tided to It the protection of their In*
terests and honor, and to humanity.
Sure of the right, keeping free from
> ali offense ourselves, actuated only by
upright and patriotic considerations,
Inoved neither by passion or selfish
ness, the government will continue its
'i watchful care over the rights and
property of American citizens and will
abate none of its efforts to bring
about by peaceful agencies a peace
which shall be honorable and endur
ing. If it shall hereafter be a duty
Imposed by our obligations to our
■aelves, to civilization and humanity,
to Intervene with force, it shall be
v Without fault on our part and only be
cause the necessity for such action
will be so clear as to command the
-support and approval of the civilized
world.
URGES ANNEXATION OP HAWAII.
By a special message dated the 16th
Of June last I laid before the senate
* treaty signed that day by the plen
ipotentiaries of the United States and
of the Republic of Hawaii having for
its purpose the incorporation of the
Hawaiian islands as an Integral part
of the United States, and under its
•sovereignty. The senate having re
though tho treaty is still pending be
tor that body, the subject may be prop
erly referred to in this message be
cause the necessary action of congress
is required to determine by legislation
many details of the eventual union
•should the fact of annexation be ac
complished, as I believe it should be.
While consistently disavowing from
very early period any aggressive
policy of absorption in regard to the
Hawaiian group, as one series of dec
larations through three-quarters of a
•century has-proclaimed the vital in
terest of the United States in the in
dependent life of the islands and their
intimate commercial dependency upon
• this country. At the same time it has
'been repeatedly asserted that in no
•event couuld the entity of Hawaiian
statehood cease by the passage of the
Islands under the domination or in
fluence of another power than the
United States. Under these circum
stances the logic of events required
that annexation, before offered but
declined, should in the ripeness of
time come about as the natural re
sult of strengthening the ties that
Itind us to those islands and be realiz
ed by the free will of the Hawaiian
state.
That treaty was unanimously rati
fied without amendment by the sen
ate and president of the Republic of
Hawaii on the 10th of September last,
■and only awaits the favorable action
•of the American senate to effect the
•complete absorption of the islands in
to the domains of the United States.
What the conditions of such a union
shall be, the political relation thereof
to the United States, the character of
the local administration, the quality
and degree of elective franchise of the
Inhabitants, the extension of the fed
eral laws to the territory or the en
actment of special laws to fit the
peculiar condition thereof, the regula
tion of needs of labor therein, are all
matters which the treaty has wisely
. relegated to the congress.
If the treaty is confirmed, as every
i -consideration of dignity and honor re
Vi quires, the wisdom of congress will see
►y to it that, avoiding abrupt assimila
J tion of elements perhaps hardly yet
fitted to share in the highest fran
chise of citizenship and having due
regard of the geographical conditions,
the most just provisions for self-rule in
local matters with the largest political
liberties as an Integral part of our
nation will be accorded to
the Hawaiians.' No less is due to
a people who, after nearly five years
of demonstrated capacity to fulfill the
•obligations of self-governing state
Tiood, come of their free will to merge
their destines in our body politic.
The ouestlons which have arisen be
tween Japan and Hawaii by reason of
the treatment of Japanese laborers
•emigrating to the islands under the
Hawaiian-Japanese convention of 188S
are in a satisfactory stage of settle
ment. by negotiation. This govern
ment has not been invited to mediate,
and on the other hand has sought n<i
Intervention in that matter, further
•than to evince its kindliest disposition
toward such a speedy and direct ad
, justment by the two sovereign states
In Interest as shall comaprt with
equality and honor. It is gratifying
to learn that the apprehensions at
first displayed on the part of Japan
lest the cesation of Hawaii’s national
life through annexation might impair
privileges to which Japan honorably
laid claim, have given place to ex
pressions of confidence of its purpose
to deal with all possible ulterior ques
tions in the broadest spirit of friend
liness.
AFFAIRS IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
As to the representation of this
government to Nicaragua, Salvador
and Costa Rica I have concluded that
Mr. William L. Merry, confirmed as
minister of the United States to tho
states of Nicaragua, Salvador and
Costa Rica, shall proceed to San Jose,
Costa Rica, and there temporarily es
tablish headquarters of the United
\ States to those three states. I took
this atclon for what I regarded as the
paramount interests of this country.
It was developed upon an investiga
tion by the secretary of state that the
governor of Niclragua, while not un
willing to receive Mr. Merry in his
uiyiuiuiiiiu uayacuy, was unauie 10 QO
bo on account of the compact conclud
ed June 20, 1895, whereby the republic
and those of'Salvador and Honduras,
forming what is known as the Greater
Republic of Central America, had sur
rendered to the representative Diet
thereof their right to receive and send
diplomatic agents. The Diet was not
willing to accept him because he was
not accredited to that body. I could
not accredit him to that body because
the appropriation law of congress did
not permit. Mr. Baker, the present
minister, to Managua, has been di
rected to present his letters of recall.
Mr. W. F. Godfrey Hunter has like
wise been accredited to the govern
ments of Guatemala and Honduras,
the same as his-predecessor. Guate
mala is not a member of the Greater
Republic of Central America, but Hon
duras it. Should this latter govern
ment declinei to receive him, he has
been Instructed to report this fact to
his government and await its further
Instructions. A subject of large im
portance to our country and increas
ing appreciation on the part of the
people is the completion of the great
highway of trade between the Atlantic
and Pacific knovn as the Nicaraguan
canal. Ita utility and value to Ameri
can commerce is universally admitted.
The commission appointed under date
of July 24 last, “To continue the sur
veys and examinations authorized by
the act approved March 2,1885,” in re
gard “to the proper route, feasibility
and cost of construction of the Nic
aragua canal, with a view of making
complete plans of entire work of con
struction of such canai,” is now em
ployed in the undertaking. In the
future I shall take occasion to trans
mit to congress the report of this com
mission, making at the same time
such further suggestions as may then
seen advisable.
NEGOTIATIONS WITH OTHER
NATIONS.
Under the provisions of the act of
congress, approved March 3, 1897, for
the promotion of an international
agreement respecting bimetallism, I
appointed on the 14th day of April,
1897, Hon. Edward O. Wolcott, of
Colorado; Hon. Adlal E. Stevenson,
of Illlinois, and Hon. Charles J.
Paine, of Massachusetts, as special
envoys to represent the United States.
They have been diligent in their efforts
to scure the concurrence and co-oper
ation of European countries in the in
ternational settlement of the question,
but up to this time have not been able
to secure an agreement contemplated
by their mission.
The gratifying action of our great
sister republic of France in joining
this country in the attempt to bring
about an agreement between the prin
cipal commercial nations of Europe
whereby a fixed and relative value be
tween gold and silver shall be secured,
furnishes assurances that we are not
alone among the larger nations of the
world in realizing the international
character of the problem and the de
sire of reaching some wise and prac
tical solution of it. The British gov
ernment has published a resume of
the steps taken jointly by the. French
ambassador in London and the special
envoys of the United States, with
whom our ambassador at-London ac
tively co-operated in the presentation
of this subject to her majesty’s gov
ernment. This will be laid before con
gress. Our special envoys have not
made their final report, as further ne
gotiations between the representatives
of this government and the govern
ments of other countries are pending
and in contemplation. They believe
that doubts, which have been raised
in certain quarters respecting the pos
sibility of maintaining the stability
of the parity between the metals and
kindred questions may yet be solved
by further negotiations.
Meanwhile it gives me satisfaction
to state that the special envoys have
already demonstrated their ability and
fitness to deal with the subject, and it
is to be earnestly hoped that their la
bors may result in an international
agreement which will bring about rec
ognition of both gold and silver as
money upon such terms and with such
safeguards which shall work no in
justice to any class of our citizens.
In order to execute as early as pos
sible the provisions of the third and
fourth sections of the .revenue act, ap
proved July 24, 1897, I appointed Hon.
John A. Kasson, of Iowa, a special
commissioner and plenipotentiary to
undertake the requisite negotiations
with foreign countries desiring to
avail themselves of these provisions.
The negotiations are now proceeding,
with several governments, both
European and American. It is be
lieved that by a careful exercise of
the powers conferred by that act
some grievances of our own and of
other countries in our mutual trade
relations may be either removed or
largely alleviated and that the vol
ume of our commercial exchanges
may be enlarged with advantages to
both contracting parties.
Most desirable from every stand
point of national interest and patriot
ism is the effort to extend our for
eign commerce. To this end our mer
chant marine should be improved and
enlarged. We should do our full share
of the carrying trade of the world.
We do not do it now. We should be
the laggard no longer. The inferiority
of our merchant marine is justly hu
miliating to the national pride. The
government, by every proper consti
tutional means, should aid in making
our ships familiar visitors at every
commercial port of the world, thu3
opening up new and valuable markets
to the surplus products of our farm
and the factory.
The efforts which have been made
during the two previous years by my
predecessor to secure better protection
to the fur seals of the north Pacific
ocean and Bering sea were renewed at
an early date by this administration,
and have been pursued with earnest
ness. Upon my invitation the gov
ernments of Japan and Russia sent
delegates to Washington and an in- .
ternational conference was held dur
ing the months of October and No
vember last, wherein It was unani
mously agreed that under the existing
regulations this species of useful an
imals was threatened with extinction,
and that an international agreement
of all interested powers was necessary
for their adequate protection.
The government of Great Britain ,
did not see proper to be represented
at this conference, but subsequently
sent to Washington as delegates the
expert commissioners of Great Brit
nln on/1 _ t__a _f_ . , «
past two years visited the Prylbyloff
islands, and who met in conference
similar commissioners on the part of
the United States. The result of
this conference was an agreement on
important facts connected with the
condition of the seal herd heretofore
in dispute, which should place beyond
controversy the duty of the govern
ments concerned to adopt measures
without delay for the preservation and
restoration of the herd. Negotiations
to this end are now in progress, the
result of which I hope to be able to
report to congress at an early day.
International arbitration cannot be
omitted from the list of subjects
clamoring for our consideration.
Events have only served to strengthen
the general views on this question
expressed in my inaugural address.
The best sentiment of the civilized
world is moving toward the settle
ment of differences betwee.1 nations
without resorting to the horrors of
war. Treaties embodying thess hu
mane principles on broad lines with
out in any way Imperiling our inter
ests or our honor shall have my con
stant encouragement.
The acceptance by this government
of the invitation of the republic of
France to participate in the Universal
exposition of 1900 at Paris was imme
diately followed by the appointment
of a special commissioner to repre
sent the United States in the proposed
exposition, with special reference to
the securing of an appropriation for
an adequate exhibition on behalf of
the United States. The special com
missioner delayed his departure for
Paris long enough to ascertain the
probable demand for space by Ameri
can exhibitors. His Inquiries developed
an almost unprecedented Interest In
the proposed exposition, and the in
fomation thus acquired enabled him to
Justify an application for a much
larger alotment of space for the
American section than had been re
served by the Exposition authorities.
The result was particularly gratify
ing in view of the fact that the United
States was one of the last countries to
accept the Invitation of France.
The reception accorded our special
commissioner was most cordial, and
he was given every reasonable assur
ance that the United States would re
ceive a consideration commensurate
with tVtA .S _ _t_)l l
tion. The reports of the special com
missioner as to the. Importance and
magnitude of the coming exhibition,
and the great demand for space for
American exhibits supplies new argu
ments for a liberal and judicious ap
propriation by congress, to the end
that an exhibit fairly rerescntatlve of
the industries and resources of our
country way be made In the exposi
tion which will illustrate the world's
progress during the nineteenth cen
tury. That exposition is intended to
be the most important and comprehen
sive of the long series of interna
tional exhibitions, of which our own
at Chicago was a brilliant example,
and it is desirable that the United
States should make a worthy exhibit
of American genius and skill and their
unrivaled achievements in every
branch of industry.
REQUIREMENTS OP THE NEW
NAVY.
The present naval force, especially
in view of its increase by ships now
under construction, while not as large
as that of a few other powers, is a
formidable force; its vessels are the
very best -type, and with the Increase
that should be made to it> from time
to time in the future, and careful at
tention to keeping It in a high state of
efficiency and repair, it is well adapted
to the necessities of the country.
The great increase of the navy
which has taken place in recent years
was justified by the requirements for
national defense and has received pub
lic approbation. The time has. now
arrived, however, when this* Increase,
to which the country is committed,
should for a time take the form of In
creased facilities commensurate with
the increase of our naval vessels. It
is an unfortunate fact that there is
only one dock on the Pacific coast ca
pable of docking our largest ships and
only one on the Atlantic coast, and
that the latter has for the last six' or
seven months been under repair and
therefore Incapable of use. Immediate
steps should be taken to provide three
or four docks of this capacity on the
Atlantic coast, at least one on the Pa
cific coast and a floating dock on the
gulf. This is the recommendation of
a very competent board appointed to
investigate the subject. There should
also be ample provision for powder
and projectiles and other munitions of
war and for an increased number of
officers and enlisted men. Some ad
ditions are also necessary to our navy
yards for the repair and care of 'our
larger number of vessels.
As there are now on the stocks five
battleships or the largest class, which
cannot be completed for a year or two,
I concur with the recommendation of
the secretary of the navy for an ap
propriation authorizing the construc
tion of one battle ship for the Pacific
coast, where at present there is only
one in commission and one under con
struction, while on the Atlantic coast
there are three in commission and four
under construction; and also that sev
eral torpedo boats be authorized in
connection with our general system of
coast defense.
ALASKA IN NEED OF ATTENTION.
The territory of Alaska requires the
prompt and early attention of con
gress. The conditions now existing
demand material changes in the laws
relating to that territory. The great
Influx of population during the past
summer and fall and the prospect of
a still larger immigration in the
spring will not permit us to longer
neglect the extension of civil authority
within the territory or postpone the
establishment of a more thorough gov
ernment.
A general system of public surveys
has not yet been extended to Alaska
and all entries thus far made in that
district are upon special surveys. The
act of congress extending to Alaska
mining laws of the United States con
tained the reservation that it should
not be construed to put in force the
general land laws of the country. By
act approved March S, 1891, authority
was given for the entry of lands for
townsite purposes and also for the
purchase of not exceed in" 160 acres
then or thereafter occupied for pur
poses of trade and manufacture. The
purpose ui congress ss tnus rar ex
pressed has beer, that only such rights
should apply to the territory as shall
be specifically named.
It will be seen how much remains to
be done for that vast and remote and
yet promising portion of our country.
Special authority was given to the
president by the act of congress ap
proved July 24, 1897. to divide that
territory into two land districts and
to designate the boundaries thereof,
and to appoint registers and receivers
of said land offices and the president
was also authorized to appoint a sur
veyor general for the entire district.
Pursuant to this authority, a surveyor
general and receiver have been ap
pointed with offices at Sitka. If in the
ensuing year the conditions justify it,
the additional land district authorized
by law will be established, with an
office at some point in the Yukon val
ley. No appropriation, however, was
made for this purpose, and that is
nvw necessary to be done for the two
!and districts into which the territory
is to be divided.
I concur with the secretary of war
In his suggestions as to the necessity
for a military force in the territory
of Alaska for the protection of persons
and property. Already a small force
consisting of twenty-five men with
two officers, under command of Lieu
tenant Colonel Randall of the Eighth
Infantry, has been s»nt to St. Mich
ael to establish a military post. At it
Is to the Interest of the government
to encourage the development and
settlement of the country and its duty
to follow up its citizens there with
the benefits of legal machinery, I
earnestly urge upon congress the es
tablishment of a system of govern
ment of such flexibility as will enable
it to adjust itself to the future areas
of greatest population.
The startling though possibly ex
aggerated reports from the Yukon
river country of the probable shortage
of food for the large number of peo
ple who are wintering there without
the means of leaving the country are
confirmed in such a measure as to
justify bringing the matter to the at
tention of congress. Access to that
country this wltner can be had only
by the passes from Dyea and vicinity,
which is a most difficult and perhaps
an impossible task. However, should
these reports of the suffering of our
fellow citizens be further verified,
every effort at any cost should be
mndn to onrrv
TROUBLES IN INDIAN TERRITORY
For a number of years past It has
been apparent that the conditions un
der which the five civilized tribes
were established In the Indian terri
tory under treaty provision with the
United States, with the right of self
government and the exclusion of all
white persons from within their bor
ders, have undergone so complete a
change as to render the continuance
of tbe system thus Inaugurated prac
tically Impossible. The total number
of the five civilized tribes as shown by
the last census, is 45,454, and this
number has not materially increased,
while the white population Is esti
mated at from 200,000 to 250,000,
which, by permission of the Indian
government, have settled In the terri
tory. The present area of the Indian
territory contains 25,G93,664 acres,
much of which is very fertile land.
The United States citizens residing In
the territory, most of whom have gone
there by invitation or with the con
sent of the tribal authorities, have
made permanent homes for tliem
selvee. Numerous towns have been
built In which from 500 to 5,000 white
people now reside.
Valuable residence and business,
bouses have been erected in many of
them. Large business enterprises are
carried on in which vast sums of
money are employed, and yet these
people, who have Invested their cap
ital in the development of the produc
tive resources of the country, are with
out title to the land which they oc
cupy and have no voice whatever in
the government either of the nations
or the tribes. Thousands of their chil
dren who were born In the territory
are of school age, but the doors of
the schools of the nations are shut
against them and what education they
get is by private contribution. No
provision for the protection of the life
or property of these white citizens
is made by the tribal governments
and courts.
The secretary of the Interior re
ports that leading Indians havo ab
sorbed great tracts of land to the ex
clusion of the common people and
government by an Indian aristocracy
has been practically established, to
tbe detriment of the people. It has
been found Impossible for the United
States to keep its citizens out of the
territory, and the Executory condi
tions contained in the treaties with
these nations have for the most part
become impossible of execution. Nor
has it been possible for the tribal gov
ernments to secure to each individual
Indian his full enjoyment In common
with other Indians of the common
property of the nations. Friends of
I he Indians have long believed that
the best Interests of the Indians of the
five civilized tribes would be found in
American citizenship, with all the
rights and privileges which belong to
that condition.
By section 16 of the act of March S,
1891, the president was authorized, to
appoint: three commissioners to enter
into negotiations with the Cherokee.
Choctaw, Chickasaw, Muskogee lor
Creek), and Seminole nations, com
monly known as the five civilized
tribes of the Indian territory. Briefly,
the purposes of the negotiations were
to be: The extinguishment of tribal
titles to any land now held by any
and all such nations or tribes, either
by cession of the same or some part
thereof to the United States or by al
lotment and division of the same In
severalty among the Indians of such
nations or tribes respectively as may
bo entitled to the same, or by such
other method as may be agreed upon
lev ten the several nations and tribes
n fonts Id or each of them with the
United States, with a view to eiirh
adjustment upon the basis of justice
and equity as may, with the consent
of the. said nations of Indiana, so far
as rr.ay be necessary, re.pilsiie and
saitflde to enable the ultimate crea
tion oi a state or stv.es of the Union
which shall embrace the lands within
said Ir-dlan territory.
The commission met much oppo
sition from the beginning. The In
dians were very slow to act, and those
in central manifested a decided dis
inclination to meet with favor the
proposition submitted to them. A
little more than three years after Its
an agreement with the Chotaw nation
alone. The Chickasaws, however, re
fused to agree to its terms, and as
they have a common interests with
the Choctaws in the lands of the said
nations, the agreement with the latter
could have no effect without the con
sent of the former. On April 23, 1897,
the commission effected an agreement
with both tribes—the Chotaws and
the Chickasaws. This agreement, it
Is understood, has been'ratified by the
constituted authorities of the respec
tive tribes or nations parties thereto,
and only requires the ratification of
congress to make it binding.
On the 27th of September, 1897, an
agreement was effected with the Creek
nAtlon, but it is understood that the
national council of said nation has
refused to ratify the same.
Negotiations are yet to be had with
the Cherokees, the most populous of
the five civilized tribes, and with the
Semlnoles, the smallest in point of
numbers and territory.
The provision in the Indian appro
priation act, approved June 10, 1896,
makes it the duty of the commission
to Investigate and determine the
rights of applicants for citizenship in
the five civilized tribes. The commis
sion is at present engaged in thin
work among the tribes, and has made
appointments for taking the census
of these people up to and including
the 30th of the present month.
Should the agreement -with the
Choctaws and Chickasaws be ratified
by congress and should the other
tribes fall to make an agreement with
the commission, then it will be nec
essary that some legislation shall be
had by congress, which, while just ana
honorable to the Indians, shall be
equitable to the White people who
have settled upon these lands by In
vitation of the tribal nations.
lion. Harry L. Dawes, chairman of
the commission, in a letter to the
secretary of the interior, under date
of October 11,1897, says: "Individual
ownership is, in their (commission
ers’) opinion, absolutely essential to
any permanent improvement in pres
ent conditions, and lack of it is the
root of nearly all of the evils which
so grievously affect these*people. Al
lotments by agreement is the only
possible method, unless the United
States courts are clothed with the au
thority to apportion these lands
among the citizen Indians for whose
use it was originally granted."
I concur with the secretary of the
interior that there can be no cure.
for the veils engendered by the per
version of these great trusts excepting
by the resumption by the government
which crcafpH them.
NEW QUARANTINE LAWS.
The recent prevalence of yellow fe
ver In a number of cities and towns
throughout the south has resulted In
much disturbance to commerce and
demonstrated the necessity of such
amendments to our quarantine laws as
will make the regulations of the na
tional quarantine authorities para
mount.
The secretary of the treasury, in the
portion of his report relating to the
operation of the marine hospital ser
vice, calls attention the the defects in
the present quarantine laws, and
recommends amendments thereto
which will give the treasury depart
ment the requisite authority to pro
vent the invasion of epidemic diseases
from foreign countries, and In times
of emergency, like that of the past
summer, will add to the efficiency of
the sanitary measures for the protec
tion of the people and at the same
time prevent unnecessary restrictions
of commerce. I concur in bis recom
mendation.
In further effort to prevent the in
vasion of the United States by yellow
fever the importance of the discovery
of the exact cause of the disease,
which up to the present, .time has
been undetermined, has been obvious,
and to thlB end a systematic bacter
iological investigation should be
made. I therefore recommend that
congress authorize the appointment
of a commission by the president, to
consist of four expert bacteriologists,
one to be selected from the medical of
ficers of the Marine hospital service,
one to be appointed from civil life,
and one to be detailed from the medi
cal officers of the army and one from
the medical officers of the navy.
BID ON KANSAS PACIFIC.
The Union Pacific railway main line
was sold under the decree of the
United StateB court for the district of
Nebraska on the 1st and 2d of Novem
ber of this year. The amount due
the government consisted of the prin
cipal of the subsidy bonds, 927,286,512,
and the accrued Interest thereon, 331,•
211,711.75, making the total indebted
ness 958,448,223.76. The bid at the
sale covered the first mortgage lien
and the entire mortgage claim of the
government, principal and interest.
The sale of the subsidized portion
of the Kansas Pacific line, upon which
the government holds a second mort
gage lien, has been postponed at the
instance of the government, to' De
cember 16, 1897. The debt of this di
vision of the Union Pacific railroad to
the government, on November 1, 1897,
was the principal of the subsidy
bonds, 98,303,000, and the unpaid and
acnied Interest thereon, k90..'',3,
making a total of 912,929,690.33!
The sale of this road was originally 1
advertised for November 4, but for the
purpose of securing the utmost public
notice of the event, It was postponed
until December 16, and a second ad
vertisement of the sale was mad».
By the decree of the court the upset
price on the sale of the Kansas Pa
cific will yield to the government the
sum of 92,500,000 over all prior liens,
costs and charges. If no other or bet
ter bid is made this sum Is all the
government will receive on its claim
of nearly 313,000,000. The govern
ment has no information as to
whether there will be other bidders or
a better bid than the maximum
amount herein stated.
The question presented therefore Is:
Whether the government shall, under
the authority given it by the act of
March 3, 1897, purchase or redeem
the road in the event that a bid Is not
made by private parties covering rhe
entire government claim. To qualify
the government to bid at the sale will
require a deposit of 9900,000, as fol
lows: In the government cause 9500,
000, and in each of the first mortgage
causes 3200,000, and in the latter the
deposit must be In cash. Payments
at the sale are as follows: Upon the
acceptance of the bid, a sum which,
wtkix iuc ouiuuui tureauy uepusiiea,
shall equal 15 per cent of the bid, the
balance In Installments of 25 por
cent, thirty, forty and fifty days aftor
the confirmation of the sale. The
Hens on the Kansas Pacific prior to
that of the government on the 30th of
July, 1897, principal and interest,
amounted to $7,281,048.11. The govern
ment, therefore, should It become the
highest bidder, will have to pay the
amount of the first mortgage lien.
I believe that under the act of 1837
it has the authority to do this, and
in the absence of any action by con
gress I shall direct the secretary of
the treasury to make the necessary
deposit as required by the courts' de
cree to qualify as a bidder and to bid
at the sale a sum which will at least
equal the principal of the debt due to
the government; but suggest In order
to remove all controversy, that an
amendment of the law be immediately
passed explicitly giving euch powers
and appropriating in general terms
whatever sum is sufficient therefor.
In so important a matter as the
government becoming the possllu*
owner of railroad property which it
perforce must conduct and operate, I
feel constrained to lay before “cngress
these facts for its consideration and
action before the consummation of
the sale. It is clear to my mind that
the government should not permit th*
property to be sold at a price whlds
will yield less than .one-halt of thw
principal of Its debt and less thaal
one-fifth of the entire debt, principal
and interest, rather than accept leas
than its claim, should become a bid
der and thereby the owner of tb*
property. I submit it to congress for
action. T v
CIVIL SERVICE. * r
The Important branch of our gor
ernment known as the civil services,
the practical Improvement of whlchk
has long been a subject of earnest
cusslon, has of late years received in
creased legislative and executive apt
proval. During the past few month*
the service bas been placed on a still
firmer basis of business methods and
personal merit While the rights o£
our veteran soldiers to reinstatement
in deserving cases has been asserted*
dismissals for merely political rea
sons have been carefully guarded
against, the examinations for admit
tance to the service enlarged and at
the same time rendered less, technical
and more practical; and a distinct ad
vance has been made by giving a hear
ing before dismissal upon all case*
where Incompetency is charged or de
mand made for the removal of officiate
in any of the departments. This or
der has been made to give the ac
cused his right to be heard, but with
cm ¥ lev nntr I»_ __
of removal, which should always bn
exercised in cases of inefficiency and.
Incompetency, and which is one of thn
vital safeguards of civil service re
forms, preventing stagnation and
deadwood and keeping every employ*
keenly alive to the fact that the set
curity of his tenure dpnds not oil
favor but on his own tested and cane
fully watched record of service.
Much, of course, still remains to be'
accomplished before the system can
be made reasonably perfect foe our
needs. There are places now in one
classified lists which ought to be ex
empt and other not classified max’
properly be Included. I shall not hes
itate to exempt cases which I think
have been improperly included in thn
classifled service or Include thosn
which in my Judgment will best pro
mote the public service. The system
has the approval of the people and it
will be my endeavor to uphold and
extend it.
THB PUBLIC LIBRARY. ?
The library building, provided flop
by the act of congress, approved April
16, 1888, has been completed and
opened to the public. I should be n
matter of congratulation that througfe
the foresight and munificence of con
gress the nation possesses this nobl*
treasure house of knowledge. It In
earnestly to be hoped that, havtnic
done so much toward the cause ot
education, congress will continue ta
develop the library in every phase off
research to the end that It may bn
not only one of the most magnificent*
but among the richest and most beam
tiful libraries in the world.
KEEP DOWN EXPENDITURES.
I am forced by the length ot thin
message to omit many important ref
erences to affairs of the government
with which congress will have to deal
at the present session. They are fully;
discussed 1 nthe departmental reports^
to all of which I Invite your earnest
attention.
The estimates of the expenses of' thn
government by the several depart
find it an easy task to reduce the ex
penses of the government, it should
ments, will, I am sure, have your care
ful scrunlty. While congress may not
not encourage their increase. These
expenses will, in my judgment, admit
of a decrease in many branches of the ■
government without injury to the pub
lic service. It is a commanding duty
to keep the appropriations within the
receipts of the government and than
avoid a deficit.
WILLIAM M’KINLEY.
Xranchmen right • Deal
PARIS, Dec. 7.—A duel was fought
between M. Millerand, the well-known
socialist deputy and editor of the Pe
tite Republique Francaise, and M. Jo
seph Reinach, conservative deputy for
the district of Digne, a well-known
journalist and author, editor of the
Repnblique Francaise. The encounter
grew out of some hot words exchanged
in the chamber yesterday during the
Dreyfus debate. Both men fired twicn
Neither was hit, and their seconds de- <
dared that honor was satisfied.
A Formidable Force* •. *;■
BERLIN, Dec. 7.—When the German
reinforcements, numbering twenty
three officers and 1,400 men, arrived at
Kiao Chau bay, for which point, as al
ready cabled, they will soon set out*
they will bring the total German foren
up to 4,566 men, the largest body Ger
many has ever sent beyond European
waters. The admiralty reports that the
various foreign warships have entered»
the bay to watch Germany’s progress*
and it is expected that Admiral von
Dledrlch will protest vigorously
against such an attempt.
Surgeon General's Beport. .
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7.—Surgeon
General Wyman of the marine hospital
service, has submitted his annual re
port to Secretary Gage. It shows that
during the fiscal year ended June SO*
1897, the total number ot patients
treated at the hospital and the dispen
saries connected with the service wan
54,774—673 in excess of those treated
during the previous fiscal year. Ex
penditures were 1536,653, which is 21,
000 less than the previous year. Thn
number of immigrants inspected at
the various posts aggregated 232,147.
Currency Utbbtloii
WASHINGTON, D. C.. Dec. 4.—Sea
ator Frye, who arrived In Washington
today, expressed the opinion that on
account of political complexion of ths
senate it wuld be impossible to secure
currency legislation such aa would sat
isfy the republican party at the ap
proachlng session, in which Sena tot
Allison coincided.
Cabinet Crisis Imminent.
ROME, Dec. 6.—In consequence ot
the action of the chambers in amend
ing the bill dealing with army pro
motions against the ad\ ice of the min
ister of war. General Pelloux, it is re
ported that the minister has tendered
his resignation. The opinion prevails
in some quarters that should General.
Pelloux resign his portfolio the ea>
tire cabinet would fall.
The floating treasury debt was to
creased during the month of Narcse*
her by 23,500,004 pesetas. , ^ X
' ■ '* ;v
