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About Bohemia nugget. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1899-1907 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1903)
PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS Chief Executive Sends Message to People's Lawmakers HANDLES MATTERS BEFORE PUBLIC Favors Lewis nnd Clark Class of Immigrants Should be Kept Out Ap point Commission to Inquire Into Needs of Ship pingExtend Rural Free Delivery Better Legis lation for Alaska Panama Canal Question. WASHINGTON. Dec 7. President nooscvslt's message to Congress was road before the Senate and Homo today. The text ol the tutelage follows: To the Senate and House ot Represent lives- The eountrv Is to be congratulated on the amount ot substantial achievement which has marked the past year, both as regards our foreign and as regards our domestic policy. With a. nation as with a man the most Important things are those of the house hold, and therefore the country is espe cially to be congratulated on what has been accomDllehed In the direction ot pro viding for the exercise of eupervlslon over the great corporations ana eomoinauons nf rnrnarfliiona snasced In Interstate com merce. The Congress has created the De partment of Commerce and Labor, Includ ing the llureau ot Corporations, with for the nrst time autnoriiy 10 secure irui:r publicity of such proceedings of these great corporations as the public has the right to know. It has provided for the expediting of suits for the enforcement of the Federal anti-trust law: and by an other law It has secured equal treatment to all producers In the transportation of their goods, thus taking a long stride forward In making effective the work of the Interstate Commerce commission. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES Indications Are That the Surplus of the Present Year Will Be Small. Prom all sources, exclusive of the pos tat service, the receipts of the Government for the last fiscal year aggregate! e.wo, 874. The expenditures for the same period xrpre IMG.088.0OT. the surplus for the fiscal year being tt4.297.6C7. The Indications are that tne surplus ior me preeeni nra jwr will be very small, II indeea mere De any surplus. A large surplus la cer tainly undesirable. Two years ago the war taxes were taken oft with the express Intention ot equalising the Governmental receipts and expenditures, and though the first year thereafter still showed a surplus It now seems likely that a substantial equality ot revenue and expenditure will be attained. Such being the case It Is of great moment both to exercise care and economy In appropriations, and to scan sharply any change In our fiscal revenue , system which may reduce our Income. Needs of Financial Situation. The Integrity of our currency la beyond question, and under present conditions It would be unwise and unnecessary to at tempt a reconstruction of our entire mone tary system. The same liberty should be granted the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit the customs receipts as Is granted him In the deposit of receipts from other sources. In my message of December 2, 1S02. I called attention to certain needs of the financial situation, and I again ask the consideration of the Congress for these questions. MERCHANT MARINE. Commission Is Recommended to In quire Into Needs of Shipping. A majority of our people desire that steps be taken In the Interests of Amer ican shipping, so that we may once more resume our former position in the ocean carrying trade. But hitherto the differ ences of opinion as to the proper method of reaching this end have been so wide that It hsa proved Impossible to secure the adoption of any particular, scheme. Having In view these facts, I recommend that the Con press direct the Secretary of the Navy, the Postmaster-General and the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, associated with such a representation from the Senate and House of Repreeen tatlves as the Congress In Its wisdom may designate, to serve as a commission (or the purpose of investigating and re porting to the Congress at lis next ses sion what legislation Is desirable or nec essary for the development of the Amer ican merchant marine and American com merce, and Incidentally of a National ocean mall service ot adequate auxiliary naval cruisers and naval reserves. IMMIGRATION. Undesirable Class Must Be Kept Out, That Wanted Better Distributed. We can not have too much Immigration t the right kind, and we should have none at all of tho wrong kind. The need Is to devise some system by which unde sirable Immigrants shall be kept out en tirely, while desirable Immigrants are properly distributed throughout the coun try. At present some districts which need Immigrants have none; and In others, where the population Is already congest ed, immigrants come In such numbers as to depress the conditions ot life for those already there. During the last two years the Immigration service at Naw York has been greatly Improved, and the corruption and Inefficiency which formerly obtained there have been eradicated. This service has Just been Investigated by a commit tee. of New York cltliens of high stand ing, MeBsrs, Arthur V. Brlesen, Lee K. Frankel, Eugene A. Phllbln, Thomas V. Ilynes and Ralph Trautman. Their report .deals with the whole situation at length, and concludes with certain recommenda tions for administrative and legislative action. It la now receiving the attention of .the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. FRAUDS IN PUBLIC 8ERVICE. Appropriations Urged to Investigate Land and Postal Affairs. In my last annual message. In connec tion with the subject of the due regula tion of combinations of capital which are or may become Injurious to the public, I recommend n special appropriation for the better enforcement of the antitrust law as.lt now stands, to be expended under theidiroction of the Attorney-aeneral. Ac cordingly (by the legislative, executive and Judicial appropriation act of February 25, 1903 S3 Stat., 864. 800. the Congress ap propriated, for the purpose of enforcing the 'various Federal trust and Interstate commerce laws, the sum of 1500,000 to be expended under the direction of the Attorney-General In the employment of spe cial counsel and agCnts In the Department Of Justice to conuuel iJiutveuum nu prosecutions under said laws In the courts of the. United States. I now recommend, i asa matter of the utmost Importance and urgency, the extension of tha purposes of. this appropriation, so that It may be 'available, under the direction of the At-1 torney-Oeneral, nnd until used, for the due' enforcement of the laws of the United States In general and especially of the civil and criminal laws relating to publlo Jands and the laws relating to Postal crimes and offense and he subject of naftiralliatlon, Recent Investigations shown ft flPlrab!8 state of affairs in thew Wires matters of vital concern J Ily various frauds and by forgeries and perjuries, thousands of acres of the pub jjo domain, embracing lands ot different Exposition Undesirable character apd extending through vart ous sections of the country, have been dishonestly acquired. It' Is hardly neces sary to urge the importance ot recover ing theee dishonest acquisitions, stolen from the people, and of promptly and uuiy punishing the offenders. I speak In an other part ot this message ot the wide spread crimes by which the sacreVJ right ot cltlsenshlp Is falsely asserted and that "Inestimable heritage" perverted to base ends. Ily similar means that IN through rrauds. forgeries, and perjuries, and oy shameless briberies the laws relating to tho proper conduct of the publlo service In general and to the due administration ot tho rostotrtce Department have been notoriously violated, and many Indict ments have been found, and the conse quent prosecutions are In course of hear ing or on the eve thereof. For the reasons thus Indicated, and so that the Govern' ment may be prepared to enforce prompt' ly and with the greatest effect the due penalties for such violations of law, nnd to this end may be furnished with sunt- clent instrumentalities and competent legal assistance for the Investigations and trials which Kill be necessary at many different points of tho country, I urge upon the Congress the necessity ot mak ing the said appropriation available for Immediate use tor all such purposes, to be expended under the direction of the Attorney-General. ALASKAN BOUNDARY. Decision of the Commission Removes Question Which Caused Alarm. For several years past the rapid de velopment ot Alaska and the establish ment of growing American Interests In regions therefore unsurveyed and Imper fectly known brought Into prominence the urgent necessity of a practical demarca tion of the boundaries between the Juris dictions ot the United States and Great Britain. Although the treaty of ISffi be tween Great Britain and Russia, the pro visions ot w hlch were copied In the treaty ot IK?, w hereby Russia conveyed Alaska to the Lnlted states, was positive as to the control, first by Russia and later by the United States, of a Btrlp ot territory along the continental mainland from the western shore of Portland Canal to Mount St. Ellas, following and surround ing the Indentations of the coast and In cluding the Islands to the westward. Us description ot the landward margin of the strip was lndennite, resting on the sup posed existence of a continuous ridge or range of mountains skirting the coast, as figured in the charts of the early navi gators. It had at no time been possible for either party In Interest to lay down, under the authority ot the treaty, a line so obviously exact according to Its pro visions as to command tne assent ot the otner. For nearly three-fourths of a cen tury the absence or tangible local Inter ests demanding the exercise of positive Jurisdiction on either side of the border left the question dormant. In 1878 ques tions of revenue administration on the Stlklne River led to the establishment ot a provisional demarcation, crossing the channel between two high peaks on either side, about 24 miles above the river mouth. In 189 similar questions growing out of the extraordinary development of mining Interests In the region about the head of Lynn Canal brought about a tem porary modus Vivendi, by which a con venient separation sias made at the watershed divides ot the White and Chll icoot passes, and to the north ot luk wan, on the Klehlnl River. These partial and tentative adjustments could not. In the very nature of things, be satisfactory or lasting. A permanent disposition of tne matter became Imperative. 'Work of the Commission. After unavailing attempts to reach an understanding through a Joint High Com mission, followed by prolonged negotia tions, conducted In an amicable spirit, a convention between the United States and Great Britain was signed January 24, 1S03, providing for an examination of the sub. Ject by a mixed tribunal of six members, three on a side, with a view to Its final disposition. Ratifications were exchanged on March 3 last, whereupon the two gov ernments appointed their respective mem bers. This tribunal met in London on September 3, under the presidency of Lord Alverstone. The proceedings were expeditious, and marked by a friendly and conslcen-lous spirit. The respective cases, counter cases, and arguments pre sented the Issues clearly and fully. On the 20th of October a majority of the tribunal reached and signed an agreement on all the questions submitted by the terms of the convention. t nlle the line so traced follows the pro visional demarcation of 1878 at the cross ing of the Stlklne River, and that of 1SB9 at the summits of the White and Chllcoot passes. It runs much farther Inland from the Klehlnl than the temporary line of the later modus Vivendi, and leaves the entire mining district of the Porcupine Itlver and Glacier Creek within the jurisdiction of the United States. 'ie award Is self-executing on the vital points. To make It effective as regards the others. It only remains for the two governments to appoint, each on Us own behalf, one or more sclentlflo experts, who shall, with all convenient speed, pro ceed together to lay down the boundary line In accordance with the decision of the majority of the tribunal. I recommend that the Congress make adequate pro vision for the appointment, compensation and expenses ot tho members to serve on this Joint boundary commission on the part of the United States. CLAIM 8 AGAINST VENEZUELA. Reference to The Hague Court a Great Triumph for Arbitration. It will bo remembered that during the second session of the last Congress Great Britain, Germany and Italy formed an al liance for the purpose of blockading tho ports of Venezuela and uolng such other means of pressure as would secure a set tlement of claims due, as they alleged, to certain of their subjects. Their employ ment of force for the collection of theee claims was terminated by an agreement brought about through the offices of the diplomatic representatives ot the United States at Caracas and the Government at Washington, thereby ending a situation which was bound to cause increasing fric tion, and which Jeoparded the peace ot the continent. Under this agreement Ven ezuela agreed to set apart a certain per centage of the customs receipts ot two of her ports to be applied to the payment of whatever obligations might be ascer tained by mixed commissions appointed for that purpose to be duo from her, not only to the three powers already men tioned, whose proceedings against her had resulted In a state of war, but also to the United States, -France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, and Mexico, who had not employed force for the collection of the claims alleged to be due to certain of their citizens. A demand was then made by the so- called blockading powers that the sums ascertained to be due to tnelr citizens by such mixed commissions should be ac corded payment In full before miythlnR wns paid upon the claims ot any ot the so-called pence powers, Venezuela, on the other hand, Insisted that all her creditors should be paid upon a basis ot exact equality. During the efforts to adjust this dispute It was suggested by tho powers In Interest that It should be re ferred to me for decision, but I was clear ly of the opinion that a far wiser course would be to submit the question to the permanent court ot arbitration at The Hague. It seemed to mo to oner on ml' mlrabte opportunity to advance the prac tice ot the peaceful settlement ot ills. putea between nations and to secure for The Hague tribunal a memorable Increase of Ita practiced Importance. The nations interested in the controversy were, so mi nitrons and, In man)- Instances, so power ful as to make It evident that beneficent results would follow from their appear ance at the same time before the bar ot that august tribunal ot peace. Our hopes In that regard have been re' allied. Russia and Austria nre represent' ed In the persona ot the learned and dis tinguished jurists nno compose tne tri bunal. while Great Britain. Germany France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, tho Neth erlands, Sweden and Norway, Mexico, the United States and Venezuela are rep resented by their respective agents nnd counsel. Such an Imposing concourso ot nations presenting their arguments to nnd Invoking the decision ot that high court ot International Justice and International peace can hardly fall to secure a like rub mission of many future controversies. The nations now appearing there will find It far easier to appear there a second time, while no nation can Imagine Its Just pride will be lessened by following the ex ample now presented. This triumph of the principle ot International arbitration Is n subject ot warm congratulation, and offers a happy augury for the peace of the world. INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION Sentiment Against War Is Growing Among All Nations. There seems good ground for the belief that there has been a real growth among the civilized nations of a sentiment which will permit a gradual substitution ot other methods than tno method of war In the settlement ot disputes It Is not pretend csNlhat as yet we are near a position In which It will be possible wholly to pre vent war. or that a Just regard for na tional Interest and honor will In nil cases permit of the settlement of international disputes by arbitration; but by a mixture of prudence and firmness with wisdom we think It Is possible to do nwny with much ot the provocation and excuso for war. and at least in many cases to sub stitute some other and more rational method for the settlement of disputes. The Hague court offers so good an exam ple ot what can be done In the direction ot sucn settlement that It should be en couraged In every way. RELATIONS WITH CHINA. Signing of Commercial Treaty Cause for Satisfaction. The signing of a new commercial treaty with China, which took place at Shanghai on the Sth of October. Is a cause for sat isfaction. This act, the result ot long discussion and negotiation, places our commercial relations with the great Ori ental Empire on a more satisfactory rooting than they have ever heretofore enjoyed. It provides not only for the ordinary rights and privileges of diplo matic and Consular officers, but also for an Important extension of our commerce by Increased facility of access to Chinese ports, and for the relief of trade by the removal ot some of the obstacles which have embarrassed It In the past. The Chinese government engaces. on fair and equitable conditions, which will probably be accepted by the principal commercial nations, to abandon the levy of "Uken" and other transit dues throughout the empire, and to Introduce other desirable administrative reforms. Larger facilities are to be given to our citizens who desire to carry on mining enterprises In China. We have so cured for our missionaries a valuable privilege, the recognition ot their right to rent and lease In perpetuity such prop erty as their religious societies may need In all parts ot the empire. And, .what was an Indispensable condition for the ad vance and development of our commerce In Manchuria, China, by treaty with us, has opened to foreign commerce the cities of Mukden, the capital of the province of Manchuria, and Antung, an Important port on the Yalu River, on the road to Cores, The full measure of development which our commerce may rightfully ex pect can hardly be looked for until the settlement of the present abnormal state of things In the empire; but the founda tion tor such development' has at last been laid. RURAL FREE-DELIVERY SERVICE System Must Be Extended, and Sal aries of Carriers Adjusted. The rural free delivery service has been steadily extended. The attention ot the Congress Is asked to the question of the compensation of the letter carriers and clerks engaged In the postal service, especially on the new rural free-dullvery routes. More routes have been Installed since the first of July last than In any like period In the department's history. While a. due regard to economy must be kept In mind In the establishment of new routes, yet the extension of the rural free delivery system must be continued, for reasons ot sound public policy. No Gov ernmental movement of recent years has resulted in greater Immediate benefit to the people of the country districts. Rural free delivery, taken In connection with the telephone, the bicycle and 'the trolley accomplishes much toward lessening the Isolation of farm life and making It brighter and more attractive. In the Im mediate past the lack of Just such facili ties as these has driven many of the more active and restless young men and women from the farms to the cities; for they rebelled at loneliness and lack of mental companionship. LEWIS AND CLARK EXPOSITION Congress Should Give It Support as Well as Recognition. I trust that the Congress will continue to favor In all proper ways the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. This exposition commemorates the Louisiana purchase, which was lhe first great step In the ex pansion which made us a continental Nation. The expedition of Lewis and Clark across the continent followed there on, and marked the beginning ot the process of exploration and colonization which thrust our National boundaries to the Pacific. The acquisition of tho Oregon Country, including the present States of Oregon and Washington, was a fact of Immense Importance In our history; first giving us our place on the Pacific sea board, and making ready the way for our ascendency In the commerce of the great est ot the oceans. The centennial of our establishment upon the Western Coast by the expedition of Lewis and Clark Is to be celebrated at Portland, Or., by an reposition In the Summer of 1905, and this event should receive recognition and sup port from the National Government. DEVELOPMENT OF ALASKA. Legislation Is Needed and the Survey of Public Lands Urged. I call your special attention to tho Ter ritory of Alaska. The country Is develop ing rapidly, and It has an ossdred future. The mineral wealth la great and has as yet hardly been tapped. The fisheries, If wisely handled and kept under National control, will be a business as permanent as any other, and of the utmost Import ance to the people. The forests, If properly guarded, will form another great source of wealth. Portions of Alaska oro fitted for farming and stockralslng, although the methods must be adapted to the peculiar conditions of the country. Alaska Is situated In the Far North; but so are Norway and Sweden and Finland; and Alaska can prosper and play Us part In the New World Just as those nations have prospered and played their parts In the Old World. Proper land laws should be enacted and the survey of the public lands Immediately begun. Coal-land laws shold be provided whereby the coal-land cntryman may make his location nnd se cure patent under methods kindred to those now prescribed for homestead nnd mineral entrymen. Rnlmoti hatcheries, ex clusively under Government control. should bo established. The cable should bo extended from sltkn westward. Wagon roads nnd trnlla should be built, nnd the building ot railroads promoted In nil le gitimate wave. I.lshthousea should be built nlong tho coast. Attention should be paid to the needs ot tho Alaska Indians, provision should be made tor nn officer, with deputies, to study their needs, re lieve their Immediate wants, and help them adapt themselves to the new con dltlons. HAWAII. Greater Power Should Be Vested In the Governor. I recommend that nn appropriation be made for building lighthouses til Hawaii, and taking possession of those nlrendy built. The territory should be reimbursed for whatever amounts ,tt has already ex pended for lighthouses. The Governor should be empowered to suspend or re move any omcl.il appointed by him with out submitting the matter to tho Legis lature. INSULAR POSSESSIONS. Philippines Should Be Knit Closer by Tariff Agreements. Of our Insular possessions the Philip pines and Porto Rico It Is gratifying to say that their steady, progress has been such ns to make It unnecessary to spend much time In discussing them. Yet the Congress should err keep In mind that n peculiar obllaatlon rests upon us to further In every way the welfare of these communities tub l'liiiiippines should b knit closer to us by tariff ar rangements. It would, of course, be Im possible suddenly to raise the people of the Islands to the high pitch ot Industrial prosperity and of governmental efficiency to which they will In the end by degrees nltaln; and the caution nnd moderation shown In developing them have been nmong the main reasons why this devel opment has hitherto gone on so smoothly. scrupulous care nas oeeu taken In the choice of governmental agents, and tho entire elimination of par tisan politics from the public service. The concltlon ot the Islanders Is In material thirze far better than ever before, while their governmental, Intellectual, nnd moral advance has kept pace with their mvtcrlnl advance. No one peoplo ever benefited another people more than wo have benefited the Filipinos by taking possession ot the Islands. PUBLIC LANDS. Necessity for Revision of the Laws Is Pointed Out. The cash receipts of the General Land Office for the last fiscal year were tll.Kl.i41K. an Increase ot Sl.TtK.SlMi over the preceding year. Of this sum, approximately. iS,ll.4M will go to the credit of the fund for the reclamation ot arid land, making the total of tlil fund, up to the loth ot June, lW ap proximately. I16.1SI.MK. A gratifying disposition has wen evinced by those tuning unlawful Inofos ures of public land to remove their temvs. N.-.uly 2,000.000 acres so Inclosed have 1 en thrown open on demand. In but enm- pair.tively few oases has It been nrue si -y to go Into court to acconipl'sn tn s purpose This work will bo vigorously, preset uted until all unlawful Inclosuns have been removed. Kxperlence has shown that In the west em States themselves, as well as In the rest of the country, there Is wldeear, conviction that certain of the publlc-.and laws and the resulting admlnlslrillvo orsctice no longer meet the present rxfd. The craracter and uses of the remainlr.e. nubile lands differ widely from those of the public lands which the Congress had especially In view when these laws were pissed The rapidly Increasing rate ot disposal ot the public lands Is not fol lowed by a corresponding Increase In home-bulldlng. There Is a tendency to mass In large holdings public lands, -peilatly timber and grazing lands, and thercbv tn retard settlement. I renew and emphasize my recommendation of lart venr that so far as they are avalUMe fcr agriculture In Its broadest sense, and to whatever extent they may be reci.u.nu urder the national Irrigation :aw, the re maining public lands should be held rigidly for the home-bullder. The atten tion of the Congress Is especially directed to the timber and stone law, the de.ai.Tt hml Inw and the commutation clause of the homestead law, which In thslr opcr atlon have In many respects conmneu oriih nria oubllc-land policy. The dscus- slons In the Congress nnd elsewhere have made It evident that mere is a wiue ui ,..nM nf nnlnlnns between ttiose hold ing opposite views on these subjects, rr.d that the opposing siaes navo nram convinced representatives of weight 1m th within and wlthouC the Congress; the dif ferences being not only as to matters of opinion, but as to matters of tact. Reclamation oi riu unui. Tha wnrtr nf reclamation of the arid lands of the West Is progressing steadily and satisfactorily under the terms of the law setting aside the proceeds from the disposal of public lands. Tho corps of engineers Known as me rwmmunui, .rvicp which Is conducting the surveys and examinations, has been thoroughly organized, especial pains being taken to securo under the civil servlco rules a body of skilled, experiences anu cmciem mn Snrvevs and examinations are progressing throughout the arid states and territories, plans ior reciuiminK wurnn w ina nrenared and passed upon by boards of engineers before approved by tho Sec retary Of tne interior. in Arizona unu Nevada, In localities where such work Is pre-eminently needed, construction has al ready been begun. In other parts ot the arid West various projects nre well ad vanced towards tne drawing up oi con tracts, these being delayed In part by necessities of reaching agreements or un derstanding as regards rights of way or acquisition of real estate. Most of the works contempiaieu ior construction ure nf Kntior.nl Importance. Involving Inter state questions or the securing ot stable, self-supporting communities in me miusi ot vast tracts ot vacant land. The Nation as a whole Is of course the gainer by the creation of these homes, adding as they do to the wealth and stability of the country, and furnishing a home market for the products or me r,asi ana douui. The reclamation law, while perhaps not Ideal, appears at present to answer tho larger needs for which It Is designed. Further legislation Is not recommended until the necessities ot change are more apparent. PRESERVATION OF FORE8TS. Need There. f Is Recognized Now as Never Before. The study of the opportunities ot recla mation of the vast extent of arid land shows that whether this reclamation Is done by Individuals, corporations, or the state, tho sources of water supply must be effectively protected and the reservoirs guarded by the preservation ot the for ests at the headwaters of the streams. The engineers mnklng the preliminary ex aminations continually emphasize this need and urge that the remaining public lunds at the headwaters of the Important streams of tho West be reserved to In sure permanency of water supply for Ir rigation. Much progress In forestry tins been made during the iast year. The ne cessity for perpetuating our forest re sources, whether In publlo or private hands, Is recognized now as never be fore. The demand for forest reserves hus become Insistent In the West, because tho West must use the water, wood and Sum mer range which only such reserves can supply, Progressive lumbermen are striv ing, tnrougn forestry, to give tneir busi ness permanence. Other great business Interests are awakening to tho need of forest preservation as a business matter. Tho Government's forest work should re ceive from the Congress hearty support, and especially support adequate for tne protection of the forest reserve against lire. The forest-reserve policy ot the Gov ernment has pussed beyond the experi mental stuge, and has reached a condi tion where scientific methods are essential to Its successful prosecution. The admin istrative features of forest reserves pre at present unsatlifactory, being divided be tween three bureaus nf two departments. It Is therefore recommended that nil mat ters pertaining to forest reserves, except tlmso Involving r pertaining to land titles, he KiinsnlldnlMl lu the IHirenu ot Forestry ot tho Department ot Agricul ture, INDIAN AFFAIRS. Agents Should Not Be Dependent Upon Partisan Politics. The Indian agents should not be depend ent for their appointment or tenure ot ollk'o uihiii consldeintlons of partisan poli tics: the practice of appointing, when possible, ex-riny "Ulcers or bonded super intendents to lhe- vacancies that occur Is working well. Attention Is Invited to the widespread Illiteracy due to Uek ot pub llo schools In the Indian Tenllory. Prompt need should tw iwu to tne need or tun cation for the children In this territory. PENSIONS. No Other Class Deserves So Well of the Nation as the Veterans. No other class of our citizens deserv so well of the Nation as those to whom the Nation ones Us very being, the vet entns ot lhe Civil War. Special attention l nsked to the excellent work ot the Pension llureau In sxtMdltlng nnd dlS' Haing ot pension claims. During lhe llarwt )enr ending July 1, IMt. the llurenu settled Jtl.Dst claims, no average of h linlms for each working day of the ear The number of settlements slnco July I, INS. has been III excess of lust ear's aeruge, approaching 10o) claims for each working day. and It Is belleed that the work ot the Bureau will be current at tho close of the present fiscal year. CIVIL SERVICE RULES. ' Competitive Examinations Promote Efficiency and Economy. During the year ended June 30 last H MO persona were nppolnted through com letlttve examinations uuder the civil service rules. This wns lllTO more than during the preceding year, and 40 per cent, of those who passed the examina tions. This abnormal growth wns largely occasioned by the extension of classi fication to the rural fres-dellvery serv ice and the appointment lust ear of over fcXM ruial carriers. A rellon of the clll-servlce rules took effect on April 15 last, which has greatly Improved their opeTiillon. The completion of the leforin ot the chit service Is recognised by good citizens oery where as n matter of ths highest public Importance, and the suc cess of the merit system largely depends upon the effectiveness of tho rules nnd and the machinery prot Med for their en forcement. A ver gratlflng spirit of friendly eo-opei atlon exists In all the de partments of the Government In the en forcement nnd uniform oltservntice of both the letter and spirit of the civil service act. THE ARMY. System of Promotion by Mere Senior ity Is Not Well. The effect of the laws providing a gen eral staff fur the Army, and for the more effective use uf the National Guard, hsa been excellent. Great Improvement has been made lu the efficiency of our Army In recent years. Such schuot as those erected at Fort I.eAvenworth and Furt Riley and the Institution of Fall maneuver work accmupllMhfd satisfactory results The good effect of these maneuvers uiton the National Guard Is marked, and ample appropriation should 1ms made to enable the guardsmen of the several states tu share in the benefit. Tha Government should as won as tiosslbte secure suitable permanent camp sites for military man euvers In the various sections of the conn- try. The service thereby rendered not only to the regular Army, but to the Na tional Guard of the several slates, will Ih so great as to reiMiy many times over the relatively small exnse. We should not rest satisfied with what has been done, however. The unly jteople who nre con tented with a s)stem ut promotion by mere seniority are those who are con tented with tho triumph ot mediocrity over excellence. On the other hand, a sjstem which encouraged the exercise nf social or uolltk-al favoritism In promo tions would b even worse. Hut It wuuld surely be easy to devise a method of pro motion from grade to grade In which the opinion of the higher officers of the serv ice uion the candidates should be decisive uiton tho standing nnd promotion of ttie latter. Just such a system now obtains at West Point. THE NAVY. There Must Be No Let.Up In Work of Increasing It. Shortly after ths enunciation of that fa mous principle of American foreign pol icy now known as the "Monroe Doctrine," President Monroe, In a special message to Congress, on January 90. IsJI. spoke as follows: "The Navy Is the arm from which our Government will always derive most aid In support of our . . rights. Every power engaged In war will know the strength of our naval power, the number of our ships of each class, their condition, nnd the promptitude with which we may bring them Into service, and will pay duo consideration to that argument." I heartily congratulate tho Congress upon tho steady progress In building up the -.merlcan Navy. Wo cannot afford n let-up In this great work. To stand Htlll means to go back. There should bo no cessation In milling to tho effective units of the fighting strength of the fleet Meanwhile tho Navy Department and the officers of the Navy are doing well their part by providing constant service at sea under conditions nkln tn those of actual warfare. Our officers and enlisted men are learning to handlo tho battleships, cruisers and torpedo boats with high 111 clcncy In fleet nnd squadron formations, nnd tho standard ot marksmanship Is be ing steadily raised. The best work nshore Is Indispensable, but the highest duty of a naval officer Is to exercise command at sea. The establishment of a naval baso In the Philippines ought not to be longer postponed, Such a base Is destrablo In time of peace; In time of war It would be Indispensable, and Its lack would bo ruinous. Without It our fleet would be helpless. Our naval experts are agreed that Hublg Bay Is the proper place for lhe purpose. The national Interests require that the work of fortification and develop ment of a naval station nt Sublg Bay bo begun at an early dato; for under tho best conditions It is a work which will consume much time, ISTHMIAN CANAL. Review of Dealings With Colombia and Recent Events. By the act of June 2s, 1&)2, the Congress authorized the President to enter Into treaty with Colombia for tho building of the canal across tho Isthmus of Panama; It being provided that In the event of failure lo securo such treaty after tho lapso of a reasonable time, recouiso should bo had to building a canal through Ni caragua. It has not been necessary to consider this alternative, as I am enabled to lay be for a tho Benate a treaty provid ing for the building of the canal across tho Isthmus of Panama. This was tho route which commended Itself to the de liberate Judgment of lhe Congress, and wo can now acquire by treaty tho right tn construct the canal over this route. The question now, therefore. Is not by which route tho Isthmian canal shall be built, for that question has been definitely and Irrevocably decided, The question Is simply whether or not we shall have an Isthmian canal. When tho Congress directed that we should tako the Panama route under treaty with Colombia, tho essenco at the condition, of course, referred not to tho Government which controlled that route, but to tho route Itself; to the tcnltory across which the route lay, not to the name which for tho moment tho territory bore on the map. The purposo of the law was to uuthorlzo the President to make a treaty with tho power In actual control of tha Isthmus ot Panama, This' purpose has been fulfilled, Treaty With New Granada. In the year 181(1 this Government en tered Into a treaty with New aranada, the predecessor upon the Isthmus of tho Republic of Colombia and of the present Renubllo of Panama, by which treaty It nas provided that the Government and cllliens of the United RtatM should al ways have free nnd open tUlil nf y or transit acmes lhe IMhtnus nf Panama by any modes tf coniinunlcallon Hint might bo coustmctcd, while In return our Government guaranteed the perfect neu trality of tho above-mentioned Isthmus Willi the lcw that Hie freo transit from the one to the oilier sen might not bo Interrupted or embarrassed. Th treaty vested In the United Hlatrs n substantial property lUUt carved out of the lUhls of sovereignly and propel ty which New Granada, then had nnd possessed over the said territory. The nnmo of Now (Iranndii hits passed away nnd H tcrrltorj has been divided. Its successor, the Government of Colombia, has ceased to own any prop el ty In Iho Isthmus. A new republic, llwt of Panama, which wns at one time a sov ereign stale, and nl another time a mero department of the successive confedera tions known ns New Giiinada and Co lombia, has now .succeeded to the tights width first one nnd then the oilier for merly exerclssd over the Isthmus Hut ,ns long ns the Isthmus endures, the mere geographical fart of Its existence, and the peculiar Interest therein which Is re quired by our position, perpetuate Iho solemn contract which binds the holders of the territory lo respect our right to freedom of transit across It, and hinds us In return to safeguard for tne Isthmus and the world the sxerdss of that lues tlnmble privilege. The Irue Interpretation of the obligations upon which tho rolled Stales entered In this treaty of WIS has been given repeatedly In the utterances of Presidents nnd Secretaries of Hlnle. Repudiation of Treaty by Colombia. Ijist Snrlng. under the act above re ferred to, a treaty concluded iM'tween Iho representative of the Republic of rtilnm bla nnd of our Government was ratified by the Senate. This treaty wns entered Into ut the urgent solicitation or the tx'opla of Colombia, and ufter a body of rspvrls appointed by our Government esiieclally to g Into the matter of the routes ucross the Isthmus hsd prunounced unanimously In favor of the Panama route. In draw ing up this treaty every concession wns made lo the i-ople and lo the Govern.' ment of Colombia. We vvsie more than Just In dealing with them our generos ity was such ns to nmke It n serious quss llun whether wo had lint gone too far In their Interest nt the expense of our own: for lu our scrupulous desire lo pay alt possible heed, not merely to th real, hut even to the fancied rights of our weaker neighbor, who already owe, l so much to our protection and forbesrnncs. we leld ed In nil possible wns to her desires In drawing up the treaty. Nevertheless the Government of Columbia not merely re pudiated the treaty, but repudiated II In such manlier as to make It evident by th time the Colombian Ongr ad journed that not the scantiest liope re mained of ever getting a satisfactory treaty from them The Government of iVloinhla msds the treaty, and et when the Colombian Congress was called to ratify It the vote against ratification was unanimous. II doe not appear that the government made any real effort to se cure ratification. Revolution at Panama. Immediately after th adjournment of tho Congress n revolution brnks out In Pnnnnm. The mple of Panama hsd long been discontented with the Republic nf Colombia, and they had ln kept quiet only" by the prospect of lhe conclusion of the treaty, which was lo them matter of vital concern. When It became evident that Iho tresly wa hopelessly Inst, ths people of I'simnm rose literally as one man. Nut a shot wns fired by n single man on the Isthmus In lhe Interest of (he Colombian Government. Not n life nas lost In the accomplishment of the revolution. Th Colombian troop sta tioned on the Isthmus, who had lung been uniwld. made common emise with the peo ple of Pnnma. and with astonishing unanimity the new Republic w started. The duty of the United Slates In the premises was clear. In strict accordance with the nrlnelnals laid down by Keers- tarbs Cass an I H. ward In the olll iol docu. ments alnve quoted, the I'nlted males gave notice that It would permit the landing of no expeditionary force, the ar rival of which would mean chaos and de struction along the line of the railroad and ot the proiMsml canal, and nn Inter ruption of transit as an Inevitable eonss- luenee. The de rsctn leovernmeiu ot INinama wa recugnlssd In the fulloalng telegram to Mr. Khrman: "The people of Panama have, by appar ently unanimous movement, dissolved their political connection with the llepub llc ot Colombia nnd resumed their Inde pendence. When you nre satisfied that n de facto government, republican In form and without sulsitantlal opiHtsltlon from Its own people, has been established In lhe Slate of Panama, you will enter Into relations with It ns ths rionlbl gov ernment of the territory and took to II for all due action to protect in persons and property of cllliens of the United Slates ami tu keep on Ih Isthmian transit. In accordance with the blgllns of existing treaties governing Ins rela tions ot ties United States to tlyit terri tory." . Colombia was Notified. The Government of CMombla. wss not! fled of our acllon by the following tele gram to Mr. Beatitire: The people of Pannma having, by an apparently uruinlmniia movement, dis solved their lulltlcnl connection wlili the llepubllo of Colombia and resumed their Independence, nnd having adopted a gov ernment of their own, republican In form, Willi which tne unvernmeiit of tne united States of America has entered Into rela tions, the President ot lhe United Slates, In accordance with the ties of friendship which have so long nnd ho impplly existed between the respective nation, most earn estly commends to the Governments ot Co lombia nnd of Panama, tho peaceful and equitable settlement of nil questions nt Is sue between them. Ho holds that ho Is bound not merely by treaty obligations, but by tha Interests of civilization, lo sea that tho pxiceful tralllo ot the world across Iho Isthmus of Panama shall not longer bo disturbed by a constant succes sion ot unnecessary and wastsful civil wars." The control, In tho Interest of the com merce and tralllo of the whole civilized world, of the menns of undisturbed tran sit across the Isthmus of Panama has be come nt trunscendent Importnnco to tho United States. Wo havo repeatedly exer clsid this control by intervening In the course of domestic dissension, nnd by protecting the territory from foreign In vasion. In 16U Mr. Mvcrett assured lhe Peruvian Minister that wa should not hes itate to maintain the neutrality of the Isthmus In Iho case of war between Peru ond Colombia. In ll Colombia, which has always been vigilant lo nvnll Itself of Its privilege conferred by tho treaty, expressed Its oxpcctallon that In the event of war between Peru nnd Spain the Unllod States would carry Into effect tho guar anteo of neutrality. There have been few administrations of the State Department In which tills treaty has not, either by the one sldo or the other, been used as a basis of moro or less Important demands It wns said by Mr. Finn In 1H71 that the Department of Hlato had reason to ho. Ileve that an attack upon Colombian sov ereignty on the Isthmus had, on' several occasions, been averted by warning from this Government. livery effort has been made by the Gov ernment of the United States to persuade Colombia to follow a course which was essentially not only to our Interests nnd to tho Interests ot the world, hut (o the interests oi wvfuiuuiii imeu. 'i nose erfnris havo fulled, and Colombia, by her persist ence In repulsing the advances that havo been made, has forced us, for tho sake of our own honor, and of the Interest nnd well-being not merely of our own people, but of the peoplo ot the Isthmus ot Pan ama and tho peoplo of tho civilized coun tries or tno worm, to tags decisive steps tp bring to an end a condition of affairs which had becomo Intolerable The new Republla ot Panama Immediately offcreii to ncgotlato a treaty with us, This treaty I herewith submit, Ily It our Interests aro better safeguarded than In tho treaty with Colombia which was ratified by tho Bcnato at Its last session, It Is better In Its terms than tho treaties offered to us by tho Republics of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, At last tho right to begin this great undertaking Is made nvnllablo. Panama has done her part. All that remains la for the American Congress to do Its part and forthwith this republic will enter Upon tha execution ot a project colossal In Us slza and of wcll-nlgh Incalculable uosslbllltles for the good of this i, nnd tho nations of mankind. THWODOUH J1003I5VELT. White House, December 7, 1903. EVENTS OF THE DAY (UTIIUKUD l:R0,M AW PARTS 01' Till! TWO lll!MISI'lll!RI!S. Comprehensive Kcvlcvv uf tho Import tint Happenings ul the I'nsl Week, Presented In Condensed I'nrin, Most l.lkcly to Prove Interesting tu (lur Many KcaJcrs. (I. M. muorl Is llkir-y lo In reap. polntiMi postmaster nt Hofitllo. Cuiiiinriit nt Ht. i'itorlHiiru"(ii)Hoow veil' iiH'sonifo Is vpry Irliiully, An I'liK'tltin of iloli'Kiitp" Ut prppiirn a I'onslllutlim lias k-i'iuiillotl In I'miniim. W. J. llrynii anil huh, win) aro lour Ipt! Ittirupo, livlil an nmllt'iicu vvltli Hut ivopo. I'lilti'il States; Hoimtnr Clark, ot Mon tana, In luiU'li Improved iiihI shtmlil lx out In tlirtu weeks, Secretary llllclirook may removo J, Henry lltxilli, rculnicr ul lliu ltiMclxifK, Oregon, lnml ollleo. John V. l'foelor, president ol tlm elvll servlco roiiiiiilKslnii, tiled very sud denly In WiikIiIiikIoii. Tim Hciiittti eoinmltleo on privilege and election will ask Himmt lo reply tu tlm diaries mndu nKiilnnt lilm. Tho national ItcptiMlcnti rniniiiltteo lias cIhmoii CliIeiiKO ns tlm convention city mid llxcd Juno "1 a lliu ditto. President llnrlrmiin 'announce that Union 1'iU'llla rum will soon run Into Honttlo. (lenernl MucA i tlmr In accredited with predicting, war with (Ivriiinny in tho Hour future. V iiltivleen-yeiir-old Vermont love sick hoy aided a woman In slay her litislHind so ho could Kvt a home. Many rhari;o aro Htirlni; In nnlnst Asa It. Thompson, susjK'iidcd rveelver ot tho Iji (Ifaiide, Oregon, land ollleo. A light ciikIho and pa securer train collided near HleiiU'iivllle, Ohio, Una" iK'rmm was killed nnd 15 others In jured, Queen Alexandra had a very narrow trxnH! from death liy lire. She wns asleep when a Idaia liroVu out In her lied room. The hotiso has received resolution to Imprnch l'ednirl Jtidgn Hwoyno, ot Florida, and lias ordered a committee to Imnitlgatv. Tho federal grand Jury at Omaha ha Indicted Htiitu rVnatur lno (or selling, a (HHitotllcu position nnd promi nent enttlumvu tor fcncliiu, puhllc do main. Kpoknno is on tho vorgo ol a serious labor trouble. The attending physicians certify that llvrliert tfpcncvr died ot sliullo decay. The appointment ot Urncral Wood t Iwiiim major general has again but u Mint to tho senate. AtlOtline IIMMtlc.j.ssfitl nltM,,t,tl lli. Im'CIi fnniln with the, Ijlliolov llvtllL- nil rhino. Tli u airship is lying at tha ho torn ot tlio Potomac rher, a totn wreck. Indiana scholars cut a hole In the Ice (It a M)iul near tliu school homo and af ter tying tho feet of tho tenchvr placed her In tho water. Mho wns rescued halt nn hour later nearly dead. At tho inauguration "of Governor' lllckhniii, of Kentucky, some nf his enemies turned loose '.'0 skunks In the vicinity ol tho rapltnl in an endeavor to break tip tha crowd witnessing the ceremonies. - Germany Is much pleased with the eseugo of lliu president. An lndcciidcnt company to light the lievl trust Is to be established in Ht. Louis. After nn clapso ot 10 months the Tracy reward is to bo paid by tho stats ot Washington. Dowln has straightened out his financial tangle and the receivers havo been discharged, Itussla hns made a countor proposit ion to tho demands of Japan, width, It Is believed, will bo accepted, American marines hava gone into ramp near l'uiiama, and tho Colombian Invasion has received a sot back, Ilnvcnnn flirnr,, SAtit tn Mia n.l- hIiow that tho nation ran liberally recognize mo lair, anu men be still deep ly In debt lo Oregon on a ruvenuo hauls'. Tho secretary of war has nikod con gress for 1,(100,000 to deepen the chan nel inroiigli wrangul Narrows, Alaska. Tho l'mianm ranal treaty has started on its way to tho United Htatcs. Japan has postponed tha meeting ot tho diet In tho hopo of receiving an answer from lttissla. lloth hniiscB of conuresn enlnrcd llnnn regular from special session ulil.nnt any notable transition. Dowlo alleges his needs nro four Union his liabilities, and makes nn offer to settle with his creditors, Kccrutary Shaw estimates Hint dm entire appropriations needed for gov ernment Uso lor 1005 will hoT021,602l- i n). ' Tho steel trust will rnlnvn vn... a hundred' thousand ilollma a ..,. i. dismissing a number ut "Carnegie's pOlH," Minister Llfton, of Canada, declares that country la loynl' to llrllaln and regrets Its infantine attitude over Alas ka decision, A party ot Colorado nonunion miners' wore ambushed near Trinidad, Ot Ave only ono oscaped to glvo tho alarm. Tho fdiorlff with bloodhounds has conoi to tho Bcono, An onldomlo ot diphtheria at Stan lonl tinivorsity hns put 12 In the hos pttal. f ropy Tins Is trying to secure moro, cordial lolatlons between Trance and tho church. Tho Ilrltlsh consul lliids tho outrages In Congo Freo Stutoa fully equal to the first reports.