As you assemble for the discharge of the duties you have assumed as the representatives of a free and generous people, your meeting is marked by an interesting and impressive incident. With the expiration of the present session of the Congress the first century of our constitutional existence as a nation will be completed. Our survival for one hundred years is not sufficient to assure us that we no longer have dangers to fear in the maintenance, with all its promised blessings, of a government rounded upon the freedom of the people. The time rather admonishes us to soberly inquire whether in the past we have always closely kept in the course of safety, and whether we have before us a way plain and clear which leads to happiness and perpetuity. When the experiment of our Government was undertaken, the chart adopted for our guidance was the Constitution. Departure from the lines there laid down is failure. It is only by a strict adherence to the direction they indicate and by restraint within the limitations they fix that we can furnish proof to the world of the fitness of the American people for self-government. The equal and exact justice of which we boast as the underlying principle of our institutions should not be confined to the relations of our citizens to each other. The Government itself is under bond to the American people that in the exercise of its functions and powers it will deal with the body of our citizens in a manner scrupulously honest and fair and absolutely just. It has agreed that American citizenship shall be the only credential necessary to justify the claim of equality before the law, and that no condition in life shall give rise to discrimination in the treatment of the people by their Government. The citizen of our Republic in its early days rigidly insisted upon full compliance with the letter of this bond, and saw stretching out before him a clear field for individual endeavor. His tribute to the support of his Government was measured by the cost of its economical maintenance, and he was secure in the enjoyment of the remaining recompense of his steady and contented toil. In those days the frugality of the people was stamped upon their Government, and was enforced by the free, thoughtful, and intelligent suffrage of the citizen. Combinations, monopolies, and aggregations of capital were either avoided or sternly regulated and restrained. The pomp and glitter of governments less free offered no temptation and presented no delusion to the plain people who, side by side, in friendly competition, wrought for the ennoblement and dignity of man, for the solution of the problem of free government, and for the achievement of the grand destiny awaiting the land which God had given them. A century has passed. Our cities are the abiding places of wealth and luxury; our manufactories yield fortunes never dreamed of by the fathers of the Republic; our business men are madly striving in the race for riches, and immense aggregations of capital outrun the imagination in the magnitude of their undertakings. We view with pride and satisfaction this bright picture of our country's growth and prosperity, while only a closer scrutiny develops a somber shading. Upon more careful inspection we find the wealth and luxury of our cities mingled with poverty and wretchedness and unremunerative toil. A crowded and constantly increasing urban population suggests the impoverishment of rural sections and discontent with agricultural pursuits. The farmer's son, not satisfied with his father's simple and laborious life, joins the eager chase for easily acquired wealth. We discover that the fortunes realized by our manufacturers are no longer solely the reward of sturdy industry and enlightened foresight, but that they result from the discriminating favor of the Government and are largely built upon undue exactions from the masses of our people. The gulf between employers and the employed is constantly widening, and classes are rapidly forming, one comprising the very rich and powerful, while in another are found the toiling poor. As we view the achievements of aggregated capital, we discover the existence of trusts, combinations, and monopolies, while the citizen is struggling far in the rear or is trampled to death beneath an iron heel. Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of the law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the people's masters. Still congratulating ourselves upon the wealth and prosperity of our country and complacently contemplating every incident of change inseparable from these conditions, it is our duty as patriotic citizens to inquire at the present stage of our progress how the bond of the Government made with the people has been kept and performed. Instead of limiting the tribute drawn from our citizens to the necessities of its economical administration, the Government persists in exacting from the substance of the people millions which, unapplied and useless, lie dormant in its Treasury. This flagrant injustice and this breach of faith and obligation add to extortion the danger attending the diversion of the currency of the country from the legitimate channels of business. Under the same laws by which these results are produced the Government permits many millions more to be added to the cost of the living of our people and to be taken from our consumers, which unreasonably swell the profits of a small but powerful minority. The people must still be taxed for the support of the Government under the operation of tariff laws. But to the extent that the mass of our citizens are inordinately burdened beyond any useful public purpose and for the benefit of a favored few, the Government, under pretext of an exercise of its taxing power, enters gratuitously into partnership with these favorites, to their advantage and to the injury of a vast majority of our people. This is not equality before the law. The existing situation is injurious to the health of our entire body politic. It stifles in those for whose benefit it is permitted all patriotic love of country, and substitutes in its place selfish greed and grasping avarice. Devotion to American citizenship for its own sake and for what it should accomplish as a motive to our nation's advancement and the happiness of all our people is displaced by the assumption that the Government, instead of being the embodiment of equality, is but an instrumentality through which especial and individual advantages are to be gained. The arrogance of this assumption is unconcealed. It appears in the sordid disregard of all but personal interests, in the refusal to abate for the benefit of others one iota of selfish advantage, and in combinations to perpetuate such advantages through efforts to control legislation and improperly influence the suffrages of the people. The grievances of those not included within the circle of these beneficiaries, when fully realized, will surely arouse irritation and discontent. Our farmers, long suffering and patient, struggling in the race of life with the hardest and most unremitting toil, will not fail to see, in spite of misrepresentations and misleading fallacies, that they are obliged to accept such prices for their products as are fixed in foreign markets where they compete with the farmers of the world; that their lands are declining in value while their debts increase, and that without compensating favor they are forced by the action of the Government to pay for the benefit of others such enhanced prices for the things they need that the scanty returns of their labor fail to furnish their support or leave no margin for accumulation. Our workingmen, enfranchised from all delusions and no longer frightened by the cry that their wages are endangered by a just revision of our tariff laws, will reasonably demand through such revision steadier employment, cheaper means of living in their homes, freedom for themselves and their children from the doom of perpetual servitude, and an open door to their advancement beyond the limits of a laboring class. Others of our citizens, whose comforts and expenditures are measured by moderate salaries and fixed incomes, will insist upon the fairness and justice of cheapening the cost of necessaries for themselves and their families. When to the selfishness of the beneficiaries of unjust discrimination under our laws there shall be added the discontent of those who suffer from such discrimination, we will realize the fact that the beneficent purposes of our Government, dependent upon the patriotism and contentment of our people, are endangered. Communism is a hateful thing and a menace to peace and organized government; but the communism of combined wealth and capital, the outgrowth of overweening cupidity and selfishness, which insidiously undermines the justice and integrity of free institutions, is not less dangerous than the communism of oppressed poverty and toil, which, exasperated by injustice and discontent, attacks with wild disorder the citadel of rule. He mocks the people who proposes that the Government shall protect the rich and that they in turn will care for the laboring poor. Any intermediary between the people and their Government or the least delegation of the care and protection the Government owes to the humblest citizen in the land makes the boast of free institutions a glittering delusion and the pretended boon of American citizenship a shameless imposition. A just and sensible revision of our tariff laws should be made for the relief of those of our countrymen who suffer under present conditions. Such a revision should receive the support of all who love that justice and equality due to American citizenship; of all who realize that in this justice and equality our Government finds its strength and its power to protect the citizen and his property; of all who believe that the contented competence and comfort of many accord better with the spirit of our institutions than colossal fortunes unfairly gathered in the hands of a few; of all who appreciate that the forbearance and fraternity among our people, which recognize the value of every American interest, are the surest guaranty of our national progress, and of all who desire to see the products of American skill and ingenuity in every market of the world, with a resulting restoration of American commerce. The necessity of the reduction of our revenues is so apparent as to be generally conceded, but the means by which this end shall be accomplished and the sum of direct benefit which shall result to our citizens present a controversy of the utmost importance. There should be no scheme accepted as satisfactory by which the burdens of the people are only apparently removed. Extravagant appropriations of public money, with all their demoralizing consequences, should not be tolerated, either as a means of relieving the Treasury of its present surplus or as furnishing pretext for resisting a proper reduction in tariff rates. Existing evils and injustice should be honestly recognized, boldly met, and effectively remedied. There should be no cessation of the struggle until a plan is perfected, fair and conservative toward existing industries, but which will reduce the cost to consumers of the necessaries of life, while it provides for our manufacturers the advantage of freer raw materials and permits no injury to the interests of American labor. The cause for which the battle is waged is comprised within lines clearly and distinctly defined. It should never be compromised. It is the people's cause. It can not be denied that the selfish and private interests which are so persistently heard when efforts are made to deal in a just and comprehensive manner with our tariff laws are related to, if they are not responsible for, the sentiment largely prevailing among the people that the General Government is the fountain of individual and private aid; that it may be expected to relieve with paternal care the distress of citizens and communities, and that from the fullness of its Treasury it should, upon the slightest possible pretext of promoting the general good, apply public funds to the benefit of localities and individuals. Nor can it be denied that there is a growing assumption that, as against the Government and in favor of private claims and interests, the usual rules and limitations of business principles and just dealing should be waived. These ideas have been unhappily much encouraged by legislative acquiescence. Relief from contracts made with the Government is too easily accorded in favor of the citizen; the failure to support claims against the Government by proof is often supplied by no better consideration than the wealth of the Government and the poverty of the claimant; gratuities in the form of pensions are granted upon no other real ground than the needy condition of the applicant, or for reasons less valid; and large sums are expended for public buildings and other improvements upon representations scarcely claimed to be related to public needs and necessities. The extent to which the consideration of such matters subordinate and postpone action upon subjects of great public importance, but involving no special private or partisan interest, should arrest attention and lead to reformation. A few of the numerous illustrations of this condition may be stated. The crowded condition of the calendar of the Supreme Court, and the delay to suitors and denial of justice resulting therefrom, has been strongly urged upon the attention of the Congress, with a plan for the relief of the situation approved by those well able to judge of its merits. While this subject remains without effective consideration, many laws have been passed providing for the holding of terms of inferior courts at places to suit the convenience of localities, or to lay the foundation of an application for the erection of a new public building. Repeated recommendations have been submitted for the amendment and change of the laws relating to our public lands so that their spoliation and diversion to other uses than as homes for honest settlers might be prevented. While a measure to meet this conceded necessity of reform remains awaiting the action of the Congress, many claims to the public lands and applications for their donation, in favor of States and individuals, have been allowed. A plan in aid of Indian management, recommended by those well informed as containing valuable features in furtherance of the solution of the Indian problem, has thus far failed of legislative sanction, while grants of doubtful expediency to railroad corporations, permitting them to pass through Indian reservations, have greatly multiplied. The propriety and necessity of the erection of one or more prisons for the confinement of United States convicts, and a post-office building in the national capital, are not disputed. But these needs yet remain answered, while scores of public buildings have been erected where their necessity for public purposes is not apparent. A revision of our pension laws could easily be made which would rest upon just principles and provide for every worthy applicant. But while our general pension laws remain confused and imperfect, hundreds of private pension laws are annually passed, which are the sources of unjust discrimination and popular demoralization. Appropriation bills for the support of the Government are defaced by items and provisions to meet private ends, and it is freely asserted by responsible and experienced parties that a bill appropriating money for public internal improvement would fail to meet with favor unless it contained items more for local and private advantage than for public benefit. These statements can be much emphasized by an ascertainment of the proportion of Federal legislation which either bears upon its face its private character or which upon examination develops such a motive power. And yet the people wait and expect from their chosen representatives such patriotic action as will advance the welfare of the entire country; and this expectation can only be answered by the performance of public duty with unselfish purpose. Our mission among the nations of the earth and our success in accomplishing the work God has given the American people to do require of those intrusted with the making and execution of our laws perfect devotion, above all other things, to the public good. This devotion will lead us to strongly resist all impatience of constitutional limitations of Federal power and to persistently check the increasing tendency to extend the scope of Federal legislation into the domain of State and local jurisdiction upon the plea of subserving the public welfare. The preservation of the partitions between proper subjects of Federal and local care and regulation is of such importance under the Constitution, which is the law of our very existence, that no consideration of expediency or sentiment should tempt us to enter upon doubtful ground. We have undertaken to discover and proclaim the richest blessings of a free government, with the Constitution as our guide. Let us follow the way it points out; it will not mislead us. And surely no one who has taken upon himself the solemn obligation to support and preserve the Constitution can find justification or solace for disloyalty in the excuse that he wandered and disobeyed in search of a better way to reach the public welfare than the Constitution offers. What has been said is deemed not inappropriate at a time when, from a century's height, we view the way already trod by the American people and attempt to discover their future path. The seventh President of the United States--the soldier and statesman and at all times the firm and brave friend of the people--in vindication of his course as the protector of popular rights and the champion of true American citizenship, declared: The ambition which leads me on is an anxious desire and a fixed determination to restore to the people unimpaired the sacred trust they have confided to my charge; to, heal the wounds of the Constitution and to preserve it from further violation; to persuade my countrymen, so far as I may, that it is not in a splendid government supported by powerful monopolies and aristocratical establishments that they will find happiness or their liberties protection, but in a plain system, void of pomp, protecting all and granting favors to none, dispensing its blessings like the dews of heaven, unseen and unfelt save in the freshness and beauty they contribute to produce. It is such a government that the genius of our people requires--such an one only under which our States may remain for ages to come united, prosperous, and free. In pursuance of a constitutional provision requiring the President from time to time to give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, I have the satisfaction to announce that the close of the year finds the United States in the enjoyment of domestic tranquillity and at peace with all the nations. Since my last annual message our foreign relations have been strengthened and improved by performance of international good offices and by new and renewed treaties of amity, commerce, and reciprocal extradition of criminals. Those international questions which still await settlement are all reasonably within the domain of amicable negotiation, and there is no existing subject of dispute between the United States and any foreign power that is not susceptible of satisfactory adjustment by frank diplomatic treatment. The questions between Great Britain and the United States relating to the rights of American fishermen, under treaty and international comity, in the territorial waters of Canada and Newfoundland, I regret to say, are not yet satisfactorily adjusted. These matters were fully treated in my message to the Senate of February 20 1888, together with which a convention, concluded under my authority with Her Majesty's Government on the 15th of February last, for the removal of all causes of misunderstanding, was submitted by me for the approval of the Senate. This treaty having been rejected by the Senate, I transmitted a message to the Congress on the 23d of August last reviewing the transactions and submitting for consideration certain recommendations for legislation concerning the important questions involved. Afterwards, on the 12th of September, in response to a resolution of the Senate, I again communicated fully all the information in my possession as to the action of the government of Canada affecting the commercial relations between the Dominion and the United States, including the treatment of American fishing vessels in the ports and waters of British North America. These communications have all been published, and therefore opened to the knowledge of both Houses of Congress, although two were addressed to the Senate alone. Comment upon or repetition of their contents would be superfluous, and I am not aware that anything has since occurred which should be added to the facts therein stated. Therefore I merely repeat, as applicable to the present time, the statement which will be found in my message to the Senate of September 12 last, that-- Since March 3, 1887, no case has been reported to the Department of State wherein complaint was made of unfriendly or unlawful treatment of American fishing vessels on the part of the Canadian authorities in which reparation was not promptly and satisfactorily obtained by the United States consul-general at Halifax. Having essayed in the discharge of my duty to procure by negotiation the settlement of a long-standing cause of dispute and to remove a constant menace to the good relations of the two countries, and continuing to be of opinion that the treaty of February last, which failed to receive the approval of the Senate, did supply "a satisfactory, practical, and final adjustment, upon a basis honorable and just to both parties, of the difficult and vexed question to which it related," and having subsequently and unavailingly recommended other legislation to Congress which I hoped would suffice to meet the exigency created by the rejection of the treaty, I now again invoke the earnest and immediate attention of the Congress to the condition of this important question as it now stands before them and the country, and for the settlement of which I am deeply solicitous. Near the close of the month of October last occurrences of a deeply regrettable nature were brought to my knowledge, which made it my painful but imperative duty to obtain with as little delay as possible a new personal channel of diplomatic intercourse in this country with the Government of Great Britain. The correspondence in relation to this incident will in due course be laid before you, and will disclose the unpardonable conduct of the official referred to in his interference by advice and counsel with the suffrages of American citizens in the very crisis of the Presidential election then near at hand, and also in his subsequent public declarations to justify his action, superadding impugnment of the Executive and Senate of the United States in connection with important questions now pending in controversy between the two Governments. The offense thus committed was most grave, involving disastrous possibilities to the good relations of the United States and Great Britain, constituting a gross breach of diplomatic privilege and an invasion of the purely domestic affairs and essential sovereignty of the Government to which the envoy was accredited. Having first fulfilled the just demands of international comity by affording full opportunity for Her Majesty's Government to act in relief of the situation, I considered prolongation of discussion to be unwarranted, and thereupon declined to further recognize the diplomatic character of the person whose continuance in such function would destroy that mutual confidence which is essential to the good understanding of the two Governments and was inconsistent with the welfare and self-respect of the Government of the United States. The usual interchange of communication has since continued through Her Majesty's legation in this city. My endeavors to establish by international cooperation measures for the prevention of the extermination of fur seals in Bering Sea have not been relaxed, and I have hopes of being enabled shortly to submit an effective and satisfactory conventional projet with the maritime powers for the approval of the Senate. The coastal boundary between our Alaskan possessions and British Columbia, I regret to say, has not received the attention demanded by its importance, and which on several occasions heretofore I have had the honor to recommend to the Congress. The admitted impracticability, if not impossibility, of making an accurate and precise survey and demarcation of the boundary line as it is recited in the treaty with Russia under which Alaska was ceded to the United States renders it absolutely requisite for the prevention of international jurisdictional complications that adequate appropriation for a reconnoissance and survey to obtain proper knowledge of the locality and the geographical features of the boundary should be authorized by Congress with as little delay as possible. Knowledge to be only thus obtained is an essential prerequisite for negotiation for ascertaining a common boundary, or as preliminary to any other mode of settlement. It is much to be desired that some agreement should be reached with Her Majesty's Government by which the damages to life and property on the Great Lakes may be alleviated by removing or humanely regulating the obstacles to reciprocal assistance to wrecked or stranded vessels. The act of June 19, 1878, which offers to Canadian vessels free access to our inland waters in aid of wrecked or disabled vessels, has not yet become effective through concurrent action by Canada. The due protection of our citizens of French origin or descent from claim of military service in the event of their returning to or visiting France has called forth correspondence which was laid before you at the last session. In the absence of conventional agreement as to naturalization, which is greatly to be desired, this Government sees no occasion to recede from the sound position it has maintained not only with regard to France, but as to all countries with which the United States have not concluded special treaties. Twice within the last year has the imperial household of Germany been visited by death; and I have hastened to express the sorrow of this people, and their appreciation of the lofty character of the late aged Emperor William, and their sympathy with the heroism under suffering of his son the late Emperor Frederick. I renew my recommendation of two years ago for the passage of a bill for the refunding to certain German steamship lines of the interest upon tonnage dues illegally exacted. On the 12th [2d] of April last I laid before the House of Representatives full information respecting our interests in Samoa; and in the subsequent correspondence on the same subject, which will be laid before you in due course, the history of events in those islands will be found. In a message accompanying my approval, on the 1st day of October last, of a bill for the exclusion of Chinese laborers, I laid before Congress full information and all correspondence touching the negotiation of the treaty with China concluded at this capital on the 12th day of March, 1888, and which, having been confirmed by the Senate with certain amendments, was rejected by the Chinese Government. This message contained a recommendation that a sum of money be appropriated as compensation to Chinese subjects who had suffered injuries at the hands of lawless men within our jurisdiction. Such appropriation having been duly made, the fund awaits reception by the Chinese Government. It is sincerely hoped that by the cessation of the influx of this class of Chinese subjects, in accordance with the expressed wish of both Governments, a cause of unkind feeling has been permanently removed. On the 9th of August, 1887, notification was given by the Japanese minister at this capital of the adjournment of the conference for the revision of the treaties of Japan with foreign powers, owing to the objection of his Government to the provision in the draft jurisdictional convention which required the submission of the criminal code of the Empire to the powers in advance of its becoming operative. This notification was, however, accompanied with an assurance of Japan's intention to continue the work of revision. Notwithstanding this temporary interruption of negotiations, it is hoped that improvements may soon be secured in the jurisdictional system as respects foreigners in Japan, and relief afforded to that country from the present undue and oppressive foreign control in matters of commerce. I earnestly recommend that relief be provided for the injuries accidentally caused to Japanese subjects in the island Ikisima by the target practice of one of our vessels. A diplomatic mission from Korea has been received, and the formal intercourse between the two countries contemplated by the treaty of 1882 is now established. Legislative provision is hereby recommended to organize and equip consular courts in Korea. Persia has established diplomatic representation at this capital, and has evinced very great interest in the enterprise and achievements of our citizens. I am therefore hopeful that beneficial commercial relations between the two countries may be brought about. I announce with sincere regret that Hayti has again become the theater of insurrection, disorder, and bloodshed. The titular government of president Saloman has been forcibly overthrown and he driven out of the country to France, where he has since died. The tenure of power has been so unstable amid the war of factions that has ensued since the expulsion of President Saloman that no government constituted by the will of the Haytian people has been recognized as administering responsibly the affairs of that country. Our representative has been instructed to abstain from interference between the warring factions, and a vessel of our Navy has been sent to Haytian waters to sustain our minister and for the protection of the persons and property of American citizens. Due precautions have been taken to enforce our neutrality laws and prevent our territory from becoming the base of military supplies for either of the warring factions. Under color of a blockade, of which no reasonable notice had been given, and which does not appear to have been efficiently maintained, a seizure of vessels under the American flag has been reported, and in consequence measures to prevent and redress any molestation of our innocent merchantmen have been adopted. Proclamation was duly made on the 9th day of November, 1887, of the conventional extensions of the treaty of June 3, 1875, with Hawaii, under which relations of such special and beneficent intercourse have been created. In the vast field of Oriental commerce now unfolded from our Pacific borders no feature presents stronger recommendations for Congressional action than the establishment of communication by submarine telegraph with Honolulu. The geographical position of the Hawaiian group in relation to our Pacific States creates a natural interdependency and mutuality of interest which our present treaties were intended to foster, and which make close communication a logical and commercial necessity. The wisdom of concluding a treaty of commercial reciprocity with Mexico has been heretofore stated in my messages to Congress, and the lapse of time and growth of commerce with that close neighbor and sister Republic confirm the judgment so expressed. The precise relocation of our boundary line is needful, and adequate appropriation is now recommended. It is with sincere satisfaction that I am enabled to advert to the spirit of good neighborhood and friendly cooperation and conciliation that has marked the correspondence and action of the Mexican authorities in their share of the task of maintaining law and order about the line of our common boundary. The long-pending boundary dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua was referred to my arbitration, and by an award made on the 22d of March last the question has been finally settled to the expressed satisfaction of both of the parties in interest. The Empire of Brazil, in abolishing the last vestige of slavery among Christian nations, called forth the earnest congratulations of this Government in expression of the cordial sympathies of our people. The claims of nearly all other countries against Chile growing out of her late war with Bolivia and Peru have been disposed of, either by arbitration or by a lump settlement. Similar claims of our citizens will continue to be urged upon the Chilean Government, and it is hoped will not be subject to further delays. A comprehensive treaty of amity and commerce with Peru was proclaimed on November 7 last, and it is expected that under its operation mutual prosperity and good understanding will be promoted. In pursuance of the policy of arbitration, a treaty to settle the claim of Santos, an American citizen, against Ecuador has been concluded under my authority, and will be duly submitted for the approval of the Senate. Like disposition of the claim of Carlos Butterfield against Denmark and of Van Bokkelen against Hayti will probably be made, and I trust the principle of such settlements may be extended in practice under the approval of the Senate. Through unforeseen causes, foreign to the will of both Governments, the ratification of the convention of December 5, 1885, with Venezuela, for the rehearing of claims of citizens of the United States under the treaty of 1866, failed of exchange within the term provided, and a supplementary convention, further extending the time for exchange of ratifications and explanatory of an ambiguous provision of the prior convention, now awaits the advice and consent of the Senate. Although this matter, in the stage referred to, concerns only the concurrent treaty-making power of one branch of Congress, I advert to it in view of the interest repeatedly and conspicuously shown by you in your legislative capacity in favor of a speedy and equitable adjustment of the questions growing out of the discredited judgments of the previous mixed commission of Caracas. With every desire to do justice to the representations of Venezuela in this regard, the time seems to have come to end this matter, and I trust the prompt confirmation by both parties of the supplementary action referred to will avert the need of legislative or other action to prevent the longer withholding of such rights of actual claimants as may be shown to exist. As authorized by the Congress, preliminary steps have been taken for the assemblage at this capital during the coming year of the representatives of South and Central American States, together with those of Mexico, Hayti, and San Domingo, to discuss sundry important monetary and commercial topics. Excepting in those cases where, from reasons of contiguity of territory and the existence of a common border line incapable of being guarded, reciprocal commercial treaties may be found expedient, it is believed that commercial policies inducing freer mutual exchange of products can be most advantageously arranged by independent but cooperative legislation. In the mode last mentioned the control of our taxation for revenue will be always retained in our own hands unrestricted by conventional agreements with other governments. In conformity also with Congressional authority, the maritime powers have been invited to confer in Washington in April next upon the practicability of devising uniform rules and measures for the greater security of life and property at sea. A disposition to accept on the part of a number of the powers has already been manifested, and if the cooperation of the nations chiefly interested shall be secured important results may be confidently anticipated. The act of June 26, 1884, and the acts amendatory thereof, in relation to tonnage duties, have given rise to extended correspondence with foreign nations with whom we have existing treaties of navigation and commerce, and have caused wide and regrettable divergence of opinion in relation to the imposition of the duties referred to. These questions are important, and I shall make them the subject of a special and more detailed communication at the present session. With the rapid increase of immigration to our shores and the facilities of modern travel, abuses of the generous privileges afforded by our naturalization laws call for their careful revision. The easy and unguarded manner in which certificates of American citizenship can now be obtained has induced a class, unfortunately large, to avail themselves of the opportunity to become absolved from allegiance to their native land, and yet by a foreign residence to escape any just duty and contribution of service to the country of their proposed adoption. Thus, while evading the duties of citizenship to the United States, they may make prompt claim for its national protection and demand its intervention in their behalf. International complications of a serious nature arise, and the correspondence of the State Department discloses the great number and complexity of the questions which have been raised. Our laws regulating the issue of passports should be carefully revised, and the institution of a central bureau of registration at the capital is again strongly recommended. By this means full particulars of each case of naturalization in the United States would be secured and properly indexed and recorded, and thus many cases of spurious citizenship would be detected and unjust responsibilities would be avoided. The reorganization of the consular service is a matter of serious importance to our national interests. The number of existing principal consular offices is believed to be greater than is at all necessary for the conduct of the public business. It need not be our policy to maintain more than a moderate number of principal offices, each supported by a salary sufficient to enable the incumbent to live in comfort, and so distributed as to secure the convenient supervision, through subordinate agencies, of affairs over a considerable district. I repeat the recommendations heretofore made by me that the appropriations for the maintenance of our diplomatic and consular service should be recast; that the so-called notarial or unofficial fees, which our representatives abroad are now permitted to treat as personal perquisites, should be forbidden; that a system of consular inspection should be instituted, and that a limited number of secretaries of legation at large should be authorized. Preparations for the centennial celebration, on April 30, 1889, of the inauguration of George Washington as President of the United States, at the city of New York, have been made by a voluntary organization of the citizens of that locality, and believing that an opportunity should be afforded for the expression of the interest felt throughout the country in this event, I respectfully recommend fitting and cooperative action by Congress on behalf of the people of the United States. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury exhibits in detail the condition of our national finances and the operations of the several branches of the Government related to his Department. The total ordinary revenues of the Government for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1888, amounted to $379,266,074.76, of which $219,091,173.63 was received from customs duties and $124,296,871.98 from internal revenue taxes. The total receipts from all sources exceeded those for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, by $7,862,797.10. The ordinary expenditures of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, were $259,653,958.67, leaving a surplus of $119,612,116.09. The decrease in these expenditures as compared with the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, was $8,278,221.30, notwithstanding the payment of more than $5,000,000 for pensions in excess of what was paid for that purpose in the latter-mentioned year. The revenues of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1889, ascertained for the quarter ended September 30, 1888, and estimated for the remainder of the time, amount to $377,000,000, and the actual and estimated ordinary expenditures for the same year are $273,000,000, leaving an estimated surplus of $104,000,000. The estimated receipts for the year ending June 30, 1890, are $377,000,000, and the estimated ordinary expenditures for the same time are $275,767,488.34, showing a surplus of $101,232,511.66. The foregoing statements of surplus do not take into account the sum necessary to be expended to meet the requirements of the sinking-fund act, amounting to more than $47,000,000 annually. The cost of collecting the customs revenues for the last fiscal year was 2.44 per cent; for the year 1885 it was 3.77 per cent. The excess of internal-revenue taxes collected during the last fiscal year over those collected for the year ended June 30, 1887, was $5,489,174.26, and the cost of collecting this revenue decreased from 3.4 per cent in 1887 to less than 3.2 per cent for the last year. The tax collected on oleomargarine was $723,948.04 for the year ending June 30, 1887, and $864,139.88 for the following year. The requirements of the sinking-fund act have been met for the year ended June 30, 1888, and for the current year also, by the purchase of bonds. After complying with this law as positively required, and bonds sufficient for that purpose had been bought at a premium, it was not deemed prudent to further expend the surplus in such purchases until the authority to do so should be more explicit. A resolution, however, having been passed by both Houses of Congress removing all doubt as to Executive authority, daily purchases of bonds were commenced on the 23d day of April, 1888, and have continued until the present time. By this plan bonds of the Government not yet due have been purchased up to and including the 30th day of November, 1888, amounting to $94,700,400, the premium paid thereon amounting to $17,508,613.08. The premium added to the principal of these bonds represents an investment yielding about 2 per cent interest for the time they still had to run, and the saving to the Government represented by the difference between the amount of interest at 2 per cent upon the sum paid for principal and premium and what it would have paid for interest at the rate specified in the bonds if they had run to their maturity is about $27,165,000. At first sight this would seem to be a profitable and sensible transaction on the part of the Government, but, as suggested by the Secretary of the Treasury, the surplus thus expended for the purchase of bonds was money drawn from the people in excess of any actual need of the Government and was so expended rather than allow it to remain idle in the Treasury. If this surplus, under the operation of just and equitable laws, had been left in the hands of the people, it would have been worth in their business at least 6 per cent per annum. Deducting from the amount of interest upon the principal and premium of these bonds for the time they had to run at the rate of 6 per cent the saving of 2 per cent made for the people by the purchase of such bonds, the loss will appear to be $55,760,000. This calculation would seem to demonstrate that if excessive and unnecessary taxation is continued and the Government is forced to pursue this policy of purchasing its own bonds at the premiums which it will be necessary to pay, the loss to the people will be hundreds of millions of dollars. Since the purchase of bonds was undertaken as mentioned nearly all that have been offered were at last accepted. It has been made quite apparent that the Government was in danger of being subjected to combinations to raise their price, as appears by the instance cited by the Secretary of the offering of bonds of the par value of only $326,000 so often that the aggregate of the sums demanded for their purchase amounted to more than $ 19,700,000. Notwithstanding the large sums paid out in the purchase of bonds, the surplus in the Treasury on the 30th day of November, 1888, was $52,234,610.01, after deducting about $20,000,000 just drawn out for the payment of pensions. At the close of the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, there had been coined under the compulsory silver-coinage act $266,988,280 in silver dollars, $55,504,310 of which were in the hands of the people. On the 30th day of June, 1888, there had been coined $299,708,790; and of this $55,829,303 was in circulation in coin, and $200,387,376 in silver certificates, for the redemption of which silver dollars to that amount were held by the Government. On the 30th day of November, 1888, $312,570,990 had been coined, $60,970,990 of the silver dollars were actually in circulation, and $237,418,346 in certificates. The Secretary recommends the suspension of the further coinage of silver, and in such recommendation I earnestly concur. For further valuable information and timely recommendations I ask the careful attention of the Congress to the Secretary's report. The Secretary of War reports that the Army at the date of the last consolidated returns consisted of 2,189 officers and 24,549 enlisted men. The actual expenditures of the War Department for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1888, amounted to $41,165,107.07, of which sum $9,158,516.63 was expended for public works, including river and harbor improvements. "The Board of Ordnance and Fortifications" provided for under the act approved September 22 last was convened October 30, 1888, and plans and specifications for procuring forgings for 8, 10, and 12 inch guns, under provisions of section 4, and also for procuring 12-inch breech-loading mortars, cast iron, hooped with steel, under the provisions of section 5 of the said act, were submitted to the Secretary of War for reference to the board, by the Ordnance Department, on the same date. These plans and specifications having been promptly approved by the board and the Secretary of War, the necessary authority to publish advertisements inviting proposals in the newspapers throughout the country was granted by the Secretary on November 12, and on November 13 the advertisements were sent out to the different newspapers designated. The bids for the steel forgings are to be opened on December 20, 1888, and for the mortars on December 15, 1888. A board of ordnance officers was convened at the Watervliet Arsenal on October 4, 1888, to prepare the necessary plans and specifications for the establishment of an army gun factory at that point. The preliminary report of this board, with estimates for shop buildings and officers' quarters, was approved by the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications November 6 and 8. The specifications and form of advertisement and instructions to bidders have been prepared, and advertisements inviting proposals for the excavations for the shop building and for erecting the two sets of officers' quarters have been published. The detailed drawings and specifications for the gun-factory building are well in hand, and will be finished within three or four months, when bids will be invited for the erection of the building. The list of machines, etc., is made out, and it is expected that the plans for the large lathes, etc., will be completed within about four months, and after approval by the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications bids for furnishing the same will be invited. The machines and other fixtures will be completed as soon as the shop is in readiness to receive them, probably about July, 1890. Under the provisions of the Army bill for the procurement of pneumatic dynamite guns, the necessary specifications are now being prepared, and advertisements for proposals will issue early in December. The guns will probably be of 15 inches caliber and fire a projectile that will carry a charge each of about 500 pounds of explosive gelatine with full-caliber projectiles. The guns will probably be delivered in from six to ten months from the date of the contract, so that all the guns of this class that can be procured under the provisions of the law will be purchased during the year 1889. I earnestly request that the recommendations contained in the Secretary's report, all of which are, in my opinion, calculated to increase the usefulness and discipline of the Army, may receive the consideration of the Congress. Among these the proposal that there should be provided a plan for the examination of officers to test their fitness for promotion is of the utmost importance. This reform has been before recommended in the reports of the Secretary, and its expediency is so fully demonstrated by the argument he presents in its favor that its adoption should no longer be neglected. The death of General Sheridan in August last was a national affliction. The Army then lost the grandest of its chiefs. The country lost a brave and experienced soldier, a wise and discreet counselor, and a modest and sensible man. Those who in any manner came within the range of his personal association will never fail to pay deserved and willing homage to his greatness and the glory of his career, but they will cherish with more tender sensibility the loving memory of his simple, generous, and considerate nature. The Apache Indians, whose removal from their reservation in Arizona followed the capture o£ those of their number who engaged in a bloody and murderous raid during a part of the years 1885 and 1886, are now held as prisoners of war at Mount Vernon Barracks, in the State of Alabama. They numbered on the 31st day of October, the date of the last report, 83 men, 170 women, 70 boys, and 59 girls; in all, 382 persons. The commanding officer states that they are in good health and contented, and that they are kept employed as fully as is possible in the circumstances. The children, as they arrive at a suitable age, are sent to the Indian schools at Carlisle and Hampton. Last summer some charitable and kind people asked permission to send two teachers to these Indians for the purpose of instructing the adults as well as such children as should be found there. Such permission was readily granted, accommodations were provided for the teachers, and some portions of the buildings at the barracks were made available for school purposes. The good work contemplated has been commenced, and the teachers engaged are paid by the ladies with whom the plan originated. I am not at all in sympathy with those benevolent but injudicious people who are constantly insisting that these Indians should be returned to their reservation. Their removal was an absolute necessity if the lives and property of citizens upon the frontier are to be at all regarded by the Government. Their continued restraint at a distance from the scene of their repeated and cruel murders and outrages is still necessary. It is a mistaken philanthropy, every way injurious, which prompts the desire to see these savages returned to their old haunts. They are in their present location as the result of the best judgment of those having official responsibility in the matter, and who are by no means lacking in kind consideration for the Indians. A number of these prisoners have forfeited their lives to outraged law and humanity. Experience has proved that they are dangerous and can not be trusted. This is true not only of those who on the warpath have heretofore actually been guilty of atrocious murder, but of their kindred and friends, who, while they remained upon their reservation, furnished aid and comfort to those absent with bloody intent. These prisoners should be treated kindly and kept in restraint far from the locality of their former reservation; they should be subjected to efforts calculated to lead to their improvement and the softening of their savage and cruel instincts, but their return to their old home should be persistently resisted. The Secretary in his report gives a graphic history of these Indians, and recites with painful vividness their bloody deeds and the unhappy failure of the Government to manage them by peaceful means. It will be amazing if a perusal of this history will allow the survival of a desire for the return of these prisoners to their reservation upon sentimental or any other grounds. The report of the Secretary of the Navy demonstrates very intelligent management in that important Department, and discloses the most satisfactory progress in the work of reconstructing the Navy made during the past year. Of the ships in course of construction five, viz, the Charleston, Baltimore, Yorktown, Vesuvius, and the Petrel, have in that time been launched and are rapidly approaching completion; and in addition to the above, the Philadelphia, the San Francisco, the Newark, the Bennington, the Concord, and the Herreshoff torpedo boat are all under contract for delivery to the Department during the next year. The progress already made and being made gives good ground for the expectation that these eleven vessels will be incorporated as part of the American Navy within the next twelve months. The report shows that notwithstanding the large expenditures for new construction and the additional labor they involve the total ordinary or current expenditures of the Department for the three years ending June 30, 1888, are less by more than 20 per cent than such expenditures for the three years ending June 30, 1884. The various steps which have been taken to improve the business methods of the Department are reviewed by the Secretary. The purchasing of supplies has been consolidated and placed under a responsible bureau head. This has resulted in the curtailment of open purchases, which in the years 1884 and 1885 amounted to over 50 per cent of all the purchases of the Department, to less than 11 per cent; so that at the present time about 90 per cent of the total departmental purchases are made by contract and after competition. As the expenditures on this account exceed an average of $2,000,000 annually, it is evident that an important improvement in the system has been inaugurated and substantial economies introduced. The report of the Postmaster-General shows a marked increase of business in every branch of the postal service. The number of post-offices on July 1, 1888, was 57,376, an increase of 6,124 in three years and of 2,219 for the last fiscal year. The latter-mentioned increase is classified as follows: Free-delivery offices have increased from 189 in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, to 358 in the year ended June 30, 1888. In the Railway Mail Service there has been an increase in one year of 168 routes, and in the number of miles traveled per annum an increase of 15,795,917.48. The estimated increase of railroad service for the year was 6,000 miles, but the amount of new railroad service actually put on was 12,764.50 miles. The volume of business in the Money-Order Division, including transactions in postal notes, reached the sum of upward of $143,000,000 for the year. During the past year parcel-post conventions have been concluded with Barbados, the Bahamas, British Honduras, and Mexico, and are now under negotiation with all the Central and South American States. The increase of correspondence with foreign countries during the past three years is gratifying, and is especially notable and exceptional with the Central and South American States and with Mexico. As the greater part of mail matter exchanged with these countries is commercial in its character, this increase is evidence of the improved business relations with them. The practical operation of the parcel-post conventions, so far as negotiated, has served to fulfill the most favorable predictions as to their benefits. In January last a general postal convention was negotiated with the Dominion of Canada, which went into operation on March 1, and which practically makes one postal territory of the United States and Canada. Under it merchandise parcels may now be transmitted through the mails at fourth-class rates of postage. It is not possible here to touch even the leading heads of the great postal establishment to illustrate the enormous and rapid growth of its business and the needs for legislative readjustment of much of its machinery that it has outgrown. For these and valuable recommendations of the Postmaster-General attention is earnestly invited to his report. A Department whose revenues have increased from $19,772,000 in 1870 to $52,700,000 in 1888, despite reductions of postage which have enormously reduced rates of revenue while greatly increasing its business, demands the careful consideration of the Congress as to all matters suggested by those familiar with its operations, and which are calculated to increase its efficiency and usefulness. A bill proposed by the Postmaster-General was introduced at the last session of the Congress by which a uniform standard in the amount of gross receipts would fix the right of a community to a public building to be erected by the Government for post-office purposes. It was demonstrated that, aside from the public convenience and the promotion of harmony among citizens, invariably disturbed by change of leasings and of site, it was a measure of the highest economy and of sound business judgment. It was found that the Government was paying in rents at the rate of from 7 to 10 per cent per annum on what the cost of such public buildings would be. A very great advantage resulting from such a law would be the prevention of a large number of bills constantly introduced for the erection of public buildings at places, and involving expenditures not justified by public necessity. I trust that this measure will become a law at the present session of Congress. Of the total number of postmasters 54,874 are of the fourth class. These, of course, receive no allowances whatever for expenses in the service, and their compensation is fixed by percentages on receipts at their respective offices. This rate of compensation may have been, and probably was, at some time just, but the standard has remained unchanged through the several reductions in the rates of postage. Such reductions have necessarily cut down the compensation of these officials, while it undoubtedly increased the business performed by them. Simple justice requires attention to this subject, to the end that fourth-class postmasters may receive at least an equivalent to that which the law itself, fixing the rate, intended for them. Another class of postal employees whose condition seems to demand legislation is that of clerks in post-offices, and I call especial attention to the repeated recommendations of the Postmaster-General for their classification. Proper legislation of this character for the relief of carriers in the free-delivery service has been frequent. Provision is made for their promotion; for substitutes for them on vacation; for substitutes for holidays, and limiting their hours of labor. Seven million dollars has been appropriated for the current year to provide for them, though the total number of offices where they are employed is but 358 for the past fiscal year, with an estimated increase for the current year of but 40, while the total appropriation for all clerks in offices throughout the United States is $5,950,000. The legislation affecting the relations of the Government with railroads is in need of revision. While for the most part the railroad companies throughout the country have cordially cooperated with the Post-Office Department in rendering excellent service, yet under the law as it stands, while the compensation to them for carrying the mail is limited and regulated, and although railroads are made post-roads by law, there is no authority reposed anywhere to compel the owner of a railroad to take and carry the United States mails. The only alternative provided by act of Congress in case of refusal is for the Postmaster-General to send mail forward by pony express. This is but an illustration of ill-fitting legislation, reasonable and proper at the time of its enactment, but long since outgrown and requiring readjustment. It is gratifying to note from the carefully prepared statistics accompanying the Postmaster-General's report that notwithstanding the great expansion of the service the rate of expenditure has been lessened and efficiency has been improved in every branch; that fraud and crime have decreased; that losses from the mails have been reduced, and that the number of complaints of the service made to postmasters and to the Department are far less than ever before. The transactions of the Department of Justice for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1888, are contained in the report of the Attorney-General, as well as a number of valuable recommendations, the most part of which are repetitions of those previously made, and ought to receive consideration. It is stated in this report that though judgments in civil suits amounting to $552,021.08 were recovered in favor of the Government during the year, only the sum of $132,934 was collected thereon; and that though fines, penalties, and forfeitures were imposed amounting to $541,808.43, only $109,648.42 of that sum was paid on account thereof. These facts may furnish an illustration of the sentiment which extensively prevails that a debt due the Government should cause no inconvenience to the citizen. It also appears from this report that though prior to March, 1885, there had been but 6 convictions in the Territories of Utah and Idaho under the laws of 1862 and 1882, punishing polygamy and unlawful cohabitation as crimes, there have been since that date nearly 600 convictions under these laws and the statutes of 1887; and the opinion is expressed that under such a firm and vigilant execution of these laws and the advance of ideas opposed to the forbidden practices polygamy within the United States is virtually at an end. Suits instituted by the Government under the provisions of the act of March 3, 1887, for the termination of the corporations known as the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have resulted in a decree favorable to the Government, declaring the charters of these corporations forfeited and escheating their property. Such property, amounting in value to more than $800,000, is in the hands of a receiver pending further proceedings, an appeal having been taken to the Supreme Court of the United States. In the report of the Secretary of the Interior, which will be laid before you, the condition of the various branches of our domestic affairs connected with that Department and its operations during the past year are fully exhibited. But a brief reference to some of the subjects discussed in this able and interesting report can here be made; but I commend the entire report to the attention of the Congress, and trust that the sensible and valuable recommendations it contains will secure careful consideration. I can not too strenuously insist upon the importance of proper measures to insure a right disposition of our public lands, not only as a matter of present justice, but in forecast of the consequences to future generations. The broad, rich acres of our agricultural plains have been long preserved by nature to become her untrammeled gift to a people civilized and free, upon which should rest in well-distributed ownership the numerous homes of enlightened, equal, and fraternal citizens. They came to national possession with the warning example in our eyes of the entail of iniquities in landed proprietorship which other countries have permitted and still suffer. We have no excuse for the violation of principles cogently taught by reason and example, nor for the allowance of pretexts which have sometimes exposed our lands to colossal greed. Laws which open a door to fraudulent acquisition, or administration which permits favor to rapacious seizure by a favored few of expanded areas that many should enjoy, are accessory to offenses against our national welfare and humanity not to be too severely condemned or punished. It is gratifying to know that something has been done at last to redress the injuries to our people and check the perilous tendency of the reckless waste of the national domain. That over 80,000,000 acres have been arrested from illegal usurpation, improvident grants, and fraudulent entries and claims, to be taken for the homesteads of honest industry--although less than the greater areas thus unjustly lost--must afford a profound gratification to right-feeling citizens, as it is a recompense for the labors and struggles of the recovery. Our dear experience ought sufficiently to urge the speedy enactment of measures of legislation which will confine the future disposition of our remaining agricultural lands to the uses of actual husbandry and genuine homes. Nor should our vast tracts of so-called desert lands be yielded up to the monopoly of corporations or grasping individuals, as appears to be much the tendency under the existing statute. These lands require but the supply of water to become fertile and productive. It is a problem of great moment how most wisely for the public good that factor shall be furnished. I can not but think it perilous to suffer either these lands or the sources of their irrigation to fall into the hands of monopolies, which by such means may exercise lordship over the areas dependent on their treatment for productiveness. Already steps have been taken to secure accurate and scientific information of the conditions, which is the prime basis of intelligent action. Until this shall be gained the course of wisdom appears clearly to lie in a suspension of further disposal, which only promises to create rights antagonistic to the common interest. No harm can follow this cautionary conduct. The land will remain, and the public good presents no demand for hasty dispossession of national ownership and control. I commend also the recommendations that appropriate measures be taken to complete the adjustment of the various grants made to the States for internal improvements and of swamp and overflowed lands, as well as to adjudicate and finally determine the validity and extent of the numerous private land claims. All these are elements of great injustice and peril to the settlers upon the localities affected; and now that their existence can not be avoided, no duty is more pressing than to fix as soon as possible their bounds and terminate the threats of trouble which arise from uncertainty. The condition of our Indian population continues to improve and the proofs multiply that the transforming change, so much to be desired, which shall substitute for barbarism enlightenment and civilizing education, is in favorable progress. Our relations with these people during the year have been disturbed by no serious disorders, but rather marked by a better realization of their true interests and increasing confidence and good will. These conditions testify to the value of the higher tone of consideration and humanity which has governed the later methods of dealing with them, and commend its continued observance. Allotments in severalty have been made on some reservations until all those entitled to land thereon have had their shares assigned, and the work is still continued. In directing the execution of this duty I have not aimed so much at rapid dispatch as to secure just and fair arrangements which shall best conduce to the objects of the law by producing satisfaction with the results of the allotments made. No measure of general effect has ever been entered on from which more may be fairly hoped if it shall be discreetly administered. It proffers opportunity and inducement to that independence of spirit and life which the Indian peculiarly needs, while at the same time the inalienability of title affords security against the risks his inexperience of affairs or weakness of character may expose him to in dealing with others. Whenever begun upon any reservation it should be made complete, so that all are brought to the same condition, and as soon as possible community in lands should cease by opening such as remain unallotted to settlement. Contact with the ways of industrious and successful farmers will perhaps add a healthy emulation which will both instruct and stimulate. But no agency for the amelioration of this people appears to me so promising as the extension, urged by the Secretary, of such complete facilities of education as shall at the earliest possible day embrace all teachable Indian youth, of both sexes, and retain them with a kindly and beneficent hold until their characters are formed and their faculties and dispositions trained to the sure pursuit of some form of useful industry. Capacity of the Indian no longer needs demonstration. It is established. It remains to make the most of it, and when that shall be done the curse will be lifted, the Indian race saved, and the sin of their oppression redeemed. The time of its accomplishment depends upon the spirit and justice with which it shall be prosecuted. It can not be too soon for the Indian nor for the interests and good name of the nation. The average attendance of Indian pupils on the schools increased by over 900 during the year, and the total enrollment reached 15,212. The cost of maintenance was not materially raised. The number of teachable Indian youth is now estimated at 40,000, or nearly three times the enrollment of the schools. It is believed the obstacles in the way of instructing are all surmountable, and that the necessary expenditure would be a measure of economy. The Sioux tribes on the great reservation of Dakota refused to assent to the act passed by the Congress at its last session for opening a portion of their lands to settlement, notwithstanding modification of the terms was suggested which met most of their objections. Their demand is for immediate payment of the full price of $1.25 per acre for the entire body of land the occupancy of which they are asked to relinquish. The manner of submission insured their fair understanding of the law, and their action was undoubtedly as thoroughly intelligent as their capacity admitted. It is at least gratifying that no reproach of overreaching can in any manner lie against the Government, however advisable the favorable completion of the negotiation may have been esteemed. I concur in the suggestions of the Secretary regarding the Turtle Mountain Indians, the two reservations in California, and the Crees. They should, in my opinion, receive immediate attention. The number of pensioners added to the rolls during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1888, is 60,252, and increase of pensions was granted in 45,716 cases. The names of 15,730 pensioners were dropped from the rolls during the year from various causes, and at the close of the year the number of persons of all classes receiving pensions was 452,557. Of these there were 806 survivors of the War of 1812, 10,787 widows of those who served in that war, 16,060 soldiers of the Mexican War, and 5,104 widows of said soldiers. One hundred and two different rates of pensions are paid to these beneficiaries, ranging from $2 to $416.66 per month. The amount paid for pensions during the fiscal year was $78,775,861.92, being an increase over the preceding year of $5,308,280.22. The expenses attending the maintenance and operation of the Pension Bureau during that period was $3,262,524.67, making the entire expenditures of the Bureau $82,038,386.57, being 21 1/2 per cent of the gross income and nearly 31 per cent of the total expenditures of the Government during the year. I am thoroughly convinced that our general pension laws should be revised and adjusted to meet as far as possible, in the light of our experience, all meritorious cases. The fact that 102 different rates of pensions are paid can not, in my opinion, be made consistent with justice to the pensioners or to the Government; and the numerous private pension bills that are passed, predicated upon the imperfection of general laws, while they increase in many cases existing inequality and injustice, lend additional force to the recommendation for a revision of the general laws on this subject. The laxity of ideas prevailing among a large number of our people regarding pensions is becoming every day more marked. The principles upon which they should be granted are in danger of being altogether ignored, and already pensions are often claimed because the applicants are as much entitled as other successful applicants, rather than upon any disability reasonably attributable to military service. If the establishment of vicious precedents be continued, if the granting of pensions be not divorced from partisan and other unworthy and irrelevant considerations, and if the honorable name of veteran unfairly becomes by these means but another term for one who constantly clamors for the aid of the Government, there is danger that injury will be done to the fame and patriotism of many whom our citizens all delight to honor, and that a prejudice will be aroused unjust to meritorious applicants for pensions. The Department of Agriculture has continued, with a good measure of success, its efforts to develop the processes, enlarge the results, and augment the profits of American husbandry. It has collected and distributed practical information, introduced and tested new plants, checked the spread of contagious diseases of farm animals, resisted the advance of noxious insects and destructive fungous growths, and sought to secure to agricultural labor the highest reward of effort and the fullest immunity from loss. Its records of the year show that the season of 1888 has been one of medium production. A generous supply of the demands of consumption has been assured, and a surplus for exportation, moderate in certain products and bountiful in others, will prove a benefaction alike to buyer and grower. Four years ago it was found that the great cattle industry of the country was endangered, and those engaged in it were alarmed at the rapid extension of the European lung plague of pleuro-pneumonia. Serious outbreaks existed in Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky, and in Tennessee animals affected were held in quarantine. Five counties in New York and from one to four counties in each of the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland were almost equally affected. With this great danger upon us and with the contagion already in the channels of commerce, with the enormous direct and indirect losses already being caused by it, and when only prompt and energetic action could be successful, there were in none of these States any laws authorizing this Department to eradicate the malady or giving the State officials power to cooperate with it for this purpose. The Department even lacked both the requisite appropriation and authority. By securing State cooperation in connection with authority from Congress the work of eradication has been pressed successfully, and this dreaded disease has been extirpated from the Western States and also from the Eastern States, with the exception of a few restricted areas, which are still under supervision. The danger has thus been removed, and trade and commerce have been freed from the vexatious State restrictions which were deemed necessary for a time. During the past four years the process of diffusion, as applied to the manufacture of sugar from sorghum and sugar cane, has been introduced into this country and fully perfected by the experiments carried on by the Department of Agriculture. This process is now universally considered to be the most economical one, and it is through it that the sorghum-sugar industry has been established upon a firm basis and the road to its future success opened. The adoption of this diffusion process is also extending in Louisiana and other sugar-producing parts of the country, and will doubtless soon be the only method employed for the extraction of sugar from the cane. An exhaustive study has also within the same period been undertaken of the subject of food adulteration and the best analytical methods for detecting it. A part of the results of this work has already been published by the Department, which, with the matter in course of preparation, will make the most complete treatise on that subject that has ever been published in any country. The Department seeks a progressive development. It would combine the discoveries of science with the economics and amelioration of rural practice. A supervision of the endowed experimental-station system recently provided for is a proper function of the Department, and is now in operation. This supervision is very important, and should be wisely and vigilantly directed, to the end that the pecuniary aid of the Government in favor of intelligent agriculture should be so applied as to result in the general good and to the benefit of all our people, thus justifying the appropriations made from the public Treasury. The adjustment of the relations between the Government and the railroad companies which have received land grants and the guaranty of the public credit in aid of the construction of their roads should receive early attention. The report of a majority of the commissioners appointed to examine the affairs and indebtedness of these roads, in which they favor an extension of the time for the payment of such indebtedness in at least one case where the corporation appears to be able to comply with well-guarded and exact terms of such extension, and the reenforcement of their opinion by gentlemen of undoubted business judgment and experience, appointed to protect the interests of the Government as directors of said corporation, may well lead to the belief that such an extension would be to the advantage of the Government. The subject should be treated as a business proposition with a view to a final realization of its indebtedness by the Government, rather than as a question to be decided upon prejudice or by way of punishment for previous wrongdoing. The report of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, with its accompanying documents, gives in detail the operations of the several departments of the District government, and furnishes evidence that the financial affairs of the District are at present in such satisfactory condition as to justify the Commissioners in submitting to the Congress estimates for desirable and needed improvements. The Commissioners recommend certain legislation which in their opinion is necessary to advance the interests of the District. I invite your special attention to their request for such legislation as will enable the Commissioners without delay to collect, digest, and properly arrange the laws by which the District is governed, and which are now embraced in several collections, making them available only with great difficulty and labor. The suggestions they make touching desirable amendments to the laws relating to licenses granted for carrying on the retail traffic in spirituous liquors, to the observance of Sunday, to the proper assessment and collection of taxes, to the speedy punishment of minor offenders, and to the management and control of the reformatory and charitable institutions supported by Congressional appropriations are commended to careful consideration. I again call attention to the present inconvenience and the danger to life and property attending the operation of steam railroads through and across the public streets and roads of the District. The propriety of such legislation as will properly guard the use of these railroads and better secure the convenience and safety of citizens is manifest. The consciousness that I have presented but an imperfect statement of the condition of our country and its wants occasions no fear that anything omitted is not known and appreciated by the Congress, upon whom rests the responsibility of intelligent legislation in behalf of a great nation and a confiding people. As public servants we shall do our duty well if we constantly guard the rectitude of our intentions, maintain unsullied our love of country, and with unselfish purpose strive for the public good.
As you assemble for the discharge of the duties you have assumed as the representatives of a free and generous people, your meeting is marked by an interesting and impressive incident. With the expiration of the present session of the Congress the first century of our constitutional existence as a nation will be completed. Our survival for one hundred years is not sufficient to assure us that we no longer have dangers to fear in the maintenance, with all its promised blessings, of a government rounded upon the freedom of the people. The time rather admonishes us to soberly inquire whether in the past we have always closely kept in the course of safety, and whether we have before us a way plain and clear which leads to happiness and perpetuity. When the experiment of our Government was undertaken, the chart adopted for our guidance was the Constitution. Departure from the lines there laid down is failure. It is only by a strict adherence to the direction they indicate and by restraint within the limitations they fix that we can furnish proof to the world of the fitness of the American people for self-government. The equal and exact justice of which we boast as the underlying principle of our institutions should not be confined to the relations of our citizens to each other. The Government itself is under bond to the American people that in the exercise of its functions and powers it will deal with the body of our citizens in a manner scrupulously honest and fair and absolutely just. It has agreed that American citizenship shall be the only credential necessary to justify the claim of equality before the law, and that no condition in life shall give rise to discrimination in the treatment of the people by their Government. The citizen of our Republic in its early days rigidly insisted upon full compliance with the letter of this bond, and saw stretching out before him a clear field for individual endeavor. His tribute to the support of his Government was measured by the cost of its economical maintenance, and he was secure in the enjoyment of the remaining recompense of his steady and contented toil. In those days the frugality of the people was stamped upon their Government, and was enforced by the free, thoughtful, and intelligent suffrage of the citizen. Combinations, monopolies, and aggregations of capital were either avoided or sternly regulated and restrained. The pomp and glitter of governments less free offered no temptation and presented no delusion to the plain people who, side by side, in friendly competition, wrought for the ennoblement and dignity of man, for the solution of the problem of free government, and for the achievement of the grand destiny awaiting the land which God had given them. A century has passed. Our cities are the abiding places of wealth and luxury; our manufactories yield fortunes never dreamed of by the fathers of the Republic; our business men are madly striving in the race for riches, and immense aggregations of capital outrun the imagination in the magnitude of their undertakings. We view with pride and satisfaction this bright picture of our country's growth and prosperity, while only a closer scrutiny develops a somber shading. Upon more careful inspection we find the wealth and luxury of our cities mingled with poverty and wretchedness and unremunerative toil. A crowded and constantly increasing urban population suggests the impoverishment of rural sections and discontent with agricultural pursuits. The farmer's son, not satisfied with his father's simple and laborious life, joins the eager chase for easily acquired wealth. We discover that the fortunes realized by our manufacturers are no longer solely the reward of sturdy industry and enlightened foresight, but that they result from the discriminating favor of the Government and are largely built upon undue exactions from the masses of our people. The gulf between employers and the employed is constantly widening, and classes are rapidly forming, one comprising the very rich and powerful, while in another are found the toiling poor. As we view the achievements of aggregated capital, we discover the existence of trusts, combinations, and monopolies, while the citizen is struggling far in the rear or is trampled to death beneath an iron heel. Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of the law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the people's masters. Still congratulating ourselves upon the wealth and prosperity of our country and complacently contemplating every incident of change inseparable from these conditions, it is our duty as patriotic citizens to inquire at the present stage of our progress how the bond of the Government made with the people has been kept and performed. Instead of limiting the tribute drawn from our citizens to the necessities of its economical administration, the Government persists in exacting from the substance of the people millions which, unapplied and useless, lie dormant in its Treasury. This flagrant injustice and this breach of faith and obligation add to extortion the danger attending the diversion of the currency of the country from the legitimate channels of business. Under the same laws by which these results are produced the Government permits many millions more to be added to the cost of the living of our people and to be taken from our consumers, which unreasonably swell the profits of a small but powerful minority. The people must still be taxed for the support of the Government under the operation of tariff laws. But to the extent that the mass of our citizens are inordinately burdened beyond any useful public purpose and for the benefit of a favored few, the Government, under pretext of an exercise of its taxing power, enters gratuitously into partnership with these favorites, to their advantage and to the injury of a vast majority of our people. This is not equality before the law. The existing situation is injurious to the health of our entire body politic. It stifles in those for whose benefit it is permitted all patriotic love of country, and substitutes in its place selfish greed and grasping avarice. Devotion to American citizenship for its own sake and for what it should accomplish as a motive to our nation's advancement and the happiness of all our people is displaced by the assumption that the Government, instead of being the embodiment of equality, is but an instrumentality through which especial and individual advantages are to be gained. The arrogance of this assumption is unconcealed. It appears in the sordid disregard of all but personal interests, in the refusal to abate for the benefit of others one iota of selfish advantage, and in combinations to perpetuate such advantages through efforts to control legislation and improperly influence the suffrages of the people. The grievances of those not included within the circle of these beneficiaries, when fully realized, will surely arouse irritation and discontent. Our farmers, long suffering and patient, struggling in the race of life with the hardest and most unremitting toil, will not fail to see, in spite of misrepresentations and misleading fallacies, that they are obliged to accept such prices for their products as are fixed in foreign markets where they compete with the farmers of the world; that their lands are declining in value while their debts increase, and that without compensating favor they are forced by the action of the Government to pay for the benefit of others such enhanced prices for the things they need that the scanty returns of their labor fail to furnish their support or leave no margin for accumulation. Our workingmen, enfranchised from all delusions and no longer frightened by the cry that their wages are endangered by a just revision of our tariff laws, will reasonably demand through such revision steadier employment, cheaper means of living in their homes, freedom for themselves and their children from the doom of perpetual servitude, and an open door to their advancement beyond the limits of a laboring class. Others of our citizens, whose comforts and expenditures are measured by moderate salaries and fixed incomes, will insist upon the fairness and justice of cheapening the cost of necessaries for themselves and their families. When to the selfishness of the beneficiaries of unjust discrimination under our laws there shall be added the discontent of those who suffer from such discrimination, we will realize the fact that the beneficent purposes of our Government, dependent upon the patriotism and contentment of our people, are endangered. Communism is a hateful thing and a menace to peace and organized government; but the communism of combined wealth and capital, the outgrowth of overweening cupidity and selfishness, which insidiously undermines the justice and integrity of free institutions, is not less dangerous than the communism of oppressed poverty and toil, which, exasperated by injustice and discontent, attacks with wild disorder the citadel of rule. He mocks the people who proposes that the Government shall protect the rich and that they in turn will care for the laboring poor. Any intermediary between the people and their Government or the least delegation of the care and protection the Government owes to the humblest citizen in the land makes the boast of free institutions a glittering delusion and the pretended boon of American citizenship a shameless imposition. A just and sensible revision of our tariff laws should be made for the relief of those of our countrymen who suffer under present conditions. Such a revision should receive the support of all who love that justice and equality due to American citizenship; of all who realize that in this justice and equality our Government finds its strength and its power to protect the citizen and his property; of all who believe that the contented competence and comfort of many accord better with the spirit of our institutions than colossal fortunes unfairly gathered in the hands of a few; of all who appreciate that the forbearance and fraternity among our people, which recognize the value of every American interest, are the surest guaranty of our national progress, and of all who desire to see the products of American skill and ingenuity in every market of the world, with a resulting restoration of American commerce. The necessity of the reduction of our revenues is so apparent as to be generally conceded, but the means by which this end shall be accomplished and the sum of direct benefit which shall result to our citizens present a controversy of the utmost importance. There should be no scheme accepted as satisfactory by which the burdens of the people are only apparently removed. Extravagant appropriations of public money, with all their demoralizing consequences, should not be tolerated, either as a means of relieving the Treasury of its present surplus or as furnishing pretext for resisting a proper reduction in tariff rates. Existing evils and injustice should be honestly recognized, boldly met, and effectively remedied. There should be no cessation of the struggle until a plan is perfected, fair and conservative toward existing industries, but which will reduce the cost to consumers of the necessaries of life, while it provides for our manufacturers the advantage of freer raw materials and permits no injury to the interests of American labor. The because for which the battle is waged is comprised within lines clearly and distinctly defined. It should never be compromised. It is the people's because. It can not be denied that the selfish and private interests which are so persistently heard when efforts are made to deal in a just and comprehensive manner with our tariff laws are related to, if they are not responsible for, the sentiment largely prevailing among the people that the General Government is the fountain of individual and private aid; that it may be expected to relieve with paternal care the distress of citizens and communities, and that from the fullness of its Treasury it should, upon the slightest possible pretext of promoting the general good, apply public funds to the benefit of localities and individuals. Nor can it be denied that there is a growing assumption that, as against the Government and in favor of private claims and interests, the usual rules and limitations of business principles and just dealing should be waived. These ideas have been unhappily much encouraged by legislative acquiescence. Relief from contracts made with the Government is too easily accorded in favor of the citizen; the failure to support claims against the Government by proof is often supplied by no better consideration than the wealth of the Government and the poverty of the claimant; gratuities in the form of pensions are granted upon no other real ground than the needy condition of the applicant, or for reasons less valid; and large sums are expended for public buildings and other improvements upon representations scarcely claimed to be related to public needs and necessities. The extent to which the consideration of such matters subordinate and postpone action upon subjects of great public importance, but involving no special private or partisan interest, should arrest attention and lead to reformation. A few of the numerous illustrations of this condition may be stated. The crowded condition of the calendar of the Supreme Court, and the delay to suitors and denial of justice resulting therefrom, has been strongly urged upon the attention of the Congress, with a plan for the relief of the situation approved by those well able to judge of its merits. While this subject remains without effective consideration, many laws have been passed providing for the holding of terms of inferior courts at places to suit the convenience of localities, or to lay the foundation of an application for the erection of a new public building. Repeated recommendations have been submitted for the amendment and change of the laws relating to our public lands so that their spoliation and diversion to other uses than as homes for honest settlers might be prevented. While a measure to meet this conceded necessity of reform remains awaiting the action of the Congress, many claims to the public lands and applications for their donation, in favor of States and individuals, have been allowed. A plan in aid of Indian management, recommended by those well informed as containing valuable features in furtherance of the solution of the Indian problem, has thus far failed of legislative sanction, while grants of doubtful expediency to railroad corporations, permitting them to pass through Indian reservations, have greatly multiplied. The propriety and necessity of the erection of one or more prisons for the confinement of United States convicts, and a post-office building in the national capital, are not disputed. But these needs yet remain answered, while scores of public buildings have been erected where their necessity for public purposes is not apparent. A revision of our pension laws could easily be made which would rest upon just principles and provide for every worthy applicant. But while our general pension laws remain confused and imperfect, hundreds of private pension laws are annually passed, which are the sources of unjust discrimination and popular demoralization. Appropriation bills for the support of the Government are defaced by items and provisions to meet private ends, and it is freely asserted by responsible and experienced parties that a bill appropriating money for public internal improvement would fail to meet with favor unless it contained items more for local and private advantage than for public benefit. These statements can be much emphasized by an ascertainment of the proportion of Federal legislation which either bears upon its face its private character or which upon examination develops such a motive power. And yet the people wait and expect from their chosen representatives such patriotic action as will advance the welfare of the entire country; and this expectation can only be answered by the performance of public duty with unselfish purpose. Our mission among the nations of the earth and our success in accomplishing the work God has given the American people to do require of those intrusted with the making and execution of our laws perfect devotion, above all other things, to the public good. This devotion will lead us to strongly resist all impatience of constitutional limitations of Federal power and to persistently check the increasing tendency to extend the scope of Federal legislation into the domain of State and local jurisdiction upon the plea of subserving the public welfare. The preservation of the partitions between proper subjects of Federal and local care and regulation is of such importance under the Constitution, which is the law of our very existence, that no consideration of expediency or sentiment should tempt us to enter upon doubtful ground. We have undertaken to discover and proclaim the richest blessings of a free government, with the Constitution as our guide. Let us follow the way it points out; it will not mislead us. And surely no one who has taken upon himself the solemn obligation to support and preserve the Constitution can find justification or solace for disloyalty in the excuse that he wandered and disobeyed in search of a better way to reach the public welfare than the Constitution offers. What has been said is deemed not inappropriate at a time when, from a century's height, we view the way already trod by the American people and attempt to discover their future path. The seventh President of the United States--the soldier and statesman and at all times the firm and brave friend of the people--in vindication of his course as the protector of popular rights and the champion of true American citizenship, declared: The ambition which leads me on is an anxious desire and a fixed determination to restore to the people unimpaired the sacred trust they have confided to my charge; to, heal the wounds of the Constitution and to preserve it from further violation; to persuade my countrymen, so far as I may, that it is not in a splendid government supported by powerful monopolies and aristocratical establishments that they will find happiness or their liberties protection, but in a plain system, void of pomp, protecting all and granting favors to none, dispensing its blessings like the dews of heaven, unseen and unfelt save in the freshness and beauty they contribute to produce. It is such a government that the genius of our people requires--such an one only under which our States may remain for ages to come united, prosperous, and free. In pursuance of a constitutional provision requiring the President from time to time to give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, I have the satisfaction to announce that the close of the year finds the United States in the enjoyment of domestic tranquillity and at peace with all the nations. Since my last annual message our foreign relations have been strengthened and improved by performance of international good offices and by new and renewed treaties of amity, commerce, and reciprocal extradition of criminals. Those international questions which still await settlement are all reasonably within the domain of amicable negotiation, and there is no existing subject of dispute between the United States and any foreign power that is not susceptible of satisfactory adjustment by frank diplomatic treatment. The questions between Great Britain and the United States relating to the rights of American fishermen, under treaty and international comity, in the territorial waters of Canada and Newfoundland, I regret to say, are not yet satisfactorily adjusted. These matters were fully treated in my message to the Senate of February 20 1888, together with which a convention, concluded under my authority with Her Majesty's Government on the 15th of February last, for the removal of all causes of misunderstanding, was submitted by me for the approval of the Senate. This treaty having been rejected by the Senate, I transmitted a message to the Congress on the 23d of August last reviewing the transactions and submitting for consideration certain recommendations for legislation concerning the important questions involved. Afterwards, on the 12th of September, in response to a resolution of the Senate, I again communicated fully all the information in my possession as to the action of the government of Canada affecting the commercial relations between the Dominion and the United States, including the treatment of American fishing vessels in the ports and waters of British North America. These communications have all been published, and therefore opened to the knowledge of both Houses of Congress, although two were addressed to the Senate alone. Comment upon or repetition of their contents would be superfluous, and I am not aware that anything has since occurred which should be added to the facts therein stated. Therefore I merely repeat, as applicable to the present time, the statement which will be found in my message to the Senate of September 12 last, that-- Since March 3, 1887, no case has been reported to the Department of State wherein complaint was made of unfriendly or unlawful treatment of American fishing vessels on the part of the Canadian authorities in which reparation was not promptly and satisfactorily obtained by the United States consul-general at Halifax. Having essayed in the discharge of my duty to procure by negotiation the settlement of a long-standing because of dispute and to remove a constant menace to the good relations of the two countries, and continuing to be of opinion that the treaty of February last, which failed to receive the approval of the Senate, did supply "a satisfactory, practical, and final adjustment, upon a basis honorable and just to both parties, of the difficult and vexed question to which it related," and having subsequently and unavailingly recommended other legislation to Congress which I hoped would suffice to meet the exigency created by the rejection of the treaty, I now again invoke the earnest and immediate attention of the Congress to the condition of this important question as it now stands before them and the country, and for the settlement of which I am deeply solicitous. Near the close of the month of October last occurrences of a deeply regrettable nature were brought to my knowledge, which made it my painful but imperative duty to obtain with as little delay as possible a new personal channel of diplomatic intercourse in this country with the Government of Great Britain. The correspondence in relation to this incident will in due course be laid before you, and will disclose the unpardonable conduct of the official referred to in his interference by advice and counsel with the suffrages of American citizens in the very crisis of the Presidential election then near at hand, and also in his subsequent public declarations to justify his action, superadding impugnment of the Executive and Senate of the United States in connection with important questions now pending in controversy between the two Governments. The offense thus committed was most grave, involving disastrous possibilities to the good relations of the United States and Great Britain, constituting a gross breach of diplomatic privilege and an invasion of the purely domestic affairs and essential sovereignty of the Government to which the envoy was accredited. Having first fulfilled the just demands of international comity by affording full opportunity for Her Majesty's Government to act in relief of the situation, I considered prolongation of discussion to be unwarranted, and thereupon declined to further recognize the diplomatic character of the person whose continuance in such function would destroy that mutual confidence which is essential to the good understanding of the two Governments and was inconsistent with the welfare and self-respect of the Government of the United States. The usual interchange of communication has since continued through Her Majesty's legation in this city. My endeavors to establish by international cooperation measures for the prevention of the extermination of fur seals in Bering Sea have not been relaxed, and I have hopes of being enabled shortly to submit an effective and satisfactory conventional projet with the maritime powers for the approval of the Senate. The coastal boundary between our Alaskan possessions and British Columbia, I regret to say, has not received the attention demanded by its importance, and which on several occasions heretofore I have had the honor to recommend to the Congress. The admitted impracticability, if not impossibility, of making an accurate and precise survey and demarcation of the boundary line as it is recited in the treaty with Russia under which Alaska was ceded to the United States renders it absolutely requisite for the prevention of international jurisdictional complications that adequate appropriation for a reconnoissance and survey to obtain proper knowledge of the locality and the geographical features of the boundary should be authorized by Congress with as little delay as possible. Knowledge to be only thus obtained is an essential prerequisite for negotiation for ascertaining a common boundary, or as preliminary to any other mode of settlement. It is much to be desired that some agreement should be reached with Her Majesty's Government by which the damages to life and property on the Great Lakes may be alleviated by removing or humanely regulating the obstacles to reciprocal assistance to wrecked or stranded vessels. The act of June 19, 1878, which offers to Canadian vessels free access to our inland waters in aid of wrecked or disabled vessels, has not yet become effective through concurrent action by Canada. The due protection of our citizens of French origin or descent from claim of military service in the event of their returning to or visiting France has called forth correspondence which was laid before you at the last session. In the absence of conventional agreement as to naturalization, which is greatly to be desired, this Government sees no occasion to recede from the sound position it has maintained not only with regard to France, but as to all countries with which the United States have not concluded special treaties. Twice within the last year has the imperial household of Germany been visited by death; and I have hastened to express the sorrow of this people, and their appreciation of the lofty character of the late aged Emperor William, and their sympathy with the heroism under suffering of his son the late Emperor Frederick. I renew my recommendation of two years ago for the passage of a bill for the refunding to certain German steamship lines of the interest upon tonnage dues illegally exacted. On the 12th [2d] of April last I laid before the House of Representatives full information respecting our interests in Samoa; and in the subsequent correspondence on the same subject, which will be laid before you in due course, the history of events in those islands will be found. In a message accompanying my approval, on the 1st day of October last, of a bill for the exclusion of Chinese laborers, I laid before Congress full information and all correspondence touching the negotiation of the treaty with China concluded at this capital on the 12th day of March, 1888, and which, having been confirmed by the Senate with certain amendments, was rejected by the Chinese Government. This message contained a recommendation that a sum of money be appropriated as compensation to Chinese subjects who had suffered injuries at the hands of lawless men within our jurisdiction. Such appropriation having been duly made, the fund awaits reception by the Chinese Government. It is sincerely hoped that by the cessation of the influx of this class of Chinese subjects, in accordance with the expressed wish of both Governments, a because of unkind feeling has been permanently removed. On the 9th of August, 1887, notification was given by the Japanese minister at this capital of the adjournment of the conference for the revision of the treaties of Japan with foreign powers, owing to the objection of his Government to the provision in the draft jurisdictional convention which required the submission of the criminal code of the Empire to the powers in advance of its becoming operative. This notification was, however, accompanied with an assurance of Japan's intention to continue the work of revision. Notwithstanding this temporary interruption of negotiations, it is hoped that improvements may soon be secured in the jurisdictional system as respects foreigners in Japan, and relief afforded to that country from the present undue and oppressive foreign control in matters of commerce. I earnestly recommend that relief be provided for the injuries accidentally caused to Japanese subjects in the island Ikisima by the target practice of one of our vessels. A diplomatic mission from Korea has been received, and the formal intercourse between the two countries contemplated by the treaty of 1882 is now established. Legislative provision is hereby recommended to organize and equip consular courts in Korea. Persia has established diplomatic representation at this capital, and has evinced very great interest in the enterprise and achievements of our citizens. I am therefore hopeful that beneficial commercial relations between the two countries may be brought about. I announce with sincere regret that Hayti has again become the theater of insurrection, disorder, and bloodshed. The titular government of president Saloman has been forcibly overthrown and he driven out of the country to France, where he has since died. The tenure of power has been so unstable amid the war of factions that has ensued since the expulsion of President Saloman that no government constituted by the will of the Haytian people has been recognized as administering responsibly the affairs of that country. Our representative has been instructed to abstain from interference between the warring factions, and a vessel of our Navy has been sent to Haytian waters to sustain our minister and for the protection of the persons and property of American citizens. Due precautions have been taken to enforce our neutrality laws and prevent our territory from becoming the base of military supplies for either of the warring factions. Under color of a blockade, of which no reasonable notice had been given, and which does not appear to have been efficiently maintained, a seizure of vessels under the American flag has been reported, and in consequence measures to prevent and redress any molestation of our innocent merchantmen have been adopted. Proclamation was duly made on the 9th day of November, 1887, of the conventional extensions of the treaty of June 3, 1875, with Hawaii, under which relations of such special and beneficent intercourse have been created. In the vast field of Oriental commerce now unfolded from our Pacific borders no feature presents stronger recommendations for Congressional action than the establishment of communication by submarine telegraph with Honolulu. The geographical position of the Hawaiian group in relation to our Pacific States creates a natural interdependency and mutuality of interest which our present treaties were intended to foster, and which make close communication a logical and commercial necessity. The wisdom of concluding a treaty of commercial reciprocity with Mexico has been heretofore stated in my messages to Congress, and the lapse of time and growth of commerce with that close neighbor and sister Republic confirm the judgment so expressed. The precise relocation of our boundary line is needful, and adequate appropriation is now recommended. It is with sincere satisfaction that I am enabled to advert to the spirit of good neighborhood and friendly cooperation and conciliation that has marked the correspondence and action of the Mexican authorities in their share of the task of maintaining law and order about the line of our common boundary. The long-pending boundary dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua was referred to my arbitration, and by an award made on the 22d of March last the question has been finally settled to the expressed satisfaction of both of the parties in interest. The Empire of Brazil, in abolishing the last vestige of slavery among Christian nations, called forth the earnest congratulations of this Government in expression of the cordial sympathies of our people. The claims of nearly all other countries against Chile growing out of her late war with Bolivia and Peru have been disposed of, either by arbitration or by a lump settlement. Similar claims of our citizens will continue to be urged upon the Chilean Government, and it is hoped will not be subject to further delays. A comprehensive treaty of amity and commerce with Peru was proclaimed on November 7 last, and it is expected that under its operation mutual prosperity and good understanding will be promoted. In pursuance of the policy of arbitration, a treaty to settle the claim of Santos, an American citizen, against Ecuador has been concluded under my authority, and will be duly submitted for the approval of the Senate. Like disposition of the claim of Carlos Butterfield against Denmark and of Van Bokkelen against Hayti will probably be made, and I trust the principle of such settlements may be extended in practice under the approval of the Senate. Through unforeseen causes, foreign to the will of both Governments, the ratification of the convention of December 5, 1885, with Venezuela, for the rehearing of claims of citizens of the United States under the treaty of 1866, failed of exchange within the term provided, and a supplementary convention, further extending the time for exchange of ratifications and explanatory of an ambiguous provision of the prior convention, now awaits the advice and consent of the Senate. Although this matter, in the stage referred to, concerns only the concurrent treaty-making power of one branch of Congress, I advert to it in view of the interest repeatedly and conspicuously shown by you in your legislative capacity in favor of a speedy and equitable adjustment of the questions growing out of the discredited judgments of the previous mixed commission of Caracas. With every desire to do justice to the representations of Venezuela in this regard, the time seems to have come to end this matter, and I trust the prompt confirmation by both parties of the supplementary action referred to will avert the need of legislative or other action to prevent the longer withholding of such rights of actual claimants as may be shown to exist. As authorized by the Congress, preliminary steps have been taken for the assemblage at this capital during the coming year of the representatives of South and Central American States, together with those of Mexico, Hayti, and San Domingo, to discuss sundry important monetary and commercial topics. Excepting in those cases where, from reasons of contiguity of territory and the existence of a common border line incapable of being guarded, reciprocal commercial treaties may be found expedient, it is believed that commercial policies inducing freer mutual exchange of products can be most advantageously arranged by independent but cooperative legislation. In the mode last mentioned the control of our taxation for revenue will be always retained in our own hands unrestricted by conventional agreements with other governments. In conformity also with Congressional authority, the maritime powers have been invited to confer in Washington in April next upon the practicability of devising uniform rules and measures for the greater security of life and property at sea. A disposition to accept on the part of a number of the powers has already been manifested, and if the cooperation of the nations chiefly interested shall be secured important results may be confidently anticipated. The act of June 26, 1884, and the acts amendatory thereof, in relation to tonnage duties, have given rise to extended correspondence with foreign nations with whom we have existing treaties of navigation and commerce, and have caused wide and regrettable divergence of opinion in relation to the imposition of the duties referred to. These questions are important, and I shall make them the subject of a special and more detailed communication at the present session. With the rapid increase of immigration to our shores and the facilities of modern travel, abuses of the generous privileges afforded by our naturalization laws call for their careful revision. The easy and unguarded manner in which certificates of American citizenship can now be obtained has induced a class, unfortunately large, to avail themselves of the opportunity to become absolved from allegiance to their native land, and yet by a foreign residence to escape any just duty and contribution of service to the country of their proposed adoption. Thus, while evading the duties of citizenship to the United States, they may make prompt claim for its national protection and demand its intervention in their behalf. International complications of a serious nature arise, and the correspondence of the State Department discloses the great number and complexity of the questions which have been raised. Our laws regulating the issue of passports should be carefully revised, and the institution of a central bureau of registration at the capital is again strongly recommended. By this means full particulars of each case of naturalization in the United States would be secured and properly indexed and recorded, and thus many cases of spurious citizenship would be detected and unjust responsibilities would be avoided. The reorganization of the consular service is a matter of serious importance to our national interests. The number of existing principal consular offices is believed to be greater than is at all necessary for the conduct of the public business. It need not be our policy to maintain more than a moderate number of principal offices, each supported by a salary sufficient to enable the incumbent to live in comfort, and so distributed as to secure the convenient supervision, through subordinate agencies, of affairs over a considerable district. I repeat the recommendations heretofore made by me that the appropriations for the maintenance of our diplomatic and consular service should be recast; that the so-called notarial or unofficial fees, which our representatives abroad are now permitted to treat as personal perquisites, should be forbidden; that a system of consular inspection should be instituted, and that a limited number of secretaries of legation at large should be authorized. Preparations for the centennial celebration, on April 30, 1889, of the inauguration of George Washington as President of the United States, at the city of New York, have been made by a voluntary organization of the citizens of that locality, and believing that an opportunity should be afforded for the expression of the interest felt throughout the country in this event, I respectfully recommend fitting and cooperative action by Congress on behalf of the people of the United States. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury exhibits in detail the condition of our national finances and the operations of the several branches of the Government related to his Department. The total ordinary revenues of the Government for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1888, amounted to $379,266,074.76, of which $219,091,173.63 was received from customs duties and $124,296,871.98 from internal revenue taxes. The total receipts from all sources exceeded those for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, by $7,862,797.10. The ordinary expenditures of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888, were $259,653,958.67, leaving a surplus of $119,612,116.09. The decrease in these expenditures as compared with the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, was $8,278,221.30, notwithstanding the payment of more than $5,000,000 for pensions in excess of what was paid for that purpose in the latter-mentioned year. The revenues of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1889, ascertained for the quarter ended September 30, 1888, and estimated for the remainder of the time, amount to $377,000,000, and the actual and estimated ordinary expenditures for the same year are $273,000,000, leaving an estimated surplus of $104,000,000. The estimated receipts for the year ending June 30, 1890, are $377,000,000, and the estimated ordinary expenditures for the same time are $275,767,488.34, showing a surplus of $101,232,511.66. The foregoing statements of surplus do not take into account the sum necessary to be expended to meet the requirements of the sinking-fund act, amounting to more than $47,000,000 annually. The cost of collecting the customs revenues for the last fiscal year was 2.44 per cent; for the year 1885 it was 3.77 per cent. The excess of internal-revenue taxes collected during the last fiscal year over those collected for the year ended June 30, 1887, was $5,489,174.26, and the cost of collecting this revenue decreased from 3.4 per cent in 1887 to less than 3.2 per cent for the last year. The tax collected on oleomargarine was $723,948.04 for the year ending June 30, 1887, and $864,139.88 for the following year. The requirements of the sinking-fund act have been met for the year ended June 30, 1888, and for the current year also, by the purchase of bonds. After complying with this law as positively required, and bonds sufficient for that purpose had been bought at a premium, it was not deemed prudent to further expend the surplus in such purchases until the authority to do so should be more explicit. A resolution, however, having been passed by both Houses of Congress removing all doubt as to Executive authority, daily purchases of bonds were commenced on the 23d day of April, 1888, and have continued until the present time. By this plan bonds of the Government not yet due have been purchased up to and including the 30th day of November, 1888, amounting to $94,700,400, the premium paid thereon amounting to $17,508,613.08. The premium added to the principal of these bonds represents an investment yielding about 2 per cent interest for the time they still had to run, and the saving to the Government represented by the difference between the amount of interest at 2 per cent upon the sum paid for principal and premium and what it would have paid for interest at the rate specified in the bonds if they had run to their maturity is about $27,165,000. At first sight this would seem to be a profitable and sensible transaction on the part of the Government, but, as suggested by the Secretary of the Treasury, the surplus thus expended for the purchase of bonds was money drawn from the people in excess of any actual need of the Government and was so expended rather than allow it to remain idle in the Treasury. If this surplus, under the operation of just and equitable laws, had been left in the hands of the people, it would have been worth in their business at least 6 per cent per annum. Deducting from the amount of interest upon the principal and premium of these bonds for the time they had to run at the rate of 6 per cent the saving of 2 per cent made for the people by the purchase of such bonds, the loss will appear to be $55,760,000. This calculation would seem to demonstrate that if excessive and unnecessary taxation is continued and the Government is forced to pursue this policy of purchasing its own bonds at the premiums which it will be necessary to pay, the loss to the people will be hundreds of millions of dollars. Since the purchase of bonds was undertaken as mentioned nearly all that have been offered were at last accepted. It has been made quite apparent that the Government was in danger of being subjected to combinations to raise their price, as appears by the instance cited by the Secretary of the offering of bonds of the par value of only $326,000 so often that the aggregate of the sums demanded for their purchase amounted to more than $ 19,700,000. Notwithstanding the large sums paid out in the purchase of bonds, the surplus in the Treasury on the 30th day of November, 1888, was $52,234,610.01, after deducting about $20,000,000 just drawn out for the payment of pensions. At the close of the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, there had been coined under the compulsory silver-coinage act $266,988,280 in silver dollars, $55,504,310 of which were in the hands of the people. On the 30th day of June, 1888, there had been coined $299,708,790; and of this $55,829,303 was in circulation in coin, and $200,387,376 in silver certificates, for the redemption of which silver dollars to that amount were held by the Government. On the 30th day of November, 1888, $312,570,990 had been coined, $60,970,990 of the silver dollars were actually in circulation, and $237,418,346 in certificates. The Secretary recommends the suspension of the further coinage of silver, and in such recommendation I earnestly concur. For further valuable information and timely recommendations I ask the careful attention of the Congress to the Secretary's report. The Secretary of War reports that the Army at the date of the last consolidated returns consisted of 2,189 officers and 24,549 enlisted men. The actual expenditures of the War Department for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1888, amounted to $41,165,107.07, of which sum $9,158,516.63 was expended for public works, including river and harbor improvements. "The Board of Ordnance and Fortifications" provided for under the act approved September 22 last was convened October 30, 1888, and plans and specifications for procuring forgings for 8, 10, and 12 inch guns, under provisions of section 4, and also for procuring 12-inch breech-loading mortars, cast iron, hooped with steel, under the provisions of section 5 of the said act, were submitted to the Secretary of War for reference to the board, by the Ordnance Department, on the same date. These plans and specifications having been promptly approved by the board and the Secretary of War, the necessary authority to publish advertisements inviting proposals in the newspapers throughout the country was granted by the Secretary on November 12, and on November 13 the advertisements were sent out to the different newspapers designated. The bids for the steel forgings are to be opened on December 20, 1888, and for the mortars on December 15, 1888. A board of ordnance officers was convened at the Watervliet Arsenal on October 4, 1888, to prepare the necessary plans and specifications for the establishment of an army gun factory at that point. The preliminary report of this board, with estimates for shop buildings and officers' quarters, was approved by the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications November 6 and 8. The specifications and form of advertisement and instructions to bidders have been prepared, and advertisements inviting proposals for the excavations for the shop building and for erecting the two sets of officers' quarters have been published. The detailed drawings and specifications for the gun-factory building are well in hand, and will be finished within three or four months, when bids will be invited for the erection of the building. The list of machines, etc., is made out, and it is expected that the plans for the large lathes, etc., will be completed within about four months, and after approval by the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications bids for furnishing the same will be invited. The machines and other fixtures will be completed as soon as the shop is in readiness to receive them, probably about July, 1890. Under the provisions of the Army bill for the procurement of pneumatic dynamite guns, the necessary specifications are now being prepared, and advertisements for proposals will issue early in December. The guns will probably be of 15 inches caliber and fire a projectile that will carry a charge each of about 500 pounds of explosive gelatine with full-caliber projectiles. The guns will probably be delivered in from six to ten months from the date of the contract, so that all the guns of this class that can be procured under the provisions of the law will be purchased during the year 1889. I earnestly request that the recommendations contained in the Secretary's report, all of which are, in my opinion, calculated to increase the usefulness and discipline of the Army, may receive the consideration of the Congress. Among these the proposal that there should be provided a plan for the examination of officers to test their fitness for promotion is of the utmost importance. This reform has been before recommended in the reports of the Secretary, and its expediency is so fully demonstrated by the argument he presents in its favor that its adoption should no longer be neglected. The death of General Sheridan in August last was a national affliction. The Army then lost the grandest of its chiefs. The country lost a brave and experienced soldier, a wise and discreet counselor, and a modest and sensible man. Those who in any manner came within the range of his personal association will never fail to pay deserved and willing homage to his greatness and the glory of his career, but they will cherish with more tender sensibility the loving memory of his simple, generous, and considerate nature. The Apache Indians, whose removal from their reservation in Arizona followed the capture o£ those of their number who engaged in a bloody and murderous raid during a part of the years 1885 and 1886, are now held as prisoners of war at Mount Vernon Barracks, in the State of Alabama. They numbered on the 31st day of October, the date of the last report, 83 men, 170 women, 70 boys, and 59 girls; in all, 382 persons. The commanding officer states that they are in good health and contented, and that they are kept employed as fully as is possible in the circumstances. The children, as they arrive at a suitable age, are sent to the Indian schools at Carlisle and Hampton. Last summer some charitable and kind people asked permission to send two teachers to these Indians for the purpose of instructing the adults as well as such children as should be found there. Such permission was readily granted, accommodations were provided for the teachers, and some portions of the buildings at the barracks were made available for school purposes. The good work contemplated has been commenced, and the teachers engaged are paid by the ladies with whom the plan originated. I am not at all in sympathy with those benevolent but injudicious people who are constantly insisting that these Indians should be returned to their reservation. Their removal was an absolute necessity if the lives and property of citizens upon the frontier are to be at all regarded by the Government. Their continued restraint at a distance from the scene of their repeated and cruel murders and outrages is still necessary. It is a mistaken philanthropy, every way injurious, which prompts the desire to see these savages returned to their old haunts. They are in their present location as the result of the best judgment of those having official responsibility in the matter, and who are by no means lacking in kind consideration for the Indians. A number of these prisoners have forfeited their lives to outraged law and humanity. Experience has proved that they are dangerous and can not be trusted. This is true not only of those who on the warpath have heretofore actually been guilty of atrocious murder, but of their kindred and friends, who, while they remained upon their reservation, furnished aid and comfort to those absent with bloody intent. These prisoners should be treated kindly and kept in restraint far from the locality of their former reservation; they should be subjected to efforts calculated to lead to their improvement and the softening of their savage and cruel instincts, but their return to their old home should be persistently resisted. The Secretary in his report gives a graphic history of these Indians, and recites with painful vividness their bloody deeds and the unhappy failure of the Government to manage them by peaceful means. It will be amazing if a perusal of this history will allow the survival of a desire for the return of these prisoners to their reservation upon sentimental or any other grounds. The report of the Secretary of the Navy demonstrates very intelligent management in that important Department, and discloses the most satisfactory progress in the work of reconstructing the Navy made during the past year. Of the ships in course of construction five, viz, the Charleston, Baltimore, Yorktown, Vesuvius, and the Petrel, have in that time been launched and are rapidly approaching completion; and in addition to the above, the Philadelphia, the San Francisco, the Newark, the Bennington, the Concord, and the Herreshoff torpedo boat are all under contract for delivery to the Department during the next year. The progress already made and being made gives good ground for the expectation that these eleven vessels will be incorporated as part of the American Navy within the next twelve months. The report shows that notwithstanding the large expenditures for new construction and the additional labor they involve the total ordinary or current expenditures of the Department for the three years ending June 30, 1888, are less by more than 20 per cent than such expenditures for the three years ending June 30, 1884. The various steps which have been taken to improve the business methods of the Department are reviewed by the Secretary. The purchasing of supplies has been consolidated and placed under a responsible bureau head. This has resulted in the curtailment of open purchases, which in the years 1884 and 1885 amounted to over 50 per cent of all the purchases of the Department, to less than 11 per cent; so that at the present time about 90 per cent of the total departmental purchases are made by contract and after competition. As the expenditures on this account exceed an average of $2,000,000 annually, it is evident that an important improvement in the system has been inaugurated and substantial economies introduced. The report of the Postmaster-General shows a marked increase of business in every branch of the postal service. The number of post-offices on July 1, 1888, was 57,376, an increase of 6,124 in three years and of 2,219 for the last fiscal year. The latter-mentioned increase is classified as follows: Free-delivery offices have increased from 189 in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1887, to 358 in the year ended June 30, 1888. In the Railway Mail Service there has been an increase in one year of 168 routes, and in the number of miles traveled per annum an increase of 15,795,917.48. The estimated increase of railroad service for the year was 6,000 miles, but the amount of new railroad service actually put on was 12,764.50 miles. The volume of business in the Money-Order Division, including transactions in postal notes, reached the sum of upward of $143,000,000 for the year. During the past year parcel-post conventions have been concluded with Barbados, the Bahamas, British Honduras, and Mexico, and are now under negotiation with all the Central and South American States. The increase of correspondence with foreign countries during the past three years is gratifying, and is especially notable and exceptional with the Central and South American States and with Mexico. As the greater part of mail matter exchanged with these countries is commercial in its character, this increase is evidence of the improved business relations with them. The practical operation of the parcel-post conventions, so far as negotiated, has served to fulfill the most favorable predictions as to their benefits. In January last a general postal convention was negotiated with the Dominion of Canada, which went into operation on March 1, and which practically makes one postal territory of the United States and Canada. Under it merchandise parcels may now be transmitted through the mails at fourth-class rates of postage. It is not possible here to touch even the leading heads of the great postal establishment to illustrate the enormous and rapid growth of its business and the needs for legislative readjustment of much of its machinery that it has outgrown. For these and valuable recommendations of the Postmaster-General attention is earnestly invited to his report. A Department whose revenues have increased from $19,772,000 in 1870 to $52,700,000 in 1888, despite reductions of postage which have enormously reduced rates of revenue while greatly increasing its business, demands the careful consideration of the Congress as to all matters suggested by those familiar with its operations, and which are calculated to increase its efficiency and usefulness. A bill proposed by the Postmaster-General was introduced at the last session of the Congress by which a uniform standard in the amount of gross receipts would fix the right of a community to a public building to be erected by the Government for post-office purposes. It was demonstrated that, aside from the public convenience and the promotion of harmony among citizens, invariably disturbed by change of leasings and of site, it was a measure of the highest economy and of sound business judgment. It was found that the Government was paying in rents at the rate of from 7 to 10 per cent per annum on what the cost of such public buildings would be. A very great advantage resulting from such a law would be the prevention of a large number of bills constantly introduced for the erection of public buildings at places, and involving expenditures not justified by public necessity. I trust that this measure will become a law at the present session of Congress. Of the total number of postmasters 54,874 are of the fourth class. These, of course, receive no allowances whatever for expenses in the service, and their compensation is fixed by percentages on receipts at their respective offices. This rate of compensation may have been, and probably was, at some time just, but the standard has remained unchanged through the several reductions in the rates of postage. Such reductions have necessarily cut down the compensation of these officials, while it undoubtedly increased the business performed by them. Simple justice requires attention to this subject, to the end that fourth-class postmasters may receive at least an equivalent to that which the law itself, fixing the rate, intended for them. Another class of postal employees whose condition seems to demand legislation is that of clerks in post-offices, and I call especial attention to the repeated recommendations of the Postmaster-General for their classification. Proper legislation of this character for the relief of carriers in the free-delivery service has been frequent. Provision is made for their promotion; for substitutes for them on vacation; for substitutes for holidays, and limiting their hours of labor. Seven million dollars has been appropriated for the current year to provide for them, though the total number of offices where they are employed is but 358 for the past fiscal year, with an estimated increase for the current year of but 40, while the total appropriation for all clerks in offices throughout the United States is $5,950,000. The legislation affecting the relations of the Government with railroads is in need of revision. While for the most part the railroad companies throughout the country have cordially cooperated with the Post-Office Department in rendering excellent service, yet under the law as it stands, while the compensation to them for carrying the mail is limited and regulated, and although railroads are made post-roads by law, there is no authority reposed anywhere to compel the owner of a railroad to take and carry the United States mails. The only alternative provided by act of Congress in case of refusal is for the Postmaster-General to send mail forward by pony express. This is but an illustration of ill-fitting legislation, reasonable and proper at the time of its enactment, but long since outgrown and requiring readjustment. It is gratifying to note from the carefully prepared statistics accompanying the Postmaster-General's report that notwithstanding the great expansion of the service the rate of expenditure has been lessened and efficiency has been improved in every branch; that fraud and crime have decreased; that losses from the mails have been reduced, and that the number of complaints of the service made to postmasters and to the Department are far less than ever before. The transactions of the Department of Justice for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1888, are contained in the report of the Attorney-General, as well as a number of valuable recommendations, the most part of which are repetitions of those previously made, and ought to receive consideration. It is stated in this report that though judgments in civil suits amounting to $552,021.08 were recovered in favor of the Government during the year, only the sum of $132,934 was collected thereon; and that though fines, penalties, and forfeitures were imposed amounting to $541,808.43, only $109,648.42 of that sum was paid on account thereof. These facts may furnish an illustration of the sentiment which extensively prevails that a debt due the Government should because no inconvenience to the citizen. It also appears from this report that though prior to March, 1885, there had been but 6 convictions in the Territories of Utah and Idaho under the laws of 1862 and 1882, punishing polygamy and unlawful cohabitation as crimes, there have been since that date nearly 600 convictions under these laws and the statutes of 1887; and the opinion is expressed that under such a firm and vigilant execution of these laws and the advance of ideas opposed to the forbidden practices polygamy within the United States is virtually at an end. Suits instituted by the Government under the provisions of the act of March 3, 1887, for the termination of the corporations known as the Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have resulted in a decree favorable to the Government, declaring the charters of these corporations forfeited and escheating their property. Such property, amounting in value to more than $800,000, is in the hands of a receiver pending further proceedings, an appeal having been taken to the Supreme Court of the United States. In the report of the Secretary of the Interior, which will be laid before you, the condition of the various branches of our domestic affairs connected with that Department and its operations during the past year are fully exhibited. But a brief reference to some of the subjects discussed in this able and interesting report can here be made; but I commend the entire report to the attention of the Congress, and trust that the sensible and valuable recommendations it contains will secure careful consideration. I can not too strenuously insist upon the importance of proper measures to insure a right disposition of our public lands, not only as a matter of present justice, but in forecast of the consequences to future generations. The broad, rich acres of our agricultural plains have been long preserved by nature to become her untrammeled gift to a people civilized and free, upon which should rest in well-distributed ownership the numerous homes of enlightened, equal, and fraternal citizens. They came to national possession with the warning example in our eyes of the entail of iniquities in landed proprietorship which other countries have permitted and still suffer. We have no excuse for the violation of principles cogently taught by reason and example, nor for the allowance of pretexts which have sometimes exposed our lands to colossal greed. Laws which open a door to fraudulent acquisition, or administration which permits favor to rapacious seizure by a favored few of expanded areas that many should enjoy, are accessory to offenses against our national welfare and humanity not to be too severely condemned or punished. It is gratifying to know that something has been done at last to redress the injuries to our people and check the perilous tendency of the reckless waste of the national domain. That over 80,000,000 acres have been arrested from illegal usurpation, improvident grants, and fraudulent entries and claims, to be taken for the homesteads of honest industry--although less than the greater areas thus unjustly lost--must afford a profound gratification to right-feeling citizens, as it is a recompense for the labors and struggles of the recovery. Our dear experience ought sufficiently to urge the speedy enactment of measures of legislation which will confine the future disposition of our remaining agricultural lands to the uses of actual husbandry and genuine homes. Nor should our vast tracts of so-called desert lands be yielded up to the monopoly of corporations or grasping individuals, as appears to be much the tendency under the existing statute. These lands require but the supply of water to become fertile and productive. It is a problem of great moment how most wisely for the public good that factor shall be furnished. I can not but think it perilous to suffer either these lands or the sources of their irrigation to fall into the hands of monopolies, which by such means may exercise lordship over the areas dependent on their treatment for productiveness. Already steps have been taken to secure accurate and scientific information of the conditions, which is the prime basis of intelligent action. Until this shall be gained the course of wisdom appears clearly to lie in a suspension of further disposal, which only promises to create rights antagonistic to the common interest. No harm can follow this cautionary conduct. The land will remain, and the public good presents no demand for hasty dispossession of national ownership and control. I commend also the recommendations that appropriate measures be taken to complete the adjustment of the various grants made to the States for internal improvements and of swamp and overflowed lands, as well as to adjudicate and finally determine the validity and extent of the numerous private land claims. All these are elements of great injustice and peril to the settlers upon the localities affected; and now that their existence can not be avoided, no duty is more pressing than to fix as soon as possible their bounds and terminate the threats of trouble which arise from uncertainty. The condition of our Indian population continues to improve and the proofs multiply that the transforming change, so much to be desired, which shall substitute for barbarism enlightenment and civilizing education, is in favorable progress. Our relations with these people during the year have been disturbed by no serious disorders, but rather marked by a better realization of their true interests and increasing confidence and good will. These conditions testify to the value of the higher tone of consideration and humanity which has governed the later methods of dealing with them, and commend its continued observance. Allotments in severalty have been made on some reservations until all those entitled to land thereon have had their shares assigned, and the work is still continued. In directing the execution of this duty I have not aimed so much at rapid dispatch as to secure just and fair arrangements which shall best conduce to the objects of the law by producing satisfaction with the results of the allotments made. No measure of general effect has ever been entered on from which more may be fairly hoped if it shall be discreetly administered. It proffers opportunity and inducement to that independence of spirit and life which the Indian peculiarly needs, while at the same time the inalienability of title affords security against the risks his inexperience of affairs or weakness of character may expose him to in dealing with others. Whenever begun upon any reservation it should be made complete, so that all are brought to the same condition, and as soon as possible community in lands should cease by opening such as remain unallotted to settlement. Contact with the ways of industrious and successful farmers will perhaps add a healthy emulation which will both instruct and stimulate. But no agency for the amelioration of this people appears to me so promising as the extension, urged by the Secretary, of such complete facilities of education as shall at the earliest possible day embrace all teachable Indian youth, of both sexes, and retain them with a kindly and beneficent hold until their characters are formed and their faculties and dispositions trained to the sure pursuit of some form of useful industry. Capacity of the Indian no longer needs demonstration. It is established. It remains to make the most of it, and when that shall be done the curse will be lifted, the Indian race saved, and the sin of their oppression redeemed. The time of its accomplishment depends upon the spirit and justice with which it shall be prosecuted. It can not be too soon for the Indian nor for the interests and good name of the nation. The average attendance of Indian pupils on the schools increased by over 900 during the year, and the total enrollment reached 15,212. The cost of maintenance was not materially raised. The number of teachable Indian youth is now estimated at 40,000, or nearly three times the enrollment of the schools. It is believed the obstacles in the way of instructing are all surmountable, and that the necessary expenditure would be a measure of economy. The Sioux tribes on the great reservation of Dakota refused to assent to the act passed by the Congress at its last session for opening a portion of their lands to settlement, notwithstanding modification of the terms was suggested which met most of their objections. Their demand is for immediate payment of the full price of $1.25 per acre for the entire body of land the occupancy of which they are asked to relinquish. The manner of submission insured their fair understanding of the law, and their action was undoubtedly as thoroughly intelligent as their capacity admitted. It is at least gratifying that no reproach of overreaching can in any manner lie against the Government, however advisable the favorable completion of the negotiation may have been esteemed. I concur in the suggestions of the Secretary regarding the Turtle Mountain Indians, the two reservations in California, and the Crees. They should, in my opinion, receive immediate attention. The number of pensioners added to the rolls during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1888, is 60,252, and increase of pensions was granted in 45,716 cases. The names of 15,730 pensioners were dropped from the rolls during the year from various causes, and at the close of the year the number of persons of all classes receiving pensions was 452,557. Of these there were 806 survivors of the War of 1812, 10,787 widows of those who served in that war, 16,060 soldiers of the Mexican War, and 5,104 widows of said soldiers. One hundred and two different rates of pensions are paid to these beneficiaries, ranging from $2 to $416.66 per month. The amount paid for pensions during the fiscal year was $78,775,861.92, being an increase over the preceding year of $5,308,280.22. The expenses attending the maintenance and operation of the Pension Bureau during that period was $3,262,524.67, making the entire expenditures of the Bureau $82,038,386.57, being 21 1/2 per cent of the gross income and nearly 31 per cent of the total expenditures of the Government during the year. I am thoroughly convinced that our general pension laws should be revised and adjusted to meet as far as possible, in the light of our experience, all meritorious cases. The fact that 102 different rates of pensions are paid can not, in my opinion, be made consistent with justice to the pensioners or to the Government; and the numerous private pension bills that are passed, predicated upon the imperfection of general laws, while they increase in many cases existing inequality and injustice, lend additional force to the recommendation for a revision of the general laws on this subject. The laxity of ideas prevailing among a large number of our people regarding pensions is becoming every day more marked. The principles upon which they should be granted are in danger of being altogether ignored, and already pensions are often claimed because the applicants are as much entitled as other successful applicants, rather than upon any disability reasonably attributable to military service. If the establishment of vicious precedents be continued, if the granting of pensions be not divorced from partisan and other unworthy and irrelevant considerations, and if the honorable name of veteran unfairly becomes by these means but another term for one who constantly clamors for the aid of the Government, there is danger that injury will be done to the fame and patriotism of many whom our citizens all delight to honor, and that a prejudice will be aroused unjust to meritorious applicants for pensions. The Department of Agriculture has continued, with a good measure of success, its efforts to develop the processes, enlarge the results, and augment the profits of American husbandry. It has collected and distributed practical information, introduced and tested new plants, checked the spread of contagious diseases of farm animals, resisted the advance of noxious insects and destructive fungous growths, and sought to secure to agricultural labor the highest reward of effort and the fullest immunity from loss. Its records of the year show that the season of 1888 has been one of medium production. A generous supply of the demands of consumption has been assured, and a surplus for exportation, moderate in certain products and bountiful in others, will prove a benefaction alike to buyer and grower. Four years ago it was found that the great cattle industry of the country was endangered, and those engaged in it were alarmed at the rapid extension of the European lung plague of pleuro-pneumonia. Serious outbreaks existed in Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky, and in Tennessee animals affected were held in quarantine. Five counties in New York and from one to four counties in each of the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland were almost equally affected. With this great danger upon us and with the contagion already in the channels of commerce, with the enormous direct and indirect losses already being caused by it, and when only prompt and energetic action could be successful, there were in none of these States any laws authorizing this Department to eradicate the malady or giving the State officials power to cooperate with it for this purpose. The Department even lacked both the requisite appropriation and authority. By securing State cooperation in connection with authority from Congress the work of eradication has been pressed successfully, and this dreaded disease has been extirpated from the Western States and also from the Eastern States, with the exception of a few restricted areas, which are still under supervision. The danger has thus been removed, and trade and commerce have been freed from the vexatious State restrictions which were deemed necessary for a time. During the past four years the process of diffusion, as applied to the manufacture of sugar from sorghum and sugar cane, has been introduced into this country and fully perfected by the experiments carried on by the Department of Agriculture. This process is now universally considered to be the most economical one, and it is through it that the sorghum-sugar industry has been established upon a firm basis and the road to its future success opened. The adoption of this diffusion process is also extending in Louisiana and other sugar-producing parts of the country, and will doubtless soon be the only method employed for the extraction of sugar from the cane. An exhaustive study has also within the same period been undertaken of the subject of food adulteration and the best analytical methods for detecting it. A part of the results of this work has already been published by the Department, which, with the matter in course of preparation, will make the most complete treatise on that subject that has ever been published in any country. The Department seeks a progressive development. It would combine the discoveries of science with the economics and amelioration of rural practice. A supervision of the endowed experimental-station system recently provided for is a proper function of the Department, and is now in operation. This supervision is very important, and should be wisely and vigilantly directed, to the end that the pecuniary aid of the Government in favor of intelligent agriculture should be so applied as to result in the general good and to the benefit of all our people, thus justifying the appropriations made from the public Treasury. The adjustment of the relations between the Government and the railroad companies which have received land grants and the guaranty of the public credit in aid of the construction of their roads should receive early attention. The report of a majority of the commissioners appointed to examine the affairs and indebtedness of these roads, in which they favor an extension of the time for the payment of such indebtedness in at least one case where the corporation appears to be able to comply with well-guarded and exact terms of such extension, and the reenforcement of their opinion by gentlemen of undoubted business judgment and experience, appointed to protect the interests of the Government as directors of said corporation, may well lead to the belief that such an extension would be to the advantage of the Government. The subject should be treated as a business proposition with a view to a final realization of its indebtedness by the Government, rather than as a question to be decided upon prejudice or by way of punishment for previous wrongdoing. The report of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, with its accompanying documents, gives in detail the operations of the several departments of the District government, and furnishes evidence that the financial affairs of the District are at present in such satisfactory condition as to justify the Commissioners in submitting to the Congress estimates for desirable and needed improvements. The Commissioners recommend certain legislation which in their opinion is necessary to advance the interests of the District. I invite your special attention to their request for such legislation as will enable the Commissioners without delay to collect, digest, and properly arrange the laws by which the District is governed, and which are now embraced in several collections, making them available only with great difficulty and labor. The suggestions they make touching desirable amendments to the laws relating to licenses granted for carrying on the retail traffic in spirituous liquors, to the observance of Sunday, to the proper assessment and collection of taxes, to the speedy punishment of minor offenders, and to the management and control of the reformatory and charitable institutions supported by Congressional appropriations are commended to careful consideration. I again call attention to the present inconvenience and the danger to life and property attending the operation of steam railroads through and across the public streets and roads of the District. The propriety of such legislation as will properly guard the use of these railroads and better secure the convenience and safety of citizens is manifest. The consciousness that I have presented but an imperfect statement of the condition of our country and its wants occasions no fear that anything omitted is not known and appreciated by the Congress, upon whom rests the responsibility of intelligent legislation in behalf of a great nation and a confiding people. As public servants we shall do our duty well if we constantly guard the rectitude of our intentions, maintain unsullied our love of country, and with unselfish purpose strive for the public good.
as you assemble for the discharge of the duties you have assumed as the representatives of a free and generous people your meeting is marked by an interesting and impressive incident with the expiration of the present session of the congress the first century of our constitutional existence as a nation will be completed our survival for one hundred years is not sufficient to assure us that we no longer have dangers to fear in the maintenance with all its promised blessings of a government rounded upon the freedom of the people the time rather admonishes us to soberly inquire whether in the past we have always closely kept in the course of safety and whether we have before us a way plain and clear which leads to happiness and perpetuity when the experiment of our government was undertaken the chart adopted for our guidance was the constitution departure from the lines there laid down is failure it is only by a strict adherence to the direction they indicate and by restraint within the limitations they fix that we can furnish proof to the world of the fitness of the american people for the equal and exact justice of which we boast as the underlying principle of our institutions should not be confined to the relations of our citizens to each other the government itself is under bond to the american people that in the exercise of its functions and powers it will deal with the body of our citizens in a manner scrupulously honest and fair and absolutely just it has agreed that american citizenship shall be the only credential necessary to justify the claim of equality before the law and that no condition in life shall give rise to discrimination in the treatment of the people by their government the citizen of our republic in its early days rigidly insisted upon full compliance with the letter of this bond and saw stretching out before him a clear field for individual endeavor his tribute to the support of his government was measured by the cost of its economical maintenance and he was secure in the enjoyment of the remaining recompense of his steady and contented toil in those days the frugality of the people was stamped upon their government and was enforced by the free thoughtful and intelligent suffrage of the citizen combinations monopolies and aggregations of capital were either avoided or sternly regulated and restrained the pomp and glitter of governments less free offered no temptation and presented no delusion to the plain people who side by side in friendly competition wrought for the ennoblement and dignity of man for the solution of the problem of free government and for the achievement of the grand destiny awaiting the land which god had given them a century has passed our cities are the abiding places of wealth and luxury our manufactories yield fortunes never dreamed of by the fathers of the republic our business men are madly striving in the race for riches and immense aggregations of capital outrun the imagination in the magnitude of their undertakings we view with pride and satisfaction this bright picture of our country growth and prosperity while only a closer scrutiny develops a somber shading upon more careful inspection we find the wealth and luxury of our cities mingled with poverty and wretchedness and unremunerative toil a crowded and constantly increasing urban population suggests the impoverishment of rural sections and discontent with agricultural pursuits the farmer son not satisfied with his father simple and laborious life joins the eager chase for easily acquired wealth we discover that the fortunes realized by our manufacturers are no longer solely the reward of sturdy industry and enlightened foresight but that they result from the discriminating favor of the government and are largely built upon undue exactions from the masses of our people the gulf between employers and the employed is constantly widening and classes are rapidly forming one comprising the very rich and powerful while in another are found the toiling poor as we view the achievements of aggregated capital we discover the existence of trusts combinations and monopolies while the citizen is struggling far in the rear or is trampled to death beneath an iron heel corporations which should be the carefully restrained creatures of the law and the servants of the people are fast becoming the people masters still congratulating ourselves upon the wealth and prosperity of our country and complacently contemplating every incident of change inseparable from these conditions it is our duty as patriotic citizens to inquire at the present stage of our progress how the bond of the government made with the people has been kept and performed instead of limiting the tribute drawn from our citizens to the necessities of its economical administration the government persists in exacting from the substance of the people millions which unapplied and useless lie dormant in its treasury this flagrant injustice and this breach of faith and obligation add to extortion the danger attending the diversion of the currency of the country from the legitimate channels of business under the same laws by which these results are produced the government permits many millions more to be added to the cost of the living of our people and to be taken from our consumers which unreasonably swell the profits of a small but powerful minority the people must still be taxed for the support of the government under the operation of tariff laws but to the extent that the mass of our citizens are inordinately burdened beyond any useful public purpose and for the benefit of a favored few the government under pretext of an exercise of its taxing power enters gratuitously into partnership with these favorites to their advantage and to the injury of a vast majority of our people this is not equality before the law the existing situation is injurious to the health of our entire body politic it stifles in those for whose benefit it is permitted all patriotic love of country and substitutes in its place selfish greed and grasping avarice devotion to american citizenship for its own sake and for what it should accomplish as a motive to our nation advancement and the happiness of all our people is displaced by the assumption that the government instead of being the embodiment of equality is but an instrumentality through which especial and individual advantages are to be gained the arrogance of this assumption is unconcealed it appears in the sordid disregard of all but personal interests in the refusal to abate for the benefit of others one iota of selfish advantage and in combinations to perpetuate such advantages through efforts to control legislation and improperly influence the suffrages of the people the grievances of those not included within the circle of these beneficiaries when fully realized will surely arouse irritation and discontent our farmers long suffering and patient struggling in the race of life with the hardest and most unremitting toil will not fail to see in spite of misrepresentations and misleading fallacies that they are obliged to accept such prices for their products as are fixed in foreign markets where they compete with the farmers of the world that their lands are declining in value while their debts increase and that without compensating favor they are forced by the action of the government to pay for the benefit of others such enhanced prices for the things they need that the scanty returns of their labor fail to furnish their support or leave no margin for accumulation our workingmen enfranchised from all delusions and no longer frightened by the cry that their wages are endangered by a just revision of our tariff laws will reasonably demand through such revision steadier employment cheaper means of living in their homes freedom for themselves and their children from the doom of perpetual servitude and an open door to their advancement beyond the limits of a laboring class others of our citizens whose comforts and expenditures are measured by moderate salaries and fixed incomes will insist upon the fairness and justice of cheapening the cost of necessaries for themselves and their families when to the selfishness of the beneficiaries of unjust discrimination under our laws there shall be added the discontent of those who suffer from such discrimination we will realize the fact that the beneficent purposes of our government dependent upon the patriotism and contentment of our people are endangered communism is a hateful thing and a menace to peace and organized government but the communism of combined wealth and capital the outgrowth of overweening cupidity and selfishness which insidiously undermines the justice and integrity of free institutions is not less dangerous than the communism of oppressed poverty and toil which exasperated by injustice and discontent attacks with wild disorder the citadel of rule he mocks the people who proposes that the government shall protect the rich and that they in turn will care for the laboring poor any intermediary between the people and their government or the least delegation of the care and protection the government owes to the humblest citizen in the land makes the boast of free institutions a glittering delusion and the pretended boon of american citizenship a shameless imposition a just and sensible revision of our tariff laws should be made for the relief of those of our countrymen who suffer under present conditions such a revision should receive the support of all who love that justice and equality due to american citizenship of all who realize that in this justice and equality our government finds its strength and its power to protect the citizen and his property of all who believe that the contented competence and comfort of many accord better with the spirit of our institutions than colossal fortunes unfairly gathered in the hands of a few of all who appreciate that the forbearance and fraternity among our people which recognize the value of every american interest are the surest guaranty of our national progress and of all who desire to see the products of american skill and ingenuity in every market of the world with a resulting restoration of american commerce the necessity of the reduction of our revenues is so apparent as to be generally conceded but the means by which this end shall be accomplished and the sum of direct benefit which shall result to our citizens present a controversy of the utmost importance there should be no scheme accepted as satisfactory by which the burdens of the people are only apparently removed extravagant appropriations of public money with all their demoralizing consequences should not be tolerated either as a means of relieving the treasury of its present surplus or as furnishing pretext for resisting a proper reduction in tariff rates existing evils and injustice should be honestly recognized boldly met and effectively remedied there should be no cessation of the struggle until a plan is perfected fair and conservative toward existing industries but which will reduce the cost to consumers of the necessaries of life while it provides for our manufacturers the advantage of freer raw materials and permits no injury to the interests of american labor the because for which the battle is waged is comprised within lines clearly and distinctly defined it should never be compromised it is the people because it can not be denied that the selfish and private interests which are so persistently heard when efforts are made to deal in a just and comprehensive manner with our tariff laws are related to if they are not responsible for the sentiment largely prevailing among the people that the general government is the fountain of individual and private aid that it may be expected to relieve with paternal care the distress of citizens and communities and that from the fullness of its treasury it should upon the slightest possible pretext of promoting the general good apply public funds to the benefit of localities and individuals nor can it be denied that there is a growing assumption that as against the government and in favor of private claims and interests the usual rules and limitations of business principles and just dealing should be waived these ideas have been unhappily much encouraged by legislative acquiescence relief from contracts made with the government is too easily accorded in favor of the citizen the failure to support claims against the government by proof is often supplied by no better consideration than the wealth of the government and the poverty of the claimant gratuities in the form of pensions are granted upon no other real ground than the needy condition of the applicant or for reasons less valid and large sums are expended for public buildings and other improvements upon representations scarcely claimed to be related to public needs and necessities the extent to which the consideration of such matters subordinate and postpone action upon subjects of great public importance but involving no special private or partisan interest should arrest attention and lead to reformation a few of the numerous illustrations of this condition may be stated the crowded condition of the calendar of the supreme court and the delay to suitors and denial of justice resulting therefrom has been strongly urged upon the attention of the congress with a plan for the relief of the situation approved by those well able to judge of its merits while this subject remains without effective consideration many laws have been passed providing for the holding of terms of inferior courts at places to suit the convenience of localities or to lay the foundation of an application for the erection of a new public building repeated recommendations have been submitted for the amendment and change of the laws relating to our public lands so that their spoliation and diversion to other uses than as homes for honest settlers might be prevented while a measure to meet this conceded necessity of reform remains awaiting the action of the congress many claims to the public lands and applications for their donation in favor of states and individuals have been allowed a plan in aid of indian management recommended by those well informed as containing valuable features in furtherance of the solution of the indian problem has thus far failed of legislative sanction while grants of doubtful expediency to railroad corporations permitting them to pass through indian reservations have greatly multiplied the propriety and necessity of the erection of one or more prisons for the confinement of united states convicts and a building in the national capital are not disputed but these needs yet remain answered while scores of public buildings have been erected where their necessity for public purposes is not apparent a revision of our pension laws could easily be made which would rest upon just principles and provide for every worthy applicant but while our general pension laws remain confused and imperfect hundreds of private pension laws are annually passed which are the sources of unjust discrimination and popular demoralization appropriation bills for the support of the government are defaced by items and provisions to meet private ends and it is freely asserted by responsible and experienced parties that a bill appropriating money for public internal improvement would fail to meet with favor unless it contained items more for local and private advantage than for public benefit these statements can be much emphasized by an ascertainment of the proportion of federal legislation which either bears upon its face its private character or which upon examination develops such a motive power and yet the people wait and expect from their chosen representatives such patriotic action as will advance the welfare of the entire country and this expectation can only be answered by the performance of public duty with unselfish purpose our mission among the nations of the earth and our success in accomplishing the work god has given the american people to do require of those intrusted with the making and execution of our laws perfect devotion above all other things to the public good this devotion will lead us to strongly resist all impatience of constitutional limitations of federal power and to persistently check the increasing tendency to extend the scope of federal legislation into the domain of state and local jurisdiction upon the plea of subserving the public welfare the preservation of the partitions between proper subjects of federal and local care and regulation is of such importance under the constitution which is the law of our very existence that no consideration of expediency or sentiment should tempt us to enter upon doubtful ground we have undertaken to discover and proclaim the richest blessings of a free government with the constitution as our guide let us follow the way it points out it will not mislead us and surely no one who has taken upon himself the solemn obligation to support and preserve the constitution can find justification or solace for disloyalty in the excuse that he wandered and disobeyed in search of a better way to reach the public welfare than the constitution offers what has been said is deemed not inappropriate at a time when from a century height we view the way already trod by the american people and attempt to discover their future path the seventh president of the united states the soldier and statesman and at all times the firm and brave friend of the people in vindication of his course as the protector of popular rights and the champion of true american citizenship declared the ambition which leads me on is an anxious desire and a fixed determination to restore to the people unimpaired the sacred trust they have confided to my charge to heal the wounds of the constitution and to preserve it from further violation to persuade my countrymen so far as i may that it is not in a splendid government supported by powerful monopolies and aristocratical establishments that they will find happiness or their liberties protection but in a plain system void of pomp protecting all and granting favors to none dispensing its blessings like the dews of heaven unseen and unfelt save in the freshness and beauty they contribute to produce it is such a government that the genius of our people requires such an one only under which our states may remain for ages to come united prosperous and free in pursuance of a constitutional provision requiring the president from time to time to give to the congress information of the state of the union i have the satisfaction to announce that the close of the year finds the united states in the enjoyment of domestic tranquillity and at peace with all the nations since my last annual message our foreign relations have been strengthened and improved by performance of international good offices and by new and renewed treaties of amity commerce and reciprocal extradition of criminals those international questions which still await settlement are all reasonably within the domain of amicable negotiation and there is no existing subject of dispute between the united states and any foreign power that is not susceptible of satisfactory adjustment by frank diplomatic treatment the questions between great britain and the united states relating to the rights of american fishermen under treaty and international comity in the territorial waters of canada and newfoundland i regret to say are not yet satisfactorily adjusted these matters were fully treated in my message to the senate of february 20 1888 together with which a convention concluded under my authority with her majesty government on the 15th of february last for the removal of all causes of misunderstanding was submitted by me for the approval of the senate this treaty having been rejected by the senate i transmitted a message to the congress on the 23d of august last reviewing the transactions and submitting for consideration certain recommendations for legislation concerning the important questions involved afterwards on the 12th of september in response to a resolution of the senate i again communicated fully all the information in my possession as to the action of the government of canada affecting the commercial relations between the dominion and the united states including the treatment of american fishing vessels in the ports and waters of british north america these communications have all been published and therefore opened to the knowledge of both houses of congress although two were addressed to the senate alone comment upon or repetition of their contents would be superfluous and i am not aware that anything has since occurred which should be added to the facts therein stated therefore i merely repeat as applicable to the present time the statement which will be found in my message to the senate of september 12 last that since march 3 1887 no case has been reported to the department of state wherein complaint was made of unfriendly or unlawful treatment of american fishing vessels on the part of the canadian authorities in which reparation was not promptly and satisfactorily obtained by the united states at halifax having essayed in the discharge of my duty to procure by negotiation the settlement of a because of dispute and to remove a constant menace to the good relations of the two countries and continuing to be of opinion that the treaty of february last which failed to receive the approval of the senate did supply a satisfactory practical and final adjustment upon a basis honorable and just to both parties of the difficult and vexed question to which it related and having subsequently and unavailingly recommended other legislation to congress which i hoped would suffice to meet the exigency created by the rejection of the treaty i now again invoke the earnest and immediate attention of the congress to the condition of this important question as it now stands before them and the country and for the settlement of which i am deeply solicitous near the close of the month of october last occurrences of a deeply regrettable nature were brought to my knowledge which made it my painful but imperative duty to obtain with as little delay as possible a new personal channel of diplomatic intercourse in this country with the government of great britain the correspondence in relation to this incident will in due course be laid before you and will disclose the unpardonable conduct of the official referred to in his interference by advice and counsel with the suffrages of american citizens in the very crisis of the presidential election then near at hand and also in his subsequent public declarations to justify his action superadding impugnment of the executive and senate of the united states in connection with important questions now pending in controversy between the two governments the offense thus committed was most grave involving disastrous possibilities to the good relations of the united states and great britain constituting a gross breach of diplomatic privilege and an invasion of the purely domestic affairs and essential sovereignty of the government to which the envoy was accredited having first fulfilled the just demands of international comity by affording full opportunity for her majesty government to act in relief of the situation i considered prolongation of discussion to be unwarranted and thereupon declined to further recognize the diplomatic character of the person whose continuance in such function would destroy that mutual confidence which is essential to the good understanding of the two governments and was inconsistent with the welfare and of the government of the united states the usual interchange of communication has since continued through her majesty legation in this city my endeavors to establish by international cooperation measures for the prevention of the extermination of fur seals in bering sea have not been relaxed and i have hopes of being enabled shortly to submit an effective and satisfactory conventional projet with the maritime powers for the approval of the senate the coastal boundary between our alaskan possessions and british columbia i regret to say has not received the attention demanded by its importance and which on several occasions heretofore i have had the honor to recommend to the congress the admitted impracticability if not impossibility of making an accurate and precise survey and demarcation of the boundary line as it is recited in the treaty with russia under which alaska was ceded to the united states renders it absolutely requisite for the prevention of international jurisdictional complications that adequate appropriation for a reconnoissance and survey to obtain proper knowledge of the locality and the geographical features of the boundary should be authorized by congress with as little delay as possible knowledge to be only thus obtained is an essential prerequisite for negotiation for ascertaining a common boundary or as preliminary to any other mode of settlement it is much to be desired that some agreement should be reached with her majesty government by which the damages to life and property on the great lakes may be alleviated by removing or humanely regulating the obstacles to reciprocal assistance to wrecked or stranded vessels the act of june 19 1878 which offers to canadian vessels free access to our inland waters in aid of wrecked or disabled vessels has not yet become effective through concurrent action by canada the due protection of our citizens of french origin or descent from claim of military service in the event of their returning to or visiting france has called forth correspondence which was laid before you at the last session in the absence of conventional agreement as to naturalization which is greatly to be desired this government sees no occasion to recede from the sound position it has maintained not only with regard to france but as to all countries with which the united states have not concluded special treaties twice within the last year has the imperial household of germany been visited by death and i have hastened to express the sorrow of this people and their appreciation of the lofty character of the late aged emperor william and their sympathy with the heroism under suffering of his son the late emperor frederick i renew my recommendation of two years ago for the passage of a bill for the refunding to certain german steamship lines of the interest upon tonnage dues illegally exacted on the 12th 2d of april last i laid before the house of representatives full information respecting our interests in samoa and in the subsequent correspondence on the same subject which will be laid before you in due course the history of events in those islands will be found in a message accompanying my approval on the 1st day of october last of a bill for the exclusion of chinese laborers i laid before congress full information and all correspondence touching the negotiation of the treaty with china concluded at this capital on the 12th day of march 1888 and which having been confirmed by the senate with certain amendments was rejected by the chinese government this message contained a recommendation that a sum of money be appropriated as compensation to chinese subjects who had suffered injuries at the hands of lawless men within our jurisdiction such appropriation having been duly made the fund awaits reception by the chinese government it is sincerely hoped that by the cessation of the influx of this class of chinese subjects in accordance with the expressed wish of both governments a because of unkind feeling has been permanently removed on the 9th of august 1887 notification was given by the japanese minister at this capital of the adjournment of the conference for the revision of the treaties of japan with foreign powers owing to the objection of his government to the provision in the draft jurisdictional convention which required the submission of the criminal code of the empire to the powers in advance of its becoming operative this notification was however accompanied with an assurance of japan intention to continue the work of revision notwithstanding this temporary interruption of negotiations it is hoped that improvements may soon be secured in the jurisdictional system as respects foreigners in japan and relief afforded to that country from the present undue and oppressive foreign control in matters of commerce i earnestly recommend that relief be provided for the injuries accidentally caused to japanese subjects in the island ikisima by the target practice of one of our vessels a diplomatic mission from korea has been received and the formal intercourse between the two countries contemplated by the treaty of 1882 is now established legislative provision is hereby recommended to organize and equip consular courts in korea persia has established diplomatic representation at this capital and has evinced very great interest in the enterprise and achievements of our citizens i am therefore hopeful that beneficial commercial relations between the two countries may be brought about i announce with sincere regret that hayti has again become the theater of insurrection disorder and bloodshed the titular government of president saloman has been forcibly overthrown and he driven out of the country to france where he has since died the tenure of power has been so unstable amid the war of factions that has ensued since the expulsion of president saloman that no government constituted by the will of the haytian people has been recognized as administering responsibly the affairs of that country our representative has been instructed to abstain from interference between the warring factions and a vessel of our navy has been sent to haytian waters to sustain our minister and for the protection of the persons and property of american citizens due precautions have been taken to enforce our neutrality laws and prevent our territory from becoming the base of military supplies for either of the warring factions under color of a blockade of which no reasonable notice had been given and which does not appear to have been efficiently maintained a seizure of vessels under the american flag has been reported and in consequence measures to prevent and redress any molestation of our innocent merchantmen have been adopted proclamation was duly made on the 9th day of november 1887 of the conventional extensions of the treaty of june 3 1875 with hawaii under which relations of such special and beneficent intercourse have been created in the vast field of oriental commerce now unfolded from our pacific borders no feature presents stronger recommendations for congressional action than the establishment of communication by submarine telegraph with honolulu the geographical position of the hawaiian group in relation to our pacific states creates a natural interdependency and mutuality of interest which our present treaties were intended to foster and which make close communication a logical and commercial necessity the wisdom of concluding a treaty of commercial reciprocity with mexico has been heretofore stated in my messages to congress and the lapse of time and growth of commerce with that close neighbor and sister republic confirm the judgment so expressed the precise relocation of our boundary line is needful and adequate appropriation is now recommended it is with sincere satisfaction that i am enabled to advert to the spirit of good neighborhood and friendly cooperation and conciliation that has marked the correspondence and action of the mexican authorities in their share of the task of maintaining law and order about the line of our common boundary the boundary dispute between costa rica and nicaragua was referred to my arbitration and by an award made on the 22d of march last the question has been finally settled to the expressed satisfaction of both of the parties in interest the empire of brazil in abolishing the last vestige of slavery among christian nations called forth the earnest congratulations of this government in expression of the cordial sympathies of our people the claims of nearly all other countries against chile growing out of her late war with bolivia and peru have been disposed of either by arbitration or by a lump settlement similar claims of our citizens will continue to be urged upon the chilean government and it is hoped will not be subject to further delays a comprehensive treaty of amity and commerce with peru was proclaimed on november 7 last and it is expected that under its operation mutual prosperity and good understanding will be promoted in pursuance of the policy of arbitration a treaty to settle the claim of santos an american citizen against ecuador has been concluded under my authority and will be duly submitted for the approval of the senate like disposition of the claim of carlos butterfield against denmark and of van bokkelen against hayti will probably be made and i trust the principle of such settlements may be extended in practice under the approval of the senate through unforeseen causes foreign to the will of both governments the ratification of the convention of december 5 1885 with venezuela for the rehearing of claims of citizens of the united states under the treaty of 1866 failed of exchange within the term provided and a supplementary convention further extending the time for exchange of ratifications and explanatory of an ambiguous provision of the prior convention now awaits the advice and consent of the senate although this matter in the stage referred to concerns only the concurrent power of one branch of congress i advert to it in view of the interest repeatedly and conspicuously shown by you in your legislative capacity in favor of a speedy and equitable adjustment of the questions growing out of the discredited judgments of the previous mixed commission of caracas with every desire to do justice to the representations of venezuela in this regard the time seems to have come to end this matter and i trust the prompt confirmation by both parties of the supplementary action referred to will avert the need of legislative or other action to prevent the longer withholding of such rights of actual claimants as may be shown to exist as authorized by the congress preliminary steps have been taken for the assemblage at this capital during the coming year of the representatives of south and central american states together with those of mexico hayti and san domingo to discuss sundry important monetary and commercial topics excepting in those cases where from reasons of contiguity of territory and the existence of a common border line incapable of being guarded reciprocal commercial treaties may be found expedient it is believed that commercial policies inducing freer mutual exchange of products can be most advantageously arranged by independent but cooperative legislation in the mode last mentioned the control of our taxation for revenue will be always retained in our own hands unrestricted by conventional agreements with other governments in conformity also with congressional authority the maritime powers have been invited to confer in washington in april next upon the practicability of devising uniform rules and measures for the greater security of life and property at sea a disposition to accept on the part of a number of the powers has already been manifested and if the cooperation of the nations chiefly interested shall be secured important results may be confidently anticipated the act of june 26 1884 and the acts amendatory thereof in relation to tonnage duties have given rise to extended correspondence with foreign nations with whom we have existing treaties of navigation and commerce and have caused wide and regrettable divergence of opinion in relation to the imposition of the duties referred to these questions are important and i shall make them the subject of a special and more detailed communication at the present session with the rapid increase of immigration to our shores and the facilities of modern travel abuses of the generous privileges afforded by our naturalization laws call for their careful revision the easy and unguarded manner in which certificates of american citizenship can now be obtained has induced a class unfortunately large to avail themselves of the opportunity to become absolved from allegiance to their native land and yet by a foreign residence to escape any just duty and contribution of service to the country of their proposed adoption thus while evading the duties of citizenship to the united states they may make prompt claim for its national protection and demand its intervention in their behalf international complications of a serious nature arise and the correspondence of the state department discloses the great number and complexity of the questions which have been raised our laws regulating the issue of passports should be carefully revised and the institution of a central bureau of registration at the capital is again strongly recommended by this means full particulars of each case of naturalization in the united states would be secured and properly indexed and recorded and thus many cases of spurious citizenship would be detected and unjust responsibilities would be avoided the reorganization of the consular service is a matter of serious importance to our national interests the number of existing principal consular offices is believed to be greater than is at all necessary for the conduct of the public business it need not be our policy to maintain more than a moderate number of principal offices each supported by a salary sufficient to enable the incumbent to live in comfort and so distributed as to secure the convenient supervision through subordinate agencies of affairs over a considerable district i repeat the recommendations heretofore made by me that the appropriations for the maintenance of our diplomatic and consular service should be recast that the notarial or unofficial fees which our representatives abroad are now permitted to treat as personal perquisites should be forbidden that a system of consular inspection should be instituted and that a limited number of secretaries of legation at large should be authorized preparations for the centennial celebration on april 30 1889 of the inauguration of george washington as president of the united states at the city of new york have been made by a voluntary organization of the citizens of that locality and believing that an opportunity should be afforded for the expression of the interest felt throughout the country in this event i respectfully recommend fitting and cooperative action by congress on behalf of the people of the united states the report of the secretary of the treasury exhibits in detail the condition of our national finances and the operations of the several branches of the government related to his department the total ordinary revenues of the government for the fiscal year ended june 30 1888 amounted to of which was received from customs duties and from internal revenue taxes the total receipts from all sources exceeded those for the fiscal year ended june 30 1887 by the ordinary expenditures of the government for the fiscal year ending june 30 1888 were leaving a surplus of the decrease in these expenditures as compared with the fiscal year ended june 30 1887 was notwithstanding the payment of more than for pensions in excess of what was paid for that purpose in the year the revenues of the government for the year ending june 30 1889 ascertained for the quarter ended september 30 1888 and estimated for the remainder of the time amount to and the actual and estimated ordinary expenditures for the same year are leaving an estimated surplus of the estimated receipts for the year ending june 30 1890 are and the estimated ordinary expenditures for the same time are showing a surplus of the foregoing statements of surplus do not take into account the sum necessary to be expended to meet the requirements of the act amounting to more than annually the cost of collecting the customs revenues for the last fiscal year was per cent for the year 1885 it was per cent the excess of taxes collected during the last fiscal year over those collected for the year ended june 30 1887 was and the cost of collecting this revenue decreased from per cent in 1887 to less than per cent for the last year the tax collected on oleomargarine was for the year ending june 30 1887 and for the following year the requirements of the act have been met for the year ended june 30 1888 and for the current year also by the purchase of bonds after complying with this law as positively required and bonds sufficient for that purpose had been bought at a premium it was not deemed prudent to further expend the surplus in such purchases until the authority to do so should be more explicit a resolution however having been passed by both houses of congress removing all doubt as to executive authority daily purchases of bonds were commenced on the 23d day of april 1888 and have continued until the present time by this plan bonds of the government not yet due have been purchased up to and including the 30th day of november 1888 amounting to the premium paid thereon amounting to the premium added to the principal of these bonds represents an investment yielding about 2 per cent interest for the time they still had to run and the saving to the government represented by the difference between the amount of interest at 2 per cent upon the sum paid for principal and premium and what it would have paid for interest at the rate specified in the bonds if they had run to their maturity is about at first sight this would seem to be a profitable and sensible transaction on the part of the government but as suggested by the secretary of the treasury the surplus thus expended for the purchase of bonds was money drawn from the people in excess of any actual need of the government and was so expended rather than allow it to remain idle in the treasury if this surplus under the operation of just and equitable laws had been left in the hands of the people it would have been worth in their business at least 6 per cent per annum deducting from the amount of interest upon the principal and premium of these bonds for the time they had to run at the rate of 6 per cent the saving of 2 per cent made for the people by the purchase of such bonds the loss will appear to be this calculation would seem to demonstrate that if excessive and unnecessary taxation is continued and the government is forced to pursue this policy of purchasing its own bonds at the premiums which it will be necessary to pay the loss to the people will be hundreds of millions of dollars since the purchase of bonds was undertaken as mentioned nearly all that have been offered were at last accepted it has been made quite apparent that the government was in danger of being subjected to combinations to raise their price as appears by the instance cited by the secretary of the offering of bonds of the par value of only so often that the aggregate of the sums demanded for their purchase amounted to more than notwithstanding the large sums paid out in the purchase of bonds the surplus in the treasury on the 30th day of november 1888 was after deducting about just drawn out for the payment of pensions at the close of the fiscal year ended june 30 1887 there had been coined under the compulsory act in silver dollars of which were in the hands of the people on the 30th day of june 1888 there had been coined and of this was in circulation in coin and in silver certificates for the redemption of which silver dollars to that amount were held by the government on the 30th day of november 1888 had been coined of the silver dollars were actually in circulation and in certificates the secretary recommends the suspension of the further coinage of silver and in such recommendation i earnestly concur for further valuable information and timely recommendations i ask the careful attention of the congress to the secretary report the secretary of war reports that the army at the date of the last consolidated returns consisted of officers and enlisted men the actual expenditures of the war department for the fiscal year ended june 30 1888 amounted to of which sum was expended for public works including river and harbor improvements the board of ordnance and fortifications provided for under the act approved september 22 last was convened october 30 1888 and plans and specifications for procuring forgings for 8 10 and 12 inch guns under provisions of section 4 and also for procuring mortars cast iron hooped with steel under the provisions of section 5 of the said act were submitted to the secretary of war for reference to the board by the ordnance department on the same date these plans and specifications having been promptly approved by the board and the secretary of war the necessary authority to publish advertisements inviting proposals in the newspapers throughout the country was granted by the secretary on november 12 and on november 13 the advertisements were sent out to the different newspapers designated the bids for the steel forgings are to be opened on december 20 1888 and for the mortars on december 15 1888 a board of ordnance officers was convened at the watervliet arsenal on october 4 1888 to prepare the necessary plans and specifications for the establishment of an army gun factory at that point the preliminary report of this board with estimates for shop buildings and officers quarters was approved by the board of ordnance and fortifications november 6 and 8 the specifications and form of advertisement and instructions to bidders have been prepared and advertisements inviting proposals for the excavations for the shop building and for erecting the two sets of officers quarters have been published the detailed drawings and specifications for the building are well in hand and will be finished within three or four months when bids will be invited for the erection of the building the list of machines is made out and it is expected that the plans for the large lathes will be completed within about four months and after approval by the board of ordnance and fortifications bids for furnishing the same will be invited the machines and other fixtures will be completed as soon as the shop is in readiness to receive them probably about july 1890 under the provisions of the army bill for the procurement of pneumatic dynamite guns the necessary specifications are now being prepared and advertisements for proposals will issue early in december the guns will probably be of 15 inches caliber and fire a projectile that will carry a charge each of about 500 pounds of explosive gelatine with projectiles the guns will probably be delivered in from six to ten months from the date of the contract so that all the guns of this class that can be procured under the provisions of the law will be purchased during the year 1889 i earnestly request that the recommendations contained in the secretary report all of which are in my opinion calculated to increase the usefulness and discipline of the army may receive the consideration of the congress among these the proposal that there should be provided a plan for the examination of officers to test their fitness for promotion is of the utmost importance this reform has been before recommended in the reports of the secretary and its expediency is so fully demonstrated by the argument he presents in its favor that its adoption should no longer be neglected the death of general sheridan in august last was a national affliction the army then lost the grandest of its chiefs the country lost a brave and experienced soldier a wise and discreet counselor and a modest and sensible man those who in any manner came within the range of his personal association will never fail to pay deserved and willing homage to his greatness and the glory of his career but they will cherish with more tender sensibility the loving memory of his simple generous and considerate nature the apache indians whose removal from their reservation in arizona followed the capture those of their number who engaged in a bloody and murderous raid during a part of the years 1885 and 1886 are now held as prisoners of war at mount vernon barracks in the state of alabama they numbered on the 31st day of october the date of the last report 83 men 170 women 70 boys and 59 girls in all 382 persons the commanding officer states that they are in good health and contented and that they are kept employed as fully as is possible in the circumstances the children as they arrive at a suitable age are sent to the indian schools at carlisle and hampton last summer some charitable and kind people asked permission to send two teachers to these indians for the purpose of instructing the adults as well as such children as should be found there such permission was readily granted accommodations were provided for the teachers and some portions of the buildings at the barracks were made available for school purposes the good work contemplated has been commenced and the teachers engaged are paid by the ladies with whom the plan originated i am not at all in sympathy with those benevolent but injudicious people who are constantly insisting that these indians should be returned to their reservation their removal was an absolute necessity if the lives and property of citizens upon the frontier are to be at all regarded by the government their continued restraint at a distance from the scene of their repeated and cruel murders and outrages is still necessary it is a mistaken philanthropy every way injurious which prompts the desire to see these savages returned to their old haunts they are in their present location as the result of the best judgment of those having official responsibility in the matter and who are by no means lacking in kind consideration for the indians a number of these prisoners have forfeited their lives to outraged law and humanity experience has proved that they are dangerous and can not be trusted this is true not only of those who on the warpath have heretofore actually been guilty of atrocious murder but of their kindred and friends who while they remained upon their reservation furnished aid and comfort to those absent with bloody intent these prisoners should be treated kindly and kept in restraint far from the locality of their former reservation they should be subjected to efforts calculated to lead to their improvement and the softening of their savage and cruel instincts but their return to their old home should be persistently resisted the secretary in his report gives a graphic history of these indians and recites with painful vividness their bloody deeds and the unhappy failure of the government to manage them by peaceful means it will be amazing if a perusal of this history will allow the survival of a desire for the return of these prisoners to their reservation upon sentimental or any other grounds the report of the secretary of the navy demonstrates very intelligent management in that important department and discloses the most satisfactory progress in the work of reconstructing the navy made during the past year of the ships in course of construction five viz the charleston baltimore yorktown vesuvius and the petrel have in that time been launched and are rapidly approaching completion and in addition to the above the philadelphia the san francisco the newark the bennington the concord and the herreshoff torpedo boat are all under contract for delivery to the department during the next year the progress already made and being made gives good ground for the expectation that these eleven vessels will be incorporated as part of the american navy within the next twelve months the report shows that notwithstanding the large expenditures for new construction and the additional labor they involve the total ordinary or current expenditures of the department for the three years ending june 30 1888 are less by more than 20 per cent than such expenditures for the three years ending june 30 1884 the various steps which have been taken to improve the business methods of the department are reviewed by the secretary the purchasing of supplies has been consolidated and placed under a responsible bureau head this has resulted in the curtailment of open purchases which in the years 1884 and 1885 amounted to over 50 per cent of all the purchases of the department to less than 11 per cent so that at the present time about 90 per cent of the total departmental purchases are made by contract and after competition as the expenditures on this account exceed an average of annually it is evident that an important improvement in the system has been inaugurated and substantial economies introduced the report of the shows a marked increase of business in every branch of the postal service the number of on july 1 1888 was an increase of in three years and of for the last fiscal year the increase is classified as follows offices have increased from 189 in the fiscal year ended june 30 1887 to 358 in the year ended june 30 1888 in the railway mail service there has been an increase in one year of 168 routes and in the number of miles traveled per annum an increase of the estimated increase of railroad service for the year was miles but the amount of new railroad service actually put on was miles the volume of business in the division including transactions in postal notes reached the sum of upward of for the year during the past year conventions have been concluded with barbados the bahamas british honduras and mexico and are now under negotiation with all the central and south american states the increase of correspondence with foreign countries during the past three years is gratifying and is especially notable and exceptional with the central and south american states and with mexico as the greater part of mail matter exchanged with these countries is commercial in its character this increase is evidence of the improved business relations with them the practical operation of the conventions so far as negotiated has served to fulfill the most favorable predictions as to their benefits in january last a general postal convention was negotiated with the dominion of canada which went into operation on march 1 and which practically makes one postal territory of the united states and canada under it merchandise parcels may now be transmitted through the mails at rates of postage it is not possible here to touch even the leading heads of the great postal establishment to illustrate the enormous and rapid growth of its business and the needs for legislative readjustment of much of its machinery that it has outgrown for these and valuable recommendations of the attention is earnestly invited to his report a department whose revenues have increased from in 1870 to in 1888 despite reductions of postage which have enormously reduced rates of revenue while greatly increasing its business demands the careful consideration of the congress as to all matters suggested by those familiar with its operations and which are calculated to increase its efficiency and usefulness a bill proposed by the was introduced at the last session of the congress by which a uniform standard in the amount of gross receipts would fix the right of a community to a public building to be erected by the government for purposes it was demonstrated that aside from the public convenience and the promotion of harmony among citizens invariably disturbed by change of leasings and of site it was a measure of the highest economy and of sound business judgment it was found that the government was paying in rents at the rate of from 7 to 10 per cent per annum on what the cost of such public buildings would be a very great advantage resulting from such a law would be the prevention of a large number of bills constantly introduced for the erection of public buildings at places and involving expenditures not justified by public necessity i trust that this measure will become a law at the present session of congress of the total number of postmasters are of the fourth class these of course receive no allowances whatever for expenses in the service and their compensation is fixed by percentages on receipts at their respective offices this rate of compensation may have been and probably was at some time just but the standard has remained unchanged through the several reductions in the rates of postage such reductions have necessarily cut down the compensation of these officials while it undoubtedly increased the business performed by them simple justice requires attention to this subject to the end that postmasters may receive at least an equivalent to that which the law itself fixing the rate intended for them another class of postal employees whose condition seems to demand legislation is that of clerks in and i call especial attention to the repeated recommendations of the for their classification proper legislation of this character for the relief of carriers in the service has been frequent provision is made for their promotion for substitutes for them on vacation for substitutes for holidays and limiting their hours of labor seven million dollars has been appropriated for the current year to provide for them though the total number of offices where they are employed is but 358 for the past fiscal year with an estimated increase for the current year of but 40 while the total appropriation for all clerks in offices throughout the united states is the legislation affecting the relations of the government with railroads is in need of revision while for the most part the railroad companies throughout the country have cordially cooperated with the department in rendering excellent service yet under the law as it stands while the compensation to them for carrying the mail is limited and regulated and although railroads are made by law there is no authority reposed anywhere to compel the owner of a railroad to take and carry the united states mails the only alternative provided by act of congress in case of refusal is for the to send mail forward by pony express this is but an illustration of legislation reasonable and proper at the time of its enactment but long since outgrown and requiring readjustment it is gratifying to note from the carefully prepared statistics accompanying the report that notwithstanding the great expansion of the service the rate of expenditure has been lessened and efficiency has been improved in every branch that fraud and crime have decreased that losses from the mails have been reduced and that the number of complaints of the service made to postmasters and to the department are far less than ever before the transactions of the department of justice for the fiscal year ended june 30 1888 are contained in the report of the as well as a number of valuable recommendations the most part of which are repetitions of those previously made and ought to receive consideration it is stated in this report that though judgments in civil suits amounting to were recovered in favor of the government during the year only the sum of was collected thereon and that though fines penalties and forfeitures were imposed amounting to only of that sum was paid on account thereof these facts may furnish an illustration of the sentiment which extensively prevails that a debt due the government should because no inconvenience to the citizen it also appears from this report that though prior to march 1885 there had been but 6 convictions in the territories of utah and idaho under the laws of 1862 and 1882 punishing polygamy and unlawful cohabitation as crimes there have been since that date nearly 600 convictions under these laws and the statutes of 1887 and the opinion is expressed that under such a firm and vigilant execution of these laws and the advance of ideas opposed to the forbidden practices polygamy within the united states is virtually at an end suits instituted by the government under the provisions of the act of march 3 1887 for the termination of the corporations known as the perpetual emigrating fund company and the church of jesus christ of saints have resulted in a decree favorable to the government declaring the charters of these corporations forfeited and escheating their property such property amounting in value to more than is in the hands of a receiver pending further proceedings an appeal having been taken to the supreme court of the united states in the report of the secretary of the interior which will be laid before you the condition of the various branches of our domestic affairs connected with that department and its operations during the past year are fully exhibited but a brief reference to some of the subjects discussed in this able and interesting report can here be made but i commend the entire report to the attention of the congress and trust that the sensible and valuable recommendations it contains will secure careful consideration i can not too strenuously insist upon the importance of proper measures to insure a right disposition of our public lands not only as a matter of present justice but in forecast of the consequences to future generations the broad rich acres of our agricultural plains have been long preserved by nature to become her untrammeled gift to a people civilized and free upon which should rest in ownership the numerous homes of enlightened equal and fraternal citizens they came to national possession with the warning example in our eyes of the entail of iniquities in landed proprietorship which other countries have permitted and still suffer we have no excuse for the violation of principles cogently taught by reason and example nor for the allowance of pretexts which have sometimes exposed our lands to colossal greed laws which open a door to fraudulent acquisition or administration which permits favor to rapacious seizure by a favored few of expanded areas that many should enjoy are accessory to offenses against our national welfare and humanity not to be too severely condemned or punished it is gratifying to know that something has been done at last to redress the injuries to our people and check the perilous tendency of the reckless waste of the national domain that over acres have been arrested from illegal usurpation improvident grants and fraudulent entries and claims to be taken for the homesteads of honest industry although less than the greater areas thus unjustly lost must afford a profound gratification to citizens as it is a recompense for the labors and struggles of the recovery our dear experience ought sufficiently to urge the speedy enactment of measures of legislation which will confine the future disposition of our remaining agricultural lands to the uses of actual husbandry and genuine homes nor should our vast tracts of desert lands be yielded up to the monopoly of corporations or grasping individuals as appears to be much the tendency under the existing statute these lands require but the supply of water to become fertile and productive it is a problem of great moment how most wisely for the public good that factor shall be furnished i can not but think it perilous to suffer either these lands or the sources of their irrigation to fall into the hands of monopolies which by such means may exercise lordship over the areas dependent on their treatment for productiveness already steps have been taken to secure accurate and scientific information of the conditions which is the prime basis of intelligent action until this shall be gained the course of wisdom appears clearly to lie in a suspension of further disposal which only promises to create rights antagonistic to the common interest no harm can follow this cautionary conduct the land will remain and the public good presents no demand for hasty dispossession of national ownership and control i commend also the recommendations that appropriate measures be taken to complete the adjustment of the various grants made to the states for internal improvements and of swamp and overflowed lands as well as to adjudicate and finally determine the validity and extent of the numerous private land claims all these are elements of great injustice and peril to the settlers upon the localities affected and now that their existence can not be avoided no duty is more pressing than to fix as soon as possible their bounds and terminate the threats of trouble which arise from uncertainty the condition of our indian population continues to improve and the proofs multiply that the transforming change so much to be desired which shall substitute for barbarism enlightenment and civilizing education is in favorable progress our relations with these people during the year have been disturbed by no serious disorders but rather marked by a better realization of their true interests and increasing confidence and good will these conditions testify to the value of the higher tone of consideration and humanity which has governed the later methods of dealing with them and commend its continued observance allotments in severalty have been made on some reservations until all those entitled to land thereon have had their shares assigned and the work is still continued in directing the execution of this duty i have not aimed so much at rapid dispatch as to secure just and fair arrangements which shall best conduce to the objects of the law by producing satisfaction with the results of the allotments made no measure of general effect has ever been entered on from which more may be fairly hoped if it shall be discreetly administered it proffers opportunity and inducement to that independence of spirit and life which the indian peculiarly needs while at the same time the inalienability of title affords security against the risks his inexperience of affairs or weakness of character may expose him to in dealing with others whenever begun upon any reservation it should be made complete so that all are brought to the same condition and as soon as possible community in lands should cease by opening such as remain unallotted to settlement contact with the ways of industrious and successful farmers will perhaps add a healthy emulation which will both instruct and stimulate but no agency for the amelioration of this people appears to me so promising as the extension urged by the secretary of such complete facilities of education as shall at the earliest possible day embrace all teachable indian youth of both sexes and retain them with a kindly and beneficent hold until their characters are formed and their faculties and dispositions trained to the sure pursuit of some form of useful industry capacity of the indian no longer needs demonstration it is established it remains to make the most of it and when that shall be done the curse will be lifted the indian race saved and the sin of their oppression redeemed the time of its accomplishment depends upon the spirit and justice with which it shall be prosecuted it can not be too soon for the indian nor for the interests and good name of the nation the average attendance of indian pupils on the schools increased by over 900 during the year and the total enrollment reached the cost of maintenance was not materially raised the number of teachable indian youth is now estimated at or nearly three times the enrollment of the schools it is believed the obstacles in the way of instructing are all surmountable and that the necessary expenditure would be a measure of economy the sioux tribes on the great reservation of dakota refused to assent to the act passed by the congress at its last session for opening a portion of their lands to settlement notwithstanding modification of the terms was suggested which met most of their objections their demand is for immediate payment of the full price of per acre for the entire body of land the occupancy of which they are asked to relinquish the manner of submission insured their fair understanding of the law and their action was undoubtedly as thoroughly intelligent as their capacity admitted it is at least gratifying that no reproach of overreaching can in any manner lie against the government however advisable the favorable completion of the negotiation may have been esteemed i concur in the suggestions of the secretary regarding the turtle mountain indians the two reservations in california and the crees they should in my opinion receive immediate attention the number of pensioners added to the rolls during the fiscal year ended june 30 1888 is and increase of pensions was granted in cases the names of pensioners were dropped from the rolls during the year from various causes and at the close of the year the number of persons of all classes receiving pensions was of these there were 806 survivors of the war of 1812 widows of those who served in that war soldiers of the mexican war and widows of said soldiers one hundred and two different rates of pensions are paid to these beneficiaries ranging from 2 to per month the amount paid for pensions during the fiscal year was being an increase over the preceding year of the expenses attending the maintenance and operation of the pension bureau during that period was making the entire expenditures of the bureau being 21 per cent of the gross income and nearly 31 per cent of the total expenditures of the government during the year i am thoroughly convinced that our general pension laws should be revised and adjusted to meet as far as possible in the light of our experience all meritorious cases the fact that 102 different rates of pensions are paid can not in my opinion be made consistent with justice to the pensioners or to the government and the numerous private pension bills that are passed predicated upon the imperfection of general laws while they increase in many cases existing inequality and injustice lend additional force to the recommendation for a revision of the general laws on this subject the laxity of ideas prevailing among a large number of our people regarding pensions is becoming every day more marked the principles upon which they should be granted are in danger of being altogether ignored and already pensions are often claimed because the applicants are as much entitled as other successful applicants rather than upon any disability reasonably attributable to military service if the establishment of vicious precedents be continued if the granting of pensions be not divorced from partisan and other unworthy and irrelevant considerations and if the honorable name of veteran unfairly becomes by these means but another term for one who constantly clamors for the aid of the government there is danger that injury will be done to the fame and patriotism of many whom our citizens all delight to honor and that a prejudice will be aroused unjust to meritorious applicants for pensions the department of agriculture has continued with a good measure of success its efforts to develop the processes enlarge the results and augment the profits of american husbandry it has collected and distributed practical information introduced and tested new plants checked the spread of contagious diseases of farm animals resisted the advance of noxious insects and destructive fungous growths and sought to secure to agricultural labor the highest reward of effort and the fullest immunity from loss its records of the year show that the season of 1888 has been one of medium production a generous supply of the demands of consumption has been assured and a surplus for exportation moderate in certain products and bountiful in others will prove a benefaction alike to buyer and grower four years ago it was found that the great cattle industry of the country was endangered and those engaged in it were alarmed at the rapid extension of the european lung plague of serious outbreaks existed in illinois missouri and kentucky and in tennessee animals affected were held in quarantine five counties in new york and from one to four counties in each of the states of new jersey pennsylvania delaware and maryland were almost equally affected with this great danger upon us and with the contagion already in the channels of commerce with the enormous direct and indirect losses already being caused by it and when only prompt and energetic action could be successful there were in none of these states any laws authorizing this department to eradicate the malady or giving the state officials power to cooperate with it for this purpose the department even lacked both the requisite appropriation and authority by securing state cooperation in connection with authority from congress the work of eradication has been pressed successfully and this dreaded disease has been extirpated from the western states and also from the eastern states with the exception of a few restricted areas which are still under supervision the danger has thus been removed and trade and commerce have been freed from the vexatious state restrictions which were deemed necessary for a time during the past four years the process of diffusion as applied to the manufacture of sugar from sorghum and sugar cane has been introduced into this country and fully perfected by the experiments carried on by the department of agriculture this process is now universally considered to be the most economical one and it is through it that the industry has been established upon a firm basis and the road to its future success opened the adoption of this diffusion process is also extending in louisiana and other parts of the country and will doubtless soon be the only method employed for the extraction of sugar from the cane an exhaustive study has also within the same period been undertaken of the subject of food adulteration and the best analytical methods for detecting it a part of the results of this work has already been published by the department which with the matter in course of preparation will make the most complete treatise on that subject that has ever been published in any country the department seeks a progressive development it would combine the discoveries of science with the economics and amelioration of rural practice a supervision of the endowed system recently provided for is a proper function of the department and is now in operation this supervision is very important and should be wisely and vigilantly directed to the end that the pecuniary aid of the government in favor of intelligent agriculture should be so applied as to result in the general good and to the benefit of all our people thus justifying the appropriations made from the public treasury the adjustment of the relations between the government and the railroad companies which have received land grants and the guaranty of the public credit in aid of the construction of their roads should receive early attention the report of a majority of the commissioners appointed to examine the affairs and indebtedness of these roads in which they favor an extension of the time for the payment of such indebtedness in at least one case where the corporation appears to be able to comply with and exact terms of such extension and the reenforcement of their opinion by gentlemen of undoubted business judgment and experience appointed to protect the interests of the government as directors of said corporation may well lead to the belief that such an extension would be to the advantage of the government the subject should be treated as a business proposition with a view to a final realization of its indebtedness by the government rather than as a question to be decided upon prejudice or by way of punishment for previous wrongdoing the report of the commissioners of the district of columbia with its accompanying documents gives in detail the operations of the several departments of the district government and furnishes evidence that the financial affairs of the district are at present in such satisfactory condition as to justify the commissioners in submitting to the congress estimates for desirable and needed improvements the commissioners recommend certain legislation which in their opinion is necessary to advance the interests of the district i invite your special attention to their request for such legislation as will enable the commissioners without delay to collect digest and properly arrange the laws by which the district is governed and which are now embraced in several collections making them available only with great difficulty and labor the suggestions they make touching desirable amendments to the laws relating to licenses granted for carrying on the retail traffic in spirituous liquors to the observance of sunday to the proper assessment and collection of taxes to the speedy punishment of minor offenders and to the management and control of the reformatory and charitable institutions supported by congressional appropriations are commended to careful consideration i again call attention to the present inconvenience and the danger to life and property attending the operation of steam railroads through and across the public streets and roads of the district the propriety of such legislation as will properly guard the use of these railroads and better secure the convenience and safety of citizens is manifest the consciousness that i have presented but an imperfect statement of the condition of our country and its wants occasions no fear that anything omitted is not known and appreciated by the congress upon whom rests the responsibility of intelligent legislation in behalf of a great nation and a confiding people as public servants we shall do our duty well if we constantly guard the rectitude of our intentions maintain unsullied our love of country and with unselfish purpose strive for the public good
assemble discharge duties assumed representatives free generous people meeting marked interesting impressive incident expiration present session congress first century constitutional existence nation completed survival one hundred years sufficient assure us longer dangers fear maintenance promised blessings government rounded upon freedom people time rather admonishes us soberly inquire whether past always closely kept course safety whether us way plain clear leads happiness perpetuity experiment government undertaken chart adopted guidance constitution departure lines laid failure strict adherence direction indicate restraint within limitations fix furnish proof world fitness american people equal exact justice boast underlying principle institutions confined relations citizens government bond american people exercise functions powers deal body citizens manner scrupulously honest fair absolutely agreed american citizenship shall credential necessary justify claim equality law condition life shall give rise discrimination treatment people government citizen republic early days rigidly insisted upon full compliance letter bond saw stretching clear field individual endeavor tribute support government measured cost economical maintenance secure enjoyment remaining recompense steady contented toil days frugality people stamped upon government enforced free thoughtful intelligent suffrage citizen combinations monopolies aggregations capital either avoided sternly regulated restrained pomp glitter governments less free offered temptation presented delusion plain people side side friendly competition wrought ennoblement dignity man solution problem free government achievement grand destiny awaiting land god given century passed cities abiding places wealth luxury manufactories yield fortunes never dreamed fathers republic business men madly striving race riches immense aggregations capital outrun imagination magnitude undertakings view pride satisfaction bright picture country growth prosperity closer scrutiny develops somber shading upon careful inspection find wealth luxury cities mingled poverty wretchedness unremunerative toil crowded constantly increasing urban population suggests impoverishment rural sections discontent agricultural pursuits farmer son satisfied father simple laborious life joins eager chase easily acquired wealth discover fortunes realized manufacturers longer solely reward sturdy industry enlightened foresight result discriminating favor government largely built upon undue exactions masses people gulf employers employed constantly widening classes rapidly forming one comprising rich powerful another found toiling poor view achievements aggregated capital discover existence trusts combinations monopolies citizen struggling far rear trampled death beneath iron heel corporations carefully restrained creatures law servants people fast becoming people masters still congratulating upon wealth prosperity country complacently contemplating every incident change inseparable conditions duty patriotic citizens inquire present stage progress bond government made people kept performed instead limiting tribute drawn citizens necessities economical administration government persists exacting substance people millions unapplied useless lie dormant treasury flagrant injustice breach faith obligation add extortion danger attending diversion currency country legitimate channels business laws results produced government permits many millions added cost living people taken consumers unreasonably swell profits small powerful minority people must still taxed support government operation tariff laws extent mass citizens inordinately burdened beyond useful public purpose benefit favored government pretext exercise taxing power enters gratuitously partnership favorites advantage injury vast majority people equality law existing situation injurious health entire body politic stifles whose benefit permitted patriotic love country substitutes place selfish greed grasping avarice devotion american citizenship sake accomplish motive nation advancement happiness people displaced assumption government instead embodiment equality instrumentality especial individual advantages gained arrogance assumption unconcealed appears sordid disregard personal interests refusal abate benefit others one iota selfish advantage combinations perpetuate advantages efforts control legislation improperly influence suffrages people grievances included within circle beneficiaries fully realized surely arouse irritation discontent farmers long suffering patient struggling race life hardest unremitting toil fail see spite misrepresentations misleading fallacies obliged accept prices products fixed foreign markets compete farmers world lands declining value debts increase without compensating favor forced action government pay benefit others enhanced prices things need scanty returns labor fail furnish support leave margin accumulation workingmen enfranchised delusions longer frightened cry wages endangered revision tariff laws reasonably demand revision steadier employment cheaper means living homes freedom children doom perpetual servitude open door advancement beyond limits laboring class others citizens whose comforts expenditures measured moderate salaries fixed incomes insist upon fairness justice cheapening cost necessaries families selfishness beneficiaries unjust discrimination laws shall added discontent suffer discrimination realize fact beneficent purposes government dependent upon patriotism contentment people endangered communism hateful thing menace peace organized government communism combined wealth capital outgrowth overweening cupidity selfishness insidiously undermines justice integrity free institutions less dangerous communism oppressed poverty toil exasperated injustice discontent attacks wild disorder citadel rule mocks people proposes government shall protect rich turn care laboring poor intermediary people government least delegation care protection government owes humblest citizen land makes boast free institutions glittering delusion pretended boon american citizenship shameless imposition sensible revision tariff laws made relief countrymen suffer present conditions revision receive support love justice equality due american citizenship realize justice equality government finds strength power protect citizen property believe contented competence comfort many accord better spirit institutions colossal fortunes unfairly gathered hands appreciate forbearance fraternity among people recognize value every american interest surest guaranty national progress desire see products american skill ingenuity every market world resulting restoration american commerce necessity reduction revenues apparent generally conceded means end shall accomplished sum direct benefit shall result citizens present controversy utmost importance scheme accepted satisfactory burdens people apparently removed extravagant appropriations public money demoralizing consequences tolerated either means relieving treasury present surplus furnishing pretext resisting proper reduction tariff rates existing evils injustice honestly recognized boldly met effectively remedied cessation struggle plan perfected fair conservative toward existing industries reduce cost consumers necessaries life provides manufacturers advantage freer raw materials permits injury interests american labor battle waged comprised within lines clearly distinctly defined never compromised people denied selfish private interests persistently heard efforts made deal comprehensive manner tariff laws related responsible sentiment largely prevailing among people general government fountain individual private aid may expected relieve paternal care distress citizens communities fullness treasury upon slightest possible pretext promoting general good apply public funds benefit localities individuals denied growing assumption government favor private claims interests usual rules limitations business principles dealing waived ideas unhappily much encouraged legislative acquiescence relief contracts made government easily accorded favor citizen failure support claims government proof often supplied better consideration wealth government poverty claimant gratuities form pensions granted upon real ground needy condition applicant reasons less valid large sums expended public buildings improvements upon representations scarcely claimed related public needs necessities extent consideration matters subordinate postpone action upon subjects great public importance involving special private partisan interest arrest attention lead reformation numerous illustrations condition may stated crowded condition calendar supreme court delay suitors denial justice resulting therefrom strongly urged upon attention congress plan relief situation approved well able judge merits subject remains without effective consideration many laws passed providing holding terms inferior courts places suit convenience localities lay foundation application erection new public building repeated recommendations submitted amendment change laws relating public lands spoliation diversion uses homes honest settlers might prevented measure meet conceded necessity reform remains awaiting action congress many claims public lands applications donation favor states individuals allowed plan aid indian management recommended well informed containing valuable features furtherance solution indian problem thus far failed legislative sanction grants doubtful expediency railroad corporations permitting pass indian reservations greatly multiplied propriety necessity erection one prisons confinement united states convicts building national capital disputed needs yet remain answered scores public buildings erected necessity public purposes apparent revision pension laws could easily made would rest upon principles provide every worthy applicant general pension laws remain confused imperfect hundreds private pension laws annually passed sources unjust discrimination popular demoralization appropriation bills support government defaced items provisions meet private ends freely asserted responsible experienced parties bill appropriating money public internal improvement would fail meet favor unless contained items local private advantage public benefit statements much emphasized ascertainment proportion federal legislation either bears upon face private character upon examination develops motive power yet people wait expect chosen representatives patriotic action advance welfare entire country expectation answered performance public duty unselfish purpose mission among nations earth success accomplishing work god given american people require intrusted making execution laws perfect devotion things public good devotion lead us strongly resist impatience constitutional limitations federal power persistently check increasing tendency extend scope federal legislation domain state local jurisdiction upon plea subserving public welfare preservation partitions proper subjects federal local care regulation importance constitution law existence consideration expediency sentiment tempt us enter upon doubtful ground undertaken discover proclaim richest blessings free government constitution guide let us follow way points mislead us surely one taken upon solemn obligation support preserve constitution find justification solace disloyalty excuse wandered disobeyed search better way reach public welfare constitution offers said deemed inappropriate time century height view way already trod american people attempt discover future path seventh president united states soldier statesman times firm brave friend people vindication course protector popular rights champion true american citizenship declared ambition leads anxious desire fixed determination restore people unimpaired sacred trust confided charge heal wounds constitution preserve violation persuade countrymen far may splendid government supported powerful monopolies aristocratical establishments find happiness liberties protection plain system void pomp protecting granting favors none dispensing blessings like dews heaven unseen unfelt save freshness beauty contribute produce government genius people requires one states may remain ages come united prosperous free pursuance constitutional provision requiring president time time give congress information state union satisfaction announce close year finds united states enjoyment domestic tranquillity peace nations since last annual message foreign relations strengthened improved performance international good offices new renewed treaties amity commerce reciprocal extradition criminals international questions still await settlement reasonably within domain amicable negotiation existing subject dispute united states foreign power susceptible satisfactory adjustment frank diplomatic treatment questions great britain united states relating rights american fishermen treaty international comity territorial waters canada newfoundland regret say yet satisfactorily adjusted matters fully treated message senate february 20 1888 together convention concluded authority majesty government 15th february last removal causes misunderstanding submitted approval senate treaty rejected senate transmitted message congress 23d august last reviewing transactions submitting consideration certain recommendations legislation concerning important questions involved afterwards 12th september response resolution senate communicated fully information possession action government canada affecting commercial relations dominion united states including treatment american fishing vessels ports waters british north america communications published therefore opened knowledge houses congress although two addressed senate alone comment upon repetition contents would superfluous aware anything since occurred added facts therein stated therefore merely repeat applicable present time statement found message senate september 12 last since march 3 1887 case reported department state wherein complaint made unfriendly unlawful treatment american fishing vessels part canadian authorities reparation promptly satisfactorily obtained united states halifax essayed discharge duty procure negotiation settlement dispute remove constant menace good relations two countries continuing opinion treaty february last failed receive approval senate supply satisfactory practical final adjustment upon basis honorable parties difficult vexed question related subsequently unavailingly recommended legislation congress hoped would suffice meet exigency created rejection treaty invoke earnest immediate attention congress condition important question stands country settlement deeply solicitous near close month october last occurrences deeply regrettable nature brought knowledge made painful imperative duty obtain little delay possible new personal channel diplomatic intercourse country government great britain correspondence relation incident due course laid disclose unpardonable conduct official referred interference advice counsel suffrages american citizens crisis presidential election near hand also subsequent public declarations justify action superadding impugnment executive senate united states connection important questions pending controversy two governments offense thus committed grave involving disastrous possibilities good relations united states great britain constituting gross breach diplomatic privilege invasion purely domestic affairs essential sovereignty government envoy accredited first fulfilled demands international comity affording full opportunity majesty government act relief situation considered prolongation discussion unwarranted thereupon declined recognize diplomatic character person whose continuance function would destroy mutual confidence essential good understanding two governments inconsistent welfare government united states usual interchange communication since continued majesty legation city endeavors establish international cooperation measures prevention extermination fur seals bering sea relaxed hopes enabled shortly submit effective satisfactory conventional projet maritime powers approval senate coastal boundary alaskan possessions british columbia regret say received attention demanded importance several occasions heretofore honor recommend congress admitted impracticability impossibility making accurate precise survey demarcation boundary line recited treaty russia alaska ceded united states renders absolutely requisite prevention international jurisdictional complications adequate appropriation reconnoissance survey obtain proper knowledge locality geographical features boundary authorized congress little delay possible knowledge thus obtained essential prerequisite negotiation ascertaining common boundary preliminary mode settlement much desired agreement reached majesty government damages life property great lakes may alleviated removing humanely regulating obstacles reciprocal assistance wrecked stranded vessels act june 19 1878 offers canadian vessels free access inland waters aid wrecked disabled vessels yet become effective concurrent action canada due protection citizens french origin descent claim military service event returning visiting france called forth correspondence laid last session absence conventional agreement naturalization greatly desired government sees occasion recede sound position maintained regard france countries united states concluded special treaties twice within last year imperial household germany visited death hastened express sorrow people appreciation lofty character late aged emperor william sympathy heroism suffering son late emperor frederick renew recommendation two years ago passage bill refunding certain german steamship lines interest upon tonnage dues illegally exacted 12th 2d april last laid house representatives full information respecting interests samoa subsequent correspondence subject laid due course history events islands found message accompanying approval 1st day october last bill exclusion chinese laborers laid congress full information correspondence touching negotiation treaty china concluded capital 12th day march 1888 confirmed senate certain amendments rejected chinese government message contained recommendation sum money appropriated compensation chinese subjects suffered injuries hands lawless men within jurisdiction appropriation duly made fund awaits reception chinese government sincerely hoped cessation influx class chinese subjects accordance expressed wish governments unkind feeling permanently removed 9th august 1887 notification given japanese minister capital adjournment conference revision treaties japan foreign powers owing objection government provision draft jurisdictional convention required submission criminal code empire powers advance becoming operative notification however accompanied assurance japan intention continue work revision notwithstanding temporary interruption negotiations hoped improvements may soon secured jurisdictional system respects foreigners japan relief afforded country present undue oppressive foreign control matters commerce earnestly recommend relief provided injuries accidentally caused japanese subjects island ikisima target practice one vessels diplomatic mission korea received formal intercourse two countries contemplated treaty 1882 established legislative provision hereby recommended organize equip consular courts korea persia established diplomatic representation capital evinced great interest enterprise achievements citizens therefore hopeful beneficial commercial relations two countries may brought announce sincere regret hayti become theater insurrection disorder bloodshed titular government president saloman forcibly overthrown driven country france since died tenure power unstable amid war factions ensued since expulsion president saloman government constituted haytian people recognized administering responsibly affairs country representative instructed abstain interference warring factions vessel navy sent haytian waters sustain minister protection persons property american citizens due precautions taken enforce neutrality laws prevent territory becoming base military supplies either warring factions color blockade reasonable notice given appear efficiently maintained seizure vessels american flag reported consequence measures prevent redress molestation innocent merchantmen adopted proclamation duly made 9th day november 1887 conventional extensions treaty june 3 1875 hawaii relations special beneficent intercourse created vast field oriental commerce unfolded pacific borders feature presents stronger recommendations congressional action establishment communication submarine telegraph honolulu geographical position hawaiian group relation pacific states creates natural interdependency mutuality interest present treaties intended foster make close communication logical commercial necessity wisdom concluding treaty commercial reciprocity mexico heretofore stated messages congress lapse time growth commerce close neighbor sister republic confirm judgment expressed precise relocation boundary line needful adequate appropriation recommended sincere satisfaction enabled advert spirit good neighborhood friendly cooperation conciliation marked correspondence action mexican authorities share task maintaining law order line common boundary boundary dispute costa rica nicaragua referred arbitration award made 22d march last question finally settled expressed satisfaction parties interest empire brazil abolishing last vestige slavery among christian nations called forth earnest congratulations government expression cordial sympathies people claims nearly countries chile growing late war bolivia peru disposed either arbitration lump settlement similar claims citizens continue urged upon chilean government hoped subject delays comprehensive treaty amity commerce peru proclaimed november 7 last expected operation mutual prosperity good understanding promoted pursuance policy arbitration treaty settle claim santos american citizen ecuador concluded authority duly submitted approval senate like disposition claim carlos butterfield denmark van bokkelen hayti probably made trust principle settlements may extended practice approval senate unforeseen causes foreign governments ratification convention december 5 1885 venezuela rehearing claims citizens united states treaty 1866 failed exchange within term provided supplementary convention extending time exchange ratifications explanatory ambiguous provision prior convention awaits advice consent senate although matter stage referred concerns concurrent power one branch congress advert view interest repeatedly conspicuously shown legislative capacity favor speedy equitable adjustment questions growing discredited judgments previous mixed commission caracas every desire justice representations venezuela regard time seems come end matter trust prompt confirmation parties supplementary action referred avert need legislative action prevent longer withholding rights actual claimants may shown exist authorized congress preliminary steps taken assemblage capital coming year representatives south central american states together mexico hayti san domingo discuss sundry important monetary commercial topics excepting cases reasons contiguity territory existence common border line incapable guarded reciprocal commercial treaties may found expedient believed commercial policies inducing freer mutual exchange products advantageously arranged independent cooperative legislation mode last mentioned control taxation revenue always retained hands unrestricted conventional agreements governments conformity also congressional authority maritime powers invited confer washington april next upon practicability devising uniform rules measures greater security life property sea disposition accept part number powers already manifested cooperation nations chiefly interested shall secured important results may confidently anticipated act june 26 1884 acts amendatory thereof relation tonnage duties given rise extended correspondence foreign nations existing treaties navigation commerce caused wide regrettable divergence opinion relation imposition duties referred questions important shall make subject special detailed communication present session rapid increase immigration shores facilities modern travel abuses generous privileges afforded naturalization laws call careful revision easy unguarded manner certificates american citizenship obtained induced class unfortunately large avail opportunity become absolved allegiance native land yet foreign residence escape duty contribution service country proposed adoption thus evading duties citizenship united states may make prompt claim national protection demand intervention behalf international complications serious nature arise correspondence state department discloses great number complexity questions raised laws regulating issue passports carefully revised institution central bureau registration capital strongly recommended means full particulars case naturalization united states would secured properly indexed recorded thus many cases spurious citizenship would detected unjust responsibilities would avoided reorganization consular service matter serious importance national interests number existing principal consular offices believed greater necessary conduct public business need policy maintain moderate number principal offices supported salary sufficient enable incumbent live comfort distributed secure convenient supervision subordinate agencies affairs considerable district repeat recommendations heretofore made appropriations maintenance diplomatic consular service recast notarial unofficial fees representatives abroad permitted treat personal perquisites forbidden system consular inspection instituted limited number secretaries legation large authorized preparations centennial celebration april 30 1889 inauguration george washington president united states city new york made voluntary organization citizens locality believing opportunity afforded expression interest felt throughout country event respectfully recommend fitting cooperative action congress behalf people united states report secretary treasury exhibits detail condition national finances operations several branches government related department total ordinary revenues government fiscal year ended june 30 1888 amounted received customs duties internal revenue taxes total receipts sources exceeded fiscal year ended june 30 1887 ordinary expenditures government fiscal year ending june 30 1888 leaving surplus decrease expenditures compared fiscal year ended june 30 1887 notwithstanding payment pensions excess paid purpose year revenues government year ending june 30 1889 ascertained quarter ended september 30 1888 estimated remainder time amount actual estimated ordinary expenditures year leaving estimated surplus estimated receipts year ending june 30 1890 estimated ordinary expenditures time showing surplus foregoing statements surplus take account sum necessary expended meet requirements act amounting annually cost collecting customs revenues last fiscal year per cent year 1885 per cent excess taxes collected last fiscal year collected year ended june 30 1887 cost collecting revenue decreased per cent 1887 less per cent last year tax collected oleomargarine year ending june 30 1887 following year requirements act met year ended june 30 1888 current year also purchase bonds complying law positively required bonds sufficient purpose bought premium deemed prudent expend surplus purchases authority explicit resolution however passed houses congress removing doubt executive authority daily purchases bonds commenced 23d day april 1888 continued present time plan bonds government yet due purchased including 30th day november 1888 amounting premium paid thereon amounting premium added principal bonds represents investment yielding 2 per cent interest time still run saving government represented difference amount interest 2 per cent upon sum paid principal premium would paid interest rate specified bonds run maturity first sight would seem profitable sensible transaction part government suggested secretary treasury surplus thus expended purchase bonds money drawn people excess actual need government expended rather allow remain idle treasury surplus operation equitable laws left hands people would worth business least 6 per cent per annum deducting amount interest upon principal premium bonds time run rate 6 per cent saving 2 per cent made people purchase bonds loss appear calculation would seem demonstrate excessive unnecessary taxation continued government forced pursue policy purchasing bonds premiums necessary pay loss people hundreds millions dollars since purchase bonds undertaken mentioned nearly offered last accepted made quite apparent government danger subjected combinations raise price appears instance cited secretary offering bonds par value often aggregate sums demanded purchase amounted notwithstanding large sums paid purchase bonds surplus treasury 30th day november 1888 deducting drawn payment pensions close fiscal year ended june 30 1887 coined compulsory act silver dollars hands people 30th day june 1888 coined circulation coin silver certificates redemption silver dollars amount held government 30th day november 1888 coined silver dollars actually circulation certificates secretary recommends suspension coinage silver recommendation earnestly concur valuable information timely recommendations ask careful attention congress secretary report secretary war reports army date last consolidated returns consisted officers enlisted men actual expenditures war department fiscal year ended june 30 1888 amounted sum expended public works including river harbor improvements board ordnance fortifications provided act approved september 22 last convened october 30 1888 plans specifications procuring forgings 8 10 12 inch guns provisions section 4 also procuring mortars cast iron hooped steel provisions section 5 said act submitted secretary war reference board ordnance department date plans specifications promptly approved board secretary war necessary authority publish advertisements inviting proposals newspapers throughout country granted secretary november 12 november 13 advertisements sent different newspapers designated bids steel forgings opened december 20 1888 mortars december 15 1888 board ordnance officers convened watervliet arsenal october 4 1888 prepare necessary plans specifications establishment army gun factory point preliminary report board estimates shop buildings officers quarters approved board ordnance fortifications november 6 8 specifications form advertisement instructions bidders prepared advertisements inviting proposals excavations shop building erecting two sets officers quarters published detailed drawings specifications building well hand finished within three four months bids invited erection building list machines made expected plans large lathes completed within four months approval board ordnance fortifications bids furnishing invited machines fixtures completed soon shop readiness receive probably july 1890 provisions army bill procurement pneumatic dynamite guns necessary specifications prepared advertisements proposals issue early december guns probably 15 inches caliber fire projectile carry charge 500 pounds explosive gelatine projectiles guns probably delivered six ten months date contract guns class procured provisions law purchased year 1889 earnestly request recommendations contained secretary report opinion calculated increase usefulness discipline army may receive consideration congress among proposal provided plan examination officers test fitness promotion utmost importance reform recommended reports secretary expediency fully demonstrated argument presents favor adoption longer neglected death general sheridan august last national affliction army lost grandest chiefs country lost brave experienced soldier wise discreet counselor modest sensible man manner came within range personal association never fail pay deserved willing homage greatness glory career cherish tender sensibility loving memory simple generous considerate nature apache indians whose removal reservation arizona followed capture number engaged bloody murderous raid part years 1885 1886 held prisoners war mount vernon barracks state alabama numbered 31st day october date last report 83 men 170 women 70 boys 59 girls 382 persons commanding officer states good health contented kept employed fully possible circumstances children arrive suitable age sent indian schools carlisle hampton last summer charitable kind people asked permission send two teachers indians purpose instructing adults well children found permission readily granted accommodations provided teachers portions buildings barracks made available school purposes good work contemplated commenced teachers engaged paid ladies plan originated sympathy benevolent injudicious people constantly insisting indians returned reservation removal absolute necessity lives property citizens upon frontier regarded government continued restraint distance scene repeated cruel murders outrages still necessary mistaken philanthropy every way injurious prompts desire see savages returned old haunts present location result best judgment official responsibility matter means lacking kind consideration indians number prisoners forfeited lives outraged law humanity experience proved dangerous trusted true warpath heretofore actually guilty atrocious murder kindred friends remained upon reservation furnished aid comfort absent bloody intent prisoners treated kindly kept restraint far locality former reservation subjected efforts calculated lead improvement softening savage cruel instincts return old home persistently resisted secretary report gives graphic history indians recites painful vividness bloody deeds unhappy failure government manage peaceful means amazing perusal history allow survival desire return prisoners reservation upon sentimental grounds report secretary navy demonstrates intelligent management important department discloses satisfactory progress work reconstructing navy made past year ships course construction five viz charleston baltimore yorktown vesuvius petrel time launched rapidly approaching completion addition philadelphia san francisco newark bennington concord herreshoff torpedo boat contract delivery department next year progress already made made gives good ground expectation eleven vessels incorporated part american navy within next twelve months report shows notwithstanding large expenditures new construction additional labor involve total ordinary current expenditures department three years ending june 30 1888 less 20 per cent expenditures three years ending june 30 1884 various steps taken improve business methods department reviewed secretary purchasing supplies consolidated placed responsible bureau head resulted curtailment open purchases years 1884 1885 amounted 50 per cent purchases department less 11 per cent present time 90 per cent total departmental purchases made contract competition expenditures account exceed average annually evident important improvement system inaugurated substantial economies introduced report shows marked increase business every branch postal service number july 1 1888 increase three years last fiscal year increase classified follows offices increased 189 fiscal year ended june 30 1887 358 year ended june 30 1888 railway mail service increase one year 168 routes number miles traveled per annum increase estimated increase railroad service year miles amount new railroad service actually put miles volume business division including transactions postal notes reached sum upward year past year conventions concluded barbados bahamas british honduras mexico negotiation central south american states increase correspondence foreign countries past three years gratifying especially notable exceptional central south american states mexico greater part mail matter exchanged countries commercial character increase evidence improved business relations practical operation conventions far negotiated served fulfill favorable predictions benefits january last general postal convention negotiated dominion canada went operation march 1 practically makes one postal territory united states canada merchandise parcels may transmitted mails rates postage possible touch even leading heads great postal establishment illustrate enormous rapid growth business needs legislative readjustment much machinery outgrown valuable recommendations attention earnestly invited report department whose revenues increased 1870 1888 despite reductions postage enormously reduced rates revenue greatly increasing business demands careful consideration congress matters suggested familiar operations calculated increase efficiency usefulness bill proposed introduced last session congress uniform standard amount gross receipts would fix right community public building erected government purposes demonstrated aside public convenience promotion harmony among citizens invariably disturbed change leasings site measure highest economy sound business judgment found government paying rents rate 7 10 per cent per annum cost public buildings would great advantage resulting law would prevention large number bills constantly introduced erection public buildings places involving expenditures justified public necessity trust measure become law present session congress total number postmasters fourth class course receive allowances whatever expenses service compensation fixed percentages receipts respective offices rate compensation may probably time standard remained unchanged several reductions rates postage reductions necessarily cut compensation officials undoubtedly increased business performed simple justice requires attention subject end postmasters may receive least equivalent law fixing rate intended another class postal employees whose condition seems demand legislation clerks call especial attention repeated recommendations classification proper legislation character relief carriers service frequent provision made promotion substitutes vacation substitutes holidays limiting hours labor seven million dollars appropriated current year provide though total number offices employed 358 past fiscal year estimated increase current year 40 total appropriation clerks offices throughout united states legislation affecting relations government railroads need revision part railroad companies throughout country cordially cooperated department rendering excellent service yet law stands compensation carrying mail limited regulated although railroads made law authority reposed anywhere compel owner railroad take carry united states mails alternative provided act congress case refusal send mail forward pony express illustration legislation reasonable proper time enactment long since outgrown requiring readjustment gratifying note carefully prepared statistics accompanying report notwithstanding great expansion service rate expenditure lessened efficiency improved every branch fraud crime decreased losses mails reduced number complaints service made postmasters department far less ever transactions department justice fiscal year ended june 30 1888 contained report well number valuable recommendations part repetitions previously made ought receive consideration stated report though judgments civil suits amounting recovered favor government year sum collected thereon though fines penalties forfeitures imposed amounting sum paid account thereof facts may furnish illustration sentiment extensively prevails debt due government inconvenience citizen also appears report though prior march 1885 6 convictions territories utah idaho laws 1862 1882 punishing polygamy unlawful cohabitation crimes since date nearly 600 convictions laws statutes 1887 opinion expressed firm vigilant execution laws advance ideas opposed forbidden practices polygamy within united states virtually end suits instituted government provisions act march 3 1887 termination corporations known perpetual emigrating fund company church jesus christ saints resulted decree favorable government declaring charters corporations forfeited escheating property property amounting value hands receiver pending proceedings appeal taken supreme court united states report secretary interior laid condition various branches domestic affairs connected department operations past year fully exhibited brief reference subjects discussed able interesting report made commend entire report attention congress trust sensible valuable recommendations contains secure careful consideration strenuously insist upon importance proper measures insure right disposition public lands matter present justice forecast consequences future generations broad rich acres agricultural plains long preserved nature become untrammeled gift people civilized free upon rest ownership numerous homes enlightened equal fraternal citizens came national possession warning example eyes entail iniquities landed proprietorship countries permitted still suffer excuse violation principles cogently taught reason example allowance pretexts sometimes exposed lands colossal greed laws open door fraudulent acquisition administration permits favor rapacious seizure favored expanded areas many enjoy accessory offenses national welfare humanity severely condemned punished gratifying know something done last redress injuries people check perilous tendency reckless waste national domain acres arrested illegal usurpation improvident grants fraudulent entries claims taken homesteads honest industry although less greater areas thus unjustly lost must afford profound gratification citizens recompense labors struggles recovery dear experience ought sufficiently urge speedy enactment measures legislation confine future disposition remaining agricultural lands uses actual husbandry genuine homes vast tracts desert lands yielded monopoly corporations grasping individuals appears much tendency existing statute lands require supply water become fertile productive problem great moment wisely public good factor shall furnished think perilous suffer either lands sources irrigation fall hands monopolies means may exercise lordship areas dependent treatment productiveness already steps taken secure accurate scientific information conditions prime basis intelligent action shall gained course wisdom appears clearly lie suspension disposal promises create rights antagonistic common interest harm follow cautionary conduct land remain public good presents demand hasty dispossession national ownership control commend also recommendations appropriate measures taken complete adjustment various grants made states internal improvements swamp overflowed lands well adjudicate finally determine validity extent numerous private land claims elements great injustice peril settlers upon localities affected existence avoided duty pressing fix soon possible bounds terminate threats trouble arise uncertainty condition indian population continues improve proofs multiply transforming change much desired shall substitute barbarism enlightenment civilizing education favorable progress relations people year disturbed serious disorders rather marked better realization true interests increasing confidence good conditions testify value higher tone consideration humanity governed later methods dealing commend continued observance allotments severalty made reservations entitled land thereon shares assigned work still continued directing execution duty aimed much rapid dispatch secure fair arrangements shall best conduce objects law producing satisfaction results allotments made measure general effect ever entered may fairly hoped shall discreetly administered proffers opportunity inducement independence spirit life indian peculiarly needs time inalienability title affords security risks inexperience affairs weakness character may expose dealing others whenever begun upon reservation made complete brought condition soon possible community lands cease opening remain unallotted settlement contact ways industrious successful farmers perhaps add healthy emulation instruct stimulate agency amelioration people appears promising extension urged secretary complete facilities education shall earliest possible day embrace teachable indian youth sexes retain kindly beneficent hold characters formed faculties dispositions trained sure pursuit form useful industry capacity indian longer needs demonstration established remains make shall done curse lifted indian race saved sin oppression redeemed time accomplishment depends upon spirit justice shall prosecuted soon indian interests good name nation average attendance indian pupils schools increased 900 year total enrollment reached cost maintenance materially raised number teachable indian youth estimated nearly three times enrollment schools believed obstacles way instructing surmountable necessary expenditure would measure economy sioux tribes great reservation dakota refused assent act passed congress last session opening portion lands settlement notwithstanding modification terms suggested met objections demand immediate payment full price per acre entire body land occupancy asked relinquish manner submission insured fair understanding law action undoubtedly thoroughly intelligent capacity admitted least gratifying reproach overreaching manner lie government however advisable favorable completion negotiation may esteemed concur suggestions secretary regarding turtle mountain indians two reservations california crees opinion receive immediate attention number pensioners added rolls fiscal year ended june 30 1888 increase pensions granted cases names pensioners dropped rolls year various causes close year number persons classes receiving pensions 806 survivors war 1812 widows served war soldiers mexican war widows said soldiers one hundred two different rates pensions paid beneficiaries ranging 2 per month amount paid pensions fiscal year increase preceding year expenses attending maintenance operation pension bureau period making entire expenditures bureau 21 per cent gross income nearly 31 per cent total expenditures government year thoroughly convinced general pension laws revised adjusted meet far possible light experience meritorious cases fact 102 different rates pensions paid opinion made consistent justice pensioners government numerous private pension bills passed predicated upon imperfection general laws increase many cases existing inequality injustice lend additional force recommendation revision general laws subject laxity ideas prevailing among large number people regarding pensions becoming every day marked principles upon granted danger altogether ignored already pensions often claimed applicants much entitled successful applicants rather upon disability reasonably attributable military service establishment vicious precedents continued granting pensions divorced partisan unworthy irrelevant considerations honorable name veteran unfairly becomes means another term one constantly clamors aid government danger injury done fame patriotism many citizens delight honor prejudice aroused unjust meritorious applicants pensions department agriculture continued good measure success efforts develop processes enlarge results augment profits american husbandry collected distributed practical information introduced tested new plants checked spread contagious diseases farm animals resisted advance noxious insects destructive fungous growths sought secure agricultural labor highest reward effort fullest immunity loss records year show season 1888 one medium production generous supply demands consumption assured surplus exportation moderate certain products bountiful others prove benefaction alike buyer grower four years ago found great cattle industry country endangered engaged alarmed rapid extension european lung plague serious outbreaks existed illinois missouri kentucky tennessee animals affected held quarantine five counties new york one four counties states new jersey pennsylvania delaware maryland almost equally affected great danger upon us contagion already channels commerce enormous direct indirect losses already caused prompt energetic action could successful none states laws authorizing department eradicate malady giving state officials power cooperate purpose department even lacked requisite appropriation authority securing state cooperation connection authority congress work eradication pressed successfully dreaded disease extirpated western states also eastern states exception restricted areas still supervision danger thus removed trade commerce freed vexatious state restrictions deemed necessary time past four years process diffusion applied manufacture sugar sorghum sugar cane introduced country fully perfected experiments carried department agriculture process universally considered economical one industry established upon firm basis road future success opened adoption diffusion process also extending louisiana parts country doubtless soon method employed extraction sugar cane exhaustive study also within period undertaken subject food adulteration best analytical methods detecting part results work already published department matter course preparation make complete treatise subject ever published country department seeks progressive development would combine discoveries science economics amelioration rural practice supervision endowed system recently provided proper function department operation supervision important wisely vigilantly directed end pecuniary aid government favor intelligent agriculture applied result general good benefit people thus justifying appropriations made public treasury adjustment relations government railroad companies received land grants guaranty public credit aid construction roads receive early attention report majority commissioners appointed examine affairs indebtedness roads favor extension time payment indebtedness least one case corporation appears able comply exact terms extension reenforcement opinion gentlemen undoubted business judgment experience appointed protect interests government directors said corporation may well lead belief extension would advantage government subject treated business proposition view final realization indebtedness government rather question decided upon prejudice way punishment previous wrongdoing report commissioners district columbia accompanying documents gives detail operations several departments district government furnishes evidence financial affairs district present satisfactory condition justify commissioners submitting congress estimates desirable needed improvements commissioners recommend certain legislation opinion necessary advance interests district invite special attention request legislation enable commissioners without delay collect digest properly arrange laws district governed embraced several collections making available great difficulty labor suggestions make touching desirable amendments laws relating licenses granted carrying retail traffic spirituous liquors observance sunday proper assessment collection taxes speedy punishment minor offenders management control reformatory charitable institutions supported congressional appropriations commended careful consideration call attention present inconvenience danger life property attending operation steam railroads across public streets roads district propriety legislation properly guard use railroads better secure convenience safety citizens manifest consciousness presented imperfect statement condition country wants occasions fear anything omitted known appreciated congress upon rests responsibility intelligent legislation behalf great nation confiding people public servants shall duty well constantly guard rectitude intentions maintain unsullied love country unselfish purpose strive public good
assemble discharge duty assume representative free generous people meet mark interesting impressive incident expiration present session congress first century constitutional existence nation complete survival one hundred year sufficient assure u long danger fear maintenance promise blessings government round upon freedom people time rather admonish u soberly inquire whether past always closely kept course safety whether u way plain clear lead happiness perpetuity experiment government undertaken chart adopt guidance constitution departure line lay failure strict adherence direction indicate restraint within limitation fix furnish proof world fitness american people equal exact justice boast underlying principle institution confine relation citizens government bond american people exercise function power deal body citizen manner scrupulously honest fair absolutely agree american citizenship shall credential necessary justify claim equality law condition life shall give rise discrimination treatment people government citizen republic early day rigidly insist upon full compliance letter bond saw stretch clear field individual endeavor tribute support government measure cost economical maintenance secure enjoyment remain recompense steady content toil day frugality people stamp upon government enforce free thoughtful intelligent suffrage citizen combination monopoly aggregation capital either avoid sternly regulate restrain pomp glitter government less free offer temptation present delusion plain people side side friendly competition work ennoblement dignity man solution problem free government achievement grand destiny await land god give century pass city abide place wealth luxury manufactory yield fortune never dream father republic business men madly strive race rich immense aggregation capital outrun imagination magnitude undertaking view pride satisfaction bright picture country growth prosperity closer scrutiny develops somber shade upon careful inspection find wealth luxury city mingle poverty wretchedness unremunerative toil crowd constantly increase urban population suggest impoverishment rural section discontent agricultural pursuit farmer son satisfy father simple laborious life join eager chase easily acquire wealth discover fortune realize manufacturer longer solely reward sturdy industry enlighten foresight result discriminate favor government largely build upon undue exaction mass people gulf employer employ constantly widen class rapidly form one comprise rich powerful another found toil poor view achievement aggregate capital discover existence trust combination monopoly citizen struggle far rear trample death beneath iron heel corporation carefully restrain creature law servant people fast become people master still congratulate upon wealth prosperity country complacently contemplate every incident change inseparable condition duty patriotic citizen inquire present stage progress bond government make people keep perform instead limit tribute drawn citizen necessity economical administration government persist exact substance people million unapplied useless lie dormant treasury flagrant injustice breach faith obligation add extortion danger attend diversion currency country legitimate channel business law result produce government permit many million add cost living people take consumer unreasonably swell profit small powerful minority people must still tax support government operation tariff law extent mass citizen inordinately burden beyond useful public purpose benefit favored government pretext exercise tax power enters gratuitously partnership favorites advantage injury vast majority people equality law exist situation injurious health entire body politic stifle whose benefit permit patriotic love country substitute place selfish greed grasp avarice devotion american citizenship sake accomplish motive nation advancement happiness people displace assumption government instead embodiment equality instrumentality especial individual advantage gain arrogance assumption unconcealed appear sordid disregard personal interest refusal abate benefit others one iota selfish advantage combination perpetuate advantage effort control legislation improperly influence suffrage people grievance include within circle beneficiary fully realize surely arouse irritation discontent farmer long suffer patient struggle race life hard unremitting toil fail see spite misrepresentation mislead fallacy oblige accept price product fix foreign market compete farmer world land decline value debt increase without compensate favor force action government pay benefit others enhance price thing need scanty return labor fail furnish support leave margin accumulation workingman enfranchise delusion longer frighten cry wage endanger revision tariff law reasonably demand revision steady employment cheaper mean live home freedom child doom perpetual servitude open door advancement beyond limit labor class others citizens whose comfort expenditures measure moderate salary fix income insist upon fairness justice cheapen cost necessary family selfishness beneficiary unjust discrimination law shall add discontent suffer discrimination realize fact beneficent purpose government dependent upon patriotism contentment people endanger communism hateful thing menace peace organized government communism combine wealth capital outgrowth overweening cupidity selfishness insidiously undermines justice integrity free institution less dangerous communism oppress poverty toil exasperate injustice discontent attack wild disorder citadel rule mock people proposes government shall protect rich turn care labor poor intermediary people government least delegation care protection government owe humble citizen land make boast free institution glitter delusion pretend boon american citizenship shameless imposition sensible revision tariff law make relief countryman suffer present condition revision receive support love justice equality due american citizenship realize justice equality government find strength power protect citizen property believe content competence comfort many accord well spirit institution colossal fortune unfairly gather hand appreciate forbearance fraternity among people recognize value every american interest sure guaranty national progress desire see product american skill ingenuity every market world result restoration american commerce necessity reduction revenue apparent generally concede mean end shall accomplish sum direct benefit shall result citizen present controversy utmost importance scheme accept satisfactory burden people apparently remove extravagant appropriation public money demoralize consequence tolerate either mean relieve treasury present surplus furnish pretext resist proper reduction tariff rate exist evils injustice honestly recognize boldly meet effectively remedied cessation struggle plan perfect fair conservative toward exist industry reduce cost consumer necessary life provide manufacturer advantage free raw material permit injury interest american labor battle wag comprise within line clearly distinctly define never compromise people deny selfish private interest persistently hear effort make deal comprehensive manner tariff law relate responsible sentiment largely prevailing among people general government fountain individual private aid may expect relieve paternal care distress citizen community fullness treasury upon slight possible pretext promote general good apply public fund benefit locality individual deny grow assumption government favor private claim interest usual rule limitation business principle deal waive idea unhappily much encourage legislative acquiescence relief contract make government easily accord favor citizen failure support claim government proof often supply good consideration wealth government poverty claimant gratuity form pension grant upon real ground needy condition applicant reason less valid large sum expend public building improvement upon representation scarcely claim related public need necessity extent consideration matter subordinate postpone action upon subject great public importance involve special private partisan interest arrest attention lead reformation numerous illustration condition may state crowded condition calendar supreme court delay suitor denial justice result therefrom strongly urge upon attention congress plan relief situation approve well able judge merit subject remain without effective consideration many law pass provide hold term inferior court place suit convenience locality lay foundation application erection new public building repeat recommendation submit amendment change law relate public land spoliation diversion use home honest settler might prevent measure meet concede necessity reform remain await action congress many claim public land application donation favor state individual allow plan aid indian management recommend well inform contain valuable feature furtherance solution indian problem thus far failed legislative sanction grant doubtful expediency railroad corporation permit pas indian reservation greatly multiply propriety necessity erection one prison confinement united state convict build national capital dispute need yet remain answered score public building erect necessity public purpose apparent revision pension law could easily make would rest upon principle provide every worthy applicant general pension law remain confused imperfect hundred private pension law annually pass source unjust discrimination popular demoralization appropriation bill support government deface item provision meet private end freely assert responsible experienced party bill appropriate money public internal improvement would fail meet favor unless contain item local private advantage public benefit statement much emphasize ascertainment proportion federal legislation either bear upon face private character upon examination develop motive power yet people wait expect choose representative patriotic action advance welfare entire country expectation answer performance public duty unselfish purpose mission among nation earth success accomplish work god give american people require intrusted make execution law perfect devotion thing public good devotion lead u strongly resist impatience constitutional limitation federal power persistently check increase tendency extend scope federal legislation domain state local jurisdiction upon plea subserve public welfare preservation partition proper subject federal local care regulation importance constitution law existence consideration expediency sentiment tempt u enter upon doubtful ground undertaken discover proclaim richest blessing free government constitution guide let u follow way point mislead u surely one take upon solemn obligation support preserve constitution find justification solace disloyalty excuse wander disobey search well way reach public welfare constitution offer say deem inappropriate time century height view way already trod american people attempt discover future path seventh president united state soldier statesman time firm brave friend people vindication course protector popular right champion true american citizenship declare ambition lead anxious desire fix determination restore people unimpaired sacred trust confide charge heal wound constitution preserve violation persuade countryman far may splendid government support powerful monopoly aristocratical establishment find happiness liberty protection plain system void pomp protect grant favor none dispense blessing like dew heaven unseen unfelt save freshness beauty contribute produce government genius people require one state may remain age come united prosperous free pursuance constitutional provision require president time time give congress information state union satisfaction announce close year find united state enjoyment domestic tranquillity peace nation since last annual message foreign relation strengthen improved performance international good office new renew treaty amity commerce reciprocal extradition criminal international question still await settlement reasonably within domain amicable negotiation exist subject dispute united state foreign power susceptible satisfactory adjustment frank diplomatic treatment question great britain united state relate right american fisherman treaty international comity territorial water canada newfoundland regret say yet satisfactorily adjust matter fully treat message senate february 20 1888 together convention conclude authority majesty government 15th february last removal cause misunderstand submit approval senate treaty reject senate transmit message congress 23d august last reviewing transaction submit consideration certain recommendation legislation concern important question involve afterwards 12th september response resolution senate communicate fully information possession action government canada affect commercial relation dominion united state include treatment american fishing vessel port water british north america communication publish therefore open knowledge house congress although two addressed senate alone comment upon repetition content would superfluous aware anything since occur added fact therein state therefore merely repeat applicable present time statement find message senate september 12 last since march 3 1887 case report department state wherein complaint make unfriendly unlawful treatment american fishing vessel part canadian authority reparation promptly satisfactorily obtain united state halifax essay discharge duty procure negotiation settlement dispute remove constant menace good relation two country continue opinion treaty february last fail receive approval senate supply satisfactory practical final adjustment upon basis honorable party difficult vexed question relate subsequently unavailingly recommended legislation congress hop would suffice meet exigency create rejection treaty invoke earnest immediate attention congress condition important question stand country settlement deeply solicitous near close month october last occurrence deeply regrettable nature bring knowledge make painful imperative duty obtain little delay possible new personal channel diplomatic intercourse country government great britain correspondence relation incident due course lay disclose unpardonable conduct official refer interference advice counsel suffrage american citizen crisis presidential election near hand also subsequent public declaration justify action superadding impugnment executive senate united state connection important question pending controversy two government offense thus commit grave involve disastrous possibility good relation united state great britain constitute gross breach diplomatic privilege invasion purely domestic affair essential sovereignty government envoy accredit first fulfil demand international comity afford full opportunity majesty government act relief situation consider prolongation discussion unwarranted thereupon decline recognize diplomatic character person whose continuance function would destroy mutual confidence essential good understanding two government inconsistent welfare government unite state usual interchange communication since continue majesty legation city endeavor establish international cooperation measure prevention extermination fur seal bering sea relax hope enable shortly submit effective satisfactory conventional projet maritime power approval senate coastal boundary alaskan possession british columbia regret say receive attention demand importance several occasion heretofore honor recommend congress admit impracticability impossibility make accurate precise survey demarcation boundary line recite treaty russia alaska cede united state render absolutely requisite prevention international jurisdictional complication adequate appropriation reconnoissance survey obtain proper knowledge locality geographical feature boundary authorized congress little delay possible knowledge thus obtain essential prerequisite negotiation ascertain common boundary preliminary mode settlement much desire agreement reach majesty government damage life property great lake may alleviate remove humanely regulate obstacle reciprocal assistance wreck stranded vessel act june 19 1878 offer canadian vessel free access inland water aid wreck disabled vessel yet become effective concurrent action canada due protection citizen french origin descent claim military service event return visit france call forth correspondence lay last session absence conventional agreement naturalization greatly desired government see occasion recede sound position maintain regard france country united state conclude special treaty twice within last year imperial household germany visit death hasten express sorrow people appreciation lofty character late age emperor william sympathy heroism suffer son late emperor frederick renew recommendation two year ago passage bill refund certain german steamship line interest upon tonnage due illegally exact 12th 2d april last laid house representative full information respect interest samoa subsequent correspondence subject lay due course history event islands found message accompany approval 1st day october last bill exclusion chinese laborer lay congress full information correspondence touch negotiation treaty china conclude capital 12th day march 1888 confirm senate certain amendment reject chinese government message contain recommendation sum money appropriate compensation chinese subject suffer injury hand lawless men within jurisdiction appropriation duly make fund awaits reception chinese government sincerely hop cessation influx class chinese subject accordance express wish government unkind feel permanently remove 9th august 1887 notification give japanese minister capital adjournment conference revision treaty japan foreign power owe objection government provision draft jurisdictional convention require submission criminal code empire power advance become operative notification however accompany assurance japan intention continue work revision notwithstanding temporary interruption negotiation hop improvement may soon secure jurisdictional system respect foreigner japan relief afford country present undue oppressive foreign control matter commerce earnestly recommend relief provide injury accidentally cause japanese subject island ikisima target practice one vessel diplomatic mission korea receive formal intercourse two country contemplate treaty 1882 establish legislative provision hereby recommend organize equip consular court korea persia establish diplomatic representation capital evince great interest enterprise achievement citizens therefore hopeful beneficial commercial relation two country may bring announce sincere regret hayti become theater insurrection disorder bloodshed titular government president saloman forcibly overthrown driven country france since died tenure power unstable amid war faction ensue since expulsion president saloman government constitute haytian people recognize administer responsibly affair country representative instruct abstain interference war faction vessel navy sent haytian water sustain minister protection person property american citizen due precaution take enforce neutrality law prevent territory become base military supply either war faction color blockade reasonable notice give appear efficiently maintain seizure vessel american flag report consequence measure prevent redress molestation innocent merchantman adopt proclamation duly make 9th day november 1887 conventional extension treaty june 3 1875 hawaii relation special beneficent intercourse create vast field oriental commerce unfold pacific border feature present strong recommendation congressional action establishment communication submarine telegraph honolulu geographical position hawaiian group relation pacific state create natural interdependency mutuality interest present treaty intend foster make close communication logical commercial necessity wisdom conclude treaty commercial reciprocity mexico heretofore state message congress lapse time growth commerce close neighbor sister republic confirm judgment express precise relocation boundary line needful adequate appropriation recommend sincere satisfaction enable advert spirit good neighborhood friendly cooperation conciliation mark correspondence action mexican authority share task maintain law order line common boundary boundary dispute costa rica nicaragua refer arbitration award make 22d march last question finally settle expressed satisfaction party interest empire brazil abolish last vestige slavery among christian nation call forth earnest congratulation government expression cordial sympathy people claim nearly country chile grow late war bolivia peru dispose either arbitration lump settlement similar claim citizen continue urge upon chilean government hop subject delay comprehensive treaty amity commerce peru proclaim november 7 last expected operation mutual prosperity good understanding promote pursuance policy arbitration treaty settle claim santos american citizen ecuador conclude authority duly submit approval senate like disposition claim carlos butterfield denmark van bokkelen hayti probably make trust principle settlement may extend practice approval senate unforeseen cause foreign government ratification convention december 5 1885 venezuela rehear claim citizen united state treaty 1866 fail exchange within term provide supplementary convention extend time exchange ratification explanatory ambiguous provision prior convention awaits advice consent senate although matter stage refer concern concurrent power one branch congress advert view interest repeatedly conspicuously show legislative capacity favor speedy equitable adjustment question grow discredited judgment previous mixed commission caracas every desire justice representation venezuela regard time seem come end matter trust prompt confirmation party supplementary action refer avert need legislative action prevent longer withhold right actual claimant may show exist authorized congress preliminary step take assemblage capital come year representative south central american state together mexico hayti san domingo discus sundry important monetary commercial topic except case reason contiguity territory existence common border line incapable guard reciprocal commercial treaty may find expedient believe commercial policy induce freer mutual exchange product advantageously arrange independent cooperative legislation mode last mention control taxation revenue always retain hand unrestricted conventional agreement government conformity also congressional authority maritime power invite confer washington april next upon practicability devise uniform rule measure great security life property sea disposition accept part number power already manifest cooperation nation chiefly interested shall secure important result may confidently anticipate act june 26 1884 act amendatory thereof relation tonnage duty give rise extend correspondence foreign nation exist treaty navigation commerce cause wide regrettable divergence opinion relation imposition duty refer question important shall make subject special detailed communication present session rapid increase immigration shore facility modern travel abuse generous privilege afford naturalization law call careful revision easy unguarded manner certificate american citizenship obtain induced class unfortunately large avail opportunity become absolve allegiance native land yet foreign residence escape duty contribution service country propose adoption thus evade duty citizenship united state may make prompt claim national protection demand intervention behalf international complication serious nature arise correspondence state department disclose great number complexity question raise law regulate issue passport carefully revise institution central bureau registration capital strongly recommend mean full particular case naturalization united state would secure properly index record thus many case spurious citizenship would detect unjust responsibility would avoid reorganization consular service matter serious importance national interest number exist principal consular office believe great necessary conduct public business need policy maintain moderate number principal office support salary sufficient enable incumbent live comfort distribute secure convenient supervision subordinate agency affair considerable district repeat recommendation heretofore made appropriation maintenance diplomatic consular service recast notarial unofficial fee representative abroad permit treat personal perquisite forbidden system consular inspection institute limited number secretary legation large authorized preparation centennial celebration april 30 1889 inauguration george washington president united state city new york make voluntary organization citizen locality believe opportunity afford expression interest felt throughout country event respectfully recommend fit cooperative action congress behalf people united state report secretary treasury exhibit detail condition national finance operation several branch government relate department total ordinary revenue government fiscal year end june 30 1888 amount receive custom duty internal revenue tax total receipt source exceed fiscal year end june 30 1887 ordinary expenditure government fiscal year end june 30 1888 leave surplus decrease expenditure compare fiscal year end june 30 1887 notwithstanding payment pension excess pay purpose year revenue government year end june 30 1889 ascertained quarter end september 30 1888 estimate remainder time amount actual estimate ordinary expenditure year leave estimate surplus estimate receipt year end june 30 1890 estimate ordinary expenditure time show surplus foregoing statement surplus take account sum necessary expend meet requirement act amount annually cost collecting custom revenue last fiscal year per cent year 1885 per cent excess tax collect last fiscal year collect year end june 30 1887 cost collect revenue decrease per cent 1887 less per cent last year tax collect oleomargarine year end june 30 1887 follow year requirement act met year end june 30 1888 current year also purchase bond comply law positively required bond sufficient purpose buy premium deem prudent expend surplus purchase authority explicit resolution however pass house congress remove doubt executive authority daily purchase bond commence 23d day april 1888 continue present time plan bond government yet due purchase include 30th day november 1888 amount premium pay thereon amount premium add principal bond represent investment yield 2 per cent interest time still run save government represent difference amount interest 2 per cent upon sum pay principal premium would pay interest rate specify bond run maturity first sight would seem profitable sensible transaction part government suggest secretary treasury surplus thus expended purchase bond money drawn people excess actual need government expend rather allow remain idle treasury surplus operation equitable law leave hands people would worth business least 6 per cent per annum deducting amount interest upon principal premium bond time run rate 6 per cent save 2 per cent make people purchase bond loss appear calculation would seem demonstrate excessive unnecessary taxation continue government force pursue policy purchase bond premium necessary pay loss people hundred million dollar since purchase bond undertake mention nearly offer last accepted make quite apparent government danger subject combination raise price appear instance cite secretary offering bond par value often aggregate sum demand purchase amount notwithstanding large sum pay purchase bond surplus treasury 30th day november 1888 deduct draw payment pension close fiscal year end june 30 1887 coin compulsory act silver dollar hand people 30th day june 1888 coin circulation coin silver certificate redemption silver dollar amount held government 30th day november 1888 coin silver dollar actually circulation certificate secretary recommend suspension coinage silver recommendation earnestly concur valuable information timely recommendation ask careful attention congress secretary report secretary war report army date last consolidated return consist officer enlist men actual expenditure war department fiscal year end june 30 1888 amount sum expend public work include river harbor improvement board ordnance fortification provide act approve september 22 last convene october 30 1888 plan specification procure forging 8 10 12 inch gun provision section 4 also procure mortar cast iron hoop steel provision section 5 say act submit secretary war reference board ordnance department date plan specification promptly approve board secretary war necessary authority publish advertisement invite proposal newspaper throughout country grant secretary november 12 november 13 advertisement send different newspaper designate bid steel forging open december 20 1888 mortar december 15 1888 board ordnance officer convene watervliet arsenal october 4 1888 prepare necessary plan specification establishment army gun factory point preliminary report board estimate shop building officer quarter approve board ordnance fortification november 6 8 specification form advertisement instruction bidder prepare advertisement invite proposal excavation shop build erect two set officer quarter publish detailed drawing specification build well hand finish within three four month bid invite erection building list machine make expect plan large lathe complete within four month approval board ordnance fortification bid furnish invited machine fixture complete soon shop readiness receive probably july 1890 provision army bill procurement pneumatic dynamite gun necessary specification prepare advertisement proposal issue early december gun probably 15 inch caliber fire projectile carry charge 500 pound explosive gelatine projectile gun probably deliver six ten month date contract guns class procure provision law purchase year 1889 earnestly request recommendation contain secretary report opinion calculate increase usefulness discipline army may receive consideration congress among proposal provide plan examination officer test fitness promotion utmost importance reform recommend report secretary expediency fully demonstrate argument present favor adoption longer neglect death general sheridan august last national affliction army lose grand chief country lose brave experience soldier wise discreet counselor modest sensible man manner come within range personal association never fail pay deserve willing homage greatness glory career cherish tender sensibility love memory simple generous considerate nature apache indian whose removal reservation arizona follow capture number engage bloody murderous raid part year 1885 1886 hold prisoner war mount vernon barrack state alabama number 31st day october date last report 83 men 170 woman 70 boy 59 girl 382 person command officer state good health content keep employ fully possible circumstance child arrive suitable age send indian school carlisle hampton last summer charitable kind people ask permission send two teacher indian purpose instruct adult well child find permission readily grant accommodation provide teacher portion building barrack make available school purpose good work contemplate commenced teacher engage pay lady plan originate sympathy benevolent injudicious people constantly insist indian return reservation removal absolute necessity live property citizen upon frontier regarded government continue restraint distance scene repeat cruel murder outrage still necessary mistaken philanthropy every way injurious prompt desire see savage return old haunt present location result best judgment official responsibility matter mean lack kind consideration indians number prisoner forfeit life outrage law humanity experience prove dangerous trust true warpath heretofore actually guilty atrocious murder kindred friend remain upon reservation furnish aid comfort absent bloody intent prisoner treat kindly kept restraint far locality former reservation subject effort calculate lead improvement soften savage cruel instincts return old home persistently resist secretary report give graphic history indian recite painful vividness bloody deeds unhappy failure government manage peaceful mean amazing perusal history allow survival desire return prisoner reservation upon sentimental ground report secretary navy demonstrate intelligent management important department disclose satisfactory progress work reconstruct navy make past year ship course construction five viz charleston baltimore yorktown vesuvius petrel time launch rapidly approach completion addition philadelphia san francisco newark bennington concord herreshoff torpedo boat contract delivery department next year progress already make make give good ground expectation eleven vessel incorporate part american navy within next twelve month report show notwithstanding large expenditure new construction additional labor involve total ordinary current expenditure department three year end june 30 1888 less 20 per cent expenditure three year end june 30 1884 various step take improve business method department review secretary purchasing supply consolidate place responsible bureau head result curtailment open purchase year 1884 1885 amount 50 per cent purchase department less 11 per cent present time 90 per cent total departmental purchase make contract competition expenditures account exceed average annually evident important improvement system inaugurate substantial economy introduce report show mark increase business every branch postal service number july 1 1888 increase three year last fiscal year increase classify follow office increase 189 fiscal year end june 30 1887 358 year end june 30 1888 railway mail service increase one year 168 route number mile travel per annum increase estimate increase railroad service year mile amount new railroad service actually put mile volume business division include transaction postal note reach sum upward year past year convention conclude barbados bahamas british honduras mexico negotiation central south american state increase correspondence foreign country past three year gratify especially notable exceptional central south american state mexico great part mail matter exchange country commercial character increase evidence improve business relation practical operation convention far negotiate serve fulfill favorable prediction benefit january last general postal convention negotiate dominion canada go operation march 1 practically make one postal territory united state canada merchandise parcel may transmit mail rate postage possible touch even leading head great postal establishment illustrate enormous rapid growth business need legislative readjustment much machinery outgrown valuable recommendation attention earnestly invite report department whose revenue increase 1870 1888 despite reduction postage enormously reduce rate revenue greatly increase business demand careful consideration congress matter suggest familiar operation calculate increase efficiency usefulness bill propose introduce last session congress uniform standard amount gross receipt would fix right community public building erected government purpose demonstrate aside public convenience promotion harmony among citizen invariably disturb change leasings site measure high economy sound business judgment find government pay rent rate 7 10 per cent per annum cost public building would great advantage result law would prevention large number bill constantly introduce erection public building place involve expenditure justify public necessity trust measure become law present session congress total number postmaster fourth class course receive allowance whatever expense service compensation fix percentage receipt respective office rate compensation may probably time standard remain unchanged several reduction rate postage reduction necessarily cut compensation official undoubtedly increase business perform simple justice require attention subject end postmaster may receive least equivalent law fix rate intend another class postal employee whose condition seem demand legislation clerk call especial attention repeat recommendation classification proper legislation character relief carrier service frequent provision make promotion substitute vacation substitute holiday limit hour labor seven million dollar appropriate current year provide though total number office employ 358 past fiscal year estimate increase current year 40 total appropriation clerk office throughout united state legislation affect relation government railroad need revision part railroad company throughout country cordially cooperate department render excellent service yet law stand compensation carry mail limit regulate although railroad make law authority repose anywhere compel owner railroad take carry united state mail alternative provide act congress case refusal send mail forward pony express illustration legislation reasonable proper time enactment long since outgrown require readjustment gratify note carefully prepared statistic accompany report notwithstanding great expansion service rate expenditure lessen efficiency improve every branch fraud crime decrease loss mail reduce number complaint service make postmaster department far less ever transaction department justice fiscal year end june 30 1888 contain report well number valuable recommendation part repetition previously make ought receive consideration state report though judgment civil suit amount recover favor government year sum collect thereon though fine penalty forfeiture impose amount sum pay account thereof fact may furnish illustration sentiment extensively prevails debt due government inconvenience citizen also appear report though prior march 1885 6 conviction territory utah idaho law 1862 1882 punish polygamy unlawful cohabitation crime since date nearly 600 conviction law statute 1887 opinion express firm vigilant execution law advance idea oppose forbidden practice polygamy within united state virtually end suit instituted government provision act march 3 1887 termination corporation know perpetual emigrating fund company church jesus christ saint result decree favorable government declare charter corporation forfeit escheating property property amount value hand receiver pending proceeding appeal take supreme court unite state report secretary interior lay condition various branch domestic affair connect department operation past year fully exhibit brief reference subject discuss able interesting report make commend entire report attention congress trust sensible valuable recommendation contain secure careful consideration strenuously insist upon importance proper measure insure right disposition public land matter present justice forecast consequence future generation broad rich acre agricultural plain long preserved nature become untrammeled gift people civilize free upon rest ownership numerous home enlighten equal fraternal citizen come national possession warn example eye entail iniquity land proprietorship country permit still suffer excuse violation principle cogently teach reason example allowance pretext sometimes exposed land colossal greed law open door fraudulent acquisition administration permit favor rapacious seizure favor expand area many enjoy accessory offense national welfare humanity severely condemn punished gratifying know something do last redress injury people check perilous tendency reckless waste national domain acre arrest illegal usurpation improvident grant fraudulent entry claim take homestead honest industry although less great area thus unjustly lose must afford profound gratification citizen recompense labor struggle recovery dear experience ought sufficiently urge speedy enactment measure legislation confine future disposition remain agricultural land use actual husbandry genuine home vast tract desert land yield monopoly corporation grasp individual appear much tendency exist statute land require supply water become fertile productive problem great moment wisely public good factor shall furnish think perilous suffer either land source irrigation fall hand monopoly mean may exercise lordship area dependent treatment productiveness already step take secure accurate scientific information condition prime basis intelligent action shall gain course wisdom appear clearly lie suspension disposal promise create right antagonistic common interest harm follow cautionary conduct land remain public good present demand hasty dispossession national ownership control commend also recommendation appropriate measure take complete adjustment various grant make state internal improvement swamp overflow land well adjudicate finally determine validity extent numerous private land claim elements great injustice peril settler upon locality affect existence avoid duty press fix soon possible bound terminate threat trouble arise uncertainty condition indian population continue improve proof multiply transform change much desire shall substitute barbarism enlightenment civilize education favorable progress relation people year disturb serious disorder rather mark good realization true interest increase confidence good condition testify value high tone consideration humanity govern later method deal commend continue observance allotment severalty make reservation entitled land thereon share assign work still continue direct execution duty aim much rapid dispatch secure fair arrangement shall best conduce object law produce satisfaction result allotment make measure general effect ever enter may fairly hop shall discreetly administer proffer opportunity inducement independence spirit life indian peculiarly needs time inalienability title affords security risk inexperience affair weakness character may expose deal others whenever begin upon reservation make complete brought condition soon possible community land cease open remain unallotted settlement contact way industrious successful farmer perhaps add healthy emulation instruct stimulate agency amelioration people appear promising extension urge secretary complete facility education shall earliest possible day embrace teachable indian youth sex retain kindly beneficent hold character form faculty disposition train sure pursuit form useful industry capacity indian long need demonstration establish remains make shall do curse lift indian race save sin oppression redeem time accomplishment depend upon spirit justice shall prosecute soon indian interest good name nation average attendance indian pupils school increase 900 year total enrollment reach cost maintenance materially raise number teachable indian youth estimate nearly three time enrollment school believe obstacle way instruct surmountable necessary expenditure would measure economy sioux tribes great reservation dakota refuse assent act pass congress last session open portion land settlement notwithstanding modification term suggest meet objection demand immediate payment full price per acre entire body land occupancy ask relinquish manner submission insure fair understanding law action undoubtedly thoroughly intelligent capacity admit least gratify reproach overreach manner lie government however advisable favorable completion negotiation may esteem concur suggestion secretary regard turtle mountain indian two reservation california cree opinion receive immediate attention number pensioner add roll fiscal year end june 30 1888 increase pension grant case name pensioner drop roll year various cause close year number person class receive pension 806 survivor war 1812 widow serve war soldier mexican war widow say soldier one hundred two different rate pension pay beneficiary range 2 per month amount pay pension fiscal year increase precede year expense attend maintenance operation pension bureau period make entire expenditure bureau 21 per cent gross income nearly 31 per cent total expenditure government year thoroughly convince general pension law revise adjusted meet far possible light experience meritorious case fact 102 different rate pension pay opinion make consistent justice pensioner government numerous private pension bill pass predicate upon imperfection general law increase many case exist inequality injustice lend additional force recommendation revision general law subject laxity idea prevail among large number people regard pension become every day mark principle upon grant danger altogether ignore already pension often claim applicant much entitle successful applicant rather upon disability reasonably attributable military service establishment vicious precedent continue grant pension divorce partisan unworthy irrelevant consideration honorable name veteran unfairly becomes mean another term one constantly clamor aid government danger injury do fame patriotism many citizen delight honor prejudice arouse unjust meritorious applicant pension department agriculture continue good measure success effort develop process enlarge result augment profit american husbandry collect distributed practical information introduce test new plant check spread contagious disease farm animal resist advance noxious insect destructive fungous growth seek secure agricultural labor high reward effort full immunity loss record year show season 1888 one medium production generous supply demand consumption assure surplus exportation moderate certain product bountiful others prove benefaction alike buyer grower four year ago find great cattle industry country endanger engage alarmed rapid extension european lung plague serious outbreak exist illinois missouri kentucky tennessee animal affect held quarantine five county new york one four county state new jersey pennsylvania delaware maryland almost equally affected great danger upon u contagion already channel commerce enormous direct indirect loss already cause prompt energetic action could successful none state law authorize department eradicate malady give state official power cooperate purpose department even lack requisite appropriation authority secure state cooperation connection authority congress work eradication press successfully dreaded disease extirpate western state also eastern state exception restrict area still supervision danger thus remove trade commerce free vexatious state restriction deem necessary time past four year process diffusion apply manufacture sugar sorghum sugar cane introduce country fully perfect experiment carry department agriculture process universally consider economical one industry establish upon firm basis road future success open adoption diffusion process also extend louisiana part country doubtless soon method employ extraction sugar cane exhaustive study also within period undertaken subject food adulteration best analytical method detect part result work already publish department matter course preparation make complete treatise subject ever publish country department seek progressive development would combine discovery science economics amelioration rural practice supervision endow system recently provide proper function department operation supervision important wisely vigilantly directed end pecuniary aid government favor intelligent agriculture apply result general good benefit people thus justify appropriation make public treasury adjustment relation government railroad company receive land grant guaranty public credit aid construction road receive early attention report majority commissioner appoint examine affair indebtedness road favor extension time payment indebtedness least one case corporation appear able comply exact term extension reenforcement opinion gentleman undoubted business judgment experience appoint protect interest government director say corporation may well lead belief extension would advantage government subject treat business proposition view final realization indebtedness government rather question decide upon prejudice way punishment previous wrongdoing report commissioner district columbia accompany document give detail operation several department district government furnishes evidence financial affair district present satisfactory condition justify commissioner submit congress estimate desirable needed improvement commissioner recommend certain legislation opinion necessary advance interest district invite special attention request legislation enable commissioner without delay collect digest properly arrange law district govern embraced several collection make available great difficulty labor suggestion make touch desirable amendment law relate license grant carry retail traffic spirituous liquor observance sunday proper assessment collection tax speedy punishment minor offender management control reformatory charitable institution support congressional appropriation commend careful consideration call attention present inconvenience danger life property attend operation steam railroad across public street roads district propriety legislation properly guard use railroad well secure convenience safety citizens manifest consciousness present imperfect statement condition country want occasion fear anything omit know appreciated congress upon rest responsibility intelligent legislation behalf great nation confide people public servant shall duty well constantly guard rectitude intention maintain unsullied love country unselfish purpose strive public good