Newspaper Page Text
TWELVE PAGES.
VOL XXII
GROVERJLEVELAND
Th3 President’s Long Message
Read in Congress.
OUR PRESENT FINANCIAL SYSTEM.
lie 3laka Number of Suggestions Re
garding Reform of the Laws Now
Existing—Talks About Hanks
and Those Gold Bonds.
The message of President Cleveland
has been read in congress
re >rt the main features
o: a .r. Only the reference to the
re i cabinet officers, that have
•te l a:id matters of less im
p av been eleminated.
to Congress of tiie United Stataa:
T 0 • • 'ubjitge vvithi-i the nations legislative
ha sos ■ charged with the duty of making
1 -. r th"_ l ene; tof a generous and free peo’
o.’i avs.sivel.v suggests the exacting obliga
lion and inexorable responsibility involved in
tlu ir ms’: at the threshold of such labor now to
; n lor.aken by the congress of the United
St itcs and in tie discharge of an executive
duty enjoined by the constitution, I submit
t iis communication containing a brief state
uient of the < orulition of our national affairs and
recommending such legislation as seems to me
necessary and expedient.
The history of our recent dealings with other
nations and our peaceful relations with them at
this t me a klitionally demonstrate the advan
tage of consistently adhering to a firm but just
foreign policy free, from envious or abitious
national schemes and characterized by entire
honesty and sincerity.
Di ring the past ear pursuant to a law of
to i ress commissioners were appointed to the
Antwerp Industrial exposition. Though the
participation of American exhibitors fell far
.sort of completely illusiatiug or national inge
nuity and industrial achievements yet it was
quite creditable in view of the brief time al
lowed for prep ra ion.
I have endeavored to impress upon the Bel
gium government the needlessness and posi
tive harmfulness of its restrictions upon the
importation of certain of our food products,
and have strongly urged that the rigid supervi
sion and inspection under our laws are ainpft
sufficient to prevent the exportation from this
country of diseased cattle and unwholesome
meats.
The termination of the civil war in Brazil
hat been followed by a general prevalence
of peace and order. It appearing at an early
stage of the insurrection that its course would
call for unusual watchfulness on the part of
this government, our naval force in the harbor
of ltio Janerio was strengthened. This pre
caution lam satisfied tended to restrict the
issue to a simple trial of strength between the
Brazilian government and the insurgents and to
avert complications, which at times seemed
imminent. Our firm attitude of neutrality was
maintained to the end. The insurgents re
ceived no encouragement of eventual asylum
from our commanders, and .such opp< s tion as
they encountered was f r the protection of our
commerce and was clearly justified by public
law.
A serious tension of relations having arisen
at the close of the war between Brazil and
Portugal by reason of tiie escape of the insur
gent Admiral DaGama and his followers. The
friendly offices of our repre.se...atives to those
countries were exerted for the protection <>i i
the subjects of either within iue territory of
the other, although the government of Brazil
was only notified that the commercial arrange
ment existing between the United States and
that country based on the third section of the
Tariff law of 1890, was abrogated on August 28.
1894. by the tak.ng effect of the tariff law in
force that government sub equently notified
us of its intention to terminate such arrange
ment on the first day of January. 1895. in the
exercise of the right reserved in the arrange
ment between-the two countries. Attention to
tiie correspondence between the secretary of
state and the Brazilian minister on this sub
ject.
The commission organized under the conven
tion which we had entered into with Chili for
the settlement of the outstanding claims of
each government against the otner adjourned
at the end of the period stipulated for its con
tinuance. leaving undetermined a number of
At leriean cases which had been duly present
ed. T .ese claims are not barred and negotia
tions are in pro gross for the submission to a
new tt banal.
( n j c 17th of March last anew treaty with
Chii. in fourti'i regulation of emigration • a
s;'-i->1 at Washington, and >n August 13th it
roecr od the - cu; tiou of the senate. Ratifica
tion < n the !>...rt of Coin.t and formal exchange
are awaited to give effect to tais mutually ben
eficial convention.
A gratifying re ognition of the uniform im
partiality of this country towards all foreign
states was manifested by tae co-incident re
quest of the Chinese and Japanese governments
that the agents of the United States should,
within proper limits afford protection to the
subjects of the other during the suspension of
diplomatic relation* due to a* state of war.
This delicate office was accepted, and a mis
apprehension which gave rise to the belief that
in affording this kindly unofficial protection
our agents would exercise the same.
Authority which the withdrawn agents of the
belligerents had exercised was promptly cor
rected, although the war between China and
Japan endangers no policy of the L n.ted
States, it deserves our greatest consideration
bv reason of its disturbance of our growing
commercial interests in the two countries and
the increased dangers which may result to our
citizens domiciled or sojourning in the interior
of China acting under a stipulation in our
treaty with Korea. (The first concluded with
a western power.) I felt constrained at the
beginning of the controversy to tender our good
office: to induce an amicable arrangement of
the initial difficulty growing out of the Japa
nese demands for an administrative reform m
Korea hut the unhappy precipitation of actual
hostilities defeated this kindly purpose. De
ploring the destructive war between the two
most powerful of the eastern nations and anx
ious that our commercial interests
may be preserved and that the s ld
citizens there shall not be jeopardised I would
not hesitate to head any intimation that our
friendly aid for the honorable rull^ tlon
hostilities would be acceptable to both belli
g Tc n onvention has been finally concluded for
•ht SS-nt by arbitration of ,Prolog
~ “ £“B* wethcr S? Sr
sympathy and similarity in tboir torn, of pov
° ~nt - imprest
from our people attach
doubt of the depth ami sinceruj. c
ment. j .lie senate and
qv n p resolutions passed to ti * . a
* Acting upon the reported discovery *f Texas
stock and hoped that Germany will
been received. It P tfae inhi bition is
soon become f : , mutual interests
needless as u s harmfm . bas proteß t*d
T ln-t t iSmoviffion of the customs tariff act
cgainst t ,at pi on . . nating duty of one
wu h imposes adu 3^r com ing from
•ent iof one cent a P * boU nty thereon,
noun rna a P ao ch duty, is in
*“ sand 9 ol the treaty ot
* •; ws s--
~..x- | S > uiu. O. t tlt Te '. on-T a
, . lt te lion io uoarvompa..
' • u / 1 ” r < ;exontam. 13
\ qx itio secret tr,> _ _ .♦->- .*• >
1 a ot the <iuo: ions rais and ‘
w!ts ’ LJ:-V i-1 tte veit ' a a - ree ut —
fffffffffffffffffffff
v-i reached \t th Grea 1- t ,
* or.lotions to e iven , 1 0:1 orn ng in
o the two goverment* ° nd :rs
contiguous no t, Pn i „ ’ sea a -d tae
mice in the execution o' t ° C:in lor th b- Kuid
tribunal arbitration ami rluf 1 ie Baris
regulations t lercin nril K e , U or emeat 01 he
tioa of se p iife7n , P r r ? e J lor ’* o™tec
understanding has a'so"‘ iterS menU ’ necl - Aq
Payment by he Uni - ' ee;l r " a !ie 1 f " r the
•ntt-fartlon of au 'm™ “ * -'” <••
by Great Britain fr,r ' ' * i; - a oe made
the controversy as to f U rT ■* K ' r ’ in " oul of
or the seizure of c_- ti 8 s n r e Sea
taking ■*.“ Ve ’* sls ,;nga ' eJ in
viu e t t !l !ich 1 e mv nve. lam con
ti ~ed o m V e:r,cn ' “P toe • ras men-
O’ ea. -fi 1 * U e iUi a e ' aiit.i^eous
a.icl i rec*o d t>. 1 t .. ,
for the pri.mpt payment 0 ° be nlade
Tuv.*o. ‘/. t, 1 td sum.
nived'*-e r iV, ' rU “ e ail ' l ' ta ’ a l i;ave si*-
t o ti • U '"• to ad..ere to theregula
trliinnu f '■ ,r ' r the a --arl of the Paris
itriounai 01 arl; r o:.
a ffi I ".?'.'r** r ’’ s:ir ' t5 -' 80! ’ • e Alas. ain boundary
Sf nroflo, at^ V ex:tm,n 11 the question
wat rs l “ til ° rod 8 ‘ i the coniiguou*
orLi , e V“ llod ’ :a '*! the Dominion
01 idiia ia are in pro^rcSj,
. boundiy of British Gumiea still remains
in dispute between Great Britain and Veni-
Believing that its early settlement on
some just alike honorable to both par
es, is in the line of our established policy to
remove from this hemisphere all causes of dif
ferences with powers beyond the sea, I shall re
new the efforts heretofore made to bring about
a restoration of diplomatic relations between
the disputants and induce recourse to arbitra
tion which Great Britain so conspicuously
favors in principal and respects in practice and
which is earnestly sought by her weaker adver
sary.
Since communicating the volumnous cor
respondence in regard to Hawaii and the ac
tion taken by the senate and house of regre
sentatives on certain questions submitted to
the judgment and wider discretion of congress
the organization of a government in place of
the provisional arrangement which followed,
the deposition of the Queen has been announc
®d with evidence of its effective operation. The
recognition usual in such cases has been ac
corded the new government under our present
treaties of extravation with Italy miscarriages
of justice have occurred owing to the refusal
of the government to surrender its own sub
jects. Thus far our efforts to negotiate an
amended convention obviating this difficulty
has been unavailing.
Apart from the war in which the island em
pire is engaged Japan attracts increasing at
tention in this country by her evident desire to
cultivate more liberal intercourse with us and
to seek our kindly aid in the furtherance of
her lauable desire for complete autonomy in
her domestic affairs and full equality in the
family of nations. The Japanese empire of to
day is no longer the Japan of the past, and our
relations with this progressive nation should
not be less broad and liberal than those with
other powers. Good will fostered by many
interests in common has marked our relations
with our nearest southern neighbor.
Peace being restored along her northern
frontier. Mexico has asked the punishment of
the late disturbers of her tranquility. There
ought to be anew treaty of commerce and nav
igation with that country to take the place of
the one which terminated thirteen years ago.
The friendliness of the intercourse between
the two countries is attested by the fact that
during this long period the commerce of each
has steadily increased un :er the role of mutual
con. 'deration, oei.ig neither^*! undated i y con
ventional a aJTift • 3 rded b.-Ve;
ous rivalry ; , or se. sh distrust-
An indemnity tendered by Mexico as a gra
cious act for the murder in 1887 of Leon Bald
win an American citizen by a band of marau
ders in Durango has been accepted and is be
ing paid in installments, fih problem of the
storage and use of the waters of the Rio
Grande for irrigation should be solved by ap
propriate concurrent action of the two inter
ested countries. Rising in the Colorado
Height the stream flows intermittently yield
ing little water during the dry months to the
Irrigating channels already constructed along
it 6 course.
In its course through level sands often raise
embarrassing questions of territorial jurisdic
tion. Prominent among the questions of the
year was the Blueflelds incident, in what Is
known as the Mosquito Indian strip bordering
on the Atlantic Ocean and within the juris
diction of Nicaragua. By the treaty of 1860 be
tween Great Britain and Nicaragua the for
mer government expressly recognised the
sovereignty of the latter over the strip and a
limited form of self-government was guaran
teed to the Mosquito Indians to be exercised
according to their customs, fwr themselves and
other dwellers within it:, limits.
The socalled native government, which grew
to be largely made up of a lie is for many years
disputed the sovereign;.- oi Nicaragua over
the strip and claimed tb right to maintain
therein a practically independent municipal
government. Early in the past year efforts of
Nicaragua to maintain sovereignty over the
Mosquito territory led to serious disturbances
culminating in the suppression of the native
government and the attempted substitution
of an impracticable composite administration
in which Nicaragua and alien residents were
lo participate. Failure was followed by an
insurrection which for a time subverted Ni
caraguan rule, expelling her officers and re
storing the old organization. This, in turn,
gave place to the existing local government
established and upheld by Nicaragua.
Although the alien interests arrayed against
Nicaragua in these transactions have been
largely American and the commerce of that
region has been for some time and still is
chiefly controlled by our citizens, we cannot
for that reason challenge the rightful sover
eignty of Nicaragua over this important part
of her domain. For some months one. and
part of the time two, of our naval, ships have
been stationed at Blueflelds for the protection
of all legitimate interests of our eitizeus. In
September last the government a Nicaragua
expelled from its territory twelve or more for
eigners including two Americans for alleged
narticipation in the seditious or revolutionarj
movements against the republic at Blueflelds
already mentioned, but by the earnest remon
atrances of this government, the two Ameri
cans have been permitted to return to the
peaceful management of their business. Our
naval commanders at the scene of these dis
turbances by their constant exhibition of firm
ness and good judgment contributed largely to
the prevention of more serious consequences
and to the restoration of quiet and order.
T regret tkat in the midst of these occr
rences there happened a most grave and irri
gating failure of Nicaraguan justice. An
American citizen named Wilson restding at
in the mosquito territory, was mur-
SSd bv one Angillo, the acting governor of
the town. After some ui lay tae murderer was
arrested but so insecurely con..nod or guarded
thatlhe escaped and notwithstanding our re
-1 , , . ri it is claimed his re-capture
ha- 1 been impossible by rea -on of his flight be
having given
,75, forfeiture of tneir concession to the
rss:c:?rss
her recuperation from the distresses of
n ess of her re p^ yeakened in resources, her
in facing international obligations
difficulties in facing and justify our for
toTlte<,u/iiSUSlong pending claims. I
f
in connection Tne "recent
gently Purred ! ca!led forth appro
death of the Czar and sy m P aihy on
iis oerea " !d
! T l,y ,“Cr n-.pe.-t
Asafurtner uem Pete -burg was
friendship our minister at J tbe
directed torepre sealing .nterests of
l Uner t in sea are second only to our
Russia in Behn * lhe , efor! . been con
own. A modus GIV , rve ..ameat restne
oluded Queries and
live of poaching on the oompre _
headed In arena denned in the
JACKSON, GA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1894.
aris award. Occasion has been found t<i
urge upon the Russian government equality of
treatment for our great life insurance compa
nies whose operations have been extended
throughout Europe.
Admitting as we do foreign operation to
nansaet business in the United States, we
naturally expected no less tolerance for our
o’.in in the ample fields of competition abroad.
But few cases of interference -with naturaliz
ed citizens returning to Russia have been re
ported during the current year. One Krze
in,nski. was arrested last summer in a Polish
prov i nee on a reported charge of unpermitted
renunciatiation of Russian allegiance but it
transpired that the proceedings originated in
alleged malea-fanee committed by Krzeminski
Chilean imperial official a number of years
ago. Efforts for his release, which promised
to be successful, were in progress when his
death was reported.
lae government of Salvador being over
thrown by an abrupt popular outbreak, certain
of its military and civil officers, while hotly
pursued by infuriated Insurgents, sought
refuge on board of the United States warship
Bennington, then lying in a Salvadorn port.
Although tae practice of asylum is not favored
by this government, yet in view of the immi
nent peril which threatened the fugitives, and
solely from consideration of humanity, they
were afforded shelter by our naval commander
and ihen afterwards demanded under our
treaty of extraditon with Salvador for trial on
charges of murder, arson and robbery, I di
rected that such of them as had not voluntarily
left the ship be conveyed to one of our nearest
ports where a hearing could be had before a
judiciary officer in compliance with the terms
of the treaty. On their arrival at San Pran
cisco such a proceeding was promptly insti
tuted before the United district judge, who
held that the acts constituting the alleged
offenses were political and discharged all the
accused except Cienfuegoes. who was held for
attempt to murder. Thereupon I was con
strained to direct his release for the reason
that an attempt to murder was not one of the
crimes charged against him and upon which
his surrender to the Salvadorean authorities
had been demanded.
Unreasonable and unjust fines imposed by
Spain on the vessels and commerce of the
United States, have demanded from time to
time, during the last twenty years, earnest re
monstrance on the part of our government. In
the immediate past exorbitant penalties have
been imposed upon our vessels and goods by
customs authorities of Cuba and Porto Rico for
clerical errors of the most trivial character in
the manifests or bills of lading. In some cases
fines amounting to thousands of dollars have
been levied upon cargoes or the carrying ves
sels when the goods in question were entitled
to free entry.
Fines have been exacted even whea the error
had been detected and the Spanish authorities
notified before tnearrival of tiie goods in port.
This conduct isin strange contrast with t e con
siderate and literal treatment extended to
Spanish vessels and cargoes ia oar ports in like
casos. No satisiaetory settlement of these vex
ations questions has yet been reached. The
Mora case, referre! to in my last annual mes
sage, remains unsettled. From the diplomatic
cor.espondence on this subject, whicn has been
laid before the sen ite, it will be seen that this
government has offered to :on lade a conven
tion with Spain for disposal by arbitration of
outstanding claims bet ween the two countries,
except the Mora claim, which ha Yin' been long
ago adjusted now on y wants payment as stipu
lated and of course it coild not be included in
the proposed convention. It was hoped this
offer would remove parliamentary o stacles en
countered by the Spanish government in pro
viding paym nt of the Mora indemnity I re
gret to say that no definite reply to this offer
has yet been made and ail efforts to accure pay
ment of this sett lid have been unavail
ing, 1
In my last annua) m issage I adverted to the
claim on the part of Turkey of the right to ex
pell. as persons undesirable and and dangerous,
Ameri. ans naturalized in tae United States
and returning to Turkish jurisdiction. Numer
ous questions in this relation nave arisen.
While this government acquiesces in the as
serted right of expulsion it will not consent
that Americans may be imprisoned or other
wise punisaed for 110 other reason than having
acquired without imperial consent American
cittzenship. Three of the assailants of Miss
Melton, an American teacher in Mosul, have
been convicted by the Ottoman courts, andi am
advised that an appeal against the acquital of
the remaining five has been taken by the
Turkish prosecuting officers. A convention has
been concluded with for the arbitra
tion of a long disputed claim growing out of the
seizure of certain vessels, the property of citi
zens of the United States.
Although signed, the treaty of extradition
with Venezuela is not yet in force, owing to the
insistence of that government that, when sur
rendered, its citizens shall in no case be liable
to capital punishment.
The rules for the prevention of collisions at
sea which were framed by the maritine confer
ence held in this city in 1889 having been con
currently incorporated in the statues of the
United States and Great Britain, have been
announced to take effect March 1, 1895, and
invitations have been extended to all maritine
nations to adhere to them. Favorable re
sponses have thus far been received from Aus
tria, France. Portugal Spain and Sweden.
In my last annual message I referred briefly
to the unsatisfactory state of affairs in Samoa
under the operation of the Berlin treaty as
signally illustrating the impolicy of entang
ling alliances with foreign powers, and on May
B, 1894, in response to a resolution of the senate
I sent a special message and document to that
body on the same subject, which emphasized
my previously expressed opinions. Later oc
currences, the _ correspondence in regard to
which will be laid before congress further
demonstrates that the government which was
devised by the three powers and forced upon
the Samoans against their inveterate
hostility can be maintained only by the con
tinued presence of foreign military force and
at no small sacrifice of life and treasure. The
suppression of the Matasfa insurrection by the
powers, and the subsequent banishment of the
leader and eleven other chiefs, as recited in
my last message, did not bring lasting peace tc
the islands. Formidable uprisings continued
and finally a rebellion broke out in the eapitol
island.
The King again appealed to the powers foi
help and the combined British and German
naval forces reduced the Atuans to apparent
subjection not however without considerable
loss to the natives. A few days later Yama
sese and his adherent, fearing the ships and
the marines, professed submission. Reports
received from our agents at Apia do not justi
fy the belief that the peace thus brought about
will be of long duration. It is their conviction
that the natives are at heart hostile to the
present government: that such of them as
profess loyalty to it do so from fear of the
powers and that it would speedily go to pieces
if the warships were withdrawn. In report
ing to his government on the unsatisfactory
situation since the suppression of the late re
volt. by foreign armed forces, the Gorman con
sul at Apia stated that peace will be lasting
is hardly to be presented. The lesson given
by firing on Atu was not sufficiently sharp
and incisive to leave a lasting impression on
the forgetful Samoan temperament. In fact
conditions are existing which show that peace
will not last and it is not seriously intended.
Listen the king, and his chief are convinced
that the departure of the warships will be a
signal for a renewal of war. The circumstan
ces that the representatives of the villages of
all the districts which were opposed to the
government have already withdrawn to Atua
to hold meetings and that both Atua and Aana
have forbidden inhabitants of those districts
which fought on the side of the government tc
return to their villages and have already partly
burned down the latter indicates areal con
ciliation of the parties is still far off. Anc
in a note of the 18th Ufa inclosing a copy ol
tkat report for the information 01 this gov
ernment. the German ambassador said
••n’he contents of the report in.
Derial governments apprehension that unu
existing circumstances the peace conel
with the rebels will afford no assurance of
lasting restoration of tranquility m the
present government has utterly
to correct, if Indeed it net aggrevat
very evils it was intern ed 10 present
not stimulated our commerce with the
lands Our participation m its establisiuc
the wishes of the was ta p..-
defiance of the conservative teachings and
warnings of the wise at 1 patriotic men who
laid the foundations of oir ftee institution
and I invite an expression of the judgment of
congress in the propriety of steps being taken
by this government looking to the withdrawal
from its engagements with the other powers
on some reasonable terms not prejudicial to
any of our exciting rights.
The secretary of the treasury reports that
the receipts of the government from ali sources
of revenue during the fiscal year ending June
30, 164, amounted to $372.802.4*98.29 and : ts ex
penditures to $442,604,758. leaving a deficit of
$69.808.2-;o.58. There was a decrease of 115,952.-
874.68 in the ordinary expenses of the g( vern
■ment as compared with the fiscal year 1893.
There was collected from customs $431,818,530.62
and from internal revenue $147.168.449.70. Ihe
balance of the income for the year amounting
to $93,815 817.97 was derived from the sales of
lands and other sources.
The balance of our total dutiable imports
amounts to $275,199,086. being $155,657,625 less
than during the preceding year and the im
portations free of duty amounted to $379,793.-
538. being $64. 748.675 less than during the pre
ceding year. The receips from customs were
$73,636,486.11 less and from internal revenue
$13,836,539.97 less than in 1893. The total tax
collected from distilled spirits was $85,259,150.25
on manufactured tobacco S2B 617.868.62 and on
fermented liquors $31,414,788.01. Our exports
of merchandise domestic and foreign, amount
ed during the year to $892,140,572, being an in
crease over the preceding year of $44 485.378.
The report of the attorney general notes t’.--
gratifying progress made by the supreme court
in overcoming the arrears of its business and
in reaching a condition in which it will be able
to dispose of cases as they arise without any
unreasonable delay. This result is of course
very largely due to the successful working Oi
the plan of inaugurating circuit courts of ap
peals. In respect to these tribunals the sug
gestion is made in quarters entitled to the
highest consideration that an additional dis
trict judge for each circuit would greatly
strengthen these courts and the confidence re
posed in their adjudications. And that such
an addition would not create a greater foroe of
judges than the increasing business of such
courts requires. I commend the suggestion to
the careful consideration of the congress.
Other important topics are adverted to in the
report, accompanied by reeonmr dations,
many of which have been treated ai large in
previous messages, and at this time therefore
need only be named. 1 refer to the abolition oi
the fee system as a measure of compensa
tion to federal officers. The enlargement of
the powers of the United States commissioners
at least in the territories, the allowance of
writs of error in criminal cases on behalf of
the United States, and the establishment of
degrees in the crime of murder. A topic deal:
with by the attorney general of much impc—
tance is the condition of the administration of
justice in the Indian Territory. The perma
nent solution of what is called the Indian
problem is probably not to be expected at
once, but meanwhile such ameliorations cf
present conditions as the existing system
will admit of ought not to be neglected. lam
satisfied there should be a federal court estab
lished for the territory with sufficient judges,
and that this court should sit within Ue terri
tory and have the same jurisdiction as to terri
torial affairs as is now vested in the federal
courts sitting in Arkansas and Texas.
Free Through the Mails.
The postofflee master'gcneral believes that it,
the near future all legitimate newspapers anc)
periodical magazines might be properly" trans
mitted through the mails to their gubscrii'vrs
free of cost.
I invite your prompt consideration c' :hr\
subject, and fully indorse the views of u?c I
master general.
The total lumber of post off'aee in the ‘ -
Stuics on the OOth of June 18 1 4 was 69 80.'J COi
crease of 403 over the preeeediug yea.. *o,
these 34-8 were presidential, an increase in that
class of 68 over the preceding year.
Six hundred and ten cities and town* are
provided with free delivery. Ninety-three
other cities and towns entitled to this service
under the law have not been accorded in on ac
count of ine firi nt funds. T.ie expense of free
delivery for the current fiscal year will he more
than $12,3.0 000 and under existing legislation
this item of expenditures is subject to constant
increase. The estimated cost of rural free de
livery, generally is so very large that it ought
not to be considered in tne present condition of
affairs.
During the year 830 additional domestic
money order offices were established. The
total number of these offices at the close of the
year was 13,264 There were 14 303 041 money
orders issued during the year, being an increase
over tie preceding year of 994,306. The value
of t .ese orders amounted to $138,793,579.40, an
increase of sll 217,145 84. There were also is
sued during the year postal notes amounting to
$12,649,091.55. During the year 213 international 1
monev order offices were added to these already
established, making a total of 2.625 such offices
in operation June 30th, 1894 The number of in
ternational money orders issued during the
year was 917'82;, a decrease in number of 138,-
176 and tneir value was 13 792 455,5i, a decrease
in amount of $2 549,382.55. Tne number of orders
paid was 8611*0. an increase over the preceding
year of 60 262 and their value was $6,568,493.78,
an increase of $1,285,118.03.
From the foregoing statement it appears that
the total issue of money orders and postal notes
for the year mounted to $165,225,229-35.
The number of letters and packages mailed
during the year for special delivery was 3,436,-
970. The special delivery stamps used upon
these letters and packages amounted to $343,-
797. The messengers fees paid for their de
livery amounted to $261,203,70, leaving a bal
ance in favor of the government of $82,487.80.
The report shows most gratifying results iu
the way of econemies worked out without af
fecting the efficiency of the postal service.
These consist in the abrogation of steamship
subsidy con icts, re-letting of mail contraot*,
and in the cost and amount of supplies used in
the service amounting to $16,619,047.42.
This report also contains a valuable contri
bution to the history of the Universal Postal
union, an arrangement which amounted prac
tically to the establishment of one postal sys
tem for the entire civilized world. Special at
tention is directed to this subject at this time,
in view of the fact that the next congress of
the union will meet in Washington in 1897 and
it is hoped that timely action will be taken in
the direction of perfecting preparations for
that event.
The postmaster general renews the sugges
tion made in a previous report that the depart
ment organization be increased to the extent
of creating a direct supervision of all postal
affairs, and in this suggestion I fully concur.
There are now connected with the postoffice
establishment 32,061 employes who are in the
classified service. This includes many who
have been classified upon the suggestion of the
postmaster general. He states that another
year's experience at the head of the department
serves only to strengthen the conviction as to
the excellent working of the civil service law
in this branch of the public service.
Attention is called to the report of the secre
tary of the navy which shows very gratifying
progress in the construction of ships for our
new navy. All the vessels now building, in
cluding the three torpedo boats authorized at
the last session of congress excepting the first
olass battleship lowa, will probably be com
pleted during the coming fiscal year.
The estimates for the increase of the navy
for the year ending June 30, 1896, are large, but
they include practically the entire sum neces
sary to complete and equip all the new ships
not now in commission so that unless new
ships are authorized the appropriations for
the naval service for the fiscal year ending
June 30. 1897. should fall below the estimates
for the coming year by at least $12,000,000.
The secretary presents with much earnest
ness a plea for the authorization of three ad
ditional battle ships and ten or twelve torpedo
boats. While the unarmor*d vessels heretofore
authorized, including those now nearing com
pletion. will constitute a fleet, which it is be
lieved is sufficient for ordinary cruising pur
poses in time of peace, we have now completed
and in process of construction but four first
class battle ships and >ut four torpedo boats.
If we are to have a navy for warlike operations
offensive and defensive, we certainly ought to
increase both the number of battle ships and
torpedo boats.
I recommend that provision be made for the
construction of additional battleship and tor
pedo boats. The secretary recommended the
manufacture not only of a reserve supply of
ordnance and ordnance material for ship* of
the navy but al<o a sapid- f • the auxiliary
field. Guns and their apip ira nances shouid
r.e provided and kept on h md for both these
jurposes. We have not today a single gun
.hat could be put upon the ships Paris or New
York of the international navigation eom
>r any other ship of our reserved navy.
1 _ manufacturer of guns at the Washington
navy yards is proceeding satisfactorily, and
n- of our new ships will be required to wait
lor neir guns or ordnance equipments. An
imp. nant order has been is ued by the secre
tary of the navy, co-ordinating the duties of
the several bureaus concerned in the con
struction of ships. This order it is believed
will secure to a greater extent ther. has here
tofore been possible the harmonious action of
these several bureaus and make the attain
ment of the best results more certain. During
the past fiscal year there has been an unusual
and pressing demand in many quarters of the
world for vessels to guard American
interests. In January last during the Brazil
ian insurrection a large fleet was concentra
ted in the harbor of the Rio de Janeiro. The
vigorous action of Rear Admiral Benham in
protecting the personal and commercial rights
of our citizens during the disturbed conditions
afforded results which will, it is believed, have
a far reaching and wholesome influence when
ever in like circumstances it may become nec
essary for our naval commanders to interfere
in behalf of our people in foreign ports.
The war now in progress between China and
Japan has rdndered it necessary or expedient
to dispatch eight vessels to those waters.
The report of the secretary of the interior
exhibits the situation of the numerous and in
teresting branches of the public service con
nected with his department. I commend this
report and the valuable recommendations of
the secretary to the cureful attention of the
congress.
The public land disposed of during the year
amounted to 10.401.008.77 acres, including 28.-
876.05 of Indian lands. It is estimated that the
public domain still remaining amounts to a
little more than (500.000.000 acres, including,
however, about 360,000.000 acres in Alaska as
well as military reservations and railroad and
other selections of land as yet unadjudicated.
The total cash receipts from the sale of lands
amounted to $2,674,285.95. including $91,931.03
received from Indian lands. Thirty-five thou
sand patents were issued for agricultural lands
and thirty-one hundred patents were issued to
Indians on allotments of their holdings in
severalty. The land not allottod being inalien
able by the Indians for a period of twenty-five
years after patent.
There were certified and patented on account
of railroad and wagon grants during the year
865,556.45 acres of land, and at the close of the
year twenty-nine acres are embraced in the
lists of selections made by railroad men and
wagon road companies and awaited settlement..
The selections of swamp lands, and that taken
as indemnity therefrom since the passage of
the act providing for the same in 1849, amount
to or nearly or quite eighty million acres, of
which fifty-eight million have been patented
to states. About 138,(XX) acres were patented
during the last year. Nearly 820,000 acres of
school and education grants were approved
during the year, and at its close 1,250,303.81
acres remained unadjusted.
It appears that the appropriation for the cur
rent year, on account of special service for the
protection of the public lands and the timber
, thereon, is much less than those for previous
years and inadequate for an efficient perform
ance of the work. A larger sum of money than
• us been appropriated during a number of
■ ears past on account has been returned to
ae government afe a result of the labors of
■ose employed in the particular service men
ded, and I hopp will not be crippled by an
q. jijtflcient apnr i-iation. I, fully endorse the
'tnendaiion If the secretary that adequate
~~ be provided for our foi reserves
$ S' . iat a comyrehenseve ioreedry system >
5 jr,/ifhrated. '•*
"y-xt the close of the last fiscal yeai, on the
30th day of June, 1894, there were 909,544 persons
on our pension rolls, being a net increase of
3,532 over the number reported at the end of
the previous year.
These pensions may be classified as follows:
Soldiers and sailors, survivors of all wars,
753,978: widows and relatives of deceased sol
diers, 215,182; army nurses in the war of the
rebellion 414. Of these pensioners 32.039 are
surviving soldiers of Indian and other wars
prior to the late civil war and the widows or
relative of such soldiers. The remainder, num
bering 937,505 are receiving pensions on account
of the war of the bebellion and of these 469,340
are on the rolls under the authority of the act
of June 27, 1890, sometimes called the depen
dent pension law.
The total amount expended for pensions dur
ing the year was $139,801,461, leaving an unex
pended balance from the sum appropriated of
$25,205,712.
The amount necessary to meet pension ex
penditures for the year ending June 30, 1896, is
estimated at $140,000,000.
The commissioner of pensions is of the opin
ion that the year 1895, being the thirtieth after
the close of the war of the rebellion, must ac
cording to all sensible human calculation see
the highest limit of the pension roll and that
after that year it must begin to decline.
The claims pending in the bureau have de
creased more than 90,000 during the year. A
large proportion of the new claims filed are for
increase of pension by those now on the rolls.
The number of certificates issued was 80.213.
The names dropped from the rolls for all
causes during the year numbered 37,951.
Among our pensioners are nine widows and
three daughters of the revolution and forty
five survivers of the war of 1812.
The bare-faced and extensive pension frauds
exposed under tne direction of the courageous
and generous veteran soidier now at the head
of the bureau leave no room for the claim that
no purgation of our pension rolls was needed or
that continued vigilance and prompt action are
not necessary to the same, and the accusation
that an effort to detect pension frauds is evi
dence of unfriendliness towards our worthy vet
erans and a denial of their claims to the gener
osity of the government, suggests an unfortu
nate indifference to the commission of any of
fence wnich has for its motive the issuing of a
pension, and indication of a willingness to be
blind to the existence of mean and treacherous
crimes which play upon demagoic fears and
make sport of the patriotic impulse of a grate
ful people. The completion of the eleventh
census is now in charge of the commissioner of
labor. Tiie total disbursements on account of
the work for the fiscal year ending June 30th
1894, amounted *l9 365.676.81, at the close of the
year the number icrsons employed in the cen
sus office was 679, at present there are about
400. The whole number of volumes' necessary
to comprehend the 11th census will he twenty
five and they will contain 22,270 printed pages.
The assurance is confidently made that before
the close of the presell'. Cihu’ar yearth3
material still incomplete will be practically in
hand and the census can certainly be closed by
the 4th of March. 1895. After that the revision
and proof reading necessary to bring out the
volumes will still be required.
The text of the census volumes has been lim
ited as far as possible to the analysis of the
statistics presented Tuts method w’hich is in
accordance with law has caused more or less
friction and in some instances individual disap
pointment for when the commissioner of .labor
took charge of the work he found much matter
os hand which according to this rule he was
compelled to discard.
The tariff act passed at the last session of
congress needs important amenedments if it is
to be executed effectively and with certainty.
In addition to such necessary amendments as
will not change rates of duty, I am still very
decidedly in favor of putting coal and iron on
the free list.
So far as the sugar schedule is concerned, I
would be glad, under existing aggravations, to
see every particle of differential duty in favor
of refining sugar stricken out of our tariff law.
If with all the favor now accorded the sugar
refining interests in our tariff laws it still lan
guishes to the extent of closed refineries and
thousands of discharged workmen, it would
seem to present a hopeless case for reasonable
legislative aid.
During the last month the gold reserved in
the treasury for the purpose of redeeming the
notes of the government circulating as money
in the hands of the people became so reduced
and its further aeplet ion in the near future
seemed so certain that iu the exercise of prop
er care for the public welfare it became nec
cessary to replenish this reserve and thus
maintain popular faith in the ability and da-
trrmiß ition of the govei-nment to meet, as
agreed. its pecuniary obligations. It would
have tern well if in this emergency authority
had existed, to issue the bonds of ft he gov
ernment bearing a low date of interest and
maturing within a short period, but the con
gress having failed to confer such authority,
resort was necessarily had to the resumption
act of lS7f>. and pursuant to its provisions
bonds were issued drawing interest at the rate
of 5 per cent per annum and maturing ten
years after their issue, that being the short
est time authorized by the act. lam glad to
say, however, that on the sale of these bonds
the premium received operated to reduce the
rate of interest to be paid by the government
to less than 3 per cent. Nothing could be
worse or further removed from sensible finance
that the relations existing between the cur
rency. The government has issued the gold
bonds for its redemption and the means which
must be resorted to for the purpose of re
plenishing such redemption fund when in
spired. Even if the claims upon this fund
wery confined to the obligations originally in
tended and if the redemption of these obliga
tions meant their cancellation tUo fund would
be very small.
But these obligations when read and redeem
ed in gold are not canceled but are reissued
and may do duty several times bv way of draw
ing gold from the treasury thus we have an
endless chain of operaiion constantly deplet
pleting the treasury's gold and never near a
final rest as if this was not bad euought we
have by a statuatory declaration that
it is the pelicy of the government
To maintain the parity between gold and sil
ver, aided the force and momentum of this ex
hausting proves* tai added largely to the cur
rency obligations claiming this peculiar gold
redemption our small gold reserve is the sub
ject to drain from every side.
The demands that increase our danger also
increass the necessity of protecting this re
serve against depletion and it is most unsrtis
factory to know that the protection afforded is
only a temporary palliation. It is perfectly
and palpably plain that the only way under
present conditions by which this reserve when
dangerously depleted can be replenished is
through the issue and sale of the bonds of the
government gold, and yet congress has not
only thus far declined to authorize the issue of
bonds best suited to such a purpose, but there
seems a dispositionin some quarters to deny
both the necessity and power for the issue of
bonds at all. I cannot for a mement believe
that any of our citizens are deliberately will
ing that their government should default in its
pecuniary obligations or that its financial op
erations should be reduced to a silver basis.
At any rate I should not feel that my duty w-as
done if I omitted any effort I could make to
avert such calamity. As long therefore as no
provisfon is made for the scheme modifying
present banking laws and providing for the is
sue of circulating notes by state banks free
from taxation under certain limitations.
It is proposed to repeal all laws providing
for the deposit of United States bonds as secu
rity for circulation, to permit national banks
to issue circulating notes not exceeding in
amount seventy-five per cent, of their paid-up
and impaired capital, provided they deposit
with "the government as a guarantee fund in
United States legal tender notes, including
treasury notes of 1893, a sum equal in amount
to thirty per cent, of the notes they desire
to issue this deposit to be maintained at all
times, but when any bank retires any part of
its circulation a proportionate part of its guar
antee fund shall be returned to issue, to per
mit the secretary of the treasury to prepare
and keep on hand ready for issue in case an in
crease in circulation is desired blank national
notes for each bank having circulation and to
repeal the provisions of the present law im
posing limitations and restrictions upon banks
desiring to reduce or increase their circulation
—thus permitting su(‘ft increase or reduction
within the limit of . seventy-five per cent, of
CapHai to be quickly made as emergencies
arise. In addition to Hlie guarantee fuse! re
quired it is proposed to provide a safety fund
for the immediate redemption of the circulat
ing notes of failed banks by imposing a small
tax, say one-half of one per cent, upon the
'average circulation of each bank until the
funds amounts to five per cent, of the total cir
culation outstanding.
Each national bank, except in case of a failed
bank shall redeem or retire its notes in the first
instance at its own offke or at agencies to be
maintained on account of deposits.
Another very important feature of this plan
is the exemption of state banks from taxation
by the United States in cases w'here it is shown
to the satisfaction of the secretary of the treas
ury and comptroller of the currency by banks
claiming such exemption that they have not
had outstanding their circulating note exceed
ing 75 per cent of their paid up and unimpaired
capital, that their stockholders are individually
liable for the redemption of their circulating
notes to the full extent of their ownership of
stock; that the liabilities of said banks upon
their circulating notes constitutes under their
state law a first lien upon their assets; that
such banks have kept and maintained a guaran
tee fund in United States legal tender notes in
cluding treasury notes of 1890 equal to thirty
per cent of their outstanding circulating notes
when presented at their principal or branch of
fices.
I conclude this communication fully appre
ciating that the responsibility for all legislation
affecting the people of the United States rests
upon their representatives in congress and as
suring them that whether in accordance with
recommendations I have made or not, 1 shall
be glad *n co operate in perfecting any legisla
tion that tends to the prosperity and welfare of
our con ntry.
(Signed) GROVER CLEVELAND,
Dec. 3, 1894. Executive Mansion.
A RECIPE.
Minute Dirsetions for the Preparing of
.Melon Maijgoes.
Select small, green watermelons or
muskmelons. Cut out a piece about
one inch wide from the whole length
of the melon; from this opening re
move the seeds with a spoon and scoop
out the soft portion in the center; save
the piece you cut out to fit in again;
prepare all the melons the same way.
Make a brine of salt and cold water,
put in enough salt until it will bear up
an egg; put the melons in a four-gallon
jar or firkin and poar brine over them;
let them stand twenty-four hours,
drain well, keeping each piece with
the melon it was cut from. For the
filling, to one dozen melons allow two
large heads of cabbage, chopped fine;
if you can get them use a pint of nas
turtium seeds; one teaspoon of ground
cloves, one of cinnamon, a tablespoon
of salt and a little black pepper,
or, if you prefer, one green pepper
chopped fine, leaving the seeds out.
If you cannot get nasturtium seeds use
half a cup of white mustar 1 seed; mix
all together and fill the melons full,
pressing it in firm: put in the p ece and
tie with white twine. When all are
filled pat into a stone jar. cover with
vinegar and leave twenty-four hours;
then put them in a porcelain kettle,
part at a time, an l cook them slowly
half an hour: put them back in the jar
and cover with fresh cold vinegar; add
a cup of nasturtium seels and a few
pieces of horseradish; the latter pre
vents them from molding. In two
days pour off the vinegar and heat
scolding hot an 1 pour over the man
goes: le.t it remain uncovered until
cold, then tie up an 1 keep in a cool,
dry place.—Pittsburgh Chronicle-Tele-
We give our readers the President’s
message in full, and when people claim
he said this, that, or the other, just re
fer to your paper atfd see what he did
say. This paper is a part of our coun
try and should be preserved by every
thinking man.
OFFICIAL ORGAN. i
COMMISSIONER
NESBITT S TALK.
Regular Monthly Letter to the
Farmers of Georgia.
PRESENT FINANCIAL DEPRESSION.
Efforts to ltemedy Them by Conventions
and Resolutions—Cotton .Manufacturing
in the South—lts Influence on Our Ag
riculture—Others Itnap Profits Which
We Should Have.
Department of Agriculture,
Atlanta, Dec. 1, 1801.
The expected rise iu cotton has not
materialized, and this closing month of
1801 finds farmers despondent and dis
contented. This depression rules, not
only in Georgia, but throughout the
country agricultural conditions seem
unsettled, and northern and western, as
well as southern farmers, review the
year just passed with feelings of dis
satisfaction and uncertainty—dissatis
faction because of the low price of all
agricultural products, and uncertainty
as to the causes of this depression, and
as to the best remedies for its relief—l
have, during the last month, attended
three meetings of fanners, one in Ma
con, one in Atlanta and one in Mont
gomery, tli9 last a representative body
of men from all parts of the south,
called together bj T Agricultural Com
missioner Lane, of Alabama, to discuss,
in convention assembled, the low price
of cotton, its causes, and, if possible,
find a present means of pushing up the
price.
I attended these meetings because of
my appointment as a delegate by the
governor of Georgia to one, and of
special invitations to the others, but
more, particularly, because being placed
by the farmers of this state in position
to watch over their interests, I felt that
these momentous questions should be
studied from every standpoint, and not
because I believed that the price of cot
ton could be favorably influenced by
any set of resolutions, or by any con
vention of men, however earnest. The
result of the deliberations in these con
ventions has but confirmed my oft ex
pressed and firmly grounded conviction
that while resolu cions and conventions
may accomplish good in more effectu
ally fixing public attention upon the
mistaken system which has helped to
Slace us in our present straitened con
ition, the means of lifting ourselves
from ouV agricultural depression is in
the of the farmers themselves,
and "uch man must be the primary
movefe on his own farm in promoting
the industrial revival which is already
starting into life. To be convinced
that this revival is beginning one needs
only to feel the agricultural pulse, to
talk with farmers from all sections, to
hear their openly expressed resolve to
plant largely of provision crops and not
to abandon cotton, but govern it in
such a way as will make it serve their
best interests; and then to look at the
successful cotton factories already here
and those projected and now being built.
We scarcely yet realize the important
relation which those factories bear to
the prosperity of the south. Asa
northern man has wd' 1 “Yon have the
streams with the po % -the fields with
the staple.” These a lvantages have
heretofore been only partially appre
ciated.
We have enjoyed the prestige which
our large and, until late years, exclusive
cotton crop gave us, but while we toiled
for this distinction, others have stepped
in and reaped the profit which by right
belongs to us, and which we have lost,
first, from want of means, and second,
from want of appreciation of our oppor
tunity.
Millions of dollars have been spent to
transport the factories; millions more
have gone in various taxes, all of which
should have been kept at home, here
among our own people. But at last, the
whole country, and not the south alone,
is waking up to the exigencies of the
situation. Northern manufacturing cap
ital is seeking an investment on south
ern soil, the capacity of southern mills
already in successful operation, is al
most without exception being increased,
in some instances has been doubled, and
men of all classes are looking forward
hopefully to the day when the manu
facturing south, as well as the agricult
ural south, profiting by advantages so
lavishly bestowed, will once more take
her place at the head of industrial na
tions.
In view of these favorable conditions
it would not be advisable to practically
abandon the cultivation of cotton, as
some have advocated, A decrease be
ing demanded, how better can it
be accomplished than by diversity
of orops, itself implying a ne
cessary reduction of tht area usually de
voted to cotton, and such thoroughness
of rotation, manuring, preparation and
cultivation as will secure the largest
yield at the lowest cost?
In an address issued by the cotton
growers of Louisiana to the
factors, merchants, bankers, plant
ers AND FAP.MERS,
ocours the following, which clearly seta
forth the demands of the present situa
tion:
Cotton must remain our chief money
crop. It must either be raised cheaper
or higher prices must be obtained in or
der to produoe a profit to the grower.
Both can be obtained if the co-opera
tion of the factors, bankers, merchants,
Slanters and farmers can bo secured iu
ie effort. The old policy of having
our smokhouses and corn cribs in the
west was always a bad one, but it is
now ruinons on account of the high
prices prevailing, but particularly in
meat, which, since the removal of the
embargo on American pork in European
markets, has commanded almost pro
hibitive prices, and that too in the race
of a large number of hogs slaughtered.
It may be positelvy stated that hog
meat will not fall in prices for many
‘ars, on account of the increasing de
pid, and that cotton will rarely reach
higher figures than at present prevails,
with thaaa facts before us. it behooves
(Continued on Eighth page.)
NO 5o