ee Lots oT he Soca oe
) ; e reports of the retary of
- Treasury, and the Aras ara
amadedirectly to furnish a coni-
prehensive view of the administrative work
of the year relating to internal
i AMERICAN PORE IN EUROPE.
The law of the last Congress providinz a
of inspection for our meats intended
3 President with
er to exclude foreign products from our
jarket in case the country s2nding them
1d tuate unjust discriminations
ainst any product of the United States,
laced this Government in a position to ef-
fectively urge the removal of such disérimi-
nations inst our meats. It is gratifving
$0 be able to state that Germany, Denmark,
Italy, Austria and France, in the order
mamed, have opened their ports to in-
spe « American. pork products. The re-
moval of these restrictions in-every instance
‘was asked for and given solely upon the
ground that we had now provided a meat
el on that should be ‘accepted as-
adequate to the complete removal of the dan
‘gerareal or fancied, which had been pre-
wiously urged. ' The State Department, our
Ministers abroad and the , Secretary of
‘Agriculture have co-operated with: unflag-
: ging and intelligent zeal for the accomplish-
muent of this great result. The outlines of
&an agreement have been reached with
“Germany, looking to. equitable trade con-
-cessions in consideration of the continued
free importation of her suzars, but the time
‘thas not yet arrived when the correspondence
=an be submitted to Congress.
; . OUR RELATIONS WITH CHILL
+ The civil war in Chili, whigh began in Jan-
mary last, was continued, but fortunately
‘with infrequent and not important armed
, until August 28, when the Con-
gressional forces landed near Valparaiso,
‘and after a bloody engagement captured
. that city. President maceds at once
Fecognized. t his cause was lost; and a
onal government was speedily estab-
- fished by the victorious party. Our. Min-
ster > directed to - recog~
J in; communica-
. this . Government so soon
it should have established its
de character, which ‘was done.
During the pendency of this civil conquest
frequent direct appeals were ‘made to this
Government to extend belligerent rights to
the insupgents and to give andience to their
resentatives. This was declined, and that
policy was pursued throughout; which this
Government, when wrenched. by ¢ivil war,
$0 strenuously insisted upon on the part: of
uropean nations.
No official complaint of the conduct of our
Minister or of our naval officers during the
le has been presented to this Govern-
ment; andit is a matter of regret thatso
¢ many of our own people should have given
ear to unofficial charges and complaints that
manifestly had their origin in rivalinterests
and in a wish to pervert ‘the relations of the
United States with Chili.
THE VALPARAISO INCIDENT.
On the 16th of October an event occurred
in Valparaiso so serious and tragic in’ its cir-
cumstances and results as to very justly ex-
cite the indignation of our people and to call
- for prompt and decided action on the part of
this Government. A considerable number.of
_ thesailors of the United States steamship
Bajtimore, then in the harborof Valparaiso,
being i ‘ shore-leave and unarmed, were
assdulted by armed men nearly simulta-
meously in different localities in the city.
One petty officer was killed out-
right and seven or eight seamen were
seriously Wounded, one. of {whem has Since
died. So gavage and brutal wasithe assault’
that several of our sailors received more
than two,.and one as many as eighteen, stab
wounds. An investigation of the affair was
Prowstly made by a board of officers of the { POS
tinor¢, and their report shows fetter
assanlts were unprovoked, that our men
were conducting themselves in a peaceable
d © ¥ manner, and’ that somo
police of the city took part
in the assault and used their weapons
with’ fatal effect, while" a ‘few others
with Some well disposed citizens, endeavored
to protect our men. Thirty-six of our. sail
ors were arrested, and some ‘of them, while
‘being taken to prison, were cruelly beaten
d maltreated. « The fact ‘that they
‘Xvere all discharged, no criminal charge
‘being Jodged against any one of them, shows
wery clearly that they were innocent of any
f the peace.
So far as I have vetrbeen able to learn no
other explanation of this bloody work has
‘been suggested than that'it had its origin in’
Hostility to these men as sailors of the United
States, wearing the uniform of their Govern-
iment, and not in any individual act or per-
€onal animosity. The attention ‘of the
Chilian Government was at onca called to
this affair, and a statement of the facts
obtained by the investigation we had
conducted was submitted, accompanied by
a uest to be advised: of any other or
i facts in the possession of the
ilian Government that might tend to re-
lieve this affair of the appearance of an in-
sult to this Government. The Chilian Gov-
ernment was also advised that if such quali-
fying facts did not exist this Government
wrould confidently expect full and prompt
ation.
1 is to be regretted that the reply of the
Becretary for Foreign: Affairs ‘of the Frovi-
sional Government was couched in an offen-
A To this no6 responss Jas been
made This Government is now ‘awaiting
the result of an investization. which hasbeen
conducted by the criminal court at
: at Val-
paraiso, It is reported unofficially that the
vestigation i about Somploted, and isis
expects result wil
soon mn this: Gov-
ernment Toge with some ade-
‘quate and satisfactory response to the note
by which the attention of Chili was called fo
i incidefit. If these just .expactations
; bedisappointed or further needless
* delay intervene, I will,by a special message,
bring this matter again to the attention gf
Congress for such action ‘as may be necés-
sary. The entire corresponiencs with the
Government of Chili willat an early date be
submitted to Congress.
. THE CHINESE QUESTIONS.
The late outbreak against foreigners in
ous parts of the Chinese Empire has been
cause of deep concern in view of the nu-
qmerous establishments of our citizens in
whe interior of that country. This Govern-
‘ment can do no less than insist upon a con-
‘tinuance of ths protective and punitory
measures which the Chinese Government has
‘heretofore applied. No effort will be omitted
$0 protect our citizens peaceably sojourning
4m China, but recent unofficial information
dndicates that what was at first regarded as
“an outbreak of mob violence against foreign-
has assumed the larger form of anin-
surrection against public order,
The Chinese Government, has
s {| have been se
| tions and added to the public domain for the
has been invited to pat-.
ton o& Afsirid toms
of the hs ofthe se | Treasu
ants required by law be: afm
w
interest in She operations ot
Dap + bment’ 1 at ich
y reason of
fie ast your b accompa-
g etic
nied and followed the tariff and other legis-
lation of the last Congress affecting the revs
‘enties, as to the results of this fozislation
upon the Treasury and upon the country.
There is certainly nothing in the condition
of trade, foreign or domestic, there is cer-
tainly nothing in the condition of our people
of any class to suggest that the existing
tariff and revenue legislation bears oppres-
sively upon the people or retards the com-
mercial development of the nati It may
be argued that our condition would bs better
if our tariff legisiation were upon a free
trade basis; but it cannot be denied that all
the conditions of prosperity and of general
contentment are present in a larger degree
than ever before in our history, and that, too,
just when it was prophesiad they would be
in the worse state. Agitation for radical
changes in fariff and financial legislation
connot help, but may seriously impede, busi-
ness, to the prosperity of which some degree
of stability in legislation is essential. y
I think there are conclusive evidences that
the new tariff has created several great in-
dustries which will, within a few years, give
employment to several hundred thousand
American working men and women. In
view of the somewhat overcrowded condition
of the labor market of the United States,
every patriotic citizen should rejoice at such
a result.
FREE COINAGE WOULD MEAN DISASTER.
I am still of the opinion that the free coin-
e of silver under existing conditions would
disastrously affect our business interests at
home and abro: We could not. hope to
mantaio an equality in the purchasing power
of the gold and silver dollar in our own mar-
kets, and in foreign trade the stamp gives no
added value to the bullion contained in
coins. The producers of the country, its
farmers and laborers, have the highest in-
terest that every dollar, paper or coin, is-
sued by the Government shall be as
as any other. If thereis ono less valuable
than another its sure and constant
errand will be to pay them for their toil and
for their crops. The money-lender will pro-
tect himself by stipulating for payment in
but the laborer has never been able to
o that. To place business upon a silver
basis would mean a sudden and severe con- |
traction of the currency, by the withdrawl
of gold and gold notes, and such an unset-
tling of all values as would produce a com-
mercial panic. I cannot believe that a peo-
ple so strong and prosperous as ours will
promote such a policy.
BIMETALLISM THE OBJECT.
The producers of silver are entitled to just
consideration, but thoy should not forget
that the Government is now buying and put-
ting out of the market what is the equivalent
of the entire product of our silver mines.
This is more than they themselves thought
of asking two years ago. I believe it is the
earnest desireof a great majority of the peo-
ple, as it is mine, that a full coin use shall be
made of silver justassoon as the co-operation
of other nations can be secured and a
ratio fixed that will give circulation equally
to gold and silver. = The business ot the
world requires the use of both metals; but
1 do not sce any prospect of gain, buy uch
of loss, by giving up the present system, in
which a full usa is made of gold, and a large
use of silver, for one in which silver alone
will circulate. Such an event would be at
once fatal to the further progress of the sil-
ver movement. Bimetallism is the desired
end, and the true friends of silver will be
careful not to overrun the goal and bring in
silver monometallism, with its necessary at-
tendants, the loss of our gold to Europe and
the relief of the pressure there for a larger
currency. I have endeavored, by the nse of
official and unoffic’al agencies, to keep a close
observation of the state of public sentiment
in Europes upon this question, and have not
found it to be such as to justify me in pro-
ing an international conference. There
is, however, I am sure, a growing sentiment
in Europe in favorof a larger use of silver,
and I know of no more effectual way of pro-
moting this sentiment than by accumulating
gold here, ' A scarcity of gold in the Earo-
LT
| pean reserves will bs the most persuasive
argument for the use of silver.
DISPOSAL OF THE SURPLUS.
The presence of a large cash surplus in
the Treasury has for many years been the
subject of much unfavorable criticism and
has furnished an argument to those who
have desired to place the tariff upon a purely
revenue basis. It was agreed by all that the
withdrawal from circulation of so large an
amount of money was an embarrassment to
the business of the country and mude nce-
essary the intervention of the Dapartmentat
frequent intervals, to relieve threatened
monetary ie The surplus on March 1,
1889, was $183,827,190.29. The policy of ap-
plying this surplus to the redemption
of she interest-bearing securities of the
United States was thought to be preferable
to that of depositing it without interest in
selected National banks, There have been
redeemed since the date last mentioned of
interest-bearing securities $259,079,350, re-
sulting in a reduction of the annual interest
of $11,684,675. The monay which had been
deposited in banks without interest has been
adually withdrawn and used in the re-
demption of bonds. , 7
The result of this policy,of ths silver legis-
lation, and of the refunding of the 414 per
cent. bonds has been a large increase or the
money in circulation. At the date last
named the circulation was $1,404,205,896, or
$23.08 per capita, while on the 1st day of
December, 1891, it had increased to $1,577,-
262,070, or 24.38 per capita. The offer of the
Secretary of the Treasury to the holders of
the 414. per cent, bonds to extend the time
of redemption, at the option of the Govern-
ment, at an interest of 2 per cent, was
accepted. by the holders of about one-half
the amount, and the unextended bonds are
being redeemed on presentation.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
Progress has been made in securing sites
for harbor defenses and in the manufacture
of guns for their armament. Secre-
tary’s recommendation for a thrae-battalion
formation of infantry regimentsis concurred
in, as is that for the adoption of smokeless
owder, Seven companies of Indians have
en enlisted, and seven more are -being
formed,
THE POSTAL SERVICE.
Ravenues of the Posofficé*Be ment have
increased over $5,000,000. stimates for
1893 show an anticipated surplus of receipts
over expenses. =
OUR NEW NAVY.
Pour vessels, aggregating 11,000 tons,have
been placed in commission during the year.
Twenty-four more are in course of con-
struction. ‘
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
Solution of the problem of Governmental
dealings with the Indians sought in legsla-
tion recommended, which shall have in view
the making of the Indian into a citizen. .
The Sioux outbreak will be made the
subject of a special message. =.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN INCREASED.
Since March 4, 1839, about 23,000,000 acras
ated from Indian reserva-
nse of those who desired to secure frees homes
"Funder our beneficent laws, Itis difficult to
estimate the increase of wealth which will
It from the conversion of thess waste
ds into farms, but it is more difficult to
timate the betterment which will result to
the families that have found renewed hope
| And courage in the ownership of a home and
he assurance of a comfortable subsistence
under free and healthful conditions. It is
also gratifying to be able to feel as we may,
that this work has proceeded upon lines of
justice towards the Indian, and that he ma
now, if he will, secure to himself the goo
] TafiGences of a settled habitation, the fruits
| of industry and the security of citizenship,
PENSION BUREAU,
uring the vear
low ler he Ind
red thelaw ol June 0
a RD ohriBontos bia bsea proceeding at
the rate of about 30¢000 per month, about
seventy-five per cent. of these g cases
under the new law. The Commissioner ex-
presses the opinion ‘that he will e 1
carefully adjudicate and allow 350,000 clai
during the t fiscal year. = The appro-
priation for the payment of pensions for the
fiscal “yBar 1890-91" was $127,685,793.89, and
the amount expended-$118,530,540.25 leaving
an unexpended surplus of $9,155, 144,64.
: The estimate for pension expenditures for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, is$144,-
956,000, which, after careful examination of
the subject, the Comumissionsr is of the opin-
ion will besnflicient. While these disburse-
ments to the disabled soldiers of -the great
civil war are large, they do not realize the
exaggerated estimates of those who opposs
this beneficentlegislation. The Secretary of
the Interior shows with t fulness : the
claims, and also the gratifying fact that the
persons to whom these pensions are going
are nen who rendered, not slight, but sub-
stantial war service, : :
AGRICULTURE.
If the establishment of the Department of
ture was regarded by any one as a
mere concession the unenlightened de-
mand of a worthy class of people that im-
pression has been most effsctually removed
y. the great results already attained. Its
home influence has been Yer: ¢ in dis:
seminating agricultural an orticultural
information; in stimulating and directing a
further div: cation of crops; in detect-
+ a5 ot ‘ad St
ing an g
TE and, more than ali, in the close and
informal contact which it has established
and maintains with the farmers and stock-
raisers of the whole country, Every request
for information has had prompt attention
and every suggestion merited consideration,
The scientific corps of the Department is of
a high order and is pushing its investigations
with method and enthusiasm. ;
The inspection by this Dopartment of cat-
tle and pork roducts intended for shipment
abroad nm the basis of the success
which has attended our efforts to secure the
removal of the restrictions maintained by
the European Governments.
For ten years protestsand petitions upon
this subject from the packers and stock-
raisers of the United States have been di-
rected against these restrictions, which so
Seriously limited our market and curtailed
the profits of the farm. [tisa source of 'gen-
eral congratulation that success has at last
been attained, for the effects of an enlarged
foreign market for these meats will be felt
not only by the farmer, but in our public
finances and in'every branch of trade. Itis
particularly fortunate that the increased
emand for food products, resulting from
the removal of the restrictions upon our
means and from the reciprocal trade ar-
rangements to which I have referred, should
have come at a time when the agricultural
surplus is so large. Without the help thus
demived lower prices would have prevailed.
The Secretary of Agriculture estimates that
the restrictions upon the importation of our
port products into Europe lost us a market
or $20,000,000 worth of these products an-
nually,
The gtala crop of this year was the largest
in our history, 50 per cent. greater than that
of last year, and yet the new markets that
have bsen openei and the ldrger demand re-
sulting from short crops in Europe have sus-
tained prices to such an extent that the
enormous surplus of meats and breadstuffs
will be marketed at good prices, bringing
relief and prosperity to anindustry that was
much depr . The value of the grain crop
of the United States is estimated by the Sec-
retary to be this year $500,000,000 more than
last; of meats, one hundred and fifty mil-
lions more, and of all products of the farm,
seven hundred millions more. It is not:in-
appropriate, I think, here to suggest that
our satisfaction in the contemplation of this
marvellous addition to the national wealth
is unclonded by any suspicion of the cur-
rency by which it is measured and in which:
i farmer is paid for the proluczt of his
8S. 5
The heads of the several Executive Depant-
ments have been directed to establish at once
an efficiency record as the basis of a com-
parative rating of the clerks within
the classified service, with a view to
lacing promotions therein upon the
asis of merit. I am confident that
such a record, fairly kept and open to the in-
spection of those interested, will power-
fully stimulate the work of the Departments
and will be accepted by all as placing the
troublesome matter of promotions upon a
just basis.
PROTECTING RAILROAD EMPLOYES,
I have twice before urgently called the at-
tention of Congress to the necessity of legis-
lation for the protection of the lives of rail-
road employes, but nothing has yet been
done. During the year ending June 30, 1890,
869 brakemen were killed and 7841 maimed
while engaged in coupling cars. The total
number of railroad employes killed during
the year was 2451, an1 the number injured
22,390. This iscruel and largely a needless
sacrifice. The Government is spending nearly
one million dollars annually to save the lives
of shipwrecked seamen; every steam vessel
is rigidly inspeqged and required to adopt the
most approved Safety appliances. All this
is good, but how shall we excuse the lack ‘of
interest and effort in behalf of this army. of
brave young men, who in our land commerce
are being sacrificed every year by the con-
tinued use of ata and dangerous ap-
pliances? A law requiring of every railroad
engaged in interstate commerce the equip-
ment each year of a given per cent. of its
freight cars with automatic couplersand air
brakes would compel an agreement between
the roads as to the kind of brakes and
couplers to be used, and would very soon
and very greatly reduce the present fearful
death rate among railroad emyloyes.
ELECTION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
The method of appointment by the States
of electots of President and Vice-President
has recently ‘attracted renewed interest by
Teason of a departure by the State of Michi-
an from the method which had become uni-
orm in all the States, Prior to 1832 various
methods had been used by the different States
and even by the same State, In some the
choice was made by the Le, ture; in
others electors were chosen by districts, but
more generally: by the voters of the whole
State upon a general ticket. The move-
ment towards the adoption of the last—
named method had an early beginning, and
went steadily forward among the States,
until in 1832 there remained but a single
State, South Carolina, that had not adopted
it. That State, until the civil war, con-
tinued to ch its electors by a vote of
the Legislatufe, but after the war changei
its method and conformed to the practiceof
the other States. For nearly sixty years all
the States save one have appointed their
electors by a popular vote pon a general
ticket, and for mearly thirty years this
‘method was universal.
After a full test of other methods, withont
important division or dissent in any State
and without any purposes of party advan-
ge, as we must believe, but solely upon the
considerations that uniformity was desirable
and that a general election in territorial
ivisions not: subject to change was
popular charac-
ter of our institutions, best preserved
the ‘equality of the voters, and ' per-
{ dent from the baneful influence of the
1 “gerrymander,” the practice of all thefStates
was brought into harmony. That this con-
currence should now be broken is, I think,
an unfortunate and even a threatening epi-
sade, and one that may well suggest whether
the States that still give their approval to
the old and prevailing method ought
not to secure, by a constitutional amend-
ment, a practice which had the approval
of ‘all. The recent chigan legisla-
tion provides for choosing what are -
larly known as the Congressional elector for
»f the" Bureatis! President by Congressional districts and the
tion of he Pe reat two Senatorial electors by districts created |
care that is taken to exclude fraudulent.
whether a choice by the legislature or by the
Senators and electors’ of President.
fectly removed the chéice of Presi- |Boob
. These gerrymande gres&ional pu
poses are in most cases buttress: i by a gerry-
mander of the legislative districts, thus mak-
ing it impossib'e for a majority of the lezal
-voters of. the Siate to correct the: riions
only a political convulsion can overthrow. 1
have recently been advised that in ene coun
tion of members of the Legislature are cons
stituted as follows: One has 65.000 :
ton ois, 15,000, an foes 10,000; wy if
another count letachel, noncon 3
tions have beon Ci 3 make a le
tive district. / hah "4
These methods h
application to the choic
resentatives’in Congr: n
start has been mia ie in the direc
ing them to the choles by the States
tors of President and Vice-President
this is accomplished, we al ;
three great departments of
inthe grasp of the ‘‘zerry
islagive and ive d
b ifi
A
an é qual
determining the result. So when the Con-
stitution provides that ‘‘each State shall
appoint” (elect), ‘in such manner as the
Legislature thereof may direct, a number of
electors”. etec., an unrestricted power was
not given to the Legislatures in selection
‘of the methods to bs used. **A Republican
form of Government” is guaranteed by the
Constitution to each State, and the
power given by the same instrument to
the Legislatures: of the State to preseribe
methods: for ‘the choice, by the State, of
electors must be “exercised under that limi-
tation, The essential features of such a
Government are the right of the people to
choose their own officers and the nearest
practicable equality of value in the suffrages
given in determining that choice. Bie Bi
It will not be claimed that the power given
to the Legislature would support a law pro-
viding that the persons receiving the small-
est vote should be the electors, or a law that
all the electors should be chosen by the
voters of a, single Congressional distriet.
The State is to choose, and, under the pre-
tense of regulating methods, the Legislature
can neither west the ' right of choice
elsewhere nor adopt ‘methods not con-
formable to Republican institutions. It is
not my purpose here to discuss the question
voters of equal single districts is a choice by
the State, but only to recommend such reg-
ulation of this matter by constitutional
amendment as will secure uniformity and
prevent that disgraceful partisan jugglery
to which such a liberty of choice, if it exists,
offers a temptation. ;
Nothing just now is more important than
to provide every guaranty for the absolutely
fair and free choice ' b :
within the respective States, ot-all the offi-
cers of the National Government, whether
that suffrage is applied directly, as in the
choice of Members of the House of Represen-
tatives, or indirectly, as in the choice of
spect for pnblic'. officers and obedience
to law will not cease to be the. char-,
acteristics of our: people until our "elections |
cease to declare the will of majorities fairly
ascertained, without fraud, suppression or:
gerrymander. 1f i were called upon to de-
clare wherein our chief National got lies,
I should say, without hésitation, the over. |
throw o i pRr
of per ny op age. hat |
there is'a realdanger -here all must agree,
butthe etiergies of those who see it have
been chiefly expended in trying to fix re-
nsibility upon the opposite party, rather
ti ine! ores 1 make such praatices im-
ssible by either party. :
Li it not possible how to Jjoufn that
terminable and inconclusive debate; whil
take, by consent, one step in the direction
of reform by eliminating the gerrymander, .
an influence in the selection of electors of
President and members of Congress? All they
States have, acting fresly and scparately,
termined that the choice of electors by a gen-
eral ticket is the wisest and safest .
and it would seem there could be no objec-
tion to a constitutional ameniment making |
that method permanent. Ifa legislature
chosen in one year upon purely Jocal_ ques:
tions shonld, pending thePresidentialicons |"
test, meet, rescind the law for a choice upon
a general ticket, and proviie for the choice
or electors by the Legislature, and this trick
should determine the result, it is not too
.much to say that the public peacs might be
seriously and widely endangered. —
I have alluded to the “‘gerrymander® as’ af-
fecting the method of selecting electors of
President by Congressional districts, but the
primary intentand effect of this form of politi-
cal robbery have relation to the selection of
Wer O ngress is ample to d
Deroatoning SH intolerable abuse. The un-
failing test of sincerity in election reform will
be found in a willingness to confer as to rem-
‘edies and to put into force such measures as
will most effectually preserve the right of the
people to free and egualrepresentation.
Anattempt was made"in the la
to bring to
the Gener:
frauds agai
to Know; wh
measures i§ really rested
tures sipposed Soba obje hat ins
any pro on ftogive { 5
Of The United States Adequacy tothe corre
tion of grave. and acknowledged evils.
must yet entertain the hope that itis possi-
ble to secure a calm patriotic consideration |
of such constitutional or statutory c 8
as may be necessary to secure the choice of
the or of the Government. to the people
by fair apportionments and free elections." |
1 believe it would be p: to constitute
a commission, nor-portisan in ifs mem bor:
ship. and composed of patriotic, wise and im-
partial men Yo whom a consideration of the
question of the evils connected with our
election system and methods might be com-
mitted with a good prospec! 1
imity in some plan for removing or mitigat-
ing those evils, The Constitutivn would per-
mit the selection of the Commission to’ be
vested in the Supreme Court, if that method
would be the best guaranty of im ality.
. This commission should be charged with the
duty of inquiring into the whole subject of the
law of elections as related to the choice of offi-
cers of the National Government, with a view
to securing to every elector a free-and unmo-
lested exercise of the suffrage and as near an
approach to an equality of value in h ballot
cast as is attainable. :
While the politics or the General Govern-
meut upon the tariff, upon the restoration of
our merc
od
& Of
OR EA aie A]
grave and general concern are liable to be
turned this way or that by the resuits of Con~
gressional elections and administrative poli~
cies, sometimes involving issues that tend to
eace or war, to be turned this way or that b
he results of a Presidential election, there
a rightful interest in all the States and in
every Congressional district that will not be
on or silenced by the ai ri
that the question of the right ot any body
legal voters in any State or in any Congres-
sional district to give their suffrages freely.
upon these general guestiong is a matter only
of local conéern or control, The demand that
the limitations of suffrage shall be found in
the law, and only there, is a just demand, and-
no just man shall resent or resist it. My ap«
peal is, and must continue to be, for a consul=
tation that shall “proceed with candor, calm-'
ness and’ patience upon the lines of Justice
and humanity not of prejudice and éruelty.’
To the consideration of. theee very graye
uestions I invite not only the attention of
Forse into but that of all patriotic citizens.
We must not entertain the delasion
d a free ballot and
1 have been .
evidences of the inc
people and of a revived nati
vista that now opens to us i8 wid re
glorious than ever before, Gratification and
amazement struggle for si
contem; the opulati LW
moral 8 or h ofS p count y. A trust, E
men Avs influ 1 |
For a DHef me committed
an t not be faithless to its first
condition—the défense of the free and equal
influence of the people in the choice of public
officers and in the oontrol 5 Juin
aff a
HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, Dec. 9, 1801, © : :
of & Cortalts Mints bros AIstiotS for the elo | J pomas B. Repd
an equal suff | minister
. 'WEDNESDAY—2! s a
witich has been denounced by all parties; BS} in the Senate that body adjourned until to-
A-the &
t marine, upon river and harbor |.
| improvements, and other such matters of
1 and other (
|| and long loans); the object being, as declared
.convenient. time. (On
Mr.
Pherson called 5 House der, and
journal of yesterday’s proceedings was read.
he clerk then announced that he was
ready to receive any motion, whereupon
Mr. Holma 1 na. pf Indians, moved that the
i : n= | House proceed to the electio: 1
ment and equaliza the Congressional dis- Agreed t0.. Mr, Holman placed in nomina-
«1 tricks. A minority rule iy established that tion Charles ¥. Crisp, of Georgia. Mr. Hen-
n of Speaker.
derson, of 1llineis. placed in nomination
Mr. Simpson, of Kansas,
placed in nomination Thomas C. Warson,of
Georgia. The roll was then called, with the
fo i it: For Grisp;228; for Reed 83;
«Watson Fe A
and ppoinfme $
with applause mixed with laughter.
few moments Mr. Crisp “entered, with Mr.
V Mr. Reed. supporting him -on
) 1s and-Mx Reals a the aisle
8. ris i)
ved Mr. Crisp said:
©N OF THE HOUSE OF RERHRESEN:
v ‘or the great bohor en have
ferred upon melreturn heartielt tnangs.
I shall nor is discharge the duties of
the office of Speaker with courtesy, with
firmness and with absolute impartiality.
[App'ause.] Let us unite in the hope that
our labors here may result in the advance
ment of the prosperity, the honor and the
lory of our beloved country. [Appiatsc]
§ am now ready to take the oath of office.
The oath of office having been administer
ed by Mr. Holman, of Indiana, Rev. Dr.
Milburn, the blind chaplain of the reced-
ine House, upon request of the - Speaker
offer prayer, the-oath of: office beibg admin:
istered by x ke Cris es ee, House ad:
journed without doing further business, .
4 Phe roll of States were called in alphabeti:
cal order, and as many members sworn in at
atime that could form in a half eircle in
front of the Clerks desk. The oath was read
by the speaker to the members. who stood
with upraised right’ hands, and ‘signified
their acceptance of it by an affirmative incli-
nation of the bead. The last member Sworn
in was Mr. O'Neil, of Missouri, who stood
alone.in the'aree. i
Mr. Holman then offered a resolution fo
the appointment of Mr. Kerr for Clerk, Mr
Yoder for Sergant-at-arms, Mr. Turner for
Doorkeeper, and Mr, Dalton for Postmaster,
was adopted, and’ the democrati¢ caucus
nominees for the minor offices were elected
and took the oath of office, completing the
organization of the House. On motion oi
Mr. Springer, of Illinois, Rev. William H
Milburn wags elected Chaplain. A cominittes
was appointed to join the Senate “Committet
in notifying President that both houses were
reddy 10 receive any communication he may
see fit to'make. : :
. In the Senate, immediately after the read
ing of Shejotirnal, the oath of office was ad-
i to Mr. Jones, of Arkansas, re
elected. = Mr. Hoar expressed the opinion (in
which the Vice President concurred) that
the first business was the question of admin-
istering the oath to Mr. Dubois, of Idaho,
Mr, Cullom’s motion of esterday. to that
effect; wasput and a to, and the oath
was accordingly administered to Mr. Dubois.
Mr. Hoar's similar motion ‘asto Mr. Call, of
Florida, was also agreed to, and the oath was
administered to Mr. Call, On further mo-
. tion of Mr. Hoar the papers in the matter of
the credentials of Mr. Davidson (claimant
for Mr. Call's .seat) were referred to the
Committee on Privileges and Kleetions, with
instructions $0 investigate and report at an
early day. and on ion of MriHalea like
reference. was made of the papers in the
case of Mr. Flaggett, claiming the seat of Mr.
Dubois. he Senate ‘rather expected to re-
ceive the President's/message and sat patient:
1y waiting the réturh of the joint committee
sent to the White House until apprised that
the House kad y raed
“without waiting
for the message, sfhereupon. the Senate fol-
lowed suit.
r the message was read in
MOITow. vy : xh «
Th the - House ‘after the reading of the
. President’s message Mr. Miller'of Wisconsin
(Dem,), submitted a resolation requestin
kertoapportion the committee o
the House among the several states accord-
ing to population and that each state receive
one chairmanship. The resolution caused a
buzz, and Mr. Milliken, of Maime, [Rep],
called out: *I think the Speakershouid not
be embarrassed in this way. We have con-
findence in his ability to select his commit:
tees.” Before a discussion could take place
Mr. Brackenridge, of Kentucky, moved the
reference of the resolutiod tothe committee
on Rules, and this was done. The House
adjourued until Saturday. !
FrURSDAY.—The Senate to-day broke the
record in the way of measures introduced
in a single day, there having been six
hundred and twelve bills and eight joint
EE i os ar wi his’ “resolutions presented.
his is about 100
more than ever before introduced in one
day. Amongthem were the following: By
Mr.Paddock—To prevent food adulterations.
By Mr. Harris—To provide for the better
enforeement of quarantine laws and to. es-
tablish a national board of health. By Mr.
Stewart —To providefor the free coinage of
old and silyer’bullion. This bill Avasilaid
n the table, so that*Mr. Stewart can €allit
at any time. Jo amend the Chinese ex-
Eo act. By: Mr. Cullom—To suspend
he ¢oming of Ching laborers to the
United States; #lso to reduce letter postage
tol cent. By Mr, Turpie—To amend the
Constitution so as to provide for the election
of.Senators by the people. This bill was
laid on the table, Mr. Turpie
giving notice that hie would address the
enate upon | 1t next Thursday.
By Mr. Pefler—To amend the immigration
and naturalization laws; to grant service
pensions, with different amounts, to prison-
ers of war; to abolish pension agencies and
to.lessen the expenses of examining boards.
By Mr. Call—Toauthorize the president to
open negotiations with Spain as to the Island
of Cuba. Mr. Verd—To, prohibit mo-
nopoly in the transportation of cattle to
foreign countries; for the compulsory educa-
tion of Indian children; to amend the inter-
state commerce law, in reference to the ex-:
port trade 1n cattle. : Phe latter bill waslaid
on the table with ‘a modification from Mr.
Vest that he would call it up at the next ox
subsequent meeting of the senate, By Mr,
Plumb—To provide for the free coinage of
silver and the promotion of international free
coinage of silver. By Mr. Hansborough—To
prevent the sale of arms to Indians and to
confiscate arm= now owned by. certain In.
dians. Mr. Peffer offered a resolution which
was referred to the finance committee direct-
ing that the committee inquire ang report
‘as soon as praticable as to the actual expenses
attending the business of money-lending as
conducted in the United States by TonEers
ns (both as to short: loans
in the resolution, “to ascertain approxi-
mately the actual and relative: cost of con-
ducting the business of loaning money with-
out reference to the value of the amount
oaned. The committee is to have power to
send for persons and papers, to administer
oaths and to visit any part of the country by
sub-committees.” © The preamble recites
that ¢‘complaint is madethat money when
loaned yields larger profits tham when in-
vested in industrial’ parsuits.’”’ Mr, Plumb
oftered 4 resolution declaring that congress
desires the interment of the remains of the
illustrious soldier , and ' , statesman
Ulysses 8. Grant, in. the Arlington National
cemetery, and that the president be requested
to convey to the widow of that lamented
man such desire, tendering to her on the
part of the nation all necessary facilities for
such removal and interment, The resolu-
tion was laid on the table, Mr. Plumb
giving notice that he would call it up at a
motion © of
M Sherman the Senate wen!
into executive session, at which the
recess appointnients were laid before it and
were appropriately referred, and then at 2:30
o'clock the senate adjourned until Monday.
‘There was no session of the House to-day.
3 THE CONDITION OF BUISNESS:
Wo Feeling of Fear Regarding the Mons
” etary Future. £
R.G. Dun & Co.'s Weekly Review of Tr
says: As the holidays draw near, all signs :
indicate a large volume of business, at the
present with owing confidence of iraprove-
ent in the'future; except in parts of the
South, where the unusual aceumulation of
cotton and its low price have a depressing:
inflnence. Fa
on from all parts of the country sh
avery fair activity in the distributior
merchandise. oe 5 :
The Southeran cifies all re
barrassment, and at Little Roc
dull, at Nashville ey is clo
gomery large ste of cotton
strong demand’ for. WONEY; at af
trade is slack and Brospects. called dubious,
and at New Orleans; ‘though receipts of cot-
ton are heavy and of sugar liberal and the
demand for all the great (staplos is good;
collections are slow and the dels pay:
f sugar bounties is espect
The monthly crop report a i
to speculation. It es ow!
whic
d.
Cotton is anged.. Pork’ products ares
siightly stronger, coffee 1-4 cent, and oil 15-8
cents higher, without great actiyily in any
ranch of speculative ‘trade. Exports of
Te products continue unchei
for the last week were 44 percent,
for the first week of Deceniber. la
Yel preparations for yearly settlement
abroad cause such remittances that imporis’
of specie are stopped by the decline in foreign
exchange.’ The Bank of England
lowered its rage of discount to 31-2 perce
and is gaining while the German and Ire
osing gold. The Hdreasury |
b
$500,000 new 'Lreasury notes,
balances in banks $2,700,
The business failures during the last
séven days number, for the ‘United States,
280, and for Canada, 40, or a. total of 320, as
compared with totals of 330 last week ‘and
295 the week previous to the last. . For t
corresponding of last Soar the figures wen
374, representing 347 failures in the. United
States and 27 in Canada.
TWELVE PERSONS PERISH
In the Flames. Two Disastrous Firs at
Louisville. wy
Louisville, Dec. 12.—Six people,, maybe
more, were burned to death in a disastrous
fire which destroyed Frank A.Menne & Co.'ss
candy and Christmas store. The dead are
Charles Kimmel, Barbapa Bell, Clara Rauch,
Amanda Dickey, Annie Imckhards,-
Kern, 1da Bell Parker and Wm. Hulsmeie
Injured are: — Allen Grime: Theresia
Holthans, Edward Ininger, Lillie Gre:
wald, George Koenig, James Nutall, Pa
Sheehey, Kate McGarvey. pil
The business block on the north side (of
Main street, between Sixth’ and Seventh;
was also burned this morning. ' In the early
evening the store and stock. of .the Boones
paper company were destroyed, entailing &
loss of $65,000. ; ?
This morning an explosion ocewrred, Win &
the adjourning building occupied by. Bama:
berger, Streng & Co. The:
nificant. By the time it . was . subdueg
the stores ‘of Bamberger, Btrong & Ca.,4
Wilson & Oo., Johanbdoke & “Sons, ta
‘Miller, Woolfolk, Payne &#Co. had been
gutted. The loss will fall fet far short of
$500,000. Four firemen were killed by an.
falling wall when the explosion oceurreds 3
‘Their names are Tony Schlicht, Tom Moore,d
Will Davis Sam Baker. Theyare missing ands
it is almost certain they are killed.
The ‘La Gripps” Again Abroad.
New York—La Grippe has a ‘grasp’
New York again—not in epidemi¢ form ws i
yet, but sufficiently widespread to create’
some alarm as to what may develop after
the first big snowstorm. fay
Mascoutah, Ill—La Grippe is prevailing. 3K ie
to an alarming extent in this section of ther
State. There are many serious cases of the
disease in this city and in the country east.
and north of here. It has become almosk
epidemic, SE
Milwaukee. Wis.—Lemuel Richards com-
mitted suicide by hanging at his home.
Three weeks ago he had a severe attack of
= grippe. Mr. Richards was seventy years:
of ag-. Sie ae
. A special from Plainfield, Conn., says... ©
Nine-tenths of the population here ares =
‘afflicted with the grip. “Yen deathsfrom the
influenza have occurred in this: place and
‘Moosup. Over 1,000 cases are reported fromy
Norwich, and there have been 24 deaths!
there singe the first of the month. Three of"
the family of John Malone have died. Th
local physicians are unable to answer all the oe
calls made upon: them. In. Colchester the
factories ahd schools are closed, and 16 sti
dents in Bacon college are ill. Several
deaths hayebeen reported. Nothing hke-
the present epidemic has ever been known
in Eastern Connecticut.
Killed by Her Grandfather.
Witchita, Dec. 14,—Almost tragic in ite
surroundings was the death of Tena Bron-
son, teacherof a country school abo "
miles west of here. The young woma
the grip a short time ago. She lived. ¥
her fagher and grandfather, the latter near
90 years of age, who practiced licing
his youth in some Eastern
tried all his mild remedies on
daughter without effect, and finally : 1
the conclusion that bleeding was necessary.
The girl's father would not permit the ex
periment, but while he was away the
man persuaded the girl to let him try
a little blood from her arm. In h
hands the knife slipped, and the bronel
artery wad severed. The gradfati¥er tried
stem the flow of blood, but without a
and when the father returned he foun
daughter dead, and his father by her side in
aswoon. The grandfather has since died
from the shoek. - ‘
{ An Insane Man’s Wor 5
Mount Olive, Til, Dec. 14—As the" resul¥:
of & probable insané man's horrible work
John Miller, aged 68 years, liesa co
his own hand, while his wife © is i perhaps
fatally wounded, The tragedy was evidently)
premeditated by Miller, ad he a few days
before made bis will and settled up his.
business affairs. Mrs. Miller went down
town and during’ her absence hi met
intoxicated, to nerve himself. ' O
turn he threatened her life. e
out of the house he followed her and fis
her us sheran. A bullet passed enti
| through her body. She fell as fri
to | ber help. Miller, after the
went intothe back room, put the
a gun in his mouth and discharg
remaining load, killing himself instant!
shaky walls
crumbled and another fire began, oe ol)
in comparison mad8 the’! other 'Insigs
ig SE SE RE Re as TRS