2/24/2014 Grover Cleveland: First Annual Message (first term)

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First Annual Message (first term)December 8, 1885

T o t h e Con gress of t h e Un it ed St a t es:

You r a ssem blin g is clou ded by a sen se of pu blic ber ea v em en t, ca u sed by th e r ecen t a n d su dden dea th of

Th om a s A . Hen dr icks, V ice-Pr esiden t of th e Un ited Sta tes. His dist in g u ish ed pu blic ser v ices, h is com plete

in teg r ity a n d dev ot ion to ev er y du ty , a n d h is per son a l v ir tu es w ill fin d h on or a ble r ecor d in h is cou n tr y 's

h istor y .

A m ple a n d r epea ted pr oofs of th e esteem a n d con fiden ce in w h ich h e w a s h eld by h is fellow -cou n tr y m en

w er e m a n ifested by h is elect ion to offices of th e m ost im por ta n t tr u st a n d h ig h est dig n ity ; a n d a t len g th ,

fu ll of y ea r s a n d h on or s, h e h a s been la id a t r est a m id u n iv er sa l sor r ow a n d ben edict ion .

Th e Con st itu t ion , w h ich r equ ir es th ose ch osen to leg isla te for th e people to a n n u a lly m eet in th e disch a r g e

of th eir solem n tr u st , a lso r equ ir es th e Pr esiden t to g iv e to Con g r ess in for m a tion of th e sta te of th e Un ion

a n d r ecom m en d to th eir con sider a t ion su ch m ea su r es a s h e sh a ll deem n ecessa r y a n d ex pedien t . A t th e

th r esh old of a com plia n ce w ith th ese con st itu t ion a l dir ect ion s it is w ell for u s to bea r in m in d th a t ou r

u sefu ln ess to th e people's in ter ests w ill be pr om oted by a con sta n t a ppr ecia t ion of th e scope a n d ch a r a cter of

ou r r espect iv e du t ies a s th ey r ela te to Feder a l leg isla t ion . Wh ile th e Ex ecu t iv e m a y r ecom m en d su ch

m ea su r es a s h e sh a ll deem ex pedien t , th e r espon sibility for leg isla t iv e a ct ion m u st a n d sh ou ld r est u pon

th ose selected by th e people to m a ke th eir la w s.

Con tem pla t ion of th e g r a v e a n d r espon sible fu n ct ion s a ssig n ed to th e r espect iv e br a n ch es of th e

Gov er n m en t u n der th e Con st itu t ion w ill disclose th e pa r t it ion s of pow er betw een ou r r espect iv e

depa r tm en ts a n d th eir n ecessa r y in depen den ce, a n d a lso th e n eed for th e ex er cise of a ll th e pow er in tr u sted

to ea ch in th a t spir it of com ity a n d cooper a t ion w h ich is essen t ia l to th e pr oper fu lfillm en t of th e pa tr iot ic

oblig a t ion s w h ich r est u pon u s a s fa ith fu l ser v a n ts of th e people.

Th e jea lou s w a tch fu ln ess of ou r con st itu en cies, g r ea t a n d sm a ll, su pplem en ts th eir su ffr a g es, a n d befor e

th e tr ibu n a l th ey esta blish ev er y pu blic ser v a n t sh ou ld be ju dg ed.

It is g r a t ify in g to a n n ou n ce th a t th e r ela t ion s of th e Un ited Sta tes w ith a ll for eig n pow er s con tin u e to be

fr ien dly . Ou r posit ion a fter n ea r ly a cen tu r y of su ccessfu l con st itu t ion a l g ov er n m en t, m a in ten a n ce of g ood

fa ith in a ll ou r en g a g em en ts, th e a v oida n ce of com plica t ion s w ith oth er n a t ion s, a n d ou r con sisten t a n d

a m ica ble a tt itu de tow a r d th e str on g a n d w ea k a like fu r n ish pr oof of a polit ica l disposit ion w h ich r en der s

pr ofession s of g ood w ill u n n ecessa r y . Th er e a r e n o qu est ion s of difficu lty pen din g w ith a n y for eig n

g ov er n m en t.

Th e A r g en tin e Gov er n m en t h a s r ev iv ed th e lon g dor m a n t qu est ion of th e Fa lkla n d Isla n ds by cla im in g

fr om th e Un ited Sta tes in dem n ity for th eir loss, a t tr ibu ted to th e a ct ion of th e com m a n der of th e sloop of

w a r Lex in g ton in br ea kin g u p a pir a t ica l colon y on th ose isla n ds in 1 8 3 1 , a n d th eir su bsequ en t occu pa t ion

by Gr ea t Br ita in . In v iew of th e a m ple ju st ifica t ion for th e a ct of th e Lex in g ton a n d th e der elict con dit ion of

th e isla n ds befor e a n d a fter th eir a lleg ed occu pa t ion by A r g en tin e colon ists, th is Gov er n m en t con sider s th e

cla im a s w h olly g r ou n dless.

Qu est ion h a s a r isen w ith th e Gov er n m en t of A u str ia -Hu n g a r y tou ch in g th e r epr esen ta t ion of th e Un ited

Sta tes a t V ien n a . Ha v in g u n der m y con st itu t ion a l pr er og a t iv e a ppoin ted a n est im a ble cit izen of

u n im pea ch ed pr obity a n d com peten ce a s m in ister a t th a t cou r t , th e Gov er n m en t of A u str ia -Hu n g a r y

in v ited th is Gov er n m en t to ta ke cog n iza n ce of cer ta in ex cept ion s, ba sed u pon a lleg a t ion s a g a in st th e

per son a l a ccepta bility of Mr . Keiley , th e a ppoin ted en v oy , a skin g th a t in v iew th er eof th e a ppoin tm en t

sh ou ld be w ith dr a w n . Th e r ea son s a dv a n ced w er e su ch a s cou ld n ot be a cqu iesced in w ith ou t v iola t ion of

m y oa th of office a n d th e pr ecepts of th e Con st itu t ion , sin ce th ey n ecessa r ily in v olv ed a lim ita t ion in fa v or

of a for eig n g ov er n m en t u pon th e r ig h t of select ion by th e Ex ecu t iv e a n d r equ ir ed su ch a n a pplica t ion of a

r elig iou s test a s a qu a lifica t ion for office u n der th e Un ited Sta tes a s w ou ld h a v e r esu lted in th e pr a ct ica l

disfr a n ch isem en t of a la r g e cla ss of ou r cit izen s a n d th e a ba n don m en t of a v ita l pr in ciple in ou r

Gov er n m en t. Th e A u str o-Hu n g a r ia n Gov er n m en t fin a lly decided n ot to r eceiv e Mr . Keiley a s th e en v oy of

th e Un ited Sta tes, a n d th a t g en t lem a n h a s sin ce r esig n ed h is com m ission , lea v in g th e post v a ca n t . I h a v e

m a de n o n ew n om in a t ion , a n d th e in ter ests of th is Gov er n m en t a t V ien n a a r e n ow in th e ca r e of th e

secr eta r y of leg a t ion , a ct in g a s ch a r g e' d'a ffa ir es a d in ter im .

Ea r ly in Ma r ch la st w a r br oke ou t in Cen tr a l A m er ica , ca u sed by th e a ttem pt of Gu a tem a la to con solida te th e sev er a l Sta tes in to a

sin g le g ov er n m en t. In th ese con tests betw een ou r n eig h bor in g Sta tes th e Un ited Sta tes for ebor e to in ter fer e a ct iv ely , bu t len t th e

a id of th eir fr ien dly offices in depr eca t ion of w a r a n d to pr om ote pea ce a n d con cor d a m on g th e bellig er en ts, a n d by su ch cou n sel

con tr ibu ted im por ta n t ly to th e r estor a t ion of tr a n qu illity in th a t loca lity .

Em er g en cies g r ow in g ou t of civ il w a r in th e Un ited Sta tes of Colom bia dem a n ded of th e Gov er n m en t a t th e beg in n in g of th is

A dm in istr a t ion th e em ploy m en t of a r m ed for ces to fu lfill its g u a r a n ties u n der th e th ir ty -fifth a r t icle of th e tr ea ty of 1 8 4 6 , in

or der to keep th e tr a n sit open a cr oss th e Isth m u s of Pa n a m a . Desir ou s of ex er cisin g on ly th e pow er s ex pr essly r eser v ed to u s by th e

tr ea ty , a n d m in dfu l of th e r ig h ts of Colom bia , th e for ces sen t to th e Isth m u s w er e in str u cted to con fin e th eir a ct ion to "posit iv ely

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2/24/2014 Grover Cleveland: First Annual Message (first term)

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tr ea ty , a n d m in dfu l of th e r ig h ts of Colom bia , th e for ces sen t to th e Isth m u s w er e in str u cted to con fin e th eir a ct ion to "posit iv ely

a n d effica ciou sly " pr ev en tin g th e tr a n sit a n d its a ccessor ies fr om bein g "in ter r u pted or em ba r r a ssed."

Th e ex ecu t ion of th is delica te a n d r espon sible ta sk n ecessa r ily in v olv ed police con tr ol w h er e th e loca l a u th or ity w a s tem por a r ily

pow er less, bu t a lw a y s in a id of th e sov er eig n ty of Colom bia .

Th e pr om pt a n d su ccessfu l fu lfillm en t of its du ty by th is Gov er n m en t w a s h ig h ly a ppr ecia ted by th e Gov er n m en t of Colom bia , a n d

h a s been follow ed by ex pr ession s of its sa t isfa ct ion .

Hig h pr a ise is du e to th e officer s a n d m en en g a g ed in th is ser v ice. Th e r estor a t ion of pea ce on th e Isth m u s by th e r eesta blish m en t

of th e con st itu ted Gov er n m en t th er e bein g th u s a ccom plish ed, th e for ces of th e Un ited Sta tes w er e w ith dr a w n .

Pen din g th ese occu r r en ces a qu est ion of m u ch im por ta n ce w a s pr esen ted by decr ees of th e Colom bia n Gov er n m en t pr ocla im in g th e

closu r e of cer ta in por ts th en in th e h a n ds of in su r g en ts a n d decla r in g v essels h eld by th e r ev olu t ion ists to be pir a t ica l a n d lia ble to

ca ptu r e by a n y pow er . To n eith er of th ese pr oposit ion s cou ld th e Un ited Sta tes a ssen t . A n effect iv e closu r e of por ts n ot in th e

possession of th e Gov er n m en t, bu t h eld by h ost ile pa r t isa n s, cou ld n ot be r ecog n ized; n eith er cou ld th e v essels of in su r g en ts a g a in st

th e leg it im a te sov er eig n ty be deem ed h ostes h u m a n i g en er is w ith in th e pr ecepts of in ter n a t ion a l la w , w h a tev er m ig h t be th e

defin it ion a n d pen a lty of th eir a cts u n der th e m u n icipa l la w of th e Sta te a g a in st w h ose a u th or ity th ey w er e in r ev olt . Th e den ia l

by th is Gov er n m en t of th e Colom bia n pr oposit ion s did n ot , h ow ev er , im ply th e a dm ission of a bellig er en t sta tu s on th e pa r t of th e

in su r g en ts.

Th e Colom bia n Gov er n m en t h a s ex pr essed its w illin g n ess to n eg ot ia te con v en tion s for th e a dju stm en t by a r bitr a t ion of cla im s by

for eig n cit izen s a r isin g ou t of th e destr u ct ion of th e city of A spin w a ll by th e in su r r ect ion a r y for ces.

Th e in ter est of th e Un ited Sta tes in a pr a ct ica ble tr a n sit for sh ips a cr oss th e str ip of la n d sepa r a t in g th e A t la n t ic fr om th e Pa cific

h a s been r epea tedly m a n ifested du r in g th e la st h a lf cen tu r y .

My im m edia te pr edecessor ca u sed to be n eg ot ia ted w ith Nica r a g u a a tr ea ty for th e con str u ct ion , by a n d a t th e sole cost of th e

Un ited Sta tes, of a ca n a l th r ou g h Nica r a g u a n ter r itor y , a n d la id it befor e th e Sen a te. Pen din g th e a ct ion of th a t body th er eon , I

w ith dr ew th e tr ea ty for r eex a m in a t ion . A tten t iv e con sider a t ion of its pr ov ision s lea ds m e to w ith h old it fr om r esu bm ission to th e

Sen a te.

Ma in ta in in g , a s I do, th e ten ets of a lin e of pr eceden ts fr om Wa sh in g ton 's da y , w h ich pr oscr ibe en ta n g lin g a llia n ces w ith for eig n

sta tes, I do n ot fa v or a policy of a cqu isit ion of n ew a n d dista n t ter r itor y or th e in cor por a t ion of r em ote in ter ests w ith ou r ow n .

Th e la w s of pr og r ess a r e v ita l a n d or g a n ic, a n d w e m u st be con sciou s of th a t ir r esist ible t ide of com m er cia l ex pa n sion w h ich , a s th e

con com ita n t of ou r a ct iv e civ iliza t ion , da y by da y is bein g u r g ed on w a r d by th ose in cr ea sin g fa cilit ies of pr odu ct ion ,

tr a n spor ta t ion , a n d com m u n ica t ion to w h ich stea m a n d electr icity h a v e g iv en bir th ; bu t ou r du ty in th e pr esen t in str u cts u s to

a ddr ess ou r selv es m a in ly to th e dev elopm en t of th e v a st r esou r ces of th e g r ea t a r ea com m itted to ou r ch a r g e a n d to th e cu lt iv a t ion

of th e a r ts of pea ce w ith in ou r ow n bor der s, th ou g h jea lou sly a ler t in pr ev en tin g th e A m er ica n h em isph er e fr om bein g in v olv ed in

th e polit ica l pr oblem s a n d com plica t ion s of dista n t g ov er n m en ts. Th er efor e I a m u n a ble to r ecom m en d pr oposit ion s in v olv in g .

pa r a m ou n t pr iv ileg es of ow n er sh ip or r ig h t ou tside of ou r ow n ter r itor y , w h en cou pled w ith a bsolu te a n d u n lim ited en g a g em en ts

to defen d th e ter r itor ia l in teg r ity of th e sta te w h er e su ch in ter ests lie. Wh ile th e g en er a l pr oject of con n ect in g th e tw o ocea n s by

m ea n s of a ca n a l is to be en cou r a g ed, I a m of opin ion th a t a n y sch em e to th a t en d to be con sider ed w ith fa v or sh ou ld be fr ee fr om

th e fea tu r es a llu ded to.

Th e Teh u a n tepec r ou te is decla r ed by en g in eer s of th e h ig h est r epu te a n d by com peten t scien t ists to a ffor d a n en t ir ely pr a ct ica ble

tr a n sit for v essels a n d ca r g oes, by m ea n s of a sh ip r a ilw a y , fr om th e A t la n t ic to th e Pa cific. Th e obv iou s a dv a n ta g es of su ch a

r ou te, if fea sible, ov er oth er s m or e r em ote fr om th e a x ia l lin es of tr a ffic betw een Eu r ope a n d th e pa cific, a n d pa r t icu la r ly betw een

th e V a lley of th e Mississippi a n d th e w ester n coa st of Nor th a n d Sou th A m er ica , a r e deser v in g of con sider a t ion .

Wh a tev er h ig h w a y m a y be con str u cted a cr oss th e ba r r ier div idin g th e tw o g r ea test m a r it im e a r ea s of th e w or ld m u st be for th e

w or ld's ben efit --a tr u st for m a n kin d, to be r em ov ed fr om th e ch a n ce of dom in a t ion by a n y sin g le pow er , n or becom e a poin t of

in v ita t ion for h ost ilit ies or a pr ize for w a r like a m bit ion . A n en g a g em en t com bin in g th e con str u ct ion , ow n er sh ip, a n d oper a t ion of

su ch a w or k by th is Gov er n m en t, w ith a n offen siv e a n d defen siv e a llia n ce for its pr otect ion , w ith th e for eig n sta te w h ose

r espon sibilit ies a n d r ig h ts w e w ou ld sh a r e is, in m y ju dg m en t, in con sisten t w ith su ch dedica t ion to u n iv er sa l a n d n eu tr a l u se, a n d

w ou ld, m or eov er , en ta il m ea su r es for its r ea liza t ion bey on d th e scope of ou r n a t ion a l polity or pr esen t m ea n s.

Th e la pse of y ea r s h a s a bu n da n tly con fir m ed th e w isdom a n d for esig h t of th ose ea r lier A dm in istr a t ion s w h ich , lon g befor e th e

con dit ion s of m a r it im e in ter cou r se w er e ch a n g ed a n d en la r g ed by th e pr og r ess of th e a g e, pr ocla im ed th e v ita l n eed of in ter ocea n ic

tr a n sit a cr oss th e A m er ica n Isth m u s a n d con secr a ted it in a dv a n ce to th e com m on u se of m a n kin d by th eir posit iv e decla r a t ion s

a n d th r ou g h th e for m a l oblig a t ion of tr ea t ies. Tow a r d su ch r ea liza t ion th e effor ts of m y A dm in istr a t ion w ill be a pplied, ev er

bea r in g in m in d th e pr in ciples on w h ich it m u st r est , a n d w h ich w er e decla r ed in n o u n cer ta in ton es by Mr . Ca ss, w h o, w h ile

Secr eta r y of Sta te, in 1 8 5 8 , a n n ou n ced th a t "w h a t th e Un ited Sta tes w a n t in Cen tr a l A m er ica , n ex t to th e h a ppin ess of its people,

is th e secu r ity a n d n eu tr a lity of th e in ter ocea n ic r ou tes w h ich lea d th r ou g h it ."

Th e con str u ct ion of th r ee tr a n scon tin en ta l lin es of r a ilw a y , a ll in su ccessfu l oper a t ion , w h olly w ith in ou r ter r itor y , a n d u n it in g

th e A t la n t ic a n d th e Pa cific ocea n s, h a s been a ccom pa n ied by r esu lts of a m ost in ter est in g a n d im pr essiv e n a tu r e, a n d h a s cr ea ted

n ew con dit ion s, n ot in th e r ou tes of com m er ce on ly , bu t in polit ica l g eog r a ph y , w h ich pow er fu lly a ffect ou r r ela t ion s tow a r d a n d

n ecessa r ily in cr ea se ou r in ter ests in a n y tr a n sisth m ia n r ou te w h ich m a y be open ed a n d em ploy ed for th e en ds of pea ce a n d tr a ffic,

or , in oth er con tin g en cies, for u ses in im ica l to both .

Tr a n spor ta t ion is a fa ctor in th e cost of com m odit ies sca r cely secon d to th a t of th eir pr odu ct ion , a n d w eig h s a s h ea v ily u pon th e

con su m er .

Ou r ex per ien ce a lr ea dy h a s pr ov en th e g r ea t im por ta n ce of h a v in g th e com petit ion betw een la n d ca r r ia g e a n d w a ter ca r r ia g e

fu lly dev eloped, ea ch a ct in g a s a pr otect ion to th e pu blic a g a in st th e ten den cies to m on opoly w h ich a r e in h er en t in th e

con solida t ion of w ea lth a n d pow er in th e h a n ds of v a st cor por a t ion s.

Th ese su g g est ion s m a y ser v e to em ph a size w h a t I h a v e a lr ea dy sa id on th e scor e of th e n ecessity of a n eu tr a liza t ion of a n y

in ter ocea n ic tr a n sit ; a n d th is ca n on ly be a ccom plish ed by m a kin g th e u ses of th e r ou te open to a ll n a t ion s a n d su bject to th e

a m bit ion s a n d w a r like n ecessit ies of n on e.

Th e dr a w in g s a n d r epor t of a r ecen t su r v ey of th e Nica r a g u a Ca n a l r ou te, m a de by Ch ief En g in eer Men oca l, w ill be com m u n ica ted

for y ou r in for m a tion .

2/24/2014 Grover Cleveland: First Annual Message (first term)

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29526&st=&st1= 3/17

for y ou r in for m a tion .

Th e cla im s of cit izen s of th e Un ited Sta tes for losses by r ea son of th e la te m ilita r y oper a t ion s of Ch ile in Per u a n d Boliv ia a r e th e

su bject of n eg ot ia t ion for a cla im s con v en tion w ith Ch ile, pr ov idin g for th eir su bm ission to a r bitr a t ion .

Th e h a r m on y of ou r r ela t ion s w ith Ch in a is fu lly su sta in ed.

In th e a pplica t ion of th e a cts la tely pa ssed to ex ecu te th e tr ea ty of 1 8 8 0, r estr ict iv e of th e im m ig r a t ion of Ch in ese la bor er s in to th e

Un ited Sta tes, in div idu a l ca ses of h a r dsh ip h a v e occu r r ed bey on d th e pow er of th e Ex ecu t iv e to r em edy , a n d ca llin g for ju dicia l

deter m in a t ion .

Th e con dit ion of th e Ch in ese qu est ion in th e Wester n Sta tes a n d Ter r itor ies is, despite th is r estr ict iv e leg isla t ion , fa r fr om bein g

sa t isfa ctor y . Th e r ecen t ou tbr ea k in Wy om in g Ter r itor y , w h er e n u m ber s of u n offen din g Ch in a m en , in dispu ta bly w ith in th e

pr otect ion of th e tr ea t ies a n d th e la w , w er e m u r der ed by a m ob, a n d th e st ill m or e r ecen t th r ea ten ed ou tbr ea k of th e sa m e

ch a r a cter in Wa sh in g ton Ter r itor y , a r e fr esh in th e m in ds of a ll, a n d th er e is a ppr eh en sion lest th e bit ter n ess of feelin g a g a in st th e

Mon g olia n r a ce on th e Pa cific Slope m a y fin d v en t in sim ila r la w less dem on str a t ion s. A ll th e pow er of th is Gov er n m en t sh ou ld be

ex er ted to m a in ta in th e a m plest g ood fa ith tow a r d Ch in a in th e tr ea tm en t of th ese m en , a n d th e in flex ible ster n n ess of th e la w in

br in g in g th e w r on g doer s to ju st ice sh ou ld be in sisted u pon .

Ev er y effor t h a s been m a de by th is Gov er n m en t to pr ev en t th ese v iolen t ou tbr ea ks a n d to a id th e r epr esen ta t iv es of Ch in a in th eir

in v est ig a t ion of th ese ou tr a g es; a n d it is bu t ju st to sa y th a t th ey a r e tr a cea ble to th e la w lessn ess of m en n ot cit izen s of th e Un ited

Sta tes en g a g ed in com petit ion w ith Ch in ese la bor er s.

Ra ce pr eju dice is th e ch ief fa ctor in or ig in a t in g th ese distu r ba n ces, a n d it ex ists in a la r g e pa r t of ou r dom a in , jeopa r dizin g ou r

dom est ic pea ce a n d th e g ood r ela t ion sh ip w e str iv e to m a in ta in w ith Ch in a .

Th e a dm itted r ig h t of a g ov er n m en t to pr ev en t th e in flu x of elem en ts h ost ile to its in ter n a l pea ce a n d secu r ity m a y n ot be

qu est ion ed, ev en w h er e th er e is n o tr ea ty st ipu la t ion on th e su bject . Th a t th e ex clu sion of Ch in ese la bor is dem a n ded in oth er

cou n tr ies w h er e like con dit ion s pr ev a il is str on g ly ev iden ced in th e Dom in ion of Ca n a da , w h er e Ch in ese im m ig r a t ion is n ow

r eg u la ted by la w s m or e ex clu siv e th a n ou r ow n . If ex ist in g la w s a r e in a dequ a te to com pa ss th e en d in v iew , I sh a ll be pr epa r ed to

g iv e ea r n est con sider a t ion to a n y fu r th er r em edia l m ea su r es, w ith in th e tr ea ty lim its, w h ich th e w isdom of Con g r ess m a y dev ise.

Th e in depen den t Sta te of th e Kon g o h a s been or g a n ized a s a g ov er n m en t u n der th e sov er eig n ty of His Ma jesty th e Kin g of th e

Belg ia n s, w h o a ssu m es its ch ief m a g istr a cy in h is per son a l ch a r a cter on ly , w ith ou t m a kin g th e n ew Sta te a depen den cy of

Belg iu m . It is for tu n a te th a t a ben ig h ted r eg ion , ow in g a ll it h a s of qu icken in g civ iliza t ion to th e ben eficen ce a n d ph ila n th r opic

spir it of th is m on a r ch , sh ou ld h a v e th e a dv a n ta g e a n d secu r ity of h is ben ev olen t su per v ision .

Th e a ct ion ta ken by th is Gov er n m en t la st y ea r in bein g th e fir st to r ecog n ize th e fla g of th e In ter n a t ion a l A ssocia t ion of th e Kon g o

h a s been follow ed by for m a l r ecog n it ion of th e n ew n a t ion a lity w h ich su cceeds to its sov er eig n pow er s.

A con fer en ce of deleg a tes of th e pr in cipa l com m er cia l n a t ion s w a s h eld a t Ber lin la st w in ter to discu ss m eth ods w h er eby th e Kon g o

ba sin m ig h t be kept open to th e w or ld's tr a de. Deleg a tes a tten ded on beh a lf of th e Un ited Sta tes on th e u n der sta n din g th a t th eir

pa r t sh ou ld be m er ely deliber a t iv e, w ith ou t im pa r t in g to th e r esu lts a n y bin din g ch a r a cter so fa r a s th e Un ited Sta tes w er e

con cer n ed. Th is r eser v e w a s du e to th e in disposit ion of th is Gov er n m en t to sh a r e in a n y disposa l by a n in ter n a t ion a l con g r ess of

ju r isdict ion a l qu est ion s in r em ote for eig n ter r itor ies. Th e r esu lts of th e con fer en ce w er e em bodied in a for m a l a ct of th e n a tu r e of

a n in ter n a t ion a l con v en tion , w h ich la id dow n cer ta in oblig a t ion s pu r por t in g to be bin din g on th e sig n a tor ies, su bject to

r a t ifica t ion w ith in on e y ea r . Notw ith sta n din g th e r eser v a t ion u n der w h ich th e deleg a tes of th e Un ited Sta tes a t ten ded, th eir

sig n a tu r es w er e a tta ch ed to th e g en er a l a ct in th e sa m e m a n n er a s th ose of th e plen ipoten t ia r ies of oth er g ov er n m en ts, th u s

m a kin g th e Un ited Sta tes a ppea r , w ith ou t r eser v e or qu a lifica t ion , a s sig n a tor ies to a join t in ter n a t ion a l en g a g em en t im posin g on

th e sig n er s th e con ser v a t ion of th e ter r itor ia l in teg r ity of dista n t r eg ion s w h er e w e h a v e n o esta blish ed in ter ests or con tr ol.

Th is Gov er n m en t does n ot , h ow ev er , r eg a r d its r eser v a t ion of liber ty of a ct ion in th e pr em ises a s a t a ll im pa ir ed; a n d h oldin g th a t

a n en g a g em en t to sh a r e in th e oblig a t ion of en for cin g n eu tr a lity in th e r em ote v a lley of th e Kon g o w ou ld be a n a llia n ce w h ose

r espon sibilit ies w e a r e n ot in a posit ion to a ssu m e, I a bsta in fr om a skin g th e sa n ct ion of th e Sen a te to th a t g en er a l a ct .

Th e cor r espon den ce w ill be la id befor e y ou , a n d th e in str u ct iv e a n d in ter est in g r epor t of th e a g en t sen t by th is Gov er n m en t to th e

Kon g o cou n tr y a n d h is r ecom m en da tion s for th e esta blish m en t of com m er cia l a g en cies on th e A fr ica n coa st a r e a lso su bm itted for

y ou r con sider a t ion .

Th e com m ission a ppoin ted by m y pr edecessor la st w in ter to v isit th e Cen tr a l a n d Sou th A m er ica n cou n tr ies a n d r epor t on th e

m eth ods of en la r g in g th e com m er cia l r ela t ion s of th e Un ited Sta tes th er ew ith h a s su bm itted r epor ts, w h ich w ill be la id befor e y ou .

No oppor tu n ity h a s been om itted to test ify th e fr ien dlin ess of th is Gov er n m en t tow a r d Kor ea , w h ose en tr a n ce in to th e fa m ily of

tr ea ty pow er s th e Un ited Sta tes w er e th e fir st to r ecog n ize. I r eg a r d w ith fa v or th e a pplica t ion m a de by th e Kor ea n Gov er n m en t to

be a llow ed to em ploy A m er ica n officer s a s m ilita r y in str u ctor s, to w h ich th e a ssen t of Con g r ess becom es n ecessa r y , a n d I a m h a ppy

to sa y th is r equ est h a s th e con cu r r en t sa n ct ion of Ch in a a n d Ja pa n .

Th e a r r est a n d im pr ison m en t of Ju lio R. Sa n tos, a cit izen of th e Un ited Sta tes, by th e a u th or it ies of Ecu a dor g a v e r ise to a

con ten tion w ith th a t Gov er n m en t, in w h ich h is r ig h t to be r elea sed or to h a v e a speedy a n d im pa r t ia l tr ia l on a n n ou n ced ch a r g es

a n d w ith a ll g u a r a n ties of defen se st ipu la ted by tr ea ty w a s in sisted u pon by u s. A fter a n ela bor a te cor r espon den ce a n d r epea ted

a n d ea r n est r epr esen ta t ion s on ou r pa r t Mr . Sa n tos w a s, a fter a n a lleg ed tr ia l a n d con v ict ion , ev en tu a lly in clu ded in a g en er a l

decr ee of a m n esty a n d pa r don ed by th e Ecu a dor ia n Ex ecu t iv e a n d r elea sed, lea v in g th e qu est ion of h is A m er ica n cit izen sh ip den ied

by th e Ecu a dor ia n Gov er n m en t, bu t in sisted u pon by ou r ow n .

Th e a m ou n t a dju dg ed by th e la te Fr en ch a n d A m er ica n Cla im s Com m ission to be du e fr om th e Un ited Sta tes to Fr en ch cla im a n ts

on a ccou n t of in ju r ies su ffer ed by th em du r in g th e Wa r of Secession , h a v in g been a ppr opr ia ted by th e la st Con g r ess, h a s been du ly

pa id to th e Fr en ch Gov er n m en t.

Th e a ct of Febr u a r y 2 5 , 1 8 8 5 , pr ov ided for a pr elim in a r y sea r ch of th e r ecor ds of Fr en ch pr ize cou r ts for ev iden ce bea r in g on th e

cla im s of A m er ica n cit izen s a g a in st Fr a n ce for spolia t ion s com m itted pr ior to 1 8 01 . Th e du ty h a s been per for m ed, a n d th e r epor t of

th e a g en t w ill be la id befor e y ou .

I r eg r et to sa y th a t th e r estr ict ion s u pon th e im por ta t ion of ou r por k in to Fr a n ce con tin u e, n otw ith sta n din g th e a bu n da n t

dem on str a t ion of th e a bsen ce of sa n ita r y da n g er in its u se; bu t I en ter ta in str on g h opes th a t w ith a better u n der sta n din g of th e

m a tter th is v ex a t iou s pr oh ibit ion w ill be r em ov ed. It w ou ld be plea sin g to be a ble to sa y a s m u ch w ith r espect to Ger m a n y ,

A u str ia , a n d oth er cou n tr ies, w h er e su ch food pr odu cts a r e a bsolu tely ex clu ded, w ith ou t pr esen t pr ospect of r ea son a ble ch a n g e.

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Th e in ter pr eta t ion of ou r ex ist in g tr ea t ies of n a tu r a liza t ion by Ger m a n y du r in g th e pa st y ea r h a s a ttr a cted a tten t ion by r ea son of

a n a ppa r en t ten den cy on th e pa r t of th e Im per ia l Gov er n m en t to ex ten d th e scope of th e r esiden tia l r estr ict ion s to w h ich r etu r n in g

n a tu r a lized cit izen s of Ger m a n or ig in a r e a sser ted to be lia ble u n der th e la w s of th e Em pir e. Th e tem per a te a n d ju st a t t itu de ta ken

by th is Gov er n m en t w ith r eg a r d to th is cla ss of qu est ion s w ill dou btless lea d to a sa t isfa ctor y u n der sta n din g .

Th e dispu te of Ger m a n y a n d Spa in r ela t iv e to th e dom in a t ion of th e Ca r olin e Isla n ds h a s a ttr a cted th e a tten t ion of th is

Gov er n m en t by r ea son of ex ten siv e in ter ests of A m er ica n cit izen s h a v in g g r ow n u p in th ose pa r ts du r in g th e pa st th ir ty y ea r s,

a n d beca u se th e qu est ion of ow n er sh ip in v olv es ju r isdict ion of m a tter s a ffect in g th e sta tu s of ou r cit izen s u n der civ il a n d cr im in a l

la w . Wh ile sta n din g w h olly a loof fr om th e pr opr ieta r y issu es r a ised betw een pow er s to both of w h ich th e Un ited Sta tes a r e fr ien dly ,

th is Gov er n m en t ex pects th a t n oth in g in th e pr esen t con ten t ion sh a ll u n fa v or a bly a ffect ou r cit izen s ca r r y in g on a pea cefu l

com m er ce or th er e dom iciled, a n d h a s so in for m ed th e Gov er n m en ts of Spa in a n d Ger m a n y .

Th e m a r ked g ood w ill betw een th e Un ited Sta tes a n d Gr ea t Br ita in h a s been m a in ta in ed du r in g th e pa st y ea r .

Th e ter m in a t ion of th e fish in g cla u ses of th e tr ea ty of Wa sh in g ton , in pu r su a n ce of th e join t r esolu t ion of Ma r ch 3 , 1 8 8 3 , m u st

h a v e r esu lted in th e a br u pt cessa t ion on th e 1 st of Ju ly of th is y ea r , in th e m idst of th eir v en tu r es, of th e oper a t ion s of cit izen s of

th e Un ited Sta tes en g a g ed in fish in g in Br it ish A m er ica n w a ter s bu t for a diplom a tic u n der sta n din g r ea ch ed w ith Her Ma jesty 's

Gov er n m en t in Ju n e la st , w h er eby a ssu r a n ce w a s obta in ed th a t n o in ter r u ption of th ose oper a t ion s sh ou ld ta ke pla ce du r in g th e

cu r r en t fish in g sea son .

In th e in ter est of g ood n eig h bor h ood a n d of th e com m er cia l in ter cou r se of a dja cen t com m u n it ies, th e qu est ion of th e Nor th

A m er ica n fish er ies is on e of m u ch im por ta n ce. Follow in g ou t th e in t im a tion g iv en by m e w h en th e ex ten sor y a r r a n g em en t a bov e

descr ibed w a s n eg ot ia ted, I r ecom m en d th a t th e Con g r ess pr ov ide for th e a ppoin tm en t of a com m ission in w h ich th e Gov er n m en ts

of th e Un ited Sta tes a n d Gr ea t Br ita in sh a ll be r espect iv ely r epr esen ted, ch a r g ed w ith th e con sider a t ion a n d sett lem en t, u pon a

ju st , equ ita ble, a n d h on or a ble ba sis, of th e en t ir e qu est ion of th e fish in g r ig h ts of th e tw o Gov er n m en ts a n d th eir r espect iv e cit izen s

on th e coa sts of th e Un ited Sta tes a n d Br it ish Nor th A m er ica . Th e fish in g in ter ests bein g in t im a tely r ela ted to oth er g en er a l

qu est ion s depen den t u pon con tig u ity a n d in ter cou r se, con sider a t ion th er eof in a ll th eir equ it ies m ig h t a lso pr oper ly com e w ith in

th e pu r v iew of su ch a com m ission , a n d th e fu llest la t itu de of ex pr ession on both sides sh ou ld be per m itted.

Th e cor r espon den ce in r ela t ion to th e fish in g r ig h ts w ill be su bm itted. Th e a r ct ic ex plor in g stea m er A ler t , w h ich w a s g en er ou sly

g iv en by Her Ma jesty 's Gov er n m en t to a id in th e r elief of th e Gr eely ex pedit ion , w a s, a fter th e su ccessfu l a t ta in m en t of th a t

h u m a n e pu r pose, r etu r n ed to Gr ea t Br ita in , in pu r su a n ce of th e a u th or ity con fer r ed by th e a ct of Ma r ch 3 , 1 8 8 5 .

Th e in a dequ a cy of th e ex ist in g en g a g em en ts for ex tr a dit ion betw een th e Un ited Sta tes a n d Gr ea t Br ita in h a s been lon g a ppa r en t .

Th e ten th a r t icle of th e tr ea ty of 1 8 4 2 , on e of th e ea r liest com pa cts in th is r eg a r d en ter ed in to by u s, st ipu la ted for su r r en der in

r espect of a lim ited n u m ber of offen ses. Oth er cr im es n o less in im ica l to th e socia l w elfa r e sh ou ld be em br a ced a n d th e pr ocedu r e of

ex tr a dit ion br ou g h t in h a r m on y w ith pr esen t in ter n a t ion a l pr a ct ice. Neg ot ia t ion s w ith Her Ma jesty 's Gov er n m en t for a n en la r g ed

tr ea ty of ex tr a dit ion h a v e been pen din g sin ce 1 8 7 0, a n d I en ter ta in str on g h opes th a t a sa t isfa ctor y r esu lt m a y be soon a tta in ed.

Th e fr on t ier lin e betw een A la ska a n d Br it ish Colu m bia , a s defin ed by th e tr ea ty of cession w ith Ru ssia , follow s th e dem a r ca t ion

a ssig n ed in a pr ior tr ea ty betw een Gr ea t Br ita in a n d Ru ssia . Moder n ex plor a t ion discloses th a t th is a n cien t bou n da r y is

im pr a ct ica ble a s a g eog r a ph ica l fa ct . In th e u n sett led con dit ion of th a t r eg ion th e qu est ion h a s la cked im por ta n ce, bu t th e

discov er y of m in er a l w ea lth in th e ter r itor y th e lin e is su pposed to tr a v er se a dm on ish es th a t th e t im e h a s com e w h en a n a ccu r a te

kn ow ledg e of th e bou n da r y is n eedfu l to a v er t ju r isdict ion a l com plica t ion s. I r ecom m en d, th er efor e, th a t pr ov ision be m a de for a

pr elim in a r y r econ n oissa n ce by officer s of th e Un ited Sta tes, to th e en d of a cqu ir in g m or e pr ecise in for m a tion on th e su bject . I h a v e

in v ited Her Ma jesty 's Gov er n m en t to con sider w ith u s th e a doption of a m or e con v en ien t lin e, to be esta blish ed by m er idia n

obser v a t ion s or by kn ow n g eog r a ph ica l fea tu r es w ith ou t th e n ecessity of a n ex pen siv e su r v ey of th e w h ole.

Th e la te in su r r ect ion a r y m ov em en ts in Ha y t i h a v in g been qu elled, th e Gov er n m en t of th a t Repu blic h a s m a de pr om pt pr ov ision

for a dju dica t in g th e losses su ffer ed by for eig n er s beca u se of h ost ilit ies th er e, a n d th e cla im s of cer ta in cit izen s of th e Un ited Sta tes

w ill be in th is m a n n er deter m in ed.

Th e lon g -pen din g cla im s of tw o cit izen s of th e Un ited Sta tes, Pellet ier a n d La za r e, h a v e been disposed of by a r bitr a t ion , a n d a n

a w a r d in fa v or of ea ch cla im a n t h a s been m a de, w h ich by th e ter m s of th e en g a g em en t is fin a l. It r em a in s for Con g r ess to pr ov ide

for th e pa y m en t of th e st ipu la ted m oiety of th e ex pen ses.

A qu est ion a r ose w ith Ha y t i du r in g th e pa st y ea r by r ea son of th e ex cept ion a l tr ea tm en t of a n A m er ica n cit izen , Mr . V a n Bokkelen ,

a r esiden t of Por t-a u -Pr in ce, w h o, on su it by cr editor s r esidin g in th e Un ited Sta tes, w a s sen ten ced to im pr ison m en t, a n d, u n der

th e oper a t ion of a Ha y t ia n sta tu te, w a s den ied r elief secu r ed to a n a t iv e Ha y t ia n . Th is Gov er n m en t a sser ted h is tr ea ty r ig h t to

equ a l tr ea tm en t w ith n a t iv es of Ha y t i in a ll su its a t la w . Ou r con ten t ion w a s den ied by th e Ha y t ia n Gov er n m en t, w h ich ,

h ow ev er , w h ile st ill pr ofessin g to m a in ta in th e g r ou n d ta ken a g a in st Mr . V a n Bokkelen 's r ig h t , ter m in a ted th e con tr ov er sy by

sett in g h im a t liber ty w ith ou t ex pla n a t ion .

A n in ter n a t ion a l con fer en ce to con sider th e m ea n s of a r r est in g th e spr ea d of ch oler a a n d oth er epidem ic disea ses w a s h eld a t Rom e

in Ma y la st , a n d a djou r n ed to m eet a g a in on fu r th er n ot ice. A n ex per t deleg a te on beh a lf of th e Un ited Sta tes h a s a tten ded its

session s a n d w ill su bm it a r epor t .

Ou r r ela t ion s w ith Mex ico con tin u e to be m ost cor dia l, a s befits th ose of n eig h bor s betw een w h om th e str on g est t ies of fr ien dsh ip

a n d com m er cia l in t im a cy ex ist , a s th e n a tu r a l a n d g r ow in g con sequ en ce of ou r sim ila r ity of in st itu t ion s a n d g eog r a ph ica l

pr opin qu ity .

Th e r eloca t ion of th e bou n da r y lin e betw een th e Un ited Sta tes a n d Mex ico w estw a r d of th e Rio Gr a n de, u n der th e con v en tion of

Ju ly 2 9 , 1 8 8 2 , h a s been u n a v oida bly dela y ed, bu t I a ppr eh en d n o difficu lty in secu r in g a pr olon g a t ion of th e per iod for its

a ccom plish m en t.

Th e la tely con clu ded com m er cia l tr ea ty w ith Mex ico st ill a w a its th e st ipu la ted leg isla t ion to ca r r y its pr ov ision s in to effect , for

w h ich on e y ea r 's a ddit ion a l t im e h a s been secu r ed by a su pplem en ta r y a r t icle sig n ed in Febr u a r y la st a n d sin ce r a t ified on both

sides.

A s th is con v en tion , so im por ta n t to th e com m er cia l w elfa r e of th e tw o a djoin in g cou n tr ies, h a s been con st itu t ion a lly con fir m ed by

th e tr ea ty - m a kin g br a n ch , I ex pr ess th e h ope th a t leg isla t ion n eeded to m a ke it effect iv e m a y n ot be lon g dela y ed.

Th e la r g e in flu x of ca pita l a n d en ter pr ise to Mex ico fr om th e Un ited Sta tes con tin u es to a id in th e dev elopm en t of th e r esou r ces a n d

in a u g m en tin g th e m a ter ia l w ell-bein g of ou r sister Repu blic. Lin es of r a ilw a y , pen etr a t in g to th e h ea r t a n d ca pita l of th e cou n tr y ,

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in a u g m en tin g th e m a ter ia l w ell-bein g of ou r sister Repu blic. Lin es of r a ilw a y , pen etr a t in g to th e h ea r t a n d ca pita l of th e cou n tr y ,

br in g th e tw o peoples in to m u tu a lly ben eficia l in ter cou r se, a n d en la r g ed fa cilit ies of tr a n sit a dd to pr ofita ble com m er ce, cr ea te

n ew m a r kets, a n d fu r n ish a v en u es to oth er w ise isola ted com m u n it ies.

I h a v e a lr ea dy a dv er ted to th e su g g ested con str u ct ion of a sh ip r a ilw a y a cr oss th e n a r r ow for m a tion of th e ter r itor y of Mex ico a t

Teh u a n tepec.

With th e g r a du a l r ecov er y of Per u fr om th e effects of h er la te disa str ou s con flict w ith Ch ile, a n d w ith th e r estor a t ion of civ il

a u th or ity in th a t distr a cted cou n tr y , it is h oped th a t pen din g w a r cla im s of ou r cit izen s w ill be a dju sted.

In con for m ity w ith n ot ifica t ion g iv en by th e Gov er n m en t of Per u , th e ex ist in g tr ea t ies of com m er ce a n d ex tr a dit ion betw een th e

Un ited Sta tes a n d th a t cou n tr y w ill ter m in a te Ma r ch 3 1 , 1 8 8 6 .

Ou r g ood r ela t ion sh ip w ith Ru ssia con tin u es.

A n officer of th e Na v y , deta iled for th e pu r pose, is n ow on h is w a y to Siber ia bea r in g th e test im on ia ls v oted by Con g r ess to th ose

w h o g en er ou sly su ccor ed th e su r v iv or s of th e u n for tu n a te Jea n n ette ex pedit ion .

It is g r a t ify in g to a dv er t to th e cor dia lity of ou r in ter cou r se w ith Spa in .

Th e lon g -pen din g cla im of th e ow n er s of th e sh ip Ma son ic for loss su ffer ed th r ou g h th e a dm itted der elict ion of th e Spa n ish

a u th or it ies in th e Ph ilippin e Isla n ds h a s been a dju sted by a r bitr a t ion a n d a n in dem n ity a w a r ded. Th e pr in ciple of a r bitr a t ion in

su ch ca ses, to w h ich th e Un ited Sta tes h a v e lon g a n d con sisten t ly a dh er ed, th u s r eceiv es a fr esh a n d g r a t ify in g con fir m a tion .

Oth er qu est ion s w ith Spa in h a v e been disposed of or a r e u n der diplom a tic con sider a t ion w ith a v iew to ju st a n d h on or a ble

sett lem en t.

Th e oper a t ion of th e com m er cia l a g r eem en t w ith Spa in of Ja n u a r y 2 --Febr u a r y 1 3 , 1 8 8 4 , h a s been fou n d in a dequ a te to th e

com m er cia l n eeds of th e Un ited Sta tes a n d th e Spa n ish A n tilies, a n d th e ter m s of th e a g r eem en t a r e su bjected to con flict in g

in ter pr eta t ion s in th ose isla n ds.

Neg otia t ion s h a v e been in st itu ted a t Ma dr id for a fu ll t r ea ty n ot open to th ese object ion s a n d in th e lin e of th e g en er a l policy

tou ch in g th e n eig h bor ly in ter cou r se of pr ox im a te com m u n it ies, to w h ich I elsew h er e a dv er t , a n d a im in g , m or eov er , a t th e

r em ov a l of ex ist in g bu r den s a n d a n n oy in g r estr ict ion s; a n d a lth ou g h a sa t isfa ctor y ter m in a t ion is pr om ised, I a m com pelled to

dela y its a n n ou n cem en t.

A n in ter n a t ion a l copy r ig h t con fer en ce w a s h eld a t Ber n e in Septem ber , on th e in v ita t ion of th e Sw iss Gov er n m en t. Th e en v oy of

th e Un ited Sta tes a t ten ded a s a deleg a te, bu t r efr a in ed fr om com m itt in g th is Gov er n m en t to th e r esu lts, ev en by sig n in g th e

r ecom m en da tor y pr otocol a dopted. Th e in ter est in g a n d im por ta n t su bject of in ter n a t ion a l copy r ig h t h a s been befor e y ou for

sev er a l y ea r s. A ct ion is cer ta in ly desir a ble to effect th e object in v iew ; a n d w h ile th er e m a y be qu est ion a s to th e r ela t iv e

a dv a n ta g e of tr ea t in g it by leg isla t ion or by specific tr ea ty , th e m a tu r ed v iew s of th e Ber n e con fer en ce ca n n ot fa il to a id y ou r

con sider a t ion of th e su bject .

Th e ter m in a t ion of th e com m er cia l tr ea ty of 1 8 6 2 betw een th e Un ited Sta tes a n d Tu r key h a s been sou g h t by th a t Gov er n m en t.

Wh ile th er e is qu est ion a s to th e su fficien cy of th e n ot ice of ter m in a t ion g iv en , y et a s th e com m er cia l r ig h ts of ou r cit izen s in

Tu r key com e u n der th e fa v or ed-n a t ion g u a r a n ties of th e pr ior tr ea ty of 1 8 3 0, a n d a s equ a l tr ea tm en t is a dm itted by th e Por te, n o

in con v en ien ce ca n r esu lt fr om th e a ssen t of th is Gov er n m en t to th e r ev ision of th e Ottom a n ta r iffs, in w h ich th e tr ea ty pow er s

h a v e been in v ited to join .

Qu est ion s con cer n in g ou r cit izen s in Tu r key m a y be a ffected by th e Por te's n on a cqu iescen ce in th e r ig h t of ex pa tr ia t ion a n d by th e

im posit ion of r elig iou s tests a s a con dit ion of r esiden ce, in w h ich th is Gov er n m en t ca n n ot con cu r . Th e Un ited Sta tes m u st h old in

th eir in ter cou r se w ith ev er y pow er th a t th e sta tu s of th eir cit izen s is to be r espected a n d equ a l civ il pr iv ileg es a ccor ded to th em

w ith ou t r eg a r d to cr eed, a n d a ffected by n o con sider a t ion s sa v e th ose g r ow in g ou t of dom icilia r y r etu r n to th e la n d of or ig in a l

a lleg ia n ce or of u n fu lfilled per son a l oblig a t ion s w h ich m a y su r v iv e, u n der m u n icipa l la w s, a fter su ch v olu n ta r y r etu r n .

Th e n eg ot ia t ion w ith V en ezu ela r ela t iv e to th e r eh ea r in g of th e a w a r ds of th e m ix ed com m ission con st itu ted u n der th e tr ea ty of

1 8 6 6 w a s r esu m ed in v iew of th e r ecen t a cqu iescen ce of th e V en ezu ela n en v oy in th e pr in cipa l poin t a dv a n ced by th is

Gov er n m en t, th a t th e effects of th e old tr ea ty cou ld on ly be set a side by th e oper a t ion of a n ew con v en tion . A r esu lt in su bsta n t ia l

a ccor d w ith th e a dv isor y su g g est ion s con ta in ed in th e join t r esolu t ion of Ma r ch 3 , 1 8 8 3 , h a s been a g r eed u pon a n d w ill sh or t ly be

su bm itted to th e Sen a te for r a t ifica t ion .

Un der sect ion 3 6 5 9 of th e Rev ised Sta tu tes a ll fu n ds h eld in tr u st by th e Un ited Sta tes a n d th e a n n u a l in ter est a ccr u in g th er eon ,

w h en n ot oth er w ise r equ ir ed by tr ea ty , a r e to be in v ested in stocks of th e Un ited Sta tes bea r in g a r a te of in ter est n ot less th a n 5 per

cen t per a n n u m . Th er e bein g n ow n o pr ocu r a ble stocks pa y in g so h ig h a r a te of in ter est , th e let ter of th e sta tu te is a t pr esen t

in a pplica ble, bu t its spir it is su bser v ed by con tin u in g to m a ke in v estm en ts of th is n a tu r e in cu r r en t stocks bea r in g th e h ig h est

in ter est n ow pa id. Th e sta tu te, h ow ev er , m a kes n o pr ov ision for th e disposa l of su ch a ccr et ion s. It bein g con tr a r y to th e g en er a l

r u le of th is Gov er n m en t to a llow in ter est on cla im s, I r ecom m en d th e r epea l of th e pr ov ision in qu est ion a n d th e disposit ion , u n der

a u n ifor m r u le, of th e pr esen t a ccu m u la t ion s fr om in v estm en t of tr u st fu n ds.

Th e in a dequ a cy of ex ist in g leg isla t ion tou ch in g cit izen sh ip a n d n a tu r a liza t ion dem a n ds y ou r con sider a t ion .

Wh ile r ecog n izin g th e r ig h t of ex pa tr ia t ion , n o sta tu tor y pr ov ision ex ists pr ov idin g m ea n s for r en ou n cin g cit izen sh ip by a n

A m er ica n cit izen , n a t iv e bor n or n a tu r a lized, n or for ter m in a t in g a n d v a ca t in g a n im pr oper a cqu isit ion of cit izen sh ip. Ev en a

fr a u du len t decr ee of n a tu r a liza t ion ca n n ot n ow be ca n celed. Th e pr iv ileg e a n d fr a n ch ise of A m er ica n cit izen sh ip sh ou ld be

g r a n ted w ith ca r e, a n d ex ten ded to th ose on ly w h o in ten d in g ood fa ith to a ssu m e its du t ies a n d r espon sibilit ies w h en a tta in in g its

pr iv ileg es a n d ben efits. It sh ou ld be w ith h eld fr om th ose w h o m er ely g o th r ou g h th e for m s of n a tu r a liza t ion w ith th e in ten t of

esca pin g th e du t ies of th eir or ig in a l a lleg ia n ce w ith ou t ta kin g u pon th em selv es th ose of th eir n ew sta tu s, or w h o m a y a cqu ir e th e

r ig h ts of A m er ica n cit izen sh ip for n o oth er th a n a h ost ile pu r pose tow a r d th eir or ig in a l g ov er n m en ts. Th ese ev ils h a v e h a d m a n y

fla g r a n t illu str a t ion s.

I r eg a r d w ith fa v or th e su g g est ion pu t for th by on e of m y pr edecessor s th a t pr ov ision be m a de for a cen tr a l bu r ea u of r ecor d of th e

decr ees of n a tu r a liza t ion g r a n ted by th e v a r iou s cou r ts th r ou g h ou t th e Un ited Sta tes n ow in v ested w ith th a t pow er .

Th e r ig h ts w h ich spr in g fr om dom icile in th e Un ited Sta tes, especia lly w h en cou pled w ith a decla r a t ion of in ten t ion to becom e a

cit izen , a r e w or th y of defin it ion by sta tu te. Th e str a n g er com in g h ith er w ith in ten t to r em a in , esta blish in g h is r esiden ce in ou r

m idst , con tr ibu t in g to th e g en er a l w elfa r e, a n d by h is v olu n ta r y a ct decla r in g h is pu r pose to a ssu m e th e r espon sibilit ies of

cit izen sh ip, th er eby g a in s a n in ch oa te sta tu s w h ich leg isla t ion m a y pr oper ly defin e. Th e la w s of cer ta in Sta tes a n d Ter r itor ies

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a dm it a dom iciled a lien to th e loca l fr a n ch ise, con fer r in g on h im th e r ig h ts of cit izen sh ip to a deg r ee w h ich pla ces h im in th e

a n om a lou s posit ion of bein g a cit izen of a Sta te a n d y et n ot of th e Un ited Sta tes w ith in th e pu r v iew of Feder a l a n d in ter n a t ion a l

la w .

It is im por ta n t w ith in th e scope of n a t ion a l leg isla t ion to defin e th is r ig h t of a lien dom icile a s dist in g u ish ed fr om Feder a l

n a tu r a liza t ion .

Th e com m er cia l r ela t ion s of th e Un ited Sta tes w ith th eir im m edia te n eig h bor s a n d w ith im por ta n t a r ea s of tr a ffic n ea r ou r sh or es

su g g est especia lly liber a l in ter cou r se betw een th em a n d u s.

Follow in g th e tr ea ty of 1 8 8 3 w ith Mex ico, w h ich r ested on th e ba sis of a r ecipr oca l ex em ption fr om cu stom s du ties, oth er sim ila r

tr ea t ies w er e in it ia ted by m y pr edecessor .

Recog n izin g th e n eed of less obstr u cted tr a ffic w ith Cu ba a n d Pu er to Rico, a n d m et by th e desir e of Spa in to su ccor la n g u ish in g

in ter ests in th e A n tilles, steps w er e ta ken to a tta in th ose en ds by a tr ea ty of com m er ce. A sim ila r tr ea ty w a s a fter w a r ds sig n ed by

th e Dom in ica n Repu blic. Su bsequ en tly ov er tu r es w er e m a de by Her Br ita n n ic Ma jesty 's Gov er n m en t for a like m u tu a l ex ten sion of

com m er cia l in ter cou r se w ith th e Br it ish West In dia n a n d Sou th A m er ica n depen den cies, bu t w ith ou t r esu lt .

On ta kin g office I w ith dr ew for r eex a m in a t ion th e tr ea t ies sig n ed w ith Spa in a n d Sa n to Dom in g o, th en pen din g befor e th e Sen a te.

Th e r esu lt h a s been to sa t isfy m e of th e in ex pedien cy of en ter in g in to en g a g em en ts of th is ch a r a cter n ot cov er in g th e en t ir e tr a ffic.

Th ese tr ea t ies con tem pla ted th e su r r en der by th e Un ited Sta tes of la r g e r ev en u es for in a dequ a te con sider a t ion s. Upon su g a r a lon e

du ties w er e su r r en der ed to a n a m ou n t fa r ex ceedin g a ll th e a dv a n ta g es offer ed in ex ch a n g e. Ev en w er e it in ten ded to r eliev e ou r

con su m er s, it w a s ev iden t th a t so lon g a s th e ex em ption bu t pa r t ia lly cov er ed ou r im por ta t ion su ch r elief w ou ld be illu sor y . To

r elin qu ish a r ev en u e so essen t ia l seem ed h ig h ly im pr ov iden t a t a t im e w h en n ew a n d la r g e dr a in s u pon th e Tr ea su r y w er e

con tem pla ted. Mor eov er , em ba r r a ssin g qu est ion s w ou ld h a v e a r isen u n der th e fa v or ed-n a t ion cla u ses of tr ea t ies w ith oth er

n a t ion s.

A s a fu r th er object ion , it is ev iden t th a t ta r iff r eg u la t ion by tr ea ty dim in ish es th a t in depen den t con tr ol ov er its ow n r ev en u es

w h ich is essen t ia l for th e sa fety a n d w elfa r e of a n y g ov er n m en t. Em er g en cy ca llin g for a n in cr ea se of ta x a t ion m a y a t a n y t im e

a r ise, a n d n o en g a g em en t w ith a for eig n pow er sh ou ld ex ist to h a m per th e a ct ion of th e Gov er n m en t.

By th e fou r teen th sect ion of th e sh ippin g a ct a ppr ov ed Ju n e 2 6 , 1 8 8 4 , cer ta in r edu ct ion s a n d con tin g en t ex em ption s fr om ton n a g e

du es w er e m a de a s to v essels en ter in g por ts of th e Un ited Sta tes fr om a n y for eig n por t in Nor th a n d Cen tr a l A m er ica , th e West

In dia Isla n ds, th e Ba h a m a s a n d Ber m u da s, Mex ico, a n d th e Isth m u s a s fa r a s A spin w a ll a n d Pa n a m a . Th e Gov er n m en ts of Belg iu m ,

Den m a r k, Ger m a n y , Por tu g a l, a n d Sw eden a n d Nor w a y h a v e a sser ted, u n der th e fa v or ed-n a t ion cla u se in th eir tr ea t ies w ith th e

Un ited Sta tes, a cla im to like tr ea tm en t in r espect of v essels com in g to th e Un ited Sta tes fr om th eir h om e por ts. Th is Gov er n m en t,

h ow ev er , h olds th a t th e pr iv ileg es g r a n ted by th e a ct a r e pu r ely g eog r a ph ica l, in u r in g to a n y v essel of a n y for eig n pow er th a t

m a y ch oose to en g a g e in tr a ffic betw een th is cou n tr y a n d a n y por t w ith in th e defin ed zon e, a n d n o w a r r a n t ex ists u n der th e m ost-

fa v or ed-n a t ion cla u se for th e ex ten sion of th e pr iv ileg es in qu est ion to v essels sa ilin g to th is cou n tr y fr om por ts ou tside th e

lim ita t ion of th e a ct .

Un dou btedly th e r ela t ion s of com m er ce w ith ou r n ea r n eig h bor s, w h ose ter r itor ies for m so lon g a fr on t ier lin e difficu lt to be

g u a r ded, a n d w h o fin d in ou r cou n tr y , a n d equ a lly offer to u s, n a tu r a l m a r kets, dem a n d specia l a n d con sider a te tr ea tm en t. It r ests

w ith Con g r ess to con sider w h a t leg isla t iv e a ct ion m a y in cr ea se fa cilit ies of in ter cou r se w h ich con tig u ity m a kes n a tu r a l a n d

desir a ble.

I ea r n est ly u r g e th a t Con g r ess r eca st th e a ppr opr ia t ion s for th e m a in ten a n ce of th e diplom a tic a n d con su la r ser v ice on a foot in g

com m en su r a te w ith th e im por ta n ce of ou r n a t ion a l in ter ests. A t ev er y post w h er e a r epr esen ta t iv e is n ecessa r y th e sa la r y sh ou ld

be so g r a ded a s to per m it h im to liv e w ith com for t . With th e a ssig n m en t of a dequ a te sa la r ies th e so-ca lled n ota r ia l ex tr a officia l

fees, w h ich ou r officer s a br oa d a r e n ow per m itted to tr ea t a s per son a l per qu isites, sh ou ld be don e a w a y w ith . Ev er y a ct r equ ir in g

th e cer t ifica t ion a n d sea l of th e officer sh ou ld be ta x a ble a t sch edu le r a tes a n d th e fee th er efor r etu r n ed to th e Tr ea su r y . By

r estor in g th ese r ev en u es to th e pu blic u se th e con su la r ser v ice w ou ld be self-su ppor t in g , ev en w ith a liber a l in cr ea se of th e pr esen t

low sa la r ies.

In fu r th er pr ev en tion of a bu ses a sy stem of con su la r in spect ion sh ou ld be in st itu ted.

Th e a ppoin tm en t of a lim ited n u m ber of secr eta r ies of leg a t ion a t la r g e, to be a ssig n ed to du ty w h er ev er n ecessa r y , a n d in

pa r t icu la r for tem por a r y ser v ice a t m ission s w h ich for a n y ca u se m a y be w ith ou t a h ea d, sh ou ld a lso be a u th or ized.

I fa v or a lso a u th or iza t ion for th e deta il of officer s of th e r eg u la r ser v ice a s m ilita r y or n a v a l a t ta ch es a t leg a t ion s.

Som e for eig n g ov er n m en ts do n ot r ecog n ize th e u n ion of con su la r w ith diplom a tic fu n ct ion s. Ita ly a n d V en ezu ela w ill on ly r eceiv e

th e a ppoin tee in on e of h is tw o ca pa cit ies, bu t th is does n ot pr ev en t th e r equ ir em en t of a bon d a n d su bm ission to th e r espon sibilit ies

of a n office w h ose du t ies h e ca n n ot disch a r g e. Th e su per a dded t it le of con su l-g en er a l sh ou ld be a ba n don ed a t a ll m ission s.

I deem it ex pedien t th a t a w ell-dev ised m ea su r e for th e r eor g a n iza t ion of th e ex tr a ter r itor ia l cou r ts in Or ien ta l cou n tr ies sh ou ld

r epla ce th e pr esen t sy stem , w h ich la bor s u n der th e disa dv a n ta g e of com bin in g ju dicia l a n d ex ecu t iv e fu n ct ion s in th e sa m e office.

In sev er a l Or ien ta l cou n tr ies g en er ou s offer s h a v e been m a de of pr em ises for h ou sin g th e leg a t ion s of th e Un ited Sta tes. A g r a n t of

la n d for th a t pu r pose w a s m a de som e y ea r s sin ce by Ja pa n , a n d h a s been r efer r ed to in th e a n n u a l m essa g es of m y pr edecessor . Th e

Sia m ese Gov er n m en t h a s m a de a g ift to th e Un ited Sta tes of com m odiou s qu a r ter s in Ba n g kok. In Kor ea th e la te m in ister w a s

per m itted to pu r ch a se a bu ildin g fr om th e Gov er n m en t for leg a t ion u se. In Ch in a th e pr em ises r en ted for th e leg a t ion a r e fa v or ed

a s to loca l ch a r g es. A t Ta n g ier th e h ou se occu pied by ou r r epr esen ta t iv e h a s been for m a n y y ea r s th e pr oper ty ; th is Gov er n m en t,

h a v in g been g iv en for th a t pu r pose in 1 8 2 2 by th e Su lta n of Mor occo. I a ppr ov e th e su g g est ion h er etofor e m a de, th a t , v iew of th e

con dit ion s of life a n d a dm in istr a t ion in th e Ea ster n cou n tr ies, th e leg a t ion bu ildin g s in Ch in a , Ja pa n , Kor ea , Sia m , a n d per h a ps

Per sia , sh ou ld be ow n ed a n d fu r n ish ed by th e Gov er n m en t w ith a v iew to per m a n en cy a n d secu r ity . To th is en d I r ecom m en d th a t

a u th or ity be g iv en to a ccept th e g ifts a dv er ted to in Ja pa n a n d Sia m , a n d to pu r ch a se in th e oth er cou n tr ies n a m ed, w ith pr ov ision

for fu r n itu r e a n d r epa ir s. A con sider a ble sa v in g in r en ta ls w ou ld r esu lt .

Th e Wor ld's In du str ia l Ex posit ion , h eld a t New Or lea n s la st w in ter , w ith th e a ssista n ce of th e Feder a l Gov er n m en t, a t tr a cted a

la r g e n u m ber of for eig n ex h ibits, a n d pr ov ed of g r ea t v a lu e in spr ea din g a m on g th e con cou r se of v isitor s fr om Mex ico a n d Cen tr a l

a n d Sou th A m er ica a w ider kn ow ledg e of th e v a r ied m a n u fa ctu r es a n d pr odu ct ion s of th is cou n tr y a n d th eir a v a ila bility in

ex ch a n g e for th e pr odu ct ion s of th ose r eg ion s.

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Pa st Con g r esses h a v e h a d u n der con sider a t ion th e a dv isa bility of a bolish in g th e discr im in a t ion m a de by th e ta r iff la w s in fa v or of

th e w or ks of A m er ica n a r t ists. Th e odiu m of th e policy w h ich su bjects to a h ig h r a te of du ty th e pa in t in g s of for eig n a r t ists a n d

ex em pts th e pr odu ct ion s of A m er ica n a r t ists r esidin g a br oa d, a n d w h o r eceiv e g r a tu itou sly a dv a n ta g es a n d in str u ct ion , is v isited

u pon ou r cit izen s en g a g ed in a r t cu ltu r e in Eu r ope, a n d h a s ca u sed th em w ith pr a ct ica l u n a n im ity to fa v or th e a bolit ion of su ch a n

u n g r a ciou s dist in ct ion ; a n d in th eir in ter est , a n d for oth er obv iou s r ea son s, I str on g ly r ecom m en d it .

Th e r epor t of th e Secr eta r y of th e Tr ea su r y fu lly ex h ibits th e con dit ion of th e pu blic fin a n ces a n d of th e sev er a l br a n ch es of th e

Gov er n m en t con n ected w ith h is Depa r tm en t. Th e su g g est ion s of th e Secr eta r y r ela t in g to th e pr a ct ica l oper a t ion s of th is

im por ta n t Depa r tm en t, a n d h is r ecom m en da tion s in th e dir ect ion of sim plifica t ion a n d econ om y , pa r t icu la r ly in th e w or k of

collect in g cu stom s du ties, a r e especia lly u r g ed u pon th e a tten t ion of Con g r ess.

Th e or din a r y r eceipts fr om a ll sou r ces for th e fisca l y ea r en ded Ju n e 3 0, 1 8 8 5 , w er e $3 2 2 ,6 9 0,7 06 .3 8 . Of th is su m

$1 8 1 ,4 7 1 ,9 3 9 .3 4 w a s r eceiv ed fr om cu stom s a n d $1 1 2 ,4 9 8 ,7 2 5 .5 4 fr om in ter n a l r ev en u e. Th e tota l r eceipts, a s g iv en a bov e,

w er e $2 4 ,8 2 9 ,1 6 3 .5 4 less th a n th ose for th e y ea r en ded Ju n e 3 0, 1 8 8 4 . Th is dim in u tion em br a ces a fa llin g off of $1 3 ,5 9 5 ,5 5 0.4 2

in th e r eceipts fr om cu stom s a n d $9 ,6 8 7 ,3 4 6 .9 7 in th e r eceipts fr om in ter n a l r ev en u e.

Th e tota l or din a r y ex pen ditu r es of th e Gov er n m en t for th e fisca l y ea r w er e $2 6 0,2 2 6 ,9 3 5 .5 0, lea v in g a su r plu s in th e Tr ea su r y

a t th e close of th e y ea r of $6 3 ,4 6 3 ,7 7 1 .2 7 . Th is is $4 0,9 2 9 ,8 5 4 .3 2 less th a n th e su r plu s r epor ted a t th e close of th e pr ev iou s y ea r .

Th e ex pen ditu r es a r e cla ssified a s follow s:

Th e a m ou n t pa id on th e pu blic debt du r in g th e fisca l y ea r en ded Ju n e 3 0, 1 8 8 5 , w a s $4 5 ,9 9 3 ,2 3 5 .4 3 , a n d th er e h a s been pa id

sin ce th a t da te a n d u p to Nov em ber 1 , 1 8 8 5 , th e su m of $3 6 9 ,8 2 8 , lea v in g th e a m ou n t of th e debt a t th e la st-n a m ed da te

$1 ,5 1 4 ,4 7 5 ,8 6 0.4 7 . Th er e w a s h ow ev er , a t th a t t im e in th e Tr ea su r y , a pplica ble to th e g en er a l pu r poses of th e Gov er n m en t, th e

su m of $6 6 ,8 1 8 ,2 9 2 .3 8 .

Th e tota l r eceipts for th e cu r r en t fisca l y ea r en din g Ju n e 3 0, 1 8 8 6 , a scer ta in ed to October 1 , 1 8 8 5 , a n d est im a ted for th e

r em a in der of th e y ea r , a r e $3 1 5 ,000,000. Th e ex pen ditu r es a scer ta in ed a n d est im a ted for th e sa m e t im e a r e $2 4 5 ,000,000,

lea v in g a su r plu s a t th e close of th e y ea r est im a ted a t $7 0,000,000.

Th e v a lu e of th e ex por ts fr om th e Un ited Sta tes to for eig n cou n tr ies du r in g th e la st fisca l y ea r w a s a s follow s:

Som e of th e pr in cipa l ex por ts, w ith th eir v a lu es a n d th e per cen ta g e th ey r espect iv ely bea r to th e tota l ex por ta t ion , a r e g iv en a s

follow s:

Ou r im por ts du r in g th e y ea r w er e a s follow s:

Th e follow in g a r e g iv en a s pr om in en t a r t icles of im por t du r in g th e y ea r , w ith th eir v a lu es a n d th e per cen ta g e th ey bea r to th e

tota l im por ta t ion :

Of th e en t ir e a m ou n t of du t ies collected 7 0 per cen t w a s collected fr om th e follow in g a r t icles of im por t :

Th e fa ct th a t ou r r ev en u es a r e in ex cess of th e a ctu a l n eeds of a ll econ om ica l a dm in istr a t ion of th e Gov er n m en t ju st ifies a

r edu ct ion in th e a m ou n t ex a cted fr om th e people for its su ppor t . Ou r Gov er n m en t is bu t th e m ea n s esta blish ed by th e w ill of a fr ee

people by w h ich cer ta in pr in ciples a r e a pplied w h ich th ey h a v e a dopted for th eir ben efit a n d pr otect ion ; a n d it is n ev er better

a dm in ister ed a n d its tr u e spir it is n ev er better obser v ed th a n w h en th e people's ta x a t ion for its su ppor t is scr u pu lou sly lim ited to

th e a ctu a l n ecessity of ex pen ditu r e a n d distr ibu ted a ccor din g to a ju st a n d equ ita ble pla n .

Th e pr oposit ion w ith w h ich w e h a v e to dea l is th e r edu ct ion of th e r ev en u e r eceiv ed by th e Gov er n m en t, a n d in dir ect ly pa id by

th e people, fr om cu stom s du ties. Th e qu est ion of fr ee tr a de is n ot in v olv ed, n or is th er e n ow a n y occa sion for th e g en er a l discu ssion

of th e w isdom or ex pedien cy of a pr otect iv e sy stem .

Ju st ice a n d fa ir n ess dicta te th a t in a n y m odifica t ion of ou r pr esen t la w s r ela t in g to r ev en u e th e in du str ies a n d in ter ests w h ich

h a v e been en cou r a g ed by su ch la w s, a n d in w h ich ou r cit izen s h a v e la r g e in v estm en ts, sh ou ld n ot be r u th lessly in ju r ed or

destr oy ed. We sh ou ld a lso dea l w ith th e su bject in su ch m a n n er a s to pr otect th e in ter ests of A m er ica n la bor , w h ich is th e ca pita l of

ou r w or kin g m en . Its sta bility a n d pr oper r em u n er a t ion fu r n ish th e m ost ju st ifia ble pr etex t for a pr otect iv e policy .

With in th ese lim ita t ion s a cer ta in r edu ct ion sh ou ld be m a de in ou r cu stom s r ev en u e. Th e a m ou n t of su ch r edu ct ion h a v in g been

deter m in ed, th e in qu ir y follow s, Wh er e ca n it best be r em itted a n d w h a t a r t icles ca n best be r elea sed fr om du ty in th e in ter est of

ou r cit izen s?

I th in k th e r edu ct ion sh ou ld be m a de in th e r ev en u e der iv ed fr om a ta x u pon th e im por ted n ecessa r ies of life. We th u s dir ect ly

lessen th e cost of liv in g in ev er y fa m ily of th e la n d a n d r elea se to th e people in ev er y h u m ble h om e a la r g er m ea su r e of th e

r ew a r ds of fr u g a l in du str y .

Du r in g th e y ea r en ded Nov em ber 1 , 1 8 8 5 , 1 4 5 n a t ion a l ba n ks w er e or g a n ized, w ith a n a g g r eg a te ca pita l of $1 6 ,9 3 8 ,000, a n d

cir cu la t in g n otes h a v e been issu ed to th em a m ou n tin g to $4 ,2 7 4 ,9 1 0. Th e w h ole n u m ber of th ese ba n ks in ex isten ce on th e da y

a bov e m en tion ed w a s 2 ,7 2 7 .

Th e v er y lim ited a m ou n t of cir cu la t in g n otes issu ed by ou r n a t ion a l ba n ks, com pa r ed w ith th e a m ou n t th e la w per m its th em to

issu e u pon a deposit of bon ds for th eir r edem ption , in dica tes th a t th e v olu m e of ou r cir cu la t in g m ediu m m a y be la r g ely in cr ea sed

th r ou g h th is in str u m en ta lity .

Noth in g m or e im por ta n t th a n th e pr esen t con dit ion of ou r cu r r en cy a n d coin a g e ca n cla im y ou r a tten t ion .

Sin ce Febr u a r y , 1 8 7 8 , th e Gov er n m en t h a s, u n der th e com pu lsor y pr ov ision s of la w , pu r ch a sed silv er bu llion a n d coin ed th e sa m e

a t th e r a te of m or e th a n $2 ,000,000 ev er y m on th . By th is pr ocess u p to th e pr esen t da te 2 1 5 ,7 5 9 ,4 3 1 silv er dolla r s h a v e been

coin ed.

A r ea son a ble a ppr ecia t ion of a deleg a t ion of pow er to th e Gen er a l Gov er n m en t w ou ld lim it its ex er cise, w ith ou t ex pr ess r estr ict iv e

w or ds, to th e people's n eeds a n d th e r equ ir em en ts of th e pu blic w elfa r e.

Upon th is th eor y th e a u th or ity to "coin m on ey " g iv en to Con g r ess by th e Con st itu t ion , if it per m its th e pu r ch a se by th e

Gov er n m en t of bu llion for coin a g e in a n y ev en t , does n ot ju st ify su ch pu r ch a se a n d coin a g e to a n ex ten t bey on d th e a m ou n t

n eeded for a su fficien t cir cu la t in g m ediu m .

Th e desir e to u t ilize th e silv er pr odu ct of th e cou n tr y sh ou ld n ot lea d to a m isu se or th e per v er sion of th is pow er .

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Th e n ecessity for su ch a n a ddit ion to th e silv er cu r r en cy of th e n a t ion a s is com pelled by th e silv er -coin a g e a ct is n eg a t iv ed by th e

fa ct th a t u p to th e pr esen t t im e on ly a bou t 5 0,000,000 of th e silv er dolla r s so coin ed h a v e a ctu a lly fou n d th eir w a y in to

cir cu la t ion , lea v in g m or e th a n 1 6 5 ,000,000 in th e possession of th e Gov er n m en t, th e cu stody of w h ich h a s en ta iled a con sider a ble

ex pen se for th e con str u ct ion of v a u lts for it deposit . A g a in st th is la t ter a m ou n t th er e a r e ou tsta n din g silv er cer t ifica tes a m ou n tin g

to a bou t $9 3 ,000,000.

Ev er y m on th tw o m illion s of g old in th e pu blic Tr ea su r y a r e pa id ou r for tw o m illion s or m or e of silv er dolla r s, to be a dded to th e

idle m a ss a lr ea dy a ccu m u la ted.

If con t in u ed lon g en ou g h , th is oper a t ion w ill r esu lt in th e su bst itu t ion of silv er for a ll th e g old th e Gov er n m en t ow n s a pplica ble to

its g en er a l pu r poses. It w ill n ot do to r ely u pon th e cu stom s r eceipts of th e Gov er n m en t to m a ke g ood th is dr a in of g old, beca u se th e

silv er th u s coin ed h a v in g been m a de leg a l ten der for a ll debts a n d du es, pu blic a n d pr iv a te, a t t im es du r in g th e la st six m on th s 5 8

per cen t of th e r eceipts for du t ies h a s been in silv er or silv er cer t ifica tes, w h ile th e a v er a g e w ith in th a t per iod h a s been 2 0 per

cen t . Th e pr opor t ion of silv er a n d its cer t ifica tes r eceiv ed by th e Gov er n m en t w ill pr oba bly in cr ea se a s t im e g oes on , for th e r ea son

th a t th e n ea r er th e per iod a ppr oa ch es w h en it w ill be oblig ed to offer silv er in pa y m en t of its oblig a t ion s th e g r ea ter in du cem en t

th er e w ill be to h oa r d g old a g a in st depr ecia t ion in th e v a lu e of silv er or for th e pu r pose of specu la t in g .

Th is h oa r din g of g old h a s a lr ea dy beg u n .

Wh en th e t im e com es th a t g old h a s been w ith dr a w n fr om cir cu la t ion , th en w ill be a ppa r en t th e differ en ce betw een th e r ea l v a lu e

of th e silv er dolla r a n d a dolla r in g old, a n d th e tw o coin s w ill pa r t com pa n y . Gold, st ill th e sta n da r d of v a lu e a n d n ecessa r y in ou r

dea lin g s w ith oth er cou n tr ies, w ill be a t a pr em iu m ov er silv er ; ba n ks w h ich h a v e su bst itu ted g old for th e deposits of th eir

cu stom er s m a y pa y th em w ith silv er bou g h t w ith su ch g old, th u s m a kin g a h a n dsom e pr ofit ; r ich specu la tor s w ill sell th eir

h oa r ded g old to th eir n eig h bor s w h o n eed it to liqu ida te th eir for eig n debts, a t a r u in ou s pr em iu m ov er silv er , a n d th e la bor in g

m en a n d w om en of th e la n d, m ost defen seless of a ll, w ill fin d th a t th e dolla r r eceiv ed for th e w a g e of th eir toil h a s sa dly sh r u n k in

its pu r ch a sin g pow er . It m a y be sa id th a t th e la t ter r esu lt w ill be bu t tem por a r y , a n d th a t u lt im a tely th e pr ice of la bor w ill be

a dju sted to th e ch a n g e; bu t ev en if th is ta kes pla ce th e w a g e-w or ker ca n n ot possibly g a in , bu t m u st in ev ita bly lose, sin ce th e pr ice

h e is com pelled to pa y for h is liv in g w ill n ot on ly be m ea su r ed in a coin h ea v ily depr ecia ted a n d flu ctu a t in g a n d u n cer ta in in its

v a lu e, bu t th is u n cer ta in ty in th e v a lu e of th e pu r ch a sin g m ediu m w ill be m a de th e pr etex t for a n a dv a n ce in pr ices bey on d th a t

ju st ified by a ctu a l depr ecia t ion .

Th e w or ds u tter ed in 1 8 3 4 by Da n iel Webster in th e Sen a te of th e Un ited Sta tes a r e tr u e to-da y :

Th e v er y m a n of a ll oth er s w h o h a s th e deepest in ter est in a sou n d cu r r en cy , a n d w h o su ffer s m ost by m isch iev ou s

leg isla t ion in m on ey m a tter s, is th e m a n w h o ea r n s h is da ily br ea d by h is da ily toil.

Th e m ost dist in g u ish ed a dv oca te of bim eta llism , discu ssin g ou r silv er coin a g e, h a s la tely w r it ten :

No A m er ica n cit izen 's h a n d h a s y et felt th e sen sa t ion of ch ea pn ess, eith er in r eceiv in g or ex pen din g th e silv er -a ct

dolla r s.

A n d th ose w h o liv e by la bor or leg it im a te tr a de n ev er w ill feel th a t sen sa t ion of ch ea pn ess. How ev er plen ty silv er dolla r s m a y

becom e, th ey w ill n ot be distr ibu ted a s g ifts a m on g th e people; a n d if th e la bor in g m a n sh ou ld r eceiv e fou r depr ecia ted dolla r s

w h er e h e n ow r eceiv es bu t tw o, h e w ill pa y in th e depr ecia ted coin m or e th a n dou ble th e pr ice h e n ow pa y s for a ll th e n ecessa r ies

a n d com for ts of life.

Th ose w h o do n ot fea r a n y disa str ou s con sequ en ces a r isin g fr om th e con tin u ed com pu lsor y coin a g e of silv er a s n ow dir ected by la w ,

a n d w h o su ppose th a t th e a ddit ion to th e cu r r en cy of th e cou n tr y in ten ded a s its r esu lt w ill be a pu blic ben efit , a r e r em in ded th a t

h istor y dem on str a tes th a t th e poin t is ea sily r ea ch ed in th e a ttem pt to floa t a t th e sa m e t im e tw o sor ts of m on ey of differ en t

ex cellen ce w h en th e better w ill cea se to be in g en er a l cir cu la t ion . Th e h oa r din g of g old w h ich h a s a lr ea dy ta ken pla ce in dica tes

th a t w e sh a ll n ot esca pe th e u su a l ex per ien ce in su ch ca ses. So if th is silv er coin a g e be con tin u ed w e m a y r ea son a bly ex pect th a t

g old a n d its equ iv a len t w ill a ba n don th e field of cir cu la t ion to silv er a lon e. Th is of cou r se m u st pr odu ce a sev er e con tr a ct ion of ou r

cir cu la t in g m ediu m , in stea d of a ddin g to it .

It w ill n ot be dispu ted th a t a n y a ttem pt on th e pa r t of th e Gov er n m en t to ca u se th e cir cu la t ion of silv er dolla r s w or th 8 0 cen ts side

by side w ith g old dolla r s w or th 1 00 cen ts, ev en w ith in th e lim it th a t leg isla t ion does n ot r u n cou n ter to th e la w s of tr a de, to be

su ccessfu l m u st be secon ded by th e con fiden ce of th e people th a t both coin s w ill r eta in th e sa m e pu r ch a sin g pow er a n d be

in ter ch a n g ea ble a t w ill. A specia l effor t h a s been m a de by th e Secr eta r y of th e Tr ea su r y to in cr ea se th e a m ou n t of ou r silv er coin

in cir cu la t ion ; bu t th e fa ct th a t a la r g e sh a r e of th e lim ited a m ou n t th u s pu t ou t h a s soon r etu r n ed to th e pu blic Tr ea su r y in

pa y m en t of du t ies lea ds to th e belief th a t th e people do n ot n ow desir e to keep it in h a n d, a n d th is, w ith th e ev iden t disposit ion to

h oa r d g old, g iv es r ise to th e su spicion th a t th er e a lr ea dy ex ists a la ck of con fiden ce a m on g th e people tou ch in g ou r fin a n cia l

pr ocesses. Th er e is cer ta in ly n ot en ou g h silv er n ow in cir cu la t ion to ca u se u n ea sin ess, a n d th e w h ole a m ou n t coin ed a n d n ow on

h a n d m ig h t a fter a t im e be a bsor bed by th e people w ith ou t a ppr eh en sion ; bu t it is th e cea seless str ea m th a t th r ea ten s to ov er flow

th e la n d w h ich ca u ses fea r a n d u n cer ta in ty .

Wh a t h a s been th u s fa r su bm itted u pon th is su bject r ela tes a lm ost en t ir ely to con sider a t ion s of a h om e n a tu r e, u n con n ected w ith

th e bea r in g w h ich th e policies of oth er n a t ion s h a v e u pon th e qu est ion . Bu t it is per fect ly a ppa r en t th a t a lin e of a ct ion in r eg a r d to

ou r cu r r en cy ca n n ot w isely be sett led u pon or per sisted in w ith ou t con sider in g th e a tt itu de on th e su bject of oth er cou n tr ies w ith

w h om w e m a in ta in in ter cou r se th r ou g h com m er ce, tr a de, a n d tr a v el. A n a ckn ow ledg m en t of th is fa ct is fou n d in th e a ct by

v ir tu e of w h ich ou r silv er is com pu lsor ily coin ed. It pr ov ides th a t--

Th e Pr esiden t sh a ll in v ite th e g ov er n m en ts of th e cou n tr ies com posin g th e La t in Un ion , so ca lled, a n d of su ch oth er

Eu r opea n n a t ion s a s h e m a y deem a dv isa ble, to join th e Un ited Sta tes in a con fer en ce to a dopt a com m on r a t io

betw een g old a n d silv er for th e pu r pose of esta blish in g in ter n a t ion a lly th e u se of bim eta llic m on ey a n d secu r in g

fix ity of r ela t iv e v a lu e betw een th ose m eta ls.

Th is con fer en ce a bsolu tely fa iled, a n d a sim ila r fa te h a s a w a ited a ll su bsequ en t effor ts in th e sa m e dir ect ion . A n d st ill w e con tin u e

ou r coin a g e of silv er a t a r a t io differ en t fr om th a t of a n y oth er n a t ion . Th e m ost v ita l pa r t of th e silv er -coin a g e a ct r em a in s

in oper a t iv e a n d u n ex ecu ted, a n d w ith ou t a n a lly or fr ien d w e ba tt le u pon th e silv er field in a n illog ica l a n d losin g con test .

To g iv e fu ll effect to th e desig n of Con g r ess on th is su bject I h a v e m a de ca r efu l a n d ea r n est en dea v or sin ce th e a djou r n m en t of th e

la st Con g r ess.

To th is en d I deleg a ted a g en t lem a n w ell in str u cted in fisca l scien ce to pr oceed to th e fin a n cia l cen ter s of Eu r ope a n d, in

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con ju n ct ion w ith ou r m in ister s to En g la n d, Fr a n ce, a n d Ger m a n y , to obta in a fu ll kn ow ledg e of th e a tt itu de a n d in ten t of th ose

g ov er n m en ts in r espect of th e esta blish m en t of su ch a n in ter n a t ion a l r a t io a s w ou ld pr ocu r e fr ee coin a g e of both m eta ls a t th e

m in ts of th ose cou n tr ies a n d ou r ow n . By m y dir ect ion ou r con su l-g en er a l a t Pa r is h a s g iv en close a tten t ion to th e pr oceedin g s of

th e con g r ess of th e La t in Un ion , in or der to in dica te ou r in ter est in its objects a n d r epor t its a ct ion .

It m a y be sa id in br ief, a s th e r esu lt of th ese effor ts, th a t th e a tt itu de of th e lea din g pow er s r em a in s su bsta n t ia lly u n ch a n g ed sin ce

th e m on eta r y con fer en ce of 1 8 8 1 , n or is it to be qu est ion ed th a t th e v iew s of th ese g ov er n m en ts a r e in ea ch in sta n ce su ppor ted by

th e w eig h t of pu blic opin ion .

Th e steps th u s ta ken h a v e th er efor e on ly m or e fu lly dem on str a ted th e u selessn ess of fu r th er a ttem pts a t pr esen t to a r r iv e a t a n y

a g r eem en t on th e su bject w ith oth er n a t ion s.

In th e m ea n tim e w e a r e a ccu m u la t in g silv er coin , ba sed u pon ou r ow n pecu lia r r a t io, to su ch a n ex ten t , a n d a ssu m in g so h ea v y a

bu r den to be pr ov ided for in a n y in ter n a t ion a l n eg ot ia t ion s, a s w ill r en der u s a n u n desir a ble pa r ty to a n y fu tu r e m on eta r y

con fer en ce of n a t ion s.

It is a sig n ifica n t fa ct th a t fou r of th e fiv e cou n tr ies com posin g th e La t in Un ion m en tion ed in ou r coin a g e a ct , em ba r r a ssed w ith

th eir silv er cu r r en cy , h a v e ju st com pleted a n a g r eem en t a m on g th em selv es th a t n o m or e silv er sh a ll be coin ed by th eir r espect iv e

Gov er n m en ts a n d th a t su ch a s h a s been a lr ea dy coin ed a n d in cir cu la t ion sh a ll be r edeem ed in g old by th e cou n tr y of its coin a g e.

Th e r esor t to th is ex pedien t by th ese cou n tr ies m a y w ell a r r est th e a tten t ion of th ose w h o su ppose th a t w e ca n su cceed w ith ou t

sh ock or in ju r y in th e a ttem pt to cir cu la te u pon its m er its a ll th e silv er w e m a y coin u n der th e pr ov ision s of ou r silv er -coin a g e a ct .

Th e con dit ion in w h ich ou r Tr ea su r y m a y be pla ced by a per sisten ce in ou r pr esen t cou r se is a m a tter of con cer n to ev er y pa tr iot ic

cit izen w h o does n ot desir e h is Gov er n m en t to pa y in silv er su ch of its oblig a t ion s a s sh ou ld be pa id in g old. Nor sh ou ld ou r

con dit ion be su ch a s to oblig e u s, in a pr u den t m a n a g em en t of ou r a ffa ir s, to discon tin u e th e ca llin g in a n d pa y m en t of in ter est-

bea r in g oblig a t ion s w h ich w e h a v e th e r ig h t n ow to disch a r g e, a n d th u s a v oid th e pa y m en t of fu r th er in ter est th er eon .

Th e so-ca lled debtor cla ss, for w h ose ben efit th e con tin u ed com pu lsor y coin a g e of silv er is in sisted u pon , a r e n ot dish on est beca u se

th ey a r e in debt , a n d th ey sh ou ld n ot be su spected of a desir e to jeopa r dize th e fin a n cia l sa fety of th e cou n tr y in or der th a t th ey

m a y ca n cel th eir pr esen t debts by pa y in g th e sa m e in depr ecia ted dolla r s. Nor sh ou ld it be for g otten th a t it is n ot th e r ich n or th e

m on ey len der a lon e th a t m u st su bm it to su ch a r ea dju stm en t, en for ced by th e Gov er n m en t a n d th eir debtor s. Th e pit ta n ce of th e

w idow a n d th e or ph a n a n d th e in com es of h elpless ben eficia r ies of a ll kin ds w ou ld be disa str ou sly r edu ced. Th e depositor s in

sa v in g s ba n ks a n d in oth er in st itu t ion s w h ich h old in tr u st th e sa v in g s of th e poor , w h en th eir lit t le a ccu m u la t ion s a r e sca led

dow n to m eet th e n ew or der of th in g s, w ou ld in th eir distr ess pa in fu lly r ea lize th e delu sion of th e pr om ise m a de to th em th a t

plen t ifu l m on ey w ou ld im pr ov e th eir con dit ion .

We h a v e n ow on h a n d a ll th e silv er dolla r s n ecessa r y to su pply th e pr esen t n eeds of th e people a n d to sa t isfy th ose w h o fr om

sen tim en t w ish to see th em in cir cu la t ion , a n d if th eir coin a g e is su spen ded th ey ca n be r ea dily obta in ed by a ll w h o desir e th em . If

th e n eed of m or e is a t a n y t im e a ppa r en t , th eir coin a g e m a y be r en ew ed.

Th a t disa ster h a s n ot a lr ea dy ov er ta ken u s fu r n ish es n o pr oof th a t da n g er does n ot w a it u pon a con tin u a t ion of th e pr esen t silv er

coin a g e. We h a v e been sa v ed by th e m ost ca r efu l m a n a g em en t a n d u n u su a l ex pedien ts, by a com bin a t ion of for tu n a te con dit ion s,

a n d by a con fiden t ex pecta t ion th a t th e cou r se of th e Gov er n m en t in r eg a r d to silv er coin a g e w ou ld be speedily ch a n g ed by th e

a ct ion of Con g r ess.

Pr osper ity h esita tes u pon ou r th r esh old beca u se of th e da n g er s a n d u n cer ta in t ies su r r ou n din g th is qu est ion . Ca pita l t im idly

sh r in ks fr om tr a de, a n d in v estor s a r e u n w illin g to ta ke th e ch a n ce of th e qu est ion a ble sh a pe in w h ich th eir m on ey w ill be r etu r n ed

to th em , w h ile en ter pr ise h a lts a t a r isk a g a in st w h ich ca r e a n d sa g a ciou s m a n a g em en t do n ot pr otect .

A s a n ecessa r y con sequ en ce, la bor la cks em ploy m en t a n d su ffer in g a n d distr ess a r e v isited u pon a por t ion of ou r fellow -cit izen s

especia lly en t it led to th e ca r efu l con sider a t ion of th ose ch a r g ed w ith th e du t ies of leg isla t ion . No in ter est a ppea ls to u s so str on g ly

for a sa fe a n d sta ble cu r r en cy a s th e v a st a r m y of th e u n em ploy ed.

I r ecom m en d th e su spen sion of th e com pu lsor y coin a g e of silv er dolla r s, dir ected by th e la w pa ssed in Febr u a r y , 1 8 7 8 .

Th e Stea m boa t-In spect ion Ser v ice on th e 3 0th da y of Ju n e, 1 8 8 5 , w a s com posed of 1 4 0 per son s, in clu din g officer s, cler ks, a n d

m essen g er s. Th e ex pen ses of th e ser v ice ov er th e r eceipts w er e $1 3 8 ,8 2 2 .2 2 du r in g th e fisca l y ea r . Th e specia l in spect ion of

for eig n stea m v essels, or g a n ized u n der a la w pa ssed in 1 8 8 2 , w a s m a in ta in ed du r in g th e y ea r a t a n ex pen se of $3 6 ,6 4 1 .6 3 . Sin ce

th e close of th e fisca l y ea r r edu ct ion s h a v e been m a de in th e for ce em ploy ed w h ich w ill r esu lt in a sa v in g du r in g th e cu r r en t y ea r

of $1 7 ,000 w ith ou t a ffect in g th e efficien cy of th e ser v ice.

Th e Su per v isin g Su r g eon -Gen er a l r epor ts th a t du r in g th e fisca l y ea r 4 1 ,7 1 4 pa t ien ts h a v e r eceiv ed r elief th r ou g h th e Ma r in e-

Hospita l Ser v ice, of w h om 1 2 ,8 03 w er e tr ea ted in h ospita ls a n d 2 8 ,9 1 1 a t th e dispen sa r ies.

A ct iv e a n d effect iv e effor ts h a v e been m a de th r ou g h th e m ediu m of th is ser v ice to pr otect th e cou n tr y a g a in st a n in v a sion of

ch oler a , w h ich h a s pr ev a iled in Spa in a n d Fr a n ce, a n d th e sm a llpox , w h ich r ecen t ly br oke ou t in Ca n a da .

Th e m ost g r a t ify in g r esu lts h a v e a tten ded th e oper a t ion s of th e Life Sa v in g Ser v ice du r in g th e la st fisca l y ea r . Th e obser v a n ce of

th e pr ov ision of la w r equ ir in g th e a ppoin tm en t of th e for ce em ploy ed in th is ser v ice to be m a de "solely w ith r efer en ce to th eir

fitn ess, a n d w ith ou t r efer en ce to th eir polit ica l or pa r ty a ffilia t ion ," h a s secu r ed th e r esu lt w h ich m a y con fiden t ly be ex pected in

a n y br a n ch of pu blic em ploy m en t w h er e su ch a r u le is a pplied. A s a con sequ en ce, th is ser v ice is com posed of m en w ell qu a lified for

th e per for m a n ce of th eir da n g er ou s a n d ex cept ion a lly im por ta n t du t ies

Th e n u m ber of sta t ion s in com m ission a t th e close of th e y ea r w a s 2 03 . Th e n u m ber of disa ster s to v essels a n d cr a ft of a ll kin ds

w ith in th eir field of a ct ion w a s 3 7 1 . Th e n u m ber of per son s en da n g er ed in su ch disa ster s w a s 2 ,4 3 9 , of w h om 2 ,4 2 8 w er e sa v ed

a n d on ly 1 1 lost . Oth er liv es w h ich w er e im per iled, th ou g h n ot by disa ster s to sh ippin g , w er e a lso r escu ed, a n d a la r g e a m ou n t of

pr oper ty w a s sa v ed th r ou g h th e a id of th is ser v ice. Th e cost of its m a in ten a n ce du r in g th e y ea r w a s $8 2 8 ,4 7 4 .4 3 .

Th e w or k of th e Coa st a n d Geodet ic Su r v ey w a s du r in g th e la st fisca l y ea r ca r r ied on w ith in th e bou n da r ies a n d off th e coa sts of

th ir ty -tw o Sta tes, tw o Ter r itor ies, a n d th e Distr ict of Colu m bia . In Ju ly la st cer ta in ir r eg u la r it ies w er e fou n d to ex ist in th e

m a n a g em en t of th is Bu r ea u , w h ich led to a pr om pt in v est ig a t ion of its m eth ods. Th e a bu ses w h ich w er e br ou g h t to lig h t by th is

ex a m in a t ion a n d th e r eckless disr eg a r d of du ty a n d th e in ter ests of th e Gov er n m en t dev eloped on th e pa r t of som e of th ose

con n ected w ith th e ser v ice m a de a ch a n g e of su per in ten den cy a n d a few of its oth er officer s n ecessa r y . Sin ce th e Bu r ea u h a s been

in n ew h a n ds a n in tr odu ct ion of econ om ies a n d th e a pplica t ion of bu sin ess m eth ods h a v e pr odu ced a n im por ta n t sa v in g to th e

Gov er n m en t a n d a pr om ise of m or e u sefu l r esu lts.

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Gov er n m en t a n d a pr om ise of m or e u sefu l r esu lts.

Th is ser v ice h a s n ev er been r eg u la ted by a n y th in g bu t th e m ost in defin ite leg a l en a ctm en ts a n d th e m ost u n sa t isfa ctor y r u les. It

w a s m a n y y ea r s a g o sa n ct ion ed a ppa r en t ly for a pu r pose r eg a r ded a s tem por a r y a n d r ela ted to a su r v ey of ou r coa st . Ha v in g

g a in ed a pla ce in th e a ppr opr ia t ion s m a de by Con g r ess, it h a s g r a du a lly ta ken to itself pow er s a n d objects n ot con tem pla ted in its

cr ea t ion a n d ex ten ded its oper a t ion s u n til it sa dly n eeds leg isla t iv e a tten t ion .

So fa r a s a fu r th er su r v ey of ou r coa st is con cer n ed, th er e seem s to be a pr opr iety in tr a n sfer r in g th a t w or k to th e Na v y

Depa r tm en t. Th e oth er du t ies n ow in ch a r g e of th is esta blish m en t, if th ey ca n n ot be pr ofita bly a tta ch ed to som e ex ist in g

Depa r tm en t or oth er bu r ea u , sh ou ld be pr osecu ted u n der a la w ex a ct ly defin in g th eir scope a n d pu r pose, a n d w ith a ca r efu l

discr im in a t ion betw een th e scien t ific in qu ir ies w h ich m a y pr oper ly be a ssu m ed by th e Gov er n m en t a n d th ose w h ich sh ou ld be

u n der ta ken by Sta te a u th or ity or by in div idu a l en ter pr ise.

It is h oped th a t th e r epor t of th e Con g r ession a l com m ittee h er etofor e a ppoin ted to in v est ig a te th is a n d oth er like m a tter s w ill a id in

th e a ccom plish m en t of pr oper leg isla t ion on th is su bject .

Th e r epor t of th e Secr eta r y of Wa r is h er ew ith su bm itted. Th e a tten t ion of Con g r ess is in v ited to th e deta iled a ccou n t w h ich it

con ta in s of th e a dm in istr a t ion of h is Depa r tm en t, a n d h is r ecom m en da tion s a n d su g g est ion s for th e im pr ov em en t of th e ser v ice.

Th e A r m y con sisted, a t th e da te of th e la st con solida ted r etu r n s, of 2 ,1 5 4 officer s a n d 2 4 ,7 05 en listed m en .

Th e ex pen ses of th e Depa r tm en ts for th e fisca l y ea r en ded Ju n e, 3 0, 1 8 8 5 , in clu din g $1 3 ,1 6 4 ,3 9 4 .6 0 for pu blic w or ks a n d r iv er

a n d h a r bor im pr ov em en ts, w er e $4 5 ,8 5 0,9 9 9 .5 4 .

Besides th e tr oops w h ich w er e dispa tch ed in pu r su it of th e sm a ll ba n d of In dia n s w h o left th eir r eser v a t ion in A r izon a a n d

com m itted m u r der s a n d ou tr a g es, tw o r eg im en ts of ca v a lr y a n d on e of in fa n tr y w er e sen t la st Ju ly to th e In dia n Ter r itor y to

pr ev en t a n ou tbr ea k w h ich seem ed im m in en t . Th ey r em a in ed to a id, if n ecessa r y , in th e ex pu lsion of in tr u der s u pon th e

r eser v a t ion , w h o seem ed to h a v e ca u sed th e discon ten t a m on g th e In dia n s, bu t th e Ex ecu t iv e pr ocla m a tion w a r n in g th em to

r em ov e w a s com plied w ith w ith ou t th eir in ter fer en ce.

Tr oops w er e a lso sen t to Rock Spr in g s, in Wy om in g Ter r itor y , a fter th e m a ssa cr e of Ch in ese th er e, to pr ev en t fu r th er distu r ba n ce,

a n d a fter w a r ds to Sea tt le, in Wa sh in g ton Ter r itor y , to a v er t a th r ea ten ed a tta ck u pon Ch in ese la bor er s a n d dom est ic v iolen ce

th er e. In both ca ses th e m er e pr esen ce of th e tr oops h a d th e desir ed effect .

It a ppea r s th a t th e n u m ber of deser t ion s h a s dim in ish ed, bu t th a t du r in g th e la st fisca l y ea r th ey n u m ber ed 2 ,9 2 7 ; a n d on e

in sta n ce is g iv en by th e Lieu ten a n t-Gen er a l of six deser t ion s by th e sa m e r ecr u it . I a m con v in ced th a t th is n u m ber of deser t ion s

ca n be m u ch dim in ish ed by better disciplin e a n d tr ea tm en t; bu t th e pu n ish m en t sh ou ld be in cr ea sed for r epea ted offen ses.

Th ese deser t ion s m ig h t a lso be r edu ced by lessen in g th e ter m of fir st en listm en ts, th u s a llow in g a discon ten ted r ecr u it to

con tem pla te a n ea r er disch a r g e a n d th e A r m y a pr ofita ble r idda n ce. A fter on e ter m of ser v ice a r een listm en t w ou ld be qu ite a pt to

secu r e a con ten ted r ecr u it a n d a g ood soldier .

Th e A ct in g Ju dg e-A dv oca te-Gen er a l r epor ts th a t th e n u m ber of tr ia ls by g en er a l cou r ts-m a r t ia l du r in g th e y ea r w a s 2 ,3 2 8 , a n d

th a t 1 1 ,8 5 1 tr ia ls took pla ce befor e g a r r ison a n d r eg im en ta l cou r ts-m a r t ia l. Th e su g g est ion th a t pr oba bly m or e th a n h a lf th e

A r m y h a v e been tr ied for offen ses, g r ea t a n d sm a ll, in on e y ea r m a y w ell a r r est a t ten t ion . Of cou r se m a n y of th ese tr ia ls befor e

g a r r ison a n d r eg im en ta l cou r ts-m a r t ia l w er e for offen ses a lm ost fr iv olou s, a n d th er e sh ou ld, I th in k, be a w a y dev ised to dispose of

th ese in a m or e su m m a r y a n d less in con v en ien t m a n n er th a n by cou r t-m a r t ia l.

If som e of th e pr oceedin g s of cou r ts-m a r t ia l w h ich I h a v e h a d occa sion to ex a m in e pr esen t th e idea s of ju st ice w h ich g en er a lly

pr ev a il in th ese tr ibu n a ls, I a m sa t isfied th a t th ey sh ou ld be m u ch r efor m ed if th e h on or a n d th e h on esty of th e A r m y a n d Na v y

a r e by th eir in str u m en ta lity to be v in dica ted a n d pr otected.

Th e Boa r d on For t ifica t ion s or oth er defen ses, a ppoin ted in pu r su a n ce of th e pr ov ision s of th e a ct of Con g r ess a ppr ov ed Ma r ch 3 ,

1 8 8 5 , w ill in a sh or t t im e pr esen t th eir r epor t , a n d it is h oped th a t th is m a y g r ea t ly a id th e leg isla t ion so n ecessa r y to r em edy th e

pr esen t defen seless con dit ion of ou r sea coa sts.

Th e w or k of th e Sig n a l Ser v ice h a s been pr osecu ted du r in g th e la st y ea r w ith r esu lts of in cr ea sin g ben efit to th e cou n tr y . Th e field

of in str u ct ion h a s been en la r g ed w ith a v iew of a ddin g to its u sefu ln ess. Th e n u m ber of sta t ion s in oper a t ion Ju n e 3 0, 1 8 8 5 , w a s

4 8 9 . Teleg r a ph ic r epor ts a r e r eceiv ed da ily fr om 1 6 0 sta t ion s. Repor ts a r e a lso r eceiv ed fr om 2 5 Ca n a dia n sta t ion s, 3 7 5 v olu n teer

obser v er s, 5 2 a r m y su r g eon s a t m ilita r y posts, a n d 3 3 3 for eig n sta t ion s. Th e ex pen se of th e ser v ice du r in g th e fisca l y ea r , a fter

dedu ct in g r eceipts fr om m ilita r y teleg r a ph lin es, w a s $7 9 2 ,5 9 2 .9 7 . In v iew of th e fa ct r efer r ed to by th e Secr eta r y of Wa r , th a t

th e w or k of th is ser v ice or din a r ily is of a scien t ific n a tu r e, a n d th e fu r th er fa ct th a t it is a ssu m in g la r g er pr opor t ion s con sta n t ly

a n d becom in g m or e a n d m or e u n su ited to th e fix ed r u les w h ich m u st g ov er n th e A r m y , I a m in clin ed to a g r ee w ith h im in th e

opin ion th a t it sh ou ld be sepa r a tely esta blish ed. If th is is don e, th e scope a n d ex ten t of its oper a t ion s sh ou ld, a s n ea r ly a s possible, be

defin itely pr escr ibed by la w a n d a lw a y s ca pa ble of ex a ct a scer ta in m en t.

Th e Milita r y A ca dem y a t West Poin t is r epor ted a s bein g in a h ig h sta te of efficien cy a n d w ell equ ipped for th e sa t isfa ctor y

a ccom plish m en t of th e pu r poses of its m a in ten a n ce.

Th e fa ct th a t th e cla ss w h ich g r a du a tes n ex t y ea r is a n u n u su a lly la r g e on e h a s con str a in ed m e to declin e to m a ke a ppoin tm en ts to

secon d lieu ten a n cies in th e A r m y fr om civ il life, so th a t su ch v a ca n cies a s ex ist in th ese pla ces m a y be r eser v ed for su ch g r a du a tes;

a n d y et it is n ot pr oba ble th a t th er e w ill be en ou g h v a ca n cies to pr ov ide posit ion s for th em a ll w h en th ey lea v e th e m ilita r y sch ool.

Un der th e pr ev a ilin g la w a n d u sa g e th ose n ot th u s a ssig n ed to du ty n ev er a ct iv ely en ter th e m ilita r y ser v ice. It is su g g ested th a t

th e la w on th is su bject be ch a n g ed so th a t su ch of th ese y ou n g m en a s a r e n ot a t on ce a ssig n ed to du ty a fter g r a du a t ion m a y be

r eta in ed a s secon d lieu ten a n ts in th e A r m y if th ey desir e it , su bject to a ssig n m en t w h en oppor tu n ity occu r s, a n d u n der pr oper

r u les a s to pr ior ity of select ion .

Th e ex pen ditu r es on a ccou n t of th e Milita r y A ca dem y for th e la st fisca l y ea r , ex clu siv e of th e su m ta ken for its pu r poses fr om

a ppr opr ia t ion s for th e su ppor t of th e A r m y , w er e $2 9 0,7 1 2 .07 .

Th e a ct a ppr ov ed Ma r ch 3 , 1 8 8 5 , desig n ed to com pen sa te officer s a n d en listed m en for loss of pr iv a te pr oper ty w h ile in th e ser v ice

of th e Un ited Sta tes, is so in defin ite in its ter m s a n d a ppa r en t ly a dm its so m a n y cla im s th e a dju stm en t of w h ich cou ld n ot h a v e

been con tem pla ted th a t if it is to r em a in u pon th e sta tu te book it n eeds a m en dm en t.

Th er e sh ou ld be a g en er a l la w of Con g r ess pr oh ibit in g th e con str u ct ion of br idg es ov er n a v ig a ble w a ter s in su ch m a n n er a s to

obstr u ct n a v ig a t ion , w ith pr ov ision s for pr ev en tin g th e sa m e. It seem s th a t u n der ex ist in g sta tu tes th e Gov er n m en t ca n n ot

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in ter v en e to pr ev en t su ch a con str u ct ion w h en en ter ed u pon w ith ou t its con sen t , th ou g h w h en su ch con sen t is a sked a n d g r a n ted

u pon con dit ion th e a u th or ity to in sist u pon su ch con dit ion is clea r . Th u s it is r epr esen ted th a t w h ile th e officer s of th e Gov er n m en t

a r e w ith g r ea t ca r e g u a r din g a g a in st th e obstr u ct ion of n a v ig a t ion by a br idg e a cr oss th e Mississippi Riv er a t St . Pa u l a la r g e pier

for a br idg e h a s been bu ilt ju st below th is pla ce dir ect ly in th e n a v ig a ble ch a n n el of th e r iv er . If su ch th in g s a r e to be per m itted, a

str on g a r g u m en t is pr esen ted a g a in st th e a ppr opr ia t ion of la r g e su m s of m on ey to im pr ov e th e n a v ig a t ion of th is a n d oth er

im por ta n t h ig h w a y s of com m er ce.

Th e r epor t of th e Secr eta r y of th e Na v y g iv es a h istor y of th e oper a t ion s of h is Depa r tm en t a n d th e pr esen t con dit ion of th e w or k

com m itted to h is ch a r g e.

He deta ils in fu ll th e cou r se pu r su ed by h im to pr otect th e r ig h ts of th e Gov er n m en t in r espect of cer ta in v essels u n fin ish ed a t th e

t im e of h is a ccession to office, a n d a lso con cer n in g th e dispa tch boa t Dolph in , cla im ed to be com pleted a n d a w a it in g th e a ccepta n ce

of th e Depa r tm en t. No on e ca n fa il to see fr om r ecita ls con ta in ed in th is r epor t th a t on ly th e a pplica t ion of bu sin ess pr in ciples h a s

been in sisted u pon in th e tr ea tm en t of th ese su bjects, a n d th a t w h a tev er con tr ov er sy h a s a r isen w a s ca u sed by th e ex a ct ion on th e

pa r t of th e Depa r tm en t of con tr a ct oblig a t ion s a s th ey w er e leg a lly con str u ed. In th e ca se of th e Dolph in , w ith en t ir e ju st ice to th e

con tr a ctor , a n a g r eem en t h a s been en ter ed in to pr ov idin g for th e a scer ta in m en t by a ju dicia l in qu ir y of th e com plete or pa r t ia l

com plia n ce w ith th e con tr a ct in h er con str u ct ion , a n d fu r th er pr ov idin g for th e a ssessm en t of a n y da m a g es to w h ich th e

Gov er n m en t m a y be en t it led on a ccou n t of a pa r t ia l fa ilu r e to per for m su ch con tr a ct , or th e pa y m en t of th e su m st ill r em a in in g

u n pa id u pon h er pr ice in ca se a fu ll per for m a n ce is a dju dg ed.

Th e con tr a ctor , by r ea son of h is fa ilu r e in bu sin ess, bein g u n a ble to com plete th e oth er th r ee v essels, th ey w er e ta ken possession of

by th e Gov er n m en t in th eir u n fin ish ed sta te u n der a cla u se in th e con tr a ct per m itt in g su ch a cou r se, a n d a r e n ow in pr ocess of

com plet ion in th e y a r d of th e con tr a ctor , bu t u n der th e su per v ision of th e Na v y Depa r tm en t.

Con g r ess a t its la st session a u th or ized th e con str u ct ion of tw o a ddit ion a l n ew cr u iser s a n d tw o g u n boa ts, a t a cost n ot ex ceedin g in

th e a g g r eg a te $2 ,9 9 5 ,000. Th e a ppr opr ia t ion for th is pu r pose h a v in g becom e a v a ila ble on th e 1 st da y of Ju ly la st , steps w er e a t

on ce ta ken for th e pr ocu r em en t of su ch pla n s for th e con str u ct ion of th ese v essels a s w ou ld be likely to in su r e th eir u sefu ln ess w h en

com pleted. Th ese a r e of th e u tm ost im por ta n ce, con sider in g th e con sta n t a dv a n ce in th e a r t of bu ildin g v essels of th is ch a r a cter ,

a n d th e t im e is n ot lost w h ich is spen t in th eir ca r efu l con sider a t ion a n d select ion .

A ll m u st a dm it th e im por ta n ce of a n effect iv e n a v y to a n a t ion like ou r s, h a v in g su ch a n ex ten ded sea coa st to pr otect ; a n d y et w e

h a v e n ot a sin g le v essel of w a r th a t cou ld keep th e sea s a g a in st a fir st-cla ss v essel of a n y im por ta n t pow er . Su ch a con dit ion ou g h t

n ot lon g er to con tin u e. Th e n a t ion th a t ca n n ot r esist a g g r ession is con sta n t ly ex posed to it . Its for eig n policy is of n ecessity w ea k

a n d its n eg ot ia t ion s a r e con du cted w ith disa dv a n ta g e beca u se it is n ot in con dit ion to en for ce th e ter m s dicta ted by its sen se of

r ig h t a n d ju st ice.

In spir ed, a s I a m , by th e h ope, sh a r ed by a ll pa tr iot ic cit izen s, th a t th e da y is n ot v er y fa r dista n t w h en ou r Na v y w ill be su ch a s

befits ou r sta n din g a m on g th e n a t ion s of th e ea r th , a n d r ejoiced a t ev er y step th a t lea ds in th e dir ect ion of su ch a con su m m a tion , I

deem it m y du ty to especia lly dir ect th e a tten t ion of Con g r ess to th e close of th e r epor t of th e Secr eta r y of th e Na v y , in w h ich th e

h u m ilia t in g w ea kn ess of th e pr esen t or g a n iza t ion of h is Depa r tm en t is ex h ibited a n d th e sta r t lin g a bu ses a n d w a ste of its pr esen t

m eth ods a r e ex posed. Th e con v ict ion is for ced u pon u s w ith th e cer ta in ty of m a th em a tica l dem on str a t ion th a t befor e w e pr oceed

fu r th er in th e r estor a t ion of a Na v y w e n eed a th or ou g h ly r eor g a n ized Na v y Depa r tm en t. Th e fa ct th a t w ith in sev en teen y ea r s

m or e th a n $7 5 ,000,000 h a v e been spen t in th e con str u ct ion , r epa ir , equ ipm en t, a n d a r m a m en t of v essels, a n d th e fu r th er fa ct

th a t in stea d of a n effect iv e a n d cr edita ble fleet w e h a v e on ly th e discon ten t a n d a ppr eh en sion of a n a t ion u n defen ded by w a r

v essels, a dded to th e disclosu r es n ow m a de, do n ot per m it u s to dou bt th a t ev er y a ttem pt to r ev iv e ou r Na v y h a s th u s fa r for th e

m ost pa r t been m isdir ected, a n d a ll ou r effor ts in th a t dir ect ion h a v e been lit t le better th a n blin d g r opin g s a n d ex pen siv e, a im less

follies.

Un qu est ion a bly if w e a r e con ten t w ith th e m a in ten a n ce of a Na v y Depa r tm en t sim ply a s a sh a bby or n a m en t to th e Gov er n m en t, a

con sta n t w a tch fu ln ess m a y pr ev en t som e of th e sca n da l a n d a bu se w h ich h a v e fou n d th eir w a y in to ou r pr esen t or g a n iza t ion , a n d

its in cu r a ble w a ste m a y be r edu ced to th e m in im u m . Bu t if w e desir e to bu ild sh ips for pr esen t u sefu ln ess in stea d of n a v a l

r em in der s of th e da y s th a t a r e pa st , w e m u st h a v e a Depa r tm en t or g a n ized for th e w or k, su pplied w ith a ll th e ta len t a n d in g en u ity

ou r cou n tr y a ffor ds, pr epa r ed to ta ke a dv a n ta g e of th e ex per ien ce of oth er n a t ion s, sy stem a tized so th a t a ll effor t sh a ll u n ite a n d

lea d in on e dir ect ion , a n d fu lly im bu ed w ith th e con v ict ion th a t w a r v essels, th ou g h n ew , a r e u seless u n less th ey com bin e a ll th a t

th e in g en u ity of m a n h a s u p to th is da y br ou g h t for th r ela t in g to th eir con str u ct ion .

I ea r n est ly com m en d th e por t ion of th e Secr eta r y 's r epor t dev oted to th is su bject to th e a tten t ion of Con g r ess, in th e h ope th a t h is

su g g est ion s tou ch in g th e r eor g a n iza t ion of h is Depa r tm en t m a y be a dopted a s th e fir st step tow a r d th e r econ str u ct ion of ou r Na v y .

Th e a ffa ir s of th e posta l ser v ice a r e ex h ibited by th e r epor t of th e Postm a ster -Gen er a l, w h ich w ill be la id befor e y ou .

Th e posta l r ev en u e, w h ose r a t io of g a in u pon th e r isin g pr osper ity of 1 8 8 2 a n d 1 8 8 3 ou tstr ipped th e in cr ea sin g ex pen ses of ou r

g r ow in g ser v ice, w a s ch ecked by th e r edu ct ion in th e r a te of let ter posta g e w h ich took effect w ith th e beg in n in g of October in th e

la tter y ea r , a n d it dim in ish ed du r in g th e tw o pa st fisca l y ea r s $2 ,7 9 0,000, in a bou t th e pr opor t ion of $2 ,2 7 0,000 in 1 8 8 4 to

$5 2 0,000 in 1 8 8 5 . Na tu r a l g r ow th a n d dev elopm en t h a v e m ea n tim e in cr ea sed ex pen ditu r e, r esu lt in g in a deficien cy in th e

r ev en u e to m eet th e ex pen ses of th e Depa r tm en t of fiv e a n d a qu a r ter m illion dolla r s for th e y ea r 1 8 8 4 a n d eig h t a n d a th ir d

m illion in th e la st fisca l y ea r . Th e a n t icipa ted a n d n a tu r a l r ev iv a l of th e r ev en u e h a s been oppr essed a n d r eta r ded by th e

u n fa v or a ble bu sin ess con dit ion of th e cou n tr y , of w h ich th e posta l ser v ice is a fa ith fu l in dica tor . Th e g r a t ify in g fa ct is sh ow n ,

h ow ev er , by th e r epor t th a t ou r r etu r n in g pr osper ity is m a r ked by a g a in of $3 8 0,000 in th e r ev en u e of th e la t ter h a lf of th e la st

y ea r ov er th e cor r espon din g per iod of th e pr ecedin g y ea r .

Th e ch a n g e in th e w eig h t of fir st-cla ss m a tter w h ich m a y be ca r r ied for a sin g le r a te of posta g e fr om a h a lf ou n ce to a n ou n ce, a n d

th e r edu ct ion by on e-h a lf of th e r a te of n ew spa per posta g e, w h ich , u n der r ecen t leg isla t ion , beg a n w ith th e cu r r en t y ea r , w ill

oper a te to r estr a in th e a u g m en ta t ion of r eceipts w h ich oth er w ise m ig h t h a v e been ex pected to su ch a deg r ee th a t th e sca le of

ex pen se m a y g a in u pon th e r ev en u e a n d ca u se a n in cr ea sed deficien cy to be sh ow n a t its close. Yet , a fter n o lon g per iod of

r ea w a ken ed pr osper ity , by pr oper econ om y it is con fiden t ly a n t icipa ted th a t ev en th e pr esen t low r a tes, n ow a s fa v or a ble a s a n y

cou n tr y a ffor ds, w ill be a dequ a te to su sta in th e cost of th e ser v ice.

Th e oper a t ion of th e Post-Office Depa r tm en t is for th e con v en ien ce a n d ben efit of th e people, a n d th e m eth od by w h ich th ey pa y th e

ch a r g es of th is u sefu l a r m of th eir pu blic ser v ice, so th a t it be ju st a n d im pa r t ia l, is of less im por ta n ce to th em th a n th e econ om ica l

ex pen ditu r e of th e m ea n s th ey pr ov ide for its m a in ten a n ce a n d th e du e im pr ov em en t of its a g en cies, so th a t th ey m a y en joy its

h ig h est u sefu ln ess.

A pr oper a tten t ion h a s been dir ected to th e pr ev en tion of w a ste or ex tr a v a g a n ce, a n d g ood r esu lts a ppea r fr om th e r epor t to h a v e

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A pr oper a tten t ion h a s been dir ected to th e pr ev en tion of w a ste or ex tr a v a g a n ce, a n d g ood r esu lts a ppea r fr om th e r epor t to h a v e

a lr ea dy been a ccom plish ed.

I a ppr ov e th e r ecom m en da tion of th e Postm a ster -Gen er a l to r edu ce th e ch a r g es on dom est ic m on ey or der s of $5 a n d less fr om 8 to

5 cen ts. Th is ch a n g e w ill m a ter ia lly a id th ose of ou r people w h o m ost of a ll a v a il th em selv es of th is in str u m en ta lity , bu t to w h om

th e elem en t of ch ea pn ess is of th e g r ea test im por ta n ce. With th is r edu ct ion th e sy stem w ou ld st ill r em a in self-su ppor t in g .

Th e fr ee-deliv er y sy stem h a s been ex ten ded to 1 9 a ddit ion a l cit ies du r in g th e y ea r , a n d 1 7 8 n ow en joy its con v en ien ces.

Ex per ien ce h a s com m en ded it to th ose w h o en joy its ben efits, a n d fu r th er en la r g em en t of its fa cilit ies is du e to oth er com m u n it ies

to w h ich it is a da pted. In th e cit ies w h er e it h a s been esta blish ed, ta ken tog eth er th e loca l posta g e ex ceeds its m a in ten a n ce by

n ea r ly $1 ,3 00,000. Th e lim it to w h ich th is sy stem is n ow con fin ed by la w h a s been n ea r ly r ea ch ed, a n d th e r ea son s g iv en ju st ify

its ex ten sion , w h ich is pr oposed.

It w a s decided, w ith m y a ppr oba t ion , a fter a su fficien t ex a m in a t ion , to be in ex pedien t for th e Post-Office Depa r tm en t to con tr a ct

for ca r r y in g ou r for eig n m a ils u n der th e a ddit ion a l a u th or ity g iv en by th e la st Con g r ess. Th e a m ou n t lim ited w a s in a dequ a te to

pa y a ll w ith in th e pu r v iew of th e la w th e fu ll r a te of 5 0 cen ts per m ile, a n d it w ou ld h a v e been u n ju st a n d u n w ise to h a v e g iv en it

to som e a n d den ied it to oth er s. Nor cou ld con tr a cts h a v e been let u n der th e la w to a ll a t a r a te to h a v e br ou g h t th e a g g r eg a te

w ith in th e a ppr opr ia t ion w ith ou t su ch pr a ct ica l pr ea r r a n g em en t of ter m s a s w ou ld h a v e v iola ted it .

Th e r a te of sea a n d in la n d posta g e w h ich w a s pr offer ed u n der a n oth er sta tu te clea r ly a ppea r s to be a fa ir com pen sa t ion for th e

desir ed ser v ice, bein g th r ee t im es th e pr ice n ecessa r y to secu r e tr a n spor ta t ion by oth er v essels u pon a n y r ou te, a n d m u ch bey on d

th e ch a r g es m a de to pr iv a te per son s for ser v ices n ot less bu r den som e.

Som e of th e stea m sh ip com pa n ies, u pon th e r efu sa l of th e Postm a ster -Gen er a l to a t tem pt, by th e m ea n s pr ov ided, th e distr ibu t ion

of th e su m a ppr opr ia ted a s a n ex tr a com pen sa t ion , w ith dr ew th e ser v ices of th eir v essels a n d th er eby occa sion ed slig h t

in con v en ien ce, th ou g h n o con sider a ble in ju r y , th e m a ils h a v in g been dispa tch ed by oth er m ea n s.

Wh a tev er m a y be th ou g h t of th e policy of su bsidizin g a n y lin e of pu blic con v ey a n ce or tr a v el, I a m sa t isfied th a t it sh ou ld n ot be

don e u n der cov er of a n ex pen ditu r e in ciden t to th e a dm in istr a t ion of a Depa r tm en t, n or sh ou ld th er e be a n y u n cer ta in ty a s to th e

r ecipien ts of th e su bsidy or a n y discr et ion left to a n ex ecu t iv e officer a s to its distr ibu t ion . If su ch g ifts of th e pu blic m on ey a r e to be

m a de for th e pu r pose of a idin g a n y en ter pr ise in th e su pposed in ter est of th e pu blic, I ca n n ot bu t th in k th a t th e a m ou n t to be pa id

a n d th e ben eficia r y m ig h t better be deter m in ed by Con g r ess th a n in a n y oth er w a y .

Th e in ter n a t ion a l con g r ess of deleg a tes fr om th e Posta l Un ion cou n tr ies con v en ed a t Lisbon , in Por tu g a l, in Febr u a r y la st , a n d

a fter a session of som e w eeks th e deleg a tes sig n ed a con v en tion a m en da tor y of th e pr esen t posta l-u n ion con v en tion in som e

pa r t icu la r s desig n ed to a dv a n ce its pu r poses. Th is a ddit ion a l a ct h a s h a d m y a ppr ov a l a n d w ill be la id befor e y ou w ith th e

depa r tm en ta l r epor t .

I a ppr ov e th e r ecom m en da tion of th e postm a ster -Gen er a l th a t a n oth er a ssista n t be pr ov ided for h is Depa r tm en t. I in v ite y ou r

con sider a t ion to th e sev er a l oth er r ecom m en da tion s con ta in ed in h is r epor t .

Th e r epor t of th e A ttor n ey -Gen er a l con ta in s a h istor y of th e con du ct of th e Depa r tm en t of Ju st ice du r in g th e la st y ea r a n d a

n u m ber of v a lu a ble su g g est ion s a s to n eeded leg isla t ion , a n d I in v ite y ou r ca r efu l a t ten t ion to th e sa m e.

Th e con dit ion of bu sin ess in th e cou r ts of th e Un ited Sta tes is su ch th a t th er e seem s to be a n im per a t iv e n ecessity for r em edia l

leg isla t ion on th e su bject . Som e of th ese cou r ts a r e so ov er bu r den ed w ith pen din g ca u ses th a t th e dela y s in deter m in in g lit ig a t ion

a m ou n t often to a den ia l of ju st ice. A m on g th e pla n s su g g ested for r elief is on e su bm itted by th e A ttor n ey -Gen er a l. Its m a in

fea tu r es a r e: Th e tr a n sfer of a ll th e or ig in a l ju r isdict ion of th e cir cu it cou r ts to th e distr ict cou r ts a n d a n in cr ea se of ju dg es for th e

la tter w h er e n ecessa r y ; a n a ddit ion of ju dg es to th e cir cu it cou r ts, a n d con st itu t in g th em ex clu siv ely cou r ts of a ppea l, a n d

r ea son a bly lim it in g a ppea ls th er eto; fu r th er r estr ict ion s of th e r ig h t to r em ov e ca u ses fr om th e Sta te to Feder a l cou r ts; per m itt in g

a ppea ls to th e Su pr em e Cou r t fr om th e cou r ts of th e Distr ict of Colu m bia a n d th e Ter r itor ies on ly in th e sa m e ca ses a s th ey a r e

a llow ed fr om Sta te cou r ts, a n d g u a r din g a g a in st a n u n n ecessa r y n u m ber of a ppea ls fr om th e cir cu it cou r ts.

I a ppr ov e th e pla n th u s ou t lin ed, a n d r ecom m en d th e leg isla t ion n ecessa r y for its a pplica t ion to ou r ju dicia l sy stem .

Th e pr esen t m ode of com pen sa t in g Un ited Sta tes m a r sh a ls a n d distr ict a t tor n ey s sh ou ld, in m y opin ion , be ch a n g ed. Th ey a r e

a llow ed to ch a r g e a g a in st th e Gov er n m en t cer ta in fees for ser v ices, th eir in com e bein g m ea su r ed by th e a m ou n t of su ch fees

w ith in a fix ed lim it a s to th eir a n n u a l a g g r eg a te. Th is is a dir ect in du cem en t for th em to m a ke th eir fees in cr im in a l ca ses a s la r g e

a s possible in a n effor t to r ea ch th e m a x im u m su m per m itted. A s a n en t ir ely n a tu r a l con sequ en ce, u n scr u pu lou s m a r sh a ls a r e

fou n d en cou r a g in g fr iv olou s pr osecu t ion s, a r r est in g people on petty ch a r g es of cr im e a n d tr a n spor t in g th em to dista n t pla ces for

ex a m in a t ion a n d tr ia l, for th e pu r pose of ea r n in g m ilea g e a n d oth er fees; a n d distr ict a t tor n ey s u selessly a t ten d cr im in a l

ex a m in a t ion s fa r fr om th eir pla ces of r esiden ce for th e ex pr ess pu r pose of sw ellin g th eir a ccou n ts a g a in st th e Gov er n m en t. Th e

a ctu a l ex pen ses in cu r r ed in th ese tr a n sa ct ion s a r e a lso ch a r g ed a g a in st th e Gov er n m en t.

Th u s th e r ig h ts a n d fr eedom of ou r cit izen s a r e ou tr a g ed a n d pu blic ex pen ditu r es in cr ea sed for th e pu r pose of fu r n ish in g pu blic

officer s pr etex ts for in cr ea sin g th e m ea su r e of th eir com pen sa t ion .

I th in k m a r sh a ls a n d distr ict a t tor n ey s sh ou ld be pa id sa la r ies, a dju sted by a r u le w h ich w ill m a ke th em com m en su r a te w ith

ser v ices fa ir ly r en der ed.

In con n ect ion w ith th is su bject I desir e to su g g est th e a dv isa bility , if it be fou n d n ot obn ox iou s to con st itu t ion a l object ion , of

in v est in g Un ited Sta tes com m ission er s w ith th e pow er to tr y a n d deter m in e cer ta in v iola t ion s of la w w ith in th e g r a de of

m isdem ea n or s. Su ch tr ia ls m ig h t be m a de to depen d u pon th e opt ion of th e a ccu sed. Th e m u lt iplica t ion of sm a ll a n d tech n ica l

offen ses, especia lly u n der th e pr ov ision s of ou r in ter n a l-r ev en u e la w , r en der som e ch a n g e in ou r pr esen t sy stem v er y desir a ble in

th e in ter ests of h u m a n ity a s w ell a s econ om y . Th e distr ict cou r ts a r e n ow cr ow ded w ith petty pr osecu t ion s, in v olv in g a

pu n ish m en t in ca se of con v ict ion , of on ly a slig h t fin e, w h ile th e pa r t ies a ccu sed a r e h a r a ssed by a n en for ced a tten da n ce u pon

cou r ts h eld h u n dr eds of m iles fr om th eir h om es. If poor a n d fr ien dless, th ey a r e oblig ed to r em a in in ja il du r in g m on th s, per h a ps,

th a t ela pse befor e a session of th e cou r t is h eld, a n d a r e fin a lly br ou g h t to tr ia l su r r ou n ded by str a n g er s a n d w ith bu t lit t le r ea l

oppor tu n ity for defen se. In th e m ea n tim e fr equ en tly th e m a r sh a l h a s ch a r g ed a g a in st th e Gov er n m en t h is fees for a n a r r est , th e

tr a n spor ta t ion of th e a ccu sed a n d th e ex pen se of th e sa m e, a n d for su m m on in g w itn esses befor e a com m ission er , a g r a n d ju r y , a n d

a cou r t ; th e w itn esses h a v e been pa id fr om th e pu blic fu n ds la r g e fees a n d tr a v elin g ex pen ses, a n d th e com m ission er a n d distr ict

a ttor n ey h a v e a lso m a de th eir ch a r g es a g a in st th e Gov er n m en t.

Th is a bu se in th e a dm in istr a t ion of ou r cr im in a l la w sh ou ld be r em edied; a n d if th e pla n a bov e su g g ested is n ot pr a ct ica ble, som e

oth er sh ou ld be dev ised.

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Th e r epor t of th e Secr eta r y of th e In ter ior , con ta in in g a n a ccou n t of th e oper a t ion s of th is im por ta n t Depa r tm en t a n d m u ch

in ter est in g in for m a tion , w ill be su bm itted for y ou r con sider a t ion .

Th e m ost in tr ica te a n d difficu lt su bject in ch a r g e of th is Depa r tm en t is th e tr ea tm en t a n d m a n a g em en t of th e In dia n s. I a m

sa t isfied th a t som e pr og r ess m a y be n oted in th eir con dit ion a s a r esu lt of a pr u den t a dm in istr a t ion of th e pr esen t la w s a n d

r eg u la t ion s for th eir con tr ol.

Bu t it is su bm itted th a t th er e is la ck of a fix ed pu r pose or policy on th is su bject , w h ich sh ou ld be su pplied. It is u seless to dila te u pon

th e w r on g s of th e In dia n s, a n d a s u seless to in du lg e in th e h ea r t less belief th a t beca u se th eir w r on g s a r e r ev en g ed in th eir ow n

a tr ociou s m a n n er , th er efor e th ey sh ou ld be ex ter m in a ted.

Th ey a r e w ith in th e ca r e of ou r Gov er n m en t, a n d th eir r ig h ts a r e, or sh ou ld be, pr otected fr om in v a sion by th e m ost solem n

oblig a t ion s. Th ey a r e pr oper ly en ou g h ca lled th e w a r ds of th e Gov er n m en t; a n d it sh ou ld be bor n e in m in d th a t th is g u a r dia n sh ip

in v olv es on ou r pa r t effor ts for th e im pr ov em en t of th eir con dit ion a n d th e en for cem en t of th eir r ig h ts. Th er e seem s to be g en er a l

con cu r r en ce in th e pr oposit ion th a t th e u lt im a te object of th eir tr ea tm en t sh ou ld be th eir civ iliza t ion a n d cit izen sh ip. Fit ted by

th ese to keep pa ce in th e m a r ch of pr og r ess w ith th e a dv a n ced civ iliza t ion a bou t th em , th ey w ill r ea dily a ssim ila te w ith th e m a ss

of ou r popu la t ion , a ssu m in g th e r espon sibilit ies a n d r eceiv in g th e pr otect ion in ciden t to th is con dit ion .

Th e difficu lty a ppea r s to be in th e select ion of th e m ea n s to be a t pr esen t em ploy ed tow a r d th e a tta in m en t of th is r esu lt .

Ou r In dia n popu la t ion , ex clu siv e of th ose in A la ska , is r epor ted a s n u m ber in g 2 6 0,000, n ea r ly a ll bein g loca ted on la n ds set a pa r t

for th eir u se a n d occu pa t ion , a g g r eg a t in g ov er 1 3 4 ,000,000 a cr es. Th ese la n ds a r e in clu ded in th e bou n da r ies of 1 7 1 r eser v a t ion s

of differ en t dim en sion s, sca tter ed in 2 1 Sta tes a n d Ter r itor ies, pr esen tin g g r ea t v a r ia t ion s in clim a te a n d in th e kin d a n d qu a lity of

th eir soils. A m on g th e In dia n s u pon th ese sev er a l r eser v a t ion s th er e ex ist th e m ost m a r ked differ en ces in n a tu r a l tr a its a n d

disposit ion a n d in th eir pr og r ess tow a r d civ iliza t ion . Wh ile som e a r e la zy , v iciou s, a n d stu pid, oth er s a r e in du str iou s, pea cefu l, a n d

in tellig en t; w h ile a por t ion of th em a r e self-su ppor t in g a n d in depen den t , a n d h a v e so fa r a dv a n ced in civ iliza t ion th a t th ey m a ke

th eir ow n la w s, a dm in ister ed th r ou g h officer s of th eir ow n ch oice, a n d edu ca te th eir ch ildr en in sch ools of th eir ow n esta blish m en t

a n d m a in ten a n ce, oth er s st ill r eta in , in squ a lor a n d depen den ce, a lm ost th e sa v a g er y of th eir n a tu r a l sta te.

In dea lin g w ith th is qu est ion th e desir es m a n ifested by th e In dia n s sh ou ld n ot be ig n or ed. Her e a g a in w e fin d a g r ea t div er sity .

With som e th e tr iba l r ela t ion is ch er ish ed w ith th e u tm ost ten a city , w h ile its h old u pon oth er s is con sider a bly r ela x ed; th e lov e of

h om e is str on g w ith a ll, a n d y et th er e a r e th ose w h ose a tta ch m en t to a pa r t icu la r loca lity is by n o m ea n s u n y ieldin g ; th e

ow n er sh ip of th eir la n ds in sev er a lty is m u ch desir ed by som e, w h ile by oth er s, a n d som etim es a m on g th e m ost civ ilized, su ch a

distr ibu t ion w ou ld be bit ter ly opposed.

Th e v a r ia t ion of th eir w a n ts, g r ow in g ou t of a n d con n ected w ith th e ch a r a cter of th eir sev er a l loca t ion s, sh ou ld be r eg a r ded. Som e

a r e u pon r eser v a t ion s m ost fit for g r a zin g , bu t w ith ou t flocks or h er ds; a n d som e on a r a ble la n d, h a v e n o a g r icu ltu r a l im plem en ts.

Wh ile som e of th e r eser v a t ion s a r e dou ble th e size n ecessa r y to m a in ta in th e n u m ber of In dia n s n ow u pon th em , in a few ca ses,

per h a ps, th ey sh ou ld be en la r g ed.

A dd to a ll th is th e differ en ce in th e a dm in istr a t ion of th e a g en cies. Wh ile th e sa m e du ties a r e dev olv ed u pon a ll, th e disposit ion of

th e a g en ts a n d th e m a n n er of th eir con ta ct w ith th e In dia n s h a v e m u ch to do w ith th eir con dit ion a n d w elfa r e. Th e a g en t w h o

per fu n ctor ily per for m s h is du ty a n d sloth fu lly n eg lects a ll oppor tu n ity to a dv a n ce th eir m or a l a n d ph y sica l im pr ov em en t a n d

fa ils to in spir e th em w ith a desir e for better th in g s w ill a ccom plish n oth in g in th e dir ect ion of th eir civ iliza t ion , w h ile h e w h o feels

th e bu r den of a n im por ta n t tr u st a n d h a s a n in ter est in h is w or k w ill, by con sisten t ex a m ple, fir m y et con sider a te tr ea tm en t, a n d

w ell-dir ected a id a n d en cou r a g em en t, con sta n t ly lea d th ose u n der h is ch a r g e tow a r d th e lig h t of th eir en fr a n ch isem en t.

Th e h istor y of a ll th e pr og r ess w h ich h a s been m a de in th e civ iliza t ion of th e In dia n I th in k w ill disclose th e fa ct th a t th e beg in n in g

h a s been r elig iou s tea ch in g , follow ed by or a ccom pa n y in g secu la r edu ca t ion . Wh ile th e self-sa cr ificin g a n d piou s m en a n d w om en

w h o h a v e a ided in th is g ood w or k by th eir in depen den t en dea v or h a v e for th eir r ew a r d th e ben eficen t r esu lts of th eir la bor a n d th e

con sciou sn ess of Ch r ist ia n du ty w ell per for m ed, th eir v a lu a ble ser v ices sh ou ld be fu lly a ckn ow ledg ed by a ll w h o u n der th e la w a r e

ch a r g ed w ith th e con tr ol a n d m a n a g em en t of ou r In dia n w a r ds.

Wh a t h a s been sa id in dica tes th a t in th e pr esen t con dit ion of th e In dia n s n o a ttem pt sh ou ld be m a de to a pply a fix ed a n d

u n y ieldin g pla n of a ct ion to th eir v a r ied a n d v a r y in g n eeds a n d cir cu m sta n ces.

Th e In dia n Bu r ea u , bu r den ed a s it is w ith th eir g en er a l ov er sig h t a n d w ith th e deta ils of th e esta blish m en t, ca n h a r dly possess

itself of th e m in u te ph a ses of th e pa r t icu la r ca ses n eedin g tr ea tm en t; a n d th u s th e pr opr iety of cr ea t in g a n in str u m en ta lity

a u x ilia r y to th ose a lr ea dy esta blish ed for th e ca r e of th e In dia n s su g g ests itself.

I r ecom m en d th e pa ssa g e of a la w a u th or izin g th e a ppoin tm en t of six com m ission er s, th r ee of w h om sh a ll be deta iled fr om th e

A r m y , to be ch a r g ed w ith th e du ty of a ca r efu l in spect ion fr om t im e to t im e of a ll th e In dia n s u pon ou r r eser v a t ion s or su bject to

th e ca r e a n d con tr ol of th e Gov er n m en t, w ith a v iew of discov er in g th eir ex a ct con dit ion a n d n eeds a n d deter m in in g w h a t steps

sh a ll be ta ken on beh a lf of th e Gov er n m en t to im pr ov e th eir situ a t ion in th e dir ect ion of th eir self-su ppor t a n d com plete

civ iliza t ion ; th a t th ey a scer ta in fr om su ch in spect ion w h a t , if a n y , of th e r eser v a t ion s m a y be r edu ced in a r ea , a n d in su ch ca ses

w h a t pa r t n ot n eeded for In dia n occu pa t ion m a y be pu r ch a sed by th e Gov er n m en t fr om th e In dia n s a n d disposed of for th eir

ben efit ; w h a t , if a n y , In dia n s m a y , w ith th eir con sen t , be r em ov ed to oth er r eser v a t ion s, w ith a v iew of th eir con cen tr a t ion a n d

th e sa le on th eir beh a lf of th eir a ba n don ed r eser v a t ion s; w h a t In dia n la n ds n ow h eld in com m on sh ou ld be a llotted in sev er a lty ; in

w h a t m a n n er a n d to w h a t ex ten t th e In dia n s u pon th e r eser v a t ion s ca n be pla ced u n der th e pr otect ion of ou r la w s a n d su bjected to

th eir pen a lt ies, a n d w h ich , if a n y , In dia n s sh ou ld be in v ested w ith th e r ig h t of cit izen sh ip. Th e pow er s a n d fu n ct ion s of th e

com m ission er s in r eg a r d to th ese su bjects sh ou ld be clea r ly defin ed, th ou g h th ey sh ou ld, in con ju n ct ion w ith th e Secr eta r y of th e

In ter ior , be g iv en a ll th e a u th or ity to dea l defin itely w ith th e qu est ion s pr esen ted deem ed sa fe a n d con sisten t .

Th ey sh ou ld be a lso ch a r g ed w ith th e du ty of a scer ta in in g th e In dia n s w h o m ig h t pr oper ly be fu r n ish ed w ith im plem en ts of

a g r icu ltu r e, a n d of w h a t kin d; in w h a t ca ses th e su ppor t of th e Gov er n m en t sh ou ld be w ith dr a w n ; w h er e th e pr esen t pla n of

distr ibu t in g In dia n su pplies sh ou ld be ch a n g ed; w h er e sch ools m a y be esta blish ed a n d w h er e discon tin u ed; th e con du ct , m eth ods,

a n d fitn ess of a g en ts in ch a r g e of r eser v a t ion s; th e ex ten t to w h ich su ch r eser v a t ion s a r e occu pied or in tr u ded u pon by

u n a u th or ized per son s, a n d g en er a lly a ll m a tter s r ela ted to th e w elfa r e a n d im pr ov em en t of th e In dia n .

Th ey sh ou ld a dv ise w ith th e Secr eta r y of th e In ter ior con cer n in g th ese m a tter s of deta il in m a n a g em en t, a n d h e sh ou ld be g iv en

pow er to dea l w ith th em fu lly , if h e is n ot n ow in v ested w ith su ch pow er .

Th is pla n con tem pla tes th e select ion of per son s for com m ission er s w h o a r e in ter ested in th e In dia n qu est ion a n d w h o h a v e pr a ct ica l

idea s u pon th e su bject of th eir tr ea tm en t.

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idea s u pon th e su bject of th eir tr ea tm en t.

Th e ex pen se of th e In dia n Bu r ea u du r in g th e la st fisca l y ea r w a s m or e th a n six a n d a h a lt m illion dolla r s. I believ e m u ch of th is

ex pen ditu r e m ig h t be sa v ed u n der th e pla n pr oposed; th a t its econ om ica l effects w ou ld be in cr ea sed w ith its con t in u a n ce; th a t th e

sa fety of ou r fr on t ier sett ler s w ou ld be su bser v ed u n der its oper a t ion , a n d th a t th e n a t ion w ou ld be sa v ed th r ou g h its r esu lts fr om

th e im pu ta t ion of in h u m a n ity , in ju st ice, a n d m ism a n a g em en t.

In or der to ca r r y ou t th e policy of a llotm en t of In dia n la n ds in sev er a lty , w h en deem ed ex pedien t , it w ill be n ecessa r y to h a v e

su r v ey s com pleted of th e r eser v a t ion s, a n d, I h ope th a t pr ov ision w ill be m a de for th e pr osecu t ion of th is w or k.

In Ma y of th e pr esen t y ea r a sm a ll por t ion of th e Ch ir ica h u a A pa ch es on th e Wh ite Mou n ta in Reser v a t ion , in A r izon a , left th e

r eser v a t ion a n d com m itted a n u m ber of m u r der s a n d depr eda t ion s u pon sett ler s in th a t n eig h bor h ood. Th ou g h pr om pt a n d

en er g et ic a ct ion w a s ta ken by th e m ilita r y , th e r en eg a des elu ded ca ptu r e a n d esca ped in to Mex ico. Th e for m a tion of th e cou n tr y

th r ou g h w h ich th ese In dia n s pa ssed, th eir th or ou g h a cqu a in ta n ce w ith th e sa m e, th e speed of th eir esca pe, a n d th e m a n n er in

w h ich th ey sca tter ed a n d con cea led th em selv es a m on g th e m ou n ta in s n ea r th e scen e of th eir ou tr a g es pu t ou r soldier s a t a g r ea t

disa dv a n ta g e in th eir effor ts to ca ptu r e th em , th ou g h th e ex pecta t ion is st ill en ter ta in ed th a t th ey w ill be u lt im a tely ta ken a n d

pu n ish ed for th eir cr im es.

Th e th r ea ten in g a n d disor der ly con du ct of th e Ch ey en n es in th e In dia n Ter r itor y ea r ly la st su m m er ca u sed con sider a ble a la r m

a n d u n ea sin ess. In v est ig a t ion pr ov ed th a t th eir th r ea ten in g a tt itu de w a s du e in a g r ea t m ea su r e to th e occu pa t ion of th e la n d of

th eir r eser v a t ion by im m en se h er ds of ca tt le, w h ich th eir ow n er s cla im ed w er e r ig h tfu lly th er e u n der cer ta in lea ses m a de by th e

In dia n s. Su ch occu pa t ion a ppea r in g u pon ex a m in a t ion to be u n la w fu l n otw ith sta n din g th ese lea ses, th e in tr u der s w er e or der ed to

r em ov e w ith th eir ca tt le fr om th e la n ds of th e In dia n s by Ex ecu t iv e pr ocla m a tion . Th e en for cem en t of th is pr ocla m a tion h a d th e

effect of r estor in g pea ce a n d or der a m on g th e In dia n s, a n d th ey a r e n ow qu iet a n d w ell beh a v ed.

By a n Ex ecu t iv e or der issu ed on Febr u a r y 2 7 , 1 8 8 5 , by m y pr edecessor , a por t ion of th e tr a ct of cou n tr y in th e ter r itor y kn ow n a s

th e Old Win n eba g o a n d Cr ow Cr eek r eser v a t ion s w a s dir ected to be r estor ed to th e pu blic dom a in a n d open ed to sett lem en t u n der

th e la n d la w s of th e Un ited Sta tes, a n d a la r g e n u m ber of per son s en ter ed u pon th ose la n ds. Th is a ct ion a la r m ed th e Siou x In dia n s,

w h o cla im ed th e ter r itor y a s belon g in g to th eir r eser v a t ion u n der th e tr ea ty of 1 8 6 8 . Th is cla im w a s deter m in ed, a fter ca r efu l

in v est ig a t ion , to be w ell r ou n ded, a n d con sequ en tly th e Ex ecu t iv e or der r efer r ed to w a s by pr ocla m a tion of A pr il 1 7 , 1 8 8 5 ,

decla r ed to be in oper a t iv e a n d of n o effect , a n d a ll per son s u pon th e la n d w er e w a r n ed to lea v e. Th is w a r n in g h a s been

su bsta n t ia lly com plied w ith .

Th e pu blic dom a in h a d its or ig in in cession s of la n d by th e Sta tes to th e Gen er a l Gov er n m en t. Th e fir st cession w a s m a de by th e

Sta te of New Yor k, a n d th e la r g est , w h ich in a r ea ex ceeded a ll th e oth er s, by th e Sta te of V ir g in ia . Th e ter r itor y th e pr opr ietor sh ip

of w h ich beca m e th u s v ested in th e Gen er a l Gov er n m en t ex ten ded fr om th e w ester n lin e of Pen n sy lv a n ia to th e Mississippi Riv er .

Th ese pa tr iot ic don a t ion s of th e Sta tes w er e en cu m ber ed w ith n o con dit ion ex cept th a t th ey sh ou ld th e h eld a n d u sed "for th e

com m on ben efit of th e Un ited Sta tes." By pu r ch a se w ith th e com m on fu n d of a ll th e people a ddit ion s w er e m a de to th is dom a in

u n til it ex ten ded to th e n or th er n lin e of Mex ico, th e Pa cific Ocea n , a n d th e Pola r Sea . Th e or ig in a l tr u st , "for th e com m on ben efit of

th e Un ited Sta tes," a t ta ch ed to a ll. In th e ex ecu t ion of th a t tr u st th e policy of m a n y h om es, r a th er th a n la r g e esta tes, w a s a dopted

by th e Gov er n m en t. Th a t th ese m ig h t be ea sily obta in ed, a n d be th e a bode of secu r ity a n d con ten tm en t, th e la w s for th eir

a cqu isit ion w er e few , ea sily u n der stood, a n d g en er a l in th eir ch a r a cter . Bu t th e pr essu r e of loca l in ter ests, com bin ed w ith a

specu la t iv e spir it , h a v e in m a n y in sta n ces pr ocu r ed th e pa ssa g e of la w s w h ich m a r r ed th e h a r m on y of th e g en er a l pla n a n d

en cu m ber ed th e sy stem w ith a m u lt itu de of g en er a l a n d specia l en a ctm en ts w h ich r en der th e la n d la w s com plica ted, su bject th e

t it les to u n cer ta in ty , a n d th e pu r ch a ser s often to oppr ession a n d w r on g . La w s w h ich w er e in ten ded for th e "com m on ben efit" h a v e

been per v er ted so th a t la r g e qu a n tit ies of la n d a r e v est in g in sin g le ow n er sh ips. Fr om th e m u lt itu de a n d ch a r a cter of th e la w s, th is

con sequ en ce seem s in ca pa ble of cor r ect ion by m er e a dm in istr a t ion .

It is n ot for th e "com m on ben efit of th e Un ited Sta tes" th a t a la r g e a r ea of th e pu blic la n ds sh ou ld be a cqu ir ed, dir ect ly or th r ou g h

fr a u d, in th e h a n ds of a sin g le in div idu a l. Th e n a t ion 's str en g th is in th e people. Th e n a t ion 's pr osper ity is in th eir pr osper ity . Th e

n a t ion 's g lor y is in th e equ a lity of h er ju st ice. Th e n a t ion 's per petu ity is in th e pa tr iot ism of a ll h er people. Hen ce, a s fa r a s

pr a ct ica ble, th e pla n a dopted in th e disposa l of th e pu blic la n ds sh ou ld h a v e in v iew th e or ig in a l policy , w h ich en cou r a g ed m a n y

pu r ch a ses of th ese la n ds for h om es a n d discou r a g ed th e m a ssin g of la r g e a r ea s. Ex clu siv e of A la ska , a bou t th r ee-fifth s of th e

n a t ion a l dom a in h a s been sold or su bjected to con tr a ct or g r a n t . Of th e r em a in in g tw o-fifth s a con sider a ble por t ion is eith er

m ou n ta in or deser t . A r a pidly in cr ea sin g popu la t ion cr ea tes a g r ow in g dem a n d for h om es, a n d th e a ccu m u la t ion of w ea lth

in spir es a n ea g er com petit ion to obta in th e pu blic la n d for specu la t iv e pu r poses. In th e fu tu r e th is collision of in ter ests w ill be m or e

m a r ked th a n in th e pa st , a n d th e ex ecu t ion of th e n a t ion 's tr u st in beh a lf of ou r sett ler s w ill be m or e difficu lt . I th er efor e com m en d

to y ou r a tten t ion th e r ecom m en da tion s con ta in ed in th e r epor t of th e Secr eta r y of th e In ter ior w ith r efer en ce to th e r epea l a n d

m odifica t ion of cer ta in of ou r la n d la w s.

Th e n a t ion h a s m a de pr in cely g r a n ts a n d su bsidies to a sy stem of r a ilr oa ds pr ojected a s g r ea t n a t ion a l h ig h w a y s to con n ect th e

Pa cific Sta tes w ith th e Ea st . It h a s been ch a r g ed th a t th ese don a t ion s fr om th e people h a v e been div er ted to pr iv a te g a in a n d

cor r u pt u ses, a n d th u s pu blic in dig n a t ion h a s been a r ou sed a n d su spicion en g en der ed. Ou r g r ea t n a t ion does n ot beg r u dg e its

g en er osity , bu t it a bh or s specu la t ion a n d fr a u d; a n d th e fa v or a ble r eg a r d of ou r people for th e g r ea t cor por a t ion s to w h ich th ese

g r a n ts w er e m a de ca n on ly be r ev iv ed by a r estor a t ion of con fiden ce, to be secu r ed by th eir con sta n t , u n equ iv oca l, a n d clea r ly

m a n ifested in teg r ity . A fa ith fu l a pplica t ion of th e u n dim in ish ed pr oceeds of th e g r a n ts to th e con str u ct ion a n d per fect in g of th eir

r oa ds, a n h on est disch a r g e of th eir oblig a t ion s, a n d en t ir e ju st ice to a ll th e people in th e en joy m en t of th eir r ig h ts on th ese

h ig h w a y s of tr a v el a r e a ll th e pu blic a sks, a n d it w ill be con ten t w ith n o less. To secu r e th ese th in g s sh ou ld be th e com m on pu r pose

of th e officer s of th e Gov er n m en t, a s w ell a s of th e cor por a t ion s. With th is a ccom plish m en t pr osper ity w ou ld be per m a n en tly

secu r ed to th e r oa ds, a n d n a t ion a l pr ide w ou ld ta ke th e pla ce of n a t ion a l com pla in t .

It a ppea r s fr om th e r epor t of th e Com m ission er of Pen sion s th a t th er e w er e on th e 1 st da y of Ju ly , 1 8 8 5 , 3 4 5 ,1 2 5 per son s bor n e

u pon th e pen sion r olls, w h o w er e cla ssified a s follow s: A r m y in v a lids, 2 4 1 ,4 5 6 ; w idow s, m in or ch ildr en , a n d depen den t r ela t iv es of

decea sed soldier s, 7 8 ,8 4 1 ; n a v y in v a lids, 2 ,7 4 5 ; n a v y w idow s, m in or ch ildr en , a n d depen den ts, 1 ,9 2 6 ; su r v iv or s of th e Wa r of

1 8 1 2 , 2 ,9 4 5 ; a n d w idow s of th ose w h o ser v ed in th a t w a r , 1 7 ,2 1 2 . A bou t on e m a n in ten of a ll th ose w h o en listed in th e la te w a r

a r e r epor ted a s r eceiv in g pen sion s, ex clu siv e of th e depen den ts of decea sed soldier s. On th e 1 st of Ju ly , 1 8 7 5 , th e n u m ber of

pen sion er s w a s 2 3 4 ,8 2 1 , a n d th e in cr ea se w ith in th e ten y ea r s n ex t th er ea fter w a s 1 1 0,3 04 .

Wh ile th er e is n o ex pen ditu r e of th e pu blic fu n ds w h ich th e people m or e ch eer fu lly a ppr ov e th a n th a t m a de in r ecog n it ion of th e

ser v ices of ou r soldier s liv in g a n d dea d, th e sen t im en t u n der ly in g th e su bject sh ou ld n ot be v it ia ted by th e in tr odu ct ion of a n y

fr a u du len t pr a ct ices. Th er efor e it is fu lly a s im por ta n t th a t th e r olls sh ou ld be clea n sed of a ll th ose w h o by fr a u d h a v e secu r ed a

pla ce th er eon a s th a t m er itor iou s cla im s sh ou ld be speedily ex a m in ed a n d a dju sted. Th e r efor m s in th e m eth ods of doin g th e

bu sin ess of th is Bu r ea u w h ich h a v e la tely been in a u g u r a ted pr om ise better r esu lts in both th ese dir ect ion s.

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Th e oper a t ion s of th e Pa ten t Office dem on str a te th e a ct iv ity of th e in v en tiv e g en iu s of th e cou n tr y . For th e y ea r en ded Ju n e 3 0,

1 8 8 5 , th e a pplica t ion s for pa ten ts, in clu din g r eissu es, a n d for th e r eg istr a t ion of tr a de-m a r ks a n d la bels, n u m ber ed 3 5 ,6 8 8 .

Du r in g th e sa m e per iod th er e w er e 2 2 ,9 2 8 pa ten ts g r a n ted a n d r eissu ed a n d 1 ,4 2 9 tr a de-m a r ks a n d la bels r eg ister ed. Th e

n u m ber of pa ten ts issu ed in th e y ea r 1 8 7 5 w a s 1 4 ,3 8 7 . Th e r eceipts du r in g th e la st fisca l y ea r w er e $ 1 ,07 4 ,9 7 4 .3 5 , a n d th e tota l

ex pen ditu r es, n ot in clu din g con tin g en t ex pen ses, $9 3 4 ,1 2 3 .1 1 .

Th er e w er e 9 ,7 8 8 a pplica t ion s for pa ten ts pen din g on th e 1 st da y of Ju ly , 1 8 8 4 , a n d 5 ,7 8 6 on th e sa m e da te in th e y ea r 1 8 8 5 .

Th er e h a s been con sider a ble im pr ov em en t m a de in th e pr om pt deter m in a t ion of a pplica t ion s a n d a con sequ en t r elief to ex pecta n t

in v en tor s.

A n u m ber of su g g est ion s a n d r ecom m en da tion s a r e con ta in ed in th e r epor t of th e Com m ission er of pa ten ts w h ich a r e w ell en t it led

to th e con sider a t ion of Con g r ess.

In th e Ter r itor y of Uta h th e la w of th e Un ited Sta tes pa ssed for th e Su ppr ession of poly g a m y h a s been en er g et ica lly a n d fa ith fu lly

ex ecu ted du r in g th e pa st y ea r , w ith m ea su r a bly g ood r esu lts. A n u m ber of con v ict ion s h a v e been secu r ed for u n la w fu l

coh a bita t ion , a n d in som e ca ses plea s of g u ilty h a v e been en ter ed a n d a slig h t pu n ish m en t im posed, u pon a pr om ise by th e a ccu sed

th a t th ey w ou ld n ot a g a in offen d a g a in st th e la w , n or a dv ise, cou n sel, a id, or a bet in a n y w a y its v iola t ion by oth er s.

Th e Uta h com m ission er s ex pr ess th e opin ion , ba sed u pon su ch in for m a tion a s th ey a r e a ble to obta in , th a t bu t few poly g a m ou s

m a r r ia g es h a v e ta ken pla ce in th e Ter r itor y du r in g th e la st y ea r . Th ey fu r th er r epor t th a t w h ile th er e ca n n ot be fou n d u pon th e

r eg istr a t ion lists of v oter s th e n a m e of a m a n a ctu a lly g u ilty of poly g a m y , a n d w h ile n on e of th a t cla ss a r e h oldin g office, y et a t

th e la st elect ion in th e Ter r itor y a ll th e officer s elected, ex cept in on e cou n ty , w er e m en w h o, th ou g h n ot a ctu a lly liv in g in th e

pr a ct ice of poly g a m y , su bscr ibe to th e doctr in e of poly g a m ou s m a r r ia g es a s a div in e r ev ela t ion a n d a la w u n to a ll h ig h er a n d m or e

bin din g u pon th e con scien ce th a n a n y h u m a n la w , loca l or n a t ion a l. Th u s is th e str a n g e specta cle pr esen ted of a com m u n ity

pr otected by a r epu blica n for m of g ov er n m en t, to w h ich th ey ow e a lleg ia n ce, su sta in in g by th eir su ffr a g es a pr in ciple a n d a belief

w h ich set a t n a u g h t th a t oblig a t ion of a bsolu te obedien ce to th e la w of th e la n d w h ich lies a t th e fou n da tion of r epu blica n

in st itu t ion s.

Th e str en g th , th e per petu ity , a n d th e dest in y of th e n a t ion r est u pon ou r h om es, esta blish ed by th e la w of God, g u a r ded by

pa r en ta l ca r e, r eg u la ted by pa r en ta l a u th or ity , a n d sa n ct ified by pa r en ta l lov e.

Th ese a r e n ot th e h om es of poly g a m y .

Th e m oth er s of ou r la n d, w h o r u le th e n a t ion a s th ey m old th e ch a r a cter s a n d g u ide th e a ct ion s of th eir son s, liv e a ccor din g to God'

s h oly or din a n ces, a n d ea ch , secu r e a n d h a ppy in th e ex clu siv e lov e of th e fa th er of h er ch ildr en , sh eds th e w a r m lig h t of tr u e

w om a n h ood, u n per v er ted a n d u n pollu ted, u pon a ll w ith in h er pu r e a n d w h olesom e fa m ily cir cle.

Th ese a r e n ot th e ch eer less, cr u sh ed, a n d u n w om a n ly m oth er s of poly g a m y .

Th e fa th er s of ou r fa m ilies a r e th e best cit izen s of th e Repu blic. Wife a n d ch ildr en a r e th e sou r ces of pa tr iot ism , a n d con ju g a l a n d

pa r en ta l a ffect ion beg et dev ot ion to th e cou n tr y . Th e m a n w h o, u n defiled w ith plu r a l m a r r ia g e, is su r r ou n ded in h is sin g le h om e

w ith h is w ife a n d ch ildr en h a s a sta ke in th e cou n tr y w h ich in spir es h im w ith r espect for its la w s a n d cou r a g e for its defen se.

Th ese a r e n ot th e fa th er s of poly g a m ou s fa m ilies.

Th er e is n o fea tu r e of th is pr a ct ice or th e sy stem w h ich sa n ct ion s it w h ich is n ot opposed to a ll th a t is of v a lu e in ou r in st itu t ion s.

Th er e sh ou ld be n o r ela x a t ion in th e fir m bu t ju st ex ecu t ion of th e la w n ow in oper a t ion , a n d I sh ou ld be g la d to a ppr ov e su ch

fu r th er discr eet leg isla t ion a s w ill r id th e cou n tr y of th is blot u pon its fa ir fa m e.

Sin ce th e people u ph oldin g poly g a m y in ou r Ter r itor ies a r e r een for ced by im m ig r a t ion fr om oth er la n ds, I r ecom m en d th a t a la w

be pa ssed to pr ev en t th e im por ta t ion of Mor m on s in to th e cou n tr y .

Th e a g r icu ltu r a l in ter est of th e cou n tr y dem a n ds ju st r ecog n it ion a n d liber a l en cou r a g em en t. It su sta in s w ith cer ta in ty a n d

u n fa ilin g str en g th ou r n a t ion 's pr osper ity by th e pr odu cts of its stea dy toil, a n d bea r s its fu ll sh a r e of th e bu r den of ta x a t ion

w ith ou t com pla in t . Ou r a g r icu ltu r ists h a v e bu t slig h t per son a l r epr esen ta t ion in th e cou n cils of th e n a t ion , a n d a r e g en er a lly

con ten t w ith th e h u m bler du t ies of cit izen sh ip a n d w illin g to tr u st to th e bou n ty of n a tu r e for a r ew a r d of th eir la bor . Bu t th e

m a g n itu de a n d v a lu e of th is in du str y a r e a ppr ecia ted w h en th e sta tem en t is m a de th a t of ou r tota l a n n u a l ex por ts m or e th a n

th r ee-fou r th s a r e th e pr odu cts of a g r icu ltu r e, a n d of ou r tota l popu la t ion n ea r ly on e-h a lf a r e ex clu siv ely en g a g ed in th a t

occu pa t ion .

Th e Depa r tm en t of A g r icu ltu r e w a s cr ea ted for th e pu r pose of a cqu ir in g a n d diffu sin g a m on g th e people u sefu l in for m a tion

r espect in g th e su bjects it h a s in ch a r g e, a n d a idin g in th e ca u se of in tellig en t a n d pr og r essiv e fa r m in g , by th e collect ion of

sta t ist ics, by test in g th e v a lu e a n d u sefu ln ess of n ew seeds a n d pla n ts, a n d distr ibu t in g su ch a s a r e fou n d desir a ble a m on g

a g r icu ltu r ists. Th is a n d oth er pow er s a n d du ties w ith w h ich th is Depa r tm en t is in v ested a r e of th e u tm ost im por ta n ce, a n d if

w isely ex er cised m u st be of g r ea t ben efit to th e cou n tr y . Th e a im of ou r ben eficen t Gov er n m en t is th e im pr ov em en t of th e people

in ev er y sta t ion a n d th e a m elior a t ion of th eir con dit ion . Su r ely ou r a g r icu ltu r ists sh ou ld n ot be n eg lected. Th e in str u m en ta lity

esta blish ed in a id of th e fa r m er s of th e la n d sh ou ld n ot on ly be w ell equ ipped for th e a ccom plish m en t of its pu r pose, bu t th ose for

w h ose ben efit it h a s been a dopted sh ou ld be en cou r a g ed to a v a il th em selv es fu lly of its a dv a n ta g es.

Th e pr oh ibit ion of th e im por ta t ion in to sev er a l cou n tr ies of cer ta in of ou r a n im a ls a n d th eir pr odu cts, ba sed u pon th e su spicion

th a t h ea lth is en da n g er ed in th eir u se a n d con su m ption , su g g ests th e im por ta n ce of su ch pr eca u tion s for th e pr otect ion of ou r stock

of a ll kin ds a g a in st disea se a s w ill disa r m su spicion of da n g er a n d ca u se th e r em ov a l of su ch a n in ju r iou s pr oh ibit ion .

If th e la w s n ow in oper a t ion a r e in su fficien t to a ccom plish th is pr otect ion , I r ecom m en d th eir a m en dm en t to m eet th e n ecessit ies of

th e situ a t ion ; a n d I com m en d to th e con sider a t ion of Con g r ess th e su g g est ion s con ta in ed in th e r epor t of th e Com m ission er of

A g r icu ltu r e ca lcu la ted to in cr ea se th e v a lu e a n d efficien cy of th is Depa r tm en t

.

Th e r epor t of th e Civ il Ser v ice Com m ission , w h ich w ill be su bm itted, con ta in s a n a ccou n t of th e m a n n er in w h ich th e civ il-ser v ice

la w h a s been ex ecu ted du r in g th e la st y ea r a n d m u ch v a lu a ble in for m a tion on th is im por ta n t su bject .

I a m in clin ed to th in k th a t th er e is n o sen t im en t m or e g en er a l in th e m in ds of th e people of ou r cou n tr y th a n a con v ict ion of th e

cor r ectn ess of th e pr in ciple u pon w h ich th e la w en for cin g civ il-ser v ice r efor m is ba sed. In its pr esen t con dit ion th e la w r eg u la tes

on ly a pa r t of th e su bor din a te pu blic posit ion s th r ou g h ou t th e cou n tr y . It a pplies th e test of fitn ess to a pplica n ts for th ese pla ces by

m ea n s of a com petit iv e ex a m in a t ion , a n d g iv es la r g e discr et ion to th e Com m ission er s a s to th e ch a r a cter of th e ex a m in a t ion a n d

m a n y oth er m a tter s con n ected w ith its ex ecu t ion . Th u s th e r u les a n d r eg u la t ion s a dopted by th e Com m ission h a v e m u ch to do

w ith th e pr a ct ica l u sefu ln ess of th e sta tu te a n d w ith th e r esu lts of its a pplica t ion .

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w ith th e pr a ct ica l u sefu ln ess of th e sta tu te a n d w ith th e r esu lts of its a pplica t ion .

Th e people m a y w ell t r u st th e Com m ission to ex ecu te th e la w w ith per fect fa ir n ess a n d w ith a s lit t le ir r ita t ion a s is possible. Bu t of

cou r se n o r ela x a t ion of th e pr in ciple w h ich u n der lies it a n d n o w ea ken in g of th e sa feg u a r ds w h ich su r r ou n d it ca n be ex pected.

Ex per ien ce in its a dm in istr a t ion w ill pr oba bly su g g est a m en dm en t of th e m eth ods of its ex ecu t ion , bu t I v en tu r e to h ope th a t w e

sh a ll n ev er a g a in be r em itted to th e sy stem w h ich distr ibu tes pu blic posit ion s pu r ely a s r ew a r ds for pa r t isa n ser v ice. Dou bts m a y

w ell be en ter ta in ed w h eth er ou r Gov er n m en t cou ld su r v iv e th e str a in of a con tin u a n ce of th is sy stem , w h ich u pon ev er y ch a n g e

of A dm in istr a t ion in spir es a n im m en se a r m y of cla im a n ts for office to la y sieg e to th e pa tr on a g e of Gov er n m en t, en g r ossin g th e

t im e of pu blic officer s w ith th eir im por tu n it ies, spr ea din g a br oa d th e con ta g ion of th eir disa ppoin tm en t, a n d fillin g th e a ir w ith

th e tu m u lt of th eir discon ten t .

Th e a llu r em en ts of a n im m en se n u m ber of offices a n d pla ces ex h ibited to th e v oter s of th e la n d, a n d th e pr om ise of th eir bestow a l

in r ecog n it ion of pa r t isa n a ct iv ity ; deba u ch th e su ffr a g e a n d r ob polit ica l a ct ion of its th ou g h tfu l a n d deliber a t iv e ch a r a cter . Th e

ev il w ou ld in cr ea se w ith th e m u lt iplica t ion of offices con sequ en t u pon ou r ex ten sion , a n d th e m a n ia for office h oldin g , g r ow in g

fr om its in du lg en ce, w ou ld per v a de ou r popu la t ion so g en er a lly th a t pa tr iot ic pu r pose, th e su ppor t of pr in ciple, th e desir e for th e

pu blic g ood, a n d solicitu de for th e n a t ion 's w elfa r e w ou ld be n ea r ly ba n ish ed fr om th e a ct iv ity of ou r pa r ty con tests a n d ca u se

th em to deg en er a te in to ig n oble, selfish , a n d disg r a cefu l str u g g les for th e possession of office a n d pu blic pla ce.

Civ il-ser v ice r efor m en for ced by la w ca m e n on e too soon to ch eck th e pr og r ess of dem or a liza t ion .

On e of its effects, n ot en ou g h r eg a r ded, is th e fr eedom it br in g s to th e polit ica l a ct ion of th ose con ser v a t iv e a n d sober m en w h o, in

fea r of th e con fu sion a n d r isk a tten din g a n a r bitr a r y a n d su dden ch a n g e in a ll th e pu blic offices w ith a ch a n g e of pa r ty r u le, ca st

th eir ba llots a g a in st su ch a ch a n ce.

Pa r t ies seem to be n ecessa r y , a n d w ill lon g con tin u e to ex ist ; n or ca n it be n ow den ied th a t th er e a r e leg it im a te a dv a n ta g es, n ot

discon n ected w ith office h oldin g , w h ich follow pa r ty su pr em a cy . Wh ile pa r t isa n sh ip con tin u es bit ter a n d pr on ou n ced a n d su pplies

so m u ch of m otiv e to sen t im en t a n d a ct ion , it is n ot fa ir to h old pu blic officia ls in ch a r g e of im por ta n t tr u sts r espon sible for th e best

r esu lts in th e per for m a n ce of th eir du t ies, a n d y et in sist th a t th ey sh a ll r ely in con fiden tia l a n d im por ta n t pla ces u pon th e w or k of

th ose n ot on ly opposed to th em in polit ica l a ffilia t ion , bu t so steeped in pa r t isa n pr eju dice a n d r a n cor th a t th ey h a v e n o loy a lty to

th eir ch iefs a n d n o desir e for th eir su ccess. Civ il-ser v ice r efor m does n ot ex a ct th is, n or does it r equ ir e th a t th ose in su bor din a te

posit ion s w h o fa il in y ieldin g th eir best ser v ice or w h o a r e in com peten t sh ou ld be r eta in ed sim ply beca u se th ey a r e in pla ce. Th e

w h in in g of a cler k disch a r g ed for in dolen ce or in com peten cy , w h o, th ou g h h e g a in ed h is pla ce by th e w or st possible oper a t ion of th e

spoils sy stem , su dden ly discov er s th a t h e is en t it led to pr otect ion u n der th e sa n ct ion of civ il-ser v ice r efor m , r epr esen ts a n idea n o

less a bsu r d th a n th e cla m or of th e a pplica n t w h o cla im s th e v a ca n t posit ion a s h is com pen sa t ion for th e m ost qu est ion a ble pa r ty

w or k.

Th e civ il-ser v ice la w does n ot pr ev en t th e disch a r g e of th e in dolen t or in com peten t cler k, bu t it does pr ev en t su pply in g h is pla ce

w ith th e u n fit pa r ty w or ker . Th u s in both th ese ph a ses is seen ben efit to th e pu blic ser v ice. A n d th e people w h o desir e g ood

g ov er n m en t, h a v in g secu r ed th is sta tu te, w ill n ot r elin qu ish its ben efits w ith ou t pr otest . Nor a r e th ey u n m in dfu l of th e fa ct th a t

its fu ll a dv a n ta g es ca n on ly be g a in ed th r ou g h th e com plete g ood fa ith of th ose h a v in g its ex ecu t ion in ch a r g e. A n d th is th ey w ill

in sist u pon .

I r ecom m en d th a t th e sa la r ies of th e Civ il Ser v ice Com m ission er s be in cr ea sed to a su m m or e n ea r ly com m en su r a te to th eir

im por ta n t du t ies.

It is a sou r ce of con sider a ble a n d n ot u n n a tu r a l discon ten t th a t n o a dequ a te pr ov ision h a s y et been m a de for a ccom m oda tin g th e

pr in cipa l libr a r y of th e Gov er n m en t. Of th e v a st collect ion of books a n d pa m ph lets g a th er ed a t th e Ca pitol, n u m ber in g som e

7 00,000, ex clu siv e of m a n u scr ipts, m a ps, a n d th e pr odu cts of th e g r a ph ic a r ts, a lso of g r ea t v olu m e a n d v a lu e, on ly a bou t

3 00,000 v olu m es, or less th a n h a lf th e collect ion , a r e pr ov ided w ith sh elf r oom . Th e oth er s, w h ich a r e in cr ea sin g a t th e r a te of

fr om tw en ty -fiv e to th ir ty th ou sa n d v olu m es a y ea r , a r e n ot on ly in a ccessible to th e pu blic, bu t a r e su bject to ser iou s da m a g e a n d

deter ior a t ion fr om oth er ca u ses in th eir pr esen t situ a t ion .

A con sider a t ion of th e fa cts th a t th e libr a r y of th e Ca pitol h a s tw ice been destr oy ed or da m a g ed by fir e, its da ily in cr ea sin g v a lu e,

a n d its im por ta n ce a s a pla ce of deposit of books u n der th e la w r ela t in g to copy r ig h t m a kes m a n ifest th e n ecessity of pr om pt a ct ion

to in su r e its pr oper a ccom m oda tion a n d pr otect ion .

My a tten t ion h a s been ca lled to a con tr ov er sy w h ich h a s a r isen fr om th e con dit ion of th e la w r ela t in g to r a ilr oa d fa cilit ies in th e

city of Wa sh in g ton , w h ich h a s in v olv ed th e Com m ission er s of th e Distr ict in m u ch a n n oy a n ce a n d tr ou ble. I h ope th is difficu lty

w ill be pr om ptly sett led by a ppr opr ia te leg isla t ion .

Th e Com m ission er s r epr esen t th a t en ou g h of th e r ev en u es of th e Distr ict a r e n ow on deposit in th e Tr ea su r y of th e Un ited Sta tes to

r epa y th e su m a dv a n ced by th e Gov er n m en t for sew er im pr ov em en ts u n der th e a ct of Ju n e 3 0, 1 8 8 4 . Th ey desir e n ow a n

a dv a n ce of th e sh a r e w h ich u lt im a tely sh ou ld be bor n e by th e Distr ict of th e cost of ex ten siv e im pr ov em en ts to th e str eets of th e

city . Th e tota l ex pen se of th ese con tem pla ted im pr ov em en ts is est im a ted a t $1 ,000,000, a n d th ey a r e of th e opin ion th a t a

con sider a ble su m cou ld be sa v ed if th ey h a d a ll th e m on ey in h a n d, so th a t con tr a cts for th e w h ole w or k cou ld be m a de a t th e sa m e

tim e. Th ey ex pr ess con fiden ce th a t if th e a dv a n ce a sked for sh ou ld be m a de th e Gov er n m en t w ou ld be r eim bu r sed th e sa m e w ith in

a r ea son a ble t im e. I h a v e n o dou bt th a t th ese im pr ov em en ts cou ld be m a de m u ch ch ea per if u n der ta ken tog eth er a n d pr osecu ted

a ccor din g to a g en er a l pla n .

Th e licen se la w n ow in for ce w ith in th e Distr ict is deficien t a n d u n cer ta in in som e of its pr ov ision s a n d ou g h t to be a m en ded. Th e

Com m ission er s u r g e, w ith g ood r ea son , th e n ecessity of pr ov idin g a bu ildin g for th e u se of th e Distr ict g ov er n m en t w h ich sh a ll

better secu r e th e sa fety a n d pr eser v a t ion of its v a lu a ble books a n d r ecor ds.

Th e pr esen t con dit ion of th e la w r ela t in g to th e su ccession to th e Pr esiden cy in th e ev en t of th e dea th , disa bility , or r em ov a l of both

th e Pr esiden t a n d V ice-Pr esiden t is su ch a s to r equ ir e im m edia te a m en dm en t. Th is su bject h a s r epea tedly been con sider ed by

Con g r ess, bu t n o r esu lt h a s been r ea ch ed. Th e r ecen t la m en ta ble dea th of th e V ice-Pr esiden t , a n d v a ca n cies a t th e sa m e t im e in a ll

oth er offices th e in cu m ben ts of w h ich m ig h t im m edia tely ex er cise th e fu n ct ion s of th e pr esiden tia l office, h a s ca u sed pu blic

a n x iety a n d a ju st dem a n d th a t a r ecu r r en ce of su ch a con dit ion of a ffa ir s sh ou ld n ot be per m itted.

In con clu sion I com m en d to th e w ise ca r e a n d th ou g h tfu l a t ten t ion of Con g r ess th e n eeds, th e w elfa r e, a n d th e a spir a t ion s of a n

in tellig en t a n d g en er ou s n a t ion . To su bor din a te th ese to th e n a r r ow a dv a n ta g es of pa r t isa n sh ip or th e a ccom plish m en t of selfish

a im s is to v iola te th e people's tr u st a n d betr a y th e people's in ter ests; bu t a n in div idu a l sen se of r espon sibility on th e pa r t of ea ch of

u s a n d a ster n deter m in a t ion to per for m ou r du ty w ell m u st g iv e u s pla ce a m on g th ose w h o h a v e a dded in th eir da y a n d

g en er a t ion to th e g lor y a n d pr osper ity of ou r belov ed la n d.

2/24/2014 Grover Cleveland: First Annual Message (first term)

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29526&st=&st1= 17/17

GROV ER CLEV ELA ND

Citation: Grover Cleveland: "First Annual Message (first term)," December 8, 1885. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, TheAmerican Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=29526.

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