The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, December 13, 1893, Image 3
1 WK2F&Q
I j
1 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
AN EXHAUSTIVE DOCUMENT WHICH
IKLAISOh MAiNY 5UBJ-U t .
Relations. W th Foreign CaaaM-l-iH K9'
vlewed-The New T*r!ll Measure Recoinmendtd?The
Reports of the Varioun Dfpartments
Touched Upoo.
To the Congress of the United States :
The conem mionaldut 7 which requires
Ihe President, fiom lime to time to give
the CoDsress information of the state of
the Union, aDd recommend to their consideration
such measures as he shall
judge necessary and expedient, Is fit
tinglv entered upon by commendiDsr to
Congress a carelnl examination of-the
# detailed statements and well supported
recommendations contained in the reports
of the heads of departments who
are chiefly charged with the executive
work of the Government. In an effort
to abridge this communication as much
as is consistent with its purpose, I shall
supplement a brief reference to tbe contents
ot these departmental reports bv
tke mention ot such executive business
< and incidents a* are not embraced there
in, and by such recommendations as ap" ??
of thionortirnlBrflmfl tnnm
tV/ WW ail HJIO yUlViVW'Ml I
priate. While our foreign relations have
not at all times during the past year,
been entirely free from perplexity, no
embarrassing situation remains that
will not yield to the spirit of lairness
and love of justice, which joined with
consistent firmness, characterize a truly
. American foreign policy.
My predecessor having accepted the
ofico of Arbitrator ot the long standing
measures beyond any dispute, tendered
to the President by the Argentine Republic
and Brazil, it has been my agree*
able duty to receive the special envoys
commissioned by those States to lay before
me, evidence and arguments in behalf
of their respective Governments.
T&e outDreas 01 aomesuc hobiuiuob in
the Republic of Brazil, found the United
States alert to watch the interests of
onr citizens in that country, with which
we can yen important commerce. Several
vessels of our sew navy are now
and for some time have been stationed
at Rio de Janeiro. The struggle being
between the established Government
which controls the machinery ot administration,
and with wbhh we maintain
friendly relations, and certain officers of
the Navy employing the vessels oi their
command, attack the State capital and
chief seaports, and Tacking as It does the
lements of divided administration, I
have failed to see that the insurgent
can reasonably claim recognition as be!
lieerents. Thus far the position of our
Government has been that of an attentive
but impartial obsei ver of the unfortunate
conflict, emphasizing our fixed
Dolicy ot impartial neutrality in such a
condition of affairs as now erists. I
deemed it necessary to disavow, in a
manner not to be misunderstood, the
unauthorized action of our late Naval
Commander in those waters in saluting
the revolted Brteflian Admiral, beiuy
indisposed to countenance an act calcu
laied to give gratuitous sanction to tbe
local insurgents.
Tbe convention between our Government
and Chili, having for its object the
aattl*m*nt on/1 nrlitiBlm*nf. nf lhfi d#?
mands ot tke two countries against each
other, has been made effective by the
organization ot the Claims Commission
provided lor. The two governments
tailing to aeres upon the third member
ot the commission, th* good offices ot
the President of the Swiss Republic
were invoked as provided in the treaty
at d the selection ot the Swi83 representative
in this country to complete the
organization was gratifying alike to tbe
United States and Chili. The vexatious
question of sccalled legation asylum for
cflenders against the State and its laws
was preten ed anew in Chili by tbe unauthoiised
action ot the late United
States Minister in receiving into his offl
cial residence two persons who had jusi
failed m an attempt at revolution, and
against whom criminal charges were
pending, growing out of a former abortive
disturbance. The doctrine of asjlum
as applied to tnis case is cot sanctioned
by the best precedent, 8nd when allowed
tends to eccooraee sedition and strife.
Under no clicumstances can the representatives
of this Government be permitted,
under the illdefined fiction ot
extra terliloriality, to interrupt the administration
of criminal justice m the
countries to which they are accrediteo.
Temperate demands having been made
by the Chilian eovernment for the correction
of this conduct in iLe instates
mentioned, the Minisffr wss instructed
no longer to barbcr u < ' (V r<*??
The legislation ot lati y< ?:, tcuow n as
the Geary law, r q.uirine the registration
of all Chinese laboiers en;itle1 to
residence in the United Statrs and the
deportation of all not complying with
tbe provisions of the act wittin the
time priscrlbed, met with much opposition
from Chinamen in this country.
A s<4!nrr nnAn tho ortulno nf ?min?nt.
AVIlUg MM ? ?VW V*
counsel, that the law was unconstitutional,
tbe great mass of Chinese laborers
pending judicial enquiry as to its validity
in good faltb, declined to apply for
the certificates required by its provisions
A test case upon proceedings by habeas
corf us was brought before the Supreme
Court acd on May 5, 1893, a decision
was made by that tribunal sustaining
that law.
? It is believed that under the recent
amendment of tbe act extending the
time for registration, the Chinese laborers
th?n entitled, who desire to reside in
this country, wi\l now avail themselves
of the renewed privilege thus afforded
ot establishing by lawful procedure their
right to remain, and that theieby the
necessity ot eniorcea aeportauon may 10
a great degree be avoided.
It baa "devolved upon the United
States Minister at Peking, as Dean of
tbe diplomatic body, and in tie absense
of a representative of Sweden and Norway,
to press upen the Chinese government
reparation tor the recent murder
of Swedish missionaries at Sung Pu
This question is oi vital interest to all
countries whose citizens engage in
missionary work in the interior.
By Article 12 ot the General Act oi
Bruseells, signed July 2, 1850, for the
euppreasion otthe slave trade and the
rettrictionof certain injurious commerce
in the independent States of tbe Congo
and in the adjapent zone of Central
Alrica, the United Slates and the o'her
signatory pcwerB ageca 10 aaopi appn
prate means ior the puDi&hmeutof pei80C.8
selling arms aud ammunition to
the natives and for the coiitiscaiion ot
tbe inhibited articles. Id beio? the plain
r.Uiy Ul ILI1S ^UVr.UUJCUt III OIU iu ruppressiDK
tbe nelarious traffic, impairing
as it does the praiseworthy and civiliz
inc efforts don in progress iu that regio j,
I recommend tf at an act bf passed pro
Mbitine tbe sale of a/me atd intoxicauts
to nativts in tfce regulated zoue by cur
cit*e8.
CCosta Rica haB lately testified its
i
,T. .
V
friendliness b y surrendering to the
United States, in the absence of a convention
of extradition, but upon duly
submitted evidence of criminality, a
noted fusilive from justice, ft 13 trusted
tbat the negotialious already with the
country to meet recurring cases ot trie
kind will soon be accomplished. In my
opinion treaties for reciprocal extradition
should be concluded with all those
countries with which the Un'ted States
has Eot alreudy conventional, arrangements
of that character. I have deemed
it fitting to express to the Governments
of Costa ltica and Columbia the kindly
desire ot the United States to see their
pending bouudary dispute finally closed
by arbitration ia conformity with the
spirit of the treaty concluded between
tbem some years ago. Our relations
with the French Republic continue to be
intimate and cordial. I sincerely hope
that the extradition treaty with that
?o nmorflnrl ho tho fiannta will
\j\J UUll J ^ HO ALUbUUVU K/ J vuw I^iwumovi <
soon be iq operation. While occasioual
question affectinz our naturalized citizens
returning to the land of their birth
have arisen in our intercourse with Germany
our relations with that country
continue satisfactory.
The questions affecting our relations
with Great Britain have been treated in
a spirit of friendliness. Negotiations are
in progress between the two governments
with a view to such concurrent
action as will make the award and regulations
agreed upon jby the BehriDg
osa iriDunai 01 arDiirauuu pruuuuauj
eflective, and it is not doubted that
[ Great Britain will co-operate freely with
this country for the accomplishment of
that purpose. The dispute growing out
of the discriminating tolls imposed in
the Weiland Canal, upon cargoes of
cereals bound to and from Lake ports
of the United States, was stopped by
the substitution oi a more equitable
schedule of charges, and my predecessor
thereupon suspended hi; proclamation,
imposing discriminating tolls upon
British tranist through our canals. A
request for additions to the list of ex*
traditable offenses, covered by the existing
treaty between the two countries, is
under consideration.
During the past year an American
citizen, employed in a subordinant commercial
position 1n Hayti, after suffering
a protracted imprisoment on an unfounded
charge of smuggling, was finally liberated
on judicial examination. Upon
urgent representation to the Haytian
government, a suitable indemnity was
paid to tbe sufferer. By a law of H&yti,
a Ratlin? vessel, havinsr discharged her
cargo, is refused clearance until the duties
on such cargo bave been paid. The
hardship of this measure upon American
tthip owners, who conduct the bulk
of the carrying trade of that country,
has been insisted on with a view of
this cause of complaint.
Upon receiving authentic information
of the firing upon an American mall
steamer touching at the port of Amapal
a, because her captain retused to deliver
uo a passenger, in transit from
Nicaraugua to Guatemala, upon demand
of the milittia authorities of Honduras,
our minister to that country, under instructions,
protested against the wantOD
act and demanded satisfaction. The
Government of Honduras actuated b? a
scDse of justice and in a spirit of the
uimoBf friendship, promptly disavowed
the illegal conduct of its officers end expressed
sincere regreat f>r the occurrence.
It is confidently anticipated that
a staistactory adjustment will soon be
reached of the question arising out ot
the seizure and use of American vessels
by insurgents, in Honduras, and the
subsequent denial, by the successful
government of commercial privileges to
iKnoo vpaaola nn that nr?.r.rtiint._
A notable pari of the southeasterly
coast of Liberia, between the (Jayally
and San Pedro rivers, which, for nearly
halt a century, haB been generally recognized
as belonging to that Republic
by cession and purchase, has been
claimed to be under the protectorate of
France by virtue of agreements entered
Into by the native tribes over whom
Liberia's control has not been well maintoiod
rof?ontlv naimt.ifit.1nnR
tween the Liberlan representative and
the French Government resulted in the
signing at Paris ot a treaty whereby as
an adjustment, certain L'.berian territory
is ceded to France. Thi3 convention,
at last advices, bad not been ratified by
the Liberian Legislature and Executive.
Feeling a sympathetic interest in the
fortunes of the little commonwhealth,
the establishment and development of
which were largely aided by the benevolence
of our countrymen, and which constitutes
the only independently sovereign
State on the West coast of Africa, this
Government has suggested to tke French
Government its earnest concern lest
territorial impairment in Liberia should
lake place without her unconstrained
onn>a?nt..
Our relations with Mexico continue
to be of the close and friendly nature
which should alwas8 characterize the intercourse
of two neighboring republics.
The work of relocating the monuments
marking the boundary between the two
countires from Paso del Norte to the
Pacific is now nearly completed. The
Commission recently organized under the
conventions of 1884 and 1889, it is expected
will speedily settle disputes growing
out of the shifting currents of the
.Rio Grand River East of El Paso.
Nicaraugua has recently passed
through two revolutions, the party at
first successful having: in turn been displaced
by another. Our newly appointed
Minister by bis timely good
offices aided in a peaceful adjustment
of the controversy involved in the first
conflict. The large American interpata
pstahlinhprl in that, p.nnnfrv in rnn
nection with the Nicaraugua Canal
were not molested. The Canal Company
has, unfortunately, become financially
seriously embarrassed, but a generous
treatment has been extended it
by the government of Nicaraugua.
The United States are especially interested
in the successful achievement of
the vast undertaking this company
has in charge; that it should be accomplished
under distinctly American auspices
and its enjoyment assured not
only to the veesels of this country as a
channel of commerce between our Atlantic
and Pacific seaboard, but to the
ships of th? world in the interest of
civilization is a proposition which, in
my judgment, does not admit of question.
Guatemala ha3 also been visited by
the political vici83i;u<les which hare
afflicted her Central American neighbors;-but
the dissolution of its Legislature
and the proclamation of a dictatorship
have been unattended witn
civil war.
An extradition treaty v.ith Norway
has receutlv been exchanged and nro
claimed. The extradition treaty with
Russia, signed in March, 1887, and
amended and confirmed by the Senate
iu Feoruary last, was duly proclaimed
last J une.
Led by a desire to compose differences
and contribute to the restoration or order
in Samoa, which for some years
previous had been th? scene of con,
flietlng foreign pretensions anl native
_ - - -v.'.-.-'y;.
j
strife, ths> United States, deputing
from its policy consecrated by a century
of observance, entered four years
ago into the treaty of jtJerlin, thereby
becoming jointly bound with England
and Germany to establish and main1
ViAnn aa lrin n? nf
bCftiLI iUHlIClua juuuucpa ao Qiux vi
Samoa. The treaty provided for a foreign
court of justice; a municipal council
for the district of Apia, with a foreign
president thereof, authorized to
advise the king; a tribunal for the settlement
of native foreign titles and a
revenue system for the kingdom. It
entailed upon the three powers that
part of the cost of the new government
not met by the revenue of the islands.
Early in the life of this triple protectorate,
the native dissensions it was
designed to quell, revived. Revalo defied
the authority of the new king, refusing
to pay taxes and demanding the
election of a ruler by native suffrage.
Mataafa, an aspirant to the throne, and
a large number of his native adherents,
were in open rebellion on one of the islands.
Quite lately, at the request of
the otner powers ana 111 iumumeni. ot
the treaty obligation, this government
agreed to unite in a joint military
movement of such dimensions as would
probably secure the surrender of the
insurgents without bloodshed. The
war ship Philadelphia was accordingly
put under orders for Samoa, but before
she arrived the threatened conflict was
precipitated by King Malletoa's attack
upon the Insurgent camp. Mataafa
was defeated and a number of his men
killed. The British and German naval
vessels present subsequently secured
the surrender of Mataafa and his adherents.
The defeated chief and ten of
his DrinciDal supporters were deported
to a German island of the Marshall
group, where they are held as prisoners
under tbe jeint responsibility and cost
of the tbree powers. This incident
and the events leading up to it signally
illustrate the Impolicy of entangling
alliances with foreign powers.
More than fifteen years ago this government
preferred a claim against
Spain in behalf of one of our citizens
for property seized and confiscated in
Cuba. In 1886 the claim was adjusted,
Spain agreeing to pay unconditionally
as a fair indemnity $1,100,000. A
respectful but earnest note was recently
addressed to the Spanish Government
insisting upon prompt fulfillment
of its long neglected obligation. Other
claims preferred by the United States
against spam m oenair 01 .amoncau
citizens for property confiscated in
Cuba have been pending for many
years.
At the time Spain's title to the Caroline
Islands was conirmed by arbitration,
that government agreed that the
rights wklch had been acquired there
by American missionaries should be recognized
and respected. It is sincerely
hoped that this pledge will be observed
by allowing our missionaries who were
removed from Parape to a place of
safety by a United States war ship during
the late troubles between the Spanish
garrison and the natives to return
fn thoir fialrt nf llRP.fulnAM.
The reproduced Caravel, Santa Maria,
built by Spain and sent to tbe Columbian
Xxposltion, has been presented to
tbe United States in token of amity and
in commemoration of the event it was
designed to celebrate. I recommend
tbat in accepting tbls el ft, Congress
make grateful recognition of the sincere
friendship which prompted it.
Important matters have demanded
attention in our relations with the Ottoman
Porte. The firing and partial
destruction by an unrestrained mob of
one of the school buildings of Anatolia,
a college established by citizens of the
United States at Marsoran, and tbe ap
parent indifference of the Turkish Government.
to tbe outrage, notwithstanding
the complicity of some of its offl
cials called for earnest, remonstrance,
which was followed by promises of re
paration and punishment of the offenders.
Indemnity for the injury to the
buildings has already been paid, permission
to rebuilt given, registration
of the school DroDeftv in the name of
the American owners secured and efficient
protection guaranteed.
Information received of maltreatment
suffered by an inoffensive American
woman engaged in missionary
work in Turkish Koordistan was followed
by such representations to the '
Porte as resulted in the issuance of orders
for the punishment of her assailers,
the removal of delinquent officials
and the adoption of measures for the
protection of our citizens engaged in
mission and other lawful work in that
quarter. Turkey complains that her
Armenian subjects obtain citizenship
in this country, not to identify themselves
in good faith with our people,
bus with tbe intention or returning to
the land of their birth and there engaging
in sedition.
The complaint is not wholly without
foundation. A journal published in
this country in the Armenian language
openly counsels its readers to arm, organize
and participate in movements
for the subversion of Turkish authority
in the Asiatic provinces. The Ottoman
government ha3 announced its intention
to expel from its dominions
Armenians who have obtained naturalization
in the United States since
1S68. The right to exclude any or all
classes of aliens is an attribute of sovereignty.
It is a right asserted and to
a limited extend enforced by the United
States with tbe sanction of our
highest court.
There beiug no naturalization treaty
U~4- 4-U ~
uotwocu luo uuibcu otatco auu luiaoj,
our minister at Constantinople has
been instructed that, while recognizing
the right of that Government to enforce
its declared policy against naturalized
Armenians, he is expected to
protect them from nnnecessarv harshness
of treatment.
In view of the impaired fiuancial resources
of Venezuela,consequent upon
the recent revolution there, a modified
arrangement for the satisfaction of
the awards of the late revisory claims
commission in progress installments
has been assented to, and payments are.
being regularly made thereunder.
The boundary dispute between Venezuela
and Britisli Guiana is yet unadjusted.
A restoration of diplomatic
intercourse between that republic and
Great Britain and reference ot' the
question to impartial arbitration
uiniilH ho o must t rtiMfinnor prtnsiimma.
tion. The ratification by Venezuela of
thj convention for the arbitration of
the long deferred claims of t!f\Venezuela
Transportation Corop.jy is
awaited.
It is hardly necessary for me tost ate
that the questions arising from our relations
with Hawaii have caused serious
embarrassment. Just prior to the
Installation of the present administration
the existing government of Hawaii
had been suddenly overturned,
and a treaty of annexation had been
negotiated between the provisional
government of the Islands and the
United States and submitted to the
Senate for ratitication. This treaty I
withdrew for examination and dispatched
Hon. James fl. Blount, of
Georgia, to Honolulu as a special com
missioner to make au impartial inv estimation
of the c'rcumsiauces attending
t;ie cbaDge of government and of
all the conditions bearing upon rhe
subject of the treaty. Aft er a tboroutf'i
and exhaustive examination, Mr.
Biouut submitted to m? bis report,
showing beyand all question that tbe
1
\
constitutional (government of Hawaii
had been subverted with the active ate
of our representative to that govern
ment ar.d through the intimldatior
caused by the presence of an armec
nf HiaTTnlfrftrl XfntPS Whicfl
lift y ai iulow ul vuw v^iwvm
wa3 landed for that purpo.se at the lastance
ot our Minister. Upon thf
facts developed it seemed to me thai
the only honorable course for our goveminent
to pursue was to undo the
wrong that had been done by thost
representing us and to restore, as fai
as practicable, the status existing at
the time of our forcible intervention
With a view of accomplishing this re
suit within the constitutional limits ol
Executive power and recognizing all
our obligations and responsibilities
growing out of any changed conditions
brought about by our unjustifiable interference,
our present Minister a!
Honolulu h'is received appropriate in
structions to that ead. Thus far nc
information of the accomplishment ol
- 14? 1
any aeuone results nave uccu iccoivcu
from him. Additional advices are soot
expected. When received they will
be promptly sent to Congress, togetlr
er with all other information at hand
accompanied by a special Executive
Message fully detailing all the fictt
necessary to the complete understanding
of the case and presenting a history
of all material events leading up to the
present situation.
By a concurrent resolution, passed
by the Senate, Febuary 14,1890, and bj
the House of Representatives on the
3d of April following, the President
was requested "to invite from time tc
time, as fit occasion may arise, nego
nations who. any goverumeub will
which the United States has or ma}
have diplomatic relations, to the end
that any differences or disputes arising
between the two governments whicb
cannot be adjusted by diplomatic agency
may be referred to arbitration and
be peaceably adjusted by such means."
On April 18, 1890, the Internationa]
American Conference of Washington
by resolution, expressed the wish that
the controversies between the republics
of America and the nations oi
Europe might be settled by arbitration
and recommended that the government
of each nation represented in that
conference should communicate thte
wish to all friendly powers. A favorable
response has been received from
Great Britain in the shape of a resolution
adopted by Parliament July 16
last, cordially sympathizsDg with the
purpose in view, and expressing the
hop6 that her Majesty's government
will lend ready co-operation to the government
of the United States upon the
basis of the concurrent resolution
abo/e quoted. It alfords me signal
pleasure to lay this parliamentary resolution
before Congress and to express
sincere gratification that the sentiment
of two great and kindred nations Is
thus authoritatively manifest in favor
of the rational and peaceable settlement
of intnrnat.innal nnarrpls hff hon?
orable resort to arbitration.
Since the passage of tbe act of March
3, 1893, authorizing the President to
raise the grade of our envoys to correspond
with the rank in which foreign
countries accord their agent here,Great
Britain, France. Italy and Germany
have conferred upon their representatives
at the capitol the title of ambassador,
and I have responded by accord
ing the agents of the United States in
those countries with the same title. A.
like elevation of mission is announced
by Russia and when made will be similarly
met. This step willingly compares
with the position the United
States held in the family of nations.
During mv former administration I
took occasion to recommend a recast
of the laws relating to the consular
r.A?.f<ytn u frHof if minrhf honnma a
3d V lbC) III U1UU1 bUOb lb lui^uu /vv/u?uw v*
more efficient agency in tne promotion
of t he interests it was intended to subserve.
The duties and powers of consuls
havd been expanded with the
growing requirements of our foreign
trade. Discharging important duties
affecting our commerce and American
citizens abro-id, and in certain countries
exercising judical functions,these
officers shouM be men of character, intelligence
and ability.
Upon proof that the legislation of
Denmark secures copyright to American
citizens on equal footing with its
own, the privileges of our copyright
laws have been extended by proclamation
to subjects of that country.
The Secretary of tne Treasuary reports
that the receipts of the government
from all sources during the fiscal
year ended June 30,1893, amounted to
8461,716.561.94 and its expenditures to
?/4^Q Q7A R7A90 Thorn nra.i prtllflff-prl frnm
customs ?205,355,016.73 and from internal
revenue $161,027,622.93 Oui
dutiable imports amounted to $421,856,'
711, an increase of $52,453,907 over the
preceding year, and importations fre
of duty amounted to $444,544,211, a
decrease from the preceding yeai
of $13,455,417. Internal revenue receipts
excoeded those of the preceding
year by $7,147,445.32. The total tax
collected on distilled spirits was $94,720,260.55,
on manufactured tobacco
$31,889,711.74, and on fermented liquors
$32,548,983.07. We exported merchandise
during the year amounting to $847,
665,794, a decrease of $182,612 954 from
the preceding year. The amount ol
gold exported was larger tnan any pre
vious year 1q the hlstorv of the government,
amounting to $108,680,844 and
exceeding the amount exported during
the proceeding year by $58,485,517. The
sum paid from the treasury for sugar
bounty was ?9,375,130.88, an increase
over the preceding year of $203,305,309.
It is estimated upon the basis of present
revenue laws that the receipts
of the government for the yeai
ending June 30,1894, wiJl be $430,121,
365 38 and its expenditures $458,121,
365 38, resulting in a deficiency of $28,000,000.
On the first day of November
1893, the amount of money of all kinds
in circulation or not included in Treas
ury noiaings, was 91, <10,3*4,ooz, an increasa
for the year ot 5112,404,947
Estimating our population ac 67,426,000
at the time mentioned, the per cap
ita circulation was $25 49. On the
same date there was in the Treasury
gold bullion amounting to 397,757,273,
and silver billion which was parchasrd
at a cost of $128,201,553.
The purchase of silver under the law
of July 14,1890, during the la?t liscal
year, aggregated 54.008.102 59 fine ounce?,
which cost ?15,531,374 53. The total
amount of silver purchased from the
time that law became operative until
the repeal of its purchasing clause, on
thefir.srd^y of November, 1893, was
108 671,59040 line ounces, which cost
I ~ ~ Q'JA tlffl Q 4 Dot-moan fKo f\r*o f* /lot;
UUV UIUW v?wj
of March, 1873, and the first day of November,
1893, the government purchased
under all laws 503,903,717 line
outlets of silver a*; a cost of $516,622,948.
Tlit; silver dollars that have been
coined und-r the A.ct of July 14, 1890,
ninili'r 36,087,285. The seigniorage
-irisin from suen coinage was $6,977,0W8
39. leavm^ on hand in the miuta
1-10.699 769 li ie ouuees of silver which
cost ? 126,758 218
Our to'.-il coinage of all metals during
the last iiscal year consist?<l of 97,280,f'*"
i 1 Aioffo; i f?o o/\
o<o pieces, Vciiue j ut, c>4o,oot>,i(o.ou, ui
which f>er? was $30,038,140 in ?>I i
c?tt?, $5 343,715 ia silver dollars, S7.217,220
90 i . oui)si?liary sllv r coin aud SI,
080,102 90 iu minor cuius. During tnt
calendar year 1892 the production of
precious metals iu the United States
f
i ' iil
L was estimated to be 1,596,375 fine oan- e:
I ces of gold of the commercial and coin- t<
age value of 333,000,000, and 58,000,000 r<
fine ounces of silver at the bullion or
market value of $50,750,000 and of tne b
coinage value of 974,989,900. tl
It is estimated that on the first day d
of July, 1893. the metallic stock of el
money in the United States, consisting al
of coin and bullion, amounted to 91,- ti
213,559,161 of which$597,697,685 was gold pi
and $615,861,484 was silver. One hun- ai
dred and nineteen national banks were re
organized during the year ending Oc- w
tober 21, 1893, with a capital of $11,- t\
230,000. Forty-six went Into voluntary ic
liquidation and one hundred and fifty- 11:
?J? U4- Qlvfn.flnA aF fha ana. fi
L CIgLIU OUS^DUUOUi uuv;-uto ui. vuv uuu wi
i pended banks were insolvent, eighty- pi
) six resumed business and seven re- cc
main in the hands of bank examiners, m
; with prospects of speedy resumption, ti
. Of the new banks organized forty-four tt
i were located in the Eastern States, b<
! forty-one West of the Mississippi river tx
[ and thirty-four in the Central and ol
i Southern States. The total number of cc
I banks in existence on the 31st of Octo- ai
ber, 1893, was 3,796, having an aggre- ai
[ gate capital of $695,558,120. The net pi
t increase in the circulation of these m
t banks during the year was $86,886,972. bl
The recent repeal of the provision of pi
r law requiring the purchase of silver te
; bullion by the government as a feature ft
of our monetary scheme has made an
i entire change in the complexion of our ei
' currency affairs. 1 do not doubt that w
) the ultimate result of this action will b<
; be most salutary and far-reaching. In rl
> the nature of things, however, itls im- tb
. possible to know at this time, precisely fa
i what conditions will be brought about rl
r by the change, or what, if any, supple- m
1 mentary legislation may, in the light N
; of such conditions, appear to be esseB* cc
i tial or expedient. Of course, after the tb
. recent financial perturbation, time is su
1 necessary for the re-establlshment of of
' business confidence. When, however, w
[ through this restored confidence the
, money, which has been frightened into m
; hoarding places, is returned to trade jti
and enterprise, a survey of the situa- S8
; tion will probably disclose a safe path w
i leading to a permanently sound cur- ?e
rency, abundantly sufllcient to meek q
; every requirement of our increasing qt
I population auu uubiuwm. xu mo putsuit
of this object we should resolute- ta
i ly turn away from alluring and tempo- te
rary expedients determined to be con- th
i tent with nothing less than a lasting tb
i comprehensive financial plan. In these ^
i circumstances I am convinced that a w
i reasonable delay in dealing with this ur
subject, instead of being injurious, will y(
i increase the probability of wise action. 0B
Tho monetary conference which as- gr
sembled at Brussels upon our invitation
was adjourned to the 30th day of t
i November of the present year. 5:
The consideration just stated and fr
i the fact that a definite proposition rr
from U3 seemed to ba expected upon
the reassembling of the conference lea "
me tD express a willingness to have the "J
meeting still further postponed. It ?
seems *to me that it would "be wise to ^
give general authority to the President ?!
to invite other nations to such a conference
at any time when there should "1
be a fair prospect of accomplishing an
international agreement on the subject
of coinage. I desire also to earnestly r*
suggest the wisdom of amending the
existing statutes in regard to issur- ^
ance of government bonds. ~
. The authority now vested in the Sec- Wi
retary of the Treasury to issue bonds,
is not as clear as it should be and the
bonds authorised are disadvantageous
to the government, both as to the time
of their maturity and rate of interest.
The Superintendent of Immigration 2
through the Secretary of the Treasury, r?
reports that during the last fiscal year J?1
there arrived at our ports 440,730 lmmlgrants,
of these 1,063 were not permitted
to land under the limitations of ^
the law, and 577 were returned to the p
countries from whence they came, by
reason of their having become public
charges. The total arrivals were 141
034 less than for the previous year.
The Secretary in his report gives an
account of the operation of the Marine ^
Hospital Service and of the good work ,"
done under its supervision in preventiog
the entrance and spread of conta- jr,
. geous diseases. The admonitions of t.
i the last two years touching our public
, health and the demonstrated danger of i;
the introduction of contageous diseas- r:
es from foreign ports has invested the Jr
subject of Kational quarantine with r,
increased interest. A more general and v:
harmonious system than now exists, ^
i acting prompwy ana airecuy every,
where and constantly operating by pre- ,T
t ventive means to shield our country r:
from the invasion of disease, and at ?;
the same time having due regard to ^
the rights and duties of local agencies,
would, I believe, add greatly to the
safety of our people. ;
The Secretary of War reports that
1 the strength of the army on the 30th .
day of September last was 25,578 enlist- ?
ed men and 2,144 officers. The total
expenditures of the department for the
year ending June 30,1893, amoanted to
i 851,966,07489- Of this sum 81,992,581.- J,r
95 was for salaries and contingent ex
penses, 823,377,828.35 for the support ?
of the military establishments, $6,077,- p,,
t 033.18 for miscellaneous objects and hi
! 820,518,631.41 for public works. This
latter sum includes 810,296,876.46 for
river and harbor improvements and . *
I 83,266,141.20 for fortifications and other
; works of defense. The total enroll- r{
ment of the militia of the several
States was, on the 31st of October of f >,
i the current year. 112,597 officers and
enlisted men. The officers of the army r:
detailed for inspection, and not Instruc- *
. tion, of the reserve of our military Zq
. force report that Increased interest and jo
. marked progress are apparent in the
; discipline and efficiency of the organl.
zation. Neither Indian outbreaks nor fv
. domestic violence have called the army
Into service during the year, and the c
only active military duty required of
, it has been in the department of Texas
where violations of the neutrality la ws ir
of the United States and Mexico were J*
promptly and efficiently dealt with by fc
the troops, eliciting the warmest approval
of the civil and military authorites
of both countries.
mur* AMA?nfiAn Af nrlan la ura and hha
I JL Lie upoiabiuu Ul TT1QO iun u uuu wuv rrj
i influences of civilization constantly a]
tending to relieve the country from the
dangers of Indian hostilities together pi
with the iacreasing ability of the ^
States through tha efficiency of the a[
National Guard organizations to pro- cc
i teot their citizens l'rom domestic vio- m
lence lead to the suggestion that the C(
time is fast approaching when there
i should be a reorganization of our army ^
; on the lines oi the present necessities 0r
o? the country. This cnange contam- m
plates neither increase in number nor m
added expenses, but a redistribution fQ
i of the force and an encouragement of p,
measures tending to greater efficiency m
among the men and improvement of t;
the service.
The adoption of battallion formation fa
for infantry regiments, the strengthen- th
iug of the artillery force, the abandon- er
uaent of smaller and unnecessary posts, p<
and tbe massing of the troops at im- tb
; portant and accessible stations, all o(
promise to promote the usefulness of pr
' the army. In the judgment of army in
officers, with but few exceptions, the P<
operation of the law forbidding the re- w
re enlistment of men after ten years' w
service has not proved its wisdom, and tb
while the ararumeuts that led to its 18
i * adoption were not without merit, the IK
r
rperience of the yea r constrains me
> join in the recommi nidation for iU
speaL;
It is gratifying to note that) we have
Bgun to attain computed results la
le comprehensive scheme of sea coast
efense and fortification entered npon
ght years ago. A large sum has been
ireadv exoendedJbut the cost of mam
linance will be inconsiderable as comired
with the expense of construction
ad ordinance. At the end of the curmt
calendar year the war department
ill have ninety twelve-inch guns,
verity ten-Inch and thirty-four eight
ich guns ready to be mounted on gun
fits and carriages and sevety-flve
velve-inch mortars in addition to the
roduct of the army gun factory now
impleted atWatervelt. The governient
has contracted with private pares
for the purchase of 100 trans of
ieae calibres, the first of which should
i delivered to the department for test
jfore Julyl, 1891. The manufacture
! heavy ordnance keeps pace with
irrent needs; but to render these guns
railable for the purpose they are defined
to meet, emplacements muet be
repared for them. Progress has been
aae in this direction, and it is desirae
that Congress by adequate approbation
should provide tor the uninrrupted
prosecution of the necessary
ork.
After much preliminary work and
:haustlve examination, in accordance
1th the requirements of the law, the
>ard appointed to select a magazine
fte modem type with which to replace
e obsolete Springfield Rifle of the inntry
service, completed its labors dung
the last year, and the work of
anufacture is now in progress at the
ational Armory at Springfield. It is
mfldently expected that by the end of
e current year our Infantry will be
ipplled with a weapon equal to that
the most progressive armies of the
orld.
The work on the projected Chlckaauga
and Ghattanooga National Miliry
Park has been prosecuted with
aland judgment, and its opening
111 be celebrated during the coming
?r. Over nine square miles of the
llckamauga battlefield have been acilred;
twenty-five miles of roadway
ive been conatracted and permanent
bleta have been placed at many hisrlcal
points, while the invitation to
l8 States to mark the positions of
ieir troops participating In the battle
ls been very generally accepted. The
ork of locating and preserving the
les of battle at the Gettysburg bat
Jhtld is maung satisfactory progress
l the plans directed by the last Coness.
Theteports of the Military Academy
West Point and the several schools
r special Instruction of officers show
arrad advance in thei education in
e army and a commendable ambi)n
among Its officers to excel in the
liitary profession and to fix them
Ives for the highest service of the
untry. Under the supervision of
djutant-General Robert Williams,
Leiy reared, cne Dureau 01 military
formation has become well establishLand
Is performing a service that
ill pat In possession of the governent
In time of war most valuable formation,
and at all times serve a parise
of great utility in keeping the
my advised of the world's progress
all matters pertaining to tbe art of
ir.
The report of tbe Attorney General
ntalns the usaal summary of the afirs
and proceedings of the Departent
of J ustice for the past year, toi.her
with certain recommendations
to needed legislation on various a ubsts.
I cannot too heartily endorse
e proposition that the fee system as
ipllcable to the compensation of Uni1
States Attorneys, Marshtls. Clerics
Federal Courts and United States
jmmissioners should be abolished
ithas little delay as possible. It is
sarly in the interest or the commaa i*
that the business of the Courts, both
vil and criminal^ shall be as small
id as inexpensively transacted as tbe
ids of justlce will allow. Tbe system
, therefore, thoroughly vicious which
akes tbe compensation of Court ofilals
depend upoa the volume of such
oslness, and thus creates a conflict bereen
a proper execution of tbe law
id private gala, which cannot fail to
i dangerous to the rights and free>m
of the citizens and an Irresistible
mptatlon to the unjustifiable expanture
of pnblic funds. If in addition
this reform another was Inaugurated
ttich would give the United States
>mml88loners the final disposition of
itty offenses within tbe grade of misimeanors,especially
those earning unr
the internal revenue law's, great
Ivance would be made toward a more
cent administration of a criminal
w.
In my first message to Congress, dad
December 8,1885,1 strongly recomended
these changes and referred
mewhat at length to the evil* of the
ecent system. Since that time the
ItMnln/mn f Ka "Pa/IapoI Pahufa
lJLLHUtU UUDi&icoo ui lugxcuciax v/v/u&vo
id the expense attending it have
lormously increased. The number of
lminal prosecutions pending in the
rcuit and District Courts of the Until
States on the 1st dav of July, 1885,
as 3,808, of which 1,884 were for viorions
of the Internal revenue laws,
bile the number of prosecutions pendg
on the 1st day of July, 1893, was
ne thousand Ave hundred, of which
>ur thousand two hundred were violajnsofthe
internal revenue laws. The
ipense of the United States Courts,
ccluslve of judges'salaries, for the
iar ending July 1, 1885, wa3 $2,874,3.11,
and fortne year ending July 1,
93, 81528,676.87. It is therefore ap
irent that the reason given in 1885 for
change in the manner of enforcing
e Federal criminal law have gainea
jgency and strength by lapse of time.
1 also hereby join the Attorney Gen
al in recommending legislation fixing
e degrees of the crime of murder
ithin the Federal jurisdiction, as ha?
sen done in many of the States; anorizing
writs of error on behalf of
ie government In cases where final
dgment is rendered against tbe sufflency
of an indictment or against tbe
>vernment upon any other question
rising before the actual trial, limiting
e right of review in cases of felony,
wishing only by fine and Imprisonient,
to tbe Circuit Court of Appeals
id making speedy provision for tbe
instruction of such prisons and reforatories
as may be necessary for tbe
jnfinementof United States convicts.
The report of the PostmasterGenercontains
a desailed statement of the
>erations of tbe Pestoflbe Djpartent
during the last fiscal year and
uch Interesting information touchig
upon this important branch of the
iblic service. The business of the
ails indicates with absolute certain-1
the condition of the business of the
>untry, and depression in financial afira
inevitably and quickly reduces
e postal revenues. Therefore a larg?
discrepancy tban usual between tae
jstofflce receipts and expenditures is
e expected and unavoidable result
' the distressing stringency which has
availed throughout the country durg
much of the time covered by the
ustmaster General's report. At a date
ben better times were anticipated It
an estimated by bis predecessor that
e dtflciencv on the 30th day of June.
93, would be but a little over a mil-1
) and a half dollars. It amounted
........ . '
. ' #
?
* J
t _l . . .
. I
i however, to more than five millions
i At the same time and under the infla
ence of like anticipations, estimates
I were made for f.ha nnrrflnt fiscal vftftr
i ending June 30. 1894, which exhibited
a surplus of revenue over expenditures
of $872,245.71; but now, in view of the
actual receipts and expenditures dating
that part of the current fiscal year already
expired, the present Postmaster
General estimates that at its close
instead of a surplus there will be a deficiency
of nearly eight million dollar*.
The postofflce receipts for the last fiscal
year amounted to 875,896,933.16 and
its expenditures to $81,074,104.99. This
postofflce deficiency would disappear
or be immensely decrease if less matter
was carried free through the mails,
among which is upward of three hundred
tons of seed and grain from the
Agricultural Daoartmant. The total
number of postoffices in the United
States on the 30th of June, 1893, was
68,403, an increase of 1,284 over the
preceding year. Of thesa 3,360 were
Presidential, an increase in that class
of 204 over the preceding year. Fortytwo
free delivery offices were added
during the year to those already existing,
making a total of six hundred and
ten cities andtowns provided with free
delivery on June 30, 1893. Ninety
three other cities and towns are now *
entitled to this service under the law,
but it has not been accorded them on
account of insufficient funds to meetthe
expense of Its establishment. I am
decidedly of the opinion that the provisions
of the present law permit as
general an introduction of this feature,
of mail service as Is necessary or justl*
name, ana tnai it ougat not to do ex*
tended to smaller communities than
are now designated.
Tbe expense of free delivery for the
llscal year ending June 30,1894, will be AV
more than 811,000,000, and under legis*
lation now existing there must be a
constant increase in this item of expenditure.
There were 6,401 additions to
the domestic money order offices during
the last fiscal year, being the largest increase
in any year since the inauguration
of the system. The total number
of these cflcas at the close of the year
was 18,424 There,were 13,309,735 money
orders issued from these offices, be- V ; ' ^
lng an increase over the preceding year
of 1,240,293 and the value of these orders
amounted to $127,276,133.65, an increase
of 87,509,632.58. There were also
issued during the year postal notes
amounting to $12,093,076.73. Daring
the year 195 international money order
offices were added to those already i
provided mafctaz a total or m oporation
on J :ne 30,1893. The number
of international money orders issued
during the year was 1,053,999, aa increase
oyer the preceding year of 72,525
and their value was 316,341,837.86, an
increase of $1,221,506,31. The number
of orders paid was 300,917, an Increase
over the preceding year of 13,503, and
their value was $5,283,375.70, an increase
of $94,093.83. From the foregoing
statements it appears that the total
issue of money orders and poetanotesforthe
year amounted to $1561821,348.24.
The number of letters and packages
mailed during the year for special de.
livery was 3,375,693, an increase over
the preceding year of nearly 22 per
cent. The special delivery stamps used
upon these letters and packages
ftiA
ttlllUUUUJU IU ^P?>o 19OXJiJ o\/f auu uuo uicosenger
fees paid for tbelr delivery
amounted to $256,592.71, leaving a
profit to the government of $80,976 59.
The railway mail service not only addi
to the promptness of mail delivery at
all offices, but it is the especial lnstramentality
which puts the smaller and
way places in the service on an equality
in that regard with the larger and terminal
offices. This branch of tbe postal
service has therefore received much
attention from the Postmaster General
and though it is gratifying to know
tbat it is in a condition of blgh efficiency
and great usefulness, I am led to
agree with the Postmaster Ganeral
^ -aaw* #/%? Ifa fiiufha* t frt
bQdb tlicrc 10 tUUlU 1U1 XU3 iuivuvi auaprovement.
There are now connected
to the postoffice establishment 28,324
employees who are in the classified service.
The head of this great department
gives conclusive evidence of the
value of civil service reform, when after
an experience that renders his
judgment on the subject absolutely reliable,
he expresses the opinion that
without the benefit of this system it
would be impossible to conduct the
vaat business intrusted to him. " '
I desire to commend as especially
worthy of prompt attention the suggestions
of the Postmaster General relating
to a more sensible and businsss
like organization, and a better diatribution
of responsibility in his depart- .
ment.
The report of the Secretary of the
Navy contains a history of the operations
nf his deDartmentduring the past
year, and exhibits a most gratiiying
condition of the personnel of our nayy.
He presents a satisfactory accoant of
the progress which has been made in
the construction of vessels, aud makes
a number of recommendations, to
which attention is especially invited.
During the past six months the demands
for cruising vessels have^een
many and urgent. There have been
revolutions calling for vessels to pro*
tect American interests in Nicaraugua
Gaatemala, Cosia Rica, Honduras, Argentine
and Brazil, while the condition
of affairs in Honolulu has retuired the
constant presbnce of one or more ships.
With all these calls upon our navy it
becomes necessary in order to make up
a sufficient fleet to patrol ueraing sea
under the modus viveadi agreed upon
with Great Britain, to detail to that
service one vessel froui the fish commission
and three from the revenue
marine.
Progress in the construction of nevr
vessels has not been as rapid as was an:
ticipated. There have been {delays in
the completion of unarmored vessels,
but for the most part they have been
such areas constantly occurring even In
cruntrles having the largest experience
in naval ship buildin?. Tne mo3t serious
delays, however, have been in the
work upon armored ships. The trouble
has been the failure of contractors to
deliver armor as agreed. The difflculties
seem now, however, to have been
all ovescome and armor is being delivered
with satisfartory promptness.
As a result of the experience acquired
by ship builders and designers and
material men it is believed that the
dates when vessels will be completed
can dow bs estimated vmn reasonable
accuracy. Great guns, rapid firing guna
torpedoes and powder are being promptly
supplied. The following vessels of
the new navy bave been completed and
are now ready for service:
The double turreted coast defense
monitor Miantonoah, the double turreted
coast defense monitor Monterey, the
armored cruisei^sew York, the pro*
A li ilfimnna P.hinQffA
10CICU uruiacio ii4iuuiuiO|
Philadelphia, Newark, San Francisco,
Charleston, AManta and Boston. The
cruiser Detroit, the gunboats Yorktown,
Concord, Bennington, Macheas.
Castene and Petrel, the dispatch vessel
Dolphio, the practice vessel Bancroft
and the dynamite gunboat Vesuvius.
Of these the Bancroft, Macheas, Detroit
and Castene have neen placed in
commission during th* current calendar
year.
The followioff vessels are in process
of construction: Toe secoud class i atr
r,\T nmp lTrtlTR. 1
LUvjrN 11 livuu*