nniai
The Important Features of
the Chiet Executives' Ad
dress to Congress.
To the, Congress of tha United States:
A representative of tin people In ttia
legislative branch of their government, ytitt
haveaaaemhled at a ilma whan tha strength
and excellence of our fre Institution
ami tha lltni'M of our cltiaen to anjoy
popular rule have barn auxin ma, la muni
feat, A political corilaat Involving moment
una ontiaequentwa, fraught with favorlah
apprehension, and creating aggressiveness
ao lultinsa a to approach bltternea ami
paaalon, tin a bwn waged thrnuKhout our
Unit, and determined by tha decree of fre
and Independent auffrag without disturb
aiica of our tranquillity or tha least sign
of weukne in our national atructure.
. When wa consider llicaa Incident and
conlemptul tha pnacelul obedience and
manly aubinlaalon which liava ucoaedcd a
heated elaeh of political oplnlona, wa dis
cover abundant evidence of a determination
on tha part of our countrymen to ablda by
vary verdict of tha popular will, and to
b controlled at all time by an abiding
falih In the agencies aatahllahed fur tha
illrertlon of tha affair of their govern
ment. Thus, our people xhlblt a patriotic
dlapoaltlon, which anfltlea them to drnutnd
of thoa who undertake to make and exe
cute their lawa eurh faithful and uueainsh
aervlre In helr behalf aa fan only be pro.
moled by a aerlou appreciation of tha
truat and eonfld-ne which the acceptance
of public duly Invitee.
In obedience to conalllutlonal require
ment, hereby euhinlt to the congress
rertuln Information concerning national af
faire, with tha suggestion of auch legisla
tion aa, In nty Judgment, la neceaaary
and expedient. To aerure brevity anil to
avoid tlreaome narration, 1 ahall omit
many dntnll concerning matlera within
federal control, which, by no menna un
important, are mora profitably discussed
In departmental reporta.
I ahall alao further curtail thla communl
cation by omitting a minute recital of any
minor Incident connected wllh our foreign
relation which have heretofore found a
place In executive message, but are now
twiitaliind In a report of the secretary of
tale, which la herewith submitted;
- POItKICI HICI.ATIOSS.
America Hv'uarn for 'raewntrd
Armenian.
At tha out act of a reference to tha more
important matter affecting our relatlona
with foreign power, It would afford ma
aatlafacllon If I could assure tha emigres
that tha dlalurbed conditions In Aelatle
Turkey had during the past year aaaumed
a leaa hldeoo and bloody aspect, and
that, either a a consequence of lha awnk.
nlng of the Turkish government to tha
demand of human civilisation or a the
reault of a dcelnlv action on the part
m ine great nation naving the right by
treaiy to Interfere for the protection
of thoaa evnoaed to the rage of mad bigotry
'and cruel fanntlclam, the allocking featurea
at Die altuatlon had been mitigated. In.
lead, However, or welcoming a anfiened
dlapoalllon or protective intervention, we
have been afflicted by continued and not
infrequent report of the waniun de
struction of home and tha bloody butch
ry of men, women and children: made
martyr to their profession of Chrtallan
MUD.
While none of our elihton In Turkey
have thu far been killed or wounded,
though often In the mldet of dreadful
cenea of danger, their aafety In the
lutur la by no mean aaaured. Our gov.
eminent at home and our mlnlater at Con.
atantlnopla have left nothing undone to
protect our missionaries In Ottoman terri
tory, who eonatltuta nearly all the indl
vldual residing there who hav a right to
claim our protection on tha eeor of
American cltlaenehlp.
Our effort In thla direction will not be
relaxed, but the deep feeling and aympathy
that hove been rained among our people
ought not to ao far t nd their reason
and Judgment aa to lead them to demand
Impossible thing. The outhreaka or blind
fury, which lead to murder and pillage In
Turkey, occur euddenly and without notice,
and an attempt on our part to fore auch
a hoallla pre acne there aa might ba ef
fective far prevention or protection would
not only be realated by the Ottoman gov
ernment, but would be regarded aa an
Interruption of their plan by th great
nation who assert their exclusive right
to Intervene In their own tlma and method
for the aecurlty of life and property In
Turkey.
Several naval vessel r stationed In
tha Mediterranean a a meaaura of cau
tion and to furnish all poaalhl relief and
refuge In oaae of emergency.
CI aim a Aaralnat Turkey.
We hav made claltna agalnat tha Turk
ish government for the plllag and de
etructlon of mlaalonary property at llarput
nd Marash, during uprlalng at theae
place. Thua far, tha validity of theae
demand has not been admitted, though
our mlnlater, prior to auch outrage, and
In anticipation of danger, demanded
protection fur tha perona and property
of our mlaalonary cltlaen In tha localities
mentioned, and notwlthatnndlng that
atrong evidence exist of th aotual com
plicity of Turkish-soldier In th work of
destruction and robbery. Tha facta, a they
now appear, do not permit u to doubt
th juetlca of theae clalma, and nothing
will ba omitted to bring about their prompt
aettlement.
A number of Armenian refugee having
arrived at our port, and an order having
lately been obtained from tha Turklah
government permitting th Wive and
children of auch refugee to Join them
here. It la heped that hereafter no ob
stacle will b Interpoaed to prevent the
Mcatx of all thoa who aeek to avoid tha
pcrlla which threaten them In Turklah do?
minion. . . '
Our recently appointed consul, to Er
roum la at hi poet and dlachnrging th
duties of hi dflloe, though for aome unao
rountahl reaaon hi formal exequatur
from tha sultan ha not been lued.
I do not believe that th present tomber
prospect In Turkey will ba long permitted
. to offend th lght of Christendom. I t so
mar th humane and enlightened elvlll.
cation that belong to th cloe. of th
19th century, that It seem hardly poeslb
that the earneat demand of good people
throughout th Chrlatlan world for II
corrective treatment will remain unan-
wered. . .
THIS CtnANfttKfTIOW.
Friendly Offices at the United State
(Wared to Kettle th Wnr.
The Inaurreetlon In Cuba tlll continue,
. with all He- perplexities. It la dlltlcult to
percalv that any progress ha thus far
been made toward tha pacification of the
laland, or that tha ltuatlon of affairs, a
depleted In my lat annual meaaage, ha In
the leaat Improved. '
Jf Spain atlll hold Havana and th ea
porta and all the considerable towns, the
Insurgents atlll roam at will over at leaat
two-third of the Inland country. Th de
termination of Spain to put down the In
attraction eem but strengthened wllh
the Inline of time, aa I evinced by her
unhesitating devotion of lorgoly Increaaed
military and naval foroe to the tk.
Titer, la much reaaon to believe that th
Insurgents have gained In number char
acter and resource, and ar none tha lea
Inflexible In their reaolvt not to succumb
Without practically securlns; the area h.
Jtwt for which they took up arm.
If Bpaln hue not yot re-established her
aumuruy, nuitiier huv th Insurgent yet
made good their title to be regarded an
Independent state. Indeed, a th content
ha gone on, th pretense that civil gov
ernment exist on the laland, except so far
aa Bpain is auiw to maintain It, ha been
practically abandoned. Spain doe keep
on foot auch a government, more or leaa
Imperfectly, In th larg town and their
Immediate auburba, but, that .exception
being mud, tha entire country la either
given over to anarchy or I aubjoct to th
military occupation of on or the other
party, It 1 reported, Indeed, on reliable
authority, that at th demand of th com
mancier-in-onier or the lnurgcnt army
th putative Cuban government ha now
given up all attempt to exercls It func
tions, leaving that government confessed
ly (what there I best reason for uppo.
lug It always to hav been In fact) a gov
ernment mureiy on paper.
' Ilratrantlo) of l-ropertr.
Meanwhile, aa In all caaea of protract
d civil strife, the pasatona of th
combatant grow more and more
Inllumed, and excoaae un both sides
beuom more frcjjuent and mor
oepioraoio. They ar also participated In
by bund of marauder who now In tha
nam of ona party, and now In th nam
of th other, a may best suit th occa
sion, harass th country at will and
plunder It wretched Inhabitant for their
own advantax. Much a condition of thlnga
would inevitably entail Immense destruc
tion of property, even If It were tha policy
of one party to prevent It a fur a prac
ticable. Hut while auch seemed to ba th
original policy or the Spanish government.
It haa now apparently abandoned It. and
I acting upon th same theory aa th In
surgent, namely: That th exigencies of
th contests require th wholesal anni
hilation of property that It may not prove
oi any us ana aavantag to the enemy.
It la to th sum end that. In pursuance
or general orders, Hpanlsh garrison ar
now being withdrawn from plantation.
ami in rural population I being r.
quired to concentrate itself In th townn
Tha sure result would seem to be that the
industrial value of tha Island la fast dl
tnlnlahlng, and that unless there I i
speedy and radical change In th existing
conditions It will soon disappear alto-
geuier.
Oar Coaeern In Cuba.
Th apectacl of th utter ruin of an
adjoining country, by nature on of th
moat fertile and charming on th whole
globe, would engag the aerlou attention
of th government and the people of the
United Bltttes In any circumstances. In
point or ract, they hav ooncern wllh It
wnivn I by no mrn of a wholly sent!
mental or philanthropic character. It He
so near to us to tie hardly separated
from our territory. Our actual pecuniary
Interest In It I second only to that of the
people of Spain. It Is reasonably estimated
that at least from IW.ouo.OUu to IM.ouo.ooO
or American capital la Invested In plant'
(lona and in railroads, mining and other
business enterprise on th Island. Th
volume or trad between th United Statea
and Cuba, which In lH9 amounted to about
PU.uOii.Wio, rose In 1U3 to about IliH.OOo.tKiO.
and In lWtl, th year before the present
Insurrection broka out, amounted to near..
ly iw.tmo.uw. ,
Demand for Intervention.
These Inevitable entanglements of the
united mates with th rebellion In Cuba.
til large American property Interest
affected, and considerations of plillan-
tnropy ana numantty in general, have led
to a vehement demand In various quar
ter for om ort of positive Intervention
on the part of tha United State. It waa
at first propoacd that belligerent right
should ba accorded the Inaurgenta, a
proposition no longer weighed because It
untimely and Impractical operation would
be clearly perilous and Injurious to our
Interests. It haa sine been and la now
sometimes contended that th Independent-
of th insurgents should be recog
nised. Hut, Imperfect and restricted a
th Spanish government of th Island may
be, no other exist there, unless th will
of the military officer In temporary com
mand of a particular district can be dla
Billed a a species of government. It la
now also suggested that the United State
hould buy th tslaml uggestlon pos
sibly worthy of consideration If there
were any evidence of a desire or will
ingness on the part of Spain to enter
tain auch a proposal. It Is urged, finally,
that, all other method falling, tha exist
ing Internecine strife In Cuba should be
terminated by our Intervention, even at
th coat of a war between the United
State and Spain a war which It advo
cate confidently prophesy could neither
b largo In It proportions nor doubtful
In It lu.
A Character fa Maintain.
Th correctness of this forecast need be
neither afllrmed nor denied. Th United
State has, nevertheless, a character to
maintain as a nation, which plainly dic
tates that right and not might should be
the rul of It conduct.
Further, though th United State I
not a nation to which peac la a necessi
ty. Is Is, In truth, th moat paclflo of
power and desires nothing ao much a
to 11 v In amity with all the world. Ita
own ample and diversified domain sat.
Isfles all fiosslbl longings for terri
tory, precludes all clalma of conquest and
prevent any casting of oovetou eye up
on neighboring regions, however attrac
tive. That our conduct toward Spain and her
dominion ha constituted no exception to
thl national disposition la mad manifest
by the course of our government, not only
thu far during the present Insurrection,
but during th 10 year that followed th
rising of Yara In Ii8. No other great
power. It may aafely b said, undr clr
oumitance of similar perplexity, would
hav manifested the earn restraint and
tha same patient endurance.
Respect far Upala,
It may alao be said that thl persistent
attitude of th United Statea toward
Spain In connection with Cuba unques
tionably evince no alight respect and re
gard for Spain on th part of the Amer
Icnn people. They, In truth, do not forgot
her conneotlon with the discovery of the
Western hemisphere,, nor do they under
estimate th great qualities of th Span
Ish people, nor fall to fully recognise their
splendid patriotism and their chivalrous
devotion to th national honor. They
view with wonder and admiration th
cheerful resolution with which vast bod
e of men ar sent aoross thousands of ;
miles of ocean and an enormous debt ac
cumulated that (he cosily possession of
the Uem of the Antilles may situ noia us
place In the Spanish crown.
And yet neither th government nor th
people of the United Slate hav shut
their eyes to the oourae of events In Cuba
nor hav failed to realise tha extent of
conceded grievance which hav led to
the present revolt from the authority of
Spain, grievances recognized by the queen
regent and by the cortea, voiced by the
most patrlotlo and enlightened of Spanish
statesmen without regard to party, and
demonstrated by reforms proposed by the
executive and approved by th legislative
branch of the apanisn a"?"'"""";. "
In the assumed temper and deposition of
the Spanish government to "medy these
grlevanoee, fortified by Indication of In
fluential publlo opinion In Spain, that
?W. wv.ram.nl ha. hoped to discover the
most promising and effective means of
imposing- Prinl ,riiVw?thh3E
.rwi sdvanlage to Spain and with in
:"llvem,Bnt Sf all the ostensible on
Ject of th Insurrection,
A Way out of It.
Nverthela, realising that suspicion on
th part of th w.aker of the two com-
balants are always natural and not al
waya unjuatinauie, being sincerely deslrou
In th Interest of both as well aa on ou
own account that the Cuban problem should
tie solved with tha least possible
delay, It wa Intimated by thla
government to th government of
Hpain soma montha ago that If
satisfactory measure of home rul were ten.
dured the Cuban Insurgents, and would be
accepted by them upon a guaranty of Its
execution, in united Slates would en
neavor to find a way not objectionable to
npain oi rurnisiiing such guaranty.
While no definite response to this Intl
mation has yet been received from th
Spanish government, It 1 believed to be
not altogether unwelcome, while, aa already
suggesieu, no reason is perceived why It
snould not ba approved by th Insurgents,
Neither party can fall to see th Imoor.
tance of early action, and both mustreallx
that to prolong th present (tat of thing
for even short period will add enormously
to th time and labor and expenditure
necessary to bring about th Industrial re
euperatlon of the Island. It is. therefore
fervently hoped on all grounds that earnest
efforts for healing the breach between Spain
and the Insurgent Cuban upon th line
atiove indicated may be at one Inaugu
rated and pushed to an Immediate uccsa.
ful Issue. The friendly offices of th United
Statea, either In the manner above outlined
or In any other way consistent with our
constitution and law, will always be at tha
aisposai or either party.
Whatever policy may arise, our policy
and our Interest would constrain us to
object to the acquisition of the Island or
to any interference with Its control by any
uiuer power.
Con II let Must teea End.
It ahould b added that It cannot be rea
sonably assumed that th hitherto ex
pectant attitude of th United State will
b Indefinitely maintained. While w ar
anxious to sccord all due respect to the
sovereignty of 8paln, w cannot view the
pending conflict In all It features and prop
erly apprehend our close relations to It
and Us possible results without considering
mat oy in course or event we may be
drawn Into such an unusual and unprece
dented condition a will fix a limit to our
patient waiting for Spain to end the con
test. - either alone and In her own way,
or witn our friendly co-operation.
' When th Inability of Spain to deal sue.
cessfully with the Insurgent ha become
manifest, and It I demonstrated that her
sovereignly Is extinct In Cuba for all pur.
pose of It rightful existence, and when
a nopeles struggle for Its re-establish
ment ha degenerated Into a strife which
mean nothing more than th useless
acrlflc of human life and the utter de
struction of every subject matter of the
conflict, a situation will be presented In
which our obligations to the sovereignty of
npain win o superseded by Higher obll
gallons, which we can hardly hesitate to
recognise and discharge. Deferring tha
choice of way and method until the time
for action arrive, we ahould make them
depend upon the precise condition then ex
isttng; and they should not be determined
upon without giving careful heed to every
consideration Involving our honor and In
terest, or th International duty w owe
to npain. until we face the contingencies
suggested, or the situation I by other in
cident Imperatively changed, we should
continue In the line of conduct heretofore
pursued, thus In all circumstances exhib
iting our obedience to the requirement of
puoiie law and our regard for th duty en-
Joined upon ua by the position w. occupy
in me gaiaxy or nation.
A contemplation of emergencte that may
arts ahould plainly lead us to avoid their
creation, either through a careless disregard
oi present duty or even an undue stimula
tion and Ill-timed expression of feeling. But
I nave deemed It not amis to remind the
congress that a time may arrive when a
correct policy and car for our Interests,
well as regard for the Interest of other
nation and their citizens. Joined bv con
siderations or humanity and a desire to e
a rich and fertile country. Intimately re
lated to us. saved from complete devasta
tion, will constrain our government to such
ctlin; will subserve the Interests Involved
and at the same time promts to Cuba and
It Inhabitants an opportunity to enjoy the
oiessings oi peace.
THKASIRV DKI'AHTMEST.
Excess
of
Expendl!
area Over He-
eeluts,
The secretary of the treasury reports
that during the fiscal year ended June 30,
IKtsl th receipts of the government from
all sources amounted to JW9.t75.tod 76.
During the same period. Its expenditure
were 434.678,ti61 , th exces of expendi
ture over receipts thus amounting to fcs,-
SU3.245 72. Th ordinary expenditures dur
ing the year were HOuxtfex 21 less than
during th preceding fiscal year. Of the
receipt mentioned, there were derived
from customs the sum of JISO.0H1.751 67, and
from Internal revenue JHH.830,615 68. The
receipts from custom show an Increase of
J7. gul,13l Sx over thoa from tha same
source for th fiscal year ending June
80, 1895, and the receipts from Internal
revenue an Increase of (3,584.537 91.
The value of our Imported dutiable mer
chandise during th last fiscal year was
13119,757,770, and th value of free good
Imported S4O9.7,470, being n Increase of
J6,&23,75 In the value of dutiable goods
and 141,231,034 In th value of free goods
over the preceding year. Our export of
merchandise, foreign and domestic,
amounted in value to $883,606,938, being an
Increase over the preceding year of J75,-
068,773. Th average ad valorem duty paid
on dutiable goods Imported during the
year was 39.94 per cent, and on free and
dutiable good taken together 20.56 per
cent. '
The cost of collecting th Internal rev-
enue wa l.vs per cent, a agaipat xsi
per cant for the fiscal year ending June 10,
1896.
Idfesavlnar Service,
From the Ufesavlng service It Is reported
that the number of disaster to docu
mented vessels within the limits of Us
operations during the year wa 537. These
vessels had on board 4608 persons, of
whom 4596 were saved and 13 lost. The
value of auch vessels Is estimated at
$8,880,140, and of their cargoes $3,846,380,
making the total value of property Im
periled $13,726,620. Of this amount, $11,
392.707 wa aaved and $1,482,750 was lost
SIxty-aeven of the vessels wer totally
wrecked. , Ther were besides 243 casual
ties to small undocumented crari, on
board of which there were 594 persons, of
whom 587 were saved and aeven lost. The
value of th property Involved In these
latter casualties la estimated at $119,266,
of which $114,956 wa saved and $4350 was
in.t The Ufesavlng orews during the year
also rescued or assisted numerous other
vessel and warned many irom Danger uy
signals, both by day and night. Th num
ber of dlsaatera during the year exceeded
that of any prevloua year In the history
of the aervlce, but the saving of both life
and property wa greater than ever before
In proportion to the value of the property
Involved and to the number of persons
Imperiled.
Marin hospital Servlc.
The operation of the marine hospital
service, the revenue cutter service, the
steamboat Inspection aervlce, th light
house aervloe, th bureau of navigation and
other branche of publlo work attached to
the treasury department, together with
various recommendations concerning their
support and improvement, are fully stated
In the report of the secretary of the treas
ury, to which the attention of congress
I especially Invited. ,
THB WAR DEPARTMENT.
Little
Active WorU for the
Dnrlnat th Year.
Army
Th. report of the secretary of war ex
hibits satisfactory condition In th several
branche of the public service Intrusted 10
hi charge. The limit of our military
force, fixed by law, I constantly and
readily maintained. The present discipline
and moral of our army ar excellent, and
marked progres and efficiency ar appar
ent throughout II entire organization.
With the exception of delicate duties In
th suppression of slight Indian disturb
ances along our southweatern boundary
In which the Mexican troop co-oocratcd
and tha compulsory but peaceful return,
with th consent of Great Britain, of
band of Cres Indiana from Montana to
th Ilrltleh possessions, no active opera
tion have been required of tha army dur
ing tha year past.
Change In the method of administration.
the abandonment of unnecessary posts, and
tn consequent concentration or troops,
and th exercise of care and vigilance by
th various officers charged with th re
sponsibility In the expenditure of the an
proprlatjon, hav resulted In reducing to
a minimum th cost of maintenance of
our military establishment.
During th paat year the work of con-
itructing permanent Infantry and cavalry
poets has been continued at place here
tofore designated. The secretary of war
repeat his recommendation that approprla
tlons for barracks and quarters should
more strictly conform to th need of the
service, aa judged by tha department,
rather than respond to the wishes and 1m
portunltles of localities. It Is Imperative
that much of th money provided for such
construction should now be allotted to the
erection of necessary quarter for the gar
risons assigned to the coast defenses, where
many men will be needed to properly car
for and operate modern guns. It Is es
sential, too, that early provision be made
to supply the necessary fore of artillery
to meet the demanda of thl service.
Coast Kortlftcatlons.
During the paat year, rapid progress has
been made toward the completion of th
cheroe adopted for the protection and
armament or fortification alona our m.
coast, whll equal progres ha been made
in providing the material for aubmarlne
defense In connection with these works.
It Is peculiarly gratifying, at this time,
to note the great advance that has been
made In thla Important undertaking since
the data of my annual message to the 63d
cungress at tne opening of its second an
nual session In December, 1893. At that
time, I Informed the congress of the ap
proajihlng completion of nine 12-Inch, 20 10-
incn, and 34 3-Inch high-power steel guns,
ana 75 12-Inch rifled mortars. This toial
then seemed Insignificant compared with
me great worg remaining to be done, yet It
was none th less a source of sattefactlon
to every citizen when he reflected that It
represented the first Installment of the new
ordnance of American design and American
manufacture, and demonstrated our ability
to supply from our own resource guns of
unexcelled power and accuracy. At that
date, however, there were practically no
carriage upon which to mount these guns,
and only 81 emplacementa for guna and
ir mortars. Nor were all these em
placement In condition to receive their
armament. Only one high-power gun was
at that time In DOSition for tha defense at
the entire coast. Since that time, the num
ber of guns actually completed has been
Increased to 21 12-Inch, at in-inch nn at
8-lr.ch rifled mortar.
in addition ther are In nrocess of con
struction one 16-inch-type gun, 60 12-lnch.
66 10-lnch. 27 8-Inch hllrh-nnwer sruns. and
66 12-lnch rifled mortars, In all 428 gun and
POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The Deficit Leaa Than
Former
Year. ;.'
Our poatofnee department I tn eicd
condition, and the exhibit made of It
operations during the fiscal year ended
June 30. 1896, If allowance is made for
Imperfections in the laws applicable to It,
Is very satisfactory. The total receipts
during the year were $82,499,208 40. The
total expenditures were $90,626,286 84. ex
clusive of $1,559,898 27, which was earned
by the Pacific railroads for transportation
and credited on their debt to the govern
ment There was an Increase of .receipts
over the previous year of $5,516,080 21. or
7.1 per cent, an increase of expenditures of
$5.836,124 02, or 4.42 per cent. The deficit
was $1.679, 956 19 leas than that of the pre
ceding year. .
The chief expenditures of the postal ser
vice are regulated by law and are not In
the control of the postmaster-general. All
that he can accomplish by the most watch
ful administration, and economy la to en
force prompt and thorough collection and
accountings for public moneys and such
minor savings In small expenditures and tn
letting those contract for poBtofnce sup
plies and star service which are not regu
lated by statute.
An effective co-operation between the
auditor's office and the postofflce depart
ment, and the making and enforcement
of orders by the department requiring im
mediate notification to their sureties of
any delinquencies on the part of poBt-
masters and compelling such postmasters
to make more frequent deposits of postal
funds, have resulted in a prompter audit
ing of their accounts and much less de
fault to the government than heretofore.
The year's report show large exten
sions of both star route service and rail
way mall service, with Increased postal
facilities. Much higher accuracy In hand
ling malls haa also been reached, as
appears by the decrease of errors In the
railway mail service and the reduction of
mall matter returned to the dead-letter
office.
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
Spent na Much Money a It I'sed to
Take ta Run the Government
The report of the secretary of the Interior
presents a comprehensive and Interesting
exhibit ' of the numerous and Important
affairs committed to his supervision. It Is
impossible In this communication to do
more than briefly refer to a few of the
subjects concerning which the secretary
glvea full and Instructive information.
The money appropriated on account of
thla department for its disbursement for
th fiscal year ending Jcne 30, 1896, amount
ed to mora thin $157,000,000, or. a greater
sum than was appropriated for the entire
maintenance of the government for the
two fiscal years ended June 30, 1861.
Pnbllo Lands.
Our publlo landa, originally amounting to
840,000,000 acres, have been ao reduced
that only 600,000,000 still remain in govern
ment control, excluding Alaska. . The bal
nea, being by far the most valuable por
tion, has been given away to aet tiers, to
new statea and to railroads, or sold at a
comparatively nominal sum.
The patenting of land, In execution of
railroad grants haa progressed rapidly
during the year, and sine the 4th day of
Marcn, 1893, about 26,000,000. acres have
thu been conveyed to theae corporation.
agree with the secretary that the re
mainder of our publlo lands should be more
carefully dealt with, and their alienation
guarded against by better economy and
greater prudence.
Indian Affairs.
The total Indian population of the United
Statea Is 177,235, according to a census made
In 1895, exclusive of those within the state
of New York and those comprising the five
civilised tribes. Of this number, there
are approximately -88,000 children of school
age. During the year, 23,393 of these wera
enrolled In schools. The progress which
has attended recent efforts to extend In
dian school facilities and the anticipation
of continued liberal appropriation to that
end cannot fall to afford the utmost satis
faction to those who believe that th edu
cation of Indian children 1 a prim factor
In the. accomplishment of Indian civiliza
tion.
It may be said In general terma that In
very particular the Improvement of the
Indians under government ha been mot
marked and encouraging. Th secretary.
the commissioner of Indian affairs, and the
agent naving cnerg or Indian to whom
allotments hav been made, atrongly urge
th passage of a law prohibiting , the sale
or liquor to allottees who have taken
their lands in severalty. I earnestly Join
in mis recommendation, and venture to ex
press th hop that th Indian may be
speedily protected (gainst thl on greatest
or an evil to hi well-being and advance'
ment
The condition of affairs among th Ave
civilized tribe, who occuov larae tract
of land In the Indian territory and who
nave government or their own, ha ax-
umed such an aspect aa to render tt at
most Indispensable that ther ahould be
an entire change In th relation of these
Indian to th general government Thl
seems to be necessary In furtherance of
their own Interests, aa well a for the
protection of non-Indian residents In their
territory. A commission organized and
empowered under several recent laws Is
now negotiating with these Indians for
the relinquishment of their courts and th
division or their common lands In sever
alty, and are aiding In the aettlement of
tne troublesome question of tribal mem
bership. Th reception of their first prof-
fer of negotiation was not encouraging,
but through patience and auch conduct on
their part as demonstrated that their In
tentlons were friendly and in the tntereat
of the tribe, the prospect of success haa
become more promising. The effort
ahould be to save these Indians from the
consequences of their own mistakes and
Improvidence and to (ecure to the real
Indian hla right a against Intruder
and professed friends who profit by hi
retrogression. A change I also needed to
protect lifo and property through the op
eration of courts conducted according to
strict justice and strong enough to en
force their mandate.
A a sincere friend of the Indian I am
exceedingly anxious that these reforms
should be accomplished with the consent
and aid of the tribes, and that no neces
sity may be presented for radical or
drastic legislation. I hope, therefore,
that the commission now conducting ne
gotiations will aoon be able to report that
progress has been made toward a friendly
adjustment of existing difficulties.
Pacific Railroad.
The secretary calls attention to the pub
lic interest involved In an adjustment
of th obligation of the Pacific railroad
to the government I deem it to be an Im
portant duty to especially present thl sub
ject to th consideration of th congress.
On January 1, 1897, with the amount al
ready matured, more than $13,000,000 of the
principal of th aubsldy bonds Issued by
the United States In aid of the construc
tion of the Union Pacific railway, Includ
ing Its Kansas line, and more than $6,000,-
ooo or like bonds issued In aid of the Cen
tral Pacific railway, Including those Issued
to the Western Pacific Hallway Com Dan y.
will have fallen due and been paid or must
on mat day be paid by the government
without any rrference to the application of
the sinking fund now In the treasury, this
will create ueb a default on the part of
these companies to the government a will
give it the right to at once Institute pro
ceedings to foreclose its mortgage Hen. In
addition to this Indebtedness that will
be due January 1. 1897, there will mature
between that date and January 1, 1899, the
remaining principal of such subsidy bonds.
wntcn must also be met by the govern
ment. These amount to more than $20,
000,000 on account of the Union Pacific
lines, and exceed $21,000,000 on. account ot
the central Pacific line.
The situation of these road and the
condition of their indebtedness to the gov
ernment have been fully aet forth tn the
reports of various committees to the pres
ent and prior congresses, and as early as
1887 they were thoroughly examined by a
special commission .appointed pursuant to
an act of congress. The consideration re
quiring an adjustment of the government's
relations to the companies have been clear
ly presented, and the conclusion reached
with practical uniformity that If these
relations are not terminated they should
te revised upon a basis securing; their safe
continuance.
Under a section of the act of conarresa
passed March 3, 1887, the president Is
charged with the duty, In the event that
any mortgage or other Incumbrance rjara-
mount to the Interest of the United Slates
in the property of the Pacific railroads
shall exist and be lawfully liable to be
enforced, to direct action of the deoart-
ment of the treasury and of Justice in
the protection of the Interest of the United
states by thorough Judicial proceedings.
including foreclosure of the government
liens. In view of the fact that the con
gress has for a number of years almost
constantly bad under consideration plans
lor oeaung wun tne conditions existing be
tween these roads and the government I
have thus far felt justified In withholding
action unaer tne statute above mentioned,
The Inlon Paclfle Cnae.
Tn ihm end nt t Via- TTnlnn DnnlAn hna..
ever, the itlilttnti hna Wnm. Mnul.lla
' -I, .U ..J
and Immediately yrvont PricrilnM k.vi
uccu iiwuiuim tu lurecioaw a I! I si mort
gage upon tnose aided parts of tha main
line upen wnicn ine government noids a
aeconn ann innm nat mnrtnM I Tn
consequence of these proceedings and In
creasing complications, added to the default
uccurring on ine xsi oay oi January, usri,
a condition will be presented on that date,
so far as thla company la concerned, that
must emnhj49lse the minrinti nf Ik. ant
of 1SS7, and give to executive duty under
Ita provisions a more Imperative aspect
Therefore, tinlena fnniTfmMa ahall .Ikb-U.
direct, or shall have previously determined
upon a uiuereni solution ot tne problem,
there Will hardlv nnnanr ti avlaf anu
son for delnvlno- lavnM Hi. a- w-
defauit above mentioned, auch executive
action as win promise to subserve the pub
llo Interests and save the government from
the loss threatened by further Inaction.
THB TARIFF.
The President' Defense of the Wllaon
11111.
I desire to refer to the statement else
where made concerning th government re
ceipts and expendlturea for the purpose of
venturing upon some suggestions touching
our present tariff law and Its operation.
This statute took effect on the 28th day
of August, 1894. Whatever may be Hs
shortcomings aa a complete measure of
tariff reform, it must be conceded that It
haa opened the way to a freer and greater
exchange of commodities between the
United States and other countries, and
thus furnished a wider market for our prod
uct and manufaoturlng. Th only entire
fiscal year during which this law haa been
In force ended on th 80th day of June, 1896.
In that year our Imports increased over
those of the prevloua year mor than
$0,600,000, while the value of the domestlo
product we exported and which found mar
kets abroad waa nearly $70,000,000 more than
during the preceding year.
xnose who insist that the cost to Our
people of article coming to them from
abroad for their needful use, should only
oe increased tnrougn tariff charges to
an extent necessary to meet the expenses
of the government, as well as those who
claim that tariff charges may be
laid upon such articles beyond
beyond the necessities of the government
revenue and with the additional purpose
of so Increasing their price In our markets
to give American manufacturers and
producers better and more profitable oppor
tunities, must agree that our tariff lawa
are only primarily justified as sources of
revenue to enable the government to meet
the necessary expenses of It maintenance.
Considered a to It aunlclency In this
aspect, th. present law can by no means
fall under Just condemnation. During th
only complete fiscal year of It Operation,
It has yielded nearly $8,000,000 mora revenue
than wa received from tariff duties In the
preceding year. There wa, nevertheless, a
deficit between our receipts and expendi
tures of a little more than $25,000,000.
Th situation waa such In December,
even month before th close of the fiscal
year, that the secretary of the treasury
foretold a deficiency of $17,000,000. Tha
great and Increasing apprehension and
timidity in business circles and the de
pression In all activities Intervening sine
that tlma, resulting from causes perfectly
well understood and entirely disconnected
with our tariff law or Its operation, seri
ously checked the Import we would have
otherwise received and readily account for
th difference between the estimate of the
secretary and the actual deficiency as well
as for a continued deficit Indeed, It must
be confessed that we could hardly have had
a more unfavorable period than the last
two year for the collection of a tariff
revenue.
We cannot reasonably hope that our re
cuperation from this business depression
will be sudden, but It has already set In
with a promise of acceleration and con
I'se of the Snrnlne.
I believe our present tariff law. If allow
ed a fair opportunity, will In the near
future yield a revenue which, with reason
ably economical expenditures, will over
come all deficiencies. In the meantime, no
deficit that has occurred, or may occur,
need excite or disturb us. To meet any
such deficiency, we have In the treBAury, in
addition to a gold reserve of $100,000,000, a
surplus of more than $128,000,000 applicable
to the payment of the expense of the
government nd which must unless ex
pended for that purpose, remain In use
less hoard, or. If not extravagantly wasted,
must In any event, be perverted from
the purpose of Ita exaction from our people.
The payment, therefore, of any deficiency
In the revenue from this fund Is nothing
more than Its proper and legitimate use.
The government, thus applying a surplus
fortunately In Its treasury to the payment
of expenses not met by Us current reve
nues. Is not at all to be likened to a man
living beyond hi Income, and thus Incur
ring debt or encroaching on his principal.
It la not one of the function ot our gov
ernment to accumulate and make addi
tions to a fund not needed for Immediate
expenditure. With individuals, It is the
chief object of struggle and effort The
application of an accumulated fund by the
government to the payment of Its running
expenses is a i''ty. An Individual living
beyond his Income and embarrassing him
self with debt or drawing upon his ac
cumulated fund of principal is either un
fortunate or Improvident. The distinction
Is as between a government charged with
the duty of expending for the benefit of the
people and for proper purpose all the
money It receive from any source and
the Individual who Is expected to mani
fest a natural desire to avoid debt or
to accumulate aa much as possible and
to live within the Income derived from
such accumulations, to the end that they
may be Increased, or at least remain un
impaired, for the future use and enjoyment
of himself and object' of hla love and
affection who may survive him.
It l immeasurably better to appropriate
our surplus to the payment of justifiable
expense than to allow It to become an
Invitation to reckless approprla tiona and ex
travagant expenditures.
1 suppose It will not be denied that under
the present labour people obtain the neces
saries of a comfortable existence at a
cheaper rate than formerly. This is a
matter of supreme Importance, since it I
the palpable duty of every Just govern
ment to make the burdens of taxation as
light as posaib'.e. The people should not
be required to relinquish this privilege
of cheap living, except under the stress
of their government's necessity made plain
ly manifest
FINANCIAL MATTERS.
The Weakness and Vibe of Oar Pre--
ent Method.
This reference to the condition and pros
pects of our revenues naturally suggests
an allusion to the weakness and vices of
our financial methods. They have been
frequently pressed upon the attention of
congress in previous executive communica
tions, and the Inevitable danger of their
continued toleratlna pointed out Without
now repeating these details, I eannot re
frain from again earnestly presenting th
necessity of the prompt reform of a sys
tem opposed to every rule of sound finance.
and shown by experience to be fraught with
tne giavest peril and perplexity.
The terrible war which shook the founda
tion of our government more than SO year
ago brought In It train the destruction of
property, the wasting of our country's
substance and the eatrangement of breth
ren. These are now past and forgotten.
Even the distressing loss of life the con
flict entailed is but a sacred memory which
foster patriot!; sentiment and keeps alive
a tender regard for those who nobly died.
And yet there remains with us today
In full strength, aa an Incident of that
remendous struggle, a feature of its finan
cial necessities not only unsulted to our
present circumstances, but manifestly a
disturbing menace to businesa security and
an ever-present agent of monetary distress.
Because we may be enjoying a temporary
relief from Its depressing Influence ehould !
not lull i.a Intn a fala. .unrll. nn 1 . ,4 1
US tO foraet the llArlannena of naat vljtita.
tlona.
DEPARTMENT OP AGRICVLTVRE.
Export of Farm Products.
The secretary reports that the value ot
our export of farm product during th
last fiscal year amounted to ti70.00ti.000,
an Increase of 117,000,000 over those of the
year Immediately preceding. This state
ment is none the less welcome because
of the fact that notwithstanding such In
crease the proportion of exported agricul
tural products to our total exports ot all
descrlptiona tell off during the year. The
benefits of an Increase In agrioultural
exports being ssured, the decrease in th
proportion to our total export Is the more
gratifying, when we consider that It Is
owing; to the fact that such total exports
for the year Increased more than J75.000,
000. The large and Increasing exportation of
our agricultural products suggests th
great usefulness of the organization
tely established In the department for
the purpose of giving to those engaged in
farming pursuits reliable information con
cerning the condition and needs and ad
vantage of different foreign market.
Inasmuch aa the success of the farmer
hi products and Inasmuch as foreign
markets must largely be the destination i
of such products, It la quite apparent
that a knowledge of the conditions and !
wants that
hat affect those markets ought to ,
result in sowing more Intelligently and
reaping with a better promise of profit
Concluding; Remarks.
In concluding this communication. Its
last words shall be an appeal to the con
gress for the most rigid economy In the
expenditure of the money It holds In trust
for th people. The way to perplexing
extravagances la easy, but a return to
frugality Is difficult. When, however, It
considered that those who can bear
the burdens of taxation have no guaranty
of honest care, sava In the fidelity of their
publlo servants, th duty of all possible
retrenchment hi plainly manifest. When
our differences are forgotten and our con
teats of political opinion are no longer re
membered, nothing In the retrospect of
our publlo service will be as fortunate
and comforting is the recollection of of
ficial duty well performed, and the mem
ory of a constant devotion to the Interest
of our confiding fellow countrymen.
UKOVHK L'LKVKUlND,
Executive Mansion, Deo. 7, 1896.
EVENTS OF HIE DAY
Epitome ot the Telegraphic
News of the World. r
TERSE TICKS FROM THE mS.ES
An Interesting Colleotlon of Itemi Front
the Two Hemispheres Presented
In n Condensed Form
Tbe fighting cruiser Brooklyn, the
newest addition to tbe United State
nary, haa been tested od accepted by
tbe government.
John Abel, a workman at tbe Kelson
Morris dressed beet works, St Louis,
Mo., was horribly burned while at
work. The flesh on the right leg waa
parboiled. Abel tripped on tbe greasy
floor in the rendering-room, and fell
into a vat of boiling grease. : -
Jane Shelly, tbe 14-year-old dangb
t' of Joseph Shelly, a farmer living
nine miles south of Olympia, Wash;,
waa reaobing for aome object on tbe
mantlepieoe, when her clothes canght
fire from the fire in tbe fire-plaoe. She
waa terribly burned and died after a
few daya of suffering. .-
Delbert Crawford, a yonng man 19
years old, wa found twelve miles
from Pendleton, dead beneath an over
turned loaded wagon. He was hauling
grain to tbe city, and tbe wagon ran
off the grade into a canyon. Hi four
horse team stood all night hitched to
the wagon, and were fonnd tbe next
morning oorered with anow. ,
T. J. Henry, living on the Apple
gate, near Jacksonville, Or., on Novem
ber 23 last went over to one of tbe min
ing oampa to look for a job cooking for
tbe miners. He started home over the
Watkins trail. A storm started np
and he wandered abusiis the moun
tain ajid lioze to death. Tbe whole
oommanity tnmed oat to search for
him, and aoceeded in finding hia body.
He bad crawled into a brush pile and
waa frozen to death. He leavea a
widow and six children practically des
titute. ,'
Jennie Ward, a well-dressed yonng
woman, created a sensation by walk
ing along Wabash avenne, Chicago,
smoking. People turned and stared at
the woman, bnt she paid no attention
to them, and continued to send bin
clonds of smoke heavenward. She
waa plaoed nnder arrest by Detectives
Woolridge and Schubert and looked up
at tbe Harrison-street station, charged
with disorderly conduct, and when her
Base was called for trial in Justice
Richardson's oonrt she failed to apear.
"This ia something terrible," said the
oonrt, "and as a warning I will fine
this woman $1 for smoking. . It is ter
rible." A freight train of thirty oars'loaded
with lumber and shingles from the
West got beyond control on heavy
ffrarla anal; rtf Mnllan ennnat nn that
Northern Paciflo road, and ran away.
Twenty-six oars were scattered along a
distance of eight miles, when the en
gine left the track. Ed Jarbean, head
brakeman, was killed. Fireman Yonng
had his collar bone broken, and En
gineer John Flnnn's leg was broken,
besides internal injuries. Conductor
lk MT I il . . , 1 .
tfuuu mgDwui iijign was uruaen, swu
bia back wrenched. It ia the worst
wreck tbe Northern Faoiflo has ever
had from the point of damage to track
and rolling stock.
Thirteen prisoners escaped from a
jail in Wyandotte, Kan. Three have
been captured and -the officers are in
pnrsnit of the others.
Rev. B. M. Hill, formerly a mission
ary to China, waa stricken with paraly
sis while delivering a sermon at bia
ohnrch in Bentonville, Ark. He cannot
recover.
George W. Hill, well-known
printer and stationer, of Portland, Or.,
shot and killed himself. He waa of ' a
despondent nature, and about five years
ago attempted suicide by taking mor-
. .
Farmers in the vioinity of Taooma
have lost many thousands of bushels
of pota totes because of the cold. One
farmer had 6,000 bushels stored in hia
barn, and nearly the wohle lot waa de
stroyed, , .-, ;- ' '
The prisoners in Bedford, Ind., made
a desperate effort to escape by setting
Bre to the jail. But for the timely
discovery of the fire by tbe sheriff, some
of them would have escaped, and others
would have been cremated.
Fifteen-year-old Emma' Taylor, an
orphan, has been held as an important
witness against fonr men who, on
Thanksgiving night, attempted to rob
a oar full of passengers in Kansas City.
The yonng girl says that she made
the masks for the robbers and knew
heir plans. It ia. believed by the po
lice that the girl was seized by the gang
and made to do their bidding.
Advioes received at Tampa, Fla.,
from Havana are that Weyler will soon
,uo "unv piuuiuitiug
the exportation Of remedies tobaooo
from the islands of Cuba. This waa
t iifl in via ntha. , ,j .
" , , v
great ueai aas meu exporceo. xiavaua
manufacturers have petitioned Weyler
to olose the Cuban porta to this to
baooo, at Northern and Eastern manu
facturers were buying all of it for ex
portation to this country.
One of the boldest robberies ever
perpetrated occurred in Alameda, Cal.
Two unknown men - called Cbarlie
Berry from his house and relieved him
of $45 in gold. Berry went home late
and was followed by tbe robbers, but
did not know it at the time. He was -oalled
to the door by repeated knock
inga, and upon opening it he waa
gTabbed by the men. His mouth waa
olosed by one and the entire pocket out
by the other form bia pants, in which,
be carried the money. The men then
made their escape in tbe darkness. , .