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VOL. II.
President M’Kinlsy Addresses
Congress on War and
Other Problems.
FOR MONETARY REFORMS
Increaso of tho Standing Army to
100,000 Mt»n and tho Temporary
Continuance of Military Kulo In
New Possessions Favored.
Washington, Dec. 5. —On the convening
of congress today, President McKinley
transmitted his annual raessige, which
follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa
tives:
Notwithstanding tho added burdens
Tendered necessary by the war our people
rejoice in a very satisfactory and steadily
increasing degree of prosperity evidenced
by the greatest volume of business ever
recorded. Manufacture has been pro
ductive, agricultural pursuits have
yielded abundant returns, labor in the
fields of industry is better rewarded, rev
enue legislation passed by the present
congress has increased the treasury’s re
ceipts to the amount expected by its au
thors, the finances of the government
have been successfully administered and
its credit advanced to the first rank, while
its currency has been maintained at the
world’s highest standard.
Military service under a common flag
for a righteous cause has strengthened
the national spirit and served to cement
more closely than ever the fraternal bonds
between every section of the country. A
review cf the relations of the U ited
States to other powers, always appropri
ate. is this year of primary importance in
view of the momentous issues which have
arisen, demanding in one instance the ul
timate determination by arms and involv
ing farreaching consequences which will
require the earnest attention of the con
gress.
First Steps In the War.
In my last annual message very full
consideration was given to the question
Of the duty of the government of the
United States towards Spain and the Cu
ban insurrection as being by far the most
important problem with which we were
then called upon to deal.. The considera
tions then advanced and the exposition of
the views therein expressed disclosed my
sense of the extreme gravity of the situa
tion.
Setting aside as logically unfounded or
practically advisable, the recognition of
the independence of Cuba, neutral inter
vention to end the war by imposing a ra
tional compromise between the contest
ants, intervention in favor of one or the
other party, and forcible annexation of
the island, I concluded it was honestly
due to our friendly relations with Spain
that she should be given a reasonable
chance to realize her expectations of re
form to which she had become irrevoca
bly cc mmitted.
The ensuing month brought little sign
of r« al progress toward the pacification
qf Cuba. No tangible relief was afforded
the vast numbers of unhappy reconcen
t rad os despite the reiterated professions
made in that regard and the amount ap
propriated by Spain to that end. By the
end of December the mortality among
them had frightfully increased. Conserv
ative estimates from Spanish sources
placed the deaths among these distressed
people at over 40 per cent from the time
General Weyler’s decree of recoucentra
il on was enforced.
The war continued on the old footing
without comprehensive plan, developing
ouly the same spasmodic’encounters, bar
ren of strategic result, that had marked
the course of the earlier ten years’ rebel
lion, as well as the present insurrection
from its start. No alternative save phys
ical exhaustion of either combatant and
therewithal the practical ruin of the
island lay in sight, but how far distant no
one could venture to conjecture.
Blowing Up of the 3Iaine.
At this juncture, on t*eb. 15, last, oc
curred the destruction of the battleship
Maine, while rightfully lying in the har
bor of Havana on a mission of interna
tional courtesy and good will—a catastro
phe the suspicious nature and horror of
which stirred the nation’s heart pro
foundly. It is a striking evidence of the
poise and sturdy good sense distinguish
ing our national character that this shock
ing blow, falling upon our generous peo
ple already deeply touched by preceding
events in Cuba, did not move them to an
instant, desperate resolve to tolerate no
longer the existence of a condition of dan
ger and disorder at our doors that made
possible such a deed by whomsoever
wrought. Yet by instinct of justice pa
tience prevailed and the nation anxiously
awaited the result of the searching inves
tigation at once set on foot. The finding
of the naval board of inquiry established
that the origin of the explosion was ex
ternal by a submarine mine, and only
halted through lack of positive testimony
to fix the responsibility of its authorship.'
All these things carried conviction to
the most thoughtful, even before the
finding of the naval court, that a crisis in
our relations with Spain and toward
Cuba was at hand. So strong was this
belief that it needed but a brief executive
suggestion to the congress to receive im
mediate answer to the duty of making in
stant provision for the possible and per
haps speedily probable emergency of war,
and the remarkable, almost unique,
spectacle was presented of a unanimous
vote of both houses on March 9 appropri
ating $‘.0,000,000 “for the national defense
and for each and every purpose connected
therewith, to be expended at the discre
tion of the president.”
Still animated by the hope of a peaceful
solution and obeying the dictates of duty,
no effort was spared to bring a speed y
ending of the Cuban struggle.
Grieved and disappointed at the barren
outcome of my sincere endeavors to reach
a practicable solution, 1 felt it my duty to
remit the whole question to congress.
The congress was asked to authorize and
empower the president to take measures
to secure a full and final termination of
fcostilities between Spain and the people
•of Cuba.
After nine days of earnest deliberation,
duiing which the almost unanimous sen-
The Abbeville Chronicle
timent of your body was developed oil
every point save as to the expediency of
coupling the proposed action with a for
mal recognition of the republic of Cuba
the true and lawful government of that
island—a proposition which failed of adop
tion—the congress, on April 19, by a vote
of 42 to S3 in the senate and 311 to 6 in the
house of representatives, passed the mem
orable joint resolution declaring the peo
ple of Cuba free and independent, de
manding that Spain at once relinquish
authority over the island and empowering
the president to use the entire land and
sea forces of the United States to that
end.
This resolution was approved by the
executive on the next day, April 20. A
copy was at once communicated to the
Spanish minister at this capital, who
forthwith announced that his continuance
in Washington bad thereby become im
possible, and asked for his passports,
which were given him. Simultaneously
with its communication to the Spanish
minister, General Woodford, the Ameri
can minister at Madrid, was telegraphed
confirmation of tho text of the joint reso
lution and directed to communicate it to
the government of Spain with the formal
demand that it at once relinquish its au
thority and government in the island of
Cuba and withdraw its forces therefrom,
Rupture of Relations.
That demand, although, as above
shown, officially made known to the Span
ish envoy here, was not delivered at Mad
rid. After the instructions reached Gen
eral Woodford on the morning of April
21, but before ho could present it, . the
Spanish minister of state notified him that
upon the president’s approval of the joint
resolution, the Madrid go\ eminent re
garding the act as “equivalent to an evi
dent declaration of war,’ had ordered its
minister in Washington to withdraw,
thereby breaking off diplomatic relations
between th^twocountries General W ood
and ford quitted thereupon Madrid Remanded the same his day. passports
of Spam the United having States thus denied and initiated the demand that,
complete form of rupture of relations
which attends a state of war, the execu
tive powers authorized by the resolution
were at once ustfri by me to meet the en
larged contingency of actual war between
sovereign states. Ry my message of April
the congress was informed of the situa
tion and I recommended formal declare,
tion of the existence of a state of war be
tween the 1 nited States and Spain. The
congress accordingly voted on the same
day the act approved April 25, 1898, de
claring the existence of such war from
and including.April 21 and re-enacted the
provision of the resolution of April 20 di
recting the president to use all the armed
forces of the nation to carry that act into
effect.
It is not within the province of this mes
sage to narrate the history of the extraor
dinary war that followed the Spanish
declaration of April 21. but a brief recital
of its more salient features is apropos,
The first encounter of the war in point of
date took place April .27, when a detach
ment of the blockading squadron made a
reconnoisance in force at Matanzas,
shelled the harbor forts and demolished
several lie v works in construction.
The next engagement was destined to
mark a memorable epoch in maritime
warfare. The Pacific fleet under Commo
dore George Dewey had lain for some
weeks at Kong-Kong. Upon the colonial
proclamation of neutrality being issued
and the customary 24 hours notice being
given, it repaired to Mirs bay near Hong
Kong whence it proceeded to the Philip
pine islands under telegraphic orders to
capture or destroy the formidable Spanish
fleet then assembled at Manila. At day
break on the morning of May 1 the Amer
ican force entered Manila bay and alter a
few; hours engagement effected the total
destruction of the Spanish fleet, consist
ing of ten warships and a transport, be
sides capturing the naval station and forts
at Cavite, thus annihilating the Spanish
naval power in the Pacific ocean and com
pletely controlling the bay of Manila with
the ability to take the city at. will.
Following the comprehensive scheme of
general attack powerful forces were as
sembled at various points on our,coast to
invade Cuba and Porto Rico. Meanwhile
naval demonstrations were adopted at
several exposed points.
Young Hobson’s Brave Deed.
The next acts of the war thrilled not
only tho hearts of our countrymen, but
the world by its heroism. On the night of
June 3 Lieutenant Hobson, aided by
seven devoted volunteers, blocked the nar
row- outlet at Santiago harbor, by sinking
the collier Merrimac in the channel under
a (V ice fire from the shore batteries, es
caping with their lives as by a miracle,
but falling into the hands of the Span
iards. They were subsequently exchanged.
On June 22. the advance of the invading
army under Major General Shafter landed
at Daiquiri, about 15 miles east of Santi
ago. On July 1 a severe battle took place,
our forces gaining the outworks at Santi
ago. On the second El Cauey and Siyi
J nan were taken after a desperate cli'arge _
and the investment of the city completed.
On the day following the brilliant
achievement of our land force, July 3, oc
curred the decisive battle of the war. The
Spanish fleet, attempting to leave the
harbor, was met by the American squad
ron under command of Commodore Samp
son. In less than three hours all the
Spanish ships were destroyed, the two
torpedo boats being sunk and the Maria
Teresa, Almirante Oquendo, Viscaya ami
Cristobal Colon driven ashore. The Span
ish admiral and over 1,300 men were taken
prisoners, while the enemy’s loss of life
was deplorably large, some 009 perishing.
On our side but one man was killed and
one seriously wounded.
With the catastrophe of Santiago
Spain’s power on the ocean virtually
ceased. The capitulation of Santiago
followed.
The occupation of Porto Rico became
the next stragetic necessity. , General
Miles had previously been assigned to or
ganize an expedition for that purpose. On
July 27 he entered Ponce, one of the most
important ports in the island, for which
he thereafter directed operations for the
capture of the island. The campaign was
prosecuted with great vigor and by Aug.
12 much of the island was in our posses
sion and the acquisition of tho remainder
was only a matter of a short time.
Negotiations For I’eace.
The annihilation of Admiral Cervera’s
fleet, followed by the capitulation of San
tiago, having brought to the Spanish gov
ernment a realizing sense of tlie hopeless
ness of continuing a struggle now becom
ing wholly unequal, it made overtures of
peace through the French ambassador,
On Aug. 12, M. Cambon, as the plenipo
tentiary of Spain and the secretary of
state as the plenipotentiary of the United
States, signed a peace .protocol and J a »
pointed William R. Day, lately secretary
ABBEVILLE. GA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER S. 1898.
rtf state, Cushman K. 1) ivls, William i*
Frye and George Gray, senators of the
United States, and Whltelaw Held tub
tile peace commissioners on the part ->f
the United States. Proceeding in due
time to I’uris, they there met on Oct. 1
five commissioners similarly appointed on
the part of Spain. The negotiations have
made hopeful progress so that I trust
soon to be able to hty a definite treaty of
peace before the senate with u view of the
steps 1 leading to its signature. the
do not discuss at this time govern
meat or the future of the new possessions
which will come to us as the result of the
war with Spain. Such discussion will ha
appropriate after tile treaty of peace shall
bo ratified. In tho meantime, and until
the congress lias legislated otherwise, it
will bo my duty to continue the military
governments which have existed since our
occupation and give to the people security
in life and property and encouragement
under a just and beneficient rule.
As soon as we are in possession of Cuba
and have pacified the island it will he
necess.iry to give aid and decision to its
people to form a government of them
selves. It should be undertaken at the
earliest moment consistent with safety
and assured success, it is important that
our relations with these people shall be of
the most friendly character and our com
mercial relations close and reciprocal. It
should be our duty to assist in every
proper way to build up the waste places
of the island, encourage the industry of
the people and assist them to form a gov
ernment which shall be free and inde
pendent, thus realizing the best aspira
tions of the Cuban people. .Spanish rule
j must be replaced by a just, benevolent
hll( j humane government, created by the
j people of Cuba, capable of performing all
international obligations, and which shall
encourage thrift, industry and prosperity
and promote peace and goodwill among
all of the inhabitants, whatever may have
been their relations in the past. Neither
reven'sc * nor passion should have a place
in the new government. Until there is
; complete tranquilit yin the island and a
stable government inaugurated military
occupation will be continued,
With the exception of the rupture with
SpaiD the intercourse of the United States
with the great family of nations has been
marked with cordiality and the close of
the event finds 1U0Bt of the issues that
necessarily arise in the complex relations
Q f sovereign states adjusted or presenting
n o serious obstacle to a just and honor
iV Ule solution by amicable agreement,
. v Tho Imttimer Tragedy.
On Sept. 10, 1897, a conflict took place at
Lattimer, Pa., between a body of striking
miners and the sheriff of Luzerne county
and his deputies, in which 22 miners were
killed and 44 wounded, of which ten of
the killed and 12 of the wounded were
Austrian and Hungarian subjects. This
deplorable event naturally aroused tho
solicitude of the Austro-Hungarian gov
j eminent, which on the presumption that
the killing and wounding involved the un*
juslifiable misuse of authority, claimed
reparation for the sufferers. Apart from
the searching investigation anil peremp
tory action of the authorities of Pennsyl
vania the federal executive took appro
priate steps to learn the merits of the
case in order to be in a position to meet
the urgent complaint of a friendly power.
The sheriff and his deputies, having been
indicted for murder, were tried and ac
quitted after protracted proceedings and
the hearing of hundreds of witnesses on
the ground that the killing was in the
line of their official duty to uphold law
and preserve public order in the state. A
representative of the department of jus
tice attended the trial and reported its
course fully. With all the facts in its po
session, this government expects to reach
a harmonious understanding on the sub
ject with that of Austro-Hungary, not
withstanding the renewed .claim of the
latter after learning the result of the
trial, for indemnity for its injured sub
jects.
Nicaragua, Canal Project.
The Nicaraugua canal commisssion. un
der the chairmanship of Rear Admiral
John G. Walker, appointed July 24, 1897,
under the authority of a provision in the
sundry civil act of Juno 4 of that year,
has nearly completed its labors, and tho
results of its exhaustive inquiry into the
proper route, the feasibility and the cost
of construction of an interoceauic canal
by a Nicaraguan route will be laid before
you.
As the scope of recent inquiry embraced
the whole subject with the aim of making
plans and surveys for a canal by the most
convenient route, it necessarily included a
review of the results of previous surveys
and plans and in particular those adopted
by the Maritime Canal company under its
existing concessions from Nicaragua and
Costa Rico, so that to this extent those
grants necessarily held an essential part
in the deliberations and conclusions of the
canal commission as they have held and
must needs hold in the discussion of the
matter before congress. Under these cir
cumstances and in view of overtures made
to the governments of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica by other parties for a new ca
nal concession predicated on the assumed
approaching lapse of the contracts of the
Maritime Canal company with those
states I have not hesitated to express my
conviction that considerations of expedi
ency and international policy as between
the several governments interested in the
construction and control of an inter
oceanic canal by this route require the
m.-iintainance of the status quo until the
canal commission shall have reported and
tho United States congress shall have had
an opportunity to pass finally upon the
whole matter, without prejudice by rea
son of any change ill the existing condi
tions.
All these circumstances suggest tho ur
gency of some definite action by the con
gress at this session if its labors of the
past are to be utilized and the. linking oi
the Atlantic ami Pacific oceans by a prac
tical waterway is to be realized. That the
construction of such a maritime highway
is now more than ever indispensable to
that intimate and ready intercommunica
tion between our eastern and western sea
boards demanded by the annexation of
the Hawaiian Islands and the prospective
expansion of our influence and commerce
in the Pacific and that our national policy
now more imperatively than ever calls for
its control by this government, are propo
sitions which I doubt not the congress
will duly appreciate and wisely act upon
Tin* Partition of China.
The United States has not been an in
different spectator of the extraordinary
events transpiring in the Chinese empire,
whereby portions of its maritime pro
vinces are passing under the control of
various European powers, but the pros
pect that the vast commerce which the
energy of our citizens and the necessity of
our staple production for Chinese uses
has built up in those regions may not bo
Prejudiced through any exclusive treat
ment by tile new occupants has obviated
the need of our country becoming an actor
in the scene.
Our position among nations having a
large 1‘acific coast, and a constantly tile ex
panding direct Rada with faRtbeR
Orient, gives us the equitable claim to
consideration and friendly treatment in
this regard and it will be my aim to sub
serve our large interests in that quarter
by ail means appropriate to the constant
policy of our government. The territories
of Kino Chow, of Wei llni-Wei and of I’ort
Arthur and Talienwan. leased to Ger
many, Great Hritilin and Russia respect
ively for terms of years, will, it is an
nounced, be open to international com
merce during such alien occupation, and
if no discriminating treatment of Ameri
can citizens and their trade be found to
exist or be hereafter developed, the desire
of this government would appear to be
realized. Meanwhile there may be Just
ground for disquietude in view of the un
rest and revival of the old sentiment of
opposition and prejudice to alien people
which pervades certain of the Chinese
provinces. As in the ertso of the attacks
upon our citizens in Szechuan and at
Kttlieti in 1S93, the United States minister
has been instructed to secure the fullest
measure of protection, both local and im
perial. for any menaced American inter
ests and to demand, in case of lawless in
jury to person or property, instant repara
tion appropriate to the case.
have been stationed at Tien Tsin for more
ready observation of the disorders which
have invaded the Chinese capital, so a:s to
be in a position to act should need arise,
while a guard of marines has been sent to
Peking to afford the minister the same
measure of authoritative protection as the
representatives of other nations have been
constrained to employ.
Tho French Exposition.
There is now every prospect that the
participation of the" United States in the
universal exposition to bo held in Paris in
1900 wdl be on a scale commensurate with
the advanced position held by our pro
ducts and industries in the world’s chief
markets. The preliminary report of Moses
P. Handy, who, under the act approved
July 19, 1897, was appointed special com
missioner with a view to securing all at
tainable information necessary to a full
and complete understanding by congress
in regard to the participation of this gov
ernment in the Paris exposition, was laid
before you by my message of Dec. 0, 1897,
and showed the large opportunities to
make known our national progress in
manufactures, as well as the urgent need
of in’nnediate and adequate provision to
enable due advantage thereof to be taken.
Mr. Handy’s death soon afterward ren
dered it necessary for another to take up
nnd complete the unfinished work, and on
Jan. 11 last Mr. Thomas AV. Gridler, third
assistant secretary of state, was desig
nated to fulfill that task. Hy a provision
in the sundry civil appropriation act of
July l, 1998, a sum not to exceed $050,000
was allotted for the organization of a com
mission to care for the proper preparation
nial installation of American exhibits and
for the display of suitable exhibits by the
several executive departments, particu
larly bj r the department of agriculture,
the fish commission and the Smithsonian
Institution, in representation of the gov
irnment of the United States. Pursu
i*nt to that enactment, I appointed Mr.
Ferdinand W. Pec* of Chicago commis
sioner general, with an assistant commis
sioner general and secretary. Mr. Peck
lit once proceeded to Paris, where his suc
cess in enlarging the scope and variety of
tlie United States exhibit has been most
gratifying. Notwithstanding the com
paratively limited area of the exposition
site—less than one half that of the World's
Fair at Chicago—the space assigned to the
United States has been increased from
the absolute allotment of 157,403 square
feet reported by Mr. Handy to some 202,
000 square feet, with corresponding aug
mentation of the field for a truly charac
teristic representation of the various im
portant branches of our country’s devel
opmenfc. Mr. Peck’s report will be laid
before you. In my judgment its recom
mendations will call for your early con
sitleration, especially as regards an in
crease of the appropriation to at least
$1,000,000 in all, so that not only may the
assigned space be fully taken up by the
best possible exhibits in every class, but
the preparation and installment be on so
perfect a scale as to rank among the first
in that unparalleled competition or nrtis
tic and inventive production and thus
counterbalance the disadvantages with
w hich we start as compared with other
countries whose appropriations are on a
more generous scale and whose prepara
tions are in a state of much greater for
wardness than our own.
Annexation of Hawaii.
Pending consideration by the senate of
the treaty' signed June 16, 1897, by the
plenipotentiaries of the United States and
of the republic of Hawaii, providing for
the annexation of the islands, a Joint reso
lution to accomplish the same purpose by
accepting the offered cession and incorpo
rating the ceded territory into the Union
was adopted by the congress and approved
July 7, 1898. I v thereupon directed tho
United States steamer Philadelphia to
convey Rear Admiral Miller to Honolulu
and entrusted to his hands this important
legislative act to he delivered to the presi
dent of the republic of Hawaii,with whom
tlie admiral and the United States minis
ter were authorized to make appropriate
arrangements for transferring the islands
to the United States. This was simply
but impressively accomplished on Au
12 by the delivery of a certified copy of
the resolution to President Dole, who
thereupon yielded up to the representa
tives of the government of the United
States the sovereignty and the public
property of the Hawaiian Islands.
Pursuant to the terms of tlie joint reso
lution and in exercise of the authority
thereby conferred upon me, I directed
that the civil, judicial and military pow
ers theretofore exercised by the officers of
the government of the republic of Hawaii
should continue to he exercised by those
officers until congress shall provide a gov
ernment for the incorporated territory,
subject to my power to remove such offi
cers and to fill vacancies. The president,
officers and troops of the republic there
Upon took the oath of allegiance to the
Cnited States, thus providing for the un
interrupted continuances of all the admin
istrative and municipal functions of tin
annexed territory until congress shall
otherwise enact.
Following the further provision of the
joint resolution I appointed the Hons.
Shelby M. Cullom of Illinois, John T.
Morgan of Alabama, Robert It. Hitt of
Illinois Sanford H. Dole of Hawaii and
Walter F. Frear of Hawaii as commission
ers to confer and recommend to congress
tucli legislation Concerning the Hawaiian
islands as they should deem necessary dt
proper. bavins fulfilled
Tho commissioners
mission confided to them their work
be laid before you at au early day. It
believed that their recommendations will
have the earnest, consideration due to
magnltudo of the tesptiusiUlllty to the Rela
Upon you to give such shape
tionship of those midpacifie lands to
home Union as will benefit both In
highest decree, realizing the
of the community that lias cast its
with us and elected to share our political
heritage while at the same time
ing the foresight of those who for three
quarters of a Century, liaVo looked to
assimilation of Hawaii as a natural
inevitable consummation in harmony
with our needs and in fulfillment of
cherished traditions;
Under the provisions of the joint
tions the existing customs relations
the Hawaiian Islands with the
States and with other countries
unchanged until legislation shall
wise provide. The consuls of
lu-re and in foreign countries continue
fulfill their commercial "agencies
the United States consulate at
is maintained for all proper services
taining to trade and revenue. It
lie desirable that all foreign consuls in
Hawaiian Islands should receive new ex
equaters from this government.
(zar’s Disarmament l’lan.
The proposal of the Russian czar for
general reduction of the vast military
tablishments that weigh so heavily
many peoples in time of peace was re
ccntly communicated to this
with an earnest invitation to be repre
sented in the conference which it is
templated to assemble with a view to
cussing the means of accomplishing so
sir,• ihlo a result. His majesty was at.
informed of the cordial sympathy of
government with the principle.involved in
his exalted proposal and of tho
of the United States to take part in
conference.
The active military force of the
States as measured by our population,
territorial area and taxable wealth, is
under any conceivable prospective condi
tions must continue to be'in time of
j so conspicuously less than that of
| armed powers to whom tho czar’s appeal
is especially addressed that the
j can have for us no practical
| save as marking an auspicious step
I ward the betterment of the condition
the modern peoples and the cultivation
peace and good will among them, but
this view it behooves us as a nation
lend countenance and aid to the
cent project.
The Currency Question.
The secretary of the treasury
; that the receipts of the government
j all sources during the fiscal year
j June 30, 1898, including $84,751,2:23
ceived from sale of Pacific railroads,
. amounted to $405 321,335 and its
tures to $443,368 582. There was
from customs $149,575,002 and from
ternal revenue $170,900,041. Our
imports amounted to $324,735,479, a de
crease of $58,150,090 over tho
year, and importations free of
amounted to $291,414,175. a decrease from
the preceding year of $90,524,008.
Internal revenue receipts exceeded those
of the preceding year by $24,212,008.
The total tax collected on distilled
spirits was $92,546,999, on manufactured
tobacco $36 230,522 and on fermented
liquors $39,515,421. We exported mer
chandise during the year amounting
$1,231,482,330, an increase of
from the preceding year.
It is estimated upon the basis of
revenue laws that the receipts fror.
government for t he year ending June 30,
: 1890, will be $577,874,607 and its expendi
tures $680 874 647, resulting in a
of $112,000.000. On Dec. 1, 1898, there
, held in the treasury gold coin amounting
to $138,441,547. gold bullion amounting
$130,592,545, silver bullion amounting
$93 359,250 and other forms of money
amounting to $151,963,931.
On the same date the amount of
of all kinds in circulation or not included
j ! in increase treasury for holdings tho year of was $165,794;966. $1,860,879,509, an
mating our population at 75,194,000 at the
time mentioned tho per capita circulation
was $35.09.
On the same date there was in the
ury gold bullion amounting to
545.
The provisions made for
the resources of the treasury in
tion with the war has given
confidence in the purpose and the
of the government to maintain Ihe
standard both established more iirrply
than ever the national credit at home
abroad. A marked evidence of this
found in the inflow of gold to the treas
ury. Its net gold holdings on Nov.
1898, were $239,885,160 as compared
$153,573,147 on Nov. 1. 1897, and an
crease of net cash of $2 '7,756, K 0 Nov.
1897, to $300,288,275 Nov. !, 1898. The pres
ent ratio of net treasury gold
government liabilities including
States notes, treasury notes of 1896,
certificates, standard silver dollars
fractional silver coin Nov. 4, 1893,
25.85 per cent as compared with 16.96
cent Nov. 1, 1897.
Redemption of Notes.
I renew so much of my recommendation
of December, 1897, as follows.
•‘That when any of the United
notes are presented for redemption in
and are redeemed in gold such notes
tie kept and set apart and only paid out in
exchange for gold. This is an
duty. If the holder of the United
note prefers the gold and gets it from
government, he should not receive
from the government a United States note
without paying gold in exchange for it.
The reason for this is made all the
apparent when the government issues an
interest hearing debt to provide gold
the redemption of United Scutes
noninterest bearing debt. Surely it
not pay them out again except on
mand and for gold. If they are put iri any
other way they may return again, to
followed hy another bond issue to redeem
them—another interest bearing debt to re
deem a noninterest bearing debt.”
'I’ll s recommendation was made in
belief that such provisions of law would
insure a greater degree the safety of tlie
present standard and better protect
currency from the dangers to which it is
subjected from a disturbance in the gen
eral business conditions of the country.
In my judgment the present condition
of the treasury amply justifies the imrao
diate enactment of the legislation recom
mended one year ago, under which a
tion of the gold holdings should be
in a trust fund, from which
should be redeemed upon
but when once redeemed should not
after be paid out except for gold.
It is not to be inferred that other legis
ation relating to our currency is not
qiilred; on the coutriiry, there it» an ob
vious demand for it.
The importuned of adequate provision
which will insure to our future a money
standard, related as our money standard
now is to that of our commercial rivals, is
generally recognized, The companion
proposition that our domestic paper cur
reiicy shall be kept safe and yet lie so re
lated to the needs of our industries and
internal commerce ilS to be adequate and
responsive to such needs is a proposition in
scarcely less important. Tho subject,
all its parts, is commended to tho wise
consideration of the congress.
For a Big Standing Army.
Under I tie net. of congress approved
ApRil 23, 1899 authorizing the president,
in his discretion, “Upon a declaration of
war by congress, or a declaration by con
gress that war exists,” directed the in
ti-ease of the regular army lo thi' muxi
mum of 62,000, authorized in said act.
There are now in the regular army 67,-
882 officers and men. In said act it was
provided “that at the end of any war in
Which the United States may become in
volved the army shall be reduced to a
peace basis by the transfer of the same
arm of the service of absorption by pro
motion or honorable discharge under such
regulations as the secretary of war may
oslablisii of supernumerary Commissioned
officers and the honorable discharge of the
transfer of supernumerary enlisted men,
and nothing contained in this act shall bo
construed as authoring the permanent in
crease of the commissioned or enlisted
force of the regular army beyond that
now provided by the law in force prior to
the passage of this act, except as to the
increase of 25 majors provided for in sec
tion 1 hereof.”
The importance of legislation for the
permanent increase of the army is there
fore manifest mid the recommendation of
the secretary of war for that purpose has
tny Unqualified approval. There can be
no question that at. this time and probably
for some time in the future 11)0,000 men
will be none too many to meet the necessi
ties of the situation, At all events,
whether that number shall ba required
permanently or not, the power should ba
given to the president to enlist that force
if in his discretion it should be necessary,
and the further discretion should be given
him to recruit for the army within tho
above limit from the inhabitants of the
islands with tho government of which we
are charged. the
It is my purpose to muster out en
tire volunteer army as soon as the con
gress shall provide for the increase of the
regulaR establishment. This will lie only
an act of justice ami will bo much appre
ciated by the brave men who left their
homes and employment to help the coun
try in ils emergency.
Washing ton’s Centennial.
In tile year 1900 will occur the centen
nial anniversary of the founding of the
city of Washington for tho permanent
capital of the government of the United
States by authority of an act of congress
approved July 16, 1790. In May 1800 the fed- the
archives and general offices of
eral government was removed to this
place. On Nov. 17, 18ii(), the national con
gress met hero for the first time and as
sumed exclusive control of the federal dis
trict and city. This interesting event as
sumes all the more significance when we
recall the circumstances attending tho
choosing of the site, tho naming of the
capital in honor of the father of his coun
try and the interest taken by him in the
adoption of plans for its future develop
ment on a magnificent scale.
A movement lately inaugurated by the
citizens to have the anniversary cele
brated with ' tting ceremonies including
perhaps I he establishment of a handsome
permanent memorial to mark so historical
an occasion ami lo give it more than local
recognition has met with general favor on
the part of the public. I recommend to
tlie congress the granting of an appropria
tion for this purpose ami the appointment
of a committee from its respeceive bodies.
It might also be advisable to authorize
the president to appoint a committee from
tho country at large, which, acting with
t lio congressional ami District of Uolum*.
Ida committees, can complete the plans for
an appropriate national celebration,
Pension Statistics.
There were on the pension rolls on June
30, 1898, 993,714 names, an increase of
nearly 18,009 over the number of tlie rolls
for tlie same day of the preceding year.
The amount appropriated by the act of
Dec. 23, 1896, for (he payment of pensions
for the fiscal year 1898 was $149,900 000.
Ry the act of March 31, 1898, $3,070,873.46
was appropriated to cover deficiencies in
army pensions and repayments in the
sum of $12,020.35, making iTt el al of $148,
082,893.79 available for the payment of
pensions during the fiscal year 1898. The
amount disbursed from that sum was
$144,051,879.80, leaving a balance of $3,431,
012.99 unexpended on June 80, 1893, which
was covered into the treasury.
There were 389 men added to tin- rolls
during the year by special acts at the sec
ond session of the Fifty-fifth congress,
making a total of 6,486 pensioners hy con
gressional enactments since 1801.
Supremo Courtroom.
I deem it my duty to call to the atten
tion of congress tlie condition of tlie pres
ent building occupied by the department
of justice. A proper regard for the safety,
comfort and convenience of the officers
and employes would justify the expendi
ture of a liberal sum of money in the
erection of a new building.
The Twelfth Census.
I earnestly urge upon congress the im
portance of early legislation providing for
the taking of the twelfth census. This is
necessary in view of (lie large amount of
work which must be performed in tho
preparations of schedules preparatory to
the enumeration of the population.
Admiral and. Vice Admiral.
I join with tho secretary of tho navy in
recommending that the grades of admiral
and vise admiral lie temporarily revived,
to lie filled hy officers who have specially
distinguished themselves in tho war with
Spain.
Alien Contract Law.
The alien contract law is shown by ex
perience to need some amendment, a
measure providing better protection for
seamen is proposed: the rightful applica
tion of the 8-hour law for the benefit of
labor and of the principle of arbitration
nresuggestediorconsiderationandlcom- careful
mend these subjects to the atten
tion of tlie congress.
The several departmental reports will
be laid before you. They give in great
detail tho-conduct of the affairs of Ihe
government during the year past and dis
cuss many questions upon which the cou
gross may be c alled upon to act
1 (.Signed.) William McKinley
| Executive Mansion, Dec. 5, 1898.
NO. 46.
SOLONS REASSEMBLE ANI) BEGIN
BUSINESS AT THE OLD STAND.
.
THE PRESENT'S MESSAGE READ
The Opening of the Session Was Under
Circumstances of Unusual Public In
terest—An Ovation to Wheeler.
A Washington special pays: Congress
reassembled at noon Monday under
circumstances of unusual public inter
est. The same congress six mouths
ago declared war against Spain, and
now, with war fought and won, it
came together again for the first legis
lative consideration of the questions
developed by the eventful months just
passed.
There were more than the usual
number of distinguished personages
in tho thronged galleries, including
many representatives of foreign gov
ernments, high officials and ladies and
gentlemen conspicuous in social and
political life. The greetings of the
members were most cordial, and there
was no outcropping of'partisau rancor
to mar the occasion.
One of the most striking incidents
was tho cordial meeting between the
floor leaders of the respective sides,
Messrs. Dingley and Bailey. In view
of tho gossip about the possibility of
Mr. Bailey being deposed as the mi
nority leader, it is significant that the
speaker named Mr. Bailey as the mi
nority member of the committee to
wait upon the president, an honor
always bestowed upon tho recognized
lender of the minority. wel
Hpeaker Reed received a warm
come from both sides of tho house
when he ascended the rostrum to call
the house to order.
But perhaps the greatest, personal
ovation to any,member was that, given
to Major General Wheeler, of Ala
bama, who has not been seen by many
of his colleagues since he went to the
front at. the head of Ihe cavalry divis
ion of General Shafter’s army.
The floral tributes were unusually
numerous and made t’.e hall a verita
ble bower of beautiful flowers.
The proceedings themselves were
dull, all interest centeringiu the read
ing of the president’s message. droned
For two hours the clerk
through the long document, but tho
interest never flagged.
The president’s review of the causes
leading up to the war, the manner in
which the preparations for hostilities
were made, and tho succession of vic
tories on land and sea were listened to
with rapt attention. The other pro
visions of the message were followed
with almost as much interest. There
was no expression of approval or dis
approval through the reading.
As soou as thorendiug was conclud
ed tho message was ordered printed,
and then,~nt o^—^+lock: p. m tho
house adjourned.
IN THE SENATE.
When the senate convened Monday
to begin the closing session of the
fifly-sixth congress tlie chamber pre
sented a notable and beautiful appear
ance. By 11 o’clock ihe public and
private galleries were filled almost to
their capacity with a distinguished as
semblage, including many ladies in
brilliant attire.
On the floor of the senate the dis
play of flowers was unusually beauti
ful, even for ihe opening day of a ses
sion of congress. The mcmorablo
scenes enacted in the chamber during
tlie last session and the momentous
events that have occurred since con
gress last adjourned created a feeling
of intense expectancy on the part of
both the spectators and the members
of tho senate.
The reading of the president’s mes
sage was received with very careful
attention for an hour, but after that
the senators drifted to the cloakroom^,
where they could peruse the message
at their leisure in the printed copies
which they had been furnished.
The reading of the message occu
pied two hours and eighteen minutes
and not the slightest demonstration
occurred.
At 3:45 o’clock p. m., after the in
troduction of a few unimportant bills
and resolutions, the senate adjourned.
GAGE’S ESTIMATES
Of Appropriations Required For the Ser
vice For Next Two Years.
In conformity with the requirements
of law, the secretary of the treasury
transmitted to congress Monday the
estimates of appropriations required
for tlie service for th& fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1000, as furnished hy the
several executive departments. These
estimates, including permanent an
nual appropriations, aggregate $593,
048,378. as against $802,875,513, the
amount of the appropriations, includ
ing deficiencies and miscellaneous, for
the fiscal year, 1899, and $462,047,-
885, tho amount of estimates for 1899.
TO INVESTIGATE WAR.
Congressman Sulzer, of New York, Intro
treduces a Resolution In the House.
A Washington dispatch says: Rep
resentative Bulzer, of New York,
ing democratic member of tile house
committee ou military affairs, intro
duced a resolution at the first day’s
session “authorizing and directing the
committee on military affairs to inves
tigate the war department und the con
duct of the Spanieh-American war.”