PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. Washington, Deo. 4, The president's message read to congress today Is as fol low! To the congress tf the United State! The constitutional duty which require the president from time to time to Rive to the congress informntlnn of the Plate of the Union And recommend to their consid eration snch meantime a lie shall jutlge necessary and expedient In fittingly en tered npon by commending to the con gress a careful examination of the detailed statements and well supported recommen dations contained In the report of the head of department! who are chiefly charged with the executive work of the got ernnient. While our foreign relations have not at all timet during the past year been entirely free from perplexity, no embarrassing situ ation remain that will not yield to the tplrlt of fairness nnd love of justice, which, joined with oonslMteut Amine, character ize truly American foreign policy. Braill and Chill. . The outbreak of domestic hostilities In the reptibllo of Brazil found the United States alert to watch the Interests of our citizens in that country, with which we carry on important commerce. Several vessels of our new navy are now, and for some time have been, stationed at ltlo de Janeiro. The struggle being between the estab lished government, which controls the machinery of administration and ' with which we maintain friendly relations, and certain officers of the navy employing the vessels of their command In an attack upon the national capital and chief seaport, and lacking, as It does, the elements of divided administration, I have failed to see that the Insurgents can reasonably claim recog nition as belligerents. - , Thus far the position of our government has been that of an attentive but Impartial observer of the unfortunate conflict. Em phasizing our fixed policy of Impartial neu trality in such a condition of affairs as now exists, I deemed it necessary to disavow, In a manner not to be misunderstood, the un authorized action of our late naval com mander in those waters in saluting the re volted Brazilian admiral, being indisposed to countenance an .act calculated to give gratuitous sanction to the local insurrec tion. The convention between our government and Chili having for its objeot the settle ment and adjustment of the demands of the two countrtes against each other, has been made effective by the organization of the claims commission provided for. The two governments failing to agree upon the third member of the commission', the good offices of the president of the Swiss repub lic were invoked, as provided in the treaty, and the selection of the Swiss representa tive In this country to complete the organ ization was gratifying alike to the United States and Chili. , The Geary Jaw. The legislation of last yuar known as the Geary law 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 provisions. A test case upon proceeding by habeas corpus was brought before the supreme court, and on May 15, 1898, a de cision was made by that tribunal sustain ing the law. It is believed that under the recent amend ment of the act extending the time for reg istration the Chinese laborers thereto en titled who desire to reside In this country will now avail themselves of the renewed privilege thua afforded of establishing by lawful procedure their right to remain, and that thereby the necessity of enforced de portation may to a gTeat degree be avoided. The Nicaragua Canal. Nicaragua has recently passed through two revolutions, the party at first success ful having In turn been displaced by an other. Our newly appointed minister, by his timely good offices, aided In a peaceful adjustment of the controversy involved in the first conflict. The large American in terests established In that country In con, oection with the Nicaragua cnual were not molested. The canal company has unfortunately become financially seriously embarrassed, but a generous treatment has been extend ed to it by the government of Nicaragua. The United States are especially interested in the successful achievement of the vast undertaking this company has In charge. That it should be accomplished under dis tinctively American auspices, and its en joyment assured not only to the vessels of this country as a channel of communica tion between our Atlantio and Pacific sea boards, but to the ships of the world in the Interests of civilization, is a proposition which, In my judgment, docs not admit of question. Guatemala has also been visited by the political vicissitudes which have afflicted her Central American neighbors, but the dissolution of its legislature and the proc lamation of a dictatorship have been un attended with civil war. An extradition treaty with Norway hat recently been exchanged and proclaimed. The extradition treaty with liussia, signed In March, 1887, and amended and confirmed by the senate in February last, was duly proclaimed last June. The Hawaiian Matter. It Is hardly necessary forme to state that the questions arising from our relations with Hawaii have caused serious embar rassment. Just prior to the installation of the present administration the existing government of Hawaii had been suddenly overthrown, and a treaty of annexation nad been negotiated between the provision al government of tho islands and the Unit ed States and submitted to the senate for ratification. This treaty I withdrew for examination and dispatched Hon. Jamea II. Blount of Georgia to Honolulu at a tpeoial commissioner to make an Impar tial investigation of the blrcumstances at tending the change of government and of all the conditions bearing upon the sub j ject of the treaty. After a thorough and exhaustive exftuV luatlou Mr. Bloui submitted to me his report, showing beyond all question thai the constitutional government of Hawaii had been subverted with the active aid of oir represeutAtiVe to thut government and through the Intimidation caused by the presence of an armed naval force of the United Stutee which was landed for that purpose at the Instance of our minister. Upon the facta developed It seemed to me thetmly honorable course for our govern 'mot to pursue was to undo 'the wrong tbt had been done by those representing ra, arid to restore as far at practicable the status existing at the time of our forcible intervention.- " ' i -' With a view of accomplishing this result within the constitutional limits of executive power, and reooguiziug all our obligation and responsibilities growing out of any m ' wr I' changed conditions brought about by our nnjusunnoie interrernnco, our present min ister at Honolulu has received appropriate Instructions to Hint end. Thus far no In formation of the accomplishment of anj definite result ha lx-cn received from him. Additional advice are soon evnetil When received they will lie promptly sent wj me congress, together w ith all other In- lormiwum sr. naim, accompanied by a special executive message detailing all the facts necessary to a Complete understand ing of the case nnd presenting a history of 11 the mnterial events leading up to the preaeut situation. International Arbitration. April 18, lMX), the International Amert sn conference of Washington by resolu tion expressed the wish that all controver sies between tho republics of America and the nations of Europe might be settled by arbitration, and recommended that the government of eaoh nation represented In that conference should communicate tills wish to all friendly powers. A favoruble response 1ms been received from Great Britain In the shape of a resolution adopt ed by parliament July 18 last, cordially sympathizing with the purpose in view, and expressing the hope that her majesty's government will lend ready co-operation to the governmeutof the United States up on the basis of the concurrent resolution aoove quoted. It affords me signal pleasure to lay this parliamentary resolution before the con gress and to express my sincere trratlflcn- tion that the sentiment of two great and kindred nations is thus authoritatively manifested in favor of the rational and peaceable settlement of International quar rels oj nonoranie resort to arbitration. The Consular Bervloe. j, During my former administration I took occasion to recommend a recast of the laws relating to the consular service, In order that It might become a more efficient agency in the promotion of the Interests it was intended to subserve. The duties and powers of consuls have been expanded with the growing requirements of our foreign trade. Discharging important duties nf feotlng our commerce and Amerlcau citi zens abroad, aud in certain countries exer cising judicial functions, these officers should lie men of character, intelligence and ability. ' Financial Suggestion. The recent repeal of the provision of law requiring the purchase of diver bullion by the government as a feature of our mon etary scheme has made an entire change in the complexion of our currenoy affair. I do not doubt that the ultimate result of this action will be most salutary and far reaching. In the nature of things, how ever, It Is Impossible to know at this time precisely what conditions will be brought about by the change, or what, if any, sup plementary legislation may in the light of such conditions appear to be essential or expedient. ' Of course, after the recent financial per turbation, time is necessnry for the re-establishment of business confidence. When, however, through this restored confidence the money which has been frightened into boarding places Is returned to trade and enterprise, a survey of the situation will probably disclose a safe path leading to a permanently sound currency abundantly sufficient to meet every requirement of our increasing population and business. In the pursuit of this object we should resolutely turn away from alluring and temporary expedients, determined to be content 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. The monetary conference which assem bled at Brussels upon our invitation was adjourned to the 30th day of November in the present year. The considerations just stated and the fact that a definite proposi tion from u seemed to be expected upon the reassembling of the conference led me to express a willingness to have the meet ing still further postponed. It seems to me that it would be wise to give general authority to the president to invite other nations to such a conference at any time when there should be a fair prospect of accomplishing an International agreement on the subject of coinage. I desire also to earnestly suggest the wis dom of amending the existing statutes lu regard to the issuance of government bonds. The authority now vested in the secretary of the treasury to issue bonds is not as clear as it should be, and the bonds authorized are disadvantageous to the gov ernment both as to the time of their ma turity and rate of interest. National Quarantine. The admonitions of the last two years touching our public health and the demon strated danger of the introduction of con tagious diseases from foreign ports baa In vested the subject of national quarantine with increased interest. ' A more general and harmonious system than now exists, acting promptly and directly everywhere, and constantly operating by preventive means to shield our country from the in vasion of disease, aud at the same time having due regard to the rights and duties of local agencies, would, I believe, add greatly to the safety of our people. . Army Kooommendatlona. The secretary of war reports that the strength of the army on the 80th day of September last was 25,778 enlisted men and 3,144 officers. The total enrollment of the militia of the several states was, on the 81st of October of the current year, 112,597 officer and enlisted men. The adoption of battalion formations for infantry regiments, the strengthening of the artillery force, the abandonment of smaller and unnecessary posts aud the massing of the troops at important aud ac cessible stations all promise to promote the usefulness of the army. In the judg ment of army officers, with but few excep tions, the operation of the law forbidding the re-enlistment of men after 10 years' service has not proved its wisdom, and while the arguments that led to Us adop tion were not without merit, the experience of the year constrains me to Join In the recommendation for its repeal. eaeosst Defense, tt Is gratifying to note that we have be gun to attain completed results in the com prehensive scheme of seacoaBt defense and fortiflcatlou, entered upon eight years ago. A large sum has been already expended, but the cost of maintenance will be incon siderable as compared with the oxpense of construction and ordnance. At the end of the current calendar year tho war de partment will have nine 13 Inch guns, twenty 10 inch and thirty-four 8 inch guns, ready to be mounted ongun lifts and carriages, and seventy-flve 13 uch mortars. In addition to the pro duct of the army gun factory, now com pleted at Watervllet, the government haa contracted with private parties for the pur chase of 100 guns of these calibers, the first of which should be delivered to the depart, tnent for test before July 1,1804. The manufacture of heavy ordnance keeps pace with current needs, but to ren der these guns available for tie purposes ther arc designed to meet, emplacements must be prepared for tliein. Progress has been made in this direction, nnd it Is de sirable thai portress tiy adequate eppro priiitinns should provide for the uninter rupted prosecution of this necostary work. l-'oilornt Conrtm The report of the attorney ceneral eon tiilns tho usunl Kunitmiry of the affairs and proceedings of the department of justice ior tne past, yenr. together with certain recommendations us to needed legislation on various subjects. I cannot too heartily Indorse the proposition that the foe sys tem as applicable to the comnensatlon of United States attorneys, marshals, clerks tu leueriil courts and United States com missioners, snould be abolished with as little delay as possible. It Is clearly In the interest of the community that the bust lies of the courts, both civil and criminal, shall be as small and as Inexpensively transacted as the ends of iustloewill allow. The system Is therefore thoroughly vic ious which makes the compensation of court officials depend upon the volume of such business, and thus creates a conflict between a proper execution of the law and private gain, which cannot fall to be dan gerous to the rights and freedom of the citizen nnd an irresistible temptation to the unjustifiable expenditure of public funds. If In addition to this reform an other was Inaugurated which would give to United States commissioners the final disposition of petty offenses within the grade of misdemeanors, especially those coming under the Internal revenue laws, a great advance would be made toward a more decent administration of the criminal law. In my first message to congress, dated Dec. 8, 1885, I strongly recommended these changes and referred somewhat at length to the evils of the present system. Since that time the criminal business of the fed' eral courts and the expense attending it have enormously Increased. The expense of the United States courts, exclusive of Judges' salaries, for the year ending July 1, 185, was 12,874,783.11, and for the yenr ending July I, 1893. $4,628,076.87. It is therefore apparent that the reasons given in 1883 for a change in the mauner of enforcing the federal criminal law have gained cogency and strength by Inpso of time. I also heartily Join the attorney general m recommending legislation fixing de grees of the crime of murder within fed' eral jurisdiction, as haa been done in many of the states, authorizing writs of error on behalf of the government lu cases where final iudgment is rendered against the suf ficiency of an indictment or against the government upon any other question aris ing before actual trial, limiting the right of review lu cases of felony punishable only by fine and imprisonment to the cir cuit court of appeals and making speedy provision lor the construction of such prls sons and reformatories as may bo neces sary for the confinement of United States convicts. Tha Postal Bervlee, The business of the malls indicates with absolute certainty the condition of the business of the country, and depression In financial affairs inevitably and quickly re duces tne postal revenues. Therefore a larger discrepancy than nsual between the postofftce receipts and expenditures is the expected and unavoidable result of the distressing stringency which has prevailed throughout the country during much of the time covered by the postmaster gen eral's report. At a date when better times were anticipated it was estimated by his predecessor that the deficiency on the 30 th day of June, 1803, would be but little over $1,500,000. It amounted, however, to more than (5,000,000. At the same time, and under the Influ ence of like anticipations, estimates were made for the current fiscal year ending June 80, 1894, which exhibited a surplus of revenue over expenditures of 872,245.71; but now, in view of the actual receipts and expenditures during that part of the cur rent fiscal year already expired, the present postmaster general estimates that at Its close Instead of a surplus there will be a deficiency of nearly $8,000,000. The postoftlce receipts for the fiscal year amounted to 7i3,890,9j.i6 and Its expend! tures to $81,074,104.90. This postoffice de ficiency would disappear or be immensely decreased If less matter was carried free through the malls, an Item of which Is up ward of 800 tons of seeds and grain from the agricultural department. Forty-two free delivery offices were add ed during the year to those already exist ing, making a total of 610 cities and towns provided with free delivery on June 80, 1893. Ninety-three other cities aud towns are now entitled to this service under the law, but it has not been accorded them on account of insufficient 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 desig nated. There were 8,401 additions to the domes tic money order offices during the last fis cal year, being the largest increase in any year since the inauguration of the system. The total number of these oflices at the close of the year was 18,434. During the year 195 international money order oflices were added to those already provided, making a total of 2,407 In opera tion on June 80, 1893. The total Issue of money orders and postal notes for the year amounted to $150,821,848.24. The number of letters and packages mailed during tho year for special delivery was 8,875,093, an increase over the preced ing year of nearly 23 per cent. The special delivery stamps used amounted to (337, 609.30, and the messengers' fees amounted to $256,593.71, leaving a profit to the gov ernment of 180,970.59. jtnliwsy Mall Bervlee, The railway mail service not only adds to the promptness of mail delivery at all offices, but it is the especial instrumental ity which putt the smaller and way places lu the service on an equality iu that regard with the largur and terminal offices. This branch of the postal servlco has therefore received much attention from the pokt master general, and though It is gratifying to know thut 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 improvement. There are now connected with the post office establishment 28,324 employees whe are iu the classified service. The head of this great department gives conclusive ev idence of the value of civil set-vice reform when, after an experience that renders his judgment on the subject absolutely reli able, he expresses the opinion that without tb benefit of this system it would be im possible to conduct the vast business iu trusted to him. I desire to commend as especially worthy of prompt attention the suggestion of the Eostmaster general relating toaiuoresoust la aud kuiuiilikeorgauizatlon aud a bet ter distribution of responsibility iu bis department. The Navy. The report of t he secretary of the nav; contains a history of (the operations el his department during the past year, and ex hibits a most gratifying condition of the personnel of our navy. During the past six months the demands for cruUIng vessels have been many and urgent. There have been revolutions call ing for ve!s to protect American inter ests In Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Hica, Honduras, Argentina and Brazil, while the condition of affairs iu Honolulu haa re quired the constant presence of one or more ship. Wit h all these calls upon our Davy it became necessary, in order to make up a sufficient fleet to patrol tho lliihrtng sea under the modus vlvemll agreed upon with Great Britain, to detail to that service one vessel from the fish Commission and three from the revenue marine. l'rogress In the construction of new ves sels has not been as rapid as was antici pated. There have been delays In the com' pletlon of unannored vessels, but for the most part they have been such as are con stantly occurring even lu countrtes having the largest experience In naval shipbuild ing. The most serious delays, however, have been in the work upon armored ships. Ihe trouble has been the failure of eon tractors to deliver armor as agreed. The difficulties seem now, however, to have been all overcome, and armor Is being de livered with satisfactory promptness. The following vessels are in process of construction: 1 he second class battleships Alalne and lexas, the cruisers Montgom ery and Marblehead and the coast defense monitors Terror, Puritan, Amphltrlte and Monaduock, all of which will be completed within one year; the harbor defense ram Katahdin and the protected cruisers Co lumbia, Minneapolis, Olympla, Cincinnati and Hulelgh, all of which will be complet ed prior to July 1, 1895; the first class bat tleships Iowa, Indiana, Massachusetts and Oregon, which will be completed Feb. 1 1896, and the armored cruiser Brooklyn. which will be completed by Aug. 1 of that year. It Is also expected that the three gunboats authorized by the last congress will be completed in less than two years. Since 1880 congress has at each session authorized the building of one or more vessels, and the secretary of the navy pre 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 sistently pursuing the policy we have In angurated of building np 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. The method of employing mechanical la bor at navy yards through boards of labor and making efficiency the sole test by which laborers are employed and contin lied Is producing the best results, and the secretary Is earnestly devoting himself to its development. Pension. The secretary of the Interior has the su pervision of so many important subjects that his report is of especial value and In terest. ' On the 80th day of Jnne, 1893, there were on the pension rolls 966,013 names, an In crease of 89,944 over the number on the rolls June 80, 1893. Of these there were 17 widows and daughters of Revolutionary soldiers, 86 survivors of the war of 1812. 5,425 widows of soldiers of that war, 141,518 survivors and widows of the Mexican war. 8,883 survivors, and widows of Indian wars, 284 army nurses, and 475,645 survivors and widows aud children of deceased soldiers aud sailors of the war of the rebellion. The latter number represents thoe pensioned on account of disabilities or death resulting from army and navy service. The number of persons remaining on the rolls June 30. 1893, who were pensioned under the act of June 27, 1890, which allows pensions on ac count of death and disability not charge able to army service, was 409,135. The number added to the rolls during the year was 123,634, and the number dropped was 83,690. Although the law of 1890 permits Den slons for disabilities not related to military service, yet as a requisite to its benefits a disability must exist incapacitating appli cants "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 accord with its true inten tion, but toward the close of the last ad ministration an authoritative construction was given to the statute, and since that time this construction haa been followed. This has bad the effect of limiting the op eration of the law to its intended purpose. The discovery hnving been made that many names had been put upon the pen sion roll by means of wholesale and gigan tic frauds, the commissioner suspended payments upon a number of pensions which seemed to be fraudulent or unauthorized pending a complete examination, giving notice to the pensioners, in order that they might have an opportunity to establish, if possible, tho justice of their claims, not withstanding apparent invalidity. 'Ibis, 1 understand, is the practice which has for a long time prevailed In the pen sion bureau, but after entering upon these recent investigations the commissioner modified this rule so as not to allow, nntil after a complete examination, interference with the paymeut of a pension apparently not altogether void, but which merely hod been fixed at a rate higher than that au thorized by law. I am unuble 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 pensioner has become a bad citizen. Every false oath in support of a pension has made perjury more common, and false and undeserving pensioners rob the people not only of their money, but of the patriotlo sentiment which the survivors of a war fought tor the preservation of the Union ought to in spire. xne turn expended on account of pen sions for the year ending June 80, 1893, was riso,T),4ur.i4. Tho commissioner estimates that $165.- 000,000 will be required to pay pensions during the yeur ending Juno 80, 1894. La, the 1'uor Indian! The condition of the Indians and their ultimate fate are subject which are related to a sacred duty of the government, aud which strongly appeal to the sense of jus tice aua tne symputuy or our people. Our Indians number about 248,000. Most of them are located on 161 reservations, eontuiulng 86,116,581 acres of land. About 110,lA of these Indians have to a large de gree 'tdopted oivilized customs. Lauds In severalty have been allotted to many of them. Suoh allotments bwve been made, to 10,000 Individuals during the last fiscal year, embracing about '1,000,000 acres. The cumber of IndiuagoveHwieut schools open during the year was 195. The total number of Indian children enrolled during the year as attendants of all schools was 21,138, an increase of 1,231 over the enrollment for the previous year. I am sure that secular education and moral nnd religious teaching must lie 1m portant factors in any effort to save the In dlan noil lend him to civilization. I be lieve, too, that the relinquishment of tribal relations and the holding of land in sever alty may In favorable conditions aid this consummation. It seems to me, however, that allotments of land In severalty ought to be made with great care and circumspec tion. The law providing that, except In special cases, army officers shall be detailed as In dlan agents, It Is hoped will prove a suc cessful experiment. The vast area of land which bnt short time ago constituted the public domain Is rapidly falling into private bands. It certain that in the transfer the beneficent intention of the government to supply from Its domain homes to the Industrious and worthy home seekers is often frus trated. Though the speculator, whostands with extortionate purpose between the land office and those who, with their fam Hies, are invited by the government to set tle on the publio lands, Is a despicable character who ought not to be tolerated, yet It is difficult to thwart his schemes. The recent opening to settlement of the lands of the Cherokee outlet, embracing an area of 6,500,000 acres, notwithstanding the utmost care In framing the regulations governing the selection of locations and notwithstanding the presence of United States troops, furnished an exhibition. though perhaps in a modified degree, of the mad scramble, the violence and the fraudulent occupation which have accom panied previous openings of publio land. I concur with the secretary in the belief that these outrageous Incidents cannot be entirely prevented without a change in th laws on the subject, and I hope his recom mendatlons in that direction will be favor ably considered. I especially commend to the attention of the congress the statements contained in the secretary's report concerning forestry, The time has come when efficient meas ures should be taken for the preservation of our forests from indiscriminate and remediless destruction. Agricultural Department. The report of the secretary of atrricnl ture will be found exceedingly interesting. especially to that large part of our citizens intimately concerned lu agricultural occu pations. On the 7th day of March, 1893, there were npon its payrolls 3,430 employees This number has been reduced to 1,850 per sons. In view of a depleted publio treas ury and the imperative demand of the peo ple ror economy in the administration of their government, the secretary has en tered upon the task of rationally reducing expenditures by the elimination from the payrolls of all persons not needed for an efficient conduct of the affairs of the de partment. The exports of agricultural products from the United States for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1893, attained the enor mous figure of $800,000,000 In round num. bers, being 78.7 per cent of our total ex ports. In the last fiscal year this aggre gate was greatly reduced, but nevertheless reached $615,000,000, being 75.1 per cent of ail American commodities exported. A review of our agricultural exports witn special reference to their destination will show that in almost every line the united Kingdom of Ureat Britain and Ire land absorbs by far the largest proportion, Of cattle the total expert aggregated in value lor the fiscal year ending June 30. 1893, $26,000,000, of which Great Britain took considerably over $25,000,000. Of beef products of all kiuds our total exports were aae.uuu.uuu, oi which tireat Britain tooK $34,000,000, Of pork products the total exports were $84,000,000, of which Ureat Britain took $53,000,000. Iu bread- stuffs, cotton aud mluor products like pro portions sent to the same destination are snown. Concerning Seeds. During the last fiscal year the cost of seeds purchased was $06,548.61. The re mainder of an appropriation of $135,000 was expended in putting them up and dis- tnouung mem. it surely never could have entered the minds of those who first sanc tioned appropriations of publio money foe the purchase of new and Improved vari eties or teeos lor gratuitous distribution that from this would grow larae SDoroDri- atlons for the purchase and distribution by i - . . - uiemoers oi congress or ordinary seeds, bulbs and cuttings which are common in all the states and territories and every where easily obtainable at low prices. in eacn state and territory an agricultur al experiment station has been established. These stations, by their very character and name, are the proper agencies to experi ment with and test new varieties of seeds, and yet this indiscriminate and wasteful distribution by legislation and legislators continues, answering no purpose unless it be to remind constituents that their repre sentatives are willing to remember them with gratuities at publio cost. In view of these facts this enormous er. pendtture without legitimate returns of bee tflt ought to be abolished. Anticipat ing a consummation so manifestly In the Interest of good administration, more than $100,000 has been stricken from the esti mate made to cover this object for the year ending June 30, 1895, and the secretary recommends that the remaining $35,000 of the estimate be confined strictly to the purchase of new and Improved varieties of seeds, aud that these be distributed through experiment stations. Thus the seed will be tested, and after the test has been completed by the experi ment station tho propagation of the useful varieties and the rejection of the valueless may safely be left to the common sense of the people. Civil Service. 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 ployees of free delivery postoffices, which has been honestly and promptly accom plished by the commission, with the hearty co-operation of the postmaster general, is an immensely important advance in the usefulness of the system. I am, it possible, more than ever con vinced of the incalculable benefits conferred by the civil service law, not ouly lu its ef fect upon the publio service, but also, what Is even more Important, in its effect in ele vating the tone of political life generally. The course of civil service reform iu this country instructively aud interestingly il lustrates bow strong a hold a movement gains upon our people which has underly ing It a sentiment of justice and right, aud whloh at the same time promises better ad ministration of their government. The law embodying this reform found its way to our statute book more from fear of the popular sentiment existing In its favor than from any love for the reform Itself on the part of legislators, nnd it baa lived aud grown and flourished in spite of the covert as well as open hostility of spoilsmen and notwithstanding the querulous impractica bility of many self constituted guardians. Beneath all the vagarirt and sublimated theories which are attracted to It there un derlies this reform a sturdy common sense principle not only suited to this mundane sphere, but whose application our people are more and more recognizing to be abso lutely essential to the most successful oper ation of their government, if not to Its per petuity. It teemi to me to be entirely inconsist ent with the character of this reform, as well as with its best enforcement, toobllge the commission to rely for clerical assist ance upon clerks detailed from other de partments. There ought not to be such rnn.lltlnn In B il.n..ln( tt.nl- hired to do work there can be spared to habitually work at another place, and it does not accord with a sensible view of civil service reform that persons should be employed on the theory that their labor is necessary in one department when in point) of fact their services are devoted to entirely different wook in another department. Beoaotny la Expenditure. Economy In pnbllo expMlliture is a duty that cannot Innocently be neglected by those intrusted with the control of money drawn from the people for public uses. At this time, when a depleted public treasury confronts us, when many of oar people are engaged in a hard struggle for the necessaries of life, and whan enforced economy is pressing upon the great mats of our countrymen, I desire to urge with all the earnestness at my command that congressional legislation be so limited by strict economy as to exhibit an apprecia tion of the condition of the treasury and a sympathy with the straitened clrcnm stancs of our fellow citizens. The duty of publio economy is also of Im mense importance in its intimate and nec essary relation to the task now in hand of. providing revenue to meet government ex penditures and yet reducing the people's burden of federal taxation. Tariff Raformw After a hard struggle tariff reform la di rectly before us. Nothing so Important claims our attention, and nothing so clear ly presents itself as both an opportunity and a duty an opportunity to deserve the gratitude of our fellow citizens and a duty imposed upon us by our oft repeated pro fessions and by the emphatic mandate of the people. After full discussion our coun trymen have spoken In favor of this re form, and they have confided 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 publio places of the peo ple aud their desires, if publio officers are really the servants of the people, and if political promisee and professions have any binding force, our failure to give the relief so long awaited will be sheer recreancy. Nothing should intervene to distract our attention or disturb our effort nntil this reform is accomplished by wise and careful legislation. While we should stanchly adhere to the principle that only the necessity of reve nue justifies the imposition of tariff duties and other federal taxation, and that they should be limited by strict economy, we cannot close our eyes to the fact that condi tions have grown np among ns which in justice and fairness call for discriminating care in the distribution of such duties and taxation as the emergencies of our govern ment actually demand. Manifestly, if we are to aid the people directly through tariff reform, one of its most obvious features should be a reduc tion in present tariff charges upon the nec essaries oi me. me oenents oi such a re duction would be palpable and substantial. seen and felt by thousands who would be better fed and better clothed and better sheltered. These gifts should be the will lug benefactions of a government whose highest function is the promotion of the welfare of the people. Kaw Material. Not less closely related to our people's prosperity and well being is the removal of restrictions upon the importation of the raw materials necessary to our manufac tures. The world should be open to our national ingenuity and enterprise. This cannot be while federal legislation through the imposition of high tariff forbids to American manufacturers as cheap mate rials as those used by their competitors. It is quite obvious that the enhancement of the price of our manufactured products re sulting from this policy not only confines the market for these produots within onr 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 sham comoati- tion and active struggle among our manu facturers to supply the limited demand for their goods soon fill the narrow market to which they are confined. Then follows suspension of work in mills and faotortna. a discharge of employees and distress iu the homes of our workingmen. Eveu it the often disproved assertion could be made good that a lower rate of wages would result from free raw mate rials and low tariff duties, the iutellisrenca of our workingmen leads them quickly to discover that their steady employment. permitted by free raw material, is th most important factor In their relation to tariff legislation. A measure has been Drenared by the an. firopriate congressional committee embody ug tariff reform on the lines herein sug gested, which will be promptly submitted for legislative' action. It la tha result of much patriotic and unselfish work, and I ueneve it ueaia wnu its BUOject consistently and ns thoroughly as existing conditions permit. I am satisfied that the reduced tariff du ties provided for in the proposed legisla tion, added to existing internal revenue taxation, will in t be near future, tho uch perhaps uot immediately, produce sufficient revenue to meet tne needs oi tne govern ment. Internal Revenue and Income Taxe. Tbetommittee. after full conildoratlon and to provide against a temporary defi ciency which may exist before the business of the country adjusts itself to the new tariff schedules, have wisely embraced In their plan a few additional internal rev enue taxes, Including a small tax upon In comes derived from certain corporate in vestments. These new assessments are not only ab solutely just aud easily borne, but they have the further merit of being suoh as eon be remitted without unfavorable business disturbance whenever the necessity of their luipuMuou no longer exists. Iu my great desire for the success of this. measure I cannot restrain the suggestion that its success can only be attained by means of unselfish counsel on the part of the friends of tariff reform and as a man It. of their willingness to subordinate personal uesires sua am onions to tne general good. The local lute rents affected by the proposed reform are so numerous and so varied that if all are insisted upon the legislation em bodying the reform must inevitably fall. In conclusion, my intense feeling of re sponsibility impels me to invoke for tha mauifold interest of a generous and eon tiding people the most scrupulous care, and to pledge my willing support to every leg- ' ' Islative effort for the advauoemeut of the greatness and prosperity of our beloved country. GHOVKH CLEVELAND. f
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