The presence of a large cash surplus in the Treasury has for many years been the subject of much unfavorable criticism, and has furnished an argument to those who have desired to place the tariff upon a purely revenue basis. It was agreed by all that the withdrawal from circulation of so large an amount of money was an embarrassment to the business of the country and made necessary the intervention of the Department at frequent intervals to relieve threatened monetary panics. The surplus on March 1, 1889, was $183,827,190.29. The policy of applying this surplus to the redemption of the interest-bearing securities of the United States was thought to be preferable to that of depositing it without interest in selected national banks. There have been redeemed since the date last mentioned of interest-bearing securities $259,079,350, resulting in a reduction of the annual interest charge of $11,684,675. The money which had been deposited in banks without interest has been gradually withdrawn and used in the redemption of bonds. The result of this policy, of the silver legislation, and of the refunding of the 4 1/2 per cent bonds has been a large increase of the money in circulation. At the date last named the circulation was $1,404,205,896, or $23.03 per capita, while on the 1st day of December, 1891, it had increased to $1,577,262,070, or $24.38 per capita. The offer of the Secretary of the Treasury to the holders of the 4 1/2 per cent bonds to extend the time of redemption, at the option of the Government, at an interest of 2 per cent, was accepted by the holders of about one-half the amount, and the unextended bonds are being redeemed on presentation. The report of the Secretary of War exhibits the results of an intelligent, progressive, and businesslike administration of a Department which has been too much regarded as one of mere routine. The separation of Secretary Proctor from the Department by reason of his appointment as a Senator from the State of Vermont is a source of great regret to me and to his colleagues in the Cabinet, as I am sure it will be to all those who have had business with the Department while under his charge. In the administration of army affairs some especially good work has been accomplished. The efforts of the Secretary to reduce the percentage of desertions by removing the causes that promoted it have been so successful as to enable him to report for the last year a lower percentage of desertion than has been before reached in the history of the Army. The resulting money saving is considerable, but the improvement in the morale of the enlisted men is the most valuable incident of the reforms which have brought about this result. The work of securing sites for shore batteries for harbor defense and the manufacture of mortars and guns of high power to equip them have made good progress during the year. The preliminary work of tests and plans which so long delayed a start is now out of the way. Some guns have been completed, and with an enlarged shop and a more complete equipment at Watervliet the Army will soon be abreast of the Navy in gun construction. Whatever unavoidable causes of delay may arise, there should be none from delayed or insufficient appropriations. We shall be greatly embarrassed in the proper distribution and use of naval vessels until adequate shore defenses are provided for our harbors. I concur in the recommendation of the Secretary that the three-battalion organization be adopted for the infantry. The adoption of a smokeless powder and of a modern rifle equal in range, precision, and rapidity of fire to the best now in use will, I hope, not be longer delayed. The project of enlisting Indians and organizing them into separate companies upon the same basis as other soldiers was made the subject of very careful study by the Secretary and received my approval. Seven companies have been completely organized and seven more are in process of organization. The results of six months' training have more than realized the highest anticipations. The men are readily brought under discipline, acquire the drill with facility, and show great pride in the right discharge of their duty and perfect loyalty to their officers, who declare that they would take them into action with confidence. The discipline, order, and cleanliness of the military posts will have a wholesome and elevating influence upon the men enlisted, and through them upon their tribes, while a friendly feeling for the whites and a greater respect for the Government will certainly be promoted. The great work done in the Record and Pension Division of the War Department by Major Ainsworth, of the Medical Corps, and the clerks under him is entitled to honorable mention. Taking up the work with nearly 41,000 cases behind, he closed the last fiscal year without a single case left over, though the new cases had increased 52 per cent in number over the previous year by reason of the pension legislation of the last Congress. I concur in the recommendation of the Attorney-General that the right in felony cases to a review by the Supreme court be limited. It would seem that personal liberty would have a safe guaranty if the right of review in cases involving only fine and imprisonment were limited to the circuit court of appeals, unless a constitutional question should in some way be involved. The judges of the Court of Private Land Claims, provided for by the act of March 3, 1891, have been appointed and the court organized. It is now possible to give early relief to communities long repressed in their development by unsettled land titles and to establish the possession and right of settlers whose lands have been rendered valueless by adverse and unfounded claims. The act of July 9, 1888, provided for the incorporation and management of a reform school for girls in the District of Columbia; but it has remained inoperative for the reason that no appropriation has been made for construction or maintenance. The need of such an institution is very urgent. Many girls could be saved from depraved lives by the wholesome influences and restraints of such a school. I recommend that the necessary appropriation be made for a site and for construction. The enforcement by the Treasury Department of the law prohibiting the coming of Chinese to the United States has been effective as to such as seek to land from vessels entering our ports. The result has been to divert the travel to vessels entering the ports of British Columbia, whence passage into the United States at obscure points along the Dominion boundary is easy. A very considerable number of Chinese laborers have during the past year entered the United States from Canada and Mexico. The officers of the Treasury Department and of the Department of Justice have used every means at their command to intercept this immigration; but the impossibility of perfectly guarding our extended frontier is apparent. The Dominion government collects a head tax of $50 from every Chinaman entering Canada, and thus derives a considerable revenue from those who only use its ports to reach a position of advantage to evade our exclusion laws. There seems to be satisfactory evidence that the business of passing Chinamen through Canada to the United States is organized and quite active. The Department of Justice has construed the laws to require the return of any Chinaman found to be unlawfully in this country to China as the country from which he came, notwithstanding the fact that he came by way of Canada; but several of the district courts have in cases brought before them overruled this view of the law and decided that such persons must be returned to Canada. This construction robs the law of all effectiveness, even if the decrees could be executed, for the men returned can the next day recross our border. But the only appropriation made is for sending them back to China, and the Canadian officials refuse to allow them to reenter Canada without the payment of the fifty-dollar head tax. I recommend such legislation as will remedy these defects in the law. In previous messages I have called the attention of Congress to the necessity of so extending the jurisdiction of the United States courts as to make triable therein any felony committed while in the act of violating a law of the United States. These courts can not have that independence and effectiveness which the Constitution contemplates so long as the felonious killing of court officers, jurors, and witnesses in the discharge of their duties or by reason of their acts as such is only cognizable in the State courts. The work done by the Attorney-General and the officers of his Department, even under the present inadequate legislation, has produced some notable results in the interest of law and order. The Attorney-General and also the Commissioners of the District of Columbia call attention to the defectiveness and inadequacy of the laws relating to crimes against chastity in the District of Columbia. A stringent code upon this subject has been provided by Congress for Utah, and it is a matter of surprise that the needs of this District should have been so long overlooked. In the report of the Postmaster-General some very gratifying results are exhibited and many betterments of the service suggested. A perusal of the report gives abundant evidence that the supervision and direction of the postal system have been characterized by an intelligent and conscientious desire to improve the service. The revenues of the Department show an increase of over $5,000,000, with a deficiency for the year 1892 of less than $4,000,000, while the estimate for the year 1893 shows a surplus of receipts over expenditures. Ocean mail post-offices have been established upon the steamers of the North German Lloyd and Hamburg lines, saving by the distribution on shipboard from two to fourteen hours' time in the delivery of mail at the port of entry and often much more than this in the delivery at interior places. So thoroughly has this system, initiated by Germany and the United States, evidenced its usefulness that it can not be long before it is installed upon all the great ocean mail-carrying steamships. Eight thousand miles of new postal service has been established upon railroads, the car distribution to substations in the great cities has been increased about 12 per cent, while the percentage of errors in distribution has during the past year been reduced over one-half. An appropriation was given by the last Congress for the purpose of making some experiments in free delivery in the smaller cities and towns. The results of these experiments have been so satisfactory that the Postmaster-General recommends, and I concur in the recommendation, that the free-delivery system be at once extended to towns of 5,000 population. His discussion of the inadequate facilities extended under our present system to rural communities and his suggestions with a view to give these communities a fuller participation in the benefits of the postal service are worthy of your careful consideration. It is not just that the farmer, who receives his mail at a neighboring town, should not only be compelled to send to the post-office for it, but to pay a considerable rent for a box in which to place it or to wait his turn at a general-delivery window, while the city resident has his mail brought to his door. It is stated that over 54,000 neighborhoods are under the present system receiving mail at post-offices where money orders and postal notes are not issued. The extension of this system to these communities is especially desirable, as the patrons of such offices are not possessed of the other facilities offered in more populous communities for the transmission of small sums of money. I have in a message to the preceding Congress expressed my views as to a modified use of the telegraph in connection with the postal service. In pursuance of the ocean mail law of March 3, 1891, and after a most careful study of the whole subject and frequent conferences with ship-owners, boards of trade, and others, advertisements were issued by the postmaster-General for 53 lines of ocean mail service--10 to Great Britain and the Continent, 27 to South America, 3 to China and Japan, 4 to Australia and the Pacific islands, 7 to the West Indies, and 2 to Mexico. It was not, of course, expected that bids for all these lines would be received or that service upon them all would be contracted for. It was intended, in furtherance of the act, to secure as many new lines as possible, while including in the list most or all of the foreign lines now occupied by American ships. It was hoped that a line to England and perhaps one to the Continent would be secured; but the outlay required to equip such lines wholly with new ships of the first class and the difficulty of establishing new lines in competition with those already established deterred bidders whose interest had been enlisted. It is hoped that a way may yet be found of overcoming these difficulties. The Brazil Steamship Company, by reason of a miscalculation as to the speed of its vessels, was not able to bid under the terms of the advertisement. The policy of the Department was to secure from the established lines an improved service as a condition of giving to them the benefits of the law. This in all instances has been attained. The Postmaster-General estimates that an expenditure in American shipyards of about $10,000,000 will be necessary to enable the bidders to construct the ships called for by the service which they have accepted. I do not think there is any reason for discouragement or for any turning back from the policy of this legislation. Indeed, a good beginning has been made, and as the subject is further considered and understood by capitalists and shipping people new lines will be ready to meet future proposals, and we may date from the passage of this law the revival of American shipping interests and the recovery of a fair share of the carrying trade of the world. We were receiving for foreign postage nearly $2,000,000 under the old system, and the outlay for ocean mail service did not exceed $600,000 per annum. It is estimated by the Postmaster-General that if all the contracts proposed are completed it will require $247,354 for this year in addition to the appropriation for sea and inland postage already in the estimates, and that for the next fiscal year, ending June 30, 1893, there would probably be needed about $560,000. The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows a gratifying increase of new naval vessels in commission. The Newark, Concord, Bennington, and Miantonomoh have been added during the year, with an aggregate of something more than 11,000 tons. Twenty-four warships of all classes are now under construction in the navy-yards and private shops; but while the work upon them is going forward satisfactorily, the completion of the more important vessels will yet require about a year' s time. Some of the vessels now under construction, it is believed, will be triumphs of naval engineering. When it is recollected that the work of building a modern navy was only initiated in the year 1883, that our naval constructors and shipbuilders were practically without experience in the construction of large iron or steel ships, that our engine shops were unfamiliar with great marine engines, and that the manufacture of steel forgings for guns and plates was almost wholly a foreign industry, the progress that has been made is not only highly satisfactory, but furnishes the assurance that the United States will before long attain in the construction of such vessels, with their engines and armaments, the same preeminence which it attained when the best instrument of ocean commerce was the clipper ship and the most impressive exhibit of naval power the old wooden three-decker man-of-war. The officers of the Navy and the proprietors and engineers of our great private shops have responded with wonderful intelligence and professional zeal to the confidence expressed by Congress in its liberal legislation. We have now at Washington a gun shop, organized and conducted by naval officers, that in its system, economy, and product is unexcelled. Experiments with armor plate have been conducted during the year with most important results. It is now believed that a plate of higher resisting power than any in use has been found and that the tests have demonstrated that cheaper methods of manufacture than those heretofore thought necessary can be used. I commend to your favorable consideration the recommendations of the Secretary, who has, I am sure, given to them the most conscientious study. There should be no hesitation in promptly completing a navy of the best modern type large enough to enable this country to display its flag in all seas for the protection of its citizens and of its extending commerce. The world needs no assurance of the peaceful purposes of the United States, but we shall probably be in the future more largely a competitor in the commerce of the world, and it is essential to the dignity of this nation and to that peaceful influence which it should exercise on this hemisphere that its Navy should be adequate both upon the shores of the Atlantic and of the Pacific. The report of the Secretary of the Interior shows that a very gratifying progress has been made in all of the bureaus which make up that complex and difficult Department. The work in the Bureau of Indian Affairs was perhaps never so large as now, by reason of the numerous negotiations which have been proceeding with the tribes for a reduction of the reservations, with the incident labor of making allotments, and was never more carefully conducted. The provision of adequate school facilities for Indian children and the locating of adult Indians upon farms involve the solution of the "Indian question." Everything else--rations, annuities, and tribal negotiations, with the agents, inspectors, and commissioners who distribute and conduct them--must pass away when the Indian has become a citizen, secure in the individual ownership of a farm from which he derives his subsistence by his own labor, protected by and subordinate to the laws which govern the white man, and provided by the General Government or by the local communities in which he lives with the means of educating his children. When an Indian becomes a citizen in an organized State or Territory, his relation to the General Government ceases in great measure to be that of a ward; but the General Government ought not at once to put upon the State or Territory the burden of the education of his children. It has been my thought that the Government schools and school buildings upon the reservations would be absorbed by the school systems of the States and Territories; but as it has been found necessary to protect the Indian against the compulsory alienation of his land by exempting him from taxation for a period of twenty-five years, it would seem to be right that the General Government, certainly where there are tribal funds in its possession, should pay to the school fund of the State what would be equivalent to the local school tax upon the property of the Indian. It will be noticed from the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that already some contracts have been made with district schools for the education of Indian children. There is great advantage, I think, in bringing the Indian children into mixed schools. This process will be gradual, and in the meantime the present educational provisions and arrangements, the result of the best experience of those who have been charged with this work, should be continued. This will enable those religious bodies that have undertaken the work of Indian education with so much zeal and with results so restraining and beneficent to place their institutions in new and useful relations to the Indian and to his white neighbors. The outbreak among the Sioux which occurred in December last is as to its causes and incidents fully reported upon by the War Department and the Department of the Interior. That these Indians had some just complaints, especially in the matter of the reduction of the appropriation for rations and in the delays attending the enactment of laws to enable the Department to perform the engagements entered into with them, is probably true; but the Sioux tribes are naturally warlike and turbulent, and their warriors were excited by their medicine men and chiefs, who preached the coming of an Indian messiah who was to give them power to destroy their enemies. In view of the alarm that prevailed among the white settlers near the reservation and of the fatal consequences that would have resulted from an Indian incursion, I placed at the disposal of General Miles, commanding the Division of the Missouri, all such forces as were thought by him to be required. He is entitled to the credit of having given thorough protection to the settlers and of bringing the hostiles into subjection with the least possible loss of life. The appropriation of $2,991,450 for the Choctaws and Chickasaws contained in the general Indian appropriation bill of March 3, 1891, has not been expended, for the reason that I have not yet approved a release (to the Government) of the Indian claim to the lands mentioned. This matter will be made the subject of a special message, placing before Congress all the facts which have come to my knowledge. The relation of the Five Civilized Tribes now occupying the Indian Territory to the United States is not, I believe, that best calculated to promote the highest advancement of these Indians. That there should be within our borders five independent states having no relations, except those growing out of treaties, with the Government of the United States, no representation in the National Legislature, its people not citizens, is a startling anomaly. It seems to me to be inevitable that there shall be before long some organic changes in the relation of these people to the United States. What form these changes should take I do not think it desirable now to suggest, even if they were well defined in my own mind. They should certainly involve the acceptance of citizenship by the Indians and a representation in Congress. These Indians should have opportunity to present their claims and grievances upon the floor rather than, as now, in the lobby. If a commission could be appointed to visit these tribes to confer with them in a friendly spirit upon this whole subject, even if no agreement were presently reached the feeling of the tribes upon this question would be developed, and discussion would prepare the way for changes which must come sooner or later. The good work of reducing the larger Indian reservations by allotments in severalty to the Indians and the cession of the remaining lands to the United States for disposition under the homestead law has been prosecuted during the year with energy and success. In September last I was enabled to open to settlement in the Territory of Oklahoma 900,000 acres of land, all of which was taken up by settlers in a single day. The rush for these lands was accompanied by a great deal of excitement, but was happily free from incidents of violence. It was a source of great regret that I was not able to open at the same time the surplus lands of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Reservation, amounting to about 3,000,000 acres, by reason of the insufficiency of the appropriation for making the allotments. Deserving and impatient settlers are waiting to occupy these lands, and I urgently recommend that a special deficiency appropriation be promptly made of the small amount needed, so that the allotments may be completed and the surplus lands opened in time to permit the settlers to get upon their homesteads in the early spring. During the past summer the Cherokee Commission have completed arrangements with the Wichita, Kickapoo, and Tonkawa tribes whereby, if the agreements are ratified by Congress, over 800,000 additional acres will be opened to settlement in Oklahoma. The negotiations for the release by the Cherokees of their claim to the Cherokee Strip have made no substantial progress so far as the Department is officially advised, but it is still hoped that the cession of this large and valuable tract may be secured. The price which the commission was authorized to offer--$1.25 per acre--is, in my judgment, when all the circumstances as to title and the character of the lands are considered, a fair and adequate one, and should have been accepted by the Indians. Since March 4, 1889, about 23,000,000 acres have been separated from Indian reservations and added to the public domain for the use of those who desired to secure free homes under our beneficent laws. It is difficult to estimate the increase of wealth which will result from the conversion of these waste lands into farms, but it is more difficult to estimate the betterment which will result to the families that have found renewed hope and courage in the ownership of a home and the assurance of a comfortable subsistence under free and healthful conditions. It is also gratifying to be able to feel, as we may, that this work has proceeded upon lines of justice toward the Indian, and that he may now, if he will, secure to himself the good influences of a settled habitation, the fruits of industry, and the security of citizenship. Early in this Administration a special effort was begun to bring up the work of the General Land Office. By faithful work the arrearages have been rapidly reduced. At the end of the last fiscal year only 84,172 final agricultural entries remained undisposed of, and the Commissioner reports that with the present force the work can be fully brought up by the end of the next fiscal year. Your attention is called to the difficulty presented by the Secretary of the Interior as to the administration of the law of March 3, 1891, establishing a Court of Private Land Claims. The small holdings intended to be protected by the law are estimated to be more than 15,000 in number. The claimants are a most deserving class and their titles are supported by the strongest equities. The difficulty grows out of the fact that the lands have largely been surveyed according to our methods, while the holdings, many of which have been in the same family for generations, are laid out in narrow strips a few rods wide upon a stream and running back to the hills for pasturage and timber.. Provision should be made for numbering these tracts as lots and for patenting them by such numbers and without reference to section lines. The administration of the Pension Bureau has been characterized during the year by great diligence. The total number of pensioners upon the roll on the 30th day of June, 1891, was 676,160. There were allowed during the fiscal year ending at that time 250,565 cases. Of this number 102,387 were allowed under the law of June 27, 1890. The issuing of certificates has been proceeding at the rate of about 30,000 per month, about 75 per cent of these being cases under the new law. The Commissioner expresses the opinion that he will be able to carefully adjudicate and allow 350,000 claims during the present fiscal year. The appropriation for the payment of pensions for the fiscal year 1890-91 was $127,685,793.89 and the amount expended $118,530,649.25, leaving an unexpended surplus of $9,155,144.64. The Commissioner is quite confident that there will be no call this year for a deficiency appropriation, notwithstanding the rapidity with which the work is being pushed. The mistake which has been made by many in their exaggerated estimates of the cost of pensions is in not taking account of the diminished value of first payments under the recent legislation. These payments under the general law have been for many years very large, as the pensions when allowed dated from the time of filing the claim, and most of these claims had been pending for years. The first payments under the law of June, 1890, are relatively small, and as the per cent of these cases increases and that of the old cases diminishes the annual aggregate of first payments is largely reduced. The Commissioner, under date of November 13, furnishes me with the statement that during the last four months 113,175 certificates were issued, 27,893 under the general law and 85,282 under the act of June 27, 1890. The average first payment during these four months was $131.85, while the average first payment upon cases allowed during the year ending June 30, 1891, was $239.33, being a reduction in the average first payments during these four months of $107.48. The estimate for pension expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, is $144,956,000, which, after a careful examination of the subject, the Commissioner is of the opinion will be sufficient. While these disbursements to the disabled soldiers of the great Civil War are large, they do not realize the exaggerated estimates of those who oppose this beneficent legislation. The Secretary of the Interior shows with great fullness the care that is taken to exclude fraudulent claims, and also the gratifying fact that the persons to whom these pensions are going are men who rendered not slight but substantial war service. The report of the Commissioner of Railroads shows that the total debt of the subsidized railroads to the United States was on December 31, 1890, $112,512,613.06. A large part of this debt is now fast approaching maturity, with no adequate provision for its payment. Some policy for dealing with this debt with a view to its ultimate collection should be at once adopted. It is very difficult, well-nigh impossible, for so large a body as the Congress to conduct the necessary negotiations and investigations. I therefore recommend that provision be made for the appointment of a commission to agree upon and report a plan for dealing with this debt. The work of the Census Bureau is now far in advance and the great bulk of the enormous labor involved completed. It will be more strictly a statistical exhibit and less encumbered by essays than its immediate predecessors. The methods pursued have been fair, careful, and intelligent, and have secured the approval of the statisticians who have followed them with a scientific and nonpartisan interest. The appropriations necessary to the early completion and publication of the authorized volumes should be given in time to secure against delays, which increase the cost and at the same time diminish the value of the work. The report of the Secretary exhibits with interesting fullness the condition of the Territories. They have shared with the States the great increase in farm products, and are bringing yearly large areas into cultivation by extending their irrigating canals. This work is being done by individuals or local corporations and without that system which a full preliminary survey of the water supply and of the irrigable lands would enable them to adopt. The future of the Territories of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah in their material growth and in the increase, independence, and happiness of their people is very largely dependent upon wise and timely legislation, either by Congress or their own legislatures, regulating the distribution of the water supply furnished by their streams. If this matter is much longer neglected, private corporations will have unrestricted control of one of the elements of life and the patentees of the arid lands will be tenants at will of the water companies. The United States should part with its ownership of the water sources and the sites for reservoirs, whether to the States and Territories or to individuals or corporations, only upon conditions that will insure to the settlers their proper water supply upon equal and reasonable terms. In the Territories this whole subject is under the full control of Congress, and in the States it is practically so as long as the Government holds the title to the reservoir sites and water sources and can grant them upon such conditions as it chooses to impose. The improvident granting of franchises of enormous value without recompense to the State or municipality from which they proceed and without proper protection of the public interests is the most noticeable and flagrant evil of modern legislation. This fault should not be committed in dealing with a subject that will before many years affect so vitally thousands of our people. The legislation of Congress for the repression of polygamy has, after years of resistance on the part of the Mormons, at last brought them to the conclusion that resistance is unprofitable and unavailing. The power of Congress over this subject should not be surrendered until we have satisfactory evidence that the people of the State to be created would exercise the exclusive power of the State over this subject in the same way. The question is not whether these people now obey the laws of Congress against polygamy, but rather would they make, enforce, and maintain such laws themselves if absolutely free to regulate the subject? We can not afford to experiment with this subject, for when a State is once constituted the act is final and any mistake irretrievable. No compact in the enabling act could, in my opinion, be binding or effective. I recommend that provision be made for the organization of a simple form of town government in Alaska, with power to regulate such matters as are usually in the States under municipal control. These local civil organizations will give better protection in some matters than the present skeleton Territorial organization. Proper restrictions as to the power to levy taxes and to create debt should be imposed. If the establishment of the Department of Agriculture was regarded by anyone as a mere concession to the unenlightened demand of a worthy class of people, that impression has been most effectually removed by the great results already attained. Its home influence has been very great in disseminating agricultural and horticultural information, in stimulating and directing a further diversification of crops, in detecting and eradicating diseases of domestic animals, and, more than all, in the close and informal contact which it has established and maintains with the farmers and stock raisers of the whole country. Every request for information has had prompt attention and every suggestion merited consideration. The scientific corps of the Department is of a high order and is pushing its investigations with method and enthusiasm. The inspection by this Department of cattle and pork products intended for shipment abroad has been the basis of the success which has attended our efforts to secure the removal of the restrictions maintained by the European Governments. For ten years protests and petitions upon this subject from the packers and stock raisers of the United States have been directed against these restrictions, which so seriously limited our markets and curtailed the profits of the farm. It is a source of general congratulation that success has at last been attained, for the effects of an enlarged foreign market for these meats will be felt not only by the farmer, but in our public finances and in every branch of trade. It is particularly fortunate that the increased demand for food products resulting from the removal of the restrictions upon our meats and from the reciprocal trade arrangements to which I have referred should have come at a time when the agricultural surplus is so large. Without the help thus derived lower prices would have prevailed. The Secretary of Agriculture estimates that the restrictions upon the importation of our pork products into Europe lost us a market for $20,000,000 worth of these products annually. The grain crop of this year was the largest in our history--50 per cent greater than that of last year--and yet the new markets that have been opened and the larger demand resulting from short crops in Europe have sustained prices to such an extent that the enormous surplus of meats and breadstuffs will be marketed at good prices, bringing relief and prosperity to an industry that was much depressed. The value of the grain crop of the United States is estimated by the Secretary to be this year $500,000,000 more than last; of meats $150,000,000 more, and of all products of the farm $700,000,000 more. It is not inappropriate, I think, here to suggest that our satisfaction in the contemplation of this marvelous addition to the national wealth is unclouded by any suspicion of the currency by which it is measured and in which the farmer is paid for the products of his fields. The report of the Civil Service Commission should receive the careful attention of the opponents as well as the friends of this reform. The Commission invites a personal inspection by Senators and Representatives of its records and methods, and every fair critic will feel that such an examination should precede a judgment of condemnation either of the system or its administration. It is not claimed that either is perfect, but I believe that the law is being executed with impartiality and that the system is incomparably better and fairer than that of appointments upon favor. I have during the year extended the classified service to include superintendents, teachers, matrons, and physicians in the Indian service. This branch of the service is largely related to educational and philanthropic work and will obviously be the better for the change. The heads of the several Executive Departments have been directed to establish at once an efficiency record as the basis of a comparative rating of the clerks within the classified service, with a view to placing promotions therein upon the basis of merit. I am confident that such a record, fairly kept and open to the inspection of those interested, will powerfully stimulate the work of the Departments and will be accepted by all as placing the troublesome matter of promotions upon a just basis. I recommend that the appropriation for the Civil Service Commission be made adequate to the increased work of the next fiscal year. I have twice before urgently called the attention of Congress to the necessity of legislation for the protection of the lives of railroad employees, but nothing has yet been done. During the year ending June 30, 1890, 369 brakemen were killed and 7,841 maimed while engaged in coupling cars. The total number of railroad employees killed during the year was 2,451 and the number injured 22,390. This is a cruel and largely needless sacrifice. The Government is spending nearly $1,000,000 annually to save the lives of shipwrecked seamen; every steam vessel is rigidly inspected and required to adopt the most approved safety appliances. All this is good. But how shall we excuse the lack of interest and effort in behalf of this army of brave young men who in our land commerce are being sacrificed every year by the continued use of antiquated and dangerous appliances? A law requiring of every railroad engaged in interstate commerce the equipment each year of a given per cent of its freight cars with automatic couplers and air brakes would compel an agreement between the roads as to the kind of brakes and couplers to be used, and would very soon and very greatly reduce the present fearful death rate among railroad employees. The method of appointment by the States of electors of President and Vice-President has recently attracted renewed interest by reason of a departure by the State of Michigan from the method which had become uniform in all the States. Prior to 1832 various methods had been used by the different States, and even by the same State. In some the choice was made by the legislature; in others electors were chosen by districts, but more generally by the voters of the whole State upon a general ticket. The movement toward the adoption of the last-named method had an early beginning and went steadily forward among the States until in 1832 there remained but a single State (South Carolina) that had not adopted it. That State until the Civil War continued to choose its electors by a vote of the legislature, but after the war changed its method and conformed to the practice of the other States. For nearly sixty years all the States save one have appointed their electors by a popular vote upon a general ticket, and for nearly thirty years this method was universal. After a full test of other methods, without important division or dissent in any State and without any purpose of party advantage, as we must believe, but solely upon the considerations that uniformity was desirable and that a general election in territorial divisions not subject to change was most consistent with the popular character of our institutions, best preserved the equality of the voters, and perfectly removed the choice of President from the baneful influence of the "gerrymander," the practice of all the States was brought into harmony. That this concurrence should now be broken is, I think, an unfortunate and even a threatening episode, and one that may well suggest whether the States that still give their approval to the old and prevailing method ought not to secure by a constitutional amendment a practice which has had the approval of all. The recent Michigan legislation provides for choosing what are popularly known as the Congressional electors for President by Congressional districts and the two Senatorial electors by districts created for that purpose. This legislation was, of course, accompanied by a new Congressional apportionment, and the two statutes bring the electoral vote of the State under the influence of the "gerrymander." These gerrymanders for Congressional purposes are in most cases buttressed by a gerrymander of the legislative districts, thus making it impossible for a majority of the legal voters of the State to correct the apportionment and equalize the Congressional districts. A minority rule is established that only a political convulsion can overthrow. I have recently been advised that in one county of a certain State three districts for the election of members of the legislature are constituted as follows: One has 65,000 population, one 15,000, and one 10,000, while in another county detached, noncontiguous sections have been united to make a legislative district. These methods have already found effective application to the choice of Senators and Representatives in Congress, and now an evil start has been made in the direction of applying them to the choice by the States of electors of President and Vice-President. If this is accomplished, we shall then have the three great departments of the Government in the grasp of the "gerrymander," the legislative and executive directly and the judiciary indirectly through the power of appointment. An election implies a body of electors having prescribed qualifications, each one of whom has an equal value and influence in determining the result. So when the Constitution provides that "each State shall appoint" (elect), "in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors," etc., an unrestricted power was not given to the legislatures in the selection of the methods to be used. "A republican form of government" is guaranteed by the Constitution to each State, and the power given by the same instrument to the legislatures of the States to prescribe methods for the choice by the State of electors must be exercised under that limitation. The essential features of such a government are the right of the people to choose their own officers and the nearest practicable equality of value in the suffrages given in determining that choice. It will not be claimed that the power given to the legislature would support a law providing that the persons receiving the smallest vote should be the electors or a law that all the electors should be chosen by the voters of a single Congressional district. The State is to choose, and finder the pretense of regulating methods the legislature can neither vest the right of choice elsewhere nor adopt methods not conformable to republican institutions. It is not my purpose here to discuss the question whether a choice by the legislature or by the voters of equal single districts is a choice by the State, but only to recommend such regulation of this matter by constitutional amendment as will secure uniformity and prevent that disgraceful partisan jugglery to which such a liberty of choice, if it exists, offers a temptation. Nothing just now is more important than to provide every guaranty for the absolutely fair and free choice by an equal suffrage within the respective States of all the officers of the National Government, whether that suffrage is applied directly, as in the choice of members of the House of Representatives, or indirectly, as in the choice of Senators and electors of President. Respect for public officers and obedience to law will not cease to be the characteristics of our people until our elections cease to declare the will of majorities fairly ascertained without fraud, suppression, or gerrymander. If I were called upon to declare wherein our chief national danger lies, I should say without hesitation in the overthrow of majority control by the suppression or perversion of the popular suffrage. That there is a real danger here all must agree; but the energies of those who see it have been chiefly expended in trying to fix responsibility upon the opposite party rather than in efforts to make such practices impossible by either party. Is it not possible now to adjourn that interminable and inconclusive debate while we take by consent one step in the direction of reform by eliminating the gerrymander, which has been denounced by all parties as an influence in the selection of electors of President and members of Congress? All the States have, acting freely and separately, determined that the choice of electors by a general ticket is the wisest and safest method, and it would seem there could be no objection to a constitutional amendment making that method permanent. If a legislature chosen in one year upon purely local questions should, pending a Presidential contest, meet, rescind the law for a choice upon a general ticket, and provide for the choice of electors by the legislature, and this trick should determine the result, it is not too much to say that the public peace might be seriously and widely endangered. I have alluded to the "gerrymander" as affecting the method of selecting electors of President by Congressional districts, but the primary intent and effect of this form of political robbery have relation to the selection of members of the House of Representatives. The power of Congress is ample to deal with this threatening and intolerable abuse. The unfailing test of sincerity in election reform will be found in a willingness to confer as to remedies and to put into force such measures as will most effectually preserve the right of the people to free and equal representation. An attempt was made in the last Congress to bring to bear the constitutional powers of the General Government for the correction of fraud against the suffrage. It is important to know whether the opposition to such measures is really rested in particular features supposed to be objectionable or includes any proposition to give to the election laws of the United States adequacy to the correction of grave and acknowledged evils. I must yet entertain the hope that it is possible to secure a calm, patriotic consideration of such constitutional or statutory changes as may be necessary to secure the choice of the officers of the Government to the people by fair apportionments and free elections. I believe it would be possible to constitute a commission, nonpartisan in its membership and composed of patriotic, wise, and impartial men, to whom a consideration of the question of the evils connected with our election system and methods might be committed with a good prospect of securing unanimity in some plan for removing or mitigating those evils. The Constitution would permit the selection of the commission to be vested in the Supreme Court if that method would give the best guaranty of impartiality. This commission should be charged with the duty of inquiring into the whole subject of the law of elections as related to the choice of officers of the National Government, with a view to securing to every elector a free and unmolested exercise of the suffrage and as near an approach to an equality of value in each ballot cast as is attainable. While the policies of the General Government upon the tariff, upon the restoration of our merchant marine, upon river and harbor improvements, and other such matters of grave and general concern are liable to be turned this way or that by the results of Congressional elections and administrative policies, sometimes involving issues that tend to peace or war, to be turned this way or that by the results of a Presidential election, there is a rightful interest in all the States and in every Congressional district that will not be deceived or silenced by the audacious pretense that the question of the right of any body of legal voters in any State or in any Congressional district to give their suffrages freely upon these general questions is a matter only of local concern or control. The demand that the limitations of suffrage shall be found in the law, and only there, is a just demand, and no just man should resent or resist it. My appeal is and must continue to be for a consultation that shall "proceed with candor, calmness, and patience upon the lines of justice and humanity, not of prejudice and cruelty." To the consideration of these very grave questions I invite not only the attention of Congress, but that of all patriotic citizens. We must not entertain the delusion that our people have ceased to regard a free ballot and equal representation as the price of their allegiance to laws and to civil magistrates. I have been greatly rejoiced to notice many evidences of the increased unification of our people and of a revived national spirit. The vista that now opens to us is wider and more glorious than ever before. Gratification and amazement struggle for supremacy as we contemplate the population, wealth, and moral strength of our country. A trust momentous in its influence upon our people and upon the world is for a brief time committed to us, and we must not be faithless to its first condition--the defense of the free and equal influence of the people in the choice of public officers and in the control of public affairs.
The reports of the heads of the several Executive Departments required by law to be submitted to me, which are herewith transmitted, and the reports of the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney-General, made directly to Congress, furnish a comprehensive view of the administrative work of the last fiscal year relating to internal affair. It would be of great advantage if these reports could have an alternative perusal by every member of Congress and by all who take an interest in public affairs. Such a perusal could not fail to excite a higher appreciation of the vast labor and conscientious effort which are given to the conduct of our civil administration. The reports will, I believe, show that every question has been approached, considered, and decided from the standpoint of public duty upon considerations affecting the public interests alone. Again I invite to every branch of the service the attention and scrutiny of Congress. The work of the State Department during the last year has been characterized by an unusual number of important negotiations and by diplomatic results of a notable and highly beneficial character. Among these are the reciprocal trade arrangements which have been concluded, in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the tariff law, with the Republic of Brazil, with Spain for its West India possessions, and with Santo Domingo. Like negotiations with other countries have been much advanced, and it is hoped that before the close of the year further definitive trade arrangements of great value will be concluded. In view of the reports which had been received as to the diminution of the seal herds in the Bering Sea, I deemed it wise to propose to Her Majesty's Government in February last that an agreement for a closed season should be made pending the negotiations for arbitration, which then seemed to be approaching a favorable conclusion. After much correspondence and delays, for which this Government was not responsible, an agreement was reached and signed on the 15th of June, by which Great Britain undertook from that date and until May 1, 1892, to prohibit the killing by her subjects of seals in the Bering Sea, and the Government of the United States during the same period to enforce its existing prohibition against pelagic sealing and to limit the catch by the fur-seal company upon the islands to 7,500 skins. If this agreement could have been reached earlier in response to the strenuous endeavors of this Government, it would have been more effective; but coming even as late as it did it unquestionably resulted in greatly diminishing the destruction of the seals by the Canadian sealers. In my last annual message I stated that the basis of arbitration proposed by Her Majesty's Government for the adjustment of the long-pending controversy as to the seal fisheries was not acceptable. I am glad now to be able to announce that terms satisfactory to this Government have been agreed upon and that an agreement as to the arbitrators is all that is necessary to the completion of the convention. In view of the advanced position which this Government has taken upon the subject of international arbitration, this renewed expression of our adherence to this method for the settlement of disputes such as have arisen in the Bering Sea will, I doubt not, meet with the concurrence of Congress. Provision should be made for a joint demarcation of the frontier line between Canada and the United States wherever required by the increasing border settlements, and especially for the exact location of the water boundary in the straits and rivers. I should have been glad to announce some favorable disposition of the boundary dispute between Great Britain and Venezuela touching the western frontier of British Guiana, but the friendly efforts of the United States in that direction have thus far been unavailing. This Government will continue to express its concern at any appearance of foreign encroachment on territories long under the administrative control of American States. The determination of a disputed boundary is easily attainable by amicable arbitration where the rights of the respective parties rest, as here, on historic facts readily ascertainable. The law of the last Congress providing a system of inspection for our meats intended for export, and clothing the President with power to exclude foreign products from our market in case the country sending them should perpetuate unjust discriminations against any product of the United States, placed this Government in a position to effectively urge the removal of such discriminations against our meats. It is gratifying to be able to state that Germany, Denmark, Italy, Austria, and France, in the order named, have opened their ports to inspected American pork products. The removal of these restrictions in every instance was asked for and given solely upon the ground that we have now provided a meat inspection that should be accepted as adequate to the complete removal of the dangers, real or fancied, which had been previously urged. The State Department, our ministers abroad, and the Secretary of Agriculture have cooperated with unflagging and intelligent zeal for the accomplishment of this great result. The outlines of an agreement have been reached with Germany looking to equitable trade concessions in consideration of the continued free importation of her sugars, but the time has not yet arrived when this correspondence can be submitted to Congress. The recent political disturbances in the Republic of Brazil have excited regret and solicitude. The information we possessed was too meager to enable us to form a satisfactory judgment of the causes leading to the temporary assumption of supreme power by President Fonseca; but this Government did not fail to express to him its anxious solicitude for the peace of Brazil and for the maintenance of the free political institutions which had recently been established there, nor to offer our advice that great moderation should be observed in the clash of parties and the contest for leadership. These counsels were received in the most friendly spirit, and the latest information is that constitutional government has been reestablished without bloodshed. The lynching at New Orleans in March last of eleven men of Italian nativity by a mob of citizens was a most deplorable and discreditable incident. It did not, however, have its origin in any general animosity to the Italian people, nor in any disrespect to the Government of Italy, with which our relations were of the most friendly character. The fury of the mob was directed against these men as the supposed participants or accessories in the murder of a city officer. I do not allude to this as mitigating in any degree this offense against law and humanity, but only as affecting the international questions which grew out of it. It was at once represented by the Italian minister that several of those whose lives had been taken by the mob were Italian subjects, and a demand was made for the punishment of the participants and for an indemnity to the families of those who were killed. It is to be regretted that the manner in which these claims were presented was not such as to promote a calm discussion of the questions involved; but this may well be attributed to the excitement and indignation which the crime naturally evoked. The views of this Government as to its obligations to foreigners domiciled here were fully stated in the correspondence, as well as its purpose to make an investigation of the affair with a view to determine whether there were present any circumstances that could under such rules of duty as we had indicated create an obligation upon the United States. The temporary absence of a minister plenipotentiary of Italy at this capital has retarded the further correspondence, but it is not doubted that a friendly conclusion is attainable. Some suggestions growing out of this unhappy incident are worthy the attention of Congress. It would, I believe, be entirely competent for Congress to make offenses against the treaty rights of foreigners domiciled in the United States cognizable in the Federal courts. This has not, however, been done, and the Federal officers and courts have no power in such cases to intervene, either for the protection of a foreign citizen or for the punishment of his slayers. It seems to me to follow, in this state of the law, that the officers of the State charged with police and judicial powers in such cases must in the consideration of international questions growing out of such incidents be regarded in such sense as Federal agents as to make this Government answerable for their acts in cases where it would be answerable if the United States had used its constitutional power to define and punish crime against treaty rights. The civil war in Chile, which began in January last, was continued, but fortunately with infrequent and not important armed collisions, until August 28, when the Congressional forces landed near Valparaiso and after a bloody engagement captured that city. President Balmaceda at once recognized that his because was lost, and a Provisional Government was speedily established by the victorious party. Our minister was promptly directed to recognize and put himself in communication with this Government so soon as it should have established its de facto character, which was done. During the pendency of this civil contest frequent indirect appeals were made to this Government to extend belligerent rights to the insurgents and to give audience to their representatives. This was declined, and that policy was pursued throughout which this Government when wrenched by civil war so strenuously insisted upon on the part of European nations. The Itata, an armed vessel commanded by a naval officer of the insurgent fleet, manned by its sailors and with soldiers on board, was seized under process of the United States court at San Diego, Cal., for a violation of our neutrality laws. While in the custody of an officer of the court the vessel was forcibly wrested from his control and put to sea. It would have been inconsistent with the dignity and self-respect of this Government not to have insisted that the Itala should be returned to San Diego to abide the judgment of the court. This was so clear to the junta of the Congressional party, established at Iquique, that before the arrival of the Itata at that port the secretary of foreign relations of the Provisional Government addressed to Rear-Admiral Brown, commanding the United States naval forces, a communication, from which the following is an extract: The Provisional Government has learned by the cablegrams of the Associated Press that the transport Itata, detained in San Diego by order of the United States for taking on board munitions of war, and in possession of the marshal, left the port, carrying on board this official, who was landed at a point near the coast, and then continued her voyage. If this news be correct this Government would deplore the conduct of the Itata, and as an evidence that it is not disposed to support or agree to the infraction of the laws of the United States the undersigned takes advantage of the personal relations you have been good enough to maintain with him since your arrival in this port to declare to you that as soon as she is within reach of our orders his Government will put the Itata, with the arms and munitions she took on board in Sail Diego, at the disposition of the United States. A trial in the district court of the United States for the southern district of California has recently resulted in a decision holding, among other things, that inasmuch as the Congressional party had not been recognized as a belligerent the acts done in its interest could not be a violation of our neutrality laws. From this judgment the United States has appealed, not that the condemnation of the vessel is a matter of importance, but that we may know what the present state of our law is; for if this construction of the statute is correct there is obvious necessity for revision and amendment. During the progress of the war in Chile this Government tendered its good offices to bring about a peaceful adjustment, and it was at one time hoped that a good result might be reached; but in this we were disappointed. The instructions to our naval officers and to our minister at Santiago from the first to the last of this struggle enjoined upon them the most impartial treatment and absolute noninterference. I am satisfied that these instructions were observed and that our representatives were always watchful to use their influence impartially in the interest of humanity, and on more than one occasion did so effectively. We could not forget, however, that this Government was in diplomatic relations with the then established Government of Chile, as it is now in such relations with the successor of that Government. I am quite sure that President Montt, who has, under circumstances of promise for the peace of Chile, been installed as President of that Republic, will not desire that in the unfortunate event of any revolt against his authority the policy of this Government should be other than that which we have recently observed. No official complaint of the conduct of our minister or of our naval officers during the struggle has been presented to this Government, and it is a matter of regret that so many of our own people should have given ear to unofficial charges and complaints that manifestly had their origin in rival interests and in a wish to pervert the relations of the United States with Chile. The collapse of the Government of Balmaceda brought about a condition which is unfortunately too familiar in the history of the Central and South American States. With the overthrow of the Balmaceda Government he and many of his councilors and officers became at once fugitives for their lives and appealed to the commanding officers of the foreign naval vessels in the harbor of Valparaiso and to the resident foreign ministers at Santiago for asylum. This asylum was freely given, according to my information, by the naval vessels of several foreign powers and by several of the legations at Santiago. The American minister as well as his colleagues, acting upon the impulse of humanity, extended asylum to political refugees whose lives were in peril. I have not been willing to direct the surrender of such of these persons as are still in the American legation without suitable conditions. It is believed that the Government of Chile is not in a position, in view of the precedents with which it has been connected, to broadly deny the right of asylum, and the correspondence has not thus far presented any such denial. The treatment of our minister for a time was such as to call for a decided protest, and it was very gratifying to observe that unfriendly measures, which were undoubtedly the result of the prevailing excitement, were at once rescinded or suitably relaxed. On the 16th of October an event occurred in Valparaiso so serious and tragic in its circumstances and results as to very justly excite the indignation of our people and to call for prompt and decided action on the part of this Government. A considerable number of the sailors of the United States steamship Baltimore, then in the harbor at Valparaiso, being upon shore leave and unarmed, were assaulted by armed men nearly simultaneously in different localities in the city. One petty officer was killed outright and seven or eight seamen were seriously wounded, one of whom has since died. So savage and brutal was the assault that several of our sailors received more than two and one as many as eighteen stab wounds. An investigation of the affair was promptly made by a board of officers of the Baltimore, and their report shows that these assaults were unprovoked, that our men were conducting themselves in a peaceable and orderly manner, and that some of the police of the city took part in the assault and used their weapons with fatal effect, while a few others, with some well-disposed citizens, endeavored to protect our men. Thirty-six of our sailors were arrested, and some of them while being taken to prison were cruelly beaten and maltreated. The fact that they were all discharged, no criminal charge being lodged against any one of them, shows very clearly that they were innocent of any breach of the peace. So far as I have yet been able to learn no other explanation of this bloody work has been suggested than that it had its origin in hostility to those men as sailors of the United States, wearing the uniform of their Government, and not in any individual act or personal animosity. The attention of the Chilean Government was at once called to this affair, and a statement of the facts obtained by the investigation we had conducted was submitted, accompanied by a request to be advised of any other or qualifying facts in the possession of the Chilean Government that might tend to relieve this affair of the appearance of an insult to this Government. The Chilean Government was also advised that if such qualifying facts did not exist this Government would confidently expect full and prompt reparation. It is to be regretted that the reply of the secretary for foreign affairs of the Provisional Government was couched in an offensive tone. To this no response has been made. This Government is now awaiting the result of an investigation which has been conducted by the criminal court at Valparaiso. It is reported unofficially that the investigation is about completed, and it is expected that the result will soon be communicated to this Government, together with some adequate and satisfactory response to the note by which the attention of Chile was called to this incident. If these just expectations should be disappointed or further needless delay intervene, I will by a special message bring this matter again to the attention of Congress for such action as may be necessary. The entire correspondence with the Government of Chile will at an early day be submitted to Congress. I renew the recommendation of my special message dated January 16, 1890, for the adoption of the necessary legislation to enable this Government to apply in the case of Sweden and Norway the same rule in respect to the levying of tonnage dues as was claimed and secured to the shipping of the United States in 1828 under Article VIII of the treaty of 1827. The adjournment of the Senate without action on the pending acts for the suppression of the slave traffic in Africa and for the reform of the revenue tariff of the Independent State of the Kongo left this Government unable to exchange those acts on the date fixed, July 2, 1891. A modus vivendi has been concluded by which the power of the Kongo State to levy duties on imports is left unimpaired, and by agreement of all the signatories to the general slave-trade act the time for the exchange of ratifications on the part of the United States has been extended to February 2, 1892. The late outbreak against foreigners in various parts of the Chinese Empire has been a because of deep concern in view of the numerous establishments of our citizens in the interior of that country. This Government can do no less than insist upon a continuance of the protective and punitory measures which the Chinese Government has heretofore applied. No effort will be omitted to protect our citizens peaceably sojourning in China, but recent unofficial information indicates that what was at first regarded as an outbreak of mob violence against foreigners has assumed the larger form of an insurrection against public order. The Chinese Government has declined to receive Mr. Blair as the minister of the United States on the ground that as a participant while a Senator in the enactment of the existing legislation against the introduction of Chinese laborers he has become unfriendly and objectionable to China. I have felt constrained to point out to the Chinese Government the untenableness of this position, which seems to rest as much on the unacceptability of our legislation as on that of the person chosen, and which if admitted would practically debar the selection of any representative so long as the existing laws remain in force. You will be called upon to consider the expediency of making special provision by law for the temporary admission of some Chinese artisans and laborers in connection with the exhibit of Chinese industries at the approaching Columbian Exposition. I regard it as desirable that the Chinese exhibit be facilitated in every proper way. A question has arisen with the Government of Spain touching the rights of American citizens in the Caroline Islands. Our citizens there long prior to the confirmation of Spain's claim to the islands had secured by settlement and purchase certain rights to the recognition and maintenance of which the faith of Spain was pledged. I have had reason within the past year very strongly to protest against the failure to carry out this pledge on the part of His Majesty's ministers, which has resulted in great injustice and injury to the American residents. The Government and people of Spain propose to celebrate the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by holding an exposition at Madrid, which will open on the 12th of September and continue until the 31st of December, 1892. A cordial invitation has been extended to the United States to take part in this commemoration, and as Spain was one of the first nations to express the intention to participate in the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, it would be very appropriate for this Government to give this invitation its friendly promotion. Surveys for the connecting links of the projected intercontinental railway are in progress, not only in Mexico, but at various points along the course mapped out. Three surveying parties are now in the field under the direction of the commission. Nearly 1,000 miles of the proposed road have been surveyed, including the most difficult part, that through Ecuador and the southern part of Colombia. The reports of the engineers are very satisfactory, and show that no insurmountable obstacles have been met with. On November 12, 1884, a treaty was concluded with Mexico reaffirming the boundary between the two countries as described in the treaties of February 2, 1848, and December 30, 1853. March 1, 1889, a further treaty was negotiated to facilitate the carrying out of the principles of the treaty of 1884 and to avoid the difficulties occasioned by reason of the changes and alterations that take place from natural causes in the Rio Grande and Colorado rivers in the portions thereof constituting the boundary line between the two Republics. The International Boundary Commission provided for by the treaty of 1889 to have exclusive jurisdiction of any question that may arise has been named by the Mexican Government. An appropriation is necessary to enable the United States to fulfill its treaty obligations in this respect. The death of King Kalakaua in the United States afforded occasion to testify our friendship for Hawaii by conveying the King's body to his own land in a naval vessel with all due honors. The Government of his successor, Queen Liliuokolani is seeking to promote closer commercial relations with the United States. Surveys for the much-needed submarine cable from our Pacific coast to Honolulu are in progress, and this enterprise should have the suitable promotion of the two Governments. I strongly recommend that provision be made for improving the harbor of Pearl River and equipping it as a naval station. The arbitration treaty formulated by the International American Conference lapsed by reason of the failure to exchange ratifications fully within the limit of time provided; but several of the Governments concerned have expressed a desire to save this important result of the conference by an extension of the period. It is, in my judgment, incumbent upon the United States to conserve the influential initiative it has taken in this measure by ratifying the instrument and by advocating the proposed extension of the time for exchange. These views have been made known to the other signatories. This Government has found occasion to express in a friendly spirit, but with much earnestness, to the Government of the Czar its serious concern because of the harsh measures now being enforced against the Hebrews in Russia. By the revival of antisemitic laws, long in abeyance, great numbers of those unfortunate people have been constrained to abandon their homes and leave the Empire by reason of the impossibility of finding subsistence within the pale to which it is sought to confine them. The immigration of these people to the United States--many other countries being closed to them--is largely increasing and is likely to assume proportions which may make it difficult to find homes and employment for them here and to seriously affect the labor market. is estimated that over 1,000,000 will be forced from Russia within a few years. The Hebrew is never a beggar; he has always kept the law--life by toil--often under severe and oppressive civil restrictions. It is also true that no race, sect, or class has more fully cared for its own than the Hebrew race. But the sudden transfer of such a multitude under conditions that tend to strip them of their small accumulations and to depress their energies and courage is neither good for them nor for us. The banishment, whether by direct decree or by not less certain indirect methods, of so large a number of men and women is not a local question. A decree to leave one country is in the nature of things an order to enter another--some other. This consideration, as well as the suggestion of humanity, furnishes ample ground for the remonstrances which we have presented to Russia, while our historic friendship for that Government can not fail to give the assurance that our representations are those of a sincere wellwisher. The annual report of the Maritime Canal Company of Nicaragua shows that much costly and necessary preparatory work has been done during the year in the construction of shops, railroad tracks, and harbor piers and breakwaters, and that the work of canal construction has made some progress. I deem it to be a matter of the highest concern to the United States that this canal, connecting the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and giving to us a short water communication between our ports upon those two great seas, should be speedily constructed and at the smallest practicable limit of cost. The gain in freights to the people and the direct saving to the Government of the United States in the use of its naval vessels would pay the entire cost of this work within a short series of years. The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows the saving in our naval expenditures which would result. The Senator from Alabama (Mr. Morgan) in his argument upon this subject before the Senate at the last session did not overestimate the importance of this work when he said that "the canal is the most important subject now connected with the commercial growth and progress of the United States." If this work is to be promoted by the usual financial methods and without the aid of this Government, the expenditures in its interest-bearing securities and stock will probably be twice the actual cost. This will necessitate higher tolls and constitute a heavy and altogether needless burden upon our commerce and that of the world. Every dollar of the bonds and stock of the company should represent a dollar expended in the legitimate and economical prosecution of the work. This is only possible by giving to the bonds the guaranty of the United States Government. Such a guaranty would secure the ready sale at par of a 3 per cent bond from time to time as the money was needed. I do not doubt that built upon these business methods the canal would when fully inaugurated earn its fixed charges and operating expenses. But if its bonds are to be marketed at heavy discounts and every bond sold is to be accompanied by a gift of stock, as has come to be expected by investors in such enterprises, the traffic will be seriously burdened to pay interest and dividends. I am quite willing to recommend Government promotion in the prosecution of a work which, if no other means offered for securing its completion, is of such transcendent interest that the Government should, in my opinion, secure it by direct appropriations from its Treasury. A guaranty of the bonds of the canal company to an amount necessary to the completion of the canal could, I think, be so given as not to involve any serious risk of ultimate loss. The things to be carefully guarded are the completion of the work within the limits of the guaranty, the subrogation of the United States to the rights of the first-mortgage bondholders for any amounts it may have to pay, and in the meantime a control of the stock of the company as a security against mismanagement and loss. I most sincerely hope that neither party nor sectional lines will be drawn upon this great American project, so full of interest to the people of all our States and so influential in its effects upon the prestige and prosperity of our common country. The island of Navassa, in the West Indian group, has, under the provisions of Title VII of the Revised Statutes, been recognized by the President as appertaining to the United States. It contains guano deposits, is owned by the Navassa Phosphate Company, and is occupied solely its employees. In September, 1889, a revolt took place among these laborers, resulting in the killing of some of the agents of the company, caused, as the laborers claimed, by cruel treatment. These men were arrested and tried in the United States court at Baltimore, under section 5576 of the statute referred to, as if the offenses had been committed on board a merchant vessel of the United States on the high seas. There appeared on the trial and otherwise came to me such evidences of the bad treatment of the men that in consideration of this and of the fact that the men had no access to any public officer or tribunal for protection or the redress of their wrongs I commuted the death sentences that had been passed by the court upon three of them. In April last my attention was again called to this island and to the unregulated condition of things there by a letter from a colored laborer, who complained that he was wrongfully detained upon the island by the phosphate company after the expiration of his contract of service. A naval vessel was sent to examine into the case of this man and generally into the condition of things on the island. It was found that the laborer referred to had been detained beyond the contract limit and that a condition of revolt again existed among the laborers. A board of naval officers reported, among other things, as follows: We would desire to state further that the discipline maintained on the island seems to be that of a convict establishment without its comforts and cleanliness, and that until more attention is paid to the shipping of laborers by placing it under Government supervision to prevent misunderstanding and misrepresentation, and until some amelioration is shown in the treatment of the laborers, these disorders will be of constant occurrence. I recommend legislation that shall place labor contracts upon this and other islands having the relation that Navassa has to the United States under the supervision of a court commissioner, and that shall provide at the expense of the owners an officer to reside upon the island, with power to judge and adjust disputes and to enforce a just and humane treatment of the employees. It is inexcusable that American laborers should be left within our own jurisdiction without access to any Government officer or tribunal for their protection and the redress of their wrongs. International copyright has been secured, in accordance with the conditions of the act of March 3, 1891, with Belgium, France, Great Britain and the British possessions, and Switzerland, the laws of those countries permitting to our citizens the benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to their own citizens or subjects. With Germany a special convention has been negotiated upon this subject which will bring that country within the reciprocal benefits of our legislation. The general interest in the operations of the Treasury Department has been much augmented during the last year by reason of the conflicting predictions, which accompanied and followed the tariff and other legislation of the last Congress affecting the revenues, as to the results of this legislation upon the Treasury and upon the country. On the one hand it was contended that imports would so fall off as to leave the Treasury bankrupt and that the prices of articles entering into the living of the people would be so enhanced as to disastrously affect their comfort and happiness, while on the other it was argued that the loss to the revenue, largely the result of placing sugar on the free list, would be a direct gain to the people; that the prices of the necessaries of life, including those most highly protected, would not be enhanced; that labor would have a larger market and the products of the farm advanced prices, while the Treasury surplus and receipts would be adequate to meet the appropriations, including the large exceptional expenditures for the refunding to the States of the direct tax and the redemption of the 4 1/2 per cent bonds. It is not my purpose to enter at any length into a discussion of the effects of the legislation to which I have referred; but a brief examination of the statistics of the Treasury and a general glance at the state of business throughout the country will, I think, satisfy any impartial inquirer that its results have disappointed the evil prophecies of its opponents and in a large measure realized the hopeful predictions of its friends. Rarely, if ever before, in the history of the country has there been a time when the proceeds of one day' s labor or the product of one farmed acre would purchase so large an amount of those things that enter into the living of the masses of the people. I believe that a full test will develop the fact that the tariff act of the Fifty-first Congress is very favorable in its average effect upon the prices of articles entering into common use. During the twelve months from October 1, 1890, to September 30, 1891, the total value of our foreign commerce (imports and exports combined) was $1,747,806,406, which was the largest of any year in the history of the United States. The largest in any previous year was in 1890, when our commerce amounted to $1,647,139,093, and the last year exceeds this enormous aggregate by over one hundred millions. It is interesting, and to some will be surprising, to know that during the year ending September 30, 1891, our imports of merchandise amounted to $824,715,270, which was an increase of more than $11,000,000 over the value of the imports of the corresponding months of the preceding year, when the imports of merchandise were unusually large in anticipation of the tariff legislation then pending. The average annual value of the imports of merchandise for the ten years from 1881 to 1890 was $692,186,522, and during the year ending September 30, 1891, this annual average was exceeded by $132,528,469. The value of free imports during the twelve months ending September 30, 1891, was $118,092,387 more than the value of free imports during the corresponding twelve months of the preceding year, and there was during the same period a decrease of $106,846,508 in the value of imports of dutiable merchandise. The percentage of merchandise admitted free of duty during the year to which I have referred, the first under the new tariff, was 48.18, while during the preceding twelve months, under the old tariff, the percentage was 34.27, an increase of 13.91 per cent. If we take the six months ending September 30 last, which covers the time during which sugars have been admitted free of duty, the per cent of value of merchandise imported free of duty is found to be 55.37, which is a larger percentage of free imports than during any prior fiscal year in the history of the Government. If we turn to exports of merchandise, the statistics are full of gratification. The value of such exports of merchandise for the twelve months ending September 30, 1891, was $923,091,136, while for the corresponding previous twelve months it was $860,177,115, an increase of $62,914,021, which is nearly three times the average annual increase of exports of merchandise for the preceding twenty years. This exceeds in amount and value the exports of merchandise during any year in the history of the Government. The increase in the value of exports of agricultural products during the year referred to over the corresponding twelve months of the prior year was $45,846,197, while the increase in the value of exports of manufactured products was $16,838,240. There is certainly nothing in the condition of trade, foreign or domestic, there is certainly nothing in the condition of our people of any class, to suggest that the existing tariff and revenue legislation bears oppressively upon the people or retards the commercial development of the nation. It may be argued that our condition would be better if tariff legislation were upon a free-trade basis; but it can not be denied that all the conditions of prosperity and of general contentment are present in a larger degree than ever before in our history, and that, too, just when it was prophesied they would be in the worst state. Agitation for radical changes in tariff and financial legislation can not help but may seriously impede business, to the prosperity of which some degree of stability in legislation is essential. I think there are conclusive evidences that the new tariff has created several great industries, which will within a few years give employment to several hundred thousand American working men and women. In view of the somewhat overcrowded condition of the labor market of the United States, every patriotic citizen should rejoice at such a result. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury shows that the total receipts of the Government from all sources for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, were $458,544,233.03, while the expenditures for the same period were $421,304,470.46, leaving a surplus of $37,239,762.57. The receipts of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, actual and estimated, are $433,000,000 and the expenditures $409,000,000. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, the estimated receipts are $455,336,350 and the expenditures $441,300,093. Under the law of July 14, 1890, the Secretary of the Treasury has purchased (since August 13) during the fiscal year 48,393,113 ounces of silver bullion at an average cost of $1.045 per ounce. The highest price paid during the year was $1.2025 and the lowest $0.9636. In exchange for this silver bullion there have been issued $50,577,498 of the Treasury notes authorized by the act. The lowest price of silver reached during the fiscal year was $0.9636 on April 22, 1891; but on November 1 the market price was only $0.96, which would give to the silver dollar a bullion value of 74 1/4 cents. Before the influence of the prospective silver legislation was felt in the market silver was worth in New York about $0.955 per ounce. The ablest advocates of free coinage in the last Congress were most confident in their predictions that the purchases by the Government required by the law would at once bring the price of silver to $1.2929 per ounce, which would make the bullion value of a dollar 100 cents and hold it there. The prophecies of the antisilver men of disasters to result from the coinage of $2,000,000 per month were not wider of the mark. The friends of free silver are not agreed, I think, as to the causes that brought their hopeful predictions to naught. Some facts are known. The exports of silver from London to India during the first nine months of this calendar year fell off over 50 per cent, or $17,202,730, compared with the same months of the preceding year. The exports of domestic silver bullion from this country, which had averaged for the last ten years over $17,000,000, fell in the last fiscal year to $13,797,391, while for the first time in recent years the imports of silver into this country exceeded the exports by the sum of $2,745,365. In the previous year the net exports of silver from the United States amounted to $8,545,455. The production of the United States increased from 50,000,000 ounces in 1889 to 54,500,000 in 1890. The Government is now buying and putting aside annually 54,000,000 ounces, which, allowing for 7,140,000 ounces of new bullion used in the arts, is 6,640,000 more than our domestic products available for coinage. I hope the depression in the price of silver is temporary and that a further trial of this legislation will more favorably affect it. That the increased volume of currency thus supplied for the use of the people was needed and that beneficial results upon trade and prices have followed this legislation I think must be very clear to everyone. Nor should it be forgotten that for every dollar of these notes issued a full dollar's worth of silver bullion is at the time deposited in the Treasury as a security for its redemption. Upon this subject, as upon the tariff, my recommendation is that the existing laws be given a full trial and that our business interests be spared the distressing influence which threats of radical changes always impart. Under existing legislation it is in the power of the Treasury Department to maintain that essential condition of national finance as well as of commercial prosperity--the parity in use of the coined dollars and their paper representatives. The assurance that these powers would be freely and unhesitatingly used has done much to produce and sustain the present favorable business conditions. I am still of the opinion that the free coinage of silver under existing conditions would disastrously affect our business interests at home and abroad. We could not hope to maintain an equality in the purchasing power of the gold and silver dollar in our own markets, and in foreign trade the stamp gives no added value to the bullion contained in coins. The producers of the country, its farmers and laborers, have the highest interest that every dollar, paper or coin, issued by the Government shall be as good as any other. If there is one less valuable than another, its sure and constant errand will be to pay them for their toil and for their crops. The money lender will protect himself by stipulating for payment in gold, but the laborer has never been able to do that. To place business upon a silver basis would mean a sudden and severe contraction of the currency by the withdrawal of gold and gold notes and such an unsettling of all values as would produce a commercial panic. I can not believe that a people so strong and prosperous as ours will promote such a policy. The producers of silver are entitled to just consideration, but they should not forget that the Government is now buying and putting out of the market what is the equivalent of the entire product of our silver mines. This is more than they themselves thought of asking two years ago. I believe it is the earnest desire of a great majority of the people, as it is mine, that a full coin use shall be made of silver just as soon as the cooperation of other nations can be secured and a ratio fixed that will give circulation equally to gold and silver. The business of the world requires the use of both metals; but I do not see any prospect of gain, but much of loss, by giving up the present system, in which a full use is made of gold and a large use of silver, for one in which silver alone will circulate. Such an event would be at once fatal to the further progress of the silver movement. Bimetallism is the desired end, and the true friends of silver will be careful not to overrun the goal and bring in silver monometallism with its necessary attendants--the loss of our gold to Europe and the relief of the pressure there for a larger currency. I have endeavored by the use of official and unofficial agencies to keep a close observation of the state of public sentiment in Europe upon this question and have not found it to be such as to justify me in proposing an international conference. There is, however, I am sure, a growing sentiment in Europe in favor of a larger use of silver, and I know of no more effectual way of promoting this sentiment than by accumulating gold here. A scarcity of gold in the European reserves will be the most persuasive argument for the use of silver. The exports of gold to Europe, which began in February last and continued until the close of July, aggregated over $70,000,000. The net loss of gold during the fiscal year was nearly $68,000,000. That no serious monetary disturbance resulted was most gratifying and gave to Europe fresh evidence of the strength and stability of our financial institutions. With the movement of crops the outflow of gold was speedily stopped and a return set in. Up to December 1 we had recovered of our gold lost at the port of New York $27,854,000, and it is confidently believed that during the winter and spring this aggregate will be steadily and largely increased. The presence of a large cash surplus in the Treasury has for many years been the subject of much unfavorable criticism, and has furnished an argument to those who have desired to place the tariff upon a purely revenue basis. It was agreed by all that the withdrawal from circulation of so large an amount of money was an embarrassment to the business of the country and made necessary the intervention of the Department at frequent intervals to relieve threatened monetary panics. The surplus on March 1, 1889, was $183,827,190.29. The policy of applying this surplus to the redemption of the interest-bearing securities of the United States was thought to be preferable to that of depositing it without interest in selected national banks. There have been redeemed since the date last mentioned of interest-bearing securities $259,079,350, resulting in a reduction of the annual interest charge of $11,684,675. The money which had been deposited in banks without interest has been gradually withdrawn and used in the redemption of bonds. The result of this policy, of the silver legislation, and of the refunding of the 4 1/2 per cent bonds has been a large increase of the money in circulation. At the date last named the circulation was $1,404,205,896, or $23.03 per capita, while on the 1st day of December, 1891, it had increased to $1,577,262,070, or $24.38 per capita. The offer of the Secretary of the Treasury to the holders of the 4 1/2 per cent bonds to extend the time of redemption, at the option of the Government, at an interest of 2 per cent, was accepted by the holders of about one-half the amount, and the unextended bonds are being redeemed on presentation. The report of the Secretary of War exhibits the results of an intelligent, progressive, and businesslike administration of a Department which has been too much regarded as one of mere routine. The separation of Secretary Proctor from the Department by reason of his appointment as a Senator from the State of Vermont is a source of great regret to me and to his colleagues in the Cabinet, as I am sure it will be to all those who have had business with the Department while under his charge. In the administration of army affairs some especially good work has been accomplished. The efforts of the Secretary to reduce the percentage of desertions by removing the causes that promoted it have been so successful as to enable him to report for the last year a lower percentage of desertion than has been before reached in the history of the Army. The resulting money saving is considerable, but the improvement in the morale of the enlisted men is the most valuable incident of the reforms which have brought about this result. The work of securing sites for shore batteries for harbor defense and the manufacture of mortars and guns of high power to equip them have made good progress during the year. The preliminary work of tests and plans which so long delayed a start is now out of the way. Some guns have been completed, and with an enlarged shop and a more complete equipment at Watervliet the Army will soon be abreast of the Navy in gun construction. Whatever unavoidable causes of delay may arise, there should be none from delayed or insufficient appropriations. We shall be greatly embarrassed in the proper distribution and use of naval vessels until adequate shore defenses are provided for our harbors. I concur in the recommendation of the Secretary that the three-battalion organization be adopted for the infantry. The adoption of a smokeless powder and of a modern rifle equal in range, precision, and rapidity of fire to the best now in use will, I hope, not be longer delayed. The project of enlisting Indians and organizing them into separate companies upon the same basis as other soldiers was made the subject of very careful study by the Secretary and received my approval. Seven companies have been completely organized and seven more are in process of organization. The results of six months' training have more than realized the highest anticipations. The men are readily brought under discipline, acquire the drill with facility, and show great pride in the right discharge of their duty and perfect loyalty to their officers, who declare that they would take them into action with confidence. The discipline, order, and cleanliness of the military posts will have a wholesome and elevating influence upon the men enlisted, and through them upon their tribes, while a friendly feeling for the whites and a greater respect for the Government will certainly be promoted. The great work done in the Record and Pension Division of the War Department by Major Ainsworth, of the Medical Corps, and the clerks under him is entitled to honorable mention. Taking up the work with nearly 41,000 cases behind, he closed the last fiscal year without a single case left over, though the new cases had increased 52 per cent in number over the previous year by reason of the pension legislation of the last Congress. I concur in the recommendation of the Attorney-General that the right in felony cases to a review by the Supreme court be limited. It would seem that personal liberty would have a safe guaranty if the right of review in cases involving only fine and imprisonment were limited to the circuit court of appeals, unless a constitutional question should in some way be involved. The judges of the Court of Private Land Claims, provided for by the act of March 3, 1891, have been appointed and the court organized. It is now possible to give early relief to communities long repressed in their development by unsettled land titles and to establish the possession and right of settlers whose lands have been rendered valueless by adverse and unfounded claims. The act of July 9, 1888, provided for the incorporation and management of a reform school for girls in the District of Columbia; but it has remained inoperative for the reason that no appropriation has been made for construction or maintenance. The need of such an institution is very urgent. Many girls could be saved from depraved lives by the wholesome influences and restraints of such a school. I recommend that the necessary appropriation be made for a site and for construction. The enforcement by the Treasury Department of the law prohibiting the coming of Chinese to the United States has been effective as to such as seek to land from vessels entering our ports. The result has been to divert the travel to vessels entering the ports of British Columbia, whence passage into the United States at obscure points along the Dominion boundary is easy. A very considerable number of Chinese laborers have during the past year entered the United States from Canada and Mexico. The officers of the Treasury Department and of the Department of Justice have used every means at their command to intercept this immigration; but the impossibility of perfectly guarding our extended frontier is apparent. The Dominion government collects a head tax of $50 from every Chinaman entering Canada, and thus derives a considerable revenue from those who only use its ports to reach a position of advantage to evade our exclusion laws. There seems to be satisfactory evidence that the business of passing Chinamen through Canada to the United States is organized and quite active. The Department of Justice has construed the laws to require the return of any Chinaman found to be unlawfully in this country to China as the country from which he came, notwithstanding the fact that he came by way of Canada; but several of the district courts have in cases brought before them overruled this view of the law and decided that such persons must be returned to Canada. This construction robs the law of all effectiveness, even if the decrees could be executed, for the men returned can the next day recross our border. But the only appropriation made is for sending them back to China, and the Canadian officials refuse to allow them to reenter Canada without the payment of the fifty-dollar head tax. I recommend such legislation as will remedy these defects in the law. In previous messages I have called the attention of Congress to the necessity of so extending the jurisdiction of the United States courts as to make triable therein any felony committed while in the act of violating a law of the United States. These courts can not have that independence and effectiveness which the Constitution contemplates so long as the felonious killing of court officers, jurors, and witnesses in the discharge of their duties or by reason of their acts as such is only cognizable in the State courts. The work done by the Attorney-General and the officers of his Department, even under the present inadequate legislation, has produced some notable results in the interest of law and order. The Attorney-General and also the Commissioners of the District of Columbia call attention to the defectiveness and inadequacy of the laws relating to crimes against chastity in the District of Columbia. A stringent code upon this subject has been provided by Congress for Utah, and it is a matter of surprise that the needs of this District should have been so long overlooked. In the report of the Postmaster-General some very gratifying results are exhibited and many betterments of the service suggested. A perusal of the report gives abundant evidence that the supervision and direction of the postal system have been characterized by an intelligent and conscientious desire to improve the service. The revenues of the Department show an increase of over $5,000,000, with a deficiency for the year 1892 of less than $4,000,000, while the estimate for the year 1893 shows a surplus of receipts over expenditures. Ocean mail post-offices have been established upon the steamers of the North German Lloyd and Hamburg lines, saving by the distribution on shipboard from two to fourteen hours' time in the delivery of mail at the port of entry and often much more than this in the delivery at interior places. So thoroughly has this system, initiated by Germany and the United States, evidenced its usefulness that it can not be long before it is installed upon all the great ocean mail-carrying steamships. Eight thousand miles of new postal service has been established upon railroads, the car distribution to substations in the great cities has been increased about 12 per cent, while the percentage of errors in distribution has during the past year been reduced over one-half. An appropriation was given by the last Congress for the purpose of making some experiments in free delivery in the smaller cities and towns. The results of these experiments have been so satisfactory that the Postmaster-General recommends, and I concur in the recommendation, that the free-delivery system be at once extended to towns of 5,000 population. His discussion of the inadequate facilities extended under our present system to rural communities and his suggestions with a view to give these communities a fuller participation in the benefits of the postal service are worthy of your careful consideration. It is not just that the farmer, who receives his mail at a neighboring town, should not only be compelled to send to the post-office for it, but to pay a considerable rent for a box in which to place it or to wait his turn at a general-delivery window, while the city resident has his mail brought to his door. It is stated that over 54,000 neighborhoods are under the present system receiving mail at post-offices where money orders and postal notes are not issued. The extension of this system to these communities is especially desirable, as the patrons of such offices are not possessed of the other facilities offered in more populous communities for the transmission of small sums of money. I have in a message to the preceding Congress expressed my views as to a modified use of the telegraph in connection with the postal service. In pursuance of the ocean mail law of March 3, 1891, and after a most careful study of the whole subject and frequent conferences with ship-owners, boards of trade, and others, advertisements were issued by the postmaster-General for 53 lines of ocean mail service--10 to Great Britain and the Continent, 27 to South America, 3 to China and Japan, 4 to Australia and the Pacific islands, 7 to the West Indies, and 2 to Mexico. It was not, of course, expected that bids for all these lines would be received or that service upon them all would be contracted for. It was intended, in furtherance of the act, to secure as many new lines as possible, while including in the list most or all of the foreign lines now occupied by American ships. It was hoped that a line to England and perhaps one to the Continent would be secured; but the outlay required to equip such lines wholly with new ships of the first class and the difficulty of establishing new lines in competition with those already established deterred bidders whose interest had been enlisted. It is hoped that a way may yet be found of overcoming these difficulties. The Brazil Steamship Company, by reason of a miscalculation as to the speed of its vessels, was not able to bid under the terms of the advertisement. The policy of the Department was to secure from the established lines an improved service as a condition of giving to them the benefits of the law. This in all instances has been attained. The Postmaster-General estimates that an expenditure in American shipyards of about $10,000,000 will be necessary to enable the bidders to construct the ships called for by the service which they have accepted. I do not think there is any reason for discouragement or for any turning back from the policy of this legislation. Indeed, a good beginning has been made, and as the subject is further considered and understood by capitalists and shipping people new lines will be ready to meet future proposals, and we may date from the passage of this law the revival of American shipping interests and the recovery of a fair share of the carrying trade of the world. We were receiving for foreign postage nearly $2,000,000 under the old system, and the outlay for ocean mail service did not exceed $600,000 per annum. It is estimated by the Postmaster-General that if all the contracts proposed are completed it will require $247,354 for this year in addition to the appropriation for sea and inland postage already in the estimates, and that for the next fiscal year, ending June 30, 1893, there would probably be needed about $560,000. The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows a gratifying increase of new naval vessels in commission. The Newark, Concord, Bennington, and Miantonomoh have been added during the year, with an aggregate of something more than 11,000 tons. Twenty-four warships of all classes are now under construction in the navy-yards and private shops; but while the work upon them is going forward satisfactorily, the completion of the more important vessels will yet require about a year' s time. Some of the vessels now under construction, it is believed, will be triumphs of naval engineering. When it is recollected that the work of building a modern navy was only initiated in the year 1883, that our naval constructors and shipbuilders were practically without experience in the construction of large iron or steel ships, that our engine shops were unfamiliar with great marine engines, and that the manufacture of steel forgings for guns and plates was almost wholly a foreign industry, the progress that has been made is not only highly satisfactory, but furnishes the assurance that the United States will before long attain in the construction of such vessels, with their engines and armaments, the same preeminence which it attained when the best instrument of ocean commerce was the clipper ship and the most impressive exhibit of naval power the old wooden three-decker man-of-war. The officers of the Navy and the proprietors and engineers of our great private shops have responded with wonderful intelligence and professional zeal to the confidence expressed by Congress in its liberal legislation. We have now at Washington a gun shop, organized and conducted by naval officers, that in its system, economy, and product is unexcelled. Experiments with armor plate have been conducted during the year with most important results. It is now believed that a plate of higher resisting power than any in use has been found and that the tests have demonstrated that cheaper methods of manufacture than those heretofore thought necessary can be used. I commend to your favorable consideration the recommendations of the Secretary, who has, I am sure, given to them the most conscientious study. There should be no hesitation in promptly completing a navy of the best modern type large enough to enable this country to display its flag in all seas for the protection of its citizens and of its extending commerce. The world needs no assurance of the peaceful purposes of the United States, but we shall probably be in the future more largely a competitor in the commerce of the world, and it is essential to the dignity of this nation and to that peaceful influence which it should exercise on this hemisphere that its Navy should be adequate both upon the shores of the Atlantic and of the Pacific. The report of the Secretary of the Interior shows that a very gratifying progress has been made in all of the bureaus which make up that complex and difficult Department. The work in the Bureau of Indian Affairs was perhaps never so large as now, by reason of the numerous negotiations which have been proceeding with the tribes for a reduction of the reservations, with the incident labor of making allotments, and was never more carefully conducted. The provision of adequate school facilities for Indian children and the locating of adult Indians upon farms involve the solution of the "Indian question." Everything else--rations, annuities, and tribal negotiations, with the agents, inspectors, and commissioners who distribute and conduct them--must pass away when the Indian has become a citizen, secure in the individual ownership of a farm from which he derives his subsistence by his own labor, protected by and subordinate to the laws which govern the white man, and provided by the General Government or by the local communities in which he lives with the means of educating his children. When an Indian becomes a citizen in an organized State or Territory, his relation to the General Government ceases in great measure to be that of a ward; but the General Government ought not at once to put upon the State or Territory the burden of the education of his children. It has been my thought that the Government schools and school buildings upon the reservations would be absorbed by the school systems of the States and Territories; but as it has been found necessary to protect the Indian against the compulsory alienation of his land by exempting him from taxation for a period of twenty-five years, it would seem to be right that the General Government, certainly where there are tribal funds in its possession, should pay to the school fund of the State what would be equivalent to the local school tax upon the property of the Indian. It will be noticed from the report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that already some contracts have been made with district schools for the education of Indian children. There is great advantage, I think, in bringing the Indian children into mixed schools. This process will be gradual, and in the meantime the present educational provisions and arrangements, the result of the best experience of those who have been charged with this work, should be continued. This will enable those religious bodies that have undertaken the work of Indian education with so much zeal and with results so restraining and beneficent to place their institutions in new and useful relations to the Indian and to his white neighbors. The outbreak among the Sioux which occurred in December last is as to its causes and incidents fully reported upon by the War Department and the Department of the Interior. That these Indians had some just complaints, especially in the matter of the reduction of the appropriation for rations and in the delays attending the enactment of laws to enable the Department to perform the engagements entered into with them, is probably true; but the Sioux tribes are naturally warlike and turbulent, and their warriors were excited by their medicine men and chiefs, who preached the coming of an Indian messiah who was to give them power to destroy their enemies. In view of the alarm that prevailed among the white settlers near the reservation and of the fatal consequences that would have resulted from an Indian incursion, I placed at the disposal of General Miles, commanding the Division of the Missouri, all such forces as were thought by him to be required. He is entitled to the credit of having given thorough protection to the settlers and of bringing the hostiles into subjection with the least possible loss of life. The appropriation of $2,991,450 for the Choctaws and Chickasaws contained in the general Indian appropriation bill of March 3, 1891, has not been expended, for the reason that I have not yet approved a release (to the Government) of the Indian claim to the lands mentioned. This matter will be made the subject of a special message, placing before Congress all the facts which have come to my knowledge. The relation of the Five Civilized Tribes now occupying the Indian Territory to the United States is not, I believe, that best calculated to promote the highest advancement of these Indians. That there should be within our borders five independent states having no relations, except those growing out of treaties, with the Government of the United States, no representation in the National Legislature, its people not citizens, is a startling anomaly. It seems to me to be inevitable that there shall be before long some organic changes in the relation of these people to the United States. What form these changes should take I do not think it desirable now to suggest, even if they were well defined in my own mind. They should certainly involve the acceptance of citizenship by the Indians and a representation in Congress. These Indians should have opportunity to present their claims and grievances upon the floor rather than, as now, in the lobby. If a commission could be appointed to visit these tribes to confer with them in a friendly spirit upon this whole subject, even if no agreement were presently reached the feeling of the tribes upon this question would be developed, and discussion would prepare the way for changes which must come sooner or later. The good work of reducing the larger Indian reservations by allotments in severalty to the Indians and the cession of the remaining lands to the United States for disposition under the homestead law has been prosecuted during the year with energy and success. In September last I was enabled to open to settlement in the Territory of Oklahoma 900,000 acres of land, all of which was taken up by settlers in a single day. The rush for these lands was accompanied by a great deal of excitement, but was happily free from incidents of violence. It was a source of great regret that I was not able to open at the same time the surplus lands of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Reservation, amounting to about 3,000,000 acres, by reason of the insufficiency of the appropriation for making the allotments. Deserving and impatient settlers are waiting to occupy these lands, and I urgently recommend that a special deficiency appropriation be promptly made of the small amount needed, so that the allotments may be completed and the surplus lands opened in time to permit the settlers to get upon their homesteads in the early spring. During the past summer the Cherokee Commission have completed arrangements with the Wichita, Kickapoo, and Tonkawa tribes whereby, if the agreements are ratified by Congress, over 800,000 additional acres will be opened to settlement in Oklahoma. The negotiations for the release by the Cherokees of their claim to the Cherokee Strip have made no substantial progress so far as the Department is officially advised, but it is still hoped that the cession of this large and valuable tract may be secured. The price which the commission was authorized to offer--$1.25 per acre--is, in my judgment, when all the circumstances as to title and the character of the lands are considered, a fair and adequate one, and should have been accepted by the Indians. Since March 4, 1889, about 23,000,000 acres have been separated from Indian reservations and added to the public domain for the use of those who desired to secure free homes under our beneficent laws. It is difficult to estimate the increase of wealth which will result from the conversion of these waste lands into farms, but it is more difficult to estimate the betterment which will result to the families that have found renewed hope and courage in the ownership of a home and the assurance of a comfortable subsistence under free and healthful conditions. It is also gratifying to be able to feel, as we may, that this work has proceeded upon lines of justice toward the Indian, and that he may now, if he will, secure to himself the good influences of a settled habitation, the fruits of industry, and the security of citizenship. Early in this Administration a special effort was begun to bring up the work of the General Land Office. By faithful work the arrearages have been rapidly reduced. At the end of the last fiscal year only 84,172 final agricultural entries remained undisposed of, and the Commissioner reports that with the present force the work can be fully brought up by the end of the next fiscal year. Your attention is called to the difficulty presented by the Secretary of the Interior as to the administration of the law of March 3, 1891, establishing a Court of Private Land Claims. The small holdings intended to be protected by the law are estimated to be more than 15,000 in number. The claimants are a most deserving class and their titles are supported by the strongest equities. The difficulty grows out of the fact that the lands have largely been surveyed according to our methods, while the holdings, many of which have been in the same family for generations, are laid out in narrow strips a few rods wide upon a stream and running back to the hills for pasturage and timber.. Provision should be made for numbering these tracts as lots and for patenting them by such numbers and without reference to section lines. The administration of the Pension Bureau has been characterized during the year by great diligence. The total number of pensioners upon the roll on the 30th day of June, 1891, was 676,160. There were allowed during the fiscal year ending at that time 250,565 cases. Of this number 102,387 were allowed under the law of June 27, 1890. The issuing of certificates has been proceeding at the rate of about 30,000 per month, about 75 per cent of these being cases under the new law. The Commissioner expresses the opinion that he will be able to carefully adjudicate and allow 350,000 claims during the present fiscal year. The appropriation for the payment of pensions for the fiscal year 1890-91 was $127,685,793.89 and the amount expended $118,530,649.25, leaving an unexpended surplus of $9,155,144.64. The Commissioner is quite confident that there will be no call this year for a deficiency appropriation, notwithstanding the rapidity with which the work is being pushed. The mistake which has been made by many in their exaggerated estimates of the cost of pensions is in not taking account of the diminished value of first payments under the recent legislation. These payments under the general law have been for many years very large, as the pensions when allowed dated from the time of filing the claim, and most of these claims had been pending for years. The first payments under the law of June, 1890, are relatively small, and as the per cent of these cases increases and that of the old cases diminishes the annual aggregate of first payments is largely reduced. The Commissioner, under date of November 13, furnishes me with the statement that during the last four months 113,175 certificates were issued, 27,893 under the general law and 85,282 under the act of June 27, 1890. The average first payment during these four months was $131.85, while the average first payment upon cases allowed during the year ending June 30, 1891, was $239.33, being a reduction in the average first payments during these four months of $107.48. The estimate for pension expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, is $144,956,000, which, after a careful examination of the subject, the Commissioner is of the opinion will be sufficient. While these disbursements to the disabled soldiers of the great Civil War are large, they do not realize the exaggerated estimates of those who oppose this beneficent legislation. The Secretary of the Interior shows with great fullness the care that is taken to exclude fraudulent claims, and also the gratifying fact that the persons to whom these pensions are going are men who rendered not slight but substantial war service. The report of the Commissioner of Railroads shows that the total debt of the subsidized railroads to the United States was on December 31, 1890, $112,512,613.06. A large part of this debt is now fast approaching maturity, with no adequate provision for its payment. Some policy for dealing with this debt with a view to its ultimate collection should be at once adopted. It is very difficult, well-nigh impossible, for so large a body as the Congress to conduct the necessary negotiations and investigations. I therefore recommend that provision be made for the appointment of a commission to agree upon and report a plan for dealing with this debt. The work of the Census Bureau is now far in advance and the great bulk of the enormous labor involved completed. It will be more strictly a statistical exhibit and less encumbered by essays than its immediate predecessors. The methods pursued have been fair, careful, and intelligent, and have secured the approval of the statisticians who have followed them with a scientific and nonpartisan interest. The appropriations necessary to the early completion and publication of the authorized volumes should be given in time to secure against delays, which increase the cost and at the same time diminish the value of the work. The report of the Secretary exhibits with interesting fullness the condition of the Territories. They have shared with the States the great increase in farm products, and are bringing yearly large areas into cultivation by extending their irrigating canals. This work is being done by individuals or local corporations and without that system which a full preliminary survey of the water supply and of the irrigable lands would enable them to adopt. The future of the Territories of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah in their material growth and in the increase, independence, and happiness of their people is very largely dependent upon wise and timely legislation, either by Congress or their own legislatures, regulating the distribution of the water supply furnished by their streams. If this matter is much longer neglected, private corporations will have unrestricted control of one of the elements of life and the patentees of the arid lands will be tenants at will of the water companies. The United States should part with its ownership of the water sources and the sites for reservoirs, whether to the States and Territories or to individuals or corporations, only upon conditions that will insure to the settlers their proper water supply upon equal and reasonable terms. In the Territories this whole subject is under the full control of Congress, and in the States it is practically so as long as the Government holds the title to the reservoir sites and water sources and can grant them upon such conditions as it chooses to impose. The improvident granting of franchises of enormous value without recompense to the State or municipality from which they proceed and without proper protection of the public interests is the most noticeable and flagrant evil of modern legislation. This fault should not be committed in dealing with a subject that will before many years affect so vitally thousands of our people. The legislation of Congress for the repression of polygamy has, after years of resistance on the part of the Mormons, at last brought them to the conclusion that resistance is unprofitable and unavailing. The power of Congress over this subject should not be surrendered until we have satisfactory evidence that the people of the State to be created would exercise the exclusive power of the State over this subject in the same way. The question is not whether these people now obey the laws of Congress against polygamy, but rather would they make, enforce, and maintain such laws themselves if absolutely free to regulate the subject? We can not afford to experiment with this subject, for when a State is once constituted the act is final and any mistake irretrievable. No compact in the enabling act could, in my opinion, be binding or effective. I recommend that provision be made for the organization of a simple form of town government in Alaska, with power to regulate such matters as are usually in the States under municipal control. These local civil organizations will give better protection in some matters than the present skeleton Territorial organization. Proper restrictions as to the power to levy taxes and to create debt should be imposed. If the establishment of the Department of Agriculture was regarded by anyone as a mere concession to the unenlightened demand of a worthy class of people, that impression has been most effectually removed by the great results already attained. Its home influence has been very great in disseminating agricultural and horticultural information, in stimulating and directing a further diversification of crops, in detecting and eradicating diseases of domestic animals, and, more than all, in the close and informal contact which it has established and maintains with the farmers and stock raisers of the whole country. Every request for information has had prompt attention and every suggestion merited consideration. The scientific corps of the Department is of a high order and is pushing its investigations with method and enthusiasm. The inspection by this Department of cattle and pork products intended for shipment abroad has been the basis of the success which has attended our efforts to secure the removal of the restrictions maintained by the European Governments. For ten years protests and petitions upon this subject from the packers and stock raisers of the United States have been directed against these restrictions, which so seriously limited our markets and curtailed the profits of the farm. It is a source of general congratulation that success has at last been attained, for the effects of an enlarged foreign market for these meats will be felt not only by the farmer, but in our public finances and in every branch of trade. It is particularly fortunate that the increased demand for food products resulting from the removal of the restrictions upon our meats and from the reciprocal trade arrangements to which I have referred should have come at a time when the agricultural surplus is so large. Without the help thus derived lower prices would have prevailed. The Secretary of Agriculture estimates that the restrictions upon the importation of our pork products into Europe lost us a market for $20,000,000 worth of these products annually. The grain crop of this year was the largest in our history--50 per cent greater than that of last year--and yet the new markets that have been opened and the larger demand resulting from short crops in Europe have sustained prices to such an extent that the enormous surplus of meats and breadstuffs will be marketed at good prices, bringing relief and prosperity to an industry that was much depressed. The value of the grain crop of the United States is estimated by the Secretary to be this year $500,000,000 more than last; of meats $150,000,000 more, and of all products of the farm $700,000,000 more. It is not inappropriate, I think, here to suggest that our satisfaction in the contemplation of this marvelous addition to the national wealth is unclouded by any suspicion of the currency by which it is measured and in which the farmer is paid for the products of his fields. The report of the Civil Service Commission should receive the careful attention of the opponents as well as the friends of this reform. The Commission invites a personal inspection by Senators and Representatives of its records and methods, and every fair critic will feel that such an examination should precede a judgment of condemnation either of the system or its administration. It is not claimed that either is perfect, but I believe that the law is being executed with impartiality and that the system is incomparably better and fairer than that of appointments upon favor. I have during the year extended the classified service to include superintendents, teachers, matrons, and physicians in the Indian service. This branch of the service is largely related to educational and philanthropic work and will obviously be the better for the change. The heads of the several Executive Departments have been directed to establish at once an efficiency record as the basis of a comparative rating of the clerks within the classified service, with a view to placing promotions therein upon the basis of merit. I am confident that such a record, fairly kept and open to the inspection of those interested, will powerfully stimulate the work of the Departments and will be accepted by all as placing the troublesome matter of promotions upon a just basis. I recommend that the appropriation for the Civil Service Commission be made adequate to the increased work of the next fiscal year. I have twice before urgently called the attention of Congress to the necessity of legislation for the protection of the lives of railroad employees, but nothing has yet been done. During the year ending June 30, 1890, 369 brakemen were killed and 7,841 maimed while engaged in coupling cars. The total number of railroad employees killed during the year was 2,451 and the number injured 22,390. This is a cruel and largely needless sacrifice. The Government is spending nearly $1,000,000 annually to save the lives of shipwrecked seamen; every steam vessel is rigidly inspected and required to adopt the most approved safety appliances. All this is good. But how shall we excuse the lack of interest and effort in behalf of this army of brave young men who in our land commerce are being sacrificed every year by the continued use of antiquated and dangerous appliances? A law requiring of every railroad engaged in interstate commerce the equipment each year of a given per cent of its freight cars with automatic couplers and air brakes would compel an agreement between the roads as to the kind of brakes and couplers to be used, and would very soon and very greatly reduce the present fearful death rate among railroad employees. The method of appointment by the States of electors of President and Vice-President has recently attracted renewed interest by reason of a departure by the State of Michigan from the method which had become uniform in all the States. Prior to 1832 various methods had been used by the different States, and even by the same State. In some the choice was made by the legislature; in others electors were chosen by districts, but more generally by the voters of the whole State upon a general ticket. The movement toward the adoption of the last-named method had an early beginning and went steadily forward among the States until in 1832 there remained but a single State (South Carolina) that had not adopted it. That State until the Civil War continued to choose its electors by a vote of the legislature, but after the war changed its method and conformed to the practice of the other States. For nearly sixty years all the States save one have appointed their electors by a popular vote upon a general ticket, and for nearly thirty years this method was universal. After a full test of other methods, without important division or dissent in any State and without any purpose of party advantage, as we must believe, but solely upon the considerations that uniformity was desirable and that a general election in territorial divisions not subject to change was most consistent with the popular character of our institutions, best preserved the equality of the voters, and perfectly removed the choice of President from the baneful influence of the "gerrymander," the practice of all the States was brought into harmony. That this concurrence should now be broken is, I think, an unfortunate and even a threatening episode, and one that may well suggest whether the States that still give their approval to the old and prevailing method ought not to secure by a constitutional amendment a practice which has had the approval of all. The recent Michigan legislation provides for choosing what are popularly known as the Congressional electors for President by Congressional districts and the two Senatorial electors by districts created for that purpose. This legislation was, of course, accompanied by a new Congressional apportionment, and the two statutes bring the electoral vote of the State under the influence of the "gerrymander." These gerrymanders for Congressional purposes are in most cases buttressed by a gerrymander of the legislative districts, thus making it impossible for a majority of the legal voters of the State to correct the apportionment and equalize the Congressional districts. A minority rule is established that only a political convulsion can overthrow. I have recently been advised that in one county of a certain State three districts for the election of members of the legislature are constituted as follows: One has 65,000 population, one 15,000, and one 10,000, while in another county detached, noncontiguous sections have been united to make a legislative district. These methods have already found effective application to the choice of Senators and Representatives in Congress, and now an evil start has been made in the direction of applying them to the choice by the States of electors of President and Vice-President. If this is accomplished, we shall then have the three great departments of the Government in the grasp of the "gerrymander," the legislative and executive directly and the judiciary indirectly through the power of appointment. An election implies a body of electors having prescribed qualifications, each one of whom has an equal value and influence in determining the result. So when the Constitution provides that "each State shall appoint" (elect), "in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors," etc., an unrestricted power was not given to the legislatures in the selection of the methods to be used. "A republican form of government" is guaranteed by the Constitution to each State, and the power given by the same instrument to the legislatures of the States to prescribe methods for the choice by the State of electors must be exercised under that limitation. The essential features of such a government are the right of the people to choose their own officers and the nearest practicable equality of value in the suffrages given in determining that choice. It will not be claimed that the power given to the legislature would support a law providing that the persons receiving the smallest vote should be the electors or a law that all the electors should be chosen by the voters of a single Congressional district. The State is to choose, and finder the pretense of regulating methods the legislature can neither vest the right of choice elsewhere nor adopt methods not conformable to republican institutions. It is not my purpose here to discuss the question whether a choice by the legislature or by the voters of equal single districts is a choice by the State, but only to recommend such regulation of this matter by constitutional amendment as will secure uniformity and prevent that disgraceful partisan jugglery to which such a liberty of choice, if it exists, offers a temptation. Nothing just now is more important than to provide every guaranty for the absolutely fair and free choice by an equal suffrage within the respective States of all the officers of the National Government, whether that suffrage is applied directly, as in the choice of members of the House of Representatives, or indirectly, as in the choice of Senators and electors of President. Respect for public officers and obedience to law will not cease to be the characteristics of our people until our elections cease to declare the will of majorities fairly ascertained without fraud, suppression, or gerrymander. If I were called upon to declare wherein our chief national danger lies, I should say without hesitation in the overthrow of majority control by the suppression or perversion of the popular suffrage. That there is a real danger here all must agree; but the energies of those who see it have been chiefly expended in trying to fix responsibility upon the opposite party rather than in efforts to make such practices impossible by either party. Is it not possible now to adjourn that interminable and inconclusive debate while we take by consent one step in the direction of reform by eliminating the gerrymander, which has been denounced by all parties as an influence in the selection of electors of President and members of Congress? All the States have, acting freely and separately, determined that the choice of electors by a general ticket is the wisest and safest method, and it would seem there could be no objection to a constitutional amendment making that method permanent. If a legislature chosen in one year upon purely local questions should, pending a Presidential contest, meet, rescind the law for a choice upon a general ticket, and provide for the choice of electors by the legislature, and this trick should determine the result, it is not too much to say that the public peace might be seriously and widely endangered. I have alluded to the "gerrymander" as affecting the method of selecting electors of President by Congressional districts, but the primary intent and effect of this form of political robbery have relation to the selection of members of the House of Representatives. The power of Congress is ample to deal with this threatening and intolerable abuse. The unfailing test of sincerity in election reform will be found in a willingness to confer as to remedies and to put into force such measures as will most effectually preserve the right of the people to free and equal representation. An attempt was made in the last Congress to bring to bear the constitutional powers of the General Government for the correction of fraud against the suffrage. It is important to know whether the opposition to such measures is really rested in particular features supposed to be objectionable or includes any proposition to give to the election laws of the United States adequacy to the correction of grave and acknowledged evils. I must yet entertain the hope that it is possible to secure a calm, patriotic consideration of such constitutional or statutory changes as may be necessary to secure the choice of the officers of the Government to the people by fair apportionments and free elections. I believe it would be possible to constitute a commission, nonpartisan in its membership and composed of patriotic, wise, and impartial men, to whom a consideration of the question of the evils connected with our election system and methods might be committed with a good prospect of securing unanimity in some plan for removing or mitigating those evils. The Constitution would permit the selection of the commission to be vested in the Supreme Court if that method would give the best guaranty of impartiality. This commission should be charged with the duty of inquiring into the whole subject of the law of elections as related to the choice of officers of the National Government, with a view to securing to every elector a free and unmolested exercise of the suffrage and as near an approach to an equality of value in each ballot cast as is attainable. While the policies of the General Government upon the tariff, upon the restoration of our merchant marine, upon river and harbor improvements, and other such matters of grave and general concern are liable to be turned this way or that by the results of Congressional elections and administrative policies, sometimes involving issues that tend to peace or war, to be turned this way or that by the results of a Presidential election, there is a rightful interest in all the States and in every Congressional district that will not be deceived or silenced by the audacious pretense that the question of the right of any body of legal voters in any State or in any Congressional district to give their suffrages freely upon these general questions is a matter only of local concern or control. The demand that the limitations of suffrage shall be found in the law, and only there, is a just demand, and no just man should resent or resist it. My appeal is and must continue to be for a consultation that shall "proceed with candor, calmness, and patience upon the lines of justice and humanity, not of prejudice and cruelty." To the consideration of these very grave questions I invite not only the attention of Congress, but that of all patriotic citizens. We must not entertain the delusion that our people have ceased to regard a free ballot and equal representation as the price of their allegiance to laws and to civil magistrates. I have been greatly rejoiced to notice many evidences of the increased unification of our people and of a revived national spirit. The vista that now opens to us is wider and more glorious than ever before. Gratification and amazement struggle for supremacy as we contemplate the population, wealth, and moral strength of our country. A trust momentous in its influence upon our people and upon the world is for a brief time committed to us, and we must not be faithless to its first condition--the defense of the free and equal influence of the people in the choice of public officers and in the control of public affairs.
the reports of the heads of the several executive departments required by law to be submitted to me which are herewith transmitted and the reports of the secretary of the treasury and the made directly to congress furnish a comprehensive view of the administrative work of the last fiscal year relating to internal affair it would be of great advantage if these reports could have an alternative perusal by every member of congress and by all who take an interest in public affairs such a perusal could not fail to excite a higher appreciation of the vast labor and conscientious effort which are given to the conduct of our civil administration the reports will i believe show that every question has been approached considered and decided from the standpoint of public duty upon considerations affecting the public interests alone again i invite to every branch of the service the attention and scrutiny of congress the work of the state department during the last year has been characterized by an unusual number of important negotiations and by diplomatic results of a notable and highly beneficial character among these are the reciprocal trade arrangements which have been concluded in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the tariff law with the republic of brazil with spain for its west india possessions and with santo domingo like negotiations with other countries have been much advanced and it is hoped that before the close of the year further definitive trade arrangements of great value will be concluded in view of the reports which had been received as to the diminution of the seal herds in the bering sea i deemed it wise to propose to her majesty government in february last that an agreement for a closed season should be made pending the negotiations for arbitration which then seemed to be approaching a favorable conclusion after much correspondence and delays for which this government was not responsible an agreement was reached and signed on the 15th of june by which great britain undertook from that date and until may 1 1892 to prohibit the killing by her subjects of seals in the bering sea and the government of the united states during the same period to enforce its existing prohibition against pelagic sealing and to limit the catch by the company upon the islands to skins if this agreement could have been reached earlier in response to the strenuous endeavors of this government it would have been more effective but coming even as late as it did it unquestionably resulted in greatly diminishing the destruction of the seals by the canadian sealers in my last annual message i stated that the basis of arbitration proposed by her majesty government for the adjustment of the controversy as to the seal fisheries was not acceptable i am glad now to be able to announce that terms satisfactory to this government have been agreed upon and that an agreement as to the arbitrators is all that is necessary to the completion of the convention in view of the advanced position which this government has taken upon the subject of international arbitration this renewed expression of our adherence to this method for the settlement of disputes such as have arisen in the bering sea will i doubt not meet with the concurrence of congress provision should be made for a joint demarcation of the frontier line between canada and the united states wherever required by the increasing border settlements and especially for the exact location of the water boundary in the straits and rivers i should have been glad to announce some favorable disposition of the boundary dispute between great britain and venezuela touching the western frontier of british guiana but the friendly efforts of the united states in that direction have thus far been unavailing this government will continue to express its concern at any appearance of foreign encroachment on territories long under the administrative control of american states the determination of a disputed boundary is easily attainable by amicable arbitration where the rights of the respective parties rest as here on historic facts readily ascertainable the law of the last congress providing a system of inspection for our meats intended for export and clothing the president with power to exclude foreign products from our market in case the country sending them should perpetuate unjust discriminations against any product of the united states placed this government in a position to effectively urge the removal of such discriminations against our meats it is gratifying to be able to state that germany denmark italy austria and france in the order named have opened their ports to inspected american pork products the removal of these restrictions in every instance was asked for and given solely upon the ground that we have now provided a meat inspection that should be accepted as adequate to the complete removal of the dangers real or fancied which had been previously urged the state department our ministers abroad and the secretary of agriculture have cooperated with unflagging and intelligent zeal for the accomplishment of this great result the outlines of an agreement have been reached with germany looking to equitable trade concessions in consideration of the continued free importation of her sugars but the time has not yet arrived when this correspondence can be submitted to congress the recent political disturbances in the republic of brazil have excited regret and solicitude the information we possessed was too meager to enable us to form a satisfactory judgment of the causes leading to the temporary assumption of supreme power by president fonseca but this government did not fail to express to him its anxious solicitude for the peace of brazil and for the maintenance of the free political institutions which had recently been established there nor to offer our advice that great moderation should be observed in the clash of parties and the contest for leadership these counsels were received in the most friendly spirit and the latest information is that constitutional government has been reestablished without bloodshed the lynching at new orleans in march last of eleven men of italian nativity by a mob of citizens was a most deplorable and discreditable incident it did not however have its origin in any general animosity to the italian people nor in any disrespect to the government of italy with which our relations were of the most friendly character the fury of the mob was directed against these men as the supposed participants or accessories in the murder of a city officer i do not allude to this as mitigating in any degree this offense against law and humanity but only as affecting the international questions which grew out of it it was at once represented by the italian minister that several of those whose lives had been taken by the mob were italian subjects and a demand was made for the punishment of the participants and for an indemnity to the families of those who were killed it is to be regretted that the manner in which these claims were presented was not such as to promote a calm discussion of the questions involved but this may well be attributed to the excitement and indignation which the crime naturally evoked the views of this government as to its obligations to foreigners domiciled here were fully stated in the correspondence as well as its purpose to make an investigation of the affair with a view to determine whether there were present any circumstances that could under such rules of duty as we had indicated create an obligation upon the united states the temporary absence of a minister plenipotentiary of italy at this capital has retarded the further correspondence but it is not doubted that a friendly conclusion is attainable some suggestions growing out of this unhappy incident are worthy the attention of congress it would i believe be entirely competent for congress to make offenses against the treaty rights of foreigners domiciled in the united states cognizable in the federal courts this has not however been done and the federal officers and courts have no power in such cases to intervene either for the protection of a foreign citizen or for the punishment of his slayers it seems to me to follow in this state of the law that the officers of the state charged with police and judicial powers in such cases must in the consideration of international questions growing out of such incidents be regarded in such sense as federal agents as to make this government answerable for their acts in cases where it would be answerable if the united states had used its constitutional power to define and punish crime against treaty rights the civil war in chile which began in january last was continued but fortunately with infrequent and not important armed collisions until august 28 when the congressional forces landed near valparaiso and after a bloody engagement captured that city president balmaceda at once recognized that his because was lost and a provisional government was speedily established by the victorious party our minister was promptly directed to recognize and put himself in communication with this government so soon as it should have established its de facto character which was done during the pendency of this civil contest frequent indirect appeals were made to this government to extend belligerent rights to the insurgents and to give audience to their representatives this was declined and that policy was pursued throughout which this government when wrenched by civil war so strenuously insisted upon on the part of european nations the itata an armed vessel commanded by a naval officer of the insurgent fleet manned by its sailors and with soldiers on board was seized under process of the united states court at san diego for a violation of our neutrality laws while in the custody of an officer of the court the vessel was forcibly wrested from his control and put to sea it would have been inconsistent with the dignity and of this government not to have insisted that the itala should be returned to san diego to abide the judgment of the court this was so clear to the junta of the congressional party established at iquique that before the arrival of the itata at that port the secretary of foreign relations of the provisional government addressed to brown commanding the united states naval forces a communication from which the following is an extract the provisional government has learned by the cablegrams of the associated press that the transport itata detained in san diego by order of the united states for taking on board munitions of war and in possession of the marshal left the port carrying on board this official who was landed at a point near the coast and then continued her voyage if this news be correct this government would deplore the conduct of the itata and as an evidence that it is not disposed to support or agree to the infraction of the laws of the united states the undersigned takes advantage of the personal relations you have been good enough to maintain with him since your arrival in this port to declare to you that as soon as she is within reach of our orders his government will put the itata with the arms and munitions she took on board in sail diego at the disposition of the united states a trial in the district court of the united states for the southern district of california has recently resulted in a decision holding among other things that inasmuch as the congressional party had not been recognized as a belligerent the acts done in its interest could not be a violation of our neutrality laws from this judgment the united states has appealed not that the condemnation of the vessel is a matter of importance but that we may know what the present state of our law is for if this construction of the statute is correct there is obvious necessity for revision and amendment during the progress of the war in chile this government tendered its good offices to bring about a peaceful adjustment and it was at one time hoped that a good result might be reached but in this we were disappointed the instructions to our naval officers and to our minister at santiago from the first to the last of this struggle enjoined upon them the most impartial treatment and absolute noninterference i am satisfied that these instructions were observed and that our representatives were always watchful to use their influence impartially in the interest of humanity and on more than one occasion did so effectively we could not forget however that this government was in diplomatic relations with the then established government of chile as it is now in such relations with the successor of that government i am quite sure that president montt who has under circumstances of promise for the peace of chile been installed as president of that republic will not desire that in the unfortunate event of any revolt against his authority the policy of this government should be other than that which we have recently observed no official complaint of the conduct of our minister or of our naval officers during the struggle has been presented to this government and it is a matter of regret that so many of our own people should have given ear to unofficial charges and complaints that manifestly had their origin in rival interests and in a wish to pervert the relations of the united states with chile the collapse of the government of balmaceda brought about a condition which is unfortunately too familiar in the history of the central and south american states with the overthrow of the balmaceda government he and many of his councilors and officers became at once fugitives for their lives and appealed to the commanding officers of the foreign naval vessels in the harbor of valparaiso and to the resident foreign ministers at santiago for asylum this asylum was freely given according to my information by the naval vessels of several foreign powers and by several of the legations at santiago the american minister as well as his colleagues acting upon the impulse of humanity extended asylum to political refugees whose lives were in peril i have not been willing to direct the surrender of such of these persons as are still in the american legation without suitable conditions it is believed that the government of chile is not in a position in view of the precedents with which it has been connected to broadly deny the right of asylum and the correspondence has not thus far presented any such denial the treatment of our minister for a time was such as to call for a decided protest and it was very gratifying to observe that unfriendly measures which were undoubtedly the result of the prevailing excitement were at once rescinded or suitably relaxed on the 16th of october an event occurred in valparaiso so serious and tragic in its circumstances and results as to very justly excite the indignation of our people and to call for prompt and decided action on the part of this government a considerable number of the sailors of the united states steamship baltimore then in the harbor at valparaiso being upon shore leave and unarmed were assaulted by armed men nearly simultaneously in different localities in the city one petty officer was killed outright and seven or eight seamen were seriously wounded one of whom has since died so savage and brutal was the assault that several of our sailors received more than two and one as many as eighteen stab wounds an investigation of the affair was promptly made by a board of officers of the baltimore and their report shows that these assaults were unprovoked that our men were conducting themselves in a peaceable and orderly manner and that some of the police of the city took part in the assault and used their weapons with fatal effect while a few others with some citizens endeavored to protect our men of our sailors were arrested and some of them while being taken to prison were cruelly beaten and maltreated the fact that they were all discharged no criminal charge being lodged against any one of them shows very clearly that they were innocent of any breach of the peace so far as i have yet been able to learn no other explanation of this bloody work has been suggested than that it had its origin in hostility to those men as sailors of the united states wearing the uniform of their government and not in any individual act or personal animosity the attention of the chilean government was at once called to this affair and a statement of the facts obtained by the investigation we had conducted was submitted accompanied by a request to be advised of any other or qualifying facts in the possession of the chilean government that might tend to relieve this affair of the appearance of an insult to this government the chilean government was also advised that if such qualifying facts did not exist this government would confidently expect full and prompt reparation it is to be regretted that the reply of the secretary for foreign affairs of the provisional government was couched in an offensive tone to this no response has been made this government is now awaiting the result of an investigation which has been conducted by the criminal court at valparaiso it is reported unofficially that the investigation is about completed and it is expected that the result will soon be communicated to this government together with some adequate and satisfactory response to the note by which the attention of chile was called to this incident if these just expectations should be disappointed or further needless delay intervene i will by a special message bring this matter again to the attention of congress for such action as may be necessary the entire correspondence with the government of chile will at an early day be submitted to congress i renew the recommendation of my special message dated january 16 1890 for the adoption of the necessary legislation to enable this government to apply in the case of sweden and norway the same rule in respect to the levying of tonnage dues as was claimed and secured to the shipping of the united states in 1828 under article viii of the treaty of 1827 the adjournment of the senate without action on the pending acts for the suppression of the slave traffic in africa and for the reform of the revenue tariff of the independent state of the kongo left this government unable to exchange those acts on the date fixed july 2 1891 a modus vivendi has been concluded by which the power of the kongo state to levy duties on imports is left unimpaired and by agreement of all the signatories to the general act the time for the exchange of ratifications on the part of the united states has been extended to february 2 1892 the late outbreak against foreigners in various parts of the chinese empire has been a because of deep concern in view of the numerous establishments of our citizens in the interior of that country this government can do no less than insist upon a continuance of the protective and punitory measures which the chinese government has heretofore applied no effort will be omitted to protect our citizens peaceably sojourning in china but recent unofficial information indicates that what was at first regarded as an outbreak of mob violence against foreigners has assumed the larger form of an insurrection against public order the chinese government has declined to receive blair as the minister of the united states on the ground that as a participant while a senator in the enactment of the existing legislation against the introduction of chinese laborers he has become unfriendly and objectionable to china i have felt constrained to point out to the chinese government the untenableness of this position which seems to rest as much on the unacceptability of our legislation as on that of the person chosen and which if admitted would practically debar the selection of any representative so long as the existing laws remain in force you will be called upon to consider the expediency of making special provision by law for the temporary admission of some chinese artisans and laborers in connection with the exhibit of chinese industries at the approaching columbian exposition i regard it as desirable that the chinese exhibit be facilitated in every proper way a question has arisen with the government of spain touching the rights of american citizens in the caroline islands our citizens there long prior to the confirmation of spain claim to the islands had secured by settlement and purchase certain rights to the recognition and maintenance of which the faith of spain was pledged i have had reason within the past year very strongly to protest against the failure to carry out this pledge on the part of his majesty ministers which has resulted in great injustice and injury to the american residents the government and people of spain propose to celebrate the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of america by holding an exposition at madrid which will open on the 12th of september and continue until the 31st of december 1892 a cordial invitation has been extended to the united states to take part in this commemoration and as spain was one of the first nations to express the intention to participate in the world columbian exposition at chicago it would be very appropriate for this government to give this invitation its friendly promotion surveys for the connecting links of the projected intercontinental railway are in progress not only in mexico but at various points along the course mapped out three surveying parties are now in the field under the direction of the commission nearly miles of the proposed road have been surveyed including the most difficult part that through ecuador and the southern part of colombia the reports of the engineers are very satisfactory and show that no insurmountable obstacles have been met with on november 12 1884 a treaty was concluded with mexico reaffirming the boundary between the two countries as described in the treaties of february 2 1848 and december 30 1853 march 1 1889 a further treaty was negotiated to facilitate the carrying out of the principles of the treaty of 1884 and to avoid the difficulties occasioned by reason of the changes and alterations that take place from natural causes in the rio grande and colorado rivers in the portions thereof constituting the boundary line between the two republics the international boundary commission provided for by the treaty of 1889 to have exclusive jurisdiction of any question that may arise has been named by the mexican government an appropriation is necessary to enable the united states to fulfill its treaty obligations in this respect the death of king kalakaua in the united states afforded occasion to testify our friendship for hawaii by conveying the king body to his own land in a naval vessel with all due honors the government of his successor queen liliuokolani is seeking to promote closer commercial relations with the united states surveys for the submarine cable from our pacific coast to honolulu are in progress and this enterprise should have the suitable promotion of the two governments i strongly recommend that provision be made for improving the harbor of pearl river and equipping it as a naval station the arbitration treaty formulated by the international american conference lapsed by reason of the failure to exchange ratifications fully within the limit of time provided but several of the governments concerned have expressed a desire to save this important result of the conference by an extension of the period it is in my judgment incumbent upon the united states to conserve the influential initiative it has taken in this measure by ratifying the instrument and by advocating the proposed extension of the time for exchange these views have been made known to the other signatories this government has found occasion to express in a friendly spirit but with much earnestness to the government of the czar its serious concern because of the harsh measures now being enforced against the hebrews in russia by the revival of antisemitic laws long in abeyance great numbers of those unfortunate people have been constrained to abandon their homes and leave the empire by reason of the impossibility of finding subsistence within the pale to which it is sought to confine them the immigration of these people to the united states many other countries being closed to them is largely increasing and is likely to assume proportions which may make it difficult to find homes and employment for them here and to seriously affect the labor market is estimated that over will be forced from russia within a few years the hebrew is never a beggar he has always kept the law life by toil often under severe and oppressive civil restrictions it is also true that no race sect or class has more fully cared for its own than the hebrew race but the sudden transfer of such a multitude under conditions that tend to strip them of their small accumulations and to depress their energies and courage is neither good for them nor for us the banishment whether by direct decree or by not less certain indirect methods of so large a number of men and women is not a local question a decree to leave one country is in the nature of things an order to enter another some other this consideration as well as the suggestion of humanity furnishes ample ground for the remonstrances which we have presented to russia while our historic friendship for that government can not fail to give the assurance that our representations are those of a sincere wellwisher the annual report of the maritime canal company of nicaragua shows that much costly and necessary preparatory work has been done during the year in the construction of shops railroad tracks and harbor piers and breakwaters and that the work of canal construction has made some progress i deem it to be a matter of the highest concern to the united states that this canal connecting the waters of the atlantic and pacific oceans and giving to us a short water communication between our ports upon those two great seas should be speedily constructed and at the smallest practicable limit of cost the gain in freights to the people and the direct saving to the government of the united states in the use of its naval vessels would pay the entire cost of this work within a short series of years the report of the secretary of the navy shows the saving in our naval expenditures which would result the senator from alabama morgan in his argument upon this subject before the senate at the last session did not overestimate the importance of this work when he said that the canal is the most important subject now connected with the commercial growth and progress of the united states if this work is to be promoted by the usual financial methods and without the aid of this government the expenditures in its securities and stock will probably be twice the actual cost this will necessitate higher tolls and constitute a heavy and altogether needless burden upon our commerce and that of the world every dollar of the bonds and stock of the company should represent a dollar expended in the legitimate and economical prosecution of the work this is only possible by giving to the bonds the guaranty of the united states government such a guaranty would secure the ready sale at par of a 3 per cent bond from time to time as the money was needed i do not doubt that built upon these business methods the canal would when fully inaugurated earn its fixed charges and operating expenses but if its bonds are to be marketed at heavy discounts and every bond sold is to be accompanied by a gift of stock as has come to be expected by investors in such enterprises the traffic will be seriously burdened to pay interest and dividends i am quite willing to recommend government promotion in the prosecution of a work which if no other means offered for securing its completion is of such transcendent interest that the government should in my opinion secure it by direct appropriations from its treasury a guaranty of the bonds of the canal company to an amount necessary to the completion of the canal could i think be so given as not to involve any serious risk of ultimate loss the things to be carefully guarded are the completion of the work within the limits of the guaranty the subrogation of the united states to the rights of the bondholders for any amounts it may have to pay and in the meantime a control of the stock of the company as a security against mismanagement and loss i most sincerely hope that neither party nor sectional lines will be drawn upon this great american project so full of interest to the people of all our states and so influential in its effects upon the prestige and prosperity of our common country the island of navassa in the west indian group has under the provisions of title vii of the revised statutes been recognized by the president as appertaining to the united states it contains guano deposits is owned by the navassa phosphate company and is occupied solely its employees in september 1889 a revolt took place among these laborers resulting in the killing of some of the agents of the company caused as the laborers claimed by cruel treatment these men were arrested and tried in the united states court at baltimore under section 5576 of the statute referred to as if the offenses had been committed on board a merchant vessel of the united states on the high seas there appeared on the trial and otherwise came to me such evidences of the bad treatment of the men that in consideration of this and of the fact that the men had no access to any public officer or tribunal for protection or the redress of their wrongs i commuted the death sentences that had been passed by the court upon three of them in april last my attention was again called to this island and to the unregulated condition of things there by a letter from a colored laborer who complained that he was wrongfully detained upon the island by the phosphate company after the expiration of his contract of service a naval vessel was sent to examine into the case of this man and generally into the condition of things on the island it was found that the laborer referred to had been detained beyond the contract limit and that a condition of revolt again existed among the laborers a board of naval officers reported among other things as follows we would desire to state further that the discipline maintained on the island seems to be that of a convict establishment without its comforts and cleanliness and that until more attention is paid to the shipping of laborers by placing it under government supervision to prevent misunderstanding and misrepresentation and until some amelioration is shown in the treatment of the laborers these disorders will be of constant occurrence i recommend legislation that shall place labor contracts upon this and other islands having the relation that navassa has to the united states under the supervision of a court commissioner and that shall provide at the expense of the owners an officer to reside upon the island with power to judge and adjust disputes and to enforce a just and humane treatment of the employees it is inexcusable that american laborers should be left within our own jurisdiction without access to any government officer or tribunal for their protection and the redress of their wrongs international copyright has been secured in accordance with the conditions of the act of march 3 1891 with belgium france great britain and the british possessions and switzerland the laws of those countries permitting to our citizens the benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to their own citizens or subjects with germany a special convention has been negotiated upon this subject which will bring that country within the reciprocal benefits of our legislation the general interest in the operations of the treasury department has been much augmented during the last year by reason of the conflicting predictions which accompanied and followed the tariff and other legislation of the last congress affecting the revenues as to the results of this legislation upon the treasury and upon the country on the one hand it was contended that imports would so fall off as to leave the treasury bankrupt and that the prices of articles entering into the living of the people would be so enhanced as to disastrously affect their comfort and happiness while on the other it was argued that the loss to the revenue largely the result of placing sugar on the free list would be a direct gain to the people that the prices of the necessaries of life including those most highly protected would not be enhanced that labor would have a larger market and the products of the farm advanced prices while the treasury surplus and receipts would be adequate to meet the appropriations including the large exceptional expenditures for the refunding to the states of the direct tax and the redemption of the 4 per cent bonds it is not my purpose to enter at any length into a discussion of the effects of the legislation to which i have referred but a brief examination of the statistics of the treasury and a general glance at the state of business throughout the country will i think satisfy any impartial inquirer that its results have disappointed the evil prophecies of its opponents and in a large measure realized the hopeful predictions of its friends rarely if ever before in the history of the country has there been a time when the proceeds of one day s labor or the product of one farmed acre would purchase so large an amount of those things that enter into the living of the masses of the people i believe that a full test will develop the fact that the tariff act of the congress is very favorable in its average effect upon the prices of articles entering into common use during the twelve months from october 1 1890 to september 30 1891 the total value of our foreign commerce imports and exports combined was which was the largest of any year in the history of the united states the largest in any previous year was in 1890 when our commerce amounted to and the last year exceeds this enormous aggregate by over one hundred millions it is interesting and to some will be surprising to know that during the year ending september 30 1891 our imports of merchandise amounted to which was an increase of more than over the value of the imports of the corresponding months of the preceding year when the imports of merchandise were unusually large in anticipation of the tariff legislation then pending the average annual value of the imports of merchandise for the ten years from 1881 to 1890 was and during the year ending september 30 1891 this annual average was exceeded by the value of free imports during the twelve months ending september 30 1891 was more than the value of free imports during the corresponding twelve months of the preceding year and there was during the same period a decrease of in the value of imports of dutiable merchandise the percentage of merchandise admitted free of duty during the year to which i have referred the first under the new tariff was while during the preceding twelve months under the old tariff the percentage was an increase of per cent if we take the six months ending september 30 last which covers the time during which sugars have been admitted free of duty the per cent of value of merchandise imported free of duty is found to be which is a larger percentage of free imports than during any prior fiscal year in the history of the government if we turn to exports of merchandise the statistics are full of gratification the value of such exports of merchandise for the twelve months ending september 30 1891 was while for the corresponding previous twelve months it was an increase of which is nearly three times the average annual increase of exports of merchandise for the preceding twenty years this exceeds in amount and value the exports of merchandise during any year in the history of the government the increase in the value of exports of agricultural products during the year referred to over the corresponding twelve months of the prior year was while the increase in the value of exports of manufactured products was there is certainly nothing in the condition of trade foreign or domestic there is certainly nothing in the condition of our people of any class to suggest that the existing tariff and revenue legislation bears oppressively upon the people or retards the commercial development of the nation it may be argued that our condition would be better if tariff legislation were upon a basis but it can not be denied that all the conditions of prosperity and of general contentment are present in a larger degree than ever before in our history and that too just when it was prophesied they would be in the worst state agitation for radical changes in tariff and financial legislation can not help but may seriously impede business to the prosperity of which some degree of stability in legislation is essential i think there are conclusive evidences that the new tariff has created several great industries which will within a few years give employment to several hundred thousand american working men and women in view of the somewhat overcrowded condition of the labor market of the united states every patriotic citizen should rejoice at such a result the report of the secretary of the treasury shows that the total receipts of the government from all sources for the fiscal year ending june 30 1891 were while the expenditures for the same period were leaving a surplus of the receipts of the fiscal year ending june 30 1892 actual and estimated are and the expenditures for the fiscal year ending june 30 1893 the estimated receipts are and the expenditures under the law of july 14 1890 the secretary of the treasury has purchased since august 13 during the fiscal year ounces of silver bullion at an average cost of per ounce the highest price paid during the year was and the lowest in exchange for this silver bullion there have been issued of the treasury notes authorized by the act the lowest price of silver reached during the fiscal year was on april 22 1891 but on november 1 the market price was only which would give to the silver dollar a bullion value of 74 cents before the influence of the prospective silver legislation was felt in the market silver was worth in new york about per ounce the ablest advocates of free coinage in the last congress were most confident in their predictions that the purchases by the government required by the law would at once bring the price of silver to per ounce which would make the bullion value of a dollar 100 cents and hold it there the prophecies of the antisilver men of disasters to result from the coinage of per month were not wider of the mark the friends of free silver are not agreed i think as to the causes that brought their hopeful predictions to naught some facts are known the exports of silver from london to india during the first nine months of this calendar year fell off over 50 per cent or compared with the same months of the preceding year the exports of domestic silver bullion from this country which had averaged for the last ten years over fell in the last fiscal year to while for the first time in recent years the imports of silver into this country exceeded the exports by the sum of in the previous year the net exports of silver from the united states amounted to the production of the united states increased from ounces in 1889 to in 1890 the government is now buying and putting aside annually ounces which allowing for ounces of new bullion used in the arts is more than our domestic products available for coinage i hope the depression in the price of silver is temporary and that a further trial of this legislation will more favorably affect it that the increased volume of currency thus supplied for the use of the people was needed and that beneficial results upon trade and prices have followed this legislation i think must be very clear to everyone nor should it be forgotten that for every dollar of these notes issued a full dollar worth of silver bullion is at the time deposited in the treasury as a security for its redemption upon this subject as upon the tariff my recommendation is that the existing laws be given a full trial and that our business interests be spared the distressing influence which threats of radical changes always impart under existing legislation it is in the power of the treasury department to maintain that essential condition of national finance as well as of commercial prosperity the parity in use of the coined dollars and their paper representatives the assurance that these powers would be freely and unhesitatingly used has done much to produce and sustain the present favorable business conditions i am still of the opinion that the free coinage of silver under existing conditions would disastrously affect our business interests at home and abroad we could not hope to maintain an equality in the purchasing power of the gold and silver dollar in our own markets and in foreign trade the stamp gives no added value to the bullion contained in coins the producers of the country its farmers and laborers have the highest interest that every dollar paper or coin issued by the government shall be as good as any other if there is one less valuable than another its sure and constant errand will be to pay them for their toil and for their crops the money lender will protect himself by stipulating for payment in gold but the laborer has never been able to do that to place business upon a silver basis would mean a sudden and severe contraction of the currency by the withdrawal of gold and gold notes and such an unsettling of all values as would produce a commercial panic i can not believe that a people so strong and prosperous as ours will promote such a policy the producers of silver are entitled to just consideration but they should not forget that the government is now buying and putting out of the market what is the equivalent of the entire product of our silver mines this is more than they themselves thought of asking two years ago i believe it is the earnest desire of a great majority of the people as it is mine that a full coin use shall be made of silver just as soon as the cooperation of other nations can be secured and a ratio fixed that will give circulation equally to gold and silver the business of the world requires the use of both metals but i do not see any prospect of gain but much of loss by giving up the present system in which a full use is made of gold and a large use of silver for one in which silver alone will circulate such an event would be at once fatal to the further progress of the silver movement bimetallism is the desired end and the true friends of silver will be careful not to overrun the goal and bring in silver monometallism with its necessary attendants the loss of our gold to europe and the relief of the pressure there for a larger currency i have endeavored by the use of official and unofficial agencies to keep a close observation of the state of public sentiment in europe upon this question and have not found it to be such as to justify me in proposing an international conference there is however i am sure a growing sentiment in europe in favor of a larger use of silver and i know of no more effectual way of promoting this sentiment than by accumulating gold here a scarcity of gold in the european reserves will be the most persuasive argument for the use of silver the exports of gold to europe which began in february last and continued until the close of july aggregated over the net loss of gold during the fiscal year was nearly that no serious monetary disturbance resulted was most gratifying and gave to europe fresh evidence of the strength and stability of our financial institutions with the movement of crops the outflow of gold was speedily stopped and a return set in up to december 1 we had recovered of our gold lost at the port of new york and it is confidently believed that during the winter and spring this aggregate will be steadily and largely increased the presence of a large cash surplus in the treasury has for many years been the subject of much unfavorable criticism and has furnished an argument to those who have desired to place the tariff upon a purely revenue basis it was agreed by all that the withdrawal from circulation of so large an amount of money was an embarrassment to the business of the country and made necessary the intervention of the department at frequent intervals to relieve threatened monetary panics the surplus on march 1 1889 was the policy of applying this surplus to the redemption of the securities of the united states was thought to be preferable to that of depositing it without interest in selected national banks there have been redeemed since the date last mentioned of securities resulting in a reduction of the annual interest charge of the money which had been deposited in banks without interest has been gradually withdrawn and used in the redemption of bonds the result of this policy of the silver legislation and of the refunding of the 4 per cent bonds has been a large increase of the money in circulation at the date last named the circulation was or per capita while on the 1st day of december 1891 it had increased to or per capita the offer of the secretary of the treasury to the holders of the 4 per cent bonds to extend the time of redemption at the option of the government at an interest of 2 per cent was accepted by the holders of about the amount and the unextended bonds are being redeemed on presentation the report of the secretary of war exhibits the results of an intelligent progressive and businesslike administration of a department which has been too much regarded as one of mere routine the separation of secretary proctor from the department by reason of his appointment as a senator from the state of vermont is a source of great regret to me and to his colleagues in the cabinet as i am sure it will be to all those who have had business with the department while under his charge in the administration of army affairs some especially good work has been accomplished the efforts of the secretary to reduce the percentage of desertions by removing the causes that promoted it have been so successful as to enable him to report for the last year a lower percentage of desertion than has been before reached in the history of the army the resulting money saving is considerable but the improvement in the morale of the enlisted men is the most valuable incident of the reforms which have brought about this result the work of securing sites for shore batteries for harbor defense and the manufacture of mortars and guns of high power to equip them have made good progress during the year the preliminary work of tests and plans which so long delayed a start is now out of the way some guns have been completed and with an enlarged shop and a more complete equipment at watervliet the army will soon be abreast of the navy in gun construction whatever unavoidable causes of delay may arise there should be none from delayed or insufficient appropriations we shall be greatly embarrassed in the proper distribution and use of naval vessels until adequate shore defenses are provided for our harbors i concur in the recommendation of the secretary that the organization be adopted for the infantry the adoption of a smokeless powder and of a modern rifle equal in range precision and rapidity of fire to the best now in use will i hope not be longer delayed the project of enlisting indians and organizing them into separate companies upon the same basis as other soldiers was made the subject of very careful study by the secretary and received my approval seven companies have been completely organized and seven more are in process of organization the results of six months training have more than realized the highest anticipations the men are readily brought under discipline acquire the drill with facility and show great pride in the right discharge of their duty and perfect loyalty to their officers who declare that they would take them into action with confidence the discipline order and cleanliness of the military posts will have a wholesome and elevating influence upon the men enlisted and through them upon their tribes while a friendly feeling for the whites and a greater respect for the government will certainly be promoted the great work done in the record and pension division of the war department by major ainsworth of the medical corps and the clerks under him is entitled to honorable mention taking up the work with nearly cases behind he closed the last fiscal year without a single case left over though the new cases had increased 52 per cent in number over the previous year by reason of the pension legislation of the last congress i concur in the recommendation of the that the right in felony cases to a review by the supreme court be limited it would seem that personal liberty would have a safe guaranty if the right of review in cases involving only fine and imprisonment were limited to the circuit court of appeals unless a constitutional question should in some way be involved the judges of the court of private land claims provided for by the act of march 3 1891 have been appointed and the court organized it is now possible to give early relief to communities long repressed in their development by unsettled land titles and to establish the possession and right of settlers whose lands have been rendered valueless by adverse and unfounded claims the act of july 9 1888 provided for the incorporation and management of a reform school for girls in the district of columbia but it has remained inoperative for the reason that no appropriation has been made for construction or maintenance the need of such an institution is very urgent many girls could be saved from depraved lives by the wholesome influences and restraints of such a school i recommend that the necessary appropriation be made for a site and for construction the enforcement by the treasury department of the law prohibiting the coming of chinese to the united states has been effective as to such as seek to land from vessels entering our ports the result has been to divert the travel to vessels entering the ports of british columbia whence passage into the united states at obscure points along the dominion boundary is easy a very considerable number of chinese laborers have during the past year entered the united states from canada and mexico the officers of the treasury department and of the department of justice have used every means at their command to intercept this immigration but the impossibility of perfectly guarding our extended frontier is apparent the dominion government collects a head tax of 50 from every chinaman entering canada and thus derives a considerable revenue from those who only use its ports to reach a position of advantage to evade our exclusion laws there seems to be satisfactory evidence that the business of passing chinamen through canada to the united states is organized and quite active the department of justice has construed the laws to require the return of any chinaman found to be unlawfully in this country to china as the country from which he came notwithstanding the fact that he came by way of canada but several of the district courts have in cases brought before them overruled this view of the law and decided that such persons must be returned to canada this construction robs the law of all effectiveness even if the decrees could be executed for the men returned can the next day recross our border but the only appropriation made is for sending them back to china and the canadian officials refuse to allow them to reenter canada without the payment of the head tax i recommend such legislation as will remedy these defects in the law in previous messages i have called the attention of congress to the necessity of so extending the jurisdiction of the united states courts as to make triable therein any felony committed while in the act of violating a law of the united states these courts can not have that independence and effectiveness which the constitution contemplates so long as the felonious killing of court officers jurors and witnesses in the discharge of their duties or by reason of their acts as such is only cognizable in the state courts the work done by the and the officers of his department even under the present inadequate legislation has produced some notable results in the interest of law and order the and also the commissioners of the district of columbia call attention to the defectiveness and inadequacy of the laws relating to crimes against chastity in the district of columbia a stringent code upon this subject has been provided by congress for utah and it is a matter of surprise that the needs of this district should have been so long overlooked in the report of the some very gratifying results are exhibited and many betterments of the service suggested a perusal of the report gives abundant evidence that the supervision and direction of the postal system have been characterized by an intelligent and conscientious desire to improve the service the revenues of the department show an increase of over with a deficiency for the year 1892 of less than while the estimate for the year 1893 shows a surplus of receipts over expenditures ocean mail have been established upon the steamers of the north german lloyd and hamburg lines saving by the distribution on shipboard from two to fourteen hours time in the delivery of mail at the port of entry and often much more than this in the delivery at interior places so thoroughly has this system initiated by germany and the united states evidenced its usefulness that it can not be long before it is installed upon all the great ocean steamships eight thousand miles of new postal service has been established upon railroads the car distribution to substations in the great cities has been increased about 12 per cent while the percentage of errors in distribution has during the past year been reduced over an appropriation was given by the last congress for the purpose of making some experiments in free delivery in the smaller cities and towns the results of these experiments have been so satisfactory that the recommends and i concur in the recommendation that the system be at once extended to towns of population his discussion of the inadequate facilities extended under our present system to rural communities and his suggestions with a view to give these communities a fuller participation in the benefits of the postal service are worthy of your careful consideration it is not just that the farmer who receives his mail at a neighboring town should not only be compelled to send to the for it but to pay a considerable rent for a box in which to place it or to wait his turn at a window while the city resident has his mail brought to his door it is stated that over neighborhoods are under the present system receiving mail at where money orders and postal notes are not issued the extension of this system to these communities is especially desirable as the patrons of such offices are not possessed of the other facilities offered in more populous communities for the transmission of small sums of money i have in a message to the preceding congress expressed my views as to a modified use of the telegraph in connection with the postal service in pursuance of the ocean mail law of march 3 1891 and after a most careful study of the whole subject and frequent conferences with boards of trade and others advertisements were issued by the for 53 lines of ocean mail service 10 to great britain and the continent 27 to south america 3 to china and japan 4 to australia and the pacific islands 7 to the west indies and 2 to mexico it was not of course expected that bids for all these lines would be received or that service upon them all would be contracted for it was intended in furtherance of the act to secure as many new lines as possible while including in the list most or all of the foreign lines now occupied by american ships it was hoped that a line to england and perhaps one to the continent would be secured but the outlay required to equip such lines wholly with new ships of the first class and the difficulty of establishing new lines in competition with those already established deterred bidders whose interest had been enlisted it is hoped that a way may yet be found of overcoming these difficulties the brazil steamship company by reason of a miscalculation as to the speed of its vessels was not able to bid under the terms of the advertisement the policy of the department was to secure from the established lines an improved service as a condition of giving to them the benefits of the law this in all instances has been attained the estimates that an expenditure in american shipyards of about will be necessary to enable the bidders to construct the ships called for by the service which they have accepted i do not think there is any reason for discouragement or for any turning back from the policy of this legislation indeed a good beginning has been made and as the subject is further considered and understood by capitalists and shipping people new lines will be ready to meet future proposals and we may date from the passage of this law the revival of american shipping interests and the recovery of a fair share of the carrying trade of the world we were receiving for foreign postage nearly under the old system and the outlay for ocean mail service did not exceed per annum it is estimated by the that if all the contracts proposed are completed it will require for this year in addition to the appropriation for sea and inland postage already in the estimates and that for the next fiscal year ending june 30 1893 there would probably be needed about the report of the secretary of the navy shows a gratifying increase of new naval vessels in commission the newark concord bennington and miantonomoh have been added during the year with an aggregate of something more than tons warships of all classes are now under construction in the and private shops but while the work upon them is going forward satisfactorily the completion of the more important vessels will yet require about a year s time some of the vessels now under construction it is believed will be triumphs of naval engineering when it is recollected that the work of building a modern navy was only initiated in the year 1883 that our naval constructors and shipbuilders were practically without experience in the construction of large iron or steel ships that our engine shops were unfamiliar with great marine engines and that the manufacture of steel forgings for guns and plates was almost wholly a foreign industry the progress that has been made is not only highly satisfactory but furnishes the assurance that the united states will before long attain in the construction of such vessels with their engines and armaments the same preeminence which it attained when the best instrument of ocean commerce was the clipper ship and the most impressive exhibit of naval power the old wooden the officers of the navy and the proprietors and engineers of our great private shops have responded with wonderful intelligence and professional zeal to the confidence expressed by congress in its liberal legislation we have now at washington a gun shop organized and conducted by naval officers that in its system economy and product is unexcelled experiments with armor plate have been conducted during the year with most important results it is now believed that a plate of higher resisting power than any in use has been found and that the tests have demonstrated that cheaper methods of manufacture than those heretofore thought necessary can be used i commend to your favorable consideration the recommendations of the secretary who has i am sure given to them the most conscientious study there should be no hesitation in promptly completing a navy of the best modern type large enough to enable this country to display its flag in all seas for the protection of its citizens and of its extending commerce the world needs no assurance of the peaceful purposes of the united states but we shall probably be in the future more largely a competitor in the commerce of the world and it is essential to the dignity of this nation and to that peaceful influence which it should exercise on this hemisphere that its navy should be adequate both upon the shores of the atlantic and of the pacific the report of the secretary of the interior shows that a very gratifying progress has been made in all of the bureaus which make up that complex and difficult department the work in the bureau of indian affairs was perhaps never so large as now by reason of the numerous negotiations which have been proceeding with the tribes for a reduction of the reservations with the incident labor of making allotments and was never more carefully conducted the provision of adequate school facilities for indian children and the locating of adult indians upon farms involve the solution of the indian question everything else rations annuities and tribal negotiations with the agents inspectors and commissioners who distribute and conduct them must pass away when the indian has become a citizen secure in the individual ownership of a farm from which he derives his subsistence by his own labor protected by and subordinate to the laws which govern the white man and provided by the general government or by the local communities in which he lives with the means of educating his children when an indian becomes a citizen in an organized state or territory his relation to the general government ceases in great measure to be that of a ward but the general government ought not at once to put upon the state or territory the burden of the education of his children it has been my thought that the government schools and school buildings upon the reservations would be absorbed by the school systems of the states and territories but as it has been found necessary to protect the indian against the compulsory alienation of his land by exempting him from taxation for a period of years it would seem to be right that the general government certainly where there are tribal funds in its possession should pay to the school fund of the state what would be equivalent to the local school tax upon the property of the indian it will be noticed from the report of the commissioner of indian affairs that already some contracts have been made with district schools for the education of indian children there is great advantage i think in bringing the indian children into mixed schools this process will be gradual and in the meantime the present educational provisions and arrangements the result of the best experience of those who have been charged with this work should be continued this will enable those religious bodies that have undertaken the work of indian education with so much zeal and with results so restraining and beneficent to place their institutions in new and useful relations to the indian and to his white neighbors the outbreak among the sioux which occurred in december last is as to its causes and incidents fully reported upon by the war department and the department of the interior that these indians had some just complaints especially in the matter of the reduction of the appropriation for rations and in the delays attending the enactment of laws to enable the department to perform the engagements entered into with them is probably true but the sioux tribes are naturally warlike and turbulent and their warriors were excited by their medicine men and chiefs who preached the coming of an indian messiah who was to give them power to destroy their enemies in view of the alarm that prevailed among the white settlers near the reservation and of the fatal consequences that would have resulted from an indian incursion i placed at the disposal of general miles commanding the division of the missouri all such forces as were thought by him to be required he is entitled to the credit of having given thorough protection to the settlers and of bringing the hostiles into subjection with the least possible loss of life the appropriation of for the choctaws and chickasaws contained in the general indian appropriation bill of march 3 1891 has not been expended for the reason that i have not yet approved a release to the government of the indian claim to the lands mentioned this matter will be made the subject of a special message placing before congress all the facts which have come to my knowledge the relation of the five civilized tribes now occupying the indian territory to the united states is not i believe that best calculated to promote the highest advancement of these indians that there should be within our borders five independent states having no relations except those growing out of treaties with the government of the united states no representation in the national legislature its people not citizens is a startling anomaly it seems to me to be inevitable that there shall be before long some organic changes in the relation of these people to the united states what form these changes should take i do not think it desirable now to suggest even if they were well defined in my own mind they should certainly involve the acceptance of citizenship by the indians and a representation in congress these indians should have opportunity to present their claims and grievances upon the floor rather than as now in the lobby if a commission could be appointed to visit these tribes to confer with them in a friendly spirit upon this whole subject even if no agreement were presently reached the feeling of the tribes upon this question would be developed and discussion would prepare the way for changes which must come sooner or later the good work of reducing the larger indian reservations by allotments in severalty to the indians and the cession of the remaining lands to the united states for disposition under the homestead law has been prosecuted during the year with energy and success in september last i was enabled to open to settlement in the territory of oklahoma acres of land all of which was taken up by settlers in a single day the rush for these lands was accompanied by a great deal of excitement but was happily free from incidents of violence it was a source of great regret that i was not able to open at the same time the surplus lands of the cheyenne and arapahoe reservation amounting to about acres by reason of the insufficiency of the appropriation for making the allotments deserving and impatient settlers are waiting to occupy these lands and i urgently recommend that a special deficiency appropriation be promptly made of the small amount needed so that the allotments may be completed and the surplus lands opened in time to permit the settlers to get upon their homesteads in the early spring during the past summer the cherokee commission have completed arrangements with the wichita kickapoo and tonkawa tribes whereby if the agreements are ratified by congress over additional acres will be opened to settlement in oklahoma the negotiations for the release by the cherokees of their claim to the cherokee strip have made no substantial progress so far as the department is officially advised but it is still hoped that the cession of this large and valuable tract may be secured the price which the commission was authorized to offer per acre is in my judgment when all the circumstances as to title and the character of the lands are considered a fair and adequate one and should have been accepted by the indians since march 4 1889 about acres have been separated from indian reservations and added to the public domain for the use of those who desired to secure free homes under our beneficent laws it is difficult to estimate the increase of wealth which will result from the conversion of these waste lands into farms but it is more difficult to estimate the betterment which will result to the families that have found renewed hope and courage in the ownership of a home and the assurance of a comfortable subsistence under free and healthful conditions it is also gratifying to be able to feel as we may that this work has proceeded upon lines of justice toward the indian and that he may now if he will secure to himself the good influences of a settled habitation the fruits of industry and the security of citizenship early in this administration a special effort was begun to bring up the work of the general land office by faithful work the arrearages have been rapidly reduced at the end of the last fiscal year only final agricultural entries remained undisposed of and the commissioner reports that with the present force the work can be fully brought up by the end of the next fiscal year your attention is called to the difficulty presented by the secretary of the interior as to the administration of the law of march 3 1891 establishing a court of private land claims the small holdings intended to be protected by the law are estimated to be more than in number the claimants are a most deserving class and their titles are supported by the strongest equities the difficulty grows out of the fact that the lands have largely been surveyed according to our methods while the holdings many of which have been in the same family for generations are laid out in narrow strips a few rods wide upon a stream and running back to the hills for pasturage and timber provision should be made for numbering these tracts as lots and for patenting them by such numbers and without reference to section lines the administration of the pension bureau has been characterized during the year by great diligence the total number of pensioners upon the roll on the 30th day of june 1891 was there were allowed during the fiscal year ending at that time cases of this number were allowed under the law of june 27 1890 the issuing of certificates has been proceeding at the rate of about per month about 75 per cent of these being cases under the new law the commissioner expresses the opinion that he will be able to carefully adjudicate and allow claims during the present fiscal year the appropriation for the payment of pensions for the fiscal year was and the amount expended leaving an unexpended surplus of the commissioner is quite confident that there will be no call this year for a deficiency appropriation notwithstanding the rapidity with which the work is being pushed the mistake which has been made by many in their exaggerated estimates of the cost of pensions is in not taking account of the diminished value of first payments under the recent legislation these payments under the general law have been for many years very large as the pensions when allowed dated from the time of filing the claim and most of these claims had been pending for years the first payments under the law of june 1890 are relatively small and as the per cent of these cases increases and that of the old cases diminishes the annual aggregate of first payments is largely reduced the commissioner under date of november 13 furnishes me with the statement that during the last four months certificates were issued under the general law and under the act of june 27 1890 the average first payment during these four months was while the average first payment upon cases allowed during the year ending june 30 1891 was being a reduction in the average first payments during these four months of the estimate for pension expenditures for the fiscal year ending june 30 1893 is which after a careful examination of the subject the commissioner is of the opinion will be sufficient while these disbursements to the disabled soldiers of the great civil war are large they do not realize the exaggerated estimates of those who oppose this beneficent legislation the secretary of the interior shows with great fullness the care that is taken to exclude fraudulent claims and also the gratifying fact that the persons to whom these pensions are going are men who rendered not slight but substantial war service the report of the commissioner of railroads shows that the total debt of the subsidized railroads to the united states was on december 31 1890 a large part of this debt is now fast approaching maturity with no adequate provision for its payment some policy for dealing with this debt with a view to its ultimate collection should be at once adopted it is very difficult impossible for so large a body as the congress to conduct the necessary negotiations and investigations i therefore recommend that provision be made for the appointment of a commission to agree upon and report a plan for dealing with this debt the work of the census bureau is now far in advance and the great bulk of the enormous labor involved completed it will be more strictly a statistical exhibit and less encumbered by essays than its immediate predecessors the methods pursued have been fair careful and intelligent and have secured the approval of the statisticians who have followed them with a scientific and nonpartisan interest the appropriations necessary to the early completion and publication of the authorized volumes should be given in time to secure against delays which increase the cost and at the same time diminish the value of the work the report of the secretary exhibits with interesting fullness the condition of the territories they have shared with the states the great increase in farm products and are bringing yearly large areas into cultivation by extending their irrigating canals this work is being done by individuals or local corporations and without that system which a full preliminary survey of the water supply and of the irrigable lands would enable them to adopt the future of the territories of new mexico arizona and utah in their material growth and in the increase independence and happiness of their people is very largely dependent upon wise and timely legislation either by congress or their own legislatures regulating the distribution of the water supply furnished by their streams if this matter is much longer neglected private corporations will have unrestricted control of one of the elements of life and the patentees of the arid lands will be tenants at will of the water companies the united states should part with its ownership of the water sources and the sites for reservoirs whether to the states and territories or to individuals or corporations only upon conditions that will insure to the settlers their proper water supply upon equal and reasonable terms in the territories this whole subject is under the full control of congress and in the states it is practically so as long as the government holds the title to the reservoir sites and water sources and can grant them upon such conditions as it chooses to impose the improvident granting of franchises of enormous value without recompense to the state or municipality from which they proceed and without proper protection of the public interests is the most noticeable and flagrant evil of modern legislation this fault should not be committed in dealing with a subject that will before many years affect so vitally thousands of our people the legislation of congress for the repression of polygamy has after years of resistance on the part of the mormons at last brought them to the conclusion that resistance is unprofitable and unavailing the power of congress over this subject should not be surrendered until we have satisfactory evidence that the people of the state to be created would exercise the exclusive power of the state over this subject in the same way the question is not whether these people now obey the laws of congress against polygamy but rather would they make enforce and maintain such laws themselves if absolutely free to regulate the subject we can not afford to experiment with this subject for when a state is once constituted the act is final and any mistake irretrievable no compact in the enabling act could in my opinion be binding or effective i recommend that provision be made for the organization of a simple form of town government in alaska with power to regulate such matters as are usually in the states under municipal control these local civil organizations will give better protection in some matters than the present skeleton territorial organization proper restrictions as to the power to levy taxes and to create debt should be imposed if the establishment of the department of agriculture was regarded by anyone as a mere concession to the unenlightened demand of a worthy class of people that impression has been most effectually removed by the great results already attained its home influence has been very great in disseminating agricultural and horticultural information in stimulating and directing a further diversification of crops in detecting and eradicating diseases of domestic animals and more than all in the close and informal contact which it has established and maintains with the farmers and stock raisers of the whole country every request for information has had prompt attention and every suggestion merited consideration the scientific corps of the department is of a high order and is pushing its investigations with method and enthusiasm the inspection by this department of cattle and pork products intended for shipment abroad has been the basis of the success which has attended our efforts to secure the removal of the restrictions maintained by the european governments for ten years protests and petitions upon this subject from the packers and stock raisers of the united states have been directed against these restrictions which so seriously limited our markets and curtailed the profits of the farm it is a source of general congratulation that success has at last been attained for the effects of an enlarged foreign market for these meats will be felt not only by the farmer but in our public finances and in every branch of trade it is particularly fortunate that the increased demand for food products resulting from the removal of the restrictions upon our meats and from the reciprocal trade arrangements to which i have referred should have come at a time when the agricultural surplus is so large without the help thus derived lower prices would have prevailed the secretary of agriculture estimates that the restrictions upon the importation of our pork products into europe lost us a market for worth of these products annually the grain crop of this year was the largest in our history 50 per cent greater than that of last year and yet the new markets that have been opened and the larger demand resulting from short crops in europe have sustained prices to such an extent that the enormous surplus of meats and breadstuffs will be marketed at good prices bringing relief and prosperity to an industry that was much depressed the value of the grain crop of the united states is estimated by the secretary to be this year more than last of meats more and of all products of the farm more it is not inappropriate i think here to suggest that our satisfaction in the contemplation of this marvelous addition to the national wealth is unclouded by any suspicion of the currency by which it is measured and in which the farmer is paid for the products of his fields the report of the civil service commission should receive the careful attention of the opponents as well as the friends of this reform the commission invites a personal inspection by senators and representatives of its records and methods and every fair critic will feel that such an examination should precede a judgment of condemnation either of the system or its administration it is not claimed that either is perfect but i believe that the law is being executed with impartiality and that the system is incomparably better and fairer than that of appointments upon favor i have during the year extended the classified service to include superintendents teachers matrons and physicians in the indian service this branch of the service is largely related to educational and philanthropic work and will obviously be the better for the change the heads of the several executive departments have been directed to establish at once an efficiency record as the basis of a comparative rating of the clerks within the classified service with a view to placing promotions therein upon the basis of merit i am confident that such a record fairly kept and open to the inspection of those interested will powerfully stimulate the work of the departments and will be accepted by all as placing the troublesome matter of promotions upon a just basis i recommend that the appropriation for the civil service commission be made adequate to the increased work of the next fiscal year i have twice before urgently called the attention of congress to the necessity of legislation for the protection of the lives of railroad employees but nothing has yet been done during the year ending june 30 1890 369 brakemen were killed and maimed while engaged in coupling cars the total number of railroad employees killed during the year was and the number injured this is a cruel and largely needless sacrifice the government is spending nearly annually to save the lives of shipwrecked seamen every steam vessel is rigidly inspected and required to adopt the most approved safety appliances all this is good but how shall we excuse the lack of interest and effort in behalf of this army of brave young men who in our land commerce are being sacrificed every year by the continued use of antiquated and dangerous appliances a law requiring of every railroad engaged in interstate commerce the equipment each year of a given per cent of its freight cars with automatic couplers and air brakes would compel an agreement between the roads as to the kind of brakes and couplers to be used and would very soon and very greatly reduce the present fearful death rate among railroad employees the method of appointment by the states of electors of president and has recently attracted renewed interest by reason of a departure by the state of michigan from the method which had become uniform in all the states prior to 1832 various methods had been used by the different states and even by the same state in some the choice was made by the legislature in others electors were chosen by districts but more generally by the voters of the whole state upon a general ticket the movement toward the adoption of the method had an early beginning and went steadily forward among the states until in 1832 there remained but a single state south carolina that had not adopted it that state until the civil war continued to choose its electors by a vote of the legislature but after the war changed its method and conformed to the practice of the other states for nearly sixty years all the states save one have appointed their electors by a popular vote upon a general ticket and for nearly thirty years this method was universal after a full test of other methods without important division or dissent in any state and without any purpose of party advantage as we must believe but solely upon the considerations that uniformity was desirable and that a general election in territorial divisions not subject to change was most consistent with the popular character of our institutions best preserved the equality of the voters and perfectly removed the choice of president from the baneful influence of the gerrymander the practice of all the states was brought into harmony that this concurrence should now be broken is i think an unfortunate and even a threatening episode and one that may well suggest whether the states that still give their approval to the old and prevailing method ought not to secure by a constitutional amendment a practice which has had the approval of all the recent michigan legislation provides for choosing what are popularly known as the congressional electors for president by congressional districts and the two senatorial electors by districts created for that purpose this legislation was of course accompanied by a new congressional apportionment and the two statutes bring the electoral vote of the state under the influence of the gerrymander these gerrymanders for congressional purposes are in most cases buttressed by a gerrymander of the legislative districts thus making it impossible for a majority of the legal voters of the state to correct the apportionment and equalize the congressional districts a minority rule is established that only a political convulsion can overthrow i have recently been advised that in one county of a certain state three districts for the election of members of the legislature are constituted as follows one has population one and one while in another county detached noncontiguous sections have been united to make a legislative district these methods have already found effective application to the choice of senators and representatives in congress and now an evil start has been made in the direction of applying them to the choice by the states of electors of president and if this is accomplished we shall then have the three great departments of the government in the grasp of the gerrymander the legislative and executive directly and the judiciary indirectly through the power of appointment an election implies a body of electors having prescribed qualifications each one of whom has an equal value and influence in determining the result so when the constitution provides that each state shall appoint elect in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct a number of electors an unrestricted power was not given to the legislatures in the selection of the methods to be used a republican form of government is guaranteed by the constitution to each state and the power given by the same instrument to the legislatures of the states to prescribe methods for the choice by the state of electors must be exercised under that limitation the essential features of such a government are the right of the people to choose their own officers and the nearest practicable equality of value in the suffrages given in determining that choice it will not be claimed that the power given to the legislature would support a law providing that the persons receiving the smallest vote should be the electors or a law that all the electors should be chosen by the voters of a single congressional district the state is to choose and finder the pretense of regulating methods the legislature can neither vest the right of choice elsewhere nor adopt methods not conformable to republican institutions it is not my purpose here to discuss the question whether a choice by the legislature or by the voters of equal single districts is a choice by the state but only to recommend such regulation of this matter by constitutional amendment as will secure uniformity and prevent that disgraceful partisan jugglery to which such a liberty of choice if it exists offers a temptation nothing just now is more important than to provide every guaranty for the absolutely fair and free choice by an equal suffrage within the respective states of all the officers of the national government whether that suffrage is applied directly as in the choice of members of the house of representatives or indirectly as in the choice of senators and electors of president respect for public officers and obedience to law will not cease to be the characteristics of our people until our elections cease to declare the will of majorities fairly ascertained without fraud suppression or gerrymander if i were called upon to declare wherein our chief national danger lies i should say without hesitation in the overthrow of majority control by the suppression or perversion of the popular suffrage that there is a real danger here all must agree but the energies of those who see it have been chiefly expended in trying to fix responsibility upon the opposite party rather than in efforts to make such practices impossible by either party is it not possible now to adjourn that interminable and inconclusive debate while we take by consent one step in the direction of reform by eliminating the gerrymander which has been denounced by all parties as an influence in the selection of electors of president and members of congress all the states have acting freely and separately determined that the choice of electors by a general ticket is the wisest and safest method and it would seem there could be no objection to a constitutional amendment making that method permanent if a legislature chosen in one year upon purely local questions should pending a presidential contest meet rescind the law for a choice upon a general ticket and provide for the choice of electors by the legislature and this trick should determine the result it is not too much to say that the public peace might be seriously and widely endangered i have alluded to the gerrymander as affecting the method of selecting electors of president by congressional districts but the primary intent and effect of this form of political robbery have relation to the selection of members of the house of representatives the power of congress is ample to deal with this threatening and intolerable abuse the unfailing test of sincerity in election reform will be found in a willingness to confer as to remedies and to put into force such measures as will most effectually preserve the right of the people to free and equal representation an attempt was made in the last congress to bring to bear the constitutional powers of the general government for the correction of fraud against the suffrage it is important to know whether the opposition to such measures is really rested in particular features supposed to be objectionable or includes any proposition to give to the election laws of the united states adequacy to the correction of grave and acknowledged evils i must yet entertain the hope that it is possible to secure a calm patriotic consideration of such constitutional or statutory changes as may be necessary to secure the choice of the officers of the government to the people by fair apportionments and free elections i believe it would be possible to constitute a commission nonpartisan in its membership and composed of patriotic wise and impartial men to whom a consideration of the question of the evils connected with our election system and methods might be committed with a good prospect of securing unanimity in some plan for removing or mitigating those evils the constitution would permit the selection of the commission to be vested in the supreme court if that method would give the best guaranty of impartiality this commission should be charged with the duty of inquiring into the whole subject of the law of elections as related to the choice of officers of the national government with a view to securing to every elector a free and unmolested exercise of the suffrage and as near an approach to an equality of value in each ballot cast as is attainable while the policies of the general government upon the tariff upon the restoration of our merchant marine upon river and harbor improvements and other such matters of grave and general concern are liable to be turned this way or that by the results of congressional elections and administrative policies sometimes involving issues that tend to peace or war to be turned this way or that by the results of a presidential election there is a rightful interest in all the states and in every congressional district that will not be deceived or silenced by the audacious pretense that the question of the right of any body of legal voters in any state or in any congressional district to give their suffrages freely upon these general questions is a matter only of local concern or control the demand that the limitations of suffrage shall be found in the law and only there is a just demand and no just man should resent or resist it my appeal is and must continue to be for a consultation that shall proceed with candor calmness and patience upon the lines of justice and humanity not of prejudice and cruelty to the consideration of these very grave questions i invite not only the attention of congress but that of all patriotic citizens we must not entertain the delusion that our people have ceased to regard a free ballot and equal representation as the price of their allegiance to laws and to civil magistrates i have been greatly rejoiced to notice many evidences of the increased unification of our people and of a revived national spirit the vista that now opens to us is wider and more glorious than ever before gratification and amazement struggle for supremacy as we contemplate the population wealth and moral strength of our country a trust momentous in its influence upon our people and upon the world is for a brief time committed to us and we must not be faithless to its first condition the defense of the free and equal influence of the people in the choice of public officers and in the control of public affairs
reports heads several executive departments required law submitted herewith transmitted reports secretary treasury made directly congress furnish comprehensive view administrative work last fiscal year relating internal affair would great advantage reports could alternative perusal every member congress take interest public affairs perusal could fail excite higher appreciation vast labor conscientious effort given conduct civil administration reports believe show every question approached considered decided standpoint public duty upon considerations affecting public interests alone invite every branch service attention scrutiny congress work state department last year characterized unusual number important negotiations diplomatic results notable highly beneficial character among reciprocal trade arrangements concluded exercise powers conferred section 3 tariff law republic brazil spain west india possessions santo domingo like negotiations countries much advanced hoped close year definitive trade arrangements great value concluded view reports received diminution seal herds bering sea deemed wise propose majesty government february last agreement closed season made pending negotiations arbitration seemed approaching favorable conclusion much correspondence delays government responsible agreement reached signed 15th june great britain undertook date may 1 1892 prohibit killing subjects seals bering sea government united states period enforce existing prohibition pelagic sealing limit catch company upon islands skins agreement could reached earlier response strenuous endeavors government would effective coming even late unquestionably resulted greatly diminishing destruction seals canadian sealers last annual message stated basis arbitration proposed majesty government adjustment controversy seal fisheries acceptable glad able announce terms satisfactory government agreed upon agreement arbitrators necessary completion convention view advanced position government taken upon subject international arbitration renewed expression adherence method settlement disputes arisen bering sea doubt meet concurrence congress provision made joint demarcation frontier line canada united states wherever required increasing border settlements especially exact location water boundary straits rivers glad announce favorable disposition boundary dispute great britain venezuela touching western frontier british guiana friendly efforts united states direction thus far unavailing government continue express concern appearance foreign encroachment territories long administrative control american states determination disputed boundary easily attainable amicable arbitration rights respective parties rest historic facts readily ascertainable law last congress providing system inspection meats intended export clothing president power exclude foreign products market case country sending perpetuate unjust discriminations product united states placed government position effectively urge removal discriminations meats gratifying able state germany denmark italy austria france order named opened ports inspected american pork products removal restrictions every instance asked given solely upon ground provided meat inspection accepted adequate complete removal dangers real fancied previously urged state department ministers abroad secretary agriculture cooperated unflagging intelligent zeal accomplishment great result outlines agreement reached germany looking equitable trade concessions consideration continued free importation sugars time yet arrived correspondence submitted congress recent political disturbances republic brazil excited regret solicitude information possessed meager enable us form satisfactory judgment causes leading temporary assumption supreme power president fonseca government fail express anxious solicitude peace brazil maintenance free political institutions recently established offer advice great moderation observed clash parties contest leadership counsels received friendly spirit latest information constitutional government reestablished without bloodshed lynching new orleans march last eleven men italian nativity mob citizens deplorable discreditable incident however origin general animosity italian people disrespect government italy relations friendly character fury mob directed men supposed participants accessories murder city officer allude mitigating degree offense law humanity affecting international questions grew represented italian minister several whose lives taken mob italian subjects demand made punishment participants indemnity families killed regretted manner claims presented promote calm discussion questions involved may well attributed excitement indignation crime naturally evoked views government obligations foreigners domiciled fully stated correspondence well purpose make investigation affair view determine whether present circumstances could rules duty indicated create obligation upon united states temporary absence minister plenipotentiary italy capital retarded correspondence doubted friendly conclusion attainable suggestions growing unhappy incident worthy attention congress would believe entirely competent congress make offenses treaty rights foreigners domiciled united states cognizable federal courts however done federal officers courts power cases intervene either protection foreign citizen punishment slayers seems follow state law officers state charged police judicial powers cases must consideration international questions growing incidents regarded sense federal agents make government answerable acts cases would answerable united states used constitutional power define punish crime treaty rights civil war chile began january last continued fortunately infrequent important armed collisions august 28 congressional forces landed near valparaiso bloody engagement captured city president balmaceda recognized lost provisional government speedily established victorious party minister promptly directed recognize put communication government soon established de facto character done pendency civil contest frequent indirect appeals made government extend belligerent rights insurgents give audience representatives declined policy pursued throughout government wrenched civil war strenuously insisted upon part european nations itata armed vessel commanded naval officer insurgent fleet manned sailors soldiers board seized process united states court san diego violation neutrality laws custody officer court vessel forcibly wrested control put sea would inconsistent dignity government insisted itala returned san diego abide judgment court clear junta congressional party established iquique arrival itata port secretary foreign relations provisional government addressed brown commanding united states naval forces communication following extract provisional government learned cablegrams associated press transport itata detained san diego order united states taking board munitions war possession marshal left port carrying board official landed point near coast continued voyage news correct government would deplore conduct itata evidence disposed support agree infraction laws united states undersigned takes advantage personal relations good enough maintain since arrival port declare soon within reach orders government put itata arms munitions took board sail diego disposition united states trial district court united states southern district california recently resulted decision holding among things inasmuch congressional party recognized belligerent acts done interest could violation neutrality laws judgment united states appealed condemnation vessel matter importance may know present state law construction statute correct obvious necessity revision amendment progress war chile government tendered good offices bring peaceful adjustment one time hoped good result might reached disappointed instructions naval officers minister santiago first last struggle enjoined upon impartial treatment absolute noninterference satisfied instructions observed representatives always watchful use influence impartially interest humanity one occasion effectively could forget however government diplomatic relations established government chile relations successor government quite sure president montt circumstances promise peace chile installed president republic desire unfortunate event revolt authority policy government recently observed official complaint conduct minister naval officers struggle presented government matter regret many people given ear unofficial charges complaints manifestly origin rival interests wish pervert relations united states chile collapse government balmaceda brought condition unfortunately familiar history central south american states overthrow balmaceda government many councilors officers became fugitives lives appealed commanding officers foreign naval vessels harbor valparaiso resident foreign ministers santiago asylum asylum freely given according information naval vessels several foreign powers several legations santiago american minister well colleagues acting upon impulse humanity extended asylum political refugees whose lives peril willing direct surrender persons still american legation without suitable conditions believed government chile position view precedents connected broadly deny right asylum correspondence thus far presented denial treatment minister time call decided protest gratifying observe unfriendly measures undoubtedly result prevailing excitement rescinded suitably relaxed 16th october event occurred valparaiso serious tragic circumstances results justly excite indignation people call prompt decided action part government considerable number sailors united states steamship baltimore harbor valparaiso upon shore leave unarmed assaulted armed men nearly simultaneously different localities city one petty officer killed outright seven eight seamen seriously wounded one since died savage brutal assault several sailors received two one many eighteen stab wounds investigation affair promptly made board officers baltimore report shows assaults unprovoked men conducting peaceable orderly manner police city took part assault used weapons fatal effect others citizens endeavored protect men sailors arrested taken prison cruelly beaten maltreated fact discharged criminal charge lodged one shows clearly innocent breach peace far yet able learn explanation bloody work suggested origin hostility men sailors united states wearing uniform government individual act personal animosity attention chilean government called affair statement facts obtained investigation conducted submitted accompanied request advised qualifying facts possession chilean government might tend relieve affair appearance insult government chilean government also advised qualifying facts exist government would confidently expect full prompt reparation regretted reply secretary foreign affairs provisional government couched offensive tone response made government awaiting result investigation conducted criminal court valparaiso reported unofficially investigation completed expected result soon communicated government together adequate satisfactory response note attention chile called incident expectations disappointed needless delay intervene special message bring matter attention congress action may necessary entire correspondence government chile early day submitted congress renew recommendation special message dated january 16 1890 adoption necessary legislation enable government apply case sweden norway rule respect levying tonnage dues claimed secured shipping united states 1828 article viii treaty 1827 adjournment senate without action pending acts suppression slave traffic africa reform revenue tariff independent state kongo left government unable exchange acts date fixed july 2 1891 modus vivendi concluded power kongo state levy duties imports left unimpaired agreement signatories general act time exchange ratifications part united states extended february 2 1892 late outbreak foreigners various parts chinese empire deep concern view numerous establishments citizens interior country government less insist upon continuance protective punitory measures chinese government heretofore applied effort omitted protect citizens peaceably sojourning china recent unofficial information indicates first regarded outbreak mob violence foreigners assumed larger form insurrection public order chinese government declined receive blair minister united states ground participant senator enactment existing legislation introduction chinese laborers become unfriendly objectionable china felt constrained point chinese government untenableness position seems rest much unacceptability legislation person chosen admitted would practically debar selection representative long existing laws remain force called upon consider expediency making special provision law temporary admission chinese artisans laborers connection exhibit chinese industries approaching columbian exposition regard desirable chinese exhibit facilitated every proper way question arisen government spain touching rights american citizens caroline islands citizens long prior confirmation spain claim islands secured settlement purchase certain rights recognition maintenance faith spain pledged reason within past year strongly protest failure carry pledge part majesty ministers resulted great injustice injury american residents government people spain propose celebrate four hundredth anniversary discovery america holding exposition madrid open 12th september continue 31st december 1892 cordial invitation extended united states take part commemoration spain one first nations express intention participate world columbian exposition chicago would appropriate government give invitation friendly promotion surveys connecting links projected intercontinental railway progress mexico various points along course mapped three surveying parties field direction commission nearly miles proposed road surveyed including difficult part ecuador southern part colombia reports engineers satisfactory show insurmountable obstacles met november 12 1884 treaty concluded mexico reaffirming boundary two countries described treaties february 2 1848 december 30 1853 march 1 1889 treaty negotiated facilitate carrying principles treaty 1884 avoid difficulties occasioned reason changes alterations take place natural causes rio grande colorado rivers portions thereof constituting boundary line two republics international boundary commission provided treaty 1889 exclusive jurisdiction question may arise named mexican government appropriation necessary enable united states fulfill treaty obligations respect death king kalakaua united states afforded occasion testify friendship hawaii conveying king body land naval vessel due honors government successor queen liliuokolani seeking promote closer commercial relations united states surveys submarine cable pacific coast honolulu progress enterprise suitable promotion two governments strongly recommend provision made improving harbor pearl river equipping naval station arbitration treaty formulated international american conference lapsed reason failure exchange ratifications fully within limit time provided several governments concerned expressed desire save important result conference extension period judgment incumbent upon united states conserve influential initiative taken measure ratifying instrument advocating proposed extension time exchange views made known signatories government found occasion express friendly spirit much earnestness government czar serious concern harsh measures enforced hebrews russia revival antisemitic laws long abeyance great numbers unfortunate people constrained abandon homes leave empire reason impossibility finding subsistence within pale sought confine immigration people united states many countries closed largely increasing likely assume proportions may make difficult find homes employment seriously affect labor market estimated forced russia within years hebrew never beggar always kept law life toil often severe oppressive civil restrictions also true race sect class fully cared hebrew race sudden transfer multitude conditions tend strip small accumulations depress energies courage neither good us banishment whether direct decree less certain indirect methods large number men women local question decree leave one country nature things order enter another consideration well suggestion humanity furnishes ample ground remonstrances presented russia historic friendship government fail give assurance representations sincere wellwisher annual report maritime canal company nicaragua shows much costly necessary preparatory work done year construction shops railroad tracks harbor piers breakwaters work canal construction made progress deem matter highest concern united states canal connecting waters atlantic pacific oceans giving us short water communication ports upon two great seas speedily constructed smallest practicable limit cost gain freights people direct saving government united states use naval vessels would pay entire cost work within short series years report secretary navy shows saving naval expenditures would result senator alabama morgan argument upon subject senate last session overestimate importance work said canal important subject connected commercial growth progress united states work promoted usual financial methods without aid government expenditures securities stock probably twice actual cost necessitate higher tolls constitute heavy altogether needless burden upon commerce world every dollar bonds stock company represent dollar expended legitimate economical prosecution work possible giving bonds guaranty united states government guaranty would secure ready sale par 3 per cent bond time time money needed doubt built upon business methods canal would fully inaugurated earn fixed charges operating expenses bonds marketed heavy discounts every bond sold accompanied gift stock come expected investors enterprises traffic seriously burdened pay interest dividends quite willing recommend government promotion prosecution work means offered securing completion transcendent interest government opinion secure direct appropriations treasury guaranty bonds canal company amount necessary completion canal could think given involve serious risk ultimate loss things carefully guarded completion work within limits guaranty subrogation united states rights bondholders amounts may pay meantime control stock company security mismanagement loss sincerely hope neither party sectional lines drawn upon great american project full interest people states influential effects upon prestige prosperity common country island navassa west indian group provisions title vii revised statutes recognized president appertaining united states contains guano deposits owned navassa phosphate company occupied solely employees september 1889 revolt took place among laborers resulting killing agents company caused laborers claimed cruel treatment men arrested tried united states court baltimore section 5576 statute referred offenses committed board merchant vessel united states high seas appeared trial otherwise came evidences bad treatment men consideration fact men access public officer tribunal protection redress wrongs commuted death sentences passed court upon three april last attention called island unregulated condition things letter colored laborer complained wrongfully detained upon island phosphate company expiration contract service naval vessel sent examine case man generally condition things island found laborer referred detained beyond contract limit condition revolt existed among laborers board naval officers reported among things follows would desire state discipline maintained island seems convict establishment without comforts cleanliness attention paid shipping laborers placing government supervision prevent misunderstanding misrepresentation amelioration shown treatment laborers disorders constant occurrence recommend legislation shall place labor contracts upon islands relation navassa united states supervision court commissioner shall provide expense owners officer reside upon island power judge adjust disputes enforce humane treatment employees inexcusable american laborers left within jurisdiction without access government officer tribunal protection redress wrongs international copyright secured accordance conditions act march 3 1891 belgium france great britain british possessions switzerland laws countries permitting citizens benefit copyright substantially basis citizens subjects germany special convention negotiated upon subject bring country within reciprocal benefits legislation general interest operations treasury department much augmented last year reason conflicting predictions accompanied followed tariff legislation last congress affecting revenues results legislation upon treasury upon country one hand contended imports would fall leave treasury bankrupt prices articles entering living people would enhanced disastrously affect comfort happiness argued loss revenue largely result placing sugar free list would direct gain people prices necessaries life including highly protected would enhanced labor would larger market products farm advanced prices treasury surplus receipts would adequate meet appropriations including large exceptional expenditures refunding states direct tax redemption 4 per cent bonds purpose enter length discussion effects legislation referred brief examination statistics treasury general glance state business throughout country think satisfy impartial inquirer results disappointed evil prophecies opponents large measure realized hopeful predictions friends rarely ever history country time proceeds one day labor product one farmed acre would purchase large amount things enter living masses people believe full test develop fact tariff act congress favorable average effect upon prices articles entering common use twelve months october 1 1890 september 30 1891 total value foreign commerce imports exports combined largest year history united states largest previous year 1890 commerce amounted last year exceeds enormous aggregate one hundred millions interesting surprising know year ending september 30 1891 imports merchandise amounted increase value imports corresponding months preceding year imports merchandise unusually large anticipation tariff legislation pending average annual value imports merchandise ten years 1881 1890 year ending september 30 1891 annual average exceeded value free imports twelve months ending september 30 1891 value free imports corresponding twelve months preceding year period decrease value imports dutiable merchandise percentage merchandise admitted free duty year referred first new tariff preceding twelve months old tariff percentage increase per cent take six months ending september 30 last covers time sugars admitted free duty per cent value merchandise imported free duty found larger percentage free imports prior fiscal year history government turn exports merchandise statistics full gratification value exports merchandise twelve months ending september 30 1891 corresponding previous twelve months increase nearly three times average annual increase exports merchandise preceding twenty years exceeds amount value exports merchandise year history government increase value exports agricultural products year referred corresponding twelve months prior year increase value exports manufactured products certainly nothing condition trade foreign domestic certainly nothing condition people class suggest existing tariff revenue legislation bears oppressively upon people retards commercial development nation may argued condition would better tariff legislation upon basis denied conditions prosperity general contentment present larger degree ever history prophesied would worst state agitation radical changes tariff financial legislation help may seriously impede business prosperity degree stability legislation essential think conclusive evidences new tariff created several great industries within years give employment several hundred thousand american working men women view somewhat overcrowded condition labor market united states every patriotic citizen rejoice result report secretary treasury shows total receipts government sources fiscal year ending june 30 1891 expenditures period leaving surplus receipts fiscal year ending june 30 1892 actual estimated expenditures fiscal year ending june 30 1893 estimated receipts expenditures law july 14 1890 secretary treasury purchased since august 13 fiscal year ounces silver bullion average cost per ounce highest price paid year lowest exchange silver bullion issued treasury notes authorized act lowest price silver reached fiscal year april 22 1891 november 1 market price would give silver dollar bullion value 74 cents influence prospective silver legislation felt market silver worth new york per ounce ablest advocates free coinage last congress confident predictions purchases government required law would bring price silver per ounce would make bullion value dollar 100 cents hold prophecies antisilver men disasters result coinage per month wider mark friends free silver agreed think causes brought hopeful predictions naught facts known exports silver london india first nine months calendar year fell 50 per cent compared months preceding year exports domestic silver bullion country averaged last ten years fell last fiscal year first time recent years imports silver country exceeded exports sum previous year net exports silver united states amounted production united states increased ounces 1889 1890 government buying putting aside annually ounces allowing ounces new bullion used arts domestic products available coinage hope depression price silver temporary trial legislation favorably affect increased volume currency thus supplied use people needed beneficial results upon trade prices followed legislation think must clear everyone forgotten every dollar notes issued full dollar worth silver bullion time deposited treasury security redemption upon subject upon tariff recommendation existing laws given full trial business interests spared distressing influence threats radical changes always impart existing legislation power treasury department maintain essential condition national finance well commercial prosperity parity use coined dollars paper representatives assurance powers would freely unhesitatingly used done much produce sustain present favorable business conditions still opinion free coinage silver existing conditions would disastrously affect business interests home abroad could hope maintain equality purchasing power gold silver dollar markets foreign trade stamp gives added value bullion contained coins producers country farmers laborers highest interest every dollar paper coin issued government shall good one less valuable another sure constant errand pay toil crops money lender protect stipulating payment gold laborer never able place business upon silver basis would mean sudden severe contraction currency withdrawal gold gold notes unsettling values would produce commercial panic believe people strong prosperous promote policy producers silver entitled consideration forget government buying putting market equivalent entire product silver mines thought asking two years ago believe earnest desire great majority people mine full coin use shall made silver soon cooperation nations secured ratio fixed give circulation equally gold silver business world requires use metals see prospect gain much loss giving present system full use made gold large use silver one silver alone circulate event would fatal progress silver movement bimetallism desired end true friends silver careful overrun goal bring silver monometallism necessary attendants loss gold europe relief pressure larger currency endeavored use official unofficial agencies keep close observation state public sentiment europe upon question found justify proposing international conference however sure growing sentiment europe favor larger use silver know effectual way promoting sentiment accumulating gold scarcity gold european reserves persuasive argument use silver exports gold europe began february last continued close july aggregated net loss gold fiscal year nearly serious monetary disturbance resulted gratifying gave europe fresh evidence strength stability financial institutions movement crops outflow gold speedily stopped return set december 1 recovered gold lost port new york confidently believed winter spring aggregate steadily largely increased presence large cash surplus treasury many years subject much unfavorable criticism furnished argument desired place tariff upon purely revenue basis agreed withdrawal circulation large amount money embarrassment business country made necessary intervention department frequent intervals relieve threatened monetary panics surplus march 1 1889 policy applying surplus redemption securities united states thought preferable depositing without interest selected national banks redeemed since date last mentioned securities resulting reduction annual interest charge money deposited banks without interest gradually withdrawn used redemption bonds result policy silver legislation refunding 4 per cent bonds large increase money circulation date last named circulation per capita 1st day december 1891 increased per capita offer secretary treasury holders 4 per cent bonds extend time redemption option government interest 2 per cent accepted holders amount unextended bonds redeemed presentation report secretary war exhibits results intelligent progressive businesslike administration department much regarded one mere routine separation secretary proctor department reason appointment senator state vermont source great regret colleagues cabinet sure business department charge administration army affairs especially good work accomplished efforts secretary reduce percentage desertions removing causes promoted successful enable report last year lower percentage desertion reached history army resulting money saving considerable improvement morale enlisted men valuable incident reforms brought result work securing sites shore batteries harbor defense manufacture mortars guns high power equip made good progress year preliminary work tests plans long delayed start way guns completed enlarged shop complete equipment watervliet army soon abreast navy gun construction whatever unavoidable causes delay may arise none delayed insufficient appropriations shall greatly embarrassed proper distribution use naval vessels adequate shore defenses provided harbors concur recommendation secretary organization adopted infantry adoption smokeless powder modern rifle equal range precision rapidity fire best use hope longer delayed project enlisting indians organizing separate companies upon basis soldiers made subject careful study secretary received approval seven companies completely organized seven process organization results six months training realized highest anticipations men readily brought discipline acquire drill facility show great pride right discharge duty perfect loyalty officers declare would take action confidence discipline order cleanliness military posts wholesome elevating influence upon men enlisted upon tribes friendly feeling whites greater respect government certainly promoted great work done record pension division war department major ainsworth medical corps clerks entitled honorable mention taking work nearly cases behind closed last fiscal year without single case left though new cases increased 52 per cent number previous year reason pension legislation last congress concur recommendation right felony cases review supreme court limited would seem personal liberty would safe guaranty right review cases involving fine imprisonment limited circuit court appeals unless constitutional question way involved judges court private land claims provided act march 3 1891 appointed court organized possible give early relief communities long repressed development unsettled land titles establish possession right settlers whose lands rendered valueless adverse unfounded claims act july 9 1888 provided incorporation management reform school girls district columbia remained inoperative reason appropriation made construction maintenance need institution urgent many girls could saved depraved lives wholesome influences restraints school recommend necessary appropriation made site construction enforcement treasury department law prohibiting coming chinese united states effective seek land vessels entering ports result divert travel vessels entering ports british columbia whence passage united states obscure points along dominion boundary easy considerable number chinese laborers past year entered united states canada mexico officers treasury department department justice used every means command intercept immigration impossibility perfectly guarding extended frontier apparent dominion government collects head tax 50 every chinaman entering canada thus derives considerable revenue use ports reach position advantage evade exclusion laws seems satisfactory evidence business passing chinamen canada united states organized quite active department justice construed laws require return chinaman found unlawfully country china country came notwithstanding fact came way canada several district courts cases brought overruled view law decided persons must returned canada construction robs law effectiveness even decrees could executed men returned next day recross border appropriation made sending back china canadian officials refuse allow reenter canada without payment head tax recommend legislation remedy defects law previous messages called attention congress necessity extending jurisdiction united states courts make triable therein felony committed act violating law united states courts independence effectiveness constitution contemplates long felonious killing court officers jurors witnesses discharge duties reason acts cognizable state courts work done officers department even present inadequate legislation produced notable results interest law order also commissioners district columbia call attention defectiveness inadequacy laws relating crimes chastity district columbia stringent code upon subject provided congress utah matter surprise needs district long overlooked report gratifying results exhibited many betterments service suggested perusal report gives abundant evidence supervision direction postal system characterized intelligent conscientious desire improve service revenues department show increase deficiency year 1892 less estimate year 1893 shows surplus receipts expenditures ocean mail established upon steamers north german lloyd hamburg lines saving distribution shipboard two fourteen hours time delivery mail port entry often much delivery interior places thoroughly system initiated germany united states evidenced usefulness long installed upon great ocean steamships eight thousand miles new postal service established upon railroads car distribution substations great cities increased 12 per cent percentage errors distribution past year reduced appropriation given last congress purpose making experiments free delivery smaller cities towns results experiments satisfactory recommends concur recommendation system extended towns population discussion inadequate facilities extended present system rural communities suggestions view give communities fuller participation benefits postal service worthy careful consideration farmer receives mail neighboring town compelled send pay considerable rent box place wait turn window city resident mail brought door stated neighborhoods present system receiving mail money orders postal notes issued extension system communities especially desirable patrons offices possessed facilities offered populous communities transmission small sums money message preceding congress expressed views modified use telegraph connection postal service pursuance ocean mail law march 3 1891 careful study whole subject frequent conferences boards trade others advertisements issued 53 lines ocean mail service 10 great britain continent 27 south america 3 china japan 4 australia pacific islands 7 west indies 2 mexico course expected bids lines would received service upon would contracted intended furtherance act secure many new lines possible including list foreign lines occupied american ships hoped line england perhaps one continent would secured outlay required equip lines wholly new ships first class difficulty establishing new lines competition already established deterred bidders whose interest enlisted hoped way may yet found overcoming difficulties brazil steamship company reason miscalculation speed vessels able bid terms advertisement policy department secure established lines improved service condition giving benefits law instances attained estimates expenditure american shipyards necessary enable bidders construct ships called service accepted think reason discouragement turning back policy legislation indeed good beginning made subject considered understood capitalists shipping people new lines ready meet future proposals may date passage law revival american shipping interests recovery fair share carrying trade world receiving foreign postage nearly old system outlay ocean mail service exceed per annum estimated contracts proposed completed require year addition appropriation sea inland postage already estimates next fiscal year ending june 30 1893 would probably needed report secretary navy shows gratifying increase new naval vessels commission newark concord bennington miantonomoh added year aggregate something tons warships classes construction private shops work upon going forward satisfactorily completion important vessels yet require year time vessels construction believed triumphs naval engineering recollected work building modern navy initiated year 1883 naval constructors shipbuilders practically without experience construction large iron steel ships engine shops unfamiliar great marine engines manufacture steel forgings guns plates almost wholly foreign industry progress made highly satisfactory furnishes assurance united states long attain construction vessels engines armaments preeminence attained best instrument ocean commerce clipper ship impressive exhibit naval power old wooden officers navy proprietors engineers great private shops responded wonderful intelligence professional zeal confidence expressed congress liberal legislation washington gun shop organized conducted naval officers system economy product unexcelled experiments armor plate conducted year important results believed plate higher resisting power use found tests demonstrated cheaper methods manufacture heretofore thought necessary used commend favorable consideration recommendations secretary sure given conscientious study hesitation promptly completing navy best modern type large enough enable country display flag seas protection citizens extending commerce world needs assurance peaceful purposes united states shall probably future largely competitor commerce world essential dignity nation peaceful influence exercise hemisphere navy adequate upon shores atlantic pacific report secretary interior shows gratifying progress made bureaus make complex difficult department work bureau indian affairs perhaps never large reason numerous negotiations proceeding tribes reduction reservations incident labor making allotments never carefully conducted provision adequate school facilities indian children locating adult indians upon farms involve solution indian question everything else rations annuities tribal negotiations agents inspectors commissioners distribute conduct must pass away indian become citizen secure individual ownership farm derives subsistence labor protected subordinate laws govern white man provided general government local communities lives means educating children indian becomes citizen organized state territory relation general government ceases great measure ward general government ought put upon state territory burden education children thought government schools school buildings upon reservations would absorbed school systems states territories found necessary protect indian compulsory alienation land exempting taxation period years would seem right general government certainly tribal funds possession pay school fund state would equivalent local school tax upon property indian noticed report commissioner indian affairs already contracts made district schools education indian children great advantage think bringing indian children mixed schools process gradual meantime present educational provisions arrangements result best experience charged work continued enable religious bodies undertaken work indian education much zeal results restraining beneficent place institutions new useful relations indian white neighbors outbreak among sioux occurred december last causes incidents fully reported upon war department department interior indians complaints especially matter reduction appropriation rations delays attending enactment laws enable department perform engagements entered probably true sioux tribes naturally warlike turbulent warriors excited medicine men chiefs preached coming indian messiah give power destroy enemies view alarm prevailed among white settlers near reservation fatal consequences would resulted indian incursion placed disposal general miles commanding division missouri forces thought required entitled credit given thorough protection settlers bringing hostiles subjection least possible loss life appropriation choctaws chickasaws contained general indian appropriation bill march 3 1891 expended reason yet approved release government indian claim lands mentioned matter made subject special message placing congress facts come knowledge relation five civilized tribes occupying indian territory united states believe best calculated promote highest advancement indians within borders five independent states relations except growing treaties government united states representation national legislature people citizens startling anomaly seems inevitable shall long organic changes relation people united states form changes take think desirable suggest even well defined mind certainly involve acceptance citizenship indians representation congress indians opportunity present claims grievances upon floor rather lobby commission could appointed visit tribes confer friendly spirit upon whole subject even agreement presently reached feeling tribes upon question would developed discussion would prepare way changes must come sooner later good work reducing larger indian reservations allotments severalty indians cession remaining lands united states disposition homestead law prosecuted year energy success september last enabled open settlement territory oklahoma acres land taken settlers single day rush lands accompanied great deal excitement happily free incidents violence source great regret able open time surplus lands cheyenne arapahoe reservation amounting acres reason insufficiency appropriation making allotments deserving impatient settlers waiting occupy lands urgently recommend special deficiency appropriation promptly made small amount needed allotments may completed surplus lands opened time permit settlers get upon homesteads early spring past summer cherokee commission completed arrangements wichita kickapoo tonkawa tribes whereby agreements ratified congress additional acres opened settlement oklahoma negotiations release cherokees claim cherokee strip made substantial progress far department officially advised still hoped cession large valuable tract may secured price commission authorized offer per acre judgment circumstances title character lands considered fair adequate one accepted indians since march 4 1889 acres separated indian reservations added public domain use desired secure free homes beneficent laws difficult estimate increase wealth result conversion waste lands farms difficult estimate betterment result families found renewed hope courage ownership home assurance comfortable subsistence free healthful conditions also gratifying able feel may work proceeded upon lines justice toward indian may secure good influences settled habitation fruits industry security citizenship early administration special effort begun bring work general land office faithful work arrearages rapidly reduced end last fiscal year final agricultural entries remained undisposed commissioner reports present force work fully brought end next fiscal year attention called difficulty presented secretary interior administration law march 3 1891 establishing court private land claims small holdings intended protected law estimated number claimants deserving class titles supported strongest equities difficulty grows fact lands largely surveyed according methods holdings many family generations laid narrow strips rods wide upon stream running back hills pasturage timber provision made numbering tracts lots patenting numbers without reference section lines administration pension bureau characterized year great diligence total number pensioners upon roll 30th day june 1891 allowed fiscal year ending time cases number allowed law june 27 1890 issuing certificates proceeding rate per month 75 per cent cases new law commissioner expresses opinion able carefully adjudicate allow claims present fiscal year appropriation payment pensions fiscal year amount expended leaving unexpended surplus commissioner quite confident call year deficiency appropriation notwithstanding rapidity work pushed mistake made many exaggerated estimates cost pensions taking account diminished value first payments recent legislation payments general law many years large pensions allowed dated time filing claim claims pending years first payments law june 1890 relatively small per cent cases increases old cases diminishes annual aggregate first payments largely reduced commissioner date november 13 furnishes statement last four months certificates issued general law act june 27 1890 average first payment four months average first payment upon cases allowed year ending june 30 1891 reduction average first payments four months estimate pension expenditures fiscal year ending june 30 1893 careful examination subject commissioner opinion sufficient disbursements disabled soldiers great civil war large realize exaggerated estimates oppose beneficent legislation secretary interior shows great fullness care taken exclude fraudulent claims also gratifying fact persons pensions going men rendered slight substantial war service report commissioner railroads shows total debt subsidized railroads united states december 31 1890 large part debt fast approaching maturity adequate provision payment policy dealing debt view ultimate collection adopted difficult impossible large body congress conduct necessary negotiations investigations therefore recommend provision made appointment commission agree upon report plan dealing debt work census bureau far advance great bulk enormous labor involved completed strictly statistical exhibit less encumbered essays immediate predecessors methods pursued fair careful intelligent secured approval statisticians followed scientific nonpartisan interest appropriations necessary early completion publication authorized volumes given time secure delays increase cost time diminish value work report secretary exhibits interesting fullness condition territories shared states great increase farm products bringing yearly large areas cultivation extending irrigating canals work done individuals local corporations without system full preliminary survey water supply irrigable lands would enable adopt future territories new mexico arizona utah material growth increase independence happiness people largely dependent upon wise timely legislation either congress legislatures regulating distribution water supply furnished streams matter much longer neglected private corporations unrestricted control one elements life patentees arid lands tenants water companies united states part ownership water sources sites reservoirs whether states territories individuals corporations upon conditions insure settlers proper water supply upon equal reasonable terms territories whole subject full control congress states practically long government holds title reservoir sites water sources grant upon conditions chooses impose improvident granting franchises enormous value without recompense state municipality proceed without proper protection public interests noticeable flagrant evil modern legislation fault committed dealing subject many years affect vitally thousands people legislation congress repression polygamy years resistance part mormons last brought conclusion resistance unprofitable unavailing power congress subject surrendered satisfactory evidence people state created would exercise exclusive power state subject way question whether people obey laws congress polygamy rather would make enforce maintain laws absolutely free regulate subject afford experiment subject state constituted act final mistake irretrievable compact enabling act could opinion binding effective recommend provision made organization simple form town government alaska power regulate matters usually states municipal control local civil organizations give better protection matters present skeleton territorial organization proper restrictions power levy taxes create debt imposed establishment department agriculture regarded anyone mere concession unenlightened demand worthy class people impression effectually removed great results already attained home influence great disseminating agricultural horticultural information stimulating directing diversification crops detecting eradicating diseases domestic animals close informal contact established maintains farmers stock raisers whole country every request information prompt attention every suggestion merited consideration scientific corps department high order pushing investigations method enthusiasm inspection department cattle pork products intended shipment abroad basis success attended efforts secure removal restrictions maintained european governments ten years protests petitions upon subject packers stock raisers united states directed restrictions seriously limited markets curtailed profits farm source general congratulation success last attained effects enlarged foreign market meats felt farmer public finances every branch trade particularly fortunate increased demand food products resulting removal restrictions upon meats reciprocal trade arrangements referred come time agricultural surplus large without help thus derived lower prices would prevailed secretary agriculture estimates restrictions upon importation pork products europe lost us market worth products annually grain crop year largest history 50 per cent greater last year yet new markets opened larger demand resulting short crops europe sustained prices extent enormous surplus meats breadstuffs marketed good prices bringing relief prosperity industry much depressed value grain crop united states estimated secretary year last meats products farm inappropriate think suggest satisfaction contemplation marvelous addition national wealth unclouded suspicion currency measured farmer paid products fields report civil service commission receive careful attention opponents well friends reform commission invites personal inspection senators representatives records methods every fair critic feel examination precede judgment condemnation either system administration claimed either perfect believe law executed impartiality system incomparably better fairer appointments upon favor year extended classified service include superintendents teachers matrons physicians indian service branch service largely related educational philanthropic work obviously better change heads several executive departments directed establish efficiency record basis comparative rating clerks within classified service view placing promotions therein upon basis merit confident record fairly kept open inspection interested powerfully stimulate work departments accepted placing troublesome matter promotions upon basis recommend appropriation civil service commission made adequate increased work next fiscal year twice urgently called attention congress necessity legislation protection lives railroad employees nothing yet done year ending june 30 1890 369 brakemen killed maimed engaged coupling cars total number railroad employees killed year number injured cruel largely needless sacrifice government spending nearly annually save lives shipwrecked seamen every steam vessel rigidly inspected required adopt approved safety appliances good shall excuse lack interest effort behalf army brave young men land commerce sacrificed every year continued use antiquated dangerous appliances law requiring every railroad engaged interstate commerce equipment year given per cent freight cars automatic couplers air brakes would compel agreement roads kind brakes couplers used would soon greatly reduce present fearful death rate among railroad employees method appointment states electors president recently attracted renewed interest reason departure state michigan method become uniform states prior 1832 various methods used different states even state choice made legislature others electors chosen districts generally voters whole state upon general ticket movement toward adoption method early beginning went steadily forward among states 1832 remained single state south carolina adopted state civil war continued choose electors vote legislature war changed method conformed practice states nearly sixty years states save one appointed electors popular vote upon general ticket nearly thirty years method universal full test methods without important division dissent state without purpose party advantage must believe solely upon considerations uniformity desirable general election territorial divisions subject change consistent popular character institutions best preserved equality voters perfectly removed choice president baneful influence gerrymander practice states brought harmony concurrence broken think unfortunate even threatening episode one may well suggest whether states still give approval old prevailing method ought secure constitutional amendment practice approval recent michigan legislation provides choosing popularly known congressional electors president congressional districts two senatorial electors districts created purpose legislation course accompanied new congressional apportionment two statutes bring electoral vote state influence gerrymander gerrymanders congressional purposes cases buttressed gerrymander legislative districts thus making impossible majority legal voters state correct apportionment equalize congressional districts minority rule established political convulsion overthrow recently advised one county certain state three districts election members legislature constituted follows one population one one another county detached noncontiguous sections united make legislative district methods already found effective application choice senators representatives congress evil start made direction applying choice states electors president accomplished shall three great departments government grasp gerrymander legislative executive directly judiciary indirectly power appointment election implies body electors prescribed qualifications one equal value influence determining result constitution provides state shall appoint elect manner legislature thereof may direct number electors unrestricted power given legislatures selection methods used republican form government guaranteed constitution state power given instrument legislatures states prescribe methods choice state electors must exercised limitation essential features government right people choose officers nearest practicable equality value suffrages given determining choice claimed power given legislature would support law providing persons receiving smallest vote electors law electors chosen voters single congressional district state choose finder pretense regulating methods legislature neither vest right choice elsewhere adopt methods conformable republican institutions purpose discuss question whether choice legislature voters equal single districts choice state recommend regulation matter constitutional amendment secure uniformity prevent disgraceful partisan jugglery liberty choice exists offers temptation nothing important provide every guaranty absolutely fair free choice equal suffrage within respective states officers national government whether suffrage applied directly choice members house representatives indirectly choice senators electors president respect public officers obedience law cease characteristics people elections cease declare majorities fairly ascertained without fraud suppression gerrymander called upon declare wherein chief national danger lies say without hesitation overthrow majority control suppression perversion popular suffrage real danger must agree energies see chiefly expended trying fix responsibility upon opposite party rather efforts make practices impossible either party possible adjourn interminable inconclusive debate take consent one step direction reform eliminating gerrymander denounced parties influence selection electors president members congress states acting freely separately determined choice electors general ticket wisest safest method would seem could objection constitutional amendment making method permanent legislature chosen one year upon purely local questions pending presidential contest meet rescind law choice upon general ticket provide choice electors legislature trick determine result much say public peace might seriously widely endangered alluded gerrymander affecting method selecting electors president congressional districts primary intent effect form political robbery relation selection members house representatives power congress ample deal threatening intolerable abuse unfailing test sincerity election reform found willingness confer remedies put force measures effectually preserve right people free equal representation attempt made last congress bring bear constitutional powers general government correction fraud suffrage important know whether opposition measures really rested particular features supposed objectionable includes proposition give election laws united states adequacy correction grave acknowledged evils must yet entertain hope possible secure calm patriotic consideration constitutional statutory changes may necessary secure choice officers government people fair apportionments free elections believe would possible constitute commission nonpartisan membership composed patriotic wise impartial men consideration question evils connected election system methods might committed good prospect securing unanimity plan removing mitigating evils constitution would permit selection commission vested supreme court method would give best guaranty impartiality commission charged duty inquiring whole subject law elections related choice officers national government view securing every elector free unmolested exercise suffrage near approach equality value ballot cast attainable policies general government upon tariff upon restoration merchant marine upon river harbor improvements matters grave general concern liable turned way results congressional elections administrative policies sometimes involving issues tend peace war turned way results presidential election rightful interest states every congressional district deceived silenced audacious pretense question right body legal voters state congressional district give suffrages freely upon general questions matter local concern control demand limitations suffrage shall found law demand man resent resist appeal must continue consultation shall proceed candor calmness patience upon lines justice humanity prejudice cruelty consideration grave questions invite attention congress patriotic citizens must entertain delusion people ceased regard free ballot equal representation price allegiance laws civil magistrates greatly rejoiced notice many evidences increased unification people revived national spirit vista opens us wider glorious ever gratification amazement struggle supremacy contemplate population wealth moral strength country trust momentous influence upon people upon world brief time committed us must faithless first condition defense free equal influence people choice public officers control public affairs
report head several executive department require law submit herewith transmitted report secretary treasury make directly congress furnish comprehensive view administrative work last fiscal year relate internal affair would great advantage report could alternative perusal every member congress take interest public affair perusal could fail excite high appreciation vast labor conscientious effort give conduct civil administration report believe show every question approach consider decide standpoint public duty upon consideration affect public interest alone invite every branch service attention scrutiny congress work state department last year characterize unusual number important negotiation diplomatic result notable highly beneficial character among reciprocal trade arrangement conclude exercise power confer section 3 tariff law republic brazil spain west india possession santo domingo like negotiation country much advance hop close year definitive trade arrangement great value conclude view report receive diminution seal herd bering sea deem wise propose majesty government february last agreement close season make pending negotiation arbitration seem approach favorable conclusion much correspondence delays government responsible agreement reach sign 15th june great britain undertook date may 1 1892 prohibit kill subject seal bering sea government united state period enforce exist prohibition pelagic seal limit catch company upon island skin agreement could reach early response strenuous endeavor government would effective come even late unquestionably result greatly diminish destruction seal canadian sealer last annual message state basis arbitration propose majesty government adjustment controversy seal fishery acceptable glad able announce term satisfactory government agree upon agreement arbitrator necessary completion convention view advance position government take upon subject international arbitration renew expression adherence method settlement dispute arisen bering sea doubt meet concurrence congress provision make joint demarcation frontier line canada unite state wherever require increase border settlement especially exact location water boundary strait river glad announce favorable disposition boundary dispute great britain venezuela touch western frontier british guiana friendly effort united state direction thus far unavailing government continue express concern appearance foreign encroachment territory long administrative control american state determination dispute boundary easily attainable amicable arbitration right respective party rest historic fact readily ascertainable law last congress provide system inspection meat intend export clothing president power exclude foreign product market case country send perpetuate unjust discrimination product united state place government position effectively urge removal discrimination meat gratify able state germany denmark italy austria france order name open port inspected american pork product removal restriction every instance ask give solely upon ground provide meat inspection accept adequate complete removal danger real fancy previously urge state department minister abroad secretary agriculture cooperate unflagging intelligent zeal accomplishment great result outline agreement reach germany look equitable trade concession consideration continue free importation sugar time yet arrive correspondence submit congress recent political disturbance republic brazil excite regret solicitude information possess meager enable u form satisfactory judgment cause lead temporary assumption supreme power president fonseca government fail express anxious solicitude peace brazil maintenance free political institution recently establish offer advice great moderation observe clash party contest leadership counsel receive friendly spirit late information constitutional government reestablish without bloodshed lynch new orleans march last eleven men italian nativity mob citizens deplorable discreditable incident however origin general animosity italian people disrespect government italy relation friendly character fury mob direct men suppose participant accessory murder city officer allude mitigate degree offense law humanity affect international question grow represented italian minister several whose life take mob italian subject demand make punishment participant indemnity family kill regretted manner claim present promote calm discussion question involve may well attribute excitement indignation crime naturally evoke views government obligation foreigner domicile fully state correspondence well purpose make investigation affair view determine whether present circumstance could rule duty indicated create obligation upon united state temporary absence minister plenipotentiary italy capital retard correspondence doubt friendly conclusion attainable suggestion grow unhappy incident worthy attention congress would believe entirely competent congress make offense treaty right foreigner domicile united state cognizable federal court however do federal officer court power case intervene either protection foreign citizen punishment slayer seem follow state law officer state charge police judicial power case must consideration international question grow incident regard sense federal agent make government answerable act case would answerable united state use constitutional power define punish crime treaty right civil war chile begin january last continue fortunately infrequent important arm collision august 28 congressional force land near valparaiso bloody engagement capture city president balmaceda recognize lose provisional government speedily establish victorious party minister promptly direct recognize put communication government soon establish de facto character do pendency civil contest frequent indirect appeal make government extend belligerent right insurgent give audience representative decline policy pursue throughout government wrench civil war strenuously insist upon part european nation itata arm vessel command naval officer insurgent fleet man sailor soldier board seize process united state court san diego violation neutrality law custody officer court vessel forcibly wrest control put sea would inconsistent dignity government insist itala return san diego abide judgment court clear junta congressional party establish iquique arrival itata port secretary foreign relation provisional government address brown commanding united state naval force communication follow extract provisional government learn cablegram associate press transport itata detain san diego order united state take board munition war possession marshal leave port carry board official land point near coast continue voyage news correct government would deplore conduct itata evidence dispose support agree infraction law united state undersign take advantage personal relation good enough maintain since arrival port declare soon within reach order government put itata arm munition take board sail diego disposition unite state trial district court united state southern district california recently result decision holding among thing inasmuch congressional party recognize belligerent act do interest could violation neutrality law judgment united state appeal condemnation vessel matter importance may know present state law construction statute correct obvious necessity revision amendment progress war chile government tender good office bring peaceful adjustment one time hop good result might reach disappointed instruction naval officer minister santiago first last struggle enjoin upon impartial treatment absolute noninterference satisfy instruction observe representative always watchful use influence impartially interest humanity one occasion effectively could forget however government diplomatic relation establish government chile relation successor government quite sure president montt circumstance promise peace chile instal president republic desire unfortunate event revolt authority policy government recently observe official complaint conduct minister naval officer struggle presented government matter regret many people give ear unofficial charge complaint manifestly origin rival interest wish pervert relation united state chile collapse government balmaceda bring condition unfortunately familiar history central south american state overthrow balmaceda government many councilors officer become fugitives life appeal command officer foreign naval vessel harbor valparaiso resident foreign minister santiago asylum asylum freely give accord information naval vessel several foreign power several legation santiago american minister well colleague act upon impulse humanity extend asylum political refugee whose life peril willing direct surrender person still american legation without suitable condition believe government chile position view precedent connect broadly deny right asylum correspondence thus far presented denial treatment minister time call decide protest gratifying observe unfriendly measure undoubtedly result prevail excitement rescind suitably relaxed 16th october event occur valparaiso serious tragic circumstance result justly excite indignation people call prompt decide action part government considerable number sailor united state steamship baltimore harbor valparaiso upon shore leave unarm assaulted arm men nearly simultaneously different locality city one petty officer kill outright seven eight seaman seriously wound one since die savage brutal assault several sailor receive two one many eighteen stab wound investigation affair promptly make board officer baltimore report show assault unprovoked men conduct peaceable orderly manner police city take part assault use weapon fatal effect others citizen endeavor protect men sailor arrest take prison cruelly beaten maltreat fact discharge criminal charge lodge one show clearly innocent breach peace far yet able learn explanation bloody work suggest origin hostility men sailor unite state wear uniform government individual act personal animosity attention chilean government call affair statement fact obtain investigation conduct submit accompanied request advise qualify fact possession chilean government might tend relieve affair appearance insult government chilean government also advise qualify fact exist government would confidently expect full prompt reparation regret reply secretary foreign affair provisional government couch offensive tone response make government await result investigation conduct criminal court valparaiso report unofficially investigation complete expected result soon communicate government together adequate satisfactory response note attention chile call incident expectation disappoint needless delay intervene special message bring matter attention congress action may necessary entire correspondence government chile early day submit congress renew recommendation special message date january 16 1890 adoption necessary legislation enable government apply case sweden norway rule respect levy tonnage due claim secured shipping united state 1828 article viii treaty 1827 adjournment senate without action pending act suppression slave traffic africa reform revenue tariff independent state kongo leave government unable exchange act date fix july 2 1891 modus vivendi conclude power kongo state levy duty import leave unimpaired agreement signatory general act time exchange ratification part united state extend february 2 1892 late outbreak foreigner various part chinese empire deep concern view numerous establishment citizen interior country government less insist upon continuance protective punitory measure chinese government heretofore applied effort omit protect citizen peaceably sojourn china recent unofficial information indicate first regarded outbreak mob violence foreigner assume large form insurrection public order chinese government decline receive blair minister united state ground participant senator enactment exist legislation introduction chinese laborer become unfriendly objectionable china felt constrained point chinese government untenableness position seem rest much unacceptability legislation person choose admit would practically debar selection representative long exist law remain force call upon consider expediency make special provision law temporary admission chinese artisan laborer connection exhibit chinese industry approach columbian exposition regard desirable chinese exhibit facilitate every proper way question arisen government spain touch right american citizen caroline island citizen long prior confirmation spain claim island secure settlement purchase certain right recognition maintenance faith spain pledge reason within past year strongly protest failure carry pledge part majesty minister result great injustice injury american resident government people spain propose celebrate four hundredth anniversary discovery america hold exposition madrid open 12th september continue 31st december 1892 cordial invitation extend united state take part commemoration spain one first nation express intention participate world columbian exposition chicago would appropriate government give invitation friendly promotion survey connect link project intercontinental railway progress mexico various point along course map three survey party field direction commission nearly mile propose road survey include difficult part ecuador southern part colombia report engineer satisfactory show insurmountable obstacle meet november 12 1884 treaty conclude mexico reaffirm boundary two country describe treaty february 2 1848 december 30 1853 march 1 1889 treaty negotiate facilitate carrying principle treaty 1884 avoid difficulty occasion reason change alteration take place natural cause rio grande colorado river portion thereof constitute boundary line two republic international boundary commission provide treaty 1889 exclusive jurisdiction question may arise name mexican government appropriation necessary enable united state fulfill treaty obligation respect death king kalakaua united state afford occasion testify friendship hawaii convey king body land naval vessel due honor government successor queen liliuokolani seek promote closer commercial relation united state survey submarine cable pacific coast honolulu progress enterprise suitable promotion two government strongly recommend provision make improve harbor pearl river equip naval station arbitration treaty formulate international american conference lapse reason failure exchange ratification fully within limit time provide several government concern expressed desire save important result conference extension period judgment incumbent upon united state conserve influential initiative take measure ratify instrument advocate propose extension time exchange view make known signatory government find occasion express friendly spirit much earnestness government czar serious concern harsh measure enforce hebrew russia revival antisemitic law long abeyance great number unfortunate people constrain abandon home leave empire reason impossibility find subsistence within pale sought confine immigration people united state many country close largely increase likely assume proportion may make difficult find home employment seriously affect labor market estimate forced russia within year hebrew never beggar always keep law life toil often severe oppressive civil restriction also true race sect class fully care hebrew race sudden transfer multitude condition tend strip small accumulation depress energy courage neither good u banishment whether direct decree less certain indirect method large number men woman local question decree leave one country nature thing order enter another consideration well suggestion humanity furnishes ample ground remonstrance present russia historic friendship government fail give assurance representation sincere wellwisher annual report maritime canal company nicaragua show much costly necessary preparatory work do year construction shop railroad track harbor pier breakwater work canal construction make progress deem matter high concern united state canal connect water atlantic pacific ocean give u short water communication port upon two great sea speedily construct small practicable limit cost gain freight people direct saving government unite state use naval vessel would pay entire cost work within short series year report secretary navy show save naval expenditure would result senator alabama morgan argument upon subject senate last session overestimate importance work say canal important subject connect commercial growth progress united state work promote usual financial method without aid government expenditures security stock probably twice actual cost necessitate high toll constitute heavy altogether needless burden upon commerce world every dollar bond stock company represent dollar expend legitimate economical prosecution work possible give bond guaranty united state government guaranty would secure ready sale par 3 per cent bond time time money need doubt build upon business method canal would fully inaugurate earn fix charge operate expense bond market heavy discount every bond sell accompany gift stock come expect investor enterprise traffic seriously burden pay interest dividend quite willing recommend government promotion prosecution work mean offer secure completion transcendent interest government opinion secure direct appropriation treasury guaranty bond canal company amount necessary completion canal could think give involve serious risk ultimate loss thing carefully guard completion work within limit guaranty subrogation unite state right bondholder amount may pay meantime control stock company security mismanagement loss sincerely hope neither party sectional line draw upon great american project full interest people state influential effect upon prestige prosperity common country island navassa west indian group provision title vii revise statute recognize president appertain united state contain guano deposit own navassa phosphate company occupy solely employee september 1889 revolt take place among laborer result kill agent company cause laborer claim cruel treatment men arrest tried united state court baltimore section 5576 statute refer offense commit board merchant vessel united state high sea appear trial otherwise come evidence bad treatment men consideration fact men access public officer tribunal protection redress wrong commute death sentence pass court upon three april last attention call island unregulated condition thing letter color laborer complain wrongfully detain upon island phosphate company expiration contract service naval vessel send examine case man generally condition thing island find laborer refer detain beyond contract limit condition revolt exist among laborer board naval officer report among thing follow would desire state discipline maintain island seem convict establishment without comfort cleanliness attention pay ship laborer place government supervision prevent misunderstand misrepresentation amelioration show treatment laborer disorder constant occurrence recommend legislation shall place labor contract upon island relation navassa united state supervision court commissioner shall provide expense owner officer reside upon island power judge adjust dispute enforce humane treatment employee inexcusable american laborer leave within jurisdiction without access government officer tribunal protection redress wrong international copyright secure accordance condition act march 3 1891 belgium france great britain british possession switzerland law country permit citizen benefit copyright substantially basis citizen subject germany special convention negotiate upon subject bring country within reciprocal benefit legislation general interest operation treasury department much augment last year reason conflict prediction accompany follow tariff legislation last congress affect revenue result legislation upon treasury upon country one hand contend import would fall leave treasury bankrupt price articles enter living people would enhance disastrously affect comfort happiness argue loss revenue largely result place sugar free list would direct gain people price necessary life include highly protect would enhance labor would large market product farm advance price treasury surplus receipt would adequate meet appropriation include large exceptional expenditure refund state direct tax redemption 4 per cent bond purpose enter length discussion effect legislation refer brief examination statistic treasury general glance state business throughout country think satisfy impartial inquirer result disappoint evil prophecy opponent large measure realize hopeful prediction friend rarely ever history country time proceeds one day labor product one farmed acre would purchase large amount thing enter live mass people believe full test develop fact tariff act congress favorable average effect upon price article enter common use twelve month october 1 1890 september 30 1891 total value foreign commerce import export combine large year history united state large previous year 1890 commerce amount last year exceeds enormous aggregate one hundred million interest surprising know year end september 30 1891 import merchandise amount increase value import correspond month precede year import merchandise unusually large anticipation tariff legislation pending average annual value import merchandise ten year 1881 1890 year end september 30 1891 annual average exceed value free import twelve month end september 30 1891 value free import correspond twelve month precede year period decrease value import dutiable merchandise percentage merchandise admit free duty year refer first new tariff precede twelve month old tariff percentage increase per cent take six month end september 30 last cover time sugar admit free duty per cent value merchandise import free duty find large percentage free import prior fiscal year history government turn export merchandise statistic full gratification value export merchandise twelve month end september 30 1891 correspond previous twelve month increase nearly three time average annual increase export merchandise precede twenty year exceed amount value export merchandise year history government increase value export agricultural product year refer corresponding twelve month prior year increase value export manufacture product certainly nothing condition trade foreign domestic certainly nothing condition people class suggest exist tariff revenue legislation bear oppressively upon people retard commercial development nation may argue condition would better tariff legislation upon basis deny condition prosperity general contentment present large degree ever history prophesy would worst state agitation radical change tariff financial legislation help may seriously impede business prosperity degree stability legislation essential think conclusive evidence new tariff create several great industry within year give employment several hundred thousand american work men woman view somewhat overcrowded condition labor market united state every patriotic citizen rejoice result report secretary treasury show total receipts government source fiscal year end june 30 1891 expenditure period leave surplus receipt fiscal year end june 30 1892 actual estimate expenditure fiscal year end june 30 1893 estimate receipt expenditures law july 14 1890 secretary treasury purchase since august 13 fiscal year ounce silver bullion average cost per ounce high price pay year low exchange silver bullion issue treasury note authorize act low price silver reach fiscal year april 22 1891 november 1 market price would give silver dollar bullion value 74 cent influence prospective silver legislation felt market silver worth new york per ounce ablest advocate free coinage last congress confident prediction purchase government require law would bring price silver per ounce would make bullion value dollar 100 cent hold prophecy antisilver men disaster result coinage per month wider mark friends free silver agree think cause bring hopeful prediction naught fact know export silver london india first nine month calendar year fell 50 per cent compare month precede year export domestic silver bullion country average last ten year fell last fiscal year first time recent year import silver country exceed export sum previous year net export silver united state amount production united state increase ounce 1889 1890 government buy put aside annually ounces allow ounce new bullion use art domestic product available coinage hope depression price silver temporary trial legislation favorably affect increase volume currency thus supply use people need beneficial result upon trade price follow legislation think must clear everyone forgotten every dollar note issue full dollar worth silver bullion time deposited treasury security redemption upon subject upon tariff recommendation exist law give full trial business interest spar distress influence threat radical change always impart exist legislation power treasury department maintain essential condition national finance well commercial prosperity parity use coin dollar paper representative assurance power would freely unhesitatingly use do much produce sustain present favorable business condition still opinion free coinage silver exist condition would disastrously affect business interest home abroad could hope maintain equality purchase power gold silver dollar market foreign trade stamp give added value bullion contain coin producer country farmer laborer high interest every dollar paper coin issued government shall good one less valuable another sure constant errand pay toil crop money lender protect stipulate payment gold laborer never able place business upon silver basis would mean sudden severe contraction currency withdrawal gold gold note unsettle value would produce commercial panic believe people strong prosperous promote policy producer silver entitle consideration forget government buy put market equivalent entire product silver mine think ask two year ago believe earnest desire great majority people mine full coin use shall make silver soon cooperation nation secure ratio fix give circulation equally gold silver business world require use metal see prospect gain much loss give present system full use make gold large use silver one silver alone circulate event would fatal progress silver movement bimetallism desire end true friend silver careful overrun goal bring silver monometallism necessary attendant loss gold europe relief pressure large currency endeavor use official unofficial agency keep close observation state public sentiment europe upon question find justify propose international conference however sure grow sentiment europe favor large use silver know effectual way promote sentiment accumulate gold scarcity gold european reserve persuasive argument use silver export gold europe begin february last continue close july aggregated net loss gold fiscal year nearly serious monetary disturbance result gratify give europe fresh evidence strength stability financial institution movement crop outflow gold speedily stop return set december 1 recover gold lose port new york confidently believe winter spring aggregate steadily largely increase presence large cash surplus treasury many year subject much unfavorable criticism furnish argument desire place tariff upon purely revenue basis agree withdrawal circulation large amount money embarrassment business country make necessary intervention department frequent interval relieve threaten monetary panic surplus march 1 1889 policy apply surplus redemption security unite state think preferable deposit without interest select national bank redeem since date last mentioned security result reduction annual interest charge money deposit bank without interest gradually withdraw use redemption bond result policy silver legislation refund 4 per cent bond large increase money circulation date last name circulation per caput 1st day december 1891 increase per caput offer secretary treasury holder 4 per cent bond extend time redemption option government interest 2 per cent accept holder amount unextended bond redeem presentation report secretary war exhibit result intelligent progressive businesslike administration department much regard one mere routine separation secretary proctor department reason appointment senator state vermont source great regret colleague cabinet sure business department charge administration army affair especially good work accomplish effort secretary reduce percentage desertion remove cause promote successful enable report last year lower percentage desertion reach history army result money save considerable improvement morale enlist men valuable incident reform bring result work secure site shore battery harbor defense manufacture mortar guns high power equip make good progress year preliminary work test plan long delay start way gun complete enlarged shop complete equipment watervliet army soon abreast navy gun construction whatever unavoidable cause delay may arise none delay insufficient appropriation shall greatly embarrassed proper distribution use naval vessel adequate shore defense provide harbor concur recommendation secretary organization adopt infantry adoption smokeless powder modern rifle equal range precision rapidity fire best use hope longer delay project enlist indian organize separate company upon basis soldier make subject careful study secretary receive approval seven company completely organize seven process organization result six month train realize high anticipation men readily bring discipline acquire drill facility show great pride right discharge duty perfect loyalty officer declare would take action confidence discipline order cleanliness military post wholesome elevate influence upon men enlist upon tribe friendly feel white great respect government certainly promote great work do record pension division war department major ainsworth medical corp clerk entitle honorable mention take work nearly case behind close last fiscal year without single case leave though new case increase 52 per cent number previous year reason pension legislation last congress concur recommendation right felony case review supreme court limit would seem personal liberty would safe guaranty right review case involve fine imprisonment limit circuit court appeal unless constitutional question way involve judge court private land claim provide act march 3 1891 appoint court organize possible give early relief community long repress development unsettled land title establish possession right settler whose land render valueless adverse unfounded claim act july 9 1888 provide incorporation management reform school girl district columbia remain inoperative reason appropriation make construction maintenance need institution urgent many girl could save depraved life wholesome influence restraint school recommend necessary appropriation make site construction enforcement treasury department law prohibit come chinese united state effective seek land vessel enter port result divert travel vessel enter port british columbia whence passage united state obscure point along dominion boundary easy considerable number chinese laborer past year enter united state canada mexico officer treasury department department justice use every mean command intercept immigration impossibility perfectly guard extend frontier apparent dominion government collect head tax 50 every chinaman enter canada thus derive considerable revenue use port reach position advantage evade exclusion law seem satisfactory evidence business pass chinaman canada united state organize quite active department justice construe law require return chinaman find unlawfully country china country come notwithstanding fact come way canada several district court case bring overruled view law decide person must return canada construction robs law effectiveness even decree could execute men return next day recross border appropriation make send back china canadian official refuse allow reenter canada without payment head tax recommend legislation remedy defect law previous message call attention congress necessity extend jurisdiction united state court make triable therein felony commit act violate law united state court independence effectiveness constitution contemplates long felonious kill court officer juror witness discharge duty reason act cognizable state court work do officer department even present inadequate legislation produce notable result interest law order also commissioners district columbia call attention defectiveness inadequacy law relate crime chastity district columbia stringent code upon subject provide congress utah matter surprise need district long overlooked report gratify result exhibit many betterment service suggest perusal report give abundant evidence supervision direction postal system characterize intelligent conscientious desire improve service revenue department show increase deficiency year 1892 less estimate year 1893 show surplus receipt expenditures ocean mail establish upon steamer north german lloyd hamburg line save distribution shipboard two fourteen hour time delivery mail port entry often much delivery interior place thoroughly system initiate germany united state evidence usefulness long installed upon great ocean steamship eight thousand mile new postal service establish upon railroad car distribution substation great city increase 12 per cent percentage error distribution past year reduce appropriation give last congress purpose make experiment free delivery small city towns result experiment satisfactory recommends concur recommendation system extend town population discussion inadequate facility extend present system rural community suggestion view give community fuller participation benefit postal service worthy careful consideration farmer receive mail neighbor town compel send pay considerable rent box place wait turn window city resident mail bring door state neighborhood present system receive mail money order postal note issue extension system community especially desirable patron office possess facility offer populous community transmission small sum money message precede congress express view modify use telegraph connection postal service pursuance ocean mail law march 3 1891 careful study whole subject frequent conference board trade others advertisement issue 53 line ocean mail service 10 great britain continent 27 south america 3 china japan 4 australia pacific island 7 west indie 2 mexico course expect bid line would receive service upon would contract intended furtherance act secure many new line possible include list foreign line occupy american ship hop line england perhaps one continent would secure outlay require equip line wholly new ship first class difficulty establish new line competition already establish deterred bidder whose interest enlist hoped way may yet find overcome difficulty brazil steamship company reason miscalculation speed vessel able bid term advertisement policy department secure establish line improve service condition give benefit law instance attain estimate expenditure american shipyard necessary enable bidder construct ship call service accept think reason discouragement turn back policy legislation indeed good beginning make subject consider understood capitalist ship people new line ready meet future proposal may date passage law revival american shipping interest recovery fair share carry trade world receive foreign postage nearly old system outlay ocean mail service exceed per annum estimate contract propose complete require year addition appropriation sea inland postage already estimate next fiscal year end june 30 1893 would probably need report secretary navy show gratify increase new naval vessel commission newark concord bennington miantonomoh add year aggregate something ton warships class construction private shop work upon go forward satisfactorily completion important vessel yet require year time vessel construction believe triumphs naval engineering recollect work build modern navy initiate year 1883 naval constructor shipbuilder practically without experience construction large iron steel ship engine shop unfamiliar great marine engine manufacture steel forging gun plat almost wholly foreign industry progress make highly satisfactory furnishes assurance united state long attain construction vessel engines armament preeminence attain best instrument ocean commerce clipper ship impressive exhibit naval power old wooden officer navy proprietor engineer great private shop respond wonderful intelligence professional zeal confidence express congress liberal legislation washington gun shop organize conduct naval officer system economy product unexcelled experiment armor plate conduct year important result believe plate high resist power use find test demonstrate cheap method manufacture heretofore think necessary used commend favorable consideration recommendation secretary sure give conscientious study hesitation promptly complete navy best modern type large enough enable country display flag seas protection citizen extend commerce world need assurance peaceful purpose united state shall probably future largely competitor commerce world essential dignity nation peaceful influence exercise hemisphere navy adequate upon shore atlantic pacific report secretary interior show gratify progress make bureau make complex difficult department work bureau indian affair perhaps never large reason numerous negotiation proceed tribes reduction reservation incident labor make allotment never carefully conduct provision adequate school facility indian child locate adult indian upon farm involve solution indian question everything else ration annuity tribal negotiation agent inspector commissioner distribute conduct must pass away indian become citizen secure individual ownership farm derive subsistence labor protect subordinate law govern white man provide general government local community live mean educate child indian becomes citizen organize state territory relation general government cease great measure ward general government ought put upon state territory burden education child thought government school school building upon reservation would absorb school system state territory find necessary protect indian compulsory alienation land exempt taxation period year would seem right general government certainly tribal fund possession pay school fund state would equivalent local school tax upon property indian noticed report commissioner indian affair already contract make district school education indian child great advantage think bring indian child mixed school process gradual meantime present educational provision arrangement result best experience charge work continue enable religious body undertaken work indian education much zeal result restrain beneficent place institution new useful relation indian white neighbor outbreak among sioux occur december last cause incident fully report upon war department department interior indians complaint especially matter reduction appropriation ration delay attend enactment law enable department perform engagement enter probably true sioux tribe naturally warlike turbulent warrior excite medicine men chief preach come indian messiah give power destroy enemy view alarm prevail among white settler near reservation fatal consequence would result indian incursion place disposal general mile command division missouri force think require entitle credit give thorough protection settler bring hostile subjection least possible loss life appropriation choctaw chickasaws contain general indian appropriation bill march 3 1891 expend reason yet approve release government indian claim land mention matter make subject special message place congress fact come knowledge relation five civilize tribe occupy indian territory united state believe best calculated promote high advancement indian within border five independent state relation except grow treaties government unite state representation national legislature people citizens startle anomaly seem inevitable shall long organic change relation people united state form change take think desirable suggest even well define mind certainly involve acceptance citizenship indian representation congress indians opportunity present claim grievance upon floor rather lobby commission could appoint visit tribe confer friendly spirit upon whole subject even agreement presently reach feel tribe upon question would develop discussion would prepare way change must come sooner later good work reduce large indian reservation allotment severalty indian cession remain land united state disposition homestead law prosecute year energy success september last enabled open settlement territory oklahoma acre land take settler single day rush land accompany great deal excitement happily free incident violence source great regret able open time surplus land cheyenne arapahoe reservation amount acre reason insufficiency appropriation make allotment deserve impatient settler wait occupy land urgently recommend special deficiency appropriation promptly make small amount need allotment may complete surplus land open time permit settler get upon homestead early spring past summer cherokee commission complete arrangement wichita kickapoo tonkawa tribe whereby agreement ratify congress additional acre open settlement oklahoma negotiation release cherokee claim cherokee strip make substantial progress far department officially advise still hop cession large valuable tract may secure price commission authorize offer per acre judgment circumstance title character land consider fair adequate one accept indian since march 4 1889 acre separate indian reservation add public domain use desire secure free home beneficent law difficult estimate increase wealth result conversion waste land farm difficult estimate betterment result family find renew hope courage ownership home assurance comfortable subsistence free healthful condition also gratify able feel may work proceed upon line justice toward indian may secure good influence settle habitation fruit industry security citizenship early administration special effort begin bring work general land office faithful work arrearages rapidly reduce end last fiscal year final agricultural entry remain undisposed commissioner report present force work fully brought end next fiscal year attention call difficulty present secretary interior administration law march 3 1891 establish court private land claim small holding intend protected law estimate number claimant deserve class title support strong equity difficulty grow fact land largely survey accord method holding many family generation lay narrow strip rod wide upon stream run back hill pasturage timber provision make numbering tract lot patent number without reference section line administration pension bureau characterize year great diligence total number pensioner upon roll 30th day june 1891 allow fiscal year end time case number allow law june 27 1890 issue certificate proceed rate per month 75 per cent case new law commissioner express opinion able carefully adjudicate allow claim present fiscal year appropriation payment pension fiscal year amount expend leave unexpended surplus commissioner quite confident call year deficiency appropriation notwithstanding rapidity work push mistake make many exaggerated estimate cost pension take account diminish value first payment recent legislation payment general law many year large pension allow dated time file claim claim pending year first payment law june 1890 relatively small per cent case increase old case diminish annual aggregate first payment largely reduce commissioner date november 13 furnishes statement last four month certificate issue general law act june 27 1890 average first payment four month average first payment upon case allow year end june 30 1891 reduction average first payment four month estimate pension expenditure fiscal year end june 30 1893 careful examination subject commissioner opinion sufficient disbursement disable soldier great civil war large realize exaggerate estimate oppose beneficent legislation secretary interior show great fullness care take exclude fraudulent claim also gratify fact person pension go men render slight substantial war service report commissioner railroad show total debt subsidize railroad united state december 31 1890 large part debt fast approach maturity adequate provision payment policy deal debt view ultimate collection adopt difficult impossible large body congress conduct necessary negotiation investigation therefore recommend provision make appointment commission agree upon report plan deal debt work census bureau far advance great bulk enormous labor involve complete strictly statistical exhibit less encumbered essay immediate predecessor method pursue fair careful intelligent secure approval statistician follow scientific nonpartisan interest appropriation necessary early completion publication authorize volumes give time secure delay increase cost time diminish value work report secretary exhibit interest fullness condition territory share state great increase farm product bring yearly large area cultivation extend irrigate canal work do individual local corporation without system full preliminary survey water supply irrigable land would enable adopt future territories new mexico arizona utah material growth increase independence happiness people largely dependent upon wise timely legislation either congress legislature regulate distribution water supply furnish stream matter much longer neglected private corporation unrestricted control one elements life patentee arid land tenant water company unite state part ownership water source sit reservoirs whether state territory individual corporation upon condition insure settler proper water supply upon equal reasonable term territory whole subject full control congress state practically long government hold title reservoir site water source grant upon condition chooses impose improvident granting franchise enormous value without recompense state municipality proceed without proper protection public interest noticeable flagrant evil modern legislation fault commit deal subject many year affect vitally thousand people legislation congress repression polygamy year resistance part mormon last brought conclusion resistance unprofitable unavailing power congress subject surrender satisfactory evidence people state create would exercise exclusive power state subject way question whether people obey law congress polygamy rather would make enforce maintain law absolutely free regulate subject afford experiment subject state constitute act final mistake irretrievable compact enable act could opinion bind effective recommend provision make organization simple form town government alaska power regulate matter usually state municipal control local civil organization give good protection matter present skeleton territorial organization proper restriction power levy tax create debt impose establishment department agriculture regard anyone mere concession unenlightened demand worthy class people impression effectually remove great result already attain home influence great disseminate agricultural horticultural information stimulate direct diversification crop detect eradicate disease domestic animal close informal contact establish maintain farmer stock raiser whole country every request information prompt attention every suggestion merit consideration scientific corp department high order push investigation method enthusiasm inspection department cattle pork product intend shipment abroad basis success attend effort secure removal restriction maintain european government ten year protest petition upon subject packer stock raiser unite state direct restriction seriously limited market curtail profit farm source general congratulation success last attained effect enlarge foreign market meat felt farmer public finance every branch trade particularly fortunate increase demand food product result removal restriction upon meat reciprocal trade arrangement refer come time agricultural surplus large without help thus derive low price would prevail secretary agriculture estimate restriction upon importation pork product europe lose u market worth product annually grain crop year large history 50 per cent great last year yet new market open large demand result short crop europe sustain price extent enormous surplus meat breadstuffs market good price bring relief prosperity industry much depress value grain crop unite state estimate secretary year last meat product farm inappropriate think suggest satisfaction contemplation marvelous addition national wealth unclouded suspicion currency measure farmer pay product field report civil service commission receive careful attention opponent well friend reform commission invite personal inspection senator representative record method every fair critic feel examination precede judgment condemnation either system administration claim either perfect believe law execute impartiality system incomparably well fairer appointment upon favor year extend classified service include superintendent teacher matron physician indian service branch service largely related educational philanthropic work obviously well change head several executive department direct establish efficiency record basis comparative rating clerk within classified service view place promotion therein upon basis merit confident record fairly keep open inspection interested powerfully stimulate work department accept place troublesome matter promotion upon basis recommend appropriation civil service commission make adequate increased work next fiscal year twice urgently call attention congress necessity legislation protection live railroad employee nothing yet do year end june 30 1890 369 brakeman kill maim engaged coupling car total number railroad employee kill year number injure cruel largely needless sacrifice government spend nearly annually save life shipwreck seaman every steam vessel rigidly inspect required adopt approve safety appliance good shall excuse lack interest effort behalf army brave young men land commerce sacrifice every year continue use antiquate dangerous appliance law require every railroad engage interstate commerce equipment year give per cent freight car automatic coupler air brake would compel agreement road kind brake coupler use would soon greatly reduce present fearful death rate among railroad employee method appointment state elector president recently attract renew interest reason departure state michigan method become uniform state prior 1832 various method use different state even state choice make legislature others electors choose district generally voter whole state upon general ticket movement toward adoption method early begin go steadily forward among state 1832 remain single state south carolina adopt state civil war continue choose elector vote legislature war change method conform practice state nearly sixty year state save one appoint elector popular vote upon general ticket nearly thirty year method universal full test method without important division dissent state without purpose party advantage must believe solely upon consideration uniformity desirable general election territorial division subject change consistent popular character institution best preserve equality voter perfectly remove choice president baneful influence gerrymander practice state bring harmony concurrence break think unfortunate even threaten episode one may well suggest whether state still give approval old prevailing method ought secure constitutional amendment practice approval recent michigan legislation provide choose popularly know congressional elector president congressional district two senatorial elector district create purpose legislation course accompany new congressional apportionment two statute bring electoral vote state influence gerrymander gerrymander congressional purpose case buttress gerrymander legislative district thus make impossible majority legal voter state correct apportionment equalize congressional district minority rule establish political convulsion overthrow recently advise one county certain state three district election member legislature constitute follow one population one one another county detach noncontiguous section unite make legislative district method already find effective application choice senator representative congress evil start make direction apply choice state elector president accomplish shall three great department government grasp gerrymander legislative executive directly judiciary indirectly power appointment election implies body elector prescribe qualification one equal value influence determine result constitution provide state shall appoint elect manner legislature thereof may direct number elector unrestricted power give legislature selection method use republican form government guarantee constitution state power give instrument legislature state prescribe method choice state elector must exercise limitation essential feature government right people choose officer nearest practicable equality value suffrages give determine choice claim power give legislature would support law provide person receive small vote elector law elector choose voter single congressional district state choose finder pretense regulate method legislature neither vest right choice elsewhere adopt method conformable republican institution purpose discuss question whether choice legislature voter equal single district choice state recommend regulation matter constitutional amendment secure uniformity prevent disgraceful partisan jugglery liberty choice exist offer temptation nothing important provide every guaranty absolutely fair free choice equal suffrage within respective state officer national government whether suffrage apply directly choice member house representative indirectly choice senator electors president respect public officer obedience law cease characteristic people election cease declare majority fairly ascertain without fraud suppression gerrymander call upon declare wherein chief national danger lie say without hesitation overthrow majority control suppression perversion popular suffrage real danger must agree energy see chiefly expend try fix responsibility upon opposite party rather effort make practice impossible either party possible adjourn interminable inconclusive debate take consent one step direction reform eliminate gerrymander denounce party influence selection elector president member congress state act freely separately determined choice elector general ticket wise safest method would seem could objection constitutional amendment make method permanent legislature choose one year upon purely local question pending presidential contest meet rescind law choice upon general ticket provide choice elector legislature trick determine result much say public peace might seriously widely endanger alluded gerrymander affect method select elector president congressional district primary intent effect form political robbery relation selection member house representative power congress ample deal threaten intolerable abuse unfailing test sincerity election reform find willingness confer remedy put force measure effectually preserve right people free equal representation attempt make last congress bring bear constitutional power general government correction fraud suffrage important know whether opposition measure really rest particular feature suppose objectionable include proposition give election law united state adequacy correction grave acknowledge evil must yet entertain hope possible secure calm patriotic consideration constitutional statutory change may necessary secure choice officer government people fair apportionment free election believe would possible constitute commission nonpartisan membership compose patriotic wise impartial men consideration question evil connect election system method might commit good prospect secure unanimity plan remove mitigate evils constitution would permit selection commission vest supreme court method would give best guaranty impartiality commission charge duty inquire whole subject law election related choice officer national government view secure every elector free unmolested exercise suffrage near approach equality value ballot cast attainable policy general government upon tariff upon restoration merchant marine upon river harbor improvement matter grave general concern liable turn way result congressional election administrative policy sometimes involve issue tend peace war turn way result presidential election rightful interest state every congressional district deceive silenced audacious pretense question right body legal voter state congressional district give suffrage freely upon general question matter local concern control demand limitation suffrage shall find law demand man resent resist appeal must continue consultation shall proceed candor calmness patience upon line justice humanity prejudice cruelty consideration grave question invite attention congress patriotic citizen must entertain delusion people cease regard free ballot equal representation price allegiance law civil magistrate greatly rejoice notice many evidence increase unification people revive national spirit vista open u wider glorious ever gratification amazement struggle supremacy contemplate population wealth moral strength country trust momentous influence upon people upon world brief time commit u must faithless first condition defense free equal influence people choice public officer control public affair