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About Semi-weekly news-herald. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1895-1909 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 1899)
SiSAGK TO CONGI The President Addresses Both Branches of the National Amembly. NIMIROUS SIBJICTS ARf TREATtD Wbltt In Hulii of the l'lillliln, (ub fiirtn Itlt-o, lluwiill, TriiHtn, A ruiy tni ivy, 1'f-imlotiM, I'nriflc nllrotU, Ag rli ullurr, tliu Currnn-y, Civil Hervlt-v, Kt--, Kir. To tin- Senate and House of Repre wntati ves: At tin- threshhold of your deliberations you are called to mourn with your country men 'the denth of Vice President Hobart, who piissed from this life mi the morning of November 21, last. Mis great soul uow rests in eternal peace. His pri vate life was pure and elevated, whiic his public career was ever distin guished by large capacity, stainless Integrity and exalted motives. He Las been removed from the high of fice which he honored and dignified, but his lofty character, his devotion to duty, his honesty of purpose and noble virtues remain with us as a priceless legacy anil example. JN THE MIDST OF PROSPERITY. Tbe Fifty-sixth congress convenes in its first regular session with the country in a condition of unusual prosperity, of universal good will among the people at iiome and in re lations of peace and friendship wltn every government of the world. Our foreign commerce, has shown great Increase in volume and value. The combined imports and exports lor the year are the largest ever shown by a single year in all our history. Our exports for 1KS9 alone exceeded by more than $1,000,000,000 our imports and exports combined in 1870. '1 lie imports per capita are 20 per cent less than in 1S70. while the exports per capita are 5S per cent more than in ISTit, showing the enlarged capacity of the United States to satisfy the wants of its own increasing popula tion, as well as to contribute to those of the peoples of other nations. Exports of agricultural products were $784,770,142. Of manufactured products wo exported in value $339, 692.14'.. being larger than any previous year. It is a noteworthy fact tiiat the only years in all our history when the products of our manufactories old abroad exceeded those bought abroad were 189S and 1899. RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES. Government receipts from all sourc es: for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1S99. including $11,71)8.314.14, part payment of the Central Pacific rail road indebtedness, aggregated $010, 9Si.004.3ri. Customs receipts were $20t;.12S. 481.75 and those from inter nal revenue $273,437,101.51. For the fiscal year the expenditures were $700,093,504.02, leaving a delicit of $S!i,lll,r.5,.).G7. The secretary of the treasury esti mates that the receipts tor the cur rent fiscal year will aggregate $040, r.PS.112, and upon the basis of present appropriations the expenditures will aggregate $000,59$, 112, leaving a sur plus of $4000,000. For the Veal year ended June 30, 1S99. the internal revenue receipts were increased about $100,000,00. The present gratifying strength ot the treasury is shown by the fact that en December 1, 1899. the available cash balance was $27S.004,S37.72, of which $23-). 744.903. 30 was in gold coin and bullion. The conditions of con fidence which prevail throughout the country have brought gold into more general use and customs receipts are now almost entirely paid in that coin. SURPLUS FOR CURRENT YE-AR. The strong condition of the treasury with respect to cash on hand and the fa voi able showing made by the reve nue have made it possible for the sec retary of the treasury to take action under the provisions of section 3,694, Revised Statutes, relating to the siniv ing fund. Receipts exceeded expend itures for the first five months of the current fiscal year by $13,413,389.91, and, as mentioned above, the secre tary of the treasury estimates that there will be a surplus of approxi mately $40,000,000 at the end of the year. Under such conditions it was deemed advisable and proper to re sume compliance with the provisions of the sinking fund law, which for eight years has not been done because of deficiencies in the revenues. The Treasury department therefore offered to purchase during November $25. 000,000 of the 5 per cent loan of 1904 or the 4 nor cent funded loan of 1907 at the current market price. The amount offered and purchased during November was $1S.40S,600. The pre mium paid by the government on such purchases was $2,263,521 and the net saving in interest was about $2,-8S5,-000. The success of this operation was sufficient to induce the government to continue the offer to puchaee bonds to and including the 23d day of Decem ber, instant, unless the remainder of the $25,000,000 called . for should be presented in the meantime for re demption. - INCREASE IN MONEY SUPPLY. Increased activity in industry, with its welcome attendant a larger em ployment for labor at higher wages gives to the body of the people a lar ger power to absorb the circulating medium. It is further true that year by year, with larger areas or iana under cultivation, the increasing vol ume of agricultural products, cotton, corn and wheat calls for a larger vol ume of money supply. This is es pecially noticeable at the crop-harvesting and crop moving period. In its earlier history the national banking act seemed to prove a rea sonable avenue through which need ful additions to the circulation could from time to time be made. Changing conditions have apparently rendered It now inoperative to that end. The high margin In bond securities re quired, resulting from large premi ums, which government bonds com mand In the market, or the tax on note issues, or both operating togeth er, appear to be the influences which Impair its public utility. The attention of congress Is re spectfully Invited to this important ji. after with the vi-w of ascertaining whether or not such reasonable modifi cations can lie made in the national b. inking act as will render Its service in the particulars here referred to more responsive to the people's needs. 1 again urge that national banks be authorized to organize with a capital of $25,000. I urgently recommend that to sup port the. existing gold standard and to maintain "the parity of vulue of the coins of the two metals (gold and silver), and the equal power of every dollar at all times in the market and in the payment of debts," the secre tary of. the treasury be given addi tional power and charged with the duty to sell United States bonds and to employ such other effective means as may bo necessary to those ends. This authority should include the power to sell bonds on long and short time, as conditions may require, and should provide for a rate of interest lower than that fixed by the act of January 14, 1875. While there is now no commercial fright which withdraws gold from the government, but on the contrary such widespread confidence that gold seeks the treasury demanding paper money in exchange, yet the very situation points to the present as the most fitting time to make adequate provision to insure the continuance of tho gold standard and of public confidence in the ability and purpose of the government to meet all its obliga tions in the money which the civilized world recognizes as the best. The financial transactions c the government are conducted upon a gold basis. We receive gold when we sell United States bonds and use gold for their payment. We are maintaining the parity of all the money issued or coined by authority oi the government. We are doing these things with the means at hand. Happily at the present time we are not compelled to resort to loans to supply gold. It has been done in the past, however, and may have to be done in the future. It be hooves us, therefore, to provide at once the best means to meet the emergency when it arises and the best means are those which are the most certain and economical. Those now authorized have the virtue neither of directness nor economy. We have al ready eliminated one of the causesof our financial plight and embarrassment during the years 1893, 1894, 1895 and 1S9G. Our receipts now equal our ex penditures deficient revenues no long er create alarm. Let us remove the only remaining cause by conferring the full and necessary power on the secretary of the treasury and impose upon him the duty to uphold the pres ent gold standard and preserve the coinage of the two metals on a parity with each other, which is the repeat edly declared policy of the United State?. In this connection I repeat my for mer recommendations, that a portion of the gold holding shall be placed in a trust fund from which greenbacks shall be redeemed upon presentation, but when once redeemed shall not thereafter be paid out except for gold. LARGER MERCHANT MARINE. The value of an American merchant marine to the extension of our com mercial trade, and the strengthening of our power upon the sea invites the immediate action of congress. Our national developement will be one sided and unsatisfactory so long as the remarkable growth of our inland industries remains unaccompanied by progress on the seas. There is no lack of constitutional authority for legislation which shall give to the country maritime strength commensur ate with its industrial achievements and with its rank among the nations ol the earth. The past year has recorded excep tional activity in our shipyards and the promises of continual prosperity in shipbuilding are abundant. Advanced legislation for the protection of our seamen has been enacted. Our coast trade, under regulations wisely frameu at the beginning of the government and since, shows results for the last fiscal year unequaled in our records or those of any other power. We shall fail to realize our opportunities, how ever, if we complacently regard only matters at home and blind ourselves to the necessity of securing our share in the valuable carrying trade of the world. Last year American vessels trans ported a smaller share of our exports and imports than during any former year in all our history and the meas ure of our dependence upon foreign shipping was painfully manifested to our people. Without any choice of our own, but from necessity, the de partments of the government charged with military and naval operations in the East and West Indies had to obtain from foreign flags merchant vessels essential for those operations. The other great nations have not hesitated to adopt the required means to develop their shipping as a factor in national defense and as one of the surest and speediest means of obtain ing for their producers a share in for eign markets. Like vigilance and ef fort on our part cannot fail to improve our sitiiLiion, which is regarded with humiliation at home and with surprise abroad. Even the seeming sacrifices, which at the beginning may be in volved, will be offset later by more than equivalent gains. The expense is as nothing compared to the advantage to be achieved. The re-establishment of our merchant ma rine involves in a large measure our continued industrial progress and the extension of Ot - commercial triumphs. I am satisfied ' he judgment of the country favors the policy of aid to our merchant marine, which will broaden our commerce and markets and upbuild our sea-carrying capacity for the products of agriculture and manufacture, which, with the increase of our navy, means more work and wages to our countrymen, as well as a safeguard to American interests in every part of tho world. EVILS OF TRADE MONOPOLIES. Combinations of capital organized into trusts to control the conditions of trade among our citizens, to stifle competition, limit production and de termine the prices of products used and consumed by the people are justly provoking public discussion and should early claim the attention of the con gress. The industrial commission, created by the net of the congress of .Tun" IS. JS9v has been engaged in extended Investigation of this subject and the conclusions and recommendations at which it may arrive are undetermined. The subject is one giving rise to many divergent views as to the nature and variety or cause and extent of the injuries to the public which may result from large combinations concentrat ing more or less numerous enterprises and establishments wnich previously to the formation of the combination were carried on separately. It is universally conceded that com binations which engross or control the market of any particular kind of mer chandise or commodity necessary to the general community, by suppress ing natural and ordinary competition, whereby prices are unduly enhanced to the general consumer, are obnox- ! ious not only to the common law, but I also to the public welfare. There must i be a remedy for the evils involved in ! such organizations. If the present law can be extended more certainly to control or check these monopolies or trusts it should be done without de lay. Whatever power tho congress possesses over this nuost imixartant subject should be promptly ascertain ed and asserted. President Harrison, in his annual message of December 3, 1889, says: "Earnest attention should be given by congress to a consideration of the question how far the restraint of those combinations of capital, commonly called 'trusts.' is matter of federal jurisdiction. When organized, as they often are, to crush out all healthy com petition and to monopolize the produc tion or sale of an article of commerce and general necessity, they are dan gerous conspiracies against the public good and should be made the subject of prohibitory and even penal legisla tion." An act to protect trade and com merce against unlawful restraints and monopolies was passed by congress on the 2d of July, 1890. The provisions of this statute are comprehensive and stringent. It declares every contract or combination in the form of a trust or otherwise, or conspiracy in the re straint of trade of oommerce among the several states or with foreign na tions, to be unlawful. It denominates as a criminal every person who makes any such contract or engages in any such combination or conspiracy and provides a punishment by fine or im prisonment. It invites the several circuit courts of the United States with jurisdiction to prevent and restrain violations of the act and makes it the duty of the several United States dis trict attorneys, under the direction of the attorney general, to institute pro ceedings In equity to prevent and re strain such violations. It further con fers upon any person who shall be in jured in his business or property by any other person or corporation by reason of anything forbidden or de clared to be unlawful by the act the power to sue therefor in any circuit court of the United Staiea without re spect to the amount in controversy and to recover three-fold the damages by him sustained and the costs of tae suit, including reasonable attorney fees. It will be perceived that the act is aimed at every kind of combination in the nature of a trust or monopoly in restraint of interstate or interna tional commerce. The prosecution by the United States of offenses under the act of 1890 has been frequently resorted to in the federal courts and notable efforts in the restraint of interstate com merce, such as the Transmissouri Freight association and the Joint Traf fic association, have been successfully opposed and suppressed. President Cleveland In his annual message of December 7, 189G more than six years after the enactment of this law after stating the evils of these trust combinations, says: "Though congress has attempted to deal witn this matter by legislation the laws passed for that purpose thus far have proved ineffective, not because of any lack of disposition or attempt to enforce them, but simply because the laws themselves as interpreted by the courts do not reach the difficulty. If the insufficiency of the existing laws can be remedied by further legisla tion it should be done. The fact must be recognized, however, that all fed eral legislation on this subject may fall short of its purpose because of in herent obstacles and also because of the complex character of our govern mental system, which, while making the federal authority supreme within its sphere, has carefully limited that sphere by metes and bounds, which cannot be transgressed. The decision of our highest court on this precise question renders it quite doubtful whether the evils of trusts and mo nopolies can be adequately treated through federal action, unless they seek directly and purposely to include in their objects transportation or in tercourse between states or the United States and foreign countries. "It does not follow, however, that this is the limit of the remedy that may be applied. Even though it may be found that federal authority is not broad enough to fully reach the case, there can be no doubt of the power of the several states to act effectively in the premises and there snould be no reason to doubt their willingness to judiciously exercise such power." The state legislation to which Pres ident Cleveland looked for relief from the evils of trusts has failed to accom plish fully that object. This is probably due to a great extent to the fact that different states take different views as to the proper way to discriminate between evil and injurious combina tions and those "associations which are beneficial and necessary to the busi ness prosperity of the country. The great diversity of treatment in differ erent states arising fro mthis cause and the intimate relations of all parts of the country to each other, without regarding state lines in the conduct of business, have made the enforce ment of state laws difficult. It is apparent that uniformity of leg islation upon this subject in the sev eral states is much to be desired. It is to be hoped that such uniformity, founded in a wise and just discrimin ation between what is injurious and what is useful and necessary in busi ness operations, may be obtained and that means may be found for the con gress within the limitations of its con stitutional power so to supplement an effective code of state legislation as to make a complete system of lawB throughout the United States adequate to compel a general observance of the salutary rules to which I have re ferred. The whole question is so Important and far-reaching that I am sure no part of it will be lightly considered, but every phase of it will have the studied deliberation of the congress, resulting In wise and judicious action. REVIEWS FOREIGN RELATIONS. A review of our relations with for eign states is presented with such rec ommendations as are deemed appropri ate. The long pending boundary dispute between the Argentine republic and Chili was settled in March, last, by the award of an arbitral commission, on which the United States minister at Buenos Ayres served as umpire. Progress has been made toward the conclusion of a convention of extra dition with the Argentine republic. Having been advised and consented to by the United States senate and rati fied by Argentina, it only awaits the adjustment of some slight changes in the text before exchange. In my last annual message I adverted to the claim of the Austro-Hunguriau government for indemnity for the kill ing of certain Austrian and Hungarian subjects by the authorities of the state of Pennsylvania at Lattimer, while suppressing an unlawful tumult of miners, September 10, 1897. In view of the verdict of acquital rendered by the court before which the sheriff and his deputies were tried for murder, and following the established doctrine that the government may not be held ac countable for injuries suffered by in dividuals at the hands of the public authorities while acting in the line of duty in suppressing disturbance of the public peace, this government, after vanced by the Austr-Hungarian gov ernment, was constrained to decline liability to indemnify the sufferers. It is gratifying to be able to announce that the Belgian govern ment has mitigated the restrictions on the importation of cattle from the United States, to which I referred in my last message. Having been invited by Belgium to participate in a congress, held at Brus sels, to revise the provisions of the general act of July 2, 1890 for the re pression of the African slave trade, to which the United States was a signa tory party, this government preferred not to be represented by a plenipoten tiary, but reserved the right of acces sion to the result. Notable changes were made, those especially concerning this country being in the line of the increased restriction of the deleterious trade in spiritous liquors with the na tive tribes, which this government has from the outset urgently advocated. The amended general act will be laid before the senate with a view to its ad vice and consent. Early in the year the peace of Boliv ia was disturbed by a successful insur rection. The United States minister re mained at his post attending to the American interests in that quarter and using besides his good offices for the protection of the interests of British subjects in the absence of their nation al representative. On the establish ment of the new government our min ister was directed to enter into rela tions txierewith. General Pando was elected president of Bolivia on October 22. Our representative has been instruct ed to use all permissible friendly en deavors to induce the government of Bolivia to amend its marriage laws so as to give legal status to the non-Catholic and civil marriages of aliens within its jurisdiction and strong hopes are entertained that the Bolivian law in this regard will be brought, as was that of Peru some years ago, into har mony wth the general practice of mod ern states. A convention of extradition with Brazil, signed May 14, 1897, has been ratified by the Brazilian legislature. During the past summer two na tional ships of the United States have visited Brazilian ports on a friendly mission and been cordially received. The voyage of the Wilmington up the Amazon river gave rise to a passing misunderstanding, owing to confusion in obtaining permission to visit the interior and make surveys in the gen eral interest of navigation, but the in cident found a ready adjustment inhar mony with the close relations of amity which this government has always se dulously sought to cultivate with the commonwealths of the western conti nent. The claim growing out of the seizure of the American-owned newspaper, the Panama Star and Herald, by the auth orities of Colombia has been settled, after a controversy of several years, and an agreement assessing at $30,000 the inuemnity to be paid Dy me Colom bian government in three installments of $10,000 each. The good will of Colombia toward our country has been testified anew by the cordial extension of facilities to the Nicaraguan Canal commission in its approaching investigation of the Panama canal and other projected routes across the Isthmus of Darien. Toward the end of October an in surrectionary disturbance developed in the Colombian republic. This move ment has thus far not attained any de cisive result and is still in progress. Discussion of the questions raised by the action of Denmark in imposing re atriMnn: nn the in-mortation of Amer ican meats has continued without sub stantial result in our favor. The neighboring Island republic of Santo Domingo has lately been the scene of revolution, following a long period of tranquillity. It began with the killing of President Heureaux in July last and culminated in the relin quishment by the succeeding vice pres ident of the reins of government to the insurgents. The first act of the provisional government was the call ing of a presidential election. Juan Isidro Jiminez, having been elected president, was inaugurated on the 14th of November. Relations have been en tered into with the newly established government. The experimental association of Nic aragua, Honduras and Salvador, under the title of the Greater Republic of Central America, when apparently on the threshold of a complete federal organization by the adoption of a con stitution and the formation of a na tional legislature, was disrupted in the last days of November, 1898, by the withdrawal of Salvador. There upon Nicaragua and Honduras aban doned the Joint compact, each resum ing its former independent sovereignty. This was followed by the reception of Minister Merry by the republics of Nb-lragua and Salvador, while Minis ter Hunter in turn presented his cre dentials to the government of Hon duras, thus reverting to the old dis tribution of the diplomatic agencies of the United States In Central Amer ica for which our existing statutes provide. A Nicaraguan envoy has been accredited to the United States. An insurrectionary movement, un der General Reyes, broke out at Blue fields In February last and for a time exercised actual control in the Mos quito territory. The Detroit was promptly sent thither for the protec tion of American interests. After a few weeks the Reyes government re- ( nounced the conflict, giving place to the restored supremacy of Nicaragua. During the interregnum certain public dues accruing under Nicaraguan laws were collected from American mer chants by the authorities for the time being in effective administrative con trol. Upon the titular government re gaining power a second payment of these dues was demanded. Contro versy arose touching the validity of the original payment of the debt to the de facto regent of the territory. An arrangement was effected In April last by the United States minister and the foreign secretary of Nica ragua whereby the amounts of the duplicato payments were deposited with the British consul pending an adjustment of the matter by direct agreement between the governments of the United States and Nicaragua. The conroversy is still unsettled. COMMENDS ISTHMIAN CANAL. The contract of the Maritime Canal company of Nicaragua was declared forfeited by the Nicaraguan govern ment on the 10th of October, on the ground of nonfulfillment within the ten-years' term stipulated in the con tract. The Maritime Canal company has lodged a protest against this ac tion, alleging rights in the premises which appear worthy of consideration. This government expects that Nica ragua will afford the protectants a full and fair hearing upon the merits of the case. The Nicaraguan Canal commission, which had been engaged upon the work of examination and survey for a ship canal route across Nicaragua, having completed its labors and made its report, was dissolved on May 31, and on June 10 a new commission, known as the Isthmian Canal corn mission, was organized undor the terms of the act approved March 3, ;899, for the purpose of examining the American isthmus with a view to determining the most practicable and feasible route for a ship canal across that isthmus, with its probable cost and other es sential details. This commission, under the presi dency of Rear Admiral John G. Walk er, U. S. N. (retired), entered promptly upon the work intrusted to it and is now carrying on examinations in Nica ragua along the route of the Panama canal and in Darien from the Atlan tic, in the neighborhood of the Atrato river, to the Bay of Panama on the Pacific side. Good progress has been made, but under the law a compre hensive and complete investigation is called for, which will require much labor and considerable time for its accomplishment. The work will be prosecuted as expeditiously as possi ble and a report made at the earliest practicable date. The great importance of this work cannot be too often or too strongly pressed upon the attention of the congress. In my message of a year ago I expressed my views on the nec essity of a canal which would link the two great oceans, to which I again invite your consideration. The reasons then presented for early action are even stronger now. CHILI SHOWS ITS GOOD WILL. A pleasing incident in the relations of this government with that of Chili occurred in the generous assistance given to the warship Newark when , in distress in Chilian waters. Not alone in this way has the friendly disposition of Chili found expression. That country has acceded to the con vention for the establishment of the Bureau of America Republics, in which organization every independent state of the continent now shares. The exchange of ratifications of a convention for the revival of the Unit ed States and Chilian Claims commis sion and for the adjudication of claims heretofore presented, but not deter- , commission, has been delayed by rea son of the necessity for fresh action by the Chilian senate upon the amend ments attached to the ratification of the treaty by the United States senate. This formality is soon to be accom plished. OPPORTUNITIES IN CHINA. In view of disturbances in the popu lous provinces of northern China, where are many of our citizens, and of the imminence of disorder near the capital and toward the seaboard, a guard of marines was landed from the Boston and stationed during last win ter in the legation compound at Pe kin. With the restoration of order this protection was withdrawn. The interests of our citizens in tnat vast empire have not been neglected during the last year. Adequate protec tion has been secured for our mis sionaries uuu isume lujunca iu incii j property have been redressed. American capital has sought and found various opportunities of com peting to carry out the internal im provement which the imperial govern ment is wisely encouraging to dev velop the natural resources of the empire. Our trade with China has continued to grow and our commercial rights under existing treaties have been everywhere maintained during the last year, as they will be in the future. The extension of the area open to international foreign settlement at Shanghai and the opening of the ports of Nanking. Tsing-Tao (Kiao-Chou) and Talien-Wan to foreign trade and settlement will doubtless afford Amer ican enterprise additional facilities to take advantage. In my message to congress of De cember 5, 1898, I urged that the rec commendation which had been made to the speaker of the house of repre sentatives by the secretary of the treasury on the 14th of June, 1898. for an appropriation for a commission to study the commercial and Indus trial conditions in the Chinese em pire and report an to the oppoi I uni ties for, and obstacles to, the enl.ir.e meiit of markets In China for the raw products and manufactures of t It United States, should receive at your hands the consideration which Its im portance and timeliness merited, but the congress failed to take action. I now renew this recommendation, as the Importance of this subject has steadily grown since It was first sub mitted to you, and no time nhould b lost in studying Tor ourselves the re sources of this great field for Ameri can trade and enterprise. AMERICAN EXHIBIT AT 1'AHIrt. The death of President Faure In February last called for those Hlncero expressions of sympathy which bellt the relations of the two republics tin dowel v allied by unbroken historic, ties as are the United States and France. Preparations for the representation of the industries, arts and products of the United States at the Worlds ex position to be held in Paris next year continue on an elaborate and compre hensive scale, thanks to the generouo appropriation provided by congress and to the friendly interest the Finn U government has shown in furthering a typical exhibit of American prog re.1 e. There has been allotted to the United States a considerable addition or space, which, while placing our coun try In the first rank among exhibi tors, does not Buttice to meet the ln increasingly urgent demands of our manufacturers. The efforts of tho commissioner general are ably direct ed toward a strictly representative dis play of all that most characteristically marks American achievement in th inventltive arts and most adequately kIiowb the excellence of our naturul productions. In this age of keen rivalry among nations for mastery in commerce, the doctrine of the evolution and the rulo of the survival of the fittest must bo as inexorable in their operation as they are positive in the results they bring about. The place won In tho sliuggle by an industrial people can only be held by unrelaxed endeavor and constant advance In achievement. The present extraordinary impetus In every line of American exportation and the astounding increase in the volume and value of our share in the world'B (markets may not be attributed to accidental conditions. The reasons are not far to seek. They lie deep in our national charac ter and find expression year by year in every branch of handicraft, in every new device whereby the materials we so abundantly produce are subdued to the artisan's will and made to yield the largest, most practical and most beneficial return. The American exhibit at Paris should, and 1 am con fident will be, an open volume whoso lessons of skillfully directed endeavor, unfaltering energy and consummate performance may be read by all on every page, thus spreading abroad a clearer knowledge of the worth of our productions and the Justice of ou claim to an important place In thtt marts of the world. The accomplish, this by Judicious selection, by recog nition of paramount merit in what ever walk of trade and manufacture it may appear and by orderly clnsifl cation and attractive installation la the task of our commission. The United States government building is approaching completion and no effort will be spared to make it worthy, in beauty of architectural plan and in completeness of display, 1o represent our nation. It has been suggested that a permanent building; of similar or appropriate design b4 erected on a convenient f-ite, already given by the municipality, near the exposition grounds, to serve in com memoration of the part taken by this country in this great enterprise an an American national institute for our countrymen resorting to Paris for study. I am informed by our commissioner general that we shall have in the American sections at Paris over 7,000 exhibitors from every state in our country, a number ten time as great as those which were represented at Vienna in 1873, six times as many as those in Paris in 1878 and four times as many as those who exhibited in Paris in 1889. This statement does not include the exhibits from either Cuba, Porto Rico or Hawaii, for which arrangements have been mnde. A number of important internation al congresses on special topics affect ing public interests are proposed to bo held in Paris next summer in connec tion with the exposition. Effort will be made to have the several techni cal branches of our administration ef ficiently represented at those confer ences, each in its special line, and to procure the largest possible concourse of state representatives, particularly at the congi-es.ses of public charity and of medicine. GERMAN RELATIONS CORDIAL. Onr relations with Germany contin ue to be most cordial. The increasing intimacy or direct association has been marked during the year by the grim ing of permission in April for the land ing on our shores of a cable from Bor lum Emden on the North sea, by way of the Azores, and also by the conclu sion on September 2 of a parcels post convention with the German empire. In all that promises closer relations of intercourse and commerce and a bettor understanding between two races hav ing so many traits in common, Ger many can be assured of the most cor dial co-operation of this government and people. We may be rivals in many material paths, but our rivalry fhould be generous and open, ever aim ing toward the attainment of larger re sults and the mutually beneficial ad vancement of each in the line of its especial adaptability. The several governments of the em pire seem reluctant to admit the nat ural excellence of our food products and to accept the evidence we con stantly tender of the care with which, their purity is guarded by rigid in spection, from the farm, through th slaughterhouse, and the packing es tablishments, to the port of shipment. Our system of control over exported food staples invites examination from any quarter and challenges respect by its efficient thoroughness. It is to be hoped that in time th two governments will act in common accord toward the realization of their common purpose to safeguard the pub lic health and to the insuring of the products Imported by either country from the other. Were the congrw to