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t: :*r>uf RECORDER. CHAULESE. «. DRAYTOX, Manager. AIKEN S. C., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1SS6. VOLUME fi.—NUMBER 9. CLEVELAND’S MESSAGE, Jt WHAT THE PRESIDENT RECOMMENDS TO CONGRESS. A Leactby Document of Which One-Third la Devoted to Our Foreign Kelntloua. A Kevtew of the Cutting Case — The Tnriar-eOther Feuturea of the Meaaage. Wajhikotoh, Dee. Proaideut dove- lund’a meaeage opens Mte the osuul survey foreign relations, end one-third of It is devoted to & discussion end review of such relations. Our government, be says, has con- aistontiy maintained its relations of friend ship toward all other powers, and of neigh borly interest toward those whose posses sions are contiguous to our own. Few ques tions have arisen during the past year with other governments and none of those are be yond the reach of settlement In friendly council. The cruel treatment of inoffensive Chinese in the far west is alluded to and in speaking of a remedy, be says thepara- fnount duty of maintaining public order and defending the Interests of our own people may require the adoption of measures of re strictions, but they should not tolerate the oppression of invividuals of a special race. Discussing the fisheries question, so long a subject of anxious difference between the United States and Grsut Britain, the presi dent says the questions involved are of grave consequence, and from time to time, for nearly three quarters of a century, have given rise to earnest international discus sions, not unaccompanied by invitation. Temporary arrangements by treaties have served to allay friction which, however, has revived as each treaty was terminated. While desirous that friendly relations should exist between the people of the United titatee and Canada, the action of Canadian officials during the past season toward our fishermen has been such, the president thinks, as to threaten their continuance, and although disappointed in his efforts to secure a satis factory settlement of the question, negotia tions are still pending with reasonable hope that before the close of the preeent session of congress, announcement made be made that an acceptable conclusion has been reached.' Alluding to our relations with Hawaii the president recommends an extension for seven ye.irs of the reciprocity treaty of 1875. He urgently renews his recommendations of legislation to carry into effect the Mexican reciprocity treaty of January, 1883, and pro poses to initiate negotiations with Mexico for a new and enlarged treaty of commerce and legislation. Uefemng to the Cutting case, he says the incident has disclosed a claim of jurisdiction by Mexico, novel in one history, whereby any offense, committed anywhere by a foreigner, penal in the place of its commis sion, and of which a Mexican is the object, may, if the offender be found in Mexico, be S ere tried and punished in conformity with exiegn laws. This jurisdiction was sus tained by the courts of Mexico, and approved by the executive branch of that govern ment, upon the authority of a Mexican statute. The appellate court, in releasing Mr. Cutting, decided that the abandonment of the complaint by the Mexican citizen ag grieved by the ailed crime (a libelous publi cation), removed the bases of further prose- tion, and also declared justice to have been satisfied by the enforcement of a small part of the original sentence. The admission of such a pretension, the president argues, would be attended with serious results, invasive of the jurisdiction Of the government, and highly dangerous to our citizens in foreign lands; therefore he has denied it and protested against its attempted exercise, as unwarranted by the principles of Jaw and international usage. A sovereign bas jurisdiction of offenses which take effect within his territory, although concocted or commenced outside of it; but the’ right is de nied of any foreign sovereign to punish acit- Isen of the United States for an offense con summated on our soil, in violation of oar Jaws, even though the offense be against a subject or citizen of such sovereign. The Mexican statute in question makes the claim broadly, and the principle, if conceded, would make a dual responsibility in the eiti- son, and lead to inextricable confusion, de- Stmcfive of tliat certainty in the law which is an essential of liberty. When citizens of the United States volun tarily go into a foreign country, they must abide by the laws therein in force, and will pot bo protected by their own government from the consequenceo of an offense against those laws committed in such foreign coun try; but watchful care and interest of this governmeut over its citizens are not relin quished bocauee they have gone abroad; and if charged with crime committed in the for*- Sign land a fair and open trial, conducted with decent regard for justice and humanity, will be demanded for them. With lees than that the government will not be content when the life or liberty of its citizens is at stake, Whatever the degree to which extra terri torial criminal jurisdiction may have been formerly allowed by consent end reciprocal agreement among certain of the European states, no such doctrine or practice was ever known to the laws of this country, or of that from which our institutions have mainly been derived. In the case of Mexico, there are masons es pecially strong for perfect harmony in the Jnutual exorcise of jurisdiction. Nature has made us irrevocably neighbors and wisdom and kind feeling should make us friends. The overflow of capital and enterprise from the United States is a potent factor is assist ing the development of the resources of Mex ico and in building up the prosperity of both countries. To assist this good work, all grounds of apprehension for the security of person and property should be removed; and the president trusts that in the interests of good neighborhood the statute referred to will be so modified as to eliminate the present possibilities of danger to the peace of the two oonn tries. It appearing that the government of Spain did not extend to the flag of the United States in the Antilles the full measure of reciprocity requisite under our statute for the continuance of the suspension of dis criminations against the Spanish flags in our ports. I was constrained, in October last, to rescind my predecessor’s proclamation of February 14, 1884, permitting such suspen sion. An arrangement was, however, speed ily reached, and upon notifleation from the government‘of Spain that all differential treatment of our vessels and their cargos, from the United States or from any foreign country, had been completely and absolutely relinquished, I availed myself of the dis cretion conferred by law, and issued, on the £7th of October, my proclamation declaring reciprocal suspension in the Unite* States. It is most gratifying to bear testimony to the earnest spirit in which the government . of the queen regent bas met oar efforts to , avert the initiation of commercial discrim inations and reprisals, which are ever disas trous to the material interests and the politi. cal good will of the countries they may af fect. The profitable development of the large commercial exchanges between United States and the Spanish Antilles is naturally •a object of solicitude. Lying close at oar Joare and finding hen theii main markets of ^Inpply and demand the welfare of Cuba and theii production and trade important to us than to _ guppiy ana aeman A'orto Bio and th Hke scarcely Imp •pein Their commercial and financial movements iSw so naturally a part of our system that no Obstacle to fuller and freer intercourse should be permitted to exist. The standing Instructions of our representatives at Madrid and Havana hare for yean been to leave no effort unessayed to further these emla, and at no time has the equal good desire of Spain bean more hopefully manifested than now. | The government of Spain, by removing the aonsular tonnages, fees on cargoes shipped to the Antilles, and by reducing transport fees, bas shown its recognition of the needs of less trammeled intercourse. The president recommends placing the guasular servi -c on a tietter footing and re- iteracestoe u-^essiiy ot some mooe u, m-i ,• tion and report of the manner in which tin consulates are conducted. He trusts international copyright will re ceive the attention it deserves by congress. He recommends that provision be made for the immediate discharge from custody of persons committed for extradition where the president is of opinion 'hat surrender should not be made and renews bis recnimnendntina of last year that existing legislation concern ing citizenship and naturalization he revised. We have, be says, treaties with many states providing for the renunciation of citizenstup by natural lead aliens, but no statute is found to give effect to such engagements, nor any which provides a needed central bureau for the registration of naturalized citizens. Reaching domestic affairs, the first subject discussed is the tariff, and to this the presi dent devotes a great deal of space, arguing that the necessity for a reduction of ihe tariff is more urgent than ever. The income of the government, he says, by its in creased volume and through economies in its collection, is now more than ever in excess of public necessities. The application of the surplus to the payment of such portion of the public debt as is now at our option sub ject to extiuguishment, if continued at the rate which has lately prevailed, would retire that class of indebtedness within less than one year from this date. Thus a continuation of our present revenue system would soon result iu the receipt of an annual income much greater than necessary to meet government expenses, with no in debtedness upon which it could be applied. We should tben be confronted with a vast quantity of money, the circulating medium of the people, hoarded in the treasury when it should be in their bauds, or we should be driven into wasteful public extravagance with all the corrupting National demoraliza tion which follow in its train. Bu*- it is not the simple existence of this surplus and its threatened attendant evils which furnish the strongest argument against our present scale of Federal taxation. Its worst phase is the exaction of such a surplus through a perver sion of the relations between its people and their government, and a dangerous departure from the rules which limit the right of Fed eral taxation. Good government, and especially the gov ernment of which every American citizen boasts, bas for ite objects the protection of every person within its care in the greatest liberty consistent with the good order of so ciety and his perfect securement in the enjoy ment of his earnings with the least possible diminution for public needs. When more of the people’s substance is exacted through the form of taxation than is necessary to meet the just obligations of the government and the expense Of its economical administration, such exaction becomes ruthless extortion and a violation of the fundamental principles of a free government The indirect manner in which these ex actions are made, has a tendency to conceal their true character and their extent, but we have arrived at a stage of superfluous rev enue which has aroused the people to a real- | ization of the fact, that the amount varied professedly for the support of the govern ment, is paid by them as absolutely, if added to the price of the things which sup ply their daily wants, as if it was paid at fixed periods into the baud of the tax-gath erer. Those who toil for dai’? wages are begin ning to understand that capital, though some times vaunting in ignorance and clamoring for the protection and favor of the govern ment, is dull and sluggish, till, touched by the magical hand^of labor, it springs into activity, furnishing an occasion for fgjloral taxation, and gaining the value wnich enables it to bear its burden. And the laboring man is thoughtfully inquiring whether in these cir cumstances and considering the tribute he continually pays into the public treasury as he supplies his daily wants he receives his fair share of advantages. There is also a suspicion abroad that the surplus of our revenues indicates abnormal and exceptional business profits, which under the system which produces such surplus, in creases without corresponding benefit to the people, the vast accumulation of a few among our citizens whose fortunes, rivaling the wealth of the most iavored in anti-demo- cratic nations, are not the natural growth of a steady, plain and industrious republic. Our farmers, too, and those engaged di rectly and indirectly in supplying the pro ducts of agriculture see that day by day and, and as often as the daily wants of their households recur, they are forced to pay ex cessive and needless taxation, while their products struggle in foreign markets with the competition of nations, which by allow ing a freer exchange of productions than wo permit, enable their people to sail for prices which distress the American farmer. As every patriotic citizen rejoices in the constantly increasing pride of our people in American citizenship and in the glory of our natural achievements and progress, a senti ment prevails that the leading strings useful to a nation in its infancy, may ’ e well to a great extent discarded in present stages of American ingenuity, courages and fearless self-reliances, and for the the privilege of in dulging the sentiment with true American en thusiasm, and citizens are quite, willing to forego an idle surplus in the public treasury, and all the people know ohat the average rate of Federal taxation upon imports is to-day, in time of peace, bat little less, while upon some articles of necessary consumption it is actually more than is imported by the grievous burden willingly borne, at a time when the government reached millions to maintain by war the safety and integrity of the union. It has been the policy of the government to collec the principal part of iis revenues by a tax upou imports; and no change in this policy is desirabla But the present condi tion of affairs constrains o’lr people to de mand, that by a revision of our revenue laws, the receipts of the government shall be reduced to the necessary expense of its economical administration; and this demand should be recognized and obeyed by the peo ple's representations in the legislative branch of the government. In readjusting the burdens of Federal tax ation, a sound public policy requires that i such of oAr citizens as have built up large and important industries under present cou- ditious, should not be sud ienly and to their injury deprived of advantages to which they have adapted their business; but if the pub lic good requires it, they should be content with such consideration as shall deal fairly and cautiously with their interests, while thi just demand of the people for relief from needless taxation is honestly answered. A reasonable and timely submission to such a | demand should certainly be possible without a disastrous shock to any interest; and a cheerful concession sometimes averts abrupt and heedless action, ofteu the outgrowth of impatience and delayed justice. Dos regard should be also accorded in any proposed readjustment to the interests of American labor, so far as they are involved. We congratulate ourselves that there is among us no laboring class fixed within un yielding bounds and doomed under all con ditions to the exorable fate of daily toil. We recognize in labor a chief factor in tho wealth of the republic, and we treat those who have it in their keeping as citizens en titled to the most careful regard and thoughtful attention. This regard and at tention should be awarded them not only be cause labor is the capital of our workingmen, justly entitled to its share of government favor, but for the fur' her and not less im portant reason that tho laboring man, sur rounded by his faudiy in his humble home, os a consumer, is vitally interested in all that cheapens the cost of living and enables him to bring within his domestic circle a d- ditional comforts and advantages. This relation of the workingman to the revenue laws at the country, and the manner in which it palpably influences the question of wagee, should not b~ forgotten in tho jus tifiable prominencegiveu to the proper main tenance of the supply and protection of well paid labor. And these considerations sug gest such an arrangement of government revenues as shall rvdu»>e the exjieiisa of living, whde it does not curtail t!io op portunity for work, nor reduce the com pensation of American labor and injuriously effect its condition and the dignifie 1 state it holds in the estimation of our people. But our farmers and agriculturalists, those who from the soil produce the things con- sumed by all, are perhaps more directly and plainly concerned than any other of our citi zens. in a just and careful system of Federal taxation. Those actually engaged in and more re motely connected with this kind of work number nearly one-half our population. None labor harder or nore continually than they. No enactments limit their hours of toil and no interposition of the government to any groat extent, the value of their pro ducts. And yet for the many necessaries of life, which the most scrupulous economy en ables them to bring into their homes, and for their implemeinents of husbandry thoy are obliged to pay a price largely increased by an unnatural profit, winch, by the action of the government, is given to the more favored manufacturer. I recommend that, keeping in view all those considerations, the increasing and un necessary surplus of national Income an nually accumulating, be released to the peo ple, by an amendment to our reveuue laws which shall cheapen the prices of the neces saries of life—give freer entrance to such imported materials as by American labor may be manufactured into marketable com modities. The sum paid upon the public debt during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1884, was $44,- 551,043.36. During the twelve months ended October 31, 18S6. three per cent, bonds were called for redemption amounting to $127,- 283,100, of which #80,043,200 was so called to answer tho requirements of the law relating to the sinking fund, and $40,639,900 for the purpose of reducing the public debt by ap plication of a part of the surplus in the treas ury to to that object. Of the bonds thus called $102,209,400 became subject under such calls to redemption prior to November 1,1886. The remainder, amounting to $25,- 013,050, matured under the calls after that date. The addition to the amount subject to pay ment and cancellation to November I, there were paid before that day certain of these bonds, with interest thereon, amounting to $5,072,350, which were anticipated as to the maturity, of which $2,604,850 had not been called. Thus $107,341,800 had been actually applied prior to the 1st of November, 1886* to the extinguishment of our bonded and in terest bearing debt, leaving on that day still outstarcling the sum of $1,153,443,112. Of this amount $86,848,700 were still repre sented by three-per-cent, bonds. They have, however, been since November 1, or will at once be, further reduced by $2-2,606,150, be ing bonds which have been 'ailed as already state d, but not redeemed and cancelled be fore the latter date. Nothing can be accomplished, however, in the direction of this much-needed reform, unless the subject is approached in a patriotic spirit of devotion to the interests of the en tire country, and with a willingness to yield something for tho public good. i While on the subject of tariff and revenue, tho president especially directs the attention of congress to the recommendations of the secretary of the treasury, touching the sim plification and amendments of the laws re lating to the collection of revenues. Less space is devoted to the silver question this year than last, but his opposition to com pulsory coinage is no loss pronounced. The differeuc-e in the bullion price of the stand ard .dollar, ninety-four and one-quarter gents, when first coined and its bullion value, seventy-eight cents, on the 30th of last No vember, certainly does not indicate, the presi dent says, that compulsory coinage by the government enhances the price of the com modity, or secures uniformity in its value. He has seen no reason to change the views ex pressed a year ago on tho subject of compul sory coinage and again urges its suspension on all the grounds contained in his former recommendation, reinforced by the signifi cant increase of our gold exportations during the last year and for the further reasons, that the more this currency is distributed among the people the greater becomes our duty to protect it from disaster; that we now have an abundance for all our needs and that there seems but little propriety in building vaults to store such currency, when the only pre tense for its coinage is the necessity of its use by the people as a circulating medium. The attention of congress is called to the great number of suits in Now York growing out of conflicting views by importers and col lectors as to the interpretation of our com plex and indefinite revenue laws, and an amendment of the law is recommended; but pending such amendment the present condi tion of this litigation should be relieved, by a law permitting the appointment of of an ad ditional Federal judge in New York where these cases have accumulated. The report of the secretary of war gives a detailed account of the administration of his department, and contains sundry recommen dations for the improvement of tho service which I fully approve. The army consisted at the date of the last consolidated return of 2,103 officers and 26,946 enlisted men. The expenses of the department for the last fiscal year were $:iL,990,903.38, including $6,294,305.43 for public works and river and harbor improvements. I specially direct the attention of congress to the recommendation that officers he required to submit to au ex amination as preliminary to their promotion. I see no objection, but many advantages in adopting this feature, which has operated so beneficially in our navy department as well as in some branches of the army. Of coast defenses and fortifications, the president says the defenseless condition of our sea coast and lake frontiers are palpable, and the work laid out by the boaid in forw- fleations is delayed in default of congres sional action. The absolute necessity of our preparation for effectual resistance against armored ships and modern steel guns which may threaten our sea coast cities is so appa rent that he hopes eifective steps will be taken iu that direction at once. The condition of our navy, as shown by tho secretary of that department, should challenge the early attention of congress. Tho production in tho United States of armor and gun-steel is a question which it seems neeossary to settle at au early day, if the armored war vessels are to be completed with those materials of home manufacture. In the event that the present invitation of the department for bids to furnish such of this material as is now authorized shall fail to induce domestic manufacturers to under take the largo expenditures required to pre pare for this new manufacture, and no other steps are taken by congress at its coming | session, the secretary contemplates with dissatisfaction the necessity of obtaining abroad the arms and tho gun-steel for the authorized ships. It would seem desirable, the president adds, that the wants of the array and tho navy in this regard should be reasonably met, aud that by uniting their contracts, such inducement might be offered as would result in securing the domestication of these important interests. In September and October last the hostile Apaches who, under the leadership of Geron- imo, had for eighteen months been on the warpath, and during that time had com mitted many murders and been the cause of constant terrors to the settlers of Ari zona, surrendered to Gen. Miles, the military commander,!who succeeded Gen. Crook in the management and direction of their pursuit. Under the terms of their surrender as then reported, and iu view of the understanding which those murderous savages seemed to entertain of the assurances given them, it was considered best to impress them in such manner as to prevent their ever engaging in such outrages again instead of trying them for murder. Fort Pickens Laving been selected as a safe place of confinement, a'l the adult mnl.*s were sent thither and wid Lo closely guarded as prisoners. In the mean time the residue of the band who, though still remaining upon the reservation, wvr.j regarded as unsafe and suspected of furnishing aid to those on the warpath, hod iieen removed to Fort Marion. The women and larger children of the hostiles were also, token there, and arrenge nents have b-en mode for putting the cldiuieu of pr- j>t age in Indian s.uoola. Postal service affairs show marked and gratifying improvement during the past year; the increase of revenue is in a gaining ratio over the increase of cost, demonstrat ing the sufficiency of the present cheap rates of postage ultimately to sustain the service. The differencj with certain ocean steamship companies were terminated by the acquies- ence of all in the policy of the government, thus affording a service generally adequate to the needs of our intercourse. The question of establishing ocean postal service to Brazil and the Argentine Republic is commended to the consideration of congress, and the sug gestion is offered, that as distinguished from a grant or subsidy for the mere benefit of any line, whatever outlay may be required to secure additional, necessary and proper service, should be regarded as within the limit of legitimate compensation for such service. The president endorses the recommenda tion of the attorney general for the erection of a penitentiary for the confiueineut of oris- oners convicted in United States courts. He considers it a matter of very great impor tance, which should at once receive congres sional action. More than ono of these insti tutions might be erected, and by employing tho prisoners in the manufacture of articles needed for use by the government quite a large pecuniary benefit would be realized in partial return for the outlay of construction. He endorses the recommendations of the at torney general for a change in the Federal judicial system, to obviate the delays neces sarily attending the present condition of af fairs in our courts. Of Indian affairs, he says the present sys tem of agencies standing alone is inadequate for the accomplishment of an object wuich has become pressing in its importance—tho more rapid transition from tribal organiza tion to citizenship of such portions of the Indians as are capable of civilized life, and hence the necessity for supplemental agency, a commission of six intelligent pci-sons—three from the army—charged with the manage ment of such matters of detail as cannot with the present organization, be properly and successfully conducted. The time is ripe, the president tolls congress, for the work of such an agency. The president recommends tho repeal of the pre-emption and timber culture acts, and that the homestead law bo so amended as to better secure compliance with their require ments of residence, improvement aud culti vation for five years from date of entry, without commutation or provision for specu lative relinquishment. Referring to the sat isfactory exhibit of the operations of the pension bureau during the last fLeal year, and to pension matters generally, the presi dent says the usefulness and the justice of any system for the distribution of pensions depends upon the equity and uniformity of its operations, and as long as we adhere to the principle of granting pensions for ser vice and disability as the result of service, the allowance of pensions should bo restricted to cases presenting these features. The report of the commissioner of pensions contains a detailed and most satisfactory ex hibit of the operations of tho pension bureau during the last fiscal year. The amount of work done was the largest in any year since the organization of the bu reau, and it has been done at less cost than during tho previous year iu every division. On the 13th day of June, 1886, there were 365,783 pensioners on the rolls of the bureau. Since 1861 there have been 1,018,735 applica tions for pensions filed, of which 78,834 were based upon service in the war of 1812. There were 621,754 of these applications allowed, including 60,178 to the soldiers of 1812 and their widows. The total amount paid for pensions since 1861 is $808,624,811.57. The number of now pensions allowed during tho year ended June 30, 1880, is 4l',857, a larger number than has been allowed in any year, save one, since 1861; the names of i!,229 pensioners which had been previously dropped from the rolls were restored during the year, after deduct ing those dropped within the same time for various causes, a net increase remains for the year of 20,658 names. From January 1, 1861, to December 1, 1885, 1,967 private pen- lion acts had been passed. Since the last named date, ard during the last session of congress 644 such acts became laws. It seems to me that no one can examine our pension establishment and its operations without b ing convince that through its in strumentality justice can be very nearly done to all who are. entitled under present laws to the pension bounty of the govern ment. But it is undeniable that cases exist, well entitled to relief, which the pension bureau is -towerloss to relieve. The really worthy cases of this class are such as only lack by misfortune the kind of quantity of proof which tho law and regulations of the bureau require, or which, though their merit is ap< ftrent. some » reason cannot justlj bo dealt with through general laws. These conditions fully justify application to the congress and special enactments. But resort to the congress for a special pension act to overrule the deliberate and careful determination of the pension bureau on the merits, or to secure favorable action when it could not be expected under the most liberal execution of general laws, it must be ad mitted, opens the door to the allowance of questionable claims, and presents to the legislative and executive branches of the gov ernmeut applications concededly not within the law, and plainly devoid of merit, but so surrounded by sentiment aud patriotic feel ing that they are hard to resist. I suppose it will not be denied that many claims for pensions are made without merit, and that many have been allowed upon fraudulent representations. This has been declared from the pension bureau not only in this but in prior administrations. The use fulness and tho justice of any system for tho distribution of pensions depend upon the equality and uniformity of its operation. It will be seen from the report of the commis sioners that there are now paid by the gov ernment 131 different rates of pension. Estimates from # the best information we can obtain show that 9,000 of those who have served in the army and navy of the United States are now supported, in whole or in part, from public funds or by organized charities, exclusive of those in soldiers’ homes under the direction and control of the government. Only 13 per cent of those are pensioners, while of the entire number of men furnished for the late war something like 20 per cent., including their widows aud relatives, have beau or now are in receipt of pensions. Tho American people with a pa triotic grateful regard for our ex-soldiers too broad and too sacred to be monopolized by any special advocates, are not only willing but anxious that equal and exact jtstice should be done to all houest claimants for pensions. “Ever}" patriotic heart,” he says, “responds to a tender consideration for those who, hav ing served their country long and well, are’ reduced to destitution and despondence, not as an incident of their service but with ad vancing age and misfortune. We are all tempted by the contemplation of such a con dition to supply relief, and are often impa tient of the limitations of public duty. Yielding to no ono in the desire to indulge this feeling of consideration, I cannot rid myself of the conviotion that if these ex solders are to be relieved, thoy and their cisuse are entitled to the benefit of an enact ment under which relief may be claimed as a rigUt, and that such relief should be granted under tho sanction of law, not in evasion of it; nor should such worthy objects of care, all equally entitled, be remitted to the un equal operation of sympathy, or the tender mercies of social and political influence with their unju-d discrimination ” On the 4tii of Man'll, 1885, the current bu siness of the patent office was, on au aver ace, five and a half months hehiiiiL At the close of the la-.t fiscal year sii'-h cu-ront work was but throe months i i arrears, and it is as serted and believed that in the next few months the delay in obtaining an ex imina- (ion of an application fora patent will lie but nominal. The mimt**r of anpii' att eis for parents tint ing th- 1'i-t fiscal year, incPs.l- ii;g reissues, «li.si,qn '-. <rad-m trs> and i.ihel*, equals 4 MnS. w h fi lh . o.isMeiably in crrvss ' of the number received during any preceding year. The receipts of the patent office during the year aggregated $1,205,167.80, enabling the office to turn into the treasury a surplus ! revenue, ever and above all expenditures, of about $163,710.39. The numbtr of patents granted during thr last fiscal year, including renewals, tide marks, designs and labels, was 25,619—a num ber also quite largely in excess of that of any preceding year. The report of th i commis- I sioner shows the office to be in a prosperous ; condition and constantly increasing in its ! business. No increase of force is asked for. i The amount estimated for the fiscal yearend- 1 ing June 30, 1SS5, was $890,760. The amount estimated for the year ending June 30, 1887, was $823,1): O. The amount estimated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1838, is $778,770. Of the Pacific railroad debt extension proposition, he says, that congress iu con sidering the plan suggested by the secretary of the interior, and endorsed by the board of government director, the sole matters which should be taken into account are “the situa tion of the government as a creditor and the surest way to secure the payment of the principal and interest of its debt. ” Of interstate commerce he says that by a recent decision of the supreme court of the United States, it has been adjudged that the laws of the several states are inoperative to regulate rates of transportation upon rail roads, if such regulation interferes with tho rate of carriage from one state into another. This important field of control and regula tion having been thus left entirely unoccu- ipied, the expediency of Federal action upon the subject is unworthy of consideration. The relations of labor and capital, aud of laboring men to their employers, are of the ut most concern to every patriotic citizen. 4Vhen these are strained and distorted unjus tifiable claims are apt to bo insisted upon by both, and in the controversy which results the welfare of all and tho prosperity of the country are jeopardized. Any intervention of the general government, within the limits of its constitutional authority, to avert such a condition should bo willingly accorded. In a special message transmitted to the congre s at its last session I suggested the enlarge ment of our present labor bureau, and add ing to its present functions the power of ar bitration in cases where differences arise be tween employer and employed. When these differences reach such a stage as to result in the interruption of commerce between the states, the application of this remedy by the general government might bo regarded as entirely within its constitution d powers. But after all has been done by the passage of laws either Federal or slate, to relieve a situation full of solicitude, much more remains to be accomplished by the re instatement and cultivation of a true Amer ican sentiment which recognizes the equality of American citizenship. This, in the light of e . r traditions and in loyalty to the spirits <'t our institutions, would teach what a h 1 arty co-operation on the part of all interests is the surest path to national greatness and the happiness of onr people, that capital should, in recognition of the brotherhood of our citizenship, and in a spirit of American fairness, generously ac cord to. labor its just compensation and con sideration, and that contented labor in capi tal’s best protection and faithful ally. It would teach, too, that the diverse situations of our people are inseparable from our civili zation; that every citizen should, in his sphere, be a contributor to the general good; that capital does not necessarily tend to the oppression of labor, and that violent dis turbances and disorders alienate from their promoters true American sympathy and kindly feelings. The department of agriculture, represent ing the oldest and largest of our National in dustries, is subserving well the purposes of its organization. The interest of millions of our citizens engaged in agriculture are in volved in an enlargement and improvement of the results of their labor, and a zealous re gard for their welfare should bo a willing tribute4zte>—theso whose productive re< lurns are a main source of our progress and power. The existence of pleurc-pneumonia among the cattle of various states bas led to bur- ierwome and in some cases disastrous restric tions in an important branch of our com merce, threatening to affect tho quantity and quality of oar food supply. This is a natter of such importance and of such far reaching consequences that I hope it will en gage tho serious attention of the confr -ss to ,ue end that such a remedy may bo applied os the limits of a constitutional delegation of power to the general governmeut Will per mit. I commend to the consideration of the congress the report of the commissioner, and his suggestions concerning the interest intrusted to bis care. Tho president recommends as a plain duty on the part of the government, the payment of a million and a quarter dollars still due to Freedman’s Savings bank depositors. Civil service reform is the last important topic discussod in the message. The contin ued operation of the civil service law, he as serts, has added the most convincing proofs of its necessity and usefulness. Every public officer who has a just idea of his duty to the people testifies to the value of this reform. Its staunchest friends are found among those who understs n l it best, and its warm 'st sup porters are tfioso who are restrained and pro tected by its requirements. The meaning of such restraint and protection is not appre ciated those who want places under the government regardless of merit or ineffi ciency nor by those who insist that the selec tion for such places should rest upon a proper credential showing active partisan work. They mean to public officers, if not their lives, the only opportunity afforded them to attend to public business, and they mean to the good people of the country the better performance of the work of their govern ment. It is exceedingly strange, the president thinks, that the scope and nature of his re form are so little understood and that so many things not included within its plan are called by its name. When cavil yields more fully to examination, the system will have large additions to the number of its friends. Our civil service reform, the president says, may be imperfect in some of its de tails; it may be misunderstood and opposed; it may not always be faithfully applied; its designs may sometimes miscarry through mistake or willful intent; it may sometimes tremble under assaults of its enemies or lan guish under the misguid ! zeal of impr.uctic- tieable friends, but if the p- oplo of this coun try ever submit to the .ishment of its un derlying principle frou. be operation of this government, they will abandon the surest guarantee of the safety and success of A meri- can institutions. In conclusion he invokes for this ref arm the cheerful and ungrudging support of con gress; urges an increase of the salaries of tie commissioners and expresses the hope that such reasonable appropriations may l>e made os will enable them to increase tha use fulness of the cause they have in charge. SECRETARY MANNING’S REPORT. The Silver Question Its l rincipal Topic. Free Wool Advocated. Washington, Dec. 6.—The annual report of Dankl Manning, secretary of the treas ury, has been given to the public. It is a lengthy document, the main points of which, however, may be presented briefly as fol lows: To stop the purchase of silver is our only choice, our duty and our interest. It will stop a wasteful and in juniors ex pense, and the taxation which defrays it. It will commence and promote reform in the sum and the methods of Federal Lixa- i tion. It will recover to the United Stab s -*n equality of position (non coiaagi) wi:h i ;r- tig'i powers, wince will give us due iriUticncj hi negotiation. It will induce negotiation, and negotiation to i lie end of relief, not for the purp *■ * of delay. Stopping the purchase and coinage of sil ver L the first step, and tne best which * oe the United Stales can take doing their gr •c l*c.r- to repair tho monetary disL>catio f in* world. Its origin was foreign: its roni v — rM-ruaiioiiai. Tue time is ripe 1 r i powerful commonwealth to enter decisively upou that international transaction. The ripe moment must not be let slip. It remains to consider the reduction of taxation to the needs of the government economically administered. It is my belief that whenever we b"gin taking off the shackles of war tariff taxes on raw materials such increased prosperity will follow to tho employers who dread It, and such larger and stead, r employment to the wag* -earners whe need it, by increasing tho sale abroad of our own manufacture-, and by whipping out foreign competitors iu our own markets, tha we shall see our income from imported manu facturers dwindle so fast that not only to compel the retention of the most fit items of revenue—whisky, tobacco and beer—but, perhaps, to drive us back to getting ten mil lions of revenue from two cents a pound tax on coffee and half as much from tea. I respectfully recommend to congress that they confer upon the wage earners of the United States the boon of untaxed clothing, and in order thereto, the immediate passage of an act simply and solely placing raw wool upon tho free list. CONGRESS CONVENES. Proceedings of the Two Branches of tha Legislature. Washington, Dec. 6.—Senator Sherman called the senate to order and Rev. J. J. But ler delivered the prayer. Annual reports of the departments were laid before the senate. Committees were appointed to notify the house that the senate was in session and to wait upon the president Messrs. Edmunds and Saulsbury were designated to perform this duty. Senator Williams’ credentials were presented by his colleague, Senator Stanford, and he was sworn in. Some bills a»d petitions were introduced to forfeit Flor ida railroad land g ants, to authorize bridges across the Missouri and East rivers. tlecess was then taken until 2 o’clock, whan the message was received and its reading begun. The reading of the message was finished at 3:25, when it and accompanying docununta were ordered printed. Mr. Hoar said that the senate Pacific rail road funding bill had been set down as a sjiecial order lor to-morrow, and asked that its consideration be deferred in the hope that the house would in the meantime take some action that would relieve the senate of trouble in regard to it. Mr. Blair announced the death of his late colleague, Mr. Pike, and on bis motion the senate, as a mark of respect to his memory, at 3:25 p. m. adjourned. House. Washington, Dec. 6.—The speaker called the house to order at noon, and Chaplain Ml burn delivered the prayers. Tiie roll was called and 241 members responded. The senate was informed that the house was ready for business. Messrs. Reagan, Breck- onridgo, of Kentucky, and Reed were desig nated a committee to notify the president that the house awaite 1 his pleasure. Messrs. S. S. Cox aud Henry Baern, of New York, and Henry W. Rush, of Maryland, were sworn iu as members. Tha house took a re cess until 2 o’clock, when the message was received and read. MEXICAN METHODS. ANCIENT AGRICULTURE AS PRAC TICED IN OUR SISTER REPUBLIC. OLDEN TIME CHIMNEY SWEEPING. Simple Ways of Great millionaires. The ways of great millionaires are some times exceedingly simple. The day after Mr. W. K. Vanderbilt, the second son of the late W. H., and the owner of $100,- 000,000, went to Paris, I happened to be passing his superb house when a friend of mine who is in a banking office across the street came towards me hurriedly. “Hold on a minute,” he said with a grin, I’m going up to read that paper on Willie K.’s door. The whole office has been wondering what it was all day.” We went up the magnificent marble steps, between two mighty stone griffins and to an oaken door broad enough for a double track railway. On it was a bit of torn envelope fastened by a crooked pin. Roughly traced across it in pencil was this: “I have gone to Europe.—W. K. Vander- bilt.” A halfpenny sign on a house that cost half a million. This particular son of the late railroad king is the amusing member of the family. They are all plain, matter- of-fact and shy of display but William K. He went down to Wall street once and thought he would speculate. A few weeks later “the old man” went down there, settled $7,000,000 worth of debts and made a few general remarks that William K. is not likely to forget. Then William K. devoted his energies to wearing a single glass and accumulating an English accent which at present is positively the most overwhelming, eerie and amazing thing I ever heard. He has social aspira tions, but he is not successful despite his great wealth. Not satisfied with the “pilling” he received when he put his name up for membership in some of the clubs here, he has tried to get into the Jockey club in Paris. The cable says he was blackballed with great alacrity and heartiness. There was, however, something ex tremely amusing to me about the sim plicity and coyness of that message on his door. — Blakely Hall In Philadelphia Press. China No Place for Foreigners. There is only one thing which should ever make a man think of going to China, and that is some well-paid certainty. You might as well go to sheol as go to China sight-seeking. See what 100,000 Chinese do in San Francisco and then reckon up what chances an ordinary man has against 400,000,000 of them on their native ground, where they can live comfortably on #2 a month. They can do everything that a white man does and now that they are finishing with us as go-betweens, and to take our ideas from us, they really want us for nothing. A good many people say “When the country is given up to the railroads there will be great chances for foreigners.” But even supposing at first that the Chinese kill a million or two in railway accidents it will be reckoned as a much more desirable experience than employing the hated “foreign devil.” There are tele graphs all through the country now, and yet not a white man is employed on them. What white men are in the country now simply exist as the puppets of the Chinese You may think perhaps that there are great chances for American inventions and machinery in the country, but a people who take to bed with them a flea trap, and who have had a silk-weaving loom running for the last 2,000 years which no modern machinery can compete with, don’t want so very much from any one. But 4o talk of going to China now is ridic ulous, when the Chinese are slowly but surely edging ont the few foreigners that art, there.—Shanghai Cor. San Francisco Ciirocicle. William Waldorf Astor and Wife. Mr. William Waldorf Astor Is, in ap pearance, the Ideal of a prosperous young business man—stocky, wide-awake, and commonplace looking, with nothing to indict te tnat he knows anything outside ofrea. estate matters. Ha is the only Astor who has ventured into any other field than, business. As a politician, young Mr. Astor was disastrously defeatetl at the polls; as minister to Italy he was buried, and as an author he is far from being successful. Now he is at work on a play. It is not generally believed that he will be the lonc-looked-for American dramat ist. He is the sole male representative of the tmuily, aud it is no secret that the elders view his excursions into art, litera ture, polities, and the drama with scant lavor. Tucy argue that with $2o0,003,000 and 37,000 houses to look after he has all that i.e needs to occupy his mind; but young William Waldorf goes on with his artistic efforts just the same. He has a charuilnniy unaffected and direct manner, and a be.tut.ful wifj. wh>'Qt he loved and married in Philadelphia. - -New Yurx Cor- respoiideut Press. A Famous Hacienda—Productiveness of the Soil—Finest Soli In the Republic— Agricultural Implements — Ancient Methods—The Water Question. Much has been said about Mexican haciendas, but probably few people re alize the vast extent and unlimited possi bilities of some of them. In this wonder ful country there are estates into each of which many an Old World principality might be crowded, and which a king might be proud to own as his domain. An example of this is the famous solado hacienda, which covers more than 800 square miles. It lies partly in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi, on the great highway to the capital and the line of the New Mexi can Central railway, having an average elevation of over 4,000 fefct Chains of mountains traverse it—how rich in min eral wealth nobody knows; while flourish ing farms, mining settlements, manufaC' turing centres, and even incorported vil lages are found within its limits. Just think of it! Over 500,000 acres of this fruitful soil, which bears everything grown in both temperate and tropic zones—producing, at least, two crops of corn a year, and a perpetual and almost spontaneous crop of many other things— is a neat little property, “by no means to be dispiged,” as the immortal Sairy would say. THE REAL PRODUCTIVENESS. As to the real productiveness of this soil, it is difficult to get information in reliable figures. Inquire of a Mexican how much his field or orchard yields, and the invari able answer—accompanied by an Inimita ble shrug of the shoulders—is “Quien sabef” (Who knows?) or “Asl Dios quirerel (As Qod wills!) I have ascer tained that with Mexican cultivation— which means merely tickling the sarface of the soil and turning on water now and then—from thirty to forty-five bushels of com to the acre is considered a satisfact ory return. The few who have tried im proved methods of cultivation affirm that seventy- five bushels of com twice a year, per acre, may easily be produced, planting the first crop in February and the second in July or August. In this country the standard price of corn is 2 cents per pound. Probably *he finest soil In the republic is found on those fertile plains lying be tween Leon and San J nan del Rio, where one fanega (about three bushels) of seed will yield, on a moderate average, not less than 450 fauegas of corn. In several of the Mexican states—notably Guerrero, Jalisco, Oajaca and Tobasco—three crops of com are repularly produced in a single year, called respectively reiego, temporal and toralmile. Wheat grows to good advan tage in all but five of the Mexican states, and two crops in twelve months Is the rule. Within the last five years many plows and other agricultural implements have been brought to Mexico; but upon the vast.ma- jority of farms nothing to this day has ever been employed for turning up the soil but great forked sticks, or clumsy, three- cornered wooden concerns—precisely like those used in Egypt 1,000 years ago, if pictures of the latter are correct. The process of threshing, also, is almost uni versally conducted in the primitive fash ion of King DavkFs day, or by the still more simple method of throwing the grain into an enclosure and driving a flock of sheep to and fro upon it. THE WATER QUESTION. That perplexing water question—which, in Utah, for example, the Mormons have regulated to the nicety of clockwork—is here among the mysteries that “no fellow can find out.” If you ask a farmer about Ids irrigating privileges, he will tell you that he has “nine days’ water," “thirteen days’ water,” or “twenty days’ water,” as the case may be—meaning that he has a right to turn water on his land once in every nine, thirteen or twenty days—a privilege which you may be sure has cost him a good round sum. In thickly populated sections the greatest difficulty now seems to be that all the available water has al ready been transferred from the rivers to the irrigating ditches. It is but reasonable logic to conclude that if Mexican land is valuable only when irrigated, and if most of the avail able water _ is now in use in the al ready cultivated area, the country must look to some improved method for lessening its enormous stretches of waste lands and barren deserts; and, as the na tives have not advanced agriculturally a single step in the course of three centur ies it clearly rests with their Hiore enter prising cousins, the Yankees, to come down here and devise the methods. It has been proved again and again, that all these desert sands and arid reaches of cac tus and chaparral may be made to “blos som as the rose” by merely turning water upon them at regular intervals, and gov ernment lands are everywhere for sale, at the rate of from 30 cents to 3 cents for au American acre. Artesian wells have not been tried to any extent for purposes of irrigation; but that water is everywhere abundant, though sometimes far below the surface, is shown by the numerous very deep wells, of purest and clearest water, which are tound all over Mexico.—Fannie B. Ward in Boston Transcript. A Famous Tree at Vicksburg. Twenty-three years ago, one and a half miles northeast from Vicksburg, Gen. U. S. Grant received the surrender of Vicks burg and the Confederate army defending it, under a green tree, a few hundred yards from the Confederate line of de fense, from Gen. Penfberton, the Confed erate commander. This surrender tree, as it was called, was all cut down aud car ried off by relic-hunters, and even the very stump of the tree even with the ground. The United States government then erected a granite monument to com memorate the spot and event; but the relic-hunters chipped and defaced this so badiy that the government removed it to the National cemetery of Vicksburg for preservation, and erected a large 120- pound gun that stands about fifteen feet high, with the inscription on it: The Surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, to Gen. U. S. Grant, by Gen. Pemberton. The gun is surrounded by a low stone wall about two feet high; the numerous visitors by driving near the monument have made a deep cut or sunken road, and the rains have washed the light soils •still deeper and exposed the roots of the original surrender tree under th monu ment. I craw * id under the monument and with my knife cut off a piece of the root of the surrender tree with my own hand.—Vicksburg Letter. Tricks of the Chinese Thief. It 14 said that of late bed clothing has been taken to Chinatown in large quanti ties. Armed with a bamboo stick about four feet long, which may be readily lengthened to fifteen or twenty feet by a telescopic slide, the Mongolian hoodlum makes his way about da-Jc to a back or side window, v. aich has b.:en left open at the top for ventilation. The pole is stuck through the window, being stretched out as it is inserted, and by means of a small hook at the end bedspreads, blankets, sheets, and pillows a r e pulled throngh the opening. It has sometimes occurred that l»ed clorhing 1ms thus bien removed while the be l contained an occupant, who vm; sleeping soun liy. In.theca.se of an alarm the pole is dropped, and, being on the outside of the building- the hoodlum e »--.!)• makes his escape.—• — - ■—~ ■*', How It Was Carried on Forty V Ago—Talk With a Sweep. “Chimney sweeps long since found their occupations gone,” said a dealer in fur naces, who makes a specialty of the clean ing of moderized chimneys, to a reporter. “Over forty years ago the trade of chim ney sweep was a good paying one. At that time nothing but soft coal and wood bnrned. The chimneys were tlien r large enough to allow the passage of • man’s body. But few chimneys are now made over two fpet square. Chimneys are now cleaned by the means of huge brashes which reach from kitchen to roof. Many tenants believe they suffer from smoko caused by defective flues, when the real cause is a clogged chimney. Hard coal makes little else than dust, but if a chim ney is uncleaned for many years the accu mulated dust drops down and Int with the horning of the lire. Pric for cleaning chimneys are much smaller than in former years. Formerly $5 war charged. Now the work ip donO for half that sam.’* Chimney sweeping forty wars ago WW monopolised by the colored people, who made It a fine art. The manner La which a chimney sweep heralded his approach was novel. Sometimes, if the hi short, he would commence to sing in a low tone which increased with every step, and when the end of the block was reached he would break ont in a volume of sound. In many Instances chimney sweeps had good voices, and their singing was greatly appreciated by the children along their routes. This class has wholly disap peared. Colored men who formerly earned their livelihoods as chimney sweeps have engaged in other lines of trade. The reporter called on an aged colored man recently, who many years ago car ried on the trade of chimney sweep In this city. He has changed his occupation to that of whitewashing. He said: “Chimney sweeping is played out. When I started in the business nearly fifty years ago a good sweep could make $10 and $15 a day. The kind of fuel used nowadays and the size of the chimneys has ruined the business. Before the use of hard coal became general chimneys were so arranged that they might be eas ily cleaned. Steps were made upon which the sweep might stand while per forming his work. I narrowly escaped death many times while at work. Once I was precipitated down a chimney of fifty feet. After bouncing from side to side I reached the bottom with a contused body and a broken leg. In the olden time fire places and chimneys were used ss abid ing place for valuables.—Brooklyn Eagla. Starvation In Kgyptk A fellow-mania makes us wondroor kind, and the chief creditor of the castle bnilding crank of Hohenechwangau non turns odt to be the castle-building ex- khedive. During the fourteen yean oi his administration the viceroy of Egypt built away some 200,000,000 francs, wrung from the life-blood of starving toilers. Nine-tenths of the population of Egypt are, in the most liberal sense, subsisting upon the bare necessities of the vital , pro cess; a little rice, a little dorr ha corn, baked into hard cakes, and washed down with a draught of ditch-water. Profeesoi Exlinger, on his recent survey of Tho- baid, was for miles followed by a barefoot boy, who every now and then approached the wagon and watched the workings oi the instrument with haggard eyes. Ascribing his persistence te an impulse of scientific curiosity, the professor asked his dragoman to hand him a telescope and invite him to take a peep at the distant mountains. “He’s after something else, I guess,” langhed the Interpreter, and a short conversation suffleed to confirm that theory. “There is some corn spilt in your wagon,” said the dragoman, “and this youngster asks yonr permission to eat a handful of it.” The corn—hard, dry, maize corn—was swiftly absorbed by the youthful son of the desert, who, with the same promptitude, devoured a quart of dried fruit and a lot of fluid butter, but took to his heels like a deer when the dragoman handed him a paper fall ot mustard pickles and yelled at him for dropping them after the first bite.—Dr. Felix L. Oswald. Advantage of Color Blindness. It might surprise yon to know that oo casionally total color blindness has proven a decided advantage. All colors appeas ing to such an one as shades of (gray, ov black, or white. An engraver thus af fected would possess a keener ability to discern fine lines. A dark in a mourning goods department of a large dry goods store received extra compensation for his acute eye for shades when it was foupd to depend on total color blindness. Suftfa cases are exceptional as can he imagined when railroad men are discharged for in ability to distinguish a red from a green lantern. Postofflce clerks have run short In their cash accounts through selling stamps of the wrong denomination, the differently colored sheets getting into the wrong drawers.—Lithographer and Printer. The Western Cattle-Raising Industry. The inducement to engage in cattle-rais ing in this country several years ago warn so great, says The Chicago Times, that eleven companies, with a capital pf $20,- 000,000, were organized in Great Britain. They now own 672,013 head of cattle, and lease or own 3,319,072 acres of grazing land in the west. In 1853 one of these compa nies paid dividends amounting to 20){ per cent., but for two years past they havo paid only 10 per cent. The rate of return is now very low, and the whole business seems to have suffered a serious deteriora tion. Of nine of these British-American companies in 1885, one paid 7 per cent., one 6, two 5, one 4, aud four paid nothing at all. Last year there were nearly 60,- 000,000 head of cattle in the country, and of these British companies owned only 672,013, as noted above. The reasons for decline in profits is part due to the action of the president, who obliged owners to vacate public lands and pay for their grass. Besides, in the year 1885 the yield of calves was behind that of the year be fore. The chief reason for the decline in dividends is tho smaller selling price of steers, the falling off reaching in some cases $9.00 a head. The immense profits made at first invited excessive competi tion, which cat down prices and profits.— Brodstreet’s. Superstition of Gen. Skobelefll Vassili Vereschagin, the celebrated Russian painter, contributes an article of personal recollections of the late Gen. Skobeleff to the current number of Mma. Adam’s Nouvelle Revue. Vereschagin accompanied Skobeleff daring the latter'f early life in Turkestan. The anecdotes and exploits of the daring general, as related by Vereschagin, would he deemed inventions were they not contemporary facts and well authenticated. SkobelefTs courage was surpassed by only one thing, says Vereschagin—his superstition. He wonld charge on a whole horde of Tur comans single-handed for the fan of the thing or as an example to bis soldiers, but he would leap np from the table pale 1 with fear if the salt stand happened to he upset, and he would swim bis horse across the Danube to show that it could be done, but he would not dare enter a room where three candies were lighted at the same time.—Chicago Tribune. Awkwardness of Wale’s Oldest Son. It Is a pity that Prince Albert Victor does not indulge in a few lessons in do- ; portment and dancing. His partners com- ; plain terribly of torn gowns and trodden toe-*, and in Ireland his reputation foX general clumsiness is snpreme—Londor I World.