THE MESSAGE. President Cleveland Discusses the Nation's Affairs. FOR FREE COAL AND IRON. Favors Repeal of the Differential Duty on Rofiuod Sugar, Suggest ft Dlvorc of thn tloverninent n1 the Hunks Exemption nf Certain Htnta Ilnnk Krnm Taxa tlon on Circulation llrrotnmpnrtl Pension Slattern Our Foreign Relation unit th Condition of Our fiovcrnmrnlnl Department. tn th Congress of tha I'nlto I State The aemhlng within thn Nation's legis lative hall of thoe charged with thn duty of milking lawa lor thn benefit of a generous and free people lmpreively suggest tho Malting obligation nnd Inexornhln ronpon' blllty Involved In their tnak. At thetbrca ttold of such lahor now to he undertaken by tho Congress of tho United States, and In tho discharge of an e xnetitlv duty enjoined ty tho Constitution, I submit thin communi cation, containing a brief statement of tho condition of our National affairs, imd recom mending such legislation ns seems to me Alee, ussry and expedient. Thohtoryof onr recent donllng. with 'Other Nation, and onr peaceful relations with thorn at this time, additionally dom ontrnlntha advantage of conltently ad hering to a firm but Jut foreign policy, froa from envlon or ambition National d'hamn an I characterized by entire honesty and slnecrltv. A serious tension of relation havlngarlann at the eloe of th war between Drar.ll and Portugal, by reaaon of the escape of the In surgent Admiral da Oama and hit follownra, the (rlendly office of onr representatives to thoae countries were exerted for tho protec tion of the subjects of either within the ter ritory of the other. Although the Governor of Brazil was duly notified that the commercial arrangement TXintlng between the United State and that country, based on the third aeetlon of the Tariff act of 1890, was abrogated on August 28. Wi. by the taking effect of tho Tariff Vaw now In foree, that Government subse T)nently notlflel tia of It Intention to tormln nte such arrangement on the first day of Jan uary, 13D3, in the exorcise of the right re served In the agreement between the two count rlea, Thn commission organized under the con vntlon which we had entered Into with Chile for the settlement of the outatnndlng claim of each Government ngaiuf tho oth.-r, adjourned nt tho end of the period stipulated ;or ita contlnnanoe, leaving nn- determined a number of Amerlenn cases which hnd been duly presented. Thean claim are not barred an I negotiations are In progress for their submission to a new - tribunal. TREATY WITH CHINA. On the 17th of, March lent, a now treaty with China In further regulation of emigrn ' lion waa slgnednt Washington. and on August 1:1, it reeelved the sanction of the Henate. Ratification on the part of China and formal exchange are awaited to give effect to this - mutually beneficial convention. A gratifying recognition of the uniform Impartially of this country towarda all ' foreign States waa manifested by tho colnet dent request of tho Chinese ami Japanese Governments, thai the agent nt the United Htnti'S should, within proper limits, afford .protection to the subjects of the other dur lug the suspension of diplomatic relations duo to a state ol war. This delicate ofllce was accepted, and a misapprehension, whleh gave rise to the belief that In affording this kindly unofficial protection our agents would exercise the same au thority which the withdrawn agents of tho belligerents had exercised, waa promptly corrected. Although the war between China an I Japan endangers no policy of the United States, It deserve our greatest con sideration, by reason of its disturbance of our growing commercial Intornats In the two countries and the Inorenaed dangers which may result to our citizen domiciled or so journing In the interior of China. Acting under a stipulation In onr treaty irtth Korea (the find concluded with a West ern power) I felt constrained at the begin oing of the controversy to tender our good offices to induce an amicable arrangement ot the initial difficulty growing out of the Japanese demands for administrative re ' forms In Korea, but the unhappy precipita tion ol actual hostilities defeats! this kindly purpose. Deploring the destructive war between 'tho most powerful of the Eastern Nations and anxious that our commercial Interest In these countries mny be preserved, and 'that the safety of our citizens there shall not be Jeopardised, I would not hesitate to bee I -any intimation that our friendly aid tor the honorable termination of hostilities -Would be acceptable to both belligerents. Our relations with thn Republlo of France continue to be sncb as should exist between Nations so long bound together by friendly aympathy and similarity in their form of . government. The recent cruel assassination of the Pre). dent of this sister Republic called forth such universal expressions of sorrow and condo lence Irom our people and Government as to leave no riount of thu depth and sincerity -of our attachment. The resolutions passed 'by the Senate and House of Representatives on the oocaslon bnve heeu communicated to the wblow of President Carnot. Aciing upon the reported discover? of Texas lever in cargoes ol American cattle, the Gorman prohibition against importation of live stock and Ircsii meats from this coun try has been revived. It is hoped that Ger many will soon become convinced that the Inhibition is as needless as ills barmlul to .mutual Interest?. ClEPKALINO DISCUIUINATINa DUTIES. 'Tb German Government has protested 'against that provision of the customs tariff not which imposes a dlscrlminntlong duty of oae-reath of one cant a pound on sugars comiug from countries paying an export bounty thereon, cltiining that tne exaction of such duty is in ooutraveutlou of articles i Ovm and nine of the treaty of 1828 with Prui sia. la the interests of the commerce of both countries and to avoid even the accusation of treaty violation, I reoominend the appeal of so much of the statue us imposes that duty, and I Invite attention to the accom panyiug report of the Secretary of Stale oon. taiuiug a discuwinn of the questions raised I'.v the Germau protests. fiariy in the present year an agreement was reached with Great Britain concerning instructions to be given to tba naval oom snanders of the two Governments In Bering Bea and th contiguous North Paellio Ocean, tor their guldanoa in the exeoutlon of the ward of the Paris Tribunal ot Arbitration nil the enforcement of th regulations (herein prescribed, fortbe protection ot seal i lite In the waters mentioned. An under i standing has also been reached for the pay :meut by the United States of HM,0OQ, in full satisfaction of all claims which may be made by Great Britain lor damages growing out ol the controversy as to fur seals In Bar ing Hen, or the selsura ol British vessels ugagad In taking seal in those waters. Tua award and findings of th Paris Trlbuna to great extent determined the facta auu jn-laolples upon wuluu lues claims should he nIJutnd, and they have been subjected by Moth tldvcrnin-iif to a inoromfi examin ation upon the prlnciplea na well a the tiit which they Involve. t am convinced that a settlement upon the term mentioned would ho an eqiiUahle anil advantageous one anil I recommend that provision he made for the prompt payment of tho stated sum. HAWAtt VMD 1APAM. Rlneo communicating the voluminous cor respondence In regard to Hawaii and the action taken by the Beunta and Homo of Iteprescntniive on certain mixtion sub mitted to the Ju Jginent mi l wider iMtcre tlon of Congren, thn organUitlou of a gov ernment In place of tho provisional arrange ment which followed thn deposition of the fjtieen hn beon nminnnod with evidence of Its effective operatlo'j, Tlie recognition nual In such ctins has been necorded the new (lovernment. Apart from thu war In which tho Island Empire Is engaged. Japan attracts Increas ing attention In this country by her evident deslro to cultivate mote liberal Intercourse with us and toscckourkliidly nldln liirthnr mice of her laudable, ilealru for complete nutominy in her domestic nfTair nnd full rqunlity III tho family of Nation. The Japanese Ktnplrn of to-lay Is no longer thn Japan of the past, nnd our relations with tills progrcMivu N nt Ion should not be less broad and liberal Hum thoso with other power. mr. rt.rr.rtLi.D i.tctutxr. I'romiU' lit among tho questions of the f'cnr was the llluuflolds lucldeut, in what known n the Mo-qulto Indian Strip, lonlorlng en thn Atlantic Ocean ami within the Jurisdiction of Nicaragua. By lha treaty of WO between Great rirltnin snd Nicaragua tho former Government xprealy recognlfteil the sovereignty of the latter over the Strip, and a limited form of self-government waa guaranteed to thn Mosquito Indians, to be exercised sccordlng to their customs, for them selves and rther dwellers within Its limit. The so-called native Government, whleh grow to be largely made np of alien, for many year disputed the sovereignty of Nicaragua over th Strip and claimed the right to maintain therein a prac tically Independent municipal Govern ment. Early In tha paat year efforts of Nicaragua to maintain sovereignty over the Mosquito territory led to serious disturbance, culminating In the suppression of the native Governmonf and the attempted substitution of an Impracticable composite administration, In which Nicaragua and alien resident were to participate. Failure was followed by an Insurrection which for a time subverted Nlcaragnan rule, expelling her officers and restoring tho old organiaatlon. This, In turn, gave place to the existing local gov ernment established and uphold by Nic aragua. Although tha alien Interests arrayed against Nicaragua In these transactions have been largely Amerlenn, and tho commnren of that region for some time has been and still I ohlefly controlled by our cltlr.ens, we can not for that reaon challenge the rightful sovereignty of Nicaragua over this impor tant part of her domain. For some months one, nnd during part ol (he time two. of onr naval ships have been stntloned nt niuedelds for the protection of all legitimate Interests of our oltlsen. in September last the Government at Managua expelled from Ifa territory twelve or tr.oro foreigners, In cluding two Americans, for alleged participation In the amlltlou or revolutionary movements against the repub Ho at HlulleUl already mentlnuod t but through the earnest remonstrance of this Government the two Americans have been permitted to return to the peaceful manage ment of their business. Our naval com manders at the scene of these disturbances, by their constant exhibition of firmness and (food judgment, contributed largely to the prevention of more serious contequtzoes and :o the restoration of quint and order. I regret that in tha midst ot these occur rences there happened a most rravo and irritating failure ol Nlcnraguan justice. An American cltixen named Wilson, residing nt Ruma. In tho Mosquito territory, waa murdered by one Irguello, the acting Governor of the town. After some delay the murderer waaarreste 1, nut so insecurely confined or guarded that he escaped, and, notwithstanding our re peated ileman is. it Is claimed that hi re apturo has been impossible, by reason of hi flight beyond Nioaragdan jurisdiction. The Niearaguan authorities having given notice of forfeitura of their concession to :ho oanal company, on grounds purely tech nical and not embraced in tho contract, have receded from that position. rOACMMO OH BCSSUH SEALS, The scaling interests of Russia in Baring Sea are second only to our own. A molus Vivendi has therefore been concluded with the Imperial Government restrictive ol poaohlng on the Russian rookeries, and of oallng in waters whloi were not compre hended in the protected area dollned lu the Paris award. Occasion hns been found to urge upon the Russian Government equality of treatment for ourjrreat lite Inturauee companies whose operations have been extended throughout Europe. Admitting, as we do, foreign cor porations to transact busiuess in the United 3tntes, we naturally expeut no less tolerance for our own in the ample Uelds of competi tion abroad. But few cases of Interferon with nat uralized citizens returning to Russia have iieen reported during the current year. One Krznmluskl was arrested last summer in a Polish province, on a reported charge of un permitted renunciation of Runsian allegi ance, but It transpired that the proceedings originated in alleged malleasance committed by Krzeminski while an Imperial official n numoer of years ago. Efforts for his re lease, whloh promised to be suecasslul, worn in progress when his death was reported. toukkt's toutmext or KISSIOMARIXS. In my last annual message I adverted to the olairn on the part ol Turkey of the right to expel, as persons undesirable and dan gerous, Armeniaus naturalized In the United States and returning to Turkish Jurisdiction. Numerous questions in this r-iation bavu arisen. While this Government acquiesces lu the asserted right or expulsion, It will not ronseut that Armenians may bo Imprisoned or otherwise punished for no other reason than having acquired without Imperial con teut American citizenship. Tliroe of the assailants ot Mls Melton, nn American teaoher In Mosul, nave been con ricted by the Ottoman courts, an I I am ad vised thut au appeal against th acouitul of the remaining five has been taken by the f urkish protucutlug officer. TBOUIILCI IK SAMOA. Reports reoolvel from our agents nt Apia do nut Justlly the belief that the pevie thus brought aiwut will be of long duration. It is their conviction that the native ureal heart hostile to the present Government t that such of them us profess loyalty to It do so from fear ot the powers, and that it would speedily go to pieces If the war ships were withdrawn. The present Government has utterly failed to correct, if Indeed It has not aggravated, the very evils it was intended to prevent. It has not stimulated our commerce with the islands. Our participation in its establish ment against tba wishes of the natives was lu platu defiance of tne conservative teach ings and warnings of the wise nnd p itriotlo men who laid the foundations ol our free in stitutions, and I Invite nn expression of the judgment of Congress on tne propriety of tip being taken by this Oavirument look ing to the withdrawal from Its engagement with the other powers on some reasomlile terms not prejudicial to any ol our existing rights. CONDITION or THs TjtKAHUnT. The Secretary of tha Treasury reports that the receipts of the Government front, all sources jf revenue during tha fiscal year -mllng June 80. 18U4. amounted to :)7'i. sill,!. 80, and Its expenditures to Ui. IWi,75S,87. leaving a deficit of a9,8W,. Hiui.tK There was a decrease of tUS.Vtf,. 67i.tm laths ordidary sxoensw oltus Gov ernment, at compared with the fiscal year Tnere was collected from the custom l.il.HIH.dm M, and fro-n Intertill revenue tl47,lt.44!t.7i. Tne halauoi nf the ln-o ne lor the year, amounting to !i3,ai.1,B17.7, was derived from the sales of lands nnd other sources. , The value of our totnl dutiable. Import amounted to J7S,on,ijstl, being 14(1, flri7. "2.1 less than during the price 1 1 it vear, ami the Importations free of duty nmounte Ito il7(), 7M,S.'IA, being srn4.T4t.nT5 lea thnn during the preceding year. Tho receipts irom cits loins were 7.1, 8:)fl. (oil 11 less. Hn t from in ternal revenue 13,8;)i).j3;),D7 loss than In ISM. The to'nl taxcollectod from distilled spirit w .ri.2lvn,2.'0.25 s on manufactured tobacco iH.ni7,'is.6i,an l on fermented liquors,431, U4.7Hl.nt. Our exports of merchandise, domestic and foreign, amounted during the year to 140,673, being nn Increase over the preced ing year of v44.4W.878. The totnl amount of gold export" 1 during the fiscal year wa"fl,R9s,0l, against tlOV 81,444 during the fiscal year 1811.1. ihe smount Imported wm 71, 41.118, as against (21.174,881 during the previous year. The Import of silver were 13,298,552, tnd the exports were W.4")1I203. THS ARHV. The execution ol tho policy of concentrat ing the army at Important centers of popula tion an I transportation, foreshadowed in the Inst annual report ot the Secretary, ha resulted In the abandonment of Mftneu of the smaller post, which was effected under a plan which assembles organizations of the same regiments hitherto widely separated. Thl render our small forces mors rendlly effective for any service they mny be called upon to perform, lncrnae the extent of the territory under protection witnout diminishing theseeurlty heretofore afforded to any loenlity.lmprovesthedisclpllne.trnln Ing nnd esprit de corps of the army, besides considerably decreasing tha cost of Its main tenance. Though tho forces of tho Department of the East hnvo been somewhat Increased, more than three-fourths of the arm v are still stationed wost of tho Mississippi. This care hilly mature I policy, which secures tlie beet and greatest service iu tho Interest of th general welfare from tho small force com prising our regular army, should not be thoughtlessly embarrnssn I by the creation of new nnd unnecessary pot through nets of Congress to gratify the ambitious or iuterestf of local nil's. It is hardly necessary to recall tho fact that in obedience to tho commands of the Constitution nnd laws, nnd for the purpose of protecting the property of the United States, aiding the process of Federal courts and removing lawless obstructions to the performance by tho Government of Its legiti mate functions, It became necessary In various localities during th yeai to employ a considerable, portion of the regular troops. Tho duty was discharged promptly, courageously an I with marked discretion by tho olflccrs nnd men, nnd the most gratifying projf was thus a Horded that the army doscrves that complete conlldence in Its clllcleney nnd discipline which th country has nt all time mautlesteil. . Tho year lias been Iroo Irom disturbance by Indian, und the chances of further dep redations on their part are constantly bocoin Ing moru remote und Improbable Th skill and Industry of our ordnance of ficers nnd Inventors hnve, It Is believed, overcome the mechanical obstnelos which hnve heretofore delayed the armament of oar coast, and this great National under taking upon which wo have entered mny now prooeed a rapidly as Congress may do. termine. With a supply of finished guns nf large calibre already on hand, to which ad ditions should now rapidly follow, tho wis dom of providing oarrlages nnd emplace ments (or their mount cannot betoo strongly urged. The total enrollment of the militia of the levoml States la 117.581 nflleor nnd enlisted men, an Increase of 5813 over tlie number reported at the close of the previous year. The reports of militia Inspection by regular army officer show a marked incro ise In In terest ami efficiency among the State organ izations, and I strongly recommend a con tinuance of the policy of affording every practical encouragement possible to this Im portant auxiliary of our military establish ment. The condition of the Anic'an Indlnns. held as prisoners by the Government for eight yenrs at a cost of halt a million dol lars, ha been ehnnged during thn yenriroin captivity to one which gives thorn an oppor tunity to demonstrate their capacity for "elf support nnd at least partial civilization. Legislation enacted at the Into session of Congress gave the War Pepirtment au thority to transfer the survivors, numbering 848. Irom Mount Vernon Barracks, in Alabama, to nnv suitable reser vation. The department selected as their future home the milltarv lamls near For' Sill, Indian Territory, where, undor military ttrvelllana ', the former prisoner have been established in agriculture un lor conditions favorable to their advancement. In recognition of the long and distin guished military services and faithful dis charge of delicate and responsible civil duties by Major-Oeneral John M. SchoHeld, now the General commanding tha Army, it Is suggested to Congress that the temporary revival of the grade of Llnutnnant-fteneral In his behalf would be a just and gracious act. and would permit his retirement, now near at hand, with rank oelltting his merits. DEricixxcT in the postal service. The transactions of the postnl service Indi cate with harometlc certainty the fluctuations In the business of the country. Inasmuch, therefore, as business complications con tinued toexist throughout tlie last year to an unloreseen extent it Is not surprlslugtnntthe doiluiency of reyeuut to meet the expendi tures of tha Poitoftlae Department, which wn estimated In advance at absut eight million dollars, should be exceeded by nearly one and a quarter million dollars. The ascertained revenues of thn last year, which were the basin of calculation for thu current year, being leas than estimate 1, tho deficiency forth current year will he cor respondingly greater, though the Postmaster-General states that the latest indications are so favorable that be confidentially pre. diets nn Increase of lit least eight per aunt. In the revenues of the current year over those of the last year. The expenditures Incrensa steadily and necessarily with the growth and neodsofthe onuntry, so that the deficiency is greater or less in any year depending upon the volume of receipts. The Postmaster-General says that this deficiency is uunecisiary and might be obviated at once If the law regulating rates upon mall matter ot th leooud-olans was modified. Th rate received for the trans, mission of this second-class matter is one cent per pound, while the cost of such trans mission to thu Government is eight times that amount. In the general terms ot the law this rate covers newspapers and parlo Ileal. The extensions nf the mean ing ot these terms front time to time have admitted to the privileges intended for legitimate newspapers and periodicals a sur prising range of publications and created abuse the cost of which amount In the ag gregate to the total deficiency of the Post, ofllce IVpirtmeut. Pretended newspapers are started by business houses for the mere purpose of advertising good, complying with the law in form onl and discount ing tha publications us soon as the p rio l of advertising is over. ".Sample copies" o pr -tended newspapers are luel in great numbers for a like purpose only. The result Is n great loss of revenue to the Government, besides its humiliating use a an ngeuov to aid in oirrylnr out the scheme of a buslm-ss bouse to advertise lis goods by muuoe of a trick upou both Ita rival bout 's aud the regular and legitimate newspapers, l'apir-covir.id lituratur, con sis. lug mainly iftrisiy novels, to the ex tent of many thousand tons Is stiut throura the m il s at one cent pur puuul, while the pubiish-r of standard works are required to pay eight times that amount In seudln t tuoir publications. Another abuse oousuttt in .he free carriage through the mall of hun dred of tons ot seed and grain uselessly dis tributed throii'fh the D martment of A'rrlcul lure. The Post muster-General predicts that If tho law be so a nended a to eradicate these abuse not only will tho rostoffl -e De part tneut show no deficiency, but he believe that In the near Itittire all legitimate news papers nnd periodical magazine might be properly transmltte I through the mail to iiielr subscriber tree of cost, I Invito your prompt consideration of this suhjeef, and fully Indorse the ylews ol tho l'oat master General. Tho Postmaster-Oeneral renew a n gest Ion made In a previous report that the department organisation ha inerenail to the extent nf creating a direct district super vision ot nil postal nffairs and lb this sug gnstion I fully concur. There are now connected with the Potof Ace establishment 82. AM employe who are In the classified service. This includes many who hnve beon classified under the suggus tlon of the Postmaster-General. He state that another year's experience nt the head ol the department serve only to strengthen the conviction as to the excellent working of th Civil Service law In this branch of th public service. OOB RAW. Attention Is called to the report of tha Sen. retnry of the Navy, which show vary grati fying progress In the construction of ships for our new navy. All the vesaels now build ing, Including the three torpedo boats au thorized at the lust session ot Congress and sxoepting tne nrst-cinss ship Iowa, will probably be ootnpleted during tne coming dscnl year. The estimates for the increase of th navy for th year ending June 3D, 1898, are large, but they Include practically tho entire sum necessary to complete nnd equip all tha new ships not now in commission, so that unless new ships are authorized the appropriations for the naval service forth fiscal year end ing June 30, 1897, should full below the esti mate for the oomlng year by at least 12, JOO.OOO. The Secretary presents with much earn estness a plea for the authonzttlon of threi additional battle ships and ten or twelve torpedo boats. While the unarmored vessels heretofore nuthorizad, including those now nearing completion, will constitute a fleet, which It Is believed Is sufficient for or dinary orulslng purposes In time of penoe. we have now completed and In process of construction but four first-class battle ships anil but tew torpedo boats. It wo ar to bava a navy for warlike operations, offensive and defensive, we certainly ought to In crease both the number ol battleships and torpedo boat. The manufacture ol armor require expen sive plant and th aggregation of many killed workmen. All the armor necessary to complete the vessel now building will be delivered before the first ol Junsnxt. It no new contracts are given nut, contractors must disband thelrworkmennnd their plants must He Idle. Rattle shipsauthorlznd at tills time would not be well under way until late In the oomlng fiscal year, and at least three years and a half from tlie date of the con tract would he required for their comple tion. The Secretary states that not mora than fifteen percent, ofthecostofsuohships need be included lu the appropriations lor the aomlng year. I recommend thnt provision be ma lo for the construction ot additional battle ships and torpedo boats. The war now In progress between China and Japan has rendered It necessary or ex pedient to despatch eight vessels to those waters. I loot it my Imperative duty to cnll atten tion to the rocommen latlon of the Secre tary In regard to tho personnel of the line of the navy. The stagnation of promotion in this, the vital branch of the service, is so great as to seriously Impair Its efficiency. I consider it of the utmost ltnnortiinceto.it the young and ml Idle-age 1 officers should, before the eve of retirement, be permitted to reach a grade entitling them to active and Important duty. The system adopted a few years ngo regu lating the employment of labor ut the nary yards Is rigidly upheld, nnd hn fully demon st rated Its usefulness und expediency. It Is within the domain of Civil Servic i reform, In asmuch as workmen are employed through a board of lahor selected nt eaca navy yard, and are given work without rofonnce to politics nnd lu the order of their application, prolerencu, however, being given to uruiy and navy veterans and thoso having former uavy yard exp'rlence. It is hoped that if this system continues to be strictly adhered to , there will soon lie, as a natural consequence, sucanu q utilization of p any bcuHilt n will remove ail tumpiu tlou to rolax or nban lou It. runuc lands. The public land disposed ol during th year amounted to 10, 1U7, 100. 77 acres, Includ ing 28,876.05 of Indian lands. It Is estimated tbut the pu dlo domain still remaining amounts to a little mora than 6(10,0 K),0t)0 acres, including, however, 8G0, 000,000 nore tn Alaska ns wall us military reservations and railroad and otber soleo tions of lands yet unadjudtcateil. Tha total cash receipt from sal of lands amounted to 3. 674, 285.79, including 91, 981.03 received lor Indian lands. Thirty-five thousand patent wore Issued for agricultural lands, and thirty-one hun dred patents were issued to Indians on allot ments of their holdings in severalty, th land so allotted being Inalienable by the In dian allottees for a period ol twenty-Ova years after patent. I fully Indorse thn recommendation of tha Secretary that adequate protection be pro vided for our forest reserves and that a com prehensive forestry system bn inaugurated. Such keepers and superintendents ns are necessary to protect the forest already re served should be provided. I am of the opinion that there should bn an abandon ment ot thn policy sanctioned by present laws under whloh the Government, for a very small consideration, is rapidly losing title to immense tracts of land covered with tim ber which should be properly reserved as permanent souroes of timber supply. The suggestion thnt a change be made In tha manner of securing surveys of the public lands is especially worthy ot consideration. I am satiafisl that these surveys should be made by n corps ol competent surveyors under tne Immediate coutrol and direction or thn Commissioner ol the Genoral Lau l Office. I concur tn tho opinion thnt the Commis sioner of the General Land Office should be relieved from the duty ot deciding litigated land cases, that a nonpartisan court should be created to pass on such cases, nnd that the decisions of this court should be final, at least so far us the decislous ot thn departnmnt are now final. The proposed court might be glvon author ity to certify questions ot law, in matters of especial Importance, toths Supreme Court of the United States or the Court of Apppeals lor the District of Columbia for decision. The creation of such a tribunal would expedite tba disposal of cases and Insure decisions ot a mora satis factory character. The registers and receiv ers who originally hear and decide these disputes should not be luvested with author ity to compel witness to attend and testify before them. TnB INPIANS. Though th condition of the Indians shows a steady und healthy progress, iuoir situa tion is not satisfactory at all points. Soma of them to whom allotments of land have been made are found to be unable or disin clined to follow agricultural pursuits or to otherwise beneficially manage their land. This is especially true of the Cheyenne and Arapahoes, who, as It appears by report of their agent, hsve in many instances never been located upon their allotments, and In some case do not even know where their allotment are. Their coudltlon has deteri orated. Thev are not sell-supporting, and they llv in camps and spend their time in Idleness. I have always behaved that allotments ot reservation lauds to Indians in sxv.iralty ihoutd bs made sparingly, or at least slowly, and with th utmost caution. In these days, sfheo while iigrloultucuvs sal stoox, ratten of experience and I ntelllgenen find thelt lot a hir l on, wo might not tn expect Indian, unless far advanced In nlvlllz ition mid ha'dt of Industry, to support tha-n-leiv on thn small tracts of bind usually allntlel tnthem. I nm convinced that thn proper solution nf tho Indian problem and tho success of svory tep taken In that direction depend to s very largo extent upon thn intelligence sn lhonmiyof thn reservation agents and tho Interest thav have In their work, An sgent fitted for hi place nan do much tower 1 preparing the Indian under hi harga for cltls nhlp and allotment of their lands, and his advice a to any matter aon jcrnlng tholr wnlf ire will not mislead. An aullt agnt will m ike no effort to ndvsnia the Indians on his reservation tow ird civil Izitlon or preparation for allotment of lands In severalty, mid his opinion a to their con dition In thl and other regards Is heedless in I valueless. Tho Indication nre that thn detail of army officer aa Indian agents will result In Im proved management on tha reservations. Thn Intelligent Indian school management of the past year ha been followed by grati fying results. Efforts have been ma In to advance thn work In a sound and practical manner. Five Institutes nf Indian teachers have been held during tho year, nnd have proved very beneficial through the views ex changed and methods discussed particu lar! v applicable to Indian education. Effort are being made In thn direction of a gradual reduction of the number of In dian contract schools, so thnt In a compar atively short time they may give way nlio gether to Government schools, and It is honed that thn change may be so gradual as to be perfected without too great expense to thn Government or undun disregard of In vestments mnde by those who have estab lished and ar maintaining such contract schools. Th appropriation for thn onrrent yar. ending June 30, 1835, applicable toths or dinary expense of the Indian ervle, amounts to 0, 733, 003. 18, being lest by 663, iiO.Ri than thn un appropriated on th lama account for tha previous year. ' rsNSIOR MATTES. At th close of th last fiscal yaar, on thn SOth day ot June, 1891, thers were 909,514 persons on our pension rolls, being a net In crease of 8".12 over the number report 1 at Ihn nnd of thn previous year. Thesi pensioners may hs classified ns fol lows t Soldiers and sailors, survivors nf nil wars, 753,908 i widows and relative ol de ceased soldiers, 215.1112 ; army nurses In the War nt the Rebellion, 414. Ot these pension ers 31,039 ar surviving soldier of Indian and other wars prior to the Civil War, and the widows and relatives ol such soldiers. The remainder, numhonng 917,505, nre re ceiving pensions on account of the War of the Rebellion, an I of these 419,341 are on thn rolls un leptho authority of the not of June 27, 18:M), sometimes oalled the depend ent pension law. The total amount expanded for pensions during the year was tl3),80l,481.05, leaving nu unexpected balance from the sum appro priated ot (25,205,712. A). The sum necessary to meet pension expen ditures for thn year en ling Juns 30, 1398, Is estimated at I40,00),000. The Commissioner of Pensions is of tha opinion that the year 1895, bolng the thir tieth after the olose of thn War of th Rebel lion, must, according to all sensible human calculation, see the highest limit ot the pen on roll, and that alter that y ear It mutt be gin to decline. The claims pending In the bureau have lecreased more than 90,000 during the year. A large proportion of the new claims filed sre for increase ot pension by those now on the rolls. The number of certificates Issued wns 80, 213, The names dropped from the rolls for til causes during the year numbered 37,951. Among our p-nsloners are nine winows n I three daughters ot soldiers of the Revo lution and forty-live survivors ot the War of 1812. Th barefaced and extensive pension frauds exposed undor tho direction of the jourageous nnd generous veteran soldier aow ut the h"ad of the burenu leave no room ,'or the claim that no purgation ot our pen lion rolls was needed, or that continued vigilance an 1 prompt action are not ueoes larv to the same nnd. Tne accusation that nn effort to detect oansion frauds is evidence ot unfriendliness lowarusour wortny veterans nuii a ueumi ot their claims to the generosity of the Govern ment, suggests nn unfortunate indlfferencs to the commission of nny offense which has for Its motive the securing ot a pension, and in Hastes a willingness to be blind to the ex istence ot mean and treaohorous crimes which play upon demagogic fears and make iport of the patriotic impulsj ot a grateful poople. THE ELEVENTH CENSUS. Th completion of thn Eleventh Censns Is now in charge of the Commissioner ol Ijaoor. The total disbursements on account nf the work for the fiscal year ending June 40, 1894, amounted to 10,365, 076. HI. At the close of the year the numiier of person em ployed In tn Census Office was 679. At present there are about 40 ). The whole num oer of volumes necessary to comprehend the Eleventh Census will he twenty-five, nnd they will contnin 22,270 printe I pages. Tne assur ance Is confidently made thnt belore the jlosa ot the present calendar year the material still lucomplete will be practically in hand, and the census can certainly be losd by thn 4th of March, 1895. After that, the revision and proof-reading neaes ary to bring out the volume will still bs required. AonicuLTunAL ArrAtns. The Seoretary ol Agriculture In his report reviews the operations of his department for the last fiscal year, and makes recommenda tions lor the turtber extension of its uteiul aess. He reports a saving In expenditures during the year of 1 800,090, whloh Is covered back luto tue Treasury. Tins sum Is twenty three per ceut, ot the entire appropriation. A special study hus been made of the de- i maud for American term products In all for eign markets, especially Great Britain. That country received Irom tbe totted states dur ing the nine months uniting September 30, 1TJ4, HU3.V1U live beef cattle, valued at C2u.. 500,000,11 against 182,611 cattle, valued at tl,631,0i)0, during the same pario I for 1893. Liuriug tne it rat six mouths of ii'.u the United Kingdom took. also. 112,000,000 pounds ot dressed beef from tlie Uuited btntes, valued at neuriy (10,000,000. The report shows that ituriug th nine msnths Immediately preceding September 80, 1894, the United States exported to Great Britain 222,678,000 pounds of pork t ot ap ples, 1,900,000 buehels, valued at $2,500,000 ; and ot horses. 2811. at au average value ol 139 per bead. There wns a falling off tn American wheat exports of 13,505,000 bush- sis, and the Secretary I Inclined to believe that wheat may not, In tn future, be th itaple export cereal product of our country, but that oorn will continue to advance In Im portance a an export on aooount ot thn new use to whloh it Is constantly being appro priated. The exports of agricultural products from th United Statea for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1394, amounted to t828.333.038, be. Ing 72.28 per cent, of American ex oort ol very description, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain took more than fltty-fouc per cent, of all farm products fin ling for eign markets. The Department ot Agriculture hsj un dertaken during tha year two new and Im portant Hues of research. The ttr?t relates to grasses nnd forage plants, with the pur pose ol Instructing and fauillarlaing the people as to tho distinctive grasses of the United States, tin I tenoning them how to Intro 'uce valuable foreign forage plants which may be adapted to this oouutry. Tba second relates to agricultural soL1 and orop production, Involving thi analyse of sample ot (oils Irom all tedious ot th American Unlou, to demon grate their adaptability to particular plant ind crops. Mechanical analyses ot soli may b ol such inestimable utility that it I toremost in in new line oi agricultural ro les roh. and the Secretary therefor recom mends that a division having It inohargab oarmaaemiy eeiabiunsn iu tu department. Acting upon a reiommend itlnn contained In the report of 1891, Congress appropriate! tlD.000 "loanable the Secretary of Agricul ture to Investigate an I rep jrt npoa the nu tritive value of the various article and com modities ued tor human food, with special suggestion ot full, wholesome and nlinln ration lo wasteful and more economical thnn those In common use." Under this appropriation the dermrtmnnt hn prepared and now lias nearly ready for distribution nn elementary discussion of thn nutritive value nnd pecuniary economy ol fool. When we consider thit fully one half ot all the money named by the wage earners of tho civilized world Is expended hy them for food, tha Importunes and utility of such nn Investigation Is apparent. Thn department exoendod In thn fiscal ynnr 1892, 2.85t,809.5A t and out ot that sum the total amount expended lu scientific re search was 45.8 per cent. But In the year ending June 80, 1891, out ol a total expendi ture of 1, 948,988.83, the department Hp. piieu oi.n per oenc, ot tnni sum to scieiitin work nnd Investigation. It I, therefore. very plainly observable that the economies Which hnve been practiced in th adminis tration of the department hay not been at the expense of scientific research. 1 ne recommenil itlon contained in thn re port of the Secretary for 1893. that th vicious system of free distribution of Its de partment documents b abandoned Is again urged, l oose publications may well bs fur nished without cost to public llhrirlos, edu cational Institutions and the officers nnd li braries of States and of th Federal Govern ment, nm irom nil inuiviiiuais applying for them a price covering tha cost of the document asked for should b required. Thu th publication and doo nmenta would be (-aural by those who really desire them for proper purposes. Half a million of cop es of the report of tha Secretary of Agriculture are printed for dis tribution at an annual cost of about 300, 000. Largs numbers ot them ar cum bering store rooms at tha Capitol and tha shelves of second-hand book stores through out the country. All thl labor and wast might be avoided If the recommendations ol thn Secretary were adoptod. The Secretary also agali recommends that thn gratuitous distribution ol send enns and that no money be appropriated lor that purpose, except to experiment stations. He reiterates the reasons given In his report for 1393 for discontinuing this unjustifiable gra tuity, and I fully concur in th oonoluslons whloh he ha reached. A further Important utility tn agricultural statistics It found In their elucidation ot tha relation ot tne supply ol farm products to thn demand for them In th market ol tha United States and ot thn world. It Is deemed possible that an agricultural census may betaken each year through tha agent ol the statistical division ol th de partment. Such a course is commended for trial by th chief ol that division. Its scop would bet (1) The area under each of th mors Im portant crops. (2) Thn aggregate products of each ot such crops. (8) The quantity ot whent and corn In th hands ot farmers at a date alter the spring sowings and plantings and before the begin ning ot narvest i and also tnn quantity ot cotton and tobacco remaining In tha band of plnnters, either nt th same data or at tome other designated time. Thscott ol the work Is estimated at ?500, 000. Owing to thepeculnr quality ot th statis tician's work nnd the natural and acquired fitness necessary to its successful prosecu tion, the Secretary ol Agriculture expresses tbe opinion that every person employed in gathering statistics under thn chief of that division should bs admitted to that servlca only after a thorough, exhaustive and s ic cessful examination nt the hands of th United Stn ns Civli Service Commission. This hns let him 'to call for such examina tion of candidates for tbe position of ssilst ant statisticians and also of candidates lot ohlnf of sections in that division. CIVIL SERVICE BEfOBtr. The advantage to the public servlo of an adherence to theprlnclples of oivil sarvloa reform nre constantly 'more apparent, nn l nothing is so encouraging to those in off), cial life who honestly desire good govern ment as the Increasing appreciation by our people ot these advantages. A vast majori ty of thn voters of the land ar ready to Insist that the time and attention of those they select to perform for them important public duties, should not be distracted by doling out minor offices, nn l they are grow ing to he unanimous In regarding party or ganization as something that should bn usad in establishing party principles Instead of dictating the distribution of public places as rewards of partisan activity. Numerous additional offices and places have lately been brought within Civil Service rules and regulations, and soma others will probably soon bn included. Th report of the Commissioners will he submitted to the Congress, and I invltv careful nttentlon to the recommendations it contains. A NATIONAL BOARD Or BEALTR. I am entirely convinced that we ought not to he longer withour a National Board o' Health, or National H with Officer, obnrged with no otber duties than such as pnrtnlr to the protection ot our country from the In vasion ol pestilence and disease. This wouli Involve the establishment, by such hoard ot officer, ot proper quarantine precautions, ol tha necessary aid and counsel to local au thorities on tha subject, prompt advioe nnd assistance to looul boards ot health or health officers in tba suppression oi contagious disease, and In cases where there are no sucblocnl board or offi cers, the Immediate direetlon hy th Na tional Board or officer ot measure ot sup pression, constant and nutnentio informa tion concerning tha health of foreign coun tries an I all parts ot our own country na related to aoutagiou d'. leases, and consid eration ot regulation to be eaforced In for eign ports to prevent tbe Intro lustlon of contagion into our cities, and the m iasure which should be adopted to secure their en forcement. There seems to be at this time a decided, Inclination to discuss measures ot protection against contagious disease In International conference, with a view ot adopting menns ot mutual assistance. The creatiou ol such a National health establishment would greatly aid our standing iu such conferences nn l Improve our opportunities to avail our selves of their benefits. I earnestly recommend th lnaugua itlon of a National Board of Health, or similar National instrumentality, believing the sain to be a needed precaution agaiust conta gious disensenn.l In tlie Intercut of the suloty und health ot our people. BAtLROAD AND THEIB EUrLOTTS, By virtu of a statue of the United States, passed in 1888, I nppoluted In July last Hon. John I). Keruau. ot the State ol New York, and Hon. Nicholas E. Worthlngion, of the Suite of Illinois, to form with with Hon. Car roll D. Wright. Commissioner of Iauor, who was designated by said statute, a ooinmissioi lor tbe purpose of making unrciut luqutr into the causes ot the controversies between certain railroads and their employes, whioi had resulted In an extensive aud destructlv. strike, accompanied by much vlolouoe anil dangerous itlnturoauoe, wita aousideruulo loss of life and great destruction ot property. The report of the coinmisslouers has been submitted to me aud will be transmitted to the Cougress with thu evidence taken upon their investigation. Their work has been well dono and their stuudiug aud Intelligence give assurance that) the report aud suggestions they muk urn worthy ol oaruful ouusl Juration. EAVOlts ruEE COAL AND IBON. Th tariff" not passed at the last session ol the Cougress needs important amendments If ll Is to bo executed effectively and with certainty. In addition to such necessary amendments as will not oliaugo ratos of duty, I am still very decidedly lu luvor ol puitlug coal and Iron upon the freo list, kto far as tha sugar schedule i concerned,. I would bo glad, under exiting aggravation! 10 sNory pattlu.lt) ot dlffQCmtliU duty iJ
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers