Newspaper Page Text
THE MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS ,
Affairs of Government Reviewed
By President McKinley,
MOST SALIENT FEATURES
The Cuban Question and Portion
Relative to Currency Reform.
To tlie Senate aud House of Represen¬
tatives;
It gives mo pleasure to extend greet¬
ing to the Fifty-fifth cougress assem¬
bled in regular session at the seat of
government, with many of whose sen¬
ators and representatives I have been
associated in the legislative ser¬
vice. Their meeting occurs under fe¬
licitous conditions, justifying sincoro
congratulation and calliug for our grate¬
ful acknowledgement to a beneficent
providence, which basso signally blessed
and prospered us as a nation. Peace
and good will with all the nations of
the eat til continue unbroken.
A matter of great satisfaction is the
growing feeling of fraternal regard and
unification of all sections of our coun¬
try, the incompleteness of which lias too
long delayed realization of the highest
blessing of the Union. Tlie spirit of
patriotism is universal and is ever in¬
creasing in fervor. The public questions
which now most engross us are lifted
far above either partisanship, prejudices
or former sectional differences. They
affect every part of our common country
alike and permit of no division on anci¬
ent lines. Questions of foreign policy,
of revenue, tho soundness of tho cur¬
rency, the inviolability of national obli¬
gations, the improvement of tho public
service, appeal to the individual con¬
science of every earnest citizen to what¬
ever party he belongs or in whatever
section of the country he may reside.
Tlie extra session of this congress
which closed during July, last, enacted
important legislation, and while its full
effect has not yet been realized, what it
has already accomplished assures us of
its timeliness aud wisdom. To test its
permanent value further time will be
required aud the people, satisfied with
its operation and results thus far, fair are
in no mind to withhold from it a
trial.
Tariff legislation having been settled
by the extra session of cougress, the
question next pressing for considera¬
tion is that of the currency.
The work of putting our finances upon
a sound basis, difficult as it may seem,
will appear easier when we recall tlie
financial Operations of tlie government
since 1866. On June 16 of that year we
had outstanding demand liabilities in
the sum of $728,S68,447.41. On Jan. 1,
1879, these liabilities had been reduced
to $443,889,495.88. obligations, Of ouv interest bear¬
ing {the figures are even
more striking. On July 1, 1866, the
principal of the interest bearing debt of
the government was $3,382,831,208. On
July 1, 1893, this sum had been reduced
to $5S5,037,100, or an aggregate reduc¬
tion of $1,747.264,108. The interest bear¬
ing debt of the United on Deo. 1, 1897,
was $847,865,620. The government
money no-/ outstanding (Dec. 1) con¬
sists of $846,681,016 of United States
notes, $107,798,2$0 of treasury notes is¬
sued by authority of the iaw of 1890,
$344,963,504 of silver certificates, and
$61,286,761 of standard silver dollars.
No Time to Hesitate.
’ With the great resources of the gov¬
ernment ana with honorable example
of the past before us, we ought not to
hesitate to enter upon a currency re¬
vision which will make our demand ob¬
ligations less onerous to the govern¬
ment aud relieve our financial laws
from ambiguity and doubt.
Tho brief review of what was accom¬
plished from the close of the war to
3898 makes unreasonable and ground¬
less any distrust, either of our financial
ability or soundness; while the situation
from 1893 to 1897 must admonish con¬
gress of the immediate necessity of so
legislating as to make the return of the
conditions then prevailing impossible.
There are many plans proposed as a
remedy for the real evil. It is not that
our currency of every kind is not good,
for every dollar of it is good—good be¬
cause the government’s pledge is out to
keep it so, and that pledge will not be
broken. However, the guaranty of our
purpose to keep the pledge will be best-
shown by advancing toward its fulfill¬
ment.
The evil of the present system is
found in the great cost to the govern¬
ment of maintaining the parity of our
different forms of money, that is, keep¬
ing all of them at par with gold. We
sureiy cannot be longer heedless of the
burden this imposes upon the people,
ever under fairly prosperous conditions,
while the paBt four years have demon¬
strated that it is not only and expen¬
sive charge upon the government, but
a dangerous menace to the national
credit.
It is manifest that we must devise
some plan to protect the government
against bond issues for repeated re¬
demptions. We must either curtail
the opportunity multiplied for speculation, made
easy by the redemptions of
onr demand obligations, or increase the
gold reserve for their redemption. We
have $900,000,000 of currency which the
government by solemn enactment has
undertaken to keep at par with gold.
Nobody is obliged to redeem in gold but
the government. The banks are not
required to redeem in gold. The gov¬
ernment is obliged to keep equal with
gold all its outstanding currency aud
coin outstanding, while its receipts are
not required to be paid in gold. They
are paid in every kind of money but
gold, and the ouly means by which the
government can with certainty get gold
is by b. rrowing. It can get it in no
other way when it most needs it. The
government without any fixed gold
revenue is pledged to maintain gold re¬
demption, which it has steadily aud
faithfully done, and which, under the
authority now given, it will oontinue
to da
The law which requires the govern¬
ment, after having redeemed its United
States notes, to pay them ont again as
currant funds, demands a constant re¬
plenishment of the gold reserve. This
is especially so in times of business
panic and when the revenues are in-
euffloieiit to meet the expenses of the
government. At such times the gov-
ernmonfc lias no other way to supply its
deficit and maintain redemption but
through tho increase of its bonded debt,
as during the administration of my
predecessor, when 1202,815.400 of 4 %
par cent bonds were issued and gold and
tlie proceeds used to pay the expanses
of the govern meiit in excess of tlie rev¬
enues While and sustain tlie gold reserve.
it is true that the greater part of
tlie proceeds of these bonds were used
to supply deficient revenues, a consid¬
erable portion was required to maintain
tho gold reserve.
With our revenues equal to our ex-
ponsos, there would be no deficit requir¬
ing tlie issuance of bonds. But if tho
gold reserve fulls below $100,000,100
bow will it be replenished exoept by
soiling more bonds? Is there any other
way practicable uuder existing law?
The serious question then is, shall we
continue the polioy that lias been pur¬
sued in tho past; that is, that when the
government reserve reaches the point of
danger, issue more bonds and supply
the needed gold, or shall we provide
other means to prevent those recurring
drains upon the gold reserve? If no
further legislation is had and the polioy
of selling bonds is to be continued, then
congress should give the secretary of the
treasury authority to sell bonds at long
or short periods, bearing a less rate of
interest than is now authorized by law.
to United StHtai Notes.
I earnestly recommend as sooti as the
receipts of the government are quite
sufficient to pay all the expenses of the
government that when any of the
United States notes are presented for re¬
demption in gold aud are redeemed in
gold, such notes shall be kept aud set
apart und only paid out in exchange for
gold. This is an obvious duty.
If the holder of the United States pre¬
fers the gold and gets it from the gov¬
ernment lie should not receive back
from the government a United States
note without paying gold iii exchange
for it. The reason for this is made all
the more apparent when the govern¬
ment issues an interest bearing debt to
provide gold for the redemption of
United States notes—a noninterest bear¬
ing debt. Surely it should not pay
them out again except on demand aud
for gold. If they are put out in any
other way, they return again to bo fol¬
lowed by another bond issue to redeem
them—another interest bearing debt to
redeem a noninterest bearing debt.
In my view it is of the utmost impor¬
tance that the government should be
relieved from the burden of providing
all the gold required for exchanges and
export. This responsibility is alone borne
by the.government without any of the
usual and necessary banking powers to
lielp itseif. The hanks do not feel the
strain of the gold redemption. The
whole strain rosts upon the government
and the size of the gold reserve in the
treasury has come to be with, or with¬
out reason, the signal of danger or of
security. This ought to be stopped if
we are to have an era of prosperity in
the country. With sufficient receipts
for the expenses of the government we
may feel no immediate embarrassment
from our present currency, but the dan¬
ger stiii exists, and will be ever present,
menacing us so long as the existing sys¬
tem continues. Aud besides, it is in
time of adequate revenues aud business
tranquility that the government should
prepare for the worst. We cannot avoid
without serious consequences the wise
consideration and prompt solution of
tnis question.
The secretary of the treasury has out¬
lined a plan in great detail for the pur¬
pose of removing the threatened recur¬
rence of a depleted gold reserve and
save us from future embarassmeut on
that account. To this plan I invite
your careful consideration
I concur with the secretary of the
treasury in his recommendation that
national banks be allowed to issue notes
to the face value of the bonds which
they have deposited for circulation, aud
that tlie tax on circulating notes se¬
cured by deposit of such bonds be re¬
duced one-half of 1 percent per annum.
I also join linn in recommending that
authority be given for the establishment
of national banks with a minimum cap¬
ital of $25,000. This will enable the
smaller villages and agricultural regions
of the country to be supplied with cur¬
rency to meet their needs.
I recommend that the issue of na¬
tional bank notes be restricted to the
denomination of $10 and upwards. If
the suggestions I have herein made shall
have the approval of cougress, then I
would recommend that national banks
bo required to redeem their notes in
gold.
NO CUBAN INTERFERENCE.
President McKinley Follows In tlie Foot¬
steps of His Predecessor.
The most important problem with
which this government is now called
upou to deal pertaining to its foreign
relations concerns its duty toward Spain
aud to the Cuban insurrection. Prob¬
lems and conditions more or less iu com¬
mon with those now existing have con¬
fronted this government at various
times in the past. The story of Cuba
for many years lias been one of unrest;
growing discontent; an effort toward a
larger enjoyment of liberty and self con¬
trol; of organized resistance to the
mother country; of depression after dis¬
tress and warfare aud of ineffectual set¬
tlement to this by renewed revolt. For
no enduring period since the enfran¬
chisement of the continental possessions
of Spain in the western continent has
the condition of Cuba or the policy of
Spain toward Cuba uot caused concern
to the United States.
The prospect from time to time that
the weakness of Spain’s hold on the
island and the political vicissitudes aud
embarrassments of the home govern¬
ment might lead to the transfer of Cuba
to a continental power called forth be¬
tween 1823 aud I860 various emphatic
declarations of the policy of the United
States to permit no disturbance Spain of Cu¬
ba’s connection with unless iu
the direction of independence or acqui¬
sition by us through purchase; nor has
there been any change of this declared
policy since upon the part of the govern¬
ment.
The present insurrection broke out in
February, 1895. It is not my purpose
at this time to recall its remarkable in¬
crease or to characterize its teuacious
resistance against the enormous forces
massed against it by Spain. The revolt
and the effortss to subdue it carried de¬
struction to every quarter of the island,
developing wide proportions and defy¬
ing the efforts of Spain for its suppres¬
sion. The civilized code was regarded
no less so by the Spaniards than by the
Cabans.
The existing conditions cannot but
fill this government aud the American
people with the gv ivi -t apprehension.!
There Is no desire on the part of our
people to profit by the misfortunes of
Spain. We have only tlie desire to see
the Cubans prosperous and contented, coutfoi
enjoying that measure of self
which is ike inalienable right of man,
protected i i their right to reap the ben-
oflt of the exhaustiess treasures of their
country. policy concentration
The cruel of was
initiated Feb, IB. 1808. The productive
districts controlled by the Spanish ar¬
mies were depopulated. The agricult¬
ural inhabitants were herded in ami
about the garrison towns, tueir lands
laid waste and their dwellings de¬
stroyed. Tills policy of the late cabinet
or Spain was justified as a ueoessary
measure of war and as a means of cut¬
ting off supplies failed from the insurgents.
It lias utterly as a war measure.
It was not civilized warfare. It was
extermination.
Against tins abuse of the rights of
war, I have felt constrained on re-
peated occasions to enter tlie firm and
earnest protest of this government,
There was much of public condemn;!- alleged
tiou of American citizens by
arrests aud long imprisonment, await-
ing trial or pending judicial proceed- make
iiigs. I foit it my first duty to
instant demands for tho release or
speedy trial of all American citizens
under arrest. Before tlie change of tho
Spaisli cabinet in October last 23 pris-
oners, citizens of tlie United States, had
Seen given their freedom.
Mr. Woodford’s Instructions.
Tho instructions given to our new
minister to Spain before his departure
for his post directed him to impress
upon that government the sincere wish
of the United States to lend its aid to¬
ward the ending of the war iii Cuba by
reaching a peaceful aud lasting result,
just and honorable alike to Spain aud
to the Cuban people.
The reply to our note was received on
Oct. 23. It is in the direction of a bet¬
ter understanding. It appreciates the
friendly purposes of tills government.
It admits that our country is deeply
affected by tlie war in Cuba and that its
desires for peace are just. It declares
that the present Spanish government is
bound by every consideration to a
change of policy that should satisfy the
United States and pacify Oubu within
a reasonable time. To ciiis end Spain
lias decided to put into effect the politi¬
cal reforms heretofore advocated by tlie
present premier without halting for
any consideration in the path which, in
its judgment, leads to peace. The mil¬
itary operations, it is said, will con¬
tinue, but will be humane aud con¬
ducted with all regard for private
rights, being accompanied by political
action leading to the autonomy of Cuba,
while guarding Spanish sovereignty.
This, it is claimed, will result in invest¬
ing Cuba with a distinct personality;
tlie island to be governed by an execu¬
tive and by a local council or chamber,
reserving to Spain the control of the
foreign relations, the army aud navy
and the judicial the administration. To ac¬
complish this modify present existing governmeul legislation
proposes to
by with decree, the aid leaving of Cuban th.9 senators Spanish aud cortes, dep¬ j
uties, to solve the economic problem
and properly distribute the existing
debt.
In the absence of a declaration of the
measures that the government proposes I
to take iu carrying out its proffer of
good offices it suggests that Spain be
left- free to conduct military operations
and grant political reforms, while the
United States for its part shall enforce
its neutral obligations and cut off the
assistance which it is asserted the insur¬
gents receive from this country. The
supposition of an indefinite prolongation
of the war is denied. It is asserted that
the western provinces are already well
uigh reclaimed; that the planting of
tobacco therein has been resumed and
that by force of arms aud new and am¬
ple reforms very .early and complete
pacification is hoped for.
Discussion of the question of interna¬
tional duties and responsibilities of the
United States as Spain understands
them is presented with an apparent this dis¬
position to charge us with failure iu
regard. This charge is without auy
basis in fact. It could not have been
made if Spain efforts had been cognizant of
the constant this government has
made at the cost of millions aud by the
employment of the administrative ma¬
chinery of the nation at command to
perform its full duty under the iaw of
nations. That it has successfully pre¬
vented the departure of a single rniii-
tary expedition or armed vessel from
our shores in violation of our laws would
seem to be a sufficient end.
Throughout all these horrors and dan¬
gers ro our own peace, this government
lias never iu any way abrogated its sov¬
ereign prerogative of reserving to itself
the determination of its policy and
course according to its own high sense
of right and in consonance with tho
dearest interests aud convictions of onr
own people should the prolongation of
the strife so demand.
Of the untried measures there remain
only recognition of the insurgents as
belligerents; recognition of the inde¬
pendence of Cuba; neutral intervention
to end the war by imposing a rational
compromise between the contestants,
and intervention in favor of one or the
other party. I speak not of forcible an¬
nexation, for that oauuot be thought of.
That by our code of morality would be
sriminal aggression.
Opposed to llecojjnition.
I regard the recognition of the bel¬
ligerency of the Cuban insurgents as
now unwise aud therefore inadmissible,
Should that step hereafter be deemed
wise as a measure of right aud duty the
executive will take it.
Intervention upou humanitarian
grounds has been frequently suggested
aud has uot failed to receive my most
anxious and earnest consideration. But
should such a step be now taken when
it is apparent that a hopeful change has
supervened iu the policy of Spain to¬
ward Cuba? A new government has
taken office in the mother country. It
is pledged iu advance to the declaration
that all the effort iu the world cannot
suffice to maintain peace iu Cuba by the
bayonet; that vague promises of reform
after subjugation problem, afford no solutiou of
the insular that with a substi¬
tution of commanders must come a
change of the past system of warfare
for one in harmony with a new policy
which shall not longer aim to drive the
Cubans to the “horrible alternative of
taking to the thicket or succumbing in
misery, ” that the reforms must be in¬
stituted iu acnordauoa with the needs
and circumstances of the time and that
these reforms, while designed to give
full autonomy to the colony and to ore-
ato a virtual entity and self controlled
administration, shall yet oonsorve and
affirm the sovereignty of Spain by a just
distribution of powers aud burdens upon
a basis of mutual interest untainted by
methods of selfish expediency,
It is honestly due to Spain and to our
friendly relations witli Spain that she
should be given a reasonable chance to
realize her exnectatious and to prove
the asserted efficacy of the new order at
things to which she stands irrevocably
committed. She has recalled the com¬
mander whose brutal orders inflamed
the American mind and shocked the
civilized world. She has modified the
horrible order of concentration and un¬
dertaken to care for the helpless and
permit those who desire to resume the
cultivation of their fields to do so, aud
assures them of the protection of the
Spanish government in their lawful oc¬
cupations. She has just released the
“Competitor” prisoners, heretofore sen-
tunced to death, aud who have been the
subject of repeated diplomatic oorres-
pondeuce fluring botli this and tlie pro-
ceding administration.
Not a single American citizen is now
under arrest or in confinement in Cuba
of whom this government lias auy
knowledge. The near future will dem-
oustrate whether the indispensable alike coil-
ditiou of a righteous peace, just
to the Cubans aud to Spain as well as
equitablo to all our interests so inti-
matelv involved in the welfare of Cuba,
is likely to be attained. If not, the ex¬
igency of further aud othor action by
the United States will remain to be
taken. When that time comes that ac-
tiou will be determined in the line of
indisputable right and duty. It will be
faced without misgiving or hesitancy
in the light of the obligation this gov¬
ernment owes to itself, to the people
who have confided to it the promotion
of their interests aud honor and to hu-
inanity. keeping • from
Sure of the right, free
all offense ourselves, actuated only by
upright and patriotic considerations,
moved neither by passion or selfishness,
the government will continue its watch¬
ful care over the rights and property of
American citizens and will abate none
of its efforts to bring about by peaceful
agencies a peace which shall be honor¬
able aud enduring. If it shall here¬
after appear to be a duty imposed by
our obligating to ourselves, to civiliza¬
tion and humanity to intervene with
force it shall be without fault ou onr
part, and only because the necessity for
such action will be so clear as to com¬
mand the support aud approval of the
civilized world.
THE HAWAIIAN QUESTION.
Katifioalloti of the AiinexHtioa Treaty
Urffttd by the President.
By a special message dated June 3 G,
last, I laid bofore tho senate a treaty
signed that day by the plenipotentiaries
of the United States and of the republic
of Hawaii, having for its purpose tlie
incorporation of the Hawaiian islands
as an integral part of the United States
and uuder its sovereignty. The senate
having removed the injunction still of pend¬ se¬
crecy, although the treaty is
ing before that body, the subject may
be properly referred to iu this message
because the necessary action of the con¬
gress is required to determine by legis¬
lation many details of the eventual
union, should the fact of annexation be
accomplished, as I belive it should be.
While consistently disavowing from a
very early period any aggressive policy
of absorption in regard to the Hawaiian
group, a long series of declarations
through three-quarters of a century has
proclaimed the vital interest of the
United States in the independent life of
the islands and their intimate commer¬
cial dependence upou this country. At
the same time it has been repeatedly
asserted that in no event could the en¬
tity of Hawaii statehood cease by the
passage of the islands uuder the domi¬
nation or influence or power than the
United States. Under these circum¬
stances the logic of events required that
annexation, therefore offered but de¬
clined, should in tlie ripeness of time
come about as the natural result of the
strengthening ties that bind us to those
islands, and be realized by the free will
of the Hawaiian state.
That treaty was unanimously ratified
without amendment by the senate and
president of the republic of Hawaii ou
Sept. 10, last, and oniy awaits tiie fa¬
vorable action of the American senate
to affect the complete absorption of the
islands into the uomaiu of the United
States. What the conditions of such a
union shall be. the political relation
thereof to the United States, the char¬
acter of the local administration, the
quality and degree of the elective fran¬
chise of the inhabitants, the extension
of the federal laws to the territory or
the enactment of special laws to fit the
peculiar condition therefor, and the
regulation, if need be, of the labor sys¬
tem therein, the treaty lias wisely dele¬
gated to congress. If the treaty is con-
firmed, as every consideration of dignity
aud honor requires, tho wishes of oon-
gress will see to it that, avoiding ab¬
rupt assimilatiou of elements perhaps
hardly yet fit to share in the highest
franchises of citizenship and having
due regard to the geographical condi¬
tions, the most just provisions for seif
rule iu local matters with the largest
political liberties aud an integral part
of our nation will be accorded to the
Hawaiiaus. No less is due to a people
who, after ueariy five years of demon¬
strated capacity ro fulfill the obligations
of self governing statehood, come of
their free will to merge their destinies
iu our body politic.
The questions which have arisen be¬
tween Japan and Hawaii by reason of
tlie treatment of Japanese laborers emi¬
grating to the islands uuder the Ha¬
waiian-Japanese convention of 1888 are
iu a satisfactory stage of settlement by
negotiation.
YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC.
Necessity of Amending Liwi to links Na¬
tional officers Paramount.
The recent prevalence of yellow fever
iu a number of cities and towns through¬
out the south has resulted in much dis¬
turbance of commerce aud demonstrated
the necessity of such amendments to
our quarantine laws as will make the
regulations of the national quarantine
authorities paramount. The secretary
of the treasury, in the portion of his re¬
port relating to the operation of the
marine hospital service, calls attention
to the defects in the present quarantine
laws aud reoommeuds amendments
thereto which will give the treasury de¬
partment the requisite authority to pre¬
vent the invasion of epidemic diseases
from foreign countries and iu times of
emergency iike that of the past sum-
raer, will add to the effi cie ney of tl
sanitary measures for the protection of
the people aud at the same time prevent
unnecessary restriction of commerce. I
concur in his recommendation.
In further effort to prevent the inva¬
sion of the United States by yellow
fever, the importance of the discovery
of the exact cause of the disease, which,
up to the present time, has been unde¬
termined, is obvious, and to this end a
systematic bacteriological investigation
should be made. I therefore reoommend
that congress authorize the appoint¬
ment of a commission by the president,
to consist of four expert bacteriologists,
one to be selected from the medical offi¬
cers of the marine hospital service, one
to bo appointed from civil life, one to be
detailed from the medical officess of the
army aud ouu from the medical officers
uf tho navy.
SPECIAL MONEY ENVOYS.
{'resident Still Hopeful of Securing- an
J iiteriiatloual Agreement.
Under the provisions of the act of
congress, approved March 3, 1897, for
Hie promotion of an international agree¬
ment respecting bimetallism, I ap-
pointed, on April 14, 1897, Hijn. Hrin. Edward
U- Wolcott of Colorado, Adlai E.
Stevenson of Illinois, and Hon. diaries
J. Paine of Massachusetts, as special
envoys to represent the United States.
They have been diligent in their efforts
to secure the concurrence and co-opera¬
tion of European countries in the inter¬
national settlement of the question, but
ap to this time have not been able to
secure an agreement contemplated by
their mission.
The gratifying action of our great sis¬
ter republic of France in joining this
country in tlie attempt to bring about
an agreement among the principal com¬
mercial nations of Europe whereby a
fixed aud relative value between gold
and silver shall be secured, furnishes
ussurauce that we are not alone among
the larger nations of tlie world in real¬
izing the international character of the
problem aud in the desire of reaching
some wise and practical solution of it.
Our special envoys have not made their
final report, as further negotiations
between the representatives of this gov-
srumeut aud the governments of other
countries are pending aud in contem¬
plation. They believe that doubts which
have been recommended in certain
quarters respecting the question of
maintaining the stability of the parity
between the metals end kindred ques¬
tions may yet be solved by further ne¬
gotiations.
The Navy.
Under the head of the navy, the pres¬
points to the necessity for speedy
to procure tlie armor for the
ihree battleships now building which
would be otherwise useless. He speak9
iu terms of praise of the quality of our
Bhips and thinks that the time has now
arrived when the increase to which the
country is committed should for a time
taka the form of increased facilities
commensurate with the increase of our
naval vessels. He refers to the lack of
aud urges that three or four of
largest docks be provided on the At¬
lantic, at least one ou the Pacific coast
and a floating dock in the gulf. There
should also be ample provision for mu¬
nitions of war and an increase of officers
aud enlisted men. Additions are also
necessary to uuvy yards and, as there
are now on the docks five large battle¬
ships, it is recommeii-.ed that an appro¬
priation be made but for one more bat¬
tleship ou the Pacific coast. Several
torpedo boats are also necessary.
>al« of tlie Kansas Fac.flc.
Speaking of the pending sale of the
Kansas Pacific'railroad, it is said that
if no better bid is received than the up¬
set price fixed by the court, the govern¬
ment would receive only $2,590,000 ou
its claim of nearly $13,000,000. He be¬
lieves that the government has the au¬
thority to bid ou the road and has di¬
rected the secretary ot the treasury to
make the deposit of $990,000 required to
qualify as a bidder aud to bid at the
sale a sum at least equal to the princi¬
pal of the debt to the government. He
suggests, however, that iu a matter so
important as the government becoming
a possible owner of the railroad, con¬
gress should enact some legislation to
define its views. It is clear to him,
however, that the government should
not permit the property to be sold at a
price less than one-half the principal of
its debt and less than one-fifth of its en¬
tire debt, principal aud interest.
Civil Service.
Tlie president devotes considerable
space to the civil service, the practical
improvement of which, he says, has
long been a subject of earnest discus¬
sion, aud which has of late years re¬
ceived increased legislative aud execu¬
tive approval. During the past few
mouths the service has been placed upou
a still firmer basis of business methods
and personal merit. While the right of
deserving veteran soldiers to reinstate¬
ment has been asserted, dismissals for
merely political reasons have been care¬
fully guarded against; the examinations
improved aud made practical, Ad-
vauce has been made by giving a hear¬
ing before dismissal upou ail cases
wherein incompeteucy is charged or de¬
mand made for the removal of officials.
This last has been done without impair¬
ing the power of removal.
The Indian Troubles.
The message deals at some length
with the unsatisfactory condition of
affairs iu tlie Indian Territory. The
largo white element is said to be with¬
out protection and without schools or
other rights of citizens; leading Indians
have absorbed great tracts of lauds and
created an aristocracy, and the friends
of the Indians believe that the best in¬
terests of the five civilized tribes would
be found in American citizenship. Ref¬
erence is made to tho failure so far of
the Dawes commission to secure the
consent of the tribes to an extinguish¬
ment of the tribal titles aud a division
of the lauds. It is said that should the
tribes still fail to ratify the agreement
then some legislation should be liad by
cougress.
Reciprocity Arrangements.
Mr. Kasson of Iowa is said to be now
conducting negotiations with several
governments for reciprocity arrange¬
ments uuder the tariff act, and it is be¬
lieved that by a oareful exercise of the
powers conferred by the act, some
grievances of our own aud other coun¬
tries in our mutual trade relations may
be removed or alleviated aud the volume
of our commercial exchanges enlarged.
tkl. of Miulster Merry.
Reference is mado to the failure of
Mr. Merry to be reoeived as minister to
Nicaragua on account of tho obligation .
i»f that country to the diet of the
Greater Republic legal of authority Central America.
As there is no at pres¬
ent to accredit him to the diet, Mr.
Baker, the present minister at Ma¬
nagua, has been direoted to present his
letters of reoall. W. Godfrey Hunter
is said to be likewise accredited to Hon¬
duras, a member of the Greater Re¬
public, and his case is awaiting action.
Aflrtlra In Fiirttway Alaska.
Attention is called to the need of
prompt legislation as to Alaska and as
to the extension of civil courts within
that territory. There is need for sur¬
veys and for the establishment of an¬
other land office at some point in the
Yukon valley, for which an appropria¬
tion is asked. Military force is- also
necessary and the establishment of some
sort of flexible government. If the
startling reports as to the probable
shortage of food for the minors be fully
verified, every effort should be made at
uuy cost to carry them relief.
Tho Seal Conference.
Reference is made to the recent con¬
ferences at Washington on the subject
Of the protection of seal life, the result
of which place beyond controversy, it is
said, the duty of the governments con¬
cerned to adopt measures without delay
for the preservation of the herds. Ne¬
gotiations to this end are now in pro¬
gress.
International Arbitration.
International arbitration is declared
by the president to represent the best
sentiment of the civilized world aud
treaties embodying these humane prin¬
ciples on broad lines without in any
way imperiling onr interests or honor
will have his constant encouragement.
Tilts Faria Exposition.
A liberal appropriation is bespoken in
•order that the United States may make
a creditable exhibit at the approaching
Paris exhibition, in which the people
have shown an unprecedented interest.
The Nicaraguan Canal.
The Nicaraguan canal is spoken of as
of large importance to our country and
the pi-omise is made of further reference
to the subject when the report of the
commission now at work is sent to cou¬
gress.
Our Merchant Marine.
Tlie president earnestly urges the im¬
provement of our merchant marine, the
inferiority of which, he says, is humil¬
iating to the national pride.
Keep Down Appropriations.
In conclusion, the president admon¬
ishes congress not to encourage increase
of the estimates for the maintenance of
the government. They would aumit ot
decrease iu many branches, and it is a
commanding duty to keep the appropri¬
ations within the receipts of the gov¬
ernment and thus avoid a deficit.
Subscribe for this paper and keep
posted on affairs in general.
OLDEST ENGINEER DEAD.
Albert Johnston Dies at the AgeofEighty-
Eight ill Xlaleigll.
Albert Johnston, the oldest locomo¬
tive engineer in the United States,died
suddenly at liis home at Raleigh, N.
C., Saturday aged eighty-eight.
He was a native of Petersburg, ran
an engine there sixty-seven years ago
and brought the first engine into
Raleigh on the Raleigh and Gaston
railway. He was for sixty-two years
in the employ of the latter company^.
ANXIOUS FOR DECISION.
Attorney General Barber Will Ask for
Settlement of Vandercook Case.
Attorney General Barber, of South
Carolina will appear before the United
States supreme court and docket the
case ou which the state stakes all—the
appeal on Judge Simonton’s decision
in the Vandercook case, which in¬
volves all original package dealers.
He will then ask to have tlie case
advanced on the docket so a decision
may be had while the legislature is iu
session.
MISS WILLARD STILL WITH US.
After Securing Her Passage She Did Not
Leave Windy City.
A Chicago dispatch states that Miss
Frances W. Willard did not sail for
England on the 24th, although her
passage had been engaged on the
steamer St. Louis.
The change made in her plans at
Buffalo will keep her in Chicago for
some time. The Chicago Woman s
Club gave a reception in her honor
Saturday.
ATLANTA MARKETS.
CORRECTED WEEKLY.—49
Groceries.
Roasted coffee $11.10 per 100 lb cases.
Green coffee choice 12; fair 10; prime 5c;
9. Sugar standard granulated i%e.
New Orleans white 4%c; do yellow 25@40c;
Syrup, New Orleans open kettle
mixed 1234@20c: sugar * house 26®35e.
Teas, black 30®65c; green 20@50c. dai¬
Rice, headOKc; do choice bbls. 5%@6o; ice Salt,
ry sacks $1.25; 2.25; cream
90c; common fi5e. Cheese, full cream
1134 ® 12 e. Matches, 6 Ss 50c, 200s 1.30@1.75;
300s 2 75 . Soda, boxes 6 c. Crackers, soda
.
5>£c; cream 7c; gingefimaps 7c. Candy,oom- W.
mou stick 6 c; fancy 12@13e. Oysters, I'.
1.65; L. W. 1.15.
Flour, Grain and Meal.
Flour, first patent. $6.00; second patent, extra
$5.00; straight, J4.75; fancy. $4.65;
family, $4.30. Corn, white, 44c; mixed, 45c.
Oats, white 35c; mixed 32c; Texas rustproof timothy
S7@38c. F.ye, Georgia 8 oc. Hay No. 1
large bales 80c: small bales 75e-, No. 2 timo¬
thy small bales 70c. Meal, plain 47c-, bolted
42c. Wheat bran, large sacks 78e; small
sacks 80c. Shorts 95c. Stock meal 80c.
Cotton seed meal 95c per 100 it>s; hulls $6.50
per ton. Peas 90@$1.25 per bushel, accord¬
ing to kind and quality. Grits $2.60.
Country Produce.
Eggs 19®20c. Butter, western cream¬
ery, 20@23e; fancy Tennessee 18@20c;
choice 12H«; Georgia 12U@15c. Live poultry, spring
turkeys 8@9c; hens 23®25c;
chickens, large 18@20e; small 123j@14c; 25@273-.jc.
ducks, puddle, 18®20e; Peking bushel. Sweet
Irish potatoes, 85@90e per
potatoes, 50®60c per bu. Honey,
dull, strained 6@7c; in the comb 7@8o.
Onions, new crop, 85c@$1.00 per bu.;
2.25@2.50 per bbb
Provisions.
Clear ribs boxed sides 5%c, clear sides
5%c; ice-cured bellies 8 e. Sugar-cured
hams 11 10 ® ®lie. 12.14c; Lard, California best quality 734c; 034 hpeafcfust sec¬
bacon compound 4%c. c;
ond quality 534 ;
Cotton.
Market desert firm; middling
