Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1889)
HBBmPPBB!3332HMf7 --" ifcr F.v-i THE MESSAGE. "First Messago of President Har rison to Congress. UUViewH on Tariff Revision, Pensions, tbe Circulation, Silver Coinage, Stcam- hio Subsidies and Other Questions. Washington. Dec. 4. The President's mes sage was received in both bouses of Congress yesterday at noon and Is principally as fol lows: To the Senate and IJoutt of Itepretenlativt: Few transacticus in the administration of government are even temporarily held in tbe confidence or those charged with the conduct of public business. Kvery step taken is under t lie observation of an intelli gent and watchful people. The state of the Untjn is known from day to day and sugges tions as to needed legislation 11 nd an earlier voice than that which speaks in these an nual communications of the President to Congress. Good will and cordiality have character ized our relations and correspondence with other Governments, and the year closed leaves few international questions of impor tance unadjusted. No obstaclo is believed to exist that can long postpone the consider ution and adjustment of still pending ques tion upon satisfactory and honorable terms. The dealings of this Government with other States have been mnrked by frankness and sincerity, 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 heritage of good repute which a century of right dealing with foreign Governments has secured to us. It is a matter of significance and no fess of congratu'itions that the first year of the Fcccnd century of our constitutional exist ence finds as honored guest within our bor ders the representatives of all the independ ent State of North and Soutli America met together in earnest conference touching tho best methods of perpetuating and expand ing the relations of mutual interest and friendliness existing among them. That the opportunity thus afforded for pro moting closer international relations and the Iwi eased prosperity of the States repre sented will be u-cd for the mutual good of all I can not permit myself to doubt. Our people will await with interest and con fidence the results to flow from so auspicious ,i meeting of allied and in large part identical interest. Hecommcndations of this International conference of enlightened statesmen will have, the attention of Congress and its co operation in tlii removal of unnecessary bar riers between the Nations of America. Hut "while the commercial results which it is hoped will follow this conference are worthy of praise and the great interest they have I'Aciteil. it is believed the crowning benefit will be found in the better securities which may be devised for the maintenance of peace among all American Nations and settlement of all contentions by methods Christian civilization can approve. While viewing with interest our National resources and products, the delegates, I am sure, will find a higher satisfaction in the evidences of un selfish f: iciidship which everywhere attends the intercoiirM- with our people. An international marine conference, hav ing gieat possibilities for good, has lately :issemhlfd and is now in session in this cap ital. An invitation was extended by the Gov ernment, under the act of Congress of July P, lss), to all maritime nations to send delegates to confer touching the revision and amendment of the rules ami regulations governing vessels and to adopt a uniform system of marine signals. The response to this invitation has been very general and very cordial. Dele gates lrom twenty-six Nations are present in the conference and they have entered upon their useful work with great zeal and with an evident appreciation of its importance. So far as the agreement to be reached may require legis lation to give it effect the co-operation of Con gress is confidently relied upon. It Is an In teresting and unprecedented fact that the two international conferences have brought here the accredited representatives of thirty three Nations. Bolivia, Ecuador and Hon duras are now represented by resident en voys of the plenipotentiary grade. All the Mates of the American system now maintain diplomatic relations at this capital. In this connection It may be noted that all the Nations of tho Western Hemisphere, with one exception, send to Washington Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipoten tiary, being the highest grade accredited to this Government. Tho United States, on the contrary, send envoys of the lower grade to some of our sister republics. Our represent ative in Paraguay and Uruguay Is a Minister Bcsidciit, while to ltolivia we send a Minister BcsidentandConsul-Gcnoral. In view of the importance of our relations with the States of the American system our diplomatic agents in those countries should be of the uniform rank of Envoy Extraordinary und Blinister Plenipotentiary. Certain missions were so elevated by the last Congress with happy effect, and I recommend the completion of the reform thus begun, with tho inclusion also of Hawaii and Hayti, in view of their relations to the American system of States. I also recommend that timely provision be made for extending to Hawaii an invitation to be represented in the international conference now sitting at this capital. DELATIONS WITH CHINA. Our relations with Ciiina have the attcn tintive consideration which their magnitude and interest demand. The failure of the treaty negotiated under my predecessor for the further and more complete restriction of Chinese labor, immigration and with it the legislation of the last session of Congress dependent thereon leaves some questions open which Congress should now approach in that wise and Just spirit which should characterize the relations of two great and friendly pou ers, while our supreme interests demand the exclusion of a laboring clement which experience has shown to be incom patible witli our social life. All steps to compass this imperative need should be accompanied with a recognition of the claim of thtise strangers now lawfully among us to humane and just treatment. The acces sion of the young Emperor of China marks, we may hope, an era of progress and pros perity for the great country over which ho is alled to rule. SAM O AX AFFAIHS. The present state of affairs in respcot to the Samoan Islands is encouraging. The conference which was held in this eitv in the summer of 1SSS between the representatives of the United States, -Gcmianvand Great Britain had been ad journed because of the persistent divergence of views which was developed in its delib erations. The subsequent course of events In the islands gave rise to questions of a seri ous character. On the 4th oi February last the German Minister at this capital in behalf of his Government proposed a resumption of the conference at Berlin. This proposi tion was accepted, as Congress In February last was informed. Pursuant to the under standing thus reached commissioners were appointed by me, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who proceeded to Ber lin and the conference was resumed. The deliberations extended through several weeks and resulted in the conclusion of a treaty which will be submitted to the Senate for its approval. nnmsH affairs. The questions which have arisen during the past few years between Great Britain and the United States are in abeyance or In course of adjustment. On the part of the Government of the Do minion of Canada an effort has been ap parent during the season just ended to ad minister the laws and regulations applicable to the fisheries with as little occasion tor friction as was possible, and the temperate repressions of this Government in re spect of cases of undue hardship or of harsh reprcscntat'.sna hare In most cases been met with measures of transitory relief. It Is trusted that the attainment of our Just rights under existing treaties and by virtue of the concurrent legislation of the two contiguous countries will not be long delayed and that all existing cause of differences may be equitably adjusted. I recommend that provision be made by an international agreement forvisibly mark ing the water boundary between tbe United States and Canada In the narrow channels that join the great lakes. The conventional line therein traced by the Northwestern survey years ago Is not in all cases readily ascertainable for the settlement of juris dictional questions. A just and acceptable enlargement of the list of offenses for which extradition may be claimed and granted is most desirable be tweon this country and Great Britain. The territory of neither should become a secure harbor for the evil doers of tho other through any available shortcoming In this regard. A new treaty on this subject be tween the two Powers has been recently ne gotiated and will soon be laid before the Senate. OTIIER FOREIGN QUESTIONS. The importance of the commerce of Cuba and Porto Itico with the United States, their nearest and principal market, justifies tbe expectation that the existing relations may be beneficially expanded. The Impediments resulting from varying dues on navigation and from the vexatious treatment of our ves sels on merely technical grounds of com plaints In West India ports, should be re moved. The progress toward an adjustment of pending claims between the United States and Spain is not so rapid as could be desired. Questions affecting American Interests In connection with railways constructed and operated by ourcitizens in Peru have claimed the attention of this Government. It is urged that other Governments in pressing Peru to the payment of their claims have disre garded the property rights of American clti-, zens. The matter will be carefully Investi gated with a view to securing a proper and equitable adjustment. A similar issue is now pending with Portugal. The Delagoa Bay railway in Africa was constructed under a concession by Portugal to an American citizen. When nearly completed tho road was seized by the agents of the Portuguese Government. For mal protest has been made through our Minister at Lisbon against this act and no proper effort will be spared to secure proper relief. In pursuance of the charter granted by Congress and under the terms of its contract with tiic Government of Nicaragua the Inter-Oceanic Canal Company has begun the construction of tho Important water way be tween tile two oceans. Grave complications for a time seemed Im minent in view of a supposed conflict of Ju risdiction between Nicaragua and Costa Bica in regard to the accessory privilege to be conceded by the latter Republic toward the construction of works on tho San Juan river, of which the right bank Is Costa Bica terri tory, lam happy to learn that a friendly arrangement has been effected between the two Nations. The traditional good feeling between this country and the French Bcpublic has re ocived additional testimony in the participa tion of our Government and people in the International Exposition held at Paris dur ing the past summer. Tho success of our exhibitors has been gratifying. The reports of the Commission will be laid before Con gress in due season. This Government has accepted, under proper reserve as to its policy In foreign territories, the Invitation of the Government of Belgium to take part in an International congress which opens at Brussels on the ICtli of November for the purpose of devising measures to promote tho abolition of the slave trade of Africa, to prevent tho shipment of slaves by sea. Our in terest in the extinction of this crime against humanity in the region whero It yet survives has been increased by the results of emancipation within our own borders. With Germany the most cordial relations exist. The questions arising from the return to the Empire of Germans naturalized in this country are considered and disposed of in a temperate spirit to the entire satisfaction of both Governments. It is a source of great satisfaction that the internal disturbances of the Bcpublic of Uayti aro at last happily ended and that an apparently stable Government has been con stituted, it has been duly recognized by the United States. A mixed commission Is now in session in this capital for settlement of long-standing claims against the Republic of Venezuela, and it is hoped that a satisfactory conclusion will be speedily reached. Questions continue to arise at our relations with several countries in respect to the rights of naturalized citizens. Especially is this the case with France, Italy. Russia and Turkey and to a less extent with Switzer land. From time to tixneearnestefforts have been made to regulate this subject by con ventions. An Improper use of naturalization should not be permitted, but It is important that those who have been duly naturalized should everywhere be accorded recognition of the rights pertaining to citizenship of the country of their adoption. The appropria tions of special conventions for that purpose is recognized in treaties which this Govern ment lias concluded with a number of Euro pean States, and it is advisable that the diffi culties which now arise in our relations witli other countries on the same subject should be similarly adjusted. The recent revolution in Brazil In favor of the establishment of a republican form of government is an event of great interest to tho United States. Our Minister at Bio Janeiro was at once instructed to maintain friendly diplomatic relations with tho Pro visional Government and the Brazilian representatives at tho capital were instruct ed by the Provisional Government to con tinue their functions. Our friendly inter course with Brazil has therefore suffered no interruption. Our Minister has been further instructed to extend on the part of this Government a formal and cordial recogni tion of the new republic so soon as the majority of the people of Brazil shall have signified their assent to its establishment and maintenance. Home Matters. Within our own borders a general condi tion of prosperity prevails. The harvests ol the last summer were exceptionally abun dant and the trade conditions now prevail ing seem to promise a successful season to the merchant and the manufacturer and gen eral employment to our working people. THE TREASCRT. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury for the fiscal year ended Juno 30, 1SS9, has been prepared and will be presented to Con gress with tho fiscal operations of tbe Gov ernment, and I avail myself of it to obtain some facts for use here. The aggregate re ceipts from all sources for the year were $JS7,050,OC9.S4. It was derived as follows: From customs, jyj.J,S32,Tl.C3; from internal reve nue, $130,S2,513.92; from miscellaneous sources, $!,335,SaJ.23. The ordinary expenditures for tbe same period were SWI.SW.GIS.CO, and tho total ex penditures, including the sinking fund, were J329.579.929.23. The excess of receipts over expenditures was, after providing for tho sinking fund, 57,470,129.59. For the current fiscal year tbe total revenues, actual and estimated, arc $3S3,000,000, and the ordinary expenditures, actual and estimated, are $293,000,009, making, with the sinking fund, a total expenditure of $.141,321,110.99, leaving an estimated surplus of $43,C7S,S3.01. During the fiscal year there was applied to toe purchase of bonds, In addition to these, for tlie sinking fund $?0,jG,r72.33, and during the first quarter of the current year tbe sum of $37,638,937.77, all of which was credited to the sinking fund. Tbe revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30, 181, arc estimated by the treasury department at $3S5,000,000, and the expendi tures for the same period, including the sinking fund, at $341,439,477.70. This shows an estimated surplus f that year of $43,-50.1,522-30 ; which is more Kkely to be increased than reduced when tbe actual transactions are written up. TBS suarLUS. Tbe existence of so large an actual and an ticipated surplus should have tbe immedi ate attention of Congress with a view to re ducing 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 imposes an unnecessary burden upon our people and the presence of so large a surplus in the public vaults is a disturbing element in the conduct of private business. It has called into use expedients for putting it Into circulation of very questionably pro priety. We should not collect revenue for tho purpose of anticipating our bunds be yond the requirement of tho 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 cir culation, and the profit realized by tho Gov ernment offers a substantial advantage. The loaning of public funds to the banks without interest, upon the security of Gov ernment bonds, I regard as an unauthorized and dangerous expedient. It results in a temporary and unnatural Increase of tho banking capital of favored localities and compels a cautious and gradual recall of tbe deposits to avoid injury to the commercial Interests. It is not to be expected that the banks having these deposits will sell their bonds to the treasury so long as the present highly beneficial arrangement is continued. They now practically get interest both upon the bonds and their proceeds. No further use should be made of this method of getting the surplus into circulation, and the deposits now out standing should be gradually withdrawn and applied to the purchase of bonds. It is fortunate that such 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 the necessary steps for a reduction of the revenue. Such legis lation should be promptly but very consid erately enacted. TDK TARIFF. I recommend a revision of our tariff law, both in its administrative features and in the schedule. Tho need of the former Is generally conceded, and an agreement upon the evils and inconveniences to bo remedied and tho best methods for their correction will probably not be difficult. Uniformity of valuation at all our ports Is essential, and effective measures should be taken to secure it. It is equally desirable that questions affecting rates and classifications should bo promptly decided. The preparation of a new schedule of cus tom duties Is a matter of great delicacy, be cause of its effect upon the business of tho country; of great difficulty, by reason of the wide divergence of opinion as to the objects that may ho promoted by such legislation. Some disturbance of busi ness may perhaps result from consideration of this subject by Congress, but this tempo rary ill-effect will bo reduced to a minimum by prompt action, and tho assurance which the country enjoys that any necessary changes will be so made as not to impair tho just and reasonable protection of our home industries. The ineqalities of the law should be adjusted, but the protective prin ciple should ho maintained and fairly ap plied to the products of our farms as well as of our shops. Theso duties necessarily have relation to other things besides public rev enues. Wc can not limit their effects by fix ing our eyes on the public treasury alone. They have a direct relation to home produc tion, to work, to wages and to the commer cial Independence of our country, and the wise and patriotic legislator should enlarge the field of his vision to include all of these. The necessary reduction In our public rev enues can, I am sure, be made without mak ing tho smaller burden more onerous than the larger by reason of tho disabities and limitations which tho process of reduction puts upon both capital and labor. The free list can very safely he extended by placing thereon articles that do not offer injurious competition to such domestic products as our home labor can supply. Tho removal of the internal tax upon tobacco would relievo an important agricultural product from a burden which was Imposed only because our revenue from custom duties was insufficient for the public needs. If Bafe provision can be devised, tho re moval of the tax upon spirits used in the arts and manufactures would offer an un objectionable method of reducing the sur plus. THE CIRCULATION. A tablo presented by the Secretary of the Treasury showing tho amount of money of all kinds in circulation each year from 1S73 to the present time is of interest. It appears that tho amount of National bank notes in circulation has decreased during that period $114,109,729, of which $37,799,229 is chargeable to tbe last year. The withdrawal of bank circulation will necessarily continue under existing condi tions. It is probable the adoption of the suggestions made by the Comptroller, viz., that the minimum deposit of bonds for the establishment of banks be reduced, and that an issue of notes to the par valuo of the bonds be allowed, will help to maintain the bank circulation. But while this withdrawal of bank notes has been going on there has been a largo 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 Maroh 1, 1878, was $S05,793,$07, while on October 1, 1S&9, the total was $1,405, 018,00a There was an increase of $293,417,562 in gold coin, of $37,551,100 in standard silver dollars, of $72,311,219 in gold certificates, of $276,619,715 in silver certificates, and of $14, 073,757 in United States notes, making a total of $713,976,403. There was during the samo period a decrease of $111,109,729 In bank cir culation and of $042,431 in subsidiary silver. Tho net Increase was $599, 224,193. Tho circulation per capita has increased about five dollars during the time covered by the tabic referred to. The total coinage of silver dollars was on November 1, 1SS9, $3G3.C,0Q1, of which $233,539,521 were in the treasury vaults and $00,09S,tS0 were in cir culation. Of the amount in tho vaults $277, 319,944 were represented by outstanding sil ver certificates, leaving $6,291,577 not in cir culation and not represented by certificates. SILVER COINAGE. The law requiring the purchase by the treasury of $i,009,000 worth of silver bullion each month to be coined into silver dollars of 412ti grains has been observed by the de partment, but neither the present Secretary nor any of his predecessors has deemed it safe to exercise tbe discretion given by law to increase the monthly purchase to $4,000, 000. When the law was enacted February 28, 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, reducing the bullion value of tho dollar to 70.6 cents. Within the last few months the market price has somewhat advanced and on tbe first day of November last tho bullion value of the silver dollar was 72 cents. The evil anticipations which liavc accom panied the coinage and use of the silver dol lar have not been realized. As a coin it has not had general use, and the public treas ury has been compelled to store it. But this is manifestly owing to the fact that its paper representative is more convenient. The gen eral acceptance and uso of silver certificates shows that silver has not otherwise been dis credited. Some favorable conditions have contributed to maintain this practical equal ity in their commercial uses between gold and silver dollars. But some of theso are trade conditions that statutory, enactments do not control, and of the continuance of which we can not be certain. I think it is clear that if wc should make coinage of silver at present rates free wc must expect the difference in bullion values of the gold and silver dollars will be taken account of in commercial transactions, and I fear the same result would follow any con siderable increase of tbe present rate of coinage. Such a result would be discredit able to our financial management and dis astrous to all business interests. We should not tread tbe dangerous edge of such a peril, and indeed nothing more harmful could happen to the silver interests. Any safe legislation upon this subject must se cure tbe equality of the two coins in their commercial uses. I have always been an advocate of the use of silver in our currency. We are large producers of that metal and should not discredit it. To tbe plan wbicb will be presented by the Secretary of the Treasury for the Issuance of notes or certifi cates upon the deposit of silver bullion at its market val"e, I have been able to give only a hasty examina tion owing to the press of other matters, and to the fact that it has been so recently formulated. The details of such a law require careful con sideration, but the general plan suggested by him seems to satisfy the purpose to con tinue the use of silver in connection with our currency and at the same time to obviate the danger of which I have spoken. At a later day I may communicate further with Congress on this subject. THE CHINESE. The enforcement of the Chinese Exclusion act has been found to be very difficult on the Northwest frontier. Chinese landing at Vic toria find it easy to pass our border owing to the impossibility, with the force at command, of the customs officers of guarding so long an inland line. The Secretary of the Treas ury has authorized tho employment of addi tional officers, who will bo assigned to this duty, and every effort will be made to enforce the law. Tho Dominion exacts a head tax of $50 for each Chinaman landing, and when these persons in fraud of our law cross into our territory and are apprehended our offi cers do not know what to do with them, as tbe Dominion authorities will not suffer them to be ?9-Sback without a second pay ment of the tax. An effort will be made to reach an understanding that will remove this difficulty. COAST DEFENSES. Judged by modern standards wc arc prac tically without coast defenses. Many of tbe structures we have -would enhance rather than diminish the perils of their garrisons if subjected to the fire of improved guns, and very few are so located as to give full effect to the greater range of such guns as we arc now making for coast defense uses. This general subject has bad consideration in Congress for some years, and tbe ap propriation for the construction of large rifled guns made one year ago was, I am sure, the expression of a purpose to provide suitable works in which these guns might be mounted. An appropri ation sow made for that purpose would not advance the works beyond our ability to supply them with fairly effective guns. Tho security of our coast cities against for eign attack should not rest altogether in the friendly disposition of other Nations. There should he a second line wholly in our own keeping. I very earnestly recommend an appropriation at this session for the con struction of such works in our most exposed harbors. RIVERS AND nARRORS. The Improvement of our important rivers and harbors should be promoted by the nec essary appropriations. Care should be taken that the Government Is not committed to the prosecution of works not of public and gen eral advantage and that tho relative useful ness of works of that class is not overlooked. So far as this work can ever bo said to be completed I do not doubt that the end would be sooner and more economically reached if fewer separate works were undertaken at the same timo and those selected for their greater general interest were more rapidly pushed to completion. rROTECTIOX OF OFFICERS. The assault made by David S. Terry upon the person of Justice Field, of tho Supreme Court of the United States, in Lathrop, Cat, in August last, and tbe killing of the assailant by a deputy United States marshal, who had been deputed to accompany Justice Field and to protect him from anticipated violence at the hands of Terry, in connection with tbe legal proceedings which have fol lowed, suggest questions which in my judg ment aro worthy of the attention of Con gress. I recommend that more definite pro visions be made by law, not only for the pro tection of Federal officers, but for a full trial of suca cases is the United States courts. THE SUPREME COURT. The necessity of providing somo more speedy method of disposing of the cases which now come for final adjudication to tbe Supreme Court becomes every year more ap parent and urgent. Tbe plan of providing some intermediate courts having final appel late jurisdiction of certain classes of ques tions and cases, has, I think, received a tnore general approval from the bench and bar of tbe country than any other. Without at tempting to discuss details I recommend that provision be made for the establishment of such court. TRUSTS AND COMMIXES. Earnest attention should be given by Con gress to consideration of the question how far the restraint of those combinations of capital commonly called "trusts" is a matter of Federal jurisdiction. When organized as they often are to crush out all healthy competition and to monopo lize the production or sale of an article of commerce and general necessity they aro dangerous conspiracies against the public good nnd should bo made the subject of prohibitory and even penal legislation. INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT. The subject of an international copyright has been frequently commended to the at tention of Congress by my predecessors. The enactment of such a law would he emi nently wise and just. NATURALIZATION. Our naturalization laws should be so re vised as to make the Inquiry into tbe char acter and good disposition toward our Gov ernment of the persons applying for citizen ship more thorough. This can only be done by taking fuller control of the examinations by fixing the time for hearing such applica tion and by requiring the presence of some one who shall represent the Government in tho inquiry. Those who are enemies of social order or who come to our shores to swell tho injurious inlluencc and to extend the evil practices of any association that de fies our laws, should not only be denied citizenship but a domicile. THE POST-OFFICE. The report of tho rostniastcr-Gcneral not only exhibits the operations of the depart ment for the past fiscal year, but contains many valuable suggestions for the improve ment and extension of the service, which aro commended to your attention. No other branch of the Government lias so close a con tact witli tho daily lifo of tho people. Al most every one uses the service it offers, and every hour gained in the transmission of the great commercial mails has an actual and possible value that only those engaged in trade can understand. The saving of one day In the transmission of mails between New York and San Francisco, which has recently been accomplished, is an incident worthy of mention. Tho plan suggested of a supervision of the post-offices in separate districts that shall involve in struction and suggestion and a range of the efficiency of the postmasters, would, I have no doubt, greatly improve the service. The unsatisfactory condition of the law re lating to the transmission through the mails of lottery advertisements and remittances Is clearly stated by tho Postmaster-General, and bis suggestion as to amendments should have your favorable consideration. THE NAVT. The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows a reorganization of the bureaus of the department that will, I do not doubt, pro mote tbe efficiency of each. In general, satisfactory progress has been made in the construction of the new ships of war author ized, by Congress. The first vessel of the new navy, the Dolphin, was subjected to very severe trial tests ami to very much adverse 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 report of the Secretary shows that while tho effective force of the navy is rapidly increasing by reason of the improved build and armament of tho new ships, the number of our ships fit for sea duty grows very slowly. We bad on the 4th of March last thirty-seven ser viceable ships, and though four have since been added to tbe list the total bas not been increased, because in the meantime four have been lost or con demned. Twenty-six additional vessels have been authorized and appropriated for, but it is probable that when they arc com pleted our list will only be increased to 63, a gain of five. The old wooden ships are dis appearing almost as fast as the new ones are added. The (acts carry their own argument. One of the new ship may in fighting strength be equal to two of the old, but :t can not do the cruising duties of two. It is important, therefore, that we should have a more rapid increase in the number of serviceable ships. I concur in the recom mendation of tho Secretary that the con struction of eight armored ships, three gun boats and five torpedo boats be authorized. THE IXDIAX QUESTION. The report of the Secretary of the Interior exhibits the transactions of the Government with the Indian tribes. Substantial progress has been made in the education of the chil dren of school age and in the allotment of lands to adult Indians. It is to bo regretted that the policy of breaking up the tribal re lation and of dealing with the Indian as an individual did not appear earlier in our leg islation. Large reservations used in com mon and the maintenance of the authority of the chiefs and headmen have deprived tho individual of every incentive to tho exercise of thrift und the annuity has contributec an affirmative impulse towards a state of con firmed pauperism. Tho 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 tbe United States and for dividing the remainder into separate reservations. Both were approved on the same day, March 2. The one submitted to the Indians was a specific proposition. The other (Sec. 3 of the Indian Appropriation act) authorized the President to appoint three Commissioners to negotiate with these Indians foi Mic accomplishment of some gen eral purpose and required that any agreement made should be submitted to Congress for ratification. On the 16th day of April last I appointed Hon. Charles Foster, of Ohio, Hon. William Warner, of Missouri, and Major-General Georgo Cook, of the United States army, Commissioners under the last named law. They were, however, authorized and direct ed first to submit to the Indians the definite proposition made to them by tho act first mentioned and only in the event of a failure to secure the assent of the requisite number to that proposition to open negotiations for modified terms under the other act. The work of the Commission was prolonged and arduous but the assent of the requisite num ber was, it is understood, finally obtained to the proposition made by Congress. The Commission provided for by section 14 of the Indian Appropriation bill to negotiate with the Cherokee Indians and all other In dians owning or claiming lands lying west of the ninety-sixth degree of longitude, for the cession to the United States of all such lands, was organized on June 29 last. Two conferences have been held, but no definite results have appeared. Tho cattle syndicate now occupying tho hinds for grazing purposes Is clearly one of the agencies responsible for the obstruction of our negotiations with the Chcrokees. Tho large body of agricultural lands constituting what is known as "the Cherokee Outlet" ought not to be, and indeed can not long be, held for grazing and for the advantage of a few against the public Interests and the best advantages of tho Indians themselves. The United States bas under the treaties certain rights in these lands. These will not be used oppressively, but It can not be allowed that those who by sufferance occupy theso lands shall interpose to defeat the wise and bene ficent purposes of the Government. I very urgently recommend that Congress at once provide a territorial government for the people of Oklahoma. Serious questions, which may at any time lead to violent out breaks, are awaiting the institution of courts for their peaceful adjustment. The American genius for self-government has been illustrated In Oklahoma, but it is neither safe nor wise to leave these people longer to the expedients which have tem porarily served them. THE LAND LAWS. In the administration of the land laws the policy of facilitating, in every proper way.the adjustment of the honest claims of individual settlers upon the public lands has been pur sued. The number of pending cases bad, dur ing the preceding Administration been greatly increased under the operation of orders for a tltdw suspending final action In a large part of the cases originating in the West and Northwest, and by the subsequent use of unusual methods of examination. Only those who are familiar with tho con ditions under which our agricultural lands have been settled can appreciate the serious and often fatal consequences to tho settler of a policy that puts his titlo under suspicion, or delays the issuance of his patents. While care is taken to prevent and expose fraud, it should not be imputed without reason. The manifest purpose of the Home stead and Pre-emption laws was to promote the settlement of the public domain by per sons havinga bonafide intent to make homes upon the selected lands. Where this intent is well established and the requirements of the law have been substantially complied with, the claimant is entitled to a prompt and friendly consideration of his case. But where there is reason to believe that the claimant is the mere agent of another who is seeking to evade a law intended to promote small holdings and to secure, by fraudulent methods, large tracts of timber and other lands, both principal and ugent should not only be thwarted in their fraudulent purpose but should be made to feel the full penalties of our criminal statutes. Tho laws should bo so administered as not to confound theso two classes and to vUit penalties only upon the latter. The unsettled state of tho titles to large bodies of lands in tho territories of New Mexico and Arizona has greatly retarded the development of these Territories. Pro vision should be made by law for the prompt trial and final adjustment, beforo a judicial tribunal or commission, of all claims based upon Mexican grants. It is not just to an intelligent and enter prising people that their peace should be disturbed and their prosperity retarded by these old contentions. I express the hope that differences of opinion as to methods may yield to the urgency of the case. PENSIONS. The law now provides a pension for every soldier and sailor who was mustered into the service of the United States during the civil war and is now suffering from wounds or disease having an origin in tbe service and the line of duty. Two of three necessary facts muster and disability aro usually susceptible of east proof, but the third origin in the service Is often difficult and, in many deserving cases, Impossible to establish. That very many of those who endured the hardships of our most bloody and arduous campaigns are now disabled from diseases that had a real, if not a traceable, origin in service wc do not doubt. Besides, there is another class, composed of men, many of whom served an enlistment of the three full years, and of re-enlisted veterans who add ed a fourth year of service, who escaped the casualties of battles and the assaults of dis ease, who were in every battle line of their command, and were mustered out in sound health and have, since the close of the war, while fighting with tho same indomitable and Independent spirit the contests of civil life, been overcome by disease or casualty. I am not unaware that the pension roll al ready Involves a very large annual expendi ture, neither am I deterred by that fact from rccommendingthat Congress grant apenslon to such honorably discharged soldiers and sailors of tho war as, having rendered sub stantial service during the war, are now de pendent upon their own labor for a main tenance and by disease or casualty are inca pacitated from earning it. 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 they shall continue to subsist on the local relief given indiscrim inately to paupers, instead of upon the special and generous provision of the Nation they served so gallantly and unselfishly. Our people wW, I am sure, very generally approve such legislation, and I am equally sure that the suivivors of the Union army and navy will feel sense of relief when this worthy and suffering class of their comrades) Is fairly cared for. There are some manifest Inequalities In the existing law that should be remedied. To some of these the Secretary of Interior has called attention. It is gratifying to be able to state that by the adoption of new and better methods ia the War Department, the calls of the pension office for infotmation as to the military and hospital recouls of pension claimants are now promptly answered and the injurious and vexatious delays that have heretofore occurred are entirely avoided. This will greatly facilitate the adjustment of all pend ing claims. NEW STATES. The advent of four new States. South Da kota, North Dakota. Montana and Washing ton, into the Union under the Constitution, In the same month, and the admission of their duly chosen representatives in our National Congress at the same session, is an event as unexampled as It is Interesting. THE WORLD'S FAIR. The proposition to observe the 4noth anni versary of the discovery of America by the opening of u World's Fair or Exposition la some one of our great cities will be present ed for the consideration of Congress. Tha value and interest of such an Exposition may well claim the promotion of the General Government. crra.- service. On the 4th of March last tho Civil-Service Commission held but a single member. The vacancies were filled on tho 7th day of May, and since then the Commissioners have been industriously, though with an inadequate force, engaged in executing the law. They were assured by mo that a cordial support would be given them in tho faithful and impartial enforcement of the statutes and of the rules and regulations adopted In aid of it. The reform of tho civil-service will make no safe or satisfactory advance until the present law and its equal administration are well established in tbe confidence of the peo ple. It will bo my pleasure, as it is my duty, to see that tho law Is executed with firm ness and impartiality. If somo ot its provisions have been fraudulently evaded by appointing officers our re sentment should not suggest tho repeal of the law, but reform in its administration. We should have one view of the matter and hold it with a sincerity that is not affected by the consideration that the party to which we belong is for a time In power. THE NEGRO QUESTION. The colored people did not intrude them selves upon us ; they were brought hero in chains and held in the communities where they arc now chiefly found by a cruel slave code. Happily for both races, they are now free. They have, from a standpoint of ignor ance and poverty, which was our shame, not theirs, made remarkable advances in educa tion and in the acquisition of property. They have as a people shown them selves to be friendly and faithful toward tha white race under temptations of tremendous strength. They have their representatives In tbe National cemeteries where a grateful Government has gathered the ashes of those who died in its defense. They have fur nished to our regular army regiments that havo won high praiso for their commanding officers for their courage and soldierly qua lities and for fidelity the enlistment oath. They do not desire to quit their homes and their employers resent the interference of the emigration agents who seek to stimulato such a desire. But, notwithstanding all this, in many parts of our country where the col ored population is large, tho peoplo ot that race are, by various devices, deprived of any effective exercise of their political rights and of many of their civil rights. The wrong docs not expend itself upon those whoso votes are suppressed. Every constituency in the Union is wronged. It has been tho hope ot every patriot that a sense of justice and ot respect for the law would work a gradual cure of these flagrant evils. Surely no one supposes that the pres ent can bo accepted as u permanent condi tion. It Is said that these communities must workout this problem for themselves. We have a right to ask whether they are at work upon it. Do they suggest any solution? When and under what conditions Is tha black man to have a free ballot? When Is he, in fact, to have those full civil rights which have so long been his in law? When is that equality of influence which our Government was intended to secure to the electors to be restored? I earnestly Invoke the attention of Con gress to the consideration of such measures within its well defined Constitutional pow ers as will secure to all our people a free exercise of their rights of suffrage and every other civil right ot the Constitution and laws of the United States. STEAMSHIP SUBSIDIES. I recommend that such appropriations bo made for ocean mail service in American steamships between our ports and those of Central and Soutli America, Japan und the important islands in both of the great oceans as will be liberally re munerative for, the service rendered as will encourage the establishment, and in some fair degree, equalize the chances of American steamship lines in the competi tions which they must meet. That the American States lying south ot us will cordially co-operate In establishing und maintaining such lines of steamships to their principal ports. I do not doubt. We should also make provision for a naval reserve to consist of such merchant ships of American construction and of a specified tonnage and speed as the owners will con sent to place at the use of the Government in case ot need as armed cruisers. England has adopted this policy and, as a result, can now, upon necessity, at once place upon her naval list some of the fastest steamships in the world. A proper supervision of tbe construction of such vessels would make their conversion into effective ships of war very easy. I am an advocate ot economy in our National expenditure for the purpose of extending our foreign commerce. The en largement and development ot our mer chant marine, tliedevelopment of a sufficient body of trained, veteran seamen, tha promotion of rapid and regular mail com munication between the ports of other coun tries and our own and tho adoption of largo and swift American merchant steamships to naval uses in time of war are public pur poses of the highest concern. The enlarged participation of our people in the carrying trade, the new and increased markets that will be opened for the products of our farmers and factories, the full er and better employment of our mechanics which will result from a liberal promotion of our for eign commerce, insure the widest possi ble diffusion of benefit to all the States and to all our people. Every thing is most pro pitious for the present Inauguration of a lib eral and progressive policy upon this sub ject und we should enter upon it with promptness and decision. conclusion. The legislation which I have suggcstcd.it is sincerely believed, will promote the place id honor of our country and the pros perity and security of tho people. I invoke the diligent and serious attention of Congress to the consideration of these and such other measures as may be pre sented having tbe same great end in view. Benjamin Harrison, ExecutiveMansion.Washington, Dec 3,188a m m Cholera on Board. Lewes, Del., Dec. 4. The ship Ger mania from Manilla, Cuba, with sugar, arrived here after a passage of 120 days. The ship was quarantined by Surgeon Orr, who found that cholera had broken out on the ship when a few days out from the port and one seaman had died. The ship will be disinfected before allowed to proceed. The Salvation Army headquarters at London and adjoining property burned en the morning of the 3d. s Isaac L. Millikin, ex-mayor of Chi cago, is dead. He was seventy-si years old. m m