Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 8, 1893)
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. ^ Cleveland Believes That Tariff Reform Should Be Pushed. % HE INDOESES THE WILSON BILL. This Work Has lleen Ci'nUJod to the "P Democratic Party and a Failure to Give Relief Will Be Sheer Recreauoy—Work of Departments Reviewed—Hawaiian Question Will Be Treated In a Future Message. Washington, Dec. 4.—Following is President Cleveland’s message read to both houses of congress; To the Congress of the United States: The constitutional duty which requires the president front time to time to give to congress information of the state of the union and recommend to their considera tion such legislation as lie shall judge necessary, is fittingly entered upon by commending to the congress a careful commendation of the detailed statements and well supported recommendations con tained in the reports of departments who are chiefly charged with the executive work of tlifr government. In an effort to abridge this communication as much as is consistent with its purpose, I shnll sup plement a brief reference with the con tents of these departmental reports by the mention of such executive business and incidents as are not embraced therein, and by such recommendations as appear to be at this particular time appropriate. DEPARTMENT OF STATE. Our Foreign Relations. While our foreign relations have not at all times during the past year been en tirely free from perplexity, no embarrass ing situations remain that will not yield to the spirit of fairness and love of justice which, joined with consistent firmness, characterizes a truly American foreign policy. My predecessor having accepted the of fice of arbitrator of tlie long standing missions boundary dispute, tendered to the president by the Argentine Republic and Brazil, it lias been my agreeable duty to receive the special envoys commissioned by these states to lay before me evidence and arguments in behalf of their respec tive governments. The outbreak of do mestic hostilities in the republic of Brazil found the United States alert to watch the interests of our citizens in that coun try, with which we carry on important commerce. Several vessels of our new navy are now, and for some time have been stationed at Rio de Janeiro. The Struggle being between the established government, which controls the machinery of administration and with which we main tain friendly relations, and certain officers of the navy employing the vessels of their command in an attack upon the national capital and chief sea port and lacking as it does the elements of divided adminis tration, I have failed to see that the in surgents can reasonably claim recognition as belligerents. Thus the position of our government has been that of an attentive ut impartial observer of the unfortunate conflict. Emphasizing our fixed policy of impartial neutrality iu such a condition of affairs as now exists I deemed it neces sary to disavow in a manner not to be misunderstood, the unauthorized action of our late naval commander in those waters in saluting the revolted Brazilian admiral, being indisposed to countenance an act calculated to give gratuitous sanc tion to the local insurrection. The vexatious question of so-called le gation asylum for offenders against the state and its laws was presented anew iu Chile by the unauthorized action of the late United States minister in receiving in his official residence two persons who had failed in an attempt at revolution and against whom criminal, charges were pend ing, growing out of a former abortive dis turbance. ^ The doctrine of asylum as ap plied to this case is not sanctioned by the best precedent, and when allowed, tends to encourage sedition and strife. Un ler no circumstances can the representatives of this government be permitted under the ill-delined fiction of extraterritoriality to interrupt the administration of criminal justice m the countries to which they are accredited. A temperate demand having been made by the Chilean government for the correction of this conduct, the minis ter was instructed no longer to harbor offenders. Chinese Registration. The legislation of last year known as the Gearv law, requiring the registration of all Chinese laborers entitled to resi dence in the United States, and the de portation of all not complying with the provision eff the act within the time pre scribed, met with much opposition from Chinamen in this country. Acting upon the advice of eminent counsel that the law was unconstitutional, the great mass of Chinese laborers, pending judicial inquiry as to its validity, in good faith declined to apply for the certificates required by its E revisions. A test upon proceedings by abeas corpus was brought before the su preme court, and on May 15, 1893, a de cision was made by that tribunal sustain ing the law. It is believed that under the recent amendment of the act extending the time for registration, the Chinese la borers thereto entitled who desire to re side in this country, will now avail them selves of the renewed privilege thus af forded of establishing by lawful pro cedure their right to remain, and tha.t thereby the necessity of enforced deporta tion may to a great degree be avoided. The Amaliipa Incident. Upon receiving authentic information of the firing upon an American mail steamer touchingat the port of Amalapa because her captain refused to deliver up a passenger in transit from Nicaragua to Guatemala upon demand of the military authorities ot Honduras, onr minister to that country, under instructions, pro tested against the wanton act and de manded satisfaction. The government of Honduras, actuated by a sense of justice and in a spirit of the' utmost friendship, promptly disavowed the illegal conduct of its officers and expressed sincere regret for the occurrence. The reproduced caravel, Santa Maria, built by Spain and sent to the Columbian exposition, has been presented to the United States in token of amity and in commemoration of the event it was de signed to celebrate. I recommend, that in accepting this gift, congress make grate ful recognition of the sincere friendship which prompted it. Important matters have demanded attention in cur relations with the Ottoman norte. The firing and partial destruction, by an unrestrained mob. of one of the school buildings of Anatoly college, established by citizens of the United States at Marso •van, and the apparent indifference of the Turkish government to the outrage, not withstanding the complicity of some of its officials, called for earnest remonstrance, which was followed by promises of repara tion and punishment of the offenders. In demnity for the injury and permission to rebuild was given, registration of the school property in the name of the Amer ican owners was secured, and efficient pro tion guaranteed. Information received of maltreatment suffered by an inoffensive American woman engaged in missionary work in Turkish Koordictan was followed by such aepresentations to the porte as resulted in the issuance of orders for the punishment Of her assailants, the removal of a delin quent official, and the adoption of meas ures for tha protection of our citizens en The Hawaiian Ouestlon. It is hardly necessary for me to state that the questions arising from our rela tions with Hawaii have caused seriousem harrassinent. Just prior to the installa tion of the present administration the ex ist, mg govern meat of Hawaii had been sud denly overthrown and a treaty of annexa tion had been negotiated between the pro visional government of the islands and the United States and submitted to the senate for notification. This treaty 1 withdrew for examination and dispatched Hon. James H. Blount of Georgia to Honolulu as a special commissioner to make an impar tial investigation of the circumstances at tending the change of government and of all the conditions bearing upon the sub ject of the treaty. After a thorough and exhaustive examination, Mr. Mount sub mitted to me his report, showing beyond all question that the constitutional gov ernment of Hawaii had been subverted with the active aid of our representative to that government and through the in timidation caused by the presence of an nrmed naval force of the United States, which was landed for that purpose at the instance of our minister. Upon the facts developed, it seemed to me the only hon orable course for our government to pur sue was to undo the wrong that had been done by those representing us and to re store as far as practicable the status exist ing at the time of our forcible Interven tion. With a view of accomplishing this result within the constitutional limits of executive power and recognizing all our obligations and responsibilities growing out of any changed condition brought about by our unjustifiable interference, our present minister at Honolulu has re ceived appropriate instructions to that end. Thus far no information of the ac complishment of any definite results has been received from him. Additional ad vices are soon expected. When received they will he promptly sent to congress, to gether with all other information at hand, accompanied by a special executive message fully detailing all tile facts necessary to a complete understanding of the case, and present a history of all of the material events leading up to the present situation. TREASURY I> IS PART-RENT. Condition of Naiional Finances. The secretary of the treasury reports that the receipts of the government 11 out all sources during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1803, amounted to $401,716,501.04, and its expenditures to $459,374,674 29. There was collected from customs $205. 355,016.73, and from internal revenue $101, 027,623.93. Our dutiable imports amounted to $421,856,711, an increase of $52,453,907 over the preceding year, and importations free of duty amount d to $4-14,544,211, a de crease from the preceding year of $13,455, 447. Internal revenue receipts exceeded those of the preceding year by $7,147,445.32. We exported merchandise during the year amounting to $847,665,194, a decrease of $1S2,612,954 from the preceding year. The amount of gold exported was larger than any previous year iu the history of the government, amounting to $108,6S0,844, and exceeding the amount exported dur ing the preceding year by $38,485,517. The sum paid from the treasury for sugar bounty was $9,375,130.88, an increase over the preceding year of $2,033,053.09. It is estimated upon tne b isis of present revenue laws that the receipts of the gov ernment for the year ending June 30, 1894, will be $430,121,305.38, and its expendi tures, $458,121.365.38, resulting in a de ficiency of $28,000,000. On the first day of November 1S93, the amount of money of all kinds in circulation or not included in treasury holdings was $1,718,544,682, an increase for the year of $112,404,947. Esti mating our population at 67,426.000 at the time mentioned the per capita circulation was $25.49. On the same date there was in the treasury gold bullion amounting to $96,657,273, and silver bullion, which was purchased at a cost of $128,261,553. Silver Purchases. The purchases of silver under the law of July 14, 1890, during the last fiscal year, aggregated 54,008,162.59 Hue ounces which cost $45,531,374.83. The total amount of silver purchased from the time that law became operative uutil the repeal of its purchasing clause on the first day of November 1893, was 163,674,590.46 fine ounces which cost $155, 930,940.84. Between the first day of March 1873, and the first day of November. 1S93, the gov ernment purchased under all laws 503, 003,717 Hue ounces of silver at a cost of $510,622,948. The silver dollars that have been coined under the act of July, 14. 1890, number 36,087,285. The seignorage arising from such coinage was $6,977,008.39, leaving on hand in the mints 140,699,760 fine ounces of silver which cost $120,578,218. Our total coinage of all metals during the last fiscal year consisted of 97,280,875 pieces, valued at $43,OSS. 178.80, of which there was $30,038,140 in gold coin, $5,343, 715 in silver dollars, $7,217,220.90 in sub sidiary silver coin and $1,1183,103.90 in minor coins. During the calendar year 1892 the production of precious metals in the United States was estimated to be 1,596,375 fine ounces of gold of t he com mercial and coinage value of $33,000,000, aud 58,000,000 fine ounces of silver of the bullion or market value of $50,750,000 and of the coinage value of $74,989,900. It is estimated that on the 1st day of July, 1893, the metallic stock of money iu the United States, consisting of coiu and bullion, amounted to $1,213,559,161, of which $597,697,685 was gold and $615,861, 484 was silver. National Ranks. One hundred and nineteen national banks were organized during the year end ing Oct. 31, 18,>3. with a capital of $11,230, 000. Forty-six went into voluntary liquid ation and 158 suspended. Sixty-five ot the suspended banks were insolvent, 86 re sumed business and 7 remained in the hands of bank examiners with prospects of speedy resumption. The total number of national banks in existence on the 31st day of October, 1893, was 3,796, having an aggregate capital of $695,.558,120. The net increase in the circu lation of these banks during the year was $36,886,972. The recent repeal of'the pro vision of the law requiring the purchase of silver bullion by the government as a feature of our monetary scheme, has made au entire change iu the complexion of our currency affairs. I do not doubt that the ultimate result of this action will be most salutary and far-reaching. In the nature of tuiugs, however, it is impossible to know at this time precisely what condi tions will be brought about by the change, or what, if any, supplementary legislation may, iu the light of such conditions, ap pear to be essential or expedient. Of course, after the recent financial perturba tion, time is necessary for the re-establish ment of business confidence. When, how ever. through this restored confidence, tue money which has been frightened into hoarding places is returned to trade and enterprise, a survey of the situation will probably disclose a safe path leading to a permanently sound cumncy, abundantly sufficient to meet every requirement of our increasiug population and business. In pursuit of this object we should reso lutely turn away front alluring and tem porary expedients, determined to be con tent with nothing less than a lasting and comprehensive financial plan. In these circumstances I am convinced that a reasonable delay in dealing with this sub ject instead of being injurious will in crease the probability of wise action. Jlonetary Conference. The monetary conference which assem ' bled at Brussels upon our invitation was adjourned to the 20th day of November in the present year, for 1 the considerations jnst stated and the fact that a definite proposition from us seemed 1 to be expected upon the reassembling of the conference, led me to express a will ingness to have the meeting still further postponed. It seems to me that it would ■ - : -r--- , . . ,-jv .a.. J. : bo wise to g:7e general authority to the pre'-ident to invite other nations to such a conference at any time when 1 iere should be a fair prospect of accomplishing an i io;rnational agreement on tile subject of coinage. I desire also to earnestly sug gest the wisdom of ameiuiin : the existing statutes in regard to the issuance of gov ernment bonds. The authority now vested in the secre tary of the treasury to issue bonds is not as clear as it should lie and the bonds authorized are disadvantageous to the gov ern nent, both as to the time of their ma turity and rate of interest. The superintendent of immigration, through the secretary of the treasury, re ports that during the last fiscal year there arrived at our ports 440,793 immigrants. Of tiles ■, 1,063 were not permitted to land under the limitations of the law, and 577 were returned to the countries from whence they came, by reason of their hav , ing become public charges. The total ar rivals were 140,034 less than for the previ ous year The secretary in his report gives an ao count of the operation of the marine hospital service and of the good work done under its super 1 vision, preventing the entrance and , spread of contagious diseases. The ad | monitions of the last two years touching I our public health and the demonstrated dan f the introduction of contagious , diseases from foreign ports has invested I the subject of national quarantine with in creased interest. A more general and harmonious system than now exists, ; acting promptly and directly everywhere I and constantly operating by preventive means to shield our country from the in vasion of diseases and at the same time having due regard to the rights and duties • of local agencies, would, 1 believe, add greatly to tlie safety of our people. WA14 DEPARTMENT. Quiet Tear For the Army. The secretary of war reports that the strength of the army on the 30th day of September last was 25,778 enlisted men 1 and 3,144 officers. The total expenses for this department for the year ending June ! 30, 1803, amounted to $51,060,074.89. Of this sum $1,992,581.95 was for salaries and contingent expenses, $33,877,828.35 for the support of the military establishments, $6,077,033.18 for miscellaneous objects and $20,518,631.41 for public works. This latter sum includes $15,396,876.46 for river and harbor improvements and $3,366,141.20 for fortifications and other works of defense. : The total enrollment of the militia of ! the several states was on the 31st of Octo ber of the current year 113,597 officers and enlisted men. The officers of the army detailed for the inspection and in structions of this reserve of our military force report that increased interest and marked progress are apparent in the dis cipline and efficiency of the organization. Neither Indian outbreaks or domestic violence has called the army into service during the year, and the only active mili tary duty required of it has been in the department of Texas, where violations of the neutrality laws of the United States and Mexico were promptly and efficiently dealt with by the troops eliciting the warm approval of the civil and military authorities of both countries. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. Some Changes Recommended. The report of the attorney general con tains the usual summary of the affairs and proceedings of the department of justice tor the past year, together with certain recommendations as to needed legislation on various subjects. I canuot too heartily i indorse the propositiou that the fee sys | tern, as applicable to the compensation of United Status attorneys, marshals, clerks of federal courts and United States com I missiouers, should be abolished with as little delay as nossible. It is clearly in the interest of me community that the busi ness of the courts, both civil and criminal, shall be as small and as inexpensively transacted as the ends of justice will allow. The system is therefore thoroughly Jvic ious which makes the compensation of court officials depend upon the volume of such business, aud thus creates a conflict between a proper evecutive of the law and private gain, which cannot fail to be dan gerous to the rights and freedom of the citizens, an irresistable temptation to the unjustifiable expenditure of public funds. If in addition to this reform another was inaugurated which would give to United States commissiouers the final disposition of petty offenses within the grade of mis demeanors, especially those looming under tne internal revenue laws, a great advance would be made towards a more decent administration of the criminal law. I also heartily join with the attorney general in recommending legislation fix ing degrees of the crime of murder within federal jurisdiction as has been done in many of the states, authorizing writs of error on behalf of the government in cases where final judgment is rendered against the sufficiency of an indictment or against the government unon any other question arising before actual trial,' limit ing the right of review in cases of felony, punishable only by fine and imprisonment, to the circuit court of appeals and making speedy provision for the construction of such prisons and reformatories as may be necessary for the confinement of United States convicts. POSTAL AFFAIRS. Deficiency Due to Free Mail. The report of the postmaster genera! contains a detailed statement of the oper ations of the postoffice department during the last fiscal year and much in teresting information touching this im portant branch of the public service. The business of the mails indicates with abso lute certainty the condition of the busi ness of the country and depression in financial affairs inevitably and quickly reduces the postal revenues. That there is a larger discrepancy than usual between the postoffice receipts and expenditures is the expected and unavoidable result of the distressing stringency which has pre vail.-.! turuugnout the "country during mucti of the time covered by the postmas ter general’s report. At a date when better times were anticipated it was esti mated 7 bis predecessor that the defi ciency i the 30th day of June, 1893, would be a lit'. • over $1,500,000. It amounted, however, to more ttiau $5,000,000. At the same tim- and under the influence of like anticipations, estimates were made for the cur’—ur fiscal year ending Jnne 30, 1894, whicti exhibited a surplus of revenue over expenditures of $872,245.71, but now, in view of i.. . actual receipts and expendi tures during .fiat part of the current fiscal year already expired, the recent postmas ter general estimates that at its close, in stead of n surplus, there will bea deficiency of nearly $8,two,000. The postoffice receipts for the last fiscal year amounted to *75,896,933.16, and its ex penditures to $81,074,104.90. This post office deficiency would disappear, or be im mensely decreased, it less matter was car ried free through the mails, an item of which is upward of 300 tons of seeds and grain from the agricultural department. The total number of postoflioes in the United States on the 30th day of June, 1893, was 68,403, an increase of 1,284 over the preceding year. Forty-two free deliv ery offices were added during the year to those already existing, making a total of 610 cities and towns provided with free de livery on Jnne 30, 1893. Ninety-three other cities and towns are now entitled to this service under the law, bnt it has not been accorded them on account of insuffi cient funds to meet the expense of its establishment. I am decidedly of the opinion that the provisions of the present law permit as general an introduction of this feature of mail service as is necessary or justifiable, and that it ought not to be extended to smaller communities than are now designated. Tne railway mail service not only adds to the promptness of mail delivery at all rir«* • . -•**t.’M/.i*nn*iearatu « -urn*jutrujMxnuu*.' ■ i axi va offices, but it is the especial instrumental ity which pul* the smaller and way places in the service on an equaiity in that re Bard with the larger and terminal olli es. This branch of the postal service has th ere fore received much attention from the ' postmaster general, and, though it is grat ifying to know that it is in a condition of high efficiency and great usefulness, I am led to agree with the postmaster general that there is room for its further improve ment. There are now connected with I he postoffit* establishment 28,334 employes, who are vithin „he classified service. The head of this great department gives con clusive evidence of the value of civil serv ice reform, when, after an experience that renders his judgment on the subject ab solutely reliable, he expresses the opinion that without the benefit of this system it would be impossible to conduct the va&t business intrusted to him. NAVY DEPARTMENT. V j Satisfactory Progress In Construction. The report of the secretary of the navy contains a history of the operations of his department during the past year and ex hibits a most gratifying condition of the personnel of our navy. He presents a satisfactory account of the progress which has been made in the construction of ves sels, and makes a number of recommen dation, to which attention is especially in vited. Dnring the past six months the demands j for cruising vessels have been many and 1 urgent. There have been revolutions call | ing for vessels to protect American inter | est in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Argentine and Brazil, while the condition of affairs in Honolulu has required the constant presence of one or more ships. With all these calls upon our navy, it became necessary in order to make up a sufficient fleet to patrol the Bering sea under the modus vivendi agreed upon with Great Britain to detail to that service one vessel from the fish commission and three from the revenue marine. Progress in the construction of new vessels has not been-as rapid as was an ticipated. There have been delays in the completion of unarmored vessels, but for the most part they have been such as are constantly occurring, even in countries having the largest experience in naval ship building. The most serious delays, however, have been in the worK upon armored ships. The trouble has been the failure of contractors to deliver armor as I agreed. The difficulties seem now, how ! ever, to have been all overcome, and armor i is being delivered with satisfactory promptness. As a result of the experience ; acquired by shipbuilders and designers, and material men, it is believed that the dates when vessels will be completed can now be estimated with reasonable accur acy. Great guns, rapid firing guns, tor pedoes and pow’der are being promptly supplied. since 1886 congi'ess has at each session authorized the building of one or more vessels and the secretary of the navy pre- j sents an earnest plea for the continuance of this plan. He recommends the author ization of at least one battleship and six torpedo boats. While I am distinctly in favor of con- 1 sistently pursuing the policy we have in augurated of building up a thorough and efficient navy, I cannot refrain from the suggestion that the congress should care fully take into account the number of un finished vessels on our hands and the de pleted condition of our treasury in consid ering the propriety of an appropriation at this time to begin new work. INTERIOR DEPARTMENT. The Subject of Pensions. The secretary of the interior has the supervision ot so many important sub jects that his report is of especial value and interest. On the 30th day of June, 1893, there were on the pension rolls 966,613 names, an increase of 89,944 over the nurn- | ber on the rolls June 30, 1893. Of these, 1 thei-e were 17 widows and daughters of revolutionary soldiers, 86 survivors of the war of 1812, 5,425 widows of soldiers of that war, 21,518 survivors and widows of the Mexican war, 3,882 survivors and wid ows of Indian Wars, 284 army nurses, and 475,645 survivors and widows and children of deceased soldiers and sailors of the war of the rebellion. The number of persons remaining on the rolls June 30, 1893, who were pensioned under the act of J une 27, 1890, which allows pensions on account of death and disabilities not chargeable to army service was 4.591,555. The number added to the rolls during the year was 123,634 and the number dropped was 33,690. The first payments on pensions allowed during the year amounted to $33,576,549.98. This includes arrears or accumulation between the time from which the allowance of the pension dates and the time of actually granting the certificates. Although the law of 1890 permits pensions for disabilities not related to military service yet as a re quisite to its benefits a disability must exist incapacitating applicants from the performance of manual labor to such a degree as to render them unable to earn a support. The execution of this law in its early stages does not seem to have been in ac cord with its true intention, but toward th* close of the last administration an authoritative construction was given to the statute and since that time this con struction has been followed. The dis covery having been made that many names had been put upon the pension roll by means of wholesale and gig intic frauds, the commissioner suspended pay ments upon a numuer of pensions wuieh seem to be fraudulent or unauthorized penning a complete examination. This I understand is the practice which has for a long time prevailed in the pension bureau. 1 am unable to understand why frauds in the pension rolls should not be exposed and corrected with thoroughness and vigor. Every name fraudulently put upon these rolls is a wicked imposition upon the kindly sentiment in which pensions have their origin. Every fraudulent pen sioner has i-'.'niue a bad citizeu, every false oath in support of a pension has m "le perjury more common, and false .a i undeserving pensioners rob the peo , pi not only of ti.eir money, but of tne I p riotic sentiment vliich the survivors of . tl. war, who fought for the pre- rvatiou lot te union, ought to inspire. Thousands | of iighborhoods have Heir well Known . fr dulent pensioners, id recent aevel | oj ents by the bureau esv tblished appall ii: conspiracies to accomplish pension 1 fr Js. By no means tin least wron. dc ■ is to brave and deserviu. pensioners. I wi certainly ought not to be ondemned to such association. I Those who attempt in the 1 iin of duty I to rectify these wrongs should u be uc 1 cused of enmity or indifference :o the i claims of honest veterans. The sum ex pended on account of pensions for tin year ending June 30, 1803, was 8156,74 ', 467.14. The commissioner estimates th . i i 1165,000,000 will be required to pay pen sions during the year ending June 30, 1894. | Our Indians number about 24S,000 aau most of them are located on 161 reserva • tions, containing 86,116,531 acres of land, . about 110,000 of these Indians have, to a large degree, adopted civilized customs. Lands in several territories have been al i loted to many of them. The law pro 1 viding, that except in especial cases, army 1 officers shall be detailed as Indian agents, it is hoped, will prove a successful expen ! ment. The Public Domain. The vast area of land which, but a short ■ time ago constituted the public domaiu, is . rapidly falling into private hands. It is certain that the intention of the govern ment to supply from its domain homes to the industrious and worthy homeseekers is often frustrated through speculators. Yet it is difficult to thwart their schemes. The recent opening to settlement of the lands in th* Cherokee outlet, embracing i an «rea of 6.500,000 acres, notwithstanding I the utmost care in framing the regula | tions governing the selection of locations , i r —i,wm and notwithstanding the presence of United States troops furnished an exhibi tion, though perhaps in a modified degree, of the mad scramble, tho violence, and the fraudulent occupation which have ac jompauied previous openings of public lands. I concur with the secretary in the belief that these outrageous incidents cannot be entirely prevented without a change in the laws on the subject and I hope his recom mendations in that direction will he favor ably considered._ AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. Secretary Morton', Economic Policy. The report of the secretary of agricul ture will he found exceedingly interesting especially to that large part of our citi zens intimately concerned in agricultural occupations. On the 7th day of March, 1893, there were upon its pay rolls, 2.4:(9 employes. This number nas been reduced to 1,850 persons. In view of a depleted public treasury and the imperative demand of the people for economy in the administra tion of their government, the secretary has entered upon the task of rationally reducing expenditures by the elimination from the pay roll of all persons not needed for an efficient conduct of the affairs of the department. Dining the first quarter of th.- present year the ex penses of the department aggregated #045, 976.76, as against $402,931.4; for the cor responding period of the fiscal year end ing June 00, 1890. The secretary makes apparent nis intention to continue this rate of reduction by submitting estimates for the next fiscal year less by $994,28) than thos; of the present year. The regulations of 1892 concerning Texas fever have been enforced during the last ye a r, and the largest stock yards of the country have been kept free from infec tion. Occasional local outbreaks have been largely such as could have been effectually guarded against by the owners of the affected cattle. W hue contagious pleuro-pne—monta 111 cattle has been eradicated, animal tuber culosis, a disease corresponding and more dangerous to hum m life tbau pleuro pneumonia, is still prevalent. Investiga tions have neen made during the past year as to the means of its communic ition and the method of its correct diagnosis. The exports of agricultural products from the Unit al States lor the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, attained the enor mous figure of $800,000,000 in round num bers, being 78.7 per cent of our total ex ports. Of pork products the total exports were $84,000,000, of which Great Britain took $53,000,000. In breadstuff's, cotton and minor products, like proportions sent to the same destinations are shown. A review of our agricultural exports with special reference to their destination will show that, in almost every line the Unit -d Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire land absorbs by far the largest proportion. Of cattle the total exports aggregated in value for the fiscal year ending June 39, 1893, $26,000,000, of which (ireat Britain took considerably over $25,000,000; of beef products of all kinds, our tot d exports were $28,u00,000, of which Great Britain took $24,000,1)00. From a small V'ginning, the seed di vision of the department of agriculture has grown to its present unwieldly and unjustifiably extravagant proportions. During the last fiscal year the cost of seeds purchased was $66,548.61. The re mainder of an appropriation of $135,000 was expended in pulling them up and dis tributing them, it surely never could have entered the minds of those who first sanctioned appropriations of public money for the purchase of new and improved varieties of seeds for gratuitous distribu tion, that from this would grow large ap propriations for t ie purchase and distribu tion by members of congress of ordinary seeds, bulbs and cuttings which are com mon in all the states and territories and everywhere easily obtainable at low prices. Under tile sanction of existing legisla tion there was sent out from the agricul tural department during the last fiscal year enough of cabbage seed to plant 19, 200 acres of land, a sufficent quantity of beans to plant 4,000 acres, beet seed enough to plant 2,500 acres, sweet corn enough to p.aut 7,800 acres sufficient cu cumber seed to cover 2,025acres with vines and enough musk melon and watermelon seeds to plant 2,675 acres. The total quan tity of flower and vegetable seeds thus dis trinute i waseontained in more than 9,000, 000 packages and they were sufficient if planted to cover 89,596 acres of land. In view of these facts this enormous ex penditure without legitimate returns of benefit ought to be abolished. Anticipat ing a consummation so manifestly in the interests of good administration, more than $100,000 bas been stricken from the estimate made to cover this object for the year ending June 30, 1894; and the secre tary recommends that the remaining $35, 000 of the estimate be confined strictly to the purchase of new and improved varie ties of seeds, and these be distributed through experiment stations. Thus the seed will he tested, and after the test has been completed by the experiment station the propagation of the useful varieties and tue,rejection of the valueless may safe ly be left to the common sense of the peo ple. The Civil Service Caw. The continued intelligent execution of the civil service law and the increasing ap proval by the people of its operation are most gratifying. The recent extension of its limitations and regulations to the em ployes at free delivery postofBces, which has been honestly and promptly accom plished by the commission, with the hearty co-operation of the postmaster gen eral, is an immensely important advance in the usefulness of the system. I am, if possible, more than ever convinced of the incalculable benefits conferred by the civil service law not only in its effect upon the public service, but also that it is even more important in its effect in elevating the tone of Dolitical life generally. The course of civil service reform in thi country instructively and interesting! illustrates how strong a hold a movemen gains upon our people, which has unde: lying It a sentiment of justice and right and which at the same time promises be: ter administration of their government. The law embodying this reform found it wav into our statute hook more from fe:u of t :e popular sentimentexistingin itsfa vor i han from any love for the reform itsell on .. • part of legislators, and i’ has i ed and grown and flourish u in spite if the covert and open Lost:! ity of spo.imen and, noth withstanding t querulous . .'.practicability of many self constituted ..uardians, beneath all tne vagaries and sublimated theories which are attracted to rt. there underlies this re form a sturdy ommou-seuse principle, i not only suited to this sphere, but whose ! application our people are more and more recognizing to lie absolutely essential to the most successful operation of their gov ernment, if not to its perpetuity. It , seems to me to be entirely inconsistent with the character of this reform, as well as ; with its best enforcement, to oblige the commission to rely for clerical assistance ! upon clerks detailed from other depart- I ments. There ought not to be such a condition in any department that clerks hired to do the work there can be spared to habitual- ! ly work at another place, and it does not accord with a sensible view of civil ser vice reform that persons should be em ployed on the theory that their labor is necessary in onedepartment when in point of fact their ^‘rvices are devoted to en tirely different work in another depart ment, I earnestly urge that the clerks necessary to carry on the work of the com- < mission, be regularly put upon its roster, ! and that the system of obliging the com missioners to rely upon the services of clerks belonging to other departments he , discontinued. This ought not to increase the expense j to the government, while it would certainly be more consistent and add greatly to the efficiency ot the com- | mission. Economy in public expend- 1 VauW,- z . iture is a duty that cannot innocently bo n-glected by those distrusted with the control o money drawn from the p mio (? for public uses. It must be confessed th:i'.. our apparently endless re sources, ihe laniili irity of our people with imniet.se necfimuhitions of wealth, the growing se ti limit, among them that the expenditure of money should lie in some manner to their immediate and persona! advantage, the indirect and almost stealthy manner in which a large part of our taxes are exacted, and a degenerated sense ot official accountability have led to growing extravagance in governmental appropriations. At this time when a depleted public treasury confront us, .when many of our people are engaged in a hard struggle for the necessaries of 1 ife and when enforced economy is pressing upon the great mass of our countrymen, 1 desire to urge witn all the earnestness at my command that con gressional lefiislation be so limited by strict economy as to exhibit an apprecia tion of the condition of the treasure and a sympathy with the strained circumstances of our fellow citizens. The duty of public economy is a"so of immense importance in its intimate and necessary relation to the task uoa in hand of providing revenue to meet, government expenditures and yet reducing tUe peo pie’s burden of federal taxation. TARIFF REFORM. _ % Itoth an Opportunity and a Duty.^ After a hard struggle tariff reform is di rectly before us. Nothing so ini| ortant claims our attention and nothing so clearly presents itself us both an opportunity anil duty; an opporiu ii.y to deserve the gratitude of our fellow citizens, a duty imposed upon us by oft repeated professions and by the em phatic mnuda: of the people. After full discussion, our countrymen have spoken in favor of this reform, and they have con fided the work of its accomplishment, to the hands of those who are solemnly pledged to it. If there is anything in the theory of a representation in public places of the people and their desires, if pobi cal officers are really the servants of t * eo ple and if political promises anil prof sions have any binding force, oor iauure to give tie relief so long awaited will ne sheer recreancy. Notning should inter vene to distract our attention or disturb our effort until this reform is accom plished by wise and careful legislation. While we should staunchly adhere to the principle that only the necessity of revenue Justifies the imposition of tariff duties and olh • federal tax tion, and that they ale aid be limited by .strict economy, wc cannot close our eyes to tne fact, tii it conditions have grown up among us, woich in justice and fairness c 11 tor discriminating cure in the distribution of suck duties and taxation as the em Tgeii cies of our government actually demand. Manifestly if wc are to aid the pi ople directly through tariff reform one of its most obvious features should be a reduc tion in present latiil' charges upon the nect ssnne* of life. The benefits of such a reduction would be palpable and substan tial, seen and felt by thousands who would be better led, and better clothed an l better sheltered. These giftsslc uld be the willing benefactions of a gover meat whose highest function is the promo:ion of ihe welfare of the people. Not less closely' related to the prosperity and well being of our people is the removal of re strictions upon tne importation ol the raw materials necessary to our manufacturer. The world should be open to our national ingenuity and enterprise. Interests of l.abor Involved. This cannot be while federal legislate u through the imposition of high tariff Ioi bids to American manufacturers as cheap materials as those used by their compel i tors. It is quite oovious that the enhance meut of the price of onr manufacture* products resulting from this policy, not only confines the market for these pro ducts within our own borders to the direct disadvantage of our manufacturers, but also increases their cost to our citizens. The interests of labor are certainly, though indirectly, involved in this feature of our tariff system. The sharp competition and active Strug gle among our manufacturers to supply the limited demand for their goods, suon fill the narrow market to which they are confined. Then follows a suspension of work in mills and factories, a discharge of employes, and distress in the homes of our workingmen. Even if the often dis proved assertion could be made good that a lower rate of wages would result from free raw materials and low larilf duties the intelligence of our workingmen leads them quickly to discover that their steady employment, if permittee by free materials, is the most important factor in their relation to tariff legislation. A measure has been prepared by the ap propriate congressional committee em bodying tariff reform on the lines herein suggested, which will be promptly sub mitted for legislative action. It is the re suit of much patriotic and unselfish work and I believe it deals with its subject con sistently and as thoroughly as existing conditions permit. I am satisfied that the reduced tariff duties provided for in the proposed legislation, added to existing in ternal revenue taxation, will in the near future, though perhaps not immediately, produce sufficient revenue to meet the needs of the government. lhe committee after full consideration and to provide against a temporary defi ciency which may exist befoie tlie busi ness of the country adjusts itself to the. new tariff schedules, have wisely embr cerl in their plan a few additional internal revenue taxes, including a small tax upon incomes derived from certain cor porations. These new assessments are not only absolutely just and easily borne, but they have the further means of ' ping such as can be remitted without unfavor able business disturbances whenever the necessity of their imposition no longer ex ists. In my great desire for the success of this measure I cannot restrain the sug gestion that its success can only be at tained by mea- s of unselfish crn nsel on the part of the friends of tariff reform and as a result of Their willingness to sub ordinate person. ! desires and ambition to the gem rui good The local int rests af fected by ihe pi- posed reform are so num erolls and so v iried that if all art- in sisted upon the legislation embodying the reform must inevitably fail. In conclusion, my intense feeling of re sponsibihty impels me to invoke for the manifol ' intir.-sts of a generous and con fiding - opie tiie most scrupulous care, and to pledge my willing support to ever} legislative effort for the ait vane, mt-nt. oi the greatness and prospeiiiy of our be loved country. Grover Cleveland, Executive Mansion, Washington. 1). C . Dec. 4. 1803. AFTER SHEEP THIEVES. Police of Omalia and Colorado Springs Searching For Henry Wilson. Omaha, Dec. 4.—The police of Omaha and South Omaua are engaged in a sheep hunting expedition and searching for Henry Wilson of Hugo, Colo. Chief of Police Dana of Colorado Springs started the chase by sending a dispatch to Chief Seavy of Omaha to arrest Wilson and take possession of 2,500 sheep, which it is alleged he secured possession of by fraud and forgery. These sheep were billed to Waggoner, Birney & Co., South Omaha. One car load was sold in South Omaha and the rest were shipped to Chicago. The number sold at South Omaha was 241, and brought 13.25 per hundred. After the sale had been made there yet remained 10 double deck cars of sheep that went to Chicago.