C 13
V
JaJor-General Matthew C. Butler.
, For Porto Rico Major-General John C.
Brooke, Rear-Admiral Wlnfleid Scott
Bchley, Brigadier-General W. Gordon.
They soon afterwards met the Spanish
commissioners at Havana and San Juan. Aniei-.ca and provlilrg for a central federal
respectively. The Porto Rico Joint cominis- government and legislature. Upon ratifl
slon speedily accomplished Its task, and j cat:on Dy constituent states, the 1st of No-
"by October 18 the evacuation of the Island
was completed. The United States flag
was raised over the Island at noon that
day. The administration of Its affairs has
been provisionally Intrusted to a military
governor until congress shall otherwise
provide. The Cuban Joint high commis
sion has not yet terminated its labors. Ow
ing to the difficulties in the way of remov
ing the large number of Spanish troops
still In Cuba, the evacuation cannot be
completed before the 1st of January next.
The Peace Com m Ins I on.
Pursuant to the fifth article of the pro
tocol. I appointed William R. Day, lately
secretary of state; Cushman K. Davis,
William P. Frye and George Gray, senator
of the United States, and WhlttVw Reid,
to be peace commissioners on the part of
the United States. Proceeding In due
season to Paris, they there met, on the
1st of October, five commissioners sim
ilarly appointed on the part of Spain. Tho
negotiations have made hopeful-progress,
bo that I -trust soon to be able to lay a
"definite treaty of peace before the senate,
with a review of the steps leading to its
slimature. s
I do not discuss ajKthls time the govern
ment or the future' of the new possessions
which will come to us as the result of the
war with Strain. Such a discussion will
be appropriate after the treaty of peace
shall b ratified. In the meantime, and
''congress has legislated otherwise. It
be my duty to continue the military
occupation and give their people security
In life and property and encouragement
.1 ...... j i a . i
uuuer tL juai aim ueueuueuk iuic
Relations Toward the Cabana.
As soon as we are In possession of Cuba
and have pacified the island, it will be
necessary to give aid and direction to this
people to form a government for them
selves. Thls.should be undertaken at the
earliest moment consistent with safely
and assured success. It Is Important that
our relations with these people shall be of
the most friendly character, and our com
mercial relations close and reciprocal.
Jt should be our duty to assist In every
proper way to build up the waste places of
the Island, encourage the industry of the
people and assist them to form a govern
ment which shall be free and Independent,
thus realizing the best aspirations of the
Cuban people.
Spanish rule must be replaced by a Just,
benevolent and humane government, cre
ated by the people of Cuba, capable of
performing all International obligations,
and which shall encourage thrift, industry
and prosperity and promote peace and
good will among all of the inhabitants.
whatever may have been their relations In
the past. Neither revenge nor passion
should have a place in the new govern
ment. Until there is complete tranquillity
on the Island and a stable government in
augurated, military occupation will be
continued.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Aside From Spain We Have Had Pto
Serloas Differences With Other
Nations
With the exception of the rupture with
Spain, the Intercourse of the United States
with the great family of nations has been
marked with cordiality, and the close of
the eventful year finds most of the issues
that necessarily arise in the complex rela
tions of sovereign states adjusted or pre-
eenting no serious obstacles to adjusi-
- junu mm nuuurauie euiuuon oy amicaote
agreement. '
A long-unsettled dispute as to the ex
tended boundary between the Argentine
republic and Chile, stretching along the
Andean crests, from the southern bor
der of the Atacama desert to the Magel
lan straits, nearly a third of the length
of the South American continent, as
sumed an acute stage In the early part
of the year and afforded this government
occasion to express the hope that the re
sort to arbitration, already contemplated
by existing conventions between the par
ties, might prevail, despite the grave diffi
culties arising In Its application. I am
happy to say that arrangements to this
end have been perfected, the questions of
fact upon which the respective commis
sioners were unable to agree being in
course of reference to her Britannic ma
jesty for determination. A residual dif
ference, touching the northern boundary
line across the Atacama desert, for which
existing treaties provided no adequate ad
justment, bids fair to be settled in like
manner by a Joint commission, upon which
the United States minister at Buenos
Ayres has been invited to serve as um
pire In the last resort.
International Cable Asnreement.
I have found occasion to approach the
Argentine government with a view to re
moving differences of rate charges lm
posed upon the cables of an American
corporation In the transmission between
Buenos Ayres and the cities of Uruguay
and Brazil of through messages passing
from and to the United States. Although
the matter is complicated by exclusive
concessions by Uruguay and Brazil to
foreign companies, there Is a strong hope
that a good understanding will be reached
ana that the important channels of com
mercial communication between the
United .States and the Atlantic cities of
South America may be freed from an al
most prohibitory discrimination.
Foreign Exhibitions.
Despite the brief time allotted for prep
aration, the exhibits of this country at
the universal exposition at Brussels in
1887 enjoyed the singular distinction of a
larger Drooortlon of awards, having re
gard to the number and classes of articles
entered, than those of other countries. The
worth of such a result in making known
our national capacity to supply the world's
markets is obvious.
Central American Union.
In my last message the situation was
presented with respect to the diplomatic
representation of this government In Cen
tral America, created by the association
of Nicaragua, Honduras and Salvador un
der the title of the Greater Renublic ot
Central America and the delegation of
their international functions to the diet
thereof. While the representative char
acter of the diet was recoenized by my
f- . - o
my administration by receiving its ac
credited envoy and granting exequators to
consuls coming under its authority, that
recognition was qualified by the distinct
understanding that the responsibility of
each of tha component sovereign republics
toward the United States are made wholly
unaffected. This proviso was needful, in
asmuch as the comDact of the three re
publics was at the outset an association
whereby certain representative functions
were delegated to a triparte commission,
rather than a federation . possessing cen
tralized powers of government and ad
ministration. In this view of the relation
of the United States to the several repub
lics, a change in the representation of this
country in Central America was neither
itiated by congress, thus leaving one of
our envoys accredited as heretofore sepa
rately to two states of the greater resub
Ilc, .Nicaragua and Salvador, and to a
third state. Costa Rica, which was not a
-party to the compact, while our other en
voy was similarly accredited to the union
state of Honduras, and the non-union state
of Guatemala. The result has been that
the one has presented credentials only to
the president of Costa Rica, the other ha- j
ing been received only by the government
of Guatemala. Subsequently, the three as
sociated republics entered into negotiations J
for taking; the steps forecasted In the orig
inal comoact.
A coi.ventlon of their delegates framed
I for tr.tu a federal constitution under the
i name of the United States of Central
vembfcr last was fixed for the new system
to go Into operation. Within a few weeks
thereafter the plan was severely tested by
revolutionary movements arising, with a
conseauent demand for unity of action on
the part of the military power of the fed
eral states to suppress them. Under this
strain the new union seems to have been
weakened through the withdrawal of Its
more important members.
This government was not officially ad
vised of the lnsta.lation of the federation
and has maintained an attitude of friendly
expectancy, while in no wise relinquish
ing the position held from the outset that
the responsibilities of the several states
toward us remained unaltered by their
tentative relations among themselves.
The MciiaKQa Canal.
The Nicaragua canal commission, under
Rear-Admiral John G. Walker, appointed
July 24. 1897, under -the authority of a
provision In the sundry civil act of June 4,
of that year, has nearly completed its
labors, and the results of its exhaustive
i inquiry into the proper route the feasibll-
i "u l"e -UUD"
teroceanlc canal by the Nicaragua route.
will be laid before you. In the perform-
! ance ot Its work the commission received
all possible courtesy and assistance from
the governments of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica, which thus testified their apprecia
tion of the importance of giving a speedy
and practical outcome of the project that
has for so many years engrossed the at
tention of the respective countries.
As the scope of recent Inquiry embraced
the whole subject with the aim of making
plans and surveys for a canal by the most
convenient route, it necessarily included
a review of the results of previous sur
veys and plans, and in particular those
adopted by the Maritime Canal Company
under its existing concessions from Nica
ragua and Costa Rica, so that to this ex
tent these grants necessarily held an es-,
sential part In the deliberations and con
clusions of the canal commission as they
have held and must needs held In the dis
cussion of the matter by congress. Un
der these circumstances, and in view of
overtures made to the governments of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica by other par
ties for a new canal concession predicated
on the assumed approaching lapse of the
contracts of the Maritime Canal Company
with those states, I have not hesitated to
express my convictions that considerations
of expediency and International policy, as
between the several governments inter
ested in the construction and control of
an interoceanle canal by this route re
quire the maintenance of the status quo
until the canal commission shall have re
ported and the United States congress
shall have had the opportunity to pass
finally upon the whole matter during the
present session without prejudice by rea
son of any 'change in the existing condi
tions. Nevertheless, It appears that the gov
ernment of Nicaragua, as one of its last
sovereign acts before merging its pow
ers In those of the newly formed United
Spates of Central America, has granted an
optional concession to another association
to become effective on the expiration of
the present grant. It does not appear
that surveys have" been made or what
route is proposed under this concession
so that an examination of the feasibility
of its plans is necessarily not embraced
in the report of the canal commission
All these circumstances suggest the ur
gency of some definite action by congress
at this session if the labors of the past
are to be utilized and the Unking of the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans by a practical
waterway Is to be realized. That the
construction of such a maritime highway
Is now more than ever indispensable to
that intimate and ready intercommunia,
cation between our eastern ana western
seaboards demanded by the annexation
of the Hawaiian islands and the prospec
tive expansion of our influence and com
merce to the Pacific, and that our national
policy now more imperatively than ever
calls for its control by this government,
are propositions which I doubt not con
gress will duly appreciate and wisely act
upon
A convention providing for the revival
of the late United States and Chilean
claims commission and the consideration
of claims which were duly presented to
the late commission, but not considered
because of the expiration of the time lim
ited for the duration of the commission
was signed May 24, 1897, and has remained
unacted upon by the senate. The term
therein fixed for effecting the exchange
of ratifications having elapsed, the con
vention fails unless the time be extended
by amendment, which. I am endeavoring
to bring about, with the friendly con
currence of the. Chilean government.
Dismemberment of China.
The United States has not been an In
different spectator of the extraordinary
events transpiring In the Chinese empire.
whereby portions of Its maritime prov
inces are passing under the control of
various European powers; but the prospect
that the vast commerce which the energy
of our citizens and the necessity of our
staple productions for Chinese uses has
built up in those regions may not be
prejudiced through any exclusive treat
ment by the new occupants has obviated
the need of our country becoming an actor
in the scene. Our position among nations,
having a large Pacific coast and a con
stantly expanding direct trade with the
farther Orient, gives us the equitable
claim to consideration and friendly treat
ment in this regard, and It will be my
aim to subserve our large interests In that
quarter by all means appropriate to the
consistent policy of our government.
The territories of Kiao-Chou, of Wel-
Hai-Wel, and of Port Arthur and Ta
iled Wan, leased to Germany. Great Brit
ain and Russia respectively for terms of
years, will, it is announced, add to in
ternational commerce during such occu
pation, and if no discriminating treatment
of American citizens and their trade be
found to exist or be hereafter developed,
the desire of this government would ap
pear to be realized.
Meanwhile, there may be Just ground for
disquietude. In view of the unrest and
revival of the old sentiment of opposition
and prejudice to alien people which per
vades certain of the Chinese provinces.
As In the case of the attacks upon our
citizens In See Chuan and at Ku Tien in
1885, the United States minister has been
instructed to secure the fullest measure
of protection, both local and Imperial,
for any menace to American in
terests, and to demand, in case of lawless
Injury to persons or property, instant
reparation appropriate to the case. War
ships have been stationed at Tlen-Tsln
for more ready observation of the dis
orders which have invaded even the Chi
nese capital, so as to be in a position to
act, should need arise, while a guard 'of
marines has been sent to Peking to
afford the minister the same measure of
authoritative protection as the represen
tatives of other nations have been con
strained to employ.
The Paris Exposition.
There is now every prospect that the
participation of the United States in the
universal exposition to be held in Paris
in 1900 will be on a scale commensurate
with the advanced position held by our
products and Industries in the world's
chief marts. The preliminary report of
Moses P. Handy, who, under the act
approved July 19, 1S97. was appointed
special commissioner with a view of se
curing all attainable information neces
sary to a full and complete understanding
by congress In regard to the participation
by this government in the Paris exposi
tion, was laid before you by my message
of December 6, 1897, and shows the large j
opportunities to make known our national
progress in art. science and manufac
tures, as well as the urgent need of im
mediate and adequate provision to enable
due advantage thereof to be taken.' Mr.
Handy's death soon afterward rendered
it necessary for another to take up and
complete his unfinished work, and Janu
ary 11 last, Mr. Thomas W. Cridler; third
assistant secretary of state, was desig
nated to fulfill that task. His report was
laid before you by my message of June
14. 1898, with . the gratifying result of'
awakening renewed interest in the pro
jected display. -
Trade Relations With France and
Germany.
The commercial arrangements made
with France on May 28, 1898, under the
provisions of section S,' of the tariff act
of 1S97, went into effect on June 1 follow
ing. It has relieved a portion of our ex
port trade from serious embarrassment.
Further negotiations are now pending
under section 4 of the same act, with a
view to the Increase of trade between
the two countries to their mutual ad-
vantage. Negotiations with other govern-
ments, in part interrupted by the war
with Spain, are in progress under botn
sections of the tariff act. I hope to be
able to announce some of the results of
theso npentiationa during the present ses-
slon of congress.
: Friendliness of Great Britain.
Our relations with Great Britain have
continued on the most friendly footiug.
. .. . . . , -
Assenting to Truest the pr oteeUoa of
Americans and their interests in Spanish
Jurisdiction was assured by the diplomatic
and consular representatives of Great
Britain, who fulfilled their delicate and
arduous trust with tact and seal, eliciting
high commendation. I may be-allowed
to make fitting allusion to the Instance of
Mr. Ramsden, her majesty's consui at
Santiago de Cuba, whose untimely death
after distinguished service and untiring
efforts during the siege of that city, was
sincerely lamented.
In the early part of April last, pursuant
to a request made at the Instance of the
secretary of state to the British ambassa
dor at this capitol, the Canadian govern
ment granted facilities for the passage of
United States revenue cutters from, the
Lakes to the Atlantic coast by way of the
Canadian canal and the St. Lawrence
Urlver. The vessels had reached Lake
Ontario and were there awaiting the open
ing of navigation when war was declared
between the United States and Spain. Her
majesty's government thereupon, by
communication of the latter1-part of April,
stated that the permlnrlon granted before
the outbreak of hostilities would not be
withdrawn, provided the United Slates
government gave assurance that the ves
sel ln question would proceed to a United
States port without engaging ln any hos
tile operation. Thl3 government prompt
ly agreed to the stipulated condition, it
being understood that the vessel would not
be prohibited from resenting any hostile
attack.
It will give me special satisfaction if I
shall be authorized to communicate to
you a favorable conclusion of the pend
ing negotiations with Great Britain in re
spect to the Dominion of Canada. It is
the earnest wish of this government to re-.
move all sources of discord and irritation
in relations with the neighboring domin
ion. The trade between the two countries
Is constantly increasing, and it is Impor
tant to both countries that all reasonable
facilities should be granted for Its develop
ment. -
Samoan Matters.
Malleto Laupepa, king of Samoa, died
August 22 last. According to article 1 of
the general act of Berlin, "his successor
shall be duly elected according to the laws
and customs of Samoa." .Arrangements
had been agreed upon between the signa
tories of the general act for. the return
of Mataafa and the other exiled Samoan
chiefs. They were brought from Jalult by
a German war vessel and landed at Apia
September 18 last. . Whether the death of
Malietoa and the return of his old-time
rival Mataafa will add to the undesirable
complications which the execution of the
tripartite general act has heretofore de
veloped remains to be seen. The efforts
of this government will, as heretofore, be
addressed toward a harmonious and ex
act fulfillment of the terms of the Inter
national-engagement to which the United
States became a party in 1889.
The Cheek claim against Slam, after
some five years of controversy, has been
adjusted by arbitration under an agree
ment signed July 6. 1897. An award of
706,721 ticals (about $187,987) with the re
lease of the Cheek estate from mortgage
claims was rendered March 21, 1838, in
favor of the claimant by the arbitrator.
Sir Nicholas John Hannan, British chief
justice for China and Japan.
An 'envoy from Slam has been accred.
lted to this government and has presented
his credentials.
Geneva Compact.
Immediately upon the outbreak of th
war with Spain, the Swiss government
fulfilling the high mission it has deserv
edly assumed, as the patron of the inter-
tlonal Red Cross, proposed to the United
States and Spain that they should sev
erally recognize and carry into execution
as a modus Vivendi during the continu
ance of hostilities the additional articles
proposed by the International conference
at Geneva, October 6, 1868, extending the
effects of the existing Red Cross conven
tion of 1864 to the conduct of naval war.
Following the example set by France and
Germany ln 1870 in adopting such a modus
Vivendi and in view of the accession by
the United States to those additional arti
cles in 1882, although the exchange or rati,
ficatlon thereof still remained unaffected,
the Swiss proposal was promptly and cor
dially accepted by us and simultaneously
by Spain.
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.
Existing; Laws in Force Pending Ac
tion by Congress.
Pending the consideration by the senate
of the treaty signed June 16, 1S97, by the
plenipotentiaries of the United States ana
of the republic of Hawaii, providing for
the annexation of the Island, a Joint reso
lution to accomplish the same purpose by
accepting the offered cession and incor
porating the ceded territory Into the
Union was adopted by congress and ap-
T. . 1 n long T fhn-raimnn rilnu.ta
.... I
the United States steamer Fhiladelpnia
to xnnvev Rl.i1mlnil Miller to Hons-
lulu and entrusted to his hands this im
portant legislative act to be delivered to
the president of the republic of Hawaii,
with whom the admiral and the United
States minister were authorized to make
appropriate arrangements for transfer
ring the sovereignty of the islands to the
United States. This was simply but im
pressively accomplished on August 12 last,
by the delivery of a certified copy of
the resolution to President Dole, who
thereupon yielded up to the repre'senta- Permanent increase of 'the army Is there
tive of the government of the United manifest, and the recommendation
States the sovereignty and public prop
erty of the Hawaiian Islands. Pursuant
to the terms of the joint resolution and
in exercise of authority thereby con
ferred upon me, I directed that the civil.
judicial and military powers heretofore
exercised by the officers of the govern
ment of the republic of Hawaii should
continue to be exercised by those officers
until congress should provide a govern
ment for the Incorporated territory, sub
ject to my power to remove such officers
and to fill vacancies. The present offi
cers and troops of the republic thereup
on - took the oath of allegiance to the
United States, thus providing for the un
interrupted continuance of all the admin
istrative and municipal functions of the
annexed territory until congress shall oth
erwise enact.
Following the further, provision of the
Joint resolution, I appointed the Honor-
ables Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois; John I
Morgan, of Alabama; Robert R. Hitt, I
of Illinois; Sanford B. Dole, of Hcwall,
and Walter F. Grier, of Hawaii, as com
missioners to confer and recommend to
congress such legislation concerning the
Hawaiian islands as they should deem
necessary or proper. :-
Recommendations of the Commission.
The commissioners having fulfilled the
mission confided to them, their report
will be laid before you at an early day.
It Is believed that their recommenda
tions will have the earnest consideration
due to the magnitude of the responsibility
resting upon you to give such shape to
the relationship of those mid-Pacific lands
to our home union as will benefit both in
the highest degree, realizing the aspira
tions of the community that has cast its
lot with us ard elected to share our po
litical heritage, while, at the same time.
Justifying the foresight of those who for
thret-quarters of a century have, looked
to the assImilaUon of Hawaii as a natural
an inevitable consummation in harmony
wj4h, ?ur. nee,.1and ln ulnllment of our
cherished traditions. - .
. Tne questions heretofore pending be-
jween Hawaii and Japan, growing out of
"7BCV, """"u.eiii w Japanese
treaty immigrants, were, I am pleased
to say, adjusted before the act of trans-
" " payment oi a. reasonaoie in
demnity to the government of Japan.
Under the provisions of the Joint resolu
tion, the existing customs relations of the
Hawaiian islands with the United States
and With other countries remain un-
mm wim uuier countries remain un-
cnanRea nt ,eg,8latlon sna atherM
provlde. The consuls of Hawaii, here and
ln forelgn countries, continue to fulfill
their commercial agencies, while the
TTitfl stoto. tt ,,.. ..
maintoinp,, - r-
tainlne to trade and th rCv Tt
would be desirable that all foreign con
suls in the Hawaiian islands should re
ceive new exequaturs from this govern
ment. Redemption of Greenbacks.
I renew so much of my recommendation
of December L 1897, as follows:
"That when any of the United ' States
notes are presented for redemption and are
redeemed ln gold, such notes shall be kept
and set apart and only paid out in ex
change for gold. This is an obvious duty.
If the holder of the United States note pre
fers gold and gets it from the government
he should not receive back from the United
States a note without paying gold for It
In exchange. The reason for this Is made
all the most apparent when the govern
ment issues an interest-bearing debt
to provide gold for . the redemp
tion of United States notes, a
nonlnterest-bearing debt. Surely it
should not pay them out again except on
demand and for gold. If they are put out
in any other way they may return again,
to be followed by another Issue to redeem
them, another Interest-bearing debt to re
deem a nonlnterest-bearing debt."
This recommendation is made in the be
lief that such provisions of law would in
sure to a greater degree the safety of the
present standard " and better protect our
currency from the dangers to which it
is subjected from a disturbance in
the general business conditions of
the country. In my Judgment, the
present condition of the country jus
tifies the immediate enactment of the legis
lation recommended one year ago, under
which a portion of the gold holdings should
be placed ln a trust fund from which
greenbacks should be redeemed upon pre
sentation, but when once redeemed they
should not thereafter pe paid out except
for gold.
It Is not to be Inferred that other legis
lation relating to our currency Is not re
quired. On the contrary, there is an ob
vious demand for it.
The importance of adequate provision
which will Insure permanence to our fu
ture money standard, related as our money
standard now Is to that of our commercial
rivals, is generally recognized. The com
panion proposition that our domestic cur
rency shall be kept safe and yet be so
related to the needs of our industries and
Internal commerce as to be adequate and
responsive to such needs, is a proposition
scarcely less important. The subject in
all its parts Is commended to the wise con
sideration of congress.
Sew Maritime Policy.
The annexation of Hawaii and the
changed relations of the United States to
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines re
sulting from the war, compel the promst
adoption of a maritime policy by frequent
steamship communication encouraged by
the United states, under the American flag,
with the newly acquired Islands. Spain
furnished to its colonies, at an annual cost
of about $2,000,000, steamship lines com
municating with a poion of the world's
markets as well as with trade centers of
the home government,' The United States
will not undertake to db less. It is our
duty to furnish the people of Hawaii with
facilities, under national control, for their
export and import trade. It will be con
ceded that the present situation calls for
legislation which shall be prompt, dur
able and liberal. '
The part which American merchant Ves
sels and their seamen performed in the
war demonstrates that this service, which
furnished both pickets and second line of
defense, is a national necessity and should
be encouraged in every constitutional way.
Details and methods for the accomplish
ment of this purpose are discussed in tha
report of the secretary of the treasury.
to which the attention of congress is re
spectfully invited.
ARMY RKORGAMZATION.
Standlno; Force of 100,000 Men Needed
Under Present Conditions.
Under the act of congress approved
April 26, 1S98, authorizing the president in
his discretion, upon a .declaration of war
by congress or a declaration by congress
that war exists, I directed the increase
of the regular army to the maximum of
62,000, authorized in said act.
There are now in the regular army 57,-
omcers and men. In said act it was
provided: "That at the end of any war in
which the United States may become In
volved, the army shall be reduced to a
peace basis by transfer ln the same
arm of the service or absorption, by pro
motion or honorable . discharge, under
Inh raviilaHnna oa tha nnn.,t n ... n n
c "' -
i uuiicuumciai, rauiiujuu UIU-
cers and the honorable discharge or trans
fer of supernumerary enlisted men, and
nothing contained in this act shall be
construed as authorizing the permanent
increase of the command of enlisted force
of the regular army beyond that now pro
vided by the law ln force prior to the
passage of this act except a3 to the in
crease of 25 majors provided for in section
1 hereof."
The importance of legislation for the
wi ocAciaiy nai tvi mai yuipuse
has my unqualified approval. There can
be no question that at this time apd prob
ably for some time ln the future 100,000
men will be none too many to meet the
necessities of the situation. At all events.
whether that number shall be required
permanently or not, the power should be
given to the president to enlist that force
if in his discretion it should be neces
sary, and the further discretion should
be given him to recruit within the above
limit from the Inhabitants of the islands
with the government of which we are
charged. - .
Volunteers to De Sent Home.
It is my purpose to muster out the en
tire volunteer army as soon as congress
shall provide for the increase of the regu
lar establishment. This will be only an
act of justice, ana will be much appre
ciated by the brave men who left their
homes and employments to help the coun-
try ln Its emergency.
POSTAL, SERVTCR,
Extraordinary Growth and Gratlfrlnc
Increase in Efficiency.
The postal service of the country ad
vances with extraordinary growth. Within
20 years both the revenues and expendi
tures of the postoffice 'department have
multiplied three-fold. In the last 10 years
they have nearly doubled. Our postal
business grows much more rapidly than
our population. It now Involves an expen
diture of $100,000,000 a year, numbers 73,000
postofflces and enrolls 200,000 employes.
This remarkable extension of a service,
which is an accurate index of the public
conditions, presents gratifying evidence of
the advancement of education, of .the in
crease of communication and business
activity and of the improvement of mall
facilities, leading to their constantly aug
menting use.
The war with Spain laid new and excep
tional labors on the postoffice department.
The mustering of the military and naval
forces of the United States required spe
cial mail arrangements for every camp
and every campaign. The communication
between home and camp was naturally
eager and expectant. In some of the
larger places of rendezvous as many as
60,000 letters a day required handling.
This necessity was met by the prompt
detail of experienced men from the es
tablished force and by directing all the
instrumentalities of the railway mall and
postoffice service so far as necessary to
this new- need. Congress passed an act
empowering the postmaster-general to es
tablish an office or branch at every mili
tary camp or station, and under this au
thority the postal machinery was speed
ily put into effectit'e operation.
Under the same authority when our
forces advanced upon Cuba, Porto Rico
and the Philippines, they were attended
and followed, by the postal service.
Though the act of congress authorized
the appointment of postmasters where
necessary. It was early determined that
the public 'interests would be best sub
served not by new designations, but by
the detail of experienced men familiar
with every branch of the service, and tnis
policy was steadily followed. When the
territory which was the theater of con
flict came into our possession, it became
necessary to re-establish mail facilities
for the resident population as well as to
provide them for our forces of occupa
tion, and the former requirement was met
through the extension and application of
the latter obligation. I gave the requi
site authority, and the eame general
principle was applied to this as to other
branches of civil administration under
military occupation. The details are more
particularly given ln the report of the
postmaster-general, and while the work is
only Just begun, it is pleasing to be able
to say that the service in the territory
which has come under our control is
already materially improved.
The department of the interior has in
augurated a forest system, made pos
sible by the act of July, 1898. for a graded
force of officers ln control of the reserves.
This system has only been in full opera
tion since August, but good results have
already ben secured in many sections.
The reports received indicate that the sys
tem of patrol has not only prevented de
structive fires from gaining headway, but
has diminished the number of fires.
Indian Affairs.
The special attention of congress is
called to that part of the report of the
secretary of the interior ln relation to the
Ave civilized tribes. It is noteworthy that
the general condition of this Indians shows
marked progress. But one outbreak of a
serious nature occurred during the year,
and that was among the Chippewa In
dians of Minnesota, which, happily, has
been suppressed.
While it has not yet been' practicable to
enforce all the provisions of the act of
June 28, 1898, "For the protection of the
people of the Indian territory and for
other purposes," it is having a salutary
effect upon the nations composing the
five tribes. The Dawes commission re
ports that the most gratifying results
and greater advance toward the attain
ment of the objects of the government
have been secured In the past year than
In previous years. I cannot too strongly
lndorsethe recommendation of the commis
sion and of the secretary of the interior
for the necessity of providing for the edu
cation or the 30.000 white children resident
In the Indian territory.
Department of Agrrionlttire.
The department of agriculture has been
active in the past year. Explorers have
been sent to many of the countries of the
eastern and western hemispheres for seeds
and plants that may be useful to the
United States, and with the further view
of opening up markets for our surplus
products. ' The forestry division- of the
department is giving special attention to
t?ie treeless regions of our country, and is
introducing species especially adapted to
semi-arid regions. Forest fires, . which
seriously interfere with production, espe
cially in irrigated regions, are being
studied that the losses from this cause
may be avoided. The department is in
quiring into the use and abuse of water
in many states of the West, and collect
ing information regarding the laws of
states, the decisions of the courts and the
customs of the people in this regard, so
that uniformity may be secured.
Experiment stations are becoming more
effective every year.- The annual appro
priation of $720,000 by congress is supple
mented by $400,000 from the states. Nation
wide experiments have been conducted
to ascertain the suitableness to soil and
climate and states for growing sugar
beets. The number of sugar factories has
been doubled in the past two years, and
the ability of the United States to pro
duce Its own sugar from this source has
been clearly demonstrated. .
The weather bureau, forecast and ob
servation stations have been extended
around the Carribean sea, to give early
warning of the , approach of hurricanes
from the South seas to our fleets and
merchant marine. , -
Capital Centennial.
In the year 190" will occur the centen
nial anniversary of the founding of tne
city - of Washington for the permanent
capital of the government of the United
States by authority, of an act of con
eress approved July 16, 1790. In May,
1800, the archives and general offices of the
federal government were removed to tnis
place. On the 17th of November, lsuo, tne
national congress met here for the first
time and assumed exclusive control of
the federal district and city. This, inter
esting event assumes all the more signifi
cance when we recall the circumstances
attending the choosing of the site, the
naming of the capital in honor of the
father of his country, and the 'Interest
taken by him in the adoption of plans for
Its future development on a magnificent
scale.
These orginal plans have been wrought
out with a constant progress and a sig
nal success, even beyond anything their
framers had foreseen.
Labor Laws.
The alien contract law Is shown by ex
perience to need some amendment; a
measure providing better protection for
seamen is proposed; the rightful applica
tion of the eight-hour law for the benefit
of labor and of the principle of arbitra
tion are suggested for consideration, and
I commend these subjects to the careful
consideration of congress.
departmental Reports.
The several departmental reports will
be laid before you. They- give in great
detail the conduct of the affairs of the
government during the past year, and dis
cuss many questions upon which con
gress may be called upon to act.
WILLIAM M'KINLET.
Executive Mansion, December 5, ISO,
IN A PORTO RICAN FOREST.
fhe Wealth of Tropical Fruits and
Nuts that Are to Be Found.
By nightfall, after I had ridden up
and down some of the most unprepossessing-
hills, and had got tangled In no
snd of chaparral, cactus and other
thorny undergrowth, which changed a
new pongee coat I had bought In San
Juan Into an old rag, I found mj-self on
a high range of sierra. From a jibaro
egress I learned that I was half way
between the towns of Quemados and
Jaquas, and that I would find a better
trail for my horse below. So I rode
down a lovely green valley, where plan
tations of coffee and tobacco lay side by
side. As it grew darker, bats flew all
about me, and I heard the evening cries
of birds which sounded like our whip
poorwills and mockingbirds. At last I
struck the trail that the woman had
mentioned. I rode on a little way, and
took the horse Into a clearing, where
there was a spring well hidden from
view, and there I hobbled his feet to
the halter rope, flung myself on the
ground, and went fast asleep. The last
thing I heard was the beautiful song
of the solitaire singing in a copse above
me. . .
I was awakened early the nest morn
ing by the screeching of green parrots,
quarreling with other birds in the top
ot a cocoanut palm. I was drenched
with dew, but forgot all as I thought
of my horse. To my great relief, I
found him standing behind a bit of ole
ander bush red with flowers, crunching
the juicy stalk of a prickly pear. I watch
?d him with Interest as he took the
stalk and with his teeth ripped off the
3kin with all its thorns. He whinnied
as if we were old friends. After bridling
and watering him I found the trail, and
rode off southw.ard. On the way I ate
everything I could find, from - green
cherries and guava plums to juicy man
goes, which stained the front of my
:oat, and bell apples, the meat of which
suggested mildew. There were also
sustard apples, a large green fruit not
unlike cream puffs inside.
The most astonishing and best of all
was a fruit called pulmo In our lan
guage, sour sap. It is about as large as
a quart bowl, and so nourishing and
full that a single fruit was enough for '
a good meal, although that did not deter
my horse from eating four. Later I
found that they are also relished by
Jogs. Of springs and streams there
were so many that I had no fear of dy
ing of thirst. If water was not handy,
I could always climb a cocoanut tree
and throw down the green nuts, which
were filled with an' abundance of wa
tery milk, more than I could drink at
one time. Other nuts there ware '. in
plenty, but many were more curious
than edible, even to my willing aDle-
Ute. One had a delicious odor. I tasted
a little, and thought it ideal for flavor
ing candy. But It soon dissolved in my
mouth ln a fine dust, absorbing all the
moisture, so that I had to blow it out
like flour. Nothing ever made me so
thirsty In my life, and even after rins
ing out my mouth I felt for a long
time as if I were chewing punk or cot
ton. The fruit of the tamarind only
added to my torments by setting all
my teeth on edge. When we reached
the next spring I fell off my horse for
fear he would get all the water. Only
after I had satisfied my thirst would
let him drink. Century.
A Mathematical Male.
A writer in Lipplncott's' Magazine
tells a rather remarkable mule story.
The animal In question was used to re
enforce the regular teams, being hitch
ed beside them on a certain steep In
cline on one of the Cincinnati street
railroads.
The mule made a certain number of
rrips in the forenoon (I have forgotten
the number, but will say fifty for the
sake of convenience), and a like num
ber In the afternoon, resting for an
hour at noon. As soon as It completed
its fiftieth trip it marched away to the
stable without orders from the driver.
To show that it was not guided by the
?ound of the factory whistles and bells,
the following remarkable action on the
part of this animal is vouched for by
the superintendent of the line:
On a certain occasion during a musi
cal festival, the mule was transferred
to the night shift, and the very Instant
It completed its usual number of shifts
It started for the stables. The com
bined efforts of several men were nec
essary to make it return to Its duty.
At night there were no bells or whis
tles to Inform the mule that "quitting
time" had come; It had counted the
trips, and having finished its quota,. It
thought that the time for rest and food
had arrived.
- Singular Railroad Accl lent.
One of the most singular of railway
accidents wa that near Genoa by
which a dozen lives were recently lost.
The Glori Tunnel, in which it occurred, .
Is very long, and so foul that the win
dows are shut, leaving the passengers
to keep alive on what air Is already In
the car. But the engineers have no
such support, and the accident was
caused by the fact that all the drivers
and firemen on the three engines needed
to hirtil the train up the heavy grade of
the tunnel were asphyxiated. The train
consequently slipped back and plunged
into a passenger train at the bottom
of the incline. ,
. Most Mediaeval Race.
The Spaniards are not the most med-.
ieval of races. The Svantians, who
live In the Inaccessible mountain range
between the Black and Caspian seas,
are probably the laziest people ln the
world. They have made no advance
toward civilization ln 2,500 years. II
Is their invariable rule to hold holidays
four times a week, with saints' days
as extras. -
British Dogs.
There are fifty-five dogs In the Uni
ted Kingdom to every 1,000 Inhabit
ants. .-