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About The alliance. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1889-1889 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1889)
: r. THE MESSAGE. President Harrison's Annual Review and Recommendations. AT PEACE WITH THE WOULD The dear's Work Done by the Yarious ' r Executive Departments. , THE NATIONAL BANK QUESTION. The Tariff Should Be Revised, but the Pro tective Principle Should Be Maintained The Surplus Should Be Reduced by Re tirement of Government Bonds Pension Should Be Awarded Where the Nation's Defenders Escaped Disease in War but Contracted Ills in the Battle of Life Better Coast Defenses and an Improved Xavy Among the Recommendations. "Washington, D. G, Dec. 8. To the Senate and House of Representatives. There are few transactions in the ad ministration of the government that are even temporarily held in the confidence of those charged with the conduct of the public business. Every step taken is under tbe observation of an intelli gent and watchful people. The state of the union is known from day to day and suggestions as to needed legislation find an earlier voice than that which speaks in these annual communications of the president to congress. FOREIGN RELATIONS. Good will and cordiality have charac terized our relations and correspondence with other governments, and the year just closed leaves few international ques tions of importance remaining unad justed. No obstacle is believed to exist that can long postpone the consideration and adjustment of the still pending ques tions upon satisfactory and honorable terms. The dealings of this government with other states have been, and should always be, marked by frankness and sin cerity, our purposes avowed and our methods free from intrigue. This course has borne rich fruit in the past and it is our duty as a nation to preserve the herit age of good repute which a century of right domg with foreign governments has secured to us. THE TREASURY. The report of the secretary of the treas ury for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, has been prepared and will be pre sented to congress. It presents with clearness the fiscal operations of the gov ernment and I avail myself of it to ob tain some facts for use here. The ag gregate receipts from all sources for the year were 387,050,058. 84, derived as follows. , From customs. . .. .$223,832,741 68 From internal revenue, 130,881,513 92 From miscellaneous sources. ..... 32,335,803 23 The ordinary expenditures for the same period were 1281,996,615.60, and total expenditures, including the smking fund, were 329,579,959. 25. The excess of receipts over expenditures was, after providing for the sinking fund, $57,470, 129.59. For the current fiscal year the the total revenues, actual and estimated, are $385,000,000, and the ordinary ex penditures, actual and e timated, are $293,000,000, making, with the sinking fund, a total expenditure of 341,321, 116.99, leaving an estimated surplus of $43,678,883.01. ' During the fiscal year there was ap plied to the purchase of bonds in addition to those for the sinking fund 90,456, 172.35. and during the first quarter of the current year the sum of $37,838,937.77; all of which were credited to the sinking fund. The revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, are estimated by the treasury department at 385,700,000 and the expenditures for the same period including the sinking fund, at 341, .430,477.70. This shows an estimated surplus for that year of 43,569, 622.30, which is more likely to be in creased than reduced when the actual transactions are written up. The Surplus.' The existence of so large an actual and anticipated surplus should have the immediate attention of congress, with a view to reducing the receipts of the treasury to the needs of the government as closely as may be. The collection of moneys not needed for public uses im poses an unnecessary burden upon our people, and the presence of so large a surplus in the public vaults is a disturb ing element in the conduct . of private business. It has called into use expedi ents for putting it into circulation of very questionable propriety; we should not collect revenue for the purpose of anticipating our bonds beyond the re quirements of the sinking fund. But any unappropriated surplus in the treas ury should be so used, as there is no other lawful way of returning the money to circulation, and the profit realized by the government offers substantial ad vantage. The loaning of public funds to the banks without interest upon the security of government bonds I regard as an unauthorized and dangerous expedient, it results in a , temporary and unnatural increase of the banking capital of favored localities,and compels a cautious and gradual recall of the deposits to avoid injury to the com mercial interests. It is not to be expect ed that the banks having these deposits will sell their bonds to the treasury so long as the present highly beneficial ar- rTrt "ir -tiiiaeu. They now E radically get interest both upon the ondsand their proceeds. No further use should be made of this method of Retting the surplus into circulation, and the deposits now outstanding should be gradually withdrawn and applied to the purchase of bonds. It is fortunate that such a use can be made of ; the existing surplus, and for some time to come of any casual surplus that may exist after congress has taken tbe necessary steps for a reduction of the revenue. Such legislation should be promptly but very considerately enacted. The Tariff. I recommend revision of our tariff , corn m it aaxnimstmuve .riures. and in the schedules. The need of the former is generally conceded and an agreement upon the evils and inconve niences to be remedied and the best methods for their correction will proba bly not be difficult. Uniformity of val uation at all our ports is essential, and effective measures should be taken to secure it. It is equally desirable that questions affecting rates and classifica tions should be promptly decided. The preparation of a new schedule of cus toms duties is a matter of great delicacy, because of its effect upon the business of the country, of great difficulty by reason of the wide divergence of opinion as to the objects that may be promoted by such legislation. Some disturbance of business may perhaps result from consideration of this subject by congress, but this temporary ill effect , will be re duced to the minimum by prompt action and assurance which the country enjoys that any necessary changes will be so made as not to impair the just and rea sonable protection of our home industries. The inequalities of the law should be adjusted, but. The Protecive Principle Should be Main tained and fairly applied td the products of our farms as well as our shops. These duties necessarily have relation to other thing9 besides the public revenue. We cannot limit their effects by fixing our eyes on the public treasury alone. They have a direct relation to home production, to work, to wages and to the commercial independence of our country, and the wise and patriotic legislator should en large the field of his vision to include all of these. The necessary reduction in our public revenues can be made without mak ing the smaller burden more onerous than the larger by reason of ; the disabil ities and limitations which the process of reduction puts upon both capital and labor. The free list can very safely be extended by placing thereon articles that do not offer injurious competition to such domestic products as our home la bor can supply. The removal of the in ternal tax upon tobacco would relieve an important agricultural product from " a burden which was imposed only because our revenue from customs duties was insufficient for the public needs. If safe provision against fraud can be devised the removal of the tax upon spirits' used in the arts and in manufactures would also offer an unobjectionable method of reducing the surplus. A table presented by the secretary of the .treasury, showing the amount of money of all kinds in cir culation each year from 1878 to the pres ent time, is of interest. It appears that the amount of national bank notes in circulation has decreased during that period 114,109,729, of which 37,799,229 is chargeable to the last y ar. The Withdrawal of Bank Circulation will necessarily continue under existing conditions. It is probable the adoption of the suggestions made by the comp troller of the currency, viz., that t e minimum deposit of bonds i or the estab lishment of banks be reduced, and that an issue of notes to the par value of the bond be allowed, would help to main tain the bank circulation, but while this withdrawal of bank notes has been going oi there has been a large increase in the amount of gold and silver coin in circulation, and in the 'is sues of gold and silver certificates. The total amount of money of all kinds in circulation on March 1,1878, was 805, 793,807, while on Oct. 1. 1889, the total amount was 1 ,405,018,000. There was an increase of 293,417,552 in gold and of 57,554,100 in standard silver dollars, of $72,311 ,149 in gold certificates, of $276,619,715 in silver certificates, and of 14,073,787 in United States notes, mak ing a total of, 71 3,976,403. There was during the same period a decrease of 114,109,729 in bank circulation and of $642,481 in subsidiary silver. The net increase was 599,224, 193. The circulation per capita has increased about 5 during the time cov ered by the table referred to. Silver." ' The total coinage of silver dollars was, on Nov. 1, 1889, 343,638,001. of which 283,539,521 were in the treasury vaults and 60,098.480 were in circulation. Of the amount in the vaults 277,319,944 were represented by outstanding silver certificates, leaving 6,219,577 not in cir culation and not represented by certifi cates. The law requiring th purchase by the treasury of y,000,000 worth of silver bullion each month, to be coined into silver dollars of 41 2 grains, has been observed by the department, but neither the pre ent secretary nor any of his predecessors has deemed it safe to exer cise the discretion given by law to in crease the monthly purchases to 4,000,000. When the law was en acted (Feb. 23. 1878) the price of silver in the market was 1.20 4-10 per ounce, making the bullion value of the dollar 93 cents. Since that time the price has fallen as low as 91.2 cents per ounce, reuueing the bullion value of the dollar to 70.6 cents. Within the last few months the market price has some what advanced, and cfn the 1st day of November last the bullion value of . the silver dollar was 72 cents. ; The evil an ticipations which have accompanied the coinage and : use of the silver dollar have not been , realized As a coin it ha3 not had general use. and the public treasury has been compelled to store it. : But this is manifestly owing to the fact that its paper representative i3 more convenient. The general acceptance and use of the silver certificate show that silver has not been otherwise discredited. Some fa- .... . nave contributed to maintain this practical equality iu their commercial use, between the gold and silver dollars. But some of these are trade conditions that statutory enaf t ments do not control, and of the contin uance of which . we cannot be certain, I think it is clear that if we should make the coinage of silver at present ratio free, we must expect the difference in bullion values of gold and silver dollars will be taken account of in commercial transactions, and I fear the same result would follow any considerable increase of present rate of coinage; such a result would be discreditable to our financial management and disastrous to all bad ness interests. ."We should not tread - The Dangerous Edge of Such a Peril, and indeed nothing more harmful could happen to the silv r interests. Any safe legislation upon this subject must secure the equality of the two coins in the com mercial uses. I have always been an ad vocate of the use of silver in our cur rency. We are large producers of that ttietal and should not discredit it. To the plan which will be presenter by tho secretary of the treasury for the issuance of notes of certificates upon the deposit of silver bullion at its market value, I have been able to give only a hast 7 ex Mftiaatiou, owing to tfee press of other matters and to the fact that it has; been so recently formulated. The details of such a law require careful consideration, but the general plan suggested : by him seems to satisfy the purpose to continue the use of silver in connection with our currency, and at the same time to ob viate the danger of which I have spoken. At a later day I may communicate fur ther with congress upon this subject. INTERNAL AFFAIRS.' The enforcement of the ' Chinese exclusion act has been found to be very difficult on the northwestern fron tier. Chinamen landing at Victoria find it easy to pass our border, owing to the impossibility with the force at command of the customs officere of guarding so long an inland line. .The secretary of the treasury has authorized the employment of additional officers, who will be as signed to this duty and every effort will be made to enforce the law. TheDomin ion exacts a head tax of $50 for each Chinaman landed : and when these persons, in fraud of our law cross into bur territory and are ap prehended our . officers do not know what to do with them as the Do minion authorities will not suffer them to be sent back without a second pay ment of the tax. An effort will be made to reach an - understanding that will re move this difficulty. The proclamation required by section 3. of the act of March 2, 1889, relating to the ki ling of seals and other fur-bearing animals, was issued by me on the 21st day of March, and a revenue vessel was dispatched to enforce the laws and protect; the interests of the United States. The establisnment of a refuge station at Point Barrow as directed by congress, was unsuccessfully accomplished. Judged by modern standards we are Practically "Without Coast Defences. Many of the structures we have would enhance rather than diminish the perils of their garrisons if subjected to fire of improved, guns, and very few are so lo cated as to give full effect to the greater range of such guns as we are now mak ing for coast-defence use. Thi3 general subject has had consideration m con gress for some years, and the appropria tion for the construction, of large rifled guns, ma ie one year ago, was, I am sure, the expression of a purpose to pro vide suitable works in which , these guns might be mounted. An appropriation now made for that purpose would not advance the completion of the works beyond one ability to supply them with effective guns. The security of our coast cities against foreign at tacks should not rest altogether in the friendly disposition of other Dation3. There should be a second line wholly in our own keeping. I urgently recom mend an appropriation at this session for the construction of such works in our much exposed harbors. I approve the suggestion of the secretary of war that provisions be made for encamping com panies of the National Guards in our coast works for a specified time each year for their training in the use , of heavy guns. His suggestion that an in ciease of the artillery force of the army is desirable is also in connection com mended to the consideration of con gress. . .. . River and Harbor Improvement. The improvement of our important rivers and harbors should be promoted by the necessary appropriations. Care should be taken that the government is not committed - to the prosecution of works not of public and general advant age, and that the relative usefulness of works of that class is not overlooked. So far as this work can ever be said to be completed, I do not doubt that the end would be sooner and more econom ically reached if fewer separate works were undertaken at the same time and those selected for their greater general interest were more rapidbj pushed to completion. work once considerably begun should not be subjected to the risk and deterioration which interrupted or insufficient appropriations necessarily occasion. Supreme Court Relief. The necessity of providing some more speedy methods for disposing of the cases which now come for final adjudi cation to the supreme courtr becomes every year more apparent and urgent. The plan of providing some intermediate courts having final appellate jurisdiction of certain cla sea of questions and cases has, I think, received a more general ap pro ral from the bench and bar of the country than any other. Without at tempting to discuss details, I recommend that provision should be made for the es tablishment of such courts. The salaries of the judges of the dis trict courts in many of the districts are in my judgment inadequate. I recommend that afi such salaries now below $5,000 per annum be increased to that amouni It is quite true that the labor performec by these judges is very unequal, but as th y cannot proper y engage in other pursuits to supplement their incomes,the salary should be such in all case3 as to provide an independent and comfortable trT.wt . . ''.:. Earnest attention should be given by congress to a considr ration of the ques tion how far the rest.-aint of ihoso com binations of capital . commonly called 'trusts"isa matter of federal jurisdiction. When organized as they often are to crush out all healthy competition, to monopolize the production or sale of an article of commerce and general neces sity, they are dancerous conspiracies against the public good and should be made the subject of prohibitory and even penal legislation. The subject of an International Couyrifcht. has been frequently commended to tho attention of congress by my predeces sors. .The enactment "of such a law would be eminently wise and just. Oar Naturalization Laws . should be revised as to make the inquiry into the character and good disposition towards our government of the persons applying for citizenship more thorough. This can only bo done by taking fuller control of the examinations, by fixing the time for hearing each application and by requiring the presence of some one who shall represent the government in the inquiry. Those who are the ene mies of social order or who come to our shores to swell the injurious , influence and to extend the evil practices of any association that defies our laws, should not only be denied citizenship, but a domicile. The enactment of A National Bankrupt Law of a character to be a permenant part of our general legislation is desirable. It should be simple in its methods and in expensive in its administration. THE DEPARTMENTS. The Report of the Postmaster General not only exhibits the operations of the department for the fiscal year, but con tains inany valuable suggestions for the improvement and. extension of the grr Ice, which are commended to your at tention. No other branch of the govern ment has so close a contact with the daily life of the people. Almost every one uses the service it offers, and eJeJ hour gained in the transmission of the great commercial mails are a actual and possible value that only ihose en gaged in the trade can understand. The saving of one day in the transmission of the mails between New York and San Francisco, which has recently been ac complished, is an incident worthy of mention. The plan suggested of a su pervision of the postoffices in separate districts that shall involve instruction and suggestion and a rating of the effi ciency Of the TORtrrojo pould. . I Jxn.va no doubt, greatly improve the service. The unsatisfactory condition of the law relating to the transmission through the mail of lottery advertisements and re mittances is clearly stated by the .post master general, and his suggestion as to amendment should have your favorable consideration. THE NAVY. . - The report of the secretary of the navy shows a reorganization of the' bureaus of the department that will, I do not doubt, promote the efficiency of each. In general satisfactory progress has been made in the construction of the new ships of our war authorized by congress. Tho first vessel of the new navy, the Dolphin, was subjected to very severe trial tests and to very much criticism, but it is gratifying to be able to state that a cruise around the world, from which she has recently returned, has demonstrated that she is a first-class vessel of her rate. The reports of the secretary shows that while the effective force of the navy is rapidly increasing by reas n of the improved build and arma ment of the new ships, the number of our ships fit for sea duty "grows very slowly. We had on tbe 4th of March last thirty -seven serviceable ships, and though four have since been added to the list the total has not been increased, because in the meantime four have been lost or condemned. Twenty-six . additional vessels have been authorized and appropriated for, but it is probable that ( when they are completed our list will only Le in creased to forty-two, a gain of five. The old wooden ships are disappearing as fast as the new vessels are added. These facts carry their own argument. One of the new ships may, in fighting strength, be equal to two of the old, but it cannot do the cruising duties of two. It is im portant, therefore, that we should have a more rapid increase in number of serviceable ships. I concur in the rec ommendation of the secretary that tho construction of eight Jarmored ships three gunbaats and five torpedo boats be authorized. An Appalling Calamity befell three of our naval vessels on duty at the Samoan islands, in the harbor of Apia, in March last, involving the loss of four officers and forty-seven seamen of two vessels, the Trenton and Vandalia, and the disabling of the third, the Nip sic. Three vessels of the German navy also in the harbor, shared with our ship the force of tiie hurricane and suffered even more heavily. While mourning the brave officers and men who died fac ing with high resolve perils greater than those of cattle, it is most gratifying to state the credit of the American navy for scamenship, courage and generosity was magnificently sustained in the storm-beaten harbor of Apia. INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. The report of the secretary of the in terior exhibits the transactiens of the government with the Indian tribe3. Sub stantial progress has been made in . the education of the children of a school agj and in the allotment of lands to adult Indians. It is to be regret ed that the policy of breaking up tue tribal relation and of dealing with the Indian as an in dividual did not appear earlier in our legislation. Largo reservations held in common and the maintenance of the authority of the chiefs and headmen, have deprived the in dividual of every incentive to the exer cise of thrift, and the annuity has con tributed an affirmative impulse toward a state of confirmed pauperism. Our treaty stipulations should be observed with fidelity, and our legislation should be highly considerate of the best interests of an ignorant and helpless people. The T""ions 3X6 now generally Surround ed by white settlements. We can no longer push the Indian back ?nto tho wilderness, and it remains only by every suitable agency to push him upward into the estate of a self-supporting and re sponsible citizen. For the adult the first step is to locate him on a farm and for the child to place him in a school. The national schools for Indians have been very successful and should be mul tiplied, and as far as possible should be so organized and conducted as to' facili tate tho transfer of tbe schools to the states or territories in which they are located when the Iudians in a neighbor hood have accepted citizenship and have become fitted for such a transfer. The last congress enacted two distinct laws relating to negotiations with the Sioux Indians of Dakota for a relinquishment of a portion of their lands to the United States, and for dividing the remainder into separate reservations. Both were ap proved on the same day, March 2. The one submitted to the Indians a specific proposition, the other (section 3 of tho Indian appropriation act) authorized by the president to appoint three commis sioners to negotiate with the38 Indian for the accomplishment of the general purpose and required that any agreement made should bo sub mitted to congress for ratification. On tho sixteenth day of April last 1 appointed Hon. Chas. Foster, of Ohio, Hon. Wm . Warner, of Missouri , and May Gen. George Crooks, of the United States army, commissioners under the last named. They were however, auth orized and directed first to submit to the Indians the definite proposition made to them by the act first mentioned, and only in the event of a failure to secure the assent of the requisite number to the proposition, to open negotiations for modified terms under the other acts. The work of the commission was prolonged and arduous, but the assent of the requis ite number was, it is said, finally obtained to the proposition. This argument releases to the United States about nine million acres of land. Tho commission provides for by sec. 14, of the Indian appropriation bill to negotiate with the Cherokee Indians and all other Indians owning or claiming lands lying west of the ninety" sixth degree of longitude for ' the session to the United States, of all such lands was constituted by the appoint ment of Hon. Lucius Fatrchild of Wis consin. Hon. John F. Hartranftof Penn sylvania and Hon. Alfred M. Wilson of Arkansas, and organized on June 29 last. Their first conference with the represen tatives of the Cherokees was held at Tahleqvah July 29, with no definite're sults. Gen. John F. Hartranft of Penn sylvania was prevented by ill-health from taking part in the conference. His death, which occurred recently, is justly and generally lamented by a people he had served with conspicuous gallantry in war and with great fidelity in peace. The vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of Hon. Warren G. Sayre of Indiana. A second conference between the commission and the Chero kees was begun Nov. 6, but no results have yet been obtained, nor is it be lieved that a conclusion can be immedi ately expected. The cattle syndicate now occupying the lands for grazing purposes is clearly one of the agencies responsible for the obstruction of our ne gotiations with the Cherokees. The large body of agricultural lands consti tuting what is known as , The "Cherokee Outlet" ought not to be and cannot long be held for grazing and for the advantage of a few against the public interests and the best advantage of the Indians them selves. The United States has now un der the treaties certain rights in these lands. These will not be used oppress ively, but it cannot be allowed that those who by sufferance occupy these lands shall interpose to defeat the wise and beneficent purposes of the government. T cannot but neliw h?.t t- pvon tageous offer made by the United States to the Cherokee Nation for a full release of the-e lands, as compared with other suggestions now made to them, will yet obtain for it a favorable consideration. Under the agreement made between the United States and the Muskogee (or Creek) nation of nations on tlie 19th day January, 1688, an absolute title was se cured by tho United States to about three and a half millions of acres of land. Section 12 of the general Indian ap propriation act, approved March 2, 1889, made provision for the purchase by the United States from the Seminoles of a certain portion of their land. The dele gates of the Seminole nation, having first duly evidenced to me their power to act in that behalf, delivered a proper release and conveyance to the use of all the lands mentioned in the act, which was accepted by me and certified .to be in compliance with the statute. By the term of l oth the acts referred to all the lands so purchased were declared to be a part of the public domain and open to settlement Under the Homestead Law, but a portion of the land embraced in these purchases being in the aggregate about five and a half million acres, had already under the terms of the treaty of 1856 been acquired by the United States for the purpose of selling other Indian tribes thereon and had been appropri ated to that purpose. The land remain- . . . . .... ing anu uoa,ouaui iui uv.u.c.uv ixtu- sisted of 1,887,796 acres surrounded on all sides by lands in the occupancy of Indian tribes. Congress had provided no civil government for the people who were to be united by my proclama tion, except as the new court, which had been established at Muscogee, or the United States court in some of the adjoining states, had power to enforce the general laws of the United States. In this condition of things, I was quite reluctant to open the lands to settlement, but in view of the fact that the several thousand per sons, many of them with their families, had gathered upon the borders of the Indian territory with a view of securing homesteads on the ceded lands. ' All that delay in volved them in much loss and suffering. I did on the 93d day of March last, issue a proclamation declar ing that the lands therein described wmill be open to se til ' provisions of the law, on the 2fcd day of April following, at 13 o'clock noon. Two land districts had been established and the offices were open for the transaction of business when the appointed time ar rived. It is much to the credit of the settlers that they observed the limitation as to the time when they might enter the territory. Care will be taken that those who entered in violation of the law do not secure the advantage they unfairly sought. It is estimated that there now in the territory about 60, )00 peoplo, and several con iderable towns have sprung up, for which tem porary municipal governments have been organized. I very urgently recommend that congress at once provide n terri torial go eminent for these people. Seri ous questions, which may at any time lead to violent outbreaks, are awaiting the institution of courts for their peace ful adjustment. The American genius for self government has been well illus trated in Oklahoma, but it i3 neither safe nor wise to leave these people longer to the expedients which have temporari ly served them. In the administration of the land laws the policy of facilitating in every proper way the adjustment of the Honest Claims of Individual Settler on the public lands has been pursued. The number of pending cases had, dar ing the preceding administration, been greatly increased under the operation of orders for a time suspending final actio.x in a large part of the cases originating in the west and northwest, and by the sub sequent use of unusual methods of ex amination. Only those who are familiar with the conditions under which our ag ricultural lands have been settled can appreciate the serious . and often fatal consequences to the settler of a policy that puts his title under suspicion or de tail the issuance of his patent. While ca.re is taken to prevent and to expose fraud, it should not be imputed without reason. The mauifest purpose of the homestead and pre-emption laws was to promote the settlement of the public domain by persons having a bona fide intent to raakea home on the selected lands, Wherethisiutentls well establishecTand the requirements of th law have, been substantially complied with, the claim ant is entitled to a prompt and friendly consideration of his case. But whore there is reason to lelieve that the claim ant is the mere agent of another, who is seeking to evade the law intended to promote small holdings and to secure by fraudulent methods large tracts of tim ber and other lands, both principal and and agenty should not only be thwarted in their fraudulent purpose, but should be made to feel the full penalties of our criminal statutes. -The laws should be so administered as not to xnfound these two classes, and to visit penalties only upon the latter. The unsettled state of the title to large bodies of lands in the territories of :" , Alaika. We have fortunately not extended to Alaska the mistaken i-licy of establish ing reservations for be Indian tribes, and can deal with tho ra rom the begin ning as individuals with, I am sure, bet ter results, But anj-dupojittcacf th lueuium wesi or ine - .Mississippi river. ' vuiuuoieirom mis urucie. public lauds and any regulations leading to timber and to the fisheries should have a kindly regard to their interests. Hav ing no power to levy taxes the people of Alaska are wholly dependent upon the general government, to whose revenues the seal fisheries make a large annual contribution. An appropriation for te ductions should neither be overlooked nor stinted. The smallness of the popu lation and the great distances betweeo the settlements offer serious obstacles to 11 A 11;K n.". sv? 4VtA 1 1 311 Q 1 At swtAl f0rin of government. . Perhaps the or ganization of several sub-districts, with a small municipal council of limited powers for each, would be safe and use ful. Attention is called in this connec tion to suggestions of the secretary of the treasury in relation to the establish ment of another port of entry in Alaska and of other needed customs facilities and regulations. New Mexico and Ariiona has greatly retarded the growth of those territories. Provisions should be made by law for the prompt trial and final ad justment before a judicial, tribunal or commission of all claims based upon Mexican grants. It is not just to an intel ligent and enterprising people that their peace should be disturbed and their prosperity retarded by those old conten-, tiona. I hope that differences of opinion as to rneUiods may yield to the urgency Pensions. TTn law rmvidA a npnhinn for everv'1 Holdier and sailor who was mustered into; the service of the United States during;' the civil war and is now sunering iroin wour.du or disease having an rigin ir , the service, and the line of duty two of tliwiA napucuanr fnnta vir mnafwr and. disability are usually susceptible of easy' proof, but the third "origin in tlie eervice is often difficult, and in many destrving." cases impossible to establish. That y" many of those who endured 4 the hata ships of our most bloody and nrduona campaigns are now disabl d from dis eases that had a real but not traceable origin in service we do not doubt. Be sides those are another class composed B men, many of whom served y an enlist ment of the three full years and of re enlisted veterans who added a fourth year of service, who esqaped the casual ties of battles and tho assaults of dis ease, who were always ready for any de tail, who were in every battle line of their conimaiid, and were mustered out in sound health and have since tho close of the war, while fighti g with the samo indomitable and iadependent spirit, the contests of civil life, . been overcome by disease or casualty. I am not unaware that the pension roll 1 3 1 1 . 1 . 1 tuieauy mvuivea a very utrge unmuii ex penditure, neither am I deterred by that fact from recommending that congress grant a pension to such honorably dis charged soldiers and sailors of the civil war as having rendered substantial ser vice during the war are now - dependent upon their own labor for a maintenance, and by disease or casuality are incapaci ated for earnings. Many of the men who would be included in this form of relief are now dependent upon public aid, and it does not in my judgment consist with the national honor that tltey shall continue to subsist upon the local relief given indiscriminately to paupers instead of upon the special and generous pro vision of the nation thev served so enl- lantly and uiiselfishly. Our peopl e will, I dm sure, very generally approve such legislation, and I am equally 6ure that the survivors of the Union ' arm and navy will feel grateful sense of relief when this worthy and suffering class of their comrades are fairly cared for. Therein some manifest qualities in exist ing law that should be remembered. To some of these the secretary of (he in terior has called attention. It is gratifying to be able to state that on account of new and better methods in the war department, the calls of the pension office for information as to the military and hospital records of pension claimants, are now promptly answered, and the injurious and vexatious delays which have heretofore occurred are en tirely avoided. This will greatly facil itate the adjustment of all pending claims. The New States. The advent of four new stites South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Washington into the union under t constutition in tbe same month, and the admission of their duly chosen repre sentatives to our national congress at tho same session, is an event as ufSampled as it is interesting. The certilvutiun of the votoo cast and of the constitution adop'ed in each of the states was filed with n- as required by the eighth sec tion of the act of Feb. 23, 1889, by the govt mors of 6aid territories respectively. Having, after a careful examination, found that the several constitutions and governments were republican in form and not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States, that all the provisions of the act of congress had been complied with, and that a majority of votes cast in each of said proposed states was in favor of adoption of the constitution sub mitted therein, I did so declare by a separ. te proclamation as to each; as to North Dakota and South Dakota x Sat urday, Nov. a, as to Montana on Friday, jnov. o, and as to Washington on Mon day, Nov. 11. 4 ' . Relief for Railway Employes. During the ye ar ending June .30, 1888, over two thousand employes were killed m service and more than twenty thou sand injured. It m competent, I think, for congress to require uniformity in the construction of cars used in inter-state . commerce and the use of improved safe ty appliances upon such trains. Time will be necessary to make the needed changes, but an earnest and intelligent beginning should be made at once. The president recommends that the weather service be separated from the war department; says the creation of the agricultural department was a wise and timely response to a request long re spectfully urged; commends the work of the civil service reform commission, and recommends a system of promotion lor efficiency; recommends government aid for educational purposes, to be used in connection with social and state funds; . pays a tribute to the colored race, and says: I earnestly invoke the attention of con gress to the consideration of such meas- ures, witn its wen aennea constitutional powers as will secure to all our people a free exercise of the right of suffrage and every other civil right under the consti tutions and laws of the United States. No evil, however deplorable, can justify the assumption, either on the Dart of the executive or of congress,! of powers not p ranted, but both will beJ highly blameable if all the powers; granted are not wisely but firmly used! to correct these evils. A recitation of the crippled condition of our merchant marine and recommend-' ations for its upbuilding olotf tat mtz: 3. : 7 :